In answer to your question...

[Guest guest]

Janet, what an inspiring message you sent to Kathleen.

Kathleen, rather than focusing on losing weight, maybe you need to just trying to change your thoughts. A lot of times failure to lose weight has more to do with our attitudes and thoughts and self esteem than it does with calories and exercise. I just celebrated the 6th anniversary of reaching my goal (can't celebrate officially until November because of that darn KIW period we used to have). When I joined TOPS I didn't start losing on a regular basis until I changed my attitude about my life. I made goals of where I wanted to be six months in the future, not pound wise, but personally. Lo and behold, when I had reached that goal in six months, I realized that I had also lost a good deal of weight. I continue to set goals for myself and I know that helps me to maintain my KOPS status. Right now my goal is to get rid of some of the clutter in my house (knick knacks that don't really mean anything to me, a file cabinet full of outdated papers, a mulititude of Christmas decorations ~~ a 42 year collection of them~~ , etc.) and to get all my old photos in scrapbooks for my children. I concentrate less on losing weight and seem to lose more.

Kathleen, you are to be commended for your dedication in keeping your TOPS chapter going.

in Pearland

[Guest guest]

>>KATHLEEN WROTE>>>You said you've lost 32 or 31.50 pounds, how long did that take? I hope you don't mind me asking. Don't answer if you don't want.

No, Kathleen, I don't mind you asking how long it took me to lose the 31.50 lbs (-32 until .50 lb gain this month). The 30+ pounds is what my loss is for THIS year. I started the year at 244.75 and I currently weigh 213.25. This is my weigh -in record for 2004:

1/10 -2.00

1/17 -1.00

1/24 -2.00

1/31 - .25

2/7 - 1.25

2/14 No Mtg.

2/21 + .50

2/28 turtle

3/6 + .25

3/13 -3.00

3/20 -1.25

3/30 +2.50 (transferred chapters - different scale)

4/6 -4.75

4/13 -2.50

4/20 - .50

4/27 -1.75

5/4 -1.50

5/11 -1.25

5/18 -1.00

5/25 -1.50

6/1 -2.50

6/8 turtle

6/15 -1.00

6/22 turtle

6/29 turtle

7/6 -2.00

7/13 -1.25

7/20 -1.00

7/27 -1.25

8/3 - .75

8/10 EA

8/17 + .25

8/24 + .25

I joined TOPS in July 2002 with a starting weight of 278.75 and have lost a total of 65.50 lbs since then. I lost 10 lbs before joining TOPS... My highest weight ever (about 2 months before joining TOPS) was 288 lbs... which is just a couple of orders of Nachos Bell Grande away from 300 lbs!! I think that is what got my attention... being soooo close to 300 lbs. Well, that and the fact that all that I could wear was men's size 3X sweat pants and 3X t-shirts, and let me tell you, I dang sure didn't put those sweat pants in the dryer for fear that they would shrink! Okay, is this way more information then you asked for?? LOL!

Don't ever get discouraged about your weight loss Kathleen. You said that you've only lost about 8 pounds so far this year... well, the year ain't over yet! Last year I lost 13.50 lbs, but you know what, I didn't let it get me down... that's 13.50 lbs less than where I started that year... 13.50 lbs less weight on my joints... 13.50 lbs less "junk in the trunk" for my heart and lungs to have to deal with on a daily basis... 13.50 lbs less of me that I had to try to cram into my clothes. I'll bet your body is thrilled with that 8 pounds that it isn't hauling around anymore, so you be thrilled to! Don't ever give up. KNOW that you CAN do it!

(((hugs))) and best wishes for weight loss success.

Janet

TOPS #TX 429, Copperas Cove

[Guest guest]

> is this way more information then you asked for??

No. I need someone right now to tell me like it is. I am sooooooo

frustrated with my lack of weight loss!

> Don't ever give up.

> Janet TOPS #TX 429, Copperas Cove

I *can't* give up now! Not easily anyway. If you don't remember, my

chapter was talking of disbanding this spring after only 4 months of

being in existence. I asked what could be done to save it and

basically was told we needed a leader and no one wanted that job. I

said I would do it and here I am! So I can't give up. If I quit now, I'd

just have to slink off to a corner and watch my chapter disband. I

couldn't stand that.

I've said for several weeks (with gains despite lower calories and

more exercise) that I'll go to my doctor to see what she says is going

on. Now that push comes to shove, I'm losing my nerve to go. I

suppose it is the same old fear every obese person faces. Fear of

the doctor not understanding and just telling me to go home and

starve some more (although I'm not on a " starvation diet " ), exercise

more and see what happens. It will be sooooooooo frustrating if she

tells me that! Or should I say " devastating " ? The weight gains are

frustrating enough without a doctor understanding. I'm taking in 1500

to 1600 calories a day. If I cut the calories any further, I don't think I

can stay on that diet without just giving up altogether.

Has anyone here gone to an endocrinologist for help in losing weight?

To everyone: thanks for understanding and letting me vent.

Kathleen- #Tx 1811, Harlingen