New Here, and in Despair:(

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2003
New Here, and in Despair:(
9
Mon, 01-26-2004 - 5:10pm
I'm new to this particular board, though have lurked in the past. In my early 20's, I weighed 130 lbs; I didn't much have to worry about what I ate because I was pretty active, and never gained more than a few lbs of "winter fat". That all changed when I got into a car accident that messed up my back pretty bad. I won't go into all the detail, but needless to say, the accident sent me down a road of inactivity, and ultimately massive weight gain. I bottomed out about a year ago at 270 lbs, and have managed to get myself down to 245 (I think primarily because I started smoking again).

While I think it would be fantastic to get back to 130, I'm also realistic. I'd like to get down to a "healthy" weight; I'm thinking around 160?

I'm just in a rut here. Food isn't exactly the problem, as I don't really snack; I could stand to lower the quantities a bit. My biggest foe is inactivity, and I can't seem to get jump-started.

I'm hoping you all have some advice that can help get me on my way.

Thanks in advance!

Jennifer
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 01-26-2004 - 6:00pm

Hi there Jennifer =)

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

Avatar for angelinoh
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
Mon, 01-26-2004 - 7:24pm
Hi, congrats on the loss so far =) I exercise at home to workout vhs and my hand weights, or i go to the YMCA and use the machines there. The thing that got me moving is looking at pics of me now and pics of me when i was thinner...LOL..Once you get started it easier to stay on track. Good luck =)
Avatar for jess9802
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Mon, 01-26-2004 - 8:46pm
Welcome!

I think one of the most important things you can do if you're serious about wanting to lose weight is to keep a diary of everything you eat, and track your calories. For the first week or so, eat normally, but measure your portions and then add it all up. You may be surprised at how much you're eating, which will give you a good place to start. I started doing this last summer and was SHOCKED at how many calories I could eat in a day. And the best part about doing this is that it's free!

The other thing is going to be finding some type of physical activity that doesn't exacerbate your back injury. You might want to check with your physician to see if he or she recommends anything.

Finally, I'm sure you get a lot of grief about smoking, but your overall health would be much better if you quit.

Good luck!

Avatar for angelinoh
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
Mon, 01-26-2004 - 9:02pm
www.fitday.com

you can keep track of foods eaten/calories and exercise. There's also an online journal there
Avatar for jess9802
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Mon, 01-26-2004 - 9:15pm
Eh, I always forget about Fit Day. I personally don't care for it, though. JMO.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2003
Mon, 01-26-2004 - 10:24pm

Hey, I know you from the ficition lovers board!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2003
Tue, 01-27-2004 - 12:42pm
Thank you all for both the warm welcome, and the advice.

I guess I need to just start somewhere. Thanks to intense physical therapy, my back has been much better for the last couple of years. It's just that at this point, I feel so overwhelmed. I'm tired all the time, which makes it difficult to scrounge up the energy to exercise, even though I know in the long run doing so will give me more energy.

I've also tried looking at my "thin" pictures, which saddens me, but doesn't really motivate me. At one point, my Dad even offered me $10 for every lb I lost; that didn't motivate me either. Last year I was told I was becoming insulin resistant, and needed to lose weight before becoming diabetic; that's when I took off a few lbs, but still, didn't even take that too seriously.

I know that I need to lose weight, I need to be healthier. I'm going to make an honest try at making a difference, and really appreciate all your support.

Jennifer:)

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2003
Tue, 01-27-2004 - 12:45pm
Thanks for the welcome!

Yes, I spend a lot of time reading (DH would say too much time!), which I'm sure isn't helping my weight much, but I really love to read! I've thought about books on tape, something I could listen to while walking or something, but it's just not the same as actually reading.

What's a gal to do?

Jennifer;)

Avatar for angelinoh
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
Tue, 01-27-2004 - 1:59pm
i hope u find your motivation and feel better about yourself. You sound like a great person! Good luck and i hope to see more of you on the board.


Edited 2/3/2004 11:34:25 PM ET by angelinoh