Newbie here, needing guidance & support

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Newbie here, needing guidance & support
9
Mon, 04-05-2004 - 3:05pm
Hi all!

First of all I would like to introduce myself. My name is Heather, I am 31, a teacher living in Ohio. I am getting married to the man of my life this summer. I have been thinking about a lifestyle change for quite a while now, but my family helped put me in motion. My aunt decided to get a group of gals including my mom to see who could lose the most weight by June. Whoever wins gets $25 from every person. So, I said to myself, this is your opportunity and what a support group! I weighed myself today for the first time in a year and oh boy. I am at 274 pounds. This is the highest I have ever weighed in my life. So I have about 130 pounds to lose. I have decided it is time to take charge of me and start to do some rethinking on me. I have been in a lot of denial over my weight issues, but now it is starting to hit me like a ton of bricks. My mom has been overweight for much of her life and has many health issues as a result. I see the toll it takes on her emotionally as well. She is close to 300 pounds and shorter than me. I really want to get to the core of my eating and weight issues and start to heal the reasons I got here to begin with. I have started reading Dr. Phil's book and I am going to Curves today. I have started eating healthy today and got rid of all the bad foods out of my kitchen. I am eating like I am supposed to, according to the book, which claims I will not be hungry, but guess what? I am starved to death! I guess I need some true inspiration here and I feel I have come to the right spot. How have you all been losing weight? What diets are you on? What point did you say enough is enough? Thank you for listening! Heather

Heather and Shawn 7/16/04

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2004
Mon, 04-05-2004 - 5:30pm
Welcome, Heather! First of all, I want to say congratulations on your upcoming wedding! That must sure give you some motivation. I think it's great that you're doing a challenge with your family. What a great way to motivate each other. I hope you win :)

I've been overweight pretty much all of my life. I've tried losing weight before, but I guess I just wasn't motivated enough to keep at it. This time seems to be different (I hope!). I decided in January that this was going to be the year that I was going to do it. I've put this on the top of my priority list. I'm not on any particular plan, I'm just trying to make healthier choices such as eating more fruits and vegetables, watching my fat and sugar intake (I have an incurable sweet tooth) and working on my portion sizes. I've also been exercising at least 4-5 times a week. I didn't start out exercising that much, but I've worked my way up to that level. I've lost about 19 pounds since the beginning of the year. It's going kind of slow, but I figure that's 19 less pounds than I would have had if I hadn't made any changes. Plus I feel a lot better. There are people on this board doing all kinds of plans. Some are doing Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers, and some like me, are just doing their own thing. Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

~~Linda

~~Linda

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2004
Mon, 04-05-2004 - 5:47pm
Welcome aboard and congratulations on your upcoming wedding! It's great to have such a motivating and supportive group. I'm sure this will be a fantastic contributor to your journey.

I have been overweight my entire life as well. I am 25, recently married myself, and have finally won a two year battle with depression. It was this triumph actually that has me motivated.

I want my physical self to be as beautiful and strong as my emotional and spiritual self. Therefore, I decided that it was time to begin losing weight. I weigh in at 266 lbs and am 5'4". So, I, too, have about 130 lbs to go. It seems like a lot, but I know it will be worth it in the end.

How I'm going about making this change? Well, I know in the past that I have jumped on diet and exercise bandwagons and failed. That's because the diet and exercise changes I need to make are ones I have to work into. No simply cutting the carbs in my diet or cutting myself off from sodas or sweets. Just like there will be no, "I'm going to go to the gym to workout, 5 days a week and 30 mins a day." I am taking the month of April to make the changes in my diet I need to make so that my body has time to get used to them. The same for my exercise routine. I will be making my way towards 5 days a week, 30 mins a day (which is my own personal goal). This way, I don't get disappointed when I have a weak moment after the first two weeks.

The most important thing I am reminding myself of is that I gained this weight over my lifetime, and that, in order to lose the pounds and maintain the weight loss, it is going to have to be a lifetime commitment. I also realize now that I am losing the weight for myself...not to impress someone or make someone else happy. It's all for me. That's important.

Remember the support you already have, but it never hurts to reach out to others. I have a great support system here as well, but I love getting on this board and seeing what's going with everyone else. Plus, the ladies here know more about what I'm going for and where I'm coming from. So, in my weak moments, that I know I will have, it's a good feeling to know that I can come here. Again, welcome aboard and it's great to have another pal.

Beth

Avatar for angelinoh
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
Mon, 04-05-2004 - 6:41pm
welcome to to the board Heather, sounds like a great support system you have =)

I am 25 and also live in OH i am watching what i eat/calories try for 1250-1475 calories,drinking water 75 oz+, exercising 200 min.+ a week. I also had the whole denial thing about my weight.

angelinoh 270-246-160's

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-15-2003
Mon, 04-05-2004 - 10:29pm
Welcome Heather!

This is a GREAT board, everyone, except a few are very nice and helpful! I have been cutting out all Sugar and processed carbs, I only eat natural carbs like veggies and fruit and lean meats! Also walking 3-4 days for at least 30min. I started at 253 and I now way 215 in 3 short months. It just fell off the weight! I am never hungry, I guess because I am not eating processed carbs that make me hungry 3 hours after I eat them! LOL!

Also and me and my best friend will treat ourselves once a week to something we really want and it keeps me from binging because I know on Fri or Sat I am going to have what I want and it has been working really well.

My awakening was I saw a pic of me and did not realize how heavy I was, I am tall 5'8 so I can hide it well! No one can hide anything at 253! Now, I feel good and I can even fit into size 13 stetch pants that have not fit in over a year! I thing I lost alot of inches from not eating carbs your body burns fat like crazy! You need to find a plan that works for you, its not for everyone....

Also, I am 26 and I said to myself, I should dress like I am 26 and go to the beach and not worry about what other people think of me. If I am not at goal by the summer, I am still going to the beach and I vowed to not let my weight stop me from enjoying my life the way we all should...]

My goal is to be 165, I look good at this weight and can wear a size 10, I really do not ant to be skinny, I want to be toned and strong, and that is what I will be..

If you ever need support, feel free to ask anytime!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2003
Tue, 04-06-2004 - 11:19am
Hi Heather!!

I'm Sara. I started out on this board in October 2003, and it is wonderfully supportive!! I have a personal nutritionist who made out a personalized diet. So far I've lost 25-30 lbs(I find out how much exactly today). I weigh in every Tuesday, and I love it. She is a really good person and totally supportive. I decided enough is enough around my bday last year(Oct 8). I was at 285, and I felt disgusting. It is a totally good idea what y'all are doing--$25 a piece ain't too shabby, I might just bring that up with some of my friends!

Sara

~Sayruhb02
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Tue, 04-06-2004 - 2:12pm
Hi Heather,

You expressed interest in Dr. Phil's diet, and his book. Have you visited his own weight loss challenge support groups? That's one suggestion. I understand Ivillage also has a Dr. Phil board.

Personally, I've read his books (own both), and I've read some other books too (including buying a couple dynamite cook books: Hoseph C. Piscatella's "The Healthy Heart Cookbook" and Kathleen Daeleman's "Cooking Thin") and I'd recommend both of those to you....both for the recipes AND for the advice contained therein.

My own *program* is just that, my own healthy eating plan, which seems to be working fine. I couple healthy eating each day with reasonable exercise, and I try to spend some time at the library and bookstores learning more about living well by eating well. I've lost a lot of weight, and kept it off for a long time now, and more importantly I'm enjoying what I choose to eat and how I choose to live.

Good luck to you. You've already made some impressive steps, by getting started and by choosing a healthy way of doing it!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2004
Fri, 04-09-2004 - 9:41pm
Congratulations on your wedding and decision to make a lifestyle change of healthy habits!

First of all, I want to introduce myself to you and the board and tell you what worked for me. I am 28, 5'1 1/2" and 150 pounds. I went from a size 22/24 to a 6/8. It took me 2 1/2 years,but I lost about 180 pounds and I've got 25 left. I can honestly say that I did it all naturaly. No pills, shakes, surgery...nothing. Just the old fashioned way of watching what I ate and exercising.

When I first started, I could not do the food change and exercise all at once so I chose exercise. (I always said that I was a good cook and enjoyed eating it!) So, I started out on Taebo. I was tired just WATCHING the tape the first time around! Anyways, after about a month, I started to see some changes and that made me feel better about myself and then I started the healthy eating. One piece of advice that worked for me is...if I wanted to treat myself on something yummy, then I went for it. It was better for me to have one or two Hershey kisses once in a while than half a pan full of brownies.

Anyways...that's my two cents. I am hoping to post on this board often. I know I don't have over 100 left to lose, but I already lost and still need the support. This board seems to have the most action. Thanks for listening.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Fri, 04-09-2004 - 9:56pm
Welcome Heather! My name is Faith and I live in Michigan. I'm 40 years old and I'm trying to lose those extra pounds too! I'm following a sort of modified Weight Watchers plan and it's working (when I don't cheat) very well for me. I also joined Curves and have found it to be a lot of fun. I'd be happy to chat or just listen any time! Glad you're here:)

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-2003
Fri, 04-09-2004 - 10:59pm

Welcome to the boards Heather!