I am a new member and...

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2004
I am a new member and...
10
Thu, 06-24-2004 - 8:42pm
Have been wondering where to get more support to help me to loose weight. I found this site and read a few of the messages and thought to myself, "this group is great".

Here is a little about me.

I am 32 years old and would love to loose about 100 pounds (did I just admit that?). I am about twice the size of my sister and mom - a recent photo taken with them proved the fact.

After loosing my job last year I have become a full time student and just finished my nursing class prereqs and hope to start the nursing program in the fall. I am waiting to find out via mail from the nursing department at school and should find out in about 2 -3 weeks - I am on pins and needles.

I am married to one the best people in the world. We have been married for almost 3 years and he is just wonderful.

I am looking for support not to eat the wrong things, not to eat late at night, to remember my goals and help inspire and encourage me. And in return, I am more than willing those things back to others.

Today I found out that my close friend (who is about my size) has been going to the gym and not telling me. She has this thing about trying to loose weight before me so that she can look better than me - very hurtful - but I can control that. Another friend of mine told me that she has been taking a yoga class and loves it! My sister and yet another friend are playing tennis. Everyone is getting active to loose weight - except me - until now. I found out that the gym I am member of (yet dont go to -I know bad, very bad)offers a yoga class and my home association is forming a water areobics class on Monday and Wednesday nights. The area I live in is wonderful and at times I have walked almost 2 miles and did not even realize it, so I need to get moving!

I have a question - do any of you have a hard time standing up because your muscles are so tight? My legs and back hurt when I stand up and I think it is because I have allowed myself to get so out of shape that my body does feel the pain when I try to move it. I have never admitted this anyone before. Anyone have any advice on how to start loosening the muscles?

Thanks for reading this post.

Sylvia

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-2003
Thu, 06-24-2004 - 9:23pm

Welcome to the board Sylvia!

 
Avatar for brens2boys
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Thu, 06-24-2004 - 9:30pm
Welcome Sylvia!Glad you found this board,these women are great!!I'm 32 as well and am the heaviest in my family,ugh.My sister-in-law sounds like some of your friends....where she will go and try to lose weight before me,how awful is that?!Anyways,looking forward to getting to know you better..post often =)

Bren

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-17-2004
Thu, 06-24-2004 - 9:31pm
Dear Sylvia - sounds like you're ready to start heading in the right direction. That's the first step.

I have just admitted, only a few days ago, that my knees kill me and ache when they never have before. (Along with a whole bunch of other things that are slightly embarassing!) I am attributing my problems to the amount of weight I am carrying (I'm 5' and at 262).

Having lost a significant amount of weight before and gaining it back, I can honestly say my muscles, joints, bones etc., feel so much better when I don't weigh this much. Just eating healthy and moving more, exercising whatever, helps everything work better.

So, here I sit, the heaviest I've ever been and I'm just making little changes, like taking baby steps only to not overwhelm myself and give up.

I too notice everyone around me, including co-workers, exercising and eating healthy and felt guilty up until a week ago. I almost felt like everyone started getting too obsessed. Until I jumped on the band wagaon and it doesn't feel like a bad place to be.

So, I wish you good luck and much success in your journey to healthy living. Looking forward to getting to know you!

Kerry

267/262/140

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2004
Thu, 06-24-2004 - 10:08pm
Welcome, Sylvia! You've come to the right place for support. First of all, yes I used to experience some discomfort in my legs and back. Mostly it was stiffness. I think due to my inactivity and weight my legs would get so stiff that I would actually have trouble going DOWN stairs! I don't think I've ever admitted that to anyone before now. But I've been exercising since the beginning of the year and I don't experience any soreness or stiffness anymore. I'm also a lot more flexible than I used to be (but still have a LONG way to go!) I used to have a hard time just putting my socks on in the morning, but now it's getting a lot easier. I started off slowly and I would recommend that you do the same. Rely gave you some good tips. I used Leslie Sansone's Walk away the Pounds tapes (especially since it was winter time then and I couldn't get outside to walk) and they definitely helped. Maybe you could start by going for a 10-15 minute walk. Just do what you can, and slowly increase it as you get stronger. Don't try to do too much too soon or you'll get exhausted and frustrated or worse, risk injuring yourself. But keep at it and I promise you that you'll start to feel better.

That must be frustrating to have a friend who feels the need to lose the weight before you do. Please remember that everyone loses at different rates and you need to go at your own pace. Don't compare your weight loss to hers, or anyone elses for that matter. I know it's tempting to compare yourself to others, but weight loss is such an individual thing that it's really best to just worry about your own progress. It will come in good time and actually they say it's better to lose it slowly. You have more of a chance of keeping it off that way.

Again, welcome and I look forward to getting to know you better :)

~~Linda

~~Linda

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
Thu, 06-24-2004 - 10:14pm
Hi Sylvia and welcome! You post reminded me of ME! I'm 31, needed to lose 100 pounds, did the nursing pre-requisite thing, passed the tests and waited - hope you get in...I did, but I DIDN'T...top 100 but only room for 80..ARRRGH! - and still need all the help I can get with not eating the wrong things... I have lost 107 pounds since Dec 2000 and feel pretty good. Yes, muscles and things do hurt, and when I'm not active enough, it REALLY used to hurt, and I swear that you would never think that moving around would help, but it does. You don't have to all crazy, work your way into it slowly, but over the past six months I have really increased my flexibilty and have turned into Gumby, according to my boyfriend. Oh, anf THIS struck home for me as well -

"Today I found out that my close friend (who is about my size) has been going to the gym and not telling me. She has this thing about trying to loose weight before me so that she can look better than me - very hurtful - but I can control that."

Oooooooooh...I have one of those, too. She joined WW in January and has lost over 50 pounds and is RACING to catch up to me, and is constantly asking me for my clothes that I grow out of, never has congratulated me on losing weight, and she and her mother are really annoyed with me because I lost weight FIRST. OH ,GROW THE HELL UP! How immature is THIS ? Some people are are catty, competitive and when it comes to women and weight loss, this is the kind of behavior that makes you want to push her in front of a bus.

As far a s muscle tightness goes, try walking for 10-20 minutes and then stretch. never stretch cold muscles - that will make it worse. A good butt'hamstring/lower back stretch is to lie on your back, bend legs at knee and have feet flat. Take one foot and rest on opposite knee, like you were crossing your legs. Hold the crossed knee and ankle and pull towards you. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. As far as hammies go, put a foot on a chair and stretch one at a time. Somtimes when you bend straight over to do both, it can aggravate any exisisting back pain.

Glad to meet you and sorry for my rambling....You just reminded me of me alot !

Amy

265/WAS 158.5, now 160 */155

* Got into Pringles & Ben n' Jerry's last night in a PMS fit.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2003
Thu, 06-24-2004 - 11:13pm

Hi Sylvia, I'm new as well. I think this board is awesome too! I also have about 100lbs to lose, and I know how that feels to admit that to yourself. I would suggest for your muscles to get in the water as soon as possible. The water will help take off the pressure and impact on your legs and joints and improve your flexibility. Some people, even thin, are not flexible at all. It doesn't *really* have anything to do with weight. I know lots of very overweight people (self included) that are extremely flexible.... for some people it just takes time elongating those muscles. It is definitely something that can be achieved in a shorter amount of time than you think :))


Take care and keep us posted :)


Misty


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-23-2004
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 12:32pm
Welcome to the board, Sylvia! You're not alone anymore. This is a board full of ladies and at least one gent (Tony aka catfisherman) who're going through the same experiences and struggles as you are. I'm Vikki, 34, married mom of two kiddos, trying to lose around 145 lbs. We can all reach our goals together and have a lot of fun along the way ;0)

As far as your muscle tightness and aches go, I would suggest you see a doctor about that before you start an exercise program just to rule out anything serious. That way you know you're starting off in relatively good health (not counting the weight issue). You wouldn't want to start exercising and irritate a condition you didn't realize you had.

Again, welcome to the board! Jump right in and join the fun!

Vikki

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2004
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 12:51pm

Hi there Sylvia and welcome to the boards!

 

  Shawna

Avatar for angelinoh
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 6:06pm
welcome to the board Sylvia =)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 6:19pm
Welcome to the board Sylvia! Sounds to me like you are on the right path. It's hard to get into the exercise thing. I've heard somewhere it takes about 6 weeks to make it become a habit. I've thought about yoga before, someone in my school district does this once a week at our building and a bunch of people do it with her. A friend of mine does the water aerobics and she is much heavier than me and just loves it! She said it is a real good workout. Find what you love and just go for it! I wished I had a workout buddy, but I don't. I don't let that get in my way. I go to Curves 3 times a week and have been going since April and I just love everyone there. Everyone is so encouraging. Whatever you do know that you can come here anytime for support and a few laughs too, lol. The ladies here are great! Hugs!

Heather


20 days till I get married and off to Mexico!

Heather and Shawn 7/16/04