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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-17-2006
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Fri, 03-17-2006 - 5:03pm

Hi just found out about your message board. I've weighed almost 320 pounds in September when I started dieting and exercising. I've now lost 70lbs and am down to 248lbs! I've been overweight since childhood and this is the first time I've had any real success with a diet. My dream goal is to get to 165 which is average BMI for someone 5'9". But I'd settle for just getting to 199, which would be the first time since 7th grade i've weighed under 200 pounds. I just achieved one of mini goals to get below 250, which is someting I haven't been able to do any other diet I've tried. Now I want to get to 230, my husband weighs 235pounds, and by weighing less than him, it will be the first time I've ever weighed less than any man I've been romaticly involved with!
I try to exercise daily, and drink 12 glasses of water a day, as well as keep a food journal. I've been on this diet for 6 months, and I haven't really cheated. Frankly I'm terrified that if I do, I won't be able to stop.
A lot of people comment on my dedication to my diet, especially women who are also dieting but they only need to lose 20 or 30 pounds. I can't explain to them, that losing 100+ pounds is a whole different ballgame than losing 20 or 30. It's nice to find a group of women going through the same thing.

Sara
P.S. I'm in Idaho, age 35, married with 2 small children.
P.P.S reading through your message board, the bit about being afraid to of airplane seats really hit home, it was one of the motivating factors in my dieting. The thought of getting on a plane to Ireland (where my husband's family is) and having to ask for a seat belt extension, in front of my husband (I'd start to cry just thinking of it!)or worse, having to be told I need to purchase another seat for myself!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2003
In reply to: onlysara
Fri, 03-17-2006 - 5:44pm

wow, that is amazing!! GOOD FOR YOU!! you are such an inspiration. you actually make me feel more dedicated to keeping on track. thanks for the post.

and as for trying to explain having to lose so much weight to people who are losing just a little in comparison, i totally understand that! i used to be on another board, and it was mostly women who wanted to lose about 5 or 10 pounds, never more than 30. it's such a different mind set and a whole other way of life, that i'm very happy i found this site instead.

please keep us posted on your progress, and any suggestions you might have! again, that is just amazing, keep up the WONDERFUL work!!!

Erin
260/230/160

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-21-2006
In reply to: onlysara
Fri, 03-17-2006 - 6:06pm

Hey
Welcome....
You have done great on your diet so far....That is so Awesome..
My I ask what type of diet you are doing?

I have lost over 100 lbs before.. (I have not gained it all back.. but I am close to it)
I had a baby and it went down hill from there..
So here I go again..
My weightloss journey started again just a little over 3 weeks ago.
I am down as of today 14 lbs...
I am just really watching what I eat and going to the gym... ( which was so hard for me to do.. you know the skinny people syndrome!)
I have not accomplished the water goal.. I just have trouble drinking that stuff.
( I am working on it)

I have to get on a plane in May.. I hope to fit in the seat!
That is my goal! I also know what you mean by weighing less than hubby..
I can not wait to experience that!

My name is Tracey and I am 37 years old. I have 3 sons 17/14/11.
I will be married 19 years in June.
I hope to see you around a lot..
Tracey

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2005
In reply to: onlysara
Fri, 03-17-2006 - 7:17pm

Wow, already losing 70lbs, you must be so pleased!!

Anyhow, I just wanted to post because I am new too, and we weigh the same!! So you know, it could be useful to have someone to compare ourselves to, and you can kick me into shape hehe!

Take care

Leah.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2006
In reply to: onlysara
Sun, 03-19-2006 - 4:41am

Welcome to the board Sara and CONGRATULATIONS on the 72 pounds lost already!! That's a lot of dedication and hard work. You have every right to be proud of yourself.


I am following the same plan as you. I journal and make sure I drink my water. Still struggling with exercise, but I'll get there eventually.


Don't worry about gaining weight once you "cheat".. if you ever feel tired of this journey and need a break, then think about maintenance. I did this during the holidays.. I was in no mood to journal or follow a reduced calorie diet, and I know I totally blew it some days. But I was aware of what I was eating and when I felt I blew it one day, I"ll be extra good the next day. And things balanced out at the end of the week. I didn't lose any weight, but I didn't gain either. And once I was ready, I picked up from where I left off. You've been on plan for 6

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-10-2006
In reply to: onlysara
Sun, 03-19-2006 - 11:35am
hi sara, im glad you are here and so are the rest of the ladies. omg! when i read your story tears comes to my eyes. you sound so like me...i just started my new beginning a week ago but i'm really excited and very motivated. your story is really an inspiration to me and i want to say THANK YOU! i know i can do this and its ladies like yourself that keeps me going and lets me know that i can do this. thanks you so much and congratulations on reaching your goals....sistah deme
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-17-2006
In reply to: onlysara
Mon, 03-20-2006 - 9:31am

I'm going to L.A. Weight Loss. But I've really modified thier diet on my own. I've been reading every diet book I can find at the libriary, trying to learn as much about nutrition and weight loss as possible. I like the frequent one-on-one contact I get at LA weight loss, but I don't like the where your givin this little book, and expected to stick exactly to the food in there, without deviation and no explanation as to why these foods will work and others won't. Which is where all my reading comes in handy, between that and some really great websites, I figured out the nutrional values of all the foods, and use them as a guideline, and choose my own foods, trying new foods constantly. OF course I don't tell the girls at LA Weight loss this, because they are really parnoid and just repeat their mantra "if it's not in the book you CAN'T EAT IT!". I figure I've been doing my own thing since the 2nd month on the diet, and still losing 3 pounds a week. I mean I'm not stupid, I can read a nutritional label as well as they can and figure out what's healthy and what's not.
Also their diet book doesn't include, healthy choice, south beach or nutrisystem as well as a host of other foods, I suppose because they are competitors with them. But if you read the nutrional labels you can find foods that are almost exactly the same nutritionally as the stuff on their plan.
So by doing this I can comparison shop to save money and have more variety.

As you can figure out, I'm still obsessed by food. I'll probably always be, but I'm taking my obsession in a new direction.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2006
In reply to: onlysara
Tue, 03-21-2006 - 5:32pm

Hey Sara,

What an inspiration you are, I don't even know you, and I AM PROUD OF YOU !!!!

You must feel so great, you keep going sister friend, just keep doing whatever you are doing.

Holly