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| Fri, 12-29-2006 - 9:32pm |
I just stumbled across this board and I'm so happy I did. I looked at the i village homepage at a exerpt from a story that sounds a lot like mine. I am a 27 year old teacher almost finished with my MA degree and about to go into school administration. My career is on the right path but my weight is out of control.
I can only type this because I'm in cyberspace...I weight about 265. I'm a size 26. My husband weighs a little more than I do. As a sophomore in high school I weighed about 145 after taking the diet drugs phen-phen. I was a size 10 and loving life. Then, phen-phen was taken off the market (which I'm sure you know) and that was the last time I took a diet drug. In college I was probably a size 18/20. My husband and I met in college and have been inseperable ever since. He is a teacher, too. We both gained a TON of weight after meeting. I feel like we are just that "fat and happy" couple now.
I guess I've fulfilled the "fat" part but maybe not so happy. About 6 months ago I started taking the anti-anxiety drug Lexapro (my doctor will not give me weight loss drugs). The Lexapro has made me feel much better (I have anxiety issues more than depression) yet I know the root cause of everything is my weight. I look at pictures of my young, thin self and I just wonder how I got to this point.
I know I make excuses. My sister is only 2 years older than me and she's a size 8. I always say it must be metabolism, etc. I think that has some to do with it but not everything. After going to a link one of you had put in a post I went to Spark People and put everything I've eaten in the nutrition counter. I can't believe how much calories and fat I'm taking in.
I will finish my Master's degree in May and am on the track to become an administrator. When looking at my "competition" in the hiring pool, I know that there is a strong chance that I wouldn't get hired for that sort of position because of my weight. I'm very energetic and hard working, I dress professionally, etc. but I know if the job was between me and a size 6 woman, I may not get it. Enough about me, I'm rambling now.
I'm ready to make a change. Thanks ahead of time for the advice I've taken from other posts. I know I need support and guidance at this point. I'm starting with baby steps...
Thanks,
Samie

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Hi Samie and welcome to the board. You've come to the right place, let me assure you. The ladies here are wonderful and they will support you through everything.
I know what you mean about your weight being out of control. I feel the same way about my weight, but I have a suggestion for you. Someone on here told me to keep a food diary. So, since then I have been writing everything down that I eat and drink and even include how much and the calories. Before I eat anything, I drink 9 fl. oz's of water. And when I'm not eating, I drink water because it makes me feel full. You should try these tips if you haven't already.
On this board, we are having a water war and basically we see how much water we can drink. There are two teams (the blue team and the red team) and you can sign up if you want to. You have to drink water or flavored water, or ice tea. No cabonated beverages, milk and I think that's it. You might just want to check the thread and read the rules and sign up.
Right now I am on a 1500 calorie diet and if you haven't decided how many calories you want to eat each day, I would.
These are just suggestions and I wanted to welcome you.
You seem to be on the right track and I know the importance to looking your best when you apply for jobs. You can do it! Go for it!
Susan
Samie,
Welcome to the board! I really hope that you can lose the weight you're hoping for in '07 and that you can help others along via this board. I think getting weight control right depends on learning a series of things, mostly about oneself. (And in my case, like many, learning them over and over until they stick.) I could completely relate to your being surprised by how much you were eating. It only takes a couple bites of a certain food to give you a couple hundred calories more than you need a day. Good luck with your efforts! All the best, Annie
Samie,
Congradulations on all your present successes and your decision to lose weight. I know how you feel about comparing yourself to your sister. I have 4 of them and am by far the heaviest (still need to lose about 130 lbs). My fiancee and I are trying to lose the weight together. He didn't want to be involved at first, but has since changed his mind. Stay positive and best wishes for the New Year!
Dee
Age: 25 (almost)
Highest weight: 310
welcome and I wish you the best of luck!!
I know what you mean about weight maybe not getting
Angela
Samie
Samie,
I'm glad that you found the board because it is full of wonderfully supportive people! We all share many of the same life experience and it is relief to not explain our feelings all the time.
It sounds like your career is going very well. I went to college for teaching (3 years) and stopped because I couldn't handle being in front of my peers anymore. I wound up working in day care and loved it but deep within I do wish I would have finished my degree. I was NEVER uncomfortable in front of the children but speaking in front of adults created tons of anxiety for me.
What kind of program are you going to follow? Just counting calories and exercising or will you participate in a "diet" plan like WW, Jenny Craig, La Weight Loss, etc, etc?
Wishing you the best of luck!
Melissa
Welcome to Samie and Melissa (love the furbaby!). I am a teacher too, trying to get hired. I went back to college to get my teaching credential at age 40, so I have age going against me as well. I've had lots of interviews, but I get so nervous, thinking they're judging me and then I forget to say important things. I've been subbing, long-term subbing and even had my own class a couple of times, on a temp basis, but the permanent job is elusive.
Melissa, I assume you're a lot younger than I am (48) so it's not too late for you to get that teaching degree! I went to school part time at first, just one or two classes a quarter, and I eventually got it all done. I say go for it!
Samie, good luck in administration. What sort of position are you looking for?
There are some great, supportive women on this board and I know we can all help each other to reach our goals. Good luck to you both and I look forward to getting to know you better.
Mary
247/221.5/135
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for your reply. Right now I'm just counting calories, drinking A LOT of water and going on my exercise bike. I'm taking it one day at a time.
I saw your profile...I love Disney, too.
Take Care!
I just looked at your profile because I wanted to see if you were in Florida by any chance. We couldn't be farther apart. That's too bad, we really have a critical shortage of teachers around here (SW FL). I subbed at first and so did my husband before getting jobs. I've been teaching for 5 years. I'll intern this summer (300 hours) then be in the applicant pool to be an assistant principal. It's hard because I think some people see me and think I must be lazy because of my weight. This is the farthest thing from the truth. I'm praying and working hard to try to shed some of this weight so people can see the "real me." Thanks for your post. Best wishes to you.
Samie
Samie, I can relate to everything you said. I'm hoping that I'll have lost a good chunk of weight by the time interviews start for next year so my confidence level will be higher! Good luck in the assistant principal interviews!
Mary
P.S. We had a critical teacher shortage here too, when I went back to college. Then, miraculously, when I finished, it was over. :( Many teachers are retiring next year, so hopefully there's a job for me soon!
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