This is my leap, please catch me

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-27-2006
This is my leap, please catch me
12
Sun, 08-05-2007 - 4:24am

This is my leap, please catch me.

I am brand new to the board as of this moment and I guess writing this is my declaration of my needing help to become a healthy weight and my surrender to the fact that I have not been able to motivate myself to do this on my own.

I am a nurse. I know better. I really know better! I even think I know what to do. The thing that is so pathetic is that I have patients under my care everyday who are dying right in front of me from completely preventable diseases related to weight. Many of them are smaller than me. That should be motivation enough, right?

I am young. I am motivational to my friends and patients. I am the person that people confide in. I am damn successful in pretty much everything I have ever done….
But against this I am so tiny.

I have friends, family and a boyfriend that love me and does not see the “X” on the tags of the clothes that I buy. I have a good job and tons of support in life. I have been soooo lucky and so blessed.

But I know I will die prematurely if I do not get this weight down. I know I will allow my self-esteem get damaged beyond repair with each pound I gain. I know I will allow myself to miss out on opportunities -- all because of weight.

I know I now need help, hand holding and step by step motivation. I have helped so many people in life and I cherish that I was able to do that. But now I am the one who needs help desperately. To live longer, to liver happier. TO NOT LET WEIGHT WIN!

My name is Andi. I am 32. I weigh 268 pounds. My initial goal weight is 200. I need to loose 100 lbs.

Last night I saw a photo of myself and I really could not believe how ‘round’ I was. I was horrified. I am still horrified. That is not how I see myself! I want to be the healthy person I ‘see’ in myself.

Like I said, this is my leap, please catch me.

Please, please pass on what has worked for you. Your motivations. Your successes. I want to hear them. I need to hear them.

Thank you Comrades,
-Andi

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2003
Sun, 08-05-2007 - 7:34am

Welcome Andi

I understand perfectly what you are saying -- I did Weight Watchers successfully. if you work in a hospital, see if they have an At Work session. I work in a hospital and we have an ongoing at work --

if ww isn't your way, there are many programs that do work, just make sure they are healthy and a program you can live with the rest of your life.

you need to be able to make healthy choices, exercise, drinking plenty of water and journaling. these are the basic tools.

for me i need the support group scenario which helped me through the rough times.

I have been at this weight almost 4 years still living the program (because it works well for my lifestyle) exercising daily and drinking my water. I wear a pedometer during the day and that keeps me moving. as a nurse I am sure you do a lot of steps as well but you still need exercise in conjunction.

good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

Sue
302/139/160

Sue

 

 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Sun, 08-05-2007 - 9:12am

Hey Andi,


Just wanted to say welcome! I'm pretty new here myself, but I hope to see you post often! : )


Sam,


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 08-05-2007 - 9:41am

Hi Andi and welcome!


Congratulations for taking the first step and realizing you need to make a change - not only realizing it, but declaring it!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2006
Sun, 08-05-2007 - 11:20am

Andi,
Congratulations - the first step to solving any problem is admitting that there is a problem.

You can do this - it is very hard, very long, very slow, and very frustrating. It is also incredibly rewarding, a powerful affirmation of what you ae capable of, ego-boostng, and well worth what it takes to succeed.

I am 20 years older then you are, and my weight story is different, but I am happy to share what has worked for me for you to consider.

For me, this has been a journey to change my life - to totally revamp how I eat, what I eat, when I eat, why I eat, and to make movement/exercise/working out the center of my life. But I have done it one change at a time.

I started by committing to go to the gym three times a week - working with a trainer once a week for an hour, swimming once a week for 30 minutes, riding the stationary bike once a week for 30 minutes. I promised myself I would do that for three months. A few weeks after I started that, I decided that the 200+ calories I was eating by having a bag of chips with my sandwich each day weren't necessary, and I gave those up - again, just to see if I missed them, and I didn't. For the first three months, I didn't weigh myself - in fact, I don't know or sure my starting weight, I approximate based on what I weighed after three months and the rate I was losng, which was a pound a week.

I committed to myself for three years-less time than it would take me to get a college degree...and I am in the four+ year of this and I am not at goal...but I continue to lose, really slowly, and I am not gaining...

Every month, I set a new objective - either a food change, a workout change, an attitude change, a new habit. At each three month interval, I see something happen-weight drop, or my body shape/size changing, or a new way of thinking about myself. I journal if you want to see what I do now you can read it.

When I was heavy, although I was successful at work, I felt mildly ashamed to walk into a room and speak my mind - like if I couldn't control my body, how could I epect to be given control of anything else. Since I have lost weight, when I walk into a room I feel powerful and beautiful - my whole image of myself is much more positive.

I love this board-you get great ideas, and you also see how easy it is for very committed people to get derailed, and to learn what to watch out for.

The first things many people do is up your water intake, replacing soada/juice/fancy coffeee drinks, with water. And find a way to walk 20-30 minutes a day. And journal what you eat, in as much detail as you can stand - the what, when, where, why - don't try to make changes to it, just gather information about you for a few weeks, and then look and see what changes will be easy for you, and make them. You have to keep increasing the intensity/duraton of your exercise, and cleaning up your eating more and more, but if you do, this way of life will last and lead you to a healthy live.

You can jump, we have the net!

Best wishes
SJ
225-164-135

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2007
Sun, 08-05-2007 - 12:05pm

Andi,


I'm so glad you found us!

Annie

"We do not think ourselves into new ways of living.  We live ourselves into new ways of thinking."  &nbsp

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2006
Sun, 08-05-2007 - 12:12pm

Hi Andi,

not sure I have a lot to add.. except welcome! You've received some great advice already and you have many things working in your favor.

What's worked for me in the past is thinking of this as a war I intend to win. I put together some songs that make me feel powerful, turn up the radio and do my cardio or weight training or whatever I happen to be doing that day. might seem a little silly but it worked. I have a loved one that wouldn't be as sick as he is now if he would just lose about 100lbs. It's taken awhile, but I use that as motivation to improve.

breaking up the weightloss into smaller more manageable mini goals and then rewarding yourself with a non food reward after reaching each of them is nice too. I personally do 20lb increments. Of course we cheer on every lb lost like you've reached your goal. :)

What you can do at home.. you said you have a fairly expansive support system there. friends, family, bf.. I imagine all of them would cheer you on as well. Maybe the group of you can get healthy (or healthier) together.

whatever you should decide, we're definitely here for you. Congratulations on making the leap!

Jess

My First 10% of Body Weight

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2006
Sun, 08-05-2007 - 8:53pm
Welcome and best of luck to you.......

 

Angela

image

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2003
Tue, 08-07-2007 - 12:37pm

Hi Andi! My story is very similar to yours - I've accomplished everything in life except losing weight. I will be 32 this week and have been 100 lbs overweight for 8 years or so. I started gaining in college and law school and refused to acknowledge what I was doing to myself. I want to be healthy, have more energy and look great. I am starting over once again. I hate that I hype myself up, do good for a while and then lose all motivation. I followed this board in January, lost 15 pounds and fell off the wagon. As always, I hope this time can be different. It is nice to see that some of the same people are still hanging in there. Congratulations to you all and good luck to the newbies.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-27-2006
Wed, 08-08-2007 - 4:56am

Wow Sue!

You have really done it. That is so refreshing to see.

I have not tried WW but I have thought about it. My schedule used to be too confusing to have a set time of the week but things have settled now. I do work in a hospital but there times do not work with mine because I work nights. Plus, I like the idea of it being outside of work anyway (private/personal seperation).

I am trying to get down the basic tools now.

Thanks for your support!

-Andi

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2003
Wed, 08-08-2007 - 5:03am

Andi

if you are going to meetings your leader can give you some guidelines about the program fitting into night shifts. it is very doable.
remember we all have 24 hours and it just takes some planning and scheduling. I do work in a hospital as well but daytime hours and sometimes you just don't get to eat at normal times but i found the key is planning to eat something every 2-3 hours to keep from getting too hungry. that can be a start for you.

if you want, check my profile and email me.

Sue
302/140/160

Sue

 

 

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