Looking for inspiration and motivation!!
As some of you know I am new to this whole message board....get to know you type of thing, but it's getting easier (I'm a very private person). Anyway I'm just starting this weight loss journey and taking it seriously this time. So I went to my TOPS group tonight and I decided to stay for the meeting, see usually I'm really busy and so I just go to weigh in, but tonight I decided I've put myself off long enough and I needed time for "me" so I stayed. It was inspiring talking to all the ladies about my struggles as well as theirs and what works best for them. See I realized tonight that I need to make time for myself, I need to allow my body to heal from all the trauma I have put it through...you know, all these years of stuffing myself to the brim, lack of exercise...that sort of trauma. So I'm on a healing process that is going to take time. Like everyone says, "this weight didn't appear overnight, so don't expect it to disappear overnight!" I'm not looking for a magical cure, I'm expecting sweat and tears. But I need help, support, inspiration and motivation to help me up the steep hills I'm going to face. That's where you guys come into play.....
I want to know what works for you. Does talking through your struggles with the people on OH help? How about food, do you find you eat more when upset or happy or bored and if so what do you do to replace the food so your not eating? What about exercise, how often and how intense did you work out when starting? I'm looking for hints and tips to kick start my journey. Any help is appreciated and welcomed with open arms. You guys seem like an amazing bunch and I am proud to call you guys my friends!
Take care
~Mandy
Hi Mandy,
We're all on different plans, so you're going to get a lot of answers as to "What works for you?". I had lap band surgery and it helped get off 100 pounds. Then my body said "No more" and I was at a stand still for 3 months. I'm on Atkin's, with Lori right now, and my weight is moving like crazy (down AND up) but I've only been on the diet for a little over 2 weeks, so I'm not sure if it's working for me this time 'round or not. Atkin's was what I did pre-op, and I lost 40 pounds like that. So I figured I'd try it again and see how I do. 
When I'm stressed or bored or whatever I snack on almonds. Just a low-carb snack. They're yummy. Mmm... Exercise, I don't do. I should, and I know that, but I don't, and in my mind, I have a valid reason why I don't. I know for a fact that if I go to the gym, I will be the fattest girl on the machines. And I will be beyond embarassed to move a muscle. I have a treadmill at home, and for that - I have no excuse why I'm not using it. I'm simply lazy.
Definitely coming to this board is a major help for me. I need to feel like I'm not all alone. Most of my friends are skinny minny's, so I am truly the only fat girl in my life. Coming to this board lets me know that I am NOT the only one struggling. We're all sizes (I think I'm still the fattest) and we all go through different problems that we can work out with each other. Finding this site and particularly this board has been a huge help to me.
Stick to this board. It's really uplifting.
Hi Mandy..
Lot's of good questions and there are going to be many diferent answers...
Does talking through your struggles help: For me.. yes. There are people on this site who have been at it longer than I have and it's a learn as you go experience.
How about food: I tend to eat when bored. I try to avoid it by doing little projects around the house. I'll plant something, mow something, paint something, clean something.. whatever. I may make a second trip to the gym (although I'm avoiding any gym lately). Maybe grab a guitar late at night and go sit on the porch.
Exercise: I was going twice a day, 6 days a week. Each day consisted of 2 hours of cardio and on 3 of those days I did an hour of weights. I'm trying to back off for two weeks (3 days), then going to pick it back up on Monday.
As far as hints/tips... depends on what plan you're following. I lost about 100 doing low carb (although Janina is kicking my butt on it right now). I've been halted since April so I'm tryin' to mix it up a bit... sort of REMIND my body what it is I've been doing with it for the past year!
Whichever plan you choose, I'm sure you're going to find someone here who is doing it! It doesn't matter anyway.... for most issues, we all kinda put our 2 cents in unless they are plan specific.
Good luck.. God be with you!!
Lori
One of the best things about it is that as you type your feelings about food and diet and exercise, it actually helps you to process your feelings once you read what you wrote. I never realized just how much I had actually overcome and I wasn't giving myself credit for that until I started talking to everyone else here. I stay so focused on losing the last bit of weight and maintenance, I never really examined my journey. But it's important to be proud of your accomplishments even if it's to say you didn't inhale a cake today. That's better than whatcha done yesterday ain't it???
My main focus was changing my relationship with food. I was an emotional eater and my Daddy fed me to show he cared. So when I was emotional, food felt damned good and comforting. But that's not what God put it on this earth for. It's to sustain a well oiled machine so it's only fuel. It's OK to enjoy fine food, but it's not OK to NEED any food. As for exercise, I started out doing cardio...power walking, well I didn't start out POWER walking, but I worked my way to it. Cardio is really the best way to burn fat and calories when you can't move well. But as you progress with what you are able to do physically, strength training is something you need to learn about cuz toned muscles burn calories. How cool is that...you burn calories when you're vedging!
Stick around and you'll hear different ways to skin the same cat.
Mary
You guys are absolutely amazing! I only have a few minutes but I wanted to let you know I've learned sooooo much in just the few posts so far! I plan on starting up water aerobics when the pool is finally done being "maintained"...that should only be a couple more days. I've done water aerobics before and really enjoyed it. That was "me" time and I lost weight and inches too! I also started a weight loss challenge at work today....uughh! It has it's ups and downs, but it's more for accountability for me. Well the kids need help with their homework so I better get going. Again, thanks for all the advice, especially the one about "skinning a cat".....LOL I think I wet myself!
Later
on 9/3/08 8:04 pm
Mandy:
My advice is to take your weight loss journey one day at a time....or one meal at a time.....or one bite at a time. It's so easy to fall into the "all or nothing" pattern - "well I screwed up this meal, so I'll just screw up the rest of the day and start tomorrow." And then we all know the pattern - same thing happens the next day. Getting rid of that "all or nothing" thinking has helped me during my journey to lose weight and maintain my weight.
Food wise, I eat several smalls meals a day and I strive to eat some type of protein with each one. I'm a carboholic and could live the rest of my life never eating another bite of protein and I'd be perfectly happy and satisfied. But, as Mary said, food is fuel, NOT just for enjoyment so I do what is good for my body. Keep in mind I'm not perfect so there are meals or days when I don't do what I've committed to do. I just let it go and move on to the next meal and strive to do better.
Exercise wise, I think it's critical to move everyday. I don't consider activities of daily life to be exercise so when I'm not recovering from surgery (which is rare lately), I do cardio and weight training every day. I know some people can't fit that into their schedule but I think it's important to make exercise a habit - it's as important to me as brushing my teeth. As Mary said, try to build some muscle and that will keep your metabolism stoked even while you're sleeping. I can eat SO much more now than I could in the past and maintain my weight because I've taken steps to ensure my metabolism is going. And the bonus with exercise is that it makes you feel better and toned muscles look good too!
There are lots of different plans; you have to find what works for you long-term because in order to maintain weight loss, it has to become a lifestyle.
Welcome, good luck with your journey and keep posting!
Kim
Anyhoooooo,
Yes, it helps to come here and declare what I plan to eat, then come back and edit truthfully. If you have never done that, you will be amazed at the eye-opening experience it can be! This is called being accountable, very important piece of self inventory.
I USED to eat when bored/upset/happy first thing, but NOW I seriously try to have my food plan laid out before I hit the ground running in the morning.
That last sentence was easy to type, easy to read, right???? GURL, this took YEARS to get past.
I call it "bypassing the Regret Stage". I STOP and THINK first before eating off plan, and just that very simple thing stopping/thinking helps me NOT eat it, and end up feeling proud, not like a failure!
I went to OA for years to actually work thru this. Also, WW was one of the final things that taught me not to be afraid to eat. I over ate - a LOT - simply because I was starving. I would go with so little food all day, then wonder why I snapped later in the day. Dumb, but I learned from boards like this that many women really do starve/binge.
I work hard every day at not getting too hungry/angry/lonely or tired! Those states of mind are dangerous for triggered, mindless eating.
If you have a lot of anger triggers, like an unhappy job/marriage, deal with why you are that unhappy! Again, life is imperfect, but we can make things anger-free and reach acceptance.
I promise you this: if you disengage from eating low nutrient foods like candy, fast foods and replace with whole foods like lower fat dairy, lean meat, whole grains, fruits/veggies and good oils, you will LOSE the craving for crap.
I beleive in eating dessert-y foods, but in the manner they were intended, very small portions, rare occasions!
Best of luck and stick around!
"The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not." ~Mark Twain
I'm going to sort of use your post as a piggy back. I too am currently trying to lose weight and live a healthier life. I've been watching my food intake for the past 2 weeks and have already lost a few pounds and will be starting weigh****chers tomorrow, Sunday. Have you tried that? In addition, I will be incorporating exercise... but certainly not more than an hour. I don't know how all these people do 2,3 hours a day. ahhh... Anywho, keep goin'. I will be praying for you.
What always helps me is constantly saying to myself: "I was meant to be skinny and healthy and damnit... HAPPY! I was meant to be in control of my life" I know that sounds cliche and corny, but it helps me! Good luck, girl!
-Augustina
