2009/10 Weightloss Support Thread
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free skin care · Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:21 pm

The New Year is almost upon us, so I am starting a thread for anyone that may be focusing on losing some weight in 2009.

2008 was the Year of the Skin for me (and a convenient way for me to avoid the body Rolling Eyes

), and I am declaring 2009 to be my Year of the Body. I actually had to start my program a little early (12/ Cool

and will weigh in on my issues and plan tomorrow.

Feel free to join me...a little public accountability and support can go a long way!!

free skin care · Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:34 pm

Count me in Toot's! In the past 6 years since my leg drama began, it's been all down hill healthwise, to the tune of an additional 20ish lbs, from having to be a couch ho'.

This thread could be just the thing to motivate each other, share some good ideas, and rant or rave on what is working or not..

So now I have to ask you this...Are you going to seriously try to start losing weight before the holiday's? ... Rolling Eyes

Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:53 am

Hi

I lurk a lot around here but I also need to lose about 20lbs.

I am starting straight away, I have an event the end of February I want to look good for, I need every bit of help I can get Laughing

Even if you dont decide to get serious till after the holidays. There is still small changes you can make now. Drink more water, try and walk more or incorporate some sort of exercise.

free skin care · Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:21 am

I'm in. I don't have too much fat to lose, I would say 10 lbs., but the last 10 lbs are really hard to get off. My goal is not just to lose the fat, but to build some muscle and strength. Very important in my opinion when aging. I train with weights 3 days a week, walk my dogs daily, and am wanting to start adding in about 2 days a week of Tabata. I am hard core with weights/training, but my diet is my downfall, and I believe diet is 90% of how you look.

free skin care · Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:36 am

Count me in too. Though I probably won't make a lot of progress till after the holidays. Sad

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:24 am

So here is my story, including some history...

Background:
I have consistently had a problem working far too many hours my entire career...about 7 years ago my body just started shutting down, and that resulted in thyroid and adrenal issues, plus I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. I also have had a systemic Candida (yeast) infection for 20+ years which makes it even more difficult to lose weight.

I made a life change 6 years ago to manage my hours and stress levels, took a year off from work, and concentrated on my health. My Fibro specialist put me on a very specific plan, and I eventually dropped 45 lbs, but still wanted to lose another 10lbs to reach my optimal weight. But I am now right back in the high stress job scenario, and need to focus on that again too.

The Breaking Point:
All was well until 18 months ago when I had to have major surgery because my nose was literally collapsing on my face due to a bad deviated septum repair 20 years ago. Shock

The surgery kicked my butt (probably due to the Fibro), and I was unable to work for a month, and VERY exhausted for 9 months. I also had to eat soft foods for 3 weeks (pudding and ice cream) and it basically restarted my carb cravings. I have not been diligent about managing my carbs since then, and I ended up regaining 21 lbs. Sad

Add in the wine I was consuming as part of my dermarolling numbing routine, and my yeast levels were happily flourishing...I could probably produce my own bread at this point, though I had no symptoms. Rolling Eyes

Action Required:
It finally all blew up the first week of December, and I broke out in horrible skin rashes in numerous places on my body...total agony to say the least. I was already planning to focus on weight loss on Jan 1, but I was forced to make some severe diet modifications early to get the yeast levels under control, plus add in some heavy anti fungal meds because the outbreak was so severe. But a perk of this should be (and better be!) that I lose some weight in the process.

My Game Plan:
So I have started my diet on 12/8...because it is so critical to get this yeast under control, I will not be tempted in any way by anything that is not on my very restricted list of foods (I am basically living on salads, tuna or salmon,and vegetables throughout the day in 5 small meals)

I am also using Fitday.com (free) to track every thing I put in my mouth...it makes me VERY accountable to my caloric intake and protein/fat/carb balance.

My Goal:
My weight has held me back in so many ways (primarily dating, and a refusal to meet any new people...I am very much a hermit since I work at home) so I am ready to lose this weight and KEEP it off.

My goal is to lose the 21 lbs, plus another 9....30lbs in total. This will put me at an optimal weight for my build, and the lowest I will have weighed since the early 90's.

Progress:
I am going to plan on checking in numerous times a week, because I will really need some support to stay on plan after the rashes subside. I will also need some reinforcement in the exercise arena...my downfall in life, sigh.

So that's it in a nutshell...I hope everyone will join in on a daily basis and support one another in their weight loss venture!

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:31 am

Sounds like a plan, Bethany. I will check in here with you. I need the accountability on sticking with a clean diet!

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:01 pm

Well, I was down 1.5lbs this morning. I'm sure it is just water, but even it was just poop, I would be take the loss and be darn happy! Very Happy

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:02 pm

Good idea bethany! Count me in. I need to get the 20 lbs off that I put on since retiring from nursing....plus I had knee surgery 2 months ago, so my walking regime and yoga came to a standstill.

Diet schmiet....I have zero willpower. The problem is, it doesn't bother me enough to be motivated to do something about it...yet. I know it's unhealthy to be even 20 lbs overweight, so I need to motivate myself.

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:26 pm

I know what you mean about taking the 1.5 lbs loss even if it is poop! Laughing

An idea, we could have weekly or monthly weigh-ins. Not sure if everyone wants to post that info on line or not. I will be keeping track of inches, as well!

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 4:32 pm

I am going to weigh myself daily. Granted, it does go up and down regularly...I can handle the brief ups, but I would hate to miss a down, even if it was gone the very next day! Very Happy

But I only do measurements once every 2 weeks or once a month.

I even have a silly spreadsheet I built that calculates all kinds of stuff...I need to find that and pull it out! I basically become VERY focused on getting those numbers to DROP.

Of course, having lost 45lbs before, I know which drill works best to keep me motivated and on target. I am sure that everyone has their own plan that works for them.

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:51 am

Up a pound today, darn it (but not unexpected, of course).

The good news is that I have eaten more vegetables this week that I have consumed in the last 18 months, lol. Amd I have no desire to deviate from plan...yay! Plus my skin rashes are slowly going away, so I'm making progress.

Now I have to start working some exercise in there too (in addition to my facial exercise, of course!).

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:37 am

Not unexpected at all, Bethany. Weighing every day I am sure you will see variations on the weight! Good for you on your veggies!

Fridays are my "weigh days", and I was 122 lbs. Same as the last 3 months! I have spent the prior 3 months weighing everything I put in my mouth, focusing on high protein, and generally getting no where! So, this is going to sound really silly, but right now I am focusing on just eating when I am hungry and stopping before I am full, and keeping portion sizes to the size of my fist. I will keep this up through December and see how the weight loss goes! (I am doing this because my downfall is just eating without thinking, sometimes I am hungry when I eat, sometimes not - hence my new experiment!)

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:41 am

I need the support & help too. I've joined Weight Watchers too many times to mention. I quit and gain more weight. (When you tell me I can't have it I want it even more!) I need a new knee or two so I have to lose weight. I eat without thinking so I have to train my eyes to portion control. It seems that I've been eating "man sized" portions. I have a house of men so when serving them I'd eat the same. Gee, I know what the problem is, why can't I fix it? Did I mention my potato chip * spam alert *? rileygirl, your plan sounds like a good one.

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:40 pm

fawnie wrote:

Good idea bethany! Count me in. I need to get the 20 lbs off that I put on since retiring from nursing....plus I had knee surgery 2 months ago, so my walking regime and yoga came to a standstill.

bethany wrote:

Background:
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. !

I have so much in common with both of you..I'll start with fawnie... I retired from nursing 6 years ago when I had a major fall at work and tore my knee to shreads..Long story short, is two surgeries under my belt, that left me worse off, and I have to have a total knee replacement.

Now to Beth; I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia + chronic fatigue this past February.. To add insult to injury, I also have fairly advanced arthritis and osteoporosis. Now throw in the ravages of menopause over the last 8 years, and well, you get the picture..

As you both well know from your own experiences, these conditions don't allow for a very active life style .. Sad

Even though we have the desire, our bodies dictate other plans.... I hate being a couch ho, and try my best to take advantage of the days that aren't so tough, but it just isn't enough, and the weight just keeps creeping up.

I went from a ridiculousy active 2 job career working 60 hours per week, to my couch, in one fell swoop...and things got progressively worse from there. I use every bit of energy I can muster to take care of my grandkids a couple of days a week, to help out sonny boy who has MS. Other than that, the rest of the time is a very sedentary life..

I would love to lose 20 lbs also, and like fawnie, have zero willpower for "diet schmiet".. Laughing

I think what will work for me has to be more of a lifestyle/eating change that I can live with... I know that the ticket to losing weight and keeping it off, is to eat less and move more. With that in mind, here's my half assed plan to start with;

- As Beth mentioned in her post 4 or 5 *small* healthy meals per day.. One of my problems is I'm not hungry because of the lack of exercise, so have only been eating dinner and a late evening snack... That is the worse thing anybody can do because our bodies, being the smart machines they are, will hoard every bit of fat and carbs, because it knows it won't be fed again regularly. (Did you ever know anyone, or say this yourself? "I don't know why I gain so much weight, I hardly ever eat?" So my medical education has taught me that to keep the metabolism at it's highest, feed your body something light and healthy every 3 hours...

- Move more: That will be my obstacle, but if I plan my meds accordingly, I should be able to get in 30 minutes of aerobic activity (to start) every day....DH just put together a stair stepper and exercycle that he tweaked to accomodate my bum right leg...Such a toot's he is ..

The dear guy told me "Why do you want to lose weight, when you finally got an arse...(Gotta love those Italian boys, dontcha.. Laughing

)

So that's my tale of woe and 2 cents worth...I'll look forward to sharing the weight loss journey with all of you.. Thanks Beth, for this great thread!

BIG hugs to all...

Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:41 pm

If anyone's looking for some advice, I'm midway through a year of training, losing fat, building muscle, etc. I'm by no means a pro, but I've learned a lot of things that may be helpful...

Some random tips:

1. I find taking measurements a much more accurate tool than weighing yourself. Of course weight is important, but when you start seeing actual inches fading away, it's much more gratifying. Get a measuring tape!

2. Cardio training is great (and essential), but you're only burning calories while you're doing it. Weight training will not only allow you to gain muscle, but that muscle will in turn burn calories around the clock. Walking throughout the day isn't enough. (This of course would differ for those who are incapable of that type of exercise)

3. Complex-carbs (grains, etc.) keep you full for longer periods of time. Simple sugars metabolize quickly and you'll in turn feel hungry more often.

4. If you are married/coupled, creating a new lifestyle solo is virtually impossible (unless you're on opposite schedules). If you're eating healthy dinner and he/she is eating McDonalds, you're bound to fall off the bandwagon.

5. I don't believe in "cheating". If you allow yourself *some* of the foods you love, along with a host of new and healthy foods, you don't have to cheat. Eating at home is also important, it's very difficult to gauge what you're eating if you eat out all the time.

Good luck to everyone in the new year! In the past 6 months my body fat % has gone from 29% to 5% (which is a subjective measurement, but I'm still happy about it).

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:46 pm

rileygirl wrote:

Fridays are my "weigh days", and I was 122 lbs. Same as the last 3 months! I have spent the prior 3 months weighing everything I put in my mouth, focusing on high protein, and generally getting no where!

Argghh! I won't even be 122 if I meet my goal.. Rolling Eyes

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:59 pm

I'm short, Kassy. Very Happy

My weight may be "low" but my body fat is high. My doctor wants me to get to 115 or below!

doohicus, try the fist size portions. It will get your mind "right" regarding portion sizes. You can try the measuring cups and scale for weighing foods. When I first started using a scale and measuring cups to weigh things, it was a total surprise how small a "portion" size of something is, like a "bowl of cereal". My bowl of cereal used to be just that, a whole bowl filled with cereal, but when I started actually measuring a serving size, I was shocked just how much cereal should be eaten (it ain't much!! Shock

)

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:46 pm

rileygirl wrote:

Not unexpected at all, Bethany. Weighing every day I am sure you will see variations on the weight! Good for you on your veggies!

Fridays are my "weigh days", and I was 122 lbs. Same as the last 3 months! I have spent the prior 3 months weighing everything I put in my mouth, focusing on high protein, and generally getting no where!

But aren't you working out heavily? You could be gaining muscle and losing fat...I think inches and bodyfat measurements are what you should be watching instead of pounds.

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:56 pm

Kassy_A wrote:

bethany wrote:

Background:
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. !

I have so much in common with both of you..I'll start with fawnie... I retired from nursing 6 years ago when I had a major fall at work and tore my knee to shreads..Long story short, is two surgeries under my belt, that left me worse off, and I have to have a total knee replacement.

Now to Beth; I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia + chronic fatigue this past February.. To add insult to injury, I also have fairly advanced arthritis and osteoporosis. Now throw in the ravages of menopause over the last 8 years, and well, you get the picture..

As you both well know from your own experiences, these conditions don't allow for a very active life style .. Sad

Even though we have the desire, our bodies dictate other plans.... I hate being a couch ho, and try my best to take advantage of the days that aren't so tough, but it just isn't enough, and the weight just keeps creeping up.

Kassy, I see a Fibro specialist in Boca, and he was responsible for getting me out of bed and far more active again...I am happy to share some of the medical tests he had me take (VERY insightful) and a book you should read if you want to PM me. If I follow that plan, I feel AWESOME....if I don't, I feel like crap.

When I followed his diet advice, weight fell off me, and I am looking forward to that happening again. You are right on target with eating every 3 hours...he told me to get a timer if I needed a reminder.

He also told me that I needed to eat 5-15 grams of protein at every meal. Because most Fibro patients also have yeast issues (whether you see symptoms or not), he had me limit my carbs to some degree. I personally chose to limit them quite heavily, and actually feel the best when I am eating low carb (though I sure prefer the taste of carbs! Very Happy

)

I also weigh my food (at least at the beginning) to make sure that I am NOT eating more than 5-15 grms of protein...it adds up very quickly. Like Riley said, portions sizes are really VERY small.

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:58 pm

bethany wrote:

But aren't you working out heavily? You could be gaining muscle and losing fat...I think inches and bodyfat measurements are what you should be watching instead of pounds.

Agreed, but sadly, no measurement changes around my waist/belly area. I have lost 1" around my hips and maybe about 1/4" around my thighs. Otherwise, no change in measurements anywhere else. Sad

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:59 pm

Kassy_A wrote:

(Did you ever know anyone, or say this yourself? "I don't know why I gain so much weight, I hardly ever eat?" So my medical education has taught me that to keep the metabolism at it's highest, feed your body something light and healthy every 3 hours...

BTW, this was totally me...and still is to some degree. Embarassed

I am working a ton of hours right now, and never eat more than 2x a day. My metabolism has been at a crawl FOREVER, and only stays up when I eat 5x a day as recommended.

This is another reason for me to add in weight training...more muscle burns more calories all day.

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:06 pm

dpenn wrote:

Good luck to everyone in the new year! In the past 6 months my body fat % has gone from 29% to 5% (which is a subjective measurement, but I'm still happy about it).

D, are you male? I am gussing from your bodyfat %, because that is definitely not a recommended % for women. And congrats on that transformation...VERY impressive!

I thought your tips are great, and would add the following:

Taking measurements is also important because weightloss generally goes through 2 cycles...pounds decrease, then the body adjusts and you see a decline in inches. This cycle repeats over and over and is usually quite obvious in people who have more to lose.

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:37 pm

My goodness, we are all such a sensible bunch... And look at all the wonderful info and tips already and we haven't even filled a page... Laughing

-------------YAY US-------------

Beth, thanks for the offer on the Fibro specialist in Boca...I've been seeing a Rheumatologist the last couple of months, but I'm really not gaga over him....Boca is only 40 minutes south of me, so I'm very interested..

I'll PM ya for the details, and thanks!

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:50 pm

Here is a diet finding I just discovered...

Fish is a staple for me...I don't eat a ton of red meat, and chicken is just ok. Plus I don't have time (or the desire) to cook much of the time, so I am all about convenience. That means that I like to throw some tuna or salmon on top of a salad and be done with it. Unfortunately, the sodium level is higher than I would like in both canned or packet tuna and salmon. Sad

However, tonight I discovered that they make canned tuna and salmon in low sodium versions...yay!!! Yes, I may have to pay a little more, but my health and blood pressure is worth it.

BTW, I actually prefer canned wild-caught salmon to farm-fed salmon fillets...I will not eat farm fed due to all the crap they add in the feed. Mad

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