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  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    Onedaywriter wrote: »
    Hi all.

    I’m new to this group. Just found out about it. I’ve been getting more fit for about 20 months now. Started @ 308 lbs and today I weigh 201.5. I feel so much better physically and emotionally. I’m near goal of 190-195 but this last bit is moving really slow.

    I’m inspired to read your posts and I’m finding MFP to be really helpful with logging my food etc.

    Nice to meet you!!


    Hi @Onedaywriter,

    Welcome to LL. Congrats on an amazing loss.

    I hope you will take some time to explain your process and a little about your journey. Feel free to create a new thread if you are interested.

  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    xX_PhoenixRising_Xx wrote: »
    Hi everyone, I'm Kristy, I'm 41 and from New Zealand. Married with four kids - 16, 14, 11 (twins), and live right by the beach.

    I've had a weight problem since I was a young child. As I got older my weight just got heavier - until 2011 when, at just on 150kg, I was desperate to avoid Weight Loss Surgery (personal preference after my mother had it done) and something just clicked in my brain. I found Weight Watchers, and then in 2013 MFP. By mid 2014 I had lost 73kg / 160lbs and maintained it for two years. I got qualified and started working as a Personal Trainer... but injury, then a chronic pain diagnosis, then severe migraines topped with depression/anxiety (myself and my teenager) and a bunch of other stress, and I went to pieces. I've had to learn not to use food as a coping mechanism, and to break habits of 30+ years. About a year ago I broke my 6 year logging streak on MFP so that I could focus on recovery, and now I've just started logging regularly again and lost a bit since then.

    In general I've gained a heap of weight since mid 2016. Currently 123.7kg / 272.7lbs. Still have migraines and pain, some days worse than others, which are the days that are much harder. But still manageable. So here I am.

    I don't really have a specific weight goal in mind. Back when I was in the mid 70kg range in 2016 I was an NZ size 8/ US size 4 clothing, and it would be nice to get back around that size. But, health is my first priority and I'm not hung up on a particular number - clothes or scale!

    Hi @xX_PhoenixRising_Xx Kristy,

    Welcome.

    I am glad you feel ready again. Let us know how we can help.
  • pessxx
    pessxx Posts: 1,459 Member
    Hi, I am Monica,I am from Romania, I am 52 old 1.70 cm tall (5.7) and I am having now
    128 kilos( 283 lbs)
    I want to lose 53 kilos (117 lbs) (almost my age this year :) ) so I guess there will be a
    final process this time
    I work In IT , supporting the others for It applications
    I am very optimistic with the others and very supportive, I have all the patience in the world
    for everybody around, all of my friends know me as the best person to talk to or
    being confident to.
    But this is not happening always with myself, I have to learn to be more patient, to consider
    that everyday should be an accomplishment and to learn to be good with myself, usually I am
    very severe and I blame myself for every little error

    That's been said I hope I will find all these in this group and succeed and do my metal cleaning
    so that I am encouraged to lose in a consistent rythm

    I am low-carb person, doing Omad, I also like fish, I also have some yoyo experiences and I also do walkins'
    so I guess I am similar to a lot of people here

    Glad to be here! <3
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    pessxx wrote: »
    Hi, I am Monica,I am from Romania, I am 52 old 1.70 cm tall (5.7) and I am having now
    128 kilos( 283 lbs)
    I want to lose 53 kilos (117 lbs) (almost my age this year :) ) so I guess there will be a
    final process this time
    I work In IT , supporting the others for It applications
    I am very optimistic with the others and very supportive, I have all the patience in the world
    for everybody around, all of my friends know me as the best person to talk to or
    being confident to.
    But this is not happening always with myself, I have to learn to be more patient, to consider
    that everyday should be an accomplishment and to learn to be good with myself, usually I am
    very severe and I blame myself for every little error

    That's been said I hope I will find all these in this group and succeed and do my metal cleaning
    so that I am encouraged to lose in a consistent rythm

    I am low-carb person, doing Omad, I also like fish, I also have some yoyo experiences and I also do walkins'
    so I guess I am similar to a lot of people here

    Glad to be here! <3

    Hi @pessxx Monica,

    Is there a reason you are doing omad? Given what you have said about yourself I am worried because you have selected two fairly restrictive protocols low carb + omad. Some people can do this naturally. Others choose it because the internet hypes up what it can supposedly do for weight loss. In any event remember you do not burn any extra calories being miserable.

    I think you should find something nice that you can do for yourself each morning. It can be very small but it might help set the tone for the day. Being kind to yourself really helps the weight loss go by faster.

    Welcome!

  • pessxx
    pessxx Posts: 1,459 Member
    Thank you
    I feel very good with Omad, more energy, less eating which when I am at job I do not have so much time and I need to postphone
    Low carb does not mean no carbs, just under 100
    If this woe is no welcomed, it is ok, I will resume at reading your posts on the group
    thank you
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    pessxx wrote: »
    Thank you
    I feel very good with Omad, more energy, less eating which when I am at job I do not have so much time and I need to postphone
    Low carb does not mean no carbs, just under 100
    If this woe is no welcomed, it is ok, I will resume at reading your posts on the group
    thank you

    It is welcome. We encourage everyone to find their sustainable path. I was just concerned because you said you liked to be harsh with yourself and omad can be harsh for some people.
  • pessxx
    pessxx Posts: 1,459 Member
    all right, thank you for accepting me and good luck to all of us in our journeys!
  • itzaboutme
    itzaboutme Posts: 14 Member
    Starting over again.

    I have a lot to lose and a lot of reasons to do it! I’ve battled my weight since I had my baby - 25 years ago.
    I’m pre-diabetic, and I want to get healthy before my baby has babies.
    I need friends to help me stay motivated.
    Please add me
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    itzaboutme wrote: »
    Starting over again.

    I have a lot to lose and a lot of reasons to do it! I’ve battled my weight since I had my baby - 25 years ago.
    I’m pre-diabetic, and I want to get healthy before my baby has babies.
    I need friends to help me stay motivated.
    Please add me


    Hi @itzaboutme,

    Welcome. I am not sure if you are just here for friends or if you want to participate in this group. Either way I hope you will find an easy path forward for yourself.
  • kecward78
    kecward78 Posts: 229 Member
    Hello Everyone! I'm Keith, 59, 5'10" and started my journey @ 402.8 lbs. back in November of 2019.

    I began by doing a little walking and ramped up by watching videos from a man in New Jersey (USA) who challenged himself to walk 1 million steps in the month of December (side note - he made it with 3 days to spare and reached his millionth step on the steps of the Phila. Art Museum steps where Rocky (original movie) ended his run).

    Well... being as big as I am put a little too much stress on my knee and I was off my feet for more than a week. I bought a knee brace to help, but haven't walked nearly as much. What I have replaced it with is Intermittent Fasting. I do a 16/8 program and it's working - maybe a bit too fast.

    I lost 14.6 lbs. from walking and was down to 388.2 as of Jan. 19th. A little less than 2 lbs. per week. Since that day, I've dropped another 14.8 lbs. to 373.4. I KNOW this is very fast, but I am doing NO physical activity other than short (less than 1/2 mile) walks.

    My short term plan is to get down to 360 (I signed up for a six-month DietBet and have to get down to get my money back/get any winnings). At that point I will either come off IF one or 2 days per week or add more calories to my diet each day. I will, at the 360 mark, begin to add low-level aerobic activity and weight lifting to my program.

    I use MyFitnessPal and MapMyFitness, FitBit (I have a Versa 2), Weight Gurus (a Bluetooth scale that communicates with MFP and FitBit) and home equipment for working out.

    My long term plan is to get back to about 190 lbs. in 2 - 2 1/2 years. Much more important is to do it healthily, with minimal skin sag and a bodyfat % less than 20% (preferably 18%, but I'll be over 61 at this point, so I don't know if it's realistic).

    This is a journey and my plan is to stay consistent. Being a creature-of-habit will help since I seldom stray from my core/my program. And so I begin...
  • dishiznice
    dishiznice Posts: 22 Member
    kecward78 wrote: »
    Hello Everyone! I'm Keith, 59, 5'10" and started my journey @ 402.8 lbs. back in November of 2019.

    I began by doing a little walking and ramped up by watching videos from a man in New Jersey (USA) who challenged himself to walk 1 million steps in the month of December (side note - he made it with 3 days to spare and reached his millionth step on the steps of the Phila. Art Museum steps where Rocky (original movie) ended his run).

    Well... being as big as I am put a little too much stress on my knee and I was off my feet for more than a week. I bought a knee brace to help, but haven't walked nearly as much. What I have replaced it with is Intermittent Fasting. I do a 16/8 program and it's working - maybe a bit too fast.

    I lost 14.6 lbs. from walking and was down to 388.2 as of Jan. 19th. A little less than 2 lbs. per week. Since that day, I've dropped another 14.8 lbs. to 373.4. I KNOW this is very fast, but I am doing NO physical activity other than short (less than 1/2 mile) walks.

    My short term plan is to get down to 360 (I signed up for a six-month DietBet and have to get down to get my money back/get any winnings). At that point I will either come off IF one or 2 days per week or add more calories to my diet each day. I will, at the 360 mark, begin to add low-level aerobic activity and weight lifting to my program.

    I use MyFitnessPal and MapMyFitness, FitBit (I have a Versa 2), Weight Gurus (a Bluetooth scale that communicates with MFP and FitBit) and home equipment for working out.

    My long term plan is to get back to about 190 lbs. in 2 - 2 1/2 years. Much more important is to do it healthily, with minimal skin sag and a bodyfat % less than 20% (preferably 18%, but I'll be over 61 at this point, so I don't know if it's realistic).

    This is a journey and my plan is to stay consistent. Being a creature-of-habit will help since I seldom stray from my core/my program. And so I begin...

    Keith! that's great progress man. from my experience, the weight FLEW off in the beginning and i started right around where you did. I wasn't really working out during those weeks either, just trying to hit 10,000 steps a day. i wouldn't worry, but it seems like you are trying to make changes that will be sustainable. I think intermittent fasting is a great way to do it. keep up the great work, look forward to hearing about your continued success! it's got to feel good. once you get that momentum, you don't wanna stop!
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    edited February 2020
    kecward78 wrote: »
    Hello Everyone! I'm Keith, 59, 5'10" and started my journey @ 402.8 lbs. back in November of 2019.

    I began by doing a little walking and ramped up by watching videos from a man in New Jersey (USA) who challenged himself to walk 1 million steps in the month of December (side note - he made it with 3 days to spare and reached his millionth step on the steps of the Phila. Art Museum steps where Rocky (original movie) ended his run).

    Well... being as big as I am put a little too much stress on my knee and I was off my feet for more than a week. I bought a knee brace to help, but haven't walked nearly as much. What I have replaced it with is Intermittent Fasting. I do a 16/8 program and it's working - maybe a bit too fast.

    I lost 14.6 lbs. from walking and was down to 388.2 as of Jan. 19th. A little less than 2 lbs. per week. Since that day, I've dropped another 14.8 lbs. to 373.4. I KNOW this is very fast, but I am doing NO physical activity other than short (less than 1/2 mile) walks.

    My short term plan is to get down to 360 (I signed up for a six-month DietBet and have to get down to get my money back/get any winnings). At that point I will either come off IF one or 2 days per week or add more calories to my diet each day. I will, at the 360 mark, begin to add low-level aerobic activity and weight lifting to my program.

    I use MyFitnessPal and MapMyFitness, FitBit (I have a Versa 2), Weight Gurus (a Bluetooth scale that communicates with MFP and FitBit) and home equipment for working out.

    My long term plan is to get back to about 190 lbs. in 2 - 2 1/2 years. Much more important is to do it healthily, with minimal skin sag and a bodyfat % less than 20% (preferably 18%, but I'll be over 61 at this point, so I don't know if it's realistic).

    This is a journey and my plan is to stay consistent. Being a creature-of-habit will help since I seldom stray from my core/my program. And so I begin...

    Hi @kecward78

    Welcome to LL.

    I ran your numbers as about 30 pounds in 80 days (middle of November). This averages to 2.68 pounds per week. That is actually fine for someone your size. If you find it sustainable you could maintain the same calorie goal and let your weight loss slow itself down for you. This will require eating an adequate number of your exercise calories when you start again.

    Sometimes we lose weight in what is called "whooshes". I have done it pretty routinely for 2 years. My weight drops for about 2 weeks then seems to slow down or stall for 3 weeks followed by a woosh week that can be a lot of weight in a short amount of time. It is called a whoosh because you are basically unloading a lot of water weight that is masking your fat loss. It is more likely that some of the quick 15 pounds you lost was a whoosh and it was a mixture of current fat loss and fat loss before the 19th that was being masked.


  • merph518
    merph518 Posts: 702 Member
    @kecward78 So glad to have you here! I've been following your progress for a while and you've been doing great. Keep it up!
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    Hi @truff69,

    Just don't start talking about your spreadsheet every chance you get. That is MY thing. lol. kidding of course.

    Welcome. A point of correction in your post. You say you haven't started exercising then you said you were walking. Guess what? You are exercising.

    Welcome. Look around jump in anywhere.
  • harleyhearse
    harleyhearse Posts: 16 Member
    Hi, Congratulations on your success. I wish I knew more about spreadsheets. :( I started my own journey Mid January and am down over 73+ pounds so far. B) I eat 99% non processed food and walk 5 of 7 days a week. I just was gifted a Smart Watch (Thanks to my new friend on MFP..You rock!) and I write down my stats on paper everywhere. Is there an easy way to use a spreadsheet like you have? (Kinda like spreadsheet for dummies?..LOL)
  • truff69
    truff69 Posts: 8 Member
    harleyhearse wrote: »
    Hi, Congratulations on your success. I wish I knew more about spreadsheets. :( I started my own journey Mid January and am down over 73+ pounds so far. B) I eat 99% non processed food and walk 5 of 7 days a week. I just was gifted a Smart Watch (Thanks to my new friend on MFP..You rock!) and I write down my stats on paper everywhere. Is there an easy way to use a spreadsheet like you have? (Kinda like spreadsheet for dummies?..LOL)

    Hi @harleyhearse, I'd be happy to help you (any anyone else) to set up a spreadsheet to track your progress - Google docs is a good place for this. Message me and we can set something up that tracks what you need.
  • cremorna1
    cremorna1 Posts: 133 Member
    Hi! I'd love to join the group! I've been on MFP for 3 years and have been losing and gaining the same 40 lbs over and over again in the past 15 years. :#

    But I need to start again, and I need to believe this time will be different :smile:

    So, I started in March at about 230 lbs and by now I'm down to 214lbs. I exercise daily (walking or at-home strength training) and eat below 1800-1900 cal a day. I'm trying mindful eating & the Beck diet (not really a diet, but a "change the way you think about food" psychology book). I have to say my thinking is really starting to change and I'm enjoying it. I used to be a "all or nothing" person, but am learning that there's more to life than that :)

    I usually eat non-processed home-cooked foods, but I eat anything really. I have tried restrictive diets in the past and I never stick to them long enough, so I don't want to do that again.

    Nice to meet you all!
  • bmeadows380
    bmeadows380 Posts: 2,981 Member
    Welcome, @cremorna1 !

    I know what you mean about the restrictive diets. I don't have the willpower to push through for long with that sort of thing and need as much freedom as possible. I love the idea of not putting a moral value on food; helps me immensely!
  • cremorna1
    cremorna1 Posts: 133 Member
    Hi @bmeadows380!

    After reading your bio, I identified with 2 parts: 1) the ups and downs of weight loss, especially with PCOS, and, most of all, with this: 2) "I don't know what controls that little switch in my mind that gives me the willpower to succeed in dieting, so I don't know what kicks it on or kicks it off, but I wish I could figure it out!" I really-really-really know what you mean!! This time, what made it "click" for me was getting congratulated on my pregnancy - I am NOT pregnant!!! But I'd love to know what really makes me "tick" and how I can control that. I really hope this change in thinking via the book of the Beck diet will help me control "that switch". But every day I am very worried of turning that switch off. And when it's off, it's generally off for 2 years and I gain all the weight back :neutral:

    Anyways, hope this group can help us control the switch. You have been doing really well, and your progress is AMAZING!
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    cremorna1 wrote: »
    Hi! I'd love to join the group! I've been on MFP for 3 years and have been losing and gaining the same 40 lbs over and over again in the past 15 years. :#

    But I need to start again, and I need to believe this time will be different :smile:

    So, I started in March at about 230 lbs and by now I'm down to 214lbs. I exercise daily (walking or at-home strength training) and eat below 1800-1900 cal a day. I'm trying mindful eating & the Beck diet (not really a diet, but a "change the way you think about food" psychology book). I have to say my thinking is really starting to change and I'm enjoying it. I used to be a "all or nothing" person, but am learning that there's more to life than that :)

    I usually eat non-processed home-cooked foods, but I eat anything really. I have tried restrictive diets in the past and I never stick to them long enough, so I don't want to do that again.

    Nice to meet you all!

    Hi @cremorna1,

    Welcome to LL.

    I am also a reformed All or Nothinger. I was also once very restrictive.

    I follow an 80/20 mindset now and that is a guideline not an unbreakable rule. 80 nutrient dense and 20 whatever I want. If I do that most days I will never care about the days that most of my food is processed or even fast food because I do not have time to do much else. I believe flexibility is important if a plan is going to survive a sometimes crazy life.

    I think you will find that many of our LL principles are in line with CBT or at least we are not at total odds.

  • bmeadows380
    bmeadows380 Posts: 2,981 Member
    cremorna1 wrote: »
    Hi @bmeadows380!

    After reading your bio, I identified with 2 parts: 1) the ups and downs of weight loss, especially with PCOS, and, most of all, with this: 2) "I don't know what controls that little switch in my mind that gives me the willpower to succeed in dieting, so I don't know what kicks it on or kicks it off, but I wish I could figure it out!" I really-really-really know what you mean!! This time, what made it "click" for me was getting congratulated on my pregnancy - I am NOT pregnant!!! But I'd love to know what really makes me "tick" and how I can control that. I really hope this change in thinking via the book of the Beck diet will help me control "that switch". But every day I am very worried of turning that switch off. And when it's off, it's generally off for 2 years and I gain all the weight back :neutral:

    Anyways, hope this group can help us control the switch. You have been doing really well, and your progress is AMAZING!

    Good luck with that! This is my second round, well technically third. The first time I lost 90 lbs was in 2012; by 2017, I'd gained all but 5 lbs back. In 2017, I lost 100 lbs; in 2018 and the beginning of 2019, I gained 30 of it back. Now I've got that 30 back off and am 12 lbs even further, and hoping to keep going this time. Though at least I only gained 30 lbs back the last plateau - I'll take that over gaining it all back!

    I was talking to my endocrinologist, and was wondering if my thyroid levels may be part of that switch. I was looking back and realizing that when my TSH was super-supressed due to cancer treatment (down to 0.01), I had little trouble sticking to my diet. But I plateaued in 2018 for hte entire year and part of 2019. I struggled to lose weight from June to Christmas, barely getting 18 lbs off in that time. But in October, I found out that my TSH was sitting at 8. My doctor adjusted my meds. Starting in January, suddenly I was able to stick with it again. I had found out in December that my TSH had dropped to 0.06. I had bloodwork done a few weeks ago, and it was sitting at 0.04. So when TSH was high - will power died; when TSH is really low, will power control is there. While I agree with my doctor at leaving it at 0.04 isn't really a good idea, I did ask her to keep me as low as we can because it seems to help control that diet switch in my head. And I'm talking about the head hunger, not so much real stomach hunger because what derails me every time is that head hunger.
  • cremorna1
    cremorna1 Posts: 133 Member
    Thank you for the welcome @NovusDies.

    Third time's the charm @bmeadows380! ;)
    As for the "switch": my family has a history of thyroid imbalance, but as far as I know my levels are within normal range. Good food for thought to talk over with my doctor.

    Stay safe & healthy everyone!

  • bmeadows380
    bmeadows380 Posts: 2,981 Member
    edited April 2020
    @cremorna1 Well, what I'm finding out is that many doctors are way out of touch with the latest research when it comes to endocrinology and the thyroid, especially regular general care doctors. What is considered the normal range has now changed, but many general care doctors are not up to date. Plus, many think that all you need to test is the TSH, and if that's in "normal range" than the thyroid is fine. Many, many people, myself included, can tell you that just because TSH is where the doctor thinks it should be, doesn't mean that the symptoms go away. What is "normal" for some people is lower than that standard. Plus, free T4 and free T3 levels need to be checked as well. TSH comes from the brain to the thyroid to tell it to produce hormones. The thyroid primarily produces T4 and a little T3. T4 is the inactive hormone that goes to your liver. When your body needs more energy, the liver is signaled to convert that T4 to T3 which is used by the cells. For some people, that conversion doesn't happen perfectly, so while their TSH levels are normal and T4 levels are normal, their T3 levels might still be low.

    There is a really, really good article by someone who works in the research for that field:
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10767046/hypothyroidism-and-weight-management#latest

    If you feel normal, energized when you get enough sleep, and aren't showing hypothyroid symptoms, then you are probably fine. But at the same time, if you are struggling to lose weight, putting your TSH at the lower end of normal might be an option you could try; definitely talk it over with your doctor. If you ARE still showing hypo symptoms even though you are "normal" insist that your doctor up your meds and lower that TSH and see if that helps those symptoms go away.

    I'm not a doctor, so don't take this as medical advice to insist on! If you've got some time, I'd highly recommend reading the article above and then definitely talk to your doctor about it!
  • bmeadows380
    bmeadows380 Posts: 2,981 Member
    Hi, Possum or Jessie (however you want to be called :smile: ) Congratulations on keeping clean! That's a major battle to have won and shows your determination!
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    MerciBourgogne wrote: »
    Hey everyone. My name is Jessie, or Possum. I stopped using heroin about four years ago and have gained 110 pounds. I was 30 pounds below my normal weight because of the drugs, so I just want to get back to my normal weight again. I think a big part of it was that I stopped riding my bike everywhere. I've been clean and sober for three years this May. Thanks for having me. :)


    Hi @MerciBourgogne Jessie aka Possum,

    Welcome to LL.

    Congrats on your upcoming clean anniversary. That is huge. Good for you.

    Let us know how we can help. Dive in anywhere or start a thread as you feel the need. This is not a formal group so feel free to hijack a thread if you are curious about something too.

  • cremorna1
    cremorna1 Posts: 133 Member
    Hi Becky and Jessie! Nice to have you here and to hear about your success. Keep strong!
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    bobsburgersfan wrote: »
    Hi, I'm Becky.

    Back in 2005, I hit my highest weight of 345. At that time, I joined Weight Watchers with a friend, and lost about 60 lbs. I've had two regains since then, although I've always kept off 30 of those lbs. Two years ago I got serious after the second regain and something clicked and I've been losing pretty successfully since then. I'm down 85 from my highest weight, and still going strong. I'm not losing fast, but my overall trend is downward, and what I'm doing feels sustainable for the long term.

    @NovusDies, thanks for sharing the link to this group! Online support is a huge part of what is working for me.

    Welcom @bobsburgersfan Becky,

    Glad you are here.

    I wonder who decided what fast weight loss should mean? In the course of a normal life span is even 4 years a really long time? At my age I blink and newborns one minute become high school graduates the next. I have been at it 2 years and while I am close on the weight loss portion ending I figure it will be another 2 to get my state of fitness where I think I might want it. It doesn't seem like it has been that slow of a transformation even to this point.

    I am glad you find your process sustainable and that you are happy making progress in whatever increments it comes. That is a rare and a worthwhile trait.

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