Women 200lb+, Let's Double Down This December!!!

bluffgirl67

@mmdeveau Thank you for sharing the article. It resonates with me very much. I'm the type who puts everyone else first and ends up being depleted with nothing left to give. Then breaking down because I'm just bone tired from it all. That along with the long held feeling from childhood of not being good enough is what got me here. I'm learning to make the effort for things that are good for me both mentally and physically. We are all worthy and can be the person who lies deep in our soul.

@Terytha Thank you also. Reading his journey was heartbreaking in the beginning. The end though was a wonderful surprise. I think it ties in beautifully with mmdeveau's article. Self care and working to become the person within are keys to being successful in our own weight loss journeys.

@RavenStCloud Take care of yourself and settling in. Do the best you can with what is available and know it is all temporary until you get things set up.

Think I see a trend above ladies.

Oonagh

Hi Everyone,

I'm in too!

I weighed myself at 327lbs on Thursday at one of those paid for scales outside the doctor's office. I was pretty shocked. My plan is to not weigh myself too regularly as I get really disheartened from it and just think "forget it!". My home scales aren't very reliable anyway as they give a different result each time.

So my plan is to:
- Start logging my food everyday.
- Cut back on my favourite food group - sugar. - Plus to exercise ×3 times a week.

This seems like a good place to start as I have been very "all or nothing" in the past with healthy eating and weight loss. Generally more on the "nothing" side for a long time, with way too much overeating.

I hope we all get what we want this December! 🙂

speyerj

@Oonagh, Your plan to start with just a couple of goals is a good one. I also have been tripped up by all or nothing thinking where I tried to do everything all at once. I was tired, sore, hungry, felt deprived - it made me want to quit. When I have been successful at weight loss, I tackled one important thing at a time. Once I felt I had that down (usually about a month), I tackled another. Logging your food everyday is probably the most important thing you can do to reach your goals. After a good solid month of that, add another good habit, master that and add another. Examples might be: drinking more water, increasing your steps, doing strength training, eating more fiber, eating more protein, getting more sleep just to name a few. The important thing is that each new habit you add should be one you can live with. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Best of luck to you on your journey!

torih941

Hi all,

This week is insanely busy for me and it’s going to be very tempting to eat out so I’m going to try my best to carry my lunch with me and a few snacks so I don’t buy candy or things along that line.

I’m hoping to weigh-in at the end of this week and see some difference. I still need to buy a tape measurer to start tracking my inches, I think that could be such a motivational boost for me as well.

Hope everyone is having a good week so far!

mmccloy12

Hi everyone!! So many new and familiar names! Welcome!

Just got back today from my never ending trip! Ugh...lots of ups and downs...will post more about it tomorrow when I weigh in for December.

I tried to catch up with all the posts I missed in November and already in this December thread...very active and positive results and advice!

I wish I could have been more active during my trip. I occasionally had time to read the posts...but my phone isnt the greatest for posting or replying to anything.

Anywho...will post my SW and goals tomorrow!!

Oonagh

Thanks @speyerj thanks for the encouragement! Definitely going to be taking it slowly for now.

@hobbitses333 rum and eggnog sounds delicious, hopefully sort of worth the hangover! December is surely the toughest month to lose weight so holding steady seems pretty reasonable.

sweetirish

SW - 343 in 2016
CW - 251 This morning
GW - 245 by end of the month
Ultimate GW 199

No weigh November was not a good idea. It did, however, break the habit of daily weigh in and beating myself up. I am now weighing in on Wednesdays (I like alliteration, what can I say?) and that gives me accountability. I've had some stresses over the past month but I'm working through them. I am losing my work walking buddy but she promises to keep walking at the same time I do and we can talk on the phone while walking so that's almost the same thing. I'm going to keep with my no-candy rule and going to enjoy the healthy dishes at gatherings. Thanksgiving's cauliflower stuffing was a hit and I have plenty of leftovers. I've let my fluid intake drop the past few days but I am striving to correct that because I notice that it takes a lot less of a change in fluid intake to cause side effects like dry lips, dry eyelids, and dry mouth.

Challenges - I'm on blood thinner injections and there appears to be some large swelling which the doctors tell me is normal. They do make it difficult to wear anything constricting. I'm also starting an actual IVF cycle at the end of the month, so that may skew my end-of-month weigh in. I'm going to aim to hit my goal before that cycle starts.

I need stress busters...ideas?

speyerj

Welcome back @sweetirish! - Wishing you success with the IVF!

Stress busters:

• I take lots of "clarity breaks" at work where I just walk outside for 5 minutes. I call it my Zen walk. It helps be transition between blocks of work, problem solve, or shake off a difficult interaction. But sometimes, I just let my mind go blank and wander.
• The app "Calm" provides quick 5 minute guided meditations that can reduce stress hormones.
• One thing that has really helped me is actively working on "assuming good intentions" in others. I actually posted a sticky note on my computer to remind me. When I find that I am getting upset or stressed out by what others are saying or doing, I look at that note and actively rethink the interaction with a different perspective. It is self protective. If you believe that others are acting with good intentions, you don't get stressed out by their behaviors. It allows you to emotionally distance yourself from toxicity.

pamiede

I’m in! My goal is to lose another 7 - 10 lbs before the end of the month.

SW: 307
CW: 223.8
GW: 165

I’m really happy that I made it through Thanksgiving week 3 lbs down 🙌🏽😍

mmccloy12

Hi All!

Got on the scale this morning for the first time in 10 days! I did not have access to a scale when I was on my trip. I gained a couple pounds while I was gone, but overall I am happy with how it went. I know some of it is water weight and I will be posting my goals today along with SW and then weigh in on Fridays. Hopefully some of the water weight comes off by Friday.

A little bit about my trip...I changed my daily goal during the trip to maintenance calories. I averaged about 400 under most of the days, but I had a couple days where I went over them. I logged everyday but one...but still logged in everyday and read posts etc. My goal was to exercise everyday but unfortunately I did not. 4 of the days were driving and little to no exercise those days, but I did walk for 3 of the other days. For some reason my gear fit isn't linking to MFP...working on fixing that. I tried to plan the drive and did well with snacks and food while driving. If we did stop to eat, I ate grilled whatever at the fast food places. Still not the greatest, but I drove 2200 miles up and back and also was on a strict budget. Water consumption was not that great either. I think that was a big contributor of me gaining some pounds. Dinner was always pizza, stromboli, cheesesteaks...ugh...very difficult but did my best to eat in moderation. I already know myself and once I get a taste of something I can't stop and that happened a few times, but I also was able to control myself other times. And then 2 thanksgiving meals...again, I am ok with how I handled it...I have some work to do on this for the future and maintaining a healthy lifestyle once I hit my goal.

My goals for December are as follows:

SW: 276.6
November start weight - 253.2
November end weight - 251.4
December SW - 254.2
December goal weight - 249.2
UGW - 160.00

I have some weekly goals I would like to accomplish as well.

1. Increase water intake to 96 oz. a day
2. Exercise 3 days a week
3. Journal every night/meditation in the morning to release anxiety

On another note...SO proud of everyone and how they are doing! This thread is so inspirational and motivating. I learned a lot on this trip about myself and some internal issues, but the suggestions, successes and resources are helping as well!

Here's to a great December! Let's do this!

Aerohead21

Hey everyone anyone on to chat?

Aerohead21

Married mom of 4. Looking for a friend that understands what this is like.

Aerohead21

Anyway, I’m restarting this journey for the billionth time. I’ve had successes and relapses. I hate healthy food. I hate exercise. It doesn’t make for easy weight loss 🤣

sharpdust

@Oonagh I had a similar epiphany at the doctor's when I stood on the scale. I remember feeling helpless and ashamed. But then I decided to do something about it. @speyerj 's advice is great! Slow and steady, sometimes we put too much on ourselves which sets us up for failure. I think your goals are great. Honestly just logging your food will be eye opening and you will make better choices. Good luck

@torihudson6 Hey you got a plan! Life is gonna keep throwing things at us, so all we can do is plan. Hope the week isn't too stressful and that you are able to ward off temptation, but if you do eat out, order something more on the healthy side. I find that when I eat out I want the fattiest, tastiest thing on the menu. Trying to change that about myself and order food that fits into my lifestyle instead.

@sweetirish I was also a compulsive weigher once. I became obsessed with the scale and would skip meals to try and get that magic number.It was very stressful. Now I officially weigh in once a week (Fridays this month). As far as stress busters, a short walk or mediation session help me out. Hikes especially have helped me regulate my stress.

I did hike #36 yesterday! 16 to go. I got an after school meeting today so no hike because it will be too dark by then BUT I am making my return to the gym. I have not been since August so I have my backpack with my clothes, shoes, my lock for the locker, water, etc. I planned out my hikes (weather permitting) for the rest of the month and visually seeing it is motivating because it is so attainable.

I ate pretty good last night but did have a donut to end it (I logged it). That gave me some regret but otherwise was a great day.

sharpdust

@mmccloy12 Hey I think you did a great job considering the circumstances. Fast food grilled sandwich is better than a fried one. I have a hard time ordering healthier options when I eat out, I probably would have gone for a regular burger tbh. 2 Thanksgivings!?! You survived your road trip, now back to it!

@Aerohead21 Welcome! We are a mix of ladies, different ages, sizes, experiences, so I am sure you will be able to connect with someone

bluffgirl67

@Oonagh Finding balance is going to be the key to long term success. @Speyerj is on point with the advice. Along with the logging choose something that will be easiest for you to incorporate. Then work up to adding in the most difficult. You can do it with patience and consistency.

@torihudson6 Definitely get a tape measure. Seeing the inches drop is a great NSV when the scales aren't moving much.

@sweetirish When I'm feeling stressed I close my eyes, take some breaths, and do some neck/shoulder stretches and rolls. Turn on some music that makes you happy.

@mmccloy12 You did great with such a long trip and all the special meals. Making better food choices, exercising most of the days, and best of all learning more about yourself are things to celebrate.

@sharpdust I hope your doughnut last night was better than the Krispy Kreme I had the other day. It just wasn't as good as I remembered and I'm wondering if the recipe changed in the last few years. Congrats on getting back to the gym. Look how far you've already come with your hike goal. I know you can accomplish it! Seven more hikes and it will be down to single digits. 🥾

torih941

@sharpdust, that’s a good point, my weakness is Chipotle. I’m having a really stressful day and my first thought is “I’m going to get chipotle after work”, but I think instead of doing that I’m going to make something at home and squeeze a workout in to relieve some of my stress in a more productive way than binge eating like I planned. I have zero self control when I’m around food I love.

@Aerohead21, welcome! Everyone in this group is very supportive. I also am not the biggest fan of exercise but I’m trying to change my mindset towards it, that’s really helped me. I view it as a way to relieve stress and feel stronger versus a requirement to lose weight.

@sweetirish, I use to weigh myself everyday but I got obsessive and had to stop. At one point I had to have someone hide the scales otherwise I’d weigh myself and it’d either cause a good mood or a really bad mood. I stick with once a week, also Wednesday’s normally! It’s good that it stopped you from beating yourself. Best of luck with IVF.

RavenStCloud

Over the weekend, I watched Brittany Runs A Marathon (just went up on Amazon Video) and if anyone is looking for some inspiration, it definitely provided me some.

While the main character starts out just shy of 200lbs (197lbs), her doctor challenges her to lose 50lbs and change her unhealthy lifestyle.

When I was watching, my only complaint was that her weight loss seemed to be going too easily, but then (no spoilers) something major happens to change that.

It's less a movie about weight loss and more a movie about the journey and commitment it takes to make serious healthy life changes.

aliciap0116

I couldn’t agree more with @speyerj’s suggestion to add one significant change per month. There is so much going on in your head and body on this journey; giving yourself the time to adapt is key. I have a long list of health and nonhealth-related things I want to accomplish that have been on the list literally for years. I have put them off because they are overwhelming altogether but I am getting more confident I could take one new one each month.

@sweetirish good luck with your IVF. I did it about 7 years ago (happy to say we have a beautiful son now). The anxiety I felt was overwhelming - getting the shots right, the hormonal changes, the cost and the outcome. Love all the suggestions on the thread but my go to distractor/stress reducer was to find a funny puppy video channel on YouTube. I could pull them out any time and I didn’t get sucked into something too intellectual or time consuming, until the anxiety passed. And calorie free! I should probably start doing this when I crave chocolate but I’d like to try meditation these days! Of course this only works if you are a dog person LOL.