About 600lbs, Time to Lose a Few

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Replies

  • girlybirdy
    girlybirdy Posts: 12 Member
    Hi Dani, just a quick message of support and encouragement!

    I started at nearly 500, so I know a little bit about where you are coming from. I have slight knee issues from carrying around all this excess weight, and was too embarrassed to go to a public swimming pool, so I started small by doing seated cardio exercise videos from youtube and sparkpeople. If you would like specific details let me know :) I'm now down 50 pounds and doing 'Walk Away The Pounds' videos, which are a great tool as well.

    You've been given plenty of great advice here, but if I can offer anything it's to include a little 'treat' every few days which fit into your calories. I certainly am not perfect or a nutritionist, but gosh...knowing I can have a little piece of chocolate or icecream on (insert day) just keeps me happy! Sounds crazy no doubt, but it helps to keep me on track and make good choices the other 90% of the day.

    You've made the first move, keep going strong Dani! Feel free to add me if you like :)
  • gabriellejayde
    gabriellejayde Posts: 607 Member
    I have found that making my food diary public makes me feel more accountable. It also opens you up to lots of possibly unwanted advice, but you''ll get good advice and encouragement too.
  • BeckyD1105
    BeckyD1105 Posts: 444 Member
    Congrats for taking that first step and joining MFP.

    One thing that has helped me so far is to plan out my day in advance. Then I can see where I need to cut back or where I can add more.

    Feel free to add me as a friend. You can never have too much support! Let's support each other!
  • EweCreekCottage
    EweCreekCottage Posts: 324 Member
    I noticed a woman a few up mentioned a good vitamin regime- u should follow your dr's direction on this - my dr said he wanted me on a daily multi and a d I found some but realized because of my slow metabolism and being so big they weren't digesting properly so I switched to multivites gummie vitamins- my point here is u may gain more value from gummie vitamins for adults at this point because of metabolism and digestion rather than pill form but like I said and the woman above said your dr should be the last say... because he knows what meds you are on I imagine thyroid and BP meds- and u can't take calcium or iron suppliments with in 4 hours of thyroid meds it interfers with absorption and u can't have grapefruit with most BP meds... anyways just sharing my experience being a big gal myself.
    Hugs and Love
    RaNae
    aka
    RaNaeLuvsLuznit
    Luznit 1 Meal, 1 Snack, 1 Logged Calorie, 1 day at a time
  • larryc0923
    larryc0923 Posts: 557 Member
    Hi Dani,

    congrats on taking your first step towards and new and healthy you. Most people say that's the hardest step, but for me it wasn't. For me the hardest steps are saying no when I want something sweet really bad. Or when I"m really craving fast food. It's also hard for me to say no to food that the rest of my family is eating that I really want, but I want to be healthy more.

    I started at 440 lbs. I've lost a total of 186 and have about 90 lbs to go.

    It can be done. I agree with a lot of the recommendations here.

    First of all, when someone is as heavy as I was, or you are, it is absolutely essential to get medical clearance before starting any diet program and perhaps even be monitored closely by a dr. I worked with my primary care physician, a dietician, and a personal trainer. Of course, I had the funds to do so. I agree with the number 500. But I wouldn't decrease 500 a day it might be a little too quick for your body. You don't want to do anything that is going to shock your system until you are used to your new way of living. I would suggest decrease your caloric intake by 500 calories each week.

    I also agree with the fact that you don't have to do major exercise. I couldn't exercise at first because I was too big of a health risk. I had to lose 50 lbs just by changing my diet. And then my dr. cleared me for exercise. I started small, I walked down to the corner of the street and back (that's 3 houses). Then I joined a gym (that I didn't go to for another 3 months mind you). I started with the recumbent bike for 5 minutes. It was all I could handle. And of course the cardio equipment at my gym is upstairs....and I had to take the elevator. Then I eventually started to take the stairs. Then I started not using my handicap parking anymore. And I would park just a little bit further than normal.

    Here are a few diet suggestions that have worked for me.

    1. Drink 16 oz of water prior to every meal or snack. (This counts towards your daily water consumption too).
    2. Eat every 2-3 hours and if you forget then set an alarm. It helps speed up your metabolism, you don't get as hungry as often and it prevents binges and consuming more calories than your intention.
    3. Write everything down. Writing brings about awareness and with that awareness comes permanent lifestyle changes.
    4. Eliminate sugary drinks (juices, sodas, milk (except the number of recommended servings daily).
    5. Find a good vitamin regimen and take them daily.
    6. Continue to ask for support as needed.
    7. Eat fruits before 3 pm (even though its natural sugar, it's still sugar). You have more opportunity to burn off sugar earlier in the day.
    8. Add in lean protein, fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and more water.
    9. Take away processed foods, sweets, white flour, fast food, and anything else that makes you feel bad.
    10. I keep track of a feelings journal...I track my emotional feelings before and after every meal along with my physical feelings. Am I more achey than normal, is my heart racing, etc... It just brings about more awareness and helps you identify the things that make you feel bad.
    11. Caffeine is a diuretic and for every 8 oz that you drink, you excrete 16 oz of fluids. So make sure you replace that with extra water. :)


    I hope this helps. Please feel free to add me. :)
    Excellent recommendations and very inspirational!!
  • Hollycat
    Hollycat Posts: 372
    TREATS:

    You've been given advice to have the odd treat now and then and with that advice, I wholeheartedly agree. Life without chocolate sucks.

    However, I would limit those treats to as healthy a treat as possible. Yes, you can have your cake and eat it too. Here is a recipe for raw chocolate treats that will NOT cause the same crazy cravings that treats containing processed sugar and chocolate do:

    12 pitted dates
    2 T raw cacao powder
    1/2 cup almond butter
    1/2 cup unsw. shredded coconut
    1 T agave syrup or pure maple syrup
    More shredded coconut for rolling balls in

    Put first 5 ingredients in the food processor until they're well blended together. Roll into small balls. Roll balls into more coconut. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Enjoy 2 or 3 and put the rest back in the fridge until tomorrow.

    These treats are rich and satisfying.

    Raw cacao is full of antioxidants and is actually good for you. When you add dairy and processed sugar to cocoa or raw cacao [note spelling difference], they become a toxin that causes cravings. There's little difference between raw cacao powder and cocoa powder, but Raw cacao powder is slightly better for you than cocoa powder. It has more nutrients, due to the fact it has not been processed at all. Cocoa powder has been processed and sometimes heated to enhance flavour.

    Hollycat:flowerforyou:
  • dania201
    dania201 Posts: 48 Member
    Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

    I've received loads of feedback, some of it very good. I'm looking forward to beginning right after the holidays (for obvious reasons). I've been introduced to a lot of great resources (and people) here that I'm sure will be critical in my success this next year. :)

    Thank you for all your beautiful support and contribution of ideas! Anything else you guys would like to add is always welcome.

    -Dani
  • floridagirl7264
    floridagirl7264 Posts: 318 Member
    I understand how hard it is being overweight. I know how hard it is to get off of a chair, rolling over in bed, getting in and out of a car, having to wear slip on shoes because I can't reach down to tie my shoes, huffing and puffing when walking more than a few feet, and all of the other problems I have 100 lbs to lose and it seems like such a big number. But I keep this in mind: being fat is hard, losing weight is hard -- choose your hard. I keep saying that to myself all day long. :flowerforyou:
  • Dawnymaries
    Dawnymaries Posts: 109
    I'm adding you. It will help to look at other peoples' diaries to get some food ideas. You have a long journey ahead of you but you CAN do it, and you made a great choice to come here. This really works! :) Good luck to you!
  • VelociMama
    VelociMama Posts: 3,119 Member
    Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

    I've received loads of feedback, some of it very good. I'm looking forward to beginning right after the holidays (for obvious reasons). I've been introduced to a lot of great resources (and people) here that I'm sure will be critical in my success this next year. :)

    Thank you for all your beautiful support and contribution of ideas! Anything else you guys would like to add is always welcome.

    -Dani

    Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

    I'd only like to add that it's really important to be patient and relearn how to eat and live. Make it a goal to learn proper portion sizes and how to control yourself with food. A lot of us started here with a very warped sense of what is a "reasonable" calorie intake, and it takes a long time to fix that.

    This will take a long time, so don't give up on yourself if you screw up. Everyone does. What separates success from failure is whether or not you get back up and back on track when you do fall down.

    Just whatever you do, don't give up on yourself. Always be willing to learn, and above all, love yourself enough to keep trying to live better.

    *hugs*

    Best of luck to you!
  • tlo23
    tlo23 Posts: 68
    Congrats for starting this journey Dani! You can do whatever you set your mind too. We're all in this together no matter what size we start at & are here for support!
  • LTGPSA
    LTGPSA Posts: 633 Member
    I am also glad to see you here. This site has been such an effective tool for so many. There are so many great and supportive people here. I'm happy to support if you'd like to add me. Otherwise, I wish you much success on your journey to better health! :flowerforyou:
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,032 Member
    Hon, it's great to have you here, MFP will change your life, it's a tool and with it comes so many wonderful changes. It's not easy but as the saying goes "nothing worth having is".

    Here's a link I came across that might interest you:

    It's a small group off the main boards, check in with them if you like and you'll find lots of ladies and of course gentlemen that are where you are now and getting smaller everyday.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/777697-300-400-pound-club I know there are many other groups (within MFP) you can do a search on or hopefully someone will share a link here about other groups that truly do understand the difference between being overweight when starting and being morbidly obese. I know there are others but don't know the names to give you to search for.... Can anyone help Dani in regards to this?:happy:

    Being overweight can be understood by many, being morbidly obese and the many many challenges that holds in a different way can really only be truly understood by those that have been trapped in that world and seen their lives become smaller and smaller. BUT that's not you anymore!!:wink::bigsmile:

    Cheers for stepping out and joining MFP, going to the doc and clicking on the Intro thread!!! :drinker:
    I'm so very proud of you :flowerforyou:

    Hearts:heart:
    ONE IMPORTANT WAY YOU CAN FIND OTHERS IN YOUR SITUATION IS TO DO A CUSTOM SEARCH ON MY FITNESS PAL FOR THEM. HOW? GO TO COMMUNITY TAB, THEN "FIND MEMBERS". THERE YOU WILL FIND PEOPLE UNDER "WEIGHT LOSS GOAL" WHO NEED TO LOSE 100+ POUNDS. WITH A LITTLE EFFORT YOU CAN FIND PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN YOUR SITUATION.

    I NEED TO LOSE ABOUT 100 POUNDS STILL AND HAVE LOST 35 ALREADY. FEEL FREE TO "REQUEST FRIEND" ME IF YOU LIKE. GOOD LUCK. YOU CAN DO IT! THIS IS THE BEST PLACE POSSIBLE YOU COULD HAVE COME TO TAKE ON THIS LIFE SAVING JOURNEY.
    Excellent reminder for all of us!! Thanks for bringing this up:drinker:
  • peterdt
    peterdt Posts: 820 Member
    ONE IMPORTANT WAY YOU CAN FIND OTHERS IN YOUR SITUATION IS TO DO A CUSTOM SEARCH ON MY FITNESS PAL FOR THEM. HOW? GO TO COMMUNITY TAB, THEN "FIND MEMBERS". THERE YOU WILL FIND PEOPLE UNDER "WEIGHT LOSS GOAL" WHO NEED TO LOSE 100+ POUNDS. WITH A LITTLE EFFORT YOU CAN FIND PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN YOUR SITUATION.

    I NEED TO LOSE ABOUT 100 POUNDS STILL AND HAVE LOST 35 ALREADY. FEEL FREE TO "REQUEST FRIEND" ME IF YOU LIKE. GOOD LUCK. YOU CAN DO IT! THIS IS THE BEST PLACE POSSIBLE YOU COULD HAVE COME TO TAKE ON THIS LIFE SAVING JOURNEY.
  • mcash66
    mcash66 Posts: 24 Member
    You are welcome to add me. Congrats on taking the first step. One pound at a time!
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    Welcome Dani! How you do it is....one choice, one decision at a time. Log everything, be very honest with yourself, and make a good healthy choice. And then another. And another. Its that simple. You don't have to think in terms of forever, or even next week. Or even tomorrow. Just make this decision, right now. Its simple. Its not always easy. But you CAN do this. You really can make your life and your health so much better, starting right now. You go, girl! We all believe in you!
  • Nveme13
    Nveme13 Posts: 3
    Hi Dani,

    I have a sister who's weight is quite high and she has difficulty with mobility too. I got her onto My Fitness Pal app over a month ago and she's already lost 20 pounds. She is so happy that she doesn't feel deprived nor does she feel like she's even on a diet because she eats what she wants and just stays within her recommended calories. I feel the same way, I've lost 8 pounds. I think any kind of effort like this is commendable on your part and you should be proud of yourself for making the first steps to improving your health. Whether you're 180 pounds or 480 pounds, I think every lost pound is a huge accommplishment. Don't be afaid to start on this, it's easy and fun if you ask me. Don't allow negativity to rule your thoughts, be positive and you will start to see a big difference. Just remember that it takes time and while you may find the pounds literally melting off of you for the first few months, just know that you will reach a plateau as I have but I worked around it by making small adjustments to my diet. Try different things and do this for you, no one else. Good luck Dani, all the best to you!!!
  • Sparlingo
    Sparlingo Posts: 938 Member
    I know I am in a different weight category than you, but I'd love to encourage and support you! You could always use a few new cheerleaders, right?

    Feel free to add me!
  • arlenem1974
    arlenem1974 Posts: 437 Member
    I'm on here to lose some to I'm not your size but I commend you on trying to lose some weight and get healthier. Add me if you like. We all have to start somewhere.
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

    I've received loads of feedback, some of it very good. I'm looking forward to beginning right after the holidays (for obvious reasons). I've been introduced to a lot of great resources (and people) here that I'm sure will be critical in my success this next year. :)

    Thank you for all your beautiful support and contribution of ideas! Anything else you guys would like to add is always welcome.

    -Dani

    Good luck Dani!
    Only thing I can add is why begin after the holidays? Enjoy Thanksgiving today, eat until you are not hungry anymore, and then start TOMORROW.....If you do that, you will have 5 weeks of progress behind you by Christmas, and it would be a lot easier to make good choices and still enjoy the holidays.....
    We all know the "start after the holidays/Monday/after my birthday is just another form of postponing......
  • nancyaaa
    nancyaaa Posts: 64 Member
    high 5! you go girl!
  • EweCreekCottage
    EweCreekCottage Posts: 324 Member
    Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

    I've received loads of feedback, some of it very good. I'm looking forward to beginning right after the holidays (for obvious reasons). I've been introduced to a lot of great resources (and people) here that I'm sure will be critical in my success this next year. :)

    Thank you for all your beautiful support and contribution of ideas! Anything else you guys would like to add is always welcome.

    -Dani

    Good luck Dani!
    Only thing I can add is why begin after the holidays? Enjoy Thanksgiving today, eat until you are not hungry anymore, and then start TOMORROW.....If you do that, you will have 5 weeks of progress behind you by Christmas, and it would be a lot easier to make good choices and still enjoy the holidays.....
    We all know the "start after the holidays/Monday/after my birthday is just another form of postponing......

    I agree in my past in my experience after the holiday then became after the birthday then after the this and after the that.... I wish I could take all those afters back and I wouldn't be working my but off at 47 years old to loose 180lbs and I might have children if I din't have so many afters.
    Just being real U shouldn't wait
  • msshiraz
    msshiraz Posts: 327 Member
    Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

    I've received loads of feedback, some of it very good. I'm looking forward to beginning right after the holidays (for obvious reasons). I've been introduced to a lot of great resources (and people) here that I'm sure will be critical in my success this next year. :)

    Thank you for all your beautiful support and contribution of ideas! Anything else you guys would like to add is always welcome.

    -Dani

    Good luck Dani!
    Only thing I can add is why begin after the holidays? Enjoy Thanksgiving today, eat until you are not hungry anymore, and then start TOMORROW.....If you do that, you will have 5 weeks of progress behind you by Christmas, and it would be a lot easier to make good choices and still enjoy the holidays.....
    We all know the "start after the holidays/Monday/after my birthday is just another form of postponing......


    Such a great point!! I wanted to comment on this too- a lifestyle change is just that, you don't want to pick a day to start, after the good food is gone. We will always be presented with an opportunity to celebrate something with food, and that will be the key to your success as it has been ours. To learn that food is good, food is fuel, but it is not a replacement for anything else in life, and it doesn't fill the pain of anything for long. But here we are, its Monday and I know we are all ready to get going for the week ahead- especially if we did indulge some over the holiday! :wink:
  • velloxal
    velloxal Posts: 78 Member
    Hi Dani :bigsmile:

    Few years ago I read article about woman your size. She start walking around Rotary clothes line in her back yard, every day few more circles. When she could breath easily she start walking on the street. When she lost some kg she start exercising at gym. She slowly replaced junk food with fresh fruits and vegetables.

    You will need to set realistic goals. :bigsmile:
    If you eat junk food every day - skip one meal with healthy salad and soft drink with freshly squeezed raw fruit and vegetable juice. Invest in Juicer and drink one glass of fresh raw juice daily - this way you will slowly detoxify your body from toxins from junk food. Below are good websites with healthy recipes from my blog
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/velloxal?month=201206

    Add friends who will motivate you. I can recommend laney540, RiverTom, lucycaz and Namaste1983 (she lost 232lb)

    Join Groups for example :
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/1140-300
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/744-200-to-lose
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/4551-thirty-somethings


    You can't change your habits overnight, you will have some hunger days, you will go over your daily limit, but no matter what happen this community is great and there are so many people who lost their weight baggage and are healthy and skinny again. Be patient and remember to exercise and shed your kg slowly other way your skin won't have enough time to adjust and you will end up with excessive skin. You're in your early 30 so your skin will adjust.

    Good luck and remember you can do it :bigsmile:
  • Booksandbeaches
    Booksandbeaches Posts: 1,791 Member
    Dani...welcome to MFP! :)
    I think you've received great advice in this thread. If you're looking for another friend, please feel free to add me. I'm not at the same size, but the journey to weight loss is the same for all of us - eating clean and working out more.
    Best of luck on your weight loss journey.
  • Cherbear67
    Cherbear67 Posts: 245 Member
    Dani, Welcome to MFP.. First of all congratulations to taking that first step and wanting to lose weight.. I would love to follow you on your journey and help support in anyway I can.. Sending you a friend request.. Good luck honey.. You can do this.
  • TravisBurns
    TravisBurns Posts: 353 Member
    Just wanted to come drop some words of encouragement. No better time than the new year to try and turn for some changes. You can do this! You gotta start somewhere.
  • 1stday13
    1stday13 Posts: 433 Member
    My name is Dani, and I recently discovered that I weigh a little over 600lbs. I recently found this out during a doctors visit, which I must say took a lot of courage to attend. After some difficult consideration, I'd like to try losing weight again.

    I knew that I weighed more than 550, since that's as far as my scale goes at home. I'd really like to get back below that, a possibly get some extra wiggle room in there too? I think it could help enormously with my mobility, which for someone of my age isn't really that good right now. :/

    I'm looking for support from other women that are my size. I really think that once you're over 500 or so, everything changes and it becomes really really hard. Advise on how to exercise when its hard to walk? Any advice on how to keep my calories under 4000 a day? I have to say that I'm not looking forward to this at all...

    Thanks everybody.

    -Dani
    bump
  • MountainMoverJosh
    MountainMoverJosh Posts: 134
    VERY smart decision, gal. VERY smart decision. It is a tough choice, but you have to make it. You have to want to be healthy. I can not tell you how your life is like, but I have a buddy who is coming down from over 400, and he is somewhere in the low 300s now. What I do know is that the hardest part is just to get up and do it. You are a locomotive. Get it going and you will WANT to keep momentum. Keep that momentum, and you will lose mega poundage, and that will make you happy.

    If you want to, be my friend. I would really like to support you, as it would encourage me also to not be such a poor sport.

    It sounds cliche, but if you can do it, then no one else has an excuse not to.

    PROPS!
  • MountainMoverJosh
    MountainMoverJosh Posts: 134
    But be realistic. Chances are you will not be less than 500 by Christmas, but you might be damn close. Please -do not- forego the doctor with such a weight loss assignment. You should see him/her regularly to make sure you are losing the weight healthfully. He/she can also hold vital stats for you, such as heart rate, cholesterol, and bmi, so that you can accurately make any changes necessary to your diet/fitness routine.

    good luck, and hope to be hearing from you soon!

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