200+ Pound Twenties (New Group)

Sorry to post late but I'm at or around where I was last time I weighed in at 196. My scale at home said 192ish but I went to the doctor and it said 196ish, so I'll go with the latter. I haven't been able to work out the past few days from some mystery pain in my back but hopefully I can start back up with work-outs this week.

Way to go everyone!

Also, I just want to write a little something based on posts I've seen on the "community" section. Most of us here can say we not only want to lose weight, a specific amount in a certain time period, but we want to keep it off. Well I just want to encourage everyone to make choices during this period of "dieting"/"restricting"/"change"/etc that are sustainable. Don't have a mindset of "when I am ____ pounds, then I can do___ / eat ____." For example, I was reading a post from someone about how she only eats grilled chicken and carrots or something. Well, certain restrictive, almost punishing behavior like that can very well lead to binges, weight gain, extensive work-outs to "burn it off" when really you are just fighting guilt that you are beating yourself up with. This can also lead to an eating disorder. Obviously we all make goals and for some of us we create strict guidlines to stem behavior, but you have to leave a little room for "mistakes," because otherwise the more we punish ourselves the more likely we are to give up for good instead of just moving on. Personally, I love ice cream and chocolate. Who doesn't, right? Well, I've decided that those are two things that I will always want to eat, no matter what weight I am. Not everyday. Not huge amounts. But if I can learn to incorporate a healthy amount into a week/month now, and still lose weight, then when I reach my goal weight I will have trained myself to know how much I can have in my diet to feel satisfied without losing control. I am not saying to not be strict, because you know how hard you need to be on yourself personally, but I just get sad when I read some people's profiles and comments on other topics because I feel that so many people are on a vicious cycle of guilt and unhealthy coping mechanisms and set very restrictive goals that can backfire. In fact, I really only read this thread now because, personally, I get overwhelmed with hearing so many opinions about healthy choices that I start second-guessing everything I do when really we as individuals need to understand how we work emotional, physically, spiritually, etc and make choices that we can live by since adopting someone else's way of life will eventually unravel if we haven't tailored it to fit our lives.
On another note, I am concerned about the website and some user's emphasis on "exercise calories." I am not an expert, but I feel that this can be a dangerous mindset. For one, the relationship between the calories we consume and those we burn off in exercise/daily life, are not exactly mathematical. If I burn 100 calories on a walk, it doesn't necessarily mean I can go eat 100 calories of ice cream or carrots or whatever. It has to do with your basal metabolic rate... for most people, you have to work out consistently (at an increased level than what you are at now) to raise your BMR and then you can increase your caloric intake. Obviously if you work out you need to be mindful of your intake of calories so that you don't mess up your blood sugar levels, etc, but really take into account your BMR, your calorie intake goal, and your exercise calorie burn goal to figure out if you really need to add calories every day that you work out. Another reason I worry about this emphasis is that it can lead to punishing behavior like I talked about above. We freak out, right? We eat a whole Papa John's pizza and then decide to spend three hours on the treadmill. Food isn't bad. Eating isn't bad. Even eating a whole pizza isn't bad, not good, but not bad. We don't need to be punished or sit alone and cry, otherwise we will never gain a healthy perspective on food. We just need to learn to make better choices, and when we don't, we make a better decision next time. I feel that this is one (of many reasons) that people plateau at a wt for so long because they condition their bodies to the same amt of calories, the same work-outs, the same food; afraid to eat this and afraid not to work out. Well, in the first days and weeks of losing weight you need a routine. You cut calories, eat more vegetables, decrease soda/sweets/etc, and you exercise, then you start seeing results... after several weeks maybe months of this you won't maybe see results because you've made changes and your body is adjusted to all the changes you made. Well sometimes it is as simple as taking a weekend off from exercising or adding a little (just a little) more fat in your diet to wake up your metabolism. Anyway... these are just a few things I wanted to say. Please feel free to comment or debate, everything is only my opinion and based on personal experience. I just want to prevent self-deprecating habits because behavior changes and sustained healthy behaviors have to be connected with uplifting motivation and positive attitudes, and not through fear or guilt, otherwise, to be blunt, you will be skinny and still hate yourself.

Tennisref thats awesome! Its days like that, it lets you know that a healthy life is sustainable, because you don't need to be hugely strict to keep on track! Cravings for less than healthy things never really come from our bodies, it comes from society, habits and emotions. Now, I've just got to drill that into my own head!
The big quest really is health, but it goes beyond how much you weigh, your BMI how you look in clothes or whatever, its also about feeling good physically , having healthier outlets (for those of us with an emotional food addiction) and healthier relationship with food, exercise and our bodies as a whole.
I agree these numbers aren't the be all end all, and nor should they be. And even if our bodies were that mathematical, everyones numbers would be different. I think the numbers are a really good teaching tool, since I've been doing this I've found its put alot into perspective. There isn't much I didn't know before, it just makes you think about nutrition more closely and consider portions what foods are more positive for your health. I like being able to see what I've been eating, and it helps me make healthier choices for the rest of the day or reconsider food choices I've been making. I admit I allow "bad" foods in there sometimes, but thats life and no one should beat themselves up over that sort of thing. The problem is were human, were stubborn, we take things too far, and are prone to an all or nothing mentality. Getting past that I think is half the battle, especially since its not something you really think about. It all boils down to moderation in all things. Do not restrict yourself to a point where its not sustainable, but don't over do those less than healthy foods. Exercise and be active, challenge yourself but let yourself be human, and keep that future healthy you in your mind and it should happen.
Thats my perspective, and I guess the way I'm aiming to be. Easier said then done really, but when I get there I think I'll be a whole lot healthier and happier.

Hello, so I'm planning on doing my first official weigh in for this group on Monday, I hope it's not to late to join back in!

Weighing in again, its been a few weeks and on the rise but hopefully changing that soon.

CW: 219.5 lbs

So I weighed in today at 205.5. Down 2.5 lbs from last week. I`m pretty sure I didn`t lose that much because last Monday I weighed myself later in the day. I`m going to try checking in every Monday morning. It still is pretty exciting to see the numbers go down! And even though I went over my calories on the holiday weekend, I ate much better than I would have before MFP!! Great job everyone, and I really hope we can stick with it and stay motivated so we can reach our long term goals

i'm down 4lbs to 194.8

not sure how i've managed that.

congrats to everyone who's managed to lose

Current weight: 220
Down 2.7lbs.

Congrats on everyone's weight loss.

thank you stefi and tenniserf for your advise
i do my best for next week

LW 208.3
CW 208.1

I'm with you with only a 0.2 lose but I'm trying to pump myself up and know that it's still down! Next week will be better.

lw:220
cw: 218.8

grate its finaly worked

sorry i should posted 2 days befor but im so busy

Hi again!
I am about the same as I have been around 196 for the past couple weeks. It has been a bit frustrating since I have been working out consistently and meeting my calorie goals, but I think (I know) I just need to give it time. I have so many things coming up in the next few months that I hope I can see some results. I'm going on a cruise in June and I'm turning 25 in August to name a few...guess we'll see how things look when those things come around. I guess if I saw it come off too fast I might worry that it wasn't healthy loss, right? Anyway, way to go everyone! I guess we always talk about eating and exercising, but forget about the time period. I guess its like a garden (very cheesy, I know, but it just popped into my head)- we go buy equipment and seeds, we work preparing the soil, we plant, we water, and then we wait while still taking of something we can't even see yet but know will be beautiful. Awww.

That Scale!!! I can't remember how many times I stepped on it today just to be sure I was getting the right weight. The first time was 216.5, then I put deoderant on and gained 2 lbs! Then I brushed my teeth and gained another half pound. ARGHHH! Well this afternoon I got 218.5 twice, so that's what I'm going with.