Diamonds in the Rough 7 Week Challenge: Round 2 [Week 1]

Excellent Question Lyndsey! Well, for me, I lost 30 lbs almost 4 years ago with weight watchers(I went from 236 down to 206) - then started a 3 year correspondence course that took up ALL my free time, and slowly gained about 10 lbs each year - basically in the 2months before each exam. I passed last summer - but was back being heavy again (228 last Sept). 4 years ago I was diagnosed with arthritis in my one knee - so far, I had been doing okay with it, but this winter it caused me a lot of pain. When you can't take a walk with your 4 year old - something has to be done. I knew the first thing they would suggest is to lose weight...so here I am.

By the way, I have also put off going to the doctor for ME (I see him a couple times a year with the kids) the past 4 years! Before this, I went every single year since having my first son 20 years ago. I have made an appointment for next Wednesday...which was a big thing for me to do....

And I now walk with my little guy all the time...

Wednesday's QOTD: I'd have to say me trying on clothes in the fitting room really frustrated me. Also looking at pictures and thinking to myself "I look like a round butter ball" this can't be healthy.

Wednesday's QOTD: What made you realize that you needed to start this journey of getting healthier?

My response: I thought about the future. When I got engaged last September, and had our engagement photos done, I knew that I had to do something. I wanted to feel better and have more confidence in my looks when it came time to pick out a wedding dress and walking down the aisle...I wanted to be in the best shape of my life by the time I hit 30 (which is a year away from now)...I also thought about what would happen when we try to have kids, will I have complications because of my weight? Will I be able to keep up with a lil one running around everywhere? I also thought about all the health problems that are caused by carrying a lot of extra weight...

I wouldn't say that any one thing struck my mind and told me, "this is the day, the moment, the time I shall make my stand." It will not make for a hallmark movie. I always knew in the back of my head I needed to lose weight, and eat right and move my lard-a**. But I didn't take initiative. Going over 200 having my daughter certainly made me think that I needed to buckle down, and even with that realization I didn't start until she was six months old. So, my start was more of a final, "s*it or get off the pot" response to my extensive knowledge of my need to be healthier.

Wednesday QOTD: For me, it was dealing with my mom that pushed me to set an example instead of preaching to her about it. I have watched my mom become more and more overweight over the years. I have watched her go from one fad diet to another yo-yo. Well, she had hypertension and had been warned about diabetes. Mind you, I lost my grandmother 2 years ago from conplications caused by diabetes. I don't want to lose my mom the same way. Well, I was coming down so hard on her about it and then I took a look at myself. I was continuing down the same path. Getting more and more overweight, yo-yo dieting. My belly looked like I was still pregnant. No good. I want to break the chain for my daughters and set an example for them and my mother. And I am happy to say that my mother is doing a lot better with her eating habits and she is also losing weight.

Wednesday's QOTD: What made you realize that you needed to start this journey of getting healthier

I watched the biggest loser and it just clicked. I am only 26 and I was starting to have joint pain. I am getting married and want to start a family. I want to feelbeautiful. I decided right then and there to make a change

Wednesday QOTD: For me, it was dealing with my mom that pushed me to set an example instead of preaching to her about it. I have watched my mom become more and more overweight over the years. I have watched her go from one fad diet to another yo-yo. Well, she had hypertension and had been warned about diabetes. Mind you, I lost my grandmother 2 years ago from conplications caused by diabetes. I don't want to lose my mom the same way. Well, I was coming down so hard on her about it and then I took a look at myself. I was continuing down the same path. Getting more and more overweight, yo-yo dieting. My belly looked like I was still pregnant. No good. I want to break the chain for my daughters and set an example for them and my mother. And I am happy to say that my mother is doing a lot better with her eating habits and she is also losing weight.

That is really good news to hear that your mom is now also eating better, etc!

@ Wed QOTD - the turning point for me was 3 months ago, when I realize no matter what great things I accomplish in my life, people will always looked down on me because I'm a fat person. I know that sounds harsh but the reality hit me really hard this year. I discovered that I can be the nicest person, best employee, smartest woman, the most loving girlfriend, the best daughter but at the end of the day I was still in the eyes of all these people a fat person. And I was treated like I should not demand respect, or love or to be treated fairly. I honesty believe some folks think fat people should just settle for what they are given.

Long story short, I'm tired of people looking down on me when they haven't done a quarter of what I've done in my life. When their not nearly as sincere or nice as I try to be. And when they are not worth loving but yet trying to conveince me that I'm the one that not worthy of their love. All because I am overweight.

I don't want weight to be a factor anymore when people are getting to know me. Judge me on my character and not my size.

By the way this was a great question

QOTD2 response.....My answer is 2 fold. I blast thru the fat with Body Combat. It's a Les Mills class I take at the gym. I usually burn about 1020 cals per 55min class. I love it like crazy. The other thing that I am starting to get hooked on surprisingly is weights. I do 4 day's week circuit training. My trainer is feirce. She won't let me go down in weights. Just stay the same or increase. My results with both are amazing. I have lost 36lbs and 21" Since mid Decemberish. I say, find your nitch. You gotta have fun doing this. Then blast to your goal. And challenge yourself to always improve.

I love reading all the posts re: reasons for starting this journey. I can "hear" the determination in everyone's words! Diamonds are strong, so we can do this ladies!!!!!

QOTD Wednsday repsonse, In 2006 my amazing mom, who never smoked or drank and only ate clean, whole and organic was diagnosed with colon cancer. It was already in stage 4. She was told that she had 2 months to live. We had her for 2 more years. She passed in 2008. I miss her so much. This week especially The type of cancer is a very aggressive type and very hereditary. Needless to say her Oncologist strongly suggested I get a colonoscopy every 4 years starting right then and there. I am not one to go to the Dr. often. I do get my annual. In this case I pushed and went. My exam came back with me having a clean bill of health. Praise God! So 2010 comes around. I schedule my colonoscopy once again. This time I let the doc know I have some bleeding for the last weeks. Some pain in my belly. Stuff I was putting off. They did my colonoscopy and this time he found something. I had a 3cm polyp. They biopsied it and found it had the same cell structure of pre cancer cell's that they said my mother had. Thankfully it was completely removed. He said if I would have waited 6 months he would have had to remove my entire colon because of where the polyp was located. He even biopsied a few other spots just to be on the safe side. So now I have to go every year and a half for the test and once MY kids turn 29 they have to start going. Doc said I need to lose weight, cancer loves fat cells. And have a hi fiber diet. Just after that surgery I found out that my appendix was ruptured (hence the pain in my side). Ok, enough. You don't have to tell me twice. I hit the gym after I recouped from all my surgery's (3 in a month in a half). That was the first time I stepped in a gym since highg school (1989). I got feirce. Cancer is feirce. I will certainly not give it an ounce of me to entertain. So there! That is what did it for me. Love you all. Thanks for the encouragement to always do the right thing> God Bless

Tuesday QOTD: My favorite actvity has to be running on the track and yoga. With running its easy for me to put on some headphones and run until I'm no longer stressing anyone or anything anymore. Yoga helps with my blances as we'll as relaxes me when I need it.


Wednesday QOTD: I decided to make a change the day I noticed all the jeans in my closet didn't fit anymore at all. I'm also not liking the areas that I've gained weight so I'm trying to get back down to where I was before.

QOTD Wednesday - I realised that I needed to start this journey when I finally got some scales and realised how much weight I had put on, so I decided I would make changes from that moment, a week or two later I discovered MFP and have been here everyday ever since.

QOTD Thursday - I would say my favourite weight loss tools would be exercise DVD's, HRM and George Foreman Grill

QUESTION OF THE DAY - THURSDAY

What are your favourite weight loss tools?

Well, ditto to everything jamaica said (I love my Taylor scale, too). Also, this is the first time I purchased a kitchen scale - I got it at WalMart. It's made by Oneida and I think it was around $20. It's digital, and weighs in grams or pounds/ounces. One of my biggest issues has been portion size, and the kitchen scale definitely keeps me honest!!!

The exercise piece is being met right now by Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred. When I get more fit I will try a couple of her other dvd's. I have to modify some of the exercises still (sorry, I can't do 30 seconds worth of pushups without going to my knees), but I feel like I am getting an amazing workout in my living room.

Wednesday's QOTD: What made you realize that you needed to start this journey of getting healthier?

Reply: I moved in with my boyfriend about four years ago and over the time I gained about 30 pounds. I never realized I gained weigh until one day we went to Frys and I hopped on the scale and it said a big 167. My height is 5'0 feet so that really didn't fit me well. I was in shock that I was almost 170. Since then I lost 20 pounds and have managed to keep that off. The reason I searched for MFP is because I was using Weight Watchers and I did not like the plan because it didn't count all the calories that I take in. I am now a fitness queen!!!!

Wednesday's QOTD: What made you realize that you needed to start this journey of getting healthier?

When I went away on holiday to somewhere I had always wanted to go and couldn’t take any photos of myself there because I so hated the way I looked. I think also realising that there is never going to be a ‘right’ time to do this and the longer I wait the more unhappy I will be.


Thursday's QOTD: What are your favourite weight loss tools?

MFP, my buddy and my feet