Re-establishing Chubby Twenties?!

i wanna join! is it to late to join this group???

my name is dannielle. i am 23. i have two amazing little boys, i want to lose around 40 lbs before october, or at least the end of the year. i just joined this site, and i don't know anyone , this group sounds just like me, and i need alot of help with the motivation!

my current weight : 159
goal weight: 115 ish
i am very short, around 5'3 so i look alot bigger than i am

After re-trying to get back into this I'm finally ready! It's taken like 3 months but I'm back on track. It helps that I've finally booked my dream vacation to Scotland and I want to be in shape when I go.

Hello everyone. I would love to join this group! I am 27 and would love to be a size 10 (AUS), currently a larger size 12 c:(

I have a cold/ flu at the moment, had a head cold and took it slow last week with exercise but today I cant stop coughing so Im finally forced to the couch

Hey Gem

Feeling a bit better today. Cant wait to get back to my normal exercise schedule. I need to loose some pounds!

How is the WII fitness program? Is it any good? Ive never used a wii so I have no idea! lol

Hey Gem! I know I've been lame. I fell off the wagon horribly. It's taken me a while to pick myself back up again. As to Scotland I'm going to start in Edinburgh but after that I'm not sure yet, still planning I'm taking a tour for the first week then I have 19 days on my own. I know I'm going to go down to North Wales for a weekend (plus whatever train time it takes) to visit a friend who lives there. I'm still doing my research about what I want to see and do especially since I'm going in the middle of freaking winter! But I wanted to go to Hogmanay in Edinburgh. Isn't it weird how our feet shrink. I'm down almost a full size now from when I started. So strange. Congrats! Any NSV is good!

Nat- Those are some crazy hours hope it settles down soon! Thanks for the advice. This is my first trip overseas so I'll take any I can get I'm super excited but also very nervous since I'm travelling alone(well except the first part that's with the tour).

Hi Everyone!

I've just recently discovered MFP and I'd love to be part of a support group that can keep me on track throughout the school year. I've been on my diet/exercise program for five days. My biggest concern is that once school starts, I won't be able to keep up my routine due to classes, living w/ 3 male housemates, and nights out. I really want to establish a healthy lifestyle as opposed to a temporary diet.

My goal is to lose 18 pounds and attain my ideal measurements. If I hit my desired measurements before losing 18 pounds, then that will be my goal weight.

Feel free to add me. Stay motivated!

Hi guys! I sort of 'joined' this thread a while ago, but never really have the guts to post! But I thought I would grow a pair and get on with it today, because I really do want to be friends with everyone

@AlmostLost.... booooooooooooooooo work! I had a big old week like that, not last week, but the week before and everything fell apart - but it's no one's fault, if you exercise loads and work that much, you'll make yourself soooooooooo ill. what's the cafe that you speak of? Hope that week is a better week with lots of lovely rest as well as healthy times

@Cenedria - YAY SCOTLAND! I'm going to Edinburgh in... 2 weeks time now, because my theatre company is taking a show up there. I've not been before, so I can do a big old report about what it was like from my new-to-scotland eyes it's wicked that you're doing something you've always wanted to do. when do you get there, and how long are in the UK for?

@AnnabelLeigh - Hiya! Nice to meet you I know exactly what you mean about maintaining a healthy lifestyle at school, I'm in a similar situation, and my big panic is that when the summer hiatus is up and I return to university, everything will just fall apart. But I guess that the key is taking things one day at a time, and trying to plan and structure meals as well as possible. We'll do it together, and all will be well

@StephieJMann - CONGRATS ON THE WEDDING! How are the preparations coming along. A wedding's an amazing goal - they had a whole section in weightwatchers magazine about ladies that lost weight for their weddings - I scan it for you if you like, they're really lovely articles. I'm not sure how my scanner works... but it'll be fun to learn! And you can definitely lose 2lbs a week you've already done a big old step by joining MFP

@gemfox what did you get on Oxford Street? The most important bit and you missed it out! The last time I went there I fainted. true facts. So well done you!

I hope that everyone is well, and happy, and has lots of loveliness to look forward to in the coming week!

I have a little thing that I'm a bit worried about, and I thought that I would ask all of your advice. On the 13th august, (so about 2 weeks away) I'm taking my theatre company up to Edinburgh for the fringe. We're doing a show, and I'm company manager, so it's kind of like a holiday - but not really, cus I've got to work!

I'm really having a panic about it.

How am I going to exercise? 15 of us are all stuffed into a flat so I'm not sure if I'll feel comfortable to do my exercise video, or even if we'll have the space. Perhaps I could start the c25k programme while I'm up there? I wouldn't be in the house, it'd be time for myself, I guess. Or maybe I could get a pedometer/HRM and walk walk walk like a crazy girl, go up to the castle, see as much of the city as poss. I'm just so scared that I'll mess up my fitness level, and that without the structure that my job provides or the support of my family, it'll all go down the pan. about a week ago I had a real bad week, barely exercised, ate not as well as I could have. didn't lose weight, but didn't gain either, so no so bad. But that week of from exercising really had an effect - when I next came to do my vid again, it felt so hard, and it took me a week to get back up to that level.

Am I just making excuses? Maybe I should just suck it up, take my exercise video and be like - look you're all my friends, and you know that I need to do this. So there. and then maybe stick my tongue out? phweeeeeee. I'm fretting.

sorry to do a neuroses all over the thread, but I thought I should let it out. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

@Selly7749 Thanks for adding me Wedding prep is going ok - we have a lot left to sort out, but I'm hoping that it will get done in time!! Haha I am so excited about it though - and I am so motivated THIS TIME to lose the weight!!!

If you can figure out how your scanner works I would love to read those articles - but please don't worry about it if it takes longer than 5 minutes - you have other things to be doing I'm sure!!

As for your Edingburgh trip - it sounds great! I've never been to the fringe festival but I'd love to go at some point so I'm very jealous that you get to be in it!!! You should definitely get out and about walking all over the city - I've heard it's beautiful and all that walking will look great on the scales!

I think if the people with you on the trip are pretty close to you, you should try out the video - i bet you would get people joining in with you too - and I don't know about you, but I never quit on my video when my hubby-to-be is watching - so you certainly won't be quitting if there are 15 people in the flat!!!

If there's no space then maybe you could go for a jog? (Don't know if you like running - personally I think it's the devil in disguise but I give it a shot when I can before reverting back to a fast walk) - great time to get away from the chaos and really just be you!

Good luck with it - I'm sure we'll speak before you leave!!

Oh and as I posted this Ayla posted Thanks for the welcome - don't worry I'm not psycho crazy on the 2lbs per week, I would be totally happy at 1lb which would still put my around 160lbs for my wedding which would be awesome . It's amazing that you're doing a 50k cycle ride - that sounds so far to me! I have been thinking about getting a bike, maybe this could be the perfect time to do it!!

Howdy, I would love to join you all. I am Katy, 28, from sunny Sheffield, England.

I would really love to be at goal by the end of the year, 20lbs away. Am aiming for a UK size 10, its so close, but they are still on the tight side. I am o day 7 of my third round of the 30 day shred and have 6 week 6 pack to do after, can't wait

Steph- It's a nice way to workout really, easy on the body and I really enjoy ridding around my town.

Selly-I'm with you! I HATE exercising when it's hot and I'm all sticky and gross.

BJ-Welcome!

Sweetsapphire- Jillian Michaels scares me so I've avoided her stuff but people do tend to get results from that one.

Ok *MASSIVE POST ALERT*

Firstly (before I forget) I studied for 4yrs in Edinburgh, and I love love love love love the city, so if you want any ideas of things to do etc etc feel free to ask me any specific questions. I can do this on message or on here, whichever you'd prefer! I don't want to necessarily clog up the board with my love of the city when noone cares!!

Welcome to everyone that joined the group, feel free to friend me if you'd like the support (I'm only bad and absent from the message boards...I check in every day and check my news feed and comment normally!)

@AnnabelLeigh I totally know where you're coming from when it comes to studying and staying on top of this...I thought that all the way through my undergrad...4.5yrs of *oh but I don't have time to exercise* and *i need to eat lots to keep my energy levels high to work so hard*..(and then trying to claw it back during the long summer) .it wasn't until this Christmas that I decided enough was enough and started it on the 4th Jan, seeing how long I could keep it up...and I did, my mood was better, my energy was higher once I ditched all the junk food and I felt better and more like I wanted to get up in the morning...It was completely the opposite to what I expected, and I was all ready to give it up as soon as the workload piled on...but y'know even if the exercise disappeared, the eating well stuck and I didn't have to throw in the towel and now I'm at 50lbs lost...so it can be done....sure it's been massively hard at times when I've not wanted to cook and whatnot...but actually, having some me time, cooking/exercising etc, and having something other than studying really helped me to want to do the work more productively when I was doing the work.
Give it a shot and see what is feasible for you to keep up...don't overload yourself or set it as an impossible situation...one thing I always do when I cook is make a portion for 4 people...and when I serve my dinner up, put the other 3 portions into some tuppaware and then I've got 3 *ready made* microwavable meals...that I can eat for dinner the next day, or lunch, or whatever...super easy, stress busting, if it's put away into a container then I don't get so much of an urge to go have seconds of dinner, AND it saved me a lot of money cooking in bulk (and washing up actually...not having to cook every day).

Selly...at the fringe the one thing you don't need to worry about is exercise...you'll be walking all over the city like a crazy lady...AND you'll be up all hours of the day...Edinburgh pubs/bars all stay open til 3am, and clubs til 5am...so there's also the dancing there too...WALK ALL OVER the city, every day (that's what I always do), power walk past the tourists (after a couple of days you'll know where you're going and find them really slow too) and just enjoy seeing everything.
Climb up Arthur's Seat and the Crags (the big volcanic hills in Holyrood Park), great exercise, and an amazing view...take a picnic if you have time.
Climb up Carlton Hill - again amazing views
Walk the length of Princes St (shopping!) and the Royal Mile (touristy)
Enjoy walking all over the city and explore like crazy...and trust me the busses are super slow so if you're staying not too far out of the city then make the most of all those walking calories and try not to make your legs hurt too much...PLEASE TAKE COMFY SHOES!!!

Gem I'm sooo sorry you're feeling so ick. I was in a massive funk all last week about everything. I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere, stuff was too slow, things were rubbish, blaaaah.
I ate more (not over, just gave myself a bit more slack), and I changed up the exercise a bit. When my family's at home I feel bad hogging the tv doing 30DS or Wii Zumba, (and I would NEVER EVER do it infront of them (unless maybe they were doing it with me)) so I started going out walking a lot more - my dogs have been loving all the extra afternoon walks...can you do that? I go out for an hour with my ipod on and just kinda walk it out.
I also went to my first salsa class, and my first Zumba class (I got dragged along to both, but they were actually both really good fun, and it was so nice to do some "fun" exercise for once...
One thing that did finally help me was to allow myself to feel so rubbish and kinda give myself a mental hug. It's ok, stuff gets beyond hard and it all builds up, and it always comes in waves for me. I'll be fine for ages and then BAM it's all too much and it's all going wrong. Maybe I've been overdoing it/not sleeping enough - especially in all this hot weather, maybe I've not been drinking/eating enough, maybe I'm just not making time for the FUN too...for me getting out and seeing friends and actually living my life can help with that.
I wish there was more I could say to help other than give you a massive virtual hug. You know you've got all of us to lean on and rant to, (even if you think the stuff is petty, I bet we can all relate and we've all thought it). You're doing spectacularly - to even still be on the site when you're feeling like this is huge - I know in the past I'd have just decided it was too hard and slipped away quietly. You've lost so much already, surely you still have some old clothes that are too big/clothes that were too small that have started to fit...maybe take some out and just see how far you've come for a bit of a non-scale boost?
You're an absolutely gorgeous girl, screw the mirror, you'll snap yourself out of it and see it soon as well!

xxx

Gem - SERIOUSLY!!! 28lbs and nothing feels a little less snug? Surely there must've been a teeny change in your measurements? I know that I didn't really notice the difference until I went clothes shopping and realised that actually there was a big change in jeans and shorts and things, but I'd gradually gotten used to my clothes being baggier - and it wasn't til my mum was like YOU HAVE TO START WEARING CLOTHES THAT FIT YOU!...though to be fair at that point I'd lost over 30lbs...so maybe that moment is just around the corner for you?
Have you tried picking up 26lbs of stuff...(12.7kg) because that is a massive amount and maybe holding it in your arms would make you realise how massive an achievement it is...I know when I bought a set of hand weights the total box of weights and packaging weighed about 10.5kg and it was HEAVY and made me realise how far I'd come...