Need to Lose 100 LBS -Robins Thread !

Monday Check-in ... seems like it's been a while since I did one of these, but without looking back to check, it could have been 7 days ago!
I weigh myself every morning, and for our challenge on here, I report on whatever day the challenges call for ... it was on Wednesday's last year and the current challenge is on Friday ... and if we have another volunteer to step up to moderate another challenge after this one ends, it will be whatever day that one says is the day for it.

It works for me to weigh-in every day ... the scale is in the bathroom and that's the first place I head to after waking up in the morning anyway. I actually keep a little post-it pad and pencil in the 'stuff' tray so I can jot down the number. Because my weight fluctuates by up to 3 pounds from one day to the next, I take an average of the 7-days to report my average weight into my trending log. That's a better, for me, measure of where I'm heading weight-wise. This also means that every challenge I am in, which has a different weight reporting day, I get to report that days weight to so very seldom do all my entries carry the same weight in any week.

Like many have stated they do or have tried it ... Intermittent Fasting (IF) is something I have tried. I think those of us who are perennial weigh-loss losers/gainers are prone to trying the latest popular technique to loss or keep off excess weight.

Actually, IF was easy for me to do because fasting was a given in my childhood home for religious purposes. And those fasts were long enough, frequent enough, and strict enough, that I had become accustomed to this type of eating plan. And, now that I think about it, I started to gain weight when I abandoned that form of abstinence and ate without moderation of any food in any season.

Today, I don't practice IF per-se, but I do minimize how many meals or snacks I have in any given time period. I use it more as a reflection of the holding quality of the meal I just had because if I am hungry soon after the meal I know it was more likely to have been out of balance macro wise than too light in calories. Like those saltines and butter I had yesterday ... that type of food just fuels the desire to consume more even until the point of being over-filled. And thus, that over-abundance of fat and starchy carbs yesterday led to an overnight 3 pound gain this morning. Will it be off by our reporting day this Friday? Maybe, but more likely not. PS ... because for me, "It comes on fast but goes off slow" ... even if it is just basically 'water weight'.

b_lisieux wrote: »

As for weighing, I only do it once a week, on Friday mornings. For me, personally, I'd drive myself nuts weighing every day as I know weight fluctuates and it would be a psychological downer for me if I saw a gain which simply could be because I ate something salty the night before perhaps. The bottom line is whatever works for each person is good.

That's right ... "what works for you" is the byword. And for me, actually, it's had a moderating effect ... the daily weigh-ins. Because, it's made me realize that not only does my weight fluctuate continually (after all, it's a live thing), but that scales can differ each time you step on them (after all, most are approximate measures anyway). ... and when I weighed in one time a week, then that number represented a whole week's worth of effort and I was either 'rewarded' or 'punished' with less or more pounds on the scale ... Now, it's just a number ... one that I keep track of to see the trend, and as long as the trend is heading in the direction I want overall, I am satisfied.

@happygirlxxx My issue is that once I start eating for the day, it's very difficult to stop, so my attempts at eating throughout the day while counting have generally been failures or miserable. I just drink water throughout the day(some say a little coffee, broth, tea, diet soda up to like 50 cals is okay, but most avoid it all) and tell myself "you can survive this for another hour". So far I have no averages for weekly loss since I just figured out the eating window that works for me.

You can start your eating window whenever you want, you don't have to wait until supper. I tried a 12-8 window, but couldn't stop after 8. If you want to try it, just experiment. Most people start with 16 hours fast to 8 eat.

Ugh! Confession Monday. I have been doing so well with limiting my calories while I recuperate from my foot surgery... but today I slipped up. Someone had a birthday in the office and we celebrated with a cake. I had a big piece and now I just feel sick. I'm not mad at myself which is a step in the right direction... but I feel absolutely ill! I need to remember this feeling for when I let temptation get the best of me. Now I only have about 600 cals for the rest of the day... I'm in California and it's 12:15pm. My IF time starts....... NOW (lol!)

@happygirlxxx I have one big meal, then snacks to round out my calorie goal. Currently planning what to have for supper. I'm the only one home and I've been a good boy all week, so considering a restaurant meal. ^.^

Nikion901 wrote: »

jules81 wrote: »

Hi I must have posted a while ago. I need to loose so much weight I feel overwelmed. I am even considering WLS.

I need all the tips I can get.

Starting weight 350 lbs ( 2016)
CW 318 lbs
GW ( for THIS year) 250 lbs
GW 140 lbs ( by May 20 21 - I will be 40)

Any tips/friend/help would be MOST welcome.

The 2 stone I lost through slimming world BUT can't afford the classes right now

Xxxx

@jules81
First off ... welcome.

Second off ... I get that you are feeling kind of desperate (overwhelmed).
If you are considering WLS ... know that it is not a panacea ... you need to qualify for it by proving you can hold to a diet, and you will be on a diet for the rest of your life afterwards. You lost some weight (2 stone is 28 pounds) .. and that's a typical loss for many sponsored diet programs (mine was Weight Watchers).
SO ... if you can lose 28 pounds once, you can do it again, and again, and again. The trick is to not gain it back after you lose it.

third off ... from my own personal history and perspective ... the longer you have been very heavy, the longer it will take to get it off ... at least to get if off where you are making permanent, sustainable, life style changes in your behavior with food and with physical mobility. ... So while it's nice to have a goal such as being at slim goal by such-and-such a date, don't hammer that goal into stone with a cold chisel, cause you might not get there on schedule ... I say this because I am now facing my 73rd birthday and can recall when I promised that I would be at slim goal by the time I turned 70 ...

That said ... I am some 51 pounds lost closer to my goal. I have made lasting changes that have improved my health markers dramatically from where they were when I started. I no longer do that no-goodnic ''emotional eating" thing, and I can better control my tendency to over-eat when I have candy, or baked desserts, or snack foods, or even too much fruit!

So ... come on in, and get comfortable with upchucking your emotional self onto us here in these threads instead of drowning them in a sea of milk and honey.

THANK YOU so so much for the advice and the warm welcome xxx

I am in uk and i am on tier 3 for wls I am half way through a 12 month program I am on on the 6th month appoitment to see the weight loss nurse and she wants me to be down to 309 lbs by 19th feb ( i am 318 today) ( tier 4 the actual surgery --if you complete all tier 3first) BUT I am v doubtfully IF I will get it do to severe mh problems ( spent 5 1/2 months in psychatric hospital last year-i am on A LOT of psychatric med's ;( if it goes ahead or o get that far it will be the sleeve due to my med's.)

The funny thing is ( sorry I am waffling) when I am eating healthy foods my mh is better than when I am eating rubbish)

Yep maybe I should aim for my 45 birthday. I said my 4th as my son will be 10 and it my dream to go to disneyland paris and actual fit on a ride! But may be able to fit on one at 180 lbs I just don't know - I've not looked into it.

You are doing so well...My dad's 70.

I wish I could get him motivated to loose some Wight I guess regardless of my goal i/we all have to look at it as every 1 lb off is less strain on our hearts/joints and i am hoping every 1 lb down makes my step's a little easier.

Thank you for your kind words - I really appreciate you taking the time to reply....I have a LOT to learn

Monday check in

Well I worked out today for the first time in about a year. Walk/run (mostly walked) only 1.25 miles and then got on the stationary bike for 1 mile to cool down. I think I am going to try and go every day. Tomorrow will be weights or a class we'll see it depends on the class. (I detest the weights) but I know that I will burn more calories with the weights and I will tone up better if I do it. But it is baby steps and it will probably involve a lot of standing around the machines...lol

As for all the talk about IF, I don't believe in fasting. Everything I have ever read said the best way to increase your metabolism is to eat small frequent healthy meals, about every 3 hours. Besides if I tried to fast I would just gorge myself when I did eat and that wouldn't be pretty. Ironically since I have been on meds for diabetes I have a very poor apetite and sometimes I have to force myself to eat. I get nauseated very easily for the first half of the week after I take my weekly injection but I'm over it by the middle of the week. The prevacid has helped a lot but it isn't gone. But as @b-lisieux said whatever works for each person is good for them. I have had good results counting carbs in the past so that is what I am doing to lose weight and it is good for my diabetes to limit my carbs because the carbs can raise my blood glucose levels

Like most everyone here I can't help it and weigh myself daily. I think mentally it would be better to only do it every couple of days so I don't get down when my weight fluctates. I wake up every morning check my blood sugar and weigh myself and record it on a program on my phone. However here on MFP I may skip putting it in daily. Like @skinnyjeanzbound I used to be obsessed with the scale and weigh myself multiple times during the day. Now I limit myself to only once a day.

Well I am off now hello to everyone and welcome to all the new people and the returning people. This group is great and it is downright therapeutic to write your thoughts down on this board.

Tuesday Goals!

Here an update of how I did this week:



There were 2 days I went over my carbs and specially yesterday that I think I was possessed and I had ice cream, croissants and cookies … everything that my MIL left I ate it so I would not waste it … anyway, I was so full I could not have supper (and I had so much nausea I could not workout either … how amazing is I can’t eat anymore like that?!) But today is a brand new day …. back on track!

I did quite well with my workouts this week … I think I exercised most days at least 45 minutes and I am being able to do spinning a whole hour so I think I am improving. Oh, and I did rowing again that I had not that done in a long time as well.

Water intake has improved, but I need to drink more … I think my average was about 10 glasses a day … would like to at least drink a couple per hour … I don’t know why is it so hard, but at least now my body is like asking to drink water which before I could be the whole day without drinking a drop …

The goal I did best was at cooking … it was a super delicious week! I made low carb bread rolls with sesame seeds; mixed berries ricotta mini muffins that were so moist (but unfortunately addictive) and zucchini cannelloni filled with goat cheese and spinach and then baked with mozzarella and marinara … so all 3 were new recipes for me and worth repeating soon!

@jules81 the process of loosing weight can be overwhelming … but use those lbs down to motivate you to continue … you can do it!! Start one meal / workout at the time and celebrate each success .. having a good breakfast yay! Having a good 15 minute walk yay! Because before you would not have even thought about it, right? So celebrate and motivate you! And if there is a glitch you continue, don’t lose a whole day … and most importantly, find what works for you …. use the community as a way to find ideas, but you know yourself so you will know what is best .. this is a trial and error process, so embrace the good and the no so good, you will do great! Best of luck!

Have a healthy goal oriented Tuesday everyone!

@jules81 welcome to the group. I'm new here too but the motivivation and support these group members give each other is fantastic. Plus they are extremely welcoming.

@raindogmaa Some times you just got to eat the cake and enjoy life. Eat healthy the rest of the day and remember how sick all that sugar made you feel and it will be easier to skip it

@ambrrr01 I feel the same way with the weather the last few days. I live in the US northeast and though its finaly warmed up its just been pouring rain for two days now. I wished my appetite dropped when the weather was like this though. Instead I just want to eat all the comfort foods. Though to combat it I made a big pot of soup.


Only recently I've gotten in the habit of weighing my self daily. I only log it on fridays but I feel it keeps me in check through the week. If I see a huge jump I use it as a reminder to watch the process food.

@happygirlxxx I'm not sure how big your drinking glasses are but a couple glasses of water an hour might be too much. I've read the most your kidneys can process is about 4 cups/32oz of water an hour. Your best indicator of whether your getting enough hydration is to look at urination color. If its light in color your doing good (some medications or vitamins may that alter the color). One way I found to increase my water intake was to use a drinking container with a straw. While I'm working at a desk I mindlessly drink a lot of water because of the straw.


Last weeks goal went pretty well. I was able to reduce some of my caffine intake. This week I'm going to contiune to focus on that but I'm also going to add getting more workouts in. Tonight I have volleyball which should be pretty competitive and I'll get the blood moving but I need to make some trips to the gym.

@jules81 Welcome!!! You have come to the right place for support. Everyone here has the same hard journey. @Nikion901 said it all best. I couldn't have said it better myself. The biggest key I read is that you WANT to be healthy and lose the weight, so that is the biggest hurdle to overcome on this journey. Is it easy? Of course not. Is it worth it? You bet. You will find the way that works best for you, and you will succeed. This group is awesome and that, too, is a big help with motivation and support. Glad you are here.

Logged on today and read many posts. It was good to see so many here and active but it also makes is hard to give individualized responses. I've just been so busy lately...hard to keep up, but I'm reading.

Tuesday goals

My goal is to keep working out daily at least 4 days a week. Yesterday I worked on cardio, today I went to a yoga class. It was kinda sad really because I couldn't do any poses and have zero balance but you know what, I will keep going until I get better. Right now I am so sore from stretching muscles that I forgot I had. I plan to alternate cardio, yoga and weights. They say it only takes 21 days to develop a habit lets hope I make it...lol

I am eager for the weather to get a little wrmer so I can run/walk outside. My treadmill times and length will be less because it is so easy to quit on the treadmill. One little twinge of pain/discomfort I stop but if you run outside you have to at least go back to the start.

I am still doing great eating healthier foods, staying away from sugar and it helps getting rid of all sodas including my once daily Monster Energy drink. I treated myself to a diet soda the other day and I couldn't drink it because it just tasted weird. It is for the best that I gave them up but I am bored with water all the time.

Anyway keep up the great work everyone will chat again soon and thanks for reading.

@Nikon901 You will get there real soon. The motivator is "This, I want so badly!" You WILL get it!

I don't exercise ( due to ME/CFS) but went on the bike ( home exercise bike) for 5 mins yesterday ( missing today ( to give myself a rest) and hopefully 6 mins tomorrow I KNOW this in minor in exercise but I am trying. Also doing5000- 6000 steps a day. My ME/CFS consultant said that is more than enough with my ilness. I am bed ridden at times so really do have a seditary life style at times.

Xxx

Hi guys!

I'm having a good week food-wise, but not as much exercise as I'd like. Still the scale was down slightly from last week, so I will have a teeny-tiny loss at minimum for this week--maybe more if the scale is kind tomorrow or Friday.

Like @b_lisieux , I am reading regularly, but don't always have time to post personals. Please know that I'm here reading along though.

Some folks were talking about IF which I've never intentionally tried. It was interesting to learn that you can set your window and it can be more than 6 hours (that's the only schedule I've ever seen, so thought that was the "rule"). Seeing that made me realize that I'm sort of doing IF right now b/c my teaching schedule changed at work this semester, so I don't eat my first meal until 11 am. I figured since I already typically eat dinner before 7 pm, I'm already eating the bulk of my calories within an 8 hour window. I do usually eat some sort of evening snack--and I stay up pretty late, so I don't think I could commit to the 8-hour window. However, I will try to finish by 9 pm so I'm in a 10-hour window to see if that has any impact on my weight loss. Figured I may as give it a try since I'm almost doing that by default.

Someone also asked about favorite exercise. My most consistent exercise is walking b/c I have a big furry dog who will have it no other way, but I prefer running. He used to run with me, but now he's getting too old (he's 12). My favorite runs are trail runs, which I almost never get to do b/c there's no place to do that near my house.

I also like to lift weights and do core work like planks and push ups, but some shoulder injuries have made that difficult. I'm trying to get back into it, but it hasn't gone well.

Name: Karen
Age: 48
Height: 5' 7"
Highest weight: 247

Start Weight (Jan 2, 2018) 205
Goal Weight (Friday, Feb 23, 2018) 190

Weigh-ins on week of
Jan 5: 203
Jan 12: 202.4
Jan 19: 202.4
Jan 26:
Feb 2nd:
Feb 9:
Feb 16:
Feb 23:

Weight -/+ this week: 0
Weight -/+ this challenge: -2.6
Total weight lost: 44 lbs

@Karen... IF is a catch all phrase for an eating pattern that has gained popularity and sometimes people think (wrongly) that it has magical properties for losing weight ... and it may well have ... that magic is called 'calorie restriction', and we ALL do it whether we know it or night not cause we are not putting food into our bodies when we are asleep. (giggle, giggle)

Here is a good review of it on Wikipedia ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_fasting



That said ... I have read articles, both on MFP and outside of it ... that IF may, especially in cases of severe calorie restriction over extended periods of time, coupled with a low carbohydrate intake, put people into ketone burning rather than glucose burning time frames that may be beneficial in reducing basal glucose (and other physical benefits) ... which is why I practice it on a modified version of fasting for 12 hours between my evening meal and my first meal of the day. I still consume too many carbs to ever go into a ketone state, but my A1c has improved gradually over time as I have become more compliant with my pattern of fasting between 12 and 16 hours daily. ... still, I don't know, and have no proof, that it is the IF I practice or the fact that I have lost over 50 pounds that has made the difference in my blood work. And the weight loss has come about because of calorie intake reduction, from an average of 2200 calories a day to an average of 1600 calories (plus, minus 100).