Women 200lb+, Let's Stay Fired Up This February!!!

Bella_Figura · February 2020

@vegasgirl0825 you're doing so well! Only 6lbs more and you'll have lost a tenth of your starting bodyweight - well done you! That's amazing in such a short period of time.

I'm on day two---those tricky first few days! Both days I've stuck to the plan, both for eating and exercise, so I'm happy to have got the first 48 hours under my belt. It helps that my hubby is also on plan so we're encouraging each other.

I worked out today that if I lost 1.5lbs each and every week I'd be at goal a year today, but I'm not expecting that rate of loss. My mantra is that any loss is worth celebrating, even if it's only a tenth of a pound. Having gained almost 100lbs in 5 years, any downward trend is a success. As long as I'm heading downwards I don't care if it takes me 2 years...or even 3!

I hope everyone's having a good day!

vegasgirl0825 · February 2020

@Bella_Figura - Oh my gosh! I have such a math brain and didn't even make that connection! I'm now totally hyped for 6 more pounds!

AlexandraFindsHerself1971 · February 2020

Did not weigh this morning, but I will tomorrow. Whatever it says, I have some victories. The little pillows of fat on either side of my knee joints when I stand are gone, and the overhang of the thigh above is much reduced. And, when I stood and looked at myself full on in the mirror, and pulled myself up into correct posture and tightened my abs... I could see my "kitten". That's been shrouded behind my pannus fold for at least ten years. This is working. This is really working. Am back at excited/scared of what my body will become.

KeriA · February 2020

66 years old, Height: 5'6"
SW: 266 lbs
2/1: 263.6 lbs
2/2: 263.4
2/3: 262.2
CW (2/17): 261.2
GW: Onderland 1st, maintain for a few weeks then 150 llbs.
February Goal get into 250’s

My February Weekly Goals are:
1. Continue to go to Aquafit 3 times a week
2. Improve my weekday breakfasts
3. Log weight, food and exercise
4. get into the 250s and stay in them
5. Make progress adding in exercise on days I don’t go to aquafit
6. Make healthy foods at home
7. get enough sleep and improve water intake
8. Check out this thread more often

@Rensifedragon I would lose a lot if I had no sugar. I am slowly having less and less.

@starbelliedsneed Yes it is hard to reply to posts on the phone. I use a word doc to reply on then coy into my post.

@vegasgirl0825 20 lbs is significant. You are only 6 lbs from losing 10% of your weight. When you reach 10% you can really have a harder time losing. Some people take a rest and maintain for 2 weeks to reset what your body sees as your real weight that it is trying to keep you at. If it is coming off then keep losing but if it is harder to lose this is why. You are doing great.

I finally have a new low. I finally got under the low I hit in early October just before I really started to struggle. I finally stopped gaining and started down, but not as low as the one in October until now. I have been really close lately but still a few tenths of a pound above. All week my highs were lower but not my lows. Now I finally got a new low. My next target it to get below the low I got to when I started my current job and started to lose for a while. That is my February goal. Once I hit below that I will feel like I am really making progress.

This is Monday but since I am off work it feels like Sunday. For the upcoming week I want to focus on

logging
checking in here
improving weekday breakfasts
adding at least an extra day of exercise above Aquafit

AlexandraFindsHerself1971 · February 2020

I want to go exercise tomorrow but I'm probably going to spend the week titrating my daily psych med to figure out when exactly to take the two doses so that I can get the benefit of it during my waking hours and work day, while still being able to go to bed and go to sleep at a decent hour. I took a full dose at three pm and I'm betting that that may be a little late in the day for a full dose, but we'll see how I feel when 10 pm comes around. If I am up til three in the morning, I will not be getting up at six to work out. (grin)

On the other hand, I may be able to just go right to sleep because my brain will listen to me when I say go to sleep instead of trying to think all the thoughts at once, and so I'll just set my clothes up and all as if I were going to work out. We'll see.

gmartinez4520 · February 2020

Hey there! Just decided today to start my weight loss journey! Currently I'm 5'4 and 280lbs. Ideally this month im trying to go down to 275lbs and my target weight would be 160lbs. I'm excited to reach out and connect with other members!

CupcakeCrusoe · February 2020

Checking in everyone!

I'm afraid I don't have time today to tag, but I've read everything, and I'm here with you all. And welcome to the newbies!

I skipped the run Friday, which meant... Three days in a row of 3 mile runs. 😭 So happy tomorrow's rest day, not even going to lift. I also did a lot of gardening and errands, ugh.

And possibly related: I wanted to eat EVERYTHING today. So I ate almost all of my exercise calories back, even if they're not accurate, no regrets.

Tomorrow is rest day, I've got a plan for all my food to keep me happy, and back to work! Another week, another chance to make it great!

Terytha · February 2020

The large piece of birthday cake I took last night turned out to be 900 calories. *faint*

It was delicious though, so. No Regrets! A couple days eating at maintenance for my birthday won't kill me. It didn't at Christmas either.

Yesterday we magicked our way out of a Harry Potter themed escape room with just three minutes to spare. So fun. Very difficult! Every time I think I'm getting better at puzzle solving they come up with something even harder.

vegabay · February 2020

Hi all
I’m 5’5, 46 Years Old
SW 245
Lost 10 pounds on January
CW 234
GW get under 200 and then reevaluate

I’ve been trying to stick to 1200 calories Mon to Fri, but I do struggle on the weekends and want to cheat a lot on Sat and Sun
I’ve been walking my dog for an hour a day, doing 45 min on the Eliptical every day during the week and slowly adding in some weight training. My biggest change is cutting out wine during the week. I’d at least like to lose 5 more pounds this month. It is a harder month with Valentines Day and my birthday.

Even with not a huge loss on the scale, recently went to Disney and I could certainly see a change in my fitness level for the better so just gotta keep it going. Thanks to everyone sharing their inspiring stories on here!

KeriA · February 2020

Happy Birthday Terytha!

BrookeLynn18 · February 2020

My hubby and I are doing great! We went out and splurged for Valentine's (sushi dinner we have both been craving) with no regrets.

I purposely haven't been stepping on the scale and I'm proud of myself for it. Previously I was a bit obsessive and strugged with any sort of gain- even knowing that it was water weight. It would affect my mood and frustrate me. I haven't had a clear weigh in day every week, but I do weight every week and have been steadily losing. We also took measurements and I'm excited to see those go down too. 😁
The gym has been great for us. Hiring a trainer has been extremely rewarding and we are SO happy that we have. Workouts have been great and we are closer to being able to run our 5K race in May. I'm so excited. Taking walks outside when the weather is nice has been great.
Food is much better too. Our trainer has helped us with calories and Macros and we are trying really hard to hit it all. Some days are better than others, but I'm still proud of how far we've come already.

@BrownSugar174
That's a great question. I've been putting some thought into it and have a hard time answering that question. I have a lot of mentors in my life and one of them says "If I asked you to make a list of the things that you love, how long would it take for you to list yourself?" When I originally heard that I didn't even think about putting myself on the list. This health journey is helping me to love myself. I'm not sure that I've ever truly felt beautiful and comfortable in my own skin, but I'm looking forward to the day that I do. I know it's not about the destination, that it's about the climb, but somewhere in the next year I hope to see those results. This isn't just about weight, it's about holistic health. That's my 2020 war cry. Health (weight), mental, spiritual, marriage, financial. My husband and I are both trying to become the best versions of ourselves- and we are on our way.

cory17 · February 2020

@nightkit You asked about activities for after hip replacements. Granted, we are all individuals, but, 58 yo & had my rthr posterior 15 mos ago and the left side is also not far off, prob within the next year. My md said postop no running or jumping. Yesterday I walked a 5k with some friends - one of them is a bilat hippie (73 yo fem) and she ran it in a 1/2 hour. She's doing zumba classes too. I swim 3 days a week and there are other hippies there as well, also in the gym too and do weights, trying to work back up for my bones building strength (using 55 - 70 lb upper body). Message is that you can be athletic and active, we all have different start points.

@mdeveau Hope the one you've been eyeing pays you some notice, your cameo is beautiful.

Emilyestelle1 · February 2020

@BrownSugar174 That's an interesting question. I think I learned to value myself first through my children. Their father was a horrible person, and the fact that I stayed with him as long as I did said a lot about how I felt about myself. One day when my son was a toddler and my daughter was a newborn he went to hit me with a pan. My son started screaming when he saw it. (Which actually saved me from getting belted in the head) I looked at him and thought... Is that what you want to teach your children? Is that how you want your son to think he should treat women? Is it how you want your daughter to accept being treated? That was the day I actually decided that I'd better learn to love myself because I wasn't willing to let my children pay the price for my issues.

Bella_Figura · February 2020

Morning ladies!

I was mulling over weight loss on my dog walk this morning, and one thing that makes me really sad is the negative mindset that people have towards losing weight. I hear so many people say things like 'I have to lose 5 stones, it'll take forever' or 'I have to give up all the things I love to eat!' or 'I have to do more exercise, and I hate exercise!'

I used to have this mindset myself, but now I'm much kinder to myself. Instead of all the negative things I HAVE to do, I reframe it as all the positive things I GET to do. Here's how I reframe it to myself:

I get the opportunity to lose 6 stones - what an achievement it'll be when I've finished!
I get to take it slowly because I've got a long way to go, and it means I'll learn so much about myself along the way.
I get to learn what exercise or activity I can learn to love, and I get to see myself grow stronger and fitter as I incorporate more movement into my daily routine.
I get to make healthy food choices and I get to use the months or years of slow, steady weight loss to study nutrition and health, so that I can start to nourish my body and mind properly.
As I learn and grow, I'll get the opportunity to break my addiction to junk food, so that it loses its stranglehold on me, and becomes something that is powerless to harm me.
I get to learn over the long haul how to take the rough with the smooth, so that I'm not derailed by a bad day or a blip on the scale but can take them in my stride.
I get the time to really understand how I really want to express myself in clothes, and because it'll take me a while to get to goal, I get to put a little aside each week towards the new clothes I'll get to choose because I LIKE them, rather than because 'they'll do'.
I get to have a long term project (myself!) which will absorb my interest and give me loads of causes for pride and celebration as I achieve both scale and non-scale victories.
I get to see myself as a wonderful work in progress.

Does anyone else do this? It makes the mountain so much easier to climb!

AlexandraFindsHerself1971 · February 2020

TOM and cramping violently, so no workout. Didn't sleep as well as I would have liked either. But have logged the food for the day and started on my water intake, and I was 282 this morning with all the bloating. I suspect next week I'll get my whoosh down into the high 270's.

shalisa7 · February 2020

Hi I have rejoined again and lost 5 lbs over last week and a half following my adapted version of low GI diet. Need to lose 100 lbs but any loss a bonus. Please add me as a friend x

BrownSugar174 · February 2020

@Bella_Figura I love the way your looking at this journey! I GET IT😊

sharpdust · February 2020

Hope everyone had a great weekend. I had another rough weekend, mostly due to my choices, but TOM also a factor. Its like I just forgot everything and reverted back to old habits. Not logging, not weighing, just back to the old way. My 15 pounds loss is no more, more like a 10 pounds loss at this point. Before this gets out of control, I need to hold myself accountable.

When I visit this forum and interact with you all is when I am doing my best. I am really dreading tomorrow's weigh-in. Its going to be higher than last week. Part of me wants to skip it, pretend like it didn't happen. But I won't. I'm my own harshest critic, I am not scared about any of you being mean or anything like that lol but its a feeling of shame. I feel ashamed. I hope this feeling doesn't last too long and I intend on making better choices, especially during the weekend to try and undo some of the harm that's already been done. I also intend on being more active in the forum so that I can remain focused.

Thanks for listening, just typing it out is therapeutic. I admit that I cried, but I feel so much better being honest with you all and most importantly myself. I'm not going to not eat for 2 days to try to make up for the weekend, just gonna log and move on.

Lasmartchika · February 2020

Hello wonderful group!!! Wow, so many posts over the weekend!!

Had a nice weekend... I made chocolate filled strawberries on Friday for Valentine's Day, then my hubby and I went out to eat on Saturday instead and avoid the Friday nightmare!! LOL!! We did that mistake our first Valentines together and we decided never again!!

I didn't log at all Saturday or Sunday, but I was still mindful not to go all out!! I actually ate only half my Valentine's meal and ate the other half yesterday and Sunday I still felt stuffed!! Then yesterday I decided to log estimates for my weekend and realized I didn't do too bad... except yesterday I was sooooo hungry!! I think I basically ate all my maintenance calories and still felt hungry, but stopped myself and filled up on a whole lot of water. Hopefully, I can make my stomach join my brain into getting back to business!! LOL!!

I have a question... I was doing Zumba just now, but my left calf was hurting so much like after 10 minutes of exercising. And it's not the first time, I've been ignoring it since last week or so and just kinda push through the pain. I take rest days, so I don't know why I'm feeling pain since this has been my exercise of choice since I started in January.

Does anybody know what I can do to help the pain go away?

fitchick37 · February 2020

There’s so much to catch up on every time I dip in here! It’s great following everyone’s journey, we all have our ups and downs and it’s great being part of such a supportive community.

I’ve been mulling over BrownSugar’s question about loving yourself. I don’t think I do, I’m not sure I ever have. I wasn’t an overweight child but when I left school my friends were UK 6s and I was probably a 10 with hips and boobs and felt huge compared to them. I’ve never really lost weight but gained slowly and steadily before maxing out at 250. There’s been occasions I’ve felt pretty or attractive but I have a really negative opinion of myself...I’m working on it and I celebrate every little win on my weight loss journey. Today I scraped below 230 and I’m mega happy about that!

cory17 · February 2020

My understanding is that it takes 10+ positive comments to balance 1 negative comment.

This weekend my arms & legs are full of bug bites, there were brownie bites down the hall and now they are in my stomach. Disturbed and unable to focus! I ate them...

MyBeth1 · February 2020

Ugh really bad day. Just really was craving pizza. Now I feel guilty because I did eat 3 slices yesterday. Now I had left over today because no one else in my house will eat it because it has mushrooms and spinach on it. Tomorrow is a new day and I will consider it a learn experience and figure out how to make healthy alternative to cravings.

Tarzan37 · February 2020

It's a tough week here. PMS combined with health concerns for my mom and now my sister as well. I didn't sleep well again on top of all that and ended up eating badly (Wendy's) at lunch today. I do realize that I use food for comfort at times like these when things are not going well combined with PMS. Not sure how to change it, but I guess realizing it is the first step.

ETA: Just went back and read the last page of posts and I have to say that it helps to know I am not the only one struggling right now. Sometimes I feel like you all have it so together and that I'm not keeping up. But it's not a competition and it helps a lot to have this group for support. Hugs to everyone who is struggling right now!

sharpdust · February 2020

@BrownSugar174 I struggle with self-love. There are things I like about myself but I am really hard on myself regarding my physical appearance. I know that I am better than where I was 10 years ago (32 vs 22) and that my physical appearance doesn't determine my value as a human being, but I still don't like it. I wish I could be fat and confident, I know many beautiful women who are heavier and they just exude this confidence and appeal that I can't. I also have this habit of comparing myself to others, which only hurts my feelings. I am continuously working on this because I don't want to hate the only body I will ever have. Man, I am emo today, sorry guys.

@fitchick37 Reading your post was like if I had written it. We'll get there!

CupcakeCrusoe · February 2020

@BrookeLynn18 "If I asked you to make a list of the things that you love, how long would it take for you to list yourself?" That's so deep.

@cory17 those brownie bites were probably delicious, now you can acknowledge them for the joy they gave you and move on.

@emilyestelle1

@Bella_Figura the process thinking makes it much easier, I agree.

@AlexandraFindsHerself1971 I hope you're feeling better soon!

@shalisa7 welcome!

@sharpdust you're still showing up, which is more than half the battle. We're here with you.

@Lasmartchika I know you know to stretch, so there's that. Especially, for calves, to do the one where you prop your heel up on the side of the step and stretch through with your toe on the ground. Hurts so good. You could also use heat pads or ice packs and see if that helps you rest better, if that makes sense.

@fitchick37 congratulations! And

@MyBeth1 Hi! I also think that foods we really want but aren't the best for us are still serving us, even if only in a psychological way. If you still want pizza after the weight loss is done, try to find a way to work it in now, so you can get used to seeing how pizza fits in your new healthier life. Mushroom spinach pizza sounds amazing.

@Tarzan37 I hear you. You're dealing with a lot right now, it's okay to give yourself some grace.

I feel weird today, TBH. It's weird, because I have some progress pictures saved in my phone, and looking at the difference already so far makes me feel better, but the scale is up

(I mean, it has to go up sometimes, can't go down forever, because water weight's a thing)

so I've got this weird disconnect/brain weasels that make me believe that I've undone my progress by eating a little more this weekend. So big deep breath for me, keep the deficit, keep the faith, keep going. Ugh. We'll get through.

I had a well-deserved rest day today, tomorrow's the speed test in my 10k training. I've got a good idea of what I'm eating tomorrow, and it looks delicious. Have a good night/good tomorrow, everyone.

AlexandraFindsHerself1971 · February 2020

@sharpdust: Shame is only useful insofar as you can use it to remind yourself, “Hey, that thing you did? Remember how you felt? Don't do the thing.” and go on. A little up and down on this road is a minor thing overall, really. Good for you for logging and keeping on! All the hugs. You're an absolutely lovely woman as you are, and I wish I could give you my confidence. My partners are very good about making it clear they find me sexy and attractive and strong, and that helps me a lot even when I feel like a lumpy fat blob.

@Lasmartchika: Sounds like you managed that very well indeed! I sometimes get hungrier right before I find that I've recomped by discovering, oh, my pants are all now loose, or I have to tighten my bra, even when my weight doesn't go down. I've learned to eat protein and drink a lot at that point. Use if it helps. As far as your calf pain, are you doing a lot of calf and hamstring stretches before you get started with the dance workout? If not, that's a good place to start. Personally, if I neglect my hamstrings they pull on my hip and my iliopsoas tightens and that makes my lumbar area unhappy, and in the other direction my calves tighten and pull and I start to have plantar fasciitis pain again. Stretching solves it all.

@fitchick37: Many, many hugs. You are wonderful and beautiful and special and I believe in you. 230 is REALLY great. From where I sit (280) that's positively inspirational. I know you can do this!

@cory17: Well, at least it's over, the bug bites will heal, and tomorrow is another day. (hugs) Hope you have some anti-itch cream!

@tarzan37: We all of us have good days and bad days. Some stuff I know and can talk about (how I got over binging, meal prepping and planning) but I'm staring down the end of the month and the scale is. Not. Budging. And I have to say, that messes with my head, and I get very insecure.

One thing I've found is that sleep has to be a priority. I have a very good book on sleep research today, and pretty much if I'm not willing to sleep properly, I might as well not bother trying to eat right, in terms of its effects on my body. !!! I know, right! If you think you eat worse if you don't sleep, research has proved you right.

What might help you is to spend a little time looking up the calorie counts at places like Wendy's and knowing, “Ah, for 280 I can get a junior cheeseburger, hamburger's even less, and if I pair that with a side salad instead of fries and watch the dressing I can get out of there pretty much on budget”. There's several places round here I've done that for so that I can go eat and not blow my calories. And having worked that out in advance I feel a lot more safe when I wind up going there.

I'm not doing well today. TOM showed up last night (after flirting with it for two days) and I'm hurting pretty bad. I'm just keeping my log and doing the thing, and I have faith things will get better.

speyerj · February 2020

So many powerful and heartfelt stories in here about loving oneself. I want to say thank you to everyone who got vulnerable and shared such personal stories. I have so much admiration and respect for you all.

For all those ladies who aren't loving themselves as they are right now, I am so sorry. And I urge you to read Lindy West's book Shrill. Firstly, its not all about being fat, but some of it is and how she came to terms with herself as a fat person, stopped being ashamed, and found happiness now. Secondly, it's hilarious. Addie Bryant (from SNL) turned this into a series on Hulu. It's also quite good (and filmed here in Portland!).

I think its important as we progress towards our fitness goals to find a way to be happy now. With who we are. With our imperfect bodies, which will still be very much imperfect even when we hit our goal weight. Losing weight will bring a lot of changes, but it won't bring happiness. That has to come from something else. Self love is part of that. So is self-acceptance.

@Lasmartchika - it's likely that you pulled a muscle and its going to need some rest to heal. Stretch it gently, ice it, take some advil or naproxen and keep up the anti-inflammatories until it's completely healed. It can take a while. A foam roller does wonders for stretching out sore muscles, it hurts so good.

So, since being off HB medicine, my weight has climbed up almost 6 pounds. So discouraging. But I'll keep on keeping on. I know its just water. But still...

AlexandraFindsHerself1971 · February 2020

One of the things I am reminding myself is that the meds I'm on are going to help with this, but it does mean that I need to pay attention and eat all of my food. Appetite suppression is a known side effect, and while I don't mind not feeling the urge to snack, I have to remember to eat all my food or I will not be happy.

Tarzan37 · February 2020

@CupcakeCrusoe - Thank you for your encouraging words, I appreciate them.

@AlexandraFindsHerself1971 - I have been struggling with sleep lately due to hip pain. I'm a side sleeper and lately my hips have been hurting so much through the night that it wakes me up. I bought a special memory foam pillow to go between my legs but it unfortunately didn't help last night. Maybe I need a new mattress. I think I will take a half dose of Excedrin PM tonight since now I also have lower back pain related to that TOM nearing. Thank you for the tips on Wendy's. I actually won't be too far over my calories today it looks like, even with having lunch there, so that's good.

BrookeLynn18 · February 2020

@MyBeth1
My husband and I make "pizza-adillas" on those days. A quesadilla with mozzarella, pepperoni, and some sauce. Helps with the craving and helps with the calories. We like the "carb control" tortillas because they have a lot of fiber.

Women 200lb+, Let's Stay Fired Up This February!!!

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