Introduce Yourself
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Hello, I'm Teresa., 61 years old. Happily married for 42 years, have 3 grown children and 6 granddaughters. Weight issues are a big part of our family and I would love to lead them all to victory in their struggles but I've never had success in any attempts I've made to take the pounds off. I would love to loss any amount of weight but my long term goal is 100 pounds. I've been active on MFP several times over the past years.
I was diagnosed as a type II diabetic 20+ years ago but did not take it serious so now I'm struggling with Diabetic Macular Edema in my right eye. I do not like exercise so that is one of my biggest areas that I need encouragement and support. I have a stationery cycle at home but haven't been on it for a long time. I have lower back pain so I'm not able to walk too far, however I believe if I started walking more it would get better.
I do a fair job of tracking what I eat here on MFP but I love food and enjoy eating and that is a problem.
Hi @tess77h Teresa,
Welcome.
If you are just restarting I would get back into your food habits/logging and push exercise off for a couple of weeks. You can certainly try moving around the house more now. If you want do do some short walks that would also be a good idea. I just would not be pushing yourself just yet. One of the common mistakes is trying to overhaul your current lifestyle too fast. It is better, imo, to allow weight loss to happen instead of forcing it. Forcing it is adding a lot of requirements like healthy eating and certain food restrictions to your plan. You obviously need to control your carbs in addition to calories but beyond that it is just getting your hunger under control.
If you want to show your family a successful weight loss then make it look easy. In doing so it hopefully will be as easy as possible a fair amount of the time.
Spend some time thinking about the idea that you love food. Consider that continued excess eating will cost you a lot. What does food really give you but a moment of fleeting pleasure before you are forced to take another bite for more? What does it take and threaten to take from you to provide those brief moments of pleasure? You do not need to post anything back in this regard but challenge your notions. It doesn't mean you have to hate food but perhaps it can help move you to a place where you have greater perspective and love food only when it is appropriate for your health.3 -
Hello all. I'm Beth. I am 36 and 276 lbs. I am married with 4 kids (ages 15, 14, 8 and 3) and my parents moved in with us this year. Being in the sandwich generation is no joke, y'all. I have gained over 50 lbs this year after my dad got sick and moved in with us Nov 2019. It's been very emotional, especially when you add in COVID, isolation school, blended family schedules on top of a two teens and a THREENAGER. I ate to deal with things, or rather, to avoid dealing with my own things while I take care of everyone else's things.
I've just come back to MFP under a new user name because it's worked for me in the past. I am looking forward to making new friends and being part of a supportive community. Anyone else finding themselves in the care giving sandwich?
Hi @BethB554 Beth,
Welcome to LL.
The closest I came was preparing to move in her grandmother after the holidays several years ago. Her ability to care for herself was declining rapidly so the plan was one more set of holidays and move her in, in January. She managed to go on her terms because she died still living in her home of 40+ years just after Christmas.
I cannot speak from any experience but I have to believe that taking care of yourself is actually more important right now and I am glad you are on the way.
Please let us know how we can help.1 -
@NovusDies That is close! I am glad to hear she got her wish. I agree that I need to take care of myself first so I can take care of the others. It's just hard to get things to work out that way sometimes. I think having my own thing here in the groups will help. Y'all understand how mentally difficult it can be to stay on track. I hope to build some supportive relationships here that encourage me to persevere and find alternatives to emotional eating. I joined the FAT 2 FIT group and am excited for their challenges coming up. Thanks for responding. I look forward to chatting with you on the boards!1
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@AlexandraFindsHerself1971 I can understand that. I always knew dementia was a possibility for dad because my grandfather had it. I am an only child so I knew it would be me helping if they needed help. I just didn't think it would be so early (they are both in their 60s) and I thought mom was much more self reliant then she actually is.
You must be so proud of your sons! Not every grandchild would step in to do heavy lifting at grandma's! It's great that you step in to give FIL a break too. It can be difficult to be the caregiver all the time.
Thanks for the reply. It helps to feel less alone.1 -
I have a couple good men for sons. Eldest is THRILLED because his welding classes are starting back up. (Welding is kind of naturally socially distanced, right? LOL!) and Younger is having Boyfriend Issues. Oh, the drama.(roll eyes) But you can't tell 20 year olds anything. But they're basically good guys and I have faith that it will all work out.
My boyfriend is an only child too. I do a lot of caregiving at home because the three of us have some major mental health disorders and part of what keeps us all functional is routine, and no drama, and a lot of talking and radical acceptance. But I like to caregive.
Just make sure to take very good care of yourself, because dementia is exhausting to everyone around. I would recommend therapy so that you have someone who isn't down in the middle of it to talk to. If you start now, you can have it comfortably in place when you really need it. Plus, I have to say, losing weight often means unpacking a whole lot of stuff you hid under the fat.2 -
HI! Jess here, 32, first time mom. Prior to being pregnant I had lost a fair amount of weight (60+) but it started creeping up while trying to get pregnant. I was okay with the amount I gained while pregnant, but then post delivering I ended up gaining a lot of weight (way more than I did while pregnant). I had back/hip issues postpartum which made it hard to walk, go upstairs etc. That finally started to get better, and then my knee gave out and I broke my ankle. I'm currently still recovering from that and unable to weight bear. My weight had creeped up to 300lbs, highest weight of my whole life. My first goal is to get below 200, ideally I'd like to get to the 160-170 range, I'm 5'8.3
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crazydogladyjess wrote: »HI! Jess here, 32, first time mom. Prior to being pregnant I had lost a fair amount of weight (60+) but it started creeping up while trying to get pregnant. I was okay with the amount I gained while pregnant, but then post delivering I ended up gaining a lot of weight (way more than I did while pregnant). I had back/hip issues postpartum which made it hard to walk, go upstairs etc. That finally started to get better, and then my knee gave out and I broke my ankle. I'm currently still recovering from that and unable to weight bear. My weight had creeped up to 300lbs, highest weight of my whole life. My first goal is to get below 200, ideally I'd like to get to the 160-170 range, I'm 5'8.
Welcome CDL. We have all arrived here with a lot of weight to lose. My dog makes me exercise every morning! That habit got established and has made losing weight possible....,I have a terrible time losing if I don't exercise....anyway, glad you're here!1 -
crazydogladyjess wrote: »HI! Jess here, 32, first time mom. Prior to being pregnant I had lost a fair amount of weight (60+) but it started creeping up while trying to get pregnant. I was okay with the amount I gained while pregnant, but then post delivering I ended up gaining a lot of weight (way more than I did while pregnant). I had back/hip issues postpartum which made it hard to walk, go upstairs etc. That finally started to get better, and then my knee gave out and I broke my ankle. I'm currently still recovering from that and unable to weight bear. My weight had creeped up to 300lbs, highest weight of my whole life. My first goal is to get below 200, ideally I'd like to get to the 160-170 range, I'm 5'8.
Hi @crazydogladyjess Jess,
Welcome.
I have a crazy dog if you need an extra!
If you have a broken ankle be really careful about how much deficit you are in. Ideally it would be none while your body recovers but it certainly should not be a full deficit because your energy needs are higher right now. Also, eat a lot of protein.
Different people react to goals in different ways. I have not seen a lot of people who are successful though with a first goal that is more than a year away like your sub 200 goal. You might want to consider having a lot of small goals that give you more opportunities to "win" along the way. I like to have daily wins and I think weight goals are less satisfying than NSVs but again different people react differently.
In any event your first goal needs to be to fully recover. Please heal fast!
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Hi all
I'm Harriet from the UK, i started this journey with over 250+ to lose...its been a journey with LOTS of ups and down, and so far am at 170+ loss. I'm really determined to get these last 80lbs off!! I've been yoyoing up and down the past few years...literally!
At the start i was into fad diets, but they didnt work for me....what has got me through is balance....eating right and doing exercise. Look forward to connecting with you!12 -
Hi all
I'm Harriet from the UK, i started this journey with over 250+ to lose...its been a journey with LOTS of ups and down, and so far am at 170+ loss. I'm really determined to get these last 80lbs off!! I've been yoyoing up and down the past few years...literally!
At the start i was into fad diets, but they didnt work for me....what has got me through is balance....eating right and doing exercise. Look forward to connecting with you!
wow. you have done amazing!2 -
Hi all
I'm Harriet from the UK, i started this journey with over 250+ to lose...its been a journey with LOTS of ups and down, and so far am at 170+ loss. I'm really determined to get these last 80lbs off!! I've been yoyoing up and down the past few years...literally!
At the start i was into fad diets, but they didnt work for me....what has got me through is balance....eating right and doing exercise. Look forward to connecting with you!
Hi @gg2007 Harriet,
Welcome to LL.
You have done great. You are in the home stretch but if you are like me it doesn't really feel that way. I suppose for me it is because when I lost 100 and I only had 200ish to go I could remember a time when all I had to lose was 200. Even now with only 20ish to go I can remember as a teen when this was my heaviest and I was miserable.
I am glad you are here.2 -
hi everyone. i'm roger. i just joined the site yesterday and this group today. i've been on my downward journey since march 2019. i topped out at 566 and had been house-bound for 1 1/2 years. i got professional help sent out to me since i couldn't fit into a car to go to my dr. appointments. i've been doing my own rough food log since early december. i didn't count calories but just logged what i ate and drank and if i felt it was to much. i'm now at 417 today. i came here to get the hard core counting down just in case i decide to have bariatric surgery. i've been doing my changes one at a time and i believe now is the time for this move. i'm finding out that large scale weight loss is a long haul but it is doable. i never thought thought i'd last 2 months, much less 18 months.9
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hi everyone. i'm roger. i just joined the site yesterday and this group today. i've been on my downward journey since march 2019. i topped out at 566 and had been house-bound for 1 1/2 years. i got professional help sent out to me since i couldn't fit into a car to go to my dr. appointments. i've been doing my own rough food log since early december. i didn't count calories but just logged what i ate and drank and if i felt it was to much. i'm now at 417 today. i came here to get the hard core counting down just in case i decide to have bariatric surgery. i've been doing my changes one at a time and i believe now is the time for this move. i'm finding out that large scale weight loss is a long haul but it is doable. i never thought thought i'd last 2 months, much less 18 months.
Welcome, Roger! It is a long haul, and this is the place with people who have done it and are still here keeping it off. I'm really proud of the work you've done so far, and I'm sure that you'll be able to do it.
My boyfriend had bariatric surgery, and I'm not having that, and there are others around here who have chosen various routes and approaches. There's a lot of experience and wisdom here, and support as well.
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hi everyone. i'm roger. i just joined the site yesterday and this group today. i've been on my downward journey since march 2019. i topped out at 566 and had been house-bound for 1 1/2 years. i got professional help sent out to me since i couldn't fit into a car to go to my dr. appointments. i've been doing my own rough food log since early december. i didn't count calories but just logged what i ate and drank and if i felt it was to much. i'm now at 417 today. i came here to get the hard core counting down just in case i decide to have bariatric surgery. i've been doing my changes one at a time and i believe now is the time for this move. i'm finding out that large scale weight loss is a long haul but it is doable. i never thought thought i'd last 2 months, much less 18 months.
Welcome Roger....glad you joined us. This group is quite active and helpful...I joined a couple of months ago and found it to be a great help....2 -
Hello Roger-welcome to the group!2
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Welcome Jess and Harriet-look forward to following your journey’s. It’s a great group!3
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Hi Roger welcome to the group2
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Hi all. I’m Ty 25 with well over 100lbs to lose and not sure where to really start but I know it’ll be a long painful journey. Thought joining a group might make it bearable.
Take care3 -
stewartt3260 wrote: »Hi all. I’m Ty 25 with well over 100lbs to lose and not sure where to really start but I know it’ll be a long painful journey. Thought joining a group might make it bearable.
Take care
Welcome! I had over 100 pounds to lose when I started, and I am very close to the point that I will have under a hundred to lose to my final goal weight. (Which may be set too low; I'm a tall, curvaceous woman. So I may be under a hundred to lose now.) These are good people here who know a whole lot about this process, and have been down this road.
It hasn't been painful for me. It's never been agonizing deprivation. (I eat chips and candy every day, so it can be done.) I could eat this way the rest of my life and be very okay with it. Some people find they can't eat a little bit of something, and so just don't eat it at all; other people find that actually, certain foods make them feel bad physically so they don't eat them. Some people adore exercise and use that to help; others of us (raises hand) are doing it mostly with diet. Not only is there life after we lose the weight, there is life while we lose the weight.
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Hi all
I'm Harriet from the UK, i started this journey with over 250+ to lose...its been a journey with LOTS of ups and down, and so far am at 170+ loss. I'm really determined to get these last 80lbs off!! I've been yoyoing up and down the past few years...literally!
At the start i was into fad diets, but they didnt work for me....what has got me through is balance....eating right and doing exercise. Look forward to connecting with you!
wow. you have done amazing!
Thanks Fred! :-)1 -
Hi all
I'm Harriet from the UK, i started this journey with over 250+ to lose...its been a journey with LOTS of ups and down, and so far am at 170+ loss. I'm really determined to get these last 80lbs off!! I've been yoyoing up and down the past few years...literally!
At the start i was into fad diets, but they didnt work for me....what has got me through is balance....eating right and doing exercise. Look forward to connecting with you!
Hi @gg2007 Harriet,
Welcome to LL.
You have done great. You are in the home stretch but if you are like me it doesn't really feel that way. I suppose for me it is because when I lost 100 and I only had 200ish to go I could remember a time when all I had to lose was 200. Even now with only 20ish to go I can remember as a teen when this was my heaviest and I was miserable.
I am glad you are here.
You have done amazing....only 20lbs to go! What an amazing achievement! So inspiring..... i defo not where i started, but feels like i'm getting nearer and nearer to go! Look forward to hearing more about your journey!1 -
stewartt3260 wrote: »Hi all. I’m Ty 25 with well over 100lbs to lose and not sure where to really start but I know it’ll be a long painful journey. Thought joining a group might make it bearable.
Take care
Hi @stewartt3260 Ty,
Welcome to LL.
Please do not start by telling yourself it will be a long painful journey. Expecting it to be tough might keep you from looking for way to keep it easy. 100 pounds takes some time to lose and it can have easy days, not-so-bad days, and yes, some tough days. That is life though. Life is a mixture. The rainy days teach us to appreciate the sunny ones.
I have lost over 250 pounds and even though it has taken 2.5 years it has flown by because I made an effort to be as happy as possible each day. There were some pretty unhappy days along the way but there were plenty of good ones too.
The best place to start is with logging your food and looking for easy ways to get yourself inside your calorie goal. You do not need to greatly alter how you normally eat, just alter it enough to get a calorie deficit going and control your hunger most of the time. Over time you will need to make more changes but worry about them when they come up. If you need specific help let us know.3 -
hi everyone. i'm roger. i just joined the site yesterday and this group today. i've been on my downward journey since march 2019. i topped out at 566 and had been house-bound for 1 1/2 years. i got professional help sent out to me since i couldn't fit into a car to go to my dr. appointments. i've been doing my own rough food log since early december. i didn't count calories but just logged what i ate and drank and if i felt it was to much. i'm now at 417 today. i came here to get the hard core counting down just in case i decide to have bariatric surgery. i've been doing my changes one at a time and i believe now is the time for this move. i'm finding out that large scale weight loss is a long haul but it is doable. i never thought thought i'd last 2 months, much less 18 months.
Hi @rwood566 Roger,
Great job so far!
I do not talk people into or out of surgery. That is a decision only you can make. I am wondering though why you are considering it now after a good 18 month run. The surgery will force you to make more abrupt changes and you seem comfortable making them as needed which is how I have gotten from quite heavy myself nearly to the end.
Anyway calorie counting is a good way to manage yourself. It takes a lot of the guesswork out of the equation and it can give you fairly reliable results. They may not always show up on the scale as fast as you want but they do show up. Calorie counting can be a bit tedious at first but after a few weeks you will get a handle on it and look for ways to make it easier. I doubt I spend 5 minutes a day logging now.1 -
Hi!
I’m happy to have found this group. A few years ago I used MFP to lose about 75 lbs.
I have since gained it all back and then some. I began this new journey 21 days ago. Started at 307lbs gained to 308 now today I’m at 304.
I’m meant to be tiny at 5’1. I have insulin resistance and really said I don’t give a crap.
I all of a sudden see myself.... I don’t like it. I want to be fit and know it takes caring. Caring about myself and what goes into my body.
I am seeking support and would love friends for the app. I would like to support you in any way I am able to as well.4 -
_inHisGrace wrote: »Hi!
I’m happy to have found this group. A few years ago I used MFP to lose about 75 lbs.
I have since gained it all back and then some. I began this new journey 21 days ago. Started at 307lbs gained to 308 now today I’m at 304.
I’m meant to be tiny at 5’1. I have insulin resistance and really said I don’t give a crap.
I all of a sudden see myself.... I don’t like it. I want to be fit and know it takes caring. Caring about myself and what goes into my body.
I am seeking support and would love friends for the app. I would like to support you in any way I am able to as well.
Welcome to the group. I think you'll find we are very supportive, celebrating your good days and understanding your bad ones. I look forward to seeing you succeed.2 -
Thank you so much !1
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_inHisGrace wrote: »Hi!
I’m happy to have found this group. A few years ago I used MFP to lose about 75 lbs.
I have since gained it all back and then some. I began this new journey 21 days ago. Started at 307lbs gained to 308 now today I’m at 304.
I’m meant to be tiny at 5’1. I have insulin resistance and really said I don’t give a crap.
I all of a sudden see myself.... I don’t like it. I want to be fit and know it takes caring. Caring about myself and what goes into my body.
I am seeking support and would love friends for the app. I would like to support you in any way I am able to as well.
Hi @_inHisGrace,
Welcome.
I make an effort to write a personalized welcome for each new member. I am sure I have missed some people but I do my best. Since I wrote you a lengthy reply in the SyN thread I will keep this one a little shorter.
The one thing that jumped out at me was the part where you care what goes in your body. In the context of your IR you do need to be careful about carbs but just be careful that you don't fall into the trap of "I am losing weight so I must only eat healthy foods." I think that type of thinking creates a hardship and it is, imo, unnecessary. I like to say that more nutrients than you need are more nutrients in your pee. Your body has daily requirements and after that a lot is wasted. There are some areas where exceeding is helpful for certain things but that is usually reserved for professional athletes or those that wish to train as though they were professional.
I like the 80/20 mindset. I do not do the math to make sure it is actually 80 percent but I approach food with the idea that if most of it is nutrient dense then it doesn't matter what I do with the 20 percent - so I might as well have some treats. I have eaten just about everything on my way to a much healthier state of being. I just ate moderate amounts of the treat foods most of the time - I haven't been nor will be perfect. I also look at this in the broader sense that if I most of my weeks are on point it doesn't matter if I eat more treat food on vacation or during holidays. It is what I do most of the time that matters.3 -
Didn't know there were individual groups, good to know this is focused on people with similar journeys to me.
I have around 50kg to lose but trying to focus on the non scale victories to keep me motivated. Initial goal is buttoning my jeans without bursting blood vessels and 5km on my bike.
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Me and my noble steed.
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Welcome, James! I hope you enjoy talking with us all. This is a very smart, wise group of people and I've learned a lot that makes this process easier and less scary.1
