Skinny Dippers! (Closed Group)

Hi everybody, I'm Dena. I live in northern CA. And I'm apparently going to be the "mother" of this group cuz I'm 47, almost 48. :P I've been married to my awesome husband for....ummmm....(I'm sitting here counting years, cuz I can't remember....how bad is that???)....27 years. Holy cow, that's a long time!! We have three kids, ages 22, 19 and 15. I started gaining weight after we had our first baby....after the third one, I decided it was time to get a handle on this weight thing. I went to a weight-loss doctor and started taking some appetite suppresent pills....didn't eat, didn't exercise.....and lost 50 pounds. I felt great.....but since I didn't do it the right way, obviously it didn't stay gone. Over the next 8 years, my weight gradually kept creeping up and then when my oldest daughter moved 1500 miles away and my middle daughter went almost as far away to college, I pretty much went off the deep and gained 40 pounds in just a few months (added to the 50 or so I was already over weight).

Which brings me to my middle daughter coming back home to finish college. She is very athletic and was trying to get me to do something--anything--to lose some weight because I was starting to have some weight-related health issues. She has always wanted to do a triathlon, which I thought I would never be able to do. I was watching the show "Heavy" one night and the two people they were featuring that night decided they were going to do a triathlon. And they DID it!! It made me realize that even at my age and weight, I COULD do that if I got my head in the right place! So we've set our goal. She is being so great--and patient!!--working out with me every day. When we started a month ago, I could barely walk 20 minutes without breathing hard. We've starting jogging now. We swim three days a week and I can swim 1/2 a mile now.....and we're up to 5 miles on our bikes. I've already lost 10 pounds but the best part is that my blood pressure has dropped into a healthy level.

Three things about me:

1. I am a Facebook (and now MFP) junkie. Seriously.
2. I am a dog lover.....we have five. Along with one cat, a horse, a goat and a long-haired guinea pig named Elvis.
3. I am a "stamper".....I love to create all kinds of projects with rubber stamps.

The motivation and support I've received MFP has been AWESOME. And I'm really looking forward to being part of this group!

where in northern California? I am in Napa

I'm in Corning....about 1-1/2 hours north of Sacramento.

hi i sent a message to the other thread too late! would i still be able to join?!?

You can still join!!

I'm hoping I can still join! I'm just gonna throw in my 3 cents anyways, and hopefully everyone will be cool with that

My name's Ashlee and I hail from Canada. It's already so cold in the mornings here that I'm sporting scarves and mittens. Sigh.

I've been off and on the weight wagon for the past 10 years - I did Weight Watchers when I was 16 because I thought I was "fat" (which is hilarious because I'm now trying to get down to where I was THEN) ... and lost 30 pounds which took me from 145 to 115. I struggled with disordered eating for the remainder of high school, and gained 20 pounds in University and felt really great at 135-140! However, late nights, lotsa drinking and fast food paired with a shift work desk job for the past seven years has made that number on the scale go up, and up, and up.

I've been super active the whole way through, completing half marathons, triathlons and playing a variety of sports. Fitness is not my problem. I have a bad relationship with food and with eating healthfully, consistenly. Doesn't help that my boyfriend can eat 10 cookies a day, and not gain an ounce. Even though I KNOW it's not healthy for him, it's frustrating for me.

I was doing really well before summer hit, and had lost 12 pounds, but gained 7 of those back over the holidays. I'd really like to be able to leave this weight loss drama behind in 2011 and start fresh in 2012, so I'm very determined to kick it into high gear for the remainder of the year. I KNOW I can do this, and I KNOW we can do this! I just want all the support I can get, and in turn would love to offer you all MY support!

Three random facts:

- I am a huge knitter, seamstress, and craft-a-holic. I even have a sewing blog
- I work full-time, part-time, and run two side businesses. I'm a busy girl!
- Flowers I arranged for a friend's wedding were on the Martha Stewart Weddings website! Very proud of that accomplishment

Hi Everyone!!

My name is Melanie. I'm glad to see you here, Dena! As I was reading through, I noticed all the ages and thought I was going to be way out of place! I'm 43, soon to be 44 on the 26th of this month. I live in Washington State, USA. I'm a single parent. I left my daughter's dad when they were 1 and 2, and now they are 16 and 17...I've been single and raising them alone that whole time. I've pretty much set myself aside in order to focus all of my attention and energy on being mom and a provider and being responsible for raising two girls all by myself, through a lot of tough and challenging times.

I used to be a skinny person. Like, super skinny. People would look at me and say - "You're so skinny, you make me sick". What I heard was "I look at you and I want to throw up". When I went through basic training for the Army Reserves, at age 19, they called me Olive Oyl (which made me cry) and told me to eat everyone else's rice and potatoes, trying to put some pounds on me. I am 5'10", and back then I always weighed between 120 and 125. I have a small frame, and you can tell by looking at my wrists, even now.

When I got out of Basic though, I weighed 135 - I had put on 10 pounds of pure muscle! Lol..which didn't stick around, of course, because I've never been a very physical person. When I was pregnant, I gained 30 pounds each time - I've had 3 full pregnancies (one was stillborn) - and immediately dropped it all afterward.

THEN -- Life changed. I changed. I quit smoking. I quit Pepsi. I quit bad relationships. I also got a desk job. Still have a desk job too. I work at a hospital, processing claims.

As of this morning I weighed 170 pounds. I think my highest was 176. A year ago I lost 21 pounds...then promptly put it all back on. I keep doing that...losing it and then regaining it. I think I sabotage myself as soon as I start making any real progress. I don't want to be 120 or 125 pounds again. I didn't look good at that weight. But I'd like to be 140. That weight was comfortable and I think would be healthy for me.

I have to come up with 3 random facts?

1) I like to dance in my living room. I didn't know I liked to dance and could "shake it" until I was about 32 years old!

2) I was a foster kid, taken from my birth parents at age 3 months, adopted at age 9.

3) I like to write. Inspired writing, which means I don't always know what it's going to be until it comes out on paper, and I don't always know what it means though it usually comes clear somewhere down the road. Writing is my art form, though I haven't done much of it in a long time. Life has been busy.... I have every intention of getting back to it, however.

Am I in the closed group? If not-- I'm still posting. Lol.

My name is Amanda, I'm 22 years old and live in good ol' Jersey. I've been...well, for lack of better terms... fat since probably the 5th grade. Been called things, such as beluga whale, ever since I can remember. I've been off and on the diet roller coaster since high school.. I've done it all... from starving myself (not proud), trying every exercise and diet known to man, and I finally put my foot down this June and said... EFF everyone who's said I can't do it. I NEED to, and I WILL do it... and this time the healthy way. Well, that's when I found MFP, starting weight at 182, and currently... DRUM ROLL PLEASE..... 152!! Bah-bam! I've lost a whopping 30 pounds, and I'm so proud of myself. No haters can take that away from me!! It was all done with the amazing support I've received on here! Anyways... my ultimate goal weight is 145, but I'm probably going to keep going further until I'm finally happy with how I look. (And I don't think that will be in 7 pounds). More about me other than the whole weight stuff... I went for my undergrad in elementary ed, psych, and special ed... and I'm now going to grad school for anthrozoology (BEST DECISION I'VE EVER MADE), and will hopefully have a career in animal welfare!

Three random facts about yours truly...
1. I love jokes. Good jokes, bad jokes, Popsicle stick jokes, puns--you name it. It seems a cruel twist of fate that I can't tell one to save my life.
2. I love adventure. If it involves sweat, mud, and adrenaline, I'll probably want to do it.
3. I'm often clueless and desperately clumsy, but that's just another thing you gotta love about me :laugh:

Oh, also... Alex... the original poster is practically my twin... I love her dearly. She has probably been the most supportive to me on this journey, and you are all very lucky to be a part of her group.

One more thing.... Feel free to add me!!! I love having extra support :flowerforyou:

It's great to meet all of you!! I am excite to be in a more active group!
Triathlon this SUNDAY!!!!
Also my 25th Birthday!!

NSV: tried on my triathlon suit and it's too big!!! Just got back from buying new pants so they don't fall off! :laugh:

I would like to have weigh ins and I think that contests or challenges would be fun too!

I agree to weigh ins. Once per week maybe?
As for challenges, I don't really have any ideas. But I would be interested in participating.

I have a question for everyonel. My current calorie limit is 1200 per day. Is it bad if I eat less than that? Some days I am under. (yesterday I had 1107). Is this effecting my metabolism? If I'm not hungry, I don't eat up to my 1200. What do you all do?

And feel free to add me also!

Hey girl! Yes, it is.. to be honest. You MUST eat 1200, especially if you are working out. Your body needs it for your vital organs to function properly. However, once in a while won't kill you or throw off your whole process. I used to eat under 1200, and while I lost weight... I didn't feel my best. Now I do my best to eat more than that, and I feel great! I'm even dropping a lot faster than I was! Good luck!

I am hoping it's not too late to sneak in...

My name is Martina and I am 42. I will be 43 at the end of the year. I have been married for just a little over 18 years (oh man!!!) and have 2 dogs and a cat.

I have battled weight all of my life and have definitely come out the loser (not in a good way). I was always bigger but the majority of my weight has come on since I got married. My highest weight ever was 330 a number of years ago but my starting weight was 315.8 in July. I have lost 19.4 lbs since then and am excited at the thought of this support.

3 random things...
1) I play in a medieval recreationist group
2) I knit, sew, cook, embroider and kayak.
3)I apparently have a shoe addiction.

Hi everyone! I am 57, married, and have one step daughter, one granddaughter (8), and a large labradoodle who forces me to exercise. I am 5'8" and weigh 172. My adult life i've eaten very healthy and weighed between 140-145 most of my life . In 2000 I had a kidney transplant and to put it simply, I gained weight and could not exercise for about 7 years. My all time high was 187 pounds. I had a second transplant one year ago, feel good and exercise again but I have lost SO much stamina, strength, etc. Plus, I am 14 years older.

I work part time and love my work.

I tried weight watchers but lost one pound in 5 weeks. I hope I can do better here. The support here is amazing. I love the initial reason for this group...a dedicated bunch! I have been following my calories for less than a week. I hope to loss more with your support.
,

Hi everyone! i am so excited to be able to join!

My name is Becky and I am from Middletown, Ct. I have been trying to lose weight since January and i feel like i haven't been moving as fast as i would like to. I lost 30 pounds 2 years ago when i got married and i would like to lost about 20 more! I am 5'4 and currently weigh between 149-153 (it fluctuates of course). lol

Facts
1. I am 1/8 Native American.
2. i work as a child psychotherapist and i absolutely love it!
3. i don't LOVE to exercise but i love doing everything outstide (especially rollerblading, tennis and hiking!)


please please friend me, it's always great to have more support!
xo
B:flowerforyou:

Wow all these stories are fantastic!! We have quite a diverse group and I think that it will be ever more helpful with so many opinions.

To all late joiners- of course you can join! The more the merrier.

I'm so excited to work with all you guys because I can tell we are all really motivated and have great goals to achieve. So, as for the group, what are you guys wanting to do? Weigh-in's? Contests/challenges? Any thoughts or ideas would be great!

Amanda - you just put the biggest smile on my face!! You have also helped me so much and it's so nice knowing that if you can lose all your weight then so can I. And 152? Good gracious you're shrinking so quickly! I'm so proud of you and can't wait until we can meet up one day I LOVE YOU MAN!

You're all free to add me as well! I know I got quite a few of you but not everyone

Absolutely wanting to participate in weighin, contests, challenges, etc. Sign me up!

How are you ladies today?

I can't believe I said I'm 27! That's crazy. No, I'm 29. Wow, I wrote that and reread it and didn't even blink an eye. I'm in denial that I'm turning 30 in 6 month.

That is so cool about wheel of fortune!! I'm jealous!!!