Women 200lb+, Let's Have An Extraordinary January!!!

"I pretty much hit a roadblock after May of last year, and spent the next 7 months bouncing around between 207-212; this past month, and more specifically the last 2 weeks, really got out of hand. So here I am, back and ready to get down to business."

Hello! Are you me?? May was when I hit a mental and physical road block! I am also back on it! We got this!

SW:253 (September 2021)
CW: 227
GW:160 ish

I am now in my third year of my health journey. The first year I didn't change my food at all and just increased my walking by changing my commute from a bus ride to a walk as much as possible. The second year I started counting calories and learning about portion control.

It is much much slower than I expected. I thought for sure by this time I would be under 200. But weight is not everything. I am so much fitter than I was a year ago. I actually jogged to my son's school (8 blocks) the other day when we were late. And I didn't have an asthma attack!

My current goal is to wake up at 6 am and move my body until 7 am. Sometimes its harder to get up than others so sometimes it a 30 min work out and other days its almost an hour. Somedays its a youtube yoga video, and sometimes its ringfit.

I decided I really like food. I have been trying not to count calories as strictly and instead focus on small portions of whole foods and lower carbs. And then increase my exercise. We will try this for a couple months and see how it goes. I find I get obsessive when I calorie count. I will avoid eating an apple because its 120 calories and save it for the end of the day and eat 170 calories of treats. It doesn't make sense but that seems to be how my mind works.

By not being so strict on my calorie numbers, I am hoping I can eat the apple, a small portion of snack, and then exercise more to make up the difference. Will it work? Not sure but I need to try.

Good morning everyone!

Linda
SW: 300 lb
GW: 180 lb
Jan 10: 214.2 lb
Jan 13: 212.4 lb

This morning I'm not feeling 100%. A headache and just kind of irritable. To be fair my daughter doesn't have school today and my husband took off work to hang out with her and that contributes. Also, he was watching tv and crunching on tortilla chips when I was trying to do my morning devotional, journal and contemplating my food plan for the day. That didn't exactly help with my focus and headache either. I can't be too irritated though because he's agreed to do the grocery pick up from Walmart later this morning so I don't need to use a work break to run out.

I made a plan about my boundaries for our mini-vacation. I'm not going to let myself go nuts on whatever but I will have slightly different food boundaries than when I'm at home. Especially since it's for my daughter's birthday so I know there will be some extra treats.

My plan for the trip is:
I'm going to allow up to 2,000 calories each day and try to still log as best I can.
I'm not going to go crazy on eating car snacks for the drive or treats while we're there.
I need to remember that our room has a full kitchen. The kids only want the resort pizza one night. I am taking bagged salad (it's vacation, I'm not chopping my own every day), celery, carrots, light dip, protein bars, fruit, etc. I don't need to eat all the junk they do every time they want it.
If I'm going to go past my boundary remember it is an indoor water park with a fitness center on site. I can easily find a place to swim, walk the millions of stairs for water slides, try to deal with the wave pool multiple times in a row or hit the fitness center for extra exercise. I don't have to sit in a chair and just watch the kids have fun.
If I can stay within all my boundaries and even lose while I'm there it will be a huge win for me. Normally I either stay the same or gain even if we're only away for a few days. I need to show myself that I can do this and I need to remember that being diet & exercise controlled diabetic means if I don't want to end up on medication or insulin one day I need to keep doing this forever.

We leave on Sunday morning and my daughter's actual birthday is tomorrow so all of this goes into effect from Saturday thru Tuesday.

@KacyCarpe I think a lot of that depends on the personal journey and needs. If the feeling of a need or overwhelming need to binge on a food causes an issue for a person then finding an alternative, even a processed food one, can be better in the long run. Also, if they are only using a small amount it isn't the worst thing in the world. However, if the replacement food is being used to an extreme just as the original item was then I see what you mean. As someone with diabetes and other health issues sometimes using those replacements actually keeps me from spiking because I'm mindful and using such a smaller amount.
That said, I think we all agree that real and whole foods are certainly more nutritious than heavily processed foods.

As for butter.... I've been known to use Butter Buds Sprinkles, Kernel Seasons Popcorn Seasoning, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray and real butter all in the same day. Sometimes even on the same meal for different dishes. I need to buy some actual butter powder from Hoosier Hill Farms but I forgot to add it to my last order. https://hoosierhillfarm.com/shop-products/butter-powder/

@justanotherloser007 I know it isn't slices of cheese but if you want to add a tiny bit of cheese to things without going crazy or make a serious cheese sauce I have this in my pantry. It's just dehydrated and powdered cheese but that means a little goes a long way for cheesy flavor. https://hoosierhillfarm.com/shop-products/cheddar-cheese-powder/

I also buy powdered buttermilk & hickory smoke powder (essentially liquid smoke powdered) from this company so I highly recommend them if anyone wants or needs powdered anything... though I did get my powdered soy sauce elsewhere only because Hoosier doesn't make it.

Hi to all, just found this group. I have been on MFP on and off for 13 years now. Every time its the same thing starting again. I never seem to really lose the weight. I drop some, then generally end up weighing more then when I started. I work nights and have a difficult time with when I should eat meals. Have tried keto and fasting. With always the same results dropping a few then gaining more. I am at my heaviest weight 221 lbs. GW for this month would be 216 lbs, but am starting late. I have a motto "Perseverance furthers" but haven't really been able to apply it to my weight loss journey. Hope by reading all of your goals, choices, and mottos, the inspiration will help with my motivation. Thanks for being here.

dove121 wrote: »

Food has always been a source of comfort for me ...but I need to find other ways now.

Hi Jenny! Feel free to add me as a friend For me, food was a reward! Boy did I think I needed to be rewarded all the time, lols... I did find other ways to deal. It was a bumpy journey! Mostly ended up walking and praying.

RavenStCloud wrote: »

Nov 1st: 260
Dec 1st: 250
Jan 1st: 243
Jan End of Week 1: 244
Jan End of Week 2: 240

End of Week 2:

⭐️ Swim x4 a week ✅️ 4/4
⭐️ Log all food✅️ 7/7
⭐️ Stay within calorie range✅️ 7/7
⭐️ Make something x3 a week❌️ 1/3
⭐️ Study Spanish x3 a week✅️ 3/3

Happy that I got back into the pool this week and that I stayed within my calorie range.

Trying not to focus on the scale, but I've lost 20lbs and I'm excited about it! Sometimes, for me, getting too hung up on the numbers (that I've either lost or gained) can be a detriment down the road when I don't continue to see the results I want. But for today, I'm going to be super excited about it!!!

Inspirational. I like how you listed and checked off your goals. I have been trying to do some of that, but in a notebook/ journal.

Just thought. I’m also struggling because my youngest has dropped out of University and has a mental health issue going on. She’s very thin so trying to get her eating whilst being careful is tough. But I’m not going to be knocked off track. My needs are important too, and for once I’m going to try and keep them on the table.

Hey all!

I'm back from our trip and can say I honestly logged everything and stayed within my calorie budget every day.... even with the 3 1/2 hour drive back.

I'll go back and read everyone's posts a little later since I have over 100 emails for work to clear out.

I also have a jewelry party I'm supposed to attend this evening and I'm hoping I can convince myself not to eat a bunch of the snacks there. I spoke with the host and she's making her homemade mac & cheese, cream cheese chicken chili, cheesy rotel dip with beef and tortilla chips to dip. That's going to make for a long couple hours but if I can survive vacation at the water park I can survive one party without going wild.

Have a great day everyone!!!!

@sandramarshall200 I know that you are in a different country, but maybe you can find some things. For breakfast, I have found that a keto tortilla 45 calories each and a TON of egg whites is not very many calories. I usually add veggies to it and beans, keto tortillas always have so much fiber I don't really need beans to add fiber - but fiber has really been a friend in not feeling super hungry. Anyhoo, I mention that because if you can find something like that, this is a huge meal and like 320 calories depending on the veggies used. That way you can eat something for lunch and not be as hungry at dinner. I hope you can find something, I know working around meds can be difficult.

sandramarshall200 wrote: »

And then I fantasise about pudding

We live near a coast bird waterway, I see all kinds of birds on my daily walks that can be quite rare. What do I think when I see them? Ohh, an ibis! How pretty. I wonder what it tastes like? Yep. Roseate spoonbill. Gorgeous bird! Wonder what it tastes like...

@SailorMom54 Welcome! My "normal BMI" weight is 120 to 155 but my goal is 180 right now. I have a few medical stuff including PCOS and diabetes, a bad hip from a car accident and two bad knees that has my doctor happy right now if I get to "overweight" instead of "obese." Your overall goals line right up with mine.

Down 14 lbs since 1/1/23. Finally back in Onderland Again! Elliptical Interval setting 150 minutes for 9.7 miles. Getting my motivation back.

@serenecompassion2663 thank you, I was thinking yoga, and I do have a treadmill to start the walking. Thought about adding in weights (arms) while walking too. I will try and move more and set my goals. I don't have a gym membership, so my workouts will be at home, but I do have resistance bands that will help as well.

@pamperedlinny I don't think my BMI will ever be " normal" or ever get to the doctors weight. After having kids my body isn't built to be 120-125 again. Even at 196 when I look at some pics, I thought I looked "old" like my face was to thin. I just want to be healthy and healthy looking for me, where I am comfortable. I am happy to find someone that has the same goals aligned.

Thank you all!
Darla from Wisconsin