Women 200lb+, Let's Apply Ourselves This August!!!

Shoppie2023 wrote: »

Hi everyone I'm new! Weighed in last Friday to try to tackle the mountain that is my weight and I'm 261 lbs. I basically need to lose 100lbs as I'm 5'8. Trying to focus on my first target which is to lose 10lbs

The turning point has been that we have just returned from a 2 week holiday that was made utterly miserable because whenever we walked anywhere my back was agony. And I know the first thing anyone will say if I go for help is that I need to lose weight.

Would love to make friends who are also fighting a similar battle so please do add me

Welcome! I'm also 5'8. I have 110lbs to drop. I'll send you a friend request if that's ok ❤️

roz0810 wrote: »

Welcome! I'm also 5'8. I have 110lbs to drop. I'll send you a friend request if that's ok ❤️

That would be great! Tried to friend request you but have no clue how - anyone???

SW: 300 lbs
GW: 180 lbs
Prev Low: 191 lbs
Aug 1: 209 lb..... ugh!!!!!

Hey all!!! I know the first part of the year I was posting on Raven's monthly threads almost daily. Then I had parental visits, stress eating, crazy work stuff, daughter stuff, husband in hospital early in the year stuff..... and I let a lot of things slip. Through my daughter's summer break I all but disappeared from the community boards. I really need the accoutability of checking in and to be all the way back. For those that follow my Healthy Eating social media and recipe blog I'm sure you've noticed the lack of constant posts or the lack of real recipes for the blog in July. This is me saying I need to take my health back and going in strong with the school year started, not so many non-work interuptions throughout the day (I work from home so my daughter wanting snacks was NOT helpful), and I need my next A1C to be just as amazing as it was in May.

For any who don't know me, I'm Linda. Currently 40 years old and have been on this journey for about 14 years of trying to take my health back. There have been so many backslides, fights with my body to cooperate since I have PCOS, going from pre-diabetic to type 2 diabetic, pregnancy (YAY!!!!), and raising this crazy kid. My husband is super helpful and supportive. However, he's a big guy also and whenever he isn't eating well it becomes a family size bag of chips within 2 sittings or less kind of thing. It means when we both fall at the same time that we eat everything in sight. Super supportive in the good times but also super willing to let me eat it all in the bad ones. At least there is no judgement no matter which side of the fence I'm on at any part of my life. He loves me for who I am no matter what. I do write and run a healthier eating facebook, instagram, and blog. Until the past 2 months or so it was up to date. I'm bringing it back along with pushing myself in the right direction again.



🌞There's only one month left of summer(for most of us, at least)! How do you hope to spend it? Any plans lined up, big or small?
Our 15 year wedding anniversary was on Aug 1. The plan is to go out this Sunday and celebrate. We're going to lunch and to see Hello Dolly at a community theater while our daughter hangs out with a friend for the day. I'm also planning one of my best friend's surprise birthday party for this Saturday. I'm in 4 book clubs at this point (why do I do this to myself???) so lots of meetings, gatherings, and books to be read. Since school started back today it will be a lot more school and kid centric plans coming up. No more summer for us at the moment.


@RavenStCloud Thank you for this thread again! You're a rock star.

@Shoppie2023 Welcome!!! The ladies in this thread are always so amazing. I'll send you a friend request this morning also.

@roz0810 Welcome back! Good to know I wasn't the only one who dropped out of the community through the summer. Out of curiosity, what pills does the doctor have you on?

@justanotherjen13 HOA rules can be so stupid. We got a letter last week that the house was too dirty on the outside and to get it pressure washed. While that's all well and good, it wasn't in the budget for this month. My husband was outside on a ladder with a hose and sprayer hooked up trying to get the top so we aren't fined. Truthfully, it wasn't that much or that bad. Definitely worse in the neighborhood and it wasn't even the front of the house. Our back goes to 6 other houses back yards thanks to a cul-de-sac 2 doors down. I don't even know how that little bit was seen except by someone making a complaint vs talking to me.

@lisa032722 Welcome!

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! Today is the end of my first week of this health kick so I weighed in and have lost 2 lbs 🎊👏. Pleased as I had a couple of slips but as my weight is so high I guess it comes off a bit more easily.

Linda
40 years old, 5'7"
SW: 300 lbs
GW: 180 lbs
Prev Low: 191 lbs
Aug 1: 209 lb..... ugh!!!!!
Aug 4: 203.4 lb (obviously I had been retaining some on my Aug 1 weigh in. THANK GOD)

Being the first day of school yesterday, I let me daughter pick everything. We traditionally go out for an ice cream cone at her favorite place when I pick her up the first day. I stuck to a sugar cone and single scoop. Before going out I had only consumed a handful of calories throughout the day. She wanted tacos for dinner. We always bulk up the taco meat with extras so it isn't just beef. By the time I also had only a half serving of rice, put one on hard shell but the second on a low carb tortilla, had some grilled zucchini with it... my overall calories for the day were pretty great. I did see a jump in my fasting blood sugar after the carbs the previous day. Hoping that is just for the one day though.
FYI, if you want to see what I do to bulk up our taco meat the recipe is here https://www.healthyeatingwithlinda.com/post/bulked-up-taco-meat

Today my big book club (I've joined 4... why do I do this to myself???) is going to see the Barbie movie together. I'm also meeting one of my best friends, who is in the club with me, for dinner beforehand. The plan is to split a pizza and a large salad. I'm going to maybe see if she wanted to share a popcorn too. That way I'm not all in for all the calories where I have zero self control. I really need to stay the course tonight because tomorrow we're celebrating that same friend's birthday. I've been planning this big surprise for her and it's KILLING me not to tell her. It's going to be Indian food at her favorite restuarant followed by a paint and sip night where we rented out the place for a private party. Cake, additional desserts, wines.... Given the stress of planning, paying for everything, and keeping the secret this long, wine & cake have been earned.

@hessiondesign4 I tend to find ways of adding the veggies directly into the meat dishes sometimes. It stretches the servings and is easier to get people not looking to cut back on meat to actually consume more veggies too. Like the taco recipe I put above. Or adding shredded zucchini or cabbage into the cooking meat when prepping lasange. I don't necessarily hide the veggies but I don't walk out advertising that it's been added either. If my husband or daughter ask, I'll tell them what is different. Often, they don't even question the difference.

@Shoppie2023 Congrats on 2 lbs down!!!

@diggskl Welcome!!!

Good morning everyone! Happy August!

🌞There's only one month left of summer(for most of us, at least)! How do you hope to spend it? Any plans lined up, big or small?

Alright, so PT is rolling for me, back is getting better slowly but surely, and it's easier to do things in the gym than it was 2 weeks ago. So building on that progress is important for this month.

Also just keeping sane this month, as we've got appointments of some kind 4-5 days every week this month.

And at the end of this month, Starfield comes out, I'm so excited. Also to be excited about- we're prepping the garage to be a gym area, with gymnastics mats for the kids and a pole for me (!). That's a while away yet, it's all very expensive, and I have to do a lot of painting/sealing/etc before the exciting stuff. But we've started getting some excess stuff out of there and up into the attic, which feels great.

🌞This month we are working hard and applying ourselves. What is something that you need to work a little harder on or, conversely, an area you've already applied yourself to and have shown improvement in?

I need to re-apply myself to meal prep. When I do it, weight loss is on easy mode. I eat what I prepped, nothing more than that, and I tweak the prep if I end up too hungry or something. So tomorrow, I'll be prepping.

Saturday weigh in day!
Christina
34 years old
5'4"

SW: 220ish
Re-SW (Feb 2022): 200.4
UGW: 150

SW 8/1: 174.4 (average 173.4)
8/5: 173.3 (average 173.4)

🌞 August Goals! 🌞

🌞 July GW (average): 172.5

💛Stick to weight loss calories at least 5 days a week ❌
💛Log everything in grams ❌
💛 Shut down the house every night❌

Lol, I've been kid-free this week, so I've eaten some great food, no regrets. Going to get them today, back to normal. I'm enjoying the quiet house while it lasts (which is until we leave to get the kids, lol).

Tag party time!

Thank you as always @RavenStCloud for making sure we have this space.

@Shoppie2023 Welcome, and congratulations on your first two pounds! That's great!

@roz0810 HI ROZ!!! Welcome back! We can do this.

@justanotherjen13 smh HOAs are the worst. Also where is hubby to help with all this mulch he insisted on, uncool. One thing is true though- yardwork is great exercise, so you do have that going for you. Take care of you, too, hot bath with epsom salts for aches, and if hubby complains, tell him he can shovel mulch.

@li327sa Hi Lisa! Welcome!

@pamperedlinny you're back! And you can do this! Hello Dolly and a surprise party for a friend sounds like a blast. BARBIE MOVIE! I want to see it so badly, lol.

@hessiondesign4 you have a great plan, and I love the idea of a flexible meal plan that still encourages your hubby to partake in healthier options. Welcome!

@diggskl welcome! looking forward to seeing you around here more, this is a great thread full of great people

@Buckeyebabe717 you're doing great as usual!

Game plan for today:
1. eat a good breakfast filled with vegetables
2. take every rest stop to walk around, get some minimal exercise, what with all the driving
3. skip lunch/small snack for lunch
4. chicken gyros for dinner- maybe make mine into a salad depending on calories/whether Whatsisface wants to have a beer (our tradition on the weekends to have a beer together)
5. video games with our friends/playing with the kids

That's it, I think! Have a great day, everyone!

One more thing- a bit of inspiration I found this morning
https://youtu.be/HmX3oGTCx5Q

Hi, everyone!

I’m Lawanda. My goals for this month is to work out by at least going on a 30 minute walk at a minimum seven days a week since I work from home. Usually I do more and incorporate the gym but that’s my minimum. I’m staying away from Happy Hour for now because in times past I got a little too happy and packed on the pounds in record time.

Sw: 245 8/5/23
1st Gw: 237 9/5/23

I plan to meal prep as it makes my life so much easier when I take the thinking out of it.

Shoppie2023 wrote: »

Hi everyone I'm new! Weighed in last Friday to try to tackle the mountain that is my weight and I'm 261 lbs. I basically need to lose 100lbs as I'm 5'8. Trying to focus on my first target which is to lose 10lbs

The turning point has been that we have just returned from a 2 week holiday that was made utterly miserable because whenever we walked anywhere my back was agony. And I know the first thing anyone will say if I go for help is that I need to lose weight.

Would love to make friends who are also fighting a similar battle so please do add me

Hi! I got into a car accident and have lower back issues and it’s my motivation to lose weight as well so you’re definitely not alone. ❤️. I’m 5’7, 245. We got this.

Hi, I'm back for my second month of this.

I'm a 46yo SAHM of 5 (mostly grown) children and I take care of my grandson when my daughter has to work. I've struggled with my weight my whole life as a compulsive overeater. But after seeing the scale topping 290lbs in July, I got back on track despite a medication I take making me hungry all the time and gain weight. Apparently, I am able to lose weight while on it so my weight gain was probably more to do with constantly feeling hungry so always snacking (on the worst stuff no less).

I don't have any plans for August--it's just another month all be it with my two youngest kids home during the day. I've spent the last week working in the yard after my morning walk because the HOA complained about the weeds and want to fine us. Now my husband has bought some mulch to put down, completely glossing over the fact the area is already covered in rocks so this week I guess I'm shoveling up all the rocks and moving them to another part of the yard so we can lay mulch. My back is hurting just thinking about it.

Anyway...

GOALS:
* get used to walking at least two miles every day (about 45 minutes)
* portion control, portion control, portion control
* make better food choices
* no snacking on unhealthy foods
* lose about 10lbs

SW: 294 (7/4/23)
August SW: 273.8
CW: 267.8 (8/8)
GW (short term): 250
GW (long term): 165

8/8 Update: Really tweaked a muscle in my back/hip area on the left side. I had to stop shoveling rocks for a few days to let it get better. We're also out of mulch. Keeping up with my minimum two miles and/or 1 hour of walking. Even on days my feet were killing me. I've gotten to like my time wandering around the neighborhood lost in thought with no one to interrupt me. I hate going home, but it's too hot to stay out much more than that.

Linda
40 years old, 5'7"
SW: 300 lbs
GW: 180 lbs
Prev Low: 191 lbs
Aug 1: 209 lb
Aug 4: 203.4 lb

Well….. yesterday I had to go into the office for a new laptop. I came back home. Went back in again. It just wasn’t a very productive work day for me. I ended up grabbing cookies on my back and forth since I was trying to get back to the office quickly. Then met a friend for lunch since I was next to her building. Then went on a different friend’s birthday dinner. So, not my best day again at all. I checked my fasting blood sugar this morning and it is UGLY. Like, wake up call ugly.

Today I promised my husband and daughter we would have pasta night. I do have a trick for pasta night that keeps everyone happy and also keeps me from going overboard. I tend to add a veggie to the bottom of my bowl, then add exactly 1 serving of pasta, then add marinara sauce, then add a protein. The protein is usually frozen meatballs or sometimes chicken. Something “normal”… but the veggies are the key. It’s usually something that works size and shape with the pasta. Adding the veggies makes me more full and from going back for more pasta. It also keeps my blood sugar from spiking so much.
***Steamed Cut Green Beans with Elbows
***Sauteed Broccoli Slaw or Zucchini Strings with Angel Hair
***Steamed Cut Carrots with Wagon Wheels

@Shoppie2023 I had a wonderful weekend with the birthday and anniversary. I often have a problem though that if I let myself slip and not track (even the bad days) that I have a hard time getting back into the habit. For me it’s about a 3 day limit. Then I just let everything go. BUT knowing my limits and what causes me to backslide is a win in itself.

My name is Kelly. I am 52 and watch my grandkids 5 days a week. I watch 4 of them 5 days a weeks and 6 on Wednesdays so I keep busy with babies all week. They are all 3yrs and under. I weigh weekly. This daily group accountability is awesome! I absolutely love this group.

Goals for August:
Walk for 30 minutes a day 6 days a week
Log all my food daily
Hit at least 10,000 steps 6 days a week
Hit 100lb weight loss this month

SW:262
August SW:166
August GW:155
UGW:150

August
1. Walked, logged, 23k+
2. Walked, logged, 24k+
3. Walked, logged, 21k+
4. Walked, logged, 20k+
5. Logged, rest day, weight 163 😊
6. Walked, logged, 16k+
7. Walked, logged, 22k+
8. Walked, logged, 23k+
9. Walked, logged, 17k+

I really struggled yesterday with getting my walk and the steps I finally achieved. I have been feeling drained all week. I made a small change in my diet and I don't think it's working so I am going back to exactly what I was eating before and hope that solves the issue. I can't keep up with all my grands on a daily basis and have little to no energy. If this is it then it amazes me how such a small change can make a huge difference in energy.

Good morning everyone,

Saturday weigh in day!
Christina
34 years old
5'4"

SW: 220ish
Re-SW (Feb 2022): 200.4
UGW: 150

SW 8/1: 174.4 (average 173.4)
8/5: 173.3 (average 173.4)
8/12: 173.9 (average 173.7)

🌞 August Goals! 🌞

🌞 July GW (average): 172.5

💛Stick to weight loss calories at least 5 days a week ❌
💛Log everything in grams ❌
💛 Shut down the house every night❌

Is it any wonder I'm not losing weight because of all those red x's, nope.

My average (logged) calories this week was 1709, which, if accurate, should be about 200 calories less than my maintenance number, more or less. BUT.


I wasn't logging in grams this week. I did my meal prep! I prepped the food! And then I said to myself, oh, it's fine to just dump all of it in one tupperware, I'll bring the scale to work and weigh it there. Didn't happen (happened Monday, to be fair).


I need to make my meal prep as easy and mindless as me going into the fridge because I'm hungry. Because 1, I can stick to a meal prep if it's easy. And 2, I come home ravenous every day, because I stick better to my plan at work than I do at home, which means 4 o'clock while I'm cooking dinner is the DANGER ZONE.


So improved meal prep plan to stop this slide:
1. Prep everything, in its own container, weighed in grams. Even my morning coffee, which, the way I make it, shouldn't be a ton of calories.
2. Seriously, literally, eat only what I prepped. (and during prep, that means to give myself reasonable treats)
3. When making dinner for the fam, be very serious about my portion, weighing and logging everything before I eat it.
4. PREP AN AFTER SCHOOL SNACK FOR MYSELF WHILE COOKING.
5. And definitely, definitely, prep a dessert for the day, that is just part of my life now.

This is going to be lots of work tomorrow, but if I do it right, success is guaranteed.

For today, I've got a dance choreography class, an all-around class, and splits class. So much class. Lol.

In garage gym news, I got some paint swatches, and I'm cleaning out more today. And I bought some little decorations because aldi had them and I'm impatient to get to the fun part.

Tag party time!
@Shoppie2023 there are some foods for which that kind of restriction is worth it, so I hope your lasagna is worth everything you give up for it. Good for you for knowing your limits about the scale.

@lawandabee7555

I’m staying away from Happy Hour for now because in times past I got a little too happy and packed on the pounds in record time.

hello me from college

it is way too easy to do, isn't it. Welcome! Share what you're prepping, I'm always looking for ideas.

@justanotherjen13 I mean my thought on that kind of a situation is, your sphere seems to be taking care of the house, so you should get to set the standard for the house. You don't tell him what standard to set for his work, he shouldn't get to do that for yours. I read a substack this week about total responsibility transfer, let me see if I can find it: link
There is something very calming about a nice walk. I was thinking about taking one myself, this morning, we'll see how much I get done before the gym.

@pamperedlinny heck yeah back to Zumba!! And I'll be sure to take pictures, I forgot to take one when the garage was at it's worst for maximum shock value, so I'll just have to settle for a picture of it in-progress clear out.

I had pasta this week and I forgot your trick! Not again, for sure!

I think the finding stress relief that's not pantry related is a great idea. I've got a lot of tricks in my arsenal: I knit and listen to a favorite podcast, or I dig into a quick thing in a video game, or I find some new fanfiction or a new trash novel ebook to read (don't judge me, lol), things that I can get absorbed in and take my mind off the food-is-the-answer thoughts.

@Buckeyebabe717 it can take a while to really tune into your energy levels, so I love that you're paying attention and making adjustments.

@ambermichk cutting out soda is going to be a huge improvement, welcome! looking forward to hearing more about you!

Oh, and for anyone who's sent me a friend request- I only use MFP for the community, not for logging at all, so I don't accept friend requests anymore. I'm just not on MFP if I'm not in the community boards, so please don't take it personally. I use MacroFactor for logging instead.

Have a great day, everyone!

Hello, I am a mom of 5. My baby is 15 and oldest 28... I have three still at home.

I have always felt big, always felt fat, looking back I don't think I was but felt that way. After first kid i packed on the weight, and continued.... although with my third I was so sick I was at my lowest adult weight ever before I delivered.

I am a junk food, chocolate, soda addict. I love sweets, milk chocolate and pepsi and mt dew. I eat like a unsupervised 5 year old. Fast food is a huge issue for me, always on the go, grab fast and easy (and tasty). I hate veggies (yes all), only eat a few fruits, do not do milk products (yogurt, cheese, etc) . The meats I eat are lean, i love white meat of the chicken, lean beef.... i will trim every piece of fat off. I don't care for pasta or breads or wraps...... as you can see I have an issue

I have not started back exercising but i did love doing it back when i was active. I hope to join the gym again.

My doctor is too kind, i have high blood pressure now, high cholesterol and pre diabetic. I am at the highest weight that I have ever been at this point. I am now on meds for BP and cholesterol.

I lack the follow through. i have that issue in my life with more than diet. I get motivated but cannot keep up the motivation. I say I always have great plans... usually it is only plans.

So far I have been soda free since Wednesday morning, I have cut back drastically on junk food and I am tracking my foods I eat.


SW 297
GW 199

Would love to have some friends added as I have no been on the app in a long time and my newsfeed is very lacking!