new, with ALOT to lose!

k011185
k011185 Posts: 320 Member
edited November 11 in Introduce Yourself
Hello,
I found this site looking for an online food journal, I'm really liking it so far!
2.5 years ago I was 140 lbs, healthy and athletic, now I'm at 290, and can barely do half a minute of jumping jacks!
Started with a car accident, then an illness, (not making excuses for myself!), then turned into an emotional eating problem.
Right now I'm really trying to focus on eating right and fighting the urges to eat every carb I can find!

I was in competitive track from high school all through uni, it was easy then, but now I get on a treadmill and after 5 minutes of jogging I want to die, lol.
I really don't now where to start when it comes to exercise, anyone else new to it that has any advice, I would LOVE to hear it!
I tried a personal trainer, but I just couldn't keep up.

I have gone down about 10 pounds since I started watching what I eat a month ago, which is really encouraging! But what I love about this site is it isn't just what you eat, it's about getting healthy and fit!

Replies

  • Alicai
    Alicai Posts: 55
    Hi and welcome to MFP. There is a lot of support here. Feel free to add me as a friend if you like.
  • ludogx87
    ludogx87 Posts: 286 Member
    helllo!!!
    good for you to making the first step... thats the hardest part

    feel free to add me :)
  • cnt21811
    cnt21811 Posts: 28 Member
    Add me
  • gigglegurt3
    gigglegurt3 Posts: 2
    I'm new here to. Only been on the site for 10 days. I also have alot to lose. Add me if you like :):)
  • nettip
    nettip Posts: 113 Member
    HI YOU CAN ADD ME IF YOU LIKE, I as the same with the treadmil and im doing race4life in july so to start im doing zumba a few times a week to get my cardio up. then ill start on the treadmil in april and i do jog 1min, walk 2 mins do this for 20 mins then the next session ill do 1.5 mins jog,2 mins walk for 20mins, then every time i push a little more untill i can do a full 5 mins jog then will be 5min jog 2min walk 2min jog - keep goin untill i can do 3 sets of 5 in the 20min session.oh and i chew gum when exercising it helps sum how with my breathing?
  • monkeypantz
    monkeypantz Posts: 288 Member
    Heya, In October last year I could barely suffice 5 mins on the elliptical, now I do 40-60mins every day...it's all about baby steps and building it up!

    I started off at 257lbs and was around 238lbs when I joined MFP....so it does work! It's hard work, but you've got to focus and put your mind to it and then you'll start seeing results, and the results are usually enough motivation to keep going. Plus there is an amazing support network on here that's around 24/7 to help you!

    I sent you a friend request....can't wait to follow your journey!
  • kellehbeans
    kellehbeans Posts: 838 Member
    Good luck, we're all in this together, and although everyone else is saying 'add me as a friend', you can me too. It's just nice when you're new to know you have support and we're all in the same situation! A bit of support from new found friends is awesome! It's helping me, however I just know what I need to do now after asking questions around here - everyone is so supportive!

    I hope you get back to your 'norm', and do not feel ashamed and definitely do not say you're making excuses! It happens to the best of us. You're losing weight for yourself, no one else, so said 'excuses' are only to you - not to us!
  • mojox2003
    mojox2003 Posts: 276 Member
    Hi and welcome pls add me if you want im 283lbs at the moment and at the start.
  • Angelabec
    Angelabec Posts: 505 Member
    Hiya, and welcome. I was about 330lbs when I started, so also really struggled with exercise. I did a lot of walking, even though I hated it to start, and I also bought an exercise bike. I started off doing 10 mins at a time, which was a massive struggle, I did that for a couple of weeks, then increased it to 11 mins, and so on and so on, just increasing by a min at a time, then a couple of mins, then 5 mins as I got stronger. I kept a manual journal of what I had done, not just the time, but the distance I went in that time, and the cals burned, so I could see how I was improving. I really found that useful for motivating me to push myself a bit harder.

    These days I can cycle for up to an hour, I also have a mini stepper, can walk for about 8 miles, and am planning on starting C25K soon.

    Good luck to you, if I can do it, I am sure you can too :flowerforyou:
  • SandyQ229
    SandyQ229 Posts: 153 Member
    FEEL FREE TO ADD ME. we have right around the same starting weight and im trying to get down to 145ish,
  • BlackStarlight
    BlackStarlight Posts: 554 Member
    Hi Welcome to My Fitness Pal. Good Luck with your journey here. and Welldone on your weight loss so far that an amazing achievement! The best advice I can give you is to start small so your body gets used to the excercise walk on the treadmill on a low setting and leave it at that setting for two weeks and then start to up it a bit at a time that goes for any machine or anything else you do. Doing one good sit up is better than doing ten bad ones and eventually itll turn into ten good ones. Just be patient and let your body adjust to the change your forcing on it :flowerforyou:
  • Mamoonie
    Mamoonie Posts: 328

    I tried a personal trainer, but I just couldn't keep up.


    Look for a good one! A good personal trainer adapts his program to your abilities and fitness level! A good personal trainer makes you do things you think you cannot do, but still can.
    So apparently this was was a bad one!

    I wish you lots of motivation and strength on your way :-)
  • liljgrafix
    liljgrafix Posts: 177
    Hey welcome. The first step to your journey is the hardest but most satisfying in the end. and congrats on wanting to take charge in your life. feel free to add me
  • sunshynrn
    sunshynrn Posts: 10
    I am new as well, feel free to add me. This site is wonderful.
  • MissedStar
    MissedStar Posts: 19
    Hi i'm new as well and am jumping on the add me bandwagon
    To get my fitness up i've started doing zumba which is brilliant and i do alot of trampolining
    all sport is good! i don't dare go near the treadmill cause i run for 2 minutes than have to spend 5 minutes gaining some breath back
  • start121
    start121 Posts: 38 Member
    Well done so far. I've been using the site for just over a month and I find it really helpful. Feel free to add me as a friend because it really helps when you get some encouragement for others when you log in.

    One thing I would definitely recommend to start you off with exercise is Jillian Michael's 30 day shred dvd. It gave me a great start and I saw a huge improvement in my fitness after doing it.

    :-)
  • kellster111
    kellster111 Posts: 113 Member
    If you want to try to start running the Couch to 5k programme is great, it is all about short intervals and building up slowly, you can download podcasts etc to help you on your way.

    Good luck
  • sprengers
    sprengers Posts: 3
    Hi,
    well done so far you've done really well!
    all i would say is dont do too much too quick, i started at the gym and hated it, which meant i gave up untill my friend introduced me to here. I started to watch what i ate and couldnt believe the calaries i was eating, now i do body tonning for 20 mins everyother day at home which i enjoy and next i will go back to the gym for class's.
    I look forward to following your weight loss.
  • dwahler
    dwahler Posts: 1 Member
    I'm new too started about 3 weeks ago. Have lost 9 pounds so far. I also was looking for a journal when I found this site. It seems to have a lot of support.

    Good Luck
  • shar0006
    shar0006 Posts: 19 Member
    Best of luck! Congratulations on the 10 lbs already. For exercise, I suggest finding something you that you enjoy doing. I recently got into Zumba at my gym. Since you were a runner in the past, perhaps try signing yourself up for a 5k and then using the Couch to 5k program.

    I was never a runner and envied those that could. I've always been a swimmer (which is great exercise if you have a gym with a pool). One of my friends wanted to do a half marathon, so we did Disney's Princess Half Marathon, and finishing that was the best feeling in the world. We started with 5ks and found longer races, and headed off to Orlando!

    Another idea is water areobics, this is a great calorie burner with zero gravity and constant resistance. So if you are still hurting from your accident, I would recommend this.

    Congratulations again and best of luck!
  • scentexpress
    scentexpress Posts: 28
    What you are doing is great, by simply watching what you are eating. That's exactly how I started my journey & it's how I've continued. My starting weight was over 380 lbs; I'm currently @ 257 (I cannot wait until my Monday morning weigh in because I feel like I had a big loss).

    It was just that simple for me. I did not & have not followed any of the latest 'trendy' diets, no fads, no pills & no supplements. It's all been by using my common sense & googling all of the 'good' & 'bad' foods. I then selected my favorites from the good & integrated them into our diet. I found a way to love water & drink over a gallon a day (I HATED water, btw...couldn't hardly stand a standard 8 oz glass prior to this UNTIL I started seeing the weight fall off my body, energy level energy level increased & my complexion cleared). And, I just got out and started moving...the first mile I walked almost killed me but now I mix walking with running & do an average of 7 miles.

    Congratulate & appreciate yourself for every 'smart' decision you make & forgive yourself when you have a weak moment & give in to temptation. Move beyond that moment & do not beat yourself up for it..the mental sabotage & battery that we inflict upon ourselves can be so detrimental. Expect the peaks & valleys & train yourself to stop worrying about instant results; learn to enjoy living in the moment & appreciating the small victories. It means you are training your brain to adapt to a new & much healthier lifestyle. Good Luck to you!!
  • morganfox5
    morganfox5 Posts: 52
    that's great, getting started is always the hardest! once it becomes your new daily life you will love it :)
    the best of luck to you and feel free to add me as a friend for support!
  • katwj76
    katwj76 Posts: 60 Member
    Hi, I've been on here for 50 odd days and haven't lost anything yet, in fact I gained my first month because of meds. I'm 336 and would like to lose at least 100 lbs. What was working for me exercise wise (until I hurt my knee - I'm on crutches now) was water aerobics. We can do a lot more in the water then on land. Take babysteps, drink your water and have fun. And please add me, we're on the same path.
  • Irishblue62
    Irishblue62 Posts: 7
    Hi I found water aerobics at the Y to be a HUGE help. I had a knee replacement and did not heal well, thought that was the end of my mobility, gained weight, ate for comfort and became very depressed. THEN I swam with the kids and could move so joined the Y in the fall. I have lost 45 pounds, am a lot more comfortable and am gaining back muscle. I also work out in the weight room under the guidance of a trainer. Good for you that you are on here. Working off 10 pounds is WONDERFUL ( I hate to say lose because that sounds like it is easy and as we all know, it is not) Friend me if you like. I love talking with people about the ups and downs on this journey to good health.
  • dchienku
    dchienku Posts: 625 Member
    Hi there and welcome to MFP! U DID IT! U took the first step and started on ur journey! Feel free to add me if u like!

    Denise
  • k011185
    k011185 Posts: 320 Member
    Wow, thanks for all the replies and support!
    I had never heard of the couch to 5k plan, but I'm definitely going to try it, I miss being able to run so much!
  • weightloss43154
    weightloss43154 Posts: 203 Member
    Hi and welcome, feel free to add me
  • mixedfeelings
    mixedfeelings Posts: 904 Member
    Hello, welcome! Feel free to add me.
  • tiffanyvc
    tiffanyvc Posts: 99
    HI! Add me if you'd like, I'm not new (I've been on here for a long time, but have been slacking for most of it), but I'm always happy to have new friends on here!

    Exercise is NOT easy, otherwise, everyone would be skinny and fit. :) For me, as a newbie, I found the bike to be the easiest way to get started in exercising. I also had an injury that hindered my weight loss and made exercising very, very difficult (it's hard to exercise when the doctor tells you "NO WALKING"). It is still difficult for me, but I've learned what I can and can't do and have chosen exercises that I can do. I noticed someone else said this earlier, too, that when they started the elliptical, they could only do 15 minutes. That was me a year ago. But now, I'm on it for an hour. It's still hard, but I can do it!

    You'll get there too. Just keep it up and try not to get discouraged. We're all here to be supportive!
  • trinitylyons01
    trinitylyons01 Posts: 126 Member
    Hi and congratulations for taking the first step. It's usually one of the hardest! I started off at 289lbs back in 2010 and wasn't really motivated enough to make a permanent change. I came back at the end of last year and still didn't stick with it. I've always been about losing weight quickly and have probably tried every quick fix there is known to man. I have finally realized that slow and steady is the most practical and healthiest way to lose weight. I came back a little over a month ago and God willing I'm here to stay! I have lost around 27 pounds since the end of last year and believe me, seeing my jeans get baggy and hearing the compliments will motivate you more than anything!

    When you weigh what we weigh exercise is not easy. Some people have recommended Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, which I think is an awesome video. However, when you weigh almost 300 pounds it's very hard to do videos like that or to run, do jumping jacks and other high impact exercises at first. Our knees are already weakened by carrying all that extra weight and one wrong step can cause excruciating pain. Not to mention trying to catch your breath! The best advice I can offer - and what has worked for me - is to find something that you like to do and give it all you have to give. If you like it chances are you will stick with it. Even if you can only do a few minutes at a time do it and work on increasing that time. Once you get a little more fit add in other exercises that will strengthen your heart and your muscles. I do a Firm Express series (in addition to Zumba, treadmill, and a stationary bike) which incorporates weights and cardio for a sculpting/cardio workout. I am still not, however, really good at it and have to modify lots of the exercises but I do what I can and give it my all. That is all you can do but that is doing a lot. So don't kick yourself if you're not able to do more. If you stick with it you WILL get there. Just don't give up!

    Be sure to drink plenty of water, get a sufficient amount of rest every night and stick to eating healthy as it definitely takes all of this to make a change. And use this website including all the people willing to be here for you and help you through this journey. Also, as someone else mentioned, if you slip up every now and then don't beat yourself up about it or allow it to become a full fledged fall. Get right back up and keep moving forward. Sometimes, allowing yourself that treat every now and then can actually keep you from bingeing or eating bad foods more often. Do whatever it takes to help you be successful!

    My name is Lainey and you can also add me if you want to! Good luck to you!
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