VioletNightshade

I've gained and lost over the years, but one thing I've noticed is that when I was at my heaviest, people rarely made eye contact with me. It made it possible to stand in a crowded room and still be by myself. Now, around 45 lb lighter, I have people make and maintain eye contact. It's very difficult to get used to as I'm…

1. Off and on for the last 10 years. Made it permanent about 7 months ago. 2. Never much liked meat. I had to be forced or bribed to eat it as a small child. I would've been completely vegan since 2 years old if I'd been allowed. All I liked was veggies and some fruits and the occasional piece of bread. This last time…

Yes. I live with my grandparents, and my grandfather, being retired law enforcement, is one of those who notices everything everyone does. He's also very critical of everything, and doesn't have a 'filter' for what's appropriate to say sometimes. The kitchen and living room are the same room, and my grandparents have a…

Sounds lovely!! It's been printed out, the calories counted, and it's been put in the "to try" tab of my recipes book! Thanks, much! =^_^=

When people have not gone through something, it's sometimes difficult for them to be sensitive to it and approach it with any degree of comprehension. (I won't address the racial / ethnic slur bit and why it doesn't compare to weight because that's kind of been beaten to death in a thread earlier today) Also, some people…

Most of mine are super worn and have holes in, or stains from colour or bleach from when I was doing hair. I have one pair of size 18 jeans I hold on to to hold up to my current ones to remind myself of just how far I've come. other than that, when they get too big and worn out, I tend to bin them. Even if I were to donate…

I've lost 40 pounds recently - was 260 at my highest, yet, every time I get on the scale, no matter if it's been a week or a day, I ALWAYS expect it to be like 395 or something that for me was never even on the spectrum of possibility. I'm around 220 right now, and losing, but instead of just 'big, but working on it' I…

Sometimes it's nice to hear that other people see the work you're putting in. It can reinforce your knowledge that you're doing well and help provide motivation.

I would certainly get myself tested if you suspect you may, but from what you've said, it sounds like if you had it, it may have gotten remedied. I'd definitely have a chat with my doctor about getting an ultrasound if I were you (that's how mine was diagnosed), especially if your mom has it (or displays symptoms of it,…

This, this 1000 to the thousandth power times this, and then a few more for good measure. Even if not for you (which you do deserve FAR better than the table scraps he's thrown you) then for your kids, get your claws out because things could get ugly and if he wants to try to weasel out of all of his commitments to both…

I had a similar experience, oddly enough, last night as well. I met my caloric limit for the day, and all I could think about was food, food, food, food, food, so I, for all intents and purposes, binged. It wasn't a proper binge like I used to do when I was actively suffering, when, in a sitting, I could do a ridiculous…

I had 3 people say something around 20lb, and then the comments stopped. When I hit 35+ more and more people have started saying something, probably because my work uniform's shoulder seams now fall about 4 inches below my actual shoulder, so the already unflattering shirt now hangs off of me like a bag.

I like to take my phone and headphones with me and watch a show while on the stationary bike or eliptical. It really gets my mind off of the fact that I absolutely detest working out.

Yes, very true, and quite infuriating as well. I'm aiming for about a size 6-8 jeans, but when I say that, I mean a size 6-8 in a specific brand and cut of jeans. I don't expect that when I get to my goal that I'll be able to go to any store, pick up a size 6 and a size 8 and head to the fitting rooms and have them fit.…

Had a super-yummy pesto veggie sandwich on a bagel this morning, so I'll keep that - 425 calories Qdoba burrito with fajita veggies, black beans, cheese, guacamole and lots of salsa and chips crunched in - 830 calories TGI Fridays Cajun Chicken & Shrimp Pasta minus the chicken & shrimp and add extra red peppers - around…

Me!! I've about 90 on the nose to lose!

No, she doesn't gain weight to do the before photos. She had children, and because of complications and having multiples, she gained a significant amount of weight (around 90lb) and she used the programmes to lose most of that. She's worked with two companies to provide before and after photos. During her weight loss,…

She has done a total of three, two for one company, one for another (i.e a couple of companies, not "quite a few"), and is in the process of completing a fourth for the second company. Yes, she does follow the programmes to the tee, eating plan, workout schedule and all, without adding to them. She used them to lose…

5'6" female Highest Weight - 260 Start Weight - 234 Current Weight - 220 Short Term Goal - Get below 200 for the first time in almost 10 years Long Term Goal - Between 130 - 140 (I have a quite small frame under all the... erm... padding...)

My best friend is one of the women who does workout programmes and provides before and after photos for a couple of companies. She works her butt off day in and day out and works out very hard, and lost almost 90lb doing so. Not all of them are frauds. There are quite a few legitimately hard working people out there who…

First off, congratulations on making the decision and going for it! Yes, I felt hungry all the time for a while. There are times when I still do. At times like those, I switched it up for my next meal and added something high-volume / low calorie along with something bready like pasta or rice. A serving of pasta with some…

Does he have an idea of where he'd like to go with an education? Perhaps he feels it would be pointless because he doesn't have clear direction. If he doesn't, taking a few aptitude tests may help him find a concrete goal to work towards. Maybe you could offer to help him study, encourage him to study with you, or have a…

Don't punish yourself for "mistakes," we all make them. If you have something awful for dinner or lunch one day, don't throw away the whole day - pick up where you left off next meal. It's the little changes every day that add up to big success. You don't "have" to put the weight back on if you don't choose to. The…

I try to find the nutrition info online, and if I can't do that, I enter a similar meal from a place that's known for unhealthy food (just to err on the side of caution).

So long as you use it correctly, yes. I was becoming stagnant in my weight loss on my own (I'd lost 26 lb in 6 months, which is still significant, but I was beginning to plateau) and needed some extra help to figure out what I was doing wrong. Using the calorie counter has helped me plan out days in advance and know I'm…

Sometimes when you don't like yourself, you find it foreign or absurd that someone else could. It sounds to me like he can't understand that you love HIM, not what he provides. You seem like you don't care who the "breadwinner" is in your relationship, but for a lot of men, it's a huge hit to the ego that you don't "need"…

I've had several. I still get them and they're little motivators to keep pushing myself. When I climbed on the scale and it said "260." I was mortified. I knew I was fat, but I didn't think I was that bad. When I went to work and after putting all the equipment on, I bent to re-tie my shoe and almost couldn't reach.…

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry to hear this. *lots of hugs and support* As someone else said, this may be a blessing in disguise for you and the children. One can only hope. I don't really know what to say, other than that though things will undoubtedly be tough, you'll just have to be a fighter and, as Tim Gunn says on Project…

Like others, I don't log working (which consists of walking sometimes 15-20+ miles a day while weighted down by work equipment which, on a hectic day can weigh up to 10lb), walking my dog (which is usually around 5 miles until she's good and tired), swimming, or anything else I do, to keep my diary thing telling me to eat…

My default answer for that type of situation is "Let me have a night to sleep on it and look over my budget," and then if they get pushy (which sales people tend to do), I say "I won't be buying anything today, but I'll give it some thought, and if I decide I want it, I'll certainly let you know. Are you on commission? If…