20lbs or less club

welcome lupka99!! I have finally started hitting the gym again after a 2 week break! I am a smoker and I am quitting on Monday so my progress might not be so hot, but smoking is worse then fat I guess. I am hoping that I won't gain weight, but smoking affects metabolism, so I will have to eat a lot less and exercise more!! Hope all is well!
 
Hi!

Hi all,

I just discovered and joined this great site! I have 19 pounds to go until my goal weight, so I think I fit in here. I'm 5'3''. My high point was 170ish, I got down to low 120's, then regained into the low/mid 130's over the last few months. My goal is 115, although if I can get a low enough body fat proportion at 120, I'd take that- but when I was ~122 before, at the gym my bodyfat percent was measured, and it was still around 28-29%, as I recall. Definitely too high, from a looks and health point of view. Also, my cholesterol is high, although much lower than when I was heavier. It seems to be very sensitive to my weight, so I'm seeing if I can get back down to a weight where I can have healthy cholesterol levels without needing to consider taking medication. Anyway, I'm trying to get back on track, and decided some online support would be good.

Some challenges I struggle with- boredom and emotional eating, trying to fit in exercise when I'm a divorced mom working outside the home. I have my son a lot, but he's with his dad sometimes. I tend to cram in my exercise when he's with his dad, but that isn't enough. I set up a home exercise area, since when he's with me, I can't go to the gym easily- but I have trouble motivating myself to work out at home. Do any of you have any suggestions on this point?

Also, the challenge of feeding a skinny, rather picky eight-year-old and myself at the same time, rushing home after work, and trying to come up with something we both like, that will not be fattening for me, but that he'll like and will fill him up, and that can be ready within about 15 minutes of arriving home- ack! I fell into a McDonald's habit for a few months after my divorce (which I'm sure contributed to my weight gain a few years ago), and it was funny, but my then 4-5 year old son told me he was sick of McDonald's and didn't want to go there anymore. Boy, did I feel like a bad mom, taking my son there so often he got sick of it before hitting elementary school! :)

Any tips appreciated!
 
Welcome, Ohtemptataion! You definately came to the right place :) As a brand new mommy, (only 4 months!) I understand the struggle for time to exercise. What I am doing is Cindy crawford postnatal work-out video "A new dimension". This is geared more towards getting back in shape after pregnancy and the time restrictions of a new mom, but it even says in the beginning of the video it's good for anyone whose just kind of fallen off the fitness wagon. There are 3 sections to it, (A) is 10 minutes long you can do it in your pajamas no shoes, anywhere anytime sort of thing, It's short but you feel the burn! (B) is a little more intense of a workout, you can use some 3 lb weights and a deck of playing cards in it. it is also on 10 minutes long. I find A and B together make a short effective workout. And workout C is for when you have a while, it's (I think) a 40 minute workout. It really makes you work. For when you have a long time you can combine them all and get an hour long workout. The ability to mix and match the workouts to your time allowance is great and no matter what you get a good workout in.
For food, I'm not really sure, since I do'nt know what your son does or doesn't like. Almost all of the meals that we make take under 15 minutes to make and although they are not considered low calorie they are also not high in calories, the key is in moderation. Anyway, if you haven't already started a diary then I would reccomend doing that. You'll get lots of supprt. :)
 
Hi Ohtemptation! Welcome aboard! I completely know how you feel about trying to eat something you and your child can enjoy. My son is 3 and only wants chicken nuggets, so I have gotten creative and started giving him vegatarian chicken nuggets so I can eat them too!

You guys have any ideas on making indvidual meals? I can't stand left overs because I binge on those. ... Ideas helpful!
 
Hey, Im currently 5'5 and 120ish and would like to get to 108-110 so 10-12lbs would be nice, so I guess I fi tin this club. I have only been on it a week today. Food wise I'm pretty hopeless as I had a chinese takeaway last night :eek: ! I am trying to limit myself to a 1200 diet and I'm pretty pleased as I am eating a hell of a lot less than I normally would and I used to have 2-3 packets of crisps a day, I havent had any at all this week!

Exercise wise I'm quite good, I have been doing at least a 20 min walk (yesterday was 1 and a half hours), jogging 10-30 mins, 50-100 sit ups, 100-300 leg lifts on each leg, and 50 lower abs exercises, these are every day, this week I have to step it all up a bit. I have a goal of how many hours walking and jogging I do throughout the whole week and a goal amount of sit ups etc.

If anyone has any comments/tips/advice etc then please feel free!
 
Wow! I have been gone for a while! :p

Well, i completely fell off the wagon this week! i was so mad at myself, i thought i would like gain a pound. Then when i got on the scale, it said 116.2! That’s like a 2 pound loss! Thought i am starting to think it is a fluke, i can still be happy right? :D
 
liv- you know sometimes when you eat differantly it actually jumps your metabolism!
Becca- Welcome! Seems like you have it under control. We are here if you need to vent or what not!!

As for me, I haven't had a smoke since Sunday so I am doing good on that end, but eating a bit much. I weighed in this morning 4 lbs more then I did on Sunday. I ate a lot a lot yesterday but I have done worse and not had that happen. I have been hitting the gym more to avoid any more weight gain. We shall see.
 
Thanks!

Hi all!

Thanks, newmommy1, for your welcome and suggestions! I am planning to start a diary, but haven't solidified eating plan details yet- I met today with a trainer/nutrition coach who is going to help me work out an eating and exercise plan. This week, I'm just trying to 'ramp down' my eating- i.e. be less dysfunctional and overeat less- but am not actually planning to start 'dieting' until after Thanksgiving. I think starting a plan before Thursday would not be likely to lead to short-term success! :)

I find sometimes this 'ramping down' helps ease me into healthy eating, as my appetite has time to adjust or something.

Have a good holiday, all!
 
Hey guys! It's turkey day! I have already pigged out on appetizers! I suspect today may be a 4000 cal day!! Yuck! But oh so delicious!
 
Hey everyone, hope you are all ok and doing well!

Ohtemptation- I wish I could have a trainer/nutrition! You'll do very well with that kind of support. Good luck!

livlegacy-wow, thats great to lose 2 pounds even after falling off the wagon! Congrats!

Well, I had an absolutely horrific weekend! I feel so guilty its unbelievable!

Well it all started on Friday when I had my 2nd chinese since the diet started 2 weeks ago. Yes, I managed to polish off quite a bit of food, afterwards I was very bloated and feeling sick with myself. But the next day I went round my friends and guess what she had ordered! Yep, chinese takeaway, so thats 3 in the space of 2 weeks! Not only that but we also shared a box of miniture heroes, so I reckon I can safely say all my hard work has gone to waste now! I didn't even do any exercise either, totally went off the rails!

Trying to sort it back out again now but I'm finding it extremely difficult food wise. I think the fact my scales are broken is making it worse as I can't see if anythings changing yet so I don't have the motivation to carry on.

Anyway, I'm going to start going to the gym, how many times a week do you think I should go and how many hours should I stay? This will be on top of:

-20-30 min walk daily
-15-30 min jogging daily
-100-300 leg lifts on each leg daily
-25-50 sit ups daily
-30 lower ab exercises daily

Thanks, and carry on doing well everyone! x
 
Hi! Iam definately exercising, but my eating is really crappy! I think it's actually just getting worse. I am hoping to get on a diet again, but I am really discouraged and dissappointed in myself. I am keeping my weight between 132- 134 but that is entirely too high for me and that is morning weight, at night I just want to die! I need to get back in the 120's at the least! It would not be hard to get there but if I continue to eat like this I will be 140 and then it will be difficult. I am really dissapointed right now. I am hoping tomorrow I will be back on the eating nutritious wagon rather then the let's get fat one! I guess the one good thing is that I am hitting the gym. If I can quit smoking, I can eat normal!! Oh, thanks for listening to be lay it out!!

You guys are doing great!! Thanksgiving/holidays throws everyone off so don't be upset!! Just get back to it!!
 
hey guys! I am feeling very down today! I weighed in this morning and was 134 and weighed in tonight 138, that seriously depresses me. I even ate less then I have been and worked out. I don't know what to do.
 
I've been lurking on this site for a few days and it has been a tremendous source of inspiration. it's great to see other people's sucesses. I've always been really chubby so getting to 115 would be miraculous - like winning the lottery or something. (i'm at 130 now - so i've got 15 to go)
i've kind of got a wierd problem though. i'm hyperthyroid but not enough to be diagnosed by the only dr i can see. so i can maintain a weight of 140 on about 1200 calories a day. my goal is to eat about 600 a day and run about 10 miles a week. right now i'm doing 6 miles a week and hovering around 750 calories, so i'm losing but slowly, really really slowly.
i'm afraid if anyone knew what i'm doing they'd think i'm anorexic. i'm not even that hungry eating 600 calories a day, i just drink a lot of water. the only reason i don't do it all the time is that food tastes good! and it's also a nice social thing to do. i've gone to sandwich shops and just watched all my friends eat dinner, it's kind of awkward. : /

anyway sorry for the rant, it's just good to say.

also in reply to what bglittert1979 said about weighing more at night - people generally do, you can hold more than 4 pounds of undigested food and water in your gut at the end of the day. if you wake up in the morning and weigh yourself you'll get a better picture of how much you really weigh.
(arcane information via biology classes)
 
hey redifine!! Welcome aboard!! I don't think eating 600 cals a day is a good idea. I don't think that is anorexic but not enough to keep you healthy. I know that we weigh more at night, It's just depressing to see me that close to 140, when last year this time I was closer to 125! Sad Sad :(
 
I know it sounds nuts but i tried with 1500.. nothing, 1200 nothing, 1000 nothing. i thought i was crazy, how can you not lose weight on 1000 calories a day? so i went to the dr to get a blood test. according to some internet sites i'm hypothyroid but she said i was just fine and i probably just needed antidepressants. grrrr I'm not depressed! but now that i've seen a few pounds come off i'm feeling lots better, even if its just a start.
 
Take your results and go to another doctor and get a second opinion. If that's the problem, then you can get some meds for that hopefully!! Hope all is well! I am on the diet wagon again! My goal is 1500-1800 this week and drop lower next week but obviously I have been having difficulties even getting started so I am starting this way! Hope ya'll are well!
 
Hi all! I've gone and done it again! I fell off the wagon at the weekend! I'm so useless. 4 chinese takeaways in the 3 weeks I have been "dieting"! It's disgusting! Plus exercise seems to have come to a hault! I just don't have the time or energy! I'm doing exams this week so have to revise 2-3 hours a day, that on top of a low calorie diet and exercise is my worst nightmare!

Hi Redefine! 600 cal seems waay to low! On a good day I'm about 900-1000 without feeling to hungry. I don't even want to know how many calories I obtained over the weekend! Hopefully try and get back on track now! I know at xmas I'll just completely let myself go, so I need to make up for it before I've even done it!

Hope you are all more successful than me at the moment!
 
I was just posting in another thread and it made me think. I have decided that I know what started me eating like crap again. I lost the baby weight and still felt unattractive, I had stretch marks and loose skin. It is strange because even when the weight is gone, there is left overs and although you look awesome, you see that even if no one else does. My friends were younger then me cause I live in a college town so I always felt in competition. They also were not as shy as I am or as northern as I am so all these aspects affected me. I gave up the competition and felt sorry for myself and gained 13 lbs. WOW, I think that is the first time I have actually said it outloud..sorta. Hmmmm....
 
Becca15: every week can't be a good week. esspecially if it's a finals week! ack! i think finals are worse than holidays. the lack of sleep really gets me.
I've just about blown off homework to run because at least i know i'm getting something out of it. my grades suck.

bglittert1979: i can't get another dr because i don't have health insurance, i'm just using the college health center which is well-meaning but overworked.
glad somebody's on that wagon, slow and steady you know.
 
Redefine-Hmmm... I would go to the health department or get medicaid. Your health is important.

Becca15- it's ok to fall off the wagon. Just try and get back on!! You can always ride a stationary bike or something and study for exercise. If you can't get into exercise, try to cut back on calories to make up for it!!

PS. I decide to post my picture. So I think it will show up when I post this. That's me!
 
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