Weight-Loss Irie, Mon! July Weight Loss Challenge

Weight-Loss
Yeah, me too, but we've been real good about teaching them good food rules so they don't fall into the same trap.
 
Growing up, I was never skinny, but never really overweight. My mom is over 30 BMI and always has been since I can remember and so has her entire family (actually, most of her entire family is morbidly obese...really badly morbidly obese). She is the skinniest. Once I was an adult, I started gaining. One of my brothers did too - he has lost 40 pounds over the past 6 months (he's 6'6") and he looks great. Part of my motivation to lose.

But I think my mom really helped us out by keeping us at a healthy weight growing up. We never had a huge weight issue to overcome. Even with needing to lose over 50 pounds, I feel that she helped protect me from the weight issues of her family. I have a cousin who is 1 month younger than me and was just told by her doctor she would be lucky to reach 30 (we are both 28). But she still won't do anything about it. It makes me so sad...
 
I have a completely new prospective since Ive joined the forum and started losing weight. It made me realize that there is always hope if you really want it. I have been the biggest person in my family all my life, well until now. Now Im the third thinnest in my family.
 
I'm one of eight kids, and we range from severely obese to a marathon runner and everything in between. We all share the same upbringing and genetics (except for the one adopted brother) Who knows why we are all so different, but I think that it means that the decisions are all ours to make. It isn't predestined. So, I'm choosing fit. :cheers2:
 
I think a bad upbrining lead to my huge weight gain when I was young. My Mom is also a big woman, always has been... and recently my Dad has started to pack on the pounds. My brother and I both were pretty chuncky and we used to do some serious snacking when we got home from school.... you name it we ate it... and there was never healthy options only junk. Finally when I decided to make a change in my lifestyle I had to get my Mom on board because she did all the grocery shopping... and now that I am on my own I try to not keep the junk food in the house.. its too much of a temptation!

I hope to be a good role model fo rmy kids someday so that they dont have to go through what I have had to... being overweight is NOT just a physical thing... and you all know what I am talking about.
 
A lot of people seem to cite a bad upbringing for their weight, but I was the complete opposite. I was soooo skinny all through high school while my mom continued to cook nothing but extreme health food for me, and while I was a hardcore gymnast. Once college came, it was bad news. I think having it all done for me growing up, I hadn't learned what food can do to the body, I just stayed really skinny (and muscular), with no effort. It took me a long time to realize that I had gained weight, why I had gained weight, and what I should do about it.
 
For me it was all about my desire for self gratifacation. I love food and I love to eat. Flavor & taste yummy. I had no dicapline, and I didnt want it. I grew up with my Mom and she was slightly over weight, but I have always been obese. The thing with us is we have a huge sweet tooth.
 
Both of my parents have weight problems. I don’t remember a single week going by where I didn’t have fast food at least 3 times. Joint custody meant lots of traveling and I guess it was just easier and more convenient to get fast food along the way. I don't know. I will never do that to my kids. Heavy child grew into a heavy adult, not much of a surprise there.

My mother has been trying to get her weight under control for many years, sort of. She doesn't really fully commit to it, though, and that limits her a good deal. She has to take a lot of medicine (prednazone, for one) that doesn’t help, she retains fluid like crazy. But I know it’s not all fluid and so does she. She was recently told she has to go on a “diet” to help reduce her cholesterol. She says that it’s so limiting and she can’t eat anything. I looked at one of her meal plans for a day and thought “oh my, that meal looks really good” ;) I guess it’s all perspective.

As for my dad, he’s a very heavy man (morbidly obese), as is his wife (who is also a diabetic). I have tried to encourage them to lose weight or even just eat a little healthier. When they came to visit us each meal was big, but chalk full of veggies and fresh foods. Desert was usually a little cheese and some fruit. I thought they enjoyed it, but later I found out that after eating at our house they were ordering from a pizza place or going to McDonalds. I very highly doubt after a 700 calorie meal & desert they were still hungry. My father said his father will probably outlive him (which I am certain is true if things don’t drastically change in my father’s life) and I told him it’s never too late. The saddest thing I have heard in a very long time was his response: "Oh, but it is". He is only 55, that's not too late. I just wish I could make him see it. He has a 5 year old son who is going to suffer a lot when both of his parents...I don't even want to think about it.

But well. I am really only in control of myself (and maybe my husband, seems as I do all the cooking ;) ) and I am doing something about it. We all are in this thread, so big pats on the back for everyone :) . For those of you who gained over the 4th of July weekend, it's just one weekend, not the end of the world ;)
 
Trops, that's interesting that your family runs the whole spectrum of weights. My mom's family is ALL obese. I'm sure there's some genetic component as well as some upbringing as well. But once you are an adult, you have to take the responsibility to make your own decisions. Seeing my brother lose weight really made me realize that I could too.

BrownEyedGirl - I know just how you feel when trying to convince a family member that it's not too late to start over and to have them not listen. My mom and cousin are the same way. My mom only need to drop 20 pounds to fall out of the obese category and another 30 pounds to make her not even overweight. It's not that much! But she is so used to it and it hasn't impacted her health...yet. I hope once she notices that I've dropped weight, I can motivate her.
 
That can happen, where one person loses weight and it motivates the family. My mom lost about 75-100 pounds about 5 years ago and it got my sisters to get on the wagon. Two lost 100 each and another lost 50. One has gained it back, but she's working on it again and I know she'll get it off.

My mom is such an inspiration to each of us. She's 64 and runs 5k races. Her times aren't very good, but she doe it. Last year she did a half marathon and looked great at the finish. She's at the gym at least 5 days a week and she just dropped her trainer because of the money and the trainer asked if she would keep working out with her free because she gets such a good workout. Not bad for a 64 year old lady. I keep thinking that if she can do is, anyone can. There really isn't any excuse of I'm too old or fat or lazy. It's also nice when I get a good run in or something I can call Mom and tell her. She loves that.
 
Thats awesome Trops. Very cool.

I have two people in my life that inspired me. Both are friends. One was in high school and was about the same body size and shape. We lost contact for about 2 years until our junior year. Next thing I knew he had dropped 30-40 pounds. I couldnt believe it. The other guy is a friend from college. When we were in school he was 6-2 and 275 pounds. Now he is in the army and around 200 pounds. Each of these guys stuck in my mind and have always made me think that if they can do it then I can too. My problem, one of many, is that I would alway compare myself with other people and tell myself "Well, Im not as big as they are so I must be okay." Totally wrong attitude on so many levels. One day I looked in the mirror and saw the real me. It made me sick. I finally stopped looking at myself. I would look long enough to do my hair and teeth. Then last January I snapped and said "thats it Ive had enough."
 
Trops said:
Go Ali! :smash:
Click to expand...

Thanks man :) I am trying to work hard, I need to get out of this rut!
 
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