An Introduction

(Apologies for the length)

I've been lurking here on and off for about a year now and thought it was
time I introduced myself. I'm a 29 year old female, six feet tall, 315
pounds. I've struggled with my weight since I was very young, although it's
only been in the last five years or so that I've gone from overweight to
obese. Since then I've made a few half-hearted attempts to lose and yo-yo'd
up and down.

Last year I hit my highest-ever weight of 330 pounds and freaked out. I
stupidly went on a starvation diet, eating nearly nothing and losing about
40 pounds WAY too fast. Of course I couldn't keep starving forever and
(surprise, surprise) I eventually I broke down and went back to my old
habits and have been gaining everything back.

So now here I am, nearing thirty, scared to death of what I am doing to my
body (my family medical history is riddled with heart disease, cancer and
diabetes), and eating my way back up to 330. I've decided that I have a
choice: I can either keep going the way I have been, starving myself down
and then gaining it all back (plus some), or I can stop this foolishness and
actually start to change the way I live my life. But I realize now that I
can't do it alone and I'm looking for some support so I've decided to
finally come out and post. (I've always had a problem admitting I need
help.)

For the past week and a half, I've been walking every day (30 minutes at a
moderate pace) and recording my food intake at Fitday. I'm cutting out as
much sugar as I can (I was a big soda drinker and white bread eater) and
watching my carbs (I'm not low-carbing, just trying to stay balanced). I'm
trying to stay around 1800 calories per day for now. I've lost about five
pounds so far. I'm trying to keep in mind that this isn't a diet, it's a
permanent change. My goal is to get down to between 160 and 170.

Anyway, I've rambled on long enough. Nice to meet y'all. Here's to getting
to know all of you a little better.

--
PL
320/315/170


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PL wrote in alt.support.diet on Sun, 15 Aug 2004:


For the past week and a half, I've been walking every day (30 minutes at a
moderate pace) and recording my food intake at Fitday. I'm cutting out as
much sugar as I can (I was a big soda drinker and white bread eater) and
watching my carbs (I'm not low-carbing, just trying to stay balanced). I'm
trying to stay around 1800 calories per day for now. I've lost about five
pounds so far. I'm trying to keep in mind that this isn't a diet, it's a
permanent change. My goal is to get down to between 160 and 170.

Hi, and welcome! This sounds like a sensible way of doing things; you
need to take it slowly, eat as normally as you can, while cutting down
on the obvious things such as sugar & fat. Don't totally deprive
yourself, though; if you want some ice-cream, have a *small* helping.
And if you find you have a really bad day and revert to bad habits,
don't despair - just bring yourself gently back to how you want to eat.

You do know, I'm sure, that one always loses a great deal of weight the
first week of a diet - this is mostly water & glycogen, not fat, but
it's encouraging! Aim to lose weight steadily, rather than fast - even
1/2 lb a week is great. And reward yourself (non-food) every time you
hit a 10 or 15 lb-lost-mark.

Me, if I could just *stay* on a healthy way of eating for a week - I
started, then suddenly had the opportunity to go to Poland for a week,
and then we were back for 3 days and we had guests..... Even still I've
lost between 1.5 and 2 kg (3-4 lbs), so I'm pleased with myself. Now I
have ten clear days before I go away again..... (August!!!).
--
Annabel - "Mrs Redboots"
90/88.5/80kg

PL wrote in alt.support.diet on Sun, 15 Aug 2004:


For the past week and a half, I've been walking every day (30 minutes at a
moderate pace) and recording my food intake at Fitday. I'm cutting out as
much sugar as I can (I was a big soda drinker and white bread eater) and
watching my carbs (I'm not low-carbing, just trying to stay balanced). I'm
trying to stay around 1800 calories per day for now. I've lost about five
pounds so far. I'm trying to keep in mind that this isn't a diet, it's a
permanent change. My goal is to get down to between 160 and 170.

Hi, and welcome! This sounds like a sensible way of doing things; you
need to take it slowly, eat as normally as you can, while cutting down
on the obvious things such as sugar & fat. Don't totally deprive
yourself, though; if you want some ice-cream, have a *small* helping.
And if you find you have a really bad day and revert to bad habits,
don't despair - just bring yourself gently back to how you want to eat.

You do know, I'm sure, that one always loses a great deal of weight the
first week of a diet - this is mostly water & glycogen, not fat, but
it's encouraging! Aim to lose weight steadily, rather than fast - even
1/2 lb a week is great. And reward yourself (non-food) every time you
hit a 10 or 15 lb-lost-mark.

Me, if I could just *stay* on a healthy way of eating for a week - I
started, then suddenly had the opportunity to go to Poland for a week,
and then we were back for 3 days and we had guests..... Even still I've
lost between 1.5 and 2 kg (3-4 lbs), so I'm pleased with myself. Now I
have ten clear days before I go away again..... (August!!!).
--
Annabel - "Mrs Redboots"
90/88.5/80kg

Annabel Smyth wrote:

Hi, and welcome! This sounds like a sensible way of doing things; you
need to take it slowly, eat as normally as you can, while cutting down
on the obvious things such as sugar & fat. Don't totally deprive
yourself, though; if you want some ice-cream, have a *small* helping.
And if you find you have a really bad day and revert to bad habits,
don't despair - just bring yourself gently back to how you want to
eat.

That's one of my big issues. In the past I would use a slip-up as an excuse.
I'd think "screw it" and reach for the Doritos.

You do know, I'm sure, that one always loses a great deal of weight
the first week of a diet - this is mostly water & glycogen, not fat,
but it's encouraging! Aim to lose weight steadily, rather than fast
- even 1/2 lb a week is great. And reward yourself (non-food) every
time you hit a 10 or 15 lb-lost-mark.

Yeah, I know that at my weight I can expect to lose quickly in the beginning
and then see it slow down to a more modest rate. I plan on keeping a close
watch on my weight fluctuations over the next month and adjust my calories
accordingly so that I don't lose too fast. I've done the starvation/regain
thing and I don't want to have to go through it again.

Me, if I could just *stay* on a healthy way of eating for a week - I
started, then suddenly had the opportunity to go to Poland for a week,
and then we were back for 3 days and we had guests..... Even still
I've lost between 1.5 and 2 kg (3-4 lbs), so I'm pleased with myself.
Now I have ten clear days before I go away again..... (August!!!).

Congratulations on the loss! And Poland! I'm about a third Polish (give or
take a bit - I'm a mutt) and I've always wanted to go.

--
PL
320/315/170


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Annabel Smyth wrote:

Hi, and welcome! This sounds like a sensible way of doing things; you
need to take it slowly, eat as normally as you can, while cutting down
on the obvious things such as sugar & fat. Don't totally deprive
yourself, though; if you want some ice-cream, have a *small* helping.
And if you find you have a really bad day and revert to bad habits,
don't despair - just bring yourself gently back to how you want to
eat.

That's one of my big issues. In the past I would use a slip-up as an excuse.
I'd think "screw it" and reach for the Doritos.

You do know, I'm sure, that one always loses a great deal of weight
the first week of a diet - this is mostly water & glycogen, not fat,
but it's encouraging! Aim to lose weight steadily, rather than fast
- even 1/2 lb a week is great. And reward yourself (non-food) every
time you hit a 10 or 15 lb-lost-mark.

Yeah, I know that at my weight I can expect to lose quickly in the beginning
and then see it slow down to a more modest rate. I plan on keeping a close
watch on my weight fluctuations over the next month and adjust my calories
accordingly so that I don't lose too fast. I've done the starvation/regain
thing and I don't want to have to go through it again.

Me, if I could just *stay* on a healthy way of eating for a week - I
started, then suddenly had the opportunity to go to Poland for a week,
and then we were back for 3 days and we had guests..... Even still
I've lost between 1.5 and 2 kg (3-4 lbs), so I'm pleased with myself.
Now I have ten clear days before I go away again..... (August!!!).

Congratulations on the loss! And Poland! I'm about a third Polish (give or
take a bit - I'm a mutt) and I've always wanted to go.

--
PL
320/315/170


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.734 / Virus Database: 488 - Release Date: 8/4/2004

Hi PL,
welcome to ASD :-)

It sounds as you've thought this through and found an approach that is
working for you, so I'll just add these two things.
I recently found out that using mini-goals is very motivational (my first
mini-goal was to drop 4-5 kg in a bit over a month, and I'm just 0.5 kg
above it, and still have 5 days to go ;-), especially when you plan to lose
a lot of weight. For myself, setting my mind into the "I just need to lose
4-5 kg by August 20th)" sounded a lot easier than saying "I need to lose 25
kg!" - that would be a bit overwhelming, the challenge might seem too hard.
But mini-goals take care of that kind of thinking.

The second thing that I wanted to add is that in addition to walking, you
can begin to *slowly* introduce some other forms of exercise. For example -
swimming is great for "beginners" - water holds your weight, there is almost
no chance of an injury... or water aerobics (I did that in the past, and now
I miss it; there're no classes available anymore where I live ;-( )

Anyway, glad to have you here, your plans sound really good, so - good luck
:-)

Elly
breastfeeding mom of a 10mo, following the balanced low carb WOE
Mid July 2004: 195.8 / 185.9 / mini-goal by August 20th:
184.8 (to 187 lbs- reached)
sometime in the (distant) futu 150 lbs



"PL" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
(Apologies for the length)

I've been lurking here on and off for about a year now and thought it was
time I introduced myself. I'm a 29 year old female, six feet tall, 315
pounds. I've struggled with my weight since I was very young, although
it's
only been in the last five years or so that I've gone from overweight to
obese. Since then I've made a few half-hearted attempts to lose and
yo-yo'd
up and down.

Last year I hit my highest-ever weight of 330 pounds and freaked out. I
stupidly went on a starvation diet, eating nearly nothing and losing about
40 pounds WAY too fast. Of course I couldn't keep starving forever and
(surprise, surprise) I eventually I broke down and went back to my old
habits and have been gaining everything back.

So now here I am, nearing thirty, scared to death of what I am doing to my
body (my family medical history is riddled with heart disease, cancer and
diabetes), and eating my way back up to 330. I've decided that I have a
choice: I can either keep going the way I have been, starving myself down
and then gaining it all back (plus some), or I can stop this foolishness
and
actually start to change the way I live my life. But I realize now that I
can't do it alone and I'm looking for some support so I've decided to
finally come out and post. (I've always had a problem admitting I need
help.)

For the past week and a half, I've been walking every day (30 minutes at a
moderate pace) and recording my food intake at Fitday. I'm cutting out as
much sugar as I can (I was a big soda drinker and white bread eater) and
watching my carbs (I'm not low-carbing, just trying to stay balanced). I'm
trying to stay around 1800 calories per day for now. I've lost about five
pounds so far. I'm trying to keep in mind that this isn't a diet, it's a
permanent change. My goal is to get down to between 160 and 170.

Anyway, I've rambled on long enough. Nice to meet y'all. Here's to getting
to know all of you a little better.

--
PL
320/315/170


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.734 / Virus Database: 488 - Release Date: 8/4/2004

Hi PL,
welcome to ASD :-)

It sounds as you've thought this through and found an approach that is
working for you, so I'll just add these two things.
I recently found out that using mini-goals is very motivational (my first
mini-goal was to drop 4-5 kg in a bit over a month, and I'm just 0.5 kg
above it, and still have 5 days to go ;-), especially when you plan to lose
a lot of weight. For myself, setting my mind into the "I just need to lose
4-5 kg by August 20th)" sounded a lot easier than saying "I need to lose 25
kg!" - that would be a bit overwhelming, the challenge might seem too hard.
But mini-goals take care of that kind of thinking.

The second thing that I wanted to add is that in addition to walking, you
can begin to *slowly* introduce some other forms of exercise. For example -
swimming is great for "beginners" - water holds your weight, there is almost
no chance of an injury... or water aerobics (I did that in the past, and now
I miss it; there're no classes available anymore where I live ;-( )

Anyway, glad to have you here, your plans sound really good, so - good luck
:-)

Elly
breastfeeding mom of a 10mo, following the balanced low carb WOE
Mid July 2004: 195.8 / 185.9 / mini-goal by August 20th:
184.8 (to 187 lbs- reached)
sometime in the (distant) futu 150 lbs



"PL" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
(Apologies for the length)

I've been lurking here on and off for about a year now and thought it was
time I introduced myself. I'm a 29 year old female, six feet tall, 315
pounds. I've struggled with my weight since I was very young, although
it's
only been in the last five years or so that I've gone from overweight to
obese. Since then I've made a few half-hearted attempts to lose and
yo-yo'd
up and down.

Last year I hit my highest-ever weight of 330 pounds and freaked out. I
stupidly went on a starvation diet, eating nearly nothing and losing about
40 pounds WAY too fast. Of course I couldn't keep starving forever and
(surprise, surprise) I eventually I broke down and went back to my old
habits and have been gaining everything back.

So now here I am, nearing thirty, scared to death of what I am doing to my
body (my family medical history is riddled with heart disease, cancer and
diabetes), and eating my way back up to 330. I've decided that I have a
choice: I can either keep going the way I have been, starving myself down
and then gaining it all back (plus some), or I can stop this foolishness
and
actually start to change the way I live my life. But I realize now that I
can't do it alone and I'm looking for some support so I've decided to
finally come out and post. (I've always had a problem admitting I need
help.)

For the past week and a half, I've been walking every day (30 minutes at a
moderate pace) and recording my food intake at Fitday. I'm cutting out as
much sugar as I can (I was a big soda drinker and white bread eater) and
watching my carbs (I'm not low-carbing, just trying to stay balanced). I'm
trying to stay around 1800 calories per day for now. I've lost about five
pounds so far. I'm trying to keep in mind that this isn't a diet, it's a
permanent change. My goal is to get down to between 160 and 170.

Anyway, I've rambled on long enough. Nice to meet y'all. Here's to getting
to know all of you a little better.

--
PL
320/315/170


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.734 / Virus Database: 488 - Release Date: 8/4/2004

Elly wrote:

Hi PL,
welcome to ASD :-)

Thanks for the welcome!

It sounds as you've thought this through and found an approach that is
working for you, so I'll just add these two things.
I recently found out that using mini-goals is very motivational (my
first mini-goal was to drop 4-5 kg in a bit over a month, and I'm
just 0.5 kg above it, and still have 5 days to go ;-), especially
when you plan to lose a lot of weight. For myself, setting my mind
into the "I just need to lose 4-5 kg by August 20th)" sounded a lot
easier than saying "I need to lose 25 kg!" - that would be a bit
overwhelming, the challenge might seem too hard. But mini-goals take
care of that kind of thinking.

Actually, I do have 10 mini-goals set for myself. My first is 299lbs.
Getting below 300 without starving myself will be a big step for me. And
you're right, it's much easier to think about losing 16 pounds rather than
145.

The second thing that I wanted to add is that in addition to walking,
you can begin to *slowly* introduce some other forms of exercise. For
example - swimming is great for "beginners" - water holds your
weight, there is almost no chance of an injury... or water aerobics
(I did that in the past, and now I miss it; there're no classes
available anymore where I live ;-( )

I'd love to swim but can't. My ears have been super sensitive to water since
I was young. I've had middle ear infections more times than I can count and
just one trip to the pool is enough to send me to the doctor's with a raging
infection (I even have to be on my toes when I shower). Drying drops help
occasionally but not often enough to make regular swimming worth the risk. I
hate it too because I love the water.

Anyway, glad to have you here, your plans sound really good, so -
good luck :-)

Thanks Elly. It's the planning I'm good at. The follow through is where I
tend to need a bit of help.


Elly
breastfeeding mom of a 10mo, following the balanced low carb WOE
Mid July 2004: 195.8 / 185.9 / mini-goal by August 20th:
184.8 (to 187 lbs- reached)
sometime in the (distant) futu 150 lbs

Congrats on your loss!



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.734 / Virus Database: 488 - Release Date: 8/4/2004

Elly wrote:

Hi PL,
welcome to ASD :-)

Thanks for the welcome!

It sounds as you've thought this through and found an approach that is
working for you, so I'll just add these two things.
I recently found out that using mini-goals is very motivational (my
first mini-goal was to drop 4-5 kg in a bit over a month, and I'm
just 0.5 kg above it, and still have 5 days to go ;-), especially
when you plan to lose a lot of weight. For myself, setting my mind
into the "I just need to lose 4-5 kg by August 20th)" sounded a lot
easier than saying "I need to lose 25 kg!" - that would be a bit
overwhelming, the challenge might seem too hard. But mini-goals take
care of that kind of thinking.

Actually, I do have 10 mini-goals set for myself. My first is 299lbs.
Getting below 300 without starving myself will be a big step for me. And
you're right, it's much easier to think about losing 16 pounds rather than
145.

The second thing that I wanted to add is that in addition to walking,
you can begin to *slowly* introduce some other forms of exercise. For
example - swimming is great for "beginners" - water holds your
weight, there is almost no chance of an injury... or water aerobics
(I did that in the past, and now I miss it; there're no classes
available anymore where I live ;-( )

I'd love to swim but can't. My ears have been super sensitive to water since
I was young. I've had middle ear infections more times than I can count and
just one trip to the pool is enough to send me to the doctor's with a raging
infection (I even have to be on my toes when I shower). Drying drops help
occasionally but not often enough to make regular swimming worth the risk. I
hate it too because I love the water.

Anyway, glad to have you here, your plans sound really good, so -
good luck :-)

Thanks Elly. It's the planning I'm good at. The follow through is where I
tend to need a bit of help.


Elly
breastfeeding mom of a 10mo, following the balanced low carb WOE
Mid July 2004: 195.8 / 185.9 / mini-goal by August 20th:
184.8 (to 187 lbs- reached)
sometime in the (distant) futu 150 lbs

Congrats on your loss!



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.734 / Virus Database: 488 - Release Date: 8/4/2004

"PL" wrote in message
...

So now here I am, nearing thirty, scared to death of what I am doing to my
body (my family medical history is riddled with heart disease, cancer and
diabetes), and eating my way back up to 330. I've decided that I have a
choice: I can either keep going the way I have been, starving myself down
and then gaining it all back (plus some), or I can stop this foolishness
and
actually start to change the way I live my life. But I realize now that I
can't do it alone and I'm looking for some support so I've decided to
finally come out and post. (I've always had a problem admitting I need
help.)

Welcome and congratulations on taking that first step. There are a few of
us here who started out at 300+ pounds and have lost or are losing it. When
you get that moment in life that says "do something now" it's really a
turning point and probably the beginning of the rest of your life.

For the past week and a half, I've been walking every day (30 minutes at a
moderate pace) and recording my food intake at Fitday. I'm cutting out as
much sugar as I can (I was a big soda drinker and white bread eater) and
watching my carbs (I'm not low-carbing, just trying to stay balanced). I'm
trying to stay around 1800 calories per day for now. I've lost about five
pounds so far. I'm trying to keep in mind that this isn't a diet, it's a
permanent change. My goal is to get down to between 160 and 170.

It sounds like you are off to a sensible start! By lurking around this
group you'll get a lot of good information about a variety of WOE (Ways of
Eating) but the key is to find what will work for you personally. Your goal
should be to find a WOE that you can comfortably live with...forever.

My only other advice is that when you're physcially capable of it (now or
soon), do some type of resistance or weight training in addition to walking
and other cardio. At your weight you have quite a bit of lean mass,
including muscle, and it's in your long-term best interest to maintain as
much of it as possible.

Best of luck with your progress.

Jenn