Pen Pal w/ about 25lbs to go?

[Caretaker]

Hi There,
I am hoping to find someone at the same stage I am in. I am 39 yrs old, 5'8" and have 23lbs to loose to reach my new lifestyle goal. I am a mother of 3, 16 yr old daughter, 14 yr old stepdaughter and 7 yr old son.
Married to the most awesome guy on the planet. I do try very hard to exercise a minimum of 5 days a week.

I check in every morning and would love to have someone to share daily stats, progress, challenges and to chat with.

[Aakkoul]

Hey. I have about 30-40 lbs to lose. I'm 21, 5'5'' and weight 165. Or 155. I'm not sure. Tells me 155 at the grocery store and 165 at the doctor. So I must be 160 :-D. My goal is to be less than 130. I would love to be 120 since I haven't weight that since junior high school. I live in New York with my DBF. I have 2 cats that eat better than I do, and a hampster. I go to school full time and am a full time musician. I need to drop this weight so I feel comfortable performing, so I feel comfortable being in a bathing suit, and I would like to start doing sports again. I would love to be your penpal. To be able to have some support a couple days a week. What is your WOE? What is your goal weight? Maybe when I leave this reply thread i will see that on your post already.

[Caretaker]

Sounds like we are off to a great start. Wow, your life sounds great! At 21 I would have given anything to live in NY, truthfully I still would. I love Manhattan. Where I live now is a far cry from the city, I am surrounded by cow farms and corn fields. It is a great place for my kids, the big yard and everything.

What instrument(s) do you play? What are you going to school for? If I ask too many ?'s just tell me I don't want to get too personal.

I am following Atkins WOE. I started about 7 yrs ago and stayed on plan for about 4 yrs. Then I wanted to get more into lifting weights just to sculpt some areas alittle not like a bodybuilder so I started on a low fat plan. What a disaster. I found that because of my everchanging schedule I couldn't commit to the gym every day so I just gained weight, about 18-20 lbs. Now I'm back to Atkins. My instincts tell me this is the right plan for me.

I started 1/31/06 and set a mini goal for myself of 9lbs by 2/14/07 and I am happy to say I hit the goal today, 4 days early

Sorry if I talk too much. I will look forward to your next post. Bye for now

[Aakkoul]

WOW. I"m reallly sorry, cause I don't want to sound rude, but you must understand that everytime I say I'm from NY people think it's NYC. I live with cows and corn and I love it. I live on Lake Ontario 6 hours away from NYC. I've been there many times but I love upstate better. I live in a resort area, with dirt roads and restaurants that are only open in the summer. Really rural but I love it. I mean. I know what your saying about like manhatten cause it's awesome. But I guess that unless you've had bonfires on the beach, and parties in the woods you'd crave the club scene.
I play guitar, harmonica, drums keyboard and sing. Mostly guitar and writing music. I'm really close to performing. That's a lot of the reason that I want to lose weight, so that I can get on stage, and be hot. Cause it really does matter.
I design clothes too. Yesterday I made my first shirt. I have so many designs for them and finally sewed one up and I couldn't believe myself. It's a halter that ties in the back, so when I lose weight, it won't matter. :-D
I know what your saying about weight lifting and working out. When I was a junior in high school I did the stupidest thing ever... I worked out 6 hours a day. I LOOKED FRIGEN AWESOME!!! But, my metabolism was so high that the minute that I stoped going to the gym I gained everything plus more back. I was my lowest weight at 130 in 2003. I went to the doctor 10/2006 and weighed 172. I was sooo depressed. When I was 130 I wasn't happy with my body. I didn't like my lower stomach or my thighs and i didn't look the same in clothes like everyone else did, atleast thats what I thought. I look back now and want to slap myself for not wearing what i wanted too. I started SB in Nov, and i've cheated and quit a million times. Right now is probably the hardest for me because i've been.. ill.. not sure what you would call it. I've been having extreme pain in my side, a few times I have fainted from them. It's scary. Very scary. It's been so stressful that I've almost called the ambulance 2 times this week when I thought i was having a heart attack and it was just a panic attack. I don't know whats wrong with me. I need a head doctor more than a CAT scan. So ofcourse i've found comfort in food, making my bf go out to get sweets last night- little debbis, donuts and snickers. It's that time of the month and I know that today will be different, hopefully.
My step dad just got out of the hospital. He was in for chemo for a few months and had a surgery, everyone was hoping that the cancer would be gone, but it's not. I haven't seen him since christmas. He doesn't want to see anyone. It stresses me out here. I've never lost someone as close to me as he is, and its scary. I've really got some crazy **** running through my head and I know it's no good for losing weight.
Anyway, I lost 10 lbs so far on this diet. Atleast 5 still from about 3 weeks of dieting combined. I've been using colon cleansers, detox food pads and green tea supplements but i've stopped since this pain ni my side has become worse. That makes it discouraging to stay on the diet too because I know those things helped. I just don't want to have to start dieting at 172 again. I want to start when I'm down weight. I hope this pen pal thing helps, I really need someone to talk to most days, just about anything. I go to college online, I don't work, I don't have a life and I have no friends. No wonder i'm depressed. I used to be a social butterfly, always the life of the party.. Now I'm like Mrs. butterworth.. sitting home quilting, doing crosswords and making pancakes. AND IM ONLY 20. I'm not even 21 for a month.
Anyway, talk as much as you want. Don't apologize for that. I will always write more than what you're going to want to read. I usually have that much on my mind.
I think today, I'm going to have fish for dinner, with veggies. ... I've had this dinner 30 times atleast in the past 2 months. Me and the bf were so broke and all we had was fish in the freezer, so we had it for 5 days straight. I DONT WANT FISH. Probbaly wont eat much dring the day. There isn't much here to eat. Might have an egg or something. Anyway.. let me know what you're eating.. maybe you'll give me an idea.

[Aakkoul]

Please.. get personal .. ask questions... I know I didn't ask you too many. Sorry.

Where do you live now? How many kids you have?

[Caretaker]

Hi, Sorry to be MIA. What a terrible weekend. A very good friend passed away from cancer on Sat. and one of my daughters ex boyfriends who we are still very close to lost his grandfather on Sat. My younger sister hit her head pretty bad on something at work and has a brain contusion (?sp)
similar to a concussion and the poor thing is so sick. The dr told her today she has post concussion sickness and it could last up to 6 months. Is that crazy or what? She is a single mom w/ 2 young kids and I have been trying to help take care of the kids so she can rest.

WOA! Sorry to dump that on you. When I said bad weekend I really meant it. I hope your weekend was good. I hope you were able to stay on plan. I did (miracle). I havn't weighed in in a couple of days. I usually do in the am it keeps me motivated. But I can't stop thinking about my friend who passed and stepping on the scale seems to trivial right now. She was only 51! Stomach cancer and she only found out about 8 mos ago. That sucks! She was married to a great guy, they were totally best friends. And her two kids one 26 and one 22 just got married this past year I can't help but think of everything she will be missing. Her service is tomorrow. If I can I will check back sometime tomorrow if not then on Wed.

Stay strong! When you start craving tempting foods, replace those thoughts with those of you on stage, 130 lbs maybe 120, hottest girl in the room, sold out show - there is no food in the world that can make you feel that good!!

[Caretaker]

Sorry I misread your previous post. I thought I read NYC. I have never been upstate NY but I hear it is absolutely beautiful! Do you have alot of snow right now? I haven't followed the weather in about a week.

I have actually grown up in farm towns with bonfires and some mad parties in the middle of the woods. I do have some great memories of those times. I always craved more in the way of arts, music different kinds of people, better schools ( I am into interior design) and job opportunities in design. Because I lived so far from the schools, my parents couldn't send me. I am looking at schools now that my kids are a little older.

Thats cool that you design clothes! We have alot of common interests. I used to do that when I was younger and sooo broke. Now I usually take a pattern ( I tend to like Vogue) and will modify it to make it my own.

I am so sorry to hear about your step dad. It's sad that he doesn't want to see anyone. I mean I can understand that he is probably trying to protect all of you but in my experience it is so important to everyone to spend as much time as they can with you.

How are you doing with staying on plan? Do you weigh in daily, weekly? I am sorry that you are struggling with so much right now. I really want to help you, you know to be supportive. When you are stressed out or get bored just send me a message I check my messages periodically throughout the day. If you want my email address just let me know and we can use that instead of posting everything.

Oh, I live in CT, I am married to the best man in the entire world and I have three awesome kids( I am attaching a picture), one dog ( isn't he handsome) and one cat.

[Aakkoul]

Hey. sorry It's been so long since I've been on. Been having power outtages because of the snow. We got like 5 feet up here... Ny is beautiful. I absolutely love it here. I dont weight myself at all. I don't have a scale. Every once and a while I'll go to the grocery store and use the blood pressure machine to weight myself. It's nice because it stores it in there for me. I feel really bad because I haven't been on my diet for days. i've been so depressed about everything, plus we are getting ready to move in a month, so I've been packin... trying not to fill the freezer up anymore because we make the move. I have a goal... By march 21... I'd like to be 145... That might be 20 lbs... I'm not sure exactly what I weight right now... but I can do it... i'm nervous to see all my old friends when I'm so fat! ... I can't wait til this summer to strut around in a bikini.. hopefully... I wuldn't strut in a bikini at 130 lbs so i'm gonna have to get lower than that...
I'm sorry about everything thats been going on with you.. you can always come here and vent... I do the same thing... usually thats what my diet needs... is for me not to stress.. Anyway.. my brother is staying with me for the week,, he just had his toncils out so I must make him souup.. .keep in touch.

Alyssa

[Aakkoul]

ohh.. I missed your thing about your family... I live with my bf 2 cats, and a hampster... all males!!! they drive me crazy

[jacquejohnson]

Hi Guys mine if I chat along? I am 5'3" and weigh 149. I need to lose 20 more Lbs. I try to go to the Gym 5 days a week. I do 45 min on the elliptical and 20-30 of strength. Caretaker what is your workout regimint? I am sorry you both are having such terrible weather. I grew up in Michigan and can totally relate to your snow. I moved to Arizona with my husband when I was 20. We have lived her for 26 years. I love it!! I have 2 boys 18 & 15 as well as a 32 year old step daughter and a 1 year old granddaughter (step?). I have been stck at 149 for 3 weeks now. But my clothes are fitting better so I finally took my measurements. 38/38/39. Funny I don't feel like a box...well gotta go will chat more soon.Take Care
Jacqueline

[Caretaker]

AAKKOUL It is good to hear from you. I was getting worried when I saw the weather reports for your general area. You really have alot going on right now I'm sorry you havent been able to stay on plan. I am pulling for you. The weather may have alot to do with depression also. Sounds crazy, but a while ago on my worst weakest days I would put in a workout video and totally have to drag myself through it and I would always feel alot better after. It is kind of like, if the rest of my life is crazy and out of control, at least my diet and exercise are the one thing that I have 100% control over. After a workout I feel more mentally stronger than physically. Hang in there! Talk to you soon.

[Caretaker]

Jacqueline Welcome! Looks like you are off to a great start. I admire your commitment to exercise. I have a home gym. In one of my previous posts I explained that I am just getting over a 6 week battle with sinus infec and bronchitis. Woa, I never get sick ( aside from occasional migraines) but I was too miserable to work out. I have been back at it for two weeks and I am starting out alittle slow. I am focusing on the treadmill right now with a fast walk at my fat burning heart rate. Maybe I will get back to lifting in about a week. I have heard Arizona is a pretty cool place. My ex went to college in Phoenix and he loved it. Big party town I guess. I took my measurements at the start and I will take them again soon. I would like to do it for every 10 lbs. Would you like to weigh in every day with me? I find it helps me alot. There are plenty of days where we won't show a loss or possibly a small gain but overall it helps when I am faced with a possible cheat situation. Maybe we could set a small goal for the 3 of us something like 5lbs in 2 or 3 weeks. What do you think? Talk to you soon.

[jacquejohnson]

Hey sorry I haven't written I have been so busy. Sure I will weigh in with you. I do it everyday anyway. I was 148 yeaterday actually I held that for 3 days and then went to mexican food last night. I was 150 this Am But I know it will go back down this weekend. I am not to worried. I did real good last week with the gym...I went 5 times. This week so far only 2. I really want to go tomorrow Am. I'd love to go at a goal but I have a friend coming in from Michigan and we are driving to Vegas for 4 days and I know I won't stick to my diet totally..mostly but not totally. How about when I come back. Maybe a distance race. See who can rack up the most miles in a week...wlaking or running? What'cha think??

[Caretaker]

Hi Jacqueline, good to hear from you. My weigh in this am was 167 I have been stuck here for just over a week. I haven't worked out much this week. My kids are home on vacation and that is one of the pitfalls of having a home gym. They won't leave me alone or I can hear them bickering and can't get into my zone. So full speed ahead this week. I love mexican food hope you enjoyed it. I had a dish of ice cream last night. I find sometimes if I hit a plateau that a sweet treat will jumpstart me again. I have to be extremely careful though. I mean its like a drug addict how do you do it just one time and not binge. My trick is to bring home just enough for one serving. Once it is gone, its gone. It didn't make the scale go up but I will be out of ketosis for a few days. Have a great time in Vegas. I have been trying to convince my DH to take a trip to Vegas. He wants to take a quiet trip to a beachy place (Aruba, something like that) but you know what my life is kind of "quite" everyday. Give me nightlife, clubs, shows, etc. We are not much on gambling but I know there are alot of other attractions there. Plus we live about a half an hour from Foxwoods Casino and Mohegan Sun Casino.
A distance race sounds good. I do HIIT training on the treadmill. If your not familliar with this let me know and I will explain. Good talking to you.