seeking penpal with about 75 ibs to lose

[pegster_23]

hello, my name is peggy! I would really love to lose about 75 Ibs by next year, and I would love to have a penpal who is williing to join me, or talk to me about their weight loss battle. I think that if we work together to motivate each other, then we're likely to stay on track, lose weight, and gain confidence! Please write back if your interested ( I start tommorrow!)

[luvslipstick]

Hiya pegster,I just joined like 2 day's ago,I like the idea of having someone else starting about the same time ,cause I'm in it for the long haul,I have about 80 pds to lose,so to have a chat buddy would be GREAT,is there any special diet your going to follow,I'm doing somersizing and adkin's,there about the same.I've been doing it on my own for about month now and I came across this place and I decided to join in,I've done ok,I've lost 14 pds.Take care Roo

[pegster_23]

Hi Roo! I would be soo excited to be pen pals with you! I found this sight about two days ago too, and tody I started doing " the Zone ". 14 ibs is great! I think on the zone i'll probably lose weight quite slowly, but I have a bad habit of bing eating so hopefully I will be able to stay strong, and eat get my eating habits normal. Today I worked out for 45 mins. my goal is to for this five days a week. How are you feeling on your new diet? I tried atkins and I was really tired, but I know its different for different people.
thanks for answering- pegster

[luvslipstick]

Hi Pegter,well it was tough the first week ,I'm not kidding ,but I'm very determined this time and sticking to my guns!! I love potatoes,and microwave popcorn,that was very hard,I also love cooking and baking I do that alot for other people,have'nt done any since I started this month ago,towmarrow will be the first,baking a cheesecake for someone,my favorite!!!!!Well now that I 'm little over a month into this I have had for a snack,popcorn,I found those 100 cal per bag popcorn that pop secert makes,so It kinda helps.I walk everyday 2-4 miles ,but the last 2 day's was in this slump,but got out of it this afternoon and went for a 2 mile walk.I also have a gazell,and I do that also.So just hang in there,that's why were here for each other,have you gone to the recipe thread,there's ton's of recipe's,so for your first day I think you did GREAT!!!!!!!!Roo

[Topazz]

Peggy, I thought I"d come join you on your thread. I'll keep in touch through the Sticking To It group, too

I figure .. Ya just can't get enough encouragement, right?

[NoSugarShell]

Hi pegster 23 - I need a penpal and was actually looking for one and you responded to my thread but I didn't get much response. You invited me over so here I am. I have about 20 pounds to lose. I hope that's okay. This isn't just a diet for me but a lifestyle change. I really want to quit yo yo ing I realize that my body just doesn't handle carbs very effeciently. They make me feel so horrible and I gain weight fast when I eat too many. So, here I am looking for all the support I can find.

[luvslipstick]

GOOD MORNING MICHELLESHERRI AND WELCOME AND I JUST JOINED THE HOOTER THAN HAWT CHALLENGE,LOLITA AND I JUST JOINED A BET,SO THIS WILL BE FUN.I AGREE WITH THE LIFE STYLE CHANGE ,THATS REALLY WHATS ITS ABOUT,IT'S ALL A MIND GAME ,JUST GETTING PAST THE GAME PART THOUGH AND EXCEPTING.TAKE CARE ,ROO

[pegster_23]

Hey guys! Thanks for joining, the more the merrier. I aalready find myself looking forward reading your posts. Thanks for the encouragement roo, and trust me I know what its like to be in a rut. Good for you for going for that walk, sometimes it just takes a little thing to get you back on track. Michelle and topazz- I totally agree that the more support we can get, the better. I too am trying to make this a lifestyle change, and give up the terrible yo-yo diets. I think that whether you have 20 Ibs to lose, or 500 Ibs, the more support the better. Today I bought a Pilatees ( hope I spelt that right) video and I'm really excited to give it a go. Its day two and suprisingly I've been in a really good mood for the past two days. Today for a snack I ate part of a zone bar, and I could feel the old temptation to eat the whole thing, but I resisted, and I'm proud of myself. One thing I'm having trouble with though is saying no to people when they offer me food. I'm really self concious about my weight and have trouble admitting to my friends that I'm on a diet. What do you guys tell people? I've noticed lot of people writng about this "hotter than hawt" club. It sounds interesting, what is it?

[NoSugarShell]

Hey guys!!! Finally I have someone to talk to. Well, the Hotter than Hawt by July 1st is a bet between Whitelighter and LeanLioness. They welcomed anyone that wanted to play along so I joined but actually today I decided to drop out of that one. It wasn't really what I was looking for. I joined the Renewed Committment..Summers almost here and found that to be much more supportive of the people involved. I also am glad I found you guys. I am hoping we can help each other out.

So, tell me about yourselves. How is everything going so far?
Michelle

[NoSugarShell]

Oh...as far as what I tell people. I don't say I am on a diet but that I am trying to eat a little more healthy. I don't want to get anyone started about the ill effects of low carb...lol.

[pegster_23]

yeah I know how you feel. Thats a good way of putting it " trying to eat healthier" I think I'll say that next time someone asks. A little bit about myself, hmm.. Well, I'm from canada, and I have one more year of highschool to complete before I graduate. For some reason I always end up breaking diets around dinnertime. Today I felt really tempted to break it when my family was having spagetti ( my favourite)! I am the youngest person in my family, and I have 2 brothers and one sister. how about you guys?

[NoSugarShell]

Hey guys, How is it going?

Peggy - I do understand about dinnertime. My time tends to be after dinner when I want something sweet to munch on. I love sweet stuff. I think that is why I have only lost 3 pounds in 3 weeks. I started induction today. Instead of just low carb I am doing the Atkins induction. I think that will help. As far as sphagetti I have been craving some too. As a matter of fact I bought a sphagetti squash today which is supposed to have the same texture as real noodles after it is cooked. I am going to do that and just make some low carb sauce with ground beef and see how it comes out. I am going to do it this weekend so I will let you know if it's any good. I think what helps me is that pretty much any cravings I have there is a close (not exact) way of making it low carb homemade. Did that make sense? I am just really determined to lose this extra weight. I don't like it at all.

Anyway, I am 33 and have 3 kids. I am a full-time college student majoring in Nutrition of all things. I still have 2 more years to go for a four year degree. Of course everything I am learning in college as far as nutrition is the opposite of this WOE. But I know this way works.

Keep writing. It helps to have support.

[pegster_23]

hey michelle, good for you for doing atkins. I know that buying " the zone " and reading it really helped me to get motivated. That is a really good idea about the spagetti squash! and I totally understand what you meant by replacing high carb foods with foods you make at home. I've found another really good trick too. Whenever I feel a craving for candy, I just chew sugar free gum instead. You burn calories too if only a few. I sure can hear you about wanting to lose weight quicker. I try to think of it like this though: the slower you lose it, the slower you gain it back. I'm not altogether certain that its true, but it helps me to remember that every little bit helps, and three Ibs is still awesome. Well its a three day weekend here ( yay!) and hopefully I will be able to stick with my diet. I find the weekends hard. So you have three kids and you go to school! Wow, I am seriously impressed by the amount of energy you must have. Hope everything goes well with Atkins and the spaghetti! - peggy

[Topazz]

I lost this thread and finally found it again!!!!! Hope you are having great willpower and loving your food plan Peggy.

I'd like to read the posts and get caught up....... so I"ll be right back after that.

[Topazz]

A little about me

I'm 40(something ) and have 5 children. They are all homeschooled. The oldest graduated and went on to trade school in 2004 and doesn't live at home anymore.

I also work full time, so Grandma helps out with school work during the day.

We have alot of pets. 3 big dogs and one little poodle, 2 kittens, 5 cats, a cockatiel, a savannah monitor lizard, 6 Koi fish, an albino water frog, and 100million Guppies LOL

I have some health issues that are making weight loss very hard for me. I can't exercise much because I have fibromyalgia and several other things going on. Stress is also a big problem for me and tends to make me gain weight, even if I don't cheat. My problem really gets bad when I lose my appetite and don't eat enough ( like this week). I can gain weight and have trouble with swelling when I don't eat.

I'm trying to reach a goal before my 4th wedding anniversary on July 4th. I thought about joining the Hawt by July thread, and posted a couple of times there, but didn't feel very welcome, so I didn't stick around.

I belong to two other ongoing threads here and really enjoy the people on both of them. One is the Weight Watchers group, and people who are on other food plans are still welcome there. Also the Losing and Sticking To It thread. These have both been going on for around 2 years.

Come join us!

Hope you have a great weekend.... stay on your food plan!

[NoSugarShell]

Hey Topazz - It sure sounds like you have your hands full. It must be frustrating to have such a hard time losing weight. As far as the Hawt by July challenge I posted a couple of times there as well (with pics as well) and didn't get any response. Even when I was asking people questions I never got a reply so I gave up. I like this thread alot and alos the Renewed Committment thread. I just love to have people to talk to that know this WOE. I talk to my husband and he is supportive but it's not the same as talking to people who really understand.

I am doing pretty good. Down 5lbs since I started on Feb 6th. Slow but good. I hung up my bikini this morning. One I bought 2 years ago and the tags are still on it...lol. I haven't fit into it yet but I am determined to by the summer.

Well, anyway have a great weekend and stay on plan!!!

[NoSugarShell]

Hey Pegster 23 - I read the zone a few years ago and actually followed it for awhile with some success but then got frustated with having to keep such close count on everything. It is probably alot easier these days with tools like fitday.

I am making the spaghetti squash tonight and will let you know how it turns out. The other thing I want to do is make lasagna with zuccini noodles. I can't wait!! Oh yea...I had a tiny woooosh fairy and am down a total of 5 lbs now. Slowly but surely it's coming off. As far as energy I have alot more on this WOE. This WOE also helps with my concentration when studying.

Anyway, have a great 3 day weekend!

[pegster_23]

hey guys! well its saturday morning and I haaven't broken the diet! I'm excited about that, but I've been really cranky lately, and I feel kind of self absorbed. Is this normal? Its a beautiful day out here, and I ent for a walk. This year my town got a record 4ft of snow in one day back in october, and it seems to have kept on snowing since. Its predicted that all of the snow will be gone in may, so I guess I don't have to worry about a bikini for awhile.
Topazz you must be a great multitasker to juggle a job, 5 kids, and a whole swack of animals ( the albino frog is the cherry on the cake) along with trying to concentrate on losing weight. It makes me wonder what I do with my time Michelle 5 Ibs already! you must have worked hard this week I dunno if I want to weigh my self quite yet, I think I'm just going to measure weight loss by how lose my pants get for while. Mmmm lasagna.. I think I must have been Italian in another life!

Topazz that is really hard to gain weight even when your dieting. I remember how I used to retain water after working 8 hr shifts at a restaurant, and boy would it ever frustrate me. I don't know how useful this info will be to you considering that I don't know much about your health conditions, but I read somewhere that the more water you drink, the less your body retains or swells, and thaat getting loads of sleep reduces stress and allows your body to shed extra Ibs. Yoga is also a great form of exercise that can be relly easy on your muscles, and does wonders for the mind. Trust me, you don't hve to be very flexible at all to do beginners either. Hope that info's not totally useless! - peggy

[Topazz]

I try to get sleep, but it's hard. I have to get up at 5:30am for work and rarely get to bed before 10pm. Lately I've been falling asleep on the sofa around 8pm and not getting the dishes done. I have given that chore to the oldest 2 children and they are doing pretty good at keeping it up. They leave me the pots and pans, but that's better than having it all to do myself.

I've tried increasing my water, but at work it's really hard. My bladder just can't handle it. I had surgery 2 years ago and since then I don't get much notice that I need to go pee. By the time I get to the stall, it's too late if I don't literally run to the bathroom. So I limit my drinks, and it does effect my slow weight loss pattern.

I have been really busy with some household chore projects that got out of hand. We have a big porch on our house and it became the catch all for loads of stuff. That's been cleaned up and looks like home again. I'm also cooking up 2 dozen wings and 2 dozen legs and will douse them with my homemade hot sauce dip. I've already sneeked a few for my lunch while I was cooking. The kids had hot dogs, which I can't eat anymore because of the sodium.

Im also horrible about taking pills so my vitamin routine has been neglected for several months. I started back on them yesterday hoping to boost my immune system a bit. Everyone in this whole area of the country seems to be sick with either stomach flu or respiratory infections. I now have the respiratory part and have lost my voice.

I hate it when I can't yell at the kids! LOL

[Topazz]

Originally Posted by michellesherri

As far as the Hawt by July challenge I posted a couple of times there as well (with pics as well) and didn't get any response. Even when I was asking people questions I never got a reply so I gave up.


Down 5lbs since I started on Feb 6th. Slow but good. I hung up my bikini this morning. One I bought 2 years ago and the tags are still on it...lol. I haven't fit into it yet but I am determined to by the summer.

Well, anyway have a great weekend and stay on plan!!!

I hope you find the support you need right here with us! Don't worry about the slow loss. You can tone up along the way and look SMOKIN HOT in that bikini very soon.

I'll never get that chance, as my body has too much damage for me to ever get back into a bikini. I'm not one for tummy tucks and boob jobs, so I'll just have to deal with the skin problems and hope that I can just tone up as time goes on. I'm very frustrated at weight loss efforts over the last few years. Health problems have complicated it, as well as very stressful events in my life.

Last summer I learned that my oldest son has a severe drug habit. It blew me away. We were robbed twice and they got my wedding rings and all of my family heirloom jewelry and my purse, and this was after surviving major damages from hurricanes and 2 car accidents back to back. I just feel like a black cloud looms over my head most of the time. Bad things seem to be attracted to me.

But I have a great supportive family and things have a way of working out. I have alot to be grateful for and remembering these things helps me through the rough times.

Funny how these bad things that happened to me really brought the family closer together. You start realizing what the important things in life really are.

[pegster_23]

it definately sounds like you've had a rough go lately topazz and I hope your son is doing better. It takes a very strong person to look at the bright side of things, especially in the face of hurricanes I hate to see bad things happen to good people.

Today is a monday but I made it through the weekend without cheating. I'm feeling pretty tired, mostly from working out. Tonight for dinner I think I'm having steak though yumm

[NoSugarShell]

Hey guys,

Hope all is well with you guys. I didn't write the last couple of days because I have been sooo busy. I had an exam today and did really well so that took a load off short term anyway. I could not sleep for anything Sunday night and wondered if the coconut oil I have started using was the reason. Do any of you use coconut oil? I have been using it for a few days now and I love the taste of it in certain recipes.

Pegster - I made the spaghetti squash and thought it was really good. My husband just loved it. It really does come out like noodles although the texture is different than pasta noodles. They had more of a crunch to them and they are smaller. But if you have a pasta craving this did it for me. It was alot healthier than pasta noodles.

Topazz - You sound like you really have a great attitude about things. I tend to be a little on the high strung side sometimes and I don't know if I could handle all those things. I try to remember the important things in life but it is too easy sometimes to get caught up in the trivial stuff..ya know?

Well, have a great day and stay on plan!

Michelle

[NoSugarShell]

Where is everyone?