New Here and I need some accountability!

[NurseMama]

Hello all! I am back on the LC train after an enlightening experience at my local bookstore. Sipping a coffee, looking for a book to browse through, I of course ended up in the diet section (AGAIN!). I found a book that seemed to hit home for me. I snuggled down in a cozy chair with my latte and started reading. The Idiot-Proof Diet had all of the information that I have read in other books (Atkins, South Beach, the GI Diet, the Zone) but it's focus was on something that I know that I have been lacking- a weight loss buddy.

So here is me: I am a nursing student graduating in december, I am a mom to two kids (6 & 2), I have a lapband (banded 10/03) but have had some bad fill experiences and am operating on a next-to-nothing fill right now and am happy with that, I have lost and regained hundreds of pounds and want to make this lifestyle change useable and maintainable for the rest of my life. I hate exercising but I am trying really hard to change that... I used to be an athlete and it would be nice to be close to that again. I am pretty granola, pretty liberal, and hoping to find someone to be friends with as well as a weight-loss buddy!

My goal is to walk across my graduation stage in a size 12.... Those pictures are going to live on forever!

[eve_sonata]

Welcome Nursemama, Glad you have found the LCF site. It is a wonderful place to connect with others that are going through similar experiences as yourself. The people here are very friendly and full of wonderful ideas as well as encouragement. I know it has been a godsend for me on helping me stay on track.

[NurseMama]

So where do I go from here? I am interested in either having a one-on-one buddy to go through this with or a small group. The challenge groups look really cool, but they seem to be pretty well established. How does a newbie get started in a group?

Thanks!

[eve_sonata]

Hi there Nurse,

well you are very welcome to join our thread if you would like. You could read a few past post and see if we would be a good fit for you. We always welcome new buddies. We are under choconut68. Or you could see if anyone would want to buddy up with you. I have to tell you, we post frequently and sometimes that is great for some people and some people like to only post maybe once a week.

[Nofungirl]

I'm new too, but have done Atkins before. A few years ago and fell off the wagon, busy with my family (husband and son, not to mention work). Now that my weight is out of control again, I woke up one morning and said WTH, who is THAT. Not happy. I need accountablilty too. Maybe we can help each other.

[Nofungirl]

More about me? I have a son who is 6. I work fulltime and put my family at the top of my list, I guess that puts me between the cracks. That's why I am where I am. I like to exercise ok, but don't make time. Love the outdoors, don't like to diet and have high hopes for my weight loss this time. Not looking for a big group necessarly.

[eve_sonata]

See!!! That didn't take long for someone to find you! I am sure this wont be your only proposal either lol.

[eve_sonata]

Nurse and Nofun, you two won't be able to do private messaging until you have had 25 posts and for 25 days. Don't worry, it goes by really fast.

[NurseMama]

Originally Posted by Nofungirl

More about me? I have a son who is 6. I work fulltime and put my family at the top of my list, I guess that puts me between the cracks. That's why I am where I am. I like to exercise ok, but don't make time. Love the outdoors, don't like to diet and have high hopes for my weight loss this time. Not looking for a big group necessarly.

Hi! I have the same problem with putting others at the top of my "to do" list. That caregiver mentality is part of the reason why I wanted to be a nurse, but I finally realized in the last month that I need to do something now. I have a tendency to say "I will do ___ when" but somehow when never seems to come. Going back to school is the first time in my adult life that I put myself first and (whispers) I think I kind of like it .

I am looking to have a daily accountability pal. Someone to share basic menus and recipies with and someone to be accountable as far as exercise goes. Are you looking for that Nofungirl? Now, common we have to have a little fun right?

[Nofungirl]

I posted a new thread too, Making room for me, need a buddy, if you want to look. We should give this a go, I am going to try for a daily update/check-in/chat kind of thing. I know exactly how you feel with the waiting to...... I love my family, but it sometimes takes way to long to figure out who is the most important person. Me! and You! Where do we start? I work full-time so if I don't get back to you right away, don't take offense, I'm not very busy right now. I just re-started on Atkins yesterday, I forgot how induction feels, kinda crappy. Just had a turkey burger sandwitch, two turkey burgers with pepperoni and some cheese inside, kinda sounds gross when you say it outloud. How about you? I'm glad you wrote me. Hope to hear from you soon.

[NurseMama]

Originally Posted by Nofungirl

I posted a new thread too, Making room for me, need a buddy, if you want to look. We should give this a go, I am going to try for a daily update/check-in/chat kind of thing. I know exactly how you feel with the waiting to...... I love my family, but it sometimes takes way to long to figure out who is the most important person. Me! and You! Where do we start? I work full-time so if I don't get back to you right away, don't take offense, I'm not very busy right now. I just re-started on Atkins yesterday, I forgot how induction feels, kinda crappy. Just had a turkey burger sandwitch, two turkey burgers with pepperoni and some cheese inside, kinda sounds gross when you say it outloud. How about you? I'm glad you wrote me. Hope to hear from you soon.

I hate induction. I feel like I become a mean person when my carbs are that low. This time around I am following a more moderate plan which allows more carbs from veggies in the initial 2 weeks.

I am in for the daily update thing. I am not so busy now (hearing "School's Out for Summer" in my head), but by fall my life will be pure and utter stress. I am hoping to make this such a habit that by fall I will just breeze through without the massive carb stress eating that has hit me in semesters past.

This morning I had a string cheese and a few pieces of chicken lunchmeat, I had a big chicken salad for lunch, sunflower seeds for snack, and tonight it's broccoli with cheese sauce and turkey hot dogs with low carb ketchup. <- the kids have been bugging me for hot dogs for weeks now!

I didn't manage to exercise today, I was in school all day for an orientation to an online class that I am taking over summer. Tomorrow though. I have big plans for tomorrow.

[Nofungirl]

I don't mind induction. I get body type aches and headaches. The first day I felt like crap, yesterday I felt very positive and pretty good. Today I have had a really bad headache and my body feels soar and tired. When I first start something even if I have done it before it feels exciting. That is bound to wear off at some point. I need to find some ways to stay positive and ways to work my way, not eat, through tough times.

From what you said you sound like you really want this to work this time. So what can I do to help you with accountability. You know what does and does not work for you and I don't want to ramble on like some goof if it's not going to do you any good. I think a daily check in is a good idea. I work all day but try to check my email when I get a few minutes and I will check it in the evening.

I had a turkey hot dog and some cheese for breakfast. Lunch was two turkey burgers and some pepperoni and cheese, also some lettuce and cucumber. Dinner was some polish sausages, actually just half of one, and some alfredo sauce. I wasn't that hungry tonight, more tired. I want on a long walk to sign my son up for swimming lessons and it turned out to be a lot longer distance than I thought. I was dragging by the time I got back. I know it will just get better if I keep going. I have an recumbent bike at home and have some workout videos. I like the Jillian Michaels (from the biggest loser) tape "for beginners, backside" and there is a frontside too. They are good because you can make them hard or fairly easy, it's circuit type training you do three different moves three times then move on to the next set. I check out workout tapes from the library and request them from other libraries to try them out then if I really like them I can buy them. It's cheaper then buying them.

So is nursing your calling? That's great that you are putting yourself first. I find myself spending all my time taking care of my family, but then there isn't any time left for me. I have decided that I am not going to wait for things to happen, like weightloss. I have to do it for me and my health, I don't want to be like some people I see, barely able to walk around or taking tons of medications to help their health. Wow that got long. I am going to try and wake up early and ride the bike for a while, I have a couple movies I have been wanting to watch and that breaks the boredom of peddling.

What are you going to do with your Wednesday. How can we fit in more exercise to change our life for the better? Lets go!

Low carb on.........to success!!!!

[NurseMama]

Originally Posted by Nofungirl

I don't mind induction. I get body type aches and headaches. The first day I felt like crap, yesterday I felt very positive and pretty good. Today I have had a really bad headache and my body feels soar and tired. When I first start something even if I have done it before it feels exciting. That is bound to wear off at some point. I need to find some ways to stay positive and ways to work my way, not eat, through tough times.

From what you said you sound like you really want this to work this time. So what can I do to help you with accountability. You know what does and does not work for you and I don't want to ramble on like some goof if it's not going to do you any good. I think a daily check in is a good idea. I work all day but try to check my email when I get a few minutes and I will check it in the evening.

I had a turkey hot dog and some cheese for breakfast. Lunch was two turkey burgers and some pepperoni and cheese, also some lettuce and cucumber. Dinner was some polish sausages, actually just half of one, and some alfredo sauce. I wasn't that hungry tonight, more tired. I want on a long walk to sign my son up for swimming lessons and it turned out to be a lot longer distance than I thought. I was dragging by the time I got back. I know it will just get better if I keep going. I have an recumbent bike at home and have some workout videos. I like the Jillian Michaels (from the biggest loser) tape "for beginners, backside" and there is a frontside too. They are good because you can make them hard or fairly easy, it's circuit type training you do three different moves three times then move on to the next set. I check out workout tapes from the library and request them from other libraries to try them out then if I really like them I can buy them. It's cheaper then buying them.

So is nursing your calling? That's great that you are putting yourself first. I find myself spending all my time taking care of my family, but then there isn't any time left for me. I have decided that I am not going to wait for things to happen, like weightloss. I have to do it for me and my health, I don't want to be like some people I see, barely able to walk around or taking tons of medications to help their health. Wow that got long. I am going to try and wake up early and ride the bike for a while, I have a couple movies I have been wanting to watch and that breaks the boredom of peddling.

What are you going to do with your Wednesday. How can we fit in more exercise to change our life for the better? Lets go!

Low carb on.........to success!!!!

I do want this to work for a lifetime. I am really tired of being fat. I don't feel like I fit in my own body and now that I am 30-something I know that I need to get on top of my health. My biggest problem in the past has been getting distracted by life and getting sidetracked off of the plan. I am looking for the daily accountability emails or posts (whichever we decide to do!) and someone to encourage me when/ if I fall off the wagon. In addition, I think that it would be cool if each of us could decide on a personal challenge and give ourselves a deadline for accomplishing it. I tend to do better with a deadline.

Nursing is something that I really enjoy, but I am becoming a nurse so that one day I can be a midwife. Catching babies and empowering women really is my calling, nursing is a way to get there. I have enjoyed all of my clinical rotations though and since I may need to wait a few years after graduation to enter into grad school I am interested in working as an RN in any specialty. I have been a childbirth educator and labor doula for the last 5 years, so I have had lots of L&D experience- just not so much from the RN's perspective!

Today I am cleaning house (lots of calories burned there) and I will be going to the gym. My husband is off from work today so he is going to watch the kids this afternoon while I take some "mommy time" at the gym. I have some studying to do (lots of big tests coming up- the GRE, the HESI, and the NCLEX) but that is about it. Right now I am going to make myself a couple of eggs and a tomato for breaky...

I signed my kids up for swim lessons as well this week. It is at the community pool and I have to admit I am nervous about it. The 2yo will want to swim while the 6yo has her lesson and that means that mommy will need to be in a swimsuit in public . In addition, I signed the 2yo up for a mommy and me toddler swim class in July. Even if I totally kick butt the next month, it will still be embarrassing.

Whiule typing, I have been thinking about my personal shorterm goal. I start back to school on Aug 25th, so by 8/25 I would like to be 20lbs down and I need to think more about an exercise goal to add on...

My name is Lea btw

[Nofungirl]

Hi Lea, I'm Katie-
I know how you feel, it's so easy to put things off. And I think deadlines are good, I don't think I am very good at making deadlines, I just put it off. Ok my first deadline, I will have a deadline of a weightloss goal by the end of this post. I feel a little afraid of deadlines, what happens if I don't make the deadline? Am I a failure, that's not a good way to look at it. I think we should do a daily check in too, updating food and exercise, anything else? I have put my 'weight bar' which is what I'm calling it into my signature, so I see my short term accomplishment and I think that would be a good place to put our deadline too. That way everytime we read a post we see it and it reminds us what we are working towards.
Oh, the swimming thing. My son loves to swim, that doesn't mean he really knows how, thats why he is taking lessons again. Last summer we went to the pool quite a bit, it was a hot summer and humid!!! I tried to stay in the water but when I did get out I tried to not act like I was rushing to put on a towel or hide. I just hoped people wouldn't look. I got to a point where I just don't care if people are looking, especially after I looked over at a guy and he was looking at my chest, OUUUU. Might be harder with a 2Yr old since it might be more kiddy pool time.
Wow nursing school is such an accomplishment!! Good for you.!!!! The midwife thing is a great way to help people. It must be very rewarding. I had a midwife when I was preg with my son and she was wonderful, eventhough she didn't deliver him. My midwife would say she didn't like to treat pregnancy (like it was an illness). I liked when she said that, it always made me feel at ease.
It sounds like you have quite a busy day planned for yourself. Cleaning and the gym, that should be a good chunk of calories. I was going to get up early and exercise, but got to bed to late and was to tired after my hike yesterday. There did you see that I am already making an excuse. How lame and I! I will be doing some kind of exercise tonight when I get home. So far I have had 2 turkey hot dogs, getting to be a bad habbit, and a brat from last night. Lunch, I brought tuna with some mayo and a salad, no dressing. Dinner, not sure yet, maybe meat? ha ha.
Ok so before I go I promised a deadline. I think I will start with, 10 pounds down (to 208) by July 1st. The excercise goal is harder, but I will have somthing soon.

Have a great day!

[NurseMama]

I think that 10lbs by 7/1 is great! I added my goals to my sig like you suggested and I added an exercise goal of 900 minutes of cardio by 8/25.

Midwives see birth as normal as long as the pregnancy stays normal. I had midwife attended births for both of my kiddos and that is what started me on this career path.

Yesterday went well. I ended up with bacon and eggs for breaky (that whole salmonella on the raw tomatoes thing), I kinda of just grazed through lunch because breaky was later in the day. I had a string cheese, a dillpickle, and a couple of slices of summer sausage. For dinner, I had a pork chop breaded in soy flour and spinach sauteed in olive oil. I did take a risk and had a blue bunny low carb ice cream bar. It has 5g of net carbs and was exceptionally tasty. I did manage to exercise for 35 minutes yesterday- not as much as I had hoped but I feel good about it!

Today my daughter graduated from kindergarten so there was a lot of running around this morning and I missed breaky. My husband and I stayed up until 2 am last night watching videos of her as a baby and toddler. I bawled like crazy at my baby growing up so that I could get it out before the ceremony. I love her at 6, but that doesn't mean that I don't miss her at the other ages that she has been. I had coffee (btw I cannot cut caffeine, I cannot imagine a life worth living right now without caffeine in my day!). We did the school thing in the morning and then went out to IHOP her favorite restaurant for lunch. I had a ham and cheese omelet without the pancake batter added to the eggs and a side salad with blue cheese dressing. Tonight I am making steak with roasted zucchini. I am hoping to get on the treadmill for some time this evening, but who know how that will go?!

Overall, my clothes are fitting looser, my belly doesn't seem to be sticking out quite so much, the sugar cravings are at a minimum, but I don't think that I have lost a lot of pounds. I think that I need to break out the tape measure within the next day and start measuring because it feels like the inches are starting to come off.

[chamie]

Hi Lea,
My name is Jennifer and you actually posted in my need a buddy post. I am a RN. I work full-time night shift. TH,F,S,Su- 7p-7a. I am 33 year old wife and mother of 5 kiddos! Yep! I said 5!! Anyway, I am in a bit of a similar situation as you. I was very physically fit before marriage/family. I was exercising hours a day- rockclimbing, backpacking,camping,lifeguarding......... then BAM marriage, family.......babies.......20+lbs after each baby.........Now it is 100lbs/13 years later and I am miserable with myself (physically). So I knew from my many,many,many attempts at weigh-loss that Low Carb is what has worked for me in the past. So- here I am 10 days and 8lbs later. It is the light at the end of the tunnel. Something is actually working. It seems too good to be true.
If you would like to be my buddy I am willing to be there for you and help you with accountability....LORD knows I need the same. I am following a pretty strict Induction plan and plan on staying strict until I lose 60lbs. I have a weight loss goal of 100 lbs by January 1st.

Jennifer

[Nofungirl]

Hi Lea-
Sorry I got in here so late, I posted on the other thread Making room for me, basically what I put here, in late afternoon, but work got crazy so I didn't get here till now. I'm glad you like the idea about the goals, I had seen other people use it. Great idea about the exercise goal. How did you decide how many hours a week to work towards? I figured 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. I hope it isn't to much.
My stomach has been really upset the last few days. I though it was because I was hungry but it still hurts after I eat. I have been reading around on LCF and found some people talking about having this problem, but what makes it better. I thought it might be I am not drinking enough water, but I have been drinking three 1-liter bottles a day since sunday. I am up a pound today(219), I was a little upset at first, but it's just one day and I can get through it to a lower weight. I can't start losing hope in what I'm doing this early. I rode the indoor bike for 40 minutes this morning, the first exercise I have done in a while. Weighed myself and ate breakfast, 2 hard boiled eggs. I had another egg for snack and ground beef with mexican spices and monty jack cheese with a little sour cream for lunch and a salad no dressing.
I found Fitday.com, which someone here had mentioned. Have you checked it out? It's quick and easy. I love it! I will be able to keep track of what I am eating and quickly be able to see if I am in the percentages of fat and protein I have read are good for induction, with a little attention to calories. 60-70% Fat, 20-30% protein. Does anybody know if that is right?
Feeling positive still, but hoping for better numbers tomorrow.
Low carb ice cream, I think I need to establish more weightloss before I bring one of those, let alone a box into my home.
Sounds like you had a good food day. Congrats to your little one on graduating from kindergarten, my son graduates from kindergarten on Tuesday. They grow up so fast. I miss when my son was just a baby and I could just hold him, now he's always running around.
Glad to hear your clothes are looser, that is a good sign of how great you are doing. Keep up the good work!

Hope you had a great day!!!!

Welcome Jennifer! I am trying to do strict induction as well, but with only five days under my belt. 8lb's is great. Keep going!

[NurseMama]

Hi Jennifer! That night shift can be really difficult. I will be graduating with my BSN in December and I am preparing myself to work nights and weekends being the newbie on the floor. What is your specialty? Feel free to join this thread! We have been trying to work out exactly how this will work. So far, I have been coming once a day to post about my eating and exercise for the day. I have to admit that it has helped me to resist temptation knowing that I had to come here and post what I ate!

Katie- good job on the hike! That sounds like a lot of fun! You sound like you are staying on track! I came up with the exercise goal by figuring 30 min 3x a week every week between now and 8/25. That is a realistic goal for me- any more and I know that I just won't do it.

I had an ok day today. I had the same ol' breakfast of eggs and bacon (I think that I need to come up with some other options so that I don't get burned out). I got the kids McD's for lunch, but waited until we got home for me to eat. I just had a bratwurst and some cheese for lunch- I could have made a better choice but it was the easiest thing to make and I was really hungry! Dinner tonight was roast chicken with broccoli. I had a blue bunny low carb ice cream again tonight. Exercise- I just haven't gotten around to it. I need to. I really need to make it a habit.

Now, the good part of the day! I weighed in this morning and I am 6lbs down for my first week on this LC plan! I am thrilled! Particularly, because I have been allowing more carbs than the 20 a day that Atkins says. I am feeling really good- better than I have in a while. Plus, when I look down now (as long as the angle is right-lol) I don't see my belly sticking out past my boobs anymore! Those 6lbs thankfully seems to have focused on my belly fat!

I am feeling pretty good about the plan as it is right now, but I know that I will want to add some berries and other fruit in the future and I am nervous! I am planning on going another week or two like I am now before changing things up.

Are you guys taking any supplements? I am taking a multivitamin and a few others that I always take (garlic oil, cinnamon, and evening primrose oil), but I am trying to decide if I want to add a B complex as well.

Tomorrow, I am thinking of trying to brave the gym with the kiddos. It is a little difficult to get myself motivated to go, let alone when it involves getting 2 other people there as well. sigh. We will see.

[Nofungirl]

Wow! Great Job with your 6 lb weight loss in one week!! I bet you are really happy. I know you will get in some exercise, the goal you made is a very reasonable one. The gym tomorrow would be a good start!! I know I have felt much more accountable knowing I have to fess up about everything I ate each day, like you. Thanks!
I am having issues with breakfast too. I have switched to hard boiled eggs which are easier to transport and keep at work. I am going to try something called Dobie's muffins for breakfast, I found a recipe for them in low carb recipe room it was linked through some menus for induction at this site. I have to get some low carb protein powder, the one I have is to high, but I have everything else, I will let you know how they turn out.
You have been doing great keeping your carbs below 20. When I did induction before, I did add berries, mostly raspberries and blackberries, frozen and fresh. I didn't see a stall or anything, but I never had more than 1/4 cup every few days. In a few weeks or so you can always try some out and if you notice you are not doing well with them you can just cut them out again.
I take a multivitamin that also has probiotics in it and a cal/mag/zinc. I have taken a B-complex before, just not right now, but it cant hurt right? I also have taken fish oil, I just forget about that most of the time. What are the garlic, cinnamon and primrose oil good for?
Today I have felt very positive. My weight is down to 214.5 which is almost 8 lbs for the week, I hope I keep doing so well. And I rode my bike for 35 minutes this morning before anyone was up. I had some cream cheese for breakfast, not the best choice, plain salad and mexican spiced ground beef with some cheese and hot sauce and sour cream. I also had tuna for a snack. For dinner I had two hard boiled eggs made into deviled eggs, I only added mayo. Some coffee with cream and splenda. I have been tracking what I have been eating with Fitday. I can see easily how much fat, protein and carbs I've had and can also chart weightloss and exercise. I guess I'm excited about that.
Have a great day!

[Yummy's_Girl]

Hi NurseMama!

Welcome to LCF!

A small group of us have a group for snail mail... That is, writing letters the old fashioned way, by regular mail. If you are interested please feel free to stop by our thread here on the boards, and exchange addresses with us by PM once you have enough posts to do PMs.

Here is a link to our snail mail group's thread:

anyone interested in a snail mail pal?

By the way, I am a nurse, myself. It's a noble profession and I think you will find it very rewarding. Welcome aboard to nursing, as well!

Sammi

[NurseMama]

Thanks Sammi, but I am not much of one for snail mail! I guess my need for instant gratification is part of what got me in this predicament to begin with!

Katie, the garlic oil is for my cholesterol (it helps to lower it), the cinnamon is a metabolism booster and and insulin regulator, the evening primrose oil is an omega 3 fatty acid as well as helping to regulate some of my womanly (ahem!) issues. I was thinking about the B complex because grains are very high in the B vitamins and I am wondering if I am getting them in the rest of my diet.

Have you guys seen this recipie page? Lo-Carb Recipe Page

I am so excited to try some of these recipies! The pizza, the strawberry rhubarb pie, and the truffles are at the top of my list. I am so excited at the options that are available now for this WOE. 10+ years ago when I tried LC the last time there just were no choices! BTW, I made a realization last night that my cravings have really diminished. My stress eating foods have always been HC and I could eat and eat and never feel full, but I seem to have a pretty comfortable level of fullness now. If I am hungry, I go have some cheese or a slice of salami. I am really excited because for the first time in my life I think that I have found a long term solution that I can consistently manage. And look at those recipie options! The big issues are taken care of: birthday cakes, dinner rolls for holidays, chocolate (swoon!), even pie crust!

[Yummy's_Girl]

I just thought I would offer, in case you were interested.

That is Kevinpa's recipe page. You can usually find him and many of his recipes in the recipe help and suggestions part of this forum, though he has been missing in action for a few weeks.

He is a low carb guru and we all miss his posts!