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The "W" word
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I've been going to Weight Watchers for 3 years. I lost 65 pounds and attained Lifetime status after a year. I have gained back 15 pounds this past year, but I'm not stressing out about it. I know I can get rid of those and have started being a little more diligent. What I love about Weight Watchers is that it didn't teach me to diet, but it helped me learn how to eat healthy for a lifetime. Even when I'm "bad" now, I'm never as bad as I used to be before the weight loss. It truly has been a life style change. I have never felt deprived. In fact, I eat a greater variety of foods now than I ever used to do. I love different kinds of vegetables and fruits now. I don't miss the junk food at all. And, I do let myself have foods like pizza occasionally, just not a steady diet of it, like I used to have. I try to take a good walk with my dog every day. The bitter cold has put a damper on that lately, but I'm slowly getting back into it. I, also, need to get back into doing some other exercising. You truly don't have to kill yourself exercising to lose weight, but you do, of course, have to get moving some. The things I do to maintain weight loss are the things that keep me healthy, so it's a win-win situation. I started out three years ago in sad shape, and it was a slow process to get back into some kind of reasonable shape. I'm not talking about figure-wise, I mean health-wise. I firmly believe in the slow method of weight loss and not some miracle-promising overnight method.
Angela, that's incredible and very inspiring! Thank you for sharing with us. (That is a great mag, I've read it a few times).
Brenda, that's fantastic! Congrats & keep doing whatever you're doing!
Today I got my arse back on the stationery exercise bike for 20 minutes. My goal is to get on it a minimum of once a day for 20-30 minutes. Because of my health, I have to see how my body reacts to this before I do it twice a day.But I'll be damned if I'm going to be anything but fabulous next month for our Nephew's wedding down in Texas! (And more fit - floosies tend to throw themselves at my Hubby right in front of me at things like this so I'd like to be able to throw them back when they do!)
Congrats Brenda!!! Fantastic....keep it up :) And you too Jo---the exercise will make you feel good on the inside as well as the out. I can't wait to get my treadmill next week so I can get started on my walking/Pilates regimen.
Thanks Holli! I felt great on the inside today and I'm hoping my knees don't flare up much more. I had to use my prescription anti inflamatory gel already but hopefully it helps calm them down and I've got my legs up on a pillow. 2 things keep me from/get me out of the exercising habbit - getting sick and my arthritis flaring up.
Good luck with your exercising too Holli.
Ok Chicks, it's only been a week & a day but I'm back into the 160's & exercising every day. I started off with 20 minutes on the stationery bike (you can work your arms on it too) for 3 days, then 30 minutes for 3 days now I'm at 40 minutes for 3 days & working myself up to being on there for an hour! (I need an arse cushion though! The seat is too hard) I'm also lifting my 5lb weights again to work my arms & doing stomach crunches.
Jo....that is fantastic...you've really achieved results. Do you listen to music while you work out or books on tape....what keeps your mind occupied?
Thanks Mary! I watch a movie or a fav tv show (like Roseanne or SATC) to try & distract me from clock watching. I tried reading but I either get motion sickness or pedal very slowly, lol! I haven't noticed much of a difference but my Hubby says I'm definately more toned & holding my posture better so I'll just take his word on it.
I haven't been able to exercise in months due to my angina flares. I'm going to the gym tomorrow for the first time in about 6 months (since August). I'm going to have to take it slow at first. We'll see how it goes.
I found one yoga studio here.. it's about $10/week. I'm going to try to scrape the money out of the budget and do at least 6 weeks.
Hey Jo ...Good for you. and I like rock music while I work out... or a really good audio book...just doing something every day is going to make a difference! I've had some months where I've been completely stubborn with one excuse or the other. My goal that has been working for me is to MOVE every day...
Today I added swimming to my workout regime.
I've wanted to swim for so long and even dreamed about it last night. I found a pool in the morning and did it....I wonder what I'll dream about tonight!!!!
You're right about posture...exercise makes such a difference about how we "carry ourselves"
You guys are doing great!! All of you....keep it up Jo, Jackie I'm thrilled you found a yoga studio and that's cheaper than what I've seen here for Pilates classes so YAY, and Mary I miss swimming.....I'm jealous!! lolwe ordered the treadmill last night online (its been a pain trying to get one...long story....involves my boyfriend trying to shop alone!) and so it should be here soon. I'm anxious to get started on it.
That is great guys. Holli, my husbands old highschool classmate that I just met today, bought a treadmill at christmas time and swore he was going for it. He had a slight misadventure when he had one foot on and one foot off thus the splits followed by a toss and roll. Best be careful yourself but I have to admit this was a huge calorie burning belly laugh to any of us that read his emails. Be careful out there! ;)
Lol, make sure you stand on it before turning it on & start on slow speed! (This greatly reduces the chances of bodily harm).Thanks for the support Chicks!
I only take 1 day off, usually on the weekend - last Sun & yesterday. I was on the bike today but really not feeling well so I only did 20 out of 40 minutes but I'm ok w/that!
That's hilarious KrisT!!! I'll try not to let that kind of insanity happen with mine LOL
Hi Girls!I am joining this thread as I have gained a considerable amount of weight this past year and I have become depressed and out of shape. I have started eating healthier and just joined a gym. I also just got a big motivator, I got ENGAGED on Friday evening! :) So I will be checking this thread regularly for tips. Great job so far to all!
Congratulations Kim!! On all counts... :)
Several years ago, my life was not at all what I had hoped it would be and I became very depressed and gained a lot of weight. When I met my (now) husband, things started to turn around for me and I had the motivation to lose the weight... I lost 35 pounds last year! My secret: I became a vegan. We did it together and I have never felt healthier and more energetic in my life. It's hard to adapt to at first, but we've been doing it for over a year now, and it's wonderful!
Kim & Leah, congrats! I've actually gained a pound but I'm not discouraged! I know it happens sometimes when your body begins turning fat into muscle & Hubby says he's not 'pulling my leg' & that I'm looking more toned so, I'm doing alright to start!
Yay! I am late on this thread, but I have a few thoughts. One, you should be okay with yourself whatever your weight. You are all lovely and beautiful people.
That said, I lost about 20 pounds three years ago. The turning point came for two reasons - I was ending a relationship with a jerk and actually thought he might like me if I was thinner. The second reason was that my dad told me he was concerned about how heavy I had gotten. Knowing that he would have waited a LONG time to tell me (my sister has a history with anorexia) made me realize I had a problem I needed to take care of.
It is a constant battle and I will admit I go up and down every now and again (I have actually lost seven pounds recently). The trick is really exercise (you have to - if you hate it, find something you love and do that. I like riding a bike, so I take spin class) and eating healthier. I still allow myself some ice cream, but a small amount and I make sure I get lots of fruits and veggies.
The final suggestion I will make is to throw away the scale. When you work out, you gain muscle and actually that can make it look like you have gained weight. But while you might weigh more than you want to, your jeans fit better and you look better too. Trust me, this last piece of advice is key!
I might never be the 130 pounds I was in high school, but I think I look pretty good at 153 pounds.
You look gorgeous Kate!! Inspiring words from a wonderful lady :)
Kate, great post & great points! I'm losing weight because for me I am way over weight and I feel it. I've also got a host of health issues which the extra lbs aren't helping. I'm also trying to be as healthy as I can be (for me) before we start trying for a baby. I also do not like how I look w/this extra weight and want to feel better w/the outside as well as the inside. I'll probably never be in the 1-teens or 120s again and I don't want to be now that I'm older - I'd look terrible, like I was sick again! (That's for me). I'd be happy to be in the 130's to 145 again.
What I wanted to mention is to not go by statistics - if you're this age & this height, you should be this exact weight, etc.. You need to be the weight that provides optimum health & comfort For You! One size doesn't fit all & what's good for me may not be goos for you, etc.! Find what works well for you.
Thanks Kate, I appreciate it!
That is fantastic Brenda!!! Congratulations.... :)
Awesome Brenda!
Allison wrote: "Does anyone reward/punish themselves with food? I used to reward myself and punish myself with food! When you think about it, it seems pretty silly. I still do it from time to time but it's nothing..."I have rewarded my selft with food and/or drink (expensive fattening sugary creamy coffees) for years. I have been to Weight Watchers (on my third stretch) always gained the weight back. I have always gotten scared of the thin me and what the expectations are. People always think this time will be different, this time I will keep it off! Well I know it this time. I am finally going to counseling to try to overcome all the insecurities, unhappy feelings, the emotional weight I have carried around for all of my 41 years. If I dont get the emotional weight lifted the physical weight will never stay off. I already feel more confident just saying it.
Something about me: To say this outloud to the poeple in my life would terrify the hell out of me...this was a BIG step for me and I am so proud.
Barbara....acknowledgment is key and saying it out loud to people to verify it to yourself is even better! Congratulations on taking the steps to getting better physically and emotionally.....that's great!
Barbara you're doing great and headed down a happier & healthier road! I feel so honored that you chose to share this with us .
Congrats to all of you! It's so great to have this thread to support others and get support. My little boy turns 2 this July and I'm determined to be back at my "fighting weight" by then. So it's back to Weight Watchers and exercising for me.My weight had fluctuated a lot in college - down in the summers and up during school, and then after I graduated and got married I lost it all and then some on Weight Watchers. Of course I got lazy thinking that since I was thin I could eat anything I wanted and not gain weight...big mistake. Then I got pregnant and well, you know how that goes. So here I am, recently turned 30, realizing I NEED to lose the weight now for so many reasons. We want to have more children, I want to fit into all the clothes that are stored in my garage (seriously, 15 large plastic bins... I keep thinking of all the shopping I could do just in my garage!), and I just want to feel good about the way I look.
We just moved into a new house and the mirror placement in our master bathroom is a brutal wake-up call! I'm realizing just how different my perceived image of my body is from the real deal! Along with the honest mirrors in our new house, we have a good large den which is now home to our treadmill (Holli, have you received yours yet? I love mine!) and free weights. I love the runner's high that comes with treadmill use so I'm excited to start exercising again and push my body to its potential.
More than just losing weight I want to have a normal relationship with food and pass that on to my child. Food is what we need to sustain our physical bodies - it's not therapy!
Lizzi, you are going to do great! Doing this for yourself is one of the keys to staying on track! *And I just wanted to mention that I've outed myself in a way - my Goodreads profile pic is a current pic (the previous one is over 4 years old now). I felt comfortable enough to post it here though I'm not posting it on facebook or blogger!
Holli and Jo, thank you for your encouraging words, it means alot and helps me to feel welcome here. By the way Jo, I didn't see the previous profile pic so can't compare, but I think this one is beautiful. What difference would it make what the package looks like if the inside is empty...you prove that your beauty runs all the way through!
Thanks for the pep talk Jo! I think you look great in this picture! We always are our hardest critics. How is your biking going?
Oh Barbara, Thank You! (Ok, the waterfall has begun!) That is one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me!And Lizzi, thank you too! (And you're welcome!)
I've always been critical of my looks, but now that they've changed so drastically, I appreciate how I used to look and I miss it so much! I know I'm getting older but I sincerely don't mind those changes. What I mind is looking in the mirror and not recognizing Me! And the way I look in pictures now... Ugh, in my opinion. (And I can be looking in the mirror and what I see in the pic looks so different).
Anyway, the biking's going well! I've been back down to 20 minutes because of this skull splitting sinus infection I've got going but I'm getting up there anyway!
Jo,I miss the way I used to look too. In my mind I still look like that, which is hard to get over when I look in the mirror. But in my opinion, the most important thing is that we radiate happiness and joy and peace. No matter what you think you look like and all the flaws that only you see, others will think you're beautiful. I also know it's easier said than done! I hope you feel better soon - sinus infections are the pits. Great job biking through it - you're better than me!
I think we are ALL beautiful....I don't know what you all are thinking!! ;) Lizzi, Jo, and Barbara....you are all 3 gorgeous women inside and out and no matter how our outsides look its the inside that matters and how we treat other people is how we should treat ourselves too. Everyone in this group is so warm and welcoming and you've made my life a happier place....its your inside beauty that did that for me! So turn that inside beauty on yourselves and show yourself that warm and welcoming you that you show others. We all deserve some self-love!!
:)
You're such a ray of sunshine Holli! :)
Thank you Holli! I do try to look at myself (inside & out) that way but it's easier said than done most times.
Lizzi, thanks, I'm feeling a little better & was able to get in 40 minutes on the bike today. (I'm not better than you silly! Something inside of me just said it's time to get exercising & so I have been). Tomorrow as long as I'm still feeling better, I'll bump up my time to 50 minutes.
In general, I will say that if you really feel you need to improve an aspect of yourself in order to better yourself overall, by all means go ahead & do it! I'm exercising for inner and outter reasons. I think you need to be comfortable in your own skin to appreciate yourself and come to love yourself.
You're so right Jo! I know that it's what I think about myself on the inside and outside that will sustain me on my journey. Even though I may not totally love the way I look right now, I'm okay with it. I put myself here and I'll get myself out. I do like the way I look and I am proud of my body for what it has done for me and for what it will do for me....in fact one day I'd love to run a marathon! I am incredibly thankful I found this thread. I am so enjoying being in the company of such wonderful women who are so easy to open up to, encourage, and be encouraged by. Thank you!
I've walked 2 days this week and had a yoga lesson tonight. I can tell I haven't pushed myself in a long time. I can tell my legs are going to be sore already.
Lizzi, I don't think I'm just speaking for myself when I say you're welcome & thank you too! Jackie, it's FANTASTIC you're on the move already! (Please be careful & ease yourself into the physical stuff! I know you know that already so I'll zip it now!) The operation has made a fast & huge impact on your life already! How does it feel? (Not physically).
My knees & my arse hurt so much after the first couple of times being back on the exercise bike & odd places in my arms hurt too (you can work your upper body on our exercise bike & I've started lifting weights again to tone up & strengthen my arms). I only had to take my anti inflammatory & use the anti inflam gel the 1st week or so. The tummy crunches make everything feel real tight while I'm doing them but I'm alright once I stop. My sciatica has bothered me more than anything else but even that's calm for now!
(I've got to be careful - I'm prone to injury & don't heal well, if at all from an injury. I've got a herniated disk, left lumbar sprain that never fully healed & my right elbow ligament is holding on literally by a thread, I'm prone to spraining the bottom of my feet in the area where my heels start (not my arches) and of course my arthritis can flare up whenever!)
I have put on a few extra pounds and I know longer feel especially good about the way I look. I have always tried to watch my portions, though sweets are my weakness. I think the one thing I need to do is exercise. I am not concerned with being super skinny or looking like a model or anything. I just want to be healthy. I have tried walking in the past and it works well in the short term. I never manage to keep in up long term. The gym just scares me. I visualize all these healthy, in shape people wearing spandex/lycra and then me in a sweat suit barely able to lift five pounds. Just can't do it! I have found something that I'm excited about and seems to be working. We bought a Playstation 2 at Christmas, our gift to each other. Along with it, I bought an eye toy and the game Kinetic. The eye toy is a little camera and turns you into the controller. Kinetic is a fitness program that allows you to build your own routines or choose a personal trainer. I went the personal trainer route and now look forward to exercising. I find it exciting and can't wait to see what I'll be doing each time. There are four zones: cardio, combat, toning, and mind/body. You do three routines a week (you can do more if you want) and you get a grade for each routine and an overall weekly grade. This is kind of cool because it helps you chart your progress. There is also a calorie counter. The personal trainer gives you advice while you work out and also makes you feel good by saying things like good job, keep it up, you're doing great. So far combat and cardio have been my favorites. Some of the toning exercises are little hard, but I know as I get stronger, I'll get better. Mind/Body has proven to be the hardest of all. I am, however, feeling great, more energetic and vibrant. I wanted to share this new find with you. Hopefully it will help someone. And if anyone else uses it, I'd love to know. I think hubby gets a little tired of hearing all my excitement over working out!
Melissa, that's fantastic you've found something that works well for you and thank you for sharing it with us! Your enthusiasm comes right through and that's always a help to all of us too!Up until we left for Texas on 2/13, I've been sticking with the stationery bike 5 & 6 times a week and up to 50 minutes at a time. I haven't been on it since getting home on 2/16 because within 24 hours I was sick with this hellacious cold and bronchitis! Once I'm well, back on the bike I'll go!
I learned, through the help of my husband, an athlete, to incorporate a healthy dose of exercise into my life, which decreased the depression significantly. My husband does not eat or drink caffeine, processed foods, or sugar, so when he shops I eat very well. My weaknesses are chocolate, pastries, and coffee which prevent me from looking spot-on all the time, but which also keep me from becoming obsessed with my weight, looks, and lifestyle.
If you're looking for a good read on how to change your lifestyle, subscribe to Robert Kennedy's Oxygen magazine (www.oxygenmag.com) It's the BIBLE for me.
Whatever your health and fitness goals are, you can do it! Three years ago, I was featured in Oxygen Magazine as a Buff Mom in their Mother's Day issue. It was a moment of triumph for me! I had shed 30 pounds, gained tons of muscle, and for the first time in my life, I felt good inside and out. The competitive part of me wants to take my fitness goals to the next level (either through figure competitions or becoming a personal trainer) but even if I stay where I am, it will be a lot further from where I started from, as an overweight, depressed young woman who could not run a mile.
Good luck! Let me know how it goes.