SDMB Weight Loss Thread: January Version

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

Okay if I join you guys? I have a long way to go.

We joined the gym at the beginning of November. So far I’ve been going fairly regularly. I’m putting in more time on the treadmill at faster speeds, and I’m building up reps and weight on the machines. So now I think it’s time to focus a whole lot more on my weight.

There’s also the fact that in the last few months I’ve had some things going on that have gotten me healthier mentally and emotionally, so now I’m more ready to work on the physical. I’m not feeling the need for as much stress eating right now. So, here we go. I’m aiming for back to marriage-day weight by the end of the year.

22

Haven’t been around here for a couple of years. Time to join in.

1 1/2 years ago, we traded in the stationary bike for a treadmill, and that’s made all the difference. For the first year, I just concentrated on walking and jogging while watching TV and listening to tunes, and lost 25 pounds, lowered my BP, and got my blood chemistry back in order (I was very close to having diabetes.). The treadmill not only let me push myself harder and faster, it was less painful than the bike, in that after a 90 minute workout, I no longer felt as if my ass was trying to inhale a Whirlpool refrigerator.

A couple of months ago, that got boring, so I bought a weight bench and a barbell, and finally, FINALLY, for the first time, I think I might be getting close to being fit.

It’s actually the little things I notice the most. When I’m in the subway, I don’t automatically look for a seat anymore, because I don’t get tired standing. When I do sit, other passengers actually sit next to me. In the stations, I can jog up the steps now and not get winded at the top. I’m not to the point where I can buy my clothes off the rack at The Gap, yet, but I’m not as far away as I used to be.

As I said, my workouts used to consist of nothing but cardio on the treadmill. I think half treadmill, half weights will get me to where I need to be, although it’s probably going to be another 1 1/2 years at least. My weak spot is still my appetite. I eat healthy things, but dammit, my wife is such a great cook that I eat too much.

Whew, just popped in here to read the stories and suddenly felt like sharing my own. You guys have some great programs going. HelloNinja, those are some great results.

olives, you’re doing great, too. Congratulations on snapping back after being sick. One thing, can you afford a health club now? If so, and you really want to start doing pull-ups, I have an idea for you. When I started 9th grade, I couldn’t do a single pull-up. I couldn’t even, like, move my body. I just sort of hung there, probably looking quite a bit like Patton Oswald. Then I started doing lat pulldowns at the school gym in addition to other weight exercises. Within a month, I could do five pull-ups at a stretch, and by the time I hit the army almost 8 years later, I could beat my entire platoon at pull-ups. Lat pulldowns work miracles. Just a thought.

And I will definitely be checking out SparkPeople.

23

Hello folks! I hope you don’t mind if I join in. My weight has been steadily sneaking up over the last 2 years or so. I’ve decided to finally do something about it.

Starting weight, as of 02/01/08 is 174 lb. My first goal is 132 lb, and once I’m there I’ll re-assess based on how I look and feel.

24

Hi all -
I’ve been looking at pictures my hubby took over the holidays, and I can no longer deny that I’m fat. Mind if I join you?

I just joined SparkPeople (looks great, thanks ivylass! I’m an only child and an introvert, so this “doing things with support from others” is a challenge for me - but I’m hoping it will keep me honest :slight_smile:

Starting weight: 188
Goal by end of the year: 138

25

Ivylass,

I just joined Sparks and I’m emotional right now.

Thank you for the link! Really, thank you.

I’ve been getting chubby in the last year and I keep telling myself, “tomorrow”. Well tomorrow is here and I’m going to do this.

I will do this.

26

I just started Weight Watcher’s (really, I officially start tomorrow, but I’m still counting today). Current: 216. Goal: Approx. 160. I’m not really sure where I should be. I’m muscular, so BMI doesn’t really work for me. I’ll play it by ear when I get down thirty or forty pounds.

I’m also going to start in on the Couch to 5 K, although I’ll probably start somewhere in the middle, since I can already run a 5K; I just want to ease back into it a bit. I’d like to be at a point where I can run the first of our annual set of 5Ks in April at a sub-25 min. I figure Weight Watchers plus training (I also plan on doing weights) should give me a pretty good start.

27

Thanks ivy, you’re truly an amazing human bean through and through. And thank you too Linty for your encouragement.

I think it’s great that everyone is able to be here and be a support to one another. And yeah, I lost 30 pounds with Spark People. My name is Racing Slug if anyone wants to add me.

It’s funny seeing people post about getting back to their wedding day weight. My wedding day was the heaviest I’ve ever been… I think around 200 pounds, possibly 210. I don’t even really like looking at most of the photos because they remind me how unhealthy I was at one point.

That was 2.5 years ago and I’m down to almost 150…

Helen, I definitely think you’ve got the right idea. I’ve tried to take my weight loss as slow and steady as possible to try to ensure that it’s permanent. This requires a great deal of patience, but it is the most effective. I think my goal for right now, while I’m sick, will be to just maintain the weight I’m at as best I can. I’ll worry about losing more once I’m better.

28

Oh, I got some sexy shoes to go with my new dresses! I’ll have to upload pictures and do a fashion show for you!

Jali, I just friended you over at SP. Winkie, if you give me your username over at SparkPeople I’ll friend you. I’m ivylass over as SP too, so I’m not hard to find.

29

I now present the I Love SparkPeople Ivylass Size 6 Dress Fashion Show.

I got all of these dresses at the Coldwater Creek Outlet Store. I love that store so much I want to marry it and have its babies. These dresses originally range from $30-120. I got all four for $75.

Because everyone has to have a little red dress.

A simple black dress with nice beading.

I think this one is my favorite. I’m wearing it to work tomorrow.

My family will say, this is such an (ivylass) dress. I love bright colors and floral prints.

30

I put on 10 pounds over the past three months. My blood sugar has probably been way too high, because suddenly I have bleeding gums and a couple other mysterious ailments (TMI and I don’t feel like posting about it, trust me) that are actually not all that mysterious if you know I have type 2 diabetes and it’s not in very good control right now.

So, as of three days ago I’ve given up sugar and refined carbs for at least a week to “detox.” I feel better already, more clear-headed, less bloated, and more energetic. I am also going to a Weight Watchers meeting on Wednesday, as I have decided that although it’s kind of a lot of money for us right now, I need in-person support in order to stay on a healthy eating plan and lose weight. I need to figure out a good exercise solution that doesn’t involve joining a gym.

I really hope I can stick with it this time. I am dangerously close to my all-time highest weight. (Which, like olives, was on my wedding day! – although I was 4 months pregnant at the time. But still.)

31
  1. Yeesh. I was down somewhere near 192 for a brief moment not too long ago. You’d think I’d been doing nothing but stuff myself all through December. Well, this ends here. :mad:

It was a good Christmas, but I didn’t think it was that good. :frowning:

32

Hey everyone, mind if I join in?

I looked at some photos my husband took over Xmas and thought “Wow, I look really fat!”. None of my pants fit, and I split my favourite jeans two days ago :(. And then browsing the boards today, I saw this thread and now I’m inspired to try to reverse the slide into obesity.

I figure I’ll give SparkPeople a try too, but I think I’ll be asking a few of you who’ve used it for a long time how to use it properly.

Here’s to a healthier 2009!

33

Nice, ivylass! Those are beautiful, and you look great in them! Size 6!

Why is it that even at 123 lbs, I’m buying some size 10s? Body shape and picking brands that size that way, I guess. Patagonia, Prana and Athleta, hardly surprising. They think all active women are tall and hipless, although Athleta at least has petites. I still like the styles, though… It’s just a good thing I know how to hem pants!

34

I think vanity sizing might have something to do with it. As a svelte teenager, a size 8 fit me fine. Now, size 8s hang on me.

35

Hey ivylass, how tall are you? The window treatment behind you makes you look about six feet tall.

36

Welcome, Splat! Can I just say that I love your username? Splat! Splat! Splat! Teehee.

Ivy my favorite dresses are #3 and #4. I love your smile, too! That never goes out of style.

37

Well I haven’t been here in awhile…but a stressful december combined with lots of available food has led me to gain 10 pounds since September…dammit. So I am reporting back in. I’ll be running lots this month because I signed up for a marathon.

Current weight 187
Goal 170

38

Thanks for the welcome olivesmarch4th :). And ivylass, you do look fabulous in all those dresses!

39

Slinking back in. Oops. It seems another year has gone by. Change is harder than I thought.

I am “Nubble” on Sparkpeople, as there was a Savannah already.

Yowsa, that BMI calculator hurts.

40

I lost a total of 26 pounds in 2008. My big goal in 2009 is to continue losing 1 pound a month. This’ll be a switch, I’ve been essentially pretending to follow Weight Watchers for the last few months and have gained a few pounds. My New Year’s resolution is to actually stay on plan and keep making progress.

Ivylass, I just befriended you on SparkPeople - I’m violinplayer14.