Support Group for the Well-Endowed TM's

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
41

Thanks purp, I’ve convinced myslef to drink more water, hopefully that will change some of my eating habits. I don’t think I snack too terribly much, my problem is more of the mom mode lots of women tend to get nto. I clean my plate, if my son leaves food, I’ll clean his plate. I hate the idea of wasting food, so, even if I can’t move for an hour afterwards, i will pack it all in, my theory, I worked hard to buy that food and cook it, it’s NOT going in the garbage. Sad, I know.

And thanks for asking about the trip, it’s less than a month now, I won’t be flying, Demo and I will be taking turns driving a U-Haul. My youngest son will be with us, my oldest will fly out about a week or two later. Hopefully not too much snacking going on, and I look forward to lots of ahem exercise once I get out there.

42

Thanks purp, I’ve convinced myslef to drink more water, hopefully that will change some of my eating habits. I don’t think I snack too terribly much, my problem is more of the mom mode lots of women tend to get nto. I clean my plate, if my son leaves food, I’ll clean his plate. I hate the idea of wasting food, so, even if I can’t move for an hour afterwards, i will pack it all in, my theory, I worked hard to buy that food and cook it, it’s NOT going in the garbage. Sad, I know.

And thanks for asking about the trip, it’s less than a month now, I won’t be flying, Demo and I will be taking turns driving a U-Haul. My youngest son will be with us, my oldest will fly out about a week or two later. Hopefully not too much snacking going on, and I look forward to lots of ahem exercise once I get out there.

43

Thanks purp, I’ve convinced myslef to drink more water, hopefully that will change some of my eating habits. I don’t think I snack too terribly much, my problem is more of the mom mode lots of women tend to get nto. I clean my plate, if my son leaves food, I’ll clean his plate. I hate the idea of wasting food, so, even if I can’t move for an hour afterwards, i will pack it all in, my theory, I worked hard to buy that food and cook it, it’s NOT going in the garbage. Sad, I know.

And thanks for asking about the trip, it’s less than a month now, I won’t be flying, Demo and I will be taking turns driving a U-Haul. My youngest son will be with us, my oldest will fly out about a week or two later. Hopefully not too much snacking going on, and I look forward to lots of ahem exercise once I get out there.

44

oops, even my posts pack a litle extra these days. sorry!

45

Wow, I am so impressed that everyone is getting together like this!! :slight_smile: I wish I had this sort of support when I decided to start working our regularly and eating healthier. I had one friend who would point me away from donuts and such, and remind me when I ate a really unhealthy meal.

A lesson my mom taught me is that when it comes to flavor, cultivate a well-stocked seasoning cabinet. The reason I love fatty foods is because of the flavor, but the right seasoning cancels this out somewhat. For instance, instead of Shake-N-Bake ™ chicken breasts, she used this great seasoning (Lemon chicken, I think, it’s new from McCormick) that made up for the loss of fatty skin.

Other dishes: I eat plain tuna now (no mayo, drained) with Old Bay (a delicious local crab spice), salt, pepper, oregeno, and paprika. I hardly miss the mayo.

On subs, which I have for lunch daily, I get chicken fajita (only 6 grams of fat) on wheat - better digestion. Instead of mayo and all the other junk (oil especially), I ask for salt, pepper, oregeno, Old Bay, and mustard. Just as tasty and healthier.

Sub mustard for mayo. Once you do this for a while, you won’t miss it - it actually tastes greasy and heavy.

Also, I have a pair of jeans - size 10 - that I use as a barameter. When they fit, I feel successful, when they are tight, I head to the gym. It motivates me, although this may not work for everyone.

I agree with Phouka - lifestyle is a big part of it. I had been overweight since I was 10, so to walk down the street and get checked out or whistled at - wonderful. But I also feared that I was losing myself with the weight. Being fat and therefore different from the norm, I cultivated a lot of aspects of my personality that I cherish. I was so afraid that I would become a walking-talking Barbie Doll once I lost the weight, but that was unfounded. I was still me, just smaller.

Another important thing to remember is that life doesn’t change much after you lose weight. I know I thought my life would get better, I would have a wonderful boyfriend, and everything would be perfect. Life still sucks sometimes, I still have ugly days. It is just one more thing I don’t have to worry about. I remember being in class and worrying about how fat my thighs were, or wearing shorts and having the ride-up-thigh-friction thing. Now, I worry less about that stuff. Less stress. :slight_smile:

Good luck everyone! Nacho4Sara1@excite.com, e-mail me if you want or need to!!

46

This post may sound like I’m whiny and making excuses, but…

Here goes. I have no idea what I weigh. I’m a shade under six feet tall, and I’m a size 16. I don’t look horrible now, but I will if I get any bigger, and I wouldn’t mind being down to say, a size 12. I’ve been as low as a size 10 at this height, and I was way too skinny then.

Thing is, I have NO idea how to do it. I’ve never tried to diet in my life, and I don’t really have time to exercise even if I had a clue as to what to do or how to do it. I know that any changes I make have to be gradual–does anyone have any suggestions as to some changes I can make that will be somewhat easy to do off the bat?

Evilbeth said:

I hear you. I’ve never liked water. I can only stand it if I’m really thirsty and it’s really cold. I’m not much of a liquids person at all–generally, I’ll make it through the day on two cans of pop, or the equivalent in volume, anyway. I can’t drink diet pop either, because too much Nutrasweet gives me headaches. I’m considering bucking up and buying bottled water instead of pop. I figure this will cut out a good 200 calories a day, right off the bat.

I also have two other problems. First, the exercise thing. I generally walk about 3 miles a week, all said, but this isn’t exercise walking–it’s mainly just me getting around, to and from class and the like. I don’t have anyone to exercise with, which would probably help me out. And I don’t really know what to do or how to do it.

Second, I love food. I love to cook and I love to eat. Problem is, I’m also a poor college student. It seems that most of the things that are cheap to make are also fattening, while all the nice low-fat things in my cookbooks are horribly expensive (boneless, skinless chicken breasts, lean meats, and seafood). Fresh fruits and veggies don’t keep well in my fridge–I have a mini-fridge with no crisper. And NOTHING stays frozen in there, so frozen veggies are out.

If I had some inexpensive and yummy low-fat recipes, I’d probably try my best to make them. I tried to start a thread on 3F sharing low-fat recipes, but it was basically me typing recipes, Surgo and NuVo hijacking the thread, and nobody else paying attention. I’d try to do the same thing here, but I fear similar results. If anyone is interested, though, I’ll start it up.

Any advice would be appreciated. I’m sick of being all dimply and rolly.

47

Try using single dumbbells instead of full barbells. And work your arms, chest, upper body. laugh Common sense things :slight_smile:

-Elthia

48

A few things… this is so :cool:

Drain, I know what you mean. I don’t have any idea how much I weigh, but I do know that size 18 is tight and I am maybe 5’6". I would like to see 12 again, and it’s not that long ago that I did, so I still have “ambition” clothes.

Water is critical, but you can make adjustments. I make iced tea (or hot) with herbal teas. Some need a little honey or sugar, but very little - and if there’s no caffeine you are getting your water “points.”

In regard to veggies, it is hard to keep them when you are living alone. My latest trick is to have a HUGE salad at lunch (we have a local place that sells by weight.) That allows me to include a lot of different things without having to have them all go bad in my fridge. So I don’t worry too much about veggies in the evening, 'cause I have had my fill. I do get the pre-washed and cleaned baby carrots, as they are a great snack.

I will get some low-fat recipes together, but I would suggest you check your local second-hand book store. How many people have good intentions, but end up getting rid of the books - too many!! I’ve found Weight Watchers comprehensive books for a couple of dollars. WW are good because they tell you how to cook for one or two - the recipes aren’t family sized!

If you have no freezer it won’t work, but I think everyone should know how to debone chicken breasts. I but the family pack, pull off the breasts and the little tenders that are so popular - and the bones make broth. Much cheaper than letting the store clean them!

Just a start - more as I think of it (but I will be on vacation, so it may be a while.)

49

How’s everybody doing today? purplebear, you hanging tough for me?

I noticed as I read through the messages here that a lot of people don’t like water, and tea has been suggested as an alternate. I’d just like to caution you a bit about drinking tea at the expense of any water at all. Naturally decaffeinated/Herbal teas are a diuretic. For every one part you take in, you put two parts out. Because of that, you can actually dehydrate by drinking only tea! So just be careful, ok?

As another substitute, try squeezing a lemon wedge into your water to add a little bit of flavor and zest.

Hope everyone’s having a great day!

50

Howdy, y’all! Time for a check in. <oh, btw, Shayna, I’ve tried 3X’s now to post to your smoking thread. Dunno what the problem is, maybe it’s getting too long? :smiley: >

I am hanging tough, although the afternoon munchies have hit, and there aren’t any veggies in the fridge right now. I’m going to the store in a bit though. Note to self: eat before going, and stay out of the snack isle!. I am also low on bottled water. I also went back to the hospital physical therapy dept. and I start the lumbar pool class at 0730 tomorrow. :slight_smile: Got a list of water aerobics classes in the area too. Shayna, thank you so much for being there for me today. You helped me to say no to the leftover cheese cake from last week! In fact I even threw it out! I will continue to be strong for you today. And I will take that walk tonight, as promised.

How’s everyone else doing today? Check in please!

psycat, I know just what you mean. I did the same thing for years. Also, whenever we went out to dinner, even if I was full, I always felt like I had to finish my plate. We were paying for it, after all! It’s still a habit I have to think about sometimes, and not do it. Glad to see you here. Glad that Demo is helping you move too. I know you are looking forward to plenty of ‘exercise’ when you get to Ca! :wink: One suggestion, though. Keep plenty of cranberry juice on hand for at least a week or two after you get there. When you’ve done without for a long time ;), we women tend to be prone to bladder infections. The juice will help a lot. Don’t quite know why, just that it does. I like the idea of the low-fat recipes, good idea. I’ll be happy to post some of my fav’s as time allows, if you start it.

Sassy, hi! Welcome aboard! Join us whenever you are able to. When are you leaving for vacation, and where are you going? Keep us posted, please, as you can.

51

I’m trying to finish taking off 5 more lbs of winter fat, which I gain each year so I can surf for hours in the cold pacific waters. Maybe 4. Usually my clothes don’t fit then.

One of my first postings was ‘food that has no calories.’!
That was fun.

Albertsons & lots others Pickles=0 No cal soda=0, pepper=0, Mushrooms were allowed cause they probably have too little, same with celery. Must have a contest here to find out who
can make the best recipe that has 0 calories!!!

52

Hi all. I’ll try to add a little helpful advice, from my own perspective.

For exercise, my problem is always self-motivation. Trying to get myself to do it on my own is very hard. Much easier to procrastinate, or rationalize sitting on the couch, etc. For me, it works better to have a regularly scheduled class to participate in. I take karate, and go twice a week. When in the class, I go pretty hard, and don’t have as much problem getting into it. A club membership or come as you want type thing wouldn’t work for me, but regularly scheduled class does.

If you can’t afford that, try getting a partner or two and doing a regular scheduled exercise together. Make plans to do that at a set time, and do it together.

If you can’t find the time, some ways to work in exercise include walking more. When you shop, park at the back of the parking lot. Take the stairs more often.

I’m not all that fond of water, either. I’ve been drinking more Kool-aid than sodas, mostly because of the caffeine, but you can use the unsweetened Kool-aid and add sweetener. I keep bottles of water in the refrigerator so they are cold - I like cold water better than warm water. I use tap water, so it isn’t expensive - my tap water tastes fine for water.

When eating, learn that you don’t have to eat as much. I regularly don’t finish my plate when I eat out at restaurants. Get used to the idea that they have usually sized the plates to feed lumberjacks. A desk worker like me doesn’t need that caloric intake.

If you’re stuck cleaning your kids plates, try giving yourself smaller servings to start with. Also, eat slowly. Chew your food well, and take your time. If you eat slowly, you give your hunger a chance to adapt. If you eat quickly, your appetite doesn’t keep up with your caloric intake, so it is easier to stuff yourself. Also, I drink a lot when I eat. I prefer to wash the food down anyway.

Drain Bead, those mini-fridges suck. I had one in college, and at first I tried to keep some fruit and sandwich stuff for weekends and snacks. I found that about all they’re good for is keeping drinks cool.

And what was said about needing to make it lifestyle changes is important. The problem with most dieting is that people concentrate on getting the weight off, then go back to their old habits. That’s why the best way is to focus on gradual changes that affect your lifestyle, not quick fixes.

Hope this helps. Keep it up.

53

Even though I belong on the other thread (weight gain), you all have my support on your quest to lose the weight you want, and also the hardest part…keeping it off.

Good luck to all of you, and especially you, Purplebear. :slight_smile: :wink:

54

Hi, everyone…

I’m with the couple of people who said they only had about 15 lbs. to lose. That’s me. However, I am in bad shape physically. I really need to exercise. Since I have been in graduate school, I haven’t had time to exercise, or at least that’s what I say to myself as an excuse. I am also wildly uncoordinated and innately lazy, so I have a hard time sticking to any kind of exercise program. But I need to do it!

I also eat when I’m bored or lonely, and my boyfriend is getting ready to move two hours away, meaning I’ll be by myself a lot more for the next year or so, until I join him. So I’m determined not to allow myself to get in any worse shape!

I also want to offer my support to everyone else here. I have been reading the quitting-smoking thread and vicariously enjoying the feelings of good will and support. I didn’t really feel I could add, since I’ve never smoked. But I also see how powerful a group of people can be in helping each other, even when they don’t, for the most part, know each other. So I’m jumping in here to say “Go, well-endowed Dopers! We can do it.”

I may not be able to check in daily, but knowing you guys are here will be a great moral support. :slight_smile:

55

Put me in the group. My whole life has been a diet, but that’s over. Now I concentrate more on healthy. I really was on a good roll, then work got hectic, and working 6 days a week 12 hours a day did me in. I’m afraid I’ve picked up some of my old bad habits.

I am with you ladies.

56

Hey, *PB, I’m not one of you and you’'re not one of me. But if you can pay attention to my travails, as you have, I can at least post that I’m here to encourage and watch for the moment where I might have something to add.

Good luck! Stay in touch!

57

Just checking in again.I have made it through the day, and will make it through the rest of the evening too. I went for a walk, and may go for another one in a bit. I have stuck with diet soda or bottled water all day. I did get tempted by the dessert that my MIL had ready, but I said no. :smiley:

Handy, welcome to the group. I like the idea of the contest, but I’m afraid that someone else will have to keep an eye on it, and get it going. Would you be willing to do that for me? Keep in mind that after Thurs, I can’t say how much time I’ll be able to spend on here. :wink: I have to keep my hubby occupied, you know, and out of trouble. <giggles>

Irishman, thank you so much for your support and advice. I’m the same way, I need the structure of a class, that’s why I’m looking for a water aerobics class to join.

pipefitter, my dear friend. Thank you so much! We can always use a good friend here, even a really slim one! :wink: Thanks, pal for your support. Now, about that surgery to transfer some fat from me to you… :wink:

D Marie, welcome! We’ll all help each other. Thank you for your support. We will all do it. Together.

ultress, hello! Come on in! Excellent reminder too. I am not dieting either. I am concentrating on eating healthier. This is a lifestyle change for me, not a temporary diet.

{{{{{{{{GroupHugs}}}}}}}}} Keep up the good work, and don’t forget to check in!

58

So? How did everyone do on Day 1? Were y’all as bitchy as I was on Day 1 without the weed?

Purplebear, I can’t tell you how incredibly proud I am of you for what you accomplished today. Just keep telling yourself… more sex, more sex, more sex! :smiley:

I did not, as promised, go for a power walk tonight. :frowning: HOWEVER… I did come home and pop in an exercise video that I have. It’s pretty much all muscle toning, so I’ll still need to get my walks in, but it really makes me feel great when I do it. Tonight was deltoids, triceps, hamstrings, quadraceps and obliques. I snuck a peek at what tomorrow’s is going to be, and I get to start out with pushups and abs - yikes! So anyway, no walk, but I did exercise. It’s a start.

Evilbeth, how did you do today? Do you need a sponsor?

And speaking of which, purplebear, I didn’t notice that you lined up additional sponsors yet. If you’d like, I can sponsor you the whole week (and same for you, Beth. And anyone else, for that matter)!

With all the great tips, advice and support in here, I just know everyone’s going to do really well!

59

Shayna, thanks for the support today. It really helped, knowing that you’d be checking on me. It’s okay that you didn’t go for your walk, you did exercise, and that’s the main thing. And, I didn’t ask for sponsors for the rest of the week because I was waiting for some offers. You’re the first one, so thanks, I’d love to have you in my corner for the week. Does anyone else need a sponsor for a day? I’d take the whole week, but not sure I can check in every day, once Mr Bear’s home. :wink:

How’s it going over in the smoking thread? I’m sorry to say that I ran out of time tonight to try to post there again. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. I’m off to bed now, and I’ll check in in the morning.

60

Thanks for the welcome purplebear! Though I think after 780 posts it’s probably time for me to “come out” :slight_smile:

I’m a girl.

A very bad girl at that as I succumbed to the bag of chips yesterday … I actually think this is going to be harder than quitting smoking.

Sassy, you aren’t vacationing in Ireland by any chance?