**BrunetteGirls' Diary**

BrunetteGirl

New member
Hello everyone, I'm new here and I thought it would be great to start a diary, and hopefully get some motivation and courage from all you have succeeded and are on your way to success!! I know, it's ongoing process and everyday is challenge, but I'm hoping to take it one day at time and see what happens...

Anyway, a bit about myself, I am a 23 yr old college student, just got married last summer, and have never been happier.... except of course, this weight issue. I recently just reached an all time high wieght of 149 lbs, and with my height being 5'1", I AM OVERWEIGHT.

Growing up, I was always the "skinny one" especially with my 2 sisters who were always chunkier. I remember not being able to share clothes with them because I wore 1 or 2, and they were 6+... Eventually there was no "skinny" sister. I remember I used to receive lots of comments about me being thin, and one day, a family friend was talking about a relative, and she described her as "being about your size, she's a little chubby like you..." I was floored. I had never been told that.....

Anyway, I was never FAT FAT, but I neeeded toning and SOME exercise to maintain my weight, but I didn't. Instead, I ate out... A LOT. I started gaining weight little by little over time, so it was never a significant weigth gain. I noticed I stopped wearing certain pants or tops, but I just thought, it's out of style now or my taste has changed, I need new clothes. I started blaming stores for changing their sizes, because I no longer was 1 or 2, I was 3/4 even maybe 5/6.... and even that was snug.

April 2005 - my friend's wedding in MD, I had to travel from Ohio, and see lots of people I hadn't seen in a while. I thought I looked good!!!! Then I saw the pics..... OMG..... MY FACE?!?!? MY ARMS?!?!?! Ugh.... I had no idea I was that fat!!! Over the next year and a half, I juggled with my weight up until my own wedding last summer.... I worked out and dieted for a month and a half before the wedding... I lost some weight but not all the weight I wanted to. Looking back now, I wish I could have been thinner, in better shape, but overall it wasn't too bad...

October 2006 - The first few months of being married, we ate out. A lot. I was busy in school, and my excuse was I didn't have time to cook, and having Wendy's, Arby's Burger King AND McDonald's within a mile..... Not soo good. We eventually realized, "We're fat." I was 144, my heaviest yet. My husband and I started by grocery shopping, began the South Beach Diet, and working out 1 hr. every day, even Sunday! In a month, I lost 12 lbs. and my clothes were fitting!! We spent Thanksgiving at my parents' in VA, and we were good, for the most part... COming back, we never got back to our schedule, and starting eating out, because my new excuse was I had finals.

Anyway, none of my clothes were fitting me once again, and even when I sucked my stomach in, I still had a gut!! Gross! On top of all this, I work at Gap, and I am surrounded by cute clothes I want to buy, but I don't want to until I lose weight!!! Also, people look at and see me wearing the clothes they are thinking of buying, and if it doesn't look good on me, I'm not doing a good job of selling our merchandise!!

So, I weighed myself.

149 lbs., my heaviest. EVER. I cried. I couldn't believe I DID THIS TO MYSELF. I knew what I was doing when I would go to the drive-thru, when I bought candy bars for snacks at school, when I didn't even care if my soda was diet or not anymore..... I was crushed. Well, this was my breaking point, and I KNEW that if I wanted to be my goal weight of 110, I had to get serious. I went out and bought YOU ON A DIET, read it all (great book!), bought groceries and I now cook ALL of our meals, and I have started working out. I have stuck to it almost one week now, and so far 2.5 lbs. gone! I came across this website just yesterday, and I have been so inspired!! I know I can do this, and I really hope keeping this diary will be a huge help!!! I really look forward to hearing from all of you, and hopefully, we can meet our goals soon!

-- How much weight do you want to lose?

I want to lose 39 lbs., goal weight of 110 lbs.

-- What is the timeframe for reaching your target weight?

I want to reach it by the end of August, one year anniversary trip to St. Thomas

-- How do you want to accomplish your goal (what methods do you want to use)?

Eating the right foods and building a good exercise regimen, both cardio and strength training

-- Who or what can support you in reaching your goal?

My wonderful husband who is supporting me by doing the same thing! And hopefully, this board/diary can keep accountable by tracking my progress and checking in daily!

-- How realistic is your goal?

Very realistic!! 110 is a healthy BMI for my height.

-- When will you start?

I already started!!


** THANKS AGAIN for all your help and support, sorry this post is so long but it's my first and I just wanted to get all this out there!! **

-BrunetteGirl:cool:
 
Welcome Brunette!!

I hear you! I know how it feels to be "the skinny one" and then suddenly be the chubby one. You can get back there and we are all here to help. I just joined last week myself and I already have a great new friend, and several people watching my back. It feels good and it makes me not want to let anyone down. It's a nice team and everyone here is SO SWEET!! I am trying to lose 50lbs by October.

Keep up the good work!! There are some great useful tools yoy can swipe...2 of them that I just found are the weight loss "tracker" and the FitDay page...both in my signature. they really help you to see what you re doing on a dialy basis and keep track of your successes. Click them and mess around a bit...

Anyway, welcome!! Drop by the brides forum to talk about the wedding if you'd like...there are several of us just-engaged and just-marrieds poking around here!!!
 
Hi, Lolabride, thanks for the nice comment!! I am really looking forward to meeting more people on here.... Are you losing weight for your wedding?? :) I know how critical it is to want to look your best that day!!!! ;)

Well, just wanted to check in.... Just got back from working out... I walked on the treadmill for 45 mins, at various speeds and incline levels.... It got me sweating :p ... then, the ellipitical for 30 mins, I was doing the programmed WeightLoss program.... Does anyone actually do these programs? Are they good to do? I've always done it and it gets me sweating, so I'm assuming that's good!!

Well, for lunch I had my favorite: Light tuna with some mayo ( can't have tuna without my mayo!!! Used as little as possible!) stuffed in a whole wheat pita, water, and some yogurt afterwards.... I need to some serious grocery shopping because I had no lettuce for my pita!! Now I have to figure out what to cook for dinner, my husband wants steak, and I'm out of chicken here (LOL), so steak it is.... Is steak good? Anybody's take on steak for dieters/weight-loss??

Anyway, I feel so full of energy right now!! I love the rush after working out! Well, got to get out of my stinkin' workout clothes and shower! BTW, hope to be posting pics soon, I'm scared of my befores, but whatever.....:rolleyes:

-BrunetteGirl
 
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Hi, Lolabride, thanks for the nice comment!! I am really looking forward to meeting more people on here.... Are you losing weight for your wedding?? :) I know how critical it is to want to look your best that day!!!! ;)

Well, just wanted to check in.... Just got back from working out... I walked on the treadmill for 45 mins, at various speeds and incline levels.... It got me sweating :p ... then, the ellipitical for 30 mins, I was doing the programmed WeightLoss program.... Does anyone actually do these programs? Are they good to do? I've always done it and it gets me sweating, so I'm assuming that's good!!

Well, for lunch I had my favorite: Light tuna with some mayo ( can't have tuna without my mayo!!! Used as little as possible!) stuffed in a whole wheat pita, water, and some yogurt afterwards.... I need to some serious grocery shopping because I had no lettuce for my pita!! Now I have to figure out what to cook for dinner, my husband wants steak, and I'm out of chicken here (LOL), so steak it is.... Is steak good? Anybody's take on steak for dieters/weight-loss??

Anyway, I feel so full of energy right now!! I love the rush after working out! Well, got to get out of my stinkin' workout clothes and shower! BTW, hope to be posting pics soon, I'm scared of my befores, but whatever.....:rolleyes:

-BrunetteGirl

Hey lady!

Like LolaGirl, I too am en route to losing weight for my big day- it can be daunting at times- working toward such a crucial goal- but it also gives you a deadline to motivate yourself to work towards!

Having a lean piece of steak once a week, pending it is a rational portion, is a great way to keep your metabolism going so right on:) Also, the weightloss programmes do work but one of the best ways to burn the most calories on cardio is to do interval training where you start at a medium pace, increase to high speed for one minute, return to medium, high speed for 2, down to low, etc. Gets your heart rate going bigtime:)

Good luck and keep going- you're doing wonderfully!
 
Wow you and I are in the same boat sista.

I mean everything that you typed though was like looking at something I would have written.
:)

Stick to it though, get back into those skinny jeans. '
WE CAN DO IT!

I got married at 23 too, but now Im 26.
I am a college student as well. I am in a GREAT relationship.
We eat out a lot too.

Let me tell you something that has helped me out.
Print out fast food nutrition charts and other places that you eat out at too..
Keep them in your purse.
Make wise decisions. Try to eat a place that buys fresh fruits and vegetables.
NO MORE SODA/SWEET TEA.
God that has been the hardest part for me so far.
I myself am only on day 4, but feeling pretty good :D
 
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GOSH!! All you gals getting married at 23!!! I was so crazy and immature when I was your age. Even now at 36 (37 in June) I BARELY feel I'm old enough to settle down. I still don't feel grown up enough! LOL!
 
Hey ladies!! Thanks for the comments... I'm really glad that you took the time to give a shout out :D That is so funny we are all newlyweds/newlyengaged-soon-to-be-married!! Hehe, I really hope you ladies work hard and meet your goal for your wedding day, you will not regret all the hardwork when you look back at your wedding pictures!!! :)

Becka - Congrats on your wedding! When's the big day?

Ashy - YES WE WILL GET BACK INTO SKINNY JEANS!!!

Lola - Congrats on your wedding too!! You have plenty of time until October to reach your goal! .... Technically I was 22 when I got married, hehe, but my sister got married when she was 18! Celebrating her 4 yr anniv. this June...


Alright now, just wanted to check in for today... My hubby woke me today, so we could work out! Haha, he is a huge help! I didn't want to and I whined but eventually got up and went.... We only had 30 mins in the morning, so I used the elliptical for 33 mins (that's how long the program is). But it wasn't enough for me, hehe, I went back a few hours late, walked on the treadmill for 30 mins. at different incline/speeds, then back on the elliptical for another 33 mins., so a total of 96 minutes of intense cardio....

Question: I've been reading in the forum that you should not work out more than 75 minutes.... In the book YOU ON A DIET, it says up to 2 hrs, no more... Am I doing too much? Going over 75? Or I am good up to 2 hrs.? I don't want to overdo it, but I am working hard here so be in good-summer-shorts-shape! ;)

Anyway, I had oatmeal with cinnamon for breakfast with some milk.... Lunch, my fave again, tuna in pita, some Tostitos (are these good to eat? They are not potato chips, made of corn, not that many calories....??) and water.... I went grocery shopping, I read labels ON EVERYTHING before I buy, I was there for almost 2hrs!! LOL.... I don't buy anything with high fructose corn syrup/corn syrup of any kind, any hydrogenated oils, and anything with refined/bleached/enriched flour... ONLY WHOLE GRAIN (I got that from YOU ON A DIET), and anything that has more that 4g of Sat.Fat or sugars per serving size.... I've been doing this for a while now and I feel so much healthy, I can tell I am eating healthier better foods! AND I FOUND WHOLE GRAIN TEXAS TOAST GARLIC BREAD to go with my whole grain pasta!!

So, overall today was a good day, I got one heck of a work out... had some good food. BTW, LOLABRIDE- I kept reading in your diary that you drink Barq's Diet Root Beer, and I had a craving all day fro Diet Root Beer.... so I got a bottle today and boy, it was good! Haha, I don't drink soda, but it was a nice treat for today! :D

-BrunetteGirl
 
Yeah..I have a soda addiction. I used to drink a coke every morning in lieu of coffee. The carbonation is really what I crave. I know that diet soda is not great for you anyway, but it's my one small indulgence. I have tried them all, and the ones I like best that aren't too diety tasting are Diet Cherry Coke and Diet Barq's rootbeer. The rootbeer just tastes like...well.....rootbeer. It's something I don't drink that often but really liked when I was a kid so that comfort level is soothing to me right now. I can have frozen yogurt on this diet so you better believe I will be having a rootbeer float sometime very soon!

It's nice, right? That overwhelming root beer taste really covers up any fakey sweetener aftertaste. It's just such a crisp "bite." Hey..Barq's has bite...that's their slogan. Funny!! I'm glad you liked it!

Have you seen our wedding forum yet?
 
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75 minutes of cardio is MORE than sufficient! Most plans recommend 30-45 minutes 3 times a week and 20-25 2 x a week- Give yourself a break-you're overworking yourself! Opt for a shorter, more intense cardio session over a longer low intensity one- burns more fat!

Big day is October 7, 2007- I'm so excited- wedding planning is so time [and life] consuming though- its all we talk about these days! Hope you had a nice weekend x
 
Welcome to the site. I am Steve. :)

How many cals are you consuming per day? I didn't see that.

That is an excessive amount of cardio per day. If you need that much to lose weight, something isn't right nutritionally.

Are you weight training? I didn't see that listed.
 
I agree that you're focusing too much time on cardio.

I wish I could give everyone a crystal ball to see how much they could change their metabolism and body composition with some simple weight-lifting. For some reason, it's a very difficult message to get across. So many people say that they hate weight lifting, which I just cannot understand. I think it's easier than cardio, you don't necessarily break out into a huge sweat, but you still feel "pumped" when your done. And, as you build a little muscle, you start burning more calories over the course of 24 hours, instead of the hour of calorie-burning you get after cardio. I could get into the science of it a bit for you if you're interested. Let me know if you have questions.

Your focus and your diet seem on target. Keep it up!
 
Everyone must try Waist Watchers Diet Vanilla Cream Soda- its to DIE for and I don't even like soda! Hope you're doing well everyone!
 
Everyone must try Waist Watchers Diet Vanilla Cream Soda- its to DIE for and I don't even like soda! Hope you're doing well everyone!

you know.... i think its really odd because I never liked cream soda... but for some reason that sounds good too.... :eek:
 
I'm back......

Hi everyone,
I'm back and I just wanted to share my accomplishment.. I am 5 lbs away from my goal and have lost over 40 lbs.

When I started visiting this forum last I was hitting 150. After that I entered my last semester of college and I really stressed out. I ballooned and hit 171 on the scale! That was the last number I remember seeing on the scale before I stopped using it at all. I had to buy bigger clothes and clearly remember having to squeeeze into size 10 jeans. It was horrible.

I started watching my calories and started a low cal diet and dropped 10 lbs. in one week! I knew my body wanted to lose all the weight. I saw the numbers go down and finally stopped at 155.

April 5, 2008 I started my new diet and workput plan. I had about 2 weeks left of college and I didn't start my new public accounting job until September. I had until September to lose all the weight. I didn't want to approach my workouts as "work" so I would wake up at 7am every morning and head out for hours on the trail by my house. My husband and I would spend hours on the trail, walking, biking, etc. We would walk to a park nearby and play frisbee, basketball, etc. anything that could make us sweat. We stuck to eating Subway EVERY DAY, and we would walk to Subway everyday for lunch.

We started seeing the difference in our bodies. At this point we didn't have a scale so we went out to buy one and I was at 130! I had lost 25 lbs. By the end of August, I was 120. Labor Day weekend, I was at 117. Now, I have been at 115 for weeks now. I started my job and haven't had time to work out, but I still have 5 lbs to reach my goal. I am so happy and EXCITED TO BE A SIZE 2 AGAIN!!!:party:
 
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