Hello!

[Leanna]

Hi Everyone! My name is Leanna. I am new to the site and am thrilled to have found it. There always seems to be positive energy and a pile of interesting information on here so I am looking foward to being a regular on here!

I began a life style change on Jan 1, 2007 and am looking to improve my over all health and well being and if I happen to lose some weight in the process - that's wonderful. I have learned from previous attempts that setting my expectations too high is a sure fire way to fail.

Since Jan 1st, I have lost approximately 14 lbs though exersice and healthy eating. I would eventually like to lose about 70 more lbs.

I credit my success thus far primarily to proper food choices which are primarily whole foods. The few small amount of processed foods I do eat contain as few ingredients as possible and I avoid products containing additvies such as sugar, artificial sweetners, thickners, coloring, and anything I can't pronouce.

I feel amazing! No more low blood sugar bouts, no more mid afternoon headaches and I have so much energy I have caught myself several times starting a project like cleaning the kitchen or folding a load of laundry only to realize that its after midnight! I used to be in bed by 10pm every night because I was so tired.

I look forward to meeting all of you and hearing about your amazing journeys.

 

[lena410]

hey leanna welcome to WWF and i'm sure you will achieve your goal. you have the exact same attitude i have since i started this journey of changing and learning to eat, feel and live in a completely new way. and its so liberating. now you reminded me that i haven't had a my usual migrane in 2 weeks. i did have headache because of the cold but that's different kind.
start your diary and keep track of your progress...not just in weight but in way of thinking, living.
sounds like you're in the right frame of mind. if you need anything juts yell

Lena

 

[wtdia]

Hello Leanna,
Just joined the forum myself. Hitting 40 this year and just don't want to continue in life with my 'spare tires' around the mid section continuing to inflate. I try and powerwalk 15 miles per week. I have a walking buddie so that helps a lot in getting out there. We have already walked 10 miles this week and she is sick today so I have to drag myself out there this morning and walk 5 miles on my own. I'll take my dog along, and hope she can make it the whole way. I also keep a diary of my calorie/fat/carb/cholesterol intake each day. There is a great website that is free to track all meals. It is called Nutrawatch.com. I absolutely love it because I can really get a reality check when I am eating too much. I lost 40 lbs a few years ago using that site to keep my calorie counting on track. It was when I stopped counting calories that I gained 25 of that weight back. I am not proud of that at all, but know that by letting my guard down, my eating habits deteriorated. I also have a non functioning thyroid which really screws up my metabolism. I had radioactive iodine therapy when I was 19 to treat an overactive thyroid and so I have no function left in my thyroid and have to take a hormone supplement. I keep reminding myself that with my health condition I could be enormously overweight by more than the 30lbs that I am. BUT that doesn't make me feel better at swimsuit time. So, I am going at it again to try and get some of these tummy rolls under control. It is nice to have a sight to visit to share thoughts, frustrations and successes. I wish you best of luck with your journey.

 

[honeybunch82]

Wow, it sounds like you're off to a good start. I started a little after you (I was at an event in the beginning of January, and the pictures were a bit of a reality check), but am hoping to make that kind of progress.

And I think you've got a great attitude. As you said, it's a lifestyle change--the weight is incidental. I think that's the attitude you need to stick with it. That's the same way I'm trying to think myself.

one more thing. Wtdia--I totally agree that it helps to keep track of your food. I started using mypyramidtracker.gov (a USDA sight) which keeps track of calories, but have since discovered fitday.com, more useful since it allows you to enter in foods not in the database. Right now I'm still using both (since the USDA sight also keeps an eye on my fruits, vegetables, carbs, meats, etc.--it keeps telling me I need more vegetables), but we'll see if I keep up with both.