new member giving this a go!

cnieman

cnieman

New member
:newbie: My name is Cassandra, and I just signed up on this forum this evening. However, I have been on my diet and exercise program since last week. I was looking for somewhere online to share my success and frustrations, and gain the support of others in this battle.

I recently moved to Utah for work and, although I have made some friends and met an amazing boyfriend out here, majority of my support system is still in California. Couple that with the dramatic change in weather, and a high-stress job... needless to say I found myself about 10 pounds heavier after winter passed. I'm also finding that as I get older (I'm 28), it takes more effort for me to lose the weight than it did when I was younger. I stepped on the scale about 2 weeks ago and saw 162 pounds, nearly fainted, and finally said to myself that enough is enough. The weight gain was not the biggest issue here. I used to by quite active and fit. I used to have tons of energy. Now, I find myself coming home from a 10 hour work day, throwing whatever I can find into my mouth, sitting in front of the tv for 2 hours, then going to bed. I'm so embarrassed by my behavior, I lack energy, and I'm tired of not living up to my potential.

It's true what they say: the hardest part is the first step.

When I saw I weighed 162, I decided that I would do the following:
1. Keep a food journal of what I'm eating daily.
2. Limit my caloric intake to 1200 calories per day on most days (I cut myself a little slack on days I'm exercising heavily or when I'm on my period).
3. Fill my diet with vegetables and fruit.
4. Work out for at least 1 hour 5 times a week. (I like to jog, elliptical, yoga, weight lift, and walk).
5. Lastly, and most importantly, promise myself to be gentle with my expectations, push myself to work hard, but not be disappointed when it all doesn't fall off over night. This means weighing myself once a week only.

SO. Where do I want to go ultimately? I am 5'9" and would like to weigh 135 pounds. Realizing this is 25 pounds from where I am right now, I have set a 'happy' goal: 145 pounds. I was 135 in high school. And was 145 about 5 years ago.

It's been 1 week of writing down what I'm eating, and exercising. This week I managed to get 4 workouts in and 2 yoga sessions. I was very sore.. a feeling I haven't felt in a LONG time. (But good nonetheless). And... I'm down to 157.5 pounds! I was so excited to see that I had lost nearly 5 pounds in 1 week of really trying (it had been 2 weeks since I weighed myself, but the first week I just tried to exercise and did not write down my food).

I was hoping, if I can realistically lose 2 pounds per week, I could be down to my happy weight by the time I meet my boyfriends family. I am really looking forward to gaining the energy back and having my clothes fit me again!
 
Hi, Cassandra!

I'm also Cassandra! :D
You're doing a great job so far! 2 lbs is a really nice goal per-week. I shoot for 2-3, too.

Your game plan looks excellent also. It's really tempting to hop on the scale every day, though!

Even though your cheerleading squad is mostly in Cali, you'll definitely find support here at the forums.

Keep up the good work!
 
Trying the calorie counter app for iphone next

Today I downloaded the calorie counter app for the iphone and realized it is light years ahead of the 'lose it' app I had previously had. I entered in all my food for breakfast: egg whites, fresh green beans, spinach, and tomato and cooked it into an omelet: 144 calories only! woohoo! It's amazing how, just by calculating how many calories I'm eating, I have greater visibility to what I'm eating. I like putting myself on a calorie budget, as it makes me much more careful and mindful to what I'm eating. So far, so good!

My goal this week is another 2 pounds, which would bring me to 154 lbs.





GW: 145lbs at 5'8".
CW: 156.4 lbs.
 
Lazy week and family visiting...

Argh. Work was crazy this week, and I was not able to squeeze in as many workouts as I would have liked. I did manage to control my calories though. My family is here visiting from California, and of course all we do is eat when they're here... which is frustrating because I have gotten into the great habit of not eating at restaurants, cooking my own food, and measuring out my calories. I guess this is good 'real life' temptation, because I can't always control the situations I'm in, and should be prepared to make smart choices. I just wasn't expecting to have to do it this soon (only 3 weeks in!).

However, I still managed to lose 1lb. Which is better than nothing, or gaining. I'm going to go get a nice workout in today. I also went out and bought a beautiful dark blue chiffon dress to wear to that wedding I'm going to the second week of august. The dress is MOTIVATION, and then some! It BARELY fits in my tummy area, and I have to hold my breath to zip it up. I'm figuring that since it does fit now, but I'm very self conscious in it, even if I can only lose another 5 pounds, it will make me feel more confident. I hung it up on my closet door, so I see it every time I walk into my closet.

I've also started weighing myself again on a daily basis. I know I shouldn't, but the anxiety of thinking I ate too much one day was just getting to me.

Off to see how many miles I can log on the treadmill.... wish me luck! :seeya::waving::waving::waving:
 
Hello, things seem to be going great for you. Good job. :) Good luck on the treadmill! Hope you hit a new PR for yourself.
 
:smilielol5: Weight loss is crazy stuff people! SO. Hit the gym hard on sunday morning and ran 8.5 miles! I did the first 6 miles with ease and pushed hard for the next 2.5 miles. Granted, I'm sore now, but able to say I can run again! It took me an hour and a half to do it.

My parents are back in California- so now I need to get myself in check. The hardest temptation I've had thus far is retaining my social life and still managing my calories. I'm planning on going to a pub crawl tomorrow, and a 'beer pairing party' this weekend. Short of not drinking and becoming anti-social, does anyone have any great pointers? I've basically cut out the alcohol from my diet, because it's so loaded with empty calories.. but there's got to be something I can sip and drink and still have fun without becoming riddled with guilt??
 
My Survey Results

1. What is your current height and weight? 5'9" and 153.8
2. If you were at an ideal weight now, what would that weight be? 135 was what I was in high school, but I was SKINNY then, so I think 140-145 would be a good happy weight.
3. At what weight would you like to be at four months from now? 140-143
4. Why do you want to lose weight? Energy, strength, and to feel better about myself. When I'm heavier, I feel tired all the time, weak, and poor body image.
5. Do you want to lose weight for a specific life event such as wedding or reunion? If so, when is that event? I'm going to visit and meet my boyfriends family the second week of august, so I'd like to lose as much as possible, but still healthy, before then.
6. What obstacles could get between you and your weight loss goals? My hectic work schedule: I don't have an office and am always on the go.
7. Why do you think that you now have a weight problem? I don't have a weight problem, per se, as I am well within my weight guidelines. I know that I got heavier because I found myself in love ( I know, crazy), and ate with my boyfriend a lot (he's a carb junkie, which just sticks to me, not to him!), and moving to an area that snows, I was so unmotivated to work out and stopped entirely.
8. What lifestyle changes do you think would help you lose weight? I need to pay careful attention to what I'm eating and work out like a mad woman.
9. Have you lost weight in the past? I did about 5-6 years ago. I went to the gym every single day for 3 months straight, and got myself down to 141 pounds. I have to admit, that weight felt SO good.. but the way I did it was unhealthy. I want to make changes that I can keep up with.
10. Why do you believe that you did not lose weight or you gained the weight back? I stopped exercising, for my body type, that is HUGELY important.
11. What, if anything, has not worked for you in the past in helping you to lose weight? Bleh, I tried Atkins and it was nasty. I've tried diet pills, which do nothing for my motivation and did not help me lose weight.
12. Would you try writing down all food and drink consumed for a given period of time? I am doing that now, through the iphone app caloriecounter.com
13. Do you cook at home often? If so, what do you cook? I LOVE LOVE LOVE to cook!!! LOVE IT. So, I've started cooking egg whites, veggies, all kinds of healthy stuff. I eat at home for every breakfast and dinner, and try my best to bring my lunch with me for work.
14. How often do you go out to eat? Where do you go? My boyfriend and I normally eat out once a week, or once every 2 weeks. If I'm eating lunch out, I tend to get a grilled chicken salad from chick-fil-a and don't put dressing on it, with a diet dr. pepper (only 250 cals for the entire thing!)
15. What are your three favorite foods? Indian food: paneer naan, mcdonalds cheeseburgers, and taco salads.
16. What are your three favorite restaurants? Cafe Rio, indian food places, I don't like commercial places.
17. What are three things you can do differently when it comes to food? Plan my food out in advance, eat at home to conserve calories, and drink way more water!
18. If you woke up tomorrow and your body was exactly the way you want it, what would be different? My stomach would be smaller, leaner, and toned. My legs would be more toned, specifically my inner thighs. My arms would be slightly smaller and more toned.
19. Do you eat when you are not hungry? I try to. I'll be honest- there are times I do not eat when I am hungry because I know I'm going out to dinner that night and save my calories for that.
20. Do you binge eat (large amounts at a time)? No, I used to from time to time because I would sit in front of the tv and not realize how much I'd eaten... until I'd 'wake up' and realize what I'd done. I really make an effort to not do that now.
21. Do you hide your food or eat in secret? No.
22. Do you eat when you are sad, nervous, or depressed? Part of me wants to, but I don't. I just sit there. So now, I force myself to use that energy at the gym and do something productive!
23. Do you eat as a reward? No, I shop as a reward haha!
24. Do you eat while watching TV or using the computer? Yes... I'm SO bad at this.
25. What do you normally eat for a meal? Egg whites, veggies, and coffee for breakfast, salad with grilled chicken for lunch, and salmon/chicken/protein of some sort with veggies/brown rice for dinner. I LOVE cooking brown rice in chicken broth with spices... low calorie, but tastes like a treat!
26. What type of snacks do you eat? I try not to snack. However, I am in love with the laughing cow lite cheeses, they're 35 calories and taste so rich and creamy! It's mind-blowing that they're only 35 calories!
27. In terms of exercise, what, if anything, are you currently doing? Running and logging as many miles as possible (3-4 workouts per week, at least one hour of jogging), elliptical machine at least 1 day a week, every day getting out and at least walking.
28. Where do you go for exercise? A local public gym? School/work gym? I love going to anti-gravity yoga and do that once every few weeks, I go to 24 hour fitness, and since it's summer now, I love walking the trail by my house. Yoga at my house.
29. What, if anything, are your three favorite types of exercise? Yoga, elliptical, and jogging.
30. What is your daily/weekly/monthly/yearly motivation to move towards your goals? Daily: counting my calories and coming in under budget Weekly: weighing in and celebrating my successes on here!, Monthly: I haven't been on my diet for an entire month yet, but I will reward myself with new shoes if I hit my goal!!
31. Do you have rewards for certain goals? See above.
 
3 weeks on the diet so far, lost almost 10 pounds! But definitely need a pick me up to re-energize and re-motivate me... anyone have any suggestions????
 
Ready to cry.

So frustrated today :banghead: I weighed myself last night and I'm back up to 155 pounds. I don't understand. This entire week, I literally starved myself, ate hardly anything, and worked out like a mad woman. I ran 4 times at the gym for 1 hour on the treadmill 4-6 miles each time, and did 15 mins of elliptical after. I went for walks. I went to yoga. I busted my rear at work. I was hungry and deprived myself all week... to GAIN 4 POUNDS?!!

:( I'm ready to throw the towel in and say screw it. I worked so hard for the entire month and it's ALL back on. WTF.

Frustrated and feeling like I losing a battle here. I'm either going to give up, just keep trying, or just freaking starve myself. The wedding is in 2 weeks and thanks to this past week, I've lost nothing.

ARGH!!
 
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