Project Ann

Regulargoodann

Regulargoodann

New member
I've been holding off starting a diary until I knew what I was going to do with my weightloss. See, I've been working 2 jobs, 8am -11pm M-Th and 6am - 4pm on Fridays. I've had no time for exercise or to even think about eating healthy. By the time I would get home on the long days, I was so hungry that I would stand in front of the refridgerator eating anything I could. But now that has changed. I have my main day job and am only working one night a week for 3 hours.

A little about me. My name is Ann, I'm soon to be 38, 5'9" and 311.5lbs as of this morning. I'm from Minnesota, I work in the banking industry, I have a degree in culinary arts and am planning on starting my bachelors in Accounting this fall. More money and less calories in numbers than cakes! I've been overweight since I was a toddler. I have no idea what it is to be thin, or even at a healthy weight so my end goal is a number I came up with off of one of those Metlife insurance charts. We'll see what happens as I go.

What has prompted Project Ann is the newfound time and the realization that 40 is right around the corner. I'd like to get healthy so that I can actually be old, really old! I know from personal experience that the older I get, the harder it is to get moving and lose weight. I already have arthritis in my knees (which makes the leg machines and extra joy:eek: ) and I know losing weight can only help.

With my newfound time I have joined Curves to get a workout in. I really like it because I have a bit of a short attention span when it comes to working out, I get bored very quickly, but jumping from station to station every 30 seconds makes the time fly. Now I just have to figure out a healthy eating plan. From what I've been reading, it seems like Curves follows the high protein, low carb plan. I don't agree with that personally so I think I'm going to go with a higher protien version of the National Dietetic Assc. meal plans. Lots of veggies, fruit, whole grains and lean protien. I have found that a very low calorie diet is not easy for me to follow, I'm talking about the 800 - 1200/day diets. I'm thinking more along the lines of 1400-1600 with an additional all veg salad and a low cal protien shake mid-morning. I'm going to try to get to Curves at least 4 times a week, and walk on the days I don't make it in.

I've been lurking around this site for awhile, throwing in comments here and there, so I know how tremendous the support can be! So if you're reading this, drop me a quick "hello" so I know you're out there and I will do the same for you! :D
 
Hello! Welcome and well done on your wonderful loss so far!

Holy cow, that is a lot of time working. I've never even had a job.. :O

It's great that you're going to Curves. I wish I had the confidence to go to a gym but the thought of it is terrible to me. Well done you for having the courage and will power to go!

I'm getting a treadmill pretty soon, so I haven't given up :D

Good luck with everything!
 
Hi Ann,
Welcome to the WLF and it's good to see you have a diary :)

I found that setting my calories too low really did a disservice to my metabolism. I think a starting target range for calories should be 10-12 calories per pound of body weight.

If you drop your calories too low, not only do you set yourself to binge, you're more likely to like you "failed" also, reducing your calories to 10-12 calories per pound of body weight is not so much a "diet" something you quit doing when you're "done" but closer to a life style change. Something you can live with. It also gives you more wiggle room as you get closer to a time when it's harder to lose weight.

Again, welcome to the WLF and I look forward to getting to know you :)
 
Hi. Welcome to the neighborhood... feels odd to say that considering I just joined today! But I've already found tons of support and inspiration here so it feels like I've been here much longer! And I'd like to say congrats on not working so many hours! :D
 
I keep hearing "you have to eat to lose weight" alot lately so I'm going to give it a try. M2M, thank you for your suggestion on how much I should be eating. I'm going to go for 2600 cal/day. This number seems huge to me being a child of the 70's and 80's 800 calorie-Jane Fonda-gotta die if you want to lose weight era. It's kind of funny to me that, it makes total sense to eat more to get your metabolism going, but I keep hearing the "you have to starve yourself" voice in my head.

I've been reading my "Nation Dietetic Association Guide to Nutrition". It's kind of liberating in a way. It's ok to eat peanut butter. It's been years since I've eaten peanut butter. I had no problem eating at McDonald's everynight, but there was no way I would smear peanut butter on a piece of toast.

Well, enough ramblings for now. :)
 
Hey Ann, I started this thing when I was soon to be 38 and wanted to get in good shape by age 40 too. Losing weight slowly is definitely the way to go. It makes it much easier in the long run.
 
Mini accomplishment acheived. I did a 30 minute workout Tuesday night, and I stopped in again last night. It was 20 minutes before closing time, but I got 15 minutes in, and I'm planning on stopping in tonight for a full 30 minute workout.

Now, I have to have more patience in figuring out the food thing. It's really hard getting out of the have to not eat to lose weight mindset.
 
If you've been eating very low cals for a long while, I wouldn't jump up to 2600 cals immediately.

Oh yea, and I am Steve. Nice to meet you. :)
 
Welcome! You are doing fine! One of our users here writes every day 3 things she likes about herself, I think maybe for the first weeks that is quite a good idea! Because if I read you right, this is not just losing weight, but being happier and healthier... a new Anne! And I think new Anne should be very self confident... guys dig that ;)!!
Love, xxMilaxx
 
If you've been eating very low cals for a long while, I wouldn't jump up to 2600 cals immediately.

Oh yea, and I am Steve. Nice to meet you.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that bit of information, Steve, and it's very nice to meet you, too!
 
Welcome! You are doing fine! One of our users here writes every day 3 things she likes about herself, I think maybe for the first weeks that is quite a good idea! Because if I read you right, this is not just losing weight, but being happier and healthier... a new Anne! And I think new Anne should be very self confident... guys dig that ;)!!
Click to expand...

That sound like good idea. I will start today!
 
Three things I like about my self;

I like my sense of humor, my ability to make people laugh.

I like my eyes.

I like that I've taken the initiative to start changing my life.

Today has been a rough one food wise. I've been bored all day and I've found myself snacking here and there. According to Calorie King, I've had roughly 2400 calories, seems like alot more, but I guess that's what happenes when it's not junk food - brown rice, black beans, fat free yogurt, strawberries and such. I did have 3 of my dad's chocolate chip cookies, they're hard to resist, he makes the best cookies!

I've been feeling better since I started working out. I have to work on getting my butt out of bed to get there since I seem to be too tired by the end of most days. I have made it 3 times a week for the two weeks I've been going. This weeks goal is four times.
 
Whew, hauled my butt out of bed and worked out this morning. My heartrate is finally staying within the chart and I broke a good sweat. I didn't feel like I was pushing any harder, I think my body is just getting used to moving.

Funny, I never was a morning person but I think I might be turning into one. I have to work early tomorrow so I know I'll be getting up, but we'll see if I can do it again on Wednesday.

Now food, can you tell I have food issues? haha I think cottage cheese and strawberries for breakfast and salad for lunch, soup for dinner? hmmmm
 
that's awesome that you could get out of bed and workout... Not me boy... :) Showering and lifting a cup of coffee is all I can muster :) most impressive to have that display of energy in the morning hope it stays with you all day :)

Nice job on the three things you like abouot yourself :) way to go :D
 
I feel bad that I haven't posted in awhile. It seems like I have tons of spare time since quitting the night job, but when I think about it, I've found quite a bit of chores to fill it with.

I had an off week last week, just wasn't feeling well all week. I think allergies are starting to kick my butt. I worked out twice instead of the four times I had the previous week, but I'm ok with it. I still went twice!
I'm thinking this week will be better. I'm feeling better, got up at 6:30am and went in and worked out for 35 minutes. I didn't push too hard because it was 78F at 7am. Too hot for my taste, but what can I do? :)

The scale still hasn't budged. 313 as of this morning, it's been stuck there for a week. But I can definitely feel the difference since I started working out. My clothes feel different, my energy level it up, the machines are easier to do, I can work out longer, my heart rate has come down into the chart range and so on, but I'm still bugged with the number. The looser pants is a great feeling, everytime I take a step and feel the difference, it's motivating, it would just be nice to have the number go down, too.
Ack, my computer is about to blow, I'll vent abit more later!

ann
 
sounds like you're getting a lot of positive results - the number on the scale will come down eventually - be patient :)

if you arent also check measurements you really might like what you're seeing there..
 
Well, had my weigh in and measurements taken today. Down 3lbs and 2 inches. Not as fast as I'd like, but hey, it's a loss and I'm happy with it. I'm realizing now that every pound and every inch is going to be a fight, but I am worth fighting for!

"If I am what I eat, I'm either fast, cheap or easy!"
 
2 inches is a bigger deal than the 3 lbs -that's wonderful :) and th three lbs is a big deal :) congratulations :) ya done good..
 
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