Where have you been all my life?

Julie_in_TO

Julie_in_TO

New member
So I'm Julie, and as my user name implies I live in Toronto, Ontario. I am 23 and I'm sick of being fat. I don't know what happened recently but I kind of snapped and just decided that is was time. There are lots of reasons I want to be slim...clothes, health, relationships, more energy and to restart my life.

I've been doing this thing for the past 18 or so years where I say to myself-"I'm happy the way I am" and in some ways I am-I love my friends and family and I have an awesome support base; my confidence and self-worth are pretty high (for a fat chick-LOL) and my friends say I have a great sense of humour. I'm in school for a career I already love and I have most of the things I want so far in life. But then I look in the mirror and I just can't convince myself I am as happy as I try to make myself sound. I'm not going to get weepy on you guys...it's really just time for something other than being the token fat chick in a group.

So I joined Curves last week and the week before that I did a bit of an overhaul on my eating. I really don't want to think of it as dieting because in my mind that means "always hungry" or "depriving myself" so I prefer to just say a change. My two main problems have been #1-I don't like cooking, so I usually go the fast food route and #2-I can't motivate myself to exercise. I've taken to making a few days worth of food and prepared lunches with enough veggies and fruits and healthy snacks to keep me going for a full school day(I feel silly bringing in a tub of carrots, peppers, melon, cucumber, yogurt, granola ect but hey, it works!) and I bought some easy things to make for dinners. Honestly, I know the dinner things could be healthier, but I just want to get out of the habit of getting take-out. Then maybe I will hypnotise myself into believing that I do enjoy cooking.

I did my first workout with Curves on Friday and am looking forward to next week. I was pretty impressed with their work outs and was truly beat after, but I felt awesome and wasn't thinking of how I could get out of my contract...YAHOO!

Here are some things I will be able to do when I am slimmer:
Mount a horse without a step. This would be awesome-I love riding.
Swim-ok, well I can swim now but I feel like an Orca, so I refrain unless a select few are there or I can be alone. I LOVE SWIMMING!!
Shop at more than 2 clothing stores-yeah, I can't wait.
Date, and date some more-I think most people here can understand that motivation...

I'm pleased to meet you all and I hope this forum will help me in my journey like it seems to have helped so many people so far!!
-Julie
 
Julie,
I know what you mean about the swimming - that's one of the reason I want to get in shape, too! Cooking is hard when you don't feel like doing it. Throw in a long day at work or school and forget it. I find it a big help to make stuff ahead of time. On Sundays I'll make a huge pot of yummy lentil soup, for example. I stick it in the frig and then take it out to reheat a bowl when I don't want to cook. It keeps me away from the Triscuits :)

I was impressed by what a few people on this site have said about the first 10 days - reduce your portions and be really strict about it for the first 10 days of your new slimming adventure, and your stomach will shrink so you can eat less and not be hungry. Having a short-term goal is helpful for me. Today is day 3, and I am feeling really good about my choice to take control of this body of mine and take better care of it.

Take care and let's keep each other up to date on our progress. We can do this!!!

Lisa
 
Yeah-I've been eating a lot of veggies raw and I just sort of snack all day on them. I do a big chopping of veggies once or twice a week and eat very basic meals. I went to Curves yesterday and today and when I was finished my workout on Monday I weighed myself and I'd lost about ten pounds since the previous week. Sweet! I'm so excited about that. I went down another half pound today and I'm at 274.5. I haven't been below 280 for about 2 years! It's so exciting thinking about how friends will react when they see me after this! lol I got to Curves a few minutes before they were doing an Abs workout and I joined in (small class-the teacher and one other person was there) and I can barely sit up not my abs(or "ab" as I sometimes refer to my spare tire) are so tired!
This is actually kind of fun!
It's nice meeting you and thanks for being the only one to welcome me here!
 
Hello Julie and welcome! :)

10lbs is a fantastic loss! Hope it has given you some real encouragement.

Do you have any sort of target at the moment or are you just seeing how things go?

I haven't been doing too well with exercise lately which I have no excuse for other than laziness! Have been eating well though.

Keep us updated and good luck.

Lydia :)
 
I want to be down to 240 by the time I go to France in March, and ultimately I want to be at about 150 or so. I am totally encouraged by this loss. I feel like this is sort of the start to a new life for me. I can see more definition in my face and now I don't have a permanent double chin. I am amazed at how I look-I stand up straighter when I walk, I've been in an awesome mood for the last week and I am even fitting my clothes better already. I am still in pain from my abs workout yesterday...hahaha, it hurts to cough and laugh. I sneezed earlier and it felt like I was punched in the stomach. Something I don't want to get into the habit of is weighing myself everyday. I feel like if I do that than it takes away the surprise of loosing 10 lbs compared to one lb/day. My Curves weigh in is going to be funny-I will probably be down a good 20 lbs if this loss continues. I find the exercising part pretty easy...Curves has these circuits, so you go around in a circle two times and that takes about a half hour and it works all the major muscle groups. The machines are all hydraulic, so you don't have to worry about changing weights or anything and once you know all the machines it's very easy to get into it. I need to make some work-out music playlists though.
Anyway, good luck and keep up the hard work!
 
Hello! It's always great to have something to work towards and I am sure you will do it! I would love to lose 20lbs by christmas.

It's great when you start to see a change in the way your body looks, is so encouraging. I can't wait to get back into some of my old clothes!

I completely agree with the weighing yourself everyday thing. I do it too much!! I almost feel like locking the scales away till Friday!

Sounds as though you're doing so well :) take care.

Lydia
 
Julie,
Wow, sounds like you are off to a great start! How often do you go to Curves? Whoever came up with that concept is brilliant. A gym just for women? Yeah, that makes so much sense.
Where are you going in France? Losing weight before a vacation is awesome. You are going to be feeling great and looking great - not wasting time worrying about how your clothes fit, etc. You will also have more energy to do some extra walking and sightseeing. There is a great walking tour of Paris, if you plan to spend time there. You get a map and do as much of it as you want, without a guide. It takes you through a variety of neighborhoods, so you can stop and shop or eat or sightsee.

Lisa
 
Thanks guys! I'm going to Curves every weekday and giving myself the weekends off(mostly because I work retail and the weekend hours are long so I could go even if I wanted to). I am realy happy I set up that meeting to see Curves. It's only $50 a month and that is much cheaper than any other place in my area and I do love that it is just for women.
I am visiting a friend who is working as a teaching assistant in Normandy. I will fly into Paris and we are spending a few days there and then we'll be taking the train to Normandy. We are going to try to spend a day in Enlgand too, because it is very close to where she is (like a 3 hour ferry ride or something). It's going to be interesting-there is so much yummy looking food in France(my friend is posting mouthwatering pics on Facebook)...maybe I'll see if there is a Curves there too...LOL
Have you ever been to France and if so can you recommend any places to visit?
 
My husband is from the region of Brittany, west of Normandy. I haven't done any sight seeing in Normandy except for the D Day sites and Mont Saint Michel, which sits just in between Brittany and Normandy. The crepes they serve in the restaurant there are famous. Normandy is known for foods made with lots of butter and cream. YUM!!! I'll ask my husband if he knows any other places to visit. How has your week been - food and exercise wise? Are you still happy that you decided to do this?
 
Hi Julie!
I'm totally hearing you in regards to swimming! I'm 32 and have barely been in the water in the last 9 years since I had the kids. I so miss it, but am just too ashamed :( as a teenager and a kid I was always in the water! Nowadays I swim in long shorts and a t shirt, sometimes even jeans!
We have Curves here in Australia, but it's pretty expensive I've heard. I might have to ring up and suss it out though, it sounds great (love the women only thing).
Congrats on the loss so far, losing some really does help with motivation :)
Jess
 
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