New to the Community with Weight Loss Goals (40 pounds)

[lizlocked]

Hey everyone! Just a quick post to introduce myself and say hello. I have never posted to the forums before but thought... why not! ((I'm a little nervous for some reason.)) I am hoping to be able to lose 40 pounds and get back to looking amazing. I've had three kids - the oldest is 6 and the youngest is 2 - so it is time to get back in shape. I let myself get REALLY out of shape having kids and after and have already taken off 60 pounds. Here is picture of me at my heaviest... right after having our third daughter. 

The last 40 are proving a bit stickier. Hoping 2015 is the year I get it all off and start feeling more like the old me again. Does anyone else know how that feels? Has anyone gotten the weight off sucessfully? I would love to hear your stories and get any tips. I am ready to work hard and completely reclaim my body. Here is our Christmas card from this year (so you can get an idea of how far I've come) but as you can see from the picture I am looking forward to the day when I don't have to wear oversized shirts and hide behind my cute kids!

So... any tips people? I am open to anything (well, except taking weird diet pills or something). Trying to get legitimatly healthier! Hugs to the community! So glad to be here!!! 

[Algenon]

Hi!   Congratulations on the weight you have already lost!  I have lost 75 pounds and I have another 19 to go....

I have noticed that everyone is different and no two people lose weight the same way.  For me the movement is what really helped me.  When I started moving more often, the weight dropped off.  If you already made changes to your diet you might want to try to increase the number of steps...

I have seen other posts that suggest you change your work out routine and calorie count because your body gets use to what you are doing and adjusts.  Good luck!

[lizlocked]

Thanks @Algenon! Congrats on your loss too! Isn't it amazing how much extra weight a person can carry around?! I feel like the fitbit gives me a more reslistic picture of what I am actually burning so that helps guide my eating. A stressful day RARELY justifies drive-thru french fries, lol. At least not unless I am running a marathon! 

[spinner7]

I am totally new to this. You look great.  I guess the gig is to keep on moving and ignore the kids snacks, lunch box nibbles and all that food that is around all the time.  Looking for active boards to keep going, on day 2.  Not sure how to post pictures yet but will as soon as I figure it out.  Sunday, a good day to take a walk!

[jhunt]

Way to go on all the hard work! What type of exercise are you doing along with eating better?

[lizlocked]

Thanks @spinner7 and @jhunt! I appreciete the support! I have been working on getting the weight off for 2.5 years now (that is the age of my youngest daughter) so I've tried a lot of different "methods". Low carb, weight watchers, portion control, vegetarian... you name it. I just keep trying new things when I get stuck. I also try to get in exercise - aka I bought a treadmill - and I walk as often as I have the energy. I usually have to work out at night because I just can't make myself get up super early and so I have to fit it in after the kids go to bed. My biggest impediment to weight loss is honestly... myself. I get derailed from time to time and think "oh for crying out loud this cookie (or 10) looks amazing and I am just going to go for it" and then who can lose weight acting like that. So I am trying to gain a bit more control and move a bit more and hopefully look a bit more like the old me!

[jhunt]

I hear you for sure! Chasing around two kids myself most days. So there is always string cheese, peanut butter n jelly leftovers, and who knows what else. And the mother in law always is baking up a storm, so there is always a ton of sweets. And one often can turn into 2, 5, 10! Instead of never eating any of them, I try to have one as a special treat or a portion of one and then won't allow myself to bring them home.

In terms of working out, I feel you there too. I wish I could get up at 5 and workout. It's just too early for me. But then by the time the end of the day comes around working out seems like the last thing I want to do. It seems to only work when the motivation is high (ie a beach trip, some other event, or even stepping on the scale and seeing I'm going the wrong  way). 

What I notice is with the right motivation, I find a way to workout. Find a sitter (family or other), and get myself to the gym. I go to one that has group classes so once you're there, you're in and can't shortchange yourself!

[Sissy16124]

dustyCEO,

I totally agree with you, I am my own worst enemy when it comes to trying to eat healthy to lose weight. I have a 6 yr old son who loves oreos and sometimes I just can't help myself. My boyfriend is also a big candy lover and he will lay in bed at night and eat smarties or sweet tarts and of course never gains a pound over his 165lbs. For me I just have to excersise more. I just joined a 24 hour gym in my neighborhood because I am like you, I can't get up early to get to the gym but after my son is in bed and asleep I can head out for some time at the gym. Thankfully I have a mother and boyfriend who are very supportive and stay with my son so that I can get in the workout. I have only lost 10 lbs so far but I've only just begun.

[SunsetRunner]

@Sissy16124

That's amazing to make healthy changes for yourself. Exercise because it's fun to do, to feel fitter, not for the calories it would burn. Don't take it to the extreme either to 'have to burn' off any 'overeaten' calories.

Honor your body and rest when needed (feeling pain when exercising or muscles feeling sore), that's a sign to need rest. Rest is essential so muscles can recover and getting stronger, otherwise they don't have the chance to become stronger and overtraining isn't good for the body and can lead to a long time recovery.

That's a great achievement to have lost 10lbs so far! Be happy with what you and your wonderful body achieved so far, it can only get better.

When exercising, muscles get stronger and the weight on the scale can stay the same or even increase while body fat has been lower.

The fat loss can have been compensated with increase of muscles, meaning getting leaner but having the same or a higher weight. This is a great sign, 'cause it means getting leaner.

Don't focus on weight itself, but that body fat decreases. Weight can be anything (water, muscle loss, fat loss). It's possible when having a to large deficit that the body starts to use muscle for energy rather than wanting to give up on body fat since it needs body fat for survival (to make up for periods when all energy from food is used, when being hungry not being able to eat instantly, it uses body fat as energy) or when being sick and not being able to eat much for a longer time.

Don't go to long without food or the body can think there's a food shortage, slowing down metabolism and keeping onto anything it gets rather than burning fat optimally. When providing food about at least 3 - 4 hours (even when eating smaller portions), the body has no reason to hold onto fat.. since it knows you take care of it by providing food when it needs to.

Don't skip breakfast, when not hungry just eat a little bit (in max a hour after waking up) otherwise the body can think there's a food shortage, stop sending appetite and hunger signals. Lowering metabolism, and hold onto any energy / food it gets.

Keep believing and have fun!