It is time

I quit smoking 15 months ago and am now ready to deal with the weight I
gained on top of an already large body. I have a LOT to loose and I
really don't feel like posting it as it is very depressive. I am just
having a terrible time getting around now and it truly is time. Any
help will be greatly appreciated!

"ButterflyQuilter" <butterflyquilter@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1167557420.244408.316450@s34g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>I quit smoking 15 months ago and am now ready to deal with the weight I
> gained on top of an already large body. I have a LOT to loose and I
> really don't feel like posting it as it is very depressive. I am just
> having a terrible time getting around now and it truly is time. Any
> help will be greatly appreciated!

I know it's hard to, but try to break it up into small goals, rather than
one big one. Shoot for 5 lbs at a time. Take it one day at a time.
Realize that you didn't get this way overnight, and it will be a journey
taking it off. But it's a wonderful journey. Take this opportunity to
learn how to care for and nurture yourself. Find out your body's hidden
potential as you start to eat healthy and exercise. Celebrate each small
victory, and track your progress in more ways than just scale weight so you
will be able to appreciate each small change. A year goes by so quickly,
and if you will just apply yourself to THIS day, a year will be gone before
you know it, and so very much progress can be made in just one year.

We have many different "tricks" or tactics to our own weight loss and
fitness goals. I am sure if you have any questions, people will be very
happy to share what works for them. Learn as much as you can, ask
questions, and develop a system that feels comfortable and doable for you.

Remember, this is not a short term plan to rid yourself of the excess
pounds. It is a permanent change in your way of eating and way of life. It
has to be sustainable for long term, so it's important to take it slowly,
and figure out the best way for YOU.

Determined has offered some excellent advice so I'll just add a couple
websites many of us use:
www.fitday.com A good place for tracking your food and exercise.

http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/index.php This has information on exercise
and diet.

Welcome to the group and congratulations on quitting smoking. If you can do
that you can lose the weight, too.

Beverly





determined wrote:
> "ButterflyQuilter" <butterflyquilter@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1167557420.244408.316450@s34g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>> I quit smoking 15 months ago and am now ready to deal with the weight I
>> gained on top of an already large body. I have a LOT to loose and I
>> really don't feel like posting it as it is very depressive. I am just
>> having a terrible time getting around now and it truly is time. Any
>> help will be greatly appreciated!
>
> I know it's hard to, but try to break it up into small goals, rather than
> one big one. Shoot for 5 lbs at a time. Take it one day at a time.
> Realize that you didn't get this way overnight, and it will be a journey
> taking it off. But it's a wonderful journey. Take this opportunity to
> learn how to care for and nurture yourself. Find out your body's hidden
> potential as you start to eat healthy and exercise. Celebrate each small
> victory, and track your progress in more ways than just scale weight so
you
> will be able to appreciate each small change. A year goes by so quickly,
> and if you will just apply yourself to THIS day, a year will be gone
before
> you know it, and so very much progress can be made in just one year.
>
> We have many different "tricks" or tactics to our own weight loss and
> fitness goals. I am sure if you have any questions, people will be very
> happy to share what works for them. Learn as much as you can, ask
> questions, and develop a system that feels comfortable and doable for you.
>
> Remember, this is not a short term plan to rid yourself of the excess
> pounds. It is a permanent change in your way of eating and way of life.
It
> has to be sustainable for long term, so it's important to take it slowly,
> and figure out the best way for YOU.

ButterflyQuilter wrote:
> I quit smoking 15 months ago and am now ready to deal with the weight I
> gained on top of an already large body. I have a LOT to loose and I
> really don't feel like posting it as it is very depressive. I am just
> having a terrible time getting around now and it truly is time. Any
> help will be greatly appreciated!


It's ok to gain a little weight once you've quit smoking. Smoking makes
your heart work as if you have an extra 75 pounds or so. So, you're
already lost 75 pounds!

No, time to get active. Start walking, logging what you eat. I use
www.fitday.com it's free and does a pretty good job. Eat healthy foods,
be moderate, don't go overboard, remember, this is a lifelong marathon,
not a sprint. If you can only make it around the block, do that, then
tomorrow try two times walking around the block. Add blocks slowly and
pretty soon, you'll be walking a couple of miles.

Get yourself a good pair or walking shoes. Go to a running/walking
store and have your feet measured.

And think positive! It's amazing how powerful positive thinking is!!!


SFrunner
184/157/140

ButterflyQuilter wrote:
> I quit smoking 15 months ago and am now ready to deal with the weight I
> gained on top of an already large body. I have a LOT to loose and I
> really don't feel like posting it as it is very depressive. I am just
> having a terrible time getting around now and it truly is time. Any
> help will be greatly appreciated!

What I did to help lose weight was set smaller goals. It can seem
daunting to say you want to lose 100 pounds, but losing 15 pounds in
order to get into the next smaller pair of jeans ( which you buy ahead
of time and hang in plain view in your closet to try on every few days)
is a doable goal. It creates reinforcement too with each intermediate
goal. It worked for me. I lost 90 pounds, but all my goals were
smaller. I also have changed my diet several times and even turned
vegetarian, but always counting calories which is the one sacrosanct
constant for losing weight.

It is not easy, and I know lots of people slip back to their old eating
habits, but I think once you really decide to lose the weight, NOTHING
can allow you to overeat even once. When you get to your caloric quota
for the day....STOP EATING. That is what worked for me and is still
working. I know people talk about splurging for holidays, etc. then
making up for it later. That would not work for me. It is a little like
cheating on your marriage. The marriage is never the same, and neither
is the diet. Next thing you know you are fat and single again. dkw

"ButterflyQuilter" <butterflyquilter@hotmail.com> wrote in
message
news:1167557420.244408.316450@s34g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>I quit smoking 15 months ago and am now ready to deal
>with the weight I
> gained on top of an already large body. I have a LOT to
> loose and I
> really don't feel like posting it as it is very
> depressive. I am just
> having a terrible time getting around now and it truly
> is time. Any
> help will be greatly appreciated!
>
Good for you for recognizing that now is the time to
change. You can learn a lot from the many successful
dieters on this newsgroup. Many of them have lost a
considerable amount of weight and are continuing to lose
or are keeping weight off through diet and exercise plans
that have worked for them. I lost 25 pounds through diet
and exercise about 5 years ago and have stayed within a
reasonable range since then. I am at the upper range right
now, but am slowly getting down to where I would like to
be. I eat healthy foods and control portion sizes. I do a
bit of "formal" exercise (work out at Curves 3-4 days per
week, work out with hand and ankle weights a couple times
a week). I try to stay active throughout the day in small
ways (always taking the stairs at work, parking as far
away as possible when grocery shopping or running
errands). I also walk our dog Eddie a couple of times a
day - one of my goals for 2007 is to walk at least an hour
a day, which is fine with her. Keep reading this
newsgroup - you will learn so much. I hope you find it as
helpful as I always have. Good luck.
Take care,
eddiegirl
136/135/130

ButterflyQuilter wrote:
> I quit smoking 15 months ago and am now ready to deal with the weight I
> gained on top of an already large body. I have a LOT to loose and I
> really don't feel like posting it as it is very depressive.

Hi BQ,

I was 385 pounds a year ago. I'm 274 this week, and have only about
50-60 pounds to go. In my humble opinion, you need to face up to the
problem in all its stark reality. OK, perhaps you don't have to post
your weight, but by all means be aware of it.

I am just
> having a terrible time getting around now and it truly is time. Any
> help will be greatly appreciated!

Unfortunately, the most likely answer to the problem is eat less and
better, and exercise. Repeat for the rest of your life. If you want
more specifics from us, you'll have to offer more specifics to us.

Neil
385/274/220

dkw12002@yahoo.com wrote:

> It is not easy, and I know lots of people slip back to their old eating
> habits, but I think once you really decide to lose the weight, NOTHING
> can allow you to overeat even once. When you get to your caloric quota
> for the day....STOP EATING. That is what worked for me and is still
> working. I know people talk about splurging for holidays, etc. then
> making up for it later. That would not work for me. It is a little like
> cheating on your marriage. The marriage is never the same, and neither
> is the diet. Next thing you know you are fat and single again. dkw


I am glad that the all or nothing approach is working for you. But
I'd like to point out that taking that stance wouldn't be good for
everyone. Me, I slip up. I do overeat on occasion. Then I pick
myself up, knock off the dust, and go back to doing what I have to do.
Part of my diet *is* having off days, and that's okay. It doesn't
destroy my efforts, certainly not the way that having an affair would
hurt or ruin my marriage.

Just offering another point of view.

--
Annie


As of 12-29-06: 258/183/140 Standing at 5 foot 4.


75 pounds lost. 43 left to go. Started February/07/05


Come visit my weight-loss web site, Annie Takes Off.
http://webpages.charter.net/lenny13/DietFrontPage.html

"ButterflyQuilter" <butterflyquilter@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1167557420.244408.316450@s34g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>I quit smoking 15 months ago and am now ready to deal with the weight I
> gained on top of an already large body. I have a LOT to loose and I
> really don't feel like posting it as it is very depressive. I am just
> having a terrible time getting around now and it truly is time. Any
> help will be greatly appreciated!

Well, BQ, a journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step, and proceeds
through many more steps before it is done. It doesn't matter how much you
don't want to be the weight you are now--it depends on taking the steps. If
you can stop smoking, then you can lose the weight. Last May 12, I was 235
pounds, and had extermely high blood pressure. I have lost 1/3 of myself
since then, and my blood pressure is within the normal range. I'm not done
yet, though. I want to get down to 135. If you had told me last May that I
would ever even dream of being 135 pounds, I would have thought you were
poking fun at me. But I'm determined to get there this year--2007. One
step at a time. With a healthy eating plan and time set aside for exercise,
I know I'll make it, too. You need to do it *for you.* Come up with an
intermediate goal. (You may have several along the way) And take that first
step. Whether it is joining a group like Weight Watchers, joining an
exercise group, or working with a doctor. And be sure to come back here for
lots of encouragement. Good Luck!

Annie Benson-Lennaman wrote:
> dkw12002@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>> It is not easy, and I know lots of people slip back to their old eating
>> habits, but I think once you really decide to lose the weight, NOTHING
>> can allow you to overeat even once. When you get to your caloric quota
>> for the day....STOP EATING. That is what worked for me and is still
>> working. I know people talk about splurging for holidays, etc. then
>> making up for it later. That would not work for me. It is a little like
>> cheating on your marriage. The marriage is never the same, and neither
>> is the diet. Next thing you know you are fat and single again. dkw
>
>
> I am glad that the all or nothing approach is working for you. But
> I'd like to point out that taking that stance wouldn't be good for
> everyone. Me, I slip up. I do overeat on occasion. Then I pick
> myself up, knock off the dust, and go back to doing what I have to do.
> Part of my diet *is* having off days, and that's okay. It doesn't
> destroy my efforts, certainly not the way that having an affair would
> hurt or ruin my marriage.
>
> Just offering another point of view.
>
> --
> Annie
>
>
> As of 12-29-06: 258/183/140 Standing at 5 foot 4.
>
>
> 75 pounds lost. 43 left to go. Started February/07/05
>
>
> Come visit my weight-loss web site, Annie Takes Off.
> http://webpages.charter.net/lenny13/DietFrontPage.html

Many of us share your view, Annie.

When I was in weight loss mode I sometimes went over my daily caloric
allowance. Jumping back on my program the next day (or meal) was the most
important key to me.

I don't think just quitting eating once I hit the calorie limit for the day
would work for me - especially if I hit that limit early in the day. I
would be starved by the next day and probably would have over ate again.

Beverly

<dkw12002@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1167584880.766984.75330@i12g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
> ButterflyQuilter wrote:
> > I quit smoking 15 months ago and am now ready to deal with the weight I
> > gained on top of an already large body. I have a LOT to loose and I
> > really don't feel like posting it as it is very depressive. I am just
> > having a terrible time getting around now and it truly is time. Any
> > help will be greatly appreciated!
>
> What I did to help lose weight was set smaller goals. It can seem
> daunting to say you want to lose 100 pounds, but losing 15 pounds in
> order to get into the next smaller pair of jeans ( which you buy ahead
> of time and hang in plain view in your closet to try on every few days)
> is a doable goal. It creates reinforcement too with each intermediate
> goal. It worked for me. I lost 90 pounds, but all my goals were
> smaller. I also have changed my diet several times and even turned
> vegetarian, but always counting calories which is the one sacrosanct
> constant for losing weight.
>
> It is not easy, and I know lots of people slip back to their old eating
> habits, but I think once you really decide to lose the weight, NOTHING
> can allow you to overeat even once. When you get to your caloric quota
> for the day....STOP EATING. That is what worked for me and is still
> working. I know people talk about splurging for holidays, etc. then
> making up for it later. That would not work for me. It is a little like
> cheating on your marriage. The marriage is never the same, and neither
> is the diet. Next thing you know you are fat and single again. dkw
>

My experience is different. I had maintained my weight for 7 years after
losing lots of weight. Then came along my child. I had gained 35 pounds (a
bit over half of my original weight gain) in 2 years. I had thought I had it
licked, considering my 7-year record. The first and second years I was
nursing, my hunger was monstrously uncontrollable (hormones?), and I didn't
keep up with exercise consistently. I was extremely tired. It sounds like an
excuse, I know, but it was what it was. By the way, nursing doesn't always
melt the pounds away. It does in general, but not for all women.

Now that things are more calm in the 3rd year, hunger-wise, I am working on
losing the weight again. I learned that it's best to take one day at a time
and never say never. I am in my 40s and menopause is not too far down the
road. I will have to deal with it then, as some women do gain weight as a
result.

I would say do what you can and concentrate on one day at a time and
remember you are human, not a robot, when for whatever reason, you find
yourself gaining some weight back. I hardly compare this to having an
affair, though.