5thofloss

I guess i'm mainly posting for some support/encouragement, today I went to the dr for a MRI w/contrst on my back, and after injecting me with the dye, the lady tries to slide me into the MRI machine and we both realize that I won't fit. I weighed in at 283 at the dr's office the other day :( My fiance blames all of my medical conditions on my weight...or at least a huge contribution to them...(I have Rapid-cycling Bipolar II disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, a Panic disorder, Fibromyalgia, and Rheumatoid Arthritis) I just feel really terrible about myself today :(

This was a (Captain Obvious here) a face pic when I was roughly 425 lbs. February of 2007


This was taken at the beginning of December of 2009



February 2007 425 lbs


October 2008 250 lbs

Phew. After three and a half weeks laid up with sinus infection followed by tonsilitis and what is yet still undiagnosed nastiness in my throat, I finally bit the bullet and felt good enough today to go to the gym for a quick run.

I still made a pretty decent mile time, but jogged a little slower than normal. Made it through a half mile before slowing down to walk a bit.

I'm also down 4 lbs in this week from last Monday (so only up 3 since before Thanksgiving now!)

Wow! I've been struggling so much throughout this year! I just can't wait to start a new one. I don't want to really make "new years resolutions" I just want to make resolutions.

I know I definetly want to run a 5K, and at 5'8", 20 years old, and 220lbs, I know it's definitely possible. I see all the lovely ladies here posting photos of their 5K and I want to be one of them! My goal is to do the CIBC run for the cure in October 2010...although it's far away, that's my goal. Hopefully I'll get the chance to run a 5K before then, but I'm going to start my training today.

I've already contacted my district manager to see if I could be Team Captain of Team LaSenza, so I definitely have an obligation now. Not to mention the run is for a good cause.

Anyway, I was hoping if...
A) anyone had some suggestions for training for a 5K
and B) anyone had some suggestions for keeping my weight loss on track!

Thanks!

I am looking to do my first (official) 5K in March and was wondering if anyone else was going to be doing That Dam Run?

I did it! I ran my first road race and I'm going to give you a little history and my first Race Report :) (x-posted to my communities)

I started running in September of this year with the Couch to 5k program as an overweight woman who had not been physically active since my elementary tee-ball team. I am still about 50 pounds overweight, but have also lost 50 pounds this year!! I train at around 4 to 4.5 mph depending on the terrain, and finished the 5k in 42.13 today. As I continue to loose weight I will up my speed.

Jingle Bell 5k: It rained overnight in San Diego, quite a rarity, but the sun started to peak out right before the race. We arrived to check in at 7am and the race didn't start til 8am. I picked up my bib and had the most overwhelming feeling of pride to be running my first race, complete with my own bib!! We had little to do but stretch and laugh at all the ridiculous costumes while we waited an hour to begin. My favorites were the running "Santa Elvis" in a red one piece with flair legs, and the gals who dressed up like wind up Christmas toys. Much to my dismay the race started on an incline and didn't level out for about half a mile. At the water station at about 1.5 miles I realized how hard it is to drink and run after spilling about half the cup on my shirt. At mile 2 I was passed by a group of 8 women in a Reindeer Sleigh costume with a Rudolph leading the way and a woman dressed as a Santa leading the rear, pushing a stroller made up to look like a sleigh. All were attached to each other by red velvet ribbon. Ya, that was a bit embarrassing. Approaching mile 3 I heard the wonderful cheers of the crowd. Note to you early finishers and bystanders: you have no idea how helpful your cheers and good wishes are, thank you!!

I did it! I ran my first road race and I'm going to give you a little history and my first Race Report :) (x-posted to my communities)

I started running in September of this year with the Couch to 5k program as an overweight woman who had not been physically active since my elementary tee-ball team. I am still about 50 pounds overweight, but have also lost 50 pounds this year!! I train at around 4 to 4.5 mph depending on the terrain, and finished the 5k in 42.13 today. As I continue to loose weight I will up my speed.

Jingle Bell 5k: It rained overnight in San Diego, quite a rarity, but the sun started to peak out right before the race. We arrived to check in at 7am and the race didn't start til 8am. I picked up my bib and had the most overwhelming feeling of pride to be running my first race, complete with my own bib!! We had little to do but stretch and laugh at all the ridiculous costumes while we waited an hour to begin. My favorites were the running "Santa Elvis" in a red one piece with flair legs, and the gals who dressed up like wind up Christmas toys. Much to my dismay the race started on an incline and didn't level out for about half a mile. At the water station at about 1.5 miles I realized how hard it is to drink and run after spilling about half the cup on my shirt. At mile 2 I was passed by a group of 8 women in a Reindeer Sleigh costume with a Rudolph leading the way and a woman dressed as a Santa leading the rear, pushing a stroller made up to look like a sleigh. All were attached to each other by red velvet ribbon. Ya, that was a bit embarrassing. Approaching mile 3 I heard the wonderful cheers of the crowd. Note to you early finishers and bystanders: you have no idea who helpful your cheers and good wishes are, thank you!!

I am curious if anyone here has either of these. If so, what are your thoughts on this product?

Today I am starting Day One of the 30-day meal plan. Good Googly Moogly you eat a TON of food. I'm a little worried about how my body is going to react to all this food, because for the past few weeks, I've been going on roughly 700 calories a day. Will my weight suddenly balloon or will I start to lose weight? I can't see how eating so much food is going to make me lose weight. Has anyone else tried the 50 million pounds challenge?

I binged terribly on Sunday and I really regret it, but the only positive side-effect of binging is that it does usually help "move things through"... this time it hasn't.
( I need advice! using an LJ-cut since the subject matter is a little bit gross )

Heeeeeeeeeeelp (;_;)

Last night was the Biggest Loser finale. This was the first season that I watched and I have to say, I didn't miss an episode. Having gone through the weight loss process on my own this past year, I felt really connected to the contestants on BL this season.

I got to the gym at 7:55 last night and the treadmill in front of the TV showing NBC was open. I got on it and started watching the finale thinking that I'd watch the first half hour and then go do weights and finish my work-out before coming back to my apartment to finish watching it since my computer was taping it for me.

For some reason, twenty minutes into the finale and the treadmill, I decided to stay on it for the full two hour finale. Somehow, I did it. 550 calories. Two hours on the treadmill, alternating the incline and running during commercial breaks.

I felt so proud (and so sore!) afterwards and I'm so glad I decided to do it. It really shows me how much I have changed my life this year.

Anyway, did anyone else watch the finale? I think everyone looked amazing except for Tracey. She was a game player the whole time and she looked a little too thin I thought. I hate when people tell me I don't need to lose anymore weight but I really did think she looked better with about 20 more pounds on her.

I'm so proud of Rebecca and Danny.

Wow!!! Just three days later, I still find it hard to believe that I just completed my first half marathon Saturday. It was a cold day (24-30 degrees F), but sooo wonderfully sunny and beautiful out. I LOVED THE COURSE ROUTE (with the exception of getting lost at 12.90 miles due to not knowing there was a third turn I needed to make). All of the hard 7 months of training made my first half so EASY! I actually want to do another one. ME!? I never in my life fathomed that I would would day embark on such a milestone as being a half marathoner!!!!

10K marker (6.2 miles) was done in 2:05:50 at 20:18 Min Mile Pace, but overall finish time for half marathon (13.1 miles) done in 5:05:29 at 23:20 Min Mile Pace. I placed 6,823 out of 8,000 half marathoners!!!!!

( Pictures!!!!!! )

Ok, so here's my dirty secret... I hate to work out. I hate it... hate hate hate. I hate feeling sweaty and smelly and ugh I just hate it. I hate it so much that I am having a really hard time doing anything for more than 15 minutes at a time.

Is there anyone else out there with this aversion to exercise? How did you overcome it? Did you find something you loved to do? This weight loss journey would be MUCH nicer if I could find an activity I really enjoyed doing.

I wish I had time to write a whole huge post with explanations, but I only have time to summarize.

Those of us in the US (and those abroad who care about such matters): The FDA is considering changing its requirements for its nutrition labels on foodstuffs and is asking for feedback! You can find more information about where to go and suggestions for label improvements at Fooducate's entry on the topic.

( Here's the List Fooducate Gave )

The only thing I'd add to the list is requiring ALL restaurants (fast food, sit down, expensive, inexpensive...) to list their nutrition information on their menus. I don't know if that falls under this particular act, but it doesn't hurt to make the suggestion.

Is there anything else we should suggest? Oh, and pass this on to others and encourage them to pass it on.... Maybe some real changes can be made.

(crossposted)

Have you had any victories yet today? Share them with me! :-)

Me? I ran 12 minutes straight this morning! That's progress for me!

And I said YES!!! Now, I'm in a panic!! The wedding is going to be on December 3,2010 and I want to lose 100 lbs between now and then (this will put me at 150). I NEED HELP!!! I need someone to call and motivate my butt to work-out, and to actually do what I am supposed to do!!!!! Oh my GOSH, oh my gosh. Y'all I'm so excited, terrified, happy, scared!!!!

Someone else did this here a few days ago and I thought it was brilliant, so I am asking for your opinions on me too!
Below the cut are photos of me now, at my highest weight. I want to know how much it seems like I weight, because I seem to have body dismorphic disorder. What I see in the mirror, in photos and on the scale are not the same. I am 5'9. Please be brutally honest.

( ... )</ </lj-cut>

For those of you run or jog, or even walk, as part of your exercise, is ankle pain an issue?
I have mostly heard of hip and knee pain, which arent issues for me, but after walking only a block or two, my ankles hurt quite a lot. I assume it is just because of my weight. Does anyone have any tips?

I just finished David Kessler's 'The End of Overeating' a few days ago and I finally have a chance to sit down and tell you all about it. Stumptuous.com had a review of it that someone here linked to and I thought it looked interesting and picked it up.

Holy smokes!

If you've ever found yourself with your hand stuffed in a bag of half eaten potato chips (that wasn't even opened last time you checked) with no idea how you got there, this book has the answers. Those answers don't make the challenge of losing weight any easier. But it might help you fight the self loathing our failures can bring.

Basically Kessler describes a pattern of behavior towards food that he calls "conditioned hypereating". The human body has an evolutionary drive towards sugar, fat, and salt that can act like an addiction for many people. In one of the studies he mentions, the 'cravability' of food high in sugar, fat and salt is approximately the same as that of heroin. And unlike heroin, we can't quit eating food cold turkey.

The first half of the book is devoted to detailing the causes and symptoms of hypereating, and how modern American food companies are doing everything in their power to keep us hooked. They are companies in the business of making money after all, and if we're addicted to their product, we'll keep buying it. This can all seem a little depressing, as if the forces of the world are stacked against ever being in control of what we eat. And they are. But we don't have to cede that control. We CAN make our own choices; the second half of the book is devoted to strategies to help you make the choices the rational you wants, instead of the choices your brain chemicals are slavering for. A lot of the techniques are taken from addiction treatments, and they make a whole lot of sense.

I really can't recommend reading the book for yourself enough, I understand so much more about the way I eat, and why I can't pass up the open bag of gold fish crackers my son didn't eat. It's a trigger food for me and I'll eat every last goldfish if the container is open. So I buy single serving packs and I throw away a bag without even looking inside it when my son says 'all done!' with his lunch or snack or whatever. Once it's in the trash I won't go fishing for it, and I won't open an unopened container. Since I KNOW I can't eat 'just a handful' I simply can't have them at all.

That doesn't mean I feel deprived though. There are plenty of foods that I really enjoy that I CAN stop eating after a single serving. I can have a half cup of ice cream or a single square of chocolate and stop; and I do occasionally.

It's really refreshing to read a book that isn't trying to sell you something and doesn't reduce the battle to lose weight to 'eat less, move more'. This book is brutally honest about the challenges all of us face in trying to gain control over the food we eat. Losing weight is not easy. And it's NOT a matter of willpower. A constant minute by minute battle with ourselves is exhausting, and not sustainable. The key, as Kessler tells it, is to replace the habits that feed our addiction with other, healthier, habits. It sounds simple, and it is. But simple doesn't mean easy. It's hard, brutally hard, to gain control of an addiction. But it IS possible, and Kessler's book helps shed some light on that possibility.

Well here in Chicago we're about to have our first big cold snap.......no more running outside! So I wanted to get some videos to do. Has anyone done any of the programs like Slim In 6 or TurboJam? What were your experiences? I saw a commercial tonight and I was (slightly) intrigued. My mom bought one of their resistance bands but I "stole" it because she doesn't use it anymore. Good, bad, blah....???

x-posted