Never Give Up in 2009 Challenge

[allylynn]

Ok, Here I go. I have read thru the first page of posts and will have to finish reading more tomorrow. Really need to get off my big booty (smaller and smaller all the time)

My name is Amy. I was such a small thin child in high school and such. I graduated high school at 133 pounds being 5ft. 10 inches. So I was THIN! Of course I have my underlying family issue that helped pack on the pounds. My mother and sister would call me watermelon butt all the time and my mother would only show love and affection to me when we would sit down together and eat an entire loaf of white bread. Ugh, if she had only thought of how this would affect me long term. Of course, I'm a grown woman and make my own choices. Trying to make better ones now, lol.

I gained tremendous weight with my first pregnancy. I started being 160 ish and ended my pregnancy 215ish. UGGHH. Two more kids later and other factors playing into weight gain, I ballooned up to 252. Once I reached the 250 mark, that was the turning point. I had reached the point that I felt that if I didn't do something, I would wake up a few days later encroaching 300.

I lost 18 pounds on my own and started the moving process again. (I've moved way too many times) When I moved out here to Montana from Tennessee I have had nothing to do except settle in and look around saying...What am I doing here? It's beautiful here, just everyone I know feels that I have moved off the continent!

Decided to participate in the Breast Cancer 3 Day walk. I figured I'd be raising money for a good cause and focusing to lose weight. When I was walking 30+ miles a week and ony had lost 3 pounds, my back decided to give out. I aggravated 2 bulging herniated discs in my back and my doc put me on PHEN. So I started my journey on Phen without the ability to workout. Lost alot of weight and took a job that required physical activity while I was shrinking.

I've done well while losing weight until a few weeks ago. Came down with a kidney infection and got to 190. As I healed, a few pounds returned. I got off Phen for the remainder of December since I was having such a hard time staying on the calorie track while I was losing my job. My last day on my job was the 28th. Everyone felt bad for us and would bring in oodles of junk the last month or more. Figured between losing my job, the holidays, getting better and being on Phen for awhile...now was a good time for a break.

The new year is my Favorite holiday. A new fresh start.

I start this challenge up a few pounds. I'm currently 198 and will be going back on Phen the day the kids go back to school. Which I think is Jan. 5th. My three boys are ages 14, 12, and 10. Will be excited to start the year back on track and with the idea that a bathing suit is looming on the horizon!

I will be eating 1200 calories starting next week and starting some type of fitness regimine for 30 min. a day. My VD goal will be 180 pounds!

Thanks for reading, I promise that all my posts won't be this long!

[firemama3]

Yay, we have the same goal weight for V-day...you're alot closer to it than I am girl... You're lucky I love you as much as I do.......

I AM lucky you love me so much !!! Back at ya sista from another motha !!!!!

[alykat06]

The official weigh in day is tomorrow..is everyone ready?

[Glenna M]

Ready as I can be after my birthday indulgence! I am so excited about how many have joined, this is going to be great.

[alykat06]

yes I am excited too we have over 40 challengers right now!

[CDCreations]

Nice to see you CD..I was thinking about you today.......i rmeember our Valentine's challenge last year, that was by far the most successful one yet that I have done.....hope to get that kind of motivation again!

Hey Scat, great to see you too!!!! Yep, I remember the Valentine's challenge very well, and I think we will get that motivation going again in this challenge -- lots of folks with lots of great energy to get us headed in the right direction again - I'm ready for this, so let's lose this weight!!!!

[CDCreations]

The official weigh in day is tomorrow..is everyone ready?

Yes, I am so ready to do this thang!!! Alykat, thanks so much for starting this challenge (by the way, I had an aunt who used to live in Havre de Grace many years ago, and when I was younger and still lived at home, we used to go visit her!). Okay, just got a huge wake-up call a few minutes ago. Going out tomorrow night to celebrate the New Year coming in, so I try on this tight panty thang I bought that is supposed to hold me in so that I will look somewhat sleek and normal in the gorgeous dress I plan to wear. My goodness, I pulled and stretched and finally got that thing on - the smart thing that I did was that I put it on in front of my mirror, good grief! Talk about a huge wake-up call - I don't want to spend the rest of my life squeezing into a tight panty thing; I lost this weight before, and I'm gonna lose it again!!! So I'm about to do my exercise bike, gonna put in about 40 minutes' worth right now!!!

[scatanafas]

Yeah CD, been there done that...I had this body slimmer thing that I used to wear to slim me down and it was the ugliest thing ever, I always said that if i were in an accident the EMT's would need to use the jaws of life to get me out of this thing....at night when I took it off you could see the indentations on my body of the seams....the things we do! I want to be able to wear a form fitting dress and NOT NEED something like that, right now that isn't possible. yes, I'm grateful for spanx but its no fun wearing them to a barbeque party in july....if I get heatstroke let it not be because of my knickers for God's sake!

[mendogirl]

I never thought I would be joining a challenge (don't like pressure) but I could use some motivation so this just might be the thing to get me going again.

My name is Rachael, I'm 33, I've been married to my hunny from the Big Eazy for 8 years. We have 2 awesome boys 7 and 3, and a little kitty "lollipop". I'm a massage therapist and I absolutely love it.

Most of my life weight was not a problem, I'm 5'5 and I stayed around 125 lbs without even giving it a thought. My weight issues began about 5 years ago after the death of my little brother. I turned to food for comfort to help deal with the sadness I felt.

After losing a little weight and then gaining it back plus some more than once my self-esteem was in the toilet. I decided enough was enough, no more excuses! I needed to get tough with myself and shed this weight once and for all. Reclaim myself! I started phen on June 23rd at 189.6 lbs. by the time I took a break from it on Oct 10th I was down to 157.1. I started the Master Cleanse right after I stopped phen and lasted on it for 9 days. I lost 9 lbs, 7 of which have stayed off. (the other 2 came back within the first day just from the weight of food itself inside my body).

I started phen again on Nov 21st at 148.1 lbs. Today I weighed 138.something.
My goal 130 lbs by Feb 14th, I just want to get it off and be done with it!!! I now know that I will never be able to go back to how I used to be - not having issues with food, and sometimes I'm afraid that I might gain it all back one day. I try to remind myself that the key for me is daily awareness, better choices, and not considering exercise to be "optional". Let's get to our goals, we can do it!!!!!

[tarheelgirl50]

My name is Courtney. This is my first post I am 19, and from Charlotte, NC. I am currently in nursing school, and enjoying it alot.I am definatly a yo-yo dieter, but this time I want to lose the weight for good and forever. I picked my phen up yesterday, and I started using it today for the first time ever. I feel a little fatigued, but for the first time I wasn't overly hungry like I usually am which is definatly great. Currently, I am180 lbs. Last year at this time I was about 200lbs. Some how college helped me lose 20lbs. My ultimate goal is to be 125lbs. by my birthday June 18th. My small goal for Valentines Day is to be 15lbs less (165lbs) In order to meet this goal, I will be
exercising at least 30 minutes or more a day at my schools gym (treadmill, stairstepper, and also using the weight machines.), drinking water and not soft drinks, but I am not excluding any foods I am just going to avoid/limit sweets
and not eat too many carbs. I will be trying to fill up on fruits, veggies, and soups. My weigh in day will be Wednesday like Aly suggested. I am excited to get to know you all! I hope we will all be an encouragement to one another
and I wish everyone a very Happy New Year!!

[Laurachip1]

Wed Dec 31st
weight 220
goal for next week 216
2/14 goal 200

Today is my 15th Anniversary!! I love my Tommy. I am one lucky woman to have found a man like him.

[luvinmybabies]

Ok, so my first official challenge weigh in just happened.
Drumroll please.....................................NOTHING !!! Hello plateau #2. I took a week break, and restarted last week. Only 1 lb down from attempting a "kick start". Oh well, I lb less that I was, right???? And I didn't gain over Thanksgiving and Christmas (I'm trying to stay positive here)
Hope all of you have better results today.

[hmhuntr]

Weight 178.4 (eek...up a few pounds) waist 40.5, hips 46.
Good luck guys

[alykat06]

Alrighty Ladies and Gents, Weigh in day is officially today, if you don't weigh in today I will be putting your start weight as what you stated in your introduction post. I just want to make sure everyone understands that wednesdays are weigh in day, but if you cannot weigh in every wednesday like some others that is alright. Weighing every wednesday will keep you accountable and for me it keeps me on track..I know I wont want to eat bad because my weigh in will show it etc.

Today I weighed in at 195, I have been doing well with my exercise but I could be doing better with my snacking. I baught some postacios and shouldnt eat the darn things before bed lol. I am drinking more water today, I have been out on the job and wasnt near a water refill bottle or a port a pot so, I wasnt trying to want to go to the bathroom .
I hope everyone will have a happy new years, I will be celebrating with family tonight, everyone will be drinking but I will be drinking low carb light beer. Were having low carb munchies for dinner which is awesome, were snacking all night on chicken wings, deviled eggs, esparagus rolled in ham, and veggies with dip. hehe my parents dont even realize that these are low carb things they are making. Tomorrow after getting up we are going to Pa to Jack frost and going skiing, thats my work out for tomorrow.
Looking forward to hearing from everyone.

[alykat06]

Ok, so my first official challenge weigh in just happened.
Drumroll please.....................................NOTHING !!! Hello plateau #2. I took a week break, and restarted last week. Only 1 lb down from attempting a "kick start". Oh well, I lb less that I was, right???? And I didn't gain over Thanksgiving and Christmas (I'm trying to stay positive here)
Hope all of you have better results today.

Is 173 your starting weight? I want to make sure that your info on the right is correct before I put down your start weight.

[luvinmybabies]

Is 173 your starting weight? I want to make sure that your info on the right is correct before I put down your start weight.

yeah, we'll go with that. I was hoping to be lower, but hey...that just means that I'll lose more, right???

[albobaby]

Morning Ladies!

So I weighed in this morning at 213. Down another 4 ounces from yesterday. My goal for next week is to lose 2 pounds but my boobs are sore and my fingers are swollen so TOM is on the way. How funny is that? NOT. lol

Anyway, I hope everyone has a safe, happy and healthy NEW YEAR!!!

[srdmom]

Ok my first weigh in for the 2009 Challenge.... 189. Not too bad!! Im happy to be bringing in 2009 in the 180's and not 200's anymore!!

I wasn't too good about my water intake yesterday, but I plan on increasing it today. Part of me was afraid yesterday because I developed a nasty UTI and I didn't want to go to the bathroom anymore thatn I had too!! When I woke up this morning it seems as though the medicine has kicked ina nd Im feeling much better...so no excuses today!!!

I'm off to make dance costumes for an upcomming competition. Good luck to all of you!!

Staci

[scatanafas]

I woke up to some nice morning snow.....then I smelled blueberry muffins. My husband decided to bake. Oy , on my first day of our challenge no less! So I had the bloody muffin but I"m not sweating it, just working it into my "program". It was a small muffin anyway and he used whole wheat flour.

My weigh in today was 138.6...I have not had any real weight loss for months. I just keep losing and gaining back the same couple of lbs. I guess that is good for when you're maintaining but I want to get to goal so I need to pull out the big guns. This is not going to be easy without phen, but noone said it was impossible.

Have a great day everybody.

Alykat, what is going to be our task for this week? Our mini challenge?

[4kidz4me]

I am weighing in today at 150. I have been 150 since Saturday, but that's OK! I am just so excited that over Christmas I managed not to gain.

[alykat06]

The challenge for this week is :
- everyone chose an exercise they don't really like to do, or don't do often enough but would help them lose weight.
-Then try and do it at least 3 times in the next week.

Mine will be getting on my treadmill 3 times this week. I usually cant get myself on the treadmill because I get bored and I would rather get on my bike..but I cant ride my bike everyday and expect to body not to get used to it .

[scatanafas]

Correction!! My weight today is 138.4......i was off by two ounces, and every ounce counts! Sorry to make you correct your chart Aly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alykat06]

hehe no problem Scat, took a whole 3 seconds out of my boring day . Man I wish I could lose a few oz each hour

[scatanafas]

hehe no problem Scat, took a whole 3 seconds out of my boring day . Man I wish I could lose a few oz each hour

Bahahaahaha....thats what happens after you take a big dump....sorry to be so graphic but I figured you would appreciate the honesty, especially after going in great detail yesterday about your boyfriends F A R T S ! LOL

[alykat06]

haha of course, dosent everyone weigh themselves after they use the bathroom...I guess my compulsive weighing is a bit much huh ....oh and I know you loved my rant about my bf farts hahaha

[firemama3]

and I haven't even taken a "dump" as Scat put it......

134.0
My goal for the week is ANYTHING lost !!!!! ANYTHING..... an ounce... ANYTHING !!!

[Lisa33167]

Thanks Aly for the challenge; this might be what I need to motivate me to get back to where I was a year ago.

My name is Lisa; I'm a 40 something mother of 4. I got married the first time very young, stayed married 10+ years and then single for a year or so and met my current husband after I swore off relationships lol. We've been together since 1998 and married 10 years.

I've had severe female problems since I was 13 and been through numerous surgeries over the years. My last surgery was in March 2005 when I found out I had Severe Endometriosis; Adenomyosis; Fibroids, Ovarian Cysts and a separated pelvis from a car accident in 1998 where the middle section of my pelvis chipped the right side.

My husband had never been married and didn't have children, so he wanted both, which scared me to death. The year before I had been pregnant and at 26 weeks developed GBS; lost my son and developed blood sepis from a blood infection and almost died myself.

We tried for awhile and I couldn't get pregnant, so I went to a specialist and got pregnant after some procedures to remove blockages etc. With my age & history I went to a high risk OB and was seen by specialists at the university in Tampa. That's when my severe female problems started and have just gotten worse over the years. I was an officer manager at a real estate firm and worked 70+ hours and with 2 teenagers, it was rough being pregnant at my age.

I was put on full bed rest due to Placenta Previa 3 months later and went crazy being confined to bed, then was hospitalized 6 or 7 times during the rest of my pregnancy. I had a very complicated; long delivery which should have been c-section but they said the placenta had moved enough and it hadn't. After delivery our son was put on oxygen and I almost bled to death. I refused a transfusion and had to go back to the hospital weekly for treatment for my blood iron levels (my normal was 13 and i was at 7 when I delivered)

After birth, our son was sick; developed asthma and breathing difficulties and had RSV a few times. At 17 mths when he was hospitalized with rotovirus he picked up at Disney; and I found out I was 5 1/2 mths pregnant! Being heavier, I didn't gain much weight luckily but didn't catch on until then lol I had a normal pregnancy and delivery and after our daughter was born, my wonderfully aggravating hubby had a vasectomy.

In Jan 2006, I decided to change my life and went to a lap band seminar. Weight loss surgery was the way to go for my dr decided. After a few attempts at finding the right dr, financing and making sure my husband could take off work for me to go, I gave that option up and just totally changed everything. I was 289 lbs then, and I had lost 17 lbs from surgery and 10 lbs since the seminar, I'm too ashamed to put the total weight down lol you can do the math.

I researched Phen for months before taking the plunge. I tried it and for once had no appetite. I was 264.5 August 2006 lost down to 189 lbs, when we had to sell our house and I went through 8-10 months of extreme stress and family problems.

On 12/31/08 I'm starting this challenge at 222.4
My goals for Valentine's Day are these:
1. Make good decisions about food & portions
2. Exercise at least 3 times per week for at least 30 min
3. Drink at least 100 oz of water (I need a daily water calculator)
4. Do one good thing for myself daily
5. Set realistic goals such as 1-2 lbs per week weight loss (6 wks = 6+lbs)

[alykat06]

Welcome Lisa! I know you have had a rough time but I bet those two wonderful children made it all worth it in the end . Your goals are very realistic and I believe you will get to them in no time!

[GracieMe78]

231.4 down from last week!!
Valentine's Day goal 219

[150plz]

I am really excited! I just started the Phen on Friday. I went to the clinic today to weigh in for this challenge and I have lost 4.5 pounds. I didn't expect that, at all. I have been drinkin plenty of water, and watchin my protion sizes and makin the "healthy choices" in my food. I have not started exercising, but I know I need to. I used to love it, it is just the point of getting around to it. The terrible thing is I have a gym membership at Anytime Fitness and have been payin for it the last several months and not using it! Pretty pathetic, I know. The whole point of me signing up for it was that I knew if I was paying I wouldn't let my money go to waste....NOT! LOL! Between work, church, and my 1 year old, I feel like I don't ever have time. Oh well. This challenge will hopefully help me get back to what I should be doing.

12-26-08 212
12-31-08 207.5

Mini goal: 02-14-08 190
Goal weight: 09-01-08 150

[kiresha07]

Well I went to the clinic yesterday and my weight is 190 .......ugghhh, took the pill this morning, so far feeling ok BUT how can I motivate myself to drink water?? only drank like 10oz so far and feel so BLAAHHH!!! Help ladies, iI really want to weigh in next week and see my scale digits go DOWN!

[alykat06]

Here is a water motivator..every 8 oz of cold water you drink burns 35 calories! I drink approx 100 oz a day (half my weight in oz of water) and that means I burn 437 calories on just drinking cold water alone in my day! Your body has to burn calories in order to warm up the water..have you ever peed cold? I havent

[elemteach5]

Okay, I think this is where I weigh in. I weighed 173.8 this morning.
I have got to drink more water, but it almost gags me. I have to take small sips just to get a glass down. I've heard the more you drink, the more you want, so I'll see. I'm trying to come up with an exercise I can do at home while keeping my grandson. I don't have a treadmill. This will be easier when I go back to work next week and have more time for me.

[alykat06]

You can always try jogging in place while watching tv, doing an exercise dvd, or just doing some regular sit ups/push ups/jackknives etc.

[lilredz326]

Ok so I lost 2 pounds from technically 2 weeks ago since i didn't weigh myself last week due to sugar cookies and gingerbread house making!! Not bad, but it still only puts my weight loss at 10 pounds since Dec. 2...so Im kinda bummed..I wasn't going to go to the gym today...but guess who changed their mind!? ME!! If I wanna lose this weight I have to work at it....Glad I got on the scale and wasn't a scardy cat!! I was 196 last week and im 194 today 2 pounds is 2 pounds i guess!