GC Resolution Support Group

[AXOLiz]

So, from what I've been reading, the general consensus by various "experts" is that in trying to make any life change, you need support and accountability. Seeing as I spend way too much time on here as it is, I thought we could get a thread going for anyone trying to do any type of self-improvement so we can all support each other (and bitch when we need to).

I'm personally trying to lose weight. I've lost 95 or so pounds over the last year and could probably stand to lose another 20 or so. After a year of counting every calorie, I'm getting pretty sick of it, but if I can do it for 2 more months, I should be fine. The hardest part is accepting that I'm never going to be one of those people who can eat whatever they want without gaining weight (like my little sister...grr..). I'm going to have to watch what I eat for the rest of my life. But, while I was happy when I was heavier, I'm a lot happier now and would never want to go back. I just have to stay away from the vending machine at work and actually get up and exercise before work and not hit the snooze 20 times. My goal is to be in a super-cute bikini by May when I'm going to Vegas and not scare small children with my beer gut.

Anyone else?

[aephi alum]

Congrats on your weight loss!

I'm also working on losing weight - my goal is to lose one dress size. For me, this means eating right, drinking lots of water, and exercising regularly.

[ChiOJenn78]

You go girls!! I too am trying to lose weight-mainly because I want to look good in my wedding dress, but also because I had a revelation: one day, when I'm older, I am going to look back and regret all the times I sat on the couch instead of going running, and not utilizing the strength I had in my youth. So, I've vowed to become healthy and strong, because I won't always be!

[AXOLiz]

You two definitely sound like you're on the right path! I used to exercise all the time last year - I only had class two days a week and worked those same days, so I had a TON of free time (and a house full of girls to work out with). Now that I'm working 40+ hours a week at a real job, it's much harder to find time and/or enough motivation to work out. I bought a treadmill though, so now I have no excuse, and I've been going skiing once a week which is a ton of fun and lots of work! Keep me updated on your progress, I know you'll kick that extra weight to the curb in no time!

[James]

True, not only do you need to publicly confess a goal, but you have to be accountable day to day for it to work.

Especially something like weight loss which is an issue of day to day integrity.

[Sistermadly]

I've never tried to seriously lose weight before. I knew I always needed to, but I was actually okay with myself until I moved to a place where few women are over a size 10, never mind a size 14. I've been doing Weight Watchers since June of 2002, and I've lost 82 lbs since then. It might not be the fast way to do it, but it's healthy, and I feel like at this rate I'm likely to keep the weight off longer. I still have a L-O-N-G way to go, but I'm confident I'll finally get to my goal sometime in late 2003.

I've also become somewhat of a gym junkie. I do total body conditioning classes (think "The Firm") supplemented with free weights. I look a size or two smaller than my weight would indicate becuase the weights have helped trim my silhouette. So if you're looking to tone up and look "tight" in time for bikini season, hit the weights. You'll see an amazing difference in about a month or so.

AXOLiz - I understand what you mean about finding time to work out when you work so much. Here's one thing I do to try to get a little extra exercise in each day. Instead of taking the elevator, I take the stairs. I even take them two at a time, just to increase the burn a little bit. It's not the most ladylike thing in the world, but it's an easy way to firm the backs of your thighs and rear... if you need that sort of thing.

[UKDaisy]

I'm so impressed by you girls! What an awesome goal, losing weight and staying healthy!! Congrats on everyone's weight loss! And AXOLiz, just two months....you can so do this! Look how long you've been dieting and staying healthy. I"m so impressed.

I did Weight Watchers too. I was so healthy while I was on it and I lost my 12lbs. Which I tend to gain, lose, gain, lose. Unfortunatley I've gained it back. But you girls got me excited again.


Okay, we need to have weekly reports on how we're doing. I need to get back to Weight Watchers and doing Pilates!!

Good luck!

[AXOLiz]

I made it through the weekend without eating *too* much, but it was a lot more than I should have. But I'm not going to get too worked up about it and I'm back on my diet today. I stocked up on Lean Cuisines when they were on sale, so now I have no excuse. I've found that when I'm hungry, I'll pretty much eat whatever's in front of me that I can make quickly. So if I have healthy stuff that I can just heat up and eat, I don't even want the unhealthy stuff. I just have to throw away all the leftover cookies and everything from the holidays.

My big accomplishment for this weekend was making it through the Browns game without drinking. Not only did I prove that I can go a whole game without giving in and drinking (since the key to finally being able to lose weight for me was giving up alcohol), but it ended up being a good thing because I was interviewed by a guy from the AP and didn't go off on a tirade and cause another ruckus like Browns fans tend to do. Damn Pittsburgh.

So give us your updates. If I'm making it through the post playoff loss depression, I'm sure all of you are doing well too.

[UKDaisy]

Aww.....I"m a Browns fan too. B/c of Tim Couch ( UK!! )!! Well, mom finally threw away the brownies my best friend made for me. So no more of them for me. Now, I must get motivated to do some cardio and some pilates this week. Going back to school next week is going to be the challenge!

[aephi alum]

This thread is working! I came home from work about an hour ago, thinking "I'm sooo tired..." I saw this thread and decided I really ought to go exercise - so I did!

I haven't worked out in several weeks, so I'm trying to ease back into it... just a light workout today... but it shouldn't be too long before I'm back into my routine.

[KappaTarzan]

its not so much a new years resolution.. but...
after showing new years eve pictures to someone, their response made me realize i have decided that it is time for me to go on a diet. i am not used to weighing over 110lbs, i never really had until this year. being so busy i can only work out 3 or 4 times a week... so i am up to about 125...
i have been eating only weight watchers meals, rice chex w/ banana for breakfast, and an occaisonal coffee.. it is seriously almost killing me. i love food! that is such a problem. why is food such a crutch?? arg.

well that made no sense but i wanted to share. i'm thinking of getting slimfast shakes, anyone have any thoughts on them?

[AXOLiz]

I did the slimfast shake thing for a while and I found they left me way too hungry. Their meal on the go bars (or whatever they call them) are ok though. They have more substance than a cereal/granola bar and are better than grabbing fast food if you don't have time to eat real food. I'd try a couple individual ones before you buy the whole box though - some are wayyyyyy too sweet for me, but my sister loves those and hates the ones I like. So who knows.

It sounds like your diet has you bored already...for me, I could stick with a boring diet as long as I could "cheat" sometimes. I just found better ways to cheat...like sugar free popsicles or pudding when I wanted something sweet, Subway instead of McDonald's, etc. And if you absolutely want something god-awful for you, have it, but don't have a ton of it or work out a little more. If you feel like you're missing out by sticking to your diet, you'll be more likely to go off it. Like I said before...the key for me personally was giving up alcohol, but it wasn't just giving it up, it was really 100% believing that I wasn't missing out by not drinking. Do what you can to make sure you don't feel like you're missing out and you'll lose the weight.

I know I sound like an afterschool special here, but once you start losing the weight, it'll be so much easier to stick to a diet. I loooooove food, but I love fitting into my new clothes more. When you see results, it's much easier to stay motivated. And I've turned into a crazy calorie counter, but I swear, when you see how much you'd have to work out to burn off some of this stuff, it's just not worth it.

UKDaisy - a sidenote here...Couch may be out of Cleveland next year. With the salary cap, we're going to have to make some changes and he's making a hell of a lot more than Kelly Holcomb (who they'll keep if they don't want to be mobbed by all the large Browns fans). So I don't know what they're going to end up doing, but rumor from a friend who works for the Browns says they might be looking to trade him - and he might be interested in leaving.

[James]

Sorry . . .

Originally posted by KappaTarzan
its not so much a new years resolution.. but...
after showing new years eve pictures to someone, their response made me realize i have decided that it is time for me to go on a diet. i am not used to weighing over 110lbs, i never really had until this year. being so busy i can only work out 3 or 4 times a week... so i am up to about 125...
i have been eating only weight watchers meals, rice chex w/ banana for breakfast, and an occaisonal coffee.. it is seriously almost killing me. i love food! that is such a problem. why is food such a crutch?? arg.

well that made no sense but i wanted to share. i'm thinking of getting slimfast shakes, anyone have any thoughts on them?

[Sistermadly]

I'm down another pound this week, for a total of 83. Classes started yesterday, and luckily all of them (except one) start in the afternoon, which means I'll have plenty of time to work out before class in the morning.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

I am going to start a diet tomorrow in order to lose weight by my birthday, Feb. 13th. Good luck to all of you.