I'd like to join in too!

[punkindreamer]

Hi! My name is Ella, but most everyone on the net knows me as Punkin. I started following The Hampton's Diet back in August of 2004. I am 4' 11" and was 270 pounds when I realized that I didn't want to continue living the lifestyle that I had for the past 47 years. So, my hubby and I decided to get rid of all the "white" stuff and pre-packaged stuff and generally, unhealthy stuff in our house. I am losing slowly, and am researching ways to help my weight-loss. I know I need to exercise, but have a hard time motivating myself. I have a really weird work schedule (9 to 6 one week, then 11 to 8:30 the next). My work schedule has posed several challenges for me. I have a tough time coming up with snack ideas for days that I work until 8:30 p.m. I have stuck to my new eating lifestyle the entire time and am a bit disappointed that I've not dropped more than 33 pounds. I have gone down 7 inches in my waist and 6 in my tummy, so I know I am losing. I welcome any snack ideas and of course encouraging notes always help. I hope to be able to contribute to this site and of course, look forward to getting to know you all!

[Maxibee]

Punkin, welcome! You're gonna hear all this anyway, so I may as well start:first, make yourself at home, then check out the stickies in the Newbies section. Also, take advantage of the Search feature in the blue bar at the top of the threads....just type in a keyword of what you're curious about, and it will give you all the threads that have that word in them.

If you have any questions, or need help with this site (or anything else) just let us know. It sounds like you've gotten off to a good start.....maybe you will find ways to "fine tune" your diet to get those losses going quicker. I'm a card-carrying member of the Turtle Club, so I understand losing slow! Take care!

[Melissa]

Hi there, Punkin! Welcome to the board!!

I'm not familiar with the Hampton's Diet. I follow Atkins. Like you, I've had good weeks and not so great weeks. The weight seems to just slip right off men, but we women tend to have stubborn bodies that like to hold onto that bit of jiggle a little harder.

Like Maxibee, I'm a turtle...slow loser...see the Turtles thread to see what we're talking about and join us if you like.

We are very much alike in that I HATE exercise. I get very little walking in during the normal course of the day, so I've challenged myself to move a little more (see the December exercise challenge.) Some days I do OK, others I don't. But those few OK days are better than none at all.

[Doves]

Welcome to LCE, Punkin.

33 pounds in 4 or 5 months is really great!!! I started in August and have battled losing much of anything! 33 pounds divided by 5 months = 6.6 pounds a month. That a 1-1/2 pounds a week. That is a normal, healthy rate of weight loss - 1 -2 pounds a week is good - right on target. Dr. Diana Swarzbein says you can't lose more than two pounds of fat a week - physcial imposibility. So everything above that is lean muscle tissue or body proteins - not good to lose that.

You are doing great! I think you just need to adjust your expectatons. Many diet books hype up the number of rate of weight loss to increase book sales... Be happy with 1 - 2 pounds a week - "Turtles" on the Turtle thread (in the Ongoing Weight Loss Forum but for anyone) lose less than 1 pound a week.

Karen

[jackiep]

Hi and Welcome!!

[sunny59]

:jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: Punkin, nice to have you here with us. There is a recipe site you can go to here on this board.

Or if you want you can just email me and I can send you all sorts of recipes for low carb......I am doing the Atkins low carb.

[Goddess]

punkin-doves is right on about the expected rate of loss. as long as it's steady, in fact, any loss is good. i lost over a hundred pounds in a year, averaging just under 2 pounds a week. it's the consistency of the changes you've made, not the speed of the scale, that will make the difference for you. really.

[punkindreamer]

Thanks to all for your replies. You all made me feel really good about my weight loss. It just seems like a slow loss to me, but when you put it into perspective, I AM doing great. I started a Pilates workout on our Total Gym this evening. Only got halfway through and was unable to do a few of the exercises, but I like the look of this workout. My arms feel a bit like noodles right now. I have lots of strength in my legs from carrying around my 200+ body for 20 years, so I need more strength in my upper torso. I will check out the Turtles club and the Newbies stickies, they both sound like fun. I've noticed several have a message about the green tea club. I usually drink a mug of raspberry green tea in the mornings and on weekends I drink a lot of decaf green tea. I love green tea and apparently green tea is very good for you.

[Goddess]

hon, when does the rate of loss NOT seem too slow for us? i can relate, believe me. but it helps to keep it in perspective. i got a weight tracking program, which helped me see the bigger picture over time. some folks use spreadsheets, some only weight every week or month or even at the doc's office only. you find ways of keeping your perspective.

good for you on your workouts! keep it steady, and don't overdo. you want to make sure it's a positive experience for you, maintainable, which is WAY more important than how much you do right off the bat. just that you are, and you are feeling good and getting good stuff from it.

[sunny59]

Punkin,
just wanted to see how you are doing today with the low carb.
And wanted to say hi to all of you here to and wanted to say thanks for being here on this board when i needed someone so bad to talk to about my weight problem. There just seems to be no one who understands how it is to be fat around here, not my doctors or friends. They think i can just stop eating so much and that's it...but it's not like that and we all know that. losing wweight is not easy.
Everyone have a great day.
see you later.

[biddy22]

I wanted to extend my welcome as well! How are things going? It sure sounds like you're on the right track to me. Just keep it consistent, and keep trying that workout. I also hate to exercise, but I think that is slowly changing. Once you find something you enjoy, the challenge might be exciting; just to see what you can do. I've started Core Secrets - it's with the exercise ball. I find it really fun - I feel like a kid playing. But, everyone is different.

Again, take things one day at a time, and check in often. There's always someone here for encouragement or to just vent to...

And, if you would like to join us in the green tea challenge, we'd love to have you! Just go to the "Challenges" thread, and look for the New Green Tea Challenge. We are all trying to get in at least 4 cups a day, to help aid in weight loss. If nothing else, you'll be healthier and enjoying a great beverage!

[Rhalvahn]

Sunny - you are SO right. I have a really good friend who weighs as much as I - but I am 5'6 and she's 5'4 - looks much different. Her husband is a string bean. She gets so disheartened because he just doesn't understand because he's never HAD a problem with his weight - or food. He eats, and that's it. High metabolism I guess. He and I had a heart to heart and I can remember telling him that it's not like one day we woke up and "OH MY GOD - I'M FAT" It's a gradual thing that happened because of poor choices with food and activity. It's a gradual thing to lose it as well. And it didn't all happen in a short span of time - it usually is a pound creep over a few (10+ years) years or so... sometimes it takes more than just a 'diet' to get it off.

Has anyone ever thought about the comparison of weight gain to alcohol or drug dependence? If you have a drug or alcohol issue, people tend to be understand that you have moments when you need help. They understand that it's a physical issue as well as a mental issue. I think being overweight could use a bit of the same kindness. Being overweight can be just as devestating in a relationship - whethere it's family, spouse, or child - as alcohol or drugs can be. More so because it's so much percieved as 'my' fault. If only they'd just stop eating... or just excercise more. It's a physical issue as well as a mental issue. Maybe we can start a 12 step program for weight loss? ;-)

[sunny59]

Checking in to see how everyione is doing today. all fine here, still doing great with intriduction. Can't wait to weigh in on Monday. Know I am down some.

[CushieButterfield]

Welcome, Punkin!

I'm gonna tell you like everyone else not to mind what the scale says so much...but I know that's not easy. I have been losing at a high rate for me but also want more "instant" results. Your inches lost are quite impressive. I would focus on those for now. I weigh much more than you but I'm guessing we are probably built similarly around the middle because I'm a foot taller than you. I have lost about the same number of inches on my waist as you since I started in August. So I think you are doing great. It's a BIG deal to have gotten so far in a relatively short time.

As far as the exercise goes I would start slowly. You don't want to injure yourself. If there are things you can't do then work on what you can until you get stron enough to do the rest. I use the Walk Away the Pounds dvd. A lot of people here do. When I started I couldn't do it every day but now I can (I do take one day off a week) and I am increasing my milage and intensity. So find what works for you and just work at it a little at a time.

For snacks I guess it would depend on whether you haev a refrigerator you can use. I also am not really familiar with your program. I like cottage cheese with berries, baby carrots (little high on the GI though), cheese cubes, hard boiled eggs.

I also drink a lot of green tea now. There's a green tea challenge here as well.

Also the couch fauxtato challenge is where I started to post when I first started trying to up my activity. You can also post milestones like parking far from the front door of a store, taking the stairs and other things that just increase your daily activity level. Like the other day when I had to move all the furniture into the study so I could have the LR carpets cleaned.

At any rate, you are doing great. Keep up the good work!

[punkindreamer]

This has been a tough weekend for me. Hubby had a colonoskopy (sp?) today and so, the help I usually get from him has not been there. I have been drinking loads of water and green tea, but I am getting bored with the food I've been eating (homemade turkey soup for lunch and supper). I did make a crust-less pizza Saturday night and it was good, but I am not much of an enthusiast when it comes to cooking meals. I am hoping that hubby will be up to preparing Chicken Florentine for me tonight.