Looking for Newbies with a large amt of weight to lose..

[Jen-Jen]

Hi All- I too am a large woman, who needs to shed pounds. When I was in high school I was a weight lifter and I kept most of my weight undercontrol with track, volleyball and softball. But, I got older and I excercise less and less. I put on 100 lbs. I weighed in at 237.

Obesty is a large problem in my family. I was then diagnosed with polycycstic ovaries which slows down your metabolism and increases your sugar. It also slows down or wipes out your monthly cycle, making it hard for me to conceive a child. I then took another blow 2 yeas ago when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I wanted to cry when Dr. Taylor told me that I was going to have to live with this for the rest of my life. I didn't cry, instead I chose to join my husband and change my life with excercise, again.

Much like you I completed my first metric century last year at the OHR. (One Helluva Ride). I have not lost all my weight, but I am happy and proud that I have started and weight in at 212, now.

This year I am going to complete a full century and I am very excited about that!

Hope to see you all on the road.

Jen

[tulip]

It's wonderful to hear your success stories. I was always a bit heavy--maybe 15-20 lbs, not a huge deal but enough to make me feel bad about myself. A couple of years ago, I dropped it. I got down to where I feel and look great and it has made a huge difference. I did it by eating MORE--more fruit and protein and veggies. I stopped drinking coffee (which meant triple grande whole-milk lattes every day) and I stopped eating the cakes that 4Bucks calls muffins. That in itself was probably close to 1000 calories, and I did it every day. Even though I was commuting on my bike 28 miles every day, I was eating whatever I had burned off before I even got to the office.

Keep up the good work. It's nice to know that we can change ourselves, that we are not powerless.

[Tuckervill]

Props to Jen. Keep it up, girl!

Karen

[salsabike]

Tuckervill, have you considered investing in one of those lights used to treat Seasonal Affective Depression? Something to think about.

[teigyr]

Tuckervill, Salsa might be right. When I first moved to WA I would always go out to run and ride. I figured I liked rain (coming from Calif, I had no idea what I got myself in to!) and didn't mind cooler weather. My activity started becoming less frequent though the change was so subtle, I didn't recognize it. Before I knew it, I just wanted to sleep all the time.

What worked for me was forcing myself to get out. I'm stubborn and if I have a goal (weekly mileage or weekly workouts), I will make sure I accomplish it or else I feel like a failure. It's a mixed blessing because it gets me out but I quite often feel like a failure

Take care of yourself and I'm glad you are recognizing it for what it is. Hopefully it will either go away (in which case you'll know it's winter) or you'll be able to treat it.

Oh and since moving up to here, I gained maybe 25 lbs? It hasn't gone away yet. It needs to.

[Tuckervill]

I should get one of those lights, and I've thought so for many years. Just about the time I can't take it anymore, February ends and the sun comes out. This has been the grayest winter in recent memory. Living in the South, you'd think I wouldn't have a problem with getting enough light...I sat in the sun for hours on Tuesday...but maybe I do.

I have a history of depression (started with postpartum with my last child). I have been on and off anti-depressants since then, the last time being while my son was in Iraq. Today, I forced myself to go to the 8 am boot camp since I didn't get up in time for the 6 am and I almost cried all the way through it. So, I went straight to my doctor's office and they called me in some happy pills. Just admitting I need them again is tough.

One more week of February! Thanks for the encouragement!

Karen

[Tuckervill]

I found this on the Calorie King website. Weight loss success stories! Here's one about cycling:

http://www.theweighwewere.com/Read-W...ries/5086.html

Karen