Hi,

I'm Wendy, and I'm looking forward to my 2nd weigh in on Alli coming up tomorrow.  I'm looking for some buddies who are trying to shape up before they hit the big 4-0.  A little background-I've been overweight since I was about 7.  Over the years I've managed to get down to a size I was satisfied with twice, but could not manage to maintain it.  Right now I'm at 244, shooting for a goal of around 130, and I want to get there in time for my 40th bd.  That's next July, and I want to treat myself with a trip to Paris (and Louis Vuitton!).  Anybody around who might be in the same boat?  Let's help each other get there!!!

:)

Wendy

Hi Wendy!

 Yes, I'm definitely in the same boat.  I actually just turn 39 in September but I'm already thinking about 40.  I had a hard time turning 30 and I don't think this will be any better.  The only thing that will definitely help is if I'm looking my best and that means dropping a lot of weight.  I started at 242 and have lost 6 pounds so far.  My first goal is to reach 185, although I'd truthfully love to lose a lot more.  I'm trying to make smaller goals for myself so I don't get frustrated.  I don't have any big plans for my 40th yet but we are planning to take the family to Disney World in July and I definitely need to be in shape to walk around the parks for a week.  I'd love to buddy up with you!  Keep in touch!

 Michele

Hi Wendy and Michele~

Oooh I fit here! I am 38 (in May) and have been overweight my entire life. I have been comfortable in my body maybe once in my life! And I was working out regularly and had lost AND TONED. I would love to be fit by 40! I started at 272 in Jan and when I started alli in july was at 252. I am down to 246 now and never crossing that 250's barrier again. It's nice to meet a group I fit in so well! LOL at my size ..fit doesnt always go hand in hand!

~Sooz

Michele and Sooz!

Hey, so glad to hear from you both.  Hopefully we'll get some other folks in as well, but let's check in at least once a week to keep each other supported. 

Michele-Disney sounds like an AWESOME motivator.  I love amusement parks, but I haven't been on a roller coaster in years-too big to fit in the seats.  If I can't convince my friends to go to Europe, maybe I can take my niece to FL around Christmas. 

Sooz-WOW, down 26lbs so far.  Great job!!!  Have you been working out along with the Alli to get there?  I walk, and with the heat, it's hard to get out every day. 

Don't know if you two are sweets junkies like me, but since I started Alli, I've been making this as a little dessert, and it's so good I wanted to share:

1/2 c FF Cool Whip

1/2 c frozen blackberries, thawed out and mashed with some Splenda

8 Reduced Fat Nilla Wafers crushed

Just mix it all up, it's sort of like a fruit trifle.  I haven't really found any pre-made desserts I like, but this hits the spot. 

Keep in touch, I'll probably be on every evening (Hell's Kitchen is over now, so I don't have any TV I want to watch).  KEEP GOING, you are doing great!!!

:) W

Hi girls~

Hope you are having a good week. I am not! Cheated last night and today. I have my weigh in tomorrow. So keep yourt fingers crossed. The 26 is since Jan. I think it's 7 since I started Alli- I am walking a bit and using the nordic track a little, but nothing consistent. People have noticed. My boss told me I will be fighting guys off (woohoooo). And the guy I flirt with at the store in the morning told me I was wasting away. I'll take it. Still and all, wish me luck for tomorrow! I am nervous to get on that scale. I am just hoping and praying I didn't go UP!

~Sue

BTW- dessert sounds delicious!

I qualify for this group!  I started with alli the first of August and since have gone off for the last 2 weeks.  Not a very good track record, I know!  School starts for me next week and I am ready to get back to a routine.  I will be 39 in October and would love to be fit by 40.  I'll be in touch!

Angie

Hi ladies!  This is SO the group for me!  (note my user name!)  This is day 4 on Alli for me and so far so good.  I'm 39 and didn't start struggling w/ my weight until adulthood.  I've been yo-yo'ing for years but have spent the last 5 yrs at least 20-30 lbs overweight and recently have spiked even higher.  When I weighed last Sunday I was at (gulp) 194........Ultimately I'd LOVE to get down into the 130's, but my more realistic goal is to drop 50 to reach 144 by 3/26/08 - the day I turn 40!

 In 2008 I turn 40, my husband turns 50 and my mom turns 70, so we are taking a big family vacation and I know that there will be a family portrait,etc.......so I would certainly like to look my best for that picture that will be around for years to come.  But FAR more importantly, I want to FEEL better.  I'm tired of feeling TIRED....and of feeling winded after bending over to adjust my shoe.......and of feeling self-conscious when dressing for social occasions.  I've wasted too much of my 30's feeling this way -- I'm not going to let myself do the same in my 40's!!

So at this point, I'm trying to overcome my cravings and keep making good food choices....But I really need to get myself up and exercising!  It's something that I feel SO good about doing once I'm doing it, but have a ridiculously hard time getting motivated!

 I'd love to hear about things you guys are finding have worked for you and will offer any support that I can!  

Hi Gang,

Welcome to the new ladies!  Angie, did you go off due to TE's, or just weren't ready to start yet?  My first week, I was so afraid I was going to have TE's, I barely ate any fat.  But tracking my eating has made me less afraid of that happening, so if that's holding you back, maybe that will help you too.  Either way, we're here for you!   

50by40, I know what you mean re: feeling tired.  Exercise has really helped me beat that, even though I'm only walking 30 minutes a day, I really feel good and charged after I'm done.  Maybe your husband could walk with you?  Even if he doesn't need to lose any weight (lucky if that's true!) everybody benefits from more activity and I bet he'd like to help you on your way to your goal. 

Sooz, I've got my fingers crossed for you.  Check in and let us know how you make out tomorrow.  If it's not a good weigh in, just look at it as a blank slate and know you'll do better next week.  :) 

W

Hey, one more thing for Sooz-I don't know if you're the same way as me, but when I start getting compliments, that is sometimes when I fall off the wagon.  I start to think I'm done and go back to eating everything in sight.  Hopefully you're not like that though, but just wanted to warn you to watch out and keep your long term goal in the back of your mind.  But good for you with the guy at the store!  Let me know if he's got a brother!  :)

W, No TE's for me yet--just terrible gas.  My poor husband!  I think there are times he'd rather see me fat than smelly! HAHA!  I seem to do the same thing with every diet I try.  I do great for about a week or two, and then I sabotage myself!  I/m sure it's a self-esteem thing--being afraid to be successful.  I do have to admit there is some safety in being overweight.  You don't have to deal with as much crap from people becasue they just ignore you.  Sometimes that's nice!  Gotta go-talk more later

Angie

Angie, you are so right-for me being fat is sort of a shield.  But I'm at the point in my life that if people don't want to deal with me, too bad for them, regardless of my weight.  I know if I keep going at the weight I am, I'm going to end up dead from a heart attack.  So my health is the ultimate motivator for me right now.  I work with a really big lady, and God bless her she's so sweet, but she can't hardly walk, and I just don't want that to be me.  I've been lucky that my weight hasn't caused that sort of problems yet, but I know it's only because I'm still semi-young.  Anyway, hang in.  I've gotta hit the hay.   

Hi, I am new to ALL of this.  I turn 40 at the end of December and am not looking forward to it let alone being overweight...funny that I am also 40 pounds overwheight, too.  I can't start the pill until Monday, but I am looking forward to starting.  Wish me luck :)

LaLa

I can SO relate to almost everything you guys are saying!  And isn't it just AMAZING that we become less visible to people as we actually get bigger???  :)  

I am lucky that my husband (who does NOT need to lose weight) is very supportive and will walk w/ me.  We have a hard time fitting in a time that works for both of us, but I know that kind of excuse is b.s., so I'm not going to use it!  He is also the main cook and shopper in our house and does not really practice healthy cooking but is def taking steps to change.  This would benefit him as well as even though he's not overweight, he is on meds for high bp & cholesterol.

 I haven't had any TE's as of yet, but have probably not been even eating enough fat.  I have been writing every morsel of food that passes my lips, and think that's one of the BEST tools for success.  I can SO fool myself into believing I've been "good", when I don't write things down. 

My first "official" weigh-in is Sunday.......Hope you guys have been happy w/ your weigh-in's so far -- But one of you wrote about going forward w/ a clean slate.....Such wise words!  Beating ourselves up is a fast slide back to sitting down to a bag of chips & dip (insert your junk food of choice!) -- at least it is for me!

Stay strong everyone!  We will look and feel so much better....And be fabulous 40's!!!!!!!!

OK...so I'm past forty (just hit 43!) but I wanted to share this with you anyway...when I was facing 40 I was determined to lose weight.  I started 9 months before hand and had a motto...FIT AND FABULOUS FOR FORTY!  I said that in my head at least 10 times day.  I dieted in a variety of ways (cut back on food for the first few months, did South Beach for a couple of months, did Weight Watchers at some point during this...you get the picture).  I didn't reach my goal of losing 40 pounds by forty (which would have put me in the right BMI), but I did lose about 30.  I felt great!

Sadly for me, I did put it back on...but not this time...I'm determined in a different way.

You can do it!  Set your goal and JUST KEEP GOING, no matter what. 

Hey everybody!

I guess I can contribute to this group as well.  I am a male who is going to be 39 on August 26th (celebrating in Aruba), so I can definately relate. 

I've been overweight my entire life.  Quite honestly, only once in life did I really make an effort to lose weight.  During that period, I lost about 40 lbs and over the last three year I put every pound back on.

At the beginning of the year I weighed 304 lbs.  By making some minor adjustments (stopped drinking soda and increasing activity) I got my weight down to 287. 

Then I took it to the next step.  I started taking alli in the first week of July, and I really started watching what I was eating (like I had a choice). I also increased my activity by using a gym membership I have kept for two years and rarely used, and now work out at least 4 time a week. 

 Since I started taking alli I have lost 26.5 lbs and am currently weighing in at 261.5 and have lost at least four inches on my waist.  I can proudly say that today I am wearing a pair of goal jeans that are size 42 waist, as opposed to the 46 I was wearing 2 months ago.  I still have a long way to go but am determined to stay committed. 

A word of warning:  Weight loss results are a double edged sword, because it can cause complacency!  As you start losing weight, and start seeing results, it is easy to say that I can cheat today and eat whatever I want.  A few days of thistype of thinking and you will be right back where you started.