I know I'm new and probably have no place starting threads, but I didn't see a November thread!

My name is Vanessa, I'm recently 20, stand at 5'7-5'8 and an embarrasing 184 pounds. I've always been the big friend lol, and 2 years ago I actually started slimming down and was at 150. Mind you I had gone from working around food, to working around clothing, well when my job closed down, where did I end working? As a waitress. What surrounds a waitress? FOOD! And not just food, SUSHI! The raw fish alone would have done nothing to me, but the snacking on white rice, ice cream and the delicious chicken Katsu's they made did NOT help my matter what so ever. Within 5 months i was back to 170. The restaurant sadly closed down and I went to working with a bank, which I still work at and Love. (chase) But since working there I have added 14 pounds to my body! When you're behind the teller line, you're sitting..that's it, nothing else, besides working. I'm not stocking shelves or running errands or anything, just sitting or standing in one spot unless it's to grab something.

But here's the sad part, im only 20 hours part time, so what do I do in my spare time? Sit at home and stare at my computer, either gaming or painting in photoshop. Why am I not going out or working out? Because gym's are expensive, I can't motivate myself if I just keep getting bigger and it's cold!

I bought Alli two days ago and my recommended start date was friday, but I'm not working till them so I said what the hay, and took one this morning. My breakfast with it was Special K vanilla and almonds and 1% milk with V & D. I feel good so far and energetic.And i'd love to keep posting my progress and success or downfalls with you ladies.

My workout regimine will consist of an Ab lounge and Bellydance workouts with Rania. They have helped before when I was consistant and I HIGHLY recommend the dvd's to anyone who would rather dance than do power weights! It's fun and you're learning sexy moves and gaining posture. (i sound like her haha)

I wish I could go on, but I have to get to work. I will be looking at other posts when I get the chance and even update my profile so I'm not just a blank avatar!

If I made any spelling errors, I apologize. I'm very picky about my grammar, but I am in such a rush!

<3 Ness

Strawberree,

Hi.  I am also a newbie.  I will start Alli tomorrow.  My sister has had good success and I am willing to give it a try.  She has lost about 30 lbs so why not try it also.

My name is Patricia.  I am currently getting a Masters degree in environmental studies.  I am working two jobs, one at a day veterinary practice and the other at a veterinary emergency hospital at night and weekends.  I am super busy but have had some success just dieting on my own.  I was 294 lbs back in March.  I am now 254.  I have lost some good weight but I have reached a plateau that has been going on for the last 3 months. 

I am redoing my diet (not been the best lately), I got a membership to the Y (my day job pays for ½ of my membership so it is not as much) at the Y I am taking a couple of classes, hip hop hustle and body blitz.  I have a walking video that I do in the mornings and I am going to try to take a walk at night if possible (it is getting cold and dark early here).  I am hoping that I will be able to begin to lose weight again.  

Well I can’t think of anything else right now but I will keep you posted on my progress.  

 I'm a newbie as well!  My name is Michelle and I'm 5'6" and weigh 244 pounds.  I never had a weight problem growing up so gaining weight was new for me.  I stopped smoking about 3 years ago and really put on the pounds after that.  I started to have health issues (high blood pressure) so losing weight has become even more important to me. 

I work a 9-5 job sitting behind a desk in a very stressful business market.  I would love to say that I walk and exercise a lot when I get home but I don't.  I'm so mentally exhausted that I cook dinner for my family and veg out in front of the TV.  I'm hoping that starting Alli will help me lose a few pounds to motivate me to exercise to lose more. 

I know you have to eat the full amount of fat grams per day but I'm having a real problem doing that.  I guess I need to work harder to get my full amount of fat grams in per day to maximize my weight loss.

Wish me luck and good luck to everyone else!

I can't wait to hear both of your progresses!

I've been sturggling with the fat grams too! I log my calories and fat intake in this application on my itouch, it's called Lose it, and it has a REALLY big list of foods and brand name foods on there already. If you have an Itouch or iphone, i HIGHLY recommend getting it.

Well as for my progress, i'm at 181, now, but I realise sticking to my 17g fat goal is hard! Because I can meet my calorie goal easy, even go below that, but I guess the things I have stocked in my house are low cal but high fat. My average for the past 3 days has been around 40! I'm starting off terrible! :(

But I'm hoping to make that change tomorrow. I'm excersing a lot more, Which I am proud of myself for...But The fact that I keep going over my fat intake is killing me and I'm already starting to feel the pressure. Fingers crossed for me sticking to the plan and losing this weight for good.

I'm logging my journals on my itouch, so I will upload them at a later time :D

 Hi, my name's Beth and I'm a new starter too.  Well, actually I will start Saturday.  I'm having a BBQ at my house Friday and thought I should probably wait until Saturday.  A little about myself.  I am 41 yrd old with a live-in boyfriend and boys that are 11, 16 & 18.  My 11 yr old was recently diagnosed as pre-diabetic.  Him and myself are the only ones with a weight problem.  Now Strawberree, try 186 and only 5'2"!  I am doing this to help my son and for my own health.  I recently had to quit a very good job as a City bus driver because of my back.  Now I am back to driving a school bus. 

I just downloaded my first meal plan and the shopping list.  This looks expensive!!!!  I'm not sure that I can handle the meal plan.  I have to tell you that I am scared.  I worry about the side effects (especially being on a bus) and now I'm really scared since I don't think I can afford the groceries that will help me avoid the side effects

Has anyone bought their groceries from the meal plan and if so, about what did you spend?  I know different areas of the US are different prices, but an estimate will settle my nerves.

I like this post for Novemer starters.  We can figure this out together as we go!

Mooboo,

I am glad you are on here and being proactive about changing your life at that of your son.  I actually have only looked at the meal plans as general ideas of what foods to get or kind of mix and match with what I think I would like and what I can afford.  I had a really good day today and ate right at my goal on calories but under my fat which I need to really watch out for.  If you want there is a website that is myfitnesspal.com which I just found today that can help you figure out calores, fat, protein of a ton of different foods, it is free and it has really helped me figure out what I can eat and if it is within the guidelines.  I wish you the best of luck and we will keep in touch to check out our progress. 

*Oh by the way I got enough food to last me at least 2 1/2 weeks for 75 bucks.  I will have some left over like frozen veggies and such since I bought in a large bag.

And yes we will figure this out together.

Hi mooboo!

I'm sorry to hear about your son. I don't know where your budget lies and I don't know how you feel about gaming systems, but have you ever considered the Wii gaming system? It's not even just a gaming system, because you are actively playing and they even have an entire series of Wii Fit games with weights, balance boards and fun work outs.

I only recommend this because my friends brother was 12 years old, i think around 5'4? And at 210. He wasn't active because he was a shy boy and stayed home a lot. The family pitched in to purchase the Wii Fit system for him about a year ago and he has lost already 40 pounds. He just turned 13 and he still does it. The reason he does is because it feels like a video game, not a like your at the gym so kids are more prone to doing it as opposed to running or jogging outside. Which they still should do, but this can help kick start their activity. And the whole family can play too

I was considering saving up and purchasing it for Christmas for myself and my mother. I've used it once and it's a REAL burner. I was actually sore the next day as if I were at the gym lifting weights!

I just read they have a new program out called EA Active too for the WII and it targets activity and weight loss as well and even has challenges. Any game for the Wii is going to burn calories, because you are required to move.

I don't know if I'm allowed to post youtube video's but I'll give it a shot. This an example to the types of games they have http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FTs81J6qIo. It's all motion sensored to make sure you're doing it right.

I wish you AND your son the best of luck in whichever route you choose.

As for me, I'm hoping to fight the food cravings at home because my Vacation starts at 12pm today after work and then im off until thurday! >_< I'm going to need so much help to stay active and not binge!

I'm also a little confused by the way, is my 17g of fat i should be consuming, PER MEAL or PER DAY?

 We do have a WII Fit.  I just have to kick his older brothers out when he does it because he gets embarrased.  I have been using if for about a month and I feel better, but haven't lost any weight.  Finding our the you only spent about $75 helps.  My whole family is going to eat the same things that I do but for course all but myself and the youngest son can eat as much as they want.  I can't beleive how much this post means to me!  When you said that we will figure it out together I got tears in my eyes and didn't even know why.  I guess I'm just now realizing how everyone in my life has always told me I'm not fat and has never really supported my efforts in the past.  When you come from a family of morbid obese women, everyone thinks (even the men) that since your not at the morbid stage, your fine.  I guess I will have to turn to my "other" family now to get the support I need.

THANKS

Beth

Strawberree,

It is 17g per meal with only three meals.  I was a bit confused myself about it.  But I am really staying focused on this and read all the books that came with the starter plan and found answers to my questions on the website.  I need to stay as organized as possible to make sure this is going to work for me.  So I figured out that I need to eat about 1800 calories a day, with 19 grams of fat per meal for a total of 57 g of fat per day, which comes to 28.5% of total calories from fat per day which is near the max of 30%.  (Oh there is 9 calories per gram of fat)

So for you at 17g per meal with a total of 51 grams per day and I am assuming a total calorie intake of 1600, there should be a total of 28.7% of total calories from fat per day which is also meeting the requirements.  Hope this helps.

Beth,

Good to hear from you.  I have the same situation with my family.  My family is split up between thin ones and not so thin ones (me and my sister).  I have always been told that I look okay and that I am not big and that I don't really need to lose weight because I have a pretty face and I am proportional (I hate that word by the way because that doesn't change the fact that I am overweight).  My family has never wanted to hurt my feelings but when I reached 294 pounds at the beginning of the year and actually looked at what was going on I knew I had to change something.  My family has not fully come around with the support, not that they don't care but they think I look fine and I shouldn't have  to worry about it.  At family gatherings I am always trying to eat what is healthy which is hard with Mexican food but I am little by little changing the way my whole family eats which in the long run will help everyone. I know that they have my best interests at heart and have shown in the past couple weeks full support.  I know your family will too. 

I see great success for everyone on here! Keep up the good work!

 Okay...I have a question.  How do I figure my percentage of calories from fat per day?  Tecatecat...you make it sound so easy but I'm thinking it's not.  Like yesterday...I had 1671 calories and 36.9 fat grams for the entire day and I'm allowed 1800 calories and 60 fat grams.  I don't know if I'm helping or hendering my weight loss or whether I'm right on track. *sigh*  Please help me.

I'm on day 6 and my jeans feel a smigeon better...they don't hurt me like they were before...but I'm not sure if I'm maximizing my weight loss.

Okay….I have a question.  How do I figure my total percentage of calories from fat?  Tecatecat you make it sound so easy but I’m thinking it’s not.  Like yesterday…I had 1671 calories and 36.9 fat total for the day.  I’m allowed 1800 calories and 60 fat grams so I’m not sure if I’m helping or hindering my weight loss or whether I’m right on track.  Please help me!

I’m on day 6 and my jeans are fitting a smidgeon better…not hurting me like they were.

 Sorry I didn't clarify how I came up with the calcuations.  Okay so here goes.

You ate 1671 calories, 36.9 total fat

36.9 x 9 = 332.1 calories. 

Then it is just a multiplying game:  multiply 332.1 x 100 then divide by 1671 = 19.9 %. 

I think you need at close to 30%.

I hope this helps. 

Hi MTRDY2LOSE,

Don't worry about percenage of calories from fat right now. All that you need to keep track of is your calories and grams of fat. You were given 60 grams of fat per day as your goal. That means that you want to get up to 18 grams of fat per meal. The grams of fat in the meal is what alli is going to work on. I have two posts on the beginning of this board that can help you understand how all of this works. Take a look at the post about reaching your recommended amount of calories and the one about fat.

Let me know if you have any other questions,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Really sorry for not updating more :( I've been sick with the flu

I hope everyone is progressing well and doing well!

<3 Ness.