Onward and Downward!

[Elizabeth78]

Hey everyone! Congratulations on all your successes. My first day is today. I have not yet had a Cohen meal and plan to start at lunch time today. I'm living in Beautiful British Columbia in Canada. I'm 29, married and I have two kids, a daughter who is 3 and a son who is 14 months. I can't remember ever not being overweight and part of me has difficulty imagining what it's like to not be overweight. How do you mentally cope with your physical changes? I think that it would be nice to be known as "Elizabeth" and not "the fat one". Ok... that's a tad harsh.

Anyway... when I'm not stressing out about my weight or being in denial about my size, I love to play piano. I also taught music at an elementary school, but have decided to quit teaching in order to spend more time on my kids and on myself. Instead, I'll continue to teach piano at my house and I'll be taking on a few more students.

When I was pregnant with my son, I developed a DVT (or blood clot in a deep vein) in my leg. OUCH... lotsa pain! My hematologist told me that when the weight of the baby came off my leg that it would get better. It has improved, but I'm thinking that the extra weight I am carrying prevents it from improving even more. I really would love to not have to wear a pressure stocking on my leg. I also would love to be able to play more with my kids and not feel so uncomfortable.

I always thought that by the time I was 30 I'd have this whole weight thing under control. Well... I'll be 30 in five months... I'm praying that I get my wish. I've tried so many things and I've just been so disappointed. I just have to keep remembering that: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

HERE WE GO!

Elizabeth

[Rachinnj]

HI Elizabeth
I am Rachel and today is also my first day. So far its been great. I also have a 14 month old son and I want to be healthy for him. I have been overweight my whole life and 4 yrs ago I lost 130 lbs and kept it off. The bad news is I still had more to lose and then got pregnant.
I am looking forward to this journey and I hope we can support one another.

Rachel

[bitten]

all best wishes to our brand new mama's!!!!!! i hope you guys can really be diet buddies for each other. the support and accountability will be brilliant for you both-
hurray for day one-

bitten

[Rachinnj]

Bitten
Thanks day one is going great. Bitten where in NY are you? I grew up in Westchester.

Rachel

[rbride05]

WELCOME ELIZABETH78

Looking forward to seeing your posts and watching your ticker. Where in British Columbia do you live? I absolutely love it there. So far I have only been to Victoria,Vancouver and surrounding areas of Vancouver, but would love to see more, its so gorgeous and love the people. Your being a piano teacher also got my attention. I took piano for a few years while in elementary school, and havent played in years (I still remember fondly my teacher Mrs Robertson). I actually set as one of my weight loss goals to take some lessons again (still have to sit down and decide at what goal weight that goal will be. So far 20lbs is getting me a pedicure). Too bad we dont live closer, cause you might have gotten a new student. Best wishes for great success on 1PD. P.S. Look for MrsPeels posts on have to add a ticker, its very motivational to us all to watch others success.

[happytmo]

Elizabeth - Welcome to a great diet. It has been really motivating to read everyone's posts. Everyone here is fabulous.
I wonder too, how I will deal with the weight loss mentally. With the small amount I've lost, some days I feel like I'm 150 lbs already, even though I'm far from it. So then I wonder what I will feel like at 150. Will I still feel "fat" deep down or will I accept my weight loss and enjoy it.

[lfingers11]

Oh, I am so excited!! I am a mom of 2 and I was a music teacher too!!:innocent3: I actually taught junior high school choir. I loved my boy choirs. They were so much fun!!!
I am here to loose all my baby weight and all the weight that I have gained since college. I started 1 week ago. Good luck and I just wanted to say hi.:party1:
Pam

[Elizabeth78]

I thought I did add a ticker... but I guess I did it wrong... hmm.... Well, we live in Surrey,which is about an hour or so out of Vancouver. I'm sure you would have been an excellent student! Anyway... don't give up the dream, you're never to old to learn to play music!

[Elizabeth78]

Hey... nice to meet some fellow musicians!:party1: Really... you loved your boy choirs, eh? I found that my boys by grade 6 and 7 didn't really like to sing anymore. They really wanted to sing low, but their voices hadn't changed or were in the process of changing. :love8:I found that all quite frustrating. I do love teaching music in the schools, but it's hard when you have two little ones and I'm enjoying the fact that I don't have to rush off everyday. Anyway... good luck with it all!
elizabeth

[Shasha]

{hi} there Elizabeth and Diet Buddies
A very WARM WELCOME to you :bighug:
It’s so wonderful having you all here {grouphug2} supporting each other and chatting away…

Elizabeth, thank you so much for telling us about yourself. I really do hope that as your weight goes down, the pain in your leg will go away – watch out as many aches and pains do go away on the diet… from bloating, feeling uncomfortable, acid reflux, back ache, sore feet… please do keep us posted on this.

As the growth hormone starts to work you will probably find that you have more energy to spend on your little ones!!!

YES! YOU CAN DO THIS!!! {cheerleader} because man shall not live by bread alone!
I'm thinking that by the time you are done, you may even be known as Elizabeth the small...

[CalamityJ]

Hey Elizabeth,
I loved hopping across the border and into BC.. I lived eleven years in Bellingham/ Everson/Lynden. I miss 'Harrison Hot Springs' and going to movies at the Colossas (sp?)... It is sooo beautiful up there, especially this time of the year. Our weather is almost always pretty much the same here, over the winter I even found myself wishing we could have a NorEaster!! lol...
Today is my second day too... good luck! We can cheer each other along to our prospective goals!
Jane

[Bronwyn]

Hi Elizabeth and Jane,

Welcome to you newbies. Jane, I'm just catching up so don't know if you introduced yourself in another thread and figured I'd welcome you here too. I'm so happy you ladies found this diet program and this forum. It truly does work and is the most amazing experience I've ever had. Best of luck to both of you and please keep us posted on your challenges, positive experiences, and everything!

[rbride05]

WELCOME CALAMITYJ

Best wishes for great success on the program. Is the gorgeous lady in the photo you? Can I ask if the rainy climate in Bellingham ever bothered you? I have contemplated for several years moving there, but wasnt sure how Id handle the gloom and rain (or is it in the "banana belt" like my friends on Lopez Island say they are???) I was born and raised in San Diego and have been living in Nevada. For the most part we have clear blue skies, hot summers and snowy winters, but not a lot of rain here. My brother lives now in Tacoma and seems to have adapted well. Just curious about any info on the city you can provide. Anyway, good luck and lots of success with the weight loss.

[Shasha]

{hi} there Elizabeth the small

I’m wondering, how is your diet going so far??

Getting smaller and still going strong I hope!!! {cheerleader}

[Mei Mei]

Elizabeth,
Yes you can. Keep the faith. I'm praying for strength too. At one point today, just had to stop and pray for strength.
Blessings, and good luck. I'm ending day 2 today :)
Mei Mei

[Shasha]

{hi} there Mei Mei

In that case you should already know Philippians 4:13… and that you can do all things!...

Apply faith & BE STRONG! You can do it!!! {cheerleader} This will be for a limited time only...

[Elizabeth78]

I hear you! My goal is 150 lbs too and I think the last time I was 150lbs I was 12! So... I'm really wondering if, at 150 lbs, that I'll be able to accept it, appreciate it, I think I will! Good luck to you happytmo!

[Elizabeth78]

I've been doing really well! The first week was really tough. I found it really hard to deal with the mood swings... I think my kids found it really hard to deal with the mood swings too! I'm starting to settle into a routine, even though I feel like every time I cook I have to think of 3 meals: 1 for my husband and daughter, 1 for my 14 month old son, and 1 for me! My clothes are starting to grow, though and I've lost 9 pounds already. (I know we're only supposed to weigh ourselves once a month... but really... it's hard to not be curious.) The one thing I find tough, is I find I have little energy... the brain is willing but my body seems weak. Is this normal? I feel like the muscles in my legs are having a tough time taking me up and down my stairs. I never had that problem before. Anyway... I did prepare myself for this. I decided to quit working so I could spend some time focussing on myself and getting myself healthy... finally! It's time.
Elizabeth

[Mei Mei]

Thanks, Sasha,
I will always take a verse :) I'm on day four, and things are going well. My husband even glanced at my breakfast and said, "That doesn't look too bad." Proof of a miracle??? he is letting me go first, and he hopefully will try it in the beginning of September.
Elizabeth, I didn't notice mood swings as much as a bit of a grumpy feeling. I wasn't really hungry, just grouchy. Maybe adjusting to completely healthy food?
thanks for all the support and ideas ladies. I love talking to you and hearing from you.
Blessings,
Mei Mei

[PosterGal]

Welcome to Elizabeth & Jane - :)

[Shasha]

{hi} there Elizabeth

That’s great! Trying to do too much at once often results in getting nothing done properly so I’m glad that you are taking time to focus on you…

Please do take a second multi-vitamin each day at lunchtime… I really believe this will help you with the tired feeling you are experiencing :comfort:

Try making your family food similar to your food, but a non diet version ie: everyone can eat steak and salads – you can bring in extra salads for them… When you have a chicken stir-fry, they can have chicken and veggies and some rice… I think this may help lessen your load a bit…
Please do get a ticker so we can all see how you are going… {cheerleader}

[pumbza]

Some NEWS from the peanut GALLERY I also felt GROUCHY when I started I am still GROUCHY quick to get on MY High HORSE and get carried away I have just had to apologise to the people concerned and HAD to rein in MY NECK!Ha Ha!:innocent4:I think because we eat so little our MOOD swings will be there when we get back to refeed I think all will be back to NORMAl and as Shasha has said its only a small period of time in relation to the rest of time (Ok she didn't say it like that but she meant it like that!!!Ha Ha)!!!I am trying to be CALM and HAPPY about the weight loss but I am STILL GROUCHY that why its so GREAT to read whats happing to other DIET BUDDIES else One will think things are WRONG don't worry you are on the RIGHT path!!!YOU CAN DO IT!!!Smile while You lose weight and have a GLORUIS DAY!!!:innocent3:

[CalamityJ]

Thanks Poster Gal!!

[CalamityJ]

Hi rbride, Bellingham is absolutely beautiful... It mists more than rains and they get about 34 inches of rain/mist a year... Winter temp is anywhere between 34 and 45 degrees. There are overcast skys during winter but it is soo clear that it looks like the mountains in Canada are sitting right on top of you.. They are Very Vertical, like Switzerland & snow capped.. & then Mount Baker and The Twin Sisters (mountains) have snow on them all year round and are beautiful..
The weather is unpredictable because of the islands.. If they predict weather it hits the islands and breaks up so its hard to tell what it will do.. The overcast sky is kinda a novelty after being raised in CA... although I was never satisfied with summer getting hot enough, quick enough. But Spring is incredible with everything blooming and growing, Summer is average temp is about 68 degrees... So unlike CA its not crazy hot, but eighty there feels like 102 here.. Summer is overall just wonderul... And fall, well fall what fall is supposed to be...
Basically my thoughts over all of Bellingham is that it reminds me of what the seasons are supposed to be like.. You know, the stuff we read about growing up.. Pumkin Patches, chilly air, Canadian Geese, beautiful fall color... Robins in Spring, and everything blooming and easy to grow.. Crisp clear winter days, or wintery overcast and it snows two or three times a season, it sticks on the roads for a day but melts off quickly... 5 or 6 ski resorts near, Bellingham is a college town w/ Wester Washington Univ. but also a farming community & is on the Puget sound so it is also a Port town..
If you don't move there... definately visit..
Winter storms can come out of Canada's Fraiser valley and get Gnarly.. below 0, wind chill, 90mile an hour wind gusts.. but it only occurs every few years and only lasts a couple of days..(its pretty cool actually.. fun that is) ..
But Washington is not on the way to anywhere, so, you will have limited people willing to visit.. Most want to go to the beach or someplace hot for vacation... and we did have 90 days w/ 4 hours of sunshine one winter while I lived there.. (in the eleven years I was there) we also broke 7 world records for snow fall that winter up at Mt Baker ski resort.. so it was a novelty...
I hope this is somewhat of a help.. lol..

[rbride05]

CalamityJ

Thank you for the information. Goodness what a beautiful posting (pumpkin patches, Canadian Geese,fall color) and so descriptive. I have traveled past Bellingham on the way to Vancouver, but didnt get to stop. After your description, I think Im going to look into relocating again.

I grew up in San Diego (climate...very mild winter rain, fall, not much usually still warm, and spring to summer warm then hot...you know if your living in Carlsbad). Reno is at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains so we are considered "High Desert", which means we do get snow, cold winds, the change in fall colors, fairly pretty spring, and hot very dry summers. Stuff doesnt tend to grow real well here. And the Canadian Geese, do stop by Reno on their migration. I so want to be somewhere that I can grow things and have a lovely garden. Ive been trying with mine here, and the desert soil makes growing things such a constant chore. I was at Lake Tahoe last Monday, and it was a feast for the eyes to see all the color in everybodys gardens with all the gorgeous flowers thriving (of course it doesnt last long there either as their growing seasons short). Thanks for the headup and lovely description. Hope your loving Carlsbad. Say hi to the Pacific Ocean for ME!

[Shasha]

{hi} there Elizabeth

I’m just popping in to find out HOW your diet is going???

I hope that you are staying strong… and that your clothes are feeling bigger :flirt:

Please remember to always believe in yourself, hold onto your vision and your goal… because you can do it!! {cheerleader}