Question
I'm only 21, but I am obese and have been most of my life. I have been engaged for over seven months now and have only gained weight in that time. I would like to lose 80 to 100 pounds before my January '08 wedding. I was wondering if there was anybody else out there like myself who has a significant amount to lose and a while to do it in? I could really use a weight-loss buddy. Can anyone sympathize?

Answer
Actually, a few of us from Pash have also joined a free "diet" site. It is http://www.sparkpeople.com. We have a team there comprised of about 12 people that is a support group. The site offers a number of great tools for nutrition and exercise tracking. It also provides a variety of resources. You should check it out.

If you would like to join our private Pash Women Team, you can either sign up with SparkPeople and let me know your username to send you an e-vite, or you can PM me with your e-mail address and I can invite you that way.

There are some of us here who know how you feel. You aren't alone. And, we would love to have you join us in your quest for better health.

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michele,
i just had a baby, so i defintely have lots of weight to lose--i gained 45 lbs in my pregnancy..... i can't officially be your weight loss buddy b/cs i had a csection and just have to watch my physical activity for a while, but i just wanted to encourage you in your efforts. i was actually preggo when i got married, but shortly before that i had begun to lose some weight. also, my husband did the atkins diet and lost over 60 lbs in a rapid amount of time.... just throwing that your way if you're interested, but if you do it, you really have to be committed to it. i tried it and was not successful but mostly b/cs i wasn't that into the diet.... anyway, i totally believe you can lose weight, but it has to be for all the right reasons...not just to look pretty in a dress for a day. i know that sounds really dr phil or somehting, but i have struggled w/ self esteem issues regarding my weight/appearance. and don't be discouraged if you don't lose as much before the wedding!

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Welcome Michele!

Please share your story with us in the Bridal Journal section! We love to hear the details!

I can sympathize with you as I too am a "larger" woman. Before I married my Bob I wanted to lose weight, and I actually did without even trying. The same may happen to you. I lost about 25 lbs in 4-5 weeks time just from running around and not eating because I was busy! (Not a good way to lose!) After I got married I put that back on and more (I am now about 50 pounds above the weight I was when I married). I am now the largest I have ever been.

Why do you want to lose weight? Are you looking for some dream ideal that isn't realistic? Myself, I want to be healthy, that is my goal. If it means I never drop below a size 16, then so be it. I want to be healthy. My first goal is to lose the 50 I have gained in the last 16 months! It will help in our goal of a child too!

Again WELCOME!

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Lizbet, whenever I log on, I can never find our team/group page. Is it listed somewhere on our own "mySpark page"? I've only found it twice and I've been searching for two days now, lol. I'm giving up!

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Heather,

On the far right hand side of the page, there is a section titled "Quick Links". In that box there is a link to "My Spark Teams". If you click on that it will take you to a list of all of the teams you've joined. You can then click on the "Pash Women" link to get to our Team Page.

Let me know if you need anything else. I'd love to see you back there.

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Thank you! I'll try that during lunch today.

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hi michele, well im in the same boat. i want to lose 35lbs by may of next year. so if u want a weight loss buddy i could be one. i been doing weight watchers now for two weeks and i have already lost 5lbs. im finding it helpful but hard at times. well if u want send me a message and we can figure out something.

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Thanks for sharing, everyone! A couple of you have asked why I want to lose the weight. I have struggled with my weight my entire life. I have tried WW, OA, seeing a physician, all sorts of stuff. I have found sucess with everything at least for a little while. At one poing I had lost 79 pounds. That was two years ago. I have since put back on about 55 pounds. I just can never commit to something long enough. Everytime I fall off the wagon it takes forever to get back on.
My main goal is to be healthy. I am pretty health conscious, I just have trouble maintaining healthy behaviors. I recently found out my blood pressure was pretty high and I changed my diet and noticed a great improvement right away. Also I just found out I have excellent cholesterol at 145. However, my heart rate and blood pressure are still a little high. I know all the risks of being obese, esp. the long term effects and I want to eliminate those or lower my risks.
Of course I would like to be a beautiful bride too. That's definitely a part of it. I absolutely hate my body right now. I can't stand it. It is wreaking havoc on my self-esteem and my self-image. I know that losing weight will help that tremendously because I have experienced that before. I don't care so much what size I am on my wedding day as long as I am smaller and leaner and healthier. Then I know I will have the self-esteem that will make me a beautiful bride.
Another reason why I want to lose weight is that we want to have a family fairly soon after we are married. I know the health risks of obesity on pregnancy and delivery and it's scary. FH told me that delivery always frightened him and I do not want him to be scared because I have greater health risks. I have made a pact with my FH that after we are married we will not start TTC unless I am at a healthy weight which I have determined for myself tobe 155 or 160. That's about 105-110 pounds that I would have to lose. I know that's a long way off, time wise, but I want to make sure that I keep my end of the deal. I want to lose the weight and not have to worry about it.

I just want to be rid of the weight once and for all. I have never been thin or even average sized and I want to know what that's like. I'm just afraid that because I can't commit to anything long enough it is never going to happen

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Thanks Lizbet for the diet web site reference! I'm checking it out right now and it looks great! I've tried e-diets before but this looks so much better!

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That would be fabulous if you joined our group on SparkPeople. It has some really helpful stuff on there and the girls are also really helpful about being supportive and keeping you on track!

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HI Bobby's bride!

Just wanted to say howdy and welcome Pash. Also I'm on the other site under the same name. Also WE'RE NEIGHBORS!!! I'm near Somerset KY!!

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Originally Posted by Bobby'sBride08 My main goal is to be healthy.
A lot of us have this same goal, and it's why I joined Lizbet's group too. I only have a bit of weight to lose (5/10lbs) and I'm within my healthy range, but I want to get healthy. I want to exercise properly, eat properly and build strength. You've only been on here a short time, but as wembley said, I think you'll find everyone very supportive and willing to be there for you.

We all have our vices!

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Lizbet,
I tried to PM you but I wasn't able to. I signed up with SparkPeople and my user name there is micheleheilers.

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I forgot that you have to have at least 10 posts on Pash before you can PM other members. Oops! I'm inviting you through SP right now.

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Hey count me in for Sparkpeople. I actually joined this site a while ago and just have been logging on occasionally. So can you add me to the sparkpeople team too??!! My user name is Naudia23. Yippee, I'm so excited!!

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Invite has been sent.

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I just joined. Thanks!!

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Well, I took a look at Sparkpeople.com and it looked pretty interesting. Though, currently I cannot join in the fun till after baby arrives (10 wks 1 day or so). I am really going to need it this time around this my butt and thighs have paid a price since I could not get to the gym almost every day like I did when DS was not around.

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Well, we hope you'll come participate when you're ready!

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Can you list all who are there now?

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Me
Jeanna
GertieLou
AshyBekka
Heather
Munchkin
Emily
Wembley
MichaelsBride
DragonYoga
AngelRoseFyre
TheaterDiva
Margie
Bobby'sBride

and 2 non-Pash Members. One is a friend I met on SP, before I started the team. The other is Jeanna's friend who joined SP the same time she did. Some of us are more active than others, but all are welcome.

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I'm Heather, and I just found this site...
I'm getting married in Fall of 2008 or 2009 (not sure of date just yet!)
I'm about 60 lbs heavier than my goal weight, and I'm trying to get motivated.

I'd love to join your sparkpeople group... my sn there is gypsysmiles.

Heather

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I'm one of the less active. I check in about once a week but barely have time to check in here lately!

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Bobby'sBride!!!

I too want to lose weight. I quit smoking almost a year ago on August 24 at 3:33pm!!! LOL And I gained nearly 40pounds! I was the right weight when I was still a smoker but since quitting Iam almost 5 sizes bigger! So for me, I feel very concious as this is not a size Iam used to! I did start a wight loss program 6months ago while I was in school, and found I was unable to dedicate my time! But for the short time I was doing what I could to get me weight down I was going to "Deep water work-out classes." All of the women there were large, I felt comfortable! What an amazing work out as well!

This is definatly much more enjoyable if you are able to find a friend to come with you! My FH come with sometimes, If he is not in the water working out he is upstairs lol he says "Working on his PECKS" lol!!!

I just thought this would be a cool suggestion!

My classes run 45minutes. They play awesome music!!! Very high energy! It truly is alot of fun!

Just a suggestion!

Jayme