Lynn - My "Deets"

[★Lynn★]

If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me via -

Email - [e-mail]
Blog - www.lifehealthfitness.ca

I do blog quite frequently, so please feel free to stop by!

Thought I'd share some background info with everyone....

I’m a 26 year old newly wed trying to make the most out of life and get healthy! I live in a rural community in Nova Scotia, Canada. My days are spent managing /administrating a manufacturing company. A year and a half ago I started a life changing journey: To finally make the change in myself and lose weight. A serious amount of weight. At least 100 lbs, if not more.

I started thinking about the real reasons that I should needed to be on this journey. Developing a healthy lifestyle and being able to manage my food and exercise would control the diseases that I had developed from being obese (type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol) and it would allow me to be a better wife and a good role-model for my future children.

I wasn’t getting any younger, and I didn’t want to be the person that sat out and watched life go by because it was too hard, or that missed out on something because I’m so out breath from walking a flight of stairs. I wanted to experience the world and make positive changes for a healthy life.

So I accepted the fact that in order for me to control my weight, I would have to exercise and control what and how much I ate for the rest of my life. There is no such thing as a diet for me. A diet is temporary; a means to lose a few pounds before a special event. This journey is one of my life, so practicing a healthy lifestyle full of natural, clean, organic foods and daily exercise only made sense.

I have followed that plan, intially counting points with Weight Watchers Online. This plan was simple to follow and I lost weight easily. Once I started to get into the nitty gritty, I found I enjoyed learning about nutrition, fitness and how the body works. I stopped counting points and switched to the scietific methods of counting calories based on my Basal Metabolic Rate/Active Metabolic Rate. For this I tracked my “calories in VS calories out” on a free site, Spark People.

I stopped eating crap and started eating real food - lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meats and dairy. Oatmeal and baby spinach have become staples. I will have the occassional treat, but in general, eat foods that provide the best fuel for my body. Experimenting with new foods and recipes was a great way to shake up my eating routines. I took my old favorites and modified them into healthier versions. On average I get about 3 litres of water a day, along with a cup of coffee and tea. After doing some research, I have also tried to eliminate foods that contain artifical sweetners - like aspartame and splenda, due to their side effects/dangers.

In regards to exercise I simply started out slow. I walked a few times a week for 30 mins and gradually built up my fitness level by incorporating work-out dvds and hand weights. Once I felt more comfortable with my body I got a gym membership and became familiar with the vast array of cardio equipment, plus a bit of strength training. When I got bored with those I started going to Spin classes - what an awesome work out!! I also decided that I wanted to run, so I started training for a 5K, “Couch to 5K”, and completed my first 5K in May 2008 at the Bluenose Marathon. Crossing that finish line was one of the proudest days of my life.

To-date I’m down almost 90lbs and feel fantastic, so full of energy! My self-confidence has drastically improved, along with my whole outlook on life. My bloodsugar levels are now well controlled with a simple regime of diet and exercise, blood pressure and cholesterol levels are no longers issues. I can do normal, every day activites without getting fatigued. A healthy lifestyle is my only lifestyle. I have about another 30-40 lbs that I’m working to lose before I’m at goal.

[valgal]

Way to go on the 90lbs down Lynn! You'll be at goal in no time!

My "deets".. I am [e-mail], theskinnypregnantgirl.blogspot.com or Valorie (34)

I live in Guam with my husband of 14 1/2 years who is active duty Air Force. We have been here 5 months. I have two girls 12 and 9. I am a SAHM and anticipate the arrival of our adopted 2 yo son from Vietnam in the next few months.

Prior to pregnancy, I never dealt with weight issues. Never thought about what I ate, or exercise. I was always 135. I gained 70 and 75 lbs with each pregnancy and was able to get the last hard lbs off with Weight Watchers 5 years ago. I have gained 15 lbs since, by not watching what I eat and being regular with exercise. I have determined that I am going to be 135 to go pick up my son! I am using thedailyplate.com to track my calories in and my calories used as well. It seems to be working so far!

[Angie All The Way]

Every single member of Team Lynn is so fortunate to have Lynn as their team leader! She is such an inspiration, isn't she?!! Go and check out her "visual" on her blog! Be prepared to be blown away though!

Valgal: Wow I am literally taken back by you. That is amazing! You are an angel and adopting your new son brings tears to my eyes! I haven't heard of thedailyplate and will go and check that out!

[espressomama]

90 lbs - WOW, way to go Lynn! Angie is no slouch in the weight-loss game, either!

I am 46 (yuck, I hate admitting that), married with 2 boys - 16 and 9, and one dog - his name is Bear but anyone who reads my blog also knows him by his nickname - Fattdogg. I life in Dartmouth, NS, Canada and work in an administrative capacity for a local manufacturing firm.

I have struggled with my weight all my life. I was a chubby kid, overweight teenager, and adult. I have successfully lost weight, but have not been successful keeping it off. Losing weight is really the easy part. This time I caught myself before I hit an all-time high, and have been losing weight REALLLY SLOOOOWWWLLLLYYYY for the past 2+ years. How slowly - like 10 lbs a year. At this rate I will be a goal by the time I am 50, but I want to pick up the pace. My hubby struggles with his weight and now has Type 2 Diabetes. My oldest is overweight, and my youngest has recently started putting on weight - he was always skinny. Anyway, I just want to be a better example for them.

I spend a significant amount of time trying to coordinate getting the kids to their activities and the housework done and work taken care of and then time for me. I need to build in more active time for me. My oldest drives, so at least I shouldn't have to take him so many places (except he seems to have to go places before I get home from work!)

[danee]

Reader's digest condensed version...I am done being pregnant forever!!! It's my turn now! My body is my own and I'm going to take care of it. 26lbs down...85 to go!
Congrats to my fellow losers on their success, big and small!

[andrea]

I'm 32 & have been overweight/obese for the last 13-14 years. I wasn't a chubby kid or even a chubby teenager, so this is all me - eating junk & not moving for years. I managed to drop about 20lbs or so during the summer of '07, but it was all following a low carb diet & as soon as I got a job teaching that fall, it all went down the drain. I gained back that 20 plus about another 16lbs throughout the school year (that's 36 lbs in a year - ughh). I decided that I missed my girls too much while teaching (Alyssa is 3 & Aliza is 1.5) & became a SAHM last fall. It was the end of September when I decided that I was tired of being this big & uncomfortable ALL the time. I started walking, and about a month later joined our rec center & started taking Zumba classes. So far, I have lost 20.5 lbs (including this week's WI) & really only have focused on exercise. I've learned that following a specific eating plan doesn't work well for me, because I totally feel deprived & food obsessed when I do this. I'm trying to focus in on exercise & just making healthier food choices daily. I have about 65 more pounds to go to reach my goal weight.

[jennyfromdarock]

Hmm my "deets" are....

... I have a little doggie. Bailey, who I love dearly!! He's a shih-tzu maltese cross. I am engaged to the most wonderful Fiance, we have been together for almost 6 years! I have been overweight my whole life, for whatever reason weight has always been an issue. Lately I have been realizing that this isn't a "life-sentence" for me, something can be done! My plan of choice is Weight Watchers (meetings), I really couldn't have the success I have been having without it. My motivation (besides BLBE) is my wonderful Fiance who I will be marrying this June, also the wedding, I want to be that radiant Bride! Also general reasons are for my health, I want to ensure that I live the healthiest life possible, once we start having children, I want to keep up with them and dance at their weddings... ahh... sounds so nice!

I haven't set my goal weight yet, my first goal is to get to my 10% (6.6 pounds away!!), once I reach that, I will be well on my way to whatever goal is decided!

Looking forward in getting to know you all, good luck and lets kick some ass!!

[Samantha]

I am a 20 (soon to be 21) year old engaged woman living in Bay area california. I am a medicals assistant, receptionist at a massage envy, youth leader, pastor's daughter, and trying to plan a wedding. So needless to say.. I'm a busy girl. But if I want to be a wife and maybe even a great mother.. I felt it necesary to lead by example and get my butt in shape. I have had too many excuse (no time, emotional excuses,etc) of why not to get healthy again. I'm sick of it honestly. What am I waiting for?? To get diagnosed with HTN or diabetes? Seriously. So I've kicked all the excuses to the curb. I've been eating healthy for 2 weeks and lost 11 lbs. Now I am trying to schedule working out into my crazy schedule. I've found if you schedule it into your busy day.. you shouldnt have an excuse to NOT do it! I am engaged and would love to look simply stunning on my big day.. but that is not the main reason I started this. It wasn't a New years resolution, my wedding, or even anyone else. It was simply for me. I need to work out, I need to eat healthy, and I need to get healthy so I can live a long and healthy life. No excuses!!!

I look forward to this great journey with everyone
Let's kick fats butt!!
<3 Sam
www.soon2behealthybride.blogspot.com

[amandalynn636]

I am 30, married to my wonderful husband Chad & we have 21 month old Slade. I have battled my weight my whole life, constantly yo-yoing. My heaviest prior to being pregnant was 209 at which I started exercising , watched what I ate & got sown to 140. That was in 2005. Then I started dating my husband & gained 30lbs, still not bad, we had our wedding set for Sept of 06. I found out I was pregnant in July of 06. At my wedding I weighed 200lbs. Due to the physical aspects of my job & the 12 hour shifts my doctor took me off of work from about 5 months on so basically I sat at home & indulged in everything that I had denied my self for the two years prior that I had been dieting. On the day I gave birth to my son I weighed 285 lbs. Here I am almost 2 years later & still at 235 basically. People don't believe the excuse of just having a baby anymore. I am tired of feeling ashamed of how I look. I am tired of being afraid to see people who knew me back when I was then. I just want to look in the mirror & like what I see...

[mooselovingmama]

Well, I must be the Team "Grandma" who isn't a grandma yet.... LOL I'm 51 years young, gave birth to 4 (25, 23,21,21-twins) and have a house full of s/o over along w/ dh and 3 fur babies. Work full-time at a local college. Have struggled w/ my weight since my 30's... every diet, yo-yo'd back and forth, finally got down and blew my achielles; had surgery which ended up a huge mess that I ended up in a cast like almost a year along w/ steroids... so all my weight came back plus some. I've got to drop 35-40lbs to feel great. I just need to get rid of my junk in my trunk...

[karmat]

I'm 38 years old, married to a wonderful man and have two adorable children -- Travis (7) and Kristiana (4). I am a homeschooling mom, work partttime at the community college in the GED/Adult High School program, and have a photography business. I like sports, reading, writing, and spending way too much time online.

Was "chubby" until 7th grade, when it all mysteriously disappeared, and had an awesome body through college. When I started teaching, my lifestyle went from always in overdrive to sedentary. I gradually put on weight. Got married 4 years out of college. Gained several more pounds.

Then, I had had enough. Lost 30 pounds. Got pregnant. Gained 45, lost 40 of it one week after Trav was born (I had massive water retention).
Three years later, lost 30 pounds again. Got pregnant again. Gained 45, lost 40 of it one week after Kristi was born.


Last year, I decided I absolutely had to get the weight off. I started eating reasonably and had it as a goal to take one or two pounds a week off, but to take it off in such a way to keep it off forever. I was really trying to change my habits. After several MONTHS of this, I was so proud of myself -- I had lost 25 pounds, and was in a habit that was allowing me to be more healthy, but not stressed.

Then, hubby changed the batteries in the scale. My weight "loss" was actually a gain, because the batteries had been slowly fading. While I laugh about that now, I was terribly discouraged and simply decided to take my chances with diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease (which all run rampant in my family).

Then, I saw my son and daughter picking up my bad habits and my son started struggling with a weight issue -- he is tall for his age, and really likes to snack.

So, this time I'm doing something about it.

I'm watching what I eat -- trying to reduce fats and sugars, and exercising more (its in the single digits right now, so indoor exercising is working best). I'm also dealing with not being an emotional eater. . .

Karma

[RebeccaILJ]

My "deets"....

I'm 26, married just a year now to my wonderful husband Will. We live in Rochester, Minnesota (-22 outside right now!), where we both work at the Mayo Clinic, I'm a nurse and he works in transplant finance.

I kind of just followed in my Mom's footsteps, she has always struggled with her weight and I remember first realizing how much I weighed at age 14, being 150lbs and 5'4 which was maybe 5lbs over what someone that age should be. I was very active, I worked on our farm and was a competitive barrel racer, so looking back that was probably a decent amount of muscle and not just fat. I started 'dieting' at 14, and eventually got into a full-blown battle with anorexia, my weight hitting the all-time low of 112lbs at age 17. Counseling and anti-depressants brought me back to 150 by the time I was 18.

Anyway- through nursing school and into my first nursing job (way over my head for a new grad, trauma surgery!) brought some pretty hefty swings in weight gain and loss. As my stress level climbed, I drank heavily and flirted with bulimia. A couple stints of Weight Watchers, typically lost 10lbs and then would quit and gain 20lbs.

That brings me to last year- I had started focusing less on food and more on life! My weight was slowly creeping down with the help of a very active job, then in a whirlwind I married my best friend and got very closely acquainted with his southern cooking. Omg. Rice and gravy is a staple of souther cooking. Seriously! I gained 25lbs between us starting to date and getting married. Combine that with breaking my arm the day after we got home from our honeymoon, and then getting an office job (ie, sedentary desk job) I've packed on another 30lbs since then.

What makes this different? I know it sounds silly, but someday has become now. I always thought someday I'll get married, someday I'll go back to school, someday I'll lose weight, someday we'll have kids. Someday is now! I'm married, we want to have a baby in the next year or so, I'm back in school. Someday is now.

I'm looking at this with a more nutrition focus, less of a dieting focus- fuel for my body, being aware of what kind of crap (ingredients I can't pronounce and are not found in nature!) that I put in my body. I'm doing calorie restriction (BMR and AMR) instead of WW, emphasizing protein and foods that are healthy and filling. I'm very lucky to my have my husband (who has gained 15lbs since we got married) as an enthusiastic partner in this, which is huge after many tries on my own. We are 'renting' a treadmill from my little sister for two months, since Will and I both used to run and would like to build that habit again. If it goes well, we'll buy our own this spring. Our mantra is, this isn't a diet, its a lifestyle!

I'm hoping to reach goal by December of 2009, and we'd like to start trying to get pregnant sometime thereafter. We have our pre-baby checklist, and all that's left is me reaching goal weight, and taking a trip to Europe, which is my goal reward!

I'm so excited about BLBE, and can't wait to see how trim we all are by the end of it!