Add me to the list. I was considering joining Weight Watchers also, Kari. I have all the materials because I have joined so many times before, thought I could just use and save myself the weekly fees, but I never seem to do well on my own. I need a support group!

I haven't been to the gym in months. I'm afraid when I go, lights and sirens will go off. I need to be exercising daily, found out I have osteopena a few months ago and am supposed to walk at least 40 minutes daily, and I could stand to lose 15 to 20 pounds.

Haha, Carole, me too. I actually called my gym a few weeks ago and said "Hey, am I still active? Oh, I am? Thanks, just checking."

I'm actually on my way there to work out tonight, and I just purchased my online WW membership, so I'm at least staying accountable to those goals.

However, when you have to sign up for WW online you have to input your height & weight (I think it's one of the things they do to make sure you are not dangerously *underweight* to limit liability.) I have no idea what my current weight is and made a guess. I don't own a scale! There's probably one at my gym in the locker room, so I might sneak over there while I'm changing and see how bad the damage is. *gulp*

(And whatever the number is, I will *not* comfort myself with snacks afterwards.)

I've started going to tennis clinics in the last few months, and so I'll definitely keep that up. But I need to do something outside of that...I'm planning on doing some cardio at the gym and buying some weights and doing a tiny bit of weightlifting at home.

I think the new WW points system will help me stay motivated. The emphasis seems to be on eating right where before it was weighted more toward calories. In fact the new one doesn't even take calories into account when calculating points.

Interesting, LB. To be honest, I haven't really investigated how the new points system differs from the old system that I'm used to. It will be interesting to compare.

i have family members on weight watchers as well. the new points systems is takes a bit of getting used to; you might benefit from going to one meeting just to get a good handle on it, even if you don't want to make a weekly thing out of it.

well I meant to join this thread earlier, but now, having just come home from a NYE party having eaten the biggest meal for maybe a year, I definitely need to!
I have about 1-2 pounds of Christmas weight to lose, and would like to lose another 1-3 on top of that.

I am also a swimmer - well at least in jan every year. I am gearing up for a 3.6km swim in about 5 weeks and haven't trained much. I am trying to average 6km a week until then - did 1.75 today.
I also want to get back into running and do a 5km the same weekend so am aiming for 2 runs a week.
I told myself that I had to get up and exercise every morning at 6am until the Xmas weight came off but I am getting soo tired! Also my kids are often up anyway, so I try to walk/run with them but inevitably it isn't as good a workout.

I join in with the swimming recommendations, and add to them that if you haven't swam much some investment in stroke improvement lessons or squad coaching, if you can afford it, can make a real positive difference.

RE: swimming, I just checked and my gym/pool only offers either kids' swimming lessons, or adult masters swim (advanced/experienced.) Unfortunately there aren't any lower level adult swimming lessons available. I can't really afford anything that isn't available through the gym, though I wish it were a possibility.

BUT I did get a head start on my goals and did an hour of mixed cardio at the gym last night.

Anne, I hear you about getting up early. It's tough, and I can't imagine doing so when waking up with small children.
I actually wake up at 5:15 normally to make it to work on time (I start early), so although I'd love to work out in the morning it just isn't feasible. Fortunately the gym is two blocks away from work so I can make it there afterwards or during my lunch break if need be.

Kari, according to my online WW record, I haven't eaten a single thing for several months now! Of course, IRL its somewhat different :(. I do like the points system, because the emphasis is on nutritional quality rather than calories. My challenge is not to obsess about food when I am recording my eating.....

FWIW, I do find meetings very motivating, even though I don't understand a word because there aren't English classes here -there's something about the comaraderie that works for me

Kari, is there a local community center? or a YMCA? Those should offer swimming classes at a fairly low rate.

Crazyone, good suggestion. I just scoured the internet looking for facilities that offer this. It looks like the local Y locations offer adult swim classes at varying levels; unfortunately for me, you still have to be a facility member in order to register on top of the fees. I really don't want to add any additional membership fees beyond my gym and WW, which I've already planned for.

I think I'll just content myself with my mediocre swim technique and get a kickboard - it's going to be a LOT cheaper.

Kari- I am a horrible swimmer, but I was going to see if maybe I can get a single personal training session at the gym to work on technique (or else just flail miserably on my own). I figure that even if I start out doggy paddling it's better than nothing. plus- there are guides to any and everything free on the internet.
Oh and I highly suggest that you get a scale. I weight myself daily, and I credit that hugely for my ability to keep the weight off so far.

For all those looking to improve their stroke - go on youtube and search for swimming stroke instruction. It's not as good as in-person stroke correction, but it's pretty useful. You'll find you swim faster and smoother with a decent stroke.

Anne - I'm envious of your swim ability, I'm only managing 3km or so every week. Soon I'll start back up doing ocean swim clinics twice a week. The cold dark water really takes some getting used to after the nice bright clean pool.

If I weigh myself too regularly I get a bit obsessed with the scale. Measuring my waist is a better option for me. Probably healthier too as the belly fat is the dangerous fat.

I'm having a cheat meal tonight - some foodie friends have invited me to a New Years Eve dinner where they cook all the fancy dishes they've been putting off all year. My contribution is going to be a coffee crusted chateaubriand steak, served with a bitter chocolate and rosemary sauce. Should be a spectacular meal. I'm also bringing a salad, much to the disdain of the other chefs! I might skip the foie gras that will be on offer though....that stuff is calorie bomb incarnate.

So now I am going to trot off to the gym to offset at least some of the calories I will consume tonight!

Please count me in. Once again, I've managed to gain about 5 pounds over the holidays, and need to get rid of them before summer.

And at the end of last summer I (stupidly) purchased a bikini (on sale), thinking that if I'm ever going to be able to wear one, age 46 will have to be the year...

If it isn't too late I'd like to join, not for weight loss but to change my exercise plan a bit. After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes I've lost about 35-40 pounds and kept it off just by watching carbs and exercising 35-40 minutes a day. I'd rather not lose more weight, but it will level out where it needs to be. I need to start exercising at least 20 minutes first thing in the morning for the blood sugar and am not a morning person.
I'd like encouragement to exercise early every day and remember that at least half to 3/4 of each meal needs to be low carb veggies. That means more greens. Thank you!

I have battled my weight for 30+ years, finally stabilizing in a good 10-pound range for the past decade. Right now I am at the low end of that range, which is where I prefer to stay, and that requires vigilance so the pounds don't sneak up on me. This group is one more tool I can use to help me (and hopefully others) and I will gladly participate.

Medusa, can I suggest we start a new thread each week, much like the SYCers did?

Well, its Saturday night here in Aus, so Week 1 is creeping up!

I had a HUGE New Years breakfast at the resort we stayed at last night and think its just been one big meal too many! I've felt really sluggish and lazy all day.

Tomorrow's plan is to clean the fridge out for good, ready to start fresh on Monday.

Swimming - I sort of taught myself to swim when I was about 20, so add me to the list that are not so good at it We only have 1 pool here, and the admission fee alone to the pool means I could only do it once a week - and it would have to be after school goes back as I don't have babysitters - and whilst there are beginner adult lessons, they are way outside my budget.

Running, swimming and cycling are the 3 things I'd like to eventually be able to do (a triathlon one day? LOL)... but for now, I'm focusing on getting healthier, fitter and stronger. And I'm really enjoying the yoga on the Wii because I find it quite a work out (for me!), but I LOVE the stretching.

I think a weekly thread will be best too.

Oh I forgot to say...

I've been seeing ads for the next season of Biggest Loser in Aus, and they are showing bits of it where the trainers have to go and live with their contestant family for a week and eat the families usual food...

It shows all the trainers being really lethargic, unwell, dehydrated, having headaches...

Every time I've seen the ads it reminds me that once our bodies get used to being fit and eating well, its remarkable the difference the horrible food makes.

It makes me want to be at that point... the point where my normal diet and routine is so well ingrained and healthy that I don't even want to eat all the junk food I currently do...

Anyway, just wanted to share those ramblings LOL

I still don't have a concrete plan, but today I'm going to take an uber long walk--to the mall It's about 2.5 miles each way. I'm going to return a jacket.

Theresa - it's so true.

Now that eating properly is a habit, a lot of the old junky favourites (fried chicken anyone) make my stomach turn. I start feeling odd if I don't eat something green and crunchy with every meal.

I would like to join in for exercise purposes. I lost 67 lbs 2 years ago. Last year was spent learning how to maintain the loss. I think I have that part under control. For exercise, I walk 3 miles 5 days a week. I need to add weight training to the mix. The weight loss left me with untoned upper arms. I really need to do something about it this year. My commitment will be to record my strength workouts on fitday.com. That really helped with the weight loss and hopefully it will do the same for weight training.
Good luck everyone!

oooh another thing I NEED to work on... healthy sleeping habits!

I was really good for 3/4 of last year - to bed by 9.30pm and up between 6.30-7am. But the last quarter I just started having later and later nights, and now, its been after 11pm for a few weeks, which has meant I am struggling to get out of bed in the morning and an VERY tired during the day... which leads to me making poorer food choices and not wanting to do anything... I've always needed a bit more sleep than most (ever since I had my first bout of glandular fever at age 12 actually), and I've worked out that 9-10 hours is ideal for me - any less and it has a big impact

So, as of tonight, I'm back to being in bed by 9.30pm - seeing as its school hols though, I'm going to make my wake up time 7.30am.

Anyone else have sleep issues they want to work on?

Nope, I sleep like a log for 7 hours every night. Sleeping well is relatively new development for me and I love it. Better sleep is another reason why exercising regularly is great.

Good luck with your new sleep patterns Theresa!

Count me in too please! I've been well above my ideal weight since I had my baby 14 months ago and I think I have actually put on a bit more over the last couple of months since I have cut back on breastfeeding. I'm really frustrated at myself, I feel uncomfortable about myself and yet I continue to make really poor food choices. I know I feel so much better when I eat healthily and exercise. And I can totally relate to the sleep issue Theresa. I have been going to bed at 11 or 12pm and really struggle when the kids wake up at 6:30am! Then I feel lethatgic and tired during the day and make poor food choices and it's a downward spiral (not to mention getting grumpy more easily!). So I would like to lose about 12kg all up but my 1st goal will be 5kg. I am also going to do the couch to 5k running program. I started this a couple of months ago and I was really enjoying it but I dropped it when my husband was away for work and unfortunately didn't restart. So my plan is to run 3 x week and do 1-2 pilates sessions. Can't wait to get started now!!!

I'm hesitant to join because I don't have much time to participate in the forums since I started a new job six months ago. However I really need to lose 10 lbs and would appreciate the motivation. I miss the half of my wardrobe that I can no longer wear! My goal is simple: just pack my workout bag every day and put it in my car. Hopefully that will help me make it to the gym after a long day at the office!

I have been meaning to get back to this thread to correct what may have been an impression I made that you *should* get some sort of instruction if you want to do swimming. I wouldn't want an inability to get that to stop anyone from swimming.
In fact as far as calorie burning goes, I think I heard that you use more swimming with inefficient technique!

If you can afford it however, a little instruction can be helpful (espeially if it is going to be your main form of exercise). Swimming is a sport where technique can make a big difference, more so than in other forms of exercise. I swam as a teenager and the grounding I got then means that I can contemplate a race like the 3.6km with not much more than a month of training. In fact, if I just wanted to "finish" I could get by with less.

Our leisure centre has swimfit classes where you can go along casually for $3:50 (in addition to pool entry). They do laps (I imagine there is quite a group there) and there is someone who would give you some feedback. If you mostly swam by yourself, but joined a class like that once a month, and each time got one tip on how to improve, you would get better over time. But of course that is just what we have available, and everyone's areas are different.

Leah don't be too jealous. While I said I was aiming for 6km - I actually only did the one I mentioned! (1:75) No creche open last week so although I went to the pool (my eldest is doing vacations swimming lessons) I spent all my time in the water with my toddler.

Theresa and An I am SO with you on the sleep thing. My youngest wakes me up between 5 and 6am and so of course I should go to bed by about 10 but that would be a really early night for me! Sometimes I am so tired I fall asleep after breakfast.

DH is an extreme night owl. I got him to commit to an 11:30 bedtime (or else he would be up later) Sun-thurs but the tendency is that I stay up with him! (but he sleeps until 8:30)
I also tend to leave lots of tasks til after the girls are in bed and that can take til 9pm!

Fathenry, I read a good tip about motivating yourself to get to the gym. They said pack your gym bag in the morning, put your house keys in it, and drop it off a the gym (into your locker) on your way *to* work. That way you *have* go to to gym to pick up your keys, and you know, once you are there...

I thought it was brilliant! (I work at home however, so it doesn't work for me. I just go a couple of nights a week to get out of the house! LOL)

theresa, i have serious sleep issues as well. i go to bed much earlier than my husband, wake up much later and it's still not enough...not sure what to do about it.

i went away for the weekend so was off the diet/exercise regime but i don't think i was out of control. game on tomorrow morning.

I started back running this week - did my usual 3-mile route today and Friday. I had taken two weeks off, and I felt it! Oof!

I also took a week off from Weight Watchers last week and started again on Friday. I was surprised to see that I only gained about half a pound in that week - while I wasn't counting points, I did keep in mind the things I'd learned on WW. It was good to see that, since I'm close to goal and would like to not have to obsessively count points forever.

For those of you thinking of joining or re-joining WW, I can't recommend it highly enough. I joined in September, so I've done both the previous system and the new one; I liked the old one but like the new one even more. I always ate pretty healthfully - lots of vegetables, grains, etc, and I don't care much for sweets or chips - but my problem was portion control. I feel like WW has re-taught me how to keep portions in check without feeling deprived, and I love that nothing is outright forbidden. I would never last on an Atkins or South Beach type diet, but on WW I can have a glass of wine, I can splurge on pizza, etc - as long as I count it. I've lost almost 25 pounds since September and it's felt almost effortless.