Time to be accountable...I've been afraid to jump in here or post

[Jeb]

So... I gained 70+ pounds during my illness period (5 years). And mega doses of nasty weight-gaining medicine put a screeching halt to weight loss in any way...the norm was weight gain on a weekly basis. And then a 60% reduction in my lung capacity...well, just the stairs at home was a workout and I had to rest halfway up.

So... I went to rehab and had an eye-opener as to how I DON'T want to be as an old person. And the only way I was going to change that was to take charge of my life and get fit. I joined a special lung-sick exercise group and gradually got a little more fit. It was hard but over the past 1.5 years there has been a gradual improvement.

So...then in September 2007 I was finally DONE with the Prednisone. I am brave enough to now say that since September I've lost 34 pounds :yay: I'm not "dieting" but questioning myself when I want to eat something fattening or take seconds. For me, weight loss always comes with more activity.

So...now...summer. In the time between DS's confirmation and the trip to Estonia with DD I gained 7 pounds. I was eating goodies every day!! So the day after I got back from Estonia I joined a normal people gym (as opposed to the lung-sick gym). I felt I was ready to see if I can be "normal". Three weeks later and I'm doing fine :yay: I've lost 6 of the 7 pounds I gained and will soon be working on that other half of those 70 pounds.

I'm still not "dieting" and am wondering if just watching what I eat is enough?

I need mental motivation to get myself to the gym. Any good ideas? I usually find the first 15 minutes of a workout very hard and I hate it but I stick with it and then at the end of an hour I'm reved up and ready to go for another hour. I go home feeling great. I feel great the rest of the day. I have lots of energy. I'm in a better mood. I can tell my body is getting in better shape. So, why is it so hard to get my butt in gear and go? The only thing that is keeping me going now is that I have to sign up for a class the day before...they know my name and they know if I don't show up. Why is it I dread going when I know I will feel great afterward? Why is getting started so hard?

So as of today I am publicly announcing my accountability. This is really hard because I have never been fat in my life until I got sick. It is really hard to admit publicly although I know people can SEE that I am overweight. I have a lot more pounds to go and I feel I am finally healthy enough to focus on weight loss rather than getting well. Anyone else wish to join me in a "Wednesday Weigh In"? You don't have to say how much you weigh, just what you have done for your health the past week and if you have managed any loss.

My personal goal...improve overall fitness and lose 35 more pounds by December.
How I am going to do this...focus on healthy eating and go to the gym 6-7x a week.

[Kathy]

You can do it! It sounds like you're in a great mental place to concentrate on exercise and eating better. As for the gym...are you a gym person? I know I have a really, really hard time going to a gym - something about exercising in front of a bunch of strangers, most of whom are in *much* better shape than I am, is really intimidating. I'll do almost anything to avoid going there. But exercise at home is just fine. Oh, and a really simple thing I do that really motivates: a chart for myself! I mark down on a calendar when I exercise, and it honestly feels REALLY good to see those marks and see how well I'm doing.

[Jeb]

I don't go to the one with all the university students or young people. I go to a gym that has the highest number of retired people in the whole country. It's really inspiring to see how fit some of the older people are. Last week I stood next to a lady that was 85 years old and she was so energetic and fit! By choosing this particular gym I know I can get the greatest number of middle-of-the-day classes (I am very much a morning person and would not go to the gym in the late afternoon or evening). The people in the classes are older so not into flaunting at each other with their fitness level or their outfits. And they are friendly and happy and enjoy each other's company. The atmosphere is really good. This helps me get to the gym. But I am such a homebody that just getting out of the house is hard.

I have exercised at home and have my own equipment but I find I push myself harder if I am in a group. Right now I need to push myself to get me to the next fitness level.