WELCOME to the Weight Loss & Dieting Community!

[Ranaesheart]

Welcome to the Weight Loss & Dieting Community!

Let us embrace you with a warm welcome to MedHelp! How amazing it is to have a wonderful network of people to share your journey!  We are thrilled to have you as part of the Weight Loss & Dieting Community!

You'll find we are a very supportive and caring group of people who are just like you, and understand how your weight can affect every aspect your life. We understand you may be shy to make that first post ..it's ok we were all there once, too!  But keep in mind that no question is too big or too small; we are eager to help and believe the information provided here could be most beneficial to you in changing your lifestyle.

This community is comprised of individuals sharing their journeys to a healthier lifestyle through weight-loss, nutrition and exercise! They have amassed much knowledge, are motivational and inspiring.  Together, in this positive and friendly environment, we can help you find a path to a new and healthier you!  

We highly encourage that you use the trackers provided in your profile section, specifically the Weight Tracker (http://www.medhelp.org/land/track-weight-loss); which can be crucial to your success.    In entering your current data, it provides you with a chart to monitor your progress, allows you to establish weight loss goals, tracks your measurements and clothing size, and records your exercise and daily activities.  Using the Weight Tracker also gives you the ability to email it to your doctor as a point-of-reference before or during your appointment so he/she can see your progress.  Take a look at it – I guarantee you, you will start using it!

This group is all about teamwork and helping each other! We are sure you will love the periodic weight loss challenges that are no more than 3 weeks in duration.  We do this to provide brief periods of concerted effort where we pull together as a team to make lifestyle changes and reach small realistic weight loss goals. We believe there is always strength in numbers.

Here’s a link to an article on Weight Loss and Nutrition Myths FAQs  that you may find useful in answering many of the weight related questions. You can find it under the Health Pages on the right side of the community.  Here is the url http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Weight-Loss/Weight-Loss-and-Nutrition-Myths/show/399?cid=129

Your active participation in the group discussions is highly encouraged. We believe there is a direct correlation between your participation and your success.  Post to a current thread or begin your own. No matter what nutritional weight loss regimen you’ve chosen, we all work together to support and encourage each other through the group’s threads and hugs.

So, welcome aboard!  We're so happy you're here!!  It’s an honor and a privilege to share in your journey. Stay tuned and we will provide you with all the assistance and support to lose weight safely with friendship and compassion.  And, along with your effort, you WILL achieve your own weight loss success!

Sunshine wishes … and remember … we Believe in YOU!!!

Ranaesheart

P.S. - We want to make sure this community stays as helpful and supportive as it can be. So, If you ever have any ideas or comments on how this forum can offer even more help and support, or have any concerns or issues, please feel free to private message me.

[bet643]

This is truly great.............Hope you can help us thyroid people, we can all use the help, thanks

[Ranaesheart]

Am thrilled you are here and will definitely work to support you and those from the thryoid community.  We're all in this together!  ((Hugs))

[Ranaesheart]

Tried to send you a note welcoming you and a message, however, your settings will not allow this.  So ... hope you see this!  :]

Welcome to the WL&D Community; thrilled you are here!  Sent you a friend request, which I hope you will consider as it is a way that I'll be communicating with everyone in a special event that is coming very soon.  Would also urge you to start the Weight Tracker and Mood Tracker as they can be essential in helping us in our weight loss journeys and provide the historical data that provides us with so much information!

Sunshines wishes ... and many (((Hugs)))
Ranae

[msgorgeous]

Welcome bet643 to the WL&D CO we are happy to have you hear. you will find motivation and support from all of us

i wish you sucess in your weight loss journey

[bet643]

I'm still having some problems with my settings that prevents me from receiving notes. Not sure what I am doing wrong. Any sugestions?

[Appriel33]

I hope I'll find a nitch in this support system! Everyone seems so friendly and willing to help.

[Brendricky]

Hi,

  My name is Bren. I used to be on medications for mental disorders and gained close to 100 lbs. I now take herbals.  I am trying to lose this weight in a healthy way and I was so thrilled to find you here.  I posted a suggestion for a tracker and Med Help gave me the link to this community.  I used to exercise everyday sometimes 2 times a day before I got pregnant with my 3rd son,  I want to get back into exercising and eating healthy I just have to be careful doing so.  I will try my best to give support to those here who want it. I know I too am going to need it. Just a push now and then letting me know i can do it the healthy way.  I have past problems with anorexia turning into bulimia. I do not want to go that route!  I was so sick back then.  I had lost 64 lbs that way but it was not good on my organs or my teeth. I was at my most 261 lbs. I had gotten down to 197 lbs. But have since gained more back.  I was on the 20th of this month 230 lbs and I am now down to 224.2 lbs.  I am looking forward to losing weight with others who understand what it is like.  I am going to start back exercising on Monday. I do not want to do the counting calories thing as it is a trigger for me to go to extremes and I need to try and keep from over exercising as well.  I kinda went nuts before with it and would do 400 sit ups a workout sometimes 2 workouts a day.  I want to get back down to about 160 lbs as long as i don't look to sickly at that weight. Thanks for giving me the chance to introduce myself.  

Bren

[lucindamartinez]

Hello everyone!  My name is Lucinda and my darling friend Ranae said that this might be a place that I would enjoy!  I look forward to getting to know you all.  ; )

[gokuangel]

HI Lucinda!! Welcome aboard! I'm Joy.  Ranae is right this place is awesome!! I have been here a month and I have lost 5lbs!! Everyone here is really wonderful!!

[lucindamartinez]

Thanks Joy!  Congratulations on that 5 lbs!  

[sevon]

I am at 204 lbs with a height of 5'6", I know I need to lose about 40 lbs, what is the most effective way to do this?

[Shaundra825]

Hi all...I have finally decided that 2009 will be my year for getting myself in shape--no excuses!  I weighed in at the doctor's today for my annual exam...305 lbs!  The biggest I have EVER been...and I am only 23.  While I have been overweight since I was about 6, I will not let weight gain get the best of me anymore.  The least I ever weighed was my sophomore year when I dropped from 235lbs to 170lbs over the summer through unhealthy means...starvation and 10 mile bike rides in the heat.  I know it is going to take some time, but I hope there are plenty of people to give me courage and strength to know that I CAN and WILL do this.  I am hoping to get down to 160lbs by May 2010, as I am going to be in my best friend's wedding.  That equates to about 2lbs a week.

[Becky54]

I joined a few days ago. I need to lose about 150 lbs!!  I am hoping this group will help me.  I will try and get on here everyday to read posts and will make comments too.  Together we can achieve our goals. :)

[Keynote]

I just joined too, welcome! Yes there's a great group of people here, a lot of motivation, which I need.  Let's get started!

[gokuangel]

Welcome to the both of you! if you guys need anything at all just ask!!  Some1 here will have an answer!!

[blueyedtxn]

Hi everyone!! thanks for that warm welcome :]  Im excited about becoming fit and healthy in 2009!! glad theres a place we can come for support! : ]

[onlymikesstacia]

Hello everyone! My name is Stacia and I was invited here by Lucinda. I have already lost about 50 lbs on my own, but I am struggling to lose another 40 lbs. I hope to get to know you all better! Stacia

[lucindamartinez]

Hey Stacia!  I'm so glad to see you!  You are definitely gonna like the support here!  Welcome!  ; )  

[blksapphire]

This is truly great.....I see a few of my fellow thyroidians on this site........Hope you can help us thyroid people, we can all the help we can get, thanks

I am hypothyroid and hypoglycemic

[heatherlynn22]

hi,

i'm heather. 23 and from the "burgh". 5 months ago (5 months today actually) i had two wonderful little boys. brett and eli. i couldn't be happier....except for one thing. i've gained a tid bit of weight that i can't seem to get rid of. before i got pregnant i weighed 120-130 lbs. by time i went into labor i weighed 240 lbs. by post partum week 6 i weighed 190. by my 6 week check up i weighed 160. and at the begining of december i weighed 164. i would LOVE LOVE LOVE to get back to 120. i watch what i eat and everything....but have no motivation to work out. i'm so tired 90% of the time (it's hard work taking care of twins...especially when they're sick, teething or just fussy) that i can't even manage to force myself to workout...even though i really want to.

i don't really have any friends who are into loosing weight like i am...either they're happy being...heavier or are stick thin and don't need to workout....so any help or friends that can just...help motivate me would be great!!!

thanks everyone.

[dai3symae]

I'm so glad to have found this community.....I have lost and gained several hundred pounds over the years but never for very long......I was always fortunate not to have any serious health problems....until recently......

I'm having foot surgery in February (to fix the last surgery I had) and one of the joints in my foot has significant deterioration.....the less extra weight I carry the better my prospects for recovery are.....and after years of pain every day it's time to get the foot fixed and loose the weight    :)

[Pandorasbx]

Hello everyone!
I'm new to the site and would like to join your community.
Thanks!
Pandorasbx

[Ranaesheart]

First, I would like to welcome each and every one of you!  YOU are what makes this community supportive and successful and we're thrilled you are here!!!

Second, I'd like to apologize for not formally welcoming you sooner.  A long post I made about 3 weeks ago is not in this string so apparently there was a hiccup when I submitted it.  Had several computer viruses that were giving me lots of problems, which are hopefully resolved now after a major tune-up from a very talented young man ... my that younger generation sure knows a LOT about computers!

As for the Challenge ... everyone in this post is in the challenge so please try to stay involved in the community posts, the challenge activities AND in completing your weight, exercise and mood trackers .. these can be crucial to staying "REAL" throughout this process and enhances our success!

bet643 - Again, welcome and thank you for being such a wonderful participant in the community.  Those with thyroid disorders tend to have a greater challenge in losing weight and it is one we are working to address.  We're trying to gather some specific information and begin developing health pages and support that is particular to the issues faced by thyroidians.

msgorgeous - Thank you for your participation, the sunshine and welcomes you readily extend to all and for the wonderful support you give to our community members.  We are all blessed ...

Appriell33 - Hope you have not only found a "nitch" but a "HOME".  This is a great community full of caring people ready to help .. just reach out and ask your questions, holler when you need some support and we'll all have fun while we move forward in our journeys.  See you live in one of my very favorite states .. are you close to Redmond or Enumclaw?

Brendricky - Bren, You CAN do this the healthy way!  We'll try to give you gentle nudges along the way and extend our hands in friendship to walk this path with you.  Do you live anywhere close to Covington?

Lucinda - Am so thrilled to have you here and can't thank you enough for your friendship.

(PS - Lucinda and I met online and have become fast friends and supporters of each other's weight loss efforts.  You can develop these friendships as well .. and we encourage you to do so!)

gokuangel - You always offer such sunshine, warm wishes and information to the entire community!  Many many thanks to you ..

sevon - Welcome and thank you for posting your question.  Probably the best advice I could give is to eat healthy by implementing lean meats, complex carbohydrates (whole grains), fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, low-fat or non-fat dairy and drink lots of water rather than pop or energy drinks.  In addition, use cardio to lose weight but mix in core, strength and toning exercise along the way.  Participate in the community, ask questions and stay involved .. it truly helps and was crucial in the success I've experienced to date.  Personally, chicken, rice, fresh vegetables and lots of spice are a favorite combination .. combined with a mango!  :)

Shaundra825 - I agree with you .. 2009 is OUR Year!  AND, by May 2010, you are going to reach your goal!  Just keep that vision in your head at all times .. it helps .. and your 2 lb a week goal is a good one.  Please keep the community informed on how you are doing and when you need help .. they are wonderful and will help you reach your goals if you are willing to share where you are and what you need help with.  Am so happy for you!

Becky54 - Welcome and thank you for joining!  We are certainly looking forward to having you here and in your participation throughout the community and the challenge.

Keynote - So very glad you are here!  Let's do this together and, along with the support of the community, we can all celebrate and journey together.

blueyedtxn - Fit and healthy are GREAT reasons to be here!  Welcome!  Support abounds but it takes everyone's participation to be truly successful!  Am sooo looking forward to your comments and posts!

onlymikesstacia - You GO Girl .. 50 pounds and counting!  See 2009 is going to be YOUR Year as well!!!  How about us all planning to share pictures when we reach our goal and buy that one special outfit to celebrate???

blksapphire - Hypothyroid and hypoglycemia definitely makes your journey more difficult but it is most achievable!  We are working to develop more information to better support the thyroidians and am glad you are here!  Perhaps you may want to invite others as well .. the more the merrier and there is greater strength in numbers!  In addition, what do you think of a LIVE CHAT to discuss the weight loss issues of the thyroid group in particular?  

heatherlynn22 - CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS on the birth of Brett and Eli; what a blessing!  You have already made enormous progress in your weight loss efforts and we'd be honored to help with some motivation along the way.  Am sorry you don't have anyone close to support your efforts and team up with but we definitely offer you friendship and support here!  Who knows, maybe you'll be a catalyst for them when they see how good you look and how great you feel!

dai3symae - Thank you for the honesty in your post.  Losing and gaining is a cycle that many of us go through and, personally, I could have 4 or 5 of me from my years of yo-yo dieting.  Addressing the underneath emotional issues and realizing that I had to stop this way of life that was destroying my health finally led me down this path of healthy weight loss over the past 2 1/2 years.  It is no longer a race but a lifestyle that will sustain my life.  Very best wishes with your upcoming foot surgery and please let us know how you are doing.  Can only share with you that the loss of weight greatly enhances the stress on our joints and physically I feel and look years younger!

Pandorasbx - Welcome, welcome, welcome ... and thank you for joining the WL&D community!  We're tickled pink to have you and look forward to sharing your journey with you!

[RavingMad]

Hi,

I'm Rach & I've just joined this community. I'm also a member of the thyroid community, as I'm hypothyroid - good to see other 'thyroidians' on here!

It's taken me 2 years (and countless Drs) to find out why I've gained 20kgs since my thyroidectomy - Jan 2007. I have a zinc/copper imbalance, a suspected estrogen dominance & a gluten sensitivity that has been buggering up my T4/T3 conversion - so my thyroid meds haven't worked very well. My metabolism basically went into shutdown mode & I could not lose weight or even plateau, no matter how strict I dieted or how hard I hit the gym. I upped my dose, even changed medications - made no difference. Then I hurt my back & ended up with a large herniated disc & a smaller bulging disc - so hitting the gym became impossible. Each month, I got bigger & more depressed.

I'm on the right track now & have found a great Dr. I'm taking supplements to fix my imbalances & estrogen dominance & I'm trialling different thyroid medication, one that my body tolerates. I've reduced gluten in my diet & keep an eye on my carbs, fats & sugars. I've also started exercising again, baby steps & a totally different routine now that my backs' cactus. It's frustrating, but I don't have much of a choice.

I know the weight may take a while to shift - so I'm here for the support & a kick in the pants to keep perservering, if I need it!!! Lol.

Rach  : )