Wow... I'm a bit overwhelmed with the response from all of you. It is clear we are of the same mind which is, "I know I can do this, but I also know I need some help". I have one additional thought for myself though... it goes something like "Wow... what the hell have I gotten myself into this time???".
"Together" is the key word in this endeavor. We can participate as much or as little as our individual schedules allow. No one needs one more thing to fit on their calendar or add stress to their lives. That's NOT what this is about. In fact, I don't even know yet what this will become but I think we can create it together. My suggestion is to get together initially for a brain-storming session. I think it is imperative that we each come prepared to contribute. Below is a list of some of those things, I encourage you to "reply all" with some of your own ideas to add to this suggestion list.
"Short" (that's self directed, ha ha) introduction to the group about yourself and what your weight cycle has been. For instance I'm a "lifer"... always been struggling with it.
What do you envision this group to be? We need to somewhat define what it is we want. I for instance need accountability and motivation. How do we accomplish our goals?
Diet strengths, meaning what do you do right when you diet that you can share with the rest of us. (This is so you can help us.)
Diet weaknesses, meaning where to do you fall down and fail to get back up. One weakness of mine is failure to plan (having no healthy food available in the fridge when I come home ravished so I eat anything I can find to cram in my face. (This is so that we can help you.)
Sources, meaning do you know of any websites, magazine articles, etc that you can share with the rest of us. Sue Edgar already forwarded me a great newsletter with lots of good info on it. I personally depend on Dottie's Weight Loss Zone (www.dwlz.com) especially for calorie counting at restaurants. Great source for eating out!
Activities. We will for the most part all have to do our workout routines individually, too many hectic lives and schedules to pretend we could coordinate. What I do think would be fun though is if we can introduce each other to activities we wouldn't otherwise necessarily have tried without starting this group. Kathy Calvert for instance comes from a cycling family. Maybe we plan a bike ride one Saturday in the spring, surely we can all find someone to borrow a bike from. 5K's are going to start popping up as the weather improves, we can sign up for those (walk now but who knows later!) and often times help a good cause at the same time. Robin has a friend who teaches Zumba classes, what a blast that would be. So think about the things that you do that other's don't, or maybe that you always "wanted" to do but not alone and share that idea with us. I think if we mix it up and have some fun together occasionally, that might be enough to motivate us individually for the more mundane (and lonely) workouts through the week.
Buy the book and read it! I have, I'm not even into Phase One in the book yet and I'm feeling pumped. The reason why is because the changes Bob Greene is asking us to make initially are not at all overwhelming. In fact, it's almost like..." what the heck lame ass shit is this???"! I paid $15 (minus my 40% coupon, yay me!) at Borders but Robin found it for $10.75 at Wal-Mart. It's paperback and called "The Best Life Diet" by Bob Greene. He has several books out there including his recipe book which I picked up as well, so be sure and grab the right one.
Let me (all of us) know what I'm missing. Also... don't be afraid to share this with anyone else who would like to join us. We come from all parts of the city so even if they can only meet for occasional activities or the initial meeting, no worries. I hope to have a pretty good online presence for all of us to sort of tether ourselves to. Maybe we even come into the 21st Century and start Facebook or some other online chat service... again, I'm just throwing things out there. This will be a GROUP effort, I'm just the idea gal.
So now it's time for the most crucial step... getting together for our initial indoctrination into the (Mikey named us... not me, don't shoot the messenger) "Sisterhood of the Traveling Fatties"! Take a look at your calendar's, most of you work so we need to be conscious of that. Although we certainly can move our meetings around town, I'd like the first one to take place at my house. How does next Mon, Tues. or Wed work at 5pm.? "Reply All" so that we can all know what we're dealing with, there is a good chance not everyone will be able to make it, I'd call it a small miracle and a huge good sign if we do. Remember.... this is a no stress zone!
"Together" is the key word in this endeavor. We can participate as much or as little as our individual schedules allow. No one needs one more thing to fit on their calendar or add stress to their lives. That's NOT what this is about. In fact, I don't even know yet what this will become but I think we can create it together. My suggestion is to get together initially for a brain-storming session. I think it is imperative that we each come prepared to contribute. Below is a list of some of those things, I encourage you to "reply all" with some of your own ideas to add to this suggestion list.
"Short" (that's self directed, ha ha) introduction to the group about yourself and what your weight cycle has been. For instance I'm a "lifer"... always been struggling with it.
What do you envision this group to be? We need to somewhat define what it is we want. I for instance need accountability and motivation. How do we accomplish our goals?
Diet strengths, meaning what do you do right when you diet that you can share with the rest of us. (This is so you can help us.)
Diet weaknesses, meaning where to do you fall down and fail to get back up. One weakness of mine is failure to plan (having no healthy food available in the fridge when I come home ravished so I eat anything I can find to cram in my face. (This is so that we can help you.)
Sources, meaning do you know of any websites, magazine articles, etc that you can share with the rest of us. Sue Edgar already forwarded me a great newsletter with lots of good info on it. I personally depend on Dottie's Weight Loss Zone (www.dwlz.com) especially for calorie counting at restaurants. Great source for eating out!
Activities. We will for the most part all have to do our workout routines individually, too many hectic lives and schedules to pretend we could coordinate. What I do think would be fun though is if we can introduce each other to activities we wouldn't otherwise necessarily have tried without starting this group. Kathy Calvert for instance comes from a cycling family. Maybe we plan a bike ride one Saturday in the spring, surely we can all find someone to borrow a bike from. 5K's are going to start popping up as the weather improves, we can sign up for those (walk now but who knows later!) and often times help a good cause at the same time. Robin has a friend who teaches Zumba classes, what a blast that would be. So think about the things that you do that other's don't, or maybe that you always "wanted" to do but not alone and share that idea with us. I think if we mix it up and have some fun together occasionally, that might be enough to motivate us individually for the more mundane (and lonely) workouts through the week.
Buy the book and read it! I have, I'm not even into Phase One in the book yet and I'm feeling pumped. The reason why is because the changes Bob Greene is asking us to make initially are not at all overwhelming. In fact, it's almost like..." what the heck lame ass shit is this???"! I paid $15 (minus my 40% coupon, yay me!) at Borders but Robin found it for $10.75 at Wal-Mart. It's paperback and called "The Best Life Diet" by Bob Greene. He has several books out there including his recipe book which I picked up as well, so be sure and grab the right one.
Let me (all of us) know what I'm missing. Also... don't be afraid to share this with anyone else who would like to join us. We come from all parts of the city so even if they can only meet for occasional activities or the initial meeting, no worries. I hope to have a pretty good online presence for all of us to sort of tether ourselves to. Maybe we even come into the 21st Century and start Facebook or some other online chat service... again, I'm just throwing things out there. This will be a GROUP effort, I'm just the idea gal.
So now it's time for the most crucial step... getting together for our initial indoctrination into the (Mikey named us... not me, don't shoot the messenger) "Sisterhood of the Traveling Fatties"! Take a look at your calendar's, most of you work so we need to be conscious of that. Although we certainly can move our meetings around town, I'd like the first one to take place at my house. How does next Mon, Tues. or Wed work at 5pm.? "Reply All" so that we can all know what we're dealing with, there is a good chance not everyone will be able to make it, I'd call it a small miracle and a huge good sign if we do. Remember.... this is a no stress zone!
