9 replies to this topic

[bahamafamily]

I have 2 kids - a 20 year old and a 17 year old....been a single mom since the beginning. I want to lose 35 lbs....am in my 3rd week and have not experienced great success yet. The first week I lost 3.2, the second week was xmas, which was bad, but I did lost .2 lbs....now I'm in my 3rd week, and not feeling it. I read how Valerie lost 10 - 12 lbs the first month - I don't think that will be me.

Did anyone else struggle in the beginning?

[raven2feathers2003]

I think that we all struggle through it not just in the beginning but at different times through the process. Don't get discouraged everyone loses differently some lose slowly some lose fast it's a matter of the individual's body and how it works. My metabolism is slow so I have to workout to get it going and then I burn more calories and lose the weight, not fast but it's going.

I didn't gain it overnight so I won't be losing it overnight either. That's just a fact I had to face and I know we all have faced it at one time or another. But I do have hope each new day. Don't worry to much about how much you're losing it will come off eventually and then the inches will fly away lol. And you'll be like wow I lost a pant size or 2 pant sizes.

You can do this but then you are doing this you've already lost some weight, congratulations.

[HopeAngel5]

I want to first of all congratulate you for joining Jenny Craig! I also want to offer some tips that have helped me not be as frustrated about my journey:

1. Focus on behaviors and not the scale. So in other words make DAILY goals to eat on program, drink your water, exercise, use an affirmation to stay on track versus looking at the monthly weight loss goal. The weight will be a beautiful side effect from changing your behaviors and your mindset

2. Only compare yourself to YOUR former self. While Val is a HUGE inspiration to us all the role of Valerie Bertinelli is taken and we all have our own "roles" in our own lives and our individual journeys deserve the respect and attention just like any other. I've learned it's actually disrespectful for me to compare myself to someone else. I mean we're all unique

3. Try not to have "lose weight by a certain date" goals because at the end of the day we have tremendous influence over the scale but not complete control

4. Try to join some kind of daily accountability board on here. Whether here on the single parents board or check out the general section. There are some great daily challenges and boards over there.


All the best to you on YOUR journey to YOUR best "self".


Hope

[raven2feathers2003]

HopeAngel5,
Thank you for your posting, I needed that, I mean really needed that. After I read that I went through my pics of my old self to looking into the mirror and seeing my present self, and wow ! What a difference I've made in my life ! It's true what you said, no comparisons are needed of ourselves to others only of ourselves to ourselves. Words of wisdom, thank you again ! I feel better already

[Stacey TX]

Hey Raven~
I was just wondering how your journey is going now? I know it has been awhile since you posted but I didn't see an update.

Just a tid bit on my journey...I only lost 1.6 on my first week & then gained .8 on my second week. I have since lost 43 pounds and can look back at my accomplishment & success & now laugh at my beginning. It was seeing the big picture that helped me.

Good Luck to you & Congrats!

Stacey

[spanishbutterfly]

I am a single mom as well. I have a 17 year old, 3 and 4 year old also. I work a full time job and come home to the cooking and cleaning. The cooking part is hard because I HAVE to cook for my kids and its very difficult not to eat the food I am making for them. This is my second time joining JC. I just started today and know I have a long road ahead of me. I am hoping and praying I can do this because I have gained too much weight for my height. I am borderline diabetic. Practically my whole family has diabetes and I don't want to be one of them. I want to live a healthier life for me and my kids. It's just really hard because here in NY there is a restaurant on every corner. Food is just delicious and hard to resist. What I try to do is to keep envisioning myself and how I want to look. When I look in the mirror now, I am not happy. I'm tired of feeling that way. I hope that maybe we can support one another and that you decide to continue on this journey that eventually you will succeed in. Good luck to you.

[jilllutzhhi]

Hi ladies,

I just want you to know I am rooting you on, and I need a cheering section of my own. I am finishing week 5 and I've only lost 6.5 pounds, so it's been slow-moving for me. Admittedly, I CANNOT find the time to fit in the workouts with a seven year old son, a 15-month old daughter with special needs, a full-time job and a Mary Kay business. I love the food so I am not having any real issues there. I am just so frustrated that I'm up at 5:30 AM, at work at 7, running the little ones to practices and PT five days a week, and by the time the kids are in bed it's 9 PM. I'm EXHAUSTED and just want to go to bed. Where can I fit the exercise in? UGH!

I'm not giving up, and even slow progress is progress, but with the exceptions of weekends, the physical activity just isn't happening, therefore the more rapid weight loss isn't happening. Any words of encouragement? They will be appreciated.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

[Blessed4Life2]

Spanishbutterfly, I was also borderline Diabetic, that is why I joined JC. I had high BP, High cholestral. fatty liver and high blood sugar.....I was a mess and as my dr told me....a walking heart attack about to happen. I am only 44 and need to lose a total of 45lbs. I started 6 weeks ago and have lost 18 lbs. I stick to my diet for the most part and I exercise religiously, drink tons of water and all my test I had done recently came back normal....so it is possible to overcome health problems, mine were HUGE.
I think what keeps me so focused and motivated is my health. I am not a spring chicken anymore and it just scared the living life out of me when my dr told me my test results and he also said if I did not do something about it then he was goingt o have give me a handful of pills to take just so I could keep living.....needless to say that did not sit well with me, so for the first time in my life I am finally taking this seriously. I'm sure I am like the rest of you, I have tried every diet out there, but when your just 44 and you have a whole life to live still you want to change.
I hope you all succeed in your journey......God Bless!

[combsje]

[Hi Single parents. I am a widow (husband died in Jan. 2008) and have three daughters (14, 12 and 12). I work fulltime and the girls are very active. I am working on figuring out how to fit exercise into my life but the hardest thing for me is making food/meals for my kids. I try to make the same things that I am eating, but my homemade food is always better! So, it is hard to resist!

Anybody have any good tips?

[Chris44]

[Hi Single parents. I am a widow (husband died in Jan. 2008) and have three daughters (14, 12 and 12). I work fulltime and the girls are very active. I am working on figuring out how to fit exercise into my life but the hardest thing for me is making food/meals for my kids. I try to make the same things that I am eating, but my homemade food is always better! So, it is hard to resist!

Anybody have any good tips?

Hi there...I too struggle with mealtime. I am a single mom, work full-time and have two pretty active kids (12 and 15). Part of my problem is that my commute is almost 90 minutes one way. When I get home, the kids are starved and I always hope that they haven't eaten everything, including the furniture!! I used to feel a little guilty because I always have "my dinner" ready, and yet, they are the ones who are in need. But you know what? ....they aren't helpless!! I stopped feeling badly for doing something to try to take care of myself for once (I am sure you suffer from that same guilt) - and lowered the expectations of having "the perfect dinner" everynight for them. I try to cook both nights on the weekend, and then one day during the week - (they are learning to eat leftovers during the week) - and then Friday is always pizza night for them - and I have my pizza too =) I really just had to get into the mindset that even though "their" food may be a bit better...it's only that way during the few seconds it's on my tastebuds...then it's ALL DOWN HILL FROM THERE!!
Maybe try to focus on yourself and remember that our food is great too! (much healthier for us in the long run)
Good luck to you!!