Ok…my milk has dried up and I am going on a diet - tomorrow. I gained 40 pounds while pregnant and have lost 20 already. Another 10 off (from my starting weight) wouldn’t hurt, so I want to lose 30 another pounds.
Anyone want to go on a diet, too, and be my diet buddy? We could compare progress on an ongoing basis and inspire each other. If a bunch of people are interested, we could keep the thread going and it can shrink over time. Hee hee.
Shoot, I wouldn’t mind trying to get in shape, and put on 30 pounds in the process. I figure I’m about 30 pounds below average, and I have laughable athletic ability. I’m up for a challenge. 
I set out to lose 70 pounds last year. I lost about 40 and took a break. I only gained about 6 back through the winter season and now I’m ready to finish. Count me in. I could use the encouragement.
-Paul
I would love to lose 20 pounds. Count me in. Let’s keep this thread going.
Research shows, diets are far more effective if there’s peer support.
Starting now, no more ice cream (which I’ve gone for years without and only seem recently to have become addicted to), and I’ll try to be much more careful about the high-glycemic carbs, which get me into carbohydrate cravings like flipping a switch.
Very cool.
Best wishes,
Jerry
Might as well count me in. Weight before lay-off was about 350.
I’m finding some weight loss is a natural side-effect of lay-offs: must be all those PBJ’s.
Anybody wanna recommend a part of the country I could move to that has (1) loads of open I.T. jobs, and (2) has some great trad music going on?
–James
I’m just getting back onto my strict diet. I went from 255 down to 203 in about a year, then back up to 210. I started in again last month, and hit 199.5 this morning—a ten-year low.
My goal is 185, which is what I weighed when I retired from the Army in 1982.
My diet is a bit extreme:
Breakfast: unsweetened cereal, whole milk, banana
Lunch: homemade burrito (fat-free flour tortilla, vegetarian refried beans, cheese, jalapeños)
Supper: another burrito
Drinks: one or two cappuccinos with 3 level teaspoons of sugar; plain water the rest of the time
No snacks.
I frequently substitute a large lettuce and tomato salad for one of the burritos. More rarely, I have a cheese omlette for breakfast. Once the lemons and limes out in the yard ripen, I’ll probably replace the coffee with tea occasionally.
This is a very easy diet for me, as I really like all the elements–and I’ve been on it for most of 2.5 years. I’m not a strict vegetarian, but I no longer have any serious craving for meat. What I have to avoid is sweets: cookies, cake, ice cream, candy, etc. I’m a sugar and chocolate junkie. (My mother was a pusher.)
OK, I’m in; need to lose ten pounds.
Mike (et al.),
Do you like pears?
Bananas have a glycemic index around 100 (tend to contribute to sugar cravings); pears have a glycemic index around 35.
Best wishes,
Jerry
Cool! Peer support!
John, I think you’d have better luck putting on weight if you were to switch from ants to ice cream, or even steak. 
Pear support! 
I’m in, though I have to say, I’ve been trying to diet weight off since my daughter was born (11 years ago!), but just keep gaining. I’m heavier now than I’ve ever been in my life, and I’d love to lose about 50 pounds. 
Redwolf
I’m in…10 pounds gotta go.
Cheers.
Byll
Don’t worry. It’ll almost certainly come with age. When I joined the Army in 1962, I was 6’3" and weighed 135 pounds (and had extremely laughable athletic ability). At the Army entrance physical exam, I had to stand at the drinking fountain in the recruiter’s office and drink four pints of water to take me up to the minimum weight of 139 for my height, just so I could get in.
Ten years later, and after seven years of being married to a wonderful cook, I’d worked my way up to 145. Then I quit smoking and learned to bake bread and had moved on up 185 after another ten years.
In about 1989, I injured my shoulders while lifting weights and had to stop all exercise for quite a while–substituting cooking and eating. By 1992, I was up to 255–that’s mighty close to twice what I weighed going into the Army.
They’re okay, but not too thrilling. We primates really prefer bananas. I’ve substituted a plum occasionally. Anyhow, I doubt that bananas can compete with the three teaspoons of sugar in the coffee–and I ain’t gonna give that up.
Can I play, too?
Can’t be a race to a finish line because I have four times as much to lose as Jessie, but in 12 weeks on Weight Watchers I’ve only droped ten pounds; maybe being part of a ‘weight loss club’ will help me get my not inconsiderable butt in gear.
Absolutely! Welcome to the Shrinking C&Fers’ Club!
I’ll have a go at it too; I NEED to loose at least 10 pounds,
Lolly
I’ve lost about 10 pounds since I started college, and I could stand to lose around 15-20 more but frankly I’ve never been able to stay on a diet more than a few days. I don’t snack when I’m at school since I don’t keep much food in my room (on purpose), but I still eat cake and other sweets in rather unhealty amounts at mealtimes. I blame the dining halls, most of their food is bleh, but the cookies and cakes are evilly delicious.
I could stand to loose some weight at the moment, but as long as I’m travelling a lot it’s hard to get on a regular diet. For now, I’m just trying to exercise and hold the line.
I’m with T-Sam, though: the easiest weight I ever lost was when I was in college - I lost 15 pounds the first semester. The dining halls were “all you can eat” - it’s just that “all you can eat” wasn’t much if you had any functioning taste buds. 
Need to lose the weight but will stick to walking. Lost 15-20 lbs last summer just walking .. then came winter .. and the holidays .. so back into walking.
If u try walking - get some good walking shoes .. went from 2 to 4 miles by just getting the shoes. Legs had been taking a beating with the other shoes.
Jessie, have a lot of moms out walking around here pushing strollers … arms get in shape too .. pushing those things. Kids love it
It really works and I have a lot more energy ..
Jim
I guess I could lose about 10 pounds.
The “office chicks” at our practice are all on Atkins, and ARE losing! They are inspiring each other.
I don’t want to go drastic, though. Too hard to give up the cookies. I will just try to eat less. Oh, and less bacon, and chocolate, too.
Mary