Greetings from the Far North

[Determined]

Hello from Northern Quebec, or as we say, Bonjour.

 

Not entirely sure I qualify as a nerd per se, but in this region, being literate and finishing highschool count as nerdy (plus I can use phrases like "per se" correctly, so...).

 

A few basic facts about my semi-nerd self: I am female, 36, have always been "chubby" but usually managed to stay in an attractive range. I hated sports as a child, and remain uncoordinated to this day. However, I have taken up jogging, so there's hope. 

 

After my divorce in 2010, I topped the scale at 261 on a 5'7" frame. I have since lost 96 lbs. Yay me. During this time I gave up a lucrative job, television appearances, and a political sideline career to move to the sticks. Why? Because Toronto, like most large cities, is a soul-suck. I now work a minimum wage job (more on that later), there are deer on my lawn, I drive a truck like a good redneck, and I've never been more at peace with myself.

 

I am accustomed to a reasonable quantity of tequila, and you'll pry the cheese from my cold dead hands. Other than that, I am fairly flexible on dietary issues.

 

I recently discovered that wheat was the cause of my bloating and constipation issues, and gave it up - for all of 19 days, till I went on vacation. Oops. Home now, back on the wagon, and celebrating Day 2 wheat-free.

 

I, like many women, have serious issues with food, and should probably seek counseling for them. Alas, I won't. Due to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding my divorce (including not being allowed meals, then moving to a shelter where food was tough to come by), I fear scarcity. Ergo, restriction diets (paleo etc) scare the ever-living out of me, causing me to go on uncontrollable binges. Like, gaining 4 lbs in a day kind of binges. I am TERRIFIED of being told "No, you can't eat that." That said, I have *chosen* to give up certain things, like the wheat, and also my trigger food: ice cream. MY body, MY choice, as the harpies shriek.

 

Now, about that minimum wage job... I work overnight in a convenience store. I am surrounded by chips, chocolate, salted nuts and all manner of utter garbage. During the darkest, loneliest part of the day. Oy. This time last year, when I first started this job, I was all spry and bursting with energy. I'd jog/sprint and do stairs almost every day, stopping to jump in the river for a quick swim to cool down. Now... I sleep. And sleep. Occasionally toss and turn, then sleep some more. I have lost and gained the same 6 lbs over and over so many times since Christmas, I've lost count.  Before that, I had a goal: Wear a bikini to Christmas dinner. I achieved it, wearing one for the fist time since I was FOUR years old! My follow up goal, to break the 100 lb loss barrier, hasn't materialized. Not that I don't care, just that I'm no longer motivated. Blah.

 

I'm in reasonably good shape. I have a part-time job on weekends as a farm hand, which I lovelovelove, and which challenges my body. In fact, I once carried a calf through a shopping mall (long story, and this one's bloody well long enough!), so I'd say that I'm stronger than the average female, even though I don't actively work for it.

 

There are 2 gyms up here in LaLa Land. One is expensive. The other is prohibitively expensive. I skip the latter, obviously, even though their hours are more accommodating. I've used the expensive one for 2 x 1-month memberships: One before the bikini challenge, and one because I had spring fever and the weather was crap.

 

I need to get off this darn plateau. I haven't given up. I just need a little push.

 

I am,

 

Determined

[Terinatum]

Welcome!

Sounds like you have good goals. Have you looked into the accountabilitbuddies thread? You might be able to get specific support from a small group with a particular thing, like motivation.

Good Luck and see you around the threads!

[_SASX_]

Bonjour, Determined!

 

I'm in rural Central Ontario, on the great Canadian Shield. Like you, I've been overweight my whole life, am 35, at 5'6". I drive a half-ton, and have given up on yeast and wheat (most of the time). Ice cream is also a kryptonite of mine (don't look in my freezer right now!) and the way you are with cheese is me and chocolate. I finally started to change my lifestyle a few years ago and lost about 90 pounds. Some have crept back on, but the best part is that I went from a size 22 down to a 10/8. The gyms in my area are also more expensive than I can afford, so I use dvd workouts or go to the internet for free workouts. 

 

Maybe we can push each other!

See you around!