My son and I have come up with a weightloss contract. He needs to lose about 40 pounds and I need to lose about 70.

Here's the deal:

Only 3 meals a day, eaten only at the kitchen table.
No snacking in between meals.
No junk food.

If he cheats I get his stereo and his mini-fridge.

If I cheat he gets my little TV/DVD system.

Believe me, neither one of us wants to give those up!

The contract expires on his 15th birthday, May 22nd.

I don't know how much I'll lose, but I know that I will lose. For me it's all about eating out of boredom, stress, fatigue, etc.

I'm not one to eat huge meals. I've snacked myself into obesity.

I made up a list of things to do when I get those eating attacks. I'm just going to pick one of the things on the list and do it. Even if it's just taking a nap or folding laundry or taking a drive.

I hope my son can stick to it. I'm a little worried about him going back to school and dealing with the vending machines. Hopefully he'll be okay.

Happy New Year!

Cactus.

Good luck, Cactus! It's wonderful to see you back at DT. Keep us posted on how your challenge with your son goes. How old is he?

Lisrey :up:

Hey, Lisrey! It's great to be back at DT!

My son will be 15 in May. He was a skinny kid until about the 3rd grade, then he started gaining a little weight. I was okay with it because we were always worried he was too thin. But then he just kept getting bigger and bigger every year. He's about 5'6" or so and weighs 207 pounds. He really feels bad about himself and his weight problem. But he eats for the same reasons I do....boredom, fatigue, stress, etc.

But hey, we did great yesterday! I seriously can't believe it. We have been so out of control with our snacking habits I didn't think we could break free.

Only 3 meals yesterday, YEAH! :o And no snacking! YES! :o

Cactus.

Welcome back Cactus ....

:cheers: HERE'S TO YOUR COMING BACK TO DIETTALK .... AND TO BOTH YOU AND YOUR SON FULFILLING YOUR WEIGHT LOSS GOALS. Always, Monica

That sounds like a great plan, you and your son working on weight-loss together. Good luck to you both.

Thanks, guys, for the support!

It's been a really great day. Got up and had oatmeal and juice for breakfast and then headed off to church. Came home around 11:30am and made tacos for lunch. It's 5pm and I'm a little hungry, but when you know that you can't eat again until tomorrow morning...well, you tend to hold off a little longer for the last meal of the day.

Day two is nearing the end and I'm very hopeful it will be a success. It was challenging last night. I mean I knew I snacked a lot but I never knew really how much I relied on food to not only comfort me, but to keep me busy. It's really weird to find all this extra time on my hands. Kind of sad to realize that I wasted so much time on eating.

I really haven't set any specific weekly or monthly weight loss goals. I've found in the past that I can't always control how much weight my body will let go of in a certain amount of time. So, I'm trying to just stay relaxed and see how the first month goes. I mean, any loss of weight, as long as it's permanent is good, right? Right.

I weighed in at 211 on Saturday.

I would like to see myself down to 140...which kind of sounds like a lot for 5'4", doesn't it? But I was a size 10 at that weight, which does't sound bad considering that I'm a size 18/20 now.

I guess now that I'm nearing 41 years I'm really not that concerned about being 120 pounds or a 130 pounds anymore. I just want to feel normal. I just want to go to Wal-mart and pick up a normal size pair of pants and put them on and feel really comfy in them.
I don't need to be that size 5 anymore.

A size 8 is a dream, a size 10 sounds wonderfully normal to me.

Cactus.

I think the turning point in my weight loss history was when I decided I just wanted to be healthy. It gave things a whole different meaning. Little steps became easier to manage, and the rate at which I was losing mattered less. I think it sounds like you've turned this corner as well. The sizes don't mean as much... although I've found that the more I tone up, I'm fitting into smaller sizes than I could when I was this weight before. It's crazy, but also gratifying!

Good for you sticking to your plan for 2 days. You are doing great!

Lisrey :up:

HELLO Cactus!!!

Missed you...so glad you are back!

I think the challenge you and your son have going is "Fantastic"...you are both motivating each other...that is so great!...

Now remember to have plenty of fiber with your meals so you can stay full longer...most people recommend healthy snacking between meals...but I see that is your main problem...so maybe if it gets tough you can do 4 meals a day...just make them smaller so you can eat every 3-4 hours!!!

I am so glad you are back...thanks for the kind words in my journal...I am on day 7...still feeling good...SBD for me since I am addicted to sugar and the only way I can lose and feel good is to get rid of it...I mean counting calories works for me too...but I tend to eat the bad stuff and then I just feel horrible!

Well have a good week!

Stay strong...you two can do this!!!

mcmarto

the son/mom contract is awesome!!

I wish you success, success, success!!! (and I wish you both success; a "tie" outcome :) )

Lisrey,
you're right, I have turned that corner. I think if it wasn't for how I feel physically I really wouldn't care how much I weighed. I'd just concentrate on being happy. But the weight is affecting my health. Another thing that has started to really bother me is the fact that I'm getting so big that I feel uncomfortable in my car and in restuarant booths, etc.

Mc,
don't tempt me on the fourth meal a day idea! This no snacking thing is really killing me today. There has been soooo many times I've wanted to give in. The one thing that has stopped me wasn't what I expected it to be. It wasn't the thought of loosing my TV, it was the thought of disappointing my son. He is doing so well and I could not give up the diet because I know he would too.

Jessica,
thanks for your support! I'm hoping for a tie outcome also!


Last night I had a late dinner and stuffed myself like a Thanksgiving Day turkey! I felt awful for hours and barely slept. It was the panic of knowing it was my last meal of the day that did it. And then I worried that I wouldn't lose any weight because I'd eaten enough for 3 people.

So, today I calmed down and tried to eat normal portions. But tonight I'm kind of ownry. I'm hungry and it's 9:23pm and I can't eat and it's too early to go to bed, etc. So, here I am on DT, trying to stay away from the fridge.

I think I'm starting to relax a little and just realize that it's okay to be a little bit hungry. I'll be okay. I'm not going to die or go insane if I don't eat every hour...it just kinda feels like it.

Cactus.

You will be ok...or...maybe you and your son should make a provision...tell him you would prefer to split your 3 main meals into 4...maybe you can have half your dinner early...and the other half 2 hours later or something...its still your dinner...just in 2 portions so you won't have that desperate feeling...or get hungry!...Now the benefit of this would be...if 2 hours pass and you don't want the rest of your dinner...you don't have to eat it!!!

OR...what about some late night tea or sugar free cocoa???...A glass of milk?...Would that help???...Its a drink...not a meal???

Just giving you some suggestions cause I want you to succeed...I know you do for the sake of your son and to help keep him motivated too!!!

OH...and you won't die...or go insane...hahaha!

Breath in...breath out...drink some water too! :D

Have a nice night!

mcmarto

I also agree with McMarto, all studies I have ever seen say eat more often. It makes sense to me. Most suggest eating 6 times a day. I know I try to eat at last 4 or 5 times a day. What this means is I eat a lot less at each meal. So if we get Pizza, maybe I will just have one slice now and one more in 2 hours. I also have found some pretty good protein shakes that arent a lot of calories, but are healthy and plenty filling. I think if you tell yuorself you can only ewat 3 times a day you might be setting yourself up for failure.
As for yuor weight goal. I am 5'4" as well, and I can tell you that I dont think 140 is too small at all. I know that is about where I am at. Also sizes have changed, so that makes me about a size 7, so I dont think you will be a 10 when you hit 140 (unoless you are built much differently then me). I also think that the mother son contract thing is nice, it is nice to have someone support you, but I also hope that it doesnt affect your son's self-esteem --kids take everything their parents say negatively and multiply is by about a million--. I know my dad talking about my weight, and I was never super over weight, always killed me.
Kepp up the good attitude, you can be a great role model for your son!

Catus, as far as snacking in between meals it really depends on how many calories you taking in at meal times. I was 212 at age 46 when i finally decided i had to lose some weight( was getting so limited with energy and mobility) my meals were 300 cals apiece and two 150 cal snacks a day i also started a walking program ,, i had to start slow and build speed and distance. i was also a size 20, fresh lowcal fruit never hurt my progress, like watermellon, high water low cals

Thanks everyone for the support!

But I must tell you, I feel soooo great right now! Yesterday, was 3 days with 3 meals and no snacking!!! I am so proud of myself and of my son.

AND we got up this morning and weighed ourselves. We each had lost 3 pounds each! Yeah!

I know that eventually we might have to take a little closer look at the calories and fat grams. But I'm not going to worry about that until our weight loss stops or slows way down.

Cactus.

Congrats on the loss...keep up the good work!

mc

Way to go, Cactus!! :dc

I am really proud of both of you. Sure it's hard, but anything worth having is worth working for, right? Keep it up!

Lisrey :coach:

6 POUNDS GONE! WOO WHOOO! :caf: WOO WHOOO!

I can't believe it! 205!

Last night was sooo hard. We ate dinner around 5pm and boy was I hungry by 10pm. I told my husband that I just can't eat dinner that early anymore. I really had to fight to keep from cheating.

But this mornings weigh-in was way worth it! :o

Breakfast was oatmeal, english muffin with butter and jam, and 1% milk. Yum. I sure was looking forward to that meal. I ate around 9am, but I'll tell ya, I woke up at two this morning and seriously thought about eating breakfast then. 8-|

My son has lost 4 pounds, which is great, but he's a little discouraged that I've lost more than he has. I think mine will slow down after the first week though. And we all know how fast guys lose the weight. So, I think he'll be okay.

Cactus.

Hi Cactus! Congratulations on your weight loss!!

I don't like eating that early either. What if you have smaller meals more frequently during the day? This really works for me, it keeps me from being hungry in the evening. Good luck & keep up the good work!

WOW...you are doing great!

Your breakfast sounds pretty good...you should try to add in protein somehow...a lean meat or some cottage cheese???...Something to help you stay fuller longer...or...I am still advocating the 4 meals... :D

Keep up the good work!

Hey...hope you are doing well!!!

Weightloss can be tough...but you can never give up!!!

mc