Anyone Dieting and Loosing weight?

[RCT]

I am determined to get myself back into shape.....

Not sure what plan of attack to take...

I am courious to know what my internet friends have found successful in helping fight the battle of the buldge.

[Melody]

I've gained weight in the last few months and some of the clothes I was in last year are too small in the waist which is miserable since the clothes the year before that were too small last year. ugh lol I'm seeing a pattern here. I keep telling myself that tomorrow is the day I get on the treadmill. Tomorrow never comes. :( I really do need to get my butt in gear though, or my legs won't be used to the excersice and I won't be able to keep up with the bike rides for a while. Last year we were all up to 10 km every other night. :)
Dh tried for a while but started off big and it was pretty much a whole lifestyle change and it was too much at once. It needs to be a gradual thing for him or it becomes overwhelming. Same here, baby steps for me. lol

[Amy]

sometimes I think it is such a simple idea-listen to your body when it says its full, don't eat if you aren't truly hungry and exercise for a minimum of 20 min. I find out that I am rarely thinking or listening to my body when I am eating. It is pretty spontaneous and mindless when I am munching on things that I don't need to. It isn't until it is all said and done with that I think about it and wonder why I actually ate what I did and wasn't even hungry :rolleyes:

[littlesista06]

I've put on about 15 lbs. since nursery school started this year... always something to nibble on and much easier to hit a drive thru on the way home for lunch instead of WAITING to get home and fix lunch.

Excercise, excercise, excercise.... it's a huge part of any weight loss. I have been successful with Weight Watchers and am toying with going back; something to be said for having to be accountable for your actions week after week. It's a good plan and if I could just stick with it, I could probably manage it on my own.

[Diane]

Okay... no bashing from anyone because I probably didn't loose my weight the way other people would consider "Healthy", but I didn't care because I just wanted to loose it and didn't care how. :( At one point I hit 195 pounds and was desperate so... this is what I did.

Growing up I never had a problem with my weight... was always very thin. :) I weighed about 120/25 when I got married. After kids, I ended up in size 15/16's, and I couldn't stand it because it wasn't what I was use to. I felt fat/ugly in everything I wore. I hated going anywhere and hated to go shopping even more. I'd get so mad/angry because everything I liked ever fit me right or looked good on me. I'd usually end up walking out in tears. This up/down weight thing has been going on with me for many many years. :(

It took my dd's wedding to give me the incentive to finally do something about it. Honestly... I didn't want the grooms mom to look better than me... :rolleyes: and I also didn't want to look bad in my dd's wedding pictures. :)

Anyway... I did everything I could to loose this weight. First I had to decide how many calories I needed/wanted to take in a day. I made a chart and wrote everything I ate and how many calories it had down to keep track. Everything was about calories. :) I didn't eat any more than I absolutely had to, even when my stomach told me it was hungry. (which happened a lot when I first started... which made doing this even harder... LOL) I'd limit myself to a piece of toast or two (Village Hearth bread... 40 calories per slice) with some Country Crock (60 Calories 1 TBLS) and a cup of coffee. Everything I bought I bought low calorie. I'd reward myself at the end of the day with a low calorie snack. (I'd pop myself a mini bag of 100 calorie popcorn or I'd have have a "skinny cow", 100 calorie, bar) :licklips: LOL You'd have to find your own reward food/snack. LOL

For lunch I buy Lean Cuisine meals. I like them... you may not. :) I like that they have such of a big variety to choose from. If I didn't have one of those I'd make myself a sandwich (with low calorie) bread. I checked all the salad dressing/mayo and bought the one with the lowest amount of calories, or I used Country Crock. They now have 100 Calorie snacks/chips and I'd have a bag of those with my sandwich. I won't drink any high caloried soda's... but a LOT of water. :) (I got a lot of exercise just running up/down the stairs to the bathroom) LOL

Exercise is a must. I'd walk an hour a day, they suggest every "other" day. I did mine every day to speed things up though. LOL I'd do a half hours worth in the morning and the other half in the evening.

My way may not be the best/healthiest way to loose weight, but it worked. LOL I went from a size 15/16's to a size 6. The first month was very very frustrating for me because I wasn't seeing any big/quick results. I'm very impatient and feel like I have to see/feel results right away, and when I didn't was SO very tempted to just give up... :( but I continued and after the second month it just started peeling off, and I felt great. It wasn't fun... but well worth it in the end. Good luck!!!

[BevJ]

I stopped snacking after dinner and started walking/running 3-4 times per week (for approx. 30-40 mins. each time). I'm not sure how much I've lost because I haven't weighed myself in a year or more, but my clothes sure don't feel as tight. My doctor weighed me today and last year I remember asking him not to tell me what it was, today I forgot to tell him and I was pleased with the results. I didn't change what I ate, but I did add salad to my diet.

I haven't run since a week ago yesterday :rolleyes: ... maybe tonight.

[BevJ]

sometimes I think it is such a simple idea-listen to your body when it says its full, don't eat if you aren't truly hungry and exercise for a minimum of 20 min. I find out that I am rarely thinking or listening to my body when I am eating. It is pretty spontaneous and mindless when I am munching on things that I don't need to. It isn't until it is all said and done with that I think about it and wonder why I actually ate what I did and wasn't even hungry :rolleyes:
Oh Amy, you hit the nail on the head there...I know that is my problem, and I think by consciously(sp?) stopping that, is what helped me, plus the walking/running in combination with it.

[PamE]

I had lost about 23lbs and am now slowly gaining it back. :( :banghead: I just heard about http://fitday.com/ from another message board I go to and decided to set up an account. It helps keep track of what you eat (calories/fat/carbs, etc) and how many calories you burn each day. Methinks it'll be quite the eye opener, but maybe it'll help, too to have the breakdown of what I'm putting in my bod.

:( Eating when I'm not hungry to begin with and not stopping when I'm satisfied is a good deal of my prob too. Not listening to my body.

Maybe another daily diet/exercise thread would help us?

[RCT]

ok, baby steps...since I started my job here in CA I have packed on about 40lbs give or take.....I am so discussed with myself....

I took the first step and ordered alacate today...it was just perfect....we eat out alot at work...just seems to release some of the stress of the day getting out of the office for a while....

Got on the tredmill for 34 minutes, until it stoped on me....argh...loose connection......dh said he would fix it...

I am sick of things not fitting...tried on some clothes at Kohl's the other day....It was just about enough to make a woman CRY in public...

I am 40 now so I want to get this weight off and just enjoy my life.

[Diane]

I had lost about 23lbs and am now slowly gaining it back. :( :banghead: I just heard about http://fitday.com/ from another message board I go to and decided to set up an account. It helps keep track of what you eat (calories/fat/carbs, etc) and how many calories you burn each day. Methinks it'll be quite the eye opener, but maybe it'll help, too to have the breakdown of what I'm putting in my bod.

Maybe another daily diet/exercise thread would help us?

Thanks so much for posting this site. This is great!

[darlene]

Diane's plan is almost the same as mine. Here's what is working for me....

I set a goal...a reasonable one!

Planned a reward for myself when I reach that goal (a cruise here I come)!

Exercise! I walk at least 2 miles/day and try to get to Curves 5 days/week.

At the end of each day I mark down everything I have eaten...calculate the calories for everything and try to stay within my limit. Believe me I think twice before having a chocolate bar now...at an average of 250+ calories I tell myself that I would have to walk approx 4 miles to work it off - suddenly it isn't that appealing anymore! :lol:

I drink water all the time.

I don't consider myself "dieting"....just eating healthier and portion control. I try not to eat food with aspertame/sugar twin etc, or anything "diet".

All this has worked for me...17 lbs lighter than this time last year! :yippee:

Hope you can find a system that works for you Renee!

I'll support you any way I can!

:)

[Diane]

Diane's plan is almost the same as mine. Here's what is working for me.... Believe me I think twice before having a chocolate bar now...at an average of 250+ calories I tell myself that I would have to walk approx 4 miles to work it off - suddenly it isn't that appealing anymore! :lol:

I drink water all the time.

I don't consider myself "dieting"....just eating healthier and portion control. I try not to eat food with aspertame/sugar twin etc, or anything "diet".

All this has worked for me...17 lbs lighter than this time last year! :yippee:
:)

Congratulations on your weight loss darlene!!

It's funny... you think the same way I do about food. Before I stick anything in my mouth I look to see how many calories it has in it and then I think about how many miles I'd have to walk to walk it off... and it just isn't worth it!!! LOL One cookie has at least 200 calories in it... 8o and I never thought twice about eating two or three cookies until I realized how many calories they held. LOL Needless to say... no more cookies, candy bar's... cake for me, at least not on a regular basis. Every once in a while I will splurdge and eat a cookie or a piece of cake (when were celebrating a birthday) but not often. :)

Everyone has their own way of loosing weight that works for them... so hopefully Renee, you'll find a way that works for you. Just remember... you didn't put all that weight on over night, and it's not going to come off over night either. It's going to take some time. :) Good luck... :) You can do it!!

[AnnW]

My thyroid is out of whack again and stress eating has caused me to gain weight too. I hate it!
My thyroid doc gave me a whole page of suggestions, most of which I know and do (when i am good). no white stuff, whole wheat grains and pasta, brown rice, keep things on the low side of the glycemic table. eat 6 small meals to keep your metabolism going. exercise (gotten horrible about that). he also suggested a vinegar drink right after breakfast. i will post what he had to say and the recipe when i get home from work. i am also taking a bunch of supplements.

[kat]

sometimes I think it is such a simple idea-listen to your body when it says its full, don't eat if you aren't truly hungry and exercise for a minimum of 20 min. I find out that I am rarely thinking or listening to my body when I am eating. It is pretty spontaneous and mindless when I am munching on things that I don't need to. It isn't until it is all said and done with that I think about it and wonder why I actually ate what I did and wasn't even hungry :rolleyes:

This is so true. That's the whole idea behind the Weigh Down Workshop by Gwen Shamlin: Listening to your body, focusing on natural, internal hunger control and God's will as it relates to food. She likened dieting to chains of slavery and developed a weightloss "program" if you will woven into a wonderful Bible Study. It was quite effective for me, but I've long forgotten to listen to my body and instead have given in to daily stress and just eaten anything put in front of me.

I need to get that book and tapes back out and recommit because my clothes are getting a little tight and new ones just aren't in the budget. Thanks Amy.

[JAK]

I need to lose weight. I thought it would be easy because I don't do dc anymore. I gained 20 lbs each year I did dc- that's 60 lbs! :bawling: I feel like a fat cow. I do not own a scale and I'm think about buying one, but I'm not really sure I should as it would probably just depress me more. Anyway, I need to figure out something. I do not have enough time in the day to eat snacks (or every 3 hours) because of my work schedule. I eat breakfast at 5:15 then lunch at 11:00 get home around 4:30 and I'm starving and I will eat just about anything. Then I eat dinner. Any suggestions on how to not be STARVING when I get home? Or suggestions on snacks that will satisfy me while I'm making dinner? I have just started buying Lean Cuisine or SmartChoice (I think that's the name) microwaveable foods for lunch at work. It's either that or soup, usually with yogurt as a dessert. I'm trying to exercise, the weather just isn't cooperating with me. I lost 40 lbs when we lived in NC and I walked 3 miles a day and worked out at the YMCA gym. I didn't work then so it was easy. Now with work and the commute about 45 minutes of my week is gone. The sun stays out later here so I try to ride my bike or walk with the kids at least a few days a week. I guess I need to write something out and plan to do it. I just don't know what to do if it's raining out (which it has been a lot lately). Can any of you give me any suggestions?

[angie r]

My thyroid is out of whack again and stress eating has caused me to gain weight too. I hate it!
My thyroid doc gave me a whole page of suggestions, most of which I know and do (when i am good). no white stuff, whole wheat grains and pasta, brown rice, keep things on the low side of the glycemic table. eat 6 small meals to keep your metabolism going. exercise (gotten horrible about that). he also suggested a vinegar drink right after breakfast. i will post what he had to say and the recipe when i get home from work. i am also taking a bunch of supplements.

vinegar drink? My thyroid is whacko too and they have referred me to a dietician, but have yet to hear from her.

[Diane]

I need to lose weight. I thought it would be easy because I don't do dc anymore. I gained 20 lbs each year I did dc- that's 60 lbs! :bawling: I feel like a fat cow. I do not own a scale and I'm think about buying one, but I'm not really sure I should as it would probably just depress me more.

When I'm dieting I make it a point to NEVER go on the scale until I get my first compliment about how nice I look, or someone asks me how much weight have I've lost. :) Even then... I'm reluctant but that's usually when I know I've lost and will have good results on the scale. After that I wait a few more weeks before getting back on it. If I keep going on it... I only end up feeling bad and getting depressed, to the point where I end up frustrated and quitting. When I'm dieting... I always FEEL better, and even feel that I LOOK better, even when I probably don't... so as long as I'm feeling good... I don't need the scale to depress me. LOL I've got a few more to loose before I'll fit into my shorts the way I did last summer... I've noticed they're feeling a little snug. :rolleyes:

[AnnW]

vinegar drink? My thyroid is whacko too and they have referred me to a dietician, but have yet to hear from her.


Here is what he says:
Vinegar for control of calories and blood sugar: finish your normal breakfast of low glycemic foods. Then drink the following vinegar drink: 2/3 ounces of apple cider vinegar, 1 and 2/3 cups water, approximately 1 teaspoon (to taste) artificial sweetner. This will reduce your appetite during the restof the day and will reduce you food intake by 300 calories. It also reduces the rise in blood sugar after the meal by about a third.


Got my results in and they were surprising in a way. My cholesterol was high, but my good cholesterol was high too. He's putting my on statin meds. My thyroid was surprisingly ok, but my estradiol level was low so he is increasing my estrogen. And my insulin and glucose levels were great so it shows that the good carb/low glycemic eating is working!

[AnnW]

Here are my endocrinologist's suggestions on diet and weight loss.

Calories: Weight loss ultimately depends on taking in fewer calories than we burn up in a day. Losing weight is an unnatural condition and our bodies resist it. We must combine wise food selection with measures to surpress appetite and measures to expend more calories. Not as a 'crash diet' or even as a 'diet' but as a way of eating that you can carry on for the rest of your life. Diets, as in something you go 'on' and then 'off' only work in the short term and can ruin your metabolism.

Carbohydrate restriction & selection: Choose carbohydrates in limited amounts and as low glycemic index foods. Low glycemic carbs include beans, whole grains, brown rice, and other forms with lots of soluble fiber. High glycemic index foods to avoid include white rice, white bread, gravy and stews made from flour, pastas, sweet potatoes and white potatoes, flake cereals made of compressed powdered grains. A lower intake of carbohydrates with lower insulin levels and insulin prevents the burning of fat.

Chose your fat wisely: Fats are the food that are the most dense in calories, so reducing fat intake can be an efficient way to reduce total calories. We must have a certain amount of fat, however. There is even a hormone that comes from the small intestine and reduces are appetitite when weve eaten enough fat. This is why very low fat diets don't work. They make us hungry for fats! So choose your fats wisely and moderate the amount, but don't try to go extremely low on fat intake. Beneficial fats are the short chain fats in nuts, avocado, canola oil and olive oil. Use these instead of butterfat, beef fat, trans fat (from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil) adn known damaging fats like palm oil. This means reading labels!!! especially on commercial baked goods.

Eat small meals more frequently: Nibbling every three hours will allow weight loss better than taking the same number of calories in 2 or 3 large meals.

No late night snacking: No food within 3 hours of retiring.

Vinegar for control of calories and blood sugar: finish your normal breakfast of low glycemic foods. Then drink the following vinegar drink: 2/3 ounces of apple cider vinegar, 1 and 2/3 cups water, approximately 1 teaspoon (to taste) artificial sweetner. This will reduce your appetite during the restof the day and will reduce you food intake by 300 calories. It also reduces the rise in blood sugar after the meal by about a third.

Exercise: In practical terms, weight loss is much more difficult without exercise. Exercise speeds your metabolic rate for the next several hours and contributes to burning up more fat, especially if the exercise is long enough to use up the carbohydrate already stored in the muscles (which ususally takes 15-20 minutes). Exercise releases your friend, growth hormone. For maximum benefit, do not eat for 2 hours before or within 30 minutes after exercise, and especially avoid sweet beverages before and after.

[aztec_judy]

Ann .... thankssss .. I needed this ..

I have been changing my way of eating now for about the last 8 mths.
I have found that "munching" on green bells have been great for me.
I have had to "stay" away from all the "tv" dinner things. (because of a problem with salt).
I have started to feel better with me, again. I am starting to do more exercising for sure, myself. AND am reading all labels because of the sodium content.
I have started eating when my body says its hungry; but what I call the equal of like a half sandwich.
I have cut out a lot of fried foods, pasta, white breads (boo hoo).
I already have to drink plenty of water daily,
I find that if I have a craving for sweets, I then will have an extra handful of raisins, or eat an apple.
Am NOT sure, about the amount rite now of weight loss, since I don't have a scale. But some clothes are fitting better. So I am loosing some inches anyways.
I don't cook with salt anymore; but every now and then will stop and have a order of french fries with salt on them. but that is like once or twice a month. Especially since I have to watch the salt intake.
I have started to use this new spray when cooking : PURE (canola one) it is so far been lots better than Pam. And have starting using more canola oil, instead of vegetable oil.
I am trying to "walk" back and forth the length of my home on a daily basis ..
And since I call myself a "couch potato" because everything that I do is sitting, so I had started slow with things.
But I was tired of being tired and sluggish, and just very blah... lolol
I am cooking more and more with all fresh items, even tomatoes instead of canned ones. And am using more and more spices an such.
But have only started to enforce this about 4 months ago for reals. Before that was more on/off on/off... but it surprised me that changing things around more than before how it has made me feel lots better.
And as Diane has said it was not put there over nite .. am in nooo hurry to rush it off. I want it to come off and stay off.

[Amy]

When I'm dieting I make it a point to NEVER go on the scale until I get my first compliment about how nice I look, or someone asks me how much weight have I've lost. :) Even then... I'm reluctant but that's usually when I know I've lost and will have good results on the scale. After that I wait a few more weeks before getting back on it. If I keep going on it... I only end up feeling bad and getting depressed, to the point where I end up frustrated and quitting. When I'm dieting... I always FEEL better, and even feel that I LOOK better, even when I probably don't... so as long as I'm feeling good... I don't need the scale to depress me. LOL I've got a few more to loose before I'll fit into my shorts the way I did last summer... I've noticed they're feeling a little snug. :rolleyes:

I am doing this exact thing. I would think I had a great day and get on the scale only to show nothing and it would depress the heck out of me. Now I don't want to weigh myself because I feel good and I have been sticking to eating well and exercising everyday. This is a life change, not some end result goal game.

[JAK]

Ann- what are more examples of high and low glycemic index foods? Not that I want TMI, but I'm afraid to eat too much fiber and end up gassy/bloated/running to the bathroom all the time. Did you find that to be a problem when you change the way your family was eating? I don't want a diet. I'm still going to eat certain things (or I will probably binge on them, I'll just keep the portions very small and not do it too often) but I want to change our overall eating lifestyle. Thanks!

[AnnW]

Ann- what are more examples of high and low glycemic index foods? Not that I want TMI, but I'm afraid to eat too much fiber and end up gassy/bloated/running to the bathroom all the time. Did you find that to be a problem when you change the way your family was eating? I don't want a diet. I'm still going to eat certain things (or I will probably binge on them, I'll just keep the portions very small and not do it too often) but I want to change our overall eating lifestyle. Thanks!

here some good websites on the glycemic index. http://www.glycemicindex.com/
www.mendosa.com
http://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_food_diet/glycemic_index.php

i did a litte but not bad. if you increase your water intake it really helps and it doesn't last long. it's definitely worth a little discomfort in the long term.