Healthy Weight Loss

[sylvie]

thanks for reminding me Jo, i have a bunch of delicious looking green beans sitting in my fridge, and will be snacking on those through today! i love them raw also!

[Leigh]

Raw green beans are yummy, but I'm not a fan of olives (YUCK) lol

[PinkieLee]

Good morning & happy Monday y'all!

WELCOME Misty...it's about time you finally showed up ;) **just kidding** I'm glad to see you are ready to start making some healthier choices for yourself... I am so proud of you and are glad that you are here!

WOW, it's great to see so many folks making positive changes, celebrating weight losses & encouraging others. This journey can be a tough one at times, and I'm so very lucky to have all of you here along for the ride.

For the most part, I stayed within my point range this weekend. D was out of town, I got in a funk, and ended up shopping the day away on Saturday. I managed to stay on track for breakfast (an iced sugar free vanilla coffee & a banana), and then had Subway for lunch (ham & turkey sandwich). Honestly, I think that I left the house at the ass crack before dawn, because I was worried that I would graze all day long if I stayed cooped up in the house. Being alone & in a funky mood has always been open season for me to fall into a binge. So, I left the house, took scenic routes, sang my heart out to the radio and walked while endless window shopping!

Yesterday evening, I went out to dinner with friends. I had a chicken fajita wrap & fruit... but didn't really have an apetite so I only ate half. Hate to say, but the Miller Lite went down a lil' too smooth... and ended up blowing 21 pounts on beer (meaning I took 10 points away from my extra weekly allowance). I know, not too bad... but I could have done better.

When I figured up my points this morning, I got discouraged with myself for the beers... but put myself back in check. NO, that night out with friends is NOT gonna sabatoge me. I am refocused & back on track..... AND my boo is coming home today! WEeeeeeee!

This morning for breakfast:

1 - cinnamon raisin english muffin with light butter
1 - banana
(5 points)

Anyway, I hope that everyone has a great day! Keep up the good work y'all :)

[Scorp]

Hi Pink Stuff!

Not the same as what you're use to drinking, but how's about giving these a try...They're only 64 calories. I have them and drink them when I want a beer. I've also tried the Select 55 and am not a fan. The 64 is a little better. I usually drink Amstel Light or Bud Light, but they're higher in points and I'd rather save my points for my reduced-fat cheese its and go with a lower point beer when indulging in my night time treats.

http://intoxicologist.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/mgd64_fullsize_story1.jpg

There are thousands of different beers. Here’s a selection of popular brews. Some are smarter grabs that save PointsPlus™ values. All are 12 ounces.

Beers with 2 PointsPlus values

Miller Genuine Draft Light 64 (MGD 64)
Select55


Beers with 4 PointsPlus values

Bud Ice Light
Budweiser Select
Busch Light
Coors Light
Miller Light

Beers with 5 PointsPlus values

Budweiser
Busch
Coors
Miller Genuine Draft

;)



Hate to say, but the Miller Lite went down a lil' too smooth... and ended up blowing 21 pounts on beer (meaning I took 10 points away from my extra weekly allowance). I know, not too bad... but I could have done better.

When I figured up my points this morning, I got discouraged with myself for the beers... but put myself back in check.

[PinkieLee]

THANKS Jackie! I have tried the MGD 64 and it's pretty good. Only problem with me... it taste like water, so I can drink about 12 ~ defeating the purpose ;)

Luckily, I have been able to stay away from my all-time favorite margaritas... 'cause they are sooo loaded with empty calories & full of sugar!

[Novelafemme]

I'm not a big breakfast person, but I know with school starting up again I will need the "brain food"...so I just finished eating an apple with organic, unsalted almond butter. Tons of protein and good fat and it will keep me satiated until lunch. I baked a whole bag of sweet potatoes last night and then brought left over chicken breast stuffed with feta cheese and artichokes. Another protein packed lunch for my hikes across campus today. :)

Keep up the good work, folks!!!

[PinkieLee]

Sweet potatoes... I LOVE baked sweet potatoes! Thanks for reminding me to add them to my grocery list. I'm thinking about doing some 6 oz sirloin steaks and corn on the cob on the grill tomorrow night. A sweet potato is just what I need to finish out the meal, for me anyway. D doesn't like them, so I'll just make her a regular baked potato ;)

[Novelafemme]

Sweet potatoes... I LOVE baked sweet potatoes! Thanks for reminding me to add them to my grocery list. I'm thinking about doing some 6 oz sirloin steaks and corn on the cob on the grill tomorrow night. A sweet potato is just what I need to finish out the meal, for me anyway. D doesn't like them, so I'll just make her a regular baked potato ;)

Pinkie, have you heard about the Paleo diet? It's not really a diet, per say, but rather a way of eating that harkens back to hunter/gatherer days. It is comprised of lean meat and fish, fruits/veggies, nuts and seeds. No wheat, dairy or legumes. I have been eating this way for a little over a year now and SWEAR by it. My digestion has improved drastically and I feel incredible. I still do eat a bit of dairy (feta or goat cheese mostly) but the biggest change I have noticed is that when I do splurge and eat wheat or heavier dairy products like ice cream, I feel terrible! I highly recommend it!!

[PinkieLee]

This weekend while I was out shopping, I went into my favorite 99 cent store in Houston. They have a KILLER frozen food & veggie/produce area (YES, for 99 cents). Most of the dairy stuff is expiring in a couple weeks, so I only buy for sure what I know I'm gonna use!

I found a cheap, styrofoam cooler and loaded it with:

2 - Yoplait Light strawberry yogurt packs with granola
1 - a six pack of Jello pudding cups (sugar free chocolate & vanilla swirl)
2 - veggie stir fry mix
2 - veggie mix (broccoli, califlower & carrots)
2 - Jennie O turkey hot sausage links
2 - bundles of red & yellow peppers
1 - low fat Philly cream cheese
1 - honey oat sandwich thins
1 - honey wheat bagel thins
3 - individual Special K cereal cups

Yep, less than $15... not bad at all :)

[Medusa]

You have to know that the Virgo in me SALIVATES whenever someone makes a list in here of any kind.

So can we make some lists? How about a list of movies to watch that will inspire you to eat healthier?
We could start with:

1. Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead
2. Supersize Me
3. Food, Inc.

Also, grocery lists?! (VIRGO!)

[PinkieLee]

Pinkie, have you heard about the Paleo diet? It's not really a diet, per say, but rather a way of eating that harkens back to hunter/gatherer days. It is comprised of lean meat and fish, fruits/veggies, nuts and seeds. No wheat, dairy or legumes. I have been eating this way for a little over a year now and SWEAR by it. My digestion has improved drastically and I feel incredible. I still do eat a bit of dairy (feta or goat cheese mostly) but the biggest change I have noticed is that when I do splurge and eat wheat or heavier dairy products like ice cream, I feel terrible! I highly recommend it!!

No, I haven't heard about it, but will definitely check it out. I don't know if I could give up dairy or wheat ~ they are staples in my house. Luckily, I have been able to give up white rice & white bread without any problem.

D probably would like the program though... she's not big into dairy products (other than chili con queso ;) )

THANK YOU so much!

[Rockinonahigh]

Well im not a big fan of breakfast either so its a good thing I dont get tired of cottage cheese and water packed peaches,or some fresh strawberries to add to it.Also I usely have 1 or 2 cups of coffee with non dairy creamer in it just enough to taste right to me.Im going off to the gym in a little bit so I will take some string cheese and apple slices with me incase I need them,will have lunch when I get back...some kind of salad with hard boiled eggs in it.Dnner tonight will be grilled fish steaks seasoned with sea salt,fresh cracked black pepper,a squeez id lemon then some dill layed on top of it with a side salad to round out the meal.Desert will be later when I want a snack,maybe apple slices w/pb or chedar cheese.Im finding if I eat a little something before bed thats in the food frange I keep dureing the day I feel beter when I get up cause I sleep better.This morning I tested before I ate and came in a t 101..wich means im useing up the carbs while burning calories and fast cells like im suposed to.

[starryeyes]

I have been all kinds of off track! I just don't feel motivated like I used to. Before I had a girlfrend, I was running everyday, tracking like a fiend and really following plan.... now after I have been with my girlfreind, I feel less motivated LOL!! so annoying. I am going to start making little steps again to get back on track. I am still 42 lbs less than I was when I started WW, and under 200 lbs... so I am doing ok.... but if that scale hits 200 again... I will be all kinds of upset!!

here is too a good week, on track!!

:-)
Starry

[Medusa]

I picked up a few groceries yesterday to get me through the week:

Pepperidge Farm Very Thin Wheat Bread - $4
Super lean thin-sliced cajun deli Turkey - $4
Bag of 3 romaine hearts - $2
Huge bag of Fujis - $3
Cantaloupe - $2
Huge bag of black plums - $3
Dannon Light and Fit - $3
Bananas - $2
2 Amy's burritos - $5
2 Bags of Quakes rice cakes - $3
1 box of sugar-free banana pops - $2
4 bags veggie steamers - $5
Bag of baby carrots - $1
4 ears of corn - $1
1 pkg wheat English Muffins - $2

This all came out to $42 and is enough food to last me all week for breakfast and lunches (coupled, of course, with a huge bag of mixed berries that I already have and condiments) and several dinners (minus the chicken I already have).

For dinners I usually have a lean chicken or beef with a salad and steamed veggies. EASY.

[PinkieLee]

Speaking of Quakes rice cakes... Medusa, have you tried the new flavor?! Vanilla Creme Brulee.... HOLY CRAP! I like them better than the carmel corn!! I have only found one store that carries them... and they are usually on sale for $1.25!

[Medusa]

Speaking of Quakes rice cakes... Medusa, have you tried the new flavor?! Vanilla Creme Brulee.... HOLY CRAP! I like them better than the carmel corn!! I have only found one store that carries them... and they are usually on sale for $1.25!

Heck no - I JUST now discovered the chocolate flavor! I have been eating the cheddar cheese ones as a chips alternative when I do my turkey sandwich or tuna.

They are ADDICTIVE!

[Scorp]

One of my favorite flicks is:

Fatso (which stars Dom DeLuise) a 1980 classic that will make you laugh and relate if you're dieting, etc. Especially if you're a ginzo like me, you will relate moreso...This is one my all time favorite movies.

The film begins by chronicling the DiNapoli siblings - Antoinette (Bancroft), Domenico (DeLuise), and Frank Jr. (Carey) - growing up, whenever young Dom became upset by something, the one thing his mother did to comfort him, was to feed him, from nursing him while crying in the middle of the night as a baby, to giving him a cannoli after being urinated on by his baby brother as he's being changed. Because of this, Dom grew up with a love of food, a trait that was shared by his equally obese cousin, Salvatore (Sal).

When Sal suddenly dies at the young age of thirty-nine, the entire family grieves, and prompts Antoinette to urge Dom to visit the diet doctor that Sal was supposed to visit, so as not to further copy his cousin's unhealthy eating habits, and drive himself into an early grave as well. Dom is reluctant, but agrees to do so when he begins to realize the signs that his obesity is ruining his health; after his examination, Dom is heartbroken when he is given his new diet plan, and he sees the long list of things he can no longer eat, that he has always loved. The diets fail, and Dom's eating habits begin to drive his sister crazy, who enlists him in the Chubby Checkers support group.

I'm not going to say anymore about it, in case you decide to rent it on Net Flix. It's worth every minute to watch it has a lot of humor in it and also puts things into perspective for folks struggling with their weight..

You have to know that the Virgo in me SALIVATES whenever someone makes a list in here of any kind.

So can we make some lists? How about a list of movies to watch that will inspire you to eat healthier?
We could start with:

1. Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead
2. Supersize Me
3. Food, Inc.

Also, grocery lists?! (VIRGO!)

[PinkieLee]

Heck no - I JUST now discovered the chocolate flavor! I have been eating the cheddar cheese ones as a chips alternative when I do my turkey sandwich or tuna.

They are ADDICTIVE!

They are so good! They have that slightly sweet & crunchy thing going on. Yeah, 13 of them for only 3 points!

I haven't tried the cheddar cheese ones yet... but you are right, that's a great alternative to chips to go along with sandwiches. I think they also have a sour cream & onion flavor, too.

I was in Subway the other day and they now have Apple Crisps (I'm guessing dehydrated apples) in the chip area as an alternative to the potato chip, too.

[Novelafemme]

You have to know that the Virgo in me SALIVATES whenever someone makes a list in here of any kind.

So can we make some lists? How about a list of movies to watch that will inspire you to eat healthier?
We could start with:

1. Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead
2. Supersize Me
3. Food, Inc.

Also, grocery lists?! (VIRGO!)


Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead was life changing for me. As was Food, Inc.

[Novelafemme]

i just have to throw a couple more ideas out there since food is a hobby of mine. ;)

if anyone is trying the route of dairy/wheat free...try adding slivered almonds and capers to your tunafish and then rolling it up in a leaf of romaine lettuce instead of bread. it is sooooo yummy and you save by not eating so many carbs.

i actually use lettuce a lot as a replacement for bread. not iceberg though, as it has zero nutritional value.

[Scorp]

Have you folks tried these yet? These are VERY good and only 3 points for 29 chips! A favorite in our household especially on the side with a sandwich...

http://www2.kelloggs.com/ServeImage.aspx?BID=108153&MD5=635087dd47d2cf5a59feae0103deb2f4&w=220

[ruffryder]

Hello everybody!

Mist bud, glad you joined us. Great advice, tips, info and people in here!
As for your meat coming out tough on your small grill, try cooking it less time and maybe turning it once. It shouldn't be cooked more than 10 minutes. . depending how you like it leave it a bit pink? and it will be juicy and delicious. I like to use top sirloin. The advice I would like to give you is drink more water. I buy 20 - 30 water bottles at a time and stock my fridge so it's always cold. . and maybe invest in an ice tea maker. . unsweetened of course is best if you need flavor you can add lemon slices and stevia sweetener. Also lots of variety of fresh fruits and fresh vegetables.

Scorp I drink beer so thanks for that info. I will be going back to lower calorie and light beer when I do want some.

My breakfast was honey oats with almonds 3/4 cup and fat free milk 1/2 cup = 170 calories and dark roast coffee 2 cups.
My snack before lunch will be 1 cup of cantaloupe chunks.
For lunch I want to go get some of that chicken breast cajun deli meat and the thin sandwich whole wheat buns with tomato slice. Mmm.

For me today it's more water!

This is what I prefer for bread. There is a different variety and brands to choose from.

http://www.iateapie.net/images/brands/earthgrainsthinbuns.jpg


http://www.kraftbrands.com/oscarmayer/images/df-products_chicken-caj_package.jpg

[Scorp]

A few of my favorite lunch meats from Hormel Natural Choice:
http://www.omahafastfoods.com/demo1/images//Fresh/Deli/Lunch%20Meat/Hormel%20Natural%20Choice%20Deli%20Sliced%20Roast% 20Beef,%207%20oz.jpg 4 slices = 2 points...Yep I said 2 points only!


http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSs5AlO93q3pxuG8Ew4lKoqsxA8Udf9G r2xrIEjLwGiKaxUzgHEWA 1-1/2 slices = 1 point...

[Rockinonahigh]

I just got back from the gym a while ago,u bet I had a really full work out.What I find thats way diffrent with the exsecycles I ride that the calorie counter is never the same on either of them.Last week I rode 9 miles with well over 100 calories used today I rode a diffrent bike but only went 7 miles before maxing out the thing for a whoping 69 calories burnes for 25 minits rideing time.My speed was the same as were my rpm's so I really dont get it but just ride for all im worth anyway.After I got off the bike I went to the weight room and did a bunch of diffrent things with the lowest reps being 2setsets of 10 the highest being 4 sets of 20 I did everything form squats to leg presses to crunch machines with alternateing 30,40 and 60 pounds resistant and u bet my abbs feel it.Then I went around doing ten 2 twenty of what ever struck my fancy.What I really wish I could do is run on the tredmill...in my head I know how but when it comes to doing it I cant quite get the coordanation down very well..crazy makes no sence to me.

[Anastasia]

Welcome BigButchMistie....so glad you joined us! :)

I see you're already getting lots of good advice. I'm a big advocate of making small, progressive changes. Usually when we try to do everything at once, it's a lot harder to stick to.


I could not agree more. In my experience, if I go from completely out of control to 800 calories of celery and twigs a day, I find myself foaming at the mouth in a Baskin Robbins within a month. :rant:

I am by no means an expert, but I stay within 25 pounds of my preferred weight ( I know that is a lot. I have food issues, ok? :) ) because of changes I made about 10 years ago. I exercise a lot, and while that is good for your overall health too, I have found that it is not the answer to weight loss for me. I have to eat less and eat better.

I hate that part.

Anyhoo...

Things that help me when I need to get a handle on food again :

1. No fast food. Even if they have this "great new XYZ that is only 100 calories!" Eventually I will be ordering a Double Whopper with fries/Burrito Supreme/etc. etc...

I call fast food the 'gateway drug' once i allow myself to go there, it is only time before I am recognized and called by name when I come into the store.

2. Drink a glass of water before I eat a meal.

3. Find a salad dressing that I can stand that does not have a ton calories (like 100 cal/2 tbsp I like any of the light balsamic vinegrettes), and salad toppers that you like (no more than 50 calories Here is the one I like http://i.pgcdn.com/pi/85/04/12/850412026_125.jpg)

and then eat my salad before the stuff I want to eat (I dislike/borderline hate veggies too. It makes me eat them and takes the edge off my hunger so I am less likely to chip a tooth on the plate, as I try to inhale my dinner because I let myself get too hungry :) )

4. Drink water all day long. I carry it with me. I drink until I feel like I am going to float away. Then I drink some more. It helps me by making me feel fuller. I tend to binge eat and eat portions for a person twice (or three, four, five, times) my size. Feeling fuller helps curb the need to fill with food.

5. Pack my lunch and snacks to work. When I my little bag is out of food. I am done. Hopefully that is not by 10 am, like today. :sigh: Progression not perfection, as they say.

5. Be honest with myself and write down everything I eat. It makes me make better choices when i know I have to look at the whole bloody list and see just how bad it was.

I am currently doing Weight Watchers and I find it to be a pretty realistic and sustainable program.

Is it perfect? No, but am I going to eat perfectly? No. I loves me some cake and shortbread cookies too much for that.

[Kelt]

So can we make some lists? How about a list of movies to watch that will inspire you to eat healthier?
We could start with:

1. Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead
2. Supersize Me
3. Food, Inc.



"Ingredients" It's on Netflix streaming and probably elsewhere too.

[Zimmeh]

Good Evening Everyone,

I watched that movie, "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" over the weekend and it made me cry. To know, that was me almost five years ago is hard. I still have my sweets, but I have decided that soda or any form of alcohol is a no no and I don't crave either.

When I go grocery shopping, I normally pick up stuff that is easy for me to make on the nights when I get home late or I have to work until 11pm. I have found that keeping individual packs of chicken in the freezer and frozen veggies are the best. I stay away from processed cheese and usually go to the deli or for the Sargento brand cheese. I told my roommate, that the loaf of bread in the pantry is my last and I am going to keep myself in check and not have anymore bread. I don't consume a lot of sugar, salt, or fried foods. I am having a hard time with losing the last twenty pounds to reach my goal weight and it is becoming frustrating.

I am headed to the gym in a bit..

Zimmy

[Kelt]

I just got back from the gym a while ago,u bet I had a really full work out.What I find thats way diffrent with the exsecycles I ride that the calorie counter is never the same on either of them.Last week I rode 9 miles with well over 100 calories used today I rode a diffrent bike but only went 7 miles before maxing out the thing for a whoping 69 calories burnes for 25 minits rideing time.My speed was the same as were my rpm's so I really dont get it but just ride for all im worth anyway.After I got off the bike I went to the weight room and did a bunch of diffrent things with the lowest reps being 2setsets of 10 the highest being 4 sets of 20 I did everything form squats to leg presses to crunch machines with alternateing 30,40 and 60 pounds resistant and u bet my abbs feel it.Then I went around doing ten 2 twenty of what ever struck my fancy.What I really wish I could do is run on the tredmill...in my head I know how but when it comes to doing it I cant quite get the coordanation down very well..crazy makes no sence to me.

I found the same problem when I was still using a gym; all of the cardio equipment would give inconsistent readings. I worked with the staff on the problem for a while and they were unable to resolve it saying that it was probably the chips in the individual units. The equipment uses a combination of age, weight, gender, and heart rate to calculate calories burned. I finally just conceded that I would have to use my own heart rate monitor and do the math myself; I thought this was ridiculous but wanted accuracy.

What happened was sort of interesting. I bought a low/mid range Polar heart rate monitor that had a chest strap and would send readings to a wristwatch type device. When I started using it on the equipment I found it would input directly to onboard computers as well as the “watch”. It turns out that all of their cardio equipment had chips made by Polar in them and that the real problem they had was variable or non-functioning sensors in the grips/rails whatever input device. If I just made sure to avoid their sensors and wore my chest strap the onboard computers worked just fine and I could get consistent readings across all their different machines. This was at a 24 hour fitness center with about 90 machines, so I don’t know what you are using but my experience crossed several brand names. A “replacement” chest strap can be bought separately and might work.

On the other hand I like the “ride like heck“ until worn out approach too. :)

[bigbutchmistie]

Hello Everyone! :)

Pinkie you held out on me :) Thats why I havent been here. Heck it wasnt until someone told me about this thread I even knew it was here! LOL I guess I am sllllllow LOL

Anwyay, thanks to you all for all the great advice and tips. I am as we speak trying to find a doctor to go to. I already know the verdict.

And are you all on Weight Watchers? Did I miss something about that?

I am looking forward to positive changes in my life Plus being able to shop one day in regular stores instead of Big and Tall for Men... :)

Thanks again yall :)

[Rockinonahigh]

I found the same problem when I was still using a gym; all of the cardio equipment would give inconsistent readings. I worked with the staff on the problem for a while and they were unable to resolve it saying that it was probably the chips in the individual units. The equipment uses a combination of age, weight, gender, and heart rate to calculate calories burned. I finally just conceded that I would have to use my own heart rate monitor and do the math myself; I thought this was ridiculous but wanted accuracy.

What happened was sort of interesting. I bought a low/mid range Polar heart rate monitor that had a chest strap and would send readings to a wristwatch type device. When I started using it on the equipment I found it would input directly to onboard computers as well as the “watch”. It turns out that all of their cardio equipment had chips made by Polar in them and that the real problem they had was variable or non-functioning sensors in the grips/rails whatever input device. If I just made sure to avoid their sensors and wore my chest strap the onboard computers worked just fine and I could get consistent readings across all their different machines. This was at a 24 hour fitness center with about 90 machines, so I don’t know what you are using but my experience crossed several brand names. A “replacement” chest strap can be bought separately and might work.

On the other hand I like the “ride like heck“ until worn out approach too. :)

The ride like heck is what im doing,ppl there must think im nuts to be rideing or useing the equipment like that but im one of the fue that have a go for broke plan.I was so give out that when I got in my car to go home I just sat there cause it took a fue minits to go from gogogo to drive home mode.

[ruffryder]

Today's shopping list:
Thin whole wheat sandwich buns
Jennie-O Turkey Bacon
Egg Beaters
Deli Cajun Chicken Breast
Pepperjack Cheese Slices

I used to eat so much regular bacon, I love it! Today decided to get some turkey bacon so I can try that. For breakfast tomorrow I'm going to have 2 slices with 1/4 cup eggbeaters on a thin whole wheat sandwich bun for 200 calories. A note on the cheese: if you just use 1/2 slice it's just 40 calories.

For dinner it was chicken breast tenderloin grilled with blackened season and mustard. fresh spinach and cherry tomatoes with fine red wine vinegar and bottle water.

[Anastasia]

I faced the music at weigh in today

:weightshock:

Back on track.

1. Lunch and snacks are packed for tomorrow
2. Water bottles filled and ready to go
3. My food journal/tracker is in my purse and WILL be used!

[JustJo]

So glad to read all the wonderful tips and advice here....I love what you were saying Anastasia....for me, drinking my water, eating my salad and running like heck from fast food makes such a difference.

Mistie, lots of the folks here are doing Weight Watchers and I think it's a great program - but not all of us are.

I'm doing a different eating plan that really cuts back on grains and starchy vegetables (like potatoes and corn), and emphasizes lean protein, legumes, fruit and vegetables and healthy fats like olives, olive oil and avocado. It's leaning more towards the paleo diet that Novelafemme posted about....basically going back to a more "primitive" diet that our bodies can handle better.

Amazingly, I'm finding that the more of the fast food, junk food, artificial sweeteners I cut out....the less I want. Now, when I'm feeling "snacky" I really prefer some low-fat string cheese, some olives, maybe some almonds. Anyone who knew my previous BBQ potato chip addiction can vouch for how huge that change is.

My first week weight loss of 6 lbs was fun, but not a sustainable level....and, weighing every day and crunching numbers like the nerd I am....I appear to be losing at a daily rate that will amount to 2 or 3 lbs this week. I'm more than happy with that. :) Official weigh in is Saturday, so we'll see.

The better, and more important, thing for me is that my blood sugar readings are good....and I'm interested to see what my A1c level will be after 3 months of this diet. I'll keep you all posted in November sometime. :cheesy:

[turasultana]

Weigh in was yesterday - was expecting a gain due to PMS eating fits, but instead lost 1lb! So that was a nice surprise.

down 12.4 so far (7 weeks on WW). I need to add in activity to bump it up, but haven't quite got the motivation yet. I'm a member of the gym at work (small but cheap) just need to get my butt in there!

skinny cow strawberry shortcake ice cream sandwiches -so frackin' good! (just a random shout out).

[bigbutchmistie]

Ok so I am making a grocery list for picking up some groceries this weekend tell me what you all think :

seedless grapes

strawberries

banannas

greek yogurt

apples

bell pepper

mozzarella cheese for salads

pepper jack/gouda cheese for sandwiches

weight watchers frozen dinners

rice cakes

sugar free coffee mate


salad toppings

country crock butter diet kind

egg whites

mushrooms

lunch mate lunch box

smoked turkey breast

wheat bread from Pepperidge Farm German Dark Wheat bread

lettuce/tomato

chicken breast

green beans

mixed veggies in a can

garlic/herb Ms Dash

2% Milk

Fiber One Bars

Mio flavors

Water Bottles

Splenda

granola

and I am thinking of more but this is what I have come up with for right now

[JustJo]

Has anyone tried pluots? They're a hybrid of plums and apricots and are very mild and not too sweet. I picked some up at the farmers market and they're nice when you want a mild flavored fruit... :)

[Scorp]

This is also one of my favorite snacks and satisfying. 4 oz cups/containers are only 2 points

http://www.kozyshack.com/assets/images/NSA_Tapioca_ppanel.jpg

[PinkieLee]

Misty....

It looks like you are headed in the right direction with your grocery list! Lots of nutritional stuff... and yummy stuff, too! Just remember, whatever you do, you MUST eat. The starvation route does not work, and will only lead to binges. If you are hungry between meals, munch on some baby carrots or celery with a lil' peanut butter, or some fruit. If you like to snack while watching tv... try the 94% fat free buttered or kettle corn popcorn. Seriously, you can't tell the difference.... and it is so good!

Giving up your daily sodas is gonna be a li' tough. The headaches will suck for a day or so, but once you get enough water in your system, your body will feel so much better. When eating out, I usually have unsweet iced tea. I maybe have a soda once a week... but for the most part I don't crave them anymore.

I KNOW how much you love Mexican food ~ and lord knows I do, too! Living in Texas, we have the best Mexican food around. Where we have cut back is what we order. If you like crunchy tacos (meat, lettuce & tomato), they are your best bet ~ 2 or 3... don't go crazy! Or chicken soft tacos. I would suggest laying off the beans & rice... I know, that is gonna suck! Chips & salsa ~ don't overdo it. The salsa isn't bad, but the chips add up calories QUICK!

One treat that D and I do for dessert sometimes, is I slice up strawberries, blackberries & bananas, and add a scoop of fat free Cool Whip on top. I think I'm tricking myself that it's a sundae or something... doesn't matter to me, because it is yummy!

You can do this Misty... I have lots of faith in you. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for! I look forward to seeing you succeed on this journey my friend!!!

[JustJo]

Misty....

I KNOW how much you love Mexican food ~ and lord knows I do, too! Living in Texas, we have the best Mexican food around. Where we have cut back is what we order. If you like crunchy tacos (meat, lettuce & tomato), they are your best bet ~ 2 or 3... don't go crazy! Or chicken soft tacos. I would suggest laying off the beans & rice... I know, that is gonna suck! Chips & salsa ~ don't overdo it. The salsa isn't bad, but the chips add up calories QUICK!



Great advice in that whole post! :)

Salsa is actually very good for you as long as it doesn't have a ton of salt. If you can't resist chips and salsa and want that once in awhile how about trying the baked chips instead of the regular ones? At least that cuts down dramatically on the fat content.

Beans are actually really good for you, but most restaurants use white rice which isn't....what about ordering just the beans and hold the rice?

Can you get your mexican food with corn tortillas or whole wheat tortillas instead of the white flour tortillas?

Every little change adds up. :)

[sylvie]

well my weigh in was yesterday, and i am down 13 more lbs for a grand total of 36 lbs lost !!! wheeeeeeeee!

this was not in one week, more like almost 3 weeks, i think.. i cant remember my last date i announced a weigh in, maybe a lil over 3 weeks even.. i am content with that, as i'm sure i gained some weight last week because i wasnt eating at all the week before when i had oral sugery..so, whatever i gained back i have no clue, and i can't fuss it now can i!?? lol..

pretty proud of 36 lbs lost so far though.. the changes in my body and my thinking process and positivity are just wow.. Starting today, i am taking measurements as well ...

Been LOVING the tips in here, the advice and encouragement..
lettuce for bread, i never would have thought of that, and actually LOVE the idea, great way to cut back in carbs for sure..and think i'll give that a try, it sounds yummy!

[bigbutchmistie]

Misty....

It looks like you are headed in the right direction with your grocery list! Lots of nutritional stuff... and yummy stuff, too! Just remember, whatever you do, you MUST eat. The starvation route does not work, and will only lead to binges. If you are hungry between meals, munch on some baby carrots or celery with a lil' peanut butter, or some fruit. If you like to snack while watching tv... try the 94% fat free buttered or kettle corn popcorn. Seriously, you can't tell the difference.... and it is so good!

Giving up your daily sodas is gonna be a li' tough. The headaches will suck for a day or so, but once you get enough water in your system, your body will feel so much better. When eating out, I usually have unsweet iced tea. I maybe have a soda once a week... but for the most part I don't crave them anymore.

I KNOW how much you love Mexican food ~ and lord knows I do, too! Living in Texas, we have the best Mexican food around. Where we have cut back is what we order. If you like crunchy tacos (meat, lettuce & tomato), they are your best bet ~ 2 or 3... don't go crazy! Or chicken soft tacos. I would suggest laying off the beans & rice... I know, that is gonna suck! Chips & salsa ~ don't overdo it. The salsa isn't bad, but the chips add up calories QUICK!

One treat that D and I do for dessert sometimes, is I slice up strawberries, blackberries & bananas, and add a scoop of fat free Cool Whip on top. I think I'm tricking myself that it's a sundae or something... doesn't matter to me, because it is yummy!

You can do this Misty... I have lots of faith in you. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for! I look forward to seeing you succeed on this journey my friend!!!

Tonya :

Yes, you know me I love Mexican. But yea need to cut that to once or twice a month. I eat it most every day. LOL

I am going to try the fruit and cool whip and the popcorn and the idea about salsa/chips.

And yes giving up sodas is gonna be tough. I can drink a twelve pack in a day. I am already experiencing the headaches and withdraws LOL But I keep thinking of the way my legs and feet were so swollen and couldnt get my shoes on. So in my brain it thinks that will happen again if I drink another one.

Thanks for the support my friend you rock! :)

[PinkieLee]

Great advice in that whole post! :)

Salsa is actually very good for you as long as it doesn't have a ton of salt. If you can't resist chips and salsa and want that once in awhile how about trying the baked chips instead of the regular ones? At least that cuts down dramatically on the fat content.

Beans are actually really good for you, but most restaurants use white rice which isn't....what about ordering just the beans and hold the rice?

Can you get your mexican food with corn tortillas or whole wheat tortillas instead of the white flour tortillas?

Every little change adds up. :)

THANK YOU for bringing this up Jo!

The corn or wheat tortillas is a great alternative! I have a friend that actually brings her own wheat tortillas... because most of the restaurants don't carry them (at least where I live).

D's mom orders corn tortillas and breaks them in pieces and eats them with the salsa... instead of the fried chips. I looked at her like she was crazy, but actually it was pretty good.

You are right the beans are good for you... but unfortunately, I don't think that the refried beans are. A few places are starting to offer the borracho (sp?) or black beans as the alternative. You are right about the rice, that's why I do my best to just say no to it.

Hey cutting back whenever we can works... little changes add up to big changes overall :)

[Kelt]

Hi,

I wanted to share something I’ve been using for some time now. I’ve always enjoyed cooking, but not everybody knows how. All recipes (http://allrecipes.com/) is a really good collection of not only recipes, but also cooking techniques and nutritional information. Some of the ways I use it are; discovering recipes for things to try, for instance if I like black beans but don’t know what I want to do with them I just search that ingredient and get a ton of ideas. Narrowing that by category makes it less overwhelming, like black bean soup, or dip, something like that. I pick something that sounds good and try it, I usually aim for something that has lots of reviews so I know it is a popular dish tried by many, and I read a few of the comments for extra information and ideas for variations e.g. a soup recipe calls for vinegar but is unspecific, by reading some comments I can see that most folks like to use balsamic for this one and several suggest adding cumin, that kind of thing. If you are tracking nutrients or calories or grams, just click on the nutrition tab and you get the basic values, click expanded for all the details. One thing I especially like since I am cooking for 1 is that if you just change the number of servings on the recipe it automatically updates the ingredients for the new size. I use the free version and love it the way it is. If you want to pay some, I think it is small, you can get even more expanded features. This is a really great way to try new things and expand your palate with some sense of guidance, and there are also tutorials and videos for techniques if you haven’t done something before.

Bon Appetite

:chef:

[sylvie]

my workout today!

- 15 mins on elliptical
- beginner's workout DVD with Jillian Michaels (wow, what a burn THAT was)
- 10 more mins on the elliptical
- worked the arms out with 5 lb weights
- and going to do a brisk walk after supper - it's beautiful out!

feeling super energetic today...loving it..
LOVED the tip of using lettuce in place of bread, i used it like a wrap..
great way to cut the carbs down, thank you!

i am going to use that website Kelt provided, to get some new ideas of cooking with vegetables - my methods are so basic and boring... and maybe some new salad ideas too, some different ways to spruce them up.. thank you Kelt!

list of to do's for me:
- get a new workout routine going, so i'm doing a little more than walking each day
- get some new recipe ideas
- get a book and be better about journalling my daily intake (something i can bring to work even)
- work on portion control
- cut back on cheese, i love cheese, but i eat far too much
- take my measurements to track that each week too
- celebrate my accomplishments more - because i'm doing this!

36 lbs lost to date and that's something i should be proud of !!!
congratulations to everyone for weight loss and encouragement and motivation, what's important is how good we feel.. keep up the great work everyone!

[Scorp]

Ok so I have a confession.

We just had a 5.8 earthquake that I posted about in "breaking news" thread.

Freaky as hell and I said well if i'm gonna die, fuck this I'm eating this chocolate that sits outside of my office on a table with other treats that I have been staying away from.

So yes, I sure the hell did eat some delicious chocolates from Paris that a co-worker brought back from vacation. I admit it and am not ashamed!!:eatinghersheybar:

[PinkieLee]

I also love the idea of using lettuce as a wrap instead of a tortilla and a great alternative to using bread! THANK YOU! I love the lettuce wraps from Pei Wei.... I don't know why I never thought of using them with something else ~ like even sandwich meat! Romaine is the perfect shape & size, too! I might have to make up a batch of tuna salad for lunch tomorrow and try it out.

[PinkieLee]

Scorpie... your nerves were rattled, I hope you enjoyed that chocolate! You deserve a lil' treat!

**by the way, so glad that y'all are ok!**

[sylvie]

Ok so I have a confession.

We just had a 5.8 earthquake that I posted about in "breaking news" thread.

Freaky as hell and I said well if i'm gonna die, fuck this I'm eating this chocolate that sits outside of my office on a table with other treats that I have been staying away from.

So yes, I sure the hell did eat some delicious chocolates from Paris that a co-worker brought back from vacation. I admit it and am not ashamed!!:eatinghersheybar:

wow, so glad everyone was okay Scorp!
enjoy the chocolate, scary stuff!

[PinkieLee]

sylvie....

I wanted to say congrats on your continued weight loss! You are doing amazing! I must say, your workout routine looks pretty demanding... but you are handling it all with ease! GOOD FOR YOU!

I really need to start utilizing the receipe finder more. D told me the other day that she was getting burned out on meat & veggies. I will be so happy when it starts cooling off here... but I just can't cook heavy, hot dinners when it's 100 degrees outside. I love comfort foods like chili, gumbo & soup ~ so I'm looking foward to finding healthier alternatives for them!

I did make the WW turkey tetrazinni awhile back, and it was YUMMY! I guess in my 38 years, I've always heard pasta was bad for you... so it was hard for me to wrap my head around how this yummy dinner was still healthy. I am very thankful that I found the Smart Choice pasta (it's a white/wheat pasta with added fiber & calcium). I FINALLY got D to eat brown rice & wheat bread... now convincing her to try wheat pasta might be another challange. We shall see!

In the crockpot for tonight, is lean beef tips with low sodium mushroom gravy. I'm gonna boil up the Success brown rice and steam some green beans. Voila... dinner is served.

[foxyshaman]

I have been doing really well. Although I did snack on some chips over the weekend. But I added the points and was totally honest with myself. I have to admit tho' when I am camping I eat less, and that is not a good thing. I eat under the points, which leaves my body is a state of "plateau". Which is where I was for almost three weeks. I don't know what it is about camping that makes me lose my appetite. I think I am just too busy doing other things to pay attention. It is frustrating. I have to think "you have to eat, go to the cooler and eat". I did a long drive yesterday (600 km) and for breakfast I cut up two nectarines, one apple and a bananna. It was lovely to snack on that as I was driving through just beautiful country. I was lucky to find a place to eat a late lunch that catered to those of us Albertans that don't eat beef. :canadian:

So today I am eating my soup. This is what is in it:

One tin of super hot tomatoes with chillis
2 cups broccoli
1 cup carrots
1 cup kernal corn
2 cloves of garlic
1 cup snow peas
1 red onion
vege stock
1 pkg of Knorr vege soup mix
various spices

I like to sweat my spices in a couple table spoons of vege stock then add my onion and garlic. I don't add salt because the tin of tomatoes and the vege stock have enough in it for my taste.

It is a very good soup, high in fibre, low in fat and spicy!!!

I am enjoying the recipes. Tonite I am making a vege stir fry... yummy

[sylvie]

sylvie....

I wanted to say congrats on your continued weight loss! You are doing amazing! I must say, your workout routine looks pretty demanding... but you are handling it all with ease! GOOD FOR YOU!



Thank you Tonya so much.. i feel really great today.. As for the workout routine, it's not an everyday thing, it's just a TODAY thing.. LOL my energy has been through the roof, but i dont do this everyday.. i'm lucky if i get a walk in 3 times a week, and today is the first day i did the weights workout and the elliptical together..
Normally i do 10 mins a day on the elliptical, if i can.. but honestly i only get a few times a week with that too, because of my hectic work schedule..Today i am off of work, it's sunshiney and i have an energy increase , probably from the motivation of the weight loss and just feeling all around great today!

i soooo wish i could do that workout everyday t hough..
and my try at the DVD, was pretty pathetic LOL.. i huffed and puffed and couldn't keep up, took frequent breaks and watched while drinking water before i jumped back in when i could, i found it difficult, cuz its all new to me.. i just wanted to try the dvd while i was off today to get a sense of it, so i can maybe try that every so often too..

i want to up my workout routine, to a walk and something (whether its weights, or resistance or elliptical) at least every other day even.. on days i cant get out walking, the dvd workout might be a good choice ...

loving the energy i had today, wish i could have it EVERYday LOL!! i just find the walking everyday doesn't feel like enough anymore, so i need to either step up the speed maybe or walk more hills, or add a lil something afterwards! just don't want to get bored doing the same thing all the time, i need to buy a helmet too because i now have a bike to use!

[Gentle Tiger]

I've been M.I.A. and have returned. I have no good news to report because I stopped doing what was working. I am now back on track. I haven't been reading the thread because that means being accountable. But that is what I need. So you have permission to bug me if you don't see me checking in.

That is all.

[Rockinonahigh]

Today I stayed at the gym for three hours,no I havent lost my mind,but I did spend some time doing diffrent things that I usely do.I gave the epilitical another try,the first time my left thigh spazzed out in the first 6 steps..I tryed again same thing.By goddess not today as I was determend to stay on the darn thing for 5 minits if it killed me..even tho I had to stop a couple of times or slow down some I did the 5 minits.Then I got on the tredmill,I do not like tredmills cauase haveing something move under my feet gives me the willies..its a balance thing cause of my vertago.I did manage nearly a mile before my wind gave out.Dam congestion I cant seem to beat,I am useing nose spray and otc decongestions but they arent doing much good,my voice sound like a croaking bull frog.The staff sugested I sit in the steam room for a while cause it has eucliptic(sp?) oil in the steam wich can open up my nose and clear my chest,I stayed in there for 5 minits as its between 100 to 110 degrees inside with a 10 minit limit.After I cooled off I went to the weight room for a round of weights. A little advise if u all please...im thinking of adding something to my routine what do u all think?they offer..Pilates,spin,ICE..whatever that is,Tai Chi,yoga,zumba,kick boxing,body blast..not shure what it is.These arent on the same day,I know im goin g to give kick boxing a try but the rest I havent go a clue..yet.Have anyone use any of thes things and how did it work for you???

[Zimmeh]

Good Afternoon Mistie,

I added some notes to your choices. Watching my dad suffer from diabetes was a hard thing to do. Margarine was shown to be the worst stuff to cook with and consume. That stuff will never mold and is one step above being plastic. I learned this from going to a dietician's office with my dad after his heart surgery.

Have a great day and good luck! We will all be here for you..

Zimmy

Ok so I am making a grocery list for picking up some groceries this weekend tell me what you all think :


mozzarella cheese for salads

-Have the 2% milk variety; less calories and good for you

pepper jack/gouda cheese

-Look for the 2% Swiss cheese instead, the regular type of cheese is high in calories and sodium


sugar free coffee mate

-Again, look at the sodium content and fat content. Just because it is sugar free, doesn't mean it doesn't have sugar in it. It has *sugar alcohol* in it



country crock butter diet kind

-Stay away from the margarine. I like Land O' Lakes Spreadable butter with canola oil and I use it sparingly. Margarine is a cousin to plastic.

mixed veggies in a can

-Frozen or fresh vegetables is better for you and you can season it the way you want. It isn't loaded with preservatives.

2% Milk

-Nonfat is better for you. 2% milk has just as much fat as whole milk does.


Mio flavors

-Watch the sugar content. Being pre-diabetic, you shouldn't have a lot of artificial sugar.


and I am thinking of more but this is what I have come up with for right now

[Zimmeh]

Congratulations on the weight loss!

Zimmy

Thank you Tonya so much.. i feel really great today.. As for the workout routine, it's not an everyday thing, it's just a TODAY thing.. LOL my energy has been through the roof, but i dont do this everyday.. i'm lucky if i get a walk in 3 times a week, and today is the first day i did the weights workout and the elliptical together..
Normally i do 10 mins a day on the elliptical, if i can.. but honestly i only get a few times a week with that too, because of my hectic work schedule..Today i am off of work, it's sunshiney and i have an energy increase , probably from the motivation of the weight loss and just feeling all around great today!

i soooo wish i could do that workout everyday t hough..
and my try at the DVD, was pretty pathetic LOL.. i huffed and puffed and couldn't keep up, took frequent breaks and watched while drinking water before i jumped back in when i could, i found it difficult, cuz its all new to me.. i just wanted to try the dvd while i was off today to get a sense of it, so i can maybe try that every so often too..

i want to up my workout routine, to a walk and something (whether its weights, or resistance or elliptical) at least every other day even.. on days i cant get out walking, the dvd workout might be a good choice ...

loving the energy i had today, wish i could have it EVERYday LOL!! i just find the walking everyday doesn't feel like enough anymore, so i need to either step up the speed maybe or walk more hills, or add a lil something afterwards! just don't want to get bored doing the same thing all the time, i need to buy a helmet too because i now have a bike to use!

[JustJo]

Today I stayed at the gym for three hours,no I havent lost my mind,but I did spend some time doing diffrent things that I usely do.I gave the epilitical another try,the first time my left thigh spazzed out in the first 6 steps..I tryed again same thing.By goddess not today as I was determend to stay on the darn thing for 5 minits if it killed me..even tho I had to stop a couple of times or slow down some I did the 5 minits.Then I got on the tredmill,I do not like tredmills cauase haveing something move under my feet gives me the willies..its a balance thing cause of my vertago.I did manage nearly a mile before my wind gave out.Dam congestion I cant seem to beat,I am useing nose spray and otc decongestions but they arent doing much good,my voice sound like a croaking bull frog.The staff sugested I sit in the steam room for a while cause it has eucliptic(sp?) oil in the steam wich can open up my nose and clear my chest,I stayed in there for 5 minits as its between 100 to 110 degrees inside with a 10 minit limit.After I cooled off I went to the weight room for a round of weights. A little advise if u all please...im thinking of adding something to my routine what do u all think?they offer..Pilates,spin,ICE..whatever that is,Tai Chi,yoga,zumba,kick boxing,body blast..not shure what it is.These arent on the same day,I know im goin g to give kick boxing a try but the rest I havent go a clue..yet.Have anyone use any of thes things and how did it work for you???

I love pilates and tai chi....tai chi most of all. I haven't done it in years, but always found it incredibly relaxing as well as good exercise.

For me, both are a great example that you don't always need to move fast or far to get a great work out. :)

[sylvie]

sooooo, much as i felt energetic, the elliptical and the DVD workout killed me LOL.. i was not able to go for my walk today because my legs hurt and felt like jello but thats okay.. i was feeling the energy, doesn't mean my body was willing to let it happen, and i had a good workout just the same..

i have never tried tai chi, i tried pilates some years ago, just touched on it but i really should try it again, i have a book here teaching pilates, yoga and meditation, i should haul that out tonight!

[little_ms_sunshyne]

hello bfp! I feel like I have been gone,forever! Work is kicking my butt! I get home ready to pass out :s I hope everyone is doing well here! I miss having a computer :(

I have been sticking to the healthy lifestyle. Too exhausted to even go to a drive thru lol have been purposely waiting to weigh in. Trying to ignore scale. Will have tons of catching up to do this weekend!

Sorry if I have been MIA! Working on adjusting to schedule :s

[ruffryder]

Hey Everybody!

Mist maybe you should try some Pepsi Max. It doesn't taste too bad. I was a huge Pepsi drinker also but I've found I do not miss it. I'm drinking more water and ice tea. I do have a 2 ltr of Pepsi Max in my fridge and if I feel the urge I may have a cup with dinner.

I went to Red Lobster today I did pretty well except those 2 damn cheddar bay biscuits! Oh well. it's done. Now that I know how many calories those have I won't do that again! I had like 4 oz of tilapia, 3 grilled shrimp and 3 crab legs. a few bites of baked potato with only sour cream no butter, some rice pilaf and ate the tomatoes and cucumbers out of my salad. Usually I would pack on the butter on my potato and seafood so I am still am proud of how I ate there today. I even had some fish, shrimp and rice left over to bring home for lunch tomorrow.

[JustJo]

A little eye opening experience for me yesterday...

I've been seriously watching my carbs and eating no white flour or sugar...and my weight has been steadily dropping for the last week and a half (I weigh daily because it helps me stay on track).

Yesterday, a couple things happened...highly stressful last 2 days, ran out of Greek yogurt and the salad greens I really like and didn't get to the store, let myself get actively hungry several times and ate dumplings (only 2, but made with white flour) last night with dinner.

This morning, the scale was up 1/2 lb. :blink:

The irony? I probably ate less yesterday in total than I have been for the last week and a half. Shows me how ready my body is to pack on the weight when I don't eat right, and when I let those bad carbs back into the meal plan.

Needless to say, this morning's breakfast is Greek yogurt and blueberries...and I'm making doubly sure to avoid the white flour and bad carbs going forward.

[sylvie]

good morning everyone ~

Yesterday i had a great day exercisewise - but wasn't very happy about the portions of food i ate.. i was doing so well with portion control before that, but yesterday definitely went a little overboard..

so today, i will be working on better portions again...
i did manage to measure myself yesterday so will be taking measurements along with weighing myself as an added motivation - since sometimes we build muscle rather than lose lbs..

my poor legs last night, felt like jello and hurt, this morning that hurt has passed mostly, so since i am off today i may try the elliptical and Jillian workout again - although it's a beautiful sunshiney day i'm sure taking a brisk walk will win instead LOL! Either way as long as i get something in..

i did not work on my list of to do's last night - so, i will tackle this today!
list of to do's for me:
- get a new workout routine going, so i'm doing a little more than walking each day
- get some new recipe ideas
- get a book and be better about journalling my daily intake (something i can bring to work even)
- work on portion control
- cut back on cheese, i love cheese, but i eat far too much (DID THIS)
- take my measurements to track that each week too (DONE)
- celebrate my accomplishments more - because i'm doing this!

[sylvie]

A little eye opening experience for me yesterday...

I've been seriously watching my carbs and eating no white flour or sugar...and my weight has been steadily dropping for the last week and a half (I weigh daily because it helps me stay on track).

Yesterday, a couple things happened...highly stressful last 2 days, ran out of Greek yogurt and the salad greens I really like and didn't get to the store, let myself get actively hungry several times and ate dumplings (only 2, but made with white flour) last night with dinner.

This morning, the scale was up 1/2 lb. :blink:

The irony? I probably ate less yesterday in total than I have been for the last week and a half. Shows me how ready my body is to pack on the weight when I don't eat right, and when I let those bad carbs back into the meal plan.

Needless to say, this morning's breakfast is Greek yogurt and blueberries...and I'm making doubly sure to avoid the white flour and bad carbs going forward.

i need to really stay away from the white flours and sugars as well.. Although i try to stay away from them, i will have moments i allow it, whether a white bread or white rice or pasta etc.. thank you for posting this, something to add to my list and be better about.. damn carbs!

good for you for having an aha moment though Jo! and congrats on the weight dropping and finding ways to make that happen, this is why this thread inspires me, tip sharing like this and making me more aware of what i am doing myself! ♥

[JustJo]

i need to really stay away from the white flours and sugars as well.. Although i try to stay away from them, i will have moments i allow it, whether a white bread or white rice or pasta etc.. thank you for posting this, something to add to my list and be better about.. damn carbs!

good for you for having an aha moment though Jo! and congrats on the weight dropping and finding ways to make that happen, this is why this thread inspires me, tip sharing like this and making me more aware of what i am doing myself! ♥

Carbs are such funny things, aren't they?

I know that fruit is full of carbs, but I seem to be able to eat more of it now than I used to and still have good blood sugar readings and lose weight....as long as I stay away from the "bad" carbs....the white flour, white rice, sugar kind.

I'm really starting to think that if it's processed then I probably shouldn't eat it, period.

Getting in touch with my inner cavewoman and eating a very "primitive" diet seems to be the key for me! :)

[sylvie]

Carbs are such funny things, aren't they?

I know that fruit is full of carbs, but I seem to be able to eat more of it now than I used to and still have good blood sugar readings and lose weight....as long as I stay away from the "bad" carbs....the white flour, white rice, sugar kind.

I'm really starting to think that if it's processed then I probably shouldn't eat it, period.

Getting in touch with my inner cavewoman and eating a very "primitive" diet seems to be the key for me! :)

i soo agree, nothing processed is good for us, i'm sure. especially since i've been watching the sodium levels of things - the amount of sodium blows me away when i'm reading packages and usually is a deciding factor in my putting it back and not buying it..

And avoiding that stuff would be key for me as well, i think it's important for us to treat our bodies well, as well as doing what we can to lose weight.. i'm sure we can work hard enough to lose weight if we portion the things we eat, but staying off the stuff (like white flours, sugars, etc) & anything process would prove to be a positive thing on many levels..

this girl is with you Jo! Because i know when i have a healthy day of fresh ingredients, i feel tremendous overall. This is something i will work on too!

[Sparkle]

A little advise if u all please...im thinking of adding something to my routine what do u all think?they offer..Pilates,spin,ICE..whatever that is,Tai Chi,yoga,zumba,kick boxing,body blast..not shure what it is.These arent on the same day,I know im goin g to give kick boxing a try but the rest I havent go a clue..yet.Have anyone use any of thes things and how did it work for you???

It depends on what you want to achieve and what you like.

Kick-boxing is great for both an aerobic workout and strength training.
Spin, zumba and body blast are all different types of aerobic classes.

Personally I'm a huge fan of pilates; and I can't wait to get back in regular classes.

Pilates targets your core, the movements are small and precise (and killer). It builds strength, endurance and coordination.
If you stick with it and work hard (pilates is about precision not repetition, it takes concentration and practice) - it will be strengthen every muscle group in your core; which in turn will improve your physical performance in pretty much every single way.

[bigbutchmistie]

Good Afternoon Mistie,

I added some notes to your choices. Watching my dad suffer from diabetes was a hard thing to do. Margarine was shown to be the worst stuff to cook with and consume. That stuff will never mold and is one step above being plastic. I learned this from going to a dietician's office with my dad after his heart surgery.

Have a great day and good luck! We will all be here for you..

Zimmy

Thank you so much Zimmy for the input. I know some things from when I went to the Nutritionist/Dieticians office with my mom after she had her first quadrupal bypass surgery. I guess thats what makes me so mad at myself. Most things I know but alot I have forgotten. So, I am very much appreciative of everyone's input. I am probably going to buy alot of groceries this weekend to try out alot of different things. I just have a problem with getting bored with it. And going back to the easy drive thru's ya know. Now, I dont have the option being borderline. I have to have to have to do something. So, I wanna say in advance thanks for the support everyone. And all the support already... :)

[Leigh]

One of the disadvantages to living at home is that alot of the time I have to eat whatever My parents buy, and often its the bad stuff like sugar and white flour based things ~ having to stick to a tight budget is not fun, and thus the stuff they buy isnt exactly the best all the time. They get alot of things like chicken burgers, chicken nuggets, fish sticks etc (meat in boxes); boxes of stuffing, mac 'n cheese, packaged rice etc is everywhere in our house and they always buy margarine. My dad likes to bug Me about the food that I eat, but are they any better with what they buy? I've tried talking to them about changing the habits but they seem fixated on what they buy right now so its not exactly ideal.

I'm trying to change alot of My eating habits and I'm doing good so far making small changes everyday, but when those other things are right in front of you it can make staying on track hard but I'm doing it ~ no more swelling in My legs and feet, its easier for Me to walk and I'm just feeling better in alot of ways. I love My sister to death but watching her during the summer is tiring and I had promised to try and get out more this summer but it never works out how I planned so once she is back to school it'll be upto Me to really kick start this weight loss into high gear since I'll be the only one home during the day. This will actually be a good thing since I will have My time to Myself again and that will allow Me to truly get Myself into gear.

I'm still drinking mostly water and will allow Myself one small glass of pepsi a day just to make sure I'm still getting My little fix but whats most important is thats a huge change, and its been over a week that I've been doing this so I'm quite proud of that. I'm really happy to hear that everyone is doing well with their weight loss, making small changes everyday, and being successful in their daily lives :-)

[*Anya*]

I have my oatmeal heating in micro and m drinking a terrific cup of coffee.

My body is fighting to hold onto the last 1/2 pound before I move into the new " decade" as I like to call each 10 pounds.

I will prevail!

The first week I started walking upstairs again (didn't realize my knees won't allow me to walk down stairs but am able to walk up!) I could barely do 3 flights, now am able to do 6 easily. Funny how quickly that happened.

Re: Zimmy and margarine. She is so right about that. My internist told me better to have a little pat of butter than any margarine at all. I am not eating any bread (sniff*miss my sourdough) so am not currently buying butter, but if I could without eating 1/2 loaf of sourdough-butter it would be!

Have a great day all and we always need to remember with healthy eating & weight loss: sometimes it is 2-steps forward and 1-back but we are moving forward:)

Hugs,

[PinkieLee]

Matthew...

It does have to be tough living in a home where what you eat depends on who is buying & cooking it. What I suggest is, go to the store and buy some bags of salad. Before you sit down with your family for a meal, eat a big ol' salad AND a glass of water FIRST. That way, even if they don't serve a very healthy meal, you've already had a good start, and it will keep you from overeating the bad stuff.

Also, if they do a lot of prepakaged food... look at the nuturional label on the back. See what the calorie content is PER SERVING. Stick to the serving size (3 fish sticks or 1/2 cup of rice) and you should be ok. Portion control can be tricky... but if you know exactly what the serving size is you'll be able to stick closer to a wiser portion control and be able to keep your calories under control.

Honestly, I know exactly what you are talking about when it comes to grocery shopping. I was in the store the other day, and it's absolutely ridiculous how much more expensive it is to buy healthier food choices than it is to buy crap. For instance, a pound of grapes might be $2.99 a pound. But you can buy THREE boxes of Little Debbie Snack Cakes for the same price! My mom & dad eat a lot of the same meals... not because they actually like them (or they are or aren't healthy) but because my mom knows exactly what she can buy each week with a $40 budget.

[Scorp]

Rice Krispies here I come!!

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQKaAqBI3WO7c91EUDEKhq2mNC09M63n BXjMPuCp0jOnkjibLnl

[Kelt]

Carbs are such funny things, aren't they?

I know that fruit is full of carbs, but I seem to be able to eat more of it now than I used to and still have good blood sugar readings and lose weight....as long as I stay away from the "bad" carbs....the white flour, white rice, sugar kind.

I'm really starting to think that if it's processed then I probably shouldn't eat it, period.

Getting in touch with my inner cavewoman and eating a very "primitive" diet seems to be the key for me! :)

Carbs are interesting little critters aren’t they? I have done so many food trials around this it is ridiculous. :seeingstars:

As soon as I think I’ve got them nailed down another surprise shows up. Processed stuff is definitely out, if it has a nutrition label they are using it to hide something.

But then as you just mentioned, whole foods require effort even if just remembering to have them around. Yet we are surrounded with crap food at all times.

I too can eat fruit until it comes out of my ears and almost all vegetables too; my exception on this is white potatoes, can’t go near them. Yams, sweet potatoes, and squash are fine though.

Grain? Forget it. Low nutrient, high carb and most things have them refined in some way, to some degree. I reserve the right to experiment more with whole quinoa in the future as a possible maintenance item. :deepthoughts:

When I finally dropped the grains my weight loss became very predictable and kept at a steady rate for over six months and is still going strong. I know it’s a tough sell, but the palate will re-educate itself. I have no desire for those things anymore.

I think they are a gateway drug to crapland. At least for me.

One thing I am certain of is that something will come along, probably sooner than later, to turn everything I think on its arse.

:theisland:

[ruffryder]

Good morning everybody!

It's crunchy oats with almonds and slice strawberries for breakfast and black coffee. Mmmm.

I hope you all have a good healthy day!

[PinkieLee]

I woke up this morning wanting something sweet (I know, bad), but the other day I bought some new yummy toaster waffles.

http://www.kelloggsfiberplus.com/images/KelloggsEggoFiberPlusChocolateChipWaffles.jpg

For 2 waffles they are only 180 calories (5 WW points). No butter needed! I just toasted 2 of these, grabbed a banana and headed out the door for work.

[ruffryder]

A little eye opening experience for me yesterday...

I've been seriously watching my carbs and eating no white flour or sugar...and my weight has been steadily dropping for the last week and a half (I weigh daily because it helps me stay on track).

Yesterday, a couple things happened...highly stressful last 2 days, ran out of Greek yogurt and the salad greens I really like and didn't get to the store, let myself get actively hungry several times and ate dumplings (only 2, but made with white flour) last night with dinner.

This morning, the scale was up 1/2 lb. :blink:

The irony? I probably ate less yesterday in total than I have been for the last week and a half. Shows me how ready my body is to pack on the weight when I don't eat right, and when I let those bad carbs back into the meal plan.

Needless to say, this morning's breakfast is Greek yogurt and blueberries...and I'm making doubly sure to avoid the white flour and bad carbs going forward.


Definitely if you drop carbs (white bread, processed foods, flour tortillas) and sugar you will lose weight. I was in a competition once to see who could lose the most weight in a certain amount of time. . and I won. The way I did this was to get rid of Pizza, Breads, Carbs, Tortillas, and Soda. I lost about 15 lbs with that and walked away with some money. haha. And I walked away with a lifetime lesson of what packed the pounds on to begin with. Now I eat whole wheat or multigrain breads and wheat or corn tortillas. They even have some that have no fat. and I have small amounts of sugar which is mostly in fresh fruits and maybe some sauces. When I go to the store I look for alternatives with no fat, no sugar, low sodium. If you're a pizza lover, which I am. Try thin crust and only eat a couple slices. If you just make a few changes without going crazy you will definitely see results! Happy healthy eating! (:

[apretty]

Hi. After our WW meeting on Saturday John Shaft and I went to Costco and did our shopping for HEALTHY FOODS and when I turned my back, JS put these in the cart... When I saw them I thought that he was kidding and immediately yelled, "what!" and it wasn't a joke, so I'm all, 'Are you sure?' and he was emphatic...

http://ugc.kontain.com/photo/20110506/prod_09a09267-bf67-4295-a7a5-cfb82b542479/tb_640x480.jpg

This huge package of cookies is all gone and I ate most of them. I am blaming JS--What a JERKHEAD!

[Inked_Trinity]

GRRRRRRRRRR! I'm not having a good week! I'm working 61 hrs, can't get to the gym, pissed off at my trainer and eating everything in sight! Including Krispy Kreme doughnuts!

[sylvie]

i about lost my MIND in excitement when i slipped on a pair of pants that didn't fit me and they not only fit, but aren't even snug anymore...

i could cry!!! i'm so excited, and sooo love these pants, i've been hating that they didn't fit anymore!! i need to go t hrough my closet and dresser, i may have a new wardrobe or two since i had a habit of buying things without trying them on when they were on sale and got them here at home to find out they didnt fit me..

feels fantastic though!

[PinkieLee]

GRRRRRRRRRR! I'm not having a good week! I'm working 61 hrs, can't get to the gym, pissed off at my trainer and eating everything in sight! Including Krispy Kreme doughnuts!

Well, hopefully things will slow down a bit for you to catch up and get back on track. Remember, one meal at a time!

[PinkieLee]

apretty... I think that I just drooled all over my keyboard, thanks to those yummy looking cookies. Is there ANY possible way, they were in fact fat free and/or sugar free?! I think they were ;)

That JS of yours... is a freakin' cookie pusher!!!

That splurge is ok hot stuff.... we've all done it. My downfall ~ booze! All my weekly points are spent on alcohol :)

[Rockinonahigh]

Holy moley, I knew today was gonna be a good one.It rained a fair amount with the typical thunder and lightnng that is scary and blows trees down,out went the popwer for three hours but who cares ...it rained.When it got down to fair light dribble me and the fur kids went out and played in it,they ran and chased each other I played basket ball with thunder growling in the distace...it was being a kid again.
Now the next thing that made today so good...I got into a pair of pants I bought two years ago,wore once then out grew them,today they fit just right ....YESSSSSSS!!!!
Tomorrow im takeing my first Tai chi clas then the next day palaties then another day of working out,then a day of r& r.Yep a good day for shure.

[Zimmeh]

Good Evening Everyone,

I am having a half of a cup of brown rice with a half of a cup of black beans and chocolate soymilk for dinner.

We are having our monthly potluck lunch/dinner at work tomorrow. I found out that most of the items people are bringing in is, fried foods. Which means, I won't be able to have any of the food, so I will be packing a lunch tomorrow.

Hope you have a great day and night!

Zimmy

[Medusa]

I just did 15 minutes on the bike. Eh, not great at all but I'm exhausted and doing 15 minutes was a chore.

According to my calorie thing on the bike, it burned 115 calories. I don't trust it so I'm going to look it up. :fastdraq:

[Rockinonahigh]

I just did 15 minutes on the bike. Eh, not great at all but I'm exhausted and doing 15 minutes was a chore.

According to my calorie thing on the bike, it burned 115 calories. I don't trust it so I'm going to look it up. :fastdraq:

If u figure out how u did that please let me know,I did 9 f-n miles on the bike for 223 calories used....I know I had to have used more than that from all the huffing and puffing I was doing rideing the dam thing.

[JustJo]

I just did 15 minutes on the bike. Eh, not great at all but I'm exhausted and doing 15 minutes was a chore.

According to my calorie thing on the bike, it burned 115 calories. I don't trust it so I'm going to look it up. :fastdraq:

If u figure out how u did that please let me know,I did 9 f-n miles on the bike for 223 calories used....I know I had to have used more than that from all the huffing and puffing I was doing rideing the dam thing.

Hey everyone,

I found this nifty tool online. It's a little weird to use at first, but....you put in your weight, how long you did something, and click on the activity you did (like biking, stationary - moderate....that's the weird part) and click calculate.

It tells you how many calories you burned.

According to it, a 220 lb. person doing 30 mins. of moderate stationary biking burns 349 calories. So I'm guessing you both did better than you thought. :)

Here's the link: http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.php

[Cowboi]

Im headed to the gym in a bit. I look forward to working out with my trainer...I always push a little harder. Drinking my pre workout
cocktail..LoL. I have a 4 day weekend for my Bday. Im thinkin I might not do so good on the diet while I am in Baton Rouge.

[sylvie]

i am so so so down on myself right now, i want to cry.
Last week, when i weighed in, i had a 36 lb loss altogether..
Today, i weighed in, and i gained 4 damn lbs.

Why? Well, Monday, i had a BINGE day, and i ate out at Mother Nature's.. Salad was good but the wrap, not so much probably... The binging that night was here at home, no junkfood, but overate with my portions.. Then, last night, i broke down and made pasta and it was white pasta, which i know isn't good... PLUS, i didn't exercise yesterday, i'm still so sore from overdoing it the other day, and i just...

BAH! =(
i know, i know.. it's a new day and get back on track - i'm trying.. But just makes me wanna cry my face off.. my clothes still fit loose, and i don't notice it much that way at all, still lotsa energy..

Just really friggin' discouraging!

[nycfem]

I'm so sorry you are feeling so down today :(

It helps me to focus on thinking in terms of what I've lost overall from my highest weight. In my journal every day I always start it with (pretending I'm you):

"I have lost 32 pounds since [date of highest weight]"

It's a reminder of the bigger picture of how much we have done. In other words, unless you weighed in and gained 37 pounds this week, you are still on the right track and have accomplished a lot!

I am proud of you and very impressed (f)


i am so so so down on myself right now, i want to cry.
Last week, when i weighed in, i had a 36 lb loss altogether..
Today, i weighed in, and i gained 4 damn lbs.

Why? Well, Monday, i had a BINGE day, and i ate out at Mother Nature's.. Salad was good but the wrap, not so much probably... The binging that night was here at home, no junkfood, but overate with my portions.. Then, last night, i broke down and made pasta and it was white pasta, which i know isn't good... PLUS, i didn't exercise yesterday, i'm still so sore from overdoing it the other day, and i just...

BAH! =(
i know, i know.. it's a new day and get back on track - i'm trying.. But just makes me wanna cry my face off.. my clothes still fit loose, and i don't notice it much that way at all, still lotsa energy..

Just really friggin' discouraging!

[Medusa]

I think sometimes it's easy to forget exactly how long the journey to a smaller body can be.

I am hovering at 295. I migth hover at 295 for a week or two or three but I know eventually I'll get on the scales and I'll be 294....293....290........275................goal weight. :)

I set 6-pound goals for myself. My next goal point is 289. It seems like getting into the next number bracket is always a huge thing for me personally so I like to make sure I am focusing on small goals that feel super-reachable. Of course, my overall goal is 165 and that's a long way off but if I can lose a total of 170 pounds doing it one pound at a time, I think I can make it. :)

Luck to all!

[ruffryder]

Good morning Everybody! We will hit a plateau or gain some weight back. It's bound to happen. Let's not get discouraged. Let's be strong and get back on track. For me today I'm gonna go for chicken breast, salad, fresh fruits, and fresh veggies. Lots of water! This morning I'm just gonna start with coffee.. then I'll have a mid morning snack of honeydew melon and for lunch it will be chicken breast tenderloin and fresh green beans.

[Cowboi]

Damn!!! What a workout. My arms feel like noodles.
Chris was there "To pump me up" LoL

[*Anya*]

When I say it took me two years to lose 50 pounds, I am not exaggerating for effect!

That comes out to 2.083 pounds per month!

That was sticking to 1500 calories and no butter, no cookies/cakes/pies, etc. That was some weeks gaining a couple of pounds regardless of how well I did.

Today, after having gained 15 pounds of it back, it seems like a distant memory.

I have been off sweets/butter/bread again for maybe 3 weeks now. I have lost 1.5 pounds. I am walking up 6 flights of stairs twice a day.

I just keep repeating my mantra: You did it before, you will do it again, you have control.

It does make me very sad that I gave up control and have to lose the same fucking 15 pounds I already shed previously but I just can't think like that.

It is also why I try to give myself kudos fir eating healthfully and nit fixating so much on the pounds.

I have always had a screwed up body image! When I was 16 and weighed 110, I was convinced I was fat. All my friends did. We even found a "weight loss" MD that gave us diet pills. I got down to 105 (I am a hair under 5'4 but like to say I am 5'4). I was thrilled until I keeled over and fainted one day in my kitchen.

I know that regardless of what I weigh, I still need to change how I think. I will trudge on and try to focus on healthy instead of thin.

Still very, very hard.

[sylvie]

I'm so sorry you are feeling so down today :(

It helps me to focus on thinking in terms of what I've lost overall from my highest weight. In my journal every day I always start it with (pretending I'm you):

"I have lost 32 pounds since [date of highest weight]"

It's a reminder of the bigger picture of how much we have done. In other words, unless you weighed in and gained 37 pounds this week, you are still on the right track and have accomplished a lot!

I am proud of you and very impressed (f)

Thank you Jenn, i need to be better about journalling, something i can carry with me to write what i put in my mouth and keep myself accountable in that way.. i love your idea of the weight lost, too.. i know i should be celebrating what i have lost overall... i needed to be reminded of this, thank you.. (((Jennifer)))

it's SO easy to get stuck on thinking negatively, with any little gain.. i know i've not been good to my body eatingwise over last few days, and honestly some of that gain could have came from the fact i didnt eat at all week 1 of my dental surgery.. i knew i was going to gain a bit back, maybe it's showing now, 2 weeks later..

i need to try and be nicer to myself, and really celebrate the weight loss than the bit of gain.. i am back on track, eating better today - so that's something to celebrate too, right?

thank you darling! ♥

[ruffryder]

Damn!!! What a workout. My arms feel like noodles.
Chris was there "To pump me up" LoL

Cowboi I asked this awhile back, Do you have any suggestions?

anyone lift weights? Someone told me yesterday instead of doing sets or 3 sets with a certain amount of reps one should start with as many as one can do in the first rep. wait 10 seconds go again with how many you can till you can't . wait 10 seconds and continue on this way. and the reason they said was because if you're doing a certain amount in your reps your muscles get used to it and you aren't really working them. and this other way you are shocking your muscles and they are having to adjust and work. . and it doesn't matter the weight only how it is done. so anyone heard of this or what is your routine?

[Kelt]

i am so so so down on myself right now, i want to cry.
Last week, when i weighed in, i had a 36 lb loss altogether..
Today, i weighed in, and i gained 4 damn lbs.

Why? Well, Monday, i had a BINGE day, and i ate out at Mother Nature's.. Salad was good but the wrap, not so much probably... The binging that night was here at home, no junkfood, but overate with my portions.. Then, last night, i broke down and made pasta and it was white pasta, which i know isn't good... PLUS, i didn't exercise yesterday, i'm still so sore from overdoing it the other day, and i just...

BAH! =(
i know, i know.. it's a new day and get back on track - i'm trying.. But just makes me wanna cry my face off.. my clothes still fit loose, and i don't notice it much that way at all, still lotsa energy..

Just really friggin' discouraging!

((Sylvie)) When you’re sore from working out it’s called a recovery day, you're supposed to take it, and I’m pretty sure a little pasta never killed anyone. Enjoy those loose clothes! :)

I'm so sorry you are feeling so down today :(

It helps me to focus on thinking in terms of what I've lost overall from my highest weight. In my journal every day I always start it with (pretending I'm you):

"I have lost 32 pounds since [date of highest weight]"

It's a reminder of the bigger picture of how much we have done. In other words, unless you weighed in and gained 37 pounds this week, you are still on the right track and have accomplished a lot!

I am proud of you and very impressed (f)

:yeahthat:

[sylvie]

((Sylvie)) When you’re sore from working out it’s called a recovery day, your supposed to take it, and I’m pretty sure a little pasta never killed anyone. Enjoy those loose clothes! :)



:yeahthat:

((((Kelt)))) thank you!
i know pasta never killed anyone, think i was struggling for excuses to blame myself, mostly... i know i sooo need to be nicer to myself! and give myself some credit..

i always hear different things re: the workouts.. that when you are sore you should keep at it very next day and eventually the pain goes away. . a guy at work was saying that to me this morning, think it made me feel guilty for the no exercise day i had yesterday.. i did do a lil walking but nothing strenuous, certainly wasnt a brisk walk.. my muscles in my legs really ache though, i know i overdid it, because even sitting down is an issue, the muscles are tensed up i can barely bend my legs.. even today (though not as bad as yesterday).. i should have eased into that workout since it was new to me!

[PinkieLee]

Good morning y'all!

Well, weigh in day today no loss.... but no gain, either. I KNOW I didn't exactly make the best choices (not overeating.... honestly, not eating enough of the good stuff), and I usually never get enough water over the weekend. But, I'm still staying focused. I've got a long way to go ~ I know I didn't put this weight on overnight, it's not gonna magically disappear either.

Being honest, I really suck at the working out thing. I haven't exercised one bit in the last couple of weeks. I recognize that's why my weight is at a standstill. When I am motivated to work out, I am all about it. But, when I lack the motivation, I just can't seem to get myself up & going.

I can watch calories, WW points & monitor food choices all day long, I just suck at the exercise part. With D, she is the opposite... she LOVES to work out. That is if she is motivated herself. I've been waiting for her to say, "let's go to the gym boo" and it just hasn't happened. And of course I haven't offered up the suggestion either. Ultimately it's up to me... this is MY journey, not necessarily hers. And I can't wait for her to motivate ME, I've got to motivate ME to get my ass to the gym!

Anyway, I'm so very happy to see folks continuing to check in and give updates, share milestones & offer up encouragement... y'all ROCK! Have a wonderful day y'all!

[Kelt]

When I say it took me two years to lose 50 pounds, I am not exaggerating for effect!

That comes out to 2.083 pounds per month!

That was sticking to 1500 calories and no butter, no cookies/cakes/pies, etc. That was some weeks gaining a couple of pounds regardless of how well I did.

Today, after having gained 15 pounds of it back, it seems like a distant memory.

I have been off sweets/butter/bread again for maybe 3 weeks now. I have lost 1.5 pounds. I am walking up 6 flights of stairs twice a day.

I just keep repeating my mantra: You did it before, you will do it again, you have control.

It does make me very sad that I gave up control and have to lose the same fucking 15 pounds I already shed previously but I just can't think like that.

It is also why I try to give myself kudos fir eating healthfully and nit fixating so much on the pounds.

I have always had a screwed up body image! When I was 16 and weighed 110, I was convinced I was fat. All my friends did. We even found a "weight loss" MD that gave us diet pills. I got down to 105 (I am a hair under 5'4 but like to say I am 5'4). I was thrilled until I keeled over and fainted one day in my kitchen.

I know that regardless of what I weigh, I still need to change how I think. I will trudge on and try to focus on healthy instead of thin.

Still very, very hard.

Looks like you are tracking at exactly the same rate of loss as when you lost the weight previously. Congratulations!

With only 15 lbs to go, 2lbs per month is a pretty aggressive goal and you are hitting that.

Bonus!

[Medusa]

I hear you , Pinkie! I love to exercise once I'm about 2 minutes into the process but actually getting on the bike or treadmill or yoga ball is the hard part.

I have to say that I have been researching since last night about how many calories I burned on the stationary bike and it looks like that calorie number might have been correct. I was agog to see that a person my size can burn up to 600 calories an hour depending on the intensity on the bike.

Seems like the stationary bike really packs a good punch on the exercise. I burn twice as many calories on a 15-minute work-out on the bike than I do on the treadmill. I think I'll be hitting the BIKE a lot more! :)

Also, I have found that even if I tell myself "I'll just do 5 minutes..." when I am not feeling motivated that once I actually get on the bike or treadmill, I usually end up telling myself that "5 minutes is sucky so let's just do 15 and quit whining..." and 9/10 times I do it!

If you are feeling unmotivated, find a giant mirror and slip on your iPod headphones and just dance with yourself for a few songs. Dancing is super fun and burns a tremendous amount of calories. I have been dancing with myself in the library and just doing 4 songs vigorously will wear my ass out but I'm having so much fun doing it that I look forward to it the next day.

Good "Dance with yourself" songs that I've been using the last couple of weeks:

Hot For Teacher - Van Halen
I Gotta Feeling - BEP
Are You That Somebody - Aaliyah
Bossy - Kelis
Check On It - Beyonce

[foxyshaman]

My weigh in is tomorrow. I have not exercised this week. I taught a wilderness retreat on the weekend and I just have not energetically recovered. I know I should have exercised, but I just couldn't. I have not overate, I have really no idea where I am at on the scale. I look forward to finding out tomorrow. Friday I leave for a camp, so I am not at all sure if, or how I will get any exercise. I know we are by a lake and there are hiking trails, which I am sure I will want to take in. West Coast Forests and hiking trails, seriously this Alberta girl cannot resist a beautiful west coast trail.

So... just raising a hand saying... hey I fell off the exercise wagon myself.

I, similar to you Medusa, have mini weight goals. Right now I am trying to break my plateau. I have dates set in mind for my goals. However.... I never really figured in my plateau couple of weeks. Threw me right off schedule, my in my head schedule. :| <--- plateau end face

:canadian:

[Medusa]

How many of us are on the WW plan?
How many of us are consistently tracking what we eat on the WW plan?
Do we track our exercise there as well?

I SUCK at tracking my food. I'll go several days without tracking sometimes because I already know the point values of what I'm eating and will just say "fuck it" to tracking.

It occurred to me that this might be a roadblock in losing as quickly as I want, not because I don't track but because I already know the point values which tells me that I am at least eating the same things often enough to remember.

THAT can cause a plateau because your body gets used to processing the same thing over and over so I do intend to change up what I eat a little. I generally have a Fiber One bar, a v8, and a Fuji apple every day. Perhaps I'll drop the Fiber One bar for some natural granola and switch my v8 up for a week to a freshly juiced kale drink! I'll let you know what happens!

[Julie]

I am not on WW's - because I am not disciplined enough. Though, I wish I was.

I am however (past week) eating an egg everyday and have finally hit the 10lb weight loss since May. It's taken me a bit of time - but I am on my way.

Now, I just need to get to the gym.

[PinkieLee]

Yep, I'm really good about adding up my points... well that is during the week. Going through my tracking, I do realize that I have left off things... like butter on toast, dressing on my salad, or EXACTLY how many chips I eat (not just a guesstimate). I've realized all I'm doing is sugar coating it... it SAYS I'm below my points, but truthfully am I?

Like Medusa, I'm a creature of habit and eat a lot of the same things throughout the week. So, I've been able to keep a running tally in my head of what I've eaten... and if I'm staying within my goal for that meal and/or snack. I've gotten so used to it, that I don't even calculate my points over the weekend... I wait until I get to work on Monday and do it then.

I do know that I need to switch things up. I had a doctor tell me before to alternate calorie count from 1000 - 1500 every week... that way my body doesn't just aclimate to just burning 1200 calories. I guess kinda like tricking your metabolism.

I have noticed that when just eat smaller portions of the same food, that I don't lose weight. If I add lots of fruits & veggies, and snacks during the day to healthier food choices, that I actually LOSE weight. Over the weekend, I felt like I didn't really eat & was hungry... and never lost anything.

[Queerasfck]

How many of us are on the WW plan?
How many of us are consistently tracking what we eat on the WW plan?
Do we track our exercise there as well?

I SUCK at tracking my food. I'll go several days without tracking sometimes because I already know the point values of what I'm eating and will just say "fuck it" to tracking.

It occurred to me that this might be a roadblock in losing as quickly as I want, not because I don't track but because I already know the point values which tells me that I am at least eating the same things often enough to remember.

THAT can cause a plateau because your body gets used to processing the same thing over and over so I do intend to change up what I eat a little. I generally have a Fiber One bar, a v8, and a Fuji apple every day. Perhaps I'll drop the Fiber One bar for some natural granola and switch my v8 up for a week to a freshly juiced kale drink! I'll let you know what happens!

Yes, I’m on the WW plan. I am a compulsive tracker M-F……..Saturday (better known as “All You Can Eat Saturday”) and Sunday (“Get Back On Track Sunday”) not so much. I do really well when I get into the groove and I almost automatically start eating the same things for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. For dinner I do vary it a bit. I just get on a role and it becomes second nature. When I was at a weird plateau or something several weeks ago and getting very frustrated Apretty suggested I go back to what’s worked in the past and she was SO RIGHT ON! Once I went back to my old stand-bys like egg whites, turkey bacon, and whole wheat toast for breakfast, the plateau was over and pounds came rolling off. That was great.

I do exercise usually about five days a week, cardio and weight lifting at least an hour per session. I don’t track exercise points or bother counting them at all.
I had a difficult week last week, with lots of work stuff going on and felt highly stressed. I think I really need to address the need for certain comfort foods in my life (cookies) when I am really struggling with something. But overall I feel I’m making good progress mostly and my 36s Levis are almost in sight! I tried them on the other day, I could button them but the fit is not right yet. While some guys like to wear tight jeans (Mister Bent) I don’t.

[ruffryder]

Im not on WW. I've thought about it. I just tend to look at a few different diets, take a bit of information from each, learn from them and do what works for me. Right now that is little to no sugar, little to no fat, low sodium, more water, fresh fruits, fresh veggies, and lean meats. I did start journaling what I eat everyday- calories, tips, notes, feelings. . This definitely helps if you are at a plateau or gaining to look back and see why. It also helps with water intake and keeping track of your loss. For me, it's much better on paper and pushes me to make better choices. I really enjoy seeing what you WW people eat though and how many points it adds up to, also all the other recipes and websites put forth here. I take this into consideration so thanks!

[Thinker]

How many of us are on the WW plan?
How many of us are consistently tracking what we eat on the WW plan?
Do we track our exercise there as well?

I SUCK at tracking my food. I'll go several days without tracking sometimes because I already know the point values of what I'm eating and will just say "fuck it" to tracking.

It occurred to me that this might be a roadblock in losing as quickly as I want, not because I don't track but because I already know the point values which tells me that I am at least eating the same things often enough to remember.

THAT can cause a plateau because your body gets used to processing the same thing over and over so I do intend to change up what I eat a little. I generally have a Fiber One bar, a v8, and a Fuji apple every day. Perhaps I'll drop the Fiber One bar for some natural granola and switch my v8 up for a week to a freshly juiced kale drink! I'll let you know what happens!

I'm on WW and track religiously during the week; I track my activity too. I'm not all that great on the weekend because we're out-n-about a lot.

I've definitely hit a lull (plateau sounds kind of positive and I'm bummed as hell about it). I skipped a week of weighing in last week and intend to do it tomorrow morning; I'm not excited about it, and I hate that I'm feeling so down.

I got pissed off last week because I've been really good and I picked up my exercise, and somehow some pounds started popping up. I couldn't figure it out and found that it was really upsetting me (that's when I moved the scale out to the garage). I do accept the possibility of muscle weight, but I still don't like it.

My initial plan was to hold off on my weightlifting program until I hit my goal weight. I wish I had stuck with that. I am now in that confused state I didn't want to be in.

I know I sound all kinds of bitchy and whiney right now. Sorry 'bout that...

I know the solution is to start kickin' ass on cardio, and I hate that. This all sucks right now.

P.S. I'll get over it.

[Thinker]

I was so pissy after that last post that I went out and logged 45 minutes of walk/jog cardio.......LOTS of hills here.

Motivation comes in many forms.

[Scorp]

I did a double take because I thought I posted this. This is what my problem is and it sucks...I should have at least lost 15 lbs from 2 - 3 months ago...

How many of us are on the WW plan?
How many of us are consistently tracking what we eat on the WW plan?
Do we track our exercise there as well?

I SUCK at tracking my food. I'll go several days without tracking sometimes because I already know the point values of what I'm eating and will just say "fuck it" to tracking.

It occurred to me that this might be a roadblock in losing as quickly as I want, not because I don't track but because I already know the point values which tells me that I am at least eating the same things often enough to remember.

THAT can cause a plateau because your body gets used to processing the same thing over and over so I do intend to change up what I eat a little. I generally have a Fiber One bar, a v8, and a Fuji apple every day. Perhaps I'll drop the Fiber One bar for some natural granola and switch my v8 up for a week to a freshly juiced kale drink! I'll let you know what happens!

[Medusa]

I was so pissy after that last post that I went out and logged 45 minutes of walk/jog cardio.......LOTS of hills here.

Motivation comes in many forms.

YOU are a motivation. Just knowing that other people have pissy days and are willing to share is a huge motivation to me. It keeps us REAL.

I have pissy days all the time. Hell, pissy WEEKS sometimes where I'm looking in the mirror and thinking that I can't see any weight loss. That's our old stuff talking.

Work it out!

[*Anya*]

I think I posted previously that I liked the old school weight watchers weighing & measuring.

I tried the points WW & it just did not work for me. Plus, I don't care if the Giant Fudge Bar is only 3points! Doesn't help me much if I can't stop @ one!

I need to count calories, no sugar and keep any fat I eat @ under 10 grams. Just how it works for me.

PS: Thanks for the reality check Kelt! Much appreciated:)

[Scorp]

I just said this to my friend in work. "I see NO weight loss whatsoever and feel and look huge". I'm disgusted with myself and somewhat sabotaging myself with eating stuff I shouldn't be. Yeah I lost 35/36 lbs. but....I only went down a half size. How the fuck is that possible?????

Yesterday I went to lunch and had an individual (lunch size) cheese pizza at Bertucci's. I knew I shouldn't have done it but I went ahead and friggon did it because I'm frustrated.

So much for being on a weight loss program huh? I'm either PMS'ing bigtime or just fed up, especially today at work. People are getting on my nerves today. Pulling me in many directions and wiping their ass and trying to get ready for vacation with a million things to do in so little time. My boss is leaving for vacation too and it's a trickle down affect with her freaking out before she heads out.

These aren't excuses to eat bad either, I'm just saying how I'm feeling for the past couple of days.

I'll be so glad to get the fuck out of here without computers, phones, and mostly people nagging me. I'm gonna put a box of diapers on everyone's desk before I leave as a hint. And people wonder why I don't have kids...Shit I have 65 of them here!

Remove all sharp objects within my reach....
I'm looking in the mirror and thinking that I can't see any weight loss. That's our old stuff talking.

[Medusa]

Perspective:


I began at 335 pounds and a size 28/30. I am STILL wearing a size 28 after a 40 pound loss.
Even when the size doesn't reflect what we want it to, here are some questions to answer:

Do my knees hurt as much now as before?

Do I poop more regularly than before?

How is my stamina and ability to walk or climb stairs compared to before?

Am I sleeping better?


Those things matter. Yes, the smaller ass is a great residual but the goal here is health - making your body feel better!

There are days that I imagine myself going to the McDonald's drive-thru and ordering a double quarter pounder with cheese, a large fries, a large diet coke, and a pie and eating every bit of it and throwing the packages out the window all the way home. When I have days like that, I often can look around and see things that are triggering me - I'm having a shitty day at work and wanting some comfort, I haven't crapped in 3 days and am super whiney, people are getting on my nerves wanting my time and attention, the dash lights are out on the truck again and I'm tired of banging the console to make them come back on.

That frustration works it's way to my marrow and screams for grease and carbs! "SOOTHE ME", it says, "MAKE THESE FEELINGS GO AWAY!", it says.
"FILL ME WITH FOOD SO THAT I CAN FEEL SATISFIED INSTEAD OF FRUSTRATED!!"

Those feelings still happen for me but I'm learning to sit with the feelings rather than stuffing. It's super uncomfortable for me some days but I'm learning that it's not as scary as I thought.

Baby steps...

[Scorp]

:baby: :baby: :baby: (sigh) I know...

Baby steps...

[Scorp]

And, I'm smoking a lot more now and the day-to-day craving set it.

So be it...I'm doing it........At least that gives me enjoyment...I don't give a crap...

[PinkieLee]

This journey and every single step along the way is fucking hard! There are days that I portray such an encouraging face to the world, when all I wanna do is eat every single thing in sight! Sometimes my negative self talk says, "you can talk the talk Tonya, but can you walk the walk."

Like many others, my 21 pounds that I've lost has not made a very significant change ~ clothing size wise. Yes, my body is starting to feel better, I have more stamina, and my pants are getting baggy. But, the damn vanity side of myself wants to SEE more significant results in the mirror. People say oh you've lost 20 pounds... I can totally see it in your face. Well hell, I wanna see 20 pounds gone from my ASS!

When D was out of town this past weekend, I felt triggers MULTIPLE times to self soothe with food. Luckily, I'm learning how to acknowledge how I'm feeling NOW, before I slide down the slope headed toward a binge.

Ultimately, I started this journey... not because I wanted to, but because I needed to. My health was suffering to a point that I could no longer ignore. I know that I'm making healthier choices, not only for the here & right now, but also the Tonya I want to be in the future... the mother that wants to be able to carry a healthy baby one day.

With anything else that we set out to accomplish, we have to take it with baby steps... one day at a time. When the negative self talk starts to pop up, I just have to remind myself that tomorrow will be a better day! Each day (and YES, each meal) is a clean slate... it's up to me to make the changes AND hang on tight for the bumpy journey!

[JAGG]

I hear your frustration pinkie, I know it's hard. I want to motivate you some how. Just remember, you didn't gain the weight in a month and you are not going to lose it in a month either. I know you already know that. Its easy to be motivated when everything is going your way. The thing is, when its not going your way, is when you really need to be motivated.a very wise person once said to me, if you take care of the little things, the big things will take care of themselves. Just keep chipping away. Don't stop digging. You are only 3 ft from the gold. Lots of people have done it! You can too! You are PINKIE LEE! If they can do. You know you can!

[PinkieLee]

I hear your frustration pinkie, I know it's hard. I want to motivate you some how. Just remember, you didn't gain the weight in a month and you are not going to lose it in a month either. I know you already know that. Its easy to be motivated when everything is going your way. The thing is, when its not going your way, is when you really need to be motivated.a very wise person once said to me, if you take care of the little things, the big things will take care of themselves. Just keep chipping away. Don't stop digging. You are only 3 ft from the gold. Lots of people have done it! You can too! You are PINKIE LEE! If they can do. You know you can!

Jagg honey, you are a doll and I love you! THANK YOU so much for the encouraging words. You are right, keeping yourself motivated when things are bad is hard... it's a true test to see if you can pick yourself back up. Luckily, I have some kick-ass friends that refuse to let me stay down long :)

[Rockinonahigh]

Hey everyone,

I found this nifty tool online. It's a little weird to use at first, but....you put in your weight, how long you did something, and click on the activity you did (like biking, stationary - moderate....that's the weird part) and click calculate.

It tells you how many calories you burned.

According to it, a 220 lb. person doing 30 mins. of moderate stationary biking burns 349 calories. So I'm guessing you both did better than you thought. :)

Here's the link: http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.php


I checked the amount of calories I used going the 9 miles,it came to 593.To day I walked on the tredmill and went 1 1/2 miles for 163 calories gone..thanks for the info now I can check it whan I want to.

[Kelt]

Well, I received my new toy pedometer (fitbit) and so far today 2:30pm my time, I've logged 22706 steps. Now if I can only figure out how to get the darn thing to sync up with my computer it might yield some useful information.

I'm sooo analog. Resisting the temptation to just do it on paper, I know I can do this.

:thinking:

[Gentle Tiger]

I WANT CANDY! I DON'T WANT TO DRINK ANY MORE WATER! :explode:

I am not a rabbit! And I am jonesin' for sugar crack!

Ok, I will now go and make my salad. Just had to get that out.

[Medusa]

I WANT CANDY! I DON'T WANT TO DRINK ANY MORE WATER! :explode:


I am not a rabbit! And I am jonesin' for sugar crack!


Ok, I will now go and make my salad. Just had to get that out.


Yeah, I'm seriously considering maiming the coworker who put a huge jar of chocolates in his cube.

I would have done so already but I need him for his mainframe skills. :|

[Scorp]

So you know the shitty day I've had especially today and then eating the bad stuff. I'm not sure why I'm feeling this way, like I said possibly PMS'ing, not sure. Stressed at work? Absolutely and everything around me just seems to be a bit out of control.

I wasthisclose to getting one of my most favorite BAD things to eat tonight which is Chinese Food. What made it worse is that today was a bad day at work and I didn't have time to eat lunch, so by the time I came home I was starving. That evil thought of dialing for take out was real bad and I was minutes from doing so. Of course I know it's bad and it took so much will power on my part to NOT call and do that. I was actually talking to myself in my car saying "M, don't do it. Why the fuck are you going to do this to yourself?" "You lost some weight, yeah not as much as you would like to have done at this time, but still, you are doing it".

When I walked into my house I got the 94% fat free Hebrew National Hot Dogs out of the freezer with 1 cup of vegetarian baked beans. I figured it was ok to have 2 hot dogs and a full cup of the beans since I didn't eat anything at all today.

I'm real happy that I made the right decision and I'm kind of proud of myself because the temptation was VERY bad. I also thought about my clothes size and I know if I don't make the right choices I'll continue to be in this miserable rut. It's so hard and it sucks, but it's up to me to do this and no one else.

And, here I go getting all mushy again but all you folks who continue to post about the good and bad days and open yourselves up to express it no holds barred, I thank you tremendously.

I love u people and find comfort with sharing how I'm feeling in here. Sometimes not so easy for me to do. Yeah I'm the jokester and loving smart ass at times, but I'm a little vulnerable right now. Almost as though I'm in a bit of a funk. I can't explain it, but in any case thank you friends.

[Zimmeh]

Good Evening Everyone,

Today was our potluck at work and I did very well. I treated myself to homemade cake made with apple sauce instead of oil and it was yummy. I had spaghetti for lunch<small portion> and some homemade potato salad..You cannot say no to homemade Southern potato salad..I was offered birthday cake, cookies, and brownies, and I turned them all away..Go me! I would have ate the whole container of brownies back before I started my journey..

Tonight, I am having the following: chicken tenderloins with sweet peppers diced up, mushrooms diced up, frozen sliced carrots and brown rice with a glass of chocolate soymilk. The chicken, peppers and mushrooms and carrots were cooked in EVOO with a dash of garlic salt, basil and fresh ground black pepper. After the rice cooked, I mixed it in and hot damn, is this delicious! I put some aside for lunch tomorrow...

[foxyshaman]

I wasthisclose to getting one of my most favorite BAD things to eat tonight which is Chinese Food.

But you didn't. And you made good choices. And you are making solid changes in yourself. I don't always understand why I am triggered, or why I make shitty choices. But you are not alone. Be vulnerable. Hold it. Breathe it in. Just cause you don't understand it, doesn't mean you won't get through it.

I have really valued the honesty here today.

It has propped me. Encouraged me. And made me stronger.

[Zimmeh]

See my previous post. I guess what I cooked up, is a healthier version of Chinese food...

Hope your day ends on a better note!!

Zimmy

So you know the shitty day I've had especially today and then eating the bad stuff. I'm not sure why I'm feeling this way, like I said possibly PMS'ing, not sure. Stressed at work? Absolutely and everything around me just seems to be a bit out of control.

I wasthisclose to getting one of my most favorite BAD things to eat tonight which is Chinese Food. What made it worse is that today was a bad day at work and I didn't have time to eat lunch, so by the time I came home I was starving. That evil thought of dialing for take out was real bad and I was minutes from doing so. Of course I know it's bad and it took so much will power on my part to NOT call and do that. I was actually talking to myself in my car saying "M, don't do it. Why the fuck are you going to do this to yourself?" "You lost some weight, yeah not as much as you would like to have done at this time, but still, you are doing it".

When I walked into my house I got the 94% fat free Hebrew National Hot Dogs out of the freezer with 1 cup of vegetarian baked beans. I figured it was ok to have 2 hot dogs and a full cup of the beans since I didn't eat anything at all today.

I'm real happy that I made the right decision and I'm kind of proud of myself because the temptation was VERY bad. I also thought about my clothes size and I know if I don't make the right choices I'll continue to be in this miserable rut. It's so hard and it sucks, but it's up to me to do this and no one else.

And, here I go getting all mushy again but all you folks who continue to post about the good and bad days and open yourselves up to express it no holds barred, I thank you tremendously.

I love u people and find comfort with sharing how I'm feeling in here. Sometimes not so easy for me to do. Yeah I'm the jokester and loving smart ass at times, but I'm a little vulnerable right now. Almost as though I'm in a bit of a funk. I can't explain it, but in any case thank you friends.

[JustJo]

Looks like lots of us are struggling a bit...guess we have good company at least, right?

Between lots of stress and first day of the monthly visitor that I wish would just GO already.....I had a bag of BBQ chips. I ate them. I enjoyed them. I don't regret it. And I also had the "lunchbox" size on purpose, so that I could at least control the portion. It was 200 calories that I really wanted....and I'm not gonna' feel bad about it for one darn minute. :)

Before taking this journey I'd have gotten the big bag of chips, eaten until I felt ill...then figured I'd blown the whole day and commenced eating everything that called my name in the kitchen.

Instead, I ate healthy all day long...and had a little bag of chips. I can live with that. :rrose:

[Medusa]

Chooch -

I <3 you. I hear you struggling and would like to offer you some chinese-food love:

When you are craving Chinese food and feel like you reallllly need it, order it...but me smart about it and eat it in proportion.

We have Chinese food about once a week. Most of the time it's out at a buffet which has historically been a minefield for me because buffet= pig the fuck OUT!
What I do is get my plate and load up on those yummy steamed string beans with garlic, the broccoli out of the beef and broccoli mixture, a few boiled shrimp, some hibachi chicken, a little pepper chicken and other stuff that I know is ok. Then, when there is very little room left on the plate, I get the stuff I'm really craving: the honey garlic chicken, the crab rangoons, and that WONDERFUL General Tso's chicken.

I might get one or two little nuggets of the honey garlic chicken and General Tso's and then one or two crab rangoons. That way, I get the taste of what I'm dying for and don't feel deprived but I've eaten it in super moderation.

It's still a heavy meal point-wise but when I compare it to a full-on binge, it's healthier for me to eat a little of what I want instead of binging for thousands of calories on bullshit that I don't really want but am cramming into my face because it's what's available.

Chinese food is your friend. Overeating it is not. :)

xo

[Thinker]

So you know the shitty day I've had especially today and then eating the bad stuff. I'm not sure why I'm feeling this way, like I said possibly PMS'ing, not sure. Stressed at work? Absolutely and everything around me just seems to be a bit out of control.

I wasthisclose to getting one of my most favorite BAD things to eat tonight which is Chinese Food. What made it worse is that today was a bad day at work and I didn't have time to eat lunch, so by the time I came home I was starving. That evil thought of dialing for take out was real bad and I was minutes from doing so. Of course I know it's bad and it took so much will power on my part to NOT call and do that. I was actually talking to myself in my car saying "M, don't do it. Why the fuck are you going to do this to yourself?" "You lost some weight, yeah not as much as you would like to have done at this time, but still, you are doing it".

When I walked into my house I got the 94% fat free Hebrew National Hot Dogs out of the freezer with 1 cup of vegetarian baked beans. I figured it was ok to have 2 hot dogs and a full cup of the beans since I didn't eat anything at all today.

I'm real happy that I made the right decision and I'm kind of proud of myself because the temptation was VERY bad. I also thought about my clothes size and I know if I don't make the right choices I'll continue to be in this miserable rut. It's so hard and it sucks, but it's up to me to do this and no one else.

And, here I go getting all mushy again but all you folks who continue to post about the good and bad days and open yourselves up to express it no holds barred, I thank you tremendously.

I love u people and find comfort with sharing how I'm feeling in here. Sometimes not so easy for me to do. Yeah I'm the jokester and loving smart ass at times, but I'm a little vulnerable right now. Almost as though I'm in a bit of a funk. I can't explain it, but in any case thank you friends.

Damn, Scorp... We had the same damn afternoon/evening! I was feeling so hungry and so angry/frustrated.....I said "F*ck it. I'm having some f*ckin' KFC." And off I go into my truck...

Once in my truck I decided to get gas and drive through the car wash. While I was doing these things, I was thinking about the KFC and my weigh-in tomorrow and how I have made such good progress and didn't want to start down a bad road with negative thinking.

As I was pulling out of the gas station, my eyes locked on the grocery store and in an instant I decided on the deli's fried chicken for the step-son and chicken salad and crunchy vegetable salad for myself. It was that fast and that clear, and I did it. I even passed on the Double Stuff Oreos that tried to lock eyes with me. Little f*ckers.

Looks like lots of us are struggling a bit...guess we have good company at least, right?

Between lots of stress and first day of the monthly visitor that I wish would just GO already.....I had a bag of BBQ chips. I ate them. I enjoyed them. I don't regret it. And I also had the "lunchbox" size on purpose, so that I could at least control the portion. It was 200 calories that I really wanted....and I'm not gonna' feel bad about it for one darn minute. :)

Before taking this journey I'd have gotten the big bag of chips, eaten until I felt ill...then figured I'd blown the whole day and commenced eating everything that called my name in the kitchen.

Instead, I ate healthy all day long...and had a little bag of chips. I can live with that. :rrose:

I love this post! Right on, Jo.

And, yeah, I noticed that many of us are battling some demons right now. Hope it passes soon...

[Random]

[I]One of the disadvantages to living at home is that alot of the time I have to eat whatever My parents buy, and often its the bad stuff like sugar and white flour based things ~ having to stick to a tight budget is not fun, and thus the stuff they buy isnt exactly the best all the time. They get alot of things like chicken burgers, chicken nuggets, fish sticks etc (meat in boxes); boxes of stuffing, mac 'n cheese, packaged rice etc is everywhere in our house and they always buy margarine. My dad likes to bug Me about the food that I eat, but are they any better with what they buy? I've tried talking to them about changing the habits but they seem fixated on what they buy right now so its not exactly ideal.

[I]

Matthew,

Why not volunteer to do the shopping and cooking? It's much cheaper to make meals from scratch than to buy ready made.

It will earn you marks in your parents eyes for taking on a household task and being a productive member of the family and you will be able to help your family eat better.

There are millions of recipes online for healthy meals and tons of cook books in the library you can borrow.


Just a thought... I loved it when my son cooked for me.. He turned out to be a better cook than I am...

[Cowboi]

Cowboi I asked this awhile back, Do you have any suggestions?

Sorry I missed you post Ruff.

I always start with a warm up set of 12 reps, using a lighter weight.
Then I choose a weight that I know I will hit failure at 9 or 10 reps.
I go for 3 sets of 12.

Some times I do 3 sets of 8 or 10, using a heavier weight.
Just changing it up. I only do low intensity cardio(20 to 30 mins), so I won't lose the muscle I am working so hard to build.


I eat very litte carbs, Oatmeal, sweet potato, being my main sources. Brown rice and Quinoa is good also. I just dont want the added carbs.
Egg whites...lots of egg whites.
I eat chicken, fish, lean cuts of red meat. Lots of broccoli, yellow squash, green beans, spinach. If I eat anything different, it has to be low carb.
Eating several small meals a day if possible.(my type of work prevents me from doing so all the time)
I try to take in around 1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight.

You must take supplements!!!!
This is My stack
I use good whey protein powder. I like the GNC AMP Wheybolic 60 the best. several times daily, and right after my workout.
L-Carnitine 500 mg twice daily.
Scivation Xtend, Intra workout, and through out the day added to my water.
ON Amino Energy pre workout drink (this is a great morning drink too!)
Con-Cret Creatine pre workout
ZMA before bed

[Cowboi]

Good morning peeps!!! Happy Friday to all. I am up having my brekkie, and coffee. Jumped on the scales this morning, I dropped 2.5 pounds this week!!
Then its off to the gym. I will be working legs this morning.

[Thinker]

Back on the scale this morning...

Reminder: I had a little hissy fit sometime last week and banished the scale to the garage, so I skipped last Friday's weigh-in.

This morning's weigh-in showed a loss of 0.2 from the weigh-in two weeks ago.

That is still, technically, *up* from the weigh-in three weeks ago though. It's a drastic improvement to what was going on when I had the hissy fit, so I'm not complaining!!

My belly measurement dropped 1/4 inch, and my chest (new measurement since starting weights) is up 1/4 inch. That's exactly the plan: increase mass in chest and slim down belly.

So that helps... My head already feels in a little bit better place.

As always, thanks for all the pats and supportive comments. This sh*t can get pretty frustrating.

[PinkieLee]

Good morning peeps!!! Happy Friday to all. I am up having my brekkie, and coffee. Jumped on the scales this morning, I dropped 2.5 pounds this week!!
Then its off to the gym. I will be working legs this morning.

Well, isn't this the most fabulous way to start off a BIRTHDAY?! GO YOU!

Cowboi, I hope that you have a fantastic birthday!!!!!!!

[Cowboi]

Well, isn't this the most fabulous way to start off a BIRTHDAY?! GO YOU!

Cowboi, I hope that you have a fantastic birthday!!!!!!!

Yes it was!!!! Thanks! I wish I could have all my BFP freinds to celebrate with!!

[PinkieLee]

Yes it was!!!! Thanks! I wish I could have all my BFP freinds to celebrate with!!

Perhaps we shall continue the celebrate in, oh let's say, 47 days at the Reunion :)

[Cowboi]

Perhaps we shall continue the celebrate in, oh let's say, 47 days at the Reunion :)

Deal !!!!! I will meet you @ the Peabody!!!

[PinkieLee]

Deal !!!!! I will meet you @ the Peabody!!!

DEAL!! It's a date! Now, enjoy your birthday honey!!!

[Scorp]

I tried doing the eating of sushi thing and can't acquire a taste, however I like wasabi. Figure it out...

I wish I liked it, but nut ah...

You all have a good time.

[Rockinonahigh]

Ok now that we al are on this get healthy program and yes its working for us in many diffrent ways,but I noticed the other day that even tho im definatly firming u as wellas loseing weight...there are parts that are going south..as in baggy hanging lose skin..not something I like to see.I told u all it wasnt a fun subject..I dont see how ppl can lose a lot of weight and not have this happen,no mattr how much I work those places it dosent seem to change any.

[foxyshaman]

To be honest I am kinda scared of how some of my skin will be baggy when all is said and gone. But, then maybe I can save up the five figures I would need for that whole body lift?!! And then maybe not!! :hospital-snoopy:

I ended my plateau today!! whooo hoooo... down 2.7 lbs. I am .8 pounds from my August goal. :happyjump: Now to finish that and on to my September goal, which date has to be changed because I did not factor in three weeks of plateau. But I eliminated the evil carb I loved and thought I was okay with, turns out not so much. :thinking:

So today I am having the last of my spicy tomatoe vege soup and cut up peppers. And someone gave me a chocolate bar, well a white one, cause I am allergic to chocolate. I accepted it. I am not going to eat it, but I am going on a long road trip and I like to leave offerings for good things like...holy shit that deer came close and I am alive~ pull over and leave an offering. So... white chocolate offerings. I took it to mean I will have a fantastic road trip, even on the switchback roads. :clap:

:canadian:

[JustJo]

Ok now that we al are on this get healthy program and yes its working for us in many diffrent ways,but I noticed the other day that even tho im definatly firming u as wellas loseing weight...there are parts that are going south..as in baggy hanging lose skin..not something I like to see.I told u all it wasnt a fun subject..I dont see how ppl can lose a lot of weight and not have this happen,no mattr how much I work those places it dosent seem to change any.

To be honest I am kinda scared of how some of my skin will be baggy when all is said and gone. But, then maybe I can save up the five figures I would need for that whole body lift?!! And then maybe not!! :hospital-snoopy:

I ended my plateau today!! whooo hoooo... down 2.7 lbs. I am .8 pounds from my August goal. :happyjump: Now to finish that and on to my September goal, which date has to be changed because I did not factor in three weeks of plateau. But I eliminated the evil carb I loved and thought I was okay with, turns out not so much. :thinking:

So today I am having the last of my spicy tomatoe vege soup and cut up peppers. And someone gave me a chocolate bar, well a white one, cause I am allergic to chocolate. I accepted it. I am not going to eat it, but I am going on a long road trip and I like to leave offerings for good things like...holy shit that deer came close and I am alive~ pull over and leave an offering. So... white chocolate offerings. I took it to mean I will have a fantastic road trip, even on the switchback roads. :clap:

:canadian:

No personal experience on this, but a friend who lost a great deal of weight had this problem and said that, over time, her loose skin did firm up some. Evidently it happens slower than the weight loss...

Having a lot of loose skin removed surgically is very expensive....a co-worker who lost over 100 lbs was told it would cost about $10K....ouch. :seeingstars:

Scoote and I walked the beach for over 2 hours this morning shell-hunting, with lots of stooping and bending, then carrying bags of shells back to the car (we got lots :) ) It was a nice way to get a workout and make a little vitamin D all at the same time.

[foxyshaman]

No personal experience on this, but a friend who lost a great deal of weight had this problem and said that, over time, her loose skin did firm up some. Evidently it happens slower than the weight loss...

Having a lot of loose skin removed surgically is very expensive....a co-worker who lost over 100 lbs was told it would cost about $10K....ouch. :seeingstars:

Scoote and I walked the beach for over 2 hours this morning shell-hunting, with lots of stooping and bending, then carrying bags of shells back to the car (we got lots :) ) It was a nice way to get a workout and make a little vitamin D all at the same time.

Excellent way to spend the morning, hanging out with your love, catching some sun and picking shells. I love the picture!! What do you do with all your shells? Are they poolside? Just a curious fox.

I have a friend who lost 150 lbs and over the last five years her skin has tightened somewhat, but she still has serious body image issues because of it. Some parts of her body are literal skin bags. The operation she wants will cost over $17,000. A co-worker had a tummy tuck in the fall, $10,000. So, it would be a nice dream, but I don't think I can justify that. Well unless Plan A works and I do win the lottery!! If not back to Plan B!! <tight jeans>

[ruffryder]

Hello and Happy Friday everybody!

Zimmy and Thinker good job on the control! Sometimes I do this and other times it just goes out the window like yesterday when I went to Texas Roadhouse. I've allowed myself to be a bit bad since I'm moving and been spending time with my friends out. I may step away from bad things then eat something else that's not such a good choice anyway.. Those rolls with honey butter! Oh well. I'll get back on track. I know what's good and what is not. I can make healthier choices when I eat out. I'm not gonna obsess on it.

Cowboi thanks for addressing my question. . I like the way you think in terms of diet. 1.5grams of protein per pound of body weight makes sense. I know I must stay from carbs and sugars in order for weight loss to make a difference. I also tend to eat lots of chicken, fish, lean meats, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables. I started with egg whites also recently. I used to take whey protein. I will definitely look at more of the supplements you talk about once I get back into the gym on a regular basis. Good job on the weight loss. I'm sure you have to be gaining muscle!

Matthew, so what do you think about cooking a healthy meal for your family once a week?

[Kelt]

Warning: What follows is graphic and probably waaaaay too much information.

This is really hard, please be kind.

I thought I would pop in here on this skin issue as I am currently and for the last several months or so dealing with this very situation.

Right up front, I can only speak for myself and my own individual experience.

There is a lot of information/propaganda out there about the loose skin issue, how and what exacerbates it and what can or cannot be done to “fix” it. From my fairly surface level examination of this information it seems like the vast majority of it comes from surgeons, surgical centers, and people who have had surgery for it.

There are some dissenting voices that assert that surgery is not needed if you lose all of the excess body fat. Fine line there, between normal needed body fat levels and excess.

Looking at images of “loose skin” (pretty gross, don’t go there unless you need to); it seems to me that there is still excess fat in there. Skin is thin and I think would look more like an empty envelope than the deflated rolls look that I have seen.

I say this from the position of someone who has been and still is watching this process in a mirror.

There I said it, I’m not proud of it but reality strikes.

The general consensus seems to be that losing a large amount of weight fast, and/or aging persons not producing much collagen anymore are at the greatest risk for this.

Great, I’m 50 years old and so far have lost 145 lbs in 11 months.

The first 50 didn’t do much but make me a smaller version of round; most noticeable was in my face and neck, the wrinkles deflated a bit and I started to look older. Yippee.

The next 50 sent me into deflating rolls territory. Okay, be patient.

The next 30 and gravity kicked in full force. Well, at least I know I am healthier. And I will wear sleeves to the elbow and knee length shorts for the rest of my natural life. Naked? Um no, never, not for any reason.

Recently, as in the last 6 weeks or so, things have started getting a tiny bit better.

The flesh flags, formerly known as my upper arms, are getting smaller and less saggy.

The “apron” (how disgusting is that?) if you haven’t heard that one yet is the big belly fold that hangs down in front just like the name implies; that is pulling up and pretty much holding its own and flattening out, I have hope here.

The bag-o-thigh areas on the inner thighs are shrinking up pretty well.

This is a work in progress. I will absolutely not have surgery. I think that if I do (and I will)go ahead and lose the rest of what I consider to be excess fat and then give my skin 2 years to get over itself I should end up alright. My health is the most important thing. I am starting to see visible evidence that things are getting better on the visual front. By the way, I look pretty okay in clothes now; but this is a skin conversation.

My understanding is that the skin is our largest organ and regenerates itself every 18 months or so.

I don’t expect to end up looking 30. I know that I have done hugely damaging things to my body. But things are looking up, and I think it will be okay in the not too distant future.

I know this is a huge overshare, I just hope not a mistake.

[Lizzy]

I think sugar is the hardest thing for me.I can eat just chicken and veggies or fish and veggies.I don't miss carbs or salty things.I miss ice cream and candy.Once I stop eating it for a while I am ok but as soon as I have some it is like crack to me.I am so frustrated and I am in one of those cycles of going up and down with my weight.I do good for a couple of weeks then I fall of the sugar wagon and it the cycle starts again.

[*Anya*]

I think sugar is the hardest thing for me.I can eat just chicken and veggies or fish and veggies.I don't miss carbs or salty things.I miss ice cream and candy.Once I stop eating it for a while I am ok but as soon as I have some it is like crack to me.I am so frustrated and I am in one of those cycles of going up and down with my weight.I do good for a couple of weeks then I fall of the sugar wagon and it the cycle starts again.

Totally get it Lizzy. I have found for me it takes about 6-8 days off of any sugar-added item to break the craving. Eating fruit does not kick-start my craving.

So strange that when I get through those jonesing days- I do not miss it.

Hang in there, one day at a time or one hour at a time or even, one minute at a time and be kind to yourself if you fall off the wagon. We always get another chance for a do-over and a fresh start.

Hugs,

[*Anya*]

Kelt, it is a brave and couragous share.

Will send very positive and caring vibes your way for your continued journey.

[Rockinonahigh]

No my friend, what you posted is what I needed to hear,as I lose this weight I am developing some places that jiggle a lot to much.My arme are doing really good cause even tho they carried some fat I have always had strong arms,bulky shoulders so they are ok for now.What im haveing probs with is my thighs...no more explanation needed,my belly is sliming down well so far not a lot of it is swinging south.Today I went to Acadamy sports,while there I was cruising the sports uniforms for football and base ball.What I found was slideing shorts they will suport the belly and thighs very well as they fit from belly to nearly the knees..now im on a quest for somthing to work for the upper body. what im useing now is working fine its is spandex t-shirts,I get them to fit goiod and snug then pull them down to the hips and pull the slideing shorts up over it all..works fine for now,the t-shirt even works good for a binder if the wearer isnt to big.

[Leigh]

Matthew, so what do you think about cooking a healthy meal for your family once a week?

Actually its funny you should say that buddy cuz I've been thinking of doing that for awhile now. I have been clipping out various recipes from the newspaper as well as looking through My Weight Watchers magazines from the last year or two and am thinking of making one new meal a week ~ Sunday's are best since everyone is home and its My parents one day in the week they get off from work. I'm gonna look through alot of them again tonight and pick one ~ I can't do it this sunday cuz I can't afford it but I will choose one that I will share with the thread here and will make it next weekend :-)

I think sugar is the hardest thing for me.I can eat just chicken and veggies or fish and veggies.I don't miss carbs or salty things.I miss ice cream and candy.Once I stop eating it for a while I am ok but as soon as I have some it is like crack to me.I am so frustrated and I am in one of those cycles of going up and down with my weight.I do good for a couple of weeks then I fall of the sugar wagon and it the cycle starts again.

Sugar is unfortunately like crack for Me too & so its certainly kryptonite :|

[JustJo]

Thank you for sharing that Kelt. :rrose: I know it's a bit scary to be that personal....but I really do think it helps us to be real with each other.

I've heard the "two years" to regenerate figure a few places and it makes sense...the skin is our biggest organ; it isn't just a covering...so it takes time for cells to change over.

I've also heard that losing weight slowly helps (yay us for doing it the sensible way! :cheer: ), drinking lots of water to stay hydrated, eating lots of lean protein and working out to keep and build muscle (which helps keep the skin supported and filled out somewhat).

And, yes, I've heard that those of us who are older, or who have been overweight for a long time, have it harder when it comes to the loose skin situation. I know it has to be incredibly hard to deal with...but I also congratulate you for losing 145 lbs...that's an amazing and wonderful thing to do for your health and well-being - regardless of the skin issue.

Hugs.

[Kelt]

No my friend, what you posted is what I needed to hear,as I lose this weight I am developing some places that jiggle a lot to much.My arme are doing really good cause even tho they carried some fat I have always had strong arms,bulky shoulders so they are ok for now.What im haveing probs with is my thighs...no more explanation needed,my belly is sliming down well so far not a lot of it is swinging south.Today I went to Acadamy sports,while there I was cruising the sports uniforms for football and base ball.What I found was slideing shorts they will suport the belly and thighs very well as they fit from belly to nearly the knees..now im on a quest for somthing to work for the upper body. what im useing now is working fine its is spandex t-shirts,I get them to fit goiod and snug then pull them down to the hips and pull the slideing shorts up over it all..works fine for now,the t-shirt even works good for a binder if the wearer isnt to big.

Thank you, that's why I put that out there, so that others could have some advance information although everyone is different. I'm glad you are having good luck with the workout gear. Keep it up!

[Zimmeh]

Good Evening Everyone,

I to, suffer from the *hanging* skin issue. No matter what I do, it hasn't helped and I refuse to let someone do surgery on me. When I lost my original 35lbs, it shocked my body and even though, I can fit into smaller pants, my tops have remained the same size. I cannot go and buy a suit for work, since my natural wasitline is a misses size 12 and the jacket would have to be a size 16. I also have the *dunlap* belly and it makes me self conscience and that is why you will never catch me in a bathing suit...I also have the *cottage* cheese thighs and I really don't care for them.

Have a great night everyone,

Zimmy

[Kelt]

Thank you for sharing that Kelt. :rrose: I know it's a bit scary to be that personal....but I really do think it helps us to be real with each other.

I've heard the "two years" to regenerate figure a few places and it makes sense...the skin is our biggest organ; it isn't just a covering...so it takes time for cells to change over.

I've also heard that losing weight slowly helps (yay us for doing it the sensible way! :cheer: ), drinking lots of water to stay hydrated, eating lots of lean protein and working out to keep and build muscle (which helps keep the skin supported and filled out somewhat).

And, yes, I've heard that those of us who are older, or who have been overweight for a long time, have it harder when it comes to the loose skin situation. I know it has to be incredibly hard to deal with...but I also congratulate you for losing 145 lbs...that's an amazing and wonderful thing to do for your health and well-being - regardless of the skin issue.

Hugs.

Thank you Jo,

Even though I have taken it off quickly a big part of my plan was lean tissue preservation. Maybe part of why things are finally getting better. I agree with you that the lean protein and lots of water help a lot. I also walk 10-12 miles a day in sand for full body exercise without tearing things up.

I'm glad you have seen some of the regeneration information also; I think staying spot on with nutrition will support that.

I think the changes you have been making are really doing great things for you.

Again, thanks

:balloon:

[bigbutchmistie]

Omg I found someting to buy at the convenience stores that is awesome to drink... It Lipton Tea Green Tea Passon Mango :)

[JustJo]

Good morning :)

It's Saturday aka official weigh in day...and I had prepared myself for no loss or even a gain given the whole "monthly visitor" thing.

Instead.....1.6 lbs gone since last Saturday :cheesy:

I'll take it! :cheer:

Yesterday, we went to the beach to shell hunt (big storms always bring up interesting things)....found a ton, walked for miles, literally....2-1/2 hours of walking in sand. As we left it was lunchtime and I was starving. We went to our favorite place by the beach...where they make a "blue burger" that I just love...seasoned fresh burger, romaine lettuce, poppy seed (white flour...ugh) bun and, instead of mayo....blue cheese dressing.

I wanted one, and I wanted it bad. So...I got it, and I ate it and it was delicious.

I'm also proud of myself because a trip to Strawberry's used to mean the blue burger, a bag of chips, a diet coke and frequently an ice cream cone.

Yesterday, it was the burger, an unsweetened ice tea with a nice squeeze of fresh lemon....and I was truly satisfied.

It was a nice change. :)

[Scorp]

Hi Folks,

Today was weigh-in day and I lost 1 lb. Not surprising as I've been struggling, but it's better than gaining.

Hope everyone has a good day today.

Be well.

Scorp

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Everyone,

Congrats Jo Jo and Scorp on your weight loss! I haven't weighed myself in awhile, so I am thinking that I need to...

I have been adding more salad at lunchtime and it is helping. I am going to the store today, to pick up the Fiber Choice pills; we ran out and I had to wait until payday to pick up another bottle...

Have a great day,

Zimmy

[bigbutchmistie]

Ok so I am going full grocery shopping today :) I am excited. I have the new drink I love. :)

I threw out everything in my house that wasnt good. :) So, I am going to do this. I can I can I can... I dont have a choice now.. Hopefully, I can be stronger than my mother was and take this thing day by day. :)

[Kelt]

Ok so I am going full grocery shopping today :) I am excited. I have the new drink I love. :)

I threw out everything in my house that wasnt good. :) So, I am going to do this. I can I can I can... I dont have a choice now.. Hopefully, I can be stronger than my mother was and take this thing day by day. :)

Hey Buddy,

It sounds like you are off to a great start; clearing the slate is an excellent idea. Now you just have to stock up on the good stuff, and I mean good stuff. Make sure you have things that you actually like or at least are eager to try. You'll be wanting stuff on hand for when the munchies hit.

I'll share a little of how a Saturday morning around here goes. It's 7am (neighbor kid woke me up) and I just threw together a big old pot of lentil soup to simmer away, it took all of ten minutes to assemble and now it just simmers for an hour while I do other things, like come in here.

This was pre-coffee mind you, that's how dead simple this can be, in fact stumbling about making said coffee I realized that was harder than making soup.:|

When the hour is up, I'll stuff that in the fridge and go hit the beach for a good walk and some fresh air, knowing that when I get back lunch is handled. That does wonders for my mental state. No beach required, maybe a near park or wooded area. An outdoor change of venue is a great way to start any day.

This doesn't have to be hard but there will be that adjustment period of getting used to new things and settling into new routines.

Plan on cooking up a batch of something you like 2-3 times over the course of the week, that way there are always good leftovers around for lunches or snacks.

I know you don't like veggies, how about fruit? I find that as you get used to it a really great piece of fruit can fix the sweet tooth just fine. If you keep a bowl full of different colors of fruits it will help out on the nutrition front too.

Having better choices around makes it a lot easier. Forgive minor transgressions and don't allow big ones.

You can do this!

:theisland:

[Hack]

I stumbled out of bed this morning to toss the ingredients for turkey chili in the crockpot. I normally don't make this until fall and winter, but I have been hungry for it.

This is a very healthy recipe, and I am happy to share it:

1 pound of ground turkey (I make sure to buy the white meat variety)
2-3 bell peppers, chopped
4-6 pieces of celery, chopped
4-6 carrots, chopped
2 cans of beans (I usually use kidney or black beans)
2 jars of salsa, your preference
1 packet of chili mix (I'm not clever enough to make my own)
1 small can or small frozen package of corn
1 small can of diced green chilis

Layer the carrots and celery on the bottom of the crock. Add the meat (I don't cook it, just crumble it up raw), sprinkle about half the packet of chili mix on it, and I add a dash of sea salt.

Next, add peppers, beans, corn and green chilis. Add the rest of the chili mix.

Finally, add the salsa.

Cook for 7 hours on low. I usually just eat this with whole wheat saltines. Sometimes I will have it over whole wheat cooked elbow pasta. I'm sorry I don't have a WW points calculation for it, but I think it must be not that high. This makes a lot for a single person like me, but I don't tire of eating it.

And a note to the non-cooking butches out there...buy a crockpot. I call it cooking for dummies. It's pretty hard to screw it up if you follow the recipe.

Good work, everyone, on your healthy goals.

Jake

[bigbutchmistie]

Hey Buddy,

It sounds like you are off to a great start; clearing the slate is an excellent idea. Now you just have to stock up on the good stuff, and I mean good stuff. Make sure you have things that you actually like or at least are eager to try. You'll be wanting stuff on hand for when the munchies hit.

I'll share a little of how a Saturday morning around here goes. It's 7am (neighbor kid woke me up) and I just threw together a big old pot of lentil soup to simmer away, it took all of ten minutes to assemble and now it just simmers for an hour while I do other things, like come in here.

This was pre-coffee mind you, that's how dead simple this can be, in fact stumbling about making said coffee I realized that was harder than making soup.:|

When the hour is up, I'll stuff that in the fridge and go hit the beach for a good walk and some fresh air, knowing that when I get back lunch is handled. That does wonders for my mental state. No beach required, maybe a near park or wooded area. An outdoor change of venue is a great way to start any day.

This doesn't have to be hard but there will be that adjustment period of getting used to new things and settling into new routines.

Plan on cooking up a batch of something you like 2-3 times over the course of the week, that way there are always good leftovers around for lunches or snacks.

I know you don't like veggies, how about fruit? I find that as you get used to it a really great piece of fruit can fix the sweet tooth just fine. If you keep a bowl full of different colors of fruits it will help out on the nutrition front too.

Having better choices around makes it a lot easier. Forgive minor transgressions and don't allow big ones.

You can do this!

:theisland:

Kelt :)

Thanks so much. I do like spinach if its not cooked and cant stand broccollii and most veggies. But I do like green beans. I have been thinking that I need to keep stuff around here at the house to snack on when I get hungry. So I am just going to get basics. Like fruit, Astivia for my tea, spinach and eggs taking out the yolk after boiled for my salads. I have been doing lots of research. And coupled with everything I see here, well , I am excited about this... LOL

I appreciate the support Bro :) As I do with everyone.

[*Anya*]

Some great recipes here. Hack, I always forget about my crockpot. Great idea. I do not cook in summer, grill a lot on my Weber propane grill as I hate to use A/C & then heat the house up with the oven. Crockpot great solution.

Body still holding on to the 1/2 pound for dear life. It will go, just increasing the stairs.

Decided to count each stair instead of flights-more satisfying that way! Now up to 125 stairs twice per day. Will continue to increase plus walking 20-30 minutes/day.

Feels much better and knees holding up ok.

Cheers all, have a great weekend!

[bigbutchmistie]

Ok back from the grocery store... Damn its expensive! Grrrrr lol its cheaper for me to eat fast food than buy healthier LOL

Anyway 100.00 later, and I have enough to last me for I think two weeks.

I also bought fiber one bars that are chocolately peanut butter, post bannana nut whole grain cereal, went to braums for the fat free milk and it tastes oooooo so good...

I also am cooking for lunch tomorrow :

Chicken Breasts with Nature's Seasoning

Mushrooms

Brown Wild Rice

Adding a can of cream of mushroom soup... Kinda like chicken and rice. I am aslo going to have a

Spinach Salad w/

egg white

tomatoes

feta cheese

cucumbers

red onion

Today for lunch :

Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Wheat Sandwich w/

Turkey Breast

Low Fat Mozzarella Cheese

Hot Mustard

Spinach

Tomatoes

And one cup of carrot sticks

Lipton Mango Passion Green Tea to drink :)


How'd I do? Have I done my homework right ? LOL

[Hack]

Ok back from the grocery store... Damn its expensive! Grrrrr lol its cheaper for me to eat fast food than buy healthier LOL

Anyway 100.00 later, and I have enough to last me for I think two weeks.

I also bought fiber one bars that are chocolately peanut butter, post bannana nut whole grain cereal, went to braums for the fat free milk and it tastes oooooo so good...

I also am cooking for lunch tomorrow :

Chicken Breasts with Nature's Seasoning

Mushrooms

Brown Wild Rice

Adding a can of cream of mushroom soup... Kinda like chicken and rice. I am aslo going to have a

Spinach Salad w/

egg white

tomatoes

feta cheese

cucumbers

red onion

Today for lunch :

Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Wheat Sandwich w/

Turkey Breast

Low Fat Mozzarella Cheese

Hot Mustard

Spinach

Tomatoes

And one cup of carrot sticks

Lipton Mango Passion Green Tea to drink :)


How'd I do? Have I done my homework right ? LOL

Think of the health revolution we could have in this country if Congress passed a law that said all fast food must be expensive and all food good for you must be kept below a certain price. Why we have to do everything so ass-backwards in society, I have no idea.

Think of it. You can buy your "value meal" for $5, but where is the value in the long-term impact you are having on your health, and how that will cost you (and the rest of us) hundreds of thousands (if not millions) in health care costs?

One of these days, when I am president...

lol

Jake

PS....good choices on the food list!

[Zimmeh]

Good job!!! I like the Izze juice drinks when I want a soda. They are made from fruit juice and sparkling water.


Zimmy

Ok back from the grocery store... Damn its expensive! Grrrrr lol its cheaper for me to eat fast food than buy healthier LOL

Anyway 100.00 later, and I have enough to last me for I think two weeks.

I also bought fiber one bars that are chocolately peanut butter, post bannana nut whole grain cereal, went to braums for the fat free milk and it tastes oooooo so good...

I also am cooking for lunch tomorrow :

Chicken Breasts with Nature's Seasoning

Mushrooms

Brown Wild Rice

Adding a can of cream of mushroom soup... Kinda like chicken and rice. I am aslo going to have a

Spinach Salad w/

egg white

tomatoes

feta cheese

cucumbers

red onion

Today for lunch :

Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Wheat Sandwich w/

Turkey Breast

Low Fat Mozzarella Cheese

Hot Mustard

Spinach

Tomatoes

And one cup of carrot sticks

Lipton Mango Passion Green Tea to drink :)


How'd I do? Have I done my homework right ? LOL

[Leigh]

Well its the weekend and I am checking in :-)

So I fell off the wagon again, and this time I think it was a pretty rough fall and even tougher landing! I'm still drinking water but the craving for pepsi got so bad that I caved and have started drinking more of it ~ I have a 2L in the house that I'm almost done and I drank it in a day. I know what it is though, alot of it has to do with more stress with My father and the fact that he has been yapping at Me again (which is nothing new unfortunately). Its less than two weeks until My sister goes back to school and then I will finally have some freedom to be able to do more exercise. Watching her from 8am until like 6pm tends to take alot out of Me so when I should be going for walks I'm just too tired to do anything.

I plan on changing this once the summer is over and will really be planning to kick My weight loss into high gear, including getting a gym membership which I can use during the day while she is at school and I'm the only one at home. I'm also thinking of either getting a part time job or going back to school, something to get Me out of the house but also regaining My life (which I lost awhile back). Tomorrow is a new day and I am going to go back to drinking more water, as well as since *everyone* is home tomorrow I'm going to go for a nice walk ........ get out of the house, away from My dad, and just to get this body moving. I'm glad that everyone is doing well, that people are losing weight and that we are all keeping ourselves accountable ~ I'm glad for this thread and My friends in it :-)

[Lizzy]

I have a hang over today......a RING DING HANGOVER......I am so easily suggestable.I was watching the show the Closer and the lead actress on that show always eats Ring dings and the seed was planted in my head.So yesterday one of the last things I picked up on my way out the strore was a box of ring dings.I put them in the freezer and wound up eating four of them and I woke up so sick and nausous this morning!! If I only ate what didn't make me sick after I would be a stick.I am so frustrated with myself!

[JustJo]

You're so right Mistie and Hack....healthy food is more expensive and fast food is cheap...and wouldn't it be fantastic if it was the other way around! Shows you though....if they can make a profit at that price (and they do)...what possible quality of food and nutrition could there be in that garbage?

Mistie, your shopping list sounds great...and I agree with Kelt...you'll need to have snacks that you enjoy because the munchies will hit. Fruit is great. I also love greek yogurt, low-fat string cheese and nuts...especially almonds.

I still need to go grocery shopping so had limited choices this morning...blew my carb allowance all at breakfast with 2 slices of whole wheat toast with a slice of low-fat muenster cheese on each one, with coffee.

Went to the beach again...fantastic shelling and walked for an hour and a half. Let my blood sugar get a bit low, so it was fresh pineapple (delicious and so sweet) and an iced soy vanilla chai latte when I got home.

Lunch....salad of lettuce, half a cucumber, half a tomato, whole sweet red pepper (I love them!), bean sprouts, a blob of tuna salad, a few green olives and a splash of my homemade dressing. It was so tasty and satisfying...loved it.

Not sure about dinner tonight, but it will probably involve the last of the fantastic pork roast I made the other day. I'm trying to get away from frying...so I'm broiling and roasting meat far more often. I got a big pork roast (there are 4 of us...2 are teenage boys that go through the meat)....made a paste of extra virgin olive oil, italian seasoning, kosher salt and fresh ground pepper and rubbed it all over. Put the roast on a rack and into a 450 degree oven for 10 minutes, then lower the oven to 275 and slow roast until the internal temp was right. It came out moist, tender and delicious.

Hack, your turkey chili recipe sounds fantastic....I'm going to try it soon. Thanks for sharing the recipe! :)

[Lizzy]

DR. OZ on eating fruit


Wow. This is truly enlightening. I thought it was going to be funny. But there are some very interesting healthy facts included here.

EATING FRUIT

This is informative!

We all think eating fruit means just buying fruit, cutting it up and popping it into our mouths. It's not that easy. It's important to know how andwhen to eat fruit.

What's the correct way to eat fruit?

IT MEANS NOTEATING FRUIT AFTERA MEAL! FRUIT SHOULD BE EATEN ON ANEMPTYSTOMACH.

Eating fruit like that plays a major role in detoxifying your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD.

Let's say you eat two slices of bread, then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it's prevented from doing so.

In the meantime, the whole meal rots and ferments, and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach, and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.

Eat your fruit on an empty stomach, or before your meal! You've heard people complain: Every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc. This will not happen if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. Fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas. Hence, you bloat!

There's no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruit becomes alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruit, you have the Secret of Beauty, Longevity, Health, Energy, Happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice drink onlyfresh fruit juice, NOT the concentrated juice from the cans. Don't drink juice that has been heated. Don't eat cooked fruit; you don't get the nutrients at all. You get only the taste. Cooking destroys all of the vitamins.

Eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit-fast to cleanse your body. Eat fruit and drink fruit juice for just 3 days, and you will be surprised when your friends say how radiant you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange!

AN APPLE a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants and flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risk of colon cancer, heart attack and stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits and protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

EATING 2 - 4 ORANGES a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent and dissolve kidney stones, and reduce the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. Also a key source of lycopene, the cancer-fighting oxidant. Also found in watermelon: Vitamin C and Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, good for your eyes.

Drinking Cold water after a meal= Cancer!

Can you believe this? For those who like to drink cold water, this applies to you. It's nice to have a cold drink after a meal, however, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you've just consumed, which slows digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks.

HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE

Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they're asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Be careful, and be aware. The more we know, the better our chance to survive.

A cardiologist said if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

It can even better life!

[nycfem]

Hey, Lizzie, I checked Snopes and this, and it turns out this article is not by Dr. Oz or endorsed by him and is false. Which is good, because it's limiting :)

[Zimmeh]

I made round eye steaks with baked mac & cheese<lowfat shredded mozzerella cheese> and great northern beans. I put the steaks in a pan, sprinkled it with garlic salt, crushed red pepper and basil and then added water to it and then I covered it and let it steam for about five minutes. Afterwards, I took the meat and flipped it over and kept scraping the bottom of the pan with the meat to evenly coat it. After I let it brown on each side, I added more water and put the lid back on. I let it cook for almost twenty minutes and used the au jus as the gravy! It gave the mac & cheese and great northern beans a delicious flavor...

Have a great night,

Zimmy

[Medusa]

um, PLUOTS ANYONE?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dhiKW6Iq_BQ/THmB03wbErI/AAAAAAAAEOk/WJjak-kWvek/s400/8.28.10+003.jpg

Picked up a big pack of these at (hold your ears apretty and Shaft) Sam'sClub for about $6. Can we say YUM?!

I checked the nutritional content and see that they have about 80 calories, 3g of fiber and are loaded with vitamins. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

[ruffryder]

Omg I found someting to buy at the convenience stores that is awesome to drink... It Lipton Tea Green Tea Passon Mango :)


Hey Mist good job on the grocery list! Sounds delish. What is the grams of sugar in this tea, does it have some? How about the calories? It sounds good. I was going to suggest to you and Matthew since you are both Pepsi drinkers to try Pepsi Max for something different and healthy. Someone suggested it to me and I tried it and surprisingly it is pretty darn good. It has no sugar and no calories.

For dinner I'm grilling a 6 oz sirloin steak and having some yellow squash. My breakfast was turkey bacon, egg beaters and 1/2 slice pepperjack on a thin whole wheat bun for 200 calories. I snacked on an apple and for lunch I had the same bun but with deli cajun chicken breast, 1/2 slice cheese, spinach, tomato, onion, and mustard for another 200 calories.

[bigbutchmistie]

Hey Mist good job on the grocery list! Sounds delish. What is the grams of sugar in this tea, does it have some? How about the calories? It sounds good. I was going to suggest to you and Matthew since you are both Pepsi drinkers to try Pepsi Max for something different and healthy. Someone suggested it to me and I tried it and surprisingly it is pretty darn good. It has no sugar and no calories.

For dinner I'm grilling a 6 oz sirloin steak and having some yellow squash. My breakfast was turkey bacon, egg beaters and 1/2 slice pepperjack on a thin whole wheat bun for 200 calories. I snacked on an apple and for lunch I had the same bun but with deli cajun chicken breast, 1/2 slice cheese, spinach, tomato, onion, and mustard for another 200 calories.

I dont drink Pepsi I drink Coke LOL the REAL thing lol joking.. But as far as the tea? Well the sugar for the 20 0z green tea is 13 grams and 50 calories. :)

[ruffryder]

LOL Mist. I thought you were a Pepsi drinker. Coke sucks. I"M JK. . I think Coke has something similar if you're interested. . maybe Coke Zero? Not too bad on that drink for calories. I tend to like to stay away from sugar though and rather take my calories in food. haha. I may try it though as a substitute for a drink sometime and something different. Lipton makes good teas and mango passion sounds yummy. thanks bro.

[JustJo]

Was feeling like chinese food for dinner, and also too tired to go grocery shopping...so did a homemade version of pork fried rice that was very tasty (even the boys liked it) and much healthier.

I cooked 1 cup of basmati rice in 2 cups of fat free, low sodium beef broth (for more flavor). While it was cooking I heated up the wok with a tiny bit of extra virgin olive oil and added....

1 large sweet yellow onion, chopped
3 stalks of celery, chopped
1 large sweet red pepper, chopped


I stir-fried the veggies until they were about half tender, then diced up all of the leftover pork roast and added it, along with about a cup of frozen peas.

Once the pork was hot and the peas were done, I added low-sodium soy sauce to taste...then stirred in about 2 cups of the cooked rice (leaving about a cup for something else).

Another minute in the wok and it was done....tasty, low fat, healthy oil, low sodium (by comparison to usual chinese food) and a much higher veggie and lean meat to rice ratio.

It served 3...but Rooster had seconds. :)

[bigbutchmistie]

LOL Mist. I thought you were a Pepsi drinker. Coke sucks. I"M JK. . I think Coke has something similar if you're interested. . maybe Coke Zero? Not too bad on that drink for calories. I tend to like to stay away from sugar though and rather take my calories in food. haha. I may try it though as a substitute for a drink sometime and something different. Lipton makes good teas and mango passion sounds yummy. thanks bro.

LOL no worries bro. I have had coke zero. But this nutritionist has me staying away from soda completely even the zero's and diet. Because of the artificial sweetener. The reason why is because I have tried before to have the Coke ZERO but it still made me want a real coke. And I would cheat and soon be back to what I was eating before. I have to cut it out completely or I will go back... :)

[JustJo]

LOL no worries bro. I have had coke zero. But this nutritionist has me staying away from soda completely even the zero's and diet. Because of the artificial sweetener. The reason why is because I have tried before to have the Coke ZERO but it still made me want a real coke. And I would cheat and soon be back to what I was eating before. I have to cut it out completely or I will go back... :)

It's worth going cold turkey and stopping the soda completely. It's hard...but I found going off the artificial sweeteners helped me get rid of cravings for more than just soda. I find myself wanting sweets, junk food, fast food...all the "baddies' far, far less now that I'm off the artifical sweeteners completely. :)

[JustJo]

I dont drink Pepsi I drink Coke LOL the REAL thing lol joking.. But as far as the tea? Well the sugar for the 20 0z green tea is 13 grams and 50 calories. :)

Green tea is wonderful stuff with health benefits as well. :)
Sounds like a good substitute to help you get off the soda habit.

[bigbutchmistie]

Ok not to be nasty or anything but I went to the Health Food store today. And was talking to the sales rep there about taking vitamins. I told her I was trying to get my weight down, and starting a life change.

She told me to do a Fifteen Day cleanse and flush. She told me that it would flush all of the "bad" out of my system. So I am on it. Im supposed to eat right, and take these supplements twice a day for 15 days :)

I will let you all know how it goes. Also, I am looking into Ali when I am done. I have friends who have tried it and it worked. :)

Just food for thought :)

[bigbutchmistie]

Green tea is wonderful stuff with health benefits as well. :)
Sounds like a good substitute to help you get off the soda habit.

Oh God yes... Also, I bought some sugar free Apple Juice. I can say alot bad about my adopted mother but she taught me nutrition. I just have a hard time remembering things. But when I was growing up I loved Apple Juice. Still do... :)

[Zimmeh]

Please don't take this the wrong way; but the people who work at GNC or any other health food store are not trained on how vitamins work within our bodies. They are giving a *training* manual. If your curious about this, ask a dietician or nutritionist. That cleanse could hurt you in the long run. I don't believe in fad diets or quick ways of losing weight.

Please be careful.

Zimmy

Ok not to be nasty or anything but I went to the Health Food store today. And was talking to the sales rep there about taking vitamins. I told her I was trying to get my weight down, and starting a life change.

She told me to do a Fifteen Day cleanse and flush. She told me that it would flush all of the "bad" out of my system. So I am on it. Im supposed to eat right, and take these supplements twice a day for 15 days :)

I will let you all know how it goes. Also, I am looking into Ali when I am done. I have friends who have tried it and it worked. :)

Just food for thought :)

[bigbutchmistie]

Please don't take this the wrong way; but the people who work at GNC or any other health food store are not trained on how vitamins work within our bodies. They are giving a *training* manual. If your curious about this, ask a dietician or nutritionist. That cleanse could hurt you in the long run. I don't believe in fad diets or quick ways of losing weight.

Please be careful.

Zimmy

No problem Zimmy I appreciate it... I did consult a nutritionist about it. She swore by it as well. So, thats why I tried it. I believe like you that people that work at those places are there to just be the cashier's and really dont know. :) A friend of mine at work her aunt is a personal trainer/nutritionist. :) So, I made sure first before I purchased with a phone call... Thanks for the advice :)

[Lizzy]

i never thought of checking snopes.My mom emailed it to me.

[Gráinne]

Please don't take this the wrong way; but the people who work at GNC or any other health food store are not trained on how vitamins work within our bodies. They are giving a *training* manual. If your curious about this, ask a dietician or nutritionist. That cleanse could hurt you in the long run. I don't believe in fad diets or quick ways of losing weight.

Please be careful.

Zimmy

And be careful with Alli (I thought that wasn't even sold anymore). It works by blocking fat absorption from food, which results in pretty nasty side effects.

[Miss Scarlett]

And be careful with Alli (I thought that wasn't even sold anymore). It works by blocking fat absorption from food, which results in pretty nasty side effects.

Oh yes, those are some nasty side effects. Here's a link (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alli/WT00030) to what the Mayo Clinic has to say about Alli.

[Zimmeh]

My roommate used it and the guy literally lived in a bathroom if he ate the wrong type of food.

Zimmy

And be careful with Alli (I thought that wasn't even sold anymore). It works by blocking fat absorption from food, which results in pretty nasty side effects.

[JustJo]

And be careful with Alli (I thought that wasn't even sold anymore). It works by blocking fat absorption from food, which results in pretty nasty side effects.

Oh yes, those are some nasty side effects. Here's a link (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alli/WT00030) to what the Mayo Clinic has to say about Alli.

My roommate used it and the guy literally lived in a bathroom if he ate the wrong type of food.

Zimmy

I'm glad you three brought this up....

I know that Alli has worked for some folks, but it's not entirely safe. My company will provide it free (along with nutritionist consultation, phone coaching, etc.) to employees and their partners trying to lose weight.

When I went through the annual screening (where I will accept the nutritionist and coaching, but planned to reject the Alli because of the icky side effects), the RN doing the screening said I didn't qualify as a "safe candidate" for Alli because I am diabetic. :blink:

It made me wonder how many diabetic and pre-diabetic folks out there are buying Alli over the counter, not reading the warning about diabetes, and putting themselves at serious risk. Scary.

In other news, the scale continues to trend downwards every day (although I only officially record it each week)...breakfast this morning is 1 slice of whole wheat toast with tuna salad on it, black coffee and soon a big ol' slice of watermelon. :)

After 2 weeks of this, I'm finding that my appetite is beginning to decrease. I'm actually not eating as frequently or as much as I did in the first week, not because I can't but because I'm not hungry and I don't feel like it. What a concept...

[*Anya*]

On another note...

I realized my brain has switched back into the mode that helped me lose weight-no more fixation on food.

Kind of the "eat to live, not live to eat" mode.

I took my daughter & 7-year-old GD out to eat yesterday to celebrate the 7th birthday, @ a great restaurant called Wood Ranch Inn @ the Farmers Market in LA. Instead of many unhealthy choices, I ordered the salmon, had it grilled, plain with a little salt & pepper and fresh steamed veggies-no butter.

Delish! I also took 1/2 of the salmon home.

I walked for an hour, past all the small bakeries in the Farmers Market, past DuPars & their pies and kept on going...

Regardless if I have lost-not yet weighed this AM-I am happy to feel free once again of the cravings. It is like a yoke is off my neck, at least for today.

Cheers to all on your own respective journeys!

[JustJo]

On another note...

I realized my brain has switched back into the mode that helped me lose weight-no more fixation on food.

Kind of the "eat to live, not live to eat" mode.

I took my daughter & 7-year-old GD out to eat yesterday to celebrate the 7th birthday, @ a great restaurant called Wood Ranch Inn @ the Farmers Market in LA. Instead of many unhealthy choices, I ordered the salmon, had it grilled, plain with a little salt & pepper and fresh steamed veggies-no butter.

Delish! I also took 1/2 of the salmon home.

I walked for an hour, past all the small bakeries in the Farmers Market, past DuPars & their pies and kept on going...

Regardless if I have lost-not yet weighed this AM-I am happy to feel free once again of the cravings. It is like a yoke is off my neck, at least for today.

Cheers to all on your own respective journeys!

Yay!!! :cheer:

Isn't that a great feeling?!

[*Anya*]

Ok not to be nasty or anything but I went to the Health Food store today. And was talking to the sales rep there about taking vitamins. I told her I was trying to get my weight down, and starting a life change.

She told me to do a Fifteen Day cleanse and flush. She told me that it would flush all of the "bad" out of my system. So I am on it. Im supposed to eat right, and take these supplements twice a day for 15 days :)

I will let you all know how it goes. Also, I am looking into Ali when I am done. I have friends who have tried it and it worked. :)

Just food for thought :)

I hate to give unasked for advice but anyone and everyone can call themselves a nutritionist. It is an unlicensed, unregistered title. Any of us can get the piece of paper on the Internet.

A Registered Dietician or an RD, is a degreed person and it is a profession into itself. They are the true nutritionist.

There are also Registered Nurses that are certified diabetic specialists and have additional education and certification with expertise in nutrition.

Our bodies naturally cleanse themselves. We do not retain "toxins" in our bowels. Yes they are full of flora and fauna (so-to-speak) but that is their job (as long as that is where they stay-nuff said about that in the morning).

Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance is very possible with too much "cleansing". My caveat is to be very careful with anything that you do. Check with your doctor to be sure and if you feel ill at all, stop.

Re: Alli. There is no easy way to lose weight. As with diet pills, there is always a cost when taking a short-cut.

I hope I do not offend but sometimes it is difficult to ignore my own training and background when I fear for the health of another.

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Jo Jo,

I cannot eat a whole meal at once, unless I want to be sick later. Your stomach is starting to shrink and yes it does feel great! My co-workers, are always bringing in food and when I try to explain to them, that I cannot eat what they bring in, they become offended. When we had our potluck on Thursday, one of the girls brought me and my mentor a slice of cake. Since I was not there, my mentor explained to her, that I couldn't eat the cake and thanked her. I have also noticed that if I drink a lot of water, juice, coffee or milk, it fills me up and then I won't eat.

I am having a bowl of oatmeal squares cereal plain with a cup of coffee for breakfast this morning.

Congrats!!!

Zimmy



In other news, the scale continues to trend downwards every day (although I only officially record it each week)...breakfast this morning is 1 slice of whole wheat toast with tuna salad on it, black coffee and soon a big ol' slice of watermelon. :)

After 2 weeks of this, I'm finding that my appetite is beginning to decrease. I'm actually not eating as frequently or as much as I did in the first week, not because I can't but because I'm not hungry and I don't feel like it. What a concept...

[JustJo]

I hope I do not offend but sometimes it is difficult to ignore my own training and background when I fear for the health of another.

Speaking only for myself...please don't ignore your training and background...I think it's wonderful that you're here and have the training you do.

Weight loss is big business, and it seems to me that there's truly far more scams, dangerous drugs, scary treatments, etc. out there than there is good advice.

When I was reading the link that Miss Scarlett provided to the Mayo Clinic's website (and I trust the Mayo Clinic :) )....all of the posts and articles kept saying the same thing over and over in different ways.....

there are no shortcuts
there are no "magic pills"
the only safe way to lose weight is to decrease calories and increase activity
slow is safer
a balanced diet is important
eat more fruit and veggies, lean proteins, whole grains and drink more water


I wish there were a safe magic pill that could just solve the problem once and for all, but there simply isn't.

We have some code sayings in my family....one of them is "Tahiti is not an option." Doesn't mean that you can't actually go to Tahiti....you can :) ....it means that, for us, in that time and place, we have choices, but none of them is perfect, fun or easy.

For me, losing weight and getting healthier is like that.....it takes time, it takes work, and it takes making (sometimes) difficult choices. :rrose:

[Miss Scarlett]

Great post Jo, thank you!

Back in January i posted in this thread about my weight loss and my doctor. i also included my food plan. Here's the link (http://www.butchfemmeplanet.com/forum/showpost.php?p=270937&postcount=107) to that post.

[ruffryder]

Looks like a great plan Miss Scarlett. Thanks for sharing!

[ruffryder]

uhh yeah. chinese food not so good. http://www.cspinet.org/nah/chinese.html :/

[Miss Scarlett]

Looks like a great plan Miss Scarlett. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks ruffryder, it really is and pretty easy to follow too.

[ruffryder]

It is Miss Scarlett! Once you start it's not to hard to stick to, especially when given many different options like you did. I'm trying to stay 800 - 1000 calories right now.

Here is a recipe. I found it on a FB post haven't tried it but it looks interesting.

Southwest Taco Seasoning
-4 Tbs Chili Powder
-1 Tbs Garlic Powder
-1 Tbs Onion Powder
-2 tsp White Pepper
-3 tsp Black Pepper
-2 Tbs Smoker Paprika
-4 Tbs Cummin
-1 Tbs Kosher Salt
-1 Tbs Oregano

Place all ingredients in a coffee grinder and bled well. Place in an air tight container. Use on chicken, beef, shrimp and fish. Great on a taco salad.

[bigbutchmistie]

I hate to give unasked for advice but anyone and everyone can call themselves a nutritionist. It is an unlicensed, unregistered title. Any of us can get the piece of paper on the Internet.

A Registered Dietician or an RD, is a degreed person and it is a profession into itself. They are the true nutritionist.

There are also Registered Nurses that are certified diabetic specialists and have additional education and certification with expertise in nutrition.

Our bodies naturally cleanse themselves. We do not retain "toxins" in our bowels. Yes they are full of flora and fauna (so-to-speak) but that is their job (as long as that is where they stay-nuff said about that in the morning).

Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance is very possible with too much "cleansing". My caveat is to be very careful with anything that you do. Check with your doctor to be sure and if you feel ill at all, stop.

Re: Alli. There is no easy way to lose weight. As with diet pills, there is always a cost when taking a short-cut.

I hope I do not offend but sometimes it is difficult to ignore my own training and background when I fear for the health of another.

um my friends aunt is a licensed nutritionist but thanks :)

[Zimmeh]

Good Afternoon Anya,

When I took my Human Nutrition class, my professor was a licensed Dietician and the only person in my area who was also trained in Diabetic nutrition. I found everything she taught us very informative and educational. I didn't know until that class, that soybeans is the only non animal based protein that is complete.

Thank you,

Zimmy

I hate to give unasked for advice but anyone and everyone can call themselves a nutritionist. It is an unlicensed, unregistered title. Any of us can get the piece of paper on the Internet.

A Registered Dietician or an RD, is a degreed person and it is a profession into itself. They are the true nutritionist.

There are also Registered Nurses that are certified diabetic specialists and have additional education and certification with expertise in nutrition.

Our bodies naturally cleanse themselves. We do not retain "toxins" in our bowels. Yes they are full of flora and fauna (so-to-speak) but that is their job (as long as that is where they stay-nuff said about that in the morning).

Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance is very possible with too much "cleansing". My caveat is to be very careful with anything that you do. Check with your doctor to be sure and if you feel ill at all, stop.

Re: Alli. There is no easy way to lose weight. As with diet pills, there is always a cost when taking a short-cut.

I hope I do not offend but sometimes it is difficult to ignore my own training and background when I fear for the health of another.

[bigbutchmistie]

In regards to Ali, Ali was my idea... It was just a thought... :) But I think differently now.. Thanks all for your input...

[sweetfemme247]

well i havent ate anything today, i dont know what i want, so im not eating, not a good idea i know

[bigbutchmistie]

well i havent ate anything today, i dont know what i want, so im not eating, not a good idea i know

thats no bueno :) but like you said you already know that... :)

[DapperButch]

Hey, Lizzie, I checked Snopes and this, and it turns out this article is not by Dr. Oz or endorsed by him and is false. Which is good, because it's limiting :)

Glad you checked this, as I was going to dispute quite a few things (cold water after a meal causing cancer?) and was shocked to think Oz would have written this.

Mistie - see if you like green tea without the extra fruit juice added. Fruit juice (even not from concentrate) has a lot of added sugar.

Green tea by itself is an EXCELLENT anti-oxidant. I am to begin taking a supplement that equals 49 cups per day!

[JustJo]

well i havent ate anything today, i dont know what i want, so im not eating, not a good idea i know

thats no bueno :) but like you said you already know that... :)

Definitely not a good idea to skip meals and get too hungry...that's when it's too easy to eat too much or eat our "sabotage" foods.

My latest trick when I'm hungry and don't know what I want is to grab a handful of mixed nuts and chew slowly while I decide. It keeps me from eating something bad for me, and the protein and healthy fats take the edge off the hungry....and I think all the crunching and chewing helps too. :)

[DapperButch]

Our bodies naturally cleanse themselves. We do not retain "toxins" in our bowels. Yes they are full of flora and fauna (so-to-speak) but that is their job (as long as that is where they stay-nuff said about that in the morning).

Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance is very possible with too much "cleansing". My caveat is to be very careful with anything that you do. Check with your doctor to be sure and if you feel ill at all, stop.



To Mistie,

Want to cleanse and detox? Drink water. Lots of it. Squirt in some lemon juice if you don't like the taste of water. Substitutes (including green tea), just doesn't take the place of water. Choose purified over spring.

Sweetners - Skip refined sugars and artificial sweetners. Try Agave Nectar or stevia.

[Sachita]

Speaking only for myself...please don't ignore your training and background...I think it's wonderful that you're here and have the training you do.

Weight loss is big business, and it seems to me that there's truly far more scams, dangerous drugs, scary treatments, etc. out there than there is good advice.

When I was reading the link that Miss Scarlett provided to the Mayo Clinic's website (and I trust the Mayo Clinic :) )....all of the posts and articles kept saying the same thing over and over in different ways.....

there are no shortcuts
there are no "magic pills"
the only safe way to lose weight is to decrease calories and increase activity
slow is safer
a balanced diet is important
eat more fruit and veggies, lean proteins, whole grains and drink more water


I wish there were a safe magic pill that could just solve the problem once and for all, but there simply isn't.

We have some code sayings in my family....one of them is "Tahiti is not an option." Doesn't mean that you can't actually go to Tahiti....you can :) ....it means that, for us, in that time and place, we have choices, but none of them is perfect, fun or easy.

For me, losing weight and getting healthier is like that.....it takes time, it takes work, and it takes making (sometimes) difficult choices. :rrose:


honestly.... knowing what I know today? I don't trust the medical field even a little bit. I also don't trust government.

there's no magic about it. Mostly common sense.

If its processed you already know in your gut it might not be good for you. right? Medicine and research constantly contradict themselves.

Eat whole natural fresh foods. We know this works but insist on thinking it's ok to drink soda. consume overly processed foods and fats. We'll find every excuse in the world and the answers or so simple.

‎"What surprises me most about humanity is man. He sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies never having really lived." - Dalai Lama


Its all insanity. Lapse of reason. Emotional traps and clever marketing.

[Sachita]

I hate to give unasked for advice but anyone and everyone can call themselves a nutritionist. It is an unlicensed, unregistered title. Any of us can get the piece of paper on the Internet.

A Registered Dietician or an RD, is a degreed person and it is a profession into itself. They are the true nutritionist.

There are also Registered Nurses that are certified diabetic specialists and have additional education and certification with expertise in nutrition.

Our bodies naturally cleanse themselves. We do not retain "toxins" in our bowels. Yes they are full of flora and fauna (so-to-speak) but that is their job (as long as that is where they stay-nuff said about that in the morning).

Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance is very possible with too much "cleansing". My caveat is to be very careful with anything that you do. Check with your doctor to be sure and if you feel ill at all, stop.


I hope I do not offend but sometimes it is difficult to ignore my own training and background when I fear for the health of another.


please, no offense but I disagree. I am sure with your background this is what they taught you and through that research perhaps you formed your own opinions.

So tell me, based on your own opinion, do you feel that no matter what we drink or eat that our bodies do not retain toxins?
Also what are your views on vitamin therapy as a means of healing?
Do you think that if people were healthy, had proper diets, felt good that they would obtain an ideal weight?

thanks- again no disrespect.

[*Anya*]

I believe in Science-based medicine and feel this physician accurately speaks to your question. My post said nothing about vitamins so will not address that, other than to say that even vitamins taken in quantities larger than science recommends, can be unsafe.

When I speak as related to my background as a registered nurse, I again base it on science- not opinion.

If you have other thoughts-please feel free to pm me rather than use the thread.

“Toxins”: the new evil

Amy Tuteur, MD

They say that everything old is new again and that is certainly true in the world of “alternative” health. One of the axiomatic premises of contemporary “alternative” health puts its believers behind the times … by approximately 500 years.

A fundamental premise held by believers in “alternative” health is that we are swimming in a world of “toxins” and those “toxins” are causing disease. Like most premises in “alternative” health it has no basis in scientific fact; makes intuitive sense only if you are ignorant of medicine, science and statistics; and speaks to primitive fears and impulses.

The preoccupation with “toxins” is a direct lineal descendant of the obsession with evil humours and miasmas as causes of disease. It is hardly surprising that prior to the invention of the microscope the real causes of disease went undiscovered. The idea that disease is caused by tiny organisms that invade the body is not amenable to discovery in the absence of scientific instruments and scientific reasoning. And it goes without saying that the same people who were unaware that bacteria and viruses cause disease could not possibly imagine chromosomal defects, inborn errors of metabolism or genetic predispositions to disease.

Instead, people imagined that diseases were caused by excess evil humours, substances that were named, but never seen or identified in any way accessible to the senses. It was recognized that some diseases were contagious, and in that case, people invoked the idea of “miasmas” that somehow transmitted disease.

Even religion got into the act. Rather than attributing disease to evil humors of miasmas, religious authorities often claimed that disease was attributable to evil demons or to sin itself.

These theories shared several important features. The evil humours, miasmas, etc. were invisible, but all around us. They constantly threatened people, and those people had no way of fending off the threat. Indeed, they were often completely unaware of the threat that was actively harming them.

Evil humours, miasmas, demons, etc. were put to rest by the germ theory of disease. That was the first big breakthrough in our understanding that each disease was separate and has its own specific cause. The search for causes has taken us beyond bacteria and viruses, through errors of metabolism and chromosomal aberrations, right down to the level of the gene itself. We now understand that tiny defects in individual genes can cause disease or can increase the propensity to a specific disease.

But fear and superstition never die and the “alternative” health community has used that fear and superstition to resurrect primitive beliefs. It is axiomatic in the “alternative” health community that disease is caused by evil humours and miasmas. They just don’t call it that anymore; they call it “toxins.”

Toxins serve the same explanatory purpose as evil humours and miasmas. They are invisible, but all around us. They constantly threaten people, often people who unaware of their very existence. They are no longer viewed as evil in themselves, but it is axiomatic that they have be released into our environment by “evil” corporations.

There’s just one problem. “Toxins” are a figment of the imagination, in the exact same way that evil humours and miasmas were figments of the imagination.

Poisons exist, of course, but their existence is hardly a secret, and their actions are well known. Most poisons are naturally based, derived from plants or animals. Indeed, the chemicals responsible for more diseases than any others are nicotine (tobacco), alcohol (yeast) and opiates (poppies).

Nonetheless, “alternative” health advocates persist in subscribing to primitive theories of disease. For those who have limited understanding of science, primitive theories apparently make more sense.

Hence the obsession with “toxins” in foods, in vaccines, even “toxins” arising in the body itself. The height of inanity is the belief in “detoxifying” diets and colon cleansing. The human body does not produce “toxins.” That’s just a superstition of the “alternative” health community. The waste products produced by the human body are easily metabolized by organs such as the liver, and excreted by organs particularly designed for that purpose such as the kidneys.

“Alternative” health practitioners are nothing more than quacks and charlatans and their “remedies” are nothing more than snake oil. The fact that anyone in this day and age still believes in such crackpot theories is a tribute to the power of ignorance and superstition.

Evil humours and miasmas have not died, they’ve been reincarnated as “toxins.”


Categories: Science and Medicine

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[*Anya*]

Oh and of course, people might have their health improved if they ate healthier diets. I believe that is why Jo named the thread as she did.

That doesn't eliminate diseases such as type I diabetes or other familial, gentetic diseases. A healthy diet overall can only benefit us, regardless.

My family tree has HTN and heart disease-hence my own focus on low-fat and low sodium eating plan, etc.

[JustJo]

honestly.... knowing what I know today? I don't trust the medical field even a little bit. I also don't trust government.


Hi Sachita,

I assume that this statement is in response to my saying I trust the Mayo Clinic. :) And, yes, I do. Not to say that I trust them implicity and believe they are all-knowing, but in that I trust them more than I would trust a marketing message, a self-proclaimed "expert" or any one of a million sites on the internet that doesn't have their credibility.

Do I think that modern medicine knows everything? No.

I think it's a shame that doctors can become doctors without any significant education in nutrition.

Here's what's I also know to be true...my mother believes as you do. She grows her own food; she juices everything; she eats natural, organic everything, and she takes enough supplements to sink a ship.

As a result, she decided that she knew better than her doctors, and was "treating" her Crohn's disease on the advice of a "nutritionist" who was not a registered dietician, the manager of her local GNC store, and what she read in Prevention magazine. Now, I happen to believe that Prevention has some great advice, but it's no substitute for proper medical care.

She resisted "the system", resented the pharmaceutical companies, and said many of the same things that I've seen you post in various threads around the site. You two would probably actually get along. She retired early onto 95 acres, kept animals, gardened organically, likes to be self-sufficient and do things her own way. I imagine you'd get along famously.

Unfortunately, that point of view also led her to neglect her doctor's appointments, not take her medication regularly and "self treat" with juice, supplements, etc. Unfortunately, what she was ignoring and trying to "self treat" was advanced Crohn's disease, and cancer of the small intestine.

After 3 weeks in the hospital, an iliostomy and more....she has no colon at all, about half her small intestine, is on chemo for 6 months, a "belly wash" treatment to come, and it'll be a miracle if she lives until Christmas.

I'm not trying to dump on you at all, and absolutely believe that you have the right to your opinion, as do we all....but I seriously wish my mother had not believed what she did, and seen her doctor more.

:olive:

[DapperButch]

Eat whole natural fresh foods. We know this works but insist on thinking it's ok to drink soda. consume overly processed foods and fats. We'll find every excuse in the world and the answers or so simple.

‎

You are absolutely, without question, correct. Minus red meat (even grass fed beef) and minus chicken (organic in small amounts ok).

This I have learned through much research (you would do a lot of research too, if you had stage 3b cancer at age 39).

[Corkey]

What we put into our mouths is as important as what we don't. What foods are good for me, may not be good for you. I have IBS, I am also allergic to onions, garlic and eggs. I try really hard to stay away from any foods which even hint at these ingredients. Unfortunately most processed foods contain all of these products. So for me whole foods, natural organic foods are best, but it isn't for everyone. I can eat nuts, all kinds, some may be allergic. Point is we are all different, and checking in with our doctors can do us a world of good. We are omnivores, we are supposed to eat meats, and unlike our ancestors we have more access to meats, and are over eating them at massive rates. We have to keep veggies, fruits, nuts and tubers in our diets. My family history has diabetes, hypertension and cancer in it. I have to be cognizant of what I put in my mouth.

[Random]

I hate to give unasked for advice but anyone and everyone can call themselves a nutritionist. It is an unlicensed, unregistered title. Any of us can get the piece of paper on the Internet.

A Registered Dietician or an RD, is a degreed person and it is a profession into itself. They are the true nutritionist.

There are also Registered Nurses that are certified diabetic specialists and have additional education and certification with expertise in nutrition.

Our bodies naturally cleanse themselves. We do not retain "toxins" in our bowels. Yes they are full of flora and fauna (so-to-speak) but that is their job (as long as that is where they stay-nuff said about that in the morning).

Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance is very possible with too much "cleansing". My caveat is to be very careful with anything that you do. Check with your doctor to be sure and if you feel ill at all, stop.

Re: Alli. There is no easy way to lose weight. As with diet pills, there is always a cost when taking a short-cut.

I hope I do not offend but sometimes it is difficult to ignore my own training and background when I fear for the health of another.


I second this post.

Detoxing can be very dangerous. Do an internet search for people who have died or at least landed in the hospital because of a detoxing cleanse.

There is no magic way to lose weight.

I'm going to be harsh here because I need to say it for myself...

The only way to lose weight and keep it off it to stop putting crap into your body and get moving.

That's it... that is the ONLY way...

I've gained 50 lbs in the last two years...

I'm heaver than I have ever been in my life... 224

Why? Because I over ate, I ate crap, I stopped being mindful of my addiction and I poisioned my body with sugar and fat to the point where I now physically crave the shit...

I feel like shit because I stopped moving... All my muscle has turned to flab.... My back hurts/goes out because of the weight of my belly, my feet/ knees hurt because my frame is not meant to suport all this extra weight.

Nothing is going to change any of this except me stop putting crap in my mouth and get moving....

Cookies, brownies, my lovely french bread, chips, gravy, fried foods, process foods... It's all crap... It's poision... My body is starving, dying of thirst while I sit here and drink my hazlnut coffee with it's two sugars... My fourth cup today...

I have fruit rotting in the fridge, but that bag of cheese popcorn my son left here last night is half gone

Sigh... I say... no more... no more trying to trick my body into thinking that the snackwells are ok to eat because they are *reduced fat*

I say no more to trying to kill myself the slow way because I'm bored, or upset or *well, she knows I have a problem with (insert junk food of choice) and she brought it into the house so I'm going to eat all of it*

I've been over weight since I was 9 yrs old... I know how to lose weight, I know how to keep it off... It's hard, and it hurts, and it SUCKS big time to look at a piece of bread and ask myself.. *Is this more important that you?*

But It's time... Before there is no more time...

[Zimmeh]

I agree with your post. When my dad passed away in 2002, I gave up. I didn't care about my health or anything else for that matter. It took me almost five years to finally kick my own ass and say, "enough is enough". I stopped eating fried foods, sodas and started living again. I posted a picture of myself up in the galleries, from 2004. Back when I was 210lbs. I showed this picture to several co-workers, all of whom, could not believe that was me. While I was at the grocery store lastnight, I normally pick up the French Vanilla flavor of creamer from Coffee Mate. I looked at all of the nutritional facts and realized, the Original flavor had 15 less calories, no sodium, no cholesterol and no sugar. I brought the Original flavor home with me. Losing weight is the easy part, keeping it off is even harder. I refuse to gain any of the weight back that I have lost since January of 2007.

I cannot eat a lot of certain nuts or to much wheat due to food allergies. Which makes this very hard and like Corkey said, most of these ingredients are in processed foods...

Good luck and remember, that you can do it!

Zimmy

I second this post.

Detoxing can be very dangerous. Do an internet search for people who have died or at least landed in the hospital because of a detoxing cleanse.

There is no magic way to lose weight.

I'm going to be harsh here because I need to say it for myself...

The only way to lose weight and keep it off it to stop putting crap into your body and get moving.

That's it... that is the ONLY way...

I've gained 50 lbs in the last two years...

I'm heaver than I have ever been in my life... 224

Why? Because I over ate, I ate crap, I stopped being mindful of my addiction and I poisioned my body with sugar and fat to the point where I now physically crave the shit...

I feel like shit because I stopped moving... All my muscle has turned to flab.... My back hurts/goes out because of the weight of my belly, my feet/ knees hurt because my frame is not meant to suport all this extra weight.

Nothing is going to change any of this except me stop putting crap in my mouth and get moving....

Cookies, brownies, my lovely french bread, chips, gravy, fried foods, process foods... It's all crap... It's poision... My body is starving, dying of thirst while I sit here and drink my hazlnut coffee with it's two sugars... My fourth cup today...

I have fruit rotting in the fridge, but that bag of cheese popcorn my son left here last night is half gone

Sigh... I say... no more... no more trying to trick my body into thinking that the snackwells are ok to eat because they are *reduced fat*

I say no more to trying to kill myself the slow way because I'm bored, or upset or *well, she knows I have a problem with (insert junk food of choice) and she brought it into the house so I'm going to eat all of it*

I've been over weight since I was 9 yrs old... I know how to lose weight, I know how to keep it off... It's hard, and it hurts, and it SUCKS big time to look at a piece of bread and ask myself.. *Is this more important that you?*

But It's time... Before there is no more time...

[JustJo]

I second this post.

Detoxing can be very dangerous. Do an internet search for people who have died or at least landed in the hospital because of a detoxing cleanse.

There is no magic way to lose weight.

I'm going to be harsh here because I need to say it for myself...

The only way to lose weight and keep it off it to stop putting crap into your body and get moving.

That's it... that is the ONLY way...

I've gained 50 lbs in the last two years...

I'm heaver than I have ever been in my life... 224

Why? Because I over ate, I ate crap, I stopped being mindful of my addiction and I poisioned my body with sugar and fat to the point where I now physically crave the shit...

I feel like shit because I stopped moving... All my muscle has turned to flab.... My back hurts/goes out because of the weight of my belly, my feet/ knees hurt because my frame is not meant to suport all this extra weight.

Nothing is going to change any of this except me stop putting crap in my mouth and get moving....

Cookies, brownies, my lovely french bread, chips, gravy, fried foods, process foods... It's all crap... It's poision... My body is starving, dying of thirst while I sit here and drink my hazlnut coffee with it's two sugars... My fourth cup today...

I have fruit rotting in the fridge, but that bag of cheese popcorn my son left here last night is half gone

Sigh... I say... no more... no more trying to trick my body into thinking that the snackwells are ok to eat because they are *reduced fat*

I say no more to trying to kill myself the slow way because I'm bored, or upset or *well, she knows I have a problem with (insert junk food of choice) and she brought it into the house so I'm going to eat all of it*

I've been over weight since I was 9 yrs old... I know how to lose weight, I know how to keep it off... It's hard, and it hurts, and it SUCKS big time to look at a piece of bread and ask myself.. *Is this more important that you?*

But It's time... Before there is no more time...

I wanted to applaud when I read this post Random. Thank you. :rrose:

We can rationalize anything, can't we? And yet, we know what's true.

I take after my father's side of the family. They're not the healthiest bunch....heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's, various cancers...the list seems endless, and each and every one of them has multiple serious health conditions from an early age.

Compared to the bulk of them, I'm healthy....and I have type 2 diabetes and take pills for diabetes, high triglycerides and high blood pressure. I have since I was about 40.

Here's the deal. Historically, they were farmers. They did hard physical work. They were active. They ate mostly real food (like we all did before the advent of fast food, high fructose corn syrup and all the artificial crap we kid ourselves is food, beginning only in my generation). Did they bake and eat cakes and cookies and stuff? Heck yes. Did they eat cheese and butter in large quantities? Hell, yes....they were dairy farmers. Were they slim? No. They were "stocky"....not huge...just solid, big people. Yes, my grandfather died young of a heart attack, but most of them lived an average lifespan with only average health issues.

Fast forward to the present....when they are no longer farmers. They are no longer active. They live on crap....white flour, sugar, artificial everything, processed everything, no fresh fruit and veggies...just crap. It's killing them....and it's killing them younger and younger and in more and more horrible ways. All of the genetic weaknesses that have always been there are now active and thriving...and they are all sick...really sick...and really overweight.

At a family gathering I sat and watched them stuff ice cream and sweet tea into a toddler who was already literally too fat to walk....and who kept turning her head away to refuse the food. They kept insisting, and finally she gave up and ate more. I listened to my favorite cousin, who is 12 years younger than me, laugh and shake her head about not being able to get her A1c below 11 (which is flat out dangerous)....while she spooned in all of the crap on the dessert table at the Golden Corral. I listened to her older sister (my age) tell me about her latest battle with cancer....her fourth.

One of my aunts died a few years back from complications of diabetes. They systematically cut gangrenous pieces off of her but couldn't keep up. Her organs shut down one after the other. The morphine stopped working. It was the most horrible way to die that I can imagine. She was 54. And, I'm sorry....but she did it to herself. I knew that woman. I watched her eat. As a diabetic, she would sit down and consume a 2 lb. bag of Hydrox cookies at one sitting just to watch a TV show. She weighed 400 lbs. Essentially, she killed herself with food.

Her daughter, who watched her die, is 13 years younger than me....looks 15 years older....weighs 350....and is following in her mother's footsteps.

This breaks my heart.

Here's the deal. These are good, loving, caring, warm, compassionate people. And they are killing themselves with spoons and forks.

This is what's motivating me...and scaring the hell out of me...enough to make some changes. For me, there is no food that tastes good enough to die the death my aunt did.

[*Anya*]

The total and absolute honesty in this thread truly touches me. I think it is safe to say that for most of us got overweight due to just plain eating too much of things not very good for us or even good things, in larger quantities than our bodies needed.

Maybe we currently (or previously) overeat/overate for different reasons but we have all wound up on this thread.

I have a terrible tendency to berate myself & to put myself down for things that most would call human frailties. Sometimes I see that others do that to themselves, too.

I am trying to be kind to myself for my human weaknesses and to focus on today instead if all of my yesterdays.

That includes eating. I will never be 110 again. I am not 16 again either. My goal weight is not as far away as when I started. I need to stop thinking that it feels a million miles away. Negative thinking puts me in a bad place. It is like a loop that can run for hours or days in my head.

I need to change that tape for so many areas of my life. Healthy eating for the rest of my life is only one part of it.

The honesty and courage I read on this thread helps me to be more honest with myself.

Thank you for that.

[Anastasia]

[...]

Why? Because I over ate, I ate crap, I stopped being mindful of my addiction and I poisioned my body with sugar and fat to the point where I now physically crave the shit...

[...]

Cookies, brownies, my lovely french bread, chips, gravy, fried foods, process foods... It's all crap... It's poision...

[...]

I say no more to trying to kill myself the slow way because I'm bored, or upset or *well, she knows I have a problem with (insert junk food of choice) and she brought it into the house so I'm going to eat all of it*

[...]

look at a piece of bread and ask myself.. *Is this more important that you?*

But It's time... Before there is no more time...

Thank you. I needed this.

I use X,Y,Z emotions as rationalizations and excuses to binge. I will tell myself that "I deserve it" because "I am having a hard time." or my favorite battle cry "Fuck it. I don't care." (Yes, admittedly, a lame and ineffective battle cry)

To myself I say, "Suck it up Buttercup, life is hard sometimes. Killing yourself with food will not change that."

I also have to add one more thing that I need to hear...

Seven years ago I was diagnosed with asthma and after 10 days in the hospital the doctor told me that if I did not change my lifestyle of work, study, sleep as little as possible. Repeat, I would have an oxygen tank by the time I was 50.

So I became a runner. A slow, back of the pack, has-been-dead-fucking-last runner, but a runner none the less. I am proud of myself for that, but I often use my running or other exercise as an excuse to overeat and, worse yet, to overeat my favorite binge foods. I am a bona fide CARB-ivore. If it has white flour, white sugar, and, Lord help me, butter, I LOVE it and will eat it until gone. I am like a goldfish that way. I rationalize that "I earned it."

Let's look at that, shall we?

On Saturday I ran 18 miles it took me 3 hours and 41 minutes. I weigh 158 pounds (*sigh*) based on BMR and a Running Calorie Calculator (http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.php) (not perfect, but closer than my heartrate monitor)

For that workout I burned approximately 2,000 calories. For simplicity sake I will just look at calories although the food choices are worse than just their calories indicate:

If I were to go to Applebee's because "I earned it", and split the spinach artichoke dip with my run buddy (800 cal) because "I earned it", then have the three cheese chicken penne because "I earned it" (1530 cal), then split the chocolate meltdown came, (even though I want one all to myself) because "I earned it" (405 cal) that makes a grand total of

600 + 1530 + 405 = 2535 calories

So because "I earned it", based on 3500 extra calories needed to gain one pound of fat, I have now gained 0.2 pounds of fat in one post run meal. Super.

And, honestly, I carry that "I ran 18 miles on Saturday" with me all week and will use it as an excuse to make poor choices LONG after the "extra" calories I burned have been consumed.

[Sachita]

Here's the deal. Historically, they were farmers. They did hard physical work. They were active. They ate mostly real food (like we all did before the advent of fast food, high fructose corn syrup and all the artificial crap we kid ourselves is food, beginning only in my generation). Did they bake and eat cakes and cookies and stuff? Heck yes. Did they eat cheese and butter in large quantities? Hell, yes....they were dairy farmers. Were they slim? No. They were "stocky"....not huge...just solid, big people. Yes, my grandfather died young of a heart attack, but most of them lived an average lifespan with only average health issues.

Fast forward to the present....when they are no longer farmers. They are no longer active. They live on crap....white flour, sugar, artificial everything, processed everything, no fresh fruit and veggies...just crap. It's killing them....and it's killing them younger and younger and in more and more horrible ways. All of the genetic weaknesses that have always been there are now active and thriving...and they are all sick...really sick...and really overweight.


This is what's motivating me...and scaring the hell out of me...enough to make some changes. For me, there is no food that tastes good enough to die the death my aunt did.

I do understand that my views differ from others and that's fine.

The life span many years ago has increased quite a bit. In the 1800's people, especially men, rarely lived past 40's. Although the life span has increased we have a large population of of sick overweight people. There are lots of things to blame for this including politics, conventional medicine and big business. You can believe this or not.

But if you carefully investigate, look deeper into all the components you'll see that there is a type of revolution. There are people uncovering the truth, people fighting and standing up. Victories are slowly being won to protect our food supply and our health. The very bread/wheat you eat is harming you and you don't even realize the long term effects. The fucking government funding advertising for foods that will kill you. The FDA controlled by pharmaceutical companies with a clear agenda. Trust me, it's happening. There are other countries treating cancer and many other illnesses with proper nutrition-organic fresh foods and vitamin therapy. It's a known fact that medical students are taught medicine, not nutrition. why?

So although I see OUR country infected with bad health and serious weight issues I also see a lot of people taking control and changing their life. I'm one of them. It's not easy and I fight everyday with some kind of issue. I often sabotage my best efforts but I must forge ahead not only for my own health and well being but to set an example for my granddaughters, my family and everyone around me. I actively work not only on myself but proactive in animal nutrition and working with organizations to educate and protect our national food supply. the very food supply they alter, poison and control. It's killing us, its hurting our children and perhaps there are deeper agendas such as population control. Who really knows because the rules keep changing.

I am a firm believer in that if I want things around me to change I must start by changing me.

Good health is a complete process. Preventive and rejuvenating. It's not instant nor is the thought processes that have been drummed into our minds sabotaging our efforts, confusing us and making us consume even more. It's not what the food is, its what they do to the food and how they process it.

damn I;m on a rant huh? lol I'm working with a group on local food programs and recently got the report on the buying and budget for the local schools lunch program. Needless to say its upsetting.

[Leigh]

I second this post.

Detoxing can be very dangerous. Do an internet search for people who have died or at least landed in the hospital because of a detoxing cleanse.

There is no magic way to lose weight.

I'm going to be harsh here because I need to say it for myself...

The only way to lose weight and keep it off it to stop putting crap into your body and get moving.

That's it... that is the ONLY way...

I've gained 50 lbs in the last two years...

I'm heaver than I have ever been in my life... 224

Why? Because I over ate, I ate crap, I stopped being mindful of my addiction and I poisioned my body with sugar and fat to the point where I now physically crave the shit...

I feel like shit because I stopped moving... All my muscle has turned to flab.... My back hurts/goes out because of the weight of my belly, my feet/ knees hurt because my frame is not meant to suport all this extra weight.

Nothing is going to change any of this except me stop putting crap in my mouth and get moving....

Cookies, brownies, my lovely french bread, chips, gravy, fried foods, process foods... It's all crap... It's poision... My body is starving, dying of thirst while I sit here and drink my hazlnut coffee with it's two sugars... My fourth cup today...

I have fruit rotting in the fridge, but that bag of cheese popcorn my son left here last night is half gone

Sigh... I say... no more... no more trying to trick my body into thinking that the snackwells are ok to eat because they are *reduced fat*

I say no more to trying to kill myself the slow way because I'm bored, or upset or *well, she knows I have a problem with (insert junk food of choice) and she brought it into the house so I'm going to eat all of it*

I've been over weight since I was 9 yrs old... I know how to lose weight, I know how to keep it off... It's hard, and it hurts, and it SUCKS big time to look at a piece of bread and ask myself.. *Is this more important that you?*

But It's time... Before there is no more time...

I can't even begin to tell you Random how much I see Myself in this post, alot more than I care to admit at times. I relate to SO much of this post, and seeing it before My eyes is more than just hearing it or thinking it ~ sometimes you have to actually *SEE* it to get it to sink in. I have bolded a few statements in your post because they are what I relate to; I wanna break down each bolded part so I can show how it relates to Me:

1) I'm the heaviest I've EVER been in My entire life! 374 lbs is dangerous and I know that, yet its still taking Me alot to change what I need to.

2) I have over-stuffed Myself with sugar, white flour and other processed junk to the point where that is My biggest problem ~ My body physically craves that shit and I go through major withdrawals if I don't have it in My system. I liken it to My dad's older brother, Steve, who has been a heavy alcohol drinker all of his life and beer does have sugar in it. Who knows how many beers he had/has a day, but he was diagnosed years ago with Type 2 Diabetes and told to stop the beer and of course never listened. Now he is a Type 1 diabetic, sticks himself with insulin needles, and STILL drinks beer. He was recently put into the hospital and when My parents visited him, he was going through such bad withdrawls that he was literally shaking so bad his bed shook ~ out of the hospital for a few months and still drinking beer. He's so used to drinking that he basically needs it to survive ........ do any of us honestly need that shit in our bodies to survive? No!

3) Having so much weight on My body, My back is constantly in pain and of course as most know I recently went to the hospital because My legs and feet were swollen so badly I could hardly walk. I can't kneel or crouch down anymore because My knees just can't handle it, going up and down any flight of stairs is killer and even just walking a short distance can cause alot of pain and/or discomfort ........ see, even just writing it down can open one's eyes!

4) I have bought fruit before, like an entire bag of apples, and the ENTIRE bag has had to be thrown out because I never ate it ~ but I was having chips, chocolate, ice cream etc :seeingstars:

5) Alot of My eating comes when I'm bored or upset (especially if My father is opening up his mouth about something) and he likes to keep chips and ice cream and other processed junk in the house and bitches when I eat any of it ~ which in turn just makes Me eat more of it ........ this is toxic and damaging, and yet its familair to Me **shakes head**

6) I've been overweight and gaining since the age of 5 ~ 5!!!!!! Here I am 31 yrs old and the heaviest I've ever been ............ something has to change, before I'm not aorund anymore (and thats NOT an option!).

I wanted to applaud when I read this post Random. Thank you. :rrose:

We can rationalize anything, can't we? And yet, we know what's true.

I take after my father's side of the family. They're not the healthiest bunch....heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson's, various cancers...the list seems endless, and each and every one of them has multiple serious health conditions from an early age.

Compared to the bulk of them, I'm healthy....and I have type 2 diabetes and take pills for diabetes, high triglycerides and high blood pressure. I have since I was about 40.

Here's the deal. Historically, they were farmers. They did hard physical work. They were active. They ate mostly real food (like we all did before the advent of fast food, high fructose corn syrup and all the artificial crap we kid ourselves is food, beginning only in my generation). Did they bake and eat cakes and cookies and stuff? Heck yes. Did they eat cheese and butter in large quantities? Hell, yes....they were dairy farmers. Were they slim? No. They were "stocky"....not huge...just solid, big people. Yes, my grandfather died young of a heart attack, but most of them lived an average lifespan with only average health issues.

Fast forward to the present....when they are no longer farmers. They are no longer active. They live on crap....white flour, sugar, artificial everything, processed everything, no fresh fruit and veggies...just crap. It's killing them....and it's killing them younger and younger and in more and more horrible ways. All of the genetic weaknesses that have always been there are now active and thriving...and they are all sick...really sick...and really overweight.

At a family gathering I sat and watched them stuff ice cream and sweet tea into a toddler who was already literally too fat to walk....and who kept turning her head away to refuse the food. They kept insisting, and finally she gave up and ate more. I listened to my favorite cousin, who is 12 years younger than me, laugh and shake her head about not being able to get her A1c below 11 (which is flat out dangerous)....while she spooned in all of the crap on the dessert table at the Golden Corral. I listened to her older sister (my age) tell me about her latest battle with cancer....her fourth.

One of my aunts died a few years back from complications of diabetes. They systematically cut gangrenous pieces off of her but couldn't keep up. Her organs shut down one after the other. The morphine stopped working. It was the most horrible way to die that I can imagine. She was 54. And, I'm sorry....but she did it to herself. I knew that woman. I watched her eat. As a diabetic, she would sit down and consume a 2 lb. bag of Hydrox cookies at one sitting just to watch a TV show. She weighed 400 lbs. Essentially, she killed herself with food.

Her daughter, who watched her die, is 13 years younger than me....looks 15 years older....weighs 350....and is following in her mother's footsteps.

This breaks my heart.

Here's the deal. These are good, loving, caring, warm, compassionate people. And they are killing themselves with spoons and forks.

This is what's motivating me...and scaring the hell out of me...enough to make some changes. For me, there is no food that tastes good enough to die the death my aunt did.

Jo, just like Random your post has hit so many nails on the head for Me, that its really causing Me to reflect on My life and how its spiralled so much out of control. I can relate with SO much of this, its amazing to Me how much crap we put in our bodies as a way of trying to rationalize just *why* we put it in our mouths! I do want to kinda break down a couple of things in your post as well just to rshow how it relates to Me:

1) Other than the Parkinson's (which no one in My family has ever had), the rest of them have been prominent in My family ~ heart disease, cancer and diabetes. My mom's parents both died of cancer; My Papa of liver cancer in May 1998 and My Nan of lung cancer (life time smoker) in May of 1999 ........ they actually died exactly 360 days apart. They had raised Me along with My mom for the first 14 yrs of My life (until My dad came into My life) and were My second set of parents so when they died so close to one another that was the first devastating blow I ever had to endure where someone I loved died. My dad had his first heart attack at the age of 33 and has amazingly enough, and this is 100% true, has survived dying 9 times from heart attacks (not that he's had nine) but thats enough. Both My parents and I have type 2 diabetes; My Papa had it too but he was the epitomy of taking care of himself when it came to being diabetic so I should be taking after him. Then My cousin Tammy died 4 yrs ago from colon cancer and I literally watched her take her last breath; held her hand and was only one of 3 people in the room when she died (and that had a profound effect on Me). Should have been enough for Me to change but I haven't ~ and its really not doing Me any good.

2) I am not active either and I live on any kind of junk that you can think of: chips, chocolate (not so much lately), ice cream (I have cut down alot), processed foods, pepsi etc. I've had fruits in the house on many occassions and ended up having to throw it out because I never ate, it just sat there and went bad ~ something I have to change if I expect to be alive in the next few years.

3) The part about the toddler kind of makes Me think of My sister in a way; she's not force fed or anything, but after she was diagnosed with autism her palate changed and she stopped eating regular food because alot of it was like sandpaper to her. She refuses to eat veggies or most kind of fruit (though she does love bananas and oranges); she only drinks apple juice though we dilute it down with water so its not as "straight" as it was before. She eats very limited foods and I do mean limited; we try her on new things all the time but she will literally refuse to eat it. Her favorite (and constant) things that she will eat are potato chips, ice cream, pizza and some other things (can't remember everything). She's only active more or less during school when she has gym, goes for walks alot or does other activities that they have there; this entire summer she sat in front of the computer and DVD player all day and as much as I tried to get her to go outside with Me for walks or whatnot I couldnt do it ~ I don't want her to become another Me.

4) I am doing this to Myself, its true. I've always had low self-esteem and low self confidence and have always been told I'll never be good enough so I ate ~ which was in a sense proving everyone right. I ate to get rid of feeling anything because I believed that people were right and that I was never going to be good enough so I never even tried. I've been killing Myself, literally, without even thinking and now that I'm creeping close to 400 lbs (which really scares the hell out of Me). I *HAVE* no choice but to change because I do *NOT* want to die and don't want to end up physically unable to do anything because My insides are shutting down!

5) I'm following in too many people's footsteps and I'm killing Myself with food and utensils .......... I'm supposed to be living and yet in a sense I'm dying? I'm glad this thread is here because I *NEED* these types of wake up calls to kick My ass and say "STOP KILLING YOURSELF!" ~ Its time to stop NOW before its absolutely too late.

[Sachita]

Everyone I am sorry for getting all political and shit. Please accept my apologies. I'm fueled with a lot of passion these days and it gets one over on me.

If anyone has questions regarding this subject, juicing, etc. by all means please feel free to private msg me. I may not always have instant time but will help as I can.

Peace


do understand tho I am not apologizing for my beliefs. Just for ranting here. I whole heartedly believe and advocate everything I said.

[Random]

Mathew,

I'm glad what I posted struck home...

I decided to post that post because of you...

You know that my pm's and rep notes to you are harsh....

It's because I see a lot of my 20 yr old self in you...

You said it best... Sometimes seeing it in the words that someone else wrote down is like a kick in the gut (paraphrase)

That's what this thread had done for me...

So maybe share myself a little and see if I can do the same for someone else...


Breakfast:

1 cup of coffee... 1 teaspoon sugar and half the amount of creamer.. (slowly decrease the sugar and creamer until I'm drinking black... STOP using things as a delivery meathod for fats and sugars)

1 cup of white rice ( I have brown, but I knew that being too gung ho FOR ME is setting myself up to fail) no sugar/ no butter... Chopped up two dried aprocots for the sweetness

2 slices of cantalope

Snacks:
Dried cranberries and carrots... (still high in sugar, but at least it's natural)

Lunch:
1 Cup Rice with cranberries, as much salad as I can eat... no cheese, no crutons, no meat, lemon (per usual) as dressing..

Snacks:

Almonds and cantalope

Dinner: I have no clue....

I will bring ONE cup of coffee to work with me... Non flavored creamer and 1 tsp of sugar... I WILL drink at least 3 8 oz glasses of water... I will bring lemon with me to flavor the water...

I will walk around the building on my breaks instead of sitting and reading a book...

I hope everyone has a GOOD day... off to get ready for work..

[ruffryder]

Thanks everyone for throwing your personal history of diet and family illnesses out here. It's not always easy to share information like that. It does help us open our eyes to what we are doing to ourselves or what path we may end up on if we don't take care of ourselves. I appreciate your stories. It motivates and inspires. I hope it does the same for you all to make a healthy change. Thanks!

As far as fruits and vegetables spoiling. Try one or two at a time and buy just a few to make sure you will eat them before they spoil. If you get rid of the junk food it will make it harder to want any. . It will be out of your reach. Matthew that may be hard for you with your family's choices. You have to be strong for yourself. Instead of being upset and angry with your father, turn your life around and show him you can lose weight and become healthy. Be a role model for your family and your little sister. They may give you hell, but they will appreciate it later. Be strong man. I know it's hard, but from what you say here I know you can do it! I have faith in you my friend.

I have managed to keep off 10 lbs that I lost a week ago. I go a bit off the bandwagon but I get right back on track. I think the biggest thing for me in keeping this weight off and losing more is staying away from sugar and fat.. and choosing the foods with lesser calories like instead of regular bacon - turkey bacon, instead of regular eggs - egg beaters, instead of white bread - whole wheat bread, instead of soda - ice tea, etc..

Today I didn't even look twice at the aisle of candy and chocolate. I can tell I'm starting to not have cravings for junk food. When I do ,I allow myself a few bites. I'm starting not to enjoy heavy, fat foods either. When I find myself eating it, I usually don't feel good after and it wasn't satisfying. So, this is good for me because then I tend to go back to healthier choices. It starts with trying and making a few changes then eventually you will start to eat healthier and make wiser choices with food.

[Leigh]

Mathew,

I'm glad what I posted struck home...

I decided to post that post because of you...

You know that my pm's and rep notes to you are harsh....

It's because I see a lot of my 20 yr old self in you...

You said it best... Sometimes seeing it in the words that someone else wrote down is like a kick in the gut (paraphrase)

That's what this thread had done for me...

So maybe share myself a little and see if I can do the same for someone else...


Breakfast:

1 cup of coffee... 1 teaspoon sugar and half the amount of creamer.. (slowly decrease the sugar and creamer until I'm drinking black... STOP using things as a delivery meathod for fats and sugars)

1 cup of white rice ( I have brown, but I knew that being too gung ho FOR ME is setting myself up to fail) no sugar/ no butter... Chopped up two dried aprocots for the sweetness

2 slices of cantalope

Snacks:
Dried cranberries and carrots... (still high in sugar, but at least it's natural)

Lunch:
1 Cup Rice with cranberries, as much salad as I can eat... no cheese, no crutons, no meat, lemon (per usual) as dressing..

Snacks:

Almonds and cantalope

Dinner: I have no clue....

I will bring ONE cup of coffee to work with me... Non flavored creamer and 1 tsp of sugar... I WILL drink at least 3 8 oz glasses of water... I will bring lemon with me to flavor the water...

I will walk around the building on my breaks instead of sitting and reading a book...

I hope everyone has a GOOD day... off to get ready for work..


Random,

Yes I know sometimes I've gotten a post or PM and thought, wow that was rather heavy and sometimes it bothered Me but I always stopped to think ........ she wouldn't be doing it if she didn't care. I admit fully that sometimes it takes someone being harsh to help Me realize that I can't just float through life doing what I've always done because that is exactly what My problem is. Your just trying to be a good friend and I appreciate that alot, so thank you for looking out for Me, it's gonna help alot over the next little while :-)

[Glenn]

I am reading "Native American Women" (1996) by Diana Steer. She points out that scientists have found that living in the pure land as it was then, and centuries of knowledge doing so, found whole cultures without tooth decay, arthritis, no cancer among northerns and eskimos, and lived longer than we thought. As soon as they ate Europeon food, and learned their ways, their health deteriorated. They also knew which part of an animal provided crucial vitamins to prevent diseases. For example,The Plains tribes knew to eat raw adrenal glands for vitamin C and vitamin A around the fatty tissues of the eyes of animals etc. things we would'nt think of eating raw today. Most of this knowledge is gone now, along with the pure land, but since I began reading this book, I now believe they lived better and just as long as us.

[PinkieLee]

Well hello there my healthy peeps! It's good to see a lot of positive changes happening, healthy choices & scootin' right along on this journey. Y'all keep up the great work... I'm so proud of each & every one of you!

So, my weekend was filled with not one but TWO surprise birthday parties. Friday night, mexican food, margaritas & lots of dancing. Saturday, crab cakes, wine, cheesecake and lots of dancing. Needless to say, my body feels like crap!

I so did not want to step on the scale this morning to see where the overindulging weekend set me back. Yep a 5 pound gain! HOLY CRAP.... there is no freakin' way! My head can't wrap around that jump on the scale... other than I didn't drink near enough water and lord knows I'm pmsing! So, I'm gonna take it in stride and get this ball rolling again!

The free for all weekend is a thing of the past and I'm taking control back!
I'm chugging water like mad crazy and tracking my food, being sure to load up on fruits & veggies. I've got meals planned... and NO eating out this week! D and I promised eachother that we would hit the gym tomorrow & Wednesday (can't go tonight because I work the 2nd job).

So far today...

Breakfast:
Special K (original) cereal
a banana
and a small sugar free iced vanilla coffee

Lunch:
leftover spaghetti made with ground turkey and Smart Choice pasta
cucumber & tomato slices

Dinner (on the way to the 2nd job):
ham & turkey sandwich on a honey wheat deli thin
a few baked cheetos
an orange & a handful of grapes

Snacks:
WW string cheese
yogurt

[Rockinonahigh]

Today I went to the doc for an 11:30am appointment,I got there at 11:15,it took over two hours to just get my bp(120/65) weight 2481/2 then I got measured for hights...I lost a half inch..I was 5'5"...where I dont know but I want it back.I didnt stay for the appointment cause after a four hour wait and u can bet they werent anywhere close to my number,I went home.I understand they had folks ahead of me,but four hours is to dam long to wait on much of anything.I wasnt sick or needed to see him but he wanted to do a follow up on the last appointment.I will rescedual if I need to go for anything,hopefuly I can get an appointment when all the drug reps arent takeing all the time up that should be used for seeing people..Grrrrr.
On another subject...In my family we dont have many over weight people,most of us a re pretty active,my parenrts,grand folks,aunts and uncles,the only one that was ever remotely over weight was my grannie in later years of her life.On to my generation we have folks that are either thin or in the middle weight wise with only a couple who are heavy.I didnt put this weight on till 15 years ago when I stoped chaseing rodeos on a near daily basics.I was very active,hardly ate,worked near all the time,then it became really hard to go from day to day without wanting to eat more and more.In truth I was on 500 calries a day,takeing 20 pills a day to combat vitimin loss,once a day I made an 8 oz shake with liquid iron based vitimins in it..it was nasty to drink but on big gulp or two it was down and gone.Then I had a hysto..I havent been the same sence,then there was as series of family drama that prolly was the thing that set me on the path to over eating from stress.Stress I had in ten folds that just didnt stop till long after mom passed.Then I had to deal with the guilt of following a promiss I made to her that when and if she went into a coma or had no brain function and was by all means and ways deceased from illness or stroke that I would not prolong her life by mechanical means.For the first three years every morning at 3:10am I would wake up with the phone ringing in my head..it dosent happen but once and a while now..this is probly whay I dont sleep all night or take so long to fall asleep.I finaly ajusted to things ,got folks out of my life that were toxic...some family some friends I really cared for but were drama ridden.So now I am getting a hold of life for the better,it just took a while..the price was high but bit by bit im reclaiming me for me and no one else.It just takes one step at the time and the courage to keep takeing the steps.

[Medusa]

Just got off the stationary bike:

6.7 miles, 22 minutes, 160 calories burned

Soundtrack:

Marilyn Manson - Beautiful People
CeeLo - Fuck you
Wiz Khalifa - Black and Yellow
Mumford and Sons - The Cave
(and I'll have to admit that I listened to Marilyn Manson twice because I love it that much!)


Edited to add: I almost want to get back on the bike just to have the excuse to keep listening to music all night. Denzel (my iPod) is being really intuitive tonight about what I want to hear :)

[Leigh]

I hope that at the very least within the next two weeks, when I can afford it, I buy an iPod Shuffle so I can have some music to walk with :-)

[Medusa]

Just did a morning warm-up for 10 minutes/60 calories on the bike.

My butt HURTS! It's like one of those baboons with a giant red ass!

http://www.bleedingcool.com/wp-content/uploads//2010/09/Baboon-pink-butt.jpg



Needless to say, I would ride a lot longer if my butt didn't feel like it had been beaten with a golf club. :|
I'm looking for a bigger seat and have tried pillows, folded towels, etc. I'm desperate for some butt relief because I am LOVING the stationary bike so any ideas appreciated!

I found a "no pressure" seat on Amazon but it looks like a giant tractor seat, don't know if it would work.

[ruffryder]

Good morning everybody! 5 o'clock is way too early for me. :/

I have a lot to do today and tomorrow so I can be on my way to FL Thursday.

coffee!! .. and a strawberry Special K bar (90 calories)

[Thinker]

Just did a morning warm-up for 10 minutes/60 calories on the bike.

My butt HURTS! It's like one of those baboons with a giant red ass!

http://www.bleedingcool.com/wp-content/uploads//2010/09/Baboon-pink-butt.jpg



Needless to say, I would ride a lot longer if my butt didn't feel like it had been beaten with a golf club. :|
I'm looking for a bigger seat and have tried pillows, folded towels, etc. I'm desperate for some butt relief because I am LOVING the stationary bike so any ideas appreciated!

I found a "no pressure" seat on Amazon but it looks like a giant tractor seat, don't know if it would work.

There's nothing you can do. The bones are bruised, and you just have to work past it. It'll go away in a few days. Once you get over it, you have to keep riding though. If you stop for a while and then start up again........well..........you're a smart girl!! ;)

[justkim]

I joined Gold's Gym yesterday. I am beyond excited! I have a trainer for the next 6 weeks I am looking forward to losing the last of my unwanted weight and learning how to maintain a healthy weight. I am also looking forward to Zumba once again...
I have on an average been losing 6 pounds a month... I have noticed inches more than pounds and this makes me very happy...
Remember water is your friend! 70 plus pounds gone for good now it is time to get rid of those last 30...

Good luck everyone!

[*Anya*]

I hope that at the very least within the next two weeks, when I can afford it, I buy an iPod Shuffle so I can have some music to walk with :-)

Hi Matthew, I bought an IPod, one of the later generations on Overstock.com for $40 for my granddaughter. It was reconditioned but still going strong. You might find something not quite like what you would like while saving for the one you want. Just a thought!

Good morning all. Still walking and "stairing" twice day. Just woke up, doing great on my eating plan and will weigh shortly.

Fingers crossed!

Hugs,

[*Anya*]

Just did a morning warm-up for 10 minutes/60 calories on the bike.

My butt HURTS! It's like one of those baboons with a giant red ass!

I found a "no pressure" seat on Amazon but it looks like a giant tractor seat, don't know if it would work.

Yikes that sounds painful. Hope it heals quickly.

Recumbent bikes have nice, comfortable seats. Have to use that type as it is easier on my knees (as well as my rear).

I don't know if that is a possibility for you.


Regular bike seats hurt my butt too.

[Leigh]

Hi Matthew, I bought an IPod, one of the later generations on Overstock.com for $40 for my granddaughter. It was reconditioned but still going strong. You might find something not quite like what you would like while saving for the one you want. Just a thought!

Good morning all. Still walking and "stairing" twice day. Just woke up, doing great on my eating plan and will weigh shortly.

Fingers crossed!

Hugs,


Morning hun,

I actually know of a place here called XS Cargo that is selling a reconditioned iPod (8GB if I remember correctly) for $169 or they have other MP3 players for pretty cheap so I'm going to invest in one very soon :-)

[Kelt]

Yesterday’s food plan was so good I’m doing it again today :)

1 cup-o-joe with heavy cream 1.5oz.

1 giant tomato 430g
1 cup homemade really great lentil soup

Green veg salad 1/2 romaine + 1/2 spinach + mixed chopped veg + 20g raw pecans + 1/4 cup pear dressing, about 300g total;
roughly the size of my head :|
120g (4oz) London broil
3 plums, 1 red, 1 black, 1 green

All of the above sourced organic

Breakdown:

cal 1089
fat 33g
sat 14
mono 19
carb 89.2
fiber 29.5
protein 71.2

Yum, works for me!

:balloon:

[Dominique]

I joined Gold's Gym yesterday. I am beyond excited! I have a trainer for the next 6 weeks I am looking forward to losing the last of my unwanted weight and learning how to maintain a healthy weight. I am also looking forward to Zumba once again...
I have on an average been losing 6 pounds a month... I have noticed inches more than pounds and this makes me very happy...
Remember water is your friend! 70 plus pounds gone for good now it is time to get rid of those last 30...

Good luck everyone!


Oh, It's Zumba.....I was spelling and saying it incorrectly. I am going to a saturday morning class that is outdoors. It's purpose was to raise money for breast cancer. A couple hundred people show up! Men and Women. All skill levels.
It's a good work out, I always feel a little sore the next day, but it is so much fun.

70 pounds is something to be proud of. Way to go Kim!

[Rockinonahigh]

I got back from gym a little bit ago rode the bike 6 miles for 360calories,walked two miles on the tred mill for another 195 calories then did 30 minits of weights.I r tired and hungry when I got home,so I fixed me threee poached eggs with tow slices of whole wheat toast for a total of 22 carbs for a late lunch.Breakfast was my old stand by cottage cheese and peaches.I have chicken brest in the slow cooker simmering in mushroom sause with sweet onions..that and a salad as big as a barrel will bring life back to my tired body.

[Medusa]

I'm feeling pissy because my ass is so bruised that I can't stand to get on my stationary bike. :poc-rant:

I did 10 minutes this morning just as a warm-up and I had wanted to do another 25 minutes tonight but even sitting there is pretty painful. I've been riding it steadily for about a week now and was hoping this pain would go away dammit!

Anyone else tried to wad up a huge beach towel to sit on that tiny bike seat while you ride? Well, it did NOT work for me!

I want to ride my bike dammit! WAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! :crybaby:

[Rockinonahigh]

I'm feeling pissy because my ass is so bruised that I can't stand to get on my stationary bike. :poc-rant:

I did 10 minutes this morning just as a warm-up and I had wanted to do another 25 minutes tonight but even sitting there is pretty painful. I've been riding it steadily for about a week now and was hoping this pain would go away dammit!

Anyone else tried to wad up a huge beach towel to sit on that tiny bike seat while you ride? Well, it did NOT work for me!

I want to ride my bike dammit! WAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! :crybaby:

Try a sheep skin seat pad,it worked for me,or get a more comfy seat for the bike.

[Sunny]

I'm feeling pissy because my ass is so bruised that I can't stand to get on my stationary bike. :poc-rant:

I did 10 minutes this morning just as a warm-up and I had wanted to do another 25 minutes tonight but even sitting there is pretty painful. I've been riding it steadily for about a week now and was hoping this pain would go away dammit!

Anyone else tried to wad up a huge beach towel to sit on that tiny bike seat while you ride? Well, it did NOT work for me!

I want to ride my bike dammit! WAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! :crybaby:



You can buy a gel seat cover. Very comfortable....:praying:

[nycfem]

Angie, is your bike a recumbent bike, meaning, does it have a back for you to lean against? I hope so, because I find that really helpful.

Since stationary biking is my THANG (in a big way), here are my suggestions based on my own experience:

1) If you have the ability to move the seat a little more forward (so that your legs are more bent), do so, because it takes pressure off your ass.

2) When you bike, focus your mind on putting the pressure on your feet and legs and AWAY from your stomach, ass, and back. Bare forward not back, so that all the tension is in your legs, as if you are walking, not sitting.

3) Take 5-10 minute breaks of getting off the bike when your ass hurts. It rejuvenates itself a good amount during these breaks.

4) Does your bike have levels? The higher the level, the more your ass will hurt. Also, the faster you go, the more your ass will hurt. Try biking at the lowest level (or a lower level) if your bike has settings for levels, and try biking slower. To keep your heart rate up, get yourself some 1 pound (and you can keep going up in pounds as you train) weights to lift while you bike. You can always use soup cans or other similar objects if you don't have weights. If that feels like too much, try just doing arm exercises, as if you are holding weights. For instance, I will put my arms out like Jesus on the Cross (just describing the style) and rotate them in small circles for as long as I can stand. Then I will take a break and do the same thing again. There are so many simple exercises to do with hands and arms, and it's very surprising how, even without any weight, they keep the heart rate up! If you like the style, I'll show you 30 or so of them at the Reunion! Me = nerd.

5) Start doing some butt exercises each time after you bike. One that I like is to lay on my back with my knees up and lift my pelvis, tighten my cheeks, and hold for as long as I can. Repeat.

6) Keep up with the bike in smaller time frames so as not to wear out your ass. Gradually increase over days/ months, never going to a point where your ass gets a real beating.

7) Have your partner or personal masseuse give you a nice relaxing butt massage with healing lotions every night after you have used the bike. Alright, I admit that I just made that one up, but it does sound lovely, doesn't it?



I'm feeling pissy because my ass is so bruised that I can't stand to get on my stationary bike. :poc-rant:

I did 10 minutes this morning just as a warm-up and I had wanted to do another 25 minutes tonight but even sitting there is pretty painful. I've been riding it steadily for about a week now and was hoping this pain would go away dammit!

Anyone else tried to wad up a huge beach towel to sit on that tiny bike seat while you ride? Well, it did NOT work for me!

I want to ride my bike dammit! WAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! :crybaby:

[Leigh]

Evening everyone,

Before anyone else does it, I'm coming in to tell on Myself ~ I had bought a bag of Doritoes earlier for tonight and ended up telling a few people in chat tonight ...... I got chewed out (in a polite way) and was told that I'd get told on. I put them away, they are out of sight and out of mind and I won't be eating them ~ it was a moment of weakness but I know that I can be strong and resist those temptations when they are not needed. My parents don't eat the ones I bought (Jalapeno and Cheddar) so they can just stay there or I will give them to someone else. I'm instead having one of My Special K 100 calorie fruit crisp snacks and a smal glass of pepsi (its the only one I've been allowing Myself). I'm glad for friends to keep Me on track, kick My a** when its needed and keeping Me on track (and in line) ........... good to know I have people behind Me :-)

[Rockinonahigh]

You are going thrue the same things we all go thrue when we first become health wise,for me it was when I quit smokeing a year ago,I know I did the yoyo thing about quiting.Id buy a pack and swear I could only smoke a fue hear and there then finaly quit.It didnt work that way cause I was always buying the safty pack to have around till one day I was somkeing a ciggy out of no where I went into a stage 4 asthma attack...not fun let med tell u.I gess thats what turned the tables for me cause I havent smoked sence.What I did was totaly change my routine,I stoped buying gas at my fav circke K cause they always ask if I wanted a pack or two wich I would say "yeah gimmie a couple" just out of habit.When I started on my begaining to take charge of my health I had the same prob...I told myself..one little chip wont hurt...but I cant eat just one.Where I didnt change where I shoped I told myself I was stronger than a potato chip or any food that wasnt good for me,its not easy but can be done.Now I just have it in my head that im well worth the work it take to be stronger than my foodie habbit.
Mathew, I have faith in you ablity to take charge of you life one day at the time,one step at the time.One thing I have done is take pictures of when I felt my best and looked like I wanted to look,I put them in the kitchen...on the fridge,on the cabnet doors as well as where I keep my seasonings and such..A visual note to myself to keep on keepin on.

[JustJo]

One thing I have done is take pictures of when I felt my best and looked like I wanted to look,I put them in the kitchen...on the fridge,on the cabnet doors as well as where I keep my seasonings and such..A visual note to myself to keep on keepin on.

I love this idea Rockin! :)

What a great way to motivate ourselves with the positive of how we want to look and feel. :rrose:

I'm keeping up with the eating program....sometimes finding it challenging when I'm rushing between meetings without a lot of time to prepare lunch. Think I need to spend a little more time doing the fruit and veggie preparations right after I buy them, instead of when I have 12 minutes to make and eat a salad between calls.

I got back on the Mobia for the first time in weeks yesterday. Only did 5 minutes because I'm back at square one as far as my endurance goes on it. I've resolved to get on it every day....because if I take one day off it turns into weeks. I'll start with the 5 minutes I can do, and add one minute every few days as my health coach recommended. My goal is 30 minutes, so that system seems silly....but, hey, if I get up to 30 minutes by November...I'll still be up to 30 minutes, right? :)

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Everyone,

I have noticed that since I left my old department, I am not having any junk food cravings. Except for the brownies that I made the other night. I bought two bags of salad mix with my favorite organic raspberry olive oil dressing and I've been having that with a sprinkle of low fat shredded cheese for lunch yesterday and dinner, Monday night. I can tell the difference already! I'm not as bloated and I have more energy!! I bought a small bag of m&m's yesterday and I told my mentor, that if the phone rang before I could eat one, that was a sign that I wasn't supposed to have them. The phone rang after I ate the first one and I ended up giving the bag to my supervisor.

Zimmy

[*Anya*]

Evening everyone,

Before anyone else does it, I'm coming in to tell on Myself ~ I had bought a bag of Doritoes earlier for tonight and ended up telling a few people in chat tonight ...... I got chewed out (in a polite way) and was told that I'd get told on. I put them away, they are out of sight and out of mind and I won't be eating them ~ it was a moment of weakness but I know that I can be strong and resist those temptations when they are not needed. My parents don't eat the ones I bought (Jalapeno and Cheddar) so they can just stay there or I will give them to someone else. I'm instead having one of My Special K 100 calorie fruit crisp snacks and a smal glass of pepsi (its the only one I've been allowing Myself). I'm glad for friends to keep Me on track, kick My a** when its needed and keeping Me on track (and in line) ........... good to know I have people behind Me :-)

Matthew- For me, I could delude myself so easily. Buying something and "putting it away", really does not work (at least for me).

It would sit there and gently keep calling my name: "Anya, cookies. Right up here in the corner where you hid us. Come on, just one. You know you want us".

I would then not be able to think about anything but those cookies until I went to get then. One cookie would turn into 10 or the bag.

I just no longer kid myself. I can't buy them, I can't have them in the house. Period.

When I got back on my eating plan, I bought a box "just to have on hand" for the GD. Bullshit. I bought it for me. I was honest with myself and opened the bag, filled it with water, put it in a trashbag and took it out to the garbage.

Matthew, you might want to get rid of those Doritos-just sayin...

Just weighed. Finally lost that damn 1/2 pound. Just weighed. 10 down, next decade to go. I have totally gotten control back and it feels awesome even though I lose at a snail's pace. It is what it is.

Hugs,

[PinkieLee]

Good morning y'all! I hope that your Wednesday is off to a happy & healthy start!

Well, we got our butts to the gym last night. Luckily, Zumba classes were in session, so we were able to have the women's workout area to ourselves! Weeee for picking tv stations & fans blowing on us ;) I did a 10 minute warmup on the treadmill, then 20 minutes on the elipitical and then about 10 minutes on the arm toning machines. We are headed back tonight, so I'm gonna try to add another 5 minutes to the elipitical time and add 10 more crunches (cause lord knows my abs kill me by the time I hit 100). It felt good to get the ball rolling again... now, I've just gotta keep going!

Meals planned for the day....

Breakfast:
a toasted cinnamon raisin english muffin
a banana
and a small sugar free vanilla iced coffee

Lunch:
Lean Cuisine meatloaf & mashed potatos
cucumber & tomato slices

Dinner:
grilled chicken tenderloins
steamed veggie mix (brocolli, carrots, califlower & snap peas)
brown rice
and cantalope & watermelon for dessert

Snacks:
yogurt with granola
and a multigrain crackerful

Quick question? Is there a workout video (or video fitness instructor) that you can suggest? Years ago I lost a significant amount of weight doing Richard Simmons tapes (don't laugh), but I gifted them to a friend. I'm looking at starting up workouts at home... when D doesn't want to go to the gym. I'm really interested in the bellydancing ones or even a beginners Zumba. I've tried the Biggest Loser one (and honestly threw my guts up! Needless to say, I haven't used it since).

[Medusa]

YES!

ANY of the Bellydancing dvd's by the Bidasha twins is amazing and fun (and not so high impact that you'll regret it or won't have fun)

They go through the basics of Bellydance and talk about the why's and how's! You'll dig it!

This is the one I have and love but they have several different ones and they're all good:

http://www.a-world-music-instruction-videos.com/WebStore/NJ/images/Veena-Neena-Bellydance-Slim-Down-Front.jpg

[PinkieLee]

YES!

ANY of the Bellydancing dvd's by the Bidasha twins is amazing and fun (and not so high impact that you'll regret it or won't have fun)

They go through the basics of Bellydance and talk about the why's and how's! You'll dig it!

This is the one I have and love but they have several different ones and they're all good:

http://www.a-world-music-instruction-videos.com/WebStore/NJ/images/Veena-Neena-Bellydance-Slim-Down-Front.jpg


AWESOME Medusa... THANK YOU!

I was looking at different videos this morning on Amazon (thinking I could get something pretty cheap used) and the sheer number of exercise videos is mindblowing! I will definitely check it out.

A local friend of mine also joined our gym. She told me that on Friday evenings they have bellydancing classes. Soooo... I'm thinking if I start out with a video to see what kind of moves they do, I might join in.

I still haven't ventured into the Zumba class though YET. Those women are ANIMALS ;)