Healthy Weight Loss

[JustJo]

Hi everyone,

I looked for a thread on this topic and didn't see one...so (since this is part of my goal for this year), I thought I'd start one. :)

As a diabetic, I have to be careful of fad diets... and losing weight makes it much easier to manage my condition (not to mention finding cute clothes when out shopping!)

When I was first diagnosed, I followed the diabetic diet religiously, walked an hour a day, and lost 50 lbs. Woo hoo! Unfortunately, the diabetic diet makes life no fun...and I gradually went off of it. As a result, I've regained about 25 of those pounds over the last 5 years. Not a quick gain, but frustrating and unhealthy.

So...for 2011...I've resolved to get back to my walking...starting with 2 miles a day since I'm out of shape and working (as quickly as possible) back to the 4 mile walk that helped me lose weight initially, and which I know helps me maintain a healthy level of fitness.

I've also resolved to improve my diet...not the diabetic diet (cuz I'll want to hurt someone), but an easier to manage version using Weight Watchers points.

My weight loss goal (for now) is 35 lbs.

Here's a link (http://www.augustgames.com/weightwatchers.htm) to a very handy list of food point values (but I still cannot figure out the crazy formula on top to save my life...all I know is that about 25 points works for me).

Anyone want to share hints, tips, advice, and support on losing weight in a healthy way?

[lipstixgal]

This is great and the points chart is good too. I am trying to do weight watchers too and have 29 points per day and have to lose like 50 lbs so I am subscribing to this thread for daily inspiration!!

[shadows papa]

Subscribing and will be back later!

[JustJo]

Sweet! I just found this great link (http://www.ehow.com/how_4871046_calculate-many-weight-watchers-points.html) for calculating how many Weight Watchers points you're allowed each day...and it's easy.

The best part? I get 26 points, not 25.....wooooooooo hooooooo! :cheer:

I also found another link (http://www.ehow.com/how_5018650_figure-weight-watchers-activity-points.html) to a calculator that tells you how many extra points you can earn by exercising...so every brisk half hour walk gives me 2 more points. Love it! Now that's incentive to put on my walking shoes. :)

[sylvie]

yaaaaaay !
this thread is right up my alley, actually..
one of my resolutions is not just about losing some weight, but getting healthy again..

i will definitely be checking out the point system links! thank you!
looking forward to making some BIG changes in my life :)
having some buddies to do it with will help tremendously!

[Tommi]

I go to a WW Meeting every Sat. AM at 6:30. They have a new points calculator and a new ponts system that started this year...UGH..

My Doc told me I was borderline diabetic about 6 months ago. My cholesterol was high, along with my BP..and my thyroid was wacky.

She said you must have beans, legumes, veggie's and fruits in the house. You must quit using Drive-Thrus as your food groups, and you must exercise.

I BEGAN eating organic fruits and veggies, veggie soups , regularly and quit eating meat, bread and dessert. I eat fish more often. My lab results last month were dramatically improved, plus I had a healthy weight loss, and feel great.

It will be an amazing year, and I am dedicated to either growing to 8 feet tall, or losing weight, feeling better, and having my bloodwork and BP results be great. Tired of being undertall for my weight.:)

I struggle, but am surviving and thriving. I am a NON-Cook, so, steaming veggies and making veggie soup is easy. After dinner was hardest-because chocolate or sweets call to me. My solution was not to buy, or allow bad stuff in my house. Holidays and Birthdays are exempt, and looked at as an okay time to have single portions of bad stuff I can't leave in the cupboards or fridge. I have air popped popcorn, without anything, and that does the trick.

Jacuzzi and pool in the morning, and walking the 2 flights of stairs at work instead of the elevators has helped.

When I NOW grocery shop, I take the extra steps and return the shopping cart to the rack at the store. Every step is helping. Oh..and my buddy bought me a new pedometer for Christmas.

Okay. subscribing and thriving, with a LOoooooonnnnng way to go.

[sylvie]

[QUOTE=Tommi;261051]
Oh..and my buddy bought me a new pedometer for Christmas.
[QUOTE]

those pedometers are GREAT.. i have one, and actually need to start using it again, im curious just how much walking i do in the run of a day, but when i was using it, i found that seeing how many steps i took was very encouraging to want more and more, and you are right every step does count Tommi!! mine comes with a radio on it though which burned the batteries like crazy, i need to figure out how to switch that option off, or maybe ill just buy some rechargables!

long road for us all, but i'm on board too.. i needed to clear my mind before i could commit, and i feel i am 'there' now..

i need this, for health & for self esteem!

[JustJo]

Yay! I am so glad to have others to share this project with! :)

And yes on pedometers! My doctor told me to aim for 10,000 steps a day...challenging when I work from home and the furthest I go is the coffe pot.

I put the dog on leash and walked 2 miles today...first time in a long time (like over 4 months). Wow, I could feel it ...and so could he, poor thing...but it's good for both of us. I figure I'll start with 2 miles and work our way up. The doc said that doing 2 separate walks of 2 miles a day is even better because it keeps the metabolism fired up...so that's what I'm aiming for.

Tommi...I'm so glad you're seeing results. You definitely want to stay out of diabetic territory if you possibly can...it's no fun. I have damage to my eyes, and the nerves in my feet...scary stuff. And, oh yea, fast food is my mortal enemy. Periodically it lures me back (because I simply adore Big Macs)...but they really aren't worth what they do to me...or anyone for that matter!

Yay us! :cheer:

[sylvie]

10,000 a day! seems like sooo much, hehe..
but, i bet they add up way quick, i am going to dig out my pedometer right now, actually and get the battery/radio situation figured out , and then use it tomorrow or sunday! just curious how many steps i would take in the run of a normal day, without an actual work out.. and then one with a work out.. heh

i'm really happy about this thread..
i was tested for diabetes not all that long ago actually, but results came back negative, thankfully.. i had a lot of the symptoms, especially the excessive thirst, i can't seem to quench it most times..

[lipstixgal]

I just shoveled not something I really want to do but does that count as an activity?? I also walked today too which should count as an activity also..whoo hoo

[katsarecool]

Shoveling does count!!!! Count me in!

[Gemme]

Just for kicks, I plugged my info into the points'ometer and came up with 24. I'm not sure what good that will do me, as I don't count points, but it's good to know, I guess.

*grin*

I use the website thedailyplate.com to log my daily food intake and exercise. You set up your free profile, with your age, activity level, et cetera and then, as you add food, it makes the adjustments necessary. When you add exercise or actitivies (shoveling, sex, even walking on crutches!), it makes the adjustments to your caloric limit, since an exercising and/or working hard body requires more fuel.

For me, it's helped a bit to remind myself that that's all food is. Fuel. Some days, usually about 10-14 days out of the month, I don't care what the Hell it is, I just WANT it, but the rest of the time, it helps. I don't put sugar or sand in my car. It would ruin my engine, so why do I put so much sugar and junk in my body? I've had to have some pretty heavy 'what is food to me' discussions with myself over the past few months.

On my better days, it's fuel for my body. On my less than stellar days, it's comfort to soothe sadness or hurt feelings, to alleviate boredom, or to fill a void of some kind that I'm just not ready to address.

I've actively been exercising and eating healthier for about 2.5 months now. I had the luxury of being able to spend a LOT of time at the gym (nearly every day for at least an hour) before I found my job. Now, I am going about 3 times a week for an hour and a half each time. Since I began doing all this, I've dropped about 15 pounds.

I still have a little ways to go before I am at my goal weight, but it's not just the number on the scale that I'm working towards. I'm slowing teaching myself that, while it's fine to indulge now and then and for special occasions, when I reach for something to eat, I want my first instinct to be something that is good for me. I am making progress, but it's definitely a journey that I've just begun.

[lipstixgal]

I had a WW meal and a salad maybe banana bread for dessert or just a yogurt as a snack because you need three milks for WW..I'm so glad this thread is here..Thanks Jo[/COLOR]

[Tommi]

Shoveling does count!!!! Count me in!

Never gonna have snow here. BUT , I did trim a 15 foot high Bougainvillea bush, and raked eucalyptus and pepper tree debris from our 7 days of rain. Grass is still too mushy to mow today though.

So,if interested, here is a Body Mass Index Calculator . Here it is.. :goodluck: (http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html)

[betenoire]

I don't like the BMI thing at all. it doesn't take into account things like body type and muscle mass.

[Zimmeh]

Thank you Tommi!!!

I just did the BMI calculation and my results did not please me. I am going to lose those last 30lbs.

Zimmy

Never gonna have snow here. BUT , I did trim a 15 foot high Bougainvillea bush, and raked eucalyptus and pepper tree debris from our 7 days of rain. Grass is still too mushy to mow today though.

So,if interested, here is a Body Mass Index Calculator . Here it is.. :goodluck: (http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html)

[Tommi]

I don't like the BMI thing at all. it doesn't take into account things like body type and muscle mass.

"Center for Disease Body Mass Index: FAQ link (http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.html#Other%20Ways)

""""CDC:Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problem"

The better discriptors here :byebye: (http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.html#Other%20Ways)

How reliable is BMI as an indicator of body fatness?
The correlation between the BMI number and body fatness is fairly strong; however the correlation varies by sex, race, and age. These variations include the following examples: 3, 4

At the same BMI, women tend to have more body fat than men.
At the same BMI, older people, on average, tend to have more body fat than younger adults.
Highly trained athletes may have a high BMI because of increased muscularity rather than increased body fatness.
It is also important to remember that BMI is only one factor related to risk for disease. For assessing someone's likelihood of developing overweight- or obesity-related diseases, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines recommend looking at two other predictors:

The individual's waist circumference (because abdominal fat is a predictor of risk for obesity-related diseases).
Other risk factors the individual has for diseases and conditions associated with obesity (for example, high blood pressure or physical inactivity).
For more information about the assessment of health risk for developing overweight- and obesity-related diseases, visit the following Web pages from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:"""Assessing Your Risk
Body Mass Index Table
Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults

[Zimmeh]

Thank you Jo Jo for starting this thread!

Four years ago I put myself on a diet to lose the weight I had gained from being in college. My starting weight was 210lbs and I am 5'0 tall. I lost 60lbs and I have been able to keep 43lbs off.

I was drinking three 20oz bottles of coke a day. That was my first step, to give up soda. I did it cold turkey and I lost 35lbs in two months. I can powerwalk three miles a day and I try to do that atleast three times a week.

My goal is now to lose the last 30lbs to bring me down to 137lbs.

If you have an iPhone, the app I use is called LoseIt.

I'm subscribing!

Zimmy

[Tommi]

Give up Diet Coke....So, that really helps huh............
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xudVvW5q4Rs/Ss5JnTfWbZI/AAAAAAAAEdY/lZK46e5oU-M/s400/diet_coke.jpg

[shadows papa]

"Center for Disease Body Mass Index: FAQ link (http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.html#Other%20Ways)

""""CDC:Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problem"

The better discriptors here :byebye: (http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.html#Other%20Ways)

How reliable is BMI as an indicator of body fatness?
The correlation between the BMI number and body fatness is fairly strong; however the correlation varies by sex, race, and age. These variations include the following examples: 3, 4

At the same BMI, women tend to have more body fat than men.
At the same BMI, older people, on average, tend to have more body fat than younger adults.
Highly trained athletes may have a high BMI because of increased muscularity rather than increased body fatness.
It is also important to remember that BMI is only one factor related to risk for disease. For assessing someone's likelihood of developing overweight- or obesity-related diseases, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines recommend looking at two other predictors:

The individual's waist circumference (because abdominal fat is a predictor of risk for obesity-related diseases).
Other risk factors the individual has for diseases and conditions associated with obesity (for example, high blood pressure or physical inactivity).
For more information about the assessment of health risk for developing overweight- and obesity-related diseases, visit the following Web pages from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:"""Assessing Your Risk
Body Mass Index Table
Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults

Tommi thanks for the additional info on the BMI. I'm not and never will be a huge proponent of using this scale but I am a nutrition wonk and LOVE learning new things!

[Tommi]

Tommi thanks for the additional info on the BMI. I'm not and never will be a huge proponent of using this scale but I am a nutrition wonk and LOVE learning new things!

Same here, I checked out Gemme's link, and will follow up on it. :hamactor:

[JustJo]

Thanks for the BMI link Tommi....I came up much higher than I like. Of course, it says for my height a range of 119 to 152 is normal...and I know that the lowest weight I've had as an adult (living on fish and salad and working out 2 solid hours a day) was 155.

For me, a weight of about 175 is fabulous...I feel good, I look good, clothes fit well, my diabetes is under control...and, yes, I still have a big butt! :cheesy:

Weight is such an individual thing...I think as long as the numbers are good (blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.) then the rest is just a matter of where I feel good.

[sylvie]

today and tomorrow i work split shifts, but, i am going to do a work out tonight after work even if its just a walk, or maybe i can do something here at home..
i am home between shifts right now, i walked home from work this morning, and will be walking back to work again shortly, so that is 'some' activity..

but, i walk everywhere, so i guess it is considered activity that my body is used to.. since i walk to and from work everyday..

a site i really like is sparkpeople, you can keep track of everything there, has a blog feature, forums you can join, can even keep track of activity you did, how much water you drink, and gives you goals you can set etc..
the link is sparkpeople (http://www.sparkpeople.com/) .. incase anyone wants to try it.. it has a lot of great articles as well..

my days off are monday and tuesday again.. im going to take the time to get on those WW sites and learn about the whole points thing, thats been suggested to me by a few people, and they really swear by it..

my goal today is to drink lots of water, ive got 3 glasses into me so far, so i'm doing well.. i've cut out all soda pop, finally.. i kept saying i was going to, and then i would allow myself a can a day but, i found (for me) it was encouraging me to want more.. soda pop really makes me feel blah, and prevents me from losing the weight i want to lose as well, so i knew it was something that i needed!

[Zimmeh]

When I stopped drinking soda and when I craved one, I would keep a natural fruit soda called, Izze soda. It is fruit juice and sparkling water.

Have fun at work!

Zimmy

today and tomorrow i work split shifts, but, i am going to do a work out tonight after work even if its just a walk, or maybe i can do something here at home..
i am home between shifts right now, i walked home from work this morning, and will be walking back to work again shortly, so that is 'some' activity..

but, i walk everywhere, so i guess it is considered activity that my body is used to.. since i walk to and from work everyday..

a site i really like is sparkpeople, you can keep track of everything there, has a blog feature, forums you can join, can even keep track of activity you did, how much water you drink, and gives you goals you can set etc..
the link is sparkpeople (http://www.sparkpeople.com/) .. incase anyone wants to try it.. it has a lot of great articles as well..

my days off are monday and tuesday again.. im going to take the time to get on those WW sites and learn about the whole points thing, thats been suggested to me by a few people, and they really swear by it..

my goal today is to drink lots of water, ive got 3 glasses into me so far, so i'm doing well.. i've cut out all soda pop, finally.. i kept saying i was going to, and then i would allow myself a can a day but, i found (for me) it was encouraging me to want more.. soda pop really makes me feel blah, and prevents me from losing the weight i want to lose as well, so i knew it was something that i needed!

[RockOn]

JustJo, I am the same way about Big Macs. I have to order 2 to make it worth my while. One only leaves me with the "wanting" feeling. Not that it really helps but I do take out the middle piece of bread. I do it because I am not that fond of bread and it really only serves as bland filler for me.

[JustJo]

When I stopped drinking soda and when I craved one, I would keep a natural fruit soda called, Izze soda. It is fruit juice and sparkling water.


That's a great suggestion Zimmy! I love soda and miss it, but know that I can't drink regular soda...and diet soda isn't great for me either. Last time I was in AZ my work buddy turned me on to Zevia soda also...sweetened with Stevia, so no sugar, no artificial sweetener...and stevia actually has a stabilizing effect on diabetics' blood sugar levels. It's expensive, and I need to order it.....although I just discovered Amazon will deliver it free.

JustJo, I am the same way about Big Macs. I have to order 2 to make it worth my while. One only leaves me with the "wanting" feeling. Not that it really helps but I do take out the middle piece of bread. I do it because I am not that fond of bread and it really only serves as bland filler for me.

I am convinced that Big Macs are addictive Brock....there's something about them! I do like your idea of taking out the center bread for those times when I do cave in and get one though...at least I can feel a tiny bit virtuous, even as I'm cheating!

I pretty much blew it yesterday....had such a busy day of shopping that I didn't get my walk in...so my exercise was pushing shopping cart and dodging people in WalMart, walking in BJ's, and carrying in bags. Not great. I also ate too much...and was just getting ready to be all hard on myself when I remembered that the last time the WW points thing worked for me, I took one day a week "off." I followed the points 6 out of 7 days, walked at least 5 out of 7....and it worked. So....yesterday was my day off....and I don't even have to feel bad about it! :)

Cheers to you all!

[RockOn]

JustJo, make sure you scrape all the dressing off the middle piece of bread and back in to the burger when you remove it. It makes the experience so much better. :)

Damn, it is 8:30 a.m. ... our city is preparing for an ice storm ... and all I can think of now is a couple of Big Macs. Must get a couple as soon as they start serving burgers at 10:30 a.m. - forunately I have less than a mile to drive.

Gotta have ... the craving has hit! LOL!

[sylvie]

When I stopped drinking soda and when I craved one, I would keep a natural fruit soda called, Izze soda. It is fruit juice and sparkling water.

Have fun at work!

Zimmy

ooo Zimmy, interesting, thank you! ive not thought of that..
i know what i 'was' doing was allowing myself a can when i truly, truly craved it .. which seemed to work for about the first week but, then i kinda fell off the wagon and so i'm thinking i just need to stop it altogether..

one day i was watching Dr Oz (I LOVE DR OZ!!!) and the program had a bit in it about diet soda, and i learned that diet soda although low in calories really isn't great and a lot of people cannot lose weight while drinking it, kinda screws things up.. wonder if i could find the article on his site somewhere...
ANYway, i've been a diet pepsi drinker, so i know i really need to quit it! lol..

finding something as an alternate for when i really crave it would be a great idea, thank you! i'm going to look for something like that.. because i know if i drank mostly water and then had a craving, a small glass of something would be enough to curb my realllllllly wanting that diet pepsi, eh! hehe..

[sylvie]

JustJo, make sure you scrape all the dressing off the middle piece of bread and back in to the burger when you remove it. It makes the experience so much better. :)

Damn, it is 8:30 a.m. ... our city is preparing for an ice storm ... and all I can think of now is a couple of Big Macs. Must get a couple as soon as they start serving burgers at 10:30 a.m. - forunately I have less than a mile to drive.

Gotta have ... the craving has hit! LOL!

omg, i haven't had a big mac in ages, LOL.. *pushes that thought out of my mind fasssst*
ice storms suck Brock, i remember a bad one we had this way some years ago, knocked electricity off for a week ! stay warm and safe !

[sylvie]

tomorrow is my really big day - ive been workin alot the last 2 days, but im sooo pushing myself into getting seriously seriously serious (lol) about this..
ive been doing great for drinking lots of water - think ive got that down, and it *is* helping for curbing the appetite some..

my doctor gave me a prescription for a medication called xenical (i think its called that) and i havent picked it up yet, but she says its very, very safe to use when i talked to her about my worry with my appetite.. i hate feeling like im hungry after ive eaten something healthy, lol.. she said that if i stopped taking this medication i wouldnt gain my weight back, like you would with diet pills, that these arent diet pills.. she explained it to me, however i want to do a lil research on it first to be sure .. but in the meantime, maybe drinking all this water will help and i wont need the medication at all, i'd much rather not take anything..

i am starting off at the gym tomorrow, i can DO this.. =)
i feel extremely motivated to do this, actually! it's a great feeling!

[JustJo]

one day i was watching Dr Oz (I LOVE DR OZ!!!) and the program had a bit in it about diet soda, and i learned that diet soda although low in calories really isn't great and a lot of people cannot lose weight while drinking it, kinda screws things up.. wonder if i could find the article on his site somewhere...
ANYway, i've been a diet pepsi drinker, so i know i really need to quit it! lol..


Hi sylvie,

I'm so glad you posted this! I was hunting for a link that I (thought) I had put in the diabetes thread...but now I'm not finding it....grrrrrrr....

Anyway, there have been studies that show that diet soda (and artifical sweeteners) while having zero calories themselves, actually increase your cravings for sweet foods...and also change the way your body processes the calories it receives from other sources and makes you more likely to store them as fat.

I'll keep looking for the article...

[JustJo]

Hi sylvie,

I'm so glad you posted this! I was hunting for a link that I (thought) I had put in the diabetes thread...but now I'm not finding it....grrrrrrr....

Anyway, there have been studies that show that diet soda (and artifical sweeteners) while having zero calories themselves, actually increase your cravings for sweet foods...and also change the way your body processes the calories it receives from other sources and makes you more likely to store them as fat.

I'll keep looking for the article...

Okay, this (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1711763,00.html) isn't the one I was looking for, but it covers some of the same idea....

[sylvie]

Ohhh Jo, thank you!!
yess, thats pretty much what was being said on Dr Oz too..
i was so focused on the fact of reading labels and thinking that low calories and no fat was a good thing, always.. sooo not the case..
and in all honesty, as much as i love my diet soda.. *ahem* and i hate admitting this, i always feel so blah and sluggish after drinking it..
my energy level is sooooooo awesome if i go a day or some days without it..

TY again for the link! i have a lot of stuff to get myself properly on track tomorrow, but the last couple of days ive been well behaved and at least eating okay and getting the water intake..

i admit though, i'd realllllllllllllllly LOVE a diet pepsi right now LOL..

[Toughy]

info on xenical.............. http://www.drugs.com/xenical.html

basically it blocks fat from being absorbed.....which means any and all fat you eat gets pooped out almost immediately......get ready for some seriously abnormal stools and gas.....close proximity to a bathroom is a requirement...

here is the side effects part from above: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/xenical-side-effects.html

I know folks who tried it and lasted maybe two weeks before they stopped taking it......because of the gastrointestinal problems.

-------------------
Safeway grocery stores sell stevia.....there are a couple of different brand names....so does Trader Joe's and Whole Foods...it should be in most big chain grocery stores where you find sugar.

[JustJo]

info on xenical.............. http://www.drugs.com/xenical.html

basically it blocks fat from being absorbed.....which means any and all fat you eat gets pooped out almost immediately......get ready for some seriously abnormal stools and gas.....close proximity to a bathroom is a requirement...

here is the side effects part from above: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/xenical-side-effects.html

I know folks who tried it and lasted maybe two weeks before they stopped taking it......because of the gastrointestinal problems.

-------------------
Safeway grocery stores sell stevia.....there are a couple of different brand names....so does Trader Joe's and Whole Foods...it should be in most big chain grocery stores where you find sugar.

Hey Toughy....thanks for posting this. I was interested to see that xenical is the stuff that's marketed as Alli.

The company I work for (a wellness company) has a whole system of health coaches and programs for us....and the weight loss program provides Alli to anyone who wants it free....however, they specifically do not allow diabetics or others with any kind of chronic condition to take it through their program. When I asked why, the nurse hemmed and hawed a bit, then said...."well, it's pretty tough on the body. We don't recommend that anyone who isn't in ideal health take it."

That was enough for me!

[sylvie]

info on xenical.............. http://www.drugs.com/xenical.html

basically it blocks fat from being absorbed.....which means any and all fat you eat gets pooped out almost immediately......get ready for some seriously abnormal stools and gas.....close proximity to a bathroom is a requirement...

here is the side effects part from above: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/xenical-side-effects.html

I know folks who tried it and lasted maybe two weeks before they stopped taking it......because of the gastrointestinal problems.

-------------------
Safeway grocery stores sell stevia.....there are a couple of different brand names....so does Trader Joe's and Whole Foods...it should be in most big chain grocery stores where you find sugar.

ohh, wow, thank you Toughy..
see this is why i want to research anything, my doctor is very much a pill pusher, and i'm very much against taking medication for no good reason..
i really, seriously appreciate the link, don't think i'll be trying that , seems the water is curbing it and if i can get over a one or two week period i'm sure the appetite problem will start to get easier. (least i hope so)..

[lipstixgal]

Hey Toughy....thanks for posting this. I was interested to see that xenical is the stuff that's marketed as Alli.

The company I work for (a wellness company) has a whole system of health coaches and programs for us....and the weight loss program provides Alli to anyone who wants it free....however, they specifically do not allow diabetics or others with any kind of chronic condition to take it through their program. When I asked why, the nurse hemmed and hawed a bit, then said...."well, it's pretty tough on the body. We don't recommend that anyone who isn't in ideal health take it."

That was enough for me!

I was thinking about trying that Alli maybe not so good idea huh?? I have asthma and firbro and a multitude of other things going on so maybe I will just diet and exercise to lose the weight!!

[sylvie]

Hey Toughy....thanks for posting this. I was interested to see that xenical is the stuff that's marketed as Alli.

The company I work for (a wellness company) has a whole system of health coaches and programs for us....and the weight loss program provides Alli to anyone who wants it free....however, they specifically do not allow diabetics or others with any kind of chronic condition to take it through their program. When I asked why, the nurse hemmed and hawed a bit, then said...."well, it's pretty tough on the body. We don't recommend that anyone who isn't in ideal health take it."

That was enough for me!

yeah the hemm'in and haw'in would be enough for me as well..
i was happy with the fact i wouldnt gain weight back and they werent like a diet pill, but really dont want to cause other problems to myself either.. i want to solve my problem, not create 2 or 3 more lol !!!

[sylvie]

i friended some of ya's from this thread, that i didnt have already as friends, hope tis okay .. kinda like havin' gym pals or walkin' buddies haha.. =)

[Sachita]

I got this www.loseit.com its free. I put it on my iphone and love it. I suck at writing my food journal but this I can enter right away, put the amount of exercise and track my progress. I'm normally awful at this.

You can invite friends to support you.

I'm eating healthy but no diet foods for me. screw that! I decided I would eat a huge piece of crusty fresh baked bread everyday and I just do it but try and keep my meals healthy. The most important thing is tracking and I know if I stick to a 2 pound a week weight loss I'll reach my goal. If my calories happen to go over I just exercise more to balance it out.

just have a look. I think you'll like it and if you have a smart phone its very cool.

[Julie]

info on xenical.............. http://www.drugs.com/xenical.html

basically it blocks fat from being absorbed.....which means any and all fat you eat gets pooped out almost immediately......get ready for some seriously abnormal stools and gas.....close proximity to a bathroom is a requirement...

here is the side effects part from above: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/xenical-side-effects.html

I know folks who tried it and lasted maybe two weeks before they stopped taking it......because of the gastrointestinal problems.

-------------------
Safeway grocery stores sell stevia.....there are a couple of different brand names....so does Trader Joe's and Whole Foods...it should be in most big chain grocery stores where you find sugar.

Another thought of Fat and it's importance, especially to ones brain. Which my 19 year old informed me about last night, during our discussion of dieting and people who choose no-fat diets.

What are we doing to our brains?

Healthy fats are essential to good health
The human body uses fatty acids to do everything from building cell membranes to performing key functions in the brain, eyes, and lungs. The functions of fats include:

Brain – Fats compose 60% of the brain and are essential to brain function, including learning abilities, memory retention and moods. Fats are especially important for pregnant women, since they are integral to fetal brain development.

Cells – Fatty acids help your cells stay moveable and flexible, as well as being responsible for building cell membranes.

Heart – 60% of our heart’s energy comes from burning fats. Specific fats are also used to help keep the heart beating in a regular rhythm.

Nerves – Fats compose the material that insulates and protects the nerves, isolating electrical impulses and speeding their transmission.

Lungs – Lung surfactant, which requires a high concentration of saturated fats, enables the lungs to work and keeps them from collapsing.

Eyes – Fats are essential to eye function.

Digestion – Fats in a meal slow down the digestion process so the body has more time to absorb nutrients. Fats help provide a constant level of energy and also keep the body satiated for longer periods of time. Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) can only be absorbed if fat is present.

Organs – Fats cushion and protect your internal organs.

Immune System –Some fats ease inflammation, helping your metabolism and immune system stay healthy and functioning.

Obviously there is lots on the subject. I have been contemplating going on a fat free diet - have done this before and lots tons of weight. Never thinking the ill effects it might have to the rest of me.

[JustJo]

So glad you posted this IF! The nutritionist I worked with early on in my diabetes had a long talk with me about healthy fats (olive oil, avocados, nuts, etc.) and unhealthy fats (trans fats, fatty red meat, processed foods in general)...and it's an important distinction.

I think too often we think of fat as the enemy...and we're lumping the good in with the bad. There's a world of difference to your body if you're eating fresh avocado vs. french fries. :)

[Zimmeh]

What I learned in my Anatomy and Physiology class is that it takes nine hours for the body to breakdown fats. That your body needs proteins in order to keep the body healthy and that you live without carbs and fats but not proteins. I love cooking with extra virgin olive oil and fresh spices.

I am excited about starting my Human Nutrition class on the 18th.

Have a good day,

Zimmy

Another thought of Fat and it's importance, especially to ones brain. Which my 19 year old informed me about last night, during our discussion of dieting and people who choose no-fat diets.

What are we doing to our brains?

Healthy fats are essential to good health
The human body uses fatty acids to do everything from building cell membranes to performing key functions in the brain, eyes, and lungs. The functions of fats include:

Brain – Fats compose 60% of the brain and are essential to brain function, including learning abilities, memory retention and moods. Fats are especially important for pregnant women, since they are integral to fetal brain development.

Cells – Fatty acids help your cells stay moveable and flexible, as well as being responsible for building cell membranes.

Heart – 60% of our heart’s energy comes from burning fats. Specific fats are also used to help keep the heart beating in a regular rhythm.

Nerves – Fats compose the material that insulates and protects the nerves, isolating electrical impulses and speeding their transmission.

Lungs – Lung surfactant, which requires a high concentration of saturated fats, enables the lungs to work and keeps them from collapsing.

Eyes – Fats are essential to eye function.

Digestion – Fats in a meal slow down the digestion process so the body has more time to absorb nutrients. Fats help provide a constant level of energy and also keep the body satiated for longer periods of time. Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) can only be absorbed if fat is present.

Organs – Fats cushion and protect your internal organs.

Immune System –Some fats ease inflammation, helping your metabolism and immune system stay healthy and functioning.

Obviously there is lots on the subject. I have been contemplating going on a fat free diet - have done this before and lots tons of weight. Never thinking the ill effects it might have to the rest of me.

[Zimmeh]

Sweet potatoes are good to! What I learn in my human nutrition class, I will gladly pass it on!

Zimmy

So glad you posted this IF! The nutritionist I worked with early on in my diabetes had a long talk with me about healthy fats (olive oil, avocados, nuts, etc.) and unhealthy fats (trans fats, fatty red meat, processed foods in general)...and it's an important distinction.

I think too often we think of fat as the enemy...and we're lumping the good in with the bad. There's a world of difference to your body if you're eating fresh avocado vs. french fries. :)

[Toughy]

Diet is the food you eat.........we all are on a diet....

The truth is changing your diet must be a permanent thing. You can't expect weight loss to be permanent with most of these diet plans because you will simply go back to your old eating habits as soon as you lose the pounds you wanted.

You have to permanently change your eating habits. That is one of the reasons Weight Watchers works.

I know a few folks who have had good results long-term by simply cutting out white processed food......white rice, white bread, white sugar, white flour, etc...........

-----------------
I hate pill pushing doctors.....you can go to the doctor and walk out without getting a prescription.........I also do my best to know about what drugs I am taking. The internet is such a good tool for that....... drugs.com is a good place to start......

[Blade]

I agree Toughy. Diet is what we eat. I've tried many diets over the years all worked until I'd lost some weight, hit a plateau lose interest and go back to eating like I'm use to and gain the weight back.

I've lost weight cutting out fat, cutting out whites, cutting out soft drinks, and cutting out carbs. Just one at the time on different occasions. The most weight I've ever lost and kept off for any length of time and yall are going to laugh was. In '84 I lost 90 pounds drinking beer and eating rice and cream of mushroom or chicken soup and smoking ciggy's. LOL I kept it all off until the mid to late 90's and I think as Sassy has hit on, I think the regain was psychological.

Though I now know it can be dangerous to cut out anything totally, I think one of the best things I ever did was South Beach. Yes I had caffeine withdrawal and sugar withdrawal and a head ache from hell for 3 days about day 10 or 12 and the shakes from not having sugar for 2 weeks, I'd never go that route again but the best thing that came from it is that I haven't and don't truly crave anything ever and haven't since I did South Beach probably about 8 or 10 yrs ago and I did maintain that weight for several years.

The best thing I have found is lifestyle changes and eating habits are better than any "diet". Portion control and exercise. I hate it myself because I want results fast but unfortunately that isn't the way I gained it and it's doubtful I'll lose it that quickly either.

Good Luck to everyone regardless of your choice of dieting strategy.

[Wryly]

I don't drink coffee - I get my caffeine from Pepsi. I know the sugar and stuff is bad for me - but I drink it anyway.
A few months back I had a bad cold. Since I was feeling like crap anyway I decided that it was the perfect time to give up Pepsi. The headaches and general crappyness the Pepsi withdrawal caused I blamed on my cold. It was bad for a couple of days and then I felt great.
However - I fell off the wagon going into the holidays. The Rum & Cokes were just a stepping stone to total relapse. But - I'm going to give up Pepsi again. Is it odd that I'm hoping I'll catch a cold soon?

[DapperButch]

That's a great suggestion Zimmy! I love soda and miss it, but know that I can't drink regular soda...and diet soda isn't great for me either. Last time I was in AZ my work buddy turned me on to Zevia soda also...sweetened with Stevia, so no sugar, no artificial sweetener...and stevia actually has a stabilizing effect on diabetics' blood sugar levels. It's expensive, and I need to order it.....although I just discovered Amazon will deliver it free.

I plan to try this soda. Just heard about it and found out I should be able to get it in my area.

Personally, I don't like Stevia as a sugar substitute, but I am going to see what it is like in the soda.

Until recently I used this: http://www.wheylow.com/ as my sugar substitute and it was far the best I have found.

Recently I started using Agave Nectar, natural, made from the juice of the agave. This is the brand I have acccess to in my area: http://www.madhavahoney.com/AgaveNectar.aspx

Good thread, Jo.

[Gemme]

JustJo, make sure you scrape all the dressing off the middle piece of bread and back in to the burger when you remove it. It makes the experience so much better. :)

Damn, it is 8:30 a.m. ... our city is preparing for an ice storm ... and all I can think of now is a couple of Big Macs. Must get a couple as soon as they start serving burgers at 10:30 a.m. - forunately I have less than a mile to drive.

Gotta have ... the craving has hit! LOL!

For some cravings like this, I make my own version at home that's better for me and often more cost effective. After all, the special sauce is derived from simple, ordinary household foods.

ooo Zimmy, interesting, thank you! ive not thought of that..
i know what i 'was' doing was allowing myself a can when i truly, truly craved it .. which seemed to work for about the first week but, then i kinda fell off the wagon and so i'm thinking i just need to stop it altogether..

one day i was watching Dr Oz (I LOVE DR OZ!!!) and the program had a bit in it about diet soda, and i learned that diet soda although low in calories really isn't great and a lot of people cannot lose weight while drinking it, kinda screws things up.. wonder if i could find the article on his site somewhere...
ANYway, i've been a diet pepsi drinker, so i know i really need to quit it! lol..

finding something as an alternate for when i really crave it would be a great idea, thank you! i'm going to look for something like that.. because i know if i drank mostly water and then had a craving, a small glass of something would be enough to curb my realllllllly wanting that diet pepsi, eh! hehe..

Diet drinks have formaldehyde in them. While it may help to keep you looking younger, I'm not sure the inside of your body will be as lucky.

Hi sylvie,

I'm so glad you posted this! I was hunting for a link that I (thought) I had put in the diabetes thread...but now I'm not finding it....grrrrrrr....

Anyway, there have been studies that show that diet soda (and artifical sweeteners) while having zero calories themselves, actually increase your cravings for sweet foods...and also change the way your body processes the calories it receives from other sources and makes you more likely to store them as fat.

I'll keep looking for the article...

Sweets do tend to create the desire for more in me. The same for carbs. I can eat both until it's coming out of my ears but once I break that cycle, it's harder to slip back into it.

ohh, wow, thank you Toughy..
see this is why i want to research anything, my doctor is very much a pill pusher, and i'm very much against taking medication for no good reason..
i really, seriously appreciate the link, don't think i'll be trying that , seems the water is curbing it and if i can get over a one or two week period i'm sure the appetite problem will start to get easier. (least i hope so)..

When I first started working out more, my appetite became rampant. In about two to two and a half weeks, it calmed down and a lot of my very intense cravings disappeared. I only rarely get cravings now. :)

[sylvie]

yess Gemme i heard that usually once you are over that 2 week hump, it gets easier (and yay you!! must be awesome to rarely have the cravings).. i seem to cave in prior to that 2 week hump - lol !!! but, i am going to do lots of water drinking, i actually find now that im being more faithful with getting lots of water into me, my appetite isn't all too bad!
i definitely won't be trying that xenical now, eesh!
i think my biggest thing i need to work on right now, is the diet soda..
from reading everything posted, and some articiles on sparkpeople, my appetite is probably increased more with all the diet soda drinking i was doing too.. so, my best bet is to quit it.. QUIT IT LOL.. (thats a message to myself in caps) and go from there.. the rest i am pretty sure i'm getting on track with...

so my plan is, not doing this one day and another one day.. but staying firm on working on it all together, now! =)

[sylvie]

ohhhh and today, i made it to the Gym bright & early.. the workout was great, i always feel so awesome and energetic after working out or getting outside and walking.. After the Gym, i walked to my appointment (also walked to the gym)

it's amazing how i not only feel energetic, but it really, really puts a super positive spin on the rest of my day.. i've been eating really well today and drinking lots of water too..

i really, really, really need to get some batteries for the pedometer now!
ohh and may purchase myself an mp3 player too, for when im walking outdoors.. the outdoor walks are refreshing, and although icy and snowy times i dont want to walk so much, when the nicer weather is upon us i know ill be outside cruising on foot much more often!

lastly, just want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone.. between encouraging rep, accepting friend requests and helpful posts, links and group encouragement here on the boards, you all rawk!

[JustJo]

I'm working on drinking a lot more water too...makes such a difference in how I feel, and it really does help to control appetite too. One technique I'm using was a suggestion I read (somewhere) that said most of the time that we think we're hungry...we're actually thirsty. The idea is that when you feel hungry, have a glass of water and wait 15 or 20 minutes. If you're still hungry...then eat! :eating:

I find that about half the time, I was actually thirsty.

I need to get to the farmers market tomorrow...I eat a lot more veggies and fruit when I have a variety of beautiful, fresh stuff in the house. :)

[Zimmeh]

I love to drink water! I drank 64oz today and started my morning off with one cup on Soecial K's, Vanilla Almond cereal with 1/3 cup nonfat milk.

I put in my current weight and my goal weight into my LoseIt app, and I am only allowed to eat 1,200 calories a day.

Have a good night,

Zimmy

I'm working on drinking a lot more water too...makes such a difference in how I feel, and it really does help to control appetite too. One technique I'm using was a suggestion I read (somewhere) that said most of the time that we think we're hungry...we're actually thirsty. The idea is that when you feel hungry, have a glass of water and wait 15 or 20 minutes. If you're still hungry...then eat! :eating:

I find that about half the time, I was actually thirsty.

I need to get to the farmers market tomorrow...I eat a lot more veggies and fruit when I have a variety of beautiful, fresh stuff in the house. :)

[DapperButch]

I'm working on drinking a lot more water too...makes such a difference in how I feel, and it really does help to control appetite too. One technique I'm using was a suggestion I read (somewhere) that said most of the time that we think we're hungry...we're actually thirsty. The idea is that when you feel hungry, have a glass of water and wait 15 or 20 minutes. If you're still hungry...then eat! :eating:

I find that about half the time, I was actually thirsty.




I have heard that, too. Plus, how one should drink a glass of water prior to eating, since it fills you up.

[Zimmeh]

I love my iPod shuffle for when I go powerwalking. My iPod shuffle is hot pink.

Have a good day,

Zimmy

ohhhh and today, i made it to the Gym bright & early.. the workout was great, i always feel so awesome and energetic after working out or getting outside and walking.. After the Gym, i walked to my appointment (also walked to the gym)

it's amazing how i not only feel energetic, but it really, really puts a super positive spin on the rest of my day.. i've been eating really well today and drinking lots of water too..

i really, really, really need to get some batteries for the pedometer now!
ohh and may purchase myself an mp3 player too, for when im walking outdoors.. the outdoor walks are refreshing, and although icy and snowy times i dont want to walk so much, when the nicer weather is upon us i know ill be outside cruising on foot much more often!

lastly, just want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone.. between encouraging rep, accepting friend requests and helpful posts, links and group encouragement here on the boards, you all rawk!

[sylvie]

I love my iPod shuffle for when I go powerwalking. My iPod shuffle is hot pink.

Have a good day,

Zimmy

ohh hot pink!! i lurve pink! =)
i'm definitely going to try and get something soon..
i'm a music lover, and with doing anything, music motivates me more..
i get a better work out when im listening to music, plus the time goes faster eh? hehe...

[sylvie]

i've been loving how drinking more water is making me feel too..
the only way i can drink water is when it is really cold, so i usually pop the bottle into the freezer for a bit and when it gets to the point its starting to freeze, i take it out and drink it then..

i got about six 8 oz. glasses of water into me today, i may grab another now.. i know i'm constantly thirsty, but since i've been off the diet soda, i'm not excessively thirsty like i was..

do any of you's who quit drinking the soda find the same thing?
i still get thirsty often but not as much as i was before.. it was like i couldn't quench my thirst whatsoever..

YAY to all the changes we've been making!

[Zimmeh]

One of my favorite artists to powerwalk to is, PitBull. The beat to his music is fun to try and keep up with! If I am not in the mood to listen to him, I listen to Nine Inch Nails. I love to mix up my music.

Have a goodnight,

Zimmy

ohh hot pink!! i lurve pink! =)
i'm definitely going to try and get something soon..
i'm a music lover, and with doing anything, music motivates me more..
i get a better work out when im listening to music, plus the time goes faster eh? hehe...

[sylvie]

ahhh yes, i love Pitbull and SUPER love Nine Inch Nails, i'm a fan of Trent Reznor!! =) we have similar music tastes Zimmy, :D so we could swap music players every other day to change it up if we lived close to each other :P

[Zimmeh]

I noticed that to. I think it is from your body's desire for the large amounts of sugar. I found the Izze sodas were a good substitute for a month and then I couldn't drink them anymore.

I now drink one or two 8oz cups of coffee with just creamer, and I usually cannot finish the second cup. I also switched to SoyMilk instead of cow's milk. That has helped with keeping the weight off.

Hope this helps,

Zimmy

[Zimmeh]

I love the song PitBull did with Enrique Iglesias! My dad was a musician, and I became a music junky as a result.

Zimmy


ahhh yes, i love Pitbull and SUPER love Nine Inch Nails, i'm a fan of Trent Reznor!! =) we have similar music tastes Zimmy, :D so we could swap music players every other day to change it up if we lived close to each other :P

[Soon]

Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857,00.html)

[Gemme]

yess Gemme i heard that usually once you are over that 2 week hump, it gets easier (and yay you!! must be awesome to rarely have the cravings).. i seem to cave in prior to that 2 week hump - lol !!! but, i am going to do lots of water drinking, i actually find now that im being more faithful with getting lots of water into me, my appetite isn't all too bad!
i definitely won't be trying that xenical now, eesh!
i think my biggest thing i need to work on right now, is the diet soda..
from reading everything posted, and some articiles on sparkpeople, my appetite is probably increased more with all the diet soda drinking i was doing too.. so, my best bet is to quit it.. QUIT IT LOL.. (thats a message to myself in caps) and go from there.. the rest i am pretty sure i'm getting on track with...

so my plan is, not doing this one day and another one day.. but staying firm on working on it all together, now! =)

i've been loving how drinking more water is making me feel too..
the only way i can drink water is when it is really cold, so i usually pop the bottle into the freezer for a bit and when it gets to the point its starting to freeze, i take it out and drink it then..

i got about six 8 oz. glasses of water into me today, i may grab another now.. i know i'm constantly thirsty, but since i've been off the diet soda, i'm not excessively thirsty like i was..

do any of you's who quit drinking the soda find the same thing?
i still get thirsty often but not as much as i was before.. it was like i couldn't quench my thirst whatsoever..

YAY to all the changes we've been making!

Good for you!!!

As for the water intake, unless I'm actually in the middle of a workout, I find it hard to swallow (ha!) plain water. I found a bottled water that's not too expensive and is actually filtered (versus Aquafina, which is tap basically) and I enjoy the taste much more but I can't drink only bottled water, so I have a trick. I buy those water flavoring packets. Crystal Light and Ocean Spray make them, but so does Wal-Mart (Great Value brand) and most grocery stores that sell them have a less expensive brand too. I love the orange, apple, strawberry kiwi, grape, fruit punch, pomegranate, and white cran peach flavors.

If you opt to try these, just remember the red ones (fruit punch, pom, etc) WILL be red and stain your lips and tongue. I tend to drink those at home only.

[DapperButch]

Hey, folks!

Today I received an email giving me a coupon code for 15% off of the above product I mentioned. I am sure that anyone can use the code, so if you are considering checking it out (www.wheylow.com), use coupon code

NEWYEAR

in the section that says "got a coupon code?", and then hit apply.

Really, it truly is the best sugar substitute I have ever tried. Hands down.

[sylvie]

Good for you!!!

As for the water intake, unless I'm actually in the middle of a workout, I find it hard to swallow (ha!) plain water. I found a bottled water that's not too expensive and is actually filtered (versus Aquafina, which is tap basically) and I enjoy the taste much more but I can't drink only bottled water, so I have a trick. I buy those water flavoring packets. Crystal Light and Ocean Spray make them, but so does Wal-Mart (Great Value brand) and most grocery stores that sell them have a less expensive brand too. I love the orange, apple, strawberry kiwi, grape, fruit punch, pomegranate, and white cran peach flavors.

If you opt to try these, just remember the red ones (fruit punch, pom, etc) WILL be red and stain your lips and tongue. I tend to drink those at home only.

ahh yes, we're so alike.. i cant drink the tap water, it tastes awful here in the city, and ive never much liked aquafina and i guess now i can understand why lol... i just had a bottle night before last that was in fridge, i drank about 1/4 of it and tossed the rest.. is it really like tap water?

ooo love the idea of the water flavoring packets.. i buy the crystal light juice often, its yummy.. must be same section so i will check it out, Thanks for the great idea Gemme!

[sylvie]

Today will not be a gym day for me, i'm only home for a couple of hours between shifts, by the time i walk there and walk back home, then have to go back to work, i wouldnt have much time to actually work out! LOL..

but, i am going to do a workout here at home after work!
a friend also suggested some yoga DVD's i could get, i do love yoga but, the time they do the classes at the gym doesn't work for me, i'm usually at work til 7pm at night most day.. so going to look into those DVD's..

so question for you all: between walking outside, going to the gym, and other things you do for a workout that are outside of the home - on days you simply cant make time for those things, what kinds of exercises or workouts do you do at home? i really need to find some things that work for me, just to keep my motivation going, that way when i have a split shift with longer time in between, or days off, i can go to the gym no problem.. but i really need something extra for home... so just curious if you've all any ideas to throw at me! :)

[Gemme]

ahh yes, we're so alike.. i cant drink the tap water, it tastes awful here in the city, and ive never much liked aquafina and i guess now i can understand why lol... i just had a bottle night before last that was in fridge, i drank about 1/4 of it and tossed the rest.. is it really like tap water?

ooo love the idea of the water flavoring packets.. i buy the crystal light juice often, its yummy.. must be same section so i will check it out, Thanks for the great idea Gemme!

There was a big to do about just how filtered bottled water was and some of the brands came up short. I don't have an article or link, but I'm pretty sure that Aquafina was one of those that filtered less than the others and was, pretty much, the same out as it was coming in (the water into the filtration system, that is).

I tend to go up and down almost all the aisles versus just going to very specific aisles to shop, so I'm not positive, but I think I do see the packets on the juice aisle.

Today will not be a gym day for me, i'm only home for a couple of hours between shifts, by the time i walk there and walk back home, then have to go back to work, i wouldnt have much time to actually work out! LOL..

but, i am going to do a workout here at home after work!
a friend also suggested some yoga DVD's i could get, i do love yoga but, the time they do the classes at the gym doesn't work for me, i'm usually at work til 7pm at night most day.. so going to look into those DVD's..

so question for you all: between walking outside, going to the gym, and other things you do for a workout that are outside of the home - on days you simply cant make time for those things, what kinds of exercises or workouts do you do at home? i really need to find some things that work for me, just to keep my motivation going, that way when i have a split shift with longer time in between, or days off, i can go to the gym no problem.. but i really need something extra for home... so just curious if you've all any ideas to throw at me! :)

This is the equipment I have at home. Granted, I don't use it nearly as much as I should, but it's here in case I do. :)

Jump rope, a 10 lb. kettlebell, the "Perfect Pushup", resistance bands, a weighted ball, and videos/dvds.

If you are trying to get SOMEthing but don't want to break the bank on it, I suggest using some things around the house. For example, use a couple of towels laid down instead buying a yoga mat (unless you have one or were going to get one anyway) or use gallon jugs of water for weights. Buy one hand weight or kettlebell and just alternate the usage with your hands and arms.

Things that are super easy to do without any real 'equipment': sit ups, crunches, and most ab work in general, very light weight training using things you have around the house, push ups (can be done on the floor with legs straight or knees bent or standing up against a wall at an angle), jumping jacks (Are you on the second or higher floor? Make sure your neighbors aren't sleeping!), planks, yoga and/or stretching. There's more but that's all my brain's allowing me to process right now.

I had an awesome workout today and am now replenishing my food stores...aka stuffing my face....:cheesy:

[Abigail Crabby]

Good for you!!!

As for the water intake, unless I'm actually in the middle of a workout, I find it hard to swallow (ha!) plain water. I found a bottled water that's not too expensive and is actually filtered (versus Aquafina, which is tap basically) and I enjoy the taste much more but I can't drink only bottled water, so I have a trick. I buy those water flavoring packets. Crystal Light and Ocean Spray make them, but so does Wal-Mart (Great Value brand) and most grocery stores that sell them have a less expensive brand too. I love the orange, apple, strawberry kiwi, grape, fruit punch, pomegranate, and white cran peach flavors.

If you opt to try these, just remember the red ones (fruit punch, pom, etc) WILL be red and stain your lips and tongue. I tend to drink those at home only.

I totally hate tap water and can barely choke down bottled water. (water rusts yer pipes yanno) but seriously

I buy the flavored packets so that I will drink bottled water.

There is a bottled water distributed by Publix in Florida that I love with or without the flavor packets. Go figure lol

[lipstixgal]

I don't like tap water either and have my water delivered by Poland Spring in 5 gallon jugs so I have plenty of water to drink on a daily basis better then soda or other things but I do like my tea and only have that once a day..Its more economical to have it delivered to me anyway..

[Wryly]

I don't drink diet sodas or add the flavour packets to water because I don't like the aftertaste of the artificial sweeteners. Usually I add a slice of lemon or lime to my water and I'm fine.
Like I said before - I don't drink coffee. But I do like tea.

A few years ago my sister was diagnosed as being borderline diabetic. She didn't change her eating habits and only rarely exercised. But now she's decided to take care of herself - eating healthier, starting to take walks.
One of the things that surprised me is that she's even willing to eat vegetarian for several meals a week. We've both been testing our blood in the mornings - mine is anywhere from 6.5 to 6.8 depending if I had a snack/Pepsi before bed. Her levels have dropped for almost 16 to 12.8!

[sylvie]

my goals today:

- sign & set up sparkpeople site.. to keep track of my weight, exercise & food intake.. its important i keep track of it somewhere..
- have already done a very early workout this morning, (and that felt so great!!) but plan on figuring out an ab workout regime as well as some more workout exercises to do at home once i'm home this evening... i have a stepper, resistance bands, some 2 lb and 3 lb weights to use as well..
- make a list of things to get to aide me in my healthy journey - some DVD's for workouts at home.. measuring tape, weight scale, mp3 player
- get a schedule of the zumba classes at my Gym, and plan around my work shifts next week and choose one zumba class to attend and try..
- also plan a workout schedule in advance around my work hours, then i'll hold myself to it, if i planned to go in the first place..
- & lastly, research some healthy snack foods, and set some rules for myself to follow

[sylvie]

Gemme thank you so much again for your tips & help!
and thank you everyone else too, you've all given me so much information - i swear each day i get more and more motivated.. before long i'll be so well equipped to make this happen, and i'm seriously soo lovin' it..

i notice small things already - like my clothing feeling a lil less tight, and my energy level soaring compared to before.. the positivity in my attitude and the increase in workout..
now i want to start keeping track of everything, i'm sooo ready for more!

[Gemme]

my goals today:

- sign & set up sparkpeople site.. to keep track of my weight, exercise & food intake.. its important i keep track of it somewhere..
- have already done a very early workout this morning, (and that felt so great!!) but plan on figuring out an ab workout regime as well as some more workout exercises to do at home once i'm home this evening... i have a stepper, resistance bands, some 2 lb and 3 lb weights to use as well..
- make a list of things to get to aide me in my healthy journey - some DVD's for workouts at home.. measuring tape, weight scale, mp3 player
- get a schedule of the zumba classes at my Gym, and plan around my work shifts next week and choose one zumba class to attend and try..
- also plan a workout schedule in advance around my work hours, then i'll hold myself to it, if i planned to go in the first place..
- & lastly, research some healthy snack foods, and set some rules for myself to follow

Don't forget your local library! Most have several dvds that you can check out without having to purchase them. :)

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Wryly,

I am also not a fan of artificially sweetened products. I try and work out as much as I can during the week, and since college starts on Tuesday, I will be walking around the campus trying to find my classes.

Have a good day,

Zimmy

I don't drink diet sodas or add the flavour packets to water because I don't like the aftertaste of the artificial sweeteners. Usually I add a slice of lemon or lime to my water and I'm fine.
Like I said before - I don't drink coffee. But I do like tea.

A few years ago my sister was diagnosed as being borderline diabetic. She didn't change her eating habits and only rarely exercised. But now she's decided to take care of herself - eating healthier, starting to take walks.
One of the things that surprised me is that she's even willing to eat vegetarian for several meals a week. We've both been testing our blood in the mornings - mine is anywhere from 6.5 to 6.8 depending if I had a snack/Pepsi before bed. Her levels have dropped for almost 16 to 12.8!

[Zimmeh]

Good morning everyone,

My goal today is to join Weight Watchers online. I have been putting all of my calorie information into my LoseIt app and so far I am staying under my daily calorie intake of 1,200 calories a day.

Have a good day!!

Zimmy

[sylvie]

Don't forget your local library! Most have several dvds that you can check out without having to purchase them. :)

you always suggest the best of things! LOL
i didn't even think of the library actually, i was thinking on getting some books too so perfect idea, i will add that to my list of things to do this week.. the library is a hop, skip and a jump from me...

=)

[sylvie]

i did an early morning workout today and feel okay, i hurt myself yesterday so probably should not have pushed it but im medicated lmao... so it eases the pain some..i did some research yesterday starting with a link Gemme shared, on ab workouts and went from there.. but i struggled with the ab part for now since i pulled muscles around the tum and back.. so i'll work on that more soon as i can.

so this morning i did a combination of stepup's, resistance workout, some cardio and finished with some ab - can we say ouch? something i definitely need to work on and increase as i go though.. today was hard to do cuz of the hurt already..
so i didn't push myself and didnt get the workout i usually do.. i thought maybe stretching it out some would be good though since i work a busy shift today - so far i dont feel so badly.. not as painful as it was when i first got up..i was very careful.
i even remembered to do my stretches, something i often forget about..

[sylvie]

ohhh , i know mad poster is back again.. :seeingstars: LOL..
they dont call me miss gabbalot for nothing!!

question for ya's : can anyone suggest some healthy snack ideas ? i always buy some fruit, i need something crunchy and sweet or to kick those cravings.. i'm a potato chip lover and steering away from those obviously, but find i'm constantly craving those lol.

i know fresh pineapple is something that curbs my sweet tooth craving, but i can't buy enough for everyday LOL.. i need more ideas.. any suggestions you all have for snacking i'd appreciate..

[JustJo]

I have to be careful with snacking...I work from home so the kitchen is about 10 feet from my desk.

Having said that, when I do feel the craving for snacks I usually choose fruit...banana, apple, kiwi, fresh berries....or a granola bar. I love the kashi brand, and they're high in protein and fiber and whole grains and all that good stuff...they even have one that's dark chocolate and cherry and can almost make you believe it's a candy bar while still being healthy.

Other things I sometimes have....a small handful of nuts (although it's hard to stop at a handful), yogurt smoothie or a small carton of yogurt, string cheese (I get the individually wrapped ones...makes it easier to grab one and step away from the fridge :) ).

I love chips too....and we always have them in the house, which makes it tough. I have found that buying the single serving size (designed for lunchboxes) helps me. Again, I can grab one and walk away, and when I'm done...I'm done. I know they're wasteful on packaging, but it helps.

One thing I discovered with the diabetes is that I tended to eat on auto-pilot, and frequently didn't even taste my food. When I'm upset and doing "emotional eating" I can still find myself in that situation....with half a giant bag of BBQ chips gone and I don't even remember eating them or the flavor. I discovered that mindful eating helps. If I'm eating that snack size bag of chips, or that single square of Dove chocolate, I really focus on it....no other distractions.....I even close my eyes, and really experience the texture and flavor of what I'm eating fully. I've find my cravings are satisfied with a surprisingly tiny amount if I do this.

In other news....I haven't been as good about my walking or my diet as I like (it's been a rough week), but I still managed to lose 2 lbs. Yay! :cheer:

[nycfem]

I carry snacks in my purse and gym bag. Here's some of what I like:

Extend bars (150 cals each): http://www.extendbar.com/ (keeps your hunger down and your blood sugar in check). They are sweet and filling.

Apples and nuts (love raw cashews)

Whole wheat pretzels

oranges

bananas (good for potassium)

From the health food store: dry roasted edamame dusted w/wasabi powder. These come in a pack, and one-fourth of a cup is 130 calories. Snacks should be in this range of calories up to 200. I like these because they are spicy due to the wasabi. I love spice, and it gets me to drink water. They also come in a lightly salted flavor.

Pre-bagged popcorn from the health food store.

Here are some of my fave snacks that I can't carry around:

O% fat Greek yogurt (Greek yogurt is high in protein.). FAGE is my fave brand. I have this at least once a day, usually for breakfast. It's protein packed, and I add berries or banana or raisins or dried cranberries and walnuts, along with cinnamon and flax seed, plus whole grain puffs (my fave are Kamut grain). So yummy and filling.

String cheese, raw pistachios, and an apple.

I'm a vegetarian, so I buy fake/soy "ham" and wrap a few slices around a string cheese (like a sandwich wrap) and dip it in mustard while I eat it.

Whole grain rye crisps w/melted reduced fat cheese and salsa (healthy version of nachos)

An apple w/natural PB (I actually also buy individual PB packets, to make this an "on the go" snack)

Whole grain crackers (try "Mary's gone Crackers" brand) w/hummus.

ohhh , i know mad poster is back again.. :seeingstars: LOL..
they dont call me miss gabbalot for nothing!!

question for ya's : can anyone suggest some healthy snack ideas ? i always buy some fruit, i need something crunchy and sweet or to kick those cravings.. i'm a potato chip lover and steering away from those obviously, but find i'm constantly craving those lol.

i know fresh pineapple is something that curbs my sweet tooth craving, but i can't buy enough for everyday LOL.. i need more ideas.. any suggestions you all have for snacking i'd appreciate..

[Gemme]

you always suggest the best of things! LOL
i didn't even think of the library actually, i was thinking on getting some books too so perfect idea, i will add that to my list of things to do this week.. the library is a hop, skip and a jump from me...

=)

Hey, that hop, skip and a jump count towards your movement for the day!

:cheer:

i did an early morning workout today and feel okay, i hurt myself yesterday so probably should not have pushed it but im medicated lmao... so it eases the pain some..i did some research yesterday starting with a link Gemme shared, on ab workouts and went from there.. but i struggled with the ab part for now since i pulled muscles around the tum and back.. so i'll work on that more soon as i can.

so this morning i did a combination of stepup's, resistance workout, some cardio and finished with some ab - can we say ouch? something i definitely need to work on and increase as i go though.. today was hard to do cuz of the hurt already..
so i didn't push myself and didnt get the workout i usually do.. i thought maybe stretching it out some would be good though since i work a busy shift today - so far i dont feel so badly.. not as painful as it was when i first got up..i was very careful.
i even remembered to do my stretches, something i often forget about..

Always. Stretch.

:weightlifter:

Always.

It not only helps to alleviate potential soreness but smooths your muscles out nicely so they can heal better too, like a bubble bath does for some of us.

Did I mention to always stretch?

:blink:

ohhh , i know mad poster is back again.. :seeingstars: LOL..
they dont call me miss gabbalot for nothing!!

question for ya's : can anyone suggest some healthy snack ideas ? i always buy some fruit, i need something crunchy and sweet or to kick those cravings.. i'm a potato chip lover and steering away from those obviously, but find i'm constantly craving those lol.

i know fresh pineapple is something that curbs my sweet tooth craving, but i can't buy enough for everyday LOL.. i need more ideas.. any suggestions you all have for snacking i'd appreciate..

I :stillheart: snacks. I buy tons of them so I'll have plenty of options and won't feel as if I 'have' to eat one thing or another because I'm out of something. I'm totally an options kinda girl.

I have Orville Redenbacher's 100 calorie mini bags of popcorn in butter for my savory cravings and kettle corn for my sweet tooth. One bag pops up to 2-4 cups worth of popcorn!

Quaker rice cakes are YUMMY now. I like the caramel corn flavor the best and for 50 calories per cake, that's not too bad.

If you are good with portioning food, I recommend nuts. I look at the cannister or bag or whatever they come in and see what the serving size is and, if I can't see myself taking ONLY that many out at a time (and not going back), I don't get them. Wal-Mart makes a mix called Mountain mix. It has cashews and peanuts and raisins and M&Ms in it. For some reason, even though I don't care for M&Ms, I find it hard to stop at the serving size. So I don't buy it anymore. I do, however, have Planter's Creme Brule Almonds because, for some crazy reason, I can take out 18 of them and put them on a napkin or saucer and nibble on them and be good with it. They are SUPER yummy, btw.

For my nuttin's gonna cut it but pure unadulterated sugar fits, I keep Tootsie Pops in the house. One pop is 60 calories and if I'm playing online or watching TV while I eat it, I can stretch it out so that it takes me half an hour to an hour to finish it (I put it down while actually watching TV and suck on it during the commercials, for example.).

Cheese is good but...again...really only if you can control your portions. Nuts and cheese are notoriously high in fat, both good and bad, so I don't nash on them a lot unless I'm having some awful jonesin' cravings.

Reduced fat/sodium/calories/etc snack chips and crackers. Again, portion control.

I eat animal crackers. I get the HUGE bag at the Mart of Wal and divvy it up into ziplocks and so, I know how many servings are in each bag and I keep track of each little animal as it goes down my gullet.

I guess more than anything that's helped me thus far, regardless of what I'm eating, I eat less if I write it down. I carry a food journal with me EVERYWHERE (ask Ebon). I went out to Magnolia Cafe and Chili's the past couple of weeks with him and I wrote down everything I ate at both places. Even the bottomless chips and salsa and, yes, I had plenty. :tease:

I was surprised, though. Someone I consider a good friend said he was very uncomfortable with me doing that and he. actually. told. me. to. stop. doing. it.

:|

I was gobsmacked that someone thought that they had that kind of control over me, even if it was meant with love. I found THAT quite disturbing, actually.

What was I talking about again? :glasses:

I have to be careful with snacking...I work from home so the kitchen is about 10 feet from my desk.

Having said that, when I do feel the craving for snacks I usually choose fruit...banana, apple, kiwi, fresh berries....or a granola bar. I love the kashi brand, and they're high in protein and fiber and whole grains and all that good stuff...they even have one that's dark chocolate and cherry and can almost make you believe it's a candy bar while still being healthy.

Other things I sometimes have....a small handful of nuts (although it's hard to stop at a handful), yogurt smoothie or a small carton of yogurt, string cheese (I get the individually wrapped ones...makes it easier to grab one and step away from the fridge :) ).

I love chips too....and we always have them in the house, which makes it tough. I have found that buying the single serving size (designed for lunchboxes) helps me. Again, I can grab one and walk away, and when I'm done...I'm done. I know they're wasteful on packaging, but it helps.

One thing I discovered with the diabetes is that I tended to eat on auto-pilot, and frequently didn't even taste my food. When I'm upset and doing "emotional eating" I can still find myself in that situation....with half a giant bag of BBQ chips gone and I don't even remember eating them or the flavor. I discovered that mindful eating helps. If I'm eating that snack size bag of chips, or that single square of Dove chocolate, I really focus on it....no other distractions.....I even close my eyes, and really experience the texture and flavor of what I'm eating fully. I've find my cravings are satisfied with a surprisingly tiny amount if I do this.

In other news....I haven't been as good about my walking or my diet as I like (it's been a rough week), but I still managed to lose 2 lbs. Yay! :cheer:

Mindful eating is an excellent resource for maintaining your dietary program, whatever it may be. Not only will you eat less, but you'll enjoy it more.

No eating standing up. To the best of your ability, set up a routine place and well, routine, for eating. It's like when they say to have a routine for getting ready for bed will help your body rest better. If your body has a routine for prepping for food, it will 'feel' it more.

Did you know that your taste buds start to dull after only 3-4 bites of sweet stuff? I can imagine it's the same with salty or spicy too. So, once they start to dull, we start to chase the 'high' of the first bite or two and....if we're not mindful...can devour the whole darn thing. :blink:

Two pounds is GREAT for a week! Congrats.

[sylvie]

YAY thank you for the snack suggestions everyone, i knew ya's would give me some good ideas... there was a ton of stuff you all suggested that i would love, so this week, when i do my shopping im going to make a list of the things i need, and finally can go at this full force..

snacking is one of my big downfalls.. though i am going to try to stop eating at night, after 6pm.. i usually work til 7pm, and eat when i get home, so this will be a big change for me, ill have to bring something to work to eat there , rather than wait to get home..

so usually, once i am home, i want to snack cuz im too lazy to cook LOL..
but snacks for breaks at work, as well as days im home i'd love to eat healthier for..
Gemme, loved that idea with the tootsie pop too, i love tootsie pops and usually the commercial breaks are when i want to get up and scour the fridge or cupboards looking for something! oh and animal crackers, i love! and haven't had since sooo long..

TY so much again everyone, YAY!

[sylvie]

I love chips too....and we always have them in the house, which makes it tough. I have found that buying the single serving size (designed for lunchboxes) helps me. Again, I can grab one and walk away, and when I'm done...I'm done. I know they're wasteful on packaging, but it helps.

In other news....I haven't been as good about my walking or my diet as I like (it's been a rough week), but I still managed to lose 2 lbs. Yay! :cheer:

YAY on the 2lbs lost! congratulations Jo!
it's funny you say that about the single serving size of chips..
i've even found if i go to kitchen and grab a handful and put the bag back in the cupboard, then i'm fine and it's satisfied me.. but if i bring the bag with me to the living room, i eat and eat and eat.. it's neat how we can trick the mind with lil things like that, eh?

[sylvie]

Hey, that hop, skip and a jump count towards your movement for the day!

:cheer:



Always. Stretch.

:weightlifter:

Always.

It not only helps to alleviate potential soreness but smooths your muscles out nicely so they can heal better too, like a bubble bath does for some of us.

Did I mention to always stretch?

:blink:





yesss, i know! i'm terrible about not stretching, or ... i was anyway!
but now that i'm getting serious about all of this, it's something i need to do..
so from this day forward, i shall stretch!!
even before my hop, skip & a jump! hehe...
Thanks Gemme !!

[Zimmeh]

I had 1/2 of a grilled chicken breast with frozen yellow corn for dinner.

[Gemme]

YAY thank you for the snack suggestions everyone, i knew ya's would give me some good ideas... there was a ton of stuff you all suggested that i would love, so this week, when i do my shopping im going to make a list of the things i need, and finally can go at this full force..

snacking is one of my big downfalls.. though i am going to try to stop eating at night, after 6pm.. i usually work til 7pm, and eat when i get home, so this will be a big change for me, ill have to bring something to work to eat there , rather than wait to get home..

so usually, once i am home, i want to snack cuz im too lazy to cook LOL..
but snacks for breaks at work, as well as days im home i'd love to eat healthier for..
Gemme, loved that idea with the tootsie pop too, i love tootsie pops and usually the commercial breaks are when i want to get up and scour the fridge or cupboards looking for something! oh and animal crackers, i love! and haven't had since sooo long..

TY so much again everyone, YAY!

Thanks. I find that denying my sweet tooth totally just creates havoc, so I don't. They are yummy, aren't they?

My schedule is not the norm, I think, so even though I also place limits upon when I will eat....or stop eating, should I say...I don't have a specific time to stop. For myself, I don't eat within two hours of going to bed. If I wait too long between my last meal and then going to bed, I'll wake up hungry in the middle of the night and that's just not helpful in any way.

Let us know how it goes for you.

[sylvie]

ohh those are good points again Gemme...
i know i definitely do not want to deprive myself..
it would throw me back into binging probably, especially if i stress something..i automatically go for food , i'm such an emotional eater, it sucks lol!! i've been doing soo great, with not binging (or purging) and so tis why doing this the healthy way (as well as smart way for ME) is important..

i should probably do something similar, rather than saying by 6pm.. especially because i LOVE to eat while watching television.. maybe i would feel like i'm depriving myself, eesh!.. i want to be realistic about what i can do.. i work til 7 most nights, and come home hungry, but i dont eat before work either.. definitely need to change things up somehow, someplace so it works better for me - will be interesting that's for sure..

as long as i'm eating light, maybe at night.. or some of the healthier snacks that you all mentionned, wont be too bad.. like you, my schedule is not the norm, my work hours are scattered each day, sometimes i'm on call, my days off change often, some i work mornings, some nights, some splits, some all day you get my drift lol!! so setting an exact schedule wouldnt be too easy to follow all the time..

*ponders this*
Thank you again!

[Gemme]

ohh those are good points again Gemme...
i know i definitely do not want to deprive myself..
it would throw me back into binging probably, especially if i stress something..i automatically go for food , i'm such an emotional eater, it sucks lol!! i've been doing soo great, with not binging (or purging) and so tis why doing this the healthy way (as well as smart way for ME) is important..

i should probably do something similar, rather than saying by 6pm.. especially because i LOVE to eat while watching television.. maybe i would feel like i'm depriving myself, eesh!.. i want to be realistic about what i can do.. i work til 7 most nights, and come home hungry, but i dont eat before work either.. definitely need to change things up somehow, someplace so it works better for me - will be interesting that's for sure..

as long as i'm eating light, maybe at night.. or some of the healthier snacks that you all mentionned, wont be too bad.. like you, my schedule is not the norm, my work hours are scattered each day, sometimes i'm on call, my days off change often, some i work mornings, some nights, some splits, some all day you get my drift lol!! so setting an exact schedule wouldnt be too easy to follow all the time..

*ponders this*
Thank you again!

No worries. Glad my babbling is helping.

*grin*

Our blood sugar dips every...what?....3-4 hours....so it's important not to go very long in between meals.

I can't really snack at work, so I have to eat enough at breakfast to last til lunch (7am to 1pm window) and I still get the growlies about 12:30, but there's not much I can do to change that. I eat two packages of oatmeal with raisins or cream of wheat and skim milk mixed in for both on my work days because one package just doesn't cut it. I get mad, fierce growlies at 11am if I do that.

Once I'm home, though, I make sure to not go too long between meals and/or snacking. My temper spikes much easier if I'm hungry so it's best for everyone, really. :blink:

[Zimmeh]

I printed the syllabus for my Human Nutrition class today. I have to analyze food nutrition labels, create a healthier menu for myself and a couple of other assignments. I didn't realize the class is accelerated and I will be done in 8 weeks.

Have a good night,

Zimmy

[Lynn]

Hi to everyone,

Since May, I've been on Weight Watchers, which has been great for me. I've lost close to 25 lbs. My partner has probably lost closer to 45. It's easier to do it together, I have to admit. I always start with a bang and then lose steam.

On WW, nothing is off limits, you just have to watch portion control and make choices. It's been very helpful to develop the mindset that I *can* have anything I want. Now that I don't have to feel deprived, I can decide what I truly want.

Switching to all whole grains, including pasta and bread, eating more fruits and veggies, and adding healthy oils (I include nuts and avocados, even though WW doesn't say so) has made a difference. I try different types of fruits, for variety.

Some of my lifesaving snacks are Popchips, baked lays (both in single serve bags), 90 cal. Special K bars, rice krispie treats, freeze dried apple slices, Skinny Cow ice cream treats, and Progresso Soups. I don't overdo it, but these things help round out the day without going off the plan. I also like low fat popcorn, especially the kettle corn variety. Oh, we also eat the Vitalicious muffin tops. I find them on sale and use coupons. The pumpkin spice is amazing.

Good luck to everyone who is trying to get healthier. I am so ambivalent about losing weight, per se, but getting healthier is not something I can argue with. This year, with the weight loss, I am now back in a normal blood sugar range, my blood pressure is back down to its usual very low, and I no longer have gastric reflux. I have a lot left to lose, but things are definitely moving in the right direction.

[JustJo]

It's so inspiring to hear everyone's successes, and tips for healthier eating. :)

I made a big pot of vegetable soup, with a little very lean beef, white beans and 8 kinds of veggies...and I've been having that for lunch.

Love what you had to say about nothing being off limits, Lynn. That makes such a difference in my mind-set. As soon as something is forbidden...that's what I want to eat. :blink:

[Zimmeh]

If you have s Chik-Fil-A restaurant near you, I am recommending their grilled chicken and fruit salad. I am having that for lunch today with no dressing.

Have a good day,

Zimmy

[Gemme]

I have mixed feelings about Chik-fil-a. I love their food (their diet lemonade is da BOMB!) but they are super Christians that don't like our community.

The same for Curves. I love the concept; I just wish someone else came up with it.

In other news, I had cookies for dinner. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Not so long ago, if I had bought the bag and given myself permission to eat as many as I wanted (which I did), I would have eaten the whole bag instead of just a few. I have come a long way in just a few months. :)

[sylvie]

These last couple of days, i've not worked out..mainly because of my long work hours.. but today, no excuse!

but today is payday, had a few things to take care of, and thinking tomorrow morning, i will not only get the few things ive been wanting to make this a complete go for myself (stuff you've all suggested over the last couple of weeks) - but then also do the Gym!

i have spark people set up, and i'm ready to make a full attempt at this..
yesterday, i was saying to someone that i haven't drank any diet soda for about .. well at least a week, i think it's been more like 2 or 3 weeks though.. which is great ! i don't even feel like i'm missing it at all at this point, i mean i miss the taste of it, but i don't super crave it like i once did..

so i know i'm ready to tackle this from every angle now.. before, i wouldn't completely commit, even a few weeks ago.. it's always been eat healthy OR exercise OR walks each day OR quitting something, etc.. but for results, i need everything on board..

i've gotten so many suggestions, helpful hints & advice from all of you and soooooo appreciate it, you've no idea..
this journey i'm on was to help improve my self esteem, my self image and my own healthy well - being.. i had no idea i even had the strength to take all of this on, let alone the courage to 'want' it..

now it's just time to 'do' it.. i'm ready, physically & emotionally... YAY!

[Gemme]

Today is a mental health day for me, to wash off the past week and reenergize for the next one. No alarms were set last night and Ebon and I slept until 10:30.

Rest, check.

Then I made us a hearty breakfast. Reduced sodium bacon (The store was out of turkey bacon, can you believe it?) and Eggo waffles. Ebon had buttermilk and I had fiber plus calium waffles. He doesn't drink coffee a lot, but he made some and now the apartment smells like vanilla bean yumminess. I can't tolerate the taste of it, but I sure do love the aroma of some good coffee.

Fuel, check.

Ebon has had a difficult time getting to the gym too, since we share a vehicle and he's working when I get home and I get up and leave for work well before he gets up for the day, so we're taking advantage of the 24 hour access of our gym tonight and going after he gets off work.

Exercise, later.

I have a lot to do in the next three days but I'm setting most of it aside so that I can have today to decompress and just chill. Like Ebon said, I've missed our mornings. We used to do this on Sundays, but I work the weekends and he has a day off in the middle of the week, but I worked a full day, so we've been passing like ships in the night. So, lounging about together, watching Cougar Town while eating breakfast, has been good for us.

Relationship, check.

In a little while, I'm going to go to Hulu and watch American Idol's debut from last night and nudge Ebon to look at the ridiculous and to enjoy the awesome.

Entertainment, soon.

I'm also going to work on my crafts later tonight. When I'm doing that and not rushing it, it's very peaceful to me.

Zen, soon.

Soooooo, I think in terms of comprehensive healthfulness, I've got everything covered for the day!

:cheer:

[sylvie]

YAAAAAAAAY Gemme!
sounds like you do have everything in check, or soon to be in check hehe!

Nice how sometimes the small things can be all we need to put our day in check, really.. that has been the best part of me jumping into this journey, it's not only healthy physically, but for the mind as well!

i feel like i'm in such a better headspace, & lovin' it!

[Wryly]

My sister has been sick for a couple days. Today she finally went to the doctor. Apparently it is a sinus infection.
While she was there they went over the results from when she had her blood tested the other day. She's pre-diabetic but even she was surprised at how bad the numbers were - sugar high, cholesterol almost double what it should be, kidney not looking too good.
After our Christmas baking we started eating healthier - so she told her doctor that they could have been worse! But now she is more committed to eating healthier.
I told her baby steps - cut back on the processed foods and more fresh fruit and veggies. We looked at a couple cookbooks and planned a menu for the rest of the week. She has a shopping list and is heading out now.
I've been eating healthy - with a few slips here & there - but it will be so much easier now that she is going to really try too. When I cook it tends to be more healthier than when she cooks - - and she's been doing a lot of the cooking lately.

Tonight for dinner we're having pork chops with a pineapple chutney, rice, asparagus. and some sort of salad.

[sylvie]

Good Morning all..
i actually just realized the time and don't have much time to post anymore, but came to this thread because i need to make a quick list of snacks and things suggested to me over the last few weeks..

i'm out to run a few errands this morning, and then heading to the gym, or.. actually maybe the other way around lol... either way, i'll be back later on..

but wanted to thank you all again for all the suggestions, i'm eager to rawk this!! *happy dances*

be back afterrrr!

[JustJo]

Sometimes it's the little things...

I haven't been able to eat grapefruit (healthy, lo-cal, zero fat, lots of vitamin C...all that good stuff) for years due to being on Lipitor.

Now, my doc took me off that and put me on something else which is working better and....hurray! does not have the negative side effects with grapefruit.

I have also moved to south Florida....home of the gorgeous pink loveliness that is Indian River grapefruit.

I just had one for breakfast (yes, a whole one) with my coffee. I'm a happy girl! :cheesy:

[lipstixgal]

Sometimes it's the little things...

I haven't been able to eat grapefruit (healthy, lo-cal, zero fat, lots of vitamin C...all that good stuff) for years due to being on Lipitor.

Now, my doc took me off that and put me on something else which is working better and....hurray! does not have the negative side effects with grapefruit.

I have also moved to south Florida....home of the gorgeous pink loveliness that is Indian River grapefruit.

I just had one for breakfast (yes, a whole one) with my coffee. I'm a happy girl! :cheesy:

Really lipitor no grapefruit I didn't know that?? I was going to buy the pink ones too yesterday because I love them with splenda!!

[Wryly]

Dinner went pretty well last night: we had yellow rice and oven baked pork chops with this awesome spicy & sweet pineapple chutney that we found in a Weight Watchers cookbook. It had pineapple, apple, raisins, cinnamon, orange marmalade, ginger, garlic, onion, red bell pepper, ground cloves and some other stuff I can't remember off the top of my head. We were going to have asparagus but ended up not having any vegetable at all.
the best part? We were full - not stuffed. And we didn't do that mindless snacking while watching tv. My sister did talk about a snack around 11pm but just had a tea and then went to bed. This morning she said that last night she was "sort of" hungry but not really. I think it was because her son usually snacks on sandwiches or microwavable stuff (pizza, etc) at about that time so we are sort of used to eating then, even if we're not really hungry.
When she tested her blood this morning it had dropped to under 12 (mine was 6.3).
She didn't like when I was preparing the sauce - the ginger made her nose run. Imagine me - I was the one cooking the stuff! We put a couple slices of it in a cup of hot water for her, sort of like a tea. She said it tasted like hot ginger ale.

She's looking thru the cookbooks now for dinner. And maybe a low-cal snack for the evening.

[sylvie]

soooo...
i broke down.. and bought an elliptical!
I AM SO EXCITED.. now i have something that i know i can do at home..
its suuuch a beautiful machine haha..
this is totally encouraging me to keep up with the exercise on my days i work long shifts.. to do something in the comfort of my own home..

this along with the DVD i just bought, and the other exercise equipment i have.. im going to sit and figure out a nice workout routine.. on my days off i will definitely do the gym, because i can use the treadmill, the weight machines, and do the classes etc there too.. but now having the elliptical here at home, i'm just YAY'ing cuz its the machine i have the hardest time with, it works muscles im obviously not used to working, its a great workout for me..

*happy dancing*

anyway it just arrived, on a Sunday at that, wheeeeeee!

[Zimmeh]

There is one food that I keep in my pantry for the days when I won't be able to eat lunch until after 1pm. I love, Luna Bars, "Caramel Nut Brownie". It has:

Calories: 180 for 1 bar
Calories from fat: 50
Total fat: 6g
Sat fat: 2.5g
Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 110mg
Potassium: 180mg
Total Carbs:
Dietary fiber: 3g
Insoluable fiber: 1g
Sugars: 12g
Other carbs: 12g
Protein: 8g

They are a meal bar, so you can have them in place of a meal if you are like me, and really busy at school.

When I talked to Jo Jo lastnight, I was telling her about the new pyramid tracker that my Nutrition professor gave us. It allows you to track how much you eat and it gives you a report of where you stand for the daily amounts of vitamins and other nutrients that we need.

I am including a link to the page:

http://www.mypyramidtracker.gov/

Enjoy and have a wonderful day!

Zimmy

[nycfem]

Congrats! What brand did you buy? Do you have to set it up yourself?

BB and I would like to buy a recumbent exercise bike.


soooo...
i broke down.. and bought an elliptical!
I AM SO EXCITED.. now i have something that i know i can do at home..
its suuuch a beautiful machine haha..
this is totally encouraging me to keep up with the exercise on my days i work long shifts.. to do something in the comfort of my own home..

this along with the DVD i just bought, and the other exercise equipment i have.. im going to sit and figure out a nice workout routine.. on my days off i will definitely do the gym, because i can use the treadmill, the weight machines, and do the classes etc there too.. but now having the elliptical here at home, i'm just YAY'ing cuz its the machine i have the hardest time with, it works muscles im obviously not used to working, its a great workout for me..

*happy dancing*

anyway it just arrived, on a Sunday at that, wheeeeeee!

[girl_dee]

Just out of curiosity have any of you ever been to Dotties Weight Loss Zone...?


http://www.dwlz.com/

It follow Weight Watchers ...

[Zimmeh]

Here is a link that a classmate of mine posted. It is about how Wal-Mart is pushing for healthier ingredients in their store brand products.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-f-jacobson/walmarts-trans-fat-elimination_b_811647.html

[Miss Scarlett]

Back in October 2008 I decided to do something about my weight. Went to a doctor here in Charlotte who specializes in weight loss without surgery. He did the usual physical with bloodwork adding a few additional tests, i.e. Vitamin D, and an extensive interview covering family history, personal history and food habits.

Based on all of that he put me on a low glycemic index eating plan maxing my calories out at 800/day. Over the summer we renegotiated this calorie level and I can go up to 1,000 every few days but he still wants me to remain at 800 as much as possible. I know it's low but when I stick to the plan I really do get adequate nutrition and am not hungry. Sometimes I have to make myself eat and it's an event when I actually eat everything on my plate. Because of that some folks don't believe I didn't have the surgery.

As a result I have lost over 130lbs (50 left to go) and, according to my doctor, have decreased my chances of developing Type II Diabetes by 40%. In addition he diagnosed and corrected the really bad Vitamin D deficiency that had been causing me tremendous pain.

His recommended exercise is walking and he gave me a pedometer (it hates me) with the dreaded command of 10,000 steps/day.

As far as my eating plan, here's the short version of what he gave me:

Calories:
*800 per day;
*Don't drink them - NO sodas, alcohol, juices, cream/sugar, energy/protein shakes;
*Weigh/measure everything; and
*Write down EVERYTHING you put in your mouth.

Meals:
*NEVER skip breakfast (ideal breakfast: protein, healthy fat, veggie or fruit, i.e. Fage 0% Greek yogurt plain with fruit and almonds avg. 305 cal. );
*Breakfast LARGER than dinner; and
*Breakfast - NO processed carbs (no cereal, waffles, toast, oatmeal)

Good Ingredients:
*Choose grilled/baked fish. chicken breast, pork tenderloin - serving is 3oz;
*Eat vegetables or fruit with each meal;
*Choose skim milk, fat free yogurt, fat free sour cream (calcium burns fat); and
*If it looks like God made it, it's probably a good choice.

Bad Ingredients:
*AVOID high fructose corn syrup;
*Avoid deep-fried foods (home stir-fry is OK);
*Cut out breads, potatoes, corn, rice, bananas; and
*Avoid salad dressings and mayonnaise.

General good choices:
*Trout, tuna, seabass, salmon, mackerel, clams, cod, crab, flounder, lobster, mussels, oysters. scallops, shrimp;
*Chicken, turkey breast, filet mignon, pork tenderloin;
*Yogurt, cottage cheese - fat free dairy;
*Almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts;
*Barley, chickpeas, beans, lentils, olives, coconut, soba noodles, salsa;
*Apples, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, lemon, lime, grapefruit, cherries, pears, pomegranate;
*Arugula, artichokes, asparagus, avocados, green beans, kale, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, collards, greens, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant, endive, escarole, mushrooms, onions, peas, Swiss chard, spinach, yellow squash, tomatoes, turnips, water chestnuts, zucchini; and
*Green tea, white tea, black tea, water, black coffee - NO diet sodas or artificial sweeteners period.

[Kelt]

This looks like an outstanding plan, and one that could easily be maintained for life. Congratulations on your accomplishments to date and the rest that are sure to follow. Whole foods, no gimmicks, and using glycemic index to curb appetite and control insulin/leptin levels couldn't be a more sound approach. Clearly you found a physician who "gets it" and you obviously have what it takes to stick with it.

Again, congratulations.

Back in October 2008 I decided to do something about my weight. Went to a doctor here in Charlotte who specializes in weight loss without surgery. He did the usual physical with bloodwork adding a few additional tests, i.e. Vitamin D, and an extensive interview covering family history, personal history and food habits.

Based on all of that he put me on a low glycemic index eating plan maxing my calories out at 800/day. Over the summer we renegotiated this calorie level and I can go up to 1,000 every few days but he still wants me to remain at 800 as much as possible. I know it's low but when I stick to the plan I really do get adequate nutrition and am not hungry. Sometimes I have to make myself eat and it's an event when I actually eat everything on my plate. Because of that some folks don't believe I didn't have the surgery.

As a result I have lost over 130lbs (50 left to go) and, according to my doctor, have decreased my chances of developing Type II Diabetes by 40%. In addition he diagnosed and corrected the really bad Vitamin D deficiency that had been causing me tremendous pain.

His recommended exercise is walking and he gave me a pedometer (it hates me) with the dreaded command of 10,000 steps/day.

As far as my eating plan, here's the short version of what he gave me:

Calories:
*800 per day;
*Don't drink them - NO sodas, alcohol, juices, cream/sugar, energy/protein shakes;
*Weigh/measure everything; and
*Write down EVERYTHING you put in your mouth.

Meals:
*NEVER skip breakfast (ideal breakfast: protein, healthy fat, veggie or fruit, i.e. Fage 0% Greek yogurt plain with fruit and almonds avg. 305 cal. );
*Breakfast LARGER than dinner; and
*Breakfast - NO processed carbs (no cereal, waffles, toast, oatmeal)

Good Ingredients:
*Choose grilled/baked fish. chicken breast, pork tenderloin - serving is 3oz;
*Eat vegetables or fruit with each meal;
*Choose skim milk, fat free yogurt, fat free sour cream (calcium burns fat); and
*If it looks like God made it, it's probably a good choice.

Bad Ingredients:
*AVOID high fructose corn syrup;
*Avoid deep-fried foods (home stir-fry is OK);
*Cut out breads, potatoes, corn, rice, bananas; and
*Avoid salad dressings and mayonnaise.

General good choices:
*Trout, tuna, seabass, salmon, mackerel, clams, cod, crab, flounder, lobster, mussels, oysters. scallops, shrimp;
*Chicken, turkey breast, filet mignon, pork tenderloin;
*Yogurt, cottage cheese - fat free dairy;
*Almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts;
*Barley, chickpeas, beans, lentils, olives, coconut, soba noodles, salsa;
*Apples, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, lemon, lime, grapefruit, cherries, pears, pomegranate;
*Arugula, artichokes, asparagus, avocados, green beans, kale, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, collards, greens, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant, endive, escarole, mushrooms, onions, peas, Swiss chard, spinach, yellow squash, tomatoes, turnips, water chestnuts, zucchini; and
*Green tea, white tea, black tea, water, black coffee - NO diet sodas or artificial sweeteners period.

[Miss Scarlett]

This looks like an outstanding plan, and one that could easily be maintained for life. Congratulations on your accomplishments to date and the rest that are sure to follow. Whole foods, no gimmicks, and using glycemic index to curb appetite and control insulin/leptin levels couldn't be a more sound approach. Clearly you found a physician who "gets it" and you obviously have what it takes to stick with it.

Again, congratulations.

Thanks Kelt. It is a very easy plan to follow. I forgot to note that he wants me to select food with a glycemic index of 45 or below.

My doctor definitely gets it on may levels. He's had his own food addiction and weight struggles. And that makes him very easy to talk to about things.
He finally convinced me to go to counseling to address the underlying issues that led to my advanced weight. He also put me on Metformin for borderline insulin resistance and PCOS. When he learned I was taking glucosamine/chrondroitin for my joints he told me to stop because of the insulin resistance. I really didn't need it anyway because when my Vitamin D levels stablised 95% of my joint pain disappeared.

[DomnNC]

I just saw on the news where Walmart is reducing the price of their fruits, vegetables and healthier foods. It seems they want to see America get slimmer. Imagine that.

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Domn,

I love shopping at Publix grocery stores. The Wal-Mart by my house is dirty and their fruit is always rotten. They also have birds in there.

Thanks for the heads up!

Zimmy

I just saw on the news where Walmart is reducing the price of their fruits, vegetables and healthier foods. It seems they want to see America get slimmer. Imagine that.

[DomnNC]

Good Morning Domn,

I love shopping at Publix grocery stores. The Wal-Mart by my house is dirty and their fruit is always rotten. They also have birds in there.

Thanks for the heads up!

Zimmy


Laughs, we don't have those stores here, thank God. I remember when my wife and I went on vacation in Florida one year I saw one of them, she wanted to stop and go in. I couldn't help but think of pubic hair the whole time we were in there. So from there on out I can't step foot in one of those stores, lol.

[Zimmeh]

Hehe,

I never thought of that! I'm glad I gave you a good chuckle!

How are you doing?

Night to all of you,

Zimmy

Laughs, we don't have those stores here, thank God. I remember when my wife and I went on vacation in Florida one year I saw one of them, she wanted to stop and go in. I couldn't help but think of pubic hair the whole time we were in there. So from there on out I can't step foot in one of those stores, lol.

[Gemme]

Laughs, we don't have those stores here, thank God. I remember when my wife and I went on vacation in Florida one year I saw one of them, she wanted to stop and go in. I couldn't help but think of pubic hair the whole time we were in there. So from there on out I can't step foot in one of those stores, lol.

Their aqua and salmon pink colored uniforms don't help the image either.

I'm eating a ginormous salad for dinner. That's about as healthy as I'll get today.

[Zimmeh]

I had the pick two at panera today. I had half of a bowl of vegetarian black bean soup with a Greek salad, minus the dressing. It was delicious!

Zimmy

Their aqua and salmon pink colored uniforms don't help the image either.

I'm eating a ginormous salad for dinner. That's about as healthy as I'll get today.

[sylvie]

Congrats! What brand did you buy? Do you have to set it up yourself?

BB and I would like to buy a recumbent exercise bike.

Ion Fitness e300 Elliptical -
and yes it had to be assembled, which i had absolutely nothing to do with, thank goodness my stepfather stepped up to the task LOL!

i'm really grooving it, i used it yesterday & today.. it's so nice to do it from the comfort of my own home, when i can grab some time.. i just turn the television to something i want to watch and go at it, and time soo flies.. i didn't buy it brand new, i bought it from my aunt , so the price was very reduced for me thank goodness, but it was never once used, still in the box LOL

i also did an ab workout, finally..(thanks to Gemme's help) YAY.. i found that really hard to, so needless to say i am hurting in various places today between the elliptical and the the ab workout lolol!

i would love to get an exercise bike too!

[sylvie]

Back in October 2008 I decided to do something about my weight. Went to a doctor here in Charlotte who specializes in weight loss without surgery. He did the usual physical with bloodwork adding a few additional tests, i.e. Vitamin D, and an extensive interview covering family history, personal history and food habits.

Based on all of that he put me on a low glycemic index eating plan maxing my calories out at 800/day. Over the summer we renegotiated this calorie level and I can go up to 1,000 every few days but he still wants me to remain at 800 as much as possible. I know it's low but when I stick to the plan I really do get adequate nutrition and am not hungry. Sometimes I have to make myself eat and it's an event when I actually eat everything on my plate. Because of that some folks don't believe I didn't have the surgery.

As a result I have lost over 130lbs (50 left to go) and, according to my doctor, have decreased my chances of developing Type II Diabetes by 40%. In addition he diagnosed and corrected the really bad Vitamin D deficiency that had been causing me tremendous pain.

His recommended exercise is walking and he gave me a pedometer (it hates me) with the dreaded command of 10,000 steps/day.

As far as my eating plan, here's the short version of what he gave me:

Calories:
*800 per day;
*Don't drink them - NO sodas, alcohol, juices, cream/sugar, energy/protein shakes;
*Weigh/measure everything; and
*Write down EVERYTHING you put in your mouth.

Meals:
*NEVER skip breakfast (ideal breakfast: protein, healthy fat, veggie or fruit, i.e. Fage 0% Greek yogurt plain with fruit and almonds avg. 305 cal. );
*Breakfast LARGER than dinner; and
*Breakfast - NO processed carbs (no cereal, waffles, toast, oatmeal)

Good Ingredients:
*Choose grilled/baked fish. chicken breast, pork tenderloin - serving is 3oz;
*Eat vegetables or fruit with each meal;
*Choose skim milk, fat free yogurt, fat free sour cream (calcium burns fat); and
*If it looks like God made it, it's probably a good choice.

Bad Ingredients:
*AVOID high fructose corn syrup;
*Avoid deep-fried foods (home stir-fry is OK);
*Cut out breads, potatoes, corn, rice, bananas; and
*Avoid salad dressings and mayonnaise.

General good choices:
*Trout, tuna, seabass, salmon, mackerel, clams, cod, crab, flounder, lobster, mussels, oysters. scallops, shrimp;
*Chicken, turkey breast, filet mignon, pork tenderloin;
*Yogurt, cottage cheese - fat free dairy;
*Almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts;
*Barley, chickpeas, beans, lentils, olives, coconut, soba noodles, salsa;
*Apples, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, lemon, lime, grapefruit, cherries, pears, pomegranate;
*Arugula, artichokes, asparagus, avocados, green beans, kale, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, collards, greens, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant, endive, escarole, mushrooms, onions, peas, Swiss chard, spinach, yellow squash, tomatoes, turnips, water chestnuts, zucchini; and
*Green tea, white tea, black tea, water, black coffee - NO diet sodas or artificial sweeteners period.



wow, on the weight loss, congratulations - that's an amazing success story.. and so inspiring..and thank you so very much for all the tips as well..so very appreciated!! sincerely! ♥

[Miss Scarlett]

wow, on the weight loss, congratulations - that's an amazing success story.. and so inspiring..and thank you so very much for all the tips as well..so very appreciated!! sincerely! ♥

Thanks and you are most welcome. Not going to say it wasn't hard work but the food plan did make it easier.

[sylvie]

i can imagine it was hard work!
i started my healthy weight journey not long ago, and already feel a sense of accomplishment, just with the little steps ive taken - and it's not even being completely serious with myself about it yet.. i don't feel healthy, or i didn't... but now, i feel SO much better already and still a long ways to go..

the difference in energy really blows me away, as does the difference in attitude, the way i look at myself, and the way i am so much more at peace with the people and the situations in my life.. my stress level has lowered, my ability to deal with things and my perspective on everything has changed immensely..

all this with the small changes i've made, so i can imagine how you must feel after such an accomplishment.. so this passed week i've been putting all my ducks in a row, meaning getting myself on some sort of even flow, the healthy eating, the exercise, the changes in lifestyle i am making.. i need to work it all in together and not be doing just this or that.. then, i'll see results..

so these last couple of days off, ive been doing exactly that.. i want a success like yours.. =)

[sylvie]

just curious.. i know salad dressings aren't good, but what do ya's use to give flavor to a salad ? lemon juice ? something else?

salad dressing is a downfall i've mine i need to cut out, i cant use a very lil with a salad because i cant seem to stretch it for the whole salad lol!

so was looking for ideas =)

[Miss Scarlett]

i can imagine it was hard work!
i started my healthy weight journey not long ago, and already feel a sense of accomplishment, just with the little steps ive taken - and it's not even being completely serious with myself about it yet.. i don't feel healthy, or i didn't... but now, i feel SO much better already and still a long ways to go..

the difference in energy really blows me away, as does the difference in attitude, the way i look at myself, and the way i am so much more at peace with the people and the situations in my life.. my stress level has lowered, my ability to deal with things and my perspective on everything has changed immensely..

all this with the small changes i've made, so i can imagine how you must feel after such an accomplishment.. so this passed week i've been putting all my ducks in a row, meaning getting myself on some sort of even flow, the healthy eating, the exercise, the changes in lifestyle i am making.. i need to work it all in together and not be doing just this or that.. then, i'll see results..

so these last couple of days off, ive been doing exactly that.. i want a success like yours.. =)

Apart from quitting smoking, this is the hardest thing I have done. But it can be accomplished.

I will tell you that it took a long time for me to stop seeing the old Miss Scarlett in the mirror. 99% of the time I don't see her. But occasionally I don't recognize myself because I expect to see the old me. The new battle is to stop thinking like her and I am winning that battle too. My doctor warned me about this when we started on this journey.

[JustJo]

just curious.. i know salad dressings aren't good, but what do ya's use to give flavor to a salad ? lemon juice ? something else?

salad dressing is a downfall i've mine i need to cut out, i cant use a very lil with a salad because i cant seem to stretch it for the whole salad lol!

so was looking for ideas =)

I try to eat a lot of salad, and despise lo-cal dressing (except for a very few).

One trick a nutritionist friend taught me is to order your dressing on the side.

Then, don't pour it on your salad, or even dunk your bite of salad in it. Instead, dip your fork in the dressing, then pick up your bite of salad.

Somehow, doing it that way makes the dressing the last thing to leave the fork, and deposits it right on your taste buds.

It seems like you have plenty of dressing on your salad, but you'll find that you only actually eat a teaspoon full or so. :)

Every once in awhile, I forget...but when I do it this way I'm always pleasantly surprised at how little dressing I can use and still enjoy the salad.

[Miss Scarlett]

I try to eat a lot of salad, and despise lo-cal dressing (except for a very few).

One trick a nutritionist friend taught me is to order your dressing on the side.

Then, don't pour it on your salad, or even dunk your bite of salad in it. Instead, dip your fork in the dressing, then pick up your bite of salad.

Somehow, doing it that way makes the dressing the last thing to leave the fork, and deposits it right on your taste buds.

It seems like you have plenty of dressing on your salad, but you'll find that you only actually eat a teaspoon full or so. :)

Every once in awhile, I forget...but when I do it this way I'm always pleasantly surprised at how little dressing I can use and still enjoy the salad.

Great idea Jo! Thanks for sharing this. If your salad is in a bowl that has a secure lid you can measure out a TBSP, snap on the lid and shake it up. It works but can be messy...especially if the lid isn't secure.

[sylvie]

Apart from quitting smoking, this is the hardest thing I have done. But it can be accomplished.

I will tell you that it took a long time for me to stop seeing the old Miss Scarlett in the mirror. 99% of the time I don't see her. But occasionally I don't recognize myself because I expect to see the old me. The new battle is to stop thinking like her and I am winning that battle too. My doctor warned me about this when we started on this journey.

i can relate..
i still cant look at myself in the mirror..
let me rephrase, hmm.. i look at parts of myself in the mirror, but never really LOOK at myself in the mirror.. does that make sense? i hope so lol..
over a 2 year period i little over 80 lbs.. i gained about 15 lbs back. after losing that weight though, i still seen the old sylvie too.. heck i still do..

my biggest battle in all of this is overcoming an eating disorder.. although i am doing very well, the urge to binge & purge comes easily when i stress a lot.. so between the weight i want to lose, and the guilt over the binging ive done over the years, it makes for a very disappointed syl.. looking in the mirror is accepting that reality, it's hard..

i'm so glad you are winning that battle, i 'need' to win that battle as well.. i've a ways to go yet, but i'm taking the steps to ensure i do this the healthy way, maintain it, surrounding myself with tons of positive support and i'm not looking back thanks to people like you! =)

[sylvie]

Ohhh great ideas on the salad dressing girls, TY !!!
it's really funny to me how we can find ways to trick our mind like that LOL..
& those ideas i bet will work, i will do exactly that.. i always do go for as low fat as i possibly can..

i've been considering making my own dressings too..
i should do a recipe search, i did a search the other night for homemade salsa, which looks yum and i cant wait to try!

[Gemme]

just curious.. i know salad dressings aren't good, but what do ya's use to give flavor to a salad ? lemon juice ? something else?

salad dressing is a downfall i've mine i need to cut out, i cant use a very lil with a salad because i cant seem to stretch it for the whole salad lol!

so was looking for ideas =)

102 Healthy Salad Dressings (http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/2008/04/cheap-healthy-salad-dressing-102-light.html)

[sylvie]

102 Healthy Salad Dressings (http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/2008/04/cheap-healthy-salad-dressing-102-light.html)

*does the Gemme rawks dance*
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
thank youuuu ♥

[Gemme]

*does the Gemme rawks dance*
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
thank youuuu ♥

:giggle:


No one wants the same thing over and over and, if you find a few you really like, you can adapt them as you see fit.

[sylvie]

over a 2 year period i little over 80 lbs.. i gained about 15 lbs back. after losing that weight though, i still seen the old sylvie too.. heck i still do..




that was supposed to read, i LOST over 80 lbs.. i'm tired, i should be in bed right now LOL that's my story and i'm stickin' to it!

[Andrea]

I love to eat naked salads. It is amazing how good they taste without the dressing.

Andrea

[nycfem]

I like to mix a little yummy dressing with apple cider vinegar (very good for ya) or some other type of vinegar (like balsamic) or even one of the not as good low cal/no cal dressings.

just curious.. i know salad dressings aren't good, but what do ya's use to give flavor to a salad ? lemon juice ? something else?

salad dressing is a downfall i've mine i need to cut out, i cant use a very lil with a salad because i cant seem to stretch it for the whole salad lol!

so was looking for ideas =)

[nycfem]

Sylvie, that's impressive that you lost 80 lbs in two years. How did you do it? I ask because I love to consider and attempt to incorporate some of other people's successful strategies towards health and well-being into my own bag o'tricks :). Thank you in advance, Jennifer

[sylvie]

Sylvie, that's impressive that you lost 80 lbs in two years. How did you do it? I ask because I love to consider and attempt to incorporate some of other people's successful strategies towards health and well-being into my own bag o'tricks :). Thank you in advance, Jennifer

*takes a deep breath* lol!!!
i was happy for the weight loss, but - it wasn't a good way.. this was some years ago, and my doctor found me out and stopped me.. i had a lot of stress in my life, and was in a very dark spot .. i'm also an emotional eater, which didn't help.. i dealt with the stress by binging & purging... sometimes just binging, and often just purging... not proud of that fact and caused me more problems than anything.. it's been what feels like a long road to overcome that... i worked myself to just binging for awhile, and then gained my 15 lbs back... almost instantly... i maintained that weight for awhile, but then the last couple of years, have gained even more of that weight back and that is because of my lack of eating healthy, my occasional break down and binge nights and of course, my emotional eating, diet soda habit i picked up and no exercise.. also, my mind was so messed up, i had days of binging, that i would beat myself up and have days of no eating at all, as a punishment to myself..

that's why it's so crucial now that i do this the right way.. i do well with not binging, purging and have really pushed passed that 'stinkin thinkin' pattern i had... i really excel on days that i'm eating healthy and days i'm exercising... i want to lose that weight all over again, but the proper way so that way i get it off and keep it off, by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.. it's almost like retraining my brain, (sounds strange) .. been a long journey for me to get this far, especially to even feel worthy of doing this for myself..

and it's extremely hard for me to admit this stuff, especially in a forum, lol.. but, one thing i've learned is by doing so, is keeping it real for me, helps me strive for better , i try not to be ashamed of what i was doing but to be proud of how far i've come with it.. i do admit i've had a few stressful nights over the years that i've punished myself by binging, but now, if something brings me that down - i distance it from my life as much as possible, i recognize it as something toxic for me..

wow, did i write a book or what...
i'm so sorry, once i get goin' sometimes i find it hard to stop, lol..
so sadly, that weight loss i achieved, i no longer see at all.. i've gained it all back over time, but i continually keep myself motivated to get on track and do everything possible to do this the right way, and be healthy because not only do i want to lose it and keep it off, but i want to make healthy choices because i love life, and the people in my life enough to wanna stick around.. heh...

wish i had an inspiring awesome weight loss story for you, lol.. *sad sigh* =(
now i'm going to walk away from the pc abit, because while this allows me to edit, i'm probably going to try and delete this post somehow because i get all paranoid about sharing this part of me - but its a good thing for me to put it out there like this.. for more reasons than one..
♥

[Miss Scarlett]

I love to eat naked salads. It is amazing how good they taste without the dressing.

Andrea

I love to do this too! Especially if there is an amazing mix.

[Miss Scarlett]

wish i had an inspiring awesome weight loss story for you, lol.. *sad sigh* =(
now i'm going to walk away from the pc abit, because while this allows me to edit, i'm probably going to try and delete this post somehow because i get all paranoid about sharing this part of me - but its a good thing for me to put it out there like this.. for more reasons than one..
♥


(((((Sylvie))))) Darlin' yours is an inspiring awesome weight loss story. These stories are not about numbers; weight can be regained. You are a strong woman, something that is far more inspiring than numbers.

[sylvie]

(((((Sylvie))))) Darlin' yours is an inspiring awesome weight loss story. These stories are not about numbers; weight can be regained. You are a strong woman, something that is far more inspiring than numbers.

ahh, *smiles*
thank you Miss Scarlett, i wish it felt like an inspiring weight loss story.. i still get caught up in the wanting to binge, especially when i get emotional so i still hand myself a lot of guilt, just for merely thinking about it.. kind of funny because i wish like heck i would be proud of myself for having the strength to push myself passed this and want better for myself.. i know deep down, i am.. it's just easier to be hard on myself for my imperfections, (low self esteem) lol.. but, this is what i am working on now, and i really am climbing that ladder again... i will feel much better about myself, i can feel the changes in me already.. small ones, but it's something..

i really appreciate your words, and tis why your story (as well as many of you here) are so inspiring to a girl like me who's beginning her journey and striving for that success.. ♥

ps, so happy i cant edit my post now, i went to work out while i was waiting *grinz*

[Tommi]

Ohhh great ideas on the salad dressing girls, TY !!!
it's really funny to me how we can find ways to trick our mind like that LOL..
& those ideas i bet will work, i will do exactly that.. i always do go for as low fat as i possibly can..

i've been considering making my own dressings too..
i should do a recipe search, i did a search the other night for homemade salsa, which looks yum and i cant wait to try!

Risky Behavior and food and being Out of the Closet. I think I must be an out of the closet eater.....:seeingstars: I can lose 20 pounds and gain 10 back with NO problem.

I am learning a new thing about myself since writing down when and what and why I am eating. I have learned in the last month of NFL Football, and enjoying the friends, games and the folly, I can eat minimally of all the bad stuff. :Chips, Dips, candy. I can say No Thank You when the bowl is passed along with MORE>

BUT by damn it triggers me into buying chips and fat free and or sugar free chocolate pudding on the way home and lying to myself that I CAN & will control the portions...I will eat just the 14 chips (I think that's what WW book said: I loaned it to a friend who wants to do WW) Hell, I snacked on it the car on the way home, and went wow.this is crazy thinking. Like it doesn't count in the car, or while in line at the market, or standing as I unpack the groceries.

I learned it can't be in the house, the car, or at work: no matter how much I am losing and exercising, I just can't risk the old triggers and behaviors. I know when I am in my head space and pensive about life, love and what is next, I fill that space with trigger foods and CRAVE DIET COKE AND POTATO CHIPS.

I am learning that I stopped drinking, and other risky activities many years ago, I never smoked, but trying to watch the fats, the carbs, the calories, the stuff I enjoy on my taste buds for a second is a REAL risky behavior. Pre-diabetid, high cholesterol, high BP.

I realized that I cleaned and tossed out wilted veggies and fruit from the fridge to put out in today's trash, and the recycle can had empty potato chip bags and chocolate jello containers. (w)

Today is a new day.....let's see if the new pedometer will tell the truth. and the cortizone shot in my heel I got for plantar facitis last night will help. Going swimming for 30 mins, then ... shower and off to work.

Gee , this was like making a food diary. Glad I had somewhere to to tell my sfor today...I my name is Tommi , and I struggle with food, ;) I think today will be one day better.

[sylvie]

Tommi, your post really hit a chord with me..
empty junk food stuff but tossing out the healthy stuff.. been there, done that and do it.. i agree, about not having it in the house, this grocery order just the other day, i bought nothing that i seriously crave (potato chips, chocolate, etc) and bought everything healthy, snacks included...
and it's quite amusing to myself, how often i go to the kitchen, look through my cupboards and fridge, and think to myself, wow, there's nothing i want.. the fridge and cupboards are full, though.. my next thought is, hmmm.. i 'could' go to the corner store.. my mind is so trained to want the damn junk food, it's like it's calling my name from the store, it's sad..
this is why i feel like i am retraining myself, or struggling to.. its what i call my 'stinkin thinkin'.. i think the fact we're recognizing these things, speaks volumes to me..that i'm willing to see this is bad for me, and the thinking pattern isn't right..because a few months ago, i would have fought for my right for the junkfood, it was a need and no one was going to tell me any different...

i figured if they couldn't see it, then it was okay.. i'm very much an at home binger, so much so ive pushed people out of my life in the past because i didn't want people to know what i was doing, or the amount of weight i was gaining.. i would even avoid people i knew if i 'had' to go out in public for anything and came across someone, lol.. i'm venturing off topic here somehow..

but i can really, really, relate to what you are saying.. the things we try to tell ourselves so that it's okay.. today 'is' a new day, everyday is.. and you just soooo helped me feel better about my post even.. thank you for telling yours too.. have a great swim, and a great day!

[Kelt]

Hey Tommi,

I thought it was interesting that you said you felt like you were writing a food log. I was wondering if you do keep one. I know you know how to do research and this tool (food log) is something I have found to be a wealth of information. I was getting all wound up in emotional responses to what was happening around my eating until I depersonalized it through tracking. I don't know if it would work this way for anyone else but I found that once I was using a food tracker and started being able to see trends develop in easy graphs and charts somehow it just became "the data is what the data is" and I could start manipulating it with my actions and not get all hooked up on emotions. I don't have eating disorders per se, but am no stranger to addictive behavior. I was just surprised at how much this one little trick allowed me to take responsibility for my actions without beating myself up about it. There are a whole slew of programs out there, one probably as good as another; I use fitday.com but as long at it tracks macronutrient proportions and whatever else you want to see I don't think it matters. They should work with any eating program you are on.

Sounds like you are doing a great job of noticing what is wrong and taking the bull by the horns. Keep up the good work.

[JustJo]

I use fitday.com but as long at it tracks macronutrient proportions and whatever else you want to see I don't think it matters. They should work with any eating program you are on.

Sounds like you are doing a great job of noticing what is wrong and taking the bull by the horns. Keep up the good work.

Thank you Kelt! :rrose:

While on a boring conference call today I went to fitday.com and set up my profile. It was super easy to do, and I was able to log in everything I ate today (as well as see if lasagna was possible for tonight without blowing my calorie count).

I particularly love that you can customize food (I added the supplements I take too), and it shows you how you're doing from a nutrient point of view. I love the "your day as a nutrition label" report. So easy to see at a glance how I'm doing.

Thank you for mentioning this resource. It's wonderful! I'm a data-driven person as well...and seeing how the numbers add up takes some of the emotion out of it for me. I also love being able to plug a food in and see the effect it'll have on the day's tally. :)

[sylvie]

oh think ill go check that website out as well..
i created an account at sparkpeople the other day, and i'm just starting to find my way around there but gosh that site is so jampacked its hard to find anything, i like simplicity! wonder if this site is any easier, will check it out!

thanks Kelt!

[JustJo]

I think you'll like it sylvie....it's very simple. I'm doing the free version, so there's advertising (which I just ignore), but I figured out my way around in just a few minutes.

I was able to go in and see that I could have a glass of wine with my dinner, or a slice of garlic bread, but not both...unless I wanted to not have a snack with my meds before bed. For me, that snack is important....so I opted for wine and skipped the garlic bread. :)

You can also go in and enter your current weight, your goal weight (and date)...and it will tell you how many calories a day you need to target....which changes based on activity as well. Very, very cool.

So....I'm done for the day...except that I already calculated in a banana with my meds before bed. :cheesy:

[Miss Scarlett]

i can relate..
i still cant look at myself in the mirror..
let me rephrase, hmm.. i look at parts of myself in the mirror, but never really LOOK at myself in the mirror.. does that make sense? i hope so lol..
over a 2 year period i little over 80 lbs.. i gained about 15 lbs back. after losing that weight though, i still seen the old sylvie too.. heck i still do..

my biggest battle in all of this is overcoming an eating disorder.. although i am doing very well, the urge to binge & purge comes easily when i stress a lot.. so between the weight i want to lose, and the guilt over the binging ive done over the years, it makes for a very disappointed syl.. looking in the mirror is accepting that reality, it's hard..

i'm so glad you are winning that battle, i 'need' to win that battle as well.. i've a ways to go yet, but i'm taking the steps to ensure i do this the healthy way, maintain it, surrounding myself with tons of positive support and i'm not looking back thanks to people like you! =)

(((((Sylvie))))) I can relate having fought my way back from bulimarexia in my late 20s. Not going into the details here. We can talk about it off the thread if you want to, just PM me.

[sylvie]

ohhh that sounds great Jo!
a few minutes to navigate a site means it must be much better than spark people.. i will keep my spark people open for the blog option of it maybe, and the forums there, i can poke around and read the articles and such.. just wont have to utilize it for the other stuff LOL..

i was on it today and you can accumulate points for everything you do, right down to reading an article, which is cool but, by the time i did everything i had to and found everything i needed, a lot of my free time was shot already lol!! i wanna get in, record what i need to and get out, ha!

i hear you on needing the snack, im working on changing my eating habits at night, its when i used to do a lot of my heavier eating, because i would wait til i was home from work (730pm) and cook and eat by around 830 and go to bed not long after.. so, today i ate before going to work, which is a lil early but, this way i dont have to eat so heavy at night.. Gemme said a good thing to do is not to eat 2 hours before bedtime, so thats something else i've been working on too..

it feels nice going to bed at night and not feeling so, full and blah like i was ha.. i think i will have a banana tonight too! =)

[Kelt]

I think you'll like it sylvie....it's very simple. I'm doing the free version, so there's advertising (which I just ignore), but I figured out my way around in just a few minutes.

I was able to go in and see that I could have a glass of wine with my dinner, or a slice of garlic bread, but not both...unless I wanted to not have a snack with my meds before bed. For me, that snack is important....so I opted for wine and skipped the garlic bread. :)

You can also go in and enter your current weight, your goal weight (and date)...and it will tell you how many calories a day you need to target....which changes based on activity as well. Very, very cool.

So....I'm done for the day...except that I already calculated in a banana with my meds before bed. :cheesy:

One more thing that I have found very useful is the overview section. After you have several days/weeks entered you can start to step back and look at the big picture. That way if there is a "less than successful" day or three, you can see that it is not the tragedy you think it is and that overall you are still deserving a pat on the back. :thumbsup:

I think this could really help to prevent the "well I crapped out for two days, might as well make it a week" syndrome.

[Gemme]

I love to eat naked salads. It is amazing how good they taste without the dressing.

Andrea

I am impressed with you all who can do this. I'm not there and not sure if I'll ever be. I do try to make better options, though, with the dressings that I do choose. :)

I like to mix a little yummy dressing with apple cider vinegar (very good for ya) or some other type of vinegar (like balsamic) or even one of the not as good low cal/no cal dressings.

Cider vinegar is excellent for those with blood sugar issues! Using it actually decreases the glycemic index of the food it's on, which is fantastic.

*takes a deep breath* lol!!!
i was happy for the weight loss, but - it wasn't a good way.. this was some years ago, and my doctor found me out and stopped me.. i had a lot of stress in my life, and was in a very dark spot .. i'm also an emotional eater, which didn't help.. i dealt with the stress by binging & purging... sometimes just binging, and often just purging... not proud of that fact and caused me more problems than anything.. it's been what feels like a long road to overcome that... i worked myself to just binging for awhile, and then gained my 15 lbs back... almost instantly... i maintained that weight for awhile, but then the last couple of years, have gained even more of that weight back and that is because of my lack of eating healthy, my occasional break down and binge nights and of course, my emotional eating, diet soda habit i picked up and no exercise.. also, my mind was so messed up, i had days of binging, that i would beat myself up and have days of no eating at all, as a punishment to myself..

that's why it's so crucial now that i do this the right way.. i do well with not binging, purging and have really pushed passed that 'stinkin thinkin' pattern i had... i really excel on days that i'm eating healthy and days i'm exercising... i want to lose that weight all over again, but the proper way so that way i get it off and keep it off, by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.. it's almost like retraining my brain, (sounds strange) .. been a long journey for me to get this far, especially to even feel worthy of doing this for myself..

and it's extremely hard for me to admit this stuff, especially in a forum, lol.. but, one thing i've learned is by doing so, is keeping it real for me, helps me strive for better , i try not to be ashamed of what i was doing but to be proud of how far i've come with it.. i do admit i've had a few stressful nights over the years that i've punished myself by binging, but now, if something brings me that down - i distance it from my life as much as possible, i recognize it as something toxic for me..

wow, did i write a book or what...
i'm so sorry, once i get goin' sometimes i find it hard to stop, lol..
so sadly, that weight loss i achieved, i no longer see at all.. i've gained it all back over time, but i continually keep myself motivated to get on track and do everything possible to do this the right way, and be healthy because not only do i want to lose it and keep it off, but i want to make healthy choices because i love life, and the people in my life enough to wanna stick around.. heh...

wish i had an inspiring awesome weight loss story for you, lol.. *sad sigh* =(
now i'm going to walk away from the pc abit, because while this allows me to edit, i'm probably going to try and delete this post somehow because i get all paranoid about sharing this part of me - but its a good thing for me to put it out there like this.. for more reasons than one..
♥


Just keep in mind you've come a long way. Don't get so focused on the destination that you don't enjoy the journey and don't minimize your progress along the way. You're doing great!

Hey Tommi,

I thought it was interesting that you said you felt like you were writing a food log. I was wondering if you do keep one. I know you know how to do research and this tool (food log) is something I have found to be a wealth of information. I was getting all wound up in emotional responses to what was happening around my eating until I depersonalized it through tracking. I don't know if it would work this way for anyone else but I found that once I was using a food tracker and started being able to see trends develop in easy graphs and charts somehow it just became "the data is what the data is" and I could start manipulating it with my actions and not get all hooked up on emotions. I don't have eating disorders per se, but am no stranger to addictive behavior. I was just surprised at how much this one little trick allowed me to take responsibility for my actions without beating myself up about it. There are a whole slew of programs out there, one probably as good as another; I use fitday.com but as long at it tracks macronutrient proportions and whatever else you want to see I don't think it matters. They should work with any eating program you are on.

Sounds like you are doing a great job of noticing what is wrong and taking the bull by the horns. Keep up the good work.

You're right. Food journals are excellent. I took a page from Jennifer's book and try to log how I'm feeling when I'm eating stuff and how full I am. I use a site to log my stuff into as well. I use thedailyplate dot com. It's a part of the Livestrong site. You can log your exercise, food intake, look at your nutrients for the day, see graphs of your progress, and it's free.

[Miss Scarlett]

Today was my monthly check-up/weigh in...

Everything but BP checked out fine. BP was a tad lower than usual (110/63) but doc is not too concerned.

The big news is that I lost 7 lbs over the last month! This is so exciting for me because for the last 3 months I have been on an extremely frustrating plateau.

Am a very happy little girl tonight!

[Gemme]

Since I began seriously working out (at least 3 hours a week in the gym) again and monitoring my food intake (journaling, thedailyplate.com, making conscious food choices, etc), I've lost 20 pounds.

It's my goal to continue to evade them.

:blink:

[Miss Scarlett]

Since I began seriously working out (at least 3 hours a week in the gym) again and monitoring my food intake (journaling, thedailyplate.com, making conscious food choices, etc), I've lost 20 pounds.

It's my goal to continue to evade them.

:blink:

WooHoo! Congratulations! All that hard work is really paying off! :cheerleader:

[Miss Scarlett]

Yesterday I was unable to obtain my reward of choice for losing weight last month (a copy of Wanda Jackson's new cd). So today I did the next best thing - clothes shopping. I bought a pair of jeans...size 16...WooHoo!

I believe in rewarding myself for success in this journey. For the 130 lb loss I purchased a bracelet of amethysts and diamonds set in gold. It's my daily reminder of how far I have come and that I am indeed worth it!

[Soft*Silver]

I have been thinking I gained weight over the holiday because I have felt my body change over the holidays. I assumed since baking cookies, eating them and lack of physical activities accounted for my tummy roll. No. In fact at the Drs I found out I actually lost a pound. So, I am almost certain now that hernia repair did come undone and my stumach is back up in my my midsection, which accounts for my tummy roll, and the pain I am feeling there, and also is the reason why I almost black out when I bend ...it is pressing on my vegas nerve.

Amazing...I will know more on Monday but for now, I am a pound lighter and not as stressed about weight anymore..

[JustJo]

Have to say I'm loving fitday.com :) I'm such a data-driven person that I love being able to see the breakdown of what I've eaten nutritionally as well as calories, fat, etc. I also love that I can put in a planned meal and see how it impacts the day before I eat it.

I'm eating about 1800 calories a day...which puts me on course to lose about 1.5 lbs a week. It's a healthy rate, and it's something I can stick with. I'm still doing my "one day off" each week....and this week it's tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it, not as a chance to eat myself sick, but just a day to relax, enjoy a few small indulgences and have fun...then back to it on Monday.

Wishing you all well :)

[Gemme]

Once the weight loss ball started rolling, I was able to loosen the ties a little. Now, I can indulge in a couple cookies or some candy and go on without it totally consuming me or spelling disaster for my diet. But I had to get myself beyond that point where I focused so much on the treat and whether I strayed or not from the 'plan'.

I'm a planner. I had a plan. My longer hours at work and my commute have significantly changed my plans and I think it's for the better. Instead of saying, "Here we go again...", my body screams, "Yessss!" when I work out now. I'm lucky to get in 3 days a week now, instead of 6-7 days. I am lucky to spend a couple of hours there each time instead of two hours being my minimum.

I think this is a good break for me. Next month, I should have someone else at my store, so I won't be the only one working there. I can go back to working out more. Also, Ebon changed his work schedule to be more cohesive with mine and we're going to switch to evening workouts, which I tend to loathe. That's going to be another jolt to my system.

All of these changes have added up to something good. I know life gets in the way for all of us at one point or another in time. I used to see that as a strictly bad thing. Not anymore. Change is what you make of it. I don't obsess about working out so much anymore and my workouts feel richer when I do them now. I appreciate them more. I still log my food intake and I still try to keep in mind the potential ramifications of the things that I do and eat, but it's shifted a little left of center now and I think that that is a good thing for me, especially with the stress I have at work. The last thing I need is to be hard on myself when I'm already carrying a heavy load.

[JustJo]

I'm officially in love with fitday.com (thanks again Kelt!) :)

Also, had my first coaching call today for the weight loss program courtesy of my company. They love incentives, so if I talk to this guy 5 times they put $100 on my HSA account. Love it!

My new breakfast...coffee, grapefruit (whole one...yummy), Quaker high fiber instant oatmeal. I know it's not as healthy as the real stuff, but it's fast and my mornings are busy. It's also 10 grams of fiber, which is a good thing. Total calorie count ....255. Yeah baby.

I've lost 4 lbs. :hangloose: That means I'm right on target with my 1.5 - 2 lb. a week goal.

Yesterday was my "day off"...and I went swimming, soaked in a jacuzzi, went down the water slide a couple times, laid in the sun...and ate nachos (which I'd been craving), a little chocolate, small chicken caesar salad for dinner....and still maintained the weight loss. Gotta' love that.

Now it's 6 days of 1800 calories a day....and then another freebie. I like this system....I never feel like I'm too restricted, and if there's something I really want then I know I can have it, even if I might have to wait a few days.

Hope you're all doing well on your goals! :rrose:

[lipstixgal]

I'm going to a weight loss doctor this afternoon for meal plans and some support system in place plus they have supplemments that you take in conjunction with your diet plan I will let you know the details as they follow..

[Zimmeh]

Woohoo and congrats Jo Jo!!!!


I learned the formula this morning on how to figure out how much protein we are supposed to have!

It goes like this: your current weight divided by 2.2kg's= how many kilograms of weight

Multiply the above number by 0.8g's = how many grams of protein.

I'm off to figure my amount and I will be right back!

Zimmy

I'm officially in love with fitday.com (thanks again Kelt!) :)

Also, had my first coaching call today for the weight loss program courtesy of my company. They love incentives, so if I talk to this guy 5 times they put $100 on my HSA account. Love it!

My new breakfast...coffee, grapefruit (whole one...yummy), Quaker high fiber instant oatmeal. I know it's not as healthy as the real stuff, but it's fast and my mornings are busy. It's also 10 grams of fiber, which is a good thing. Total calorie count ....255. Yeah baby.

I've lost 4 lbs. :hangloose: That means I'm right on target with my 1.5 - 2 lb. a week goal.

Yesterday was my "day off"...and I went swimming, soaked in a jacuzzi, went down the water slide a couple times, laid in the sun...and ate nachos (which I'd been craving), a little chocolate, small chicken caesar salad for dinner....and still maintained the weight loss. Gotta' love that.

Now it's 6 days of 1800 calories a day....and then another freebie. I like this system....I never feel like I'm too restricted, and if there's something I really want then I know I can have it, even if I might have to wait a few days.

Hope you're all doing well on your goals! :rrose:

[Zimmeh]

Here is my numbers...

165lbs divided by 2.2 kg's = 75kg

75kg's x 0.8 = 60 grams of protein per day.

I also found out, since I omit red meat from my diet that I am a vegetarian.

I'm loving this nutrition class!!!

Zimmy

[sylvie]

i fell off the wagon, sort of.. lol..
still exercising, just not like i was..
still eating well, just not as careful..

i feel a difference in my mood, i need to pick myself back up again, before i fall into old patterns..

today is all about the water..
getting 8 glasses of water into me today !
also, going to hop on the elliptical here soon and get myself moving --

no downspiralling this time, i'm not letting it happen!
You are all doing sooo well! Keep it up, i'll be back there with ya's soon!

<---- stubborn gal with some helpful pushes from friends! (thank you)

[Gemme]

Here is my numbers...

165lbs divided by 2.2 kg's = 75kg

75kg's x 0.8 = 60 grams of protein per day.

I also found out, since I omit red meat from my diet that I am a vegetarian.

I'm loving this nutrition class!!!

Zimmy

Thanks, Zimmy!

I need 50, according to the formula.


i fell off the wagon, sort of.. lol..
still exercising, just not like i was..
still eating well, just not as careful..

i feel a difference in my mood, i need to pick myself back up again, before i fall into old patterns..

today is all about the water..
getting 8 glasses of water into me today !
also, going to hop on the elliptical here soon and get myself moving --

no downspiralling this time, i'm not letting it happen!
You are all doing sooo well! Keep it up, i'll be back there with ya's soon!

<---- stubborn gal with some helpful pushes from friends! (thank you)

We all have our backslides and down moments. You're doing great. Acknowledge what's going on (check), make a plan to get back on track (check), and execute plan (check?).

I had dinner out with my honey last night. I knew I was going to be a little 'bad' but I figured I'd balance some of the less nutritious stuff with good, wholesome green stuff.

Eh.

I woke up feeling like crap this morning. My tummy was NOT happy with what I gave it to gnosh on. I felt kind of icky right after I ate it too, so I knew my body was going to have a 'talking to' with me eventually.

:blink:

For the record, I *DID* have a small Caesar salad with the dressing (which was a vinaigrette, not a creamy dressing) on the side and I dipped my fork in it then speared a couple of forkfuls of romaine with it. So, I was good there. I also had steamed asparagus with pepper and lemon juice on it. Even the sweet potato fries weren't too bad. They weren't greasy at all and were a small portion.

Where I went wrong was the second fried green tomato and the order of fried oysters. Every year or so I get a craving for fried oysters. I saw them on the menu and *boink* went the craving.

No, change that. The tomatoes weren't too bad, if that was it. It was the oysters. After dinner, the batter left a pasty taste in my mouth. I really don't eat a lot of fried foods anymore. Fries or shrimp here and there, but not anything else really. Days like last night and this morning remind me why. The longer I stay away from it, the harsher the effects on my body when I do indulge.

So, I strayed and my body reigned me back in check. Ebon and I are contemplating dining out again and are trying to pick a place that's got a kinder, gentler menu.

And the next time we go HERE (http://www.threadgills.com/), I'll get the salmon or tilapia. :|

Oh! I also had strawberry rhubarb pie ala mode, but there was NOTHING bad or wrong with that. :tease:

[Zimmeh]

Congrats Gemme!!!! Soon you and I will be both have skinny jeans in our closets!!!

Have a good night,

Zimmy

Since I began seriously working out (at least 3 hours a week in the gym) again and monitoring my food intake (journaling, thedailyplate.com, making conscious food choices, etc), I've lost 20 pounds.

It's my goal to continue to evade them.

:blink:

[Zimmeh]

I had to create a comparison report between fast food restaurants and sit down restaurants. I nearly fell out of my seat... The low fat chicken noodle soup at Panera had 1,450mg's of sodium in it... Needless to say, I am now ordering the Greek salad minus the olives, pepperoncinis, and dressing. That takes the salad down to 340mg's for the whole thing...

Good luck, and once I gave up fried foods, it also hurt my stomach.

Night,

Zimmy

Thanks, Zimmy!

I need 50, according to the formula.



We all have our backslides and down moments. You're doing great. Acknowledge what's going on (check), make a plan to get back on track (check), and execute plan (check?).

I had dinner out with my honey last night. I knew I was going to be a little 'bad' but I figured I'd balance some of the less nutritious stuff with good, wholesome green stuff.

Eh.

I woke up feeling like crap this morning. My tummy was NOT happy with what I gave it to gnosh on. I felt kind of icky right after I ate it too, so I knew my body was going to have a 'talking to' with me eventually.

:blink:

For the record, I *DID* have a small Caesar salad with the dressing (which was a vinaigrette, not a creamy dressing) on the side and I dipped my fork in it then speared a couple of forkfuls of romaine with it. So, I was good there. I also had steamed asparagus with pepper and lemon juice on it. Even the sweet potato fries weren't too bad. They weren't greasy at all and were a small portion.

Where I went wrong was the second fried green tomato and the order of fried oysters. Every year or so I get a craving for fried oysters. I saw them on the menu and *boink* went the craving.

No, change that. The tomatoes weren't too bad, if that was it. It was the oysters. After dinner, the batter left a pasty taste in my mouth. I really don't eat a lot of fried foods anymore. Fries or shrimp here and there, but not anything else really. Days like last night and this morning remind me why. The longer I stay away from it, the harsher the effects on my body when I do indulge.

So, I strayed and my body reigned me back in check. Ebon and I are contemplating dining out again and are trying to pick a place that's got a kinder, gentler menu.

And the next time we go HERE (http://www.threadgills.com/), I'll get the salmon or tilapia. :|

Oh! I also had strawberry rhubarb pie ala mode, but there was NOTHING bad or wrong with that. :tease:

[Gemme]

I had to create a comparison report between fast food restaurants and sit down restaurants. I nearly fell out of my seat... The low fat chicken noodle soup at Panera had 1,450mg's of sodium in it... Needless to say, I am now ordering the Greek salad minus the olives, pepperoncinis, and dressing. That takes the salad down to 340mg's for the whole thing...

Good luck, and once I gave up fried foods, it also hurt my stomach.

Night,

Zimmy

Yep, soup is notorious for being loaded with salt, whether canned, homemade or restaurant style.

I :stillheart: Greek salad.

[JustJo]

Just remember that not all fats are bad...olives are one of the "good guys"...like avocado and nuts. Moderation, yes...but you don't want to eliminate them entirely either.

From this (http://helpguide.org/life/healthy_diet_fats.htm)website:

Monounsaturated fats
Are liquid at room temperature and turn cloudy when kept in refrigerator.
Primary sources are plant oils like canola oil, peanut oil, and olive oil. Other good sources are avocados; nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, and pecans; and seeds such as pumpkin and sesame seeds.
People following traditional Mediterranean diets, which are very high in foods containing monounsaturated fats like olive oil, tend to have lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

Polyunsaturated fats
Are liquid at room temperatures as well as at cold temperatures
Primary sources are sunflower, corn, soybean, and flaxseed oils, and also foods such as walnuts, flax seeds, and fish.
This fat family includes the Omega-3 group of fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory and your body can’t make. In addtion, Omega-3 fats are found in very few foods.

It's the saturated fats and trans fats that you want to stay away from, not these healthy fats. :)

[Miss Scarlett]

I have lost 2.3 lbs since last Thursday!

This despite being lured into eating things like ice cream, tacos, biscuits & gravy (OMG! OMG! OMG!), fries and a ginormous hamburger while out of town over the weekend...

[Andrea]

I confess it has been over a week since the last time I worked out. Er.....wrong thread. :blink:

I am not at full healthy lungs yet but I did manage to do 20 minutes on the treadmill today. Yippee!!!!

Andrea

[JustJo]

I did slip up a bit the other night doing taxes...four hours of frustration and I admit I hit the potato chips. Didn't blow it too bad though :)

Still loving fitday.com ...do I sound like a broken record? The nicest part is that I can be honest, enter what I ate (even on my "day off") and see that the overall effect is still okay. A little slip doesn't mean it's all over, and I'm still on track for my plan. It's a good feeling...and prevents a lot of that beating myself up and giving up reaction.

I'm still not exercising as much as I'd like to (and need to), but I'm doing well on the eating plan and sticking pretty closely to the 1800 calories that is my goal. Drinking my water, taking my vitamins, realizing that I needed to add more iron-rich foods to my diet...lots of good stuff.

And, slowly but surely, the weight is coming off. I'm losing a pretty steady 2 lbs a week, which was my goal (1.5 to 2), and which seems to be widely accepted as a safe, sustainable level to lose at. It's not as immediately rewarding as a crash diet perhaps....but I'm practicing portion control and getting a good level of nutrition.

Hope you're all keeping at it...and remember that a little slip up is just that...a slip up and not the end. :rrose:

[Tommi]

In your head ---> "it works if you work it and it won't if you don't." (borrowed slang from a local meeting)

Bought the Weight Watchers Pedometer and LOVE IT. Easy to read, keeps record of previous days, and I challenge myself to do more steps every day.

:hangloose:

[sylvie]

i admit i still haven't been 100% faithful to being really good..
however, i have been staying on the eating healthy path, and drinking water each day.. AND ive been exercising as much as i can, too..

i started the 100 pushup challenge..
i also do the elliptical each chance i get, and i do some ab work also..
i do a lil walking each day to & from work also.

i've had a few cheating moments here and there, mostly because i'm screwing up my eating pattern by not eating at all, and then feeling famished or just eating too much per serving.. so no weight loss (but no weight gain either)..

i really need to get on the good girl path again LOL..
Gemme i can soo relate to what you said about your stomache not being happy with what you ate.. it's funny when i stay off of something for awhile, like soda pop for instance, when i DO give in, and drink it, i feel awful afterwards, just helps me see exactly why i'm stopping it in the first place..

i am going to finally sign up for fitday.com, i really want to see what i am taking in for calories..

i think i am drinking a LOT of calories, i really should drink even more water.. and get off of drinking so much juice and milk through the day.. the calories are adding up a lot i'm realizing.. i think once i get on that site and really monitor it and see what i am actually taking in, it'll push me to make those changes..

[Kelt]

i started the 100 pushup challenge..
i also do the elliptical each chance i get, and i do some ab work also..
i do a lil walking each day to & from work also.


Sounds like "being really good" to me. Be sure to give yourself credit when it is due for what you are already doing. Other pieces will fall into place along the way as you are ready for them.

Celebrate the victories you already have! :thumbsup:

[Kelt]

The nicest part is that I can be honest, enter what I ate (even on my "day off") and see that the overall effect is still okay. A little slip doesn't mean it's all over, and I'm still on track for my plan. It's a good feeling...and prevents a lot of that beating myself up and giving up reaction.



Hope you're all keeping at it...and remember that a little slip up is just that...a slip up and not the end. :rrose:

I really think that this is strong point for looking at the BIG picture. It isn't about "did I lose x pounds this week?" or "am I x percent stronger this week?" This is real life, fluctuations will happen, but keeping an eye on the long view of taking care of and responsibility for yourself is what is paramount.

There are some great tools out there now that make this easier than ever. Whatever eating/exercising plan you are on, whichever tracking tools/devices you like; finding the right combination for you as an individual can make things a lot simpler and actually enjoyable. Pick a hobby, "health", and make it fun.


:balloon:

[sylvie]

Sounds like "being really good" to me. Be sure to give yourself credit when it is due for what you are already doing. Other pieces will fall into place along the way as you are ready for them.

Celebrate the victories you already have! :thumbsup:

Yesss, you are right.. wow there are some victories in there.. actually, alot of victories these days, thank you Kelt!
funny how easy it is to pick on the small things and not feel victory for the big things even though they far outweigh the small bits i may not have accomplished..

(thinks Gemme, Jenn & Jo remind me of this often too)

<-- learning as i go, and thinkin the bunch of you friggin rawk!

[Sachita]

I have returned to the Eat to Live diet. It's not easy for me to give up sugar, salt, all meats and dairy but it works and it makes me feel great. I eat as much as I want. it just happens to be veggies and fruits, mostly.

wish me well. 3 days and 2 pounds. I might turn into a stalk of broccoli tho

[Miss Scarlett]

Something my doctor kept telling me while I was stuck on that horrid plateau all those months:

"Don't focus so much on the scale. Instead focus on how you feel physically. Do you feel better than you did when you began this journey?"

[Gemme]

This week has been really difficult for me with another week of OT and long, long hours. We're trying to find a new apartment during this too and it's really annoying that the apartment people work the EXACT same hours I do. So, I'm giving up lunches to go view properties.

Bah. I'm Italian. I eat. It's what I do, so I've been noshing on some stuff that I normally would not. We had a quick run to McD's last night. After over 9 hours between meals, I was hungry and tired. Lethal combination.

I'm also not drinking water or any fluids really at work right now. I work on at an isolated property and we don't have city water. Instead we have a huge tank. Well, said tank froze a few days ago. So, there's been no water for me (and the public restroom in the office) and no water for the person that lives above the store.

The actual food I've eaten lately isn't too bad for me. I have just been eating too much of it. Sushi goes down fast!

So, in taking a snapshot of my eating habits, this has been a less than stellar week of eating improperly coupled with little to no exercise outside of work. However, as mentioned, a little bit of this or that won't do much damage unless one gives themself permission to sabotage the entire process, which is easier to do the longer one falters along.

So, keep the faith! We're all bound to have rough patches. Just remember to tuck and roll when you fall and to get back up and dust yourself off as soon as you can.

[girl_dee]

Ok hopping on the bandwagon.. need to lose a few..

No more late night chocolate binges ....



"Nothing tastes as good as thin feels"

[Gemme]

:welcome: to group, sassy.

:cheesy:

[Miss Scarlett]

"Nothing tastes as good as thin feels"

I just love this and am going to post it on my bathroom mirror!

[nycfem]

I just love this and am going to post it on my bathroom mirror!



Though, as Kirstie Alley once said on Larry King: "Not always" :D

[Miss Scarlett]

Though, as Kirstie Alley once said on Larry King: "Not always" :D

True and moderation is the key.

I feel so much better now and being able to wear flattering and fashionable clothes is wonderful.

[Gemme]

Even with my slippages and no exercise, I'm back at my normal weight, after a three day elevation of a couple of pounds.

Weird.

I'm blaming the hormones.

[Miss Scarlett]

Did my at home weekly weigh-in a day early...lost another 2.7 lbs since last week! :cheer:

[Gemme]

We're eating healthy tonight!

:clap:

Lean turkey loaf (half of which is veggies) with sauted veggies (onions, squash, peppers, and mushrooms) sprinkled with finely grated Mexican blend cheeses.

It's one of our favorite meals.

:stillheart:

I hope everyone is doing well tonight. It's my Friday!

:cheer:

[JustJo]

I had a rough couple days and fell off the wagon, but am back on track again. It's a struggle sometimes, isn't it?

I look at it this way...it took me years to gain this weight back...so as long as I'm moving in the right direction, that's the main thing. :)

It's challenging when I'm under work stress, am an emotional eater, and there's chips and other goodies in the house. I literally walked over to the counter, opened the box of Girl Scout cookies, looked at them, closed it, and walked away today. Instead I had a yogurt. Small victory, but still a victory. :rrose:

[Nina]

I literally walked over to the counter, opened the box of Girl Scout cookies, looked at them, closed it, and walked away today. Instead I had a yogurt. Small victory, but still a victory. :rrose:[/QUOTE]


I think it's a Major Victory and you may want to celebrate it as such...I often wonder how, and why, we are so hard on ourselves when we so easily offer loving support to those in our lives...it's a challenge to internalize the kindness we give others...

anyway, I think you did, and are doing, great!!

cheers

nina

[Gemme]

I've had food showdowns too. Sometimes you win. Sometimes they win. I've opened and closed and reopened and reclosed more bags of candy than I care to admit to, IFFFFFF I were admitting to it now, which I'm NOT. Really. :blink:

[JustJo]

I think it's a Major Victory and you may want to celebrate it as such...I often wonder how, and why, we are so hard on ourselves when we so easily offer loving support to those in our lives...it's a challenge to internalize the kindness we give others...

anyway, I think you did, and are doing, great!!

cheers

nina

Nina....you are so absolutely right, and this was something I needed to remind myself of as well. I cheer and support everyone else's small victories towards better health...Scoote eating yogurt and drinking water, the Prince developing a liking for broccoli...I recognize that those little changes are big victories when expanded over a lifetime.

And...you're right...for me to be able to look at the cookies and say no was big...really big. :) Thank you for reminding me of that.

Gemme...I love the "food showdown" phrase...because that is soooo much what it is at that moment. I can picture me and the cookies...faced off across the OK Corral! :fastdraq:

And, once again, grateful for fitday.com ... I had been avoiding it because I didn't want to know how bad I'd been. So, this morning, I thought...new day, don't go enter all that stuff (which I probably couldn't even remember)...just go to today, enter my weight, enter what I'm having for breakfast and begin again.

I did....and, because I can't help it...clicked over to the weight goal stats...and saw that my "actual weight" line did spike up a bit, but it was still underneath my "goal weight" line. I may have fallen off the wagon for a couple days, but I'm still on track. :cheer: So nice to have that reminder staring me in the face.

So...breakfast...black coffee, high fiber oatmeal and a banana. :eating:

Hope you're all doing well! :rrose:

[nycfem]

I can relate.

Last Monday I fell and injured my right knee on the ice. Since then, I have not been able to go to the gym while it is healing. It's getting there but could be another week. When I cannot go to the gym, I have a very hard time eating right. This past Thursday through Sunday, I went back to my unhealthy ways and gained some weight. However, yesterday I took out my food journal and went back to eating healthy. One day at a time!

I had a rough couple days and fell off the wagon, but am back on track again. It's a struggle sometimes, isn't it?

I look at it this way...it took me years to gain this weight back...so as long as I'm moving in the right direction, that's the main thing. :)

It's challenging when I'm under work stress, am an emotional eater, and there's chips and other goodies in the house. I literally walked over to the counter, opened the box of Girl Scout cookies, looked at them, closed it, and walked away today. Instead I had a yogurt. Small victory, but still a victory. :rrose:

[Miss Scarlett]

I think getting back on track and forgiving yourself are more difficult than adhering to your eating plan in the first place. It's so easy to just throw up your hands and say the heck with it when you've strayed a bit. And beating yourself up over it only makes you feel worse and the cycle begins...

[JustJo]

I think getting back on track and forgiving yourself are more difficult than adhering to your eating plan in the first place. It's so easy to just throw up your hands and say the heck with it when you've strayed a bit. And beating yourself up over it only makes you feel worse and the cycle begins...

This is so true...especially when (for many of us) the eating issues are emotional or stress-related. We beat ourselves up, and it just makes matters worse.

After my 2- 1/2 day slip, it did me good to regroup, get a little perspective, and just start again as I was before. When I weighed in this morning, I could see that...really...the damage was 1 pound, and a few lost days. In the course of a lifetime, that doesn't make a speck of difference.

Whether the slip is 1 treat or 1 day or 1 week or 1 month...it's important to put it in perspective, be as understanding of ourselves as we would be for someone we love, and just start fresh without recriminations.

What we're doing by working at eating healthier is a good thing. We're taking care of ourselves. And just because we aren't perfect at it yet doesn't negate the good things we're doing.

I say....here's to us! :clap:

[JustJo]

Hey everyone...don't know about all of you, but this has been a rough little stretch...Valentine's Day seemed to grow into a few days of eating, and the potato chips have been calling my name in a really cruel way. Ugh!

I'm still working it, but it's one step forward, two steps back on some days....and two steps forward, one step back on the others.

Habits are hard to unlearn...that's for sure!

Sending you all good thoughts and encouragement. :rrose:

[Bella~Vita]

I'm on and off also ..what a struggle

Im curious if anyone has tried weightwatchers recently? Is it cheaper to go to the meetings or the same as online?

[lipstixgal]

I'm on and off also ..what a struggle

Im curious if anyone has tried weightwatchers recently? Is it cheaper to go to the meetings or the same as online?

Its new now pointsplus program and its cheaper if you buy a monthly pass and attend the meetings every week or you will waste your money!!

[Bella~Vita]

Its new now pointsplus program and its cheaper if you buy a monthly pass and attend the meetings every week or you will waste your money!!

Thanks Lips ... I kinda figured that. I think I would do better if I was held accountable with attending the meetings. Do you know how much the monthly passes are?

[lipstixgal]

Thanks Lips ... I kinda figured that. I think I would do better if I was held accountable with attending the meetings. Do you know how much the monthly passes are?

I am not really sure if it was 35 dollars or more but you could call the 1-800 number or go to weightwatchers.com and check it out. You do get the etools which is good and you can track your weight and meals too. I hope that helps.

[sylvie]

i've been a bad, bad girl.. (and been staying out of here because of it)..lol..

i have fallen off the wagon, so to speak, but want to say, i am (for the first time) not beating myself up over this.. soo facing my demons, putting it out there, dusting myself off, and jumping back on & enjoying the ride..

hi all *waves* remember me? lol.. sigh!
well, all was going great, but i had a bit of a set back.. but i need to say this, i woke up yesterday morning with one helluva new outlook on life, the things i need to do to get healthy, be happy & live life with ease..( that's a combination of a lot of things in my life, not just healthy eating...)

i'm used to bullying myself around and beating myself up for the small things and not celebrating the really great & big things.. now it's going to be about that AND having fun with it!! this isn't work so much as it is a drive to be healthier, happier and want to LIVE to enjoy those i love and the things i love doing...

------
that being said.. i'm really mindset on my eating disorder..
i called my therapist yesterday about a program to go to, just for some extra support, and we'll also touch this in my therapy sessions.. my therapy is based on positive support and helping me reach my inner stuff and tackling the challenges that hold me back so i can find ways to move forward..but this is one i was not willing to go there with her about... so , think this is a big step for me.

ANYway, that being said.. i only binged once in the last few weeks, but.. it's what i have done afterwards, that really has put me in a pickle.. i stress myself over that one downfall which leads to my not eating at all a lot of the time which in turn plays on my health and vicious circle.. though i have had some workouts and have had some days where i've eaten some and honestly, it's just a depend on the day kind of thing... i internalize the inner bully, beat myself up and then do things to hurt myself, ya know? not easy to admit ive been doing that for years but, it is what it is.. (uhhh, hurt myself meaning starve myself and beat myself up)

so, BACK on the wagon i jump..
setting some goals for myself today, & for tomorrow..
i'll be back with those goals, just getting this out of my system first..
and sending you all TONS of encouragement, to keep going ..
lots of hugggs for the hard days, and a gentle push to keep at it too!
we got this, REALLY we do!! =)

[JustJo]

Just a quick post since I have to lead a conference call shortly...but I wanted to come give Sylvie a big hug for sharing that :gimmehug: I totally hear you and can relate...seems like the biggest demons to tackle always live inside.

I did also want to say...that's exactly the time you need (and that's general you...to all of us) to come in here rather than stay away.

This thread isn't about success...although I certainly want to celebrate those :cheesy: ...it's about the journey. Those of us who struggle with this have had a whole lifetime to learn the crappy stuff that put the weight on and keeps it there....and it takes time to unlearn it too.

Whether you're rocking the weight loss, or fallen by the wayside and struggling up out of the weeds...we're here for you. :rrose:

Just remember, every moment is a new chance...no matter what happened the moment before. It's about progress, not perfection.

[sylvie]

Jo , (((((hugggggz)))))
that was the kindest thing ever, thank you!
i agree, this is about the journey!
i think, though, rather than being the journey for awhile..
it was embarrassment about falling off that journey in a sense..
it can be the biggest struggle at times, i would beat myself up so terribly..
and keep myself away from the support i had, because it's easier to be hard on myself that way..

ooo, talk about an honesty kick right there for me, lol..
i'm on a roll today, calling myself out all over the dang place *smiles*
i'm not being hard on myself though, it's actually really a refreshing feeling..
and the exact push i need, by letting my demons out..
knowing people are reading it, is HARD for me lol.. this is stuff i've kept in for years and years..but it feels really good to be making solid changes to my life, for the bettter of my health & happiness..

so one change i need to make, i guess.. is not to push my support away..
but embrace it, in my times of need.. i'm really so happy this thread is here, i actually went back and read old posts from the very beginning and kind of walked along my journey just here in this thread alone since it began..i've learned so much thanks to you all - and the support has been amazing!!

it's so nice to know we have a place we can talk about this, and grow and learn and not be judged for the lil setbacks.. ♥

[sylvie]

had a really great breakfast of fresh pineapple today..
i LOVE fresh pineapple, it kills my sweet cravings (or my cravings for something crunchy) it works, it works! =)

for lunch i tossed a delicious salad , complete with mandarines & strawberries and small bit of almonds too, it was so yummy..

for dinner tonight, will be doing something with chicken, as well as making a homemade soup.. the homemade soup will be for tomorrow, going to put it in the slow cooker tonight.. not sure what i'll do with the chicken for tonight just yet though!

- i'm right on game with drinking water, tis lil after noon and i've had 4 good sized glasses so far..

AND, had a great work out.. did 30 minutes of the elliptical, did some ab work and also restarted the 100 pushups challenge, since i stopped it a couple of weeks back...

i can't wait for the beautiful weather again to start walking.. i find it hard to get out walking when sidewalks are all icy and slippery.. i walk but i dont get the brisk walk i want cuz i'm scared to fall (i'm SUPER klutzy) LOL..

YAY for a great start to a new week! ♥

[Andrea]

A number of different things have kept me from the gym the last two weeks. I am happy to say that I have continued to work on eating healthier and actually did some of the cooking myself recently (as opposed to my honey doing it all).

I haven't been on a scale in two weeks and don't really feel lighter, but I do feel better physically and mentally.

I love reading about everyone taking care of themselves and that it is okay when I am not perfect. Keep up the good work.

Andrea

[Zimmeh]

I got a website from my Nutrition class homework that I thought you all might like. It is talking about caffeine consumption.

Enjoy!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeine/AN01211

Zimmy

[Zimmeh]

Here is another website that I thought was interesting. I love my nonfat Vanilla latte's from Starbucks and I just saw where it has 37g of Carbs and 35g of which are sugar...So now, I am going to opt for a plain ol' latte which has 19g of Carbs......Even brewed coffee has more caffeine in it than, the Starbucks latte's.

Enjoy!

http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/caffe-latte?foodZone=9999#size=42&milk=61

Zimmy

[Miss Scarlett]

Saw my weight loss doc this morning...it was nice not being being stuck with a zillion needles or the other horrid things I've been trough over the last 2 weeks...Anyway...in the last month I lost only 6.1 lbs. Was very disappointed because I know I had lost more than this because of the way my clothes fit.

My doctor gave me his "Illness" handout and I will share it here:

ILLNESS

MYTH: When you're sick, you lose weight.

TRUTH: Most dieters fain weight after an illness.

Why? Multiple reasons fight against your success:

1 - You eat too few calories, slowing your metabolism.

2 - When you feel better, you eat too many calories, making things worse.

3 - While sick, you eat all the wrong foods: crackers, noodle soup, starches, etc.

4 - You stop exercising.

5 - You stop taking your meds.

Some patients have the added problems:

- Their doctor put them on prednisone which causes weight gain.

- They lose momentum and get discouraged.

Remember, this is nothing more than a small setback in a long journey. You are going to be successful in the big pictire. Time to get your energy up and get back to healthy living. You deserve it.

As for me...I'd stopped eating for a while, then went for the starchy things like Wheat Thins - also beverages containing sugar, i.e. ginger ale, juice, apple cider, didn't exercise because I couldn't breathe (still not 100% at this), stopped my meds more or less and on top of all this the doc treating my flu put me on steroids and a boatload of other meds to help me breathe, etc. So in reality I did better than I should have with the 6.1 lbs.

[DapperButch]

Hi, folks!

I am in the market for a new elliptical.

I am looking at either the Livestrong 10.0 or the Sole E25 (possible 35).

I can't decide which "feel" I like better when I have tried them in the stores.

The 10.0 has a slightly heavier flywheel and maybe 2 more programs, so they are comparable.

Price is the same.

What I like about the Livestrong is the Q-factor is 0, while the Q-factor of the Sole is 2. For those that don't know, this means that the pedals are closer together on the Livestrong, which they say is more similar to the natural way we walk. I believe that most ellipticals have a 2 on the Q-factor. I have never used an elliptical before, so I don't know which would be more comfortable/if this is an issue for users.

Questions:

1) Has anyone ever used either of these machines?

2) Has anyone ever felt like the pedals should be closer together (assuming most machines are not at a 0 in Q-factor (whatever that stands for?) when using an elliptical?

I am going to cross post this on the healthy weight loss b/c I think that there are elliptical users there. I am assuming this is ok, Admin (Linus?), as it is not a discussion topic.

Also...sorry one more question. When at the store I was in running shoes. I kind of felt like my feet were sliding forward on all machines. I am wondering if this is common and also if people use cross trainers (remember those?), instead of running shoes due to this problem (since running shoes have a bit of a heel). I am planning on going back with a pair of cross trainers on my feet.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

ETA: I am off to work, so will check back later!

[Gemme]

I answered you there. :)

[sylvie]

i need this thread..and this motivation... ♥
it's been quiet in here, so i've been reading over some posts i haven't read as well as some posts we were all posting awhile back..

i have been very discouraged from my healthy journey.. but, wanting to get back to it full force, again...

just curious, how everyone is making out with their healthy living these days?

bring me back up to speed with you all and i'll get motivated to do the same and get myself back in this, i really really need this! i'm tired of falling off my wagon LOL

[Tommi]

i need this thread..and this motivation... ♥
it's been quiet in here, so i've been reading over some posts i haven't read as well as some posts we were all posting awhile back..

i have been very discouraged from my healthy journey.. but, wanting to get back to it full force, again...

just curious, how everyone is making out with their healthy living these days?

bring me back up to speed with you all and i'll get motivated to do the same and get myself back in this, i really really need this! i'm tired of falling off my wagon LOL
Is this a form of exercise. Hmmmm
http://www.isabelperez.com/images/earth_6_28.gif

Hiya sylvie
Good to know I am not alone. My exercise routine has been trashed, severely curtailed for almost month due to a road trip I'm on for work.. I was on a steady weight loss with what I was doing, over 28 pounds.

Now, i am stuck-> there is a dramatic impact when not exercising, and staying on that "plateau", minimal weight loss , even when eating totally healthy. I am in the car, and on the road while still dark, very early and getting home very late almost every nite.

So, knowing that, I know enough to eat healthy during the day, with a co-worker. We take a quick break away fro the firm we are at, find a veggie place for lunch, then back to the company until past dinner time. Then in the car for an hour and 1/2 ride home. I have been having Cheerio's alot (for breakfast and dinner) and homemade veggie soup I make on the weekend and freeze, then heat up for din din, We get salads or fish at lunch.

I think I just need to bite the bullet and get back to swimming and walking every day either at 5AM or 7PM..in order to get back to the weight loss I was having. I have all the exercise suff right here at home too, so, guess I have to get motivated to do more than go to WW every Sat AM and verify I am not gaining.

Okay sylvie,thanks for the reminder, and as of today, I am getting back on board the Healthy Weigh Loss thread. Spending less time on laying here and more time being "Physical"

http://heartcurrents.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/wp_heart_exercise-cartoon.jpg

[sylvie]

Is this a form of exercise. Hmmmm
http://www.isabelperez.com/images/earth_6_28.gif

Hiya sylvie
Good to know I am not alone. My exercise routine has been trashed, severely curtailed for almost month due to a road trip I'm on for work.. I was on a steady weight loss with what I was doing, over 28 pounds.

Now, i am stuck-> there is a dramatic impact when not exercising, and staying on that "plateau", minimal weight loss , even when eating totally healthy. I am in the car, and on the road while still dark, very early and getting home very late almost every nite.

So, knowing that, I know enough to eat healthy during the day, with a co-worker. We take a quick break away fro the firm we are at, find a veggie place for lunch, then back to the company until past dinner time. Then in the car for an hour and 1/2 ride home. I have been having Cheerio's alot (for breakfast and dinner) and homemade veggie soup I make on the weekend and freeze, then heat up for din din, We get salads or fish at lunch.

I think I just need to bite the bullet and get back to swimming and walking every day either at 5AM or 7PM..in order to get back to the weight loss I was having. I have all the exercise suff right here at home too, so, guess I have to get motivated to do more than go to WW every Sat AM and verify I am not gaining.

Okay sylvie,thanks for the reminder, and as of today, I am getting back on board the Healthy Weigh Loss thread. Spending less time on laying here and more time being "Physical"

http://heartcurrents.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/wp_heart_exercise-cartoon.jpg

Tommi, you rock !!!
and yw for the reminder, and thank you for your update and in turn giving ME some motivation too... You know, i also have everything i need right here at home, not to mention i pay for a monthly gym membership which is now not getting used..

i should be going at least twice a week, and i should be utlizing what i have here at home each day! and i should be pushing myself for walks here and there when time allows.. but, i haven't been either.. Much like you, ive been behaving for the most part foodwise.. so i know that plateau so very well...

i'm setting myself a goal of 20 lbs, starting right now.
Good for you, for keeping yourself on eating healthy.. When you are on the road and when life is busy, it's always SO much easier to go to the junkfoods and quick unhealthy meals or fast food, so i really think it's fab you've been doing so good that way!! YAY you!

Today i'm home sick, with a bit of pain so not sure a workout is a good idea for today but soon as i'm a 100% by tonight or tomorrow, i'm kicking it up a notch and getting my workouts in again..

i need a lil dude sitting on my shoulder hollaring at me to "get at it" with eating right AND exercise, that'd be some awesome motivation LOL... motivating oneself isn't always easy, eh!

[Gemme]

I've been on a bit of a plateau too. Thankfully, I haven't gained more than a pound or two back. On the days that I work full shifts, I am not going to exercise. My job is pretty active and I'm in and outside all day. Working out when I come home is neither an option nor a choice at that point. I'm just too wiped out and I don't want to spend any of my 3-4 hours before bed doing anything that resembles work.

However, there's no reason for me not to take advantage of my days off or even the half days that I work. I chalk it up to laziness, pure and simple.

At this point in the game, I know what I should be eating and both Ebon and I do tend to, for the most part, lean towards healthier fare nowadays. But I don't get as frustrated with myself about my little slip ups or outright carb fests as much as I did before. I've opted to take a month off from my food journal, to test myself and to see where I am at in terms of healthy eating.

I'm still 20 lbs. down and ahead of the game and my body feels comfortable at this weight. I do need to work on toning though. I have more jiggle than Jello. :blink:

I just do the best I can at that moment. Some moments are better than others and some choices are better than others. To not stop trying is the key.

[Kelt]

I agree with you all that exercise is really helpful when trying to lose weight aggressively. For maintaining I think less will be needed, but I am not there yet. For me getting out and about is much easier than trying to work out at home, I do my resistance at home, but it is very efficient and doesn't take much time. My beach ramblings have gradually gone from 5 miles a day to 8-10, unless it is pouring rain and then it's less but I still get out. It is the thing I enjoy and therefore stick with. Eating is whole foods omnivore simple foods. Last time I checked in on progress was the new year, since then I have managed to lose 38lbs and dropped a few sizes. I have the luxury of time and know it would be much harder without, so am trying to make the best of it. Everyone just keep up the good work and it will pay off in the long run.


:balloon:

[sylvie]

To not stop trying is the key.

this is so true!
though i kind of fell off the wagon for awhile, i'm proud that i DO find my way back to this need to take on a healthier me.. that i keep trying, means i'll keep on this because i'm worthy enough .. thats a BIG thing for me... my worth - i always struggle with that..

but since getting on the healthier me journey, i find with each hill i climb successfully, my self esteem improves as well.. it's all kind of a vicious circle isn't it?

i really do love getting outdoors as opposed to working out at home.. whether walking, hiking, ANYthing really.. activity outdoors is so refreshing - but sometimes my work hours just don't allow it, so working out at home is my option on those days.. it gives me no excuse to not work out, at least lol!

i'm working on some sort of routine to go by for myself today - so if i have something to go by, in print where i can see it, i may work a lil harder at doing it - sometimes seeing something is all the motivation i need..

So Question: What do you all use for motivation, to get yourselves moving? is it just a matter of the mind where you tell yerself to get out and move? Or do you have things that work for you , as well as healthy eating.. any motivation to keep you on the healthier eating side of things? Just curious!

[Gemme]

So Question: What do you all use for motivation, to get yourselves moving? is it just a matter of the mind where you tell yerself to get out and move? Or do you have things that work for you , as well as healthy eating.. any motivation to keep you on the healthier eating side of things? Just curious!

Most of the time, if I set my mind to it, I'm okay. Sometimes, I have to make a deal with myself that I'll only do 15 minutes and then I can quit. Well, when the 15 minute mark comes around, I'm not ready to quit and so, I finish the workout. Some of the time, I will bribe myself. IF I go workout, and do a good, full, HONEST effort workout, then I can do ****** or go buy *****.

I'm kind of vain, though it might not be obvious to look at me, but there are certain things that I struggle with and I know that physical exercise is the ONLY way those things are going to get "fixed" or at least change in the right direction. If nothing else, that usually works for me.

Of course, there are days when I fight with myself and my inner five year old wins, stomping her foot and pouting and all. *wry grin*

[sylvie]

so my work is putting on a challenge , not many of us have joined it, but it's something i'm quite looking forward to.. i signed up today, it starts tomorrow.. i procrastinated it til closer to the time, so i wouldn't back down..

there are two ways to win, weight loss and getting the most points..
there is a points system, every lil thing we do, gains us points.. whether its checking in every thursday as required, or losing a lb, or completing a personal goal , etc..
MY personal opinion is, if i don't win a prize for either - i win simply for taking on this challenge and teaching myself healthier ways of living... which is what this challenge is designed to do.


we have to set a personal goal each week, (ex drink 6 glasses of water a day or 15 mins of activity) ..
we have to complete an activity challenge each day for a week (new challenge each week), and each day earns us points..
also a healthy eating challenge each day for a week (new challenge each week) ..
i'm excited to find out what this first week's challenges are! ♥

Anyway you get the giste, everything combined will work us towards healthier habits, and pushing us for more activity, and teaching ourselves to set small achievable goals - so on and so forth..

so i'm anxious to go weigh in tomorrow morning, get my tally sheet for the week and get on board.. having a team of gals who are doing the same right there at work will be motivation for me, since i work a ton of hours..the harder we work to earn points, the more we get... i love me a good challenge! hehe...

sooooo - this is GOOD.. also the weather FINALLY is cooperative and springlike, our sidewalks and roads are bare, no ice.. no snow.. which makes for nice walking & hiking weather.. THAT is motivating as well..

i finally also joined the site to track my calories and such and learned something pretty crazy yesterday:
i tracked my calories, just to try the site out, for yesterday morning... and realized i drink all my calories.. no wonder i get so frustrated with seeing results.. ive changed alot of my eating habits, but i drink alot of liquids during meals, between meals, from morning to night... Yesterday morning, i drank enough orange juice in a 3 hour period to equal 550 calories.. *gulp* thats just my drinks, not even including eating... so if thats 3 hours, imagine what i must drink for an entire day, between juice, milk and occasionally soda pop.. SO, definitely my first goal, is water, water, water!

i realize now, also that drinking juice, sodapop, etc does not quench my thirst which drives me to want drinks more and more... no wonder i drink so much.. just today, all ive had is water.. no juice, nothing... and i already see a difference in how much i need to drink to quench my thirst...

i cut way back in sodapop some time ago.. i actually go weeks without even having any, if at all.. but i replaced sodapop with juice, which isn't helping me out at all..

Anyway, just checking in, to say YAY about the challenge, and what i learned about my beverages... ive had 3 glasses of water today as opposed to the ohh, 8-12 glasses of beverages i had yesterday by this time... (big diffrence eh!)

Alright, enough with my book! *smiles*

[sylvie]

PS -- How is everyone doing?? Share some tips !
i like hearing how everyone is doing, with activity and eating, i learn a lot from you all...

♥♥

[Zimmeh]

Good Afternoon Sylvie,

I am doing well! How are you doing? I have started eating Greek yogurt. I like it, because it has less calories, it's gluten free and has probiotics in it. I live on the third floor and I love my roommate. Him and I have been getting up at 6:30am and go power walking/jogging for atleast an hour.

Have fun today,

Zimmy

PS -- How is everyone doing?? Share some tips !
i like hearing how everyone is doing, with activity and eating, i learn a lot from you all...

♥♥

[violaine]

[QUOTE=ZimmygLrL;288016]Here is another website that I thought was interesting. I love my nonfat Vanilla latte's from Starbucks and I just saw where it has 37g of Carbs and 35g of which are sugar...So now, I am going to opt for a plain ol' latte which has 19g of Carbs......Even brewed coffee has more caffeine in it than, the Starbucks latte's.

Enjoy!

http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/caffe-latte?foodZone=9999#size=42&milk=61

Zimmy

on topic of latte's and caffeine, i thought i would post something to osteopenia/osteoporosis, which can be detected in individuals of any gender as well as any age range:

Dietary factors that affect calcium
Dietary protein and caffeine can increase urine loss of calcium. These effects can be measured and are statistically significant, but becomes clinically significant only at large intakes. In fact, a latte will result in positive calcium balance! Calcium absorption is inhibited to a modest degree by fiber in the diet. Although the calcium content in spinach is high, almost none gets absorbed.
Vitamin D must be adequate for optimal absorption of calcium. The vitamin D has a very long half-life and does not need to be taken at the same time as the calcium.

More information about nutrition and osteoporosis is in the nutrition pages. ** the bottom left home page is excellent for further information on calcium, weight, free tests, et c **

http://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/opcalcium.html#side

[sylvie]

this has been the most amazing week for me..
i started the "eat well & be active" challenge at work last week.. (will be one week tomorrow) ..

each week, we get a healthy eating challenge and an activity challenge and have to choose a personal goal challenge as well..

i have stayed soooo true to all 3 of my challenges, and the difference in how i feel this week amazes me.. ive always been kind of off and on with trying to be healthy and working out, ive never stuck it out..

and having an eating disorder makes it so much harder of course.
but i did it, i did it, I DID IT!

tomorrow i go weigh in to see the results of my week.. i will be happy with even just 1 or 2 lbs lost.. OR even maintaining my weight, i guess.. as long as there is no gain.. i am anticipating jumping on that scale, which is a first for me..

i've eaten a healthy breakfast everyday (which was the eating challenge), i've drank at least 8 glasses of water and no juice and no sodapop at all (which was my personal goal challenge) and ive had to do 15 mins at least of activity each day (which i've exceeded each day with at least an hour...)

i cant get over the amount of energy i've been feeling just after a few days even but it's also the cleansing feeling.. hard to explain...when i was drinking so much sugary juices and sodapop it made me feel so blah and tired and lack of energy altogether...

i've not been back to the gym yet, but i will.. lately the weather has been nice so ive been taking advantage of the outdoor walks instead.. once it either gets "too hot" or , rainy blah bad weather days ill take advantage of the gym then..

Anyway, here's to week 2 !! YAY!!
Hope you are all doing wonderfully !!

[Scorp]

Been doing WW online for a month now and having tremendous success! So far I've lost 17 lbs. I have 53 lbs to go to reach my goal weight.

I don't think I've eaten so many fruits and veggies in my life along with healthy meals and other things.

The most important factors for me are portion control, journaling (which is fun online) and eating within my point range. I've also been using the punching bag a lot and also playing Wii Sports. My favorites are tennis, boxing and baseball. The boxing sport is unbelievable, what a workout!

I'm going full force with this and hope to stick to this regiment. Keeping it off is what will be difficult. Over 5 years ago I did WW at work and lost 55 lbs. I felt awesome and had so much energy. Then over time, I began eating bad again and getting older developing hormonal problems which didn't help. So now I've had more to lose since then. It's all systems go for me and just move forward with it.

In the meantime, I'm gonna develop some nice muscles from my punching bag. I love that thing!

Best,

Scorp

[Zimmeh]

Four years ago, I gave up soda and fast food..Cold turkey..As a result, I lost 60lbs and went from a size 20 in womens clothes to a size 12 in misses for my work pants and a size 15 in juniors for my jeans. I found counting calories, no soda, switching to SoyMilk, and eating frozen veggies, to help me keep that weight off. I never want to regain that weight and I try to power walk atleast one hour a day.

Good luck and CONGRATS!!!!

Zimmy

Been doing WW online for a month now and having tremendous success! So far I've lost 17 lbs. I have 53 lbs to go to reach my goal weight.

I don't think I've eaten so many fruits and veggies in my life along with healthy meals and other things.

The most important factors for me are portion control, journaling (which is fun online) and eating within my point range. I've also been using the punching bag a lot and also playing Wii Sports. My favorites are tennis, boxing and baseball. The boxing sport is unbelievable, what a workout!

I'm going full force with this and hope to stick to this regiment. Keeping it off is what will be difficult. Over 5 years ago I did WW at work and lost 55 lbs. I felt awesome and had so much energy. Then over time, I began eating bad again and getting older developing hormonal problems which didn't help. So now I've had more to lose since then. It's all systems go for me and just move forward with it.

In the meantime, I'm gonna develop some nice muscles from my punching bag. I love that thing!

Best,

Scorp

[Zimmeh]

I am the same way. Even if I can only go power walking for ten minutes, I will do it. My roommate and I have been getting up at 6:30am and we go either walking or jogging atleast three times a week.

Good luck and Congrats!

Zimmy

I agree with you all that exercise is really helpful when trying to lose weight aggressively. For maintaining I think less will be needed, but I am not there yet. For me getting out and about is much easier than trying to work out at home, I do my resistance at home, but it is very efficient and doesn't take much time. My beach ramblings have gradually gone from 5 miles a day to 8-10, unless it is pouring rain and then it's less but I still get out. It is the thing I enjoy and therefore stick with. Eating is whole foods omnivore simple foods. Last time I checked in on progress was the new year, since then I have managed to lose 38lbs and dropped a few sizes. I have the luxury of time and know it would be much harder without, so am trying to make the best of it. Everyone just keep up the good work and it will pay off in the long run.


:balloon:

[sylvie]

so, here is my update..
Yesterday, at work, we had our weigh in..
i lost almost 9 lbs.. it was 8 point something which rounded off to 9 lbs..

i was in shock, but i was SO happy.. i worked so hard at everything , i know it's probably beginner's luck and once my body adjusts to the healthy choices i am making the weight loss each week will slow down, but..

9 friggin lbs, YAAAAAAAAAY!
i think i sang and danced the whole way home after work..
-------

the hardest part of all of this is my eating disorder.. wanting to binge, wanting to purge, the number of times i push those thoughts out of my head i probably couldn't even begin to count...

but this is the very first time, i've gotten a handle on it for such a length of time, and constantly felt encouraged each and everyday to strive for more.. hearing 9 lbs lost really put a positive spin on my wanting more!

We got new challenges for this week, which i'm doing great on so far, today is day one of week 2 !! even if i didn't lose any weight, this fabulous feeling and cleansed feeling i have is so wonderful, i'm so full of energy, its fantastic! and just feeling my clothes a tinge looser, makes me smile BIG!

i just had to come share my great news!

[sylvie]

Been doing WW online for a month now and having tremendous success! So far I've lost 17 lbs. I have 53 lbs to go to reach my goal weight.

I don't think I've eaten so many fruits and veggies in my life along with healthy meals and other things.

The most important factors for me are portion control, journaling (which is fun online) and eating within my point range. I've also been using the punching bag a lot and also playing Wii Sports. My favorites are tennis, boxing and baseball. The boxing sport is unbelievable, what a workout!

I'm going full force with this and hope to stick to this regiment. Keeping it off is what will be difficult. Over 5 years ago I did WW at work and lost 55 lbs. I felt awesome and had so much energy. Then over time, I began eating bad again and getting older developing hormonal problems which didn't help. So now I've had more to lose since then. It's all systems go for me and just move forward with it.

In the meantime, I'm gonna develop some nice muscles from my punching bag. I love that thing!

Best,

Scorp

i would sooo love to have a punching bag, seriously.. i hear its a great work out, but would be nice to get out some much needed frustration too lol.

and congratulations on the 17 lbs lost Scorp thats fantastic, woohoo !! i hear WW is a great program, my mother uses it and my grandmother used to before she went into the nursing home. i heard wii is fantastic for weight loss with those fit programs.. good luck with your journey, keep us updated!

=)

[Zimmeh]

Congrats!!!!!!!!! Just keep the negative thoughts at bay and you will do fine! I have confidence in you and if I can do it, I know you can.

Hugs and have fun today,

Zimmy


so, here is my update..
Yesterday, at work, we had our weigh in..
i lost almost 9 lbs.. it was 8 point something which rounded off to 9 lbs..

i was in shock, but i was SO happy.. i worked so hard at everything , i know it's probably beginner's luck and once my body adjusts to the healthy choices i am making the weight loss each week will slow down, but..

9 friggin lbs, YAAAAAAAAAY!
i think i sang and danced the whole way home after work..
-------

the hardest part of all of this is my eating disorder.. wanting to binge, wanting to purge, the number of times i push those thoughts out of my head i probably couldn't even begin to count...

but this is the very first time, i've gotten a handle on it for such a length of time, and constantly felt encouraged each and everyday to strive for more.. hearing 9 lbs lost really put a positive spin on my wanting more!

We got new challenges for this week, which i'm doing great on so far, today is day one of week 2 !! even if i didn't lose any weight, this fabulous feeling and cleansed feeling i have is so wonderful, i'm so full of energy, its fantastic! and just feeling my clothes a tinge looser, makes me smile BIG!

i just had to come share my great news!

[violaine]

http://ecohabits.net/yacon-syrup-healthy-sugar-alternative/

http://mariahealth.blogspot.com/2010/06/yacon-syrup.html

i picked up some of this today at whole foods on my way to a pet sitting account. though i'm not trying to lose weight, it still makes sense to not cause unnecessary spikes in blood concentrations of insulin and glucose.

[sylvie]

Well, completed week two of my eat well & be active challenge..
Today was weigh in day and lost 2 more lbs.. not as good as last week but, i know the losing will be smaller now each week and i'm content with 2 lbs, better than gain!

i wasn't as active as i was the week before either, due to my crazy work hours and been busy with life of course but working it in when i can! hehe..

Picked up my challenges for this week..
Eating challenge : is to eat no chocolate all week long
Activity challenge: 25 mins of activity a day (we get 2 points for it) and then 1 point for every 15 mins..
My personal goal challenge: Is to work on smaller portions for my meals, fitting it onto a small plate, rather than a big one..

Of course , i have to keep up with my previous challenges for the last 2 weeks as well.. which have been:
7-8 servings of fruit & vegetables
eating a healthy breakfast every morning
drinking 8 glasses of water each day (no sodapop and no sugary juices)
not to eat a meal after 6pm & to eat 3 meals plus healthy snack between meals.

i was well known for skipping meals, and of course, binge eating.. so getting control on my making sure i eat healthy meals and not getting myself to t he point i want to binge is a big step for me, quite proud of myself these last 2 weeks.. Also, the portion control now will be a big one for me..

This week we were given a small notebook to use as a food & activity journal as well.. This is something ive been saying i would do but never did follow through so will be a good thing to try..

i'm really enjoying this challenge, i will be pushing myself for more activity this week too! THANK YOU to everyone who left me the encouraging and VERY sweet rep with my weight loss last week... i am also very lucky to have supportive people in my life who encourage me along as well.. this has been the absolute best i have ever done on my self journey and this really has me SOOO happy, i'm very very happy with myself!!

YAAAAAAY!
hope you are all doing well - i miss reading tips and updates and the chatter in this thread, sooooooo much ♥

[Zimmeh]

Congrats!!!! You can have really dark chocolate once your done this week. The only type of dark chocolate that I can have is Godiva's 75% -85% dark chocolate.

Good luck and keep up the good work!

Zimmy

Well, completed week two of my eat well & be active challenge..
Today was weigh in day and lost 2 more lbs.. not as good as last week but, i know the losing will be smaller now each week and i'm content with 2 lbs, better than gain!

i wasn't as active as i was the week before either, due to my crazy work hours and been busy with life of course but working it in when i can! hehe..

Picked up my challenges for this week..
Eating challenge : is to eat no chocolate all week long
Activity challenge: 25 mins of activity a day (we get 2 points for it) and then 1 point for every 15 mins..
My personal goal challenge: Is to work on smaller portions for my meals, fitting it onto a small plate, rather than a big one..

Of course , i have to keep up with my previous challenges for the last 2 weeks as well.. which have been:
7-8 servings of fruit & vegetables
eating a healthy breakfast every morning
drinking 8 glasses of water each day (no sodapop and no sugary juices)
not to eat a meal after 6pm & to eat 3 meals plus healthy snack between meals.

i was well known for skipping meals, and of course, binge eating.. so getting control on my making sure i eat healthy meals and not getting myself to t he point i want to binge is a big step for me, quite proud of myself these last 2 weeks.. Also, the portion control now will be a big one for me..

This week we were given a small notebook to use as a food & activity journal as well.. This is something ive been saying i would do but never did follow through so will be a good thing to try..

i'm really enjoying this challenge, i will be pushing myself for more activity this week too! THANK YOU to everyone who left me the encouraging and VERY sweet rep with my weight loss last week... i am also very lucky to have supportive people in my life who encourage me along as well.. this has been the absolute best i have ever done on my self journey and this really has me SOOO happy, i'm very very happy with myself!!

YAAAAAAY!
hope you are all doing well - i miss reading tips and updates and the chatter in this thread, sooooooo much ♥

[violaine]

http://www.creativesaga.com/2011/03/eggless-dried-figs-cake.html


figs, especially dried ones are not necessarily low in sugars and carbohydrates; however, if one is looking for extra sources of calcium in their diet, turn to figs for an impressive amount in one serving. last night, i took a package of figs purchased from a lebanese market- 1.99$ [5.99$ at chain supermarket], and blended them with about two cups of water. i came up with a really delicious spread, and/or nice ingredient [with lots of essential nutrients: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1889/2 ]. i thought that i would share this recipe because the amount of egg/oil/sugar could be reduced with the addition of figs pureed/creamed with water. almonds grinded up finely, also reduce oil used in a recipe. this is how to make your own inexpensive almond butter too, ha.

ETA: you could also add balsamic vinegar to some of the fig puree, and have fig balsamic . buy a bottle of cheap balsamic vinegar, place on stove, and reduce until thick- it is a 'balsamic glaze' then. add blueberry, fig, pear, et c. i used the glaze along with shallot and garlic with long beans.

[lipstixgal]

So far my weight loss has been 25 lbs with diet and exercise!! Whoo HOO

[sylvie]

i just got home from a 2 1/2 hour walk outside by motivating myself to get out there, and it's sooo beautiful out .. i had a great time, so glad i went!

and i feel sooooooo awesome !!! made myself a sammich and heading off to work soon, drinking lotsa water too !

i really need to find a way to bring water with me, because i felt really dehydrated by the end of my walk.. i hate holding something in my hands when im walking though, it really bothers me..

may have to invest in some sort of belt i can clip a bottle onto, or maybe bring a small back pack with me or something, anything!! specially for these long walks!

[Kelt]

One thing I have found to be very helpful in portion control was to get different dishes. American dishes are huge these days, my grandmothers sets, in use by my folks, are about half the size. I picked up some very plain inexpensive pieces open stock at Ikea. Dinner plates are 8 inches diameter instead of the usual 10-12 inches in most sets, you can also just switch to the salad plates for the main course. Bowls, my small ones held 2 full cups of food, the ones I use now hold one cup. Much more reasonable serving sizes, but I still get a nice big plate/bowlful of whatever I am having without having it look like a reduced portion. It doesn't take but a few days until everything else just looks ridiculous. It really works!

:chef:

[JustJo]

Well I just returned from a one week business trip to AZ....where I ate tons of salad and healthy stuff....and still managed to gain 5 lbs. :|

Ugh.

I know that it was just all about the sheer volume of food. They spoil us when we're there, so there's always snacks (healthy snacks, but still....you can only munch on so many nuts and so much fresh fruit and yogurt before it sneaks up on you too)....catered lunch....dinners out....yummy and delicious, but just too too much of everything.

Kelt's right...at least for me....portion control is a huge thing.
And kudos on your walking sylvie...and the weight loss lips...that's fantastic! :rrose:

[Tommi]

I have a hangover..Suffering from an Easter hangover...Food Food Food, and I managed to stay away for sugar. Going out has hazards. I was very good about not buying one piece of Easter candy. i know me. There is not just one marshmallow peep per day. HAH, you jest-->eat peeps in moderation.Hahha

Alas, I went out. I ate things I have stayed away from for over 6 months. Steak and lobster, 2 mind you, 2 butter dipped steamed or baked in something magical artichokes made just the way I love them. Nasty terrible sweet potato french fries.

i am heading to the pool RIGHT Now, and maybe I'll walk the dog tonight. :dogwalking:

Wait I don't have a dog. I know where one lives. She watched me eat steak and lobster and I didn't share. :mohawk:

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Kelt,

I have an app on my iPhone that helps me count calories. And one way to do this, is by portion control. I never knew how much extra food I consumed until I started this a year ago and since then, I have been able to lose another 15lbs and keep it off. My Human Nutrition professor told us never believe the scale. One day it could say you have lost 5lbs but the next day, it can say that you have gained 10lbs. She recommended to us, that we should only weigh ourselves twice a week, this way we could get a more accurate reading of how much weight we have lost.

Have a wonderful day and I love shopping at IKEA.

Zimmy

One thing I have found to be very helpful in portion control was to get different dishes. American dishes are huge these days, my grandmothers sets, in use by my folks, are about half the size. I picked up some very plain inexpensive pieces open stock at Ikea. Dinner plates are 8 inches diameter instead of the usual 10-12 inches in most sets, you can also just switch to the salad plates for the main course. Bowls, my small ones held 2 full cups of food, the ones I use now hold one cup. Much more reasonable serving sizes, but I still get a nice big plate/bowlful of whatever I am having without having it look like a reduced portion. It doesn't take but a few days until everything else just looks ridiculous. It really works!

:chef:

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Everyone,

I found a wonderful app for my iPhone. It is called, Vevo. You can watch music videos for free and create a playlist. I am not sure if you can find it for the Android phones, but I will see if someone I know who has one, can find it.

I added the following songs to my playlist:

On The Floor by Jennifer Lopez
Shut It Down by PitBull
Bon Bon by PitBull
Til The World Ends by Britney Spears
S&M Remix by Rhianna and Britney
Waking Up In Vegas by Katy Perry
E.T. with Kanye West by Katy Perry
Hot and Cold by Katy Perry
and a few more that I cannot remember.

Have a wonderful day,

Zimmy

[LBgirl]

I have a hangover..Suffering from an Easter hangover...Food Food Food, and I managed to stay away for sugar. Going out has hazards. I was very good about not buying one piece of Easter candy. i know me. There is not just one marshmallow peep per day. HAH, you jest-->eat peeps in moderation.Hahha

Alas, I went out. I ate things I have stayed away from for over 6 months. Steak and lobster, 2 mind you, 2 butter dipped steamed or baked in something magical artichokes made just the way I love them. Nasty terrible sweet potato french fries.

i am heading to the pool RIGHT Now, and maybe I'll walk the dog tonight. :dogwalking:


Wait I don't have a dog. I know where one lives. She watched me eat steak and lobster and I didn't share. :mohawk:

I haz a dog, but she doesn't eat steak and lobster. However, long walks are her forte! Come "borrow" her anytime, Tommi!

[Tommi]

I haz a dog, but she doesn't eat steak and lobster. However, long walks are her forte! Come "borrow" her anytime, Tommi!

When I need a good workout, I'll come over and take the Jelly Bean for a jaunt on the boardwalk. Or will I get taken with those lil legs dancing and prancing. :dogwalking:: and visiting friends:dog:

Gooood morning everyone..Back to a routine in spite of life getting in the way.

6AM..swimming pool , jacuzzi time.

[Captain Franki]

Any tips for fat loss when you're already quite slim? I'm 5" 3' and 110 pound ish . a small proportion of that is muscle.
i've been trying to balance weightloss with muscle gain (mostly biceps/triceps work) but i'm hitting a bit of a plateau now.
my fat distribution is weird.the first place it comes off is my back. i've only ever been unhappy with my back when i was at my highest weight. my arms, hips (yes!!), legs, face. chest and butt lose next. thighs are a bit slow. but... i have stubborn fat around my waist and stomach that just won't go without a huge fight. my middle section clings and clings. i guess i'm a skinny apple, perhaps. i look slim in clothing sometimes but when it comes off: blech.

I'm thinking of giving up on weightloss and just concentrating completely on muscle gain. but if there's any good advice i might keep on keeping on.

i'm ultimately after a toned andro look but i'm pretty skinnyfat type.

[Blade]

Any tips for fat loss when you're already quite slim? I'm 5" 3' and 110 pound ish . a small proportion of that is muscle.
i've been trying to balance weightloss with muscle gain (mostly biceps/triceps work) but i'm hitting a bit of a plateau now.
my fat distribution is weird.the first place it comes off is my back. i've only ever been unhappy with my back when i was at my highest weight. my arms, hips (yes!!), legs, face. chest and butt lose next. thighs are a bit slow. but... i have stubborn fat around my waist and stomach that just won't go without a huge fight. my middle section clings and clings. i guess i'm a skinny apple, perhaps. i look slim in clothing sometimes but when it comes off: blech.

I'm thinking of giving up on weightloss and just concentrating completely on muscle gain. but if there's any good advice i might keep on keeping on.

i'm ultimately after a toned andro look but i'm pretty skinnyfat type.

Muscle weighs more than fat. You have to have some fat on your body. Eat plenty of protein, meat, eggs, protein shakes and work those muscles. You probably need to gain weight threw muscle mass, but again you are going to have some fat.

[Captain Franki]

Muscle weighs more than fat. You have to have some fat on your body. Eat plenty of protein, meat, eggs, protein shakes and work those muscles. You probably need to gain weight threw muscle mass, but again you are going to have some fat.

Yeah i've already my diet over to more protein and less carbs as best I can on my impoverished budget and seen good results from that. I just hate my fat though. I hate my stomach that sticks out. I can defo pinch an inch. I'd kill to have definition and i read over and over that you don't get definition if a layer of fat is hiding your muscles.

[Gemme]

Muscle weighs more than fat.

Actually, it does't. A pound of muscle equals a pound of fat because a pound is a pound.

BUT

Muscle is much more dense than fat, so it takes up less SPACE in the body...about a third of the space that fat does, if memory serves me correctly.



I weigh about the same as I did several months ago when I started working again and stopped working out so much (pretty much at all, really), but my clothes are getting tighter so I know I'm spreading out and gaining more of the jiggly stuff and losing or at least not helping the good stuff. I will be getting back into some sort of a work out routine, even if it's only 20 minutes here and there. Anything's better than nothing, right?

[sylvie]

*waves to everyone*

i feel so behind in this thread, i have some posts to catch up with!
but, i'll have to come back to do that - because upon entering this thread, i got a text on my cell kicking my rear out to go walking --


how's that for motivation - hehe, off i go!
be back in awhile to update and catch up! =)

[violaine]

http://www.house-foods.com/tofu/tofu_shirataki.aspx

[Rockinonahigh]

Hi ya'll,thought I would pop in to see what was up.Looks like im not the only one that injoyed easter,my deal was carbs to a point,some was sugar.I can tell u how yucky I felt Monday and Tuesday..It was so bad I was just jittry and sick at the same time,I hated the feeling big time.Now im back on the pre diabetic foods but am wondering if there is something I can do to hurr the weight loss along.I will admit to not working out much lately,one part was I am still kind of outta wack from the flue I had a fue weeks ago,then I am on my feet running all over the kitchen at work then setting up and take down of two meals plus all the sanitation cleaning I do on a daily basics that had anything to do with the diatary department.I am tired when I get home folks,myknees hurt and so dose my darm flaky back,funny thing is im fine when I get in the car and when I get home..its just after I sit and rest that everything near locks up then I cant hardly move..I take a nap and it helps but I still am not motivated to workout.Im on meds for pain and athritis but darn I still hurt.I have lost from 285 down to 257 in the last year..I should have lost way more as active as I am.Gemme is right a bout muscel being compact on the body cause my body has changed and have more muscel and strength...my pant are really loose but I wear the same sise but diffrent cut...gone from a big boi sise to a regular cut.Need to get back to the work outs...motivation is what I need...

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Rocking,

I have the same issue with my back and I have found that when it flares up, I take an Aleve and that helps. Certain pain meds and antibiotics will cause you to retain water weight. Bioxan is a steriod based antibiotic and when the doctor put me on it for pneumonia, I gained fifteen pounds.

I hope you get to feeling better!

Zimmy

Hi ya'll,thought I would pop in to see what was up.Looks like im not the only one that injoyed easter,my deal was carbs to a point,some was sugar.I can tell u how yucky I felt Monday and Tuesday..It was so bad I was just jittry and sick at the same time,I hated the feeling big time.Now im back on the pre diabetic foods but am wondering if there is something I can do to hurr the weight loss along.I will admit to not working out much lately,one part was I am still kind of outta wack from the flue I had a fue weeks ago,then I am on my feet running all over the kitchen at work then setting up and take down of two meals plus all the sanitation cleaning I do on a daily basics that had anything to do with the diatary department.I am tired when I get home folks,myknees hurt and so dose my darm flaky back,funny thing is im fine when I get in the car and when I get home..its just after I sit and rest that everything near locks up then I cant hardly move..I take a nap and it helps but I still am not motivated to workout.Im on meds for pain and athritis but darn I still hurt.I have lost from 285 down to 257 in the last year..I should have lost way more as active as I am.Gemme is right a bout muscel being compact on the body cause my body has changed and have more muscel and strength...my pant are really loose but I wear the same sise but diffrent cut...gone from a big boi sise to a regular cut.Need to get back to the work outs...motivation is what I need...

[Rockinonahigh]

Hi Zimmy
I took azithromycin 250mg for ten days with the flu plus im on meloxicam 7.5 mg for arthritis and am on tramadole 50 mg. im also takeing a fue things for my asthma that if I didnt take I would be in a mess.Takeing meds suck,all of what I take will make me dizzy or sleepy or something else who knows.I all but have given up on the doc ever doing anything for my back..looks like all they want to do is medicate me and just tell me to lose more weight but keep giveing me stuff that wont do anything bu add to the prob..catch 22 damed if u dont and damed if u dont.

[Kelt]

Hey all,

Since you are the folks I check in with on accountability, I thought I would share a little milestone with you. Since I started my weight loss project last October I have, as of today, officially crossed the 100lb line. I wish I could say I was all done with this phase, but I still have a way to go. At least it is a sizable chunk on in the right direction. Thanks for all of your support and encouragement, it really helps.

:balloon:

[JustJo]

Hey all,

Since you are the folks I check in with on accountability, I thought I would share a little milestone with you. Since I started my weight loss project last October I have, as of today, officially crossed the 100lb line. I wish I could say I was all done with this phase, but I still have a way to go. At least it is a sizable chunk on in the right direction. Thanks for all of your support and encouragement, it really helps.

:balloon:

:cheer:

Wow Kelt, that is fantastic! Celebrate your success....because that's a heck of an achievement. What a difference you've made to your health!

I was just reading an article today about the changing rate of folks, by age, who have "ever been diagnosed" with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. The rates drop sharply after age 70....not because people get better, but "as a reflection of mortality." In other words, people with those chronic conditions die....leaving those without them to get older. They did the same with obesity...not as an "ever been obese" but based on current weight....again, far fewer obese folks over age 70...because they either died, or lost weight.

Scary stuff.

[DressyFemme]

Just wanted to post here. I'm on my way this Sunday to an inpatient residential treatment facility in the midWest for my compulsive overeating. It will be a two to three month stay. I feel both excited and scared to death at the same time.

I did a lot of online research and the place thank goodness is 12 step centered, Christian (my faith), and (most importantly) lesbian friendly. Took me quite awhile to find somewhere like this.... they have everything from individual therapy to family therapy to group therapy, to exercise fitness programs, workshops etc. If any of you have been watching "Addicted to Food" on the A&E Network and seen the Shades of Hope treatment center featured on the broadcast, where I am going is rather similar to that place.

I'm about to deal with a lot of skeletons in the closet.... from family of origin issues with my dad to issues with my partner who is also an overeater.... plus I've never paid much attention to my physical self in terms of an overall exercise plan. I've also to this point binged on carbs, sugar, snacks and the like. Have struggled with relapse for the last 13-14 years in a 12 step program for overeaters.

Wish me luck! Will post once I get back. It's no fun being over 300 lbs and not being able to walk comfortably, among many other things.

DressyFemme

[JustJo]

Giving you a big hug DressyFemme :gimmehug: This is a big step, and I'm sure it was a tough decision to make. It's fantastic that you're taking care of yourself...no matter how scary. :rrose:

[JustJo]

Well I've been away from this thread for awhile....sigh.

I had a couple of business trips to AZ for my Lean 6 Sigma training, which was great....but they fed us amazing, wonderful food entirely too much of the time...and I managed to gain back the 5 or 6 pounds I had lost plus a few more. Ugh.

So...now it's time to pick myself up, dust myself off, get back to tracking everything I eat on FitDay and get some more exercise. Scoote wants to lose some weight too (which would probably also take some of the stress off of her injured back)....so I bit the bullet and ordered a Mobia. It's a 3-in-1 (combination elliptical, stepper, treadmill thingy that makes you work on an incline). I've been tempted before by the Treadclimber....and the Mobia is made by the same company, has the same motor, and is half the cost (go figure). Plus, right now they have a $500 off and free shipping offer on their website....and 18 months zero interest as well. So....done, done and done....and it's on the way.

We're going to set it up in the bedroom (where it will be all matchy with our white wicker furniture :) )....and the goal will be to each walk/step our way through a TV program at least 3 times a week (although I'm going to try for every day....I'm one of those people that, once I stop, it's hard to start again.)

Wish us luck! :rrose:

[Thinker]

I'm one of those people that, once I stop, it's hard to start again.)

Same here. :(

Good luck to you and Scoote!!


I just started my 4th week on Weight Watchers Online. I weigh in on Mondays, and this past Monday showed another loss for a total of 8.8 pounds. My goal when I started was to lose 24 pounds.

In addition to keeping track of my points for food, I do 10-15 minutes of stretching and 30 minutes on the stationary bike everyday. Most days I also do 20 minutes of basic yoga. I lift weights every other day.

With the way it is going now, I feel very hopeful that I can reach my goal. :)

Who else is doing WW?