Healthy Weight Loss

[Corkey]

Originally Posted by ruffryder_0187

Thanks Jo for the ideas! I will have to try that.. Any other ideas for no fat, no sugar, low sodium dressings anyone?

some one sent me to this website.. http://www.waldenfarms.com/products/dressings.html not sure if they sell it in any supermarkets though.

Make your own? EVOO, honey mustard or dijon, lemon juice, and ponzu. Wisk and pour!

[Rockinonahigh]

I know I havent said much lately about to much,gess im going thrue a quiet spell or something..you know how life goes.Id like you to know that ive been readiing how things have been going for you and wish it hadnt been that way.Onething I do know is that you have made some very possitive changes as well as good desisions in your life.Changes are hard at first but once you get to makeing them it becomes less hard to do,just takeing one step at the time has been said by many, but is so true.In one post you said u were thinking of geting a place of your own,wich is a great idea,I did the same many years ago and have never regreted doing so..the freedom and peace of mind was worth haveing done the move,I still stayed intouch with family but haveing a place to call my own was and is priceless.
As for changeing your eating habbits and getting more exersise is one of the best things you can do for yourself.I know how you feel about cokes I use to drink a 12 pack a day then got to three a day and now I still he 8 canns in a 24 pack to the third case that my son bought tonight,I doubt I will totaly quit sodas but now and again its ok to have a bit of it,water and chrystle light is my fix how.I also as of next monday will be smoke free for a year...that was harder than droping the soda habbit.Even tho I eat something I shouldnt hear and there wich I think is ok I have changed my diet 180 degrees around.I wish we lived closer We could be weigh loss buddies and hit the gym also.Being we can only suport each other and others on this issue on line, it will have to do.But together we can and do help eachother by what we post.Good luck my friend in your journey,keep those post comeing its good to read them.

[Cowboi]

When I stepped on the scales this morning, and I have reached my 1st personal goal !!!!! So now I am sitting here having my oatmeal pancake. YaY its friday!!!

[*Anya*]

I appreciate this site, not only for the encouragement, support and tips but to receive information on both sides of diet and eating possibilities.

This is not at all to be critical of anyone type of eating plan to achieve their goal but to ensure I always critically evaluate what would be best for me personally. It is just how I was taught in nursing school.

In that vein, the Mayo Clinic website had a Registered Dietitian address the issue of Hcg:

HCG diet: Is it safe and effective?
Does the HCG diet work — and is it safe?

Answer
from Jennifer K. Nelson, R.D., L.D.

Because the HCG diet combines injections or supplements of the HCG hormone along with severe calorie restriction, you may lose weight — at least for the short term. But it's the calorie restriction that causes the weight loss, not the HCG. In addition, the safety of HCG for weight loss is uncertain, and the hormone hasn't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for obesity or weight control.

HCG is human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone produced during pregnancy. As a prescription medication, HCG is used mainly to treat fertility issues.

Proponents of the HCG diet say that HCG can help you lose weight, burn fat and redistribute fat away from your buttocks and stomach. On the HCG diet, you either receive injections of HCG or take HCG supplements. The HCG diet also requires you to drastically cut your calorie intake, typically consuming just 500 to 800 calories a day — about one-fourth to one-half of the standard calorie recommendations. The HCG diet is typically offered through weight-loss clinics that say they will provide medical supervision.

Although researchers have studied the HCG diet for years, no high-quality studies have shown that the hormone itself helps weight loss. Following any very low calorie diet is likely to result in weight loss, regardless of taking HCG. And the HCG diet can have drawbacks. Severe calorie restriction can make it hard to meet all of your nutritional needs. And rapid weight loss can lead to gallstones. Also, HCG can cause side effects, including headache, fatigue, irritability and male breast enlargement. And be careful about buying HCG products on the Internet — they might not be what they say they are.

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by Cowboi

When I stepped on the scales this morning, and I have reached my 1st personal goal !!!!! So now I am sitting here having my oatmeal pancake. YaY its friday!!!

Woooo Hoooooo! Fantastic!
Congratulations on reaching that milestone!

Originally Posted by Anya/Georgia

I appreciate this site, not only for the encouragement, support and tips but to receive information on both sides of diet and eating possibilities.

This is not at all to be critical of anyone type of eating plan to achieve their goal but to ensure I always critically evaluate what would be best for me personally. It is just how I was taught in nursing school.

In that vein, the Mayo Clinic website had a Registered Dietitian address the issue of Hcg:

HCG diet: Is it safe and effective?
Does the HCG diet work — and is it safe?

Answer
from Jennifer K. Nelson, R.D., L.D.

Because the HCG diet combines injections or supplements of the HCG hormone along with severe calorie restriction, you may lose weight — at least for the short term. But it's the calorie restriction that causes the weight loss, not the HCG. In addition, the safety of HCG for weight loss is uncertain, and the hormone hasn't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for obesity or weight control.

HCG is human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone produced during pregnancy. As a prescription medication, HCG is used mainly to treat fertility issues.

Proponents of the HCG diet say that HCG can help you lose weight, burn fat and redistribute fat away from your buttocks and stomach. On the HCG diet, you either receive injections of HCG or take HCG supplements. The HCG diet also requires you to drastically cut your calorie intake, typically consuming just 500 to 800 calories a day — about one-fourth to one-half of the standard calorie recommendations. The HCG diet is typically offered through weight-loss clinics that say they will provide medical supervision.

Although researchers have studied the HCG diet for years, no high-quality studies have shown that the hormone itself helps weight loss. Following any very low calorie diet is likely to result in weight loss, regardless of taking HCG. And the HCG diet can have drawbacks. Severe calorie restriction can make it hard to meet all of your nutritional needs. And rapid weight loss can lead to gallstones. Also, HCG can cause side effects, including headache, fatigue, irritability and male breast enlargement. And be careful about buying HCG products on the Internet — they might not be what they say they are.

Anya....I'm so glad you posted this.

I read Starbuck's post and, as happy as I am that you achieved the results you want, it frankly scares the crap out of me to hear about people injecting themselves with stuff and living on severe calorie restriction just to lose weight.

My dearest friend has been on a lifetime of yo-yo dieting...often with very severe calorie restrictions. She's lost dramatic amounts of weight many times, only to regain it and then some.

After her last wildly calorie restricted diet (of about 500 calories a day) she ended up having to have her gall bladder removed, and suddenly started having thyroid problems....something she had never experienced before. In addition, her metabolism is destroyed, she's flirting with diabetes...and she is now bigger than she's ever been.

She's working with a nutritionist now (thank goodness) who is helping her learn to eat sensibly, and working with a counselor to try to sort through some of her issues with food....but her body is (probably) permanently damaged, according to her doctor, because of these kinds of diets. The doctor equated it to living through several famines...and the damage that does. She's left wishing that she had never done the diets, but it's not something she can take back.

There's no way you can get all of the nutrition you need each day in 500 calories. And starving and injecting yourself doesn't change your relationship to what you eat...it just forces your body to comply (temporarily). For me, this is like the lap band and stomach stapling....yes, it works....temporarily.

I don't want to sound like I'm coming down on anyone or criticizing their choices....I'm not. But I actually started this thread in response to a post about HCG and the 500 calorie diet....and, with respect, I'd prefer that that kind of advice stayed in that thread rather than this one.

This one is about healthy weight loss.

Thanks everyone for understanding.

[Tcountry]

Well said Jo!
I thought that too. This is about becoming & staying healthy.
Making Lifestyle changes.

I can't imagine that injections would be a lifestyle change.
I wouldn't want to do that for the rest of my life.

In other news ...Sunshyne is super busy with work. She had a cheat day yesterday. But all in all she is still doing well. It will be nice for school to get underway & for her to get back into an exercise routine.
I get to see her in 2 weeks

[PinkieLee]

Originally Posted by Cowboi

When I stepped on the scales this morning, and I have reached my 1st personal goal !!!!! So now I am sitting here having my oatmeal pancake. YaY its friday!!!

Woooohoooooooooo this is the best news I've heard all day! CONGRATS on crossing your first goal... you ROCK!!!

[PinkieLee]

Welcome Starbuck!

First of all, I would like to say congratulations on your weight loss. I bet you feel amazing!

Like you, I've also done the HCG diet. Well, not as extreme as yours with the 500 calorie a day restriction. We have 2 weight loss clinics here that pretty much specialize in this kind of weight loss. They combine HCG and B12, put you on Adipex (yeah, speed) and tell you to stay within 1000 - 1200 calories a day. You come in once a week, pay $14 for the shots & get a $10 week perscription... they weigh you and say "see you next week." Well, when I did this years ago, I lost an unbelievable 65 pounds.... only to gain it all back plus another 15 pounds.

Like others said, this was a temporary fix. I was bouncing off the walls, thanks to the speed, and just didn't eat. I NEVER learned why I overate, anything about triggers, or how to actually eat healthy foods without feeling deprived. I hate to admit it... I've tried this method at last 5 times in the past 7 years. FOR ME, it doesn't work longterm.

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by PinkieLee

Welcome Starbuck!

First of all, I would like to say congratulations on your weight loss. I bet you feel amazing!

Like you, I've also done the HCG diet. Well, not as extreme as yours with the 500 calorie a day restriction. We have 2 weight loss clinics here that pretty much specialize in this kind of weight loss. They combine HCG and B12, put you on Adipex (yeah, speed) and tell you to stay within 1000 - 1200 calories a day. You come in once a week, pay $14 for the shots & get a $10 week perscription... they weigh you and say "see you next week." Well, when I did this years ago, I lost an unbelievable 65 pounds.... only to gain it all back plus another 15 pounds.

Like others said, this was a temporary fix. I was bouncing off the walls, thanks to the speed, and just didn't eat. I NEVER learned why I overate, anything about triggers, or how to actually eat healthy foods without feeling deprived. I hate to admit it... I've tried this method at last 5 times in the past 7 years. FOR ME, it doesn't work longterm.

Thanks for sharing this PinkieLee

My only foray into "chemical" weight loss was about 10 years ago. A co-worker was losing lots of weight, had tons of energy, was looking great....and she recommended I see her doctor.

I did, and he put me on some pills (can't remember the name for the life of me). I took them, and had a ton of energy, started to lose weight.

That went on (for me) for only about 3 weeks....until I found myself unable to get out of bed in the morning, sick, in tears at anything and everything....I was just an absolute wreck.

Turns out that the pills I was taking worked by stimulating the adrenal glands...so basically my co-worker and I were on an unending andrenaline rush. No wonder we felt great and lost weight!

The problem was that my adrenal glands were (evidently) over-taxed by the stress I was under in my life....and within 3 weeks I had exhausted them, and myself, completely.

I went off the pills, and it took months before I felt even remotely myself again.

In those months I was exhausted, could never get enough sleep to feel even remotely rested and dragged myself around through my single working mother life like a wet, dirty dishrag.

Guess what I relied on for energy and comfort?

Yep.

In the end my "diet pill" experiment made me lose 18 and then gain 45 pounds.

I'll stick to the giant salad lunch, greek yogurt and generally low-glycemic food plan I'm on. I'm losing weight and, more importantly, my blood sugars are good!

[Leigh]

Originally Posted by Rockinonahigh

I know I havent said much lately about to much,gess im going thrue a quiet spell or something..you know how life goes.Id like you to know that ive been readiing how things have been going for you and wish it hadnt been that way.Onething I do know is that you have made some very possitive changes as well as good desisions in your life.Changes are hard at first but once you get to makeing them it becomes less hard to do,just takeing one step at the time has been said by many, but is so true.In one post you said u were thinking of geting a place of your own,wich is a great idea,I did the same many years ago and have never regreted doing so..the freedom and peace of mind was worth haveing done the move,I still stayed intouch with family but haveing a place to call my own was and is priceless.
As for changeing your eating habbits and getting more exersise is one of the best things you can do for yourself.I know how you feel about cokes I use to drink a 12 pack a day then got to three a day and now I still he 8 canns in a 24 pack to the third case that my son bought tonight,I doubt I will totaly quit sodas but now and again its ok to have a bit of it,water and chrystle light is my fix how.I also as of next monday will be smoke free for a year...that was harder than droping the soda habbit.Even tho I eat something I shouldnt hear and there wich I think is ok I have changed my diet 180 degrees around.I wish we lived closer We could be weigh loss buddies and hit the gym also.Being we can only suport each other and others on this issue on line, it will have to do.But together we can and do help eachother by what we post.Good luck my friend in your journey,keep those post comeing its good to read them.

Hey Rockin,

The thing that sucks for Me, is that all of My friends here are in another country! Many times I've wished I lived closer to friends, especially many on here, but atleast I have the computer as a way to communicate. I have one bio guy friend who has been saying that he will go to the gym with Me but it hasn't happened yet, so yeah if you were closer bud I'd definately take you up on that offer. Over the last three days, I've only allowed Myself a small glass of pepsi a day otherwise its been water and the occasional glass of milk (like My chocolate almond milk). I've gone for a couple of walks, not long ones but small ones, starting off slow and working My way upto longer ones.

I'm making sure to eat three meals a day, and not two and then binge later on snacks. I've been having a package of oatmeal for breakfast which is keeping Me full; then lunch I've been having one can of pasta (chef boyardee) then if I want a small snack I've had one of those 100 calorie packs of Special K fruit crisps (I got strawberry and blueberry). They are almost like small versions of pop tarts, which I love, but so much better for Me and they taste amazing. Supper varies day to day; last night was breaded fish sticks (I only had 4 or 5 instead of like 8 or 10) as well as cheddar and broccoli rice. To bed different for a snack before bed, I had a couple of rice cakes ~ they are tomato and basil, and are very good.

I've made definate changes since Tuesday and not only has the swelling in My legs and feet gone down ALOT, but its much easier to walk now and I'm feeling better. Small things like what I've been doing above are going to make these long term changes easier because I'm not going cold turkey on anything, just limiting bad stuff to occasionally and stocking up more on the good stuff ........... I love this thread, its helping Me get healthier :-)

Originally Posted by JustJo

Anya....I'm so glad you posted this.

I read Starbuck's post and, as happy as I am that you achieved the results you want, it frankly scares the crap out of me to hear about people injecting themselves with stuff and living on severe calorie restriction just to lose weight.

My dearest friend has been on a lifetime of yo-yo dieting...often with very severe calorie restrictions. She's lost dramatic amounts of weight many times, only to regain it and then some.

After her last wildly calorie restricted diet (of about 500 calories a day) she ended up having to have her gall bladder removed, and suddenly started having thyroid problems....something she had never experienced before. In addition, her metabolism is destroyed, she's flirting with diabetes...and she is now bigger than she's ever been.

She's working with a nutritionist now (thank goodness) who is helping her learn to eat sensibly, and working with a counselor to try to sort through some of her issues with food....but her body is (probably) permanently damaged, according to her doctor, because of these kinds of diets. The doctor equated it to living through several famines...and the damage that does. She's left wishing that she had never done the diets, but it's not something she can take back.

There's no way you can get all of the nutrition you need each day in 500 calories. And starving and injecting yourself doesn't change your relationship to what you eat...it just forces your body to comply (temporarily). For me, this is like the lap band and stomach stapling....yes, it works....temporarily.

I don't want to sound like I'm coming down on anyone or criticizing their choices....I'm not. But I actually started this thread in response to a post about HCG and the 500 calorie diet....and, with respect, I'd prefer that that kind of advice stayed in that thread rather than this one.

This one is about healthy weight loss.

I definately agree with you Jo, its all about being healthy! I know that I've wanted many times to try some fad diet just to lose the weight, but now I look at them and think what about health benefits? Many diets may give you dramatic results but in the end, you'll just gain it back ten fold and thats not healthy in the slightest. Diets, gaining and losing weight etc is a serious thing and as much as we want to be healthier we also have to be careful. One day at a time, thats really all we can do :-)

Originally Posted by Tcountry

Well said Jo!
I thought that too. This is about becoming & staying healthy.
Making Lifestyle changes.

I agree with you My friend, is all about lifestyle changes and making better choices for ourselves!

Originally Posted by PinkieLee

Welcome Starbuck!

First of all, I would like to say congratulations on your weight loss. I bet you feel amazing!

Like you, I've also done the HCG diet. Well, not as extreme as yours with the 500 calorie a day restriction. We have 2 weight loss clinics here that pretty much specialize in this kind of weight loss. They combine HCG and B12, put you on Adipex (yeah, speed) and tell you to stay within 1000 - 1200 calories a day. You come in once a week, pay $14 for the shots & get a $10 week perscription... they weigh you and say "see you next week." Well, when I did this years ago, I lost an unbelievable 65 pounds.... only to gain it all back plus another 15 pounds.

Like others said, this was a temporary fix. I was bouncing off the walls, thanks to the speed, and just didn't eat. I NEVER learned why I overate, anything about triggers, or how to actually eat healthy foods without feeling deprived. I hate to admit it... I've tried this method at last 5 times in the past 7 years. FOR ME, it doesn't work longterm.

Its great that you lost 65 lbs hun, but that sucks that you gained so much back. I know it seems easy to do alot of these diets to get fast results, but in the end those fast results can do more damage to our bodies than taking the slow route ~ its true that slow and steady really does win the race :-)

Originally Posted by JustJo

Thanks for sharing this PinkieLee

My only foray into "chemical" weight loss was about 10 years ago. A co-worker was losing lots of weight, had tons of energy, was looking great....and she recommended I see her doctor.

I did, and he put me on some pills (can't remember the name for the life of me). I took them, and had a ton of energy, started to lose weight.

That went on (for me) for only about 3 weeks....until I found myself unable to get out of bed in the morning, sick, in tears at anything and everything....I was just an absolute wreck.

Turns out that the pills I was taking worked by stimulating the adrenal glands...so basically my co-worker and I were on an unending andrenaline rush. No wonder we felt great and lost weight!

The problem was that my adrenal glands were (evidently) over-taxed by the stress I was under in my life....and within 3 weeks I had exhausted them, and myself, completely.

I went off the pills, and it took months before I felt even remotely myself again.

In those months I was exhausted, could never get enough sleep to feel even remotely rested and dragged myself around through my single working mother life like a wet, dirty dishrag.

Guess what I relied on for energy and comfort?

Yep.

In the end my "diet pill" experiment made me lose 18 and then gain 45 pounds.

I'll stick to the giant salad lunch, greek yogurt and generally low-glycemic food plan I'm on. I'm losing weight and, more importantly, my blood sugars are good!

Geez I can only imagine how scary that was, I'd have not been happy to feel so dragged out that I couldn't even life My own life properly. Its amazing to Me that we can put these pills and stuff in our bodies hoping for a fast and quick fix, yet that always seems to backfire in the end. I've gone through it too, wanting a fast fix and then BAM!, it hits like a ton of bricks. Not fun thats for sure, but your on your way to being healthy one step at a time and I'm glad your doing it the right way Jo

[Scorp]

Good Morning Fellow Weight-Loss Peeps,

I was getting ready to post and be upset because I hopped on the scale an hour or so ago and it said I gained almost 5 lbs.

I gasped in horror and was getting ready to beat myself up and blame the yogurt parfaits that I've been thoroughly enjoying this week for breakfast from the cafe' across the street. And yesterday I caved and got pad thai with my friends at work. I ate the majority of it, but left the rest because I was full. I would have never done that, but I'm more familiar with just "saying no" instead of feeling the need to eat everything in front of me. I also had a raspberry/lime diet tonic (soda as you folks know it) last night with my fat-free popcorn, peanut butter and jelly crackers (that I made), reduced fat-free fig newtons (about 6 or 7 of them). This whole week I've weaned myself off tonic and have been drinking water. I've never been a huge water drinking person and usually have to force myself to drink it.

Anyway, a few minutes ago, I decided to strip down again and hop on the scale to see if it indicated something different and sure enough it did. I only gained 1 lb.

For me, anyway, as much as I despise getting on the scale and seeing any type of weight gain, it gives me that "reality check" of needing to step up and do the right thing. I haven't been journaling in over a month and thought I had a pretty good handle on maintaining my diet plan. Not the case, I need to get back into the swing of things by journaling every single day.

So, I must commit to myself to do that in order to be successful at this. Yeah my pants and some shirts are baggy, but I still need to keep that promise to myself and reach my goal weight. I still have a very long way to go and each day it's a struggle and so much temptation is around me and there are days I'm so gung ho about doing it, and other days I say what the hell a little won't kill me and I know my limit.

I'm being honest in my posts folks and I just want to say to everyone here that I'm thankful for you pouring your hearts out with your struggles, addictions, goals, all of the above. This thread has a lot of meaning to me and I thank each of you for sharing your stories. Sometimes it's not easy and we take the good with the bad with having wonderful days and then really bad ones. Which leads me into a bad ones:

Last night I had a horrible evening with snacking and I also smoked. I really enjoyed the smoking and as I said a week or so ago, I find it very freeing to me for some reason and enjoy doing it. I hate the taste, never enjoyed it, but something about oral fixation that I like. It was 2 days that I went without one and I didn't crave it, but last night I broke that desire.

I guess the good thing is I don't have a pack because it was my neighbor was over and we smoked hers. But, we'll see how it goes as the day progresses if I feel the "urge" to go buy them. Right now I'm not there with the craving. Maybe it will stay like that.

Personally there is no gray area. It's just the type of person I am, it's either all or nothing. I know I'll get over the hump and do good, and I'm taking it day-by-day.

Best,
-S-

[PinkieLee]

((SCORPIE))

Honey, you are doing amazing! So we've all had those kinds of weeks, but we can & WILL bounce back. Sometimes the last thing I wanna do is think about and monitor my food... and like you, I just try to wing it. I try to keep up with a "guesstimate" in my head, but I know damn well that I'm not keeping up with every. single. thing. that goes in my mouth.

Changing our eating habits & getting out of our old comfort zones is hard... fucking hard. I can be out to dinner with friends, and the little devil in my head says, "oh Tonya, just eat what you want... it's not gonna kill you." I can let those voices self sabatoge myself quickly.

Thing is, I've realized that my comfort zones were not normal. Who sits down after a crappy day and eats a pint of Rocky Road ice cream and finishes it off with a bottle of wine?! Yeah, that WAS me. I'm having to find ways to pamper or reward myself that DON'T include food or alcohol. Some days are harder than others.

You can do this Scorpie... WE ALL CAN DO THIS! One day at a time... and on those rough days one MEAL at a time!

[nycfem]

What are EVOO and ponzu? And do you use lemon juice from an actual lemon or the kind from the store in a container?

Noting that Corkey and Ami are a bottomless well of useful information in and out of the kitchen.

Originally Posted by Corkey

Make your own? EVOO, honey mustard or dijon, lemon juice, and ponzu. Wisk and pour!

[Corkey]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

What are EVOO and ponzu? And do you use lemon juice from an actual lemon or the kind from the store in a container?

Noting that Corkey and Ami are a bottomless well of useful information in and out of the kitchen.

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) bottle or fresh squeezed are fine, shake the bottle first as it tends to separate. Ponzu is a umami (one of the flavor senses), it is soy sauce and lemon or lime juice and adds some citrus acid to any salads, meats for marinating and soups. It can be found next to soy sauce at your grocery store.

[Rockinonahigh]

Between doing some clean up around hear along with laundry I have been working out with my own exersise equipment,tho not as good as the gym will do just fine.Not shure how far I rode the bike cause th odometer thingy is broke,but I did get 25 minits of really hard rideing and 10 for a cool down..then I went outside to the stuff I have on the patio and did 70 crunchies,50 bench presses,came back in the house then did 90 steps on the stepper so then I finished out with doing some arm curles 30 each arm along with a fue other stretching moves to keep the old bod form tightining up.Tonight im haveing gumbo for dinner..my son ask me to make some so I did.Its chicken/cajun sasuage with a fue shrimp I found in the freezer,lots of trinity(onions,celery and bell pepper)Its ging to be served with wild rice.I am haveing some but eating a nice sise salad first with a glass of chrystle light.U can bet the left over gumbo will go in the freezer for another day.

[Kelt]

Money vs. weight loss


I just wanted to step in and say that money and weight loss or the regaining of health do not have to go hand in hand. There is a tendency out there to think that in order to lose weight we have to “gear up” for it, that first we need to get a gym membership, some fancy kitchen things, a new outfit, maybe some special equipment for at home and a whole host of other things. This is completely artificial, just a perceived need created by the diet industry; make no mistake, this a multi-billion dollar industry that manipulates all of us just as much as the folks who bring us the junk foods that get us here to begin with. Gyms as we know them today and processed packaged diet foods didn’t even exist 40 years ago,
(isn’t that about the time the “obesity crisis” began?).

Because of recent postings relating to a lack of money as a barrier I want us all to remember, knowledge is power on this one and we have several resources at hand. We have internet access and access to this group and many others as a result. We also have access to free online tracking tools which will keep us honest and in touch with what is really going on, it won’t tell our secrets or lie to us either. You can walk and do body weight exercises for free and as someone who has been there, if there is a significant amount of weight to lose you are less likely to injure yourself this way.

Learning is free; just be sure to consider the source and apply a little critical thinking.

*rant over*.





P.S. Getting out from behind the computer and taking action is free too!

[Corkey]

Absolutely Kelt! It doesn't cost a thing to get up off the couch or chair and move, ones choices on foods can however tend to cost more for better food. That I blame on over priced food stores such as whole pay check (Whole Foods) and some of the higher end what I call snooty stores. A good farmers market will cost less for better organic foods. If one lives in a zone where growing ones own food is an option, use it, seeds, dirt, a little know how and some water. Use gallon jugs for weights, use a neighborhood basket ball court, tennis court, neighbor hood swim hole.
I'm one of the lucky ones that has a treadmill at home and some weights, but they were cheep, not high end machines. I also have a gym membership that is paid for by my insurance plan on Medicare. I use it when I'm not sick and or hurt.
Getting healthy is cheeper than getting unhealthy, it's all about the choices we make for ourselves.

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by ruffryder_0187

Glad to see everyone is doing well in here! Thanks for all the information and ideas provided. Last night before bed I ended my day with an ab workout I found as an app on my phone. It allows me to work my abs in a few different ways and feels good! This morning I weighed and I was down 2 lbs from yesterday so it's good to see my diet is working! Have a great day everybody!

Good for you for hittin' those abs!!! I am now doing situps everyday (do twisty kind to hit my obliques). I hate 'em but realize they're a necessary evil for me.

Originally Posted by Sachita

I toyed with it for years and then started having some health problems and decided it was worth giving it a shot. I believe that we can heal with vitamins and food. Its proven. Watch "Food Matters". Within a few months, probably sooner I balanced my blood sugar, lower my blood pressure and my cholesterol. I made a few diet changes and started juicing then added mega doses of vitamin c, fish oil and lots others. It changed my life truly.

Thanks for sharing your routine and congrats on all of the positive outcomes and changes. We're gradually looking into this whole juicing thing.

Originally Posted by Matthew

It certainly isn't easy, as we all know, but little changes will lead to bigger things and a much healthier lifestyle which is really what its all about ~ not necessarily numbers on a scale. And whoever is lucky enough to be your partner in the future will not see your weight as a bad thing, rather they will growl and appreciate every inch of you no matter what

Yep, Matthew, baby steps.....one day at a time......and all that jazz. Seriously....it does take time, and I think once we accept that we are more at peace with the process.

Originally Posted by Liam

I wanted to share a free website dedicated to helping folks achieve a healthier life. SparkPeople is an incredible resource for diet, lifestyle, exercise and fitness, and even special health issues such as GERD or diabetes. It allows you to track your diet, exercise routine, weight and inches, and even makes suggestions regarding your diet and cardio/exercise. It provides weekly feedback in the form of a report, and offers lots encouragement, and gives you a way to measure your progress. For those with questions, and those wanting to have a little more structure and or help, check out SparkPeople.

Very cool. Thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by Rockinonahigh

I know I havent said much lately about to much,gess im going thrue a quiet spell or something..you know how life goes.

I hope all is well in your world.

Originally Posted by Cowboi

When I stepped on the scales this morning, and I have reached my 1st personal goal !!!!! So now I am sitting here having my oatmeal pancake. YaY its friday!!!

That is so FANTASTIC! Congrats, Cowboi!!!

Originally Posted by JustJo

I'll stick to the giant salad lunch, greek yogurt and generally low-glycemic food plan I'm on. I'm losing weight and, more importantly, my blood sugars are good!

I think you're doing an amazing job, and you are leading by example. It was your commitment to making changes and posting in this thread that finally got me in here to go on my journey with you and others. Thank you for that.

Originally Posted by Rockinonahigh

Between doing some clean up around hear along with laundry I have been working out with my own exersise equipment,tho not as good as the gym will do just fine.

Heck yeah!! I use my own stuff too, and I find it to be just perfect for me. The bed frame holds my feet for situps. The floor provides resistance for pushups. Our neighborhood streets and hills are all I need for cardio, and my piece-it-together weight set does fine for everything else.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by Corkey

Absolutely Kelt! It doesn't cost a thing to get up off the couch or chair and move, ones choices on foods can however tend to cost more for better food. That I blame on over priced food stores such as whole pay check (Whole Foods) and some of the higher end what I call snooty stores. A good farmers market will cost less for better organic foods. If one lives in a zone where growing ones own food is an option, use it, seeds, dirt, a little know how and some water. Use gallon jugs for weights, use a neighborhood basket ball court, tennis court, neighbor hood swim hole.
I'm one of the lucky ones that has a treadmill at home and some weights, but they were cheep, not high end machines. I also have a gym membership that is paid for by my insurance plan on Medicare. I use it when I'm not sick and or hurt.
Getting healthy is cheeper than getting unhealthy, it's all about the choices we make for ourselves.

Excellent post Corky


I don't do the gym. It takes too long to get there and I hate working out. Walking and and swimming I love. The gallon jugs is good. I lift 2 gallon feed buckets when watering my dogs.

Something really fun that burns a lot of calories is Zumba. You can do this at home.