Healthy Weight Loss

[Tcountry]

....MY new favorite snack...the walmart brand (great value) 90 calorie Strawberry Cereal Bar...yum
I am usually a chocolate person but these are great!

[dixie]

My usual breakfast donut (I know, I know) has been replaced by bran cereal. *sigh*

I'm also beginning to enjoy the new cardio with weights routine that I'm doing but it really makes ya sore...lol

[JustJo]

Good morning everyone

I'm still struggling and contemplating and crunching numbers and doing all the stuff that is part of my personal process before I undertake a major change....but reading Matthew's recent posts got my brain going.

Matthew, I'm sending you a great big hug, because I know how tough this struggle is...especially when you have someone in the household actively sabotaging you.

Because I'm a "numbers" person though...in my work life I'm a project manager, and live and die by my spreadsheets...I did a little number crunching that might help to inspire you to make some changes.

Here's what I found....cold, hard facts...not to alarm you, but to show you what's going on inside...

One 12 oz. can of Pepsi probably looks harmless. It's small, it's cold...it tastes good. I had my own struggles with Coke...so I know how enticing and addictive it is.

But....one 12 oz. can of Pepsi contains 150 calories, mostly in the form of high fructose corn syrup. One of the biggest arguments against high fructose corn syrup is that it contains mercury...a neuro-toxin. I haven't read the studies, so I won't say yea or nay on that...but just the possibility of ingesting neuro-toxin daily scares the crap out of me.

Okay...but back to the numbers....

One can...150 calories.
Let's say you drink 4 a day....not hard for any soda drinker to do.
4 cans a day is 1,460 cans a year (how much does that cost? You could take a nice vacation every year for that money?)

1,460 cans a year at 150 calories is 219,000 calories.
Since it takes 3,500 calories to gain or lose a pound of weight...that's 62.5 lbs...in a year...on or off, depending on what you do.

Drink those 4 cans a day....gain 62.5 lbs. in a year.
Replace them with water...lose 62.5 lbs. in a year.
Of course, that's assuming that nothing else changes in our diet or activity levels.

The scarier thing for me....if the mercury/neuro-toxin thing is true....drinking 4 cans of Pepsi a day means you're consuming 59,850 grams of high fructose corn syrup in a year (41 grams a can).

Since 454 grams of anything equals a pound....that's 131.8 pounds of high fructose corn syrup running through your body each year.

This is the equation I ran for myself and my Coke consumption....right before I stopped drinking it forever.

Hugs to you all.

[PinkieLee]

Good morning y'all

Matthew... it's good to see you checking back here! Remember, do NOT look at the big picture of how much weight you need to lose. It's overwelming and you can end up sabatoging yourself before you even begin. Like many others here, I set small goals of 10 pounds at a time. Each pound you lose gets you closer to the first goal weight. Get a lil' calendar or notebook, and start giving yourself a GOLD STAR for every 5 pounds you lose (it might sound corney, but it's a way of celebrating those milestones). Once you hit that first goal, you would be sooo proud of yourself you will want to keep going! You CAN do this Matthew... we all believe in you! Take that first step, and nothing will be able to hold you back!!

As for exercise, I can find a million excuses every single day why I don't have time... we ALL can find excuses. There just comes a point when we have to stop making excuses and just do it! *yes, I'm reminding myself this, too*

I know for me, seeing so many of my friends being successful at losing weight has completed motivated me to keep going. I might not be losing as fast as others, but I am losing. I'm averaging 1 - 2 pounds a week. I'm already noticing changes in the way my clothes are fitting... but mostly how much better my body feels. At the grocery store the other night, I picked up 3 - 5lb sacks of potatos to remind myself how much weight I'm NOT carrying around anymore!

[JustJo]

I must be chatty this morning

I have been struggling to get enough exercise...because, honestly, I just really don't enjoy it. I'm not even neutral on it. I know it's good for me....I just really don't like to huff and puff and sweat and be sore and all that other stuff.

Still working on that....and my Mobia is nagging me from the bedroom.

However...I found this interesting chart in my searching for data today. It's from Harvard, so I'm guessing it's pretty legit.

It shows calories burned in 30 minutes of activity for people of various weights. The top is exercise stuff (and if I'd get my butt on that Mobia for half an hour...ugh...I could burn over 440 calories)...but the bottom of the chart is what I found fascinating.

For me....roughly....sleeping for 30 minutes burns 28 calories. Watching TV burns 33....almost like sleeping! My job, since I work at a computer...burns just 61....not much better.

But....as soon as I got into even normal daily kinds of activity....cooking, light housework, putting things away, (presumably) taking care of the pool, mowing the lawn....the calorie burn jumps up into the 115 - 200 calorie range for 30 minutes of activity.

That's 5 times the burn rate of my sleeping, watching TV rate...and 2 or 3 times the rate I'm burning them as I work at the computer.

Amazing stuff...and a good argument for getting off the couch or office chair and doing something...even if it's laundry or pool care or sweeping the front walk or loading the dishwasher....

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by JustJo

Amazing stuff...and a good argument for getting off the couch or office chair and doing something...even if it's laundry or pool care or sweeping the front walk or loading the dishwasher....

I now save the mowing, edging, and sweeping for my "off" exercise days because it ends up not being so much of an "off" day at all!!! I end up working in the sun, non-stop, for a little over an hour.

I love the way I feel after all of that more than I do after my cardio days, and I *love* the way the yard looks!!!

[Gentle Tiger]

It is slightly possible that I am becoming addicted to this self torturing behavior we are calling healthy living. And it's the fault of you people. Yes I said YOU people with all your support and sharing of triumphs, struggles and set backs. And now because of all the blasted changes I am down 12.2 lbs.

And in case you didn't pick up on the sarcasm, this is a grateful rant because while I am glad I am making progress I still want I bloody Pepsi and snickers and a donut and...and...and...

Nevertheless, thank you.

[Zimmeh]

You are welcome and congratulations!!!

Zimmy

Originally Posted by Gentle Tiger

It is slightly possible that I am becoming addicted to this self torturing behavior we are calling healthy living. And it's the fault of you people. Yes I said YOU people with all your support and sharing of triumphs, struggles and set backs. And now because of all the blasted changes I am down 12.2 lbs.

And in case you didn't pick up on the sarcasm, this is a grateful rant because while I am glad I am making progress I still want I bloody Pepsi and snickers and a donut and...and...and...

Nevertheless, thank you.

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by Gentle Tiger

It is slightly possible that I am becoming addicted to this self torturing behavior we are calling healthy living. And it's the fault of you people. Yes I said YOU people with all your support and sharing of triumphs, struggles and set backs. And now because of all the blasted changes I am down 12.2 lbs.

And in case you didn't pick up on the sarcasm, this is a grateful rant because while I am glad I am making progress I still want I bloody Pepsi and snickers and a donut and...and...and...

Nevertheless, thank you.

Go ahead, blame us. But blame yourself for all of the hard work too!

[PinkieLee]

Originally Posted by Gentle Tiger

It is slightly possible that I am becoming addicted to this self torturing behavior we are calling healthy living. And it's the fault of you people. Yes I said YOU people with all your support and sharing of triumphs, struggles and set backs. And now because of all the blasted changes I am down 12.2 lbs.

And in case you didn't pick up on the sarcasm, this is a grateful rant because while I am glad I am making progress I still want I bloody Pepsi and snickers and a donut and...and...and...

Nevertheless, thank you.

WOOHOOOO now, that's the best news I've heard all morning! You should feel very proud of yourself... even if we did peer pressure into this healthy living crap

Keep up the great work my friend!!!

[Zimmeh]

One thing that I have found since I started my journey almost five years ago is this: just get up and walk around or like Tonya said, lift something up.

When I started my journey, I had no goal weight to shoot for, I just wanted to feel better. When I gave up soda by the first of February, I lost 35lbs automatically and with all of the walking and watching what I was eating, I lost another 25lbs. Today, it is harder to maintain my current weight and it is even harder at work. We are required to sit for long periods of time; sometimes up to seven hours a day. I have found walking up and down the stairs and doing stretches at work has helped. These last few days, I haven't been exercising as much as I should have been. But I am listening to my body and with my blood sugar being so low, that I was loopy at work on Tuesday, I decided to take a break and cut how much snacks I was consuming.

When I am at home, I can go to my fridge and pour myself a nice ice cold glass of water from the Brita pitcher and I can drink almost 60oz of water in one day. At work, it is hard since I am a phone operator. Hell, my trainer told me to stop drinking so much water because I constantly have to use the restroom. I explained to her, that I have very good kidneys and I wasn't jeopardizing them for anyone or any job...Needless to say, no one says anything to me about how many times I excuse myself to use the restroom..

My point, let's get up, turn our tv's and computers off, and hit the pavement...We can do this and we will do this!

Zimmy
<The former soda drinker who was bitchy for the first month from soda withdrawals, but doing a lot better..>

[jelli]

Watermelon Granita
Makes 8 half-cup servings
PointsPlus™ value per serving: 3


Ingredients

6 cups small peeled seedless watermelon chunks
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Working in batches if necessary, place all ingredients in a food processor fitted with the chopping blade; process until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl.
Pour into ice-cube trays; freeze until hard, at least 8 hours or overnight. (The recipe can be made up to this point and kept in the freezer for up to 1 month.)
Release cubes into a food processor fitted with the chopping blade; pulse until somewhat slushy but still quite grainy.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About the Watermelon Granita
"Granita" is Italian for "small grains," a reference to the ice crystals that form crunchy, irresistible little jewels in this fresh summer cooler.

[jelli]

Peach and Ginger Sorbet
Makes 8 half-cup servings
PointsPlus™ value per serving: 3


Ingredients

1/2 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup
2 tsp dried ground ginger
1 1/2 pounds fresh peaches, pitted and quartered
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Combine the water, sugar, corn syrup, and ground ginger in a small saucepan set over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer; boil 1 minute without stirring. Set aside 5 minutes to cool.
Pour the sugar mixture into a large blender or food processor fitted with the chopping blade. Add the peaches, lemon juice, and salt. Blend or process until puréed. Pour into a large bowl, cover, and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
Pour the mixture into an ice cream machine and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions.

``````

About the Peach and Ginger Sorbet
Remember the rule when buying peaches: if they don't smell like anything, they probably won't taste like anything. To ripen peaches, seal them in a paper bag at room temperature for 24 hours.

[Gentle Tiger]

Originally Posted by JustJo

I must be chatty this morning

I have been struggling to get enough exercise...because, honestly, I just really don't enjoy it. I'm not even neutral on it. I know it's good for me....I just really don't like to huff and puff and sweat and be sore and all that other stuff.

Still working on that....and my Mobia is nagging me from the bedroom.

However...I found this interesting chart in my searching for data today. It's from Harvard, so I'm guessing it's pretty legit.

It shows calories burned in 30 minutes of activity for people of various weights. The top is exercise stuff (and if I'd get my butt on that Mobia for half an hour...ugh...I could burn over 440 calories)...but the bottom of the chart is what I found fascinating.

For me....roughly....sleeping for 30 minutes burns 28 calories. Watching TV burns 33....almost like sleeping! My job, since I work at a computer...burns just 61....not much better.

But....as soon as I got into even normal daily kinds of activity....cooking, light housework, putting things away, (presumably) taking care of the pool, mowing the lawn....the calorie burn jumps up into the 115 - 200 calorie range for 30 minutes of activity.

That's 5 times the burn rate of my sleeping, watching TV rate...and 2 or 3 times the rate I'm burning them as I work at the computer.

Amazing stuff...and a good argument for getting off the couch or office chair and doing something...even if it's laundry or pool care or sweeping the front walk or loading the dishwasher....

Thanks for the data.

[nycfem]

I bet if we all carried a 15 lb jar with us everywhere we went until the time of the Reunion, we'd all lose a lot of weight. Unless the jar had cookies in it, of course.

Sorry, in a silly mood.

[Gentle Tiger]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

I bet if we all carried a 15 lb jar with us everywhere we went until the time of the Reunion, we'd all lose a lot of weight. Unless the jar had cookies in it, of course.

Sorry, in a silly mood.

I concur Nycfembbw

I didn't do my walk but I did work out on an eliptical type machine. And holy crap! I feel like a wet noodle. That program kicked my back side for real! I didn't make it an hour. But I feel like I worked harder than I did pushing to complete the 5 mi. walk. And then I had fun with different weight exercises.

I have to remember this is not a race. And this is not a torture test. It is not meant to be punishment. The overachiever in me is a blessing and a curse.