Healthy Weight Loss

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Only 5 left? That is awesome!

Yeah, but it's been 4 or 5 pounds for at least a month now.......maybe 5 weeks. I'm truly STUCK.

That's why I had to finally just surrender the weight part of it for now and make sure I'm focusing on the good things I'm doing with caloric intake and cardio. If I'm true to myself with those two things, then the rest will eventually take care of itself.

*shrug*

[JustJo]

So, just in the spirit of sharing....here's what's simmering on the stove right now...

• 1 large onion, chopped
• couple stalks of celery, including the leaves, chopped
• couple cloves of garlic, chopped
• simmering in a dollop of EVOO
• about 1 lb. of sirloin, cubed

That all got left to simmer and think until the veggies were translucent and the meat was browned....then I added:

• 3-1/2 carrots, chopped....would have been 4 but I'm crunching on half of one
• one big can of diced tomatoes, with the juice
• one can full of water
• big handful of parsley, crushed
• a little salt and pepper....will adjust that later
• big handful of fresh green beans, cut into lengths....all that was left in the bag but wish I had a bit more...guess I shouldn't have eaten so many of them last night
• 2 small cans of canellini beans

A bit later, closer to eating time, I'll add...

• a big pour of frozen corn (the mixed yellow and white that I love)
• a big pour of frozen peas
• broccoli, chopped
• cauliflower, chopped
• another can of tomatoes and water, if it's needed (and probably will be)

I don't add the broccoli and cauliflower early because long simmering makes their flavors completely take over the soup....and the frozen stuff seems to retain shape and flavor better added later on too.

I'd add some fresh spinach if I had any, but I'm out!

[Thinker]

Acting "as if"...

I was just reading an article about weight loss plateaus and saw a recommendation to try some primal challenge......I forget the wording on it but it had "primal" somewhere in there.

The recommendation is to go 30 days living and acting "as if" you are one of those full-on, hard-core health nuts. You eat perfectly, act "as if" you don't crave sweets or any of the bad stuff, work out every chance you get, etc...

I'm not willing to try it for 30 days, but I'm gonna give it a shot for one week starting this Friday.

I'm going to miss my sweet potato chips.

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Everyone,

I had a small piece of pork chop, brown rice and yellow corn for dinner lastnight at work. The people in the cafeteria like to pile food higher than you head on the plates...I just ask them to give me one small scoop of rice and extra veggies.

I have noticed that since I am coming home after midnight, that I am starving and I don't want to eat anything that late at night. I am going to bring my string cheese with me and maybe have one if I can around 9pm and see if this helps. For our international food day next Thursday, I am thinking of making my family's chewie cake.

Have a great day!

Zimmy

[PinkieLee]

Originally Posted by ZimmygLrL

Good Morning Everyone,

I had a small piece of pork chop, brown rice and yellow corn for dinner lastnight at work. The people in the cafeteria like to pile food higher than you head on the plates...I just ask them to give me one small scoop of rice and extra veggies.

I have noticed that since I am coming home after midnight, that I am starving and I don't want to eat anything that late at night. I am going to bring my string cheese with me and maybe have one if I can around 9pm and see if this helps. For our international food day next Thursday, I am thinking of making my family's chewie cake.

Have a great day!

Zimmy

Girl, I'm telling you... POPCORN is my lifesaver! It's the only thing that I eat when it's late and I'm starving that kills the hunger pains! They have 94% fat free butter AND kettle corn, too.

[PinkieLee]

Speaking of eating out... Zimmy is so right about the portion sizes when you go out to eat. One thing that we've started doing is just splitting a regular size meal. Yep, even when we both crave mexican food, we get the fajitas for 1 and just split it. There is more than enough and we often have leftovers, too! Other places, we just split the entree and order an extra salad. Hey, it helps keep our portions under control AND helps us save $$.

I made a roast in the crockpot yesterday and it was so good...and I have enough leftover for lunch today. All I have to do is microwave one of those individual servings of brown rice and voila lunch is served.

[JustJo]

Today's menu so far...

Breakfast:

• black coffee
• 1 slice whole wheat toast with tuna salad

Mid-morning:

• half a big carrot, raw

Early lunch:

• big bowl of homemade veggie soup....delicious

Late lunch :

• another big bowl of veggie soup....couldn't resist and don't need to!
• unsweetened ice tea (homebrewed half black, half green) with a dollop of pomegranite juice for fun
  
  Planning on a snack later:
• low-fat mozz string cheese
• olives
  
  Dinner tonight may be more soup.....or maybe a stir fry with basmati rice, haven't decided yet, but whatever it is....there will be lots of veggies!

[lipstixgal]

Originally Posted by JustJo

So, just in the spirit of sharing....here's what's simmering on the stove right now...

• 1 large onion, chopped
• couple stalks of celery, including the leaves, chopped
• couple cloves of garlic, chopped
• simmering in a dollop of EVOO
• about 1 lb. of sirloin, cubed

That all got left to simmer and think until the veggies were translucent and the meat was browned....then I added:

• 3-1/2 carrots, chopped....would have been 4 but I'm crunching on half of one
• one big can of diced tomatoes, with the juice
• one can full of water
• big handful of parsley, crushed
• a little salt and pepper....will adjust that later
• big handful of fresh green beans, cut into lengths....all that was left in the bag but wish I had a bit more...guess I shouldn't have eaten so many of them last night
• 2 small cans of canellini beans

A bit later, closer to eating time, I'll add...

• a big pour of frozen corn (the mixed yellow and white that I love)
• a big pour of frozen peas
• broccoli, chopped
• cauliflower, chopped
• another can of tomatoes and water, if it's needed (and probably will be)

I don't add the broccoli and cauliflower early because long simmering makes their flavors completely take over the soup....and the frozen stuff seems to retain shape and flavor better added later on too.

I'd add some fresh spinach if I had any, but I'm out!

Oh sounds yummy I am going to the store to get the ingredients for the soup for tonight's dinner!!
Thanks Jo for your recipes...

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Thinker

Yeah, but it's been 4 or 5 pounds for at least a month now.......maybe 5 weeks. I'm truly STUCK.

That's why I had to finally just surrender the weight part of it for now and make sure I'm focusing on the good things I'm doing with caloric intake and cardio. If I'm true to myself with those two things, then the rest will eventually take care of itself.

*shrug*

Yes, that is a while to be on a plateau. I hear that when we hit plateaus that we should change up our type of exercise. If you walked, swim. If you swam, cycle. I know that you are jogging now. Did you walk before or were you doing something totally different?

[Thinker]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Yes, that is a while to be on a plateau. I hear that when we hit plateaus that we should change up our type of exercise. If you walked, swim. If you swam, cycle. I know that you are jogging now. Did you walk before or were you doing something totally different?

I started the jogging as a way to shake things up. Before jogging, I was walking and doing stairs. I was also lifting every other day and stopped doing that when I started jogging.

I'm going to stick with the jogging. For the first time in my life, I feel I am actually capable of doing it! It doesn't hurt my knees, and it's wonderful for my heart. I'm actually looking forward to going for my next round of lab work.

I'm slowly making some real positive changes with my diet. I think I'm getting to a place where I'm going to feel really good about how I'm taking care of my body, and I feel better about that than anything else. I will continue trying this and trying that in an effort to drop a little more weight and a couple more inches around my belly, but I had to let go of the obsession with that particular number; it was driving me friggin' nuts!!!

[little_ms_sunshyne]

Pinkie popcorn has become my savior too! I eat it during the day at school...yummy! Laughing cow cheese and crackers too! Oooo and yogurt!

Sooooo..i gave in and weighed myself after several weeks...10 pounds! Whoohooo!

2 more days until week is over!

[T4Texas]

Thanks Anya for the ideas. The tuna in a bag sounds good.
Another thing I do is never go to the store hungry. I will eat something even its a piece of toast before grocery shopping so that I dont buy the whole store out or impulse buy.

[little_ms_sunshyne]

Apple Straws where have you been all my life?! I can eat 38 and only 130 calories...
Wearing a big ol smile and a satisfied belly

[Hack]

I have a job interview Friday afternoon.

And all my suits are too big. :/

[sylvie]

mmmm, popcorn..
something i never think to eat, really.. and love it plain even.. must get some..

hi all!
thought i would check in quick, had a weigh in yesterday and lost 3 more lbs, for a total of 43 lbs now.. i wanted to lose 50 lbs before travelling to see Mtn (i leave in 19 , almost 18 days) - so have a lil over 2 weeks to lose 7 more lbs.. it was just a little personal goal i had, i still have more to lose so that's not where i'm stopping, just feels good to be so near that goal..

i decided to clean through my closet the other day, and found a number of clothes with tags still on them that fit.. YAY for cleaning out closets.. AND found some clothes that i want to fit into.. Soo, there's my next goal, lol.

i'm noticing a lot of changes in me:
- energy level is through the roof with 43 lbs off..i push myself a lil harder now with activity, it feels great to exercise without the pain..
- no more pain in my feet or legs when i work long hours or when i walk / exercise & no more swollen ankles
- i FEEL fantastic, my esteem has improved greatly, self - worth is WOW.
- my nails are growing stronger (that is probably more eating disorder oriented though) - they were so brittle and broken all the time.
- when i wear capris, they fit so nicely on my legs now, i love that feeling.. i was forever pulling the legs of them down some where i wanted them to be when walking.. (sounds silly, i know lol)
- my confidence in wearing clothes that are snug to my body.. i always wore things oversized, and not just around the house, but i will walk outside more proudly, even if i'm still overweight.. just having that bit more confidence with my body feels fantastic.
- my facial features - i find they're changing as my face slims some.. i feel younger looking (only a little though) but i want more! LOL younger looking works for me.. & my complexion is so much more clear (probably all the water i'm drinking)
- motivation, ohhhhh i motivate myself so much more now..& love that feeling..this was something i struggled with a great deal!
- but the best part - the portion control, the strength in staying true to my healthy eating , trying new foods, staying away from processed anything, sugars, white flours, etc.. and feeling overall healthier than i have in a very long time.. if that's not motivation, i don't know what is!

been reading all your posts and so proud of you all for all the progress, loving the recipes shared, and healthy tips... sending you all huggs & motivation to keep at it! ♥

[Rockinonahigh]

Well it finaly happened,I am becomeing very bord with exersiseing,im surprised it took so long.It usely spells the end of doing whatever it was I got bord with.Im walking hear at home useingthe equipment I have,to be honest I need something more than just workingout to lose weight(it should be enough but isnt).Im looking for other things to do tho not shure what,they have some other activities but they are early in the morning or late in the afternoon wich dosent work cause I have other things going on then.I really would rather be physicaly working hard cause I can see the beganing and end results.Im still on my food plan and its doing fine.

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Everyone,

Tonya, I love popcorn, and I keep forgetting to pick up another box when I go grocery shopping.

Rocking, I found walking to be more fun then hitting the gym. You can walk at your own pace and I love the outdoors and fresh air.

Sylvie, Congrats on your weight loss! I have a pair of Kenneth Cole pants that I want to fit into again and once I lose another 10lbs then I will be able to wear them.

To everyone else, hope you all are having a good day!

Zimmy

[Zimmeh]

I picked up some Betty Crocker Apple Cinnamon muffin mix tonight. It is made with whole grains and is very yummy!

Zimmy