Healthy Weight Loss

[JustJo]

Thanks Sassy!

I've read several studies that all point to this (unfortunately)....so I really try to limit the number of artifically sweetened things I consume. The diet soda is gone, replaced by Sobe (sweetened with stevia) and home brewed ice tea (unsweetened or a touch of agave nectar). Both the stevia and the agave are natural sweeteners that aren't as bad as regular sugar.

Scoote and I hit a new farmers market yesterday...absolutely fabulous. We got peaches, red grapes, lettuce, corn on the cob, oranges, apples, watermelon, plums, broccoli....and more that I can't remember. Scoote had a fresh-squeezed orange juice while we were there (pulp and all). I only tried a sip since juice is not my friend due to the diabetes. It was delicious.

I also got some of the most amazing honey....local tangerine honey. Magnificent. I'll have to be very, very sparing with it, but for those times when I'm craving sweet it's at least a natural, healthier choice.

Originally Posted by sassy_girl

Great stuff! Just remember that artificial sugars and stuff have a reverse affect on weight loss.

Clipped :

Diet Soda Drinkers Gain Weight
By Lloyd de Vries

S
(WebMD) People who drink diet soft drinks don't lose weight. In fact, they gain weight, a new study shows.

The findings come from eight years of data collected by Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, and colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. Fowler reported the data at this week's annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego.

"What didn't surprise us was that total soft drink use was linked to overweight and obesity," Fowler tells WebMD. "What was surprising was when we looked at people only drinking diet soft drinks, their risk of obesity was even higher."

In fact, when the researchers took a closer look at their data, they found that nearly all the obesity risk from soft drinks came from diet sodas.

"There was a 41 percent increase in risk of being overweight for every can or bottle of diet soft drink a person consumes each day," Fowler says.

More Diet Drinks, More Weight Gain

Fowler's team looked at seven to eight years of data on 1,550 Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white Americans aged 25 to 64. Of the 622 study participants who were of normal weight at the beginning of the study, about a third became overweight or obese.


Your body knows what to do with sugar, it is confused by fake sugar......the pancreas is tricked when artificial sugars are introduced, resulting in an opposite affect.

Just a tidbit for anyone who is interested.

[girl_dee]

mmmm honey,, I cannot say enough about honey.

It's a wonderful sweetener, and it's also a natural antihistamine. Buy as local as you can get, so the bees are into the same pollen that you inhale, it's great!

Stevia is great and we grow it here on the farm, pretty good in lemonade too.

My Sister makes lemonade freezie pops, MMMMMM

[msW8ing]

Since it's "salad time" of the year I thought I would share my favorite ranch dressing recipe. It's almost fat free and really low in calories and carbs. It's great for salads, veggie platters, on baked potatoes in place of fatty butters.

1 1/3 cups low-fat buttermilk
2/3 cup fat free (you can use low-fat depends on how much fat you want to consume) mayonnaise
2/3 cup fat free (again you can use low-fat depending on you) sour cream
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt ( I use 1/2 this amount and only sea salt is used in my home)
1/4 teaspoon pepper ( I double the pepper because I'm a pepper freak)

Keep in mind this is a recipe that was handed down to me. You can adjust it to your taste. One of my friends adds fresh blue cheese crumble to it and has a low fat blue cheese dressing recipe.

[turasultana]

WW weigh in day. lost 1.8 lbs this week for a total of 6lbs in three weeks.
Got my little 5lb star!

not bad so far. Like having the 49 extra points, try not to use them but makes me feel like I have a buffer if i go over the 29/day.

Now if I could just get off my ass and work out.

[ReDo]

I have read this thread a couple times and decided I needed to join. I have battled eating disorders in the past and clearly won. I show horses and I have been to some really large horse shows and have seen time and again that

(this is harsh but my observation)

fat girls are out of place in the show ring and they will never place.

That is my view I am not saying that to be mean its just what I tell myself.

I am wanting to show in the dressage ring and well... "fat girls" are really out of place there. So it is my goal to lose 80 pounds and be a size two by next summer. Its a year away so less than 10 pounds a month. I want to do this in a healthy way this time. I want to do it in a way that keeps it off and teach myself how to be a healthier person.

I figure if I join this thread I will have some accountability for my actions and choices and keep me motivated.

So wish me luck I have a year to be a size 2.

*note to self... you look sick smaller than an 8 so really all skin and bones not attractive*

[turasultana]

Originally Posted by ToKissAgain

I have read this thread a couple times and decided I needed to join. I have battled eating disorders in the past and clearly won. I show horses and I have been to some really large horse shows and have seen time and again that

(this is harsh but my observation)

fat girls are out of place in the show ring and they will never place.

That is my view I am not saying that to be mean its just what I tell myself.

I am wanting to show in the dressage ring and well... "fat girls" are really out of place there. So it is my goal to lose 80 pounds and be a size two by next summer. Its a year away so less than 10 pounds a month. I want to do this in a healthy way this time. I want to do it in a way that keeps it off and teach myself how to be a healthier person.

I figure if I join this thread I will have some accountability for my actions and choices and keep me motivated.

So wish me luck I have a year to be a size 2.

*note to self... you look sick smaller than an 8 so really all skin and bones not attractive*

Hey -
good luck working towards your goal! 10lbs a month is still a pretty aggressive goal - that's more than 2lbs a week, so be patient.

Also curious - you put a note to yourself that you look sick smaller than a size 8 - yet your goal is a size 2? Why not just aim for a size 8 then where you feel you look healthy?

[PinkieLee]

Welcome to the thread ToKissAgain!

turasultana is right... focusing on 10 pounds a month is a pretty aggressive goal to set for yourself. But, by making healthier choices and continued exercise, you'll be well on your way to seeing some positive changes. I wish you much success my friend!

We all have a common goal here of losing weight the healthy way, whether it is losing 10 pounds or 200 pounds... all the while with continued support and encouragement for one another. Many of us continue to struggle with eating disorders on a daily basis, so we all have our ups and downs along the way.

I only ask that you remain respectful of each & every one that is on this journey. Here, we are focusing on the POSITIVE... no negative talk of "fat girls" or needing to fit in a pretty little box that society wants to put us in. We praise mini milestones, celebrate healthier choices & give encouragement when we backslide. It's about changing our self destructive behaviors and living a healthier life.

I know for ME, there isn't a magic weight or dress size that I need to be in by a certain date. It's about changing my entire way of living, my relationship with food and learning to make smarter choices. I know that I didn't put the weight on overnight, I'm surely not going to be able to lose it overnight either. In the past when I've done that, I've always gained it back, plus 10 pounds more.

I hope that everyone's day is off to a great start!!!

[Medusa]

Hey ToKiss -

Are you a small person naturally? What I mean is that a size 2 is tiny, tiny, tiny - Is that a reasonable expectation for your body frame?

I am a large-framed person. I have broad shoulders and hips and know that my body would probably never be smaller than a size 10 just because of how I'm built and how I carry my weight. (big boobs and ass - SHAZAAM!)

I encourage you to give yourself reasonable time to be the size you want - Or hell, don't even focus on the size but rather what makes you feel good.

And I'll tell you something else - I am hearing you say that dressage is important to you and you want to be "seen" in the ring. I say fuck the idea that fat girls are out of place! Who made that rule? Who says that fat girls, or medium girls, or girls with small frames aren't all deserving of being in that ring if they've worked hard for it! I think you should get in that ring no matter what size you are and show those people how a fat girl works it.

Don't let someone else's idea of beauty control what you do! If you want to be in that ring, get in there - No matter your size! (and not in spite of your size, but BECAUSE of your size.)

You are perfect just the way you are. I think it's totally ok to want to be healthier, but do it for YOU!

[Leigh]

I love how positive and motivating everyone is in this thread, which is why I keep coming back ~ makes Me not only accountable for My own actions but I know that if I need positive advice or just some encouraging words to keep Me on track I can get that here anytime I need the boost :-)

I come in here for everyone's wonderful advice and recipes; to watch us all reach small goals is much more rewarding to Me than trying to be unrealistic in our goals only to be disappointed and fall off the wagon again. I especially love to read posts by Pinkie, Jo, Medusa and more because there is so much positive thinking between them that its bound to rub off (and thats a VERY good thing). Thank you to everyone who posts here, I wouldn't be working this hard if it wasn't for My friends here ~ your constant support and encouragement are inspiring to Me :-)

[Tommi]

I am learning fresh vegetables are edible after all.... and I will survive without Diet Coke.

I made the best chili (with a lot of phone directional assistance ). Me, numero uno non-cook made a hella mess in the kitchen, but wow, what fantastic chili.


Kidney beans (soaked N washed), big juicy red tomatoes all smushed up in the blender...kale, sweet corn, brussell sprouts, broccoli, celery, carrots, Chipolte chili, yellow onion, and a package of Morningstar veggie sausage patties.

I let it cook in a big pot for hours and Mmmmm.

[Thinker]

My food/points is/are all under control, but I have fallen off from working out like I was.

Because I'm still losing, I'm not feeling the sting of it; but I do feel disappointed in myself.

So here's the plan... Tomorrow I'm taking my new project (vintage trailer) out to the place where we'll store it, but I can't go there too early because I'll wake up everyone. I will do my full round of exercises, have my protein shake, and then hook up the trailer for the trip out there.

I said it out loud. Accountability......to myself and to you, my witnesses.

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by sassy_girl

mmmm honey,, I cannot say enough about honey.

It's a wonderful sweetener, and it's also a natural antihistamine. Buy as local as you can get, so the bees are into the same pollen that you inhale, it's great!

Stevia is great and we grow it here on the farm, pretty good in lemonade too.

My Sister makes lemonade freezie pops, MMMMMM

Is stevia hard to grow? And do you just mush up the leaves or let it steep in the beverages or??

I'm curious to see if that's something we could grow down here in south FL...we're zone 10.

[Medusa]

Someone that I don't even know at work came up to me just now in the break area and said, "Are you losing weight? You look great!"

Talk about a nice headrush!

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by Medusa

Someone that I don't even know at work came up to me just now in the break area and said, "Are you losing weight? You look great!"

Talk about a nice headrush!

Oh that always feels so good!

[PinkieLee]

WOOHOOOO Congrats Medusa! Nothing like a lil' compliment to keep you motivated that not only you are seeing results, that other people can, too! Keep up the awesome work!!!!

Well, tomorrow evening, I am going to attend my first ever WW meeting. I've been doing the online thing, which is great. But, a local friend of mine goes to actual meetings and she's been wanting me to come with her. Each week they get little handouts with receipes, exercise tips and general info.. which she always grabs me an extra copy & drops it off at my house

I don't know why I have this huge fear of going tomorrow. Being on this journey with y'all is one thing, but being in a room full of strangers seems different. I guess I'm envisioning some scale in the front of the room (like the Biggest Loser) where people are gonna be taking turns weighing in.

My weekly weigh ins are on Thursday mornings, naked in the privacy of my own bathroom.... and I like it that way. Ugh, I know, I'm a creature of habit!

Oh well, we shall see how it goes! Wish me luck!

[Queerasfck]

Kudos to all of you for the incredible strength, resolve and will power. Keep sticking to your plan!!

Had a great weekend beginning with our WW weigh in on Saturday. I am making more progress towards my goal and lost 2.4 pounds. Even better, finally can wear 38's in my Levis comfortably again. I used to be a complete clothes horse. So as the years have added on pounds I have hoarded away my smaller clothes and am so thankful for that as it is helping me stay motivated to get into things I haven't been able to wear in quite awhile. For all the grief I got from apretty about being a clothes hoarder it's paying off now! But in the ultimate anti-hoarder move I am also enjoying getting rid of my larger sizes and hope that it helps my motivation to never go back to size gigantica jeans.

My workouts last week seem to be more intense and I added some new exercises at the gym. I know we've talked about how music is really important to some of us when we get our cardio going. I finally got around to listing some favorites on my ipod.

I hope that some of you will share your favorite musical choices for workouts as I'd love some new ideas! Have a great day everyone. Thanks for this thread!

Punk:
Kiss Off-Violent Femmes
California Uber Alles-Dead Kennedys
What do I get?-Buzzcocks

Oldies:
I’ll be Good to You-The Brothers Johnson
Lowdown-Boz Scaggs

Rock:
White Room-Cream
You’ve got another thing coming-Judas Priest
Ironman-Black Sabbath
Rock & Roll-Led Zeppelin
Ladies & Gentlemen-Salvia
Master of Puppets-Metallica
Enter Sandman-Metallica
Sabbra Cadabra-Metallica
Testify-Rage Against the Machine
Guerilla Radio-Rage Against the Machine


Dance/Electronic:
Absolutely Not-Deborah Cox Queer as Folk Soundtrack 2nd Season
Underwater (Mauve’s Dark Vocal Mix)-Queer as Folk Soundtrack 2nd Season
Hold It Don’t Drop it (Club Mix)-J Lo Moto Blanco Mixes
No More Drama-Mary J Blige (from the Dance For Me EP)
Tush (Anthony Acid X-Rated Club Mix)-Ghostface & Missy Elliot
I Wasn’t Kidding (Freemasons Vocal Club Mix)-Angie Stone
Boys wanna be her (tommy sunshine mix)-Peaches
Beautiful Liar-Shakira & Beyonce
Weapon of Choice-Fatboy Slim
Downhill Racer (Kenny Dope Remix)-Everything But The Girl

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by Medusa

Hey ToKiss -

Are you a small person naturally? What I mean is that a size 2 is tiny, tiny, tiny - Is that a reasonable expectation for your body frame?

I am a large-framed person. I have broad shoulders and hips and know that my body would probably never be smaller than a size 10 just because of how I'm built and how I carry my weight. (big boobs and ass - SHAZAAM!)

I encourage you to give yourself reasonable time to be the size you want - Or hell, don't even focus on the size but rather what makes you feel good.

And I'll tell you something else - I am hearing you say that dressage is important to you and you want to be "seen" in the ring. I say fuck the idea that fat girls are out of place! Who made that rule? Who says that fat girls, or medium girls, or girls with small frames aren't all deserving of being in that ring if they've worked hard for it! I think you should get in that ring no matter what size you are and show those people how a fat girl works it.

Don't let someone else's idea of beauty control what you do! If you want to be in that ring, get in there - No matter your size! (and not in spite of your size, but BECAUSE of your size.)

You are perfect just the way you are. I think it's totally ok to want to be healthier, but do it for YOU!

Damn right! I get so sick of the ideal of what pretty is suppose to be. I think health is essential to overall wellbeing. I don't weigh myself because I need to focus on how I feel.

I'll never be a little girl. I know I would like to lose 50 pounds and my back and knee would feel better but the most important thing is my health. If someone find me less sexy because of it then that's their problem. I am attracted to people smaller then I am. Its not about the weight. It's more of an Amazon thing. My lifestyle also requires someone to be active. It's still not a weight issue. Hell I'm overweight and I'd like to see someone keep up with me around here. lol

The thing I love about this forum is that its about health. Sure we want to lose but I think we all want better health and lifestyle changes.

[Sachita]

Originally Posted by JustJo

Is stevia hard to grow? And do you just mush up the leaves or let it steep in the beverages or??

I'm curious to see if that's something we could grow down here in south FL...we're zone 10.

I grew and sold Stevia in Florida zone 10. It will have a hard time in summer. You need to grow it in part-sun part shade there and maybe even consider a small screenhouse for it. Otherwise its really easy to grow.

To use it, you can crush and soak in beverages or you can distill it:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4843789_dist...ia-leaves.html

Keep in mine that Agave and Stevia are still sugar and even if they are slower, they still are sugar just like honey. Stevia just cant be good for you in large amounts. No plant or herb is. I'm not saying not to use it but use it in moderation.

I make lemonade with it and tea, crush it with mint leaves and put in my drink. The taste is ok but does have an after taste.

[Jett]

Great thread... proud of you all! I don't think a lot of ppl here know this about me but through my teens I struggled against anorexia, and as fickle fate would have it many years ago I weighed 100lbs more than I do today (which is around 150-155)... so eating disorders have bitten me in the butt both ways. I have been eating pretty healthy for years but still fluctuate here and there but am where I worked and wanted to be.

I think over the years the most important things could share about my experience is moderation, don't keep up a harsh diet regime you can't continue once you lose the weight, learn to eat right from the get go! Other than that just eat healthy and take it slow you WILL get there!

J

[little_ms_sunshyne]

Hello Everyone! Doing some catching up here! Back from our little vacation.

First off, Congratulations for pounds and inches shed! Whooohoooooo!!!! Great job on healthy choices and food adventures!

WARNING SLIGHT DERAIL!
I have to say that the hen topic made me giggle a little because I have been harrassing T about that the last 2 months. I keep telling him I want a few chickens and duck (no idea why the duck! I am an animal lover and want to include a little pig in the mix). Anyhow, I had to inform T that I am not crazy and listed all the people who want or own hens! SO :P T if you your threadstalking and reading this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok progress through vacation. We did well with meals. I had 1 awful meal!!!! But all other meals if naughty we split. It was great not to walk around feeling grossly full. I had to try the state foods, but made sure to eat half. So far that is an accomplishment for me. Usually I come back 10 pounds over and feeling pretty terrible!

Hopefully this week brings better progress for me.

Question: I have issues with becoming stressed and emotional eating. Does anyone have any tips/suggestions/ideas??? I feel like I sabotage myself with this and am sick of going through that cycle!

One more thing...Curves are hot!! Own them! That is all!