Best advice?

[rkandmjsmommy]

Whats your best "diet advice"
Background on me, I have ALWAYS been overweight, I was down to the 160's after my sons birth in 2002 and then went to nursing school, I AM A STRESS/EMOTIONAL eater I graduated last May but can not get my BIG BUTT In gear to lose this weight, its quite sad. I am so disappointed in myself and my weight I just cant get motivated, every night I say tomorrow I will eat healty, drink water etc. and IT NEVER HAPPENS. I dont want to be in the 190's anymore, I want to feel good about myself in clothes, not feel self concisous, have fun with my kids without sweating like a pig from the extra weight, look at myself in pics without disguist. I need some GREAT advice, is there ONE thing or more that has helped you lose weight?

Thanks

 

[MagicalMom]

Well, these are the things that helped me the most, not sure if they'll work for everyone.

I was a snacker. Never thought much about it, but snacked on chips, pretzels, etc. I started by eliminating those. Next I eliminated sodas & started rinking water. I figured just those 2 things had to help.

Then I replaced my lunch & sometimes my dinner with lean cuisine meals. They are afforable & taste great.

Then I made a new rule for myself that I would only watch TV while on the floor that way I would be able to do some Yoga positions, sit ups, etc. while watching TV.

Next I walk for atleast an hour a day. Sometimes I was for 20 minutes 3 times a day, sometimes 30 minutes twice a day. It's great to get a phone buddy to talk to while your walking. You know how a 20 minutes gab session can fly by.

Hope a couple of these help you.

 

[keenercam]

I am going back to basics after not losing for a while and then gaining on vacation.

Here are the big changes I have made this week:
1. Drink at least 64 oz water
2. If I am hungry between meals, I chew some sugarless gum. IF after 15 minutes I am still hungry, I eat an apple.
3. I have decided I just should not eat after dinner. If I am going to have a snack, I must have it right after dinnner, as dessert. Otherwise, I have to take a book and head upstairs to read, away from temptation. This works for me because I eat so late (usually after 8 pm), but if you eat earlier, you may need some fruit or something before bed.
4. I am going to follow my friend, Tracy's (toystoryduo), example and strive to eat salad at least once a day.
5. I exercise quite a bit because of race training, but for someone who doesn't I'd seriously recommend a commitment of 20 minutes a day of doing something -- whether it is walking or lifting weights or doing an exercise tape. Once you are used to that, try to add more minutes whenever possible.
6. Lastly, but most importantly, I have gone back to writing down everything I eat and in order to do that accurately, I have started weighing everything that is not already portion controlled. It is very eye-opening to realize how large our portions might be when we don't pay enough attention.


Looking forward to sharing your journey! Those 180s are right around the corner!

 

[keenercam]

BTW, I just started the August exercise challenge thread. If you committed to just 20 minutes a day even 5x/week, you'd get in 400 minutes of exercise this month!

 

[Creativebeth]

I totally understand where you are coming from.....I have been there! (So many times I might add).

I finally got sick of the weight when I turned 39. I decided not to head into my 40's fat. The first thing I did was get up early before work and walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I did that consistently every day (got to be a great habit).

I tried eating healthy to lose weight (sort of following WW on my own). I lost 15 pounds the first month and then it completely stopped coming off. I didn't have the money to go back to WW and pay the $12 a week, so I went to a physician's weight loss center (covered by my insurance). The food plan there was a low carb diet. I love my carbs, and didn't think I could do it, but after the first week of feeling crummy it got way easier.

I stayed on the low carb lifestyle faithfully for two years and lost 65 pounds. In the process I started running and have run 5 1/2 marathons over the past year.

Doing low carb was a eye opening experience. I actually wasn't hungry through most of it. It was a great feeling, not to feel like I was starving all the time. My sugar cravings went away and I had alot of energy!

Since increasing my weekly running miles, I have had to increase my carbs to maintain my exercise. It's now really hard for me to get the weight to come off. I picked up a few pounds (I orginally lost 70, so I have an extra 5 pounds on me right now from my lowest weight). I trying really hard to get them off!

Keep trying, and don't give up. Something will click with you, and the weight will start to come off. Keep up your positive spirit!

Beth

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Denise, ONE thing is to KNOW you CAN do it! You have to make it happen. You can do it! You want to do it!

More things would be to
*Set yourself up for a lifestyle change. Plan one thing at a time.
*Cut portions.
*Eat more often instead of larger amounts in one sitting. Aim for 6 instead of 3--remember though the part about cutting portions. Take that cut portion and split it into 2 meals.
*Think healthy choices never use the "D" word.
*Make the changes small so there is success. (Positive will win over negatives)
*Find a way to make it fun. (Join in the challenges here. Everyone is helpful and we depend on each other to get us through.)
*Journal a great site to help track calorise would be fitday . com or sparkpeople . com. We have a journal section at the top of WISH to help you keep track of your journey.

Most of all--Never give up! Keep on keepin' on!

Let us know how you are doing. We'll be here to help.

 

[tiggerlover]

Like most people who fight the battle of the bulge I have been on countless "diets", lost weight and gained it back over and over again. The biggest thing for me is acknowledging that I am not on a diet, I am changing the way I live so I can live healthier and happier. I am a follower of Weight Watchers because it is where I have found the most success. My best advice:

• Be accountable for what you eat. If you eat it write it down in a journal. It is so easy to have a little taste here, a lick there, another taste here and those tastes really add up.
• Drink plenty of water as it really makes a difference.
• Move more. Whether you park your car further away or take the stairs or go to the gym, you need to move more.
• Make good choices most of the time, but do not deprive yourself of what you love.
• Plan your week. If you know you have a party to go to Friday and a lunch date on Tuesday than try to make better choices the rest of the week.

Above all know that if you want this bad enough you can do this. I was the person who thought being fat was my lot in life because I came from a family of overweight people. Well, my sister lost 100# on WW and I thought if she could do it, so could I!!

 

[slk537]

Great advice on here!

- journal it: I use the WW online and love it. I can keep track of what I eat, look up what I am thinking about eating, plan my day in advance, and experiment with ideas. Example: I know we're going to Subway for lunch. I can put together all kinds of ideas of what I might have and see where the points are. If you're not doing WW or don't want to join online, fitday.com has a great food tracker for any diet

- eat what you love: discover which of your favorite foods are good choices on your diet and enjoy them. I love fresh raspberries, peaches, Great Harvest Bread, baked potatoes with butter (light butter w/ canola) and (light) sour cream, feta cheese, fresh tomatoes with balsamic vinegar...etc. I can add these into my diet plan and enjoy them. If you find out what works with your diet that you don't just enjoy, but LOVE you will find it easier.

- get excited about your new options: Take a shopping trip to the grocery store and get excited about all the foods out there on your plan. I have always done low carb, so for me it has been an adventure learning what I can have now on WW. I am eating WW bagels for breakfast, I learned Breyers fat free chocolate ice cream is like HEAVEN, and all the items out there that are low in calories, fat, etc. that I would never have thought about. I am still excited about what I eat and every time I go to a new restaurant or store, I discover more.

- start moving when you're ready: One step at a time. Get to understand your diet. Get over the body changes when you start eating differently. My body was in shock I think when I first gave up my usual foods and started making WW choices. Learn portion sizes, balances, how to make this work with your life. Take mini walks when you can. Use the bathroom down the other hall at work, park a bit further away, take an extra half hour to browse at the store. Get movement into your life in a comfortable, easy, natural way.

- exercise the way you want: once you're accustomed to the new way of eating and getting more natural movement in, pick something you want to do that is more strenuous. I began walking distance and more speed in Week 5. It feels great! I got used to the food and lifestyle changes, now I am adding exercise. Now I am ready to do it.

- eat less more often: Have breakfast, then a snack. Lunch, then a snack. Dinner, then a snack. Save something delicious for before bed. Spread your food out and savor it. Never eat anything that isn't really, really good. And be creative! Have a fresh peach? Cut it up, throw in some blueberries, sprinkle with splenda and cinnamon and microwave for 45-60 seconds. Instant fresh fruit "pie" filling! Mix light cool whip with some natural applesauce. A stick of smoked provolone cheese with a few triscuits. Having a fantastic snack to look forward to will help.

Make it something you enjoy...something that works with your life and something you can sustain. Let's be honest: food is a big part of our lives. if it wasn't, most of us would not be on the WISH boards trying to lose weight. Don't fool yourself into thinking you have to eat rice cakes and fish oil for the rest of your life to be thin and healthy. You already have a relationship with food - don't give it up, just make it a healthy relationship. Food has been your friend, your companion, your comfort. Turn that into a healthy friend, companion, comfort. Keep food that you love, just let it help you fuel your body, lower your cholesterol, burn fat.

And last? Make small goals (10% weight loss, 2 sizes down by Christmas, etc), but have the final goal be open ended. If you pressure yourself to be thin by this or that date if you feel you are failing you will be more likely to want to give up. if you say, "I will be at this weight when my nutrition, exercise and lifestyle allow for it. It may take one year...two...but I will keep on keeping on until I reach that goal."

Wow. You asked for one tip didn't you....

Good luck to you. Make it a journey you enjoy!!

 

[Sherri]

Whats your best "diet advice"
Background on me, I have ALWAYS been overweight, I was down to the 160's after my sons birth in 2002 and then went to nursing school, I AM A STRESS/EMOTIONAL eater I graduated last May but can not get my BIG BUTT In gear to lose this weight, its quite sad. I am so disappointed in myself and my weight I just cant get motivated, every night I say tomorrow I will eat healty, drink water etc. and IT NEVER HAPPENS. I dont want to be in the 190's anymore, I want to feel good about myself in clothes, not feel self concisous, have fun with my kids without sweating like a pig from the extra weight, look at myself in pics without disguist. I need some GREAT advice, is there ONE thing or more that has helped you lose weight?

Thanks

Take one day at a time. Make one realistic goal at a time. Don't be hard on yourself. You will see results. start with walking every night even if just for twenty minutes. Try and drink nothing but water. People don't always realize just how many calories they get from soft drinks, coffee and such. Its an easy way to give up calories. Replace chips and sweets with fresh fruit which you should always have at home for when you feel hungry. You will get there. You have to really stay focused and remind yourself that patients is your best tool in long term weight loss.