Finally a weight loss incentive I can get behind ...

[Twingle]

I have about 20 lbs that I would like to lose, and I've been working hard, but still haven't made much progress. I finally told dh that I need some sort of incentive to keep me trying. I'm thinking he'll throw out a trip to the bookstore or to the gourmet grocery store an hour and a half away. But nope - he says that he'll go ahead and get another 100 DVC points if I can lose the 20 lbs and keep it off for one month! So, I'm thinking that's some pretty awesome incentive. Throw your best weight loss tips at me!! I do a fairly consistent job of walking on an incline treadmill almost every day, and I'll kick it up a notch on that. I think one of my areas where I run into trouble is the fact that I like to eat. I tend to be a snacker, too. I don't really do breakfast because I don't like cereal/pop tarts/anything semi-easy to fix. Let me know what's worked for you in the past - I'd really love to add some points on here!

I think this is awesome of your husband to do! What a great incentive, and you'll enjoy it for years!

Don't have much in additon to add, you've got some excellent tips so far! I joined Weight Watchers on December 4th and have gotten a ton of support from the Dis'ers.

Good luck! I'm sure you'll do awesome - and enjoy your new points

 

[DMKEDM]

Here's what has worked for me (full disclosure: I've several times found the "mental energy" to do what I know how to do, and got slender (and stayed slender) as a result...however, it's remarkably easy to lose the "mental energy" and fall back into the "easier" eating mode and find myself ballooning back up again...so never underestimate the power of and need for that "mental energy.")

OK...sounds like you have your mental energy & incentive...here's the trick that works for me:

Start with one and only one "rule:" Eat ONLY when/while you're hungry. No "mindless snacking"...

Then, to make following the "eat only when hungry" rule easier, do a "nutrition plan"...list out what you need to eat to be healthy. You'll find it includes 5 servings/daily of fruits & vegetables (I mention this specifically because it's my personal bugaboo and therefore key to my success, when I'm being successful), and certain specified amounts of protein, dairy, carbs and (essential) fat--

Then, ID the "hard parts" for yourself. For me, if I never ate another vegetable or fruit (except, perhaps, for fruit-flavored baked goods!), I wouldn't notice or miss it. It's actually very hard for me to get in five servings unless I focus on it. It's not that I dislike fruit & veggies; I like lots of both...just not enough to "choose" either one, pretty much ever!

Then, impose a rule on yourself that you eat your "hard parts" first...when this is working for me, I make sure I get my five fruits & vegetables into me (or whatever portion of the total I'm eating at any given meal) FIRST...then, the other "nutritious" items...THEN I give myself permission to eat whatever I want, so long as I'm still hungry...

99.9% of the time, I'm simply not hungry any more after I've consumed my nutrition. This REALLY helps cut down on the "bad stuff" (for me, "sweet fat"--cookies, cake, candy, ice cream, etc; others have more trouble w/savory goodies, or drinks (beer, wine, cocktails)...

Bottom line: for me, the key to success is (1) living w/the "only eat when you're hungry" rule; (2) knowing and living by "nutrition" BEFORE I allow myself any "bad stuff;" and (3) not denying myself any bad stuff...I find I don't want it anywhere near as bad if I'm not hungry.

Now, I also work out regularly, and have for decades (regardless of my slender or fat states--and I've been both). Working out makes a huge difference, too, both physically (weight loss/control/maintenance) and psychologically (I just plain feel better, mentally and emotionally as well as physically)...

Anyway, good luck...hope these "tricks" help you...

 

[EeyoreEma]

Definitely some awesome tips here! I'm really going to try my hardest. I think the biggest part will be the mental battle of it all! I forced myself to have a Carnation instant breakfast this morning made with 2% milk, and it was alright. I didn't snack any until lunch, so I consider that much a success at least! I already try and plan my meals out, and was very careful at the grocery store today not to buy any of the snacky items I tend to gravitate towards. Instead I went with carrots and apples.

 

[alldiz]

Definitely some awesome tips here! I'm really going to try my hardest. I think the biggest part will be the mental battle of it all! I forced myself to have a Carnation instant breakfast this morning made with 2% milk, and it was alright. I didn't snack any until lunch, so I consider that much a success at least! I already try and plan my meals out, and was very careful at the grocery store today not to buy any of the snacky items I tend to gravitate towards. Instead I went with carrots and apples.

Good job having some breakfast.

I find that if i have a small breakfast...like you did and then have a midmorning snack....Not that crazy hungry at lunch.

Try 2 days in a row where you eat 5 small meals....starting with breakfast and last one 3 hrs before bed.

I guarantee you won't be as hungry....Unfortunately a lot of us "Hoard our calories" till later in the day. This dosen't work and just throws our metabolism off.
Good luck
Kerri

 

[JWG]

Another vote for weight watchers. So much easier to have an easy guideline to follow and something to track. Once you learn point values you can more easily keep going. I lost 13 pounds this way, unfortunately I have found them and their friends. Time to get back to it.

 

[DisneyDreamers2007]

Great posts here!

-I'll just add be sure to eat PROTEIN with every meal (a few chopped nuts in your oatmeal, lean turkey or chicken tenderloins with your vegetables, greek yogurt with your fruit). Protein helps you feel full longer and builds muscle...which burns more calories!

-I love the bodybugg...it tracks calories consumed/calories burned and really works great for weight loss. Calories are important for weight loss, but if you want to feel full, look great and speed up your metabolism for greater calorie burn then you need to eat non-processed foods (meaning the food grows from the ground or that has a mother) with a healthy ratio of protein, fat and carbs. Having sweets will raise your blood sugar level and cause you to want more, insulin release is often the cause of binge cycles...so I would suggest staying away from refined sugar.

-Eat your higher carb meals early in the day (oatmeal for breakfast, apple for lunch and keep your afternoon snack and dinner protein rich with low carb veggies and healthy fats (like turkey with zucchini tomato & olive oil). Your body needs carbs early in the day for energy and working out, by the end of the day you want foods that will make you feel more satiated and help your body to hit it's maximum REM cycle while sleeping, which is inhibited by carbs.

-Be sure to get enough sleep, aim for at least 7 hours a night. If you don't get enough sleep your gherlin levels rise and you are way hungrier throughout the next day. There are LOTS of studies linking sleep deprivation to weight gain.

-Stress can lead to weight gain, due to the body's reaction to stress-induced cortisol and it's impact on hunger and metabolic rate. So take time to meditate, take care of yourself, enjoy a cup of tea and reduce stress whenever possible.

-Keep a calendar posted. Everyday that you eat within your calorie goal give yourself a star/happy face/mickey ears, do the same for everyday that you workout.

-A few other little research-backed metabolism boosters: cinnamon, spicy seasonings, cold water, green tea, eating at regular intervals throughout the day, and interval training over steady cardio.

Hope these are helpful in some way and it is so awesome that you are taking this challenge...YOU CAN DO IT!!!! One day at a time, every choice you make is important so just keep your end goal in mind and know that we are all here cheering you on

 

[robandkelly13]

I lost 83 pounds after I had our DD and that was 5 and a half years ago - I'm still a size4:0) Of cousre I exercised and still do, but I like to eat too. So I use sparkpeople.com to count my calories for the day. Every morning I plan out what I'm going to eat for the day using their calorie calculator. Then I can adjust my calorie intake as needed, but I don't go over my calorie limit. So, if I know I want a piece of cake I "budget" for it (so to speak).

Good luck on your weight loss - I know you can do it

 

[66Tink]

I second the recommendation for Lose it. I have the iPhone App (free BTW) and it's a great tool. I definitely lose weight when I keep track of what I'm eating and I don't lose / put it back on when I don't.

k

Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this tip It is amazing how much you actually THINK about what you are putting in your mouth when you are keeping track...lost one pound 2 oz so far...slow and steady until May when hopefully I will reach my goal of 20 lbs

 

[sssteele]

I'm a firm believer in counting calories. 1500 calories / day will result in a weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week for most people. Add in some regular exercise, and 2-3 pounds per week is possible. The 1500 calories has to be tracked, and sometimes portions weighed (4 oz. lean ground beef patty = x calories for example). I really try not to estmate, because it's easy to underestimate. Good luck, whatever methods you decide to use!

 

[EeyoreEma]

I'm loving the Lose It! too - great for me! I've also found that if I go ahead and put in what I'll be having for dinner (I'm a pre-planner) then I'll know how many calories I can allow for lunch/snacks.

 

[jngwright]

Something fun for your treadmill time would be tracking "walking to the world" Some people use a mileage calculator to calculate the mileage from where they live to their resort at WDW. Then, create a map and mark off those miles as you walk them on your treadmill or have an outdoor walk or run!

A lot of great tips on here!

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Something fun for your treadmill time would be tracking "walking to the world" Some people use a mileage calculator to calculate the mileage from where they live to their resort at WDW. Then, create a map and mark off those miles as you walk them on your treadmill or have an outdoor walk or run!

A lot of great tips on here!

That's a cute idea.

 

[EeyoreEma]

Something fun for your treadmill time would be tracking "walking to the world" Some people use a mileage calculator to calculate the mileage from where they live to their resort at WDW. Then, create a map and mark off those miles as you walk them on your treadmill or have an outdoor walk or run!

A lot of great tips on here!

Love this idea!! I'll definitely be doing this!

 

[kristenrice]

I'm a firm believer in counting calories. 1500 calories / day will result in a weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week for most people. Add in some regular exercise, and 2-3 pounds per week is possible. The 1500 calories has to be tracked, and sometimes portions weighed (4 oz. lean ground beef patty = x calories for example). I really try not to estmate, because it's easy to underestimate. Good luck, whatever methods you decide to use!

Ditto!

I was 190 pounds in December of 2008. I told myself I would be 175 by our June 2009 vacation. I hit that goal (gained 5 pounds on vacation) and set a new one. The next step was to be 165 by April 2010. I hit that goal too...and gained 5 pounds back on vacation....I'm seeing a pattern. In December 2010, I was 165 pounds. So, that means that in two years, I'd lost 25 pounds. It was slow, but I haven't gained it back. My current goal is to weigh 155 by April 2011....our next vacation.

I've done nothing but count calories. I learned to pay attention to what I eat. I still eat whatever I want, but I limit my calories to 1200-1500 per day. People tell me that I am not eating enough and "that's not healthy", but here are some examples:

Breakfast: 2 egg whites (~40 calories) scrambled with 2 turkey sausage links (~80 calories) and some spinach (FREE!) and an 80-calorie cup of yogurt. 200 calories for breakfast

Lunch: 3 oz of canned chicken (70 calories), 1 tsp chipotle mayo (20 calories), lettuce and tomato (FREE) on a 90-calorie Slimwich bun and a bag of Doritos (150 calories). Total of 330 calories for lunch.

Dinner (I work nights so I usually eat fast-food for dinner): McDonald's Southwest Grilled Chicken salad without dressing (It has a marinade on the chicken so it tastes just fine without dressing) is 330 calories. If you must add dressing, it is another 100 calories. I get the salad and a bag of Apple Dippers (minus the caramel) so my dinner is 430 calories.

So, with those three meals, I am at 860 calories. If I want a Snickers bar, I can have one. I have about 440 calories to "play with" as snacks. I try never to "drink" my calories. I get my dairy and calcium from low-fat yogurt and cheese instead of drinking milk.

If you are like me and have a sweet tooth, here's a great recipe that I got from a friend at work. Apparently, it is very popular!

Take a 15oz can of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling, pure pumpkin) and mix it with a box of double chocolate cake mix. No eggs, no oil, just the pumpkin and mix. Divide it into 24 muffin cups and bake at 425 for 15 minutes or so. The chocolate masks the taste of the pumpkin, but the pumpkin gives the muffins that "heavy" texture. They are so moist that they taste like they are full of fat. In reality, they are just under 100 calories each! I also like to use spice cake instead of chocolate...it tastes like pumpkin pie! They are great for desserts or snacks and I like that I can eat 2-3 of them without feeling guilty.

I like the "calorie" method because it makes me think about what I am eating. I tell myself that I can either eat an entire bowl of lettuce, tomato, chicken and green peppers....or I can have a 3 Musketeers. I have to decide how hungry I am. If I want the candy bar, I eat the candy bar, but then I go hungry later. This way, I am not depriving myself of what I want so I don't feel "burdened" by a diet.

 

[EeyoreEma]

Thanks for that recipe - it sounds delicious!

 

[sssteele]

Wow!! Good luck to you.

You have a great DH, and so do I.

Several years ago I had to have surgery, and that meant no trip to Disney that summer. I was so bummed out because I felt responsible even though I knew better. DH picked me up after my 1st rehab visit, and said he had a little treat for me. Naturally, I thought flowers, but I just about fell over when he said he got me 200 points at VWL.

 

[permavac]

Here's what has worked for me (full disclosure: I've several times found the "mental energy" to do what I know how to do, and got slender (and stayed slender) as a result...however, it's remarkably easy to lose the "mental energy" and fall back into the "easier" eating mode and find myself ballooning back up again...

I agree 100%! The ONLY way to lose weight is being committed to losing weight. You can try every diet in the world and you won't lose a pound unless/until you commit yourself. Once you're committed? Any (healthy) weight-loss strategy will work. For me, I also follow the reduced calorie method - 1200 to 1500 calories per day max when I'm dieting and I walk on a treadmill. As mentioned above, it's easy to put the pounds back on once you lose your focus but after years of "dieting" I've finally figured it out: 1. The sad truth is I can never "stop" dieting - I am stuck restricting my calories forever if I want to stay slim. 2. I now plan on gaining a few pounds on vacation or during holidays/special times. I stick to a target weight "range" as opposed to a hard and fast figure and it's been working great! Good luck and hope you find your commitment!

Terri

 

[EeyoreEma]

Wow!! Good luck to you.

You have a great DH, and so do I.

Several years ago I had to have surgery, and that meant no trip to Disney that summer. I was so bummed out because I felt responsible even though I knew better. DH picked me up after my 1st rehab visit, and said he had a little treat for me. Naturally, I thought flowers, but I just about fell over when he said he got me 200 points at VWL.

Aww, you definitely have a great DH!! And I happen to think that mine is pretty wonderful too!

 

[EeyoreEma]

Small update - Since Jan 10, I've lost 2.2 pounds. I've found that counting calories is harder than I thought it would be - just for the sheer fact that I'm feeling hungry. I'm going to the store today to stock up on GOOD foods - I'm on a hunt for lots of cucumbers, carrots, berries, and all those other good for me things that I like. Anyway, I know that I probably won't have the incredible good fortune of losing the rest of the weight this quickly, it does give me hope that I'll eventually lose all 20 lbs.

 

[alldiz]

keep it up
Small changes you can stick with equal huge results. 2.2 today.....and it will keep adding up