I need some motivation...

[wdwgal]

Hi...

I really need some motivation/encouragment/will-power (a little of everything). I have 2 beautiful daughters 5 yrs and 18 mos and am still 30 pounds overweight from my last pregnancy. Every night I say to myself that tomorrow I am going to do better but some how temptation creeps in. I do tend to binge eat ( I love salty things). I have tried to low carb diet and can't seem to make it though one day. I also have joined the YMCA recently, and I usually go about three times a week...which probably isn't doing any good since my eating habits stink.

Well, I have rambled enough...

Anybody have any words of encougement/tips of the trade that made you stick to your diet?

Thanks...

 

[chrismiss56]

Hi

The hardest thing for me has been portion control. I am also a salty eater - give me the appetizer menu over the dessert menu anytime!!

Taking the first step is the hardest so make it a small step. Maybe take your snack and divide it up into smaller portions (sandwich baggies). Then take just one bag out.

This won't work everyday (at first) but eventually it will become a habit. Read labels!! And keep drinking your water!!

Hope this helps...........Good Luck

Have a magical Disney Day!!

 

[lmhall2000]

Well...first...WOOHOO..for having 30 pounds to lose...you've done something right! Sometimes pregnancy can whop on an extra 60-70....(ick! I know! )...now it's time to KICK it up and say HELLO to your healthy happy body living inside you!

I'm down over 70 pounds from my highest of pregnancy...and have 30 to go. I am a CARB junkie....admitting it is the first step. For me, I had to take drastic measures...the first time around (2 years ago) I used slimfast as a method to reduce the size of my stomach. Not many people realize that the stomach is just like a balloon...that baby can S-t-r-e-t-c-h. Here's where the problem lies. Say you're eating big portions...your tummy has to grow to accomodate the sizes....the receptors in your stomach that signal your brain to tell you you're full are related to the stretch of your tummy. So, if you've already stretched your stomach your brain will signal to you that you're hungry even though you have enough food in there to sustain you. Once that stomach shrinks (for me it was slimfasting and then this last time low-carbing for 1 week then sticking to South Beach Diet since) it can accurately tell you when you are hungry. I was very hungry the first few days of SBD not to mention the headaches (AND I NEVER HAVE HEADACHES)...the next step is adding in exercise so you burn fat more efficiently. Eating less and moving more..it seems simple but we can not sabotage ourselves by overeating at any meal. I do give myself one cheat night about every 2 weeks to eat a little more than I normally do or to try a baked potato.

I now feel that I am full when before that fullness wouldn't come until well into a full meal...I like to snack throughout the day...I'll eat 2 eggs for breakfast...then for snack have a mozzarella stick....lunch will be a tuna salad...snack will be some nuts..dinner will be chicken/veggies...but not long ago I'd have peanut butter and jelly for lunch + cheetos and a cookie for dessert....CARBS were 80% of my diet!! AAAGH! And when I'd eat out I'd have an order of fettucini alfredo or chickfila sandwich with large waffle fries and sweet tea...eating like that I just could never lose weight...

And lastly, try your best to cut out caffeine beverages and up your water intake to 6-8 glasses a day. The water really helps your body in the fat burning process...consider it like the oil in your car...it helps things to move around smoothly...without the oil the engine's pistons can't fire and will give out...

You can do this!!! Work out a chart to visualize what date you CAN be at goal...for me it was 4th of July...just knowing that I can realistically have all this off by then makes me excited. And when the scale shows me dipping into another "not been there in 10 years zone" it keeps me honest to my eating and exercising. I don't feel that I'm deprived...if I HAVE to have a bite of hot molten lava cake...I try and make it 3-4 bites and make it mostly ice cream and just a little fudge...but it doesn't hurt me like eating a whole one used to.

Also...go buy an outfit in the size you want to be at...just shopping for it is a boost!!! Hang it up and plan for that day when you will be there!

Tara

 

[TammyNC]

You have come to the right place for all the things you listed in your post. The only thing is that no one can make you change your lifestyle except for you. I know for me, I have to make small goals for myself and small changes. If I make them too large, I tend to burn myself out on them or get really discouraged.

You will find what works best for you. Posting here you have made the first step. Now you need to set down and make up a plan that will work for you. Try to get lots of water in and exercise also.

Keep posting and reading, that has also helped me.

 

[EthansMom]

WDWGAL,

No reason to get too down on yourself. We all have those days...

My advice...try to start with a few small lifestyle changes. Going to the Y three times a week is a good start -- just keep up with it. Regular exercise will do your heart a world of good, even if you're still having problems with the eating.

Here are a few small change ideas for eating:

If you tend to finish eating any food leftover on your kids' plates, stop. That's extra calories you just don't need. In fact, if your 18 month old isn't a huge eater, feed her off your plate, any time you go out to eat.

If you like salty foods, try to find lower fat or lower salt replacements. For instance, if you must have potato chips in the house, buy Lays Baked Potato Chips. Or buy fat free saltines instead of regular. Yes, these items taste slightly different, but if you're going to eat them, you might as well reduce the fat content where you can.

Don't eat while involved in another activity like watching t.v., reading, or driving. If you do, you'll tend to eat mindlessly, imbibing more calories than you realize. Instead, slow down, take a break and enjoy your food.

If you're like me and tend to take the kids to fast food while you're out running your errands, change your schedule. I used to leave for errands at 10 a.m. and then we'd have to eat out. Now I try to eat lunch at home and then leave for errands.

If you do stop for fast food, realize there are options. Subway has many lower fat choices and sells the baked potato chips, as well. Wendy's now offers a side salad as a choice instead of fries with its value meals. Even if I stop at McDonald's with the kids, I will order myself a hamburger happy meal instead of the double cheeseburger meal -- less than half the calories and fat. Bad, but not sinful.

If you drink a regular soda, replace it with diet. If you already drink diet soda, replace it with water. Like I said, small steps to change your life. I've gotten down to where I only get diet soda when I'm at Subway and share a sandwich meal with my son.

Buy fruits and vegetables. If you don't buy them, you won't eat them. Look for exciting new recipes that are low fat. Make small changes in your old recipes to reduce the fat in them.

Don't try to do this all at once. Try a few of these things and make them a habit. Add a few more. Etc.

I've never had any luck with the low-carb thing either. Couldn't even stick with the carb recommendations of Dr. Phil. I just plain like carbs too much. But I've done well with eating lower fat and smaller portions and exercising regularly. I'm really trying to teach myself to enjoy quality food in small portions instead of large quantities of junk.

My short term motivation is that any weight I take off is less that I have to haul around WDW on our upcoming trip. Less of me to carry and more energy to enjoy the trip! I'm walking regularly to work up the endurance necessary to do all that walking at WDW. Even 5 lbs. less will make a huge difference! We've got the Annual Passes this year and plan to go a few times, so I think I may keep that short term goal even after our trip in April. Would be interesting to see how my enjoyment level changes with the fitness level.

My long term motivation is that I really want to be one of those moms who is playing on the playset chasing her kids instead of watching from the sidelines. I want to be the fun, active mom instead of the mom who says, "No, go ahead without me."

I know you can do it too! Just make small changes that you can live with.

Good luck and let us know how you're doing!

EthansMom

Exercising and Eating Right so there is less of me to haul around WDW.

 

[ZerasPride]

Wow! You have been given some wonderful advice. I've taken note of several things for myself!

I would like to add that reading Dr. Phil's book has helped me so much. What I have found is that losing weight is just as much (if not more) a mental battle as it is a physical one. You really do have to be mentally ready to lose the weight. Sometimes you are just "not there yet". So the first step is to ask yourself and answer honestly if you are ready. You might be ready to be thin but are you ready to do what it takes to lose those 30 pounds. That is key.

Also, for me, it's all or nothing. I can't take baby steps. I have to jump in there with both guns cocked so to speak. Each of is different though. Only you know what will fit your lifestyle best, an all out assault on those 30 pounds or a more gentler approach and taking it off a little at a time. As others have said, you've come to the right place to get the encouragement you need.

One thing I would suggest, whatever diet and/or exercise program you chose (I eat the South Beach way and exercise each day with weights and cardio) take it one day at a time. Sounds simple and easy but it's really not. It's a mind game. You can't think about where you'll be next week or that next month you'll "still" be on a diet. You have to think about the here and now. Take it one day, one hour or one minute at a time. Each minute, hour, day that you are successful on your plan, you are winning!

Hey, I started out at 282.5 pounds and in 14 months I've lost 100 pounds. It hasn't been easy and getting these last 28.5 pounds off is and will be harder than the first 100 with all the bouncing around my weight is doing. But it can be done. You can do this! We are here to help you. Pick up Dr. Phil's book; work through the mental as well as the physical issues that keep you from losing those 30 pounds. And if you feel that you are not ready to make the commitment right now, that's fine too. It doesn't mean you're a failure. It may mean that you're not quite "there" yet. Either way, when you are ready, you will not let anything (holidays, vacations, family stress, etc.) keep you from getting to your goal. You don't need willpower, you just need to be focused and determined!

 

[wdwgal]

Thanks to all of you who replied.... I am going to try to take it one day at a time ( easier said than done) and try not to get depressed about not losing fast enough....

Will keep you posted....

 

[pixiedust23]

Hello there! I know I'm a little late in responding but here is my advice:

Fluids: Stick with water. I used to drink a lot of sugar filled juices, but now I only drink water, and of course the occasional beer or wine on the weekends. I'll drink gatorade after the gym to replenish my electrolytes, but other than that...water water water. Soda to me is just a complete waste of calories, which leads me to my next point

Food: Watch your calories. There are a ton of places online you can use to determine how many calories you should actually be eating. Then you can post on a place like fitday.com to see how many calories you're actually taking in. This was HUGE for me. You never realize how many silly little calories you take in. I am also a big opposer of low-carb diets. Being a biologist I know that if you starve your body of any type of macromolecule (like carbs, proteins, or fats) the next time your body gets access to them it stores them up b/c it doesn't want to be defecient in any type of macromolecule.

Exercise: Get a great workout CD and set goals for yourself. Join the exercise challenges on the DIS boards, they're great motivation!!!

You can do it! And you'll have a ton of support here!!!

 

[erinz]

What has really helped me is to never let myself be hungry. Which means that instead of 3 meals a day, I have 6 small meals.....about one every two hours. I keep my calories at 1200 a day, and drink about 90oz of water a day.

I've also started walking 30 min. a day.

Good Luck!!!!! You can do it!!