New to this board...I need help!!

[Stepharoonie!]

Hi ya'll!

Well, let me give a little info about myself, and see if someone can help me make up my mind about the best way for me to lose weight. I'm 25 years old, 6ft1" tall and weigh 180 pounds. According to all charts/things on the internet that I've read, I fall in a healthy weight and BMI range for my height and age. Unfortunetly, I'd still like to lose at least another 10-20 pounds (189 is the highest "healthy weight" in my range, while 150 is the lowest).

I work two jobs...one as a manager of a comic store, one at UPS loading trucks until the early morning. I tried Atkins/South Beach, but I need the carbs because of the physical labor I have to do 5 nights a week. When I first started UPS I nearly fainted while doing Atkins.

I have almost zero time to exercise (ha! I could be doing that now!), but I work 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. then 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. 5 days a week. I eat a TON of sugar, and rarely drink sodas, but I have noticed myself drinking it more. My daughter's birthday was this weekend, and I ate about 5 or 6 (albeit small) pieces of cake myself in a course of three days!

I'd like to look and feel better about myself...can anyone help me with an idea on what to do? I need the moral support right now, too....lots of hard things going on!

Thank you much!!

 

[hlane]

Hi & welcome to the boards,

Weight Watchers is a pretty easy plan to follow. On WW you can eat ANYTHING you want as long as you have the points for it (you're give a # of points to spend on food based on your weight). I have been doing WW for 2 weeks now, exercised only twice and have lost 5 lbs. You can do the traditional meetings once a week or order the at home program from WWW.Weightwatchers.com. Good luck, and let me know if you have an questions.

Holly

 

[wiskband]

HI steph and welcome to WISH boards.....
You seem to lead a very busy lifestyle! I have a friend who also works at UPS doing the same thing you do and I remember her telling me how tough that job is. I am not doing any plan in particular however, I am doing my own version of low carbs. If you say LW or SB is not for you, why not try weight watchers. You soon see on these boards that thats pretty much the diets of choice here, LC,SC, or WW. Personally, i tryed WW and did not like it but I think I just got used to LC. With a lifestyle such as yours, I would consider doing WW on line, so you dont have to attend meetings and I also heard its cheaper on line. Although, I wasnt for me, it does work, there are many people on here who have been successful with all of these diet plans. The other things that I can recommend that may help you is to start journaling what you eat. I journal not by writing it on paper but, here on WISH under JOURNALS. I do it everyday and jot down everything I eat honestly! Its a great way to journal because you also get feedback at the same time. Be sure to drink lots of water. as far as exercise, being that you are so busy, you may not have time fro a gym so perhaps you can do a workout tape at home. I do walk away the pounds. Again, you'll soon see that there are a few popular tape that WISHers so. WATP(walk away the pounds) is one, the firm ( havent trryed that one yet) and I have heard alot about pilates. I am sure all are good. You should read through other peoples journal too. I do that some times and also get great new ideas. There is also a recipe board here with both LC an WW meals.
Over all, I think if you continue to visit this WISH board everytime you have time, youll begin to see what works for people. With all that info, you can follow a plan the suits you and your lifestyle or perhaps come up with one of your own. Most WISHers have what we call Clippie's, that is goal weight of what we have lost so far. There are also different challenges we take together. More or less they are small goals we set and then check in with one another. For example, I am in the"No fooling around april fool challenge" We post what our own personal mini goal is and then check back and post our progress. This is a bit of incentive for us.

Ok this is getting long.....lol. Welcome and be sure to visit here often you'll get the hang of it all soon and the most important thing about WISH is everyone is so positive and supportive and no one will ever be judgmental of you. Good luck with everything.

renee

 

[DoeWDW]

If you need to eat carbs, at least replace the highly refined sugary carbs with some healthy carbs. Eat celery with peanut butter for a snack instead of a pack of crackers from the vending machine. If you're going to eat grains, move to whole grains. Eat raw fruit instead of drinking fruit juice.

Probably the easiest habit to start with is drinking water. Drink 80 oz of water a day. Do that for a week or two and then add in another healthy habit, like replace one meal a day with a healthier meal.

Make a few small changes and you might see a big difference!

Best wishes!

 

[nativetxn]

Welcome to WISH, Steph. I'm glad you decided to join us. You've received some excellent advice already so I'll just offer some moral support

You can do this, you just need to find the eating plan that works best for you. Are you sure when you almost fainted at work it was because you were carbohydrate deprived or could you have been dehydrated? Drink lots of water especially when you are doing a lot of physical activity.

Come to WISH anytime you need support. We'll be here for you and we're ready to help

Katholyn

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Thanks guys! I appreciate the help Sadly, today I think I have the flu, so I haven't eaten much, just soup.

I actually used to model when I was in high school, and I'd love to get back down to that weight again (about 30 pounds away). I'm hoping to reach that goal within the next year

 

[Robinrs]

Well, first of all how COOL of you to have my Proverb in your sig! My sig just makes people go look it up,you have the words themselves!

I wonder about the fainting also. It could have been something completely different than being carb deprived. I know if you go from LOTS of sugar to nearly none your body can revolt on you, too!

I am a lifetime member of WW, joined off and on since age 14, and think they have an awesome plan but I cannot eat just a LITTLE of this and that without craving it. On Atkins I don't have cravings and it's much easier to stay on. As my son learned on Valentine's week, just a little makes you want so much more!

I've subbed all the stupid things I used to eat with low carb versions and it's changed my life. My son has more than twice the energy he used to have and I've never felt better. Before this I could barely make it from the living room to my bedroom without getting winded. Now I can barely keep up with myself!

Good luck with whatever you try. And boy do I WISH I was 6'1!!!! I'd be SKINNY!