New

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

Ok everybody, I'm just joing you guys and I'm struggling. Weight loss is something that I am doing for the first time in my life. I have about 10-15 lbs. I'd like to loose before my trip in August. I've never dieted, I was always a junk food eater. It's hard because I don't wanna force a lifestyle on my family b/c of a decision I made( not that it would hurt them). I have started exercising now I am planning to start South beach on Mon. I tried it a couple of weeks ago but gave up. Anybody out there done South Beach and had success? Not just lost weight, but is glad they did it and feels like they can stick with it forever? Let me know.....PLEASE

 

[lmhall2000]

Hi!!! If you're Tara and not your dh...then we have the same name!!! And I have three children, too!! Okay, 10-15 pounds is manageable and doable by August!!! Set a goal of 5 pounds a month and you'll be there ahead of schedule!!!

I have lost 18.5 pounds in 9 weeks...(I started out much heavier than you-202- but South Beach really helped)...I did low carb (no breads and only a few almonds or so as my main carb allowance) for one week...the weight comes off quickly but there's a catch...it's mostly water weight. If you add in refined carbs..they'll all come back...if you add healthy carbs in s-l-o-w-l-y then you'll do fine....I started with 1/2 piece of whole wheat toast a day, then I slowly added in berries and more nuts. On days when (cause, hey I've been doing this through 3 holidays! ) I just knew I wanted something off plan I would slimfast for two meals then eat a reasonable portion of whatever I wanted...even chocolate chip cookies! It may not be recommended, but it's a method that works for me.
By the second week I started committing to walking again...starting out on the treadmill for 60 minutes at 3.8 2-3x a week...then I varied it with cardio pilates videos and aerobics videos...now I walk 9-13 miles on the weekends and for three days I do a video and one day I rest. I've tried to cut out diet sodas...I would have one or two a day...I've now gone 5 days without any! I also started out on January 20th cutting out all french fries and white breads..I just knew I could not get to my goal of 150's by having any value meals of any sort...I'm now on day 80 of that goal and haven't cheated. So if junk food is your downfall...then give up 2 junk foods that have been the most prevalent in your diet in the last week...I would still allow myself semi-sweet chocolate chips (10 at a time on bad days) and I've had bites of birthday cake and cookies...but never more than a regular portion and sometimes just a bit or two. I'm seeing the 150's getting closer and closer and some days I just want to binge...but somehow with all the WISH'ers cheering me on I have managed to not binge...and I haven't had a single week in 9 weeks of even a gain of a 1/2 pound...it's been losing or one or two maintaining weeks. So YOU CAN DO THIS!!! Your family will thank you! I still cook my kids maccaroni and cheese, but they are getting more salads in their diet and eating better whole wheat options. No one suffers and everyone benefits! I still make them homemade cookies...I used to eat 4 spoons of cookie dough and 4-5 cookies...now I eat 2 cookies and that's it!

Moderation, portion control, moving your body, drinking water and you'll be at GOAL!!!
Tara

 

[EthansMom]

Welcome THESHULTZFIVE,

Losing 10-15 lbs. is very doable.

I've found with my family that family members generally will eat what you give them to eat and you can make a lot of reasonable choices without your family ever noticing that it is healthier. For dinner, I used to offer bread/other carb, meat/fish/chicken, and 1 vegetable. I started making lower fat choices for meat/fish/chicken like choosing 93% lean ground beef, fresh fish instead of frozen breaded, and baking a chicken instead of frying. Also, I often offer 2 vegetables now -- many times a salad and cooked vegetable. My kids have never noticed the difference!

For snacks in the house, I try to buy more fresh fruits and veggies. Boy do they get eaten. I can hardly buy fresh apples, bananas and oranges fast enough. Also, I buy "no sugar added" fruit snacks -- a bit hard to find and more expensive, but my son loves them. And I buy trail mix and granola bars -- highish in fat, but I tend not to eat them and they are a great snack for my growing son. Also, the "light" ice cream tastes just as good as regular, IMO.

For yourself, you can mildly cut your portion size without influencing anyone else. You can make some relatively easy choices that will reduce the amount of fat and or calories you are eating. I love to eat fast food (a real problem for me), but I've cut the amount of times I eat fast food to twice per week and I try to eat lower fat/smaller portions when I do. Now, at McDonald's I order a hamburger happy meal with apple slices which really gives me my fast food fix but is less than half the fat and calories of the two cheeseburger meal I used to get. Also, Subway offers great low-fat sandwiches and low-fat chips. And Wendy's has a great grilled chicken sandwich and offers a side salad in lieu of fries. When I dine in sit-down restaurants, I ask for vegetables instead of fries and never have had a problem.

Also, try to drink plenty of water. And get some exercise -- whether you join a gym or just walk around the block, it's all good.

I hope this helps you to get on track!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Welcome!I have nothing more to add to the excellent advice you have been given. I just thought I would let you know you have made it to the best place in the world to be. Everyone is so helpful here that you should have a great deal of support through your journey.

 

[Rhonda]

Welcome! You've got some great advice already, so I'll just add that I lost 12 pounds in my first two weeks on Atkins! (South Beach is very similar, so you should have great results too!)

 

[newholidayx2]

Welcome - Im glad to see you made your way over here
I saw you on the other thread

 

[r3ngels]

Welcome