I've lost nearly 80 pounds, but it's been a slow process. I've cut out all low-fat and non-fat products and replaced them with full fat. I eat a lot of vegetables and some fruit, and I make sure that I get in the right amount of protein (I can tell when I haven't hit the mark - I want to EAT ALL THE THINGS! at about 3PM if I'm not doing well). I drink 100-150 ounces of water a day. But what has really changed is the fact that I have gotten a better hold on emotional eating, which is huge for me. I've struggled with bulimia and binge eating for fourteen years now. When my weight starts to go back up, it's because I'm eating my feelings again. It's an ugly struggle.
Another thing that has changed is the fact that I exercise because I want to now. I try to get in an easy 20-30 minute yoga routine every day. I love The Biggest Loser weightloss yoga DVD for that purpose. It's doable even with a child or two hanging around. Both kids actually enjoy doing it with me, ha.
My point is that your journey might be slow, but just start with one thing at a time. I absolutely believe you can do it, and I'm here if you want to chat.
Post by wanderlustmom on Mar 29, 2015 17:21:16 GMT -5
I love reading these, very inspiring!
I have struggled with my weight since college. Yo yoed up and down 20 pounds. I am small boned and petite. Now that I'm 40, what works best for me is a combination. I am lifetime at weight watchers and I weigh in at least once a month and more if I gain five pounds. I weigh myself daily and try to stay in a five pound range. I work out five days a week, at least three or four runs. I do a toning class 4-5 days. I do drink and even eat fast food weekly. I eat a lot and find when I restrict too much, I got upset and gain. DD and I often split meals at restaurants, I eat salads sometimes but not always. I am an average weight (bmi 22) and I have to work hard to stay there. I do love exercise but I also love to eat.
For those who don't like to work out... I've found that I can use the gym's wifi to stream a 45 minute episode of "The Good Wife" while on the stairclimber/ ellptical/ stationary bike. There are days that I don't want to go to the gym but I do want to know what happens next in the show, so I go to the gym!
Also, I love listening to audiobooks while on a walk or jog. Especially suspenseful murder/mystery of Joh Grisham style books.
I watch trashy telenovelas at the gym or re-runs of "Charmed."
Others gave some great advice, but I just wanted to add that joining a dietbet is huge motivation for me. Because, um, I like money, and I hate wasting money.
Also, I know a lot of the girls I work with have a fitbit, and are all in a big group so they compete with steps for the day. It's not uncommon to hear "UGH! Betty has 2,000 more steps than me today! I better go for a walk at lunch".
Can you guys give like what a typical day's food looked like? I'm interested in spk926's simply filling menu was like, and gravytrain's low carb. I struggle with taking all those foods and turning them into a workable day's eating
Once I got the hang of Simply Filling and learned the ins and outs I found it very easy. SF is the Weight Watchers plan that focuses on Power Foods. Foods that are not power foods require the use of weekly or activity points. All food is acceptable on the SF plan but if it's a power food you don't count the point. If it's not a PF then you take from your weekly 49 points.
Honestly, WW doesn't promote SF very much at all. I learned all I know from a Facebook group. I learned the criteria for each food to determine if it is a PF or not. I learned about only counting 1 whole grain carb a day and the rest comes from weeklies and other tips like that. If you want more specifics of food and what counts and what doesn't let me know.
For breakfast I will eat: - egg "cupcakes" that I make (I make a big batch that includes eggs, satueed spinach, fat free cheese and fat free turkey) with yogurt and a banana - egg over easy on a light whole grain english muffin - scrambled eggs with yogurt - Cheerios (just the original yellow box is a PF. I try not to though because then I don't get protein in the AM like I need)
Lunches: - salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, chicken and fat free dressing - fat free turkey sandwhich with ff cheese and ff mayo, grapes, fat free cottage cheese with diced peaches on top - dinner left overs from the night before etc..
Dinners: - roasted chicken breast with steamed veggies and whole grain rice - tacos with 99% fat free turkey meat and tortillas that are a PF - home made Buffalo Wild Wings "naked tenders" with fat free ranch (I use 2 of my weeklies for the BWW sauce) - whole wheat pasta with homemade spaghetti sauce with 99% fat free turkey/meatballs - Lasagna using whole wheat noodles and fat free ingredients (all PF!) etc...
Late night snack is almost always popcorn. 94% fat free microwave popcorn is free so we eat a lot of that when hungry.
Again, this is just a sampling and I could go way more in depth but this kind of gives you an idea. The biggest thing is portion control. It's not a free for all to eat as much as you want which is hard. The key is to eat until you're satisfied. Not stuffed, but satisfied. Since January 24th DH has lost almost 20 pounds and I'm down 11. The first week or so was tricky to get the hang of it and learn the ins and outs but now that we have it down it's really simple.
You can always switch between the two programs (simply filling and points) to find which works best. You can switch daily or weekly. Last week I went to points just to reign in my portions because while I have lost weekly on SF I could feel myself having larger portions and eating just because it was on the list and I felt like I could. Switching between the two is easy!
Post by everafter07 on Mar 29, 2015 20:01:25 GMT -5
I lost 25 lbs with diet and exercise. Went from 175 to 150 and have maintained since 2007. You can do it if you put your mind to it!!
I did a high protein diet and tracked my food/calories/water/exercise in a little food journal. Writing it down was easier for me. I felt more accountable and could look back easily. I think at the time I was aiming for 1200 calories a day and one good workout. Lots of lean protein at every meal, lots of vegetables and fruit, whole grains only, and tons of water, no booze. It sounds like the calories are low, but it worked great for me, and led to weight loss and good eating/exercise habits that lasted.
For workouts, I alternated strength training with cardio everyday. So one day of running/elliptical, one day weights/boxing.
I make time to work out. I bring my gym clothes to school and I write it in my planner. Some days, if I'm off a period near the end of the day, I go to the school gym then. Otherwise, I'm there at 3:30. I used to feel bad about leaving my kids in extended day but they love it and I need that time to myself.
And promise yourself that you are going to eat nothing that people leave in the faculty room unless it's AMAZING.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
I could stand to lose about 30 pounds. 40 to be back at my old self from my early 20's, but would be happy with 30. I have tried dietbet, mfp, and putting a jar of rocks on my vanity and moving a rock over every time I lose. I've lost 11 pounds since last June, so I obviously need to do a better job at something! pinkpinot, I starred that website and think I'll read it a few times this week to let it sink in. It's good stuff.