Weight loss suggestions

[ericaweb07]

Looking for weight loss motivation and suggestions.

I'm a mom of 2 kids, my youngest is almost 1. I had an IUD fitted when he was 2mo old and had it removed about a month ago. I've read various things saying birth control effected your weight loss/gain because it messed with your hormones. And then I read stuff that said all that was a myth. Whatever. Either way, I'm birth control free now and our stationary bike will be delivered Monday. I am honestly not a fan of exercise but I'm not a big fan of all this baby weight I'm carrying around either.

I thought about joining weight watchers. It worked for a friend of mind but I don't like food journaling and I'm not sure if I would be able to go to the meetings. I realize a LOT of my problem is liquid calories. Oh I love coke (not diet coke or coke zero-yuck), sweet tea, and coffee. I've really cut back on how much sugar I put in my coffee. So I know I need to drink more water.

What worked for you? How did you stick with it??

God bless

[Acts5:41]

I did Atkins. Then I thought I could eat sugar, gained it back, and did Atkins again. It worked, both times.

I am currently "fat" - I have a lot of things on my plate and will address the weight when I can. I'm still eating carbohydrates, but no sugar.

I'm a soda sponge. You're going to hate this, but I suggest you give up EVERYTHING but water, for a month. If you get a headache, take a caffeine tablet. You can buy them, sold as "Jet Alert". Take one tablet a day if needed, for a week. Then cut it in half, and take half a tablet every day for a week. Then 1/4. Then you should be "off" caffeine, and the sugar that "comes with".

That way, you have nothing to track.

If you do go with Atkins, be aware it can really increase fertility and a lot of women have had surprise babies while doing it, with no birth control.

In my opinion, an IUD is probably the least fattening method of birth control. It is mechanical, not hormonal.

Good luck!

[Judy for Jesus]

You're going to hate this, but I suggest you give up EVERYTHING but water

Sorry to say this but those liquid calories from sugar are a HUGE problem when trying to lose weight. Drink water (cold is best as you burn calories trying to warm it up inside your body)...LOTS of water and ONLY water for awhile. You will be shocked when you lose weight without even changing your food diet so imagine what you can do if you excerise and watch what you eat!
Also, find the things that are low fat/ low calorie that you like and stick with those things only for awhile. You won't mind the diet if it is things you like.
I eat oatmeal every morning with a splash of sugar free maple syrup...YUM! Sara Lee's 100% whole wheat bread toasted (only 45 calories a slice so I have 2) with peanut butter and an apple sliced up for lunch and whatever I make for the family for supper. Morning snack and afternoon snack of fruit or yogert. Great protein and fiber. Water, protein and Fiber and are dieters best friend...and excerise!!
You can do it!!!!!!!!

Judy

[Poppycat]

I'm not going to make your day either. Those liquid calories are a huge problem, umpteen spoons of sugar in every glass and empty calories at that! Having said that, you are headed in the right direction on a stationary bicycle and an article I read recently make a lot of sense to me. It said just three, 20minute sessions a week of interval sprint training has proved to be a quick, effective way to reduce visceral fat and to trim cemtimetres off the waist. Bursts of sprint pedalling for eight seconds followed by at-ease pedalling for 12 seconds. University professors who have worked for years to develop the most time-efficient way to exercise for maximal health benefits think the interval training works by confusing the body into releasing high levels of hormones needed to meet the metabolic needs of the sprinting effort - effectively tricking it into becoming very inefficient and burning up lots of fat. Apparently works really well around the abdominal area.

Also a Mediterranean-type diet is really good. You should be able to do a search on the internet for help with this.

[Mighty Dust]

When I need to lose a few pounds I go on a no flour no sugar all natural diet. It's really not that hard no calorie counting . You can buy sprouted grain bread, muffins ,cereal,pasta. You may feel a bit sick for a few days as your body is detoxing but it's worth it. Good luck

[ericaweb07]

I just downloaded a couple apps that are really easy to use for calorie counting and food education (fooducate). I got a little sick when I saw how many calories were in 1 bubba burger pattie, 420, and that's without the whole wheat bun too.

I really enjoy salad (my family doesnt) and I learned a pretty neat trick. Instead of putting the dressing on your salad, put it on the side. Dip the bottom of your fork on it (which is barely anything) and then stick your salad. Less dressing but you still taste it.

This is going to take education, self control, and discipline (especially when it comes to my cokes/tea/coffee.) Thanks for all of your input, keep 'em coming.

[Maxine]

Erica, if you not happy with the apps you downloaded, I would highly recommend FitDay. You can use it for free online - then you can access it anywhere you are. If you wanted to download to your computer, you can, but then you have to buy a license.

[$teve]

I think for excess weight loss, the best thing anyone can do is simply revert back to a lifestlye of eating naturally healthy foods and avoid caloric dense, nutritonally sparse junk and processed foods, and that includes those high caloric content soda drinks. There's no need to go on silly fad diets of any kind or even count calories as Mighty Dust suggested. It's far easier to ingest 500 to 1000 calories than it is to burn it off later with laborious exercise - worse still is if those calories are coming from foods that are low in nutrition (useless calories). Diet is most important, exercise on top of an already good diet will faciliate weight loss. Just this switch alone would see significant caloric loss given many people consume so many poor high calorie foods and beverages. Having some junk food once a week strictly as scheduled allows one to sill feel they can have a party in the mouth on occasion without the worry of impeding bodyweight loss over the long term.

[Rebekah]

I've been thinking about my response to this thread for a couple days now. A lot of good advice already given.

What has worked for me is choosing to eat and exercise in a way that I can stick with. What I mean is: once you lose weight, you will have to maintain it. So whatever you choose, make sure you can continue with it as a lifestyle choice.

1. Find a physical activity (or activities) that you enjoy and be consistent! Find a way to exercise into your schedule. If you stay at home with little ones, you may not be able to do the whole hour (or whatever the time you spend is) at once, but maybe you can break it up into 30 minutes twice a day, or twenty minutes three times a day. Maybe when the kids are napping, or when the other parent is home, or when they can play in a safe zone with you watching....whatever works, but find something that will work. For me, television or music in the background helps time go by faster.

2. For me personally, I have found that when it comes to my food choices, thinking substitute, not sacrifice is the key. Also portion control.

For example, a half-cup serving of my favorite vanilla ice cream is 180 calories, but the same brand/flavor in the frozen yogurt variety is only 100 calories per half-cup serving. I can still enjoy it and not feel deprived. You won't always find an exact substitute, but you should be able to find something close.

You mentioned peanut butter: there is an awesome product called PB2 that is amazing...it is peanut butter in powder form (peanuts are roasted & pressed to remove most of the fat and oil). All you do is add water and it tastes great. Only 45 calories per two tablespoons.

Low fat Greek yogurt is a great substitute (in most cases) for mayo and sour cream.

If you want a taco, use pico de gallo or salsa for flavor instead of cream, cheese, etc.

A lot of restaurants do have lower-calorie options these days, too. One of the most notorious for being the worst is Cheesecake Factory, but they now offer an extensive menu of lighter fare, including entrees under 500 calories.

[mbrown1219]

I think for excess weight loss, the best thing anyone can do is simply revert back to a lifestlye of eating naturally healthy foods and avoid caloric dense, nutritonally sparse junk and processed foods, and that includes those high caloric content soda drinks. There's no need to go on silly fad diets of any kind or even count calories as Mighty Dust suggested. It's far easier to ingest 500 to 1000 calories than it is to burn it off later with laborious exercise - worse still is if those calories are coming from foods that are low in nutrition (useless calories). Diet is most important, exercise on top of an already good diet will faciliate weight loss. Just this switch alone would see significant caloric loss given many people consume so many poor high calorie foods and beverages. Having some junk food once a week strictly as scheduled allows one to sill feel they can have a party in the mouth on occasion without the worry of impeding bodyweight loss over the long term.

Good one $teve. You have gained honorary membership in The Ladies Forum. We love you. Come in, sit down, relax, converse..... Tall Timbers and Buzz are also honorary members now. And let's not forget the day King Bozra.....

(I don't even READ Men's Meeting Room thread so I won't accidentally say something out loud for all to see... but one of these days I'll probably be lured in by some title thread in the margin.... )

[tml1432]

I'm a nutrition and weight loss consultant...and a distributor for It Works. I have to throw that out there because I am on a mission to help people be healthy. I agree with most everything here. It is best to eat cleaner, God made foods...in the end your body will love you for it. I also would recommend a good slow natural detox. Something that doesn't make you hungry, or deprive you of anything...even if it means just drinking 10 glasses of water a day with a couple squirts of lemon juice.

I used to drink 10-12 cans of poison, I mean, diet cokes a day. Talk about wrecking your system...I still have left over effects of aspartame poisoning. Get rid of the sodas!

[Mtown]

Looking for weight loss motivation and suggestions.

I'm a mom of 2 kids, my youngest is almost 1. I had an IUD fitted when he was 2mo old and had it removed about a month ago. I've read various things saying birth control effected your weight loss/gain because it messed with your hormones. And then I read stuff that said all that was a myth. Whatever. Either way, I'm birth control free now and our stationary bike will be delivered Monday. I am honestly not a fan of exercise but I'm not a big fan of all this baby weight I'm carrying around either.

I thought about joining weight watchers. It worked for a friend of mind but I don't like food journaling and I'm not sure if I would be able to go to the meetings. I realize a LOT of my problem is liquid calories. Oh I love coke (not diet coke or coke zero-yuck), sweet tea, and coffee. I've really cut back on how much sugar I put in my coffee. So I know I need to drink more water.

What worked for you? How did you stick with it??

Everyone here has made some good suggestions especially for long term weight loss. One thing to keep in mind no matter what you do or how you eat though is this: CALORIES!! If you eat more than your body needs then you will gain weight, if you eat less then your body needs you will lose weight. One pound of fat is 3500 calories, so you figure if you ate 500 less than required everyday for a week you would lose 1 pound. Lets say your body needs 2000 calories a day, you lower it to 1500 a day for a week and there goes a pound. It doesn't matter what you eat for those calories either, you could eat all 1500 calories of twinkies and still lose weight...though it would be unhealthy and you would be starving.

God bless[/QUOTE]

[Mighty Dust]

I have seen extreme health benefits and weight loss to eating naturally. Sometimes I get off track and eat at restaurants or a potluck where you don't know what ingredients are in the foods. I don't like the way I feel and get back to eating natural foods and feel great again. When you feel good you also want to be more active and that helps the weightloss too. I don't think our bodies are capable of processing all the artificial colors and flavours and modified junk.

[ericaweb07]

I was browsing pinterest the other day and came across something called a "paleo diet." it talked about avoiding lots of bread, dairy, and legumes but eating lots of fruits, veggies, fish, and grass fed animals. I really like fruits and veggies but my husband and 2yr old are NOT veggie people. My father in law had colitis when my husband was a child. he could not eat veggies so his mom quit fixing them. So now the closest he gets to a veggie is green beans. My father in law eventually had to have his colon removed and they still don't eat high fiber foods. His BCIR pouch cant handle it.

I'm working my way up to drinking more water. Increasing it by a bottle a day. I didn't have a coke yesterday (big deal for me).

Our exercise bike arrived yesterday. 8 miles in 40 mins (my husband was pretty impressed and was my cheerleader.)

The iphone app fooducate is really cool and i highly recommend it (it's free or it was). When you scan the barcode of an item (or you can type it in) it will give you the food rating and has a spot that gives you the healthier alternatives.

[Rose03]

I'm getting started on the wheat belly (wheat free) diet. Sounds a lot like the paleao diet. I'll face the same challenges with husband and family not wanting to eat meat and veggies all the time.

[BarbT]

Two months ago I began walking 30 min per day and eating healthy foods. I DID NOT cut out sugar & flour completely .... merely cut down the portions.

One month later my sister exclaimed "What happened to the other half of Barb????!!!!!" Needless to say I was pleased to know my efforts were showing to other people.

Now for the bad news: after a couple of weeks I gradually I began to eat more and walk less, making excuses why I couldn't exercise more often. So here I sit, feeling bloated in tight-fitting clothes once again.

The answer to permanent weight loss/improved health is ALWAYS to eat sensibly, exercise more, and don't ever stop. Boring but true.

[LadyC]

the fastest way i ever lost weight was doing a low carb (with high fat/high protein) diet. i shed pounds really fast. lots of them. problem is, i hate most veggies and don't like a whole lot of fruit. so my side dishes for every meal was pretty much limited to eggs... fried, scrambled, steamed, poached, let me tell ya, i got sick of eggs.

a few years have gone by and i've packed the pounds back on and then some. where i used to be mortified to be 150, i suddenly found myself at 177 and gaining steadily. try as i might, i couldn't make myself stick to a low carb diet again.

so i bought myself a crutch... one of those "meal measure" tools that you set on your plate and then fill up the appropriate holes with meat, veggie, grain, fruit... basically it forces you to learn how to properly portion your meals.

i've lost 7 lbs. it's coming off slower.. about 1.5 lbs per weeki... but the benefit is that i'm not depriving myself of any of my favorite foods. i AM learning to eat a few veggies, in moderation.that's a good thing. i'm pushing 50, it's about time i grow up and eat my veggies. but i'm just tickled pink to be able to eat my mac & cheese, my potatoes, even fried food if i want it.

for breakfast, i've discovered that Sara Lee has a Delightful variety of breads... the whole wheat is only 5 net carbs per slice, and 45 calories per slice. if i want toast and (sugar free) jelly, i can have that for breakfast. if i want french toast, i add some Mrs. Butterworth's Sugar Free syrup. and i don't feel guilty.

for lunch, since i'm usually hear alone, i've discovered the cheapest frozen dinners really don't taste any worse than the expensive ones, so i stock up on Banquet brand ones... i've never paid more than a dollar a piece, and they're pretty much all in the 300 calorie range.

once the weather cools off i'll start walking 2 miles a day again. right nowit's too hot and i don't exercise at all. portion control is working, and i don't feel like i'm dieting.

[LadyC]

OH! and learn to like splenda in your tea, and diet sodas. the cherry coke zero is my favorite. i know to start with they are pretty nasty, but after a few days, your taste buds will adjust. after a while, regular drinks with real sugar or HFCS will taste as gross to you as the diet drinks do now. trust me, it's true.

[Momma D]

When I need to lose a few pounds I go on a no flour no sugar all natural diet. It's really not that hard no calorie counting . You can buy sprouted grain bread, muffins ,cereal,pasta. You may feel a bit sick for a few days as your body is detoxing but it's worth it. Good luck

This really does work, and it encourages you to eat more whole grains, veggies and other healthy stuff.
Check Dr.Gott's 'no flour,no sugar diet. It's the easiest way to diet I have come across...no counting anything!

[1forChrist]

I am doing the South Beach diet......it's working well for me. I have lost 35 pounds. You go in Phases. I can have certain fruits and grains and healthy foods. My carb cravings are way down.
Its the only thing that has worked. Low calories, I am just to hungry and jittery.