Posts by debcowan

I'm the same way with certain foods.  Sometimes I can handle having them in the house, sometimes not.  There are a few things that I find do help if I do keep them in the house. 

1. Out of sight, out of mind.  If it's laying out on the counter I will want it all the time.
2. Pre-portion it into your serving size right away.  If it's a bag of chips for instance if it's a bag of chips put it in 10 little baggies (or however many it comes out to).  I'm less likely to take a second bag, but if I'm eating straight out of the bag it's easy to lose track of how many I've had, or just not care and keep eating. 
3. Buy smaller portions, even if it does cost more.  Yes, it's cheaper to buy a gallon of ice cream, but can I have that much at my finger tips?  Nope.
4. Share.  Buy a treat and bring it somewhere to share.  Leave the leftovers there. 

Hope this helps!!

I'd suggest that if you're in the healthy weight range of a BMI between 20 and 25 that you stop trying to lose weight completely and focus instead on loving the body you've actually got and looking after it as well as you can.  

First of all, well said.

My other half has a theory that every body has a certain "happy weight" and once we hit it, it will take HUGE effort to lose and that we will naturally maintain - if of course we stay active and eat sensibly.  Maybe you're at your happy weight? 

I know it's hard not to focus on the number and that this advice probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but wish you all  the best anyway!!

Original Post by freakybunny:

Don't shoot for your calorie limit everyday. Look up the zig zag method of weight loss. Basically, the zig zagging means eating an average number of calories per day. Some days you eat, say, 200 calories less than your limit, and some days you eat more. I saved up a few hundred calories for the week-end or for special occasions this way.

It keeps your body guessing (and burning like mad) and allows you to live life like the other humans do.

Good luck! I zig zagged my way from 251 to 154...you can too!

 

I'm with freakybunny on this one.  I am a huge fan of zig zagging.  HERE is a great site that helps you figure out the numbers. 

1. Take your time.  It's not a race.
2. Everything in moderation. 
3. It's a lifestyle change, not a diet.  
4. One bad day does not mean everything is down the toilet.  Start again, and again, and again.
5. Use the tools you have available, cc being a super valuable one.
6. Surround yourself with supportive people.  If you don't have them in "real life", cc is a great place to find support.
7. Set smaller goals so you get a sense of accomplishment.
8. Reward yourself.  Often.
9. Baby steps.
10. It's doable.

That's my best advice.  If you're looking for more specifics, feel free to ask!

I'm loving them roasted, but now I'm going to have to try them microwaved & soaked!!

Thanks everyone!!

No problem!  I tried 1200 at first too, even at a mere 5'6.5" it's not enough.  When I zig zag my calories I tend to get closer to 1200, but I know that there's a higher day coming and it's not so bad. 

Good Luck!

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

Where was anyone attacked by the cool kids?

Ah, sorry I used the term "cool" sarcastically.  I meant the chat regulars, who I've seen (over the last three years, so no I'm not going to go back and find you examples) mock and belittle people for even asking a question that has been asked (yes, a million times) before when in fact they probably asked it themselves when they were new. 

And at this point I'm leaving.  Not because I "can't back myself up" but because I just can't be bothered.  Happy calorie counting!!

I agree with upping the calories.  For my body anyway, I find that I don't lose much if I go crazy with exercise for some reason.  My body loses more when I exercise in moderation and pay more attention to the calories in.  That's just me though, everyone's body works differently I suppose.  

Have you ever tried zig zagging your calories?  This site here will first give you a guideline for how many calories to eat for Maintenance, Fat Loss and Extreme Fat Loss (not recommended by the site or by me).  Then you can click an extra option for it to give you a weekly zig zagging breakdown.  It's something that my body really responded too and also something that works for me because even if the low days seem hard, I know there's a higher day coming.  I've used it to lose these last stubborn pounds and I think I will keep doing it for maintenance because it just seems to work well for me.

Banana??  THey are super yummy warm!  Add a little chocolate and you'll be wanting somemore.  : P

First of all, congrats on the 22 pounds!! That is awesome!! 

I so know where you are coming from with your friends though in my case it's my family.  I am working hard to get to my goal, and though I have revised my goal to be lower a couple of times (100 lbs ago I had no idea what my body would look like at this point, and probably didn't believe I would get here), I'm still at the higher end of my bmi and know that what I am striving for is healthy and not extreme.  This last little bit is the hardest, it's too bad that when we need the support the most it's the hardest to get.  I've often used the line "ah but you've never seen me naked".  Usually shuts them up.  Clothes can hide a lot (if they fit us right) and though it's understandable that people who only see us in them don't always understand, it doesn't mean that what we're doing is wrong.  Don't give up now!! 

Good luck with the last couple pounds!!  Then onto the hard part...  Maintenance!

Just a tip on the whitening for you.  I had mine done and they are super-super sensitive now.  I asked my hygienist about it and she said that was a common side effect of whitening them.  I have since heard some not so good things about whitening, so do your homework first!!

Original Post by apophenia:

I know that I have to remind myself about portion control.  When you're cooking a meal for two, it's easy to just put half on your plate and half on his, regardless of who needs what amount of calories. 

And in a weird way, I feel "cheated" by not getting as big a portion as my husband, even though I don't need it.  Such is my weird and unhealthy relationship with food (which I'm working on).  At every meal, I have to remind myself that I am a much smaller person then he is, and therefore don't need as much food as he does.

And I second others' thoughts about re-thinking the work distribution.  In our house, the balance is that I cook, but hubby clears the plates and does all the dishes.  Or sometimes he cooks, but rarely.  I prefer to be the cook, since: a) I enjoy it, and b) that way I know exactly what's gone into the meal and can be conscious of what I'm eating.  But that's just us.  Find the balance that works for you--just make sure it's a balance!

I agree with feeling like it isn't fair that my hubby gets to eat more.  I found that using a smaller plate really does help with controlling the portions.

As for cheaper meals and such I find that making a plan the week before, along with a grocery list of what I need and then only buying what's on the list really helps me spend less on groceries.  It sounds like a pain, and I'll be honest, I often hate to do it, but it makes the rest of the week SO much easier.

Original Post by shellydawnspharler:

Wow, I am hear for support for a healthier lifestyle, not to be critized on my spelling!!!!

Though I appreciate the little trick (I too am a horrible speller), I might suggest you post this kind of a thread in the lounge forum rather than the weight loss forum because in the end, she's right, I came here for support for a healthier lifestyle.  The lounge is a better place to vent about this kind of thing.

EDIT: Thanks nycgirl!

Original Post by figurethefat:

My height is 5'3" and my current weight is 131.  I've been down as low as 108 in 2007.  I'd like to be around 115.  

In answer to OP, in all fairness, you were in the "Maintenance" forum.  Maintaining can be much more difficult than losing weight!  So if someone says they feel fat at 113, and just wants to get back to 110, and they are "maintaining" I have to have some sympathy.

If that person said, oh, 113 is not fat... And gained another 3 lbs.... Oh 116, I'm still not fat, so... and then another 3 lbs., ok, now I used to weigh 110 and I weigh 119, well, I'm still not "fat."  See a trend?  

 

I agree with a lot of this - especially the fact that you were in the "maintenance" forum. 

I also think that feeling fat is something I will always have issues with, no matter what size I am.  Some days I feel skinny, some days I feel fat, quite often with the same number on the scale.  I don't think that "overweight" people are the only ones with the right to feel that way.  

When I first came onto CC I was offended by a lot of those comments too, I mean HOW could they feel fat at that weight?  Then I got to know a lot of people and realized that losing 3 pounds when you weigh that little takes as much work as it takes people my size to lose 30 pounds. 

That said:

Height 5'6.6

SW: 250 - 225 on cc

CW: 162.3

Goal weight: 159 to start off with (a healthy bmi)
       &nb sp;               150-155 final goal depending on what I think of myself then

Hi!!  Welcome!