Posts by pennsylvanian

http://www.djsteveboy.com/intervals.html

I use this intervals workout program on my iPod.  I'm only on week 2 but the music is pretty good to keep me focused on maintaining a consistent pace and it plays an "up" tone what you are to start running and a "down" tone when you go back to walking.  Simple and effective.  I'm enjoying it.

There are also additional programs for moving from 5K to 8K and one after that for moving to 10K workouts.

I am using an iPod couck to 5k "intervals" program that I really like.  It is at this link:

http://www.djsteveboy.com/intervals.html

I am on week 2, run 3, so I'll be moving to week 3 next week.  Yikes!  The link also includes training for longer running programs after the 5k, so there is a lot to use if you want to pursue even bigger goals.

I like this program because it has good music that distracts me and keeps me motivated.  I don't really think about it, I just wait for the next tone that tells me to run or go back to walking.  I am on my second round of week 2 because I had to take a 10 day break and start again after overdoing it on mediocre shoes.  I took time off and got new running shoes so I'm back on the trail.  I can't believe I'm running at all, but I am!

Wow, I am on week two of the couch to 5K and just happened upon this thread.  I quit smoking a month ago and starting the program 2-1/2 weeks after that.  I am on day two of week two tonight.  Everything is sore and I'm tired all the time but I think that is normal as my body is still adjusting to quitting smoking as well.  I felt really good after the first week and two days of rest.  I started week 2 on Sunday and now I'm sore and tired again after starting the next level.  I hate exercise but I'm terrified of gaining weight so I figured I can start running and combine healing my lungs with maintaining and/or losing weight.

I took a day off between three runs and took a second day off the first week so I ran 3 days in 7, and started week 2 as a new 7 day week.  I plan to do the same thing this week and run the program for the full 9 calendar weeks running 3 days on 4 days off.

Sounds like you are going through a really tough time.  So sorry to hear of all your troubles.  Clearly you are experiencing some despair.  When I feel that way it helps to think of my grandmother always saying "this too shall pass."  She was an eternal optimist.

For binging purposes, I find giant bowls of popcorn (with butter!) or watermelon give me that satisfied feeling of being able to eat as much as I want without too much self-sabotage on the calorie front.  Walks are good too, but not the same when I'm thinking FOOD!

Talking to a friend or my sister helps a lot.  I'm one for reaching out for help when I need it and find it really does help and others really do want to know the truth about how people they love are feeling.  There's too much hiding of negatives in our lives when we all feel the same way sometimes. 

Have you looked for a low cost clinic in your area like ones they are opening in Wal-Marts that I read about?  Also, call the company that manufactures your prescription.  The pharm companies have programs for people that can't afford needed medications as part of their corporation outreach.  Try all available avenues or call your doctor and ask for samples and tell them your financial situation.  You never know until you ask.

Best wishes to you. 

I've had a lot of luck with Cooking Light magazine recipes.  They really lighten up the calories and fat without losing the flavor.  I made a mexican chicken casserole recipe from their site last week that was awesome and very rich.  It used low-fat cheese, a bit of low-fat cream cheese and condensed skim milk for the "sauce".  Honestly, we loved it.  They also have a feature in the print copy, which I got for about a year, where people can write in their recipes and the magazine reworks them into light recipes.  Some of them are amazing how many calories the original v. the revised is able to reduce.  I'm sure they have a good mac and cheese recipe on their site and their recipes have reviews, so I always stay with four or five stars and read comments for tips on improving flavor or tweaking if necessary.  Plus they provide serving size and nutrional information for all their recipes.  It's been a real godsend for logging here.

One of my favorite indulgences is their baked garlic fries recipe.  They are simply awesome.

Too bad everyone is so fascinated by the side effects.  Alli can actually be very helpful for people like me.  I took it last year and lost 2 lbs. a week with no side effects for the duration that I was on it because I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS.  Prior to that I was averaging about 1 to 1-1/2 lb. a week, so it was spot on for what it promised in my case.

Anyone having side effects from Alli is not following the instructions, but everyone seems to love to talk up the possibilities out of some gross fascination, I suppose.  Sad.  Alli can be a helpful supplement to the "eat less-move more" weight loss plan, which is obviously the only one that works.  Anyone taking Alli and having those horrid side effects described in the pamphlet is not serious about weight loss - they are looking for a quick fix and not an assist to a change in eating behavior and a more healthy relationship to food.

Original Post by sheila_c:

My suggestion is to "Tag" your common meals.

Example:  Turkey Sandwich

Locate your bread and tag it to Turkey Sandwich
Locate your Turkey and tag it to Turkey Sandwich
Locate your mayo and tag it to Turkey Sandwich

Then all you have to do is hit the blue plus button by the tag Turkey Sandwich and all the ingredients will be added.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Sheila

 I never knew that the tags worked that way.  Very helpful.  Thanks, Shelia.  Guess I should do some research on what else I don't know!

I make sugar-free jello with a 1/4 cup of blueberries in each serving and top it with about 2-3 tablespoons of vanilla yogurt with a tsp or so of honey and a drip of vanilla added to it.  The creaminess of the yogurt makes it feel more decadent for me than something like a fat free cool whip, plus I get a serving of fruit in, and some calcium and protein. 

Spicy black bean burgers!  We had these last night.  Yum.

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinde r.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=2265 37

Wow, 17 grams sounds really low.  Like others here, I would agree you need much more than that in a day.  Even one serving of chicken or fish would provide more than you have been getting in a day.  Have you thought about beans?  They are cheap, versatile and good in just about everthing.  Black beans are particularly good for you I've read, and they are good in anything:  chili, quesedillas, dips, soups, alone as a side with salsa.  I even make black bean burgers, which are awesome! 

I had a masseuse who was training for a figure competition and she was on a very serious training program.  She was told by her trainer to eat 1 gram of protein for every pound she was while she was training.  I would say most regular people need what others have recommended, which is like 70 grams or something.  Good advice here on dairy, nuts and soy as great sources of protein.

I really like Cooking Light magazine and the website.  I have had some recipes that I made out of the magazine be a little bland, but none that I thought were really bad.  I find I get better luck at the website where I can read the reviews of recipes along with suggestions from others.  I've found some great recipes on there.  I currently get the magazine but I probably won't renew it since I've noticed they tend to repeat recipes after a year, so one year is probably enough in hard copy.

I really like that they include serving size and nutritional info for all of their recipes and they still use all the ingredients that provide flavor like butter and sour cream, but in small quantities.  I can't stand most fat-free products, so it is a great resource for me.  I especially like their baked goods recipes, which can be fit into a healthy diet since they modify them to cut back on fat and calories.

I love Cook's Illustrated, but it is also not good in terms of low cal recipes.  Same thing with Taste of Home.

I like 1 cup Kashi Organic Cinnamon Harvest cereal with 1 cup of  1% milk for breakfast.  290 calories and it keeps me full to lunch.  I sometimes substitute cereal or oatmeal for dinner if I'm "cooking" for one.  Probably out of pure laziness but cereal can be cheap calories if you indulge at lunch!

I agree with others here.  My mom was on weight watchers many years ago and got to her goal and kept it off for a year, so she is a lifetime member.  She has gone back to it a few times to take off a few pounds she gained here or there. 

I remember she used to hear these type of comments from one group of friends in particular.  They used to tell her she didn't need to worry, ask why would she skip dessert, why was she always getting the "healthy" thing, and she told me it took everything in her one night not to yell "the reason I am a healthy weight is because I watch what I eat every day!"  Her friends were not particularly weight-healthy, but they seemed to be very calorie-conscious regarding her diet.  Funny, that...

I was wondering that too.  I made a marinade last week for Mother's Day and I was serving 10 people, so I just put in the recipe and counted it as 20 servings, because I figured half of it went down the drain.  It's probably more than that actually, but I prefer to overestimate calories in a situation like that.  Mine was mostly a citrus marinade, so it's wan't tremendously high in fat or calories, but every little bit does count, right?

I'll be interested to see what others recommend. 

I'm 5'6" and I am currently at 156-157 (my scale is a cheapo model; need to upgrade!), down from a 160-161 starting weight.  Hitting 160 was really when the shame kicked in that I allowed myself to put on 20 pounds in about 4 years, but when it goes on slowly it doesn't seem like that one extra pound is that much.  Add it over the years and here I am! 

I would like to get back down to 140.  I was 120-130 in my 20s but that seems a rather unrealistic goal at this point.  135-145 is really probably the ideal range for me since I am a medium frame.