Posts by snermy

With PCOS, it's been all about the sugar for me. Try printing out a glycemic index chart and throwing it on the fridge, really helped me plan meals better to avoid the sugar spike=sugar crash=eat more cycle.

Good luck!

amen! If I start not wanting to see the scale, I know to watch out! Ups and downs don't worry me, but I want to see them 'cause it's motivating either way: if it's up, I want to be extra careful until it's down again to make sure it's just "water weight" and if it's down, I know I'm doing something right. I just don't make the dailies my official weight, every month final number is what tells me "for real" if it's going up or down....but every day keeps me honest that it TAKES every day to translate to that loss at the end of the month.

I've had to be honest with myself, that a week when I'm ignoring the scale most days, I'm probably ignoring some of the other daily, little things that mean success...or not.

1)I won't miss the hallway/stair dance, you know, you're going down a narrow hall/stair and have to get WAY over, cuz you don't want that dirty look if you don't dodge FAR ENOUGH and someone barreling along accidental brushes into to you (note! I DON"T feel this way, and I HATE that I'd go way out of my way to not accidentally nudge someone...but I was a size 20 teenager, and have spent a LOT of adult years in the 18-22 sizes, and YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN about those idiots in public places who charge along, don't take one step out of their way, but look disgusted if they accidentally bump hips because you DIDN"T GET OUT OF THE WAY FAST ENOUGH)

1a) I quit getting out the way quite a bit before the latest weight loss, and fat or thin am now planning to take up AS MUCH SPACE as I want (politely, because I'm a civil person) in every sense. Guys, we don't offend the world, fat or thin, and getting that it other people problem, and only worrying about your own, and the things you do that ACTUALLY might be harming people/yourself can be a huge step to quit with the self-hating which isn't going to support ANY difficult endeavour, regardless of weight...

2)Nonetheless, I do not miss having the world not fit. Don't miss having to call ahead to make sure the rental place has a kayak rated for 250+ lbs before an excursion. Dont miss being unable to fit between sales racks in the stores, and into turnstiles, and into airlines seats without either leaning against the window, or into the aisle and getting bonked by everyone who came you don't see coming (good god, why doesn't the world learn the words, "pardon me?")

3)Not being comfy in layers. Man, people complain about being cold after losing weight, and everyone chimes in with "low metabolism" and "starvation mode! omg!", well, fat people DRESS DIFFERENT sometimes because layers can be too hot, and it can take a bit of time to learn to dress for LESS.

And, if you're dressing for style and you're fat, you know a wool peacoat type thing is both comfy and flattering, where a windbreaker-over a hoodie-over a sweatshirt will make a 2X look like a 4x, and choke you because plus size clothes don't have as much extra blousing in sleeves etc (not because we're so hugely fat but because it doesn't WORK fashion wise, generally accepted and designed with the idea that blousing is unflattering once you get to a certain XXL, so things tend to be more boxy or stretchy and NOT GOOD for layering) Well, it's great to be able to do that on these weird inbetween days. I love layers!

You know, my momma was always trying to get me to put on a sweater, and now I know it's because she's 5' and 100 lbs, and since she was cold, she thought I had to be! Nope, don't miss either being too hot, or WINTER. Now I DO throw on a sweater, or go down to a tank top, and suddenly there are SO MANY MORE perfect weather days, when I'm perfectly comfortable.

3)This is more emotional eating but...I don't miss being upset about food. I was alway either guilty because I'd eaten (? you have to eat to live!) or miserable because I was hungry and not letting myself eat (?1) you can be a little hungry and in a good mood! For a long time, if I was hungry, I was also MISERABLE, and that's because I both expected food to do MORE for me than it can (make you feel better after a crappy day, help you stop worrying about something) ?2)or miserable about being hungry because food was so emotionally weighted NEGATIVELY also, because it was what made ya fat.)

I don't miss food messing with my mind ONE BIT

4)Back pain, don't miss you...

5)Professional respect. This is sad, and should NOT happen, but I'm taken more seriously at work.

Negatives, I'm also seen as more of an agressive person these days. But I've discovered in MY particular corporate culture, you're either a shark or you're chum. Now I has teeth. Before, I actually said much the same things, but it was mostly ignored.. Now, I'll say the same, pointed, remark and get 1)that was a little harsh and 2) you have a point.

Don't know if this is good or bad yet, but it is different!  I've actually had to learn to tone DOWN a bit, because it's taken more seriously.  Good god this culture is weird about weight (me included!).

I'm in the same place, losing MAYBE 3 lbs a month, sometimes just one or 2. Trying to keep the perspective, that anything that isn't a gain is gonna help with the final goal (at whatever weight) of maintenance. And if I do lose a lb, and manage to MAINTAIN it, that a lb you don't have to lose again.

(186 right now, down from 250 11 months ago.)

--Actually, I'm going to reward myself with this whether or not my weight goes down more...but when the weather gets warmer I"m finally getting myself a kayak. I rent on a freaking lake, and I loooove to kayak. Can't wait to be able to go out on the water anytime I want :)

But I should be at one of my interim goals in the spring, so I'll tie it to one of my monthly goals (even if it's just, keep eating healthy all month)

Well, technically fruit, but I find dried dates to be very sugary and satisfying when I want something gummy and sweet.  Not tart like most fruit, which also doesn't do it for  me when i want something for desert.

Also, small amounts of a really good dark chocolate (I like Scharfeberger , often can be found in the baking aisle) 

Cocoa with splenda also works for me.

Sugar free pudding made with skim milk is pretty healthy.

sometimes doctoring up my coffee does it too, splenda, cinnamon or cocoa powder.   Plus i really like sitting with a cup of coffee after a meal, especially eating out.  It's a cosy way to hang with friends through the desert course, and you're not stuffed when you're done visiting :) 

I do avoid baked good when I'm having a craving because it's very more-ish for me.  So yeah, i'd have trouble having a small portion of any baked good, so i don't keep it around to tempt me unless it's a very good week.  One thing that's helped is freezing desert/baked goods after getting a portion.  Makes me think before getting that second slice...

I consider those 100 calorie packs bad calories, because they're mostly refined flour, salt and sugar (cookies, crackers, chips, etc). But they're a good way for some people to moderate their amounts of that stuff if they want to keep some in their diet.

A calorie IS a calorie is a calorie as far as how much energy you get from it, but if you have insulin problems, for instance, high sugar stuff can both make you feel like crap and affect your health badly, and switching to low glycemic foods could make you much healthier even in the short run.

Also if you have allergies, some foods can just make you feel like crap. To be blunt, if something makes you sick or goes right through you, you're not absorbing those calories the same way as something that agrees with your body so you can digest it without having a reaction.

People with IBS or similar will tell you a low fiber diet (or the wrong fiber diet) can very quickly make you sick, and it's not that uncommon to have any of these problem in a mild form and not realize it...until you start eating healthy whole foods, which coincidentally are exactly what's prescribed for both pre-diabetics and people with IBS symptoms.

Just my 2 cents!

sweet potatoes

fortified soy milk --my fave is westsoy plain plus

1% milk

Bran flakes and Kashi strawberry fields cereal (mixed half and half usually)

alfalfa sprouts

baby carrots

canned garbanzo beans

feta cheese or blue cheese

ricotta or cottage cheese

Light rye wasa or Holland melba toast

tomato soup

some kind of light balsamic vinaigrette, usually Newman's

apples

pepper jack or sharp cheddar

Tuna Sushi roll makin's--nori, brown rice, tuna, light mayo

lowfat tortillas

red lentils

frozen chicken breast or cocktail shrimp

frozen veggies in massive amount, lots of different mixes

salsa/hot sauce/thai chili sauce, etc.

Motts blueberry healthy harvest applesauce cups

Scharfenberger dark chocolate dried dates

Curry spices, esp cumin and turmeric.

There are is also the matter of how much you have to lose. On my body, I never noticed much feeling better or looking smaller, because my body shape and energy levels were still off, until I'd lost about 30 lbs or so, and started heading towards the "merely overweight" category.

Also, I could wear the same size for 10-15 lbs in some sizes, and other weights I'll drop a size with every 5 lbs (for me, it's a narrow period when I regain my waist, I went pretty much from a size 20-to a size 14 in about a 15 lb increment. But I had to lose 30 lbs to get from size 22 into those size 20's. 200lbs is pretty much that point for me, where my shape changes. And not so much before that, but everyone's different!

So yeah, I lost the first 45lbs, and I'd get the headtilt and "are you losing weight?", and then I lost another 15 lbs which did some body shape changes, and suddenly it was "Wow, you've lost so quickly!" (um, no, I spent 8 months losing the 45lbs it took to get the the point where 5, or 10, or 15 lbs is even noticeable)

I've found it amazingly helpful to love myself, at every size. Check out your hipbone! Get some cute new PJ's, and don't forget you'll need smaller size underwear/bra's too. That's a good starting point when a full wardrobe change is out of the question. Your clothes will fit better, even if they're too big, if you're wearing the right size undies! Microfiber cami's are also _great_ to layer when in between sizes.

Sizes are still crazy. Especially if you don't know what size you are now, you still won't after you go to the store! Right now I'm wearing stuff in L, XL, 20A, 16short, 14A. And this is stuff I just got, too... Underwear, I tell ya. It's cute, you can always use more, and everyone who really matters will be able to appreciate yer new weight with you! (and anyone who isn't privileged to see your unnerwear...well, your weight isn't really any of their concern anyway, right??)

I do this too, never enough iron or calcium if I don't watch it.  (don't eat a lot of red meat either)

Shrimp is a good iron source, chicken isn't bad.   Adding garbanzo beans to soups/stews or salads will add iron.  Other beans also, I just like garbanzos;)

I also drink fortified soy milk.  

wasa light rye cracker, spread with ricotta (add italian spices if you like) Top with lots of green olives, sugar free bread and butter pickle chips, sliced avocado, a little shredded slaw veggies or sprouts/spinach/grated carrot/cherry tomatoes...whatever you have that's fresh veggie-ish.    I ate this as a snack a few times a week all summer, YUM.   Totally replaced my bagel sandwich fixation.

1/2 and 1/2 sugar free instant chocolate pudding with frozen blueberries mixed in.  Warning! It will turn your tongue/teeth blue.  Toothbrush recommended :)

open faced avocado sandwich--bread, mashed avocado  with salt and pepper on top.

One night I was out of tortillas and it was like, 2 am, so I tried eating my curried veggies/chicken wrapped in sushi nori like a burrito.  It was....interesting!  And very very green.

Bargains (if you like them)

Protein- shrimp.

Lowfat ricotta cheese make a great wasa/openface sandwich spread if you mix it with italian herb mix and a little garlic it's spicy and great.

Veggies-- greens!  especially spinach, collard or mustard greens.  I add them to almost all soups/stews/stirfry/thai type stuff.  Also good with italian, I end up really happy with 1/4 to 1/2 a cup of pasta with marinara sauce with greens either added or on the side depending on recipe.  Where otherwise pasta just spikes my blood sugar and makes me hungry a couple hrs later.

Carbs-- Half a lowfat tortilla is my standard bread with stew/veggie soup type dishes.

Second the sweet potato, added to stir fries/thai type dishes don't even want to add a carb side.

Sweets--

Blueberries, apples, Dark semi sweet chocolate...worth every calorie ;)

 Drinks --English breakfast tea with rice milk. 

 Ripoffs:  Regular potatoes, bread, peanut butter,  most baked goods.  Bacon or any sausage type meat.  

Sweetened coffee drinks like mochas or lattes. 

Lettuce salads. Because it's blah and ends up covered in dressing/bacon bits/cheese/croutons and other stuff I don't even like except that lettuce is so dull.   

I don't eat breakfast about half the time, almost every work day.   I'd rather sleep 15 more minute than fuss around with food and I don't feel good eating until I've been up a couple hours.   Maybe a bite or 2 of something but usually only 50 cals or so.

Plus I eat my biggest meal often right before going to bed (another no-no I hear) those same days (work is very absorbing, fast paced and 12 hour shifts, and I just don't think about or want to eat often when mentally busy)  But when I occasionally don't eat much for dinner,  the next day I do have to eat something a few hrs after getting up.   And totally eat breakfast on my cycle of 4 days off.    So I calorie cycle pretty much naturally, eating under my goal on work days, and over on days off.

 I've lost 50 lbs since April, goes to show everyone's body is different!