Posts by fairytail87

I'm right there with you! I was doing really well and quit paying attention to what I was eating for the last couple of months..mentally tallying instead of actually adding the calories and entering here in the log.  I kicked myself over and over because when I stepped on the scale again on Sunday I'd gained 12lbs.  Depressing!! Especially since I was so excited to finally be seeing a number that was less than 300..then to see it over 300 again..I wanted to cry. Now, I'm back to losing the same weight again, which I have complained about before! Why is it so hard to stop doing that to myself? GRR... But, enough rant from me, and now for the positive.  I'm back to logging everything in black and white and as of this morning, I'm down 3lbs. Since it's only been 2 days, I have high hopes that some of it was actually water and bloat from bad eating at Thanksgiving!  

About the water, here's my two cents..I got a tip from a friend who boxes professionally and uses it the morning before his weigh ins.  It works for me, and it does seem to take off the water and help with the bloat.  Take 1/2 cup of water just a little hotter than you can stand it, add 1/4 cup of lemon juice (which cools it down enough to drink). Drink it straight, as soon as you mix it.  Yes, it tastes AWFUL, but you can do this every morning if you need to. I mostly do it when I feel that bloated feeling (PMS anyone??!) or know I've had to much salt/sodium the day before.  The best part is it's natural and you won't get the cramps or muscle fatigue you might get from a water pill!

Lemon!

strawberries or blueberries

yeah, I don't know what happened to the neat little box that cut and pasted from the other page. I swear I saw it before I posted and it looked right! Grr! Anyway, I did have all the info right, F, 35yo, 5'7, cw 312 ( if anyone wants to test and see what they get for reference - maybe I did it wrong.) I just didn't see how I could eat 2496 calories a day and lose weight when I'm struggling for every pound sticking to 1500-1600, and my maintenance calories are approx. 2580. It's very frustrating trying to find the right numbers and figure this all out!!

I was in the same boat! I'm also very anal about logging everything, and I weigh EVERY morning, because this was a big scare for me and I'm a little obsessive still.  For reference my stats, F, 35 yo, 5'7", cw 312 and current BP is 120/78.  I started the DASH diet on March 24, BP was 156/100 and I weighed 335..so, I can say that at least now I know it's working! When I started, that was a different story! I found that I felt bloated all the time and actually gained like 7 lbs. the first week! My cardiologist told me not to worry, it was water because of the added Fiber and the change in diet. I was skeptical, and frustrated -- to say the very least! Wasn't the point to lose weight?!  Grr!! Anyway, it took about three weeks and once my body adjusted to the diet, it gave up the water it had sucked up from the added fiber we weren't used to getting, settled down and dropped like 12 lbs. in two days.  The weight has come off pretty regularly ever since. 

I also find the 1600 calories seems like a lot, but I manage to get close, usually my goal is 1400 +/-  (I know, for my stats that seems like too little, but my Cardiologist has approved the calories and keeps an eye on me regularly to make sure all is right with my health!), My hardest challenge with DASH is to fit in the whole grains.  I discovered WASA crackers from whole foods, and Nature's Own 12 Grain Whole Wheat Bread, it's been much easier with them around.  The things that help me keep the sodium low, usually 1500 or less are : ONLY fresh fruit and vegetables, nothing canned or frozen - no exceptions.  It's a pain sometimes cuz I used to be queen of quick and easy for opening cans! But, as slave to lower BP, I've learned to eat them raw or slightly steamed in the microwave with a touch of Mrs. Dash no salt seasoning.  I use 1/2 tsp of butter or margarine on a single serving, so low cal and not much salt..it also covers some of those fats. I buy raw, dry roasted, mixed nuts- so no added salt or sodium added there either. I did have to cut out soda, and most carbonated drinks, like the water ones..for some reason, even if sodium wasn't listed, the carbonation seemed to make me retain water and upped the BP  :(  I have found that both Wal-Mart and Target have the drink add-ins (like Crystal Light, only store brand) and they are yummy with very little or no sodium. I also avoid frozen, packaged "diety" type foods.  It means I have to cook more, but this way I leave out the salt - All hail Mrs. Dash and Garlic Powder! Anyway, I know I've rambled a lot, but I hope some of this gives you ideas that will help!! Above all, hang in there!! It does work both for the weight and the BP, and it gets easier every day!!

I started the DASH diet on March 24, 2008.  I follow the 1600 cal plan posted on the American Heart Association website and keep the sodium between 1500-2000mg per day.  On April 10, when I had my blood pressure checked at the Dr. it had dropped from 156/100 down to 120/78.  As an added bonus, I've lost 16 lbs! I love this plan, and it fits in with my overall goal of a healthy lifestyle change. However, I have kept in mind that I also take medication for the high BP, so I can't totally attribute the drop to the diet.  But, I was also taking the same medication in the same mg when the BP was 156/100.  The combination of the DASH plan with the weight loss really seems to work. My cardiologist was thrilled with both results and says I can lower the medication dosage if I continue to follow the plan and lose another 15-20 lbs.   I don't feel like I'm "dieting", I'm not starving and sometimes I feel like I don't do anything but eat to get all the servings in! I'd reccommend this plan to anyone wanting to lower BP!