Posts by scarter1

In addition to what everyone else has said, in order to lose 2 pounds a week you need to have a weekly Calorie deficit of 7000 Calories (it takes 3500 Calories to burn a pound).  Keep in mind that with all the working out you are doing you are building muscle as you burn off the fat, so your weight won't drop the way you might think it would.  You should get your BMR tested (they might be able to do this at your gym if you go to one) to see exactly where you are at as this will change as your body composition changes.  If you know your exact BMR this will help guide you in determining how many calories you should be eating.  It does sound like you aren't eating enough and you also might want to consider the ratios of the foods you are eating.  If you aren't eating the right combos of carbs to fats to proteins you won't loose weight or build muscle as quickly as you would like.  Try getting some nutrional guidance from your gym if they offer that, if not, try upping your Calorie input and if that alone doesn't make a difference try adjusting the amounts of carbs protein and fats you are eating.  Good luck and congrats on the weight loss so far!

If you are eating alot of processed/canned foods you may be consuming too much salt which will cause you to retain water which equals weight gain.  Try to drink lots and lots of water throughout the day and avoid processed foods as much as possible.  Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy lean meats without any salt.  If you can't handle walking 40 minutes at a time, try doing several shorter walks throughout the day.  Try a 15 or 20 minute walk in the morning and another in the later part of the day.  Take water with you while you are walking so you don't get dehydrated.  Eating non-processed foods, drinking plenty of water, and the walks will actually give you more energy and will help you when d-day comes.  Don't focus on how many calories you are eating, just make sure each and every calorie is as nutritious as possible.  Make sure you eat 5-6 small meals a day (don't let yourself get hungry, that's when we tend to indulge in hot fudge sundaes and pizza).  An afternoon snack of unsalted almonds and an apple (or something similar) will help give you the energy you need to get through the afternoon.  Hope this helps and good luck! 

Thanks guys for the encouragement.  I just got frustrated because I am trying to do this Biggest Loser program that my chiropractor is sponsoring and he suggests eating every 2 hours, which I can do during the week, but on the weekends I am just running around too much to think about eating every two hours.  And in order to eat every 2 hours, each time I eat I am trying to have about 200 Calories so that I can still stay within my calories for the day.  This does not allow for eating out or really even having a sandwich for lunch because the bread alone would be 200 calories.  It makes sense to me to eat this often because then I don't allow myself to ever get hungry (as long as I stay on track) and then I don't having cravings and end up binging.  This concept is still pretty new to me and I am still trying to figure out how to make it work.  I am also still learning to not beat myself up if I do slip up.  The workout I have been doing is part of the Biggest Loser program also and I am hoping that next Saturday my Chiropractor will announce that we are switching up the routine.  In the meantime I am going to have to add something else in.  Today I am meeting my friend at the gym and we are going to do cardio so maybe that will help and we are going to talk about changing up our routine.  I was in a funk this week too because she hurt her back and couldn't workout with me, so I think I was bored without her.  I know that she won't always be there to workout with so I just have to figure out what my plan is for the days we can't workout together.  I am so close to getting my massage that I don't want to give up now, I want to work harder to get those three pounds off so I can enjoy the reward that I promised myself. 

bzb90031 - I agree about the dog rescue thing.  I actually volunteer for two local Great Dane rescues.  I didn't get my guy from a breeder either but I was luck enough to get him as a young puppy so I could "raise" him the way he should have been.

sweepie - I hear ya on not wanting to be the party pooper when you go out with friends.  If you want to order a drink, do it, just don't over do it.  Also, if you're at a place where you can order wine, that has way less Cals and sugar than a Smirnoff Ice.

feddiechick - I am the same way.  I eat so healthy and when I do eat something fatty/greasey/unhealthy I feel like total crap!  I have no energy the next day (its like a food hang over) and my stomach hurts.  Its like it takes me two days to recover from one bad day of eating.  I had some ice cream last night (a pint of Hagendaz) which I knew the whole time I should not be eating, and definitely should not have eaten the whole pint, but I just kept eating it.  I started to feel sick while I was eating it but I just kept at it.  I immediately felt so gross, I thought I might actually throw up from it and this morning I just feel awful.  I keep asking why I do these things to myself.  This time was bad enough that I think I won't do it again.  I am really starting to get in tune with how I feel depending on how I eat and its all starting to click.  I know that I feel exhausted if I drink so I have basically stopped drinking, except for the occasional friday night glass of wine.  And now I know that eating crappy foods to curb a craving is just not worth it.  I feel sick, I feel guitly and ashamed and I have no energy for my workout the next day.

2cute4fatness - very cleaver username!  If you are too afraid of dogs to walk outside, you can try working out at home, or joining a gym/the Y/the rec center.  But maybe this is an obstacle you need to over come.  Are you afraid of dogs because you had a problem with one before?  I don't know about where you live but around here people have to keep their dogs on leashes.  There are a ton of dogs in my neighborhood and I have only once seen a dog wondering around without his owner.  Maybe if you have friends/family with dogs you could start working on overcoming your fear.  Think of what an accomplishment that would be!

So I asked my chiropractor (he's the one sponsoring the Biggest Loser comp) about getting rid of cravings yesterday.  I don't want to find a way to curb my sweet cravings, I want them to go away.  He suggested eating smaller more frequent meals, which I am already doing, so he suggested eating even more frequently.  I have been eating 5 small meals a day, but now I am going to try eating 6, and eating about every 2 hours.  So I figure if I aim for about 200 Cals per meal, with a bit more at lunch and dinner I can still stay where I want with my calories, and maybe actually get in a little less calories and hopefully this will help.  My problem is at night, after dinner but before bed I always want something sweet.  So hopefully  this will help that go away.  I am also thinking that if I really make sure I am loading up on the protein throughout the afternoon/evening that maybe that will help.  If this doesn't work though, I am going to go see a nutritionist about amino acid therapy to see if I can kick my sweet cravings that way.  I have heard that amino acid therapy has helped people with depression, with alcohol and drug addictions, and other things.  Sounds interesting to me.  I just wonder why I am still craving sweets when I am trying to get my body healthy.  I really do eat pretty good throughout the day without a thought of eating sugary sweets but after dinner it is such a habit to have something.  I'll keep you all posted on how this goes.  I am so frustrated that my mind and body don't seem to be syncing up!  My mind knows what is best yet my body wants to fight it.

Good morning everyone!  It's Friday!!!  I decided to take the day off to get some stuff done at home, and good thing I did because the weather is gorgeous!  I'm going to go workout and then spend the day outside.  I weighed myself this morning and I'm down 3.5 more pounds!!!  That's a total of 7 pounds for me since the end of January.  I got my hair cut last night and got A LOT cut off so that may have contributed to a bigger number, but I don't care!! 

Sweepie - welcome!  11 pounds down since the beginning of January - that's really good!  Congratulations.  I, like you, was going through a phase where I was totally losing my motivation and eating all the wrong foods, but after I found this group and I have been so inspired.  You have to really figure out why you want to lose the weight first of all.  You have to make sure you are doing it for you.  You can try setting smaller goals for your self and coming up with rewards for when you reach those goals (a few days ago we were discussing that on this forum).  Also, about your boyfriend, my husband and I have the same discussions.  I think I want him to say something to help keep me  on track but then when he does I get really defensive about it and then I end up eating poorly just to spite him (stupid I know, but its true).  You need to be the one holding yourself accountable.  I don't want to sound mean, but it isn't your boyfriends responsibility to make sure you are eating well.  If you soley rely on him to keep you on track, what are you going to do when he's not around (I'm guessing that you aren't together all day everyday and there are times that you will be eating when he's not around).  It will be better for your relationship with him to not ask him to keep you track.  I stopped asking my husband to do that and now it seems to mean more when he notices that I have been working hard and eating really good.  I think Easter threw everyone off, so just let it go and let that be all the more reason that you try harder now.  If that gym you are talking about it too expensive you should try to come up with other ways you can workout.  You can do workout videos at home, walk a lot, etc.  The Internet is a great place to get ideas of workouts you can do at home and its free.  I myself found a really cheap gym - Fitness 19 - they have memberships ranging from $9 to $20 a month depending on how much you put down up front and you aren't tied into a contract.  I hope some of this helps.  Everyone here totally understands what it feels like to need motivation.  You just have to decide that your workouts and good eating habits are a priority and that you are worth it!  You can do it!

Does anyone ever feel they're being treated poorly at work because of their weight?  Maybe I am just being over sensitive about it, but lately some people at work have been treating me like crap.  I have been trying to get this promotion (not a really big one, but still) and I feel like my boss keeps blowing me off.  Some of the other upper management have been talking down to me a lot lately too.  Maybe its because I am asking for a department transfer but I don't think that's why.  I feel like I am good at my job and I work really hard (except for when I take a break to come in here and see what's going on with everyone) and I don't come in late or leave early or call in sick or anything like that.  Maybe I am just being overly sensitive because I am anxious for this transfer/promotion to go thru so I can start making more money and be recognized as a more important person.  No one really seems to take me seriously.  When I ask someone to do something they blow me off.  I just keep thinking that if I was thin and was able to dress better at work maybe everyone would have more respect for me.  Does anyone else ever feel this way?

Trina Welcome!  When I told my husband that I found a forum for women in their 20's wanted to lose large amounts of weight he was like "You're not in your 20's".  I'm 27 so I felt a little weird about posting here at first, but it has been great.  I know what you are saying about seeing the people around you getting sick and having health problems.  My mother also died young, at 45 from breast cancer.  My grandfather had to have triple bipass surgery two years ago and an uncle of mine also had to have heart surgery.  I don't want to be that person ever.  Life is so much harder when it is filled with medical problems.  So far I have been luck, I have never been really sick and I don't have any of the diseases that go along with being so overweight, but I know I am on that road and that is a huge reason for me to be losing weight.  I want to spend my life being healthy and happy and full of energy, not sick and miserable.  I know you can't prevent everything but I'm going to try. 

You guys have all been so motivating!  Your words of encouragement to one another are amazing.  I have been on this forum for a little over a week I think and I have been doing so much better and staying so much more positive about everything.  When I started this Biggest Loser program with my chiropractor I wanted to be stupid about losing weight and try to lose 5 or more pounds a week (like they do on the show) so that I could win, but then I realized that its not possible and its not all that healthy. 

Congrats to everyone who has lost a lot of weight.  I can't wait till I get under the 200 mark! I have a ways to go though. 

watchme - I feel ya!  I do that all the time at company lunches.  I tell myself that I am not going to eat that and then it's like I hype it up so much that I just can't let go. 

The Brazilian wax story is hilarious.  At least now I'm not scared to go try it! 

watchme - Well, when I did it last I was probably about 215 and I was doing the beginner Tae-Bo workout and I took it at my own pace so I didn't think it was too intense.  Most classes allow you to go at your own pace so if you need to take a break you just do.  I didn't think the moves were especially hard, they're all do-able it just might be kind of hard to do all the reps in the beginning.  I know what you mean about the classes though.  The gym I go to doesn't offer any classes, but that's why the membership is so cheap ($9/month) so I started going to the rec center once a week for a spinning class.  Maybe you could see if you could just go observe a class or get a free trial class to see if you like it/can do it before you have to start dropping money to do it.  Or if you are into working out at home then try to find a Tao-Bo work out and do it at home and see if you like it.  That would be cheaper than continually paying for a class (classes are better though if you're into the group atmosphere thing).

Is anyone here in the boulder/lafayette/erie CO area?

Suzanne - I ended up not giving myself the day off from the gym but I didn't do the hardcore workout I was planning.  I just did 30 minutes on the eliptical and then some abs and a lot of stretching.  I felt like I would be a slacker if I took today off from the gym.  I was sore from the spinning class I took on Sunday, which was only my second time.  I have been stregth training for almost two months now so the soreness from that isn't bad any more.  When I first started it was aweful though.  I have never been as sore as I was back in Feb.  I seriously almost couldn't walk after I started the workout routine I am doing now.  I love this workout that I do though because my heart rate is up the whole time, I am constantly moving, there is no wasted time and it doesn't feel so repeatative so I don't get bored.  I have gotten so much stronger.  When I first started I could only do 12 push ups (girl style) and now I am up to 30.  I could only do 30 seconds of wall squats and now I can do 90 seconds!  I know I am so much further a long than when I first started even though the scale hasn't changed that much.  I just have one of those types of bodies that gains muscle easily (unfortunately I have my fathers frame, not my mothers - she was very petite, not me though) but the burning the fat part is still really hard for me. 

I just try to stock up on healthy convient foods and then in the morning when I am prepparing my food for the day I make sure I pack something for breakfast (I eat at work after I go to the gym) and a morning snack, something for lunch and an afternoon snack so that when I get home in the evening I am not starving.  I make sure each meal is 300-500 Cals.  If you don't have time in the morning before you leave for work then do it the night before.  Kashi makes a great instant oatmeal that I love to take for breakfast.  I found some dried fruit pouches that help me make sure I am getting my daily fruit in.  I usually have yogurt for a morning snack and my after noon snack is usually a protin shake and almonds.  I also always bring an apple and some other fruit and lunch usually consists of left overs from the night before, or soup.  When I am making dinner at night I try to make sure that I have enough left over to take for lunch the next day.  If I don't plan ahead like this I end up eating out and getting something bad.  And if I skip any of my meals/snacks then I end up eating way more than I would have if I didn't skip.  I also keep some healthy snacks at work with me, but I have my own work space so I can do that.  It does take some planning but you get used to it.  I have a little mental check list now so in the morning when I am getting ready I know what I need to grab to take to work.

I ran yesterday for the first time in probably 3 years!  It wasn't for very long, but I did it.  I did some interval training on the tread mill after my workout, so I ran for a minute walked for 3 and I did this three times, so I officially ran for three minutes!!!  And today I went to my second spinning class ever, it was really fun (now that I have the shorts and my butt didn't hurt so bad).  My eating today was pretty good, but I did have some ice cream this after noon (I think I am going to have to ask the hubby to not buy it any more for a while) so for dinner I am going to have a grilled chicken breast and some salad (the hubby is in the kitchen making it as I type - he really is a pretty good guy).  I went to CostCo yesterday and picked up all kinds of really good food.  Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, a big thing of mangoes (which I have become addicted to lately, they are so good), some really good fresh meats, all kinds of organics and yummy good food.  SO I am all stocked up again, so I shouldn't be having food issues.  I feel pretty good about my progress this weekend.  I even went to a soccar game (we got to see David Beckham play live it was awesome) and I only had one lite beer and a pretzel.  Well, dinner is ready. 

I don't know how good it would taste on sushi, but when I want to add extra flavor to something I add pepper or other seasonings that don't have salt added.  I do try to cook a lot (or I should say I was cooking a lot) so that I don't waste my money on eating out, but I don't use a lot of fats/oils to gook with.  We grill a lot, and when I do cook on the stove I use Pam to spray my pans with.  I recently discovered the joy of eating egg whites rather than the whole egg.  A single egg white from a large egg is only like 18 Calories!  I can eat a lot of egg whites for that!  And they still fill you up, just without all the cholesterol.  A veggie egg white omelet is so good for any meal.  I am home a lone a lot in the evenings so that was what I was resorting to for dinner for a while, until I fell off the wagon (I'm getting back on as we speak though). 

Watchme - I get into moods like yours all the time.  I really hate being alone so the nights when my husband isn't home I resort to getting together with friends or eating.  SO I have been trying to get together with friends more.  I also have a lot to do (I still need to get my taxes done too and every weekend I'm like I have to do the taxes this weekend but then I become a social butterfly and everything under the sun takes priority over getting the stupid taxes done).  And I keep telling myself that when I am home alone I need to focus on organizing my life, the closets, photos, etc. but then I always turn the TV on and plop down in front of it with some food and then I am done for the day!  I would throw my TV out the window if my husband weren't so attached to it. 

Being married has definitely made things harder (I love my husband, don't get me wrong).  It is harder to lose weight.  My husband is this skinny athlete who can eat like 5000 calories a day and still lose weight, so he doesn't have to think about what he eats.  So when he wants to eat something that I know is not really what I should be eating, I eat it any way, just because he is.  If he gets a bowl of ice cream I'm like I should have a bowl of ice cream if he gets one.  I know it is the stupidest mentality, but it's true.  And then when he's not around I get lonely so I eat bad then too!  I can't win.  I know I have to get over this, and just accept that I am who I am and that includes the body I have and the genes I was dealt.  All of this thinking/reflecting has made me want to go to the gym.  I think I am going to go work out to get some of this out!

Thanks for the welcome guys!  Dalmalama - you are absolutely right.  I am never really completely out of food, I am just out of the stuff that I eat routinely.  I do get sick of looking through the cabinets and "wondering what should I eat?" when I know what I should eat.  The downside to not eating processed foods is that you don't really have canned vegetables/fruit in the cupboards, but there is other food in the house.  But what do you do when you know what you SHOULD be eating and you don't want it?  My husband does have food in the house that I don't eat (like chips) but that isn't really the stuff that tempts me.  I am more tempted to just go out to eat or order in.