Will it be different this time?

I'm sitting here wondering to myself ... is it going to be different this time?  Am I going to be able to pull this off?  Am I going to be able to stick to this new lifestyle change I'm trying to make ....lose 2 pounds a week for a year?  And then .... keep it off?

I think I'm on the right track, this time.  I'm not doing some FAD diet where I only eat chicken and green beens.  I met with a nutritionist and we designed a plan.  I'm tracking my food and I worked out this morning.  My mind seems to be in a better place.

But I've done all this before and have failed.  Well, not really failed but quit.  What can I do to make this time different? 

One last question ... does Fat Free Ranch Dressing ever start to taste good?

I'm sitting here wondering to myself ... is it going to be different this time?  Am I going to be able to pull this off?  Am I going to be able to stick to this new lifestyle change I'm trying to make ....lose 2 pounds a week for a year?  And then .... keep it off?

I think I'm on the right track, this time.  I'm not doing some FAD diet where I only eat chicken and green beens.  I met with a nutritionist and we designed a plan.  I'm tracking my food and I worked out this morning.  My mind seems to be in a better place.

But I've done all this before and have failed.  Well, not really failed but quit.  What can I do to make this time different? 

One last question ... does Fat Free Ranch Dressing ever start to taste good?

I'm sitting here wondering to myself ... is it going to be different this time?  Am I going to be able to pull this off?  Am I going to be able to stick to this new lifestyle change I'm trying to make ....lose 2 pounds a week for a year?  And then .... keep it off?

I think I'm on the right track, this time.  I'm not doing some FAD diet where I only eat chicken and green beens.  I met with a nutritionist and we designed a plan.  I'm tracking my food and I worked out this morning.  My mind seems to be in a better place.

But I've done all this before and have failed.  Well, not really failed but quit.  What can I do to make this time different? 

One last question ... does Fat Free Ranch Dressing ever start to taste good?

(edit:  removed duplicate information)

the difference this time is that you are NOT dieting.  you are losing weight because you are changing your lifestyle.  :D

don't make any changes that you can't live with!

don't drop any of your favorite foods.  eat them in moderation.  otherwise you will end up binging.

instead of quitting this time, make changes to the changes you have made.  you set the rules & that's the best part.  ;)

good luck!

Forget fat free ranch dressing! I have a solution if you like fat free cottage cheese! :D

You know those packets of ranch powder that you can buy to mix with sour cream to make chip dip? Just put it in 2.5cups of cottage cheese (or to taste) and use that as dressing. 1/2cup is only like 115 calories.. and who even uses 1/2 cup of dressing anyways? On salads it almost feels like you're getting fetta cheese and dressing at the same time.

I my self am a huge ranch fan. For me this little invention has been my salvation. I can eat 4 feet of celery and 1/2 cup of ranch flavour for under 150 calories. What's there to complain about? :P

Oh, and it tastes GOOD. (at least I think so)

Thanks ... I appreciate your words of encouragement.  It truly is a life style change and not a diet. 

One thing that I've been doing differently and I really like it, is I am working out in the morning.  My company has a fitness center two floors above me.  I use to stay away because I thought I had to go at lunch and didn't want to work out with my VP ... but I talked to my boss ... and we worked out a schedule where I can work out in the morning.  Starts my day off great. 

Now ... if I can stay off the scale for 30 days!  LOL

Really ... I'm going to give this a try.  I love cottage cheese ...so nothing ventured, nothing gained.

If you like cheese, the Laughing Cow Garlic Herb cheese is awesome.  Feel like you are endulging but you aren't.  Each wedge is only 35 calories.

why did you copy and paste the same things like 4 times?

Original Post by ammie:

I'm sitting here wondering to myself ... is it going to be different this time?  Am I going to be able to pull this off?  Am I going to be able to stick to this new lifestyle change I'm trying to make ....lose 2 pounds a week for a year?  And then .... keep it off?

 I'm sorry snowfence, but I have to totally disagree with you. Losing 2LBS/ WEEK for a YEAR is TOTALLY DIETING.

Ammie, I would never be able to "pull off" losing 2lbs /week for a year. That goal seems completely insane & I'm concerned that you've found a nutritionist who is supporting that as a realistic goal for you. You didn't mention exercise at ALL. Are you seriously contemplating a 1200 calorie diet for the next YEAR?

It's going to be extremely difficult for you to "acheive" such a "goal," and you might find that your health (physical AND mental) suffers.

/edit I'm going to go as far to say that your physical and mental health WILL suffer. Your plan sounds downright wrong.

I suggest finding a new nutritionist and/or setting yourself up for success with more realistic goals that are related to FITNESS and HEALTH as opposed to DIET and POUNDS.

Do some internal homework: when you "failed" in the past did you have similar extreme goals as you have now? Maybe it's your GOALS that failed, not your self.

Good luck regardless of what you choose. I hope you find happiness and health.

i have failed a million times too but the key is to not give up.  time will pass regardless of what you do with it.

also, i find that i eat waay more salad if i use regular fat FULL salad dressing.  if i choose fat free, i just end up skipping the salad all together.

accident ... tried to remove and it kept adding.   :-/

A) You sound like me, which means you're awesome. 

B) ...Making up your mind to lose weight is easy....REMINDING yourself is difficult.  I can take a day off and get back to it tomorrow...but if I take THREE days off, diet's over.  I'm done.  Peace up.  Oreos rock.

I'm in the same boat--I've been on and off different diets for years...and I'm trying to lose just over 100 pounds this year.  And as lame as it is...I think sometimes you just have to say, "My jeans feel looser.  This is awesome.  That cookie looks awesome too...which is significantly MORE awesome?" (Not the cookie, incase there was any confusion.)

C) I found a light ranch that's decent for dipping--but as for drenching an entire salad in?  No, they all suck.

The nutritionist is a doctor who is in with my family practioner -- whom I've been seeing for 20 years.  I have complete faith in him.   I agree 2 lbs a week seems difficult but we have taken an approach of 1800 calories a day, for now, along with at least 30 minutes of exercising each day.  

I have been exercising daily (30 minutes at a level 3+ on the treadmill) and journally my intake.

I don't know that my mental health will suffer.  My mental health has suffered due to years of inactivity and over-eating.  If I could achieve at least 1 lb a week for 52 weeks ... that would be success for me.

Thanks Muppetlips!  Let's be successful in 2009!  I just want to really give it my all and become a healthier person.

I'm going to try to cottage cheese / ranch rpowder recipe.  I'll let you know how it goes!

Try ranch packets and plain, fat free yogurt. Very similar to the consistancy of ranch....because, no....fat free ranch will never taste 'normal'.

It's just a matter of changing how you look at the process, isn't it?  If you look to the long term/lifetime results, you don't need to focus as much on short term goals that may or may not be met. 

Recognize that there are going to be periods where you don't lose 2 pounds a week.  You might hit a plateau and stay there for quite a while, then start losing again.  It isn't a smooth, even progression - there will be stops and starts.The important thing is to be sure you are on the right long range path and keep on changing bad habits for good ones. 

I've had to accept that I can't lose faster than 1/2 pound a week at the most.  I have abandoned all time limits and decided that I'll just keep on the path I'm on because I know it's making me healthier.

ranch packets + yogurt? I thought about doing that but I was worried it'd be too bitter. I haven't quite gotten it to taste sweet again. I swear nonfat yogurt used to be sweet but it just seems really bitter as of late.

I wonder if we could put a little Sweet N Low or Equal in it to cut down the tart?  I'm liking the idea of the cottage cheese recipe .. and I'm thinking ... if I put it in the food processor and mix it really well .. may have a ranch dressing consistency. 

ClaireLaine - what a great mind set you have.  It isn't a 2 lb a week for a year (or 1 lb or 2 oz), it is a matter of having the right mind set, doing the best I can, not letting set backs become barriers and just become a healthier person.   That is all I want.  That's not asking too much is it?  ;-)

I think it's  great! You have set goals, and have a plan. Here's to a healthier you!!!!

THANKS!!!!  I appreciate the support and the enthusiasm.   It gives me strength!

I lost 75 pounds in 18 months without a nutritionists/doctors help, only regularly checking in with my MD on bringing my hypertension and diabetes 2 under control. It worked. The best results came once I started using Calorie Count consistently. I have been away for a year and put 25 pounds back on. BUT! I know I can do it and have gotten back into the program.

You will succeed and guess what, while aiming for 2 pounds per week is ambitious, you will win regardless of the final amount you shed. I am pulling for you so keep us posted!

CFK

Original Post by freshbakedpi:

Ammie, I would never be able to "pull off" losing 2lbs /week for a year. That goal seems completely insane & I'm concerned that you've found a nutritionist who is supporting that as a realistic goal for you. You didn't mention exercise at ALL. Are you seriously contemplating a 1200 calorie diet for the next YEAR?

I suggest finding a new nutritionist and/or setting yourself up for success with more realistic goals that are related to FITNESS and HEALTH as opposed to DIET and POUNDS.

Ammie, don't listen to Captain CapsLock here... how could she evaluate how realistic the 2 lbs/wk is without asking about your stats? Those are extreme statements based on very little background information. Where did 1200 come from? And you totally did talk about exercising. Pshaw. She called your goals insane and implied that you would become mentally ill, but she didn't really bother to read what you had written. I would not listen to this woman's advice.

Try not to focus on the numbers, I agree. Two pounds a week sounds like a daunting goal.  But it totally sounds like your head is on straight. Make lots of friends on here and keep us posted! I promise most of the time people won't reply with an emphatic and negative rant. I wish you tons of luck!