How "YOU" are doing it... discuss

Questions and Answers........ Lets hear them!!!!

How are each of you losing your weight? Typical weight loss info.. your way! If its working for you we want to hear it.. it may work for someone else that doesnt know these ideas? Sum it up, and we can email you if we have more questions that require alot of detail.. but lets get our minds flowing!

My story: I have lost 100+ lbs since Jan 07

I generally eat 6 times a day..... smaller meals... I do not eat any processed foods besides yogurt & bran buds. 

I eat lots of fruits, veggies, and lean meats but I DO AVOID MOST CARBS.... I eat healthy carbs in fruit & veggies.. but I eat turkey wraps with Romaine Lettuce as my outer shell instead of a pita or wheat bread. I try not to get my CALORIES from processed foods. Drink lots of water.. I only allow myself ONE NON-WATER drink a day.. and its usually yes... a lipton green tea....

And I exercise... I "USED" to go to they gym daily and it shows when I dont. I have been losing still, but not the amount that I was. I have been on vacations every other week ( mini vacay's 4 day weekends) but never the less alot of planning and preparing... But I have been more active doing summer activities... I am still losing .. How about you?

Hello! I've lost 91 lbs so far, and when I finally reach my goal I will have lost 105 lbs total. I started in 2002, and I would set a goal of 20 lbs for myself and get to that goal, and maintain it. After a while I would decide it was time to lose another 20 and that is how I got to where I am today. I believe that everyone must find a diet they can live with for the rest of their lives, and make it fit them. Turn it into your own diet by making changes, and making it fit your life. I still see myself as that 235 lb person, and I believe that keeps me humble- and it keeps me on the right track. So I am now trying to get to my overall goal, which I am 14 lbs away from- Fingers crossed I get there! The loss gets so slow when you are so close!

I've lost about 20lbs in 3 months, and this is WITH a full time sedentary, cubicle desk position! I eat 4-6 times a day, depending on how hungry I am. Usually it's 200 calories per snack, 300-500 calories per actual meal. I drink at least 64oz of water, even when I don't want to, I force myself to.

I work out 1 hr 3-5 times a week and I have been losing 1-2lbs per week, however, this week I haven't gone to the gym for 5 days and I've lost 4lbs. =)

I eat anything and everything, whatever my heart desires. I try to stay away from fast food and sweets and stuff that I KNOW is not healthy, but if I want it, I won't say "no" unless I find myself wanting it on a regular basis. Last week I had a double cheeseburger AND a McChicken sandwich from Mcdonalds and still managed to lose 4lbs in one week. We'll see how permanent that is though lol

Six small meals a day...

I allow myself 1200 cals, 300 cals for each meal, 100 cals for each snack.

I get on my ab lounge every morning (wonderful) and I also go for 1 mile walks 5 nights a week about an hour after my last meal.

I drink tons of water!

I have lost 9 lbs already and have had my new lifestyle for about 2.5 weeks.  Pretty good!

gmansbutterfly~~ I know what your saying about the difficult... here is a post i got on info about how to get it moving again when your "ALMOST THERE"

A MUST READ .......... I promise look at the posts following!!

Mz~~ you can read that article too. its explains why yourr body needs different things.... I had that happen to me several times.. I ate a chicken wrap from mcdonalds.. no dressing for a total of 200 cal.. i thought not too bad.. we were out and about and I was hungry... I had an apple with me, but I dropped it off my lap outside the car and then kicked it getting out... so BYE BYE Snack... but mine stayed off.. I think your body needs a change every once in awahile... not daily though! Keep up the good work ladies..

I still have 80 lbs to lose that still seems like a feat for me! Im trying!

I have lost 30lbs so far, I keep it basic a good solid breakfast, light lunch, decent sized dinner. If i snack inbetween its a fruit or veggie something very light on the cals. I work out a few times a week sometimes its cardio other times its conditioning exercises. I take weeks off where I dont exercise at all. I have a cheat meal everyweek and a cheat snack once a week. I have found completley depriving myself has lead to binging and losing all control of my diet. So far so good I will mix it up as i go on with how i respond with my weightloss.

angie~~ Thanks.. thats what I have been noticing.. if I deprive myself..... I want it that much more..... I havent wanted bread.... and I havent had bread in 8 months now... but I miss Orange sherbert ice cream... Only when Im making a cone for the kids does it tempt me.... and M & M's I really dont like chocolate.. but during TTOM I struggle...... GOOD POST ANGIE thanks

Trisha, whatever you are doing is obviously working I just find it for me if im going to be able to do this longterm life commitment i got to have some cheatdays treatdays. Its just unimaginable for me to even think tht I couldnt have one piece of cake on my bday or on my kids bdays it would hurt family members and I think indulging a bit is sometimes the easiest way to stick with something longterm.

 I still know I can have something in moderation and be able to keep on losing the weight and to be able to maintain once im their. I love the fact that yes i changed my lifestyle but I dont have to deprive myself of every fattening sugary thing I still can have this just not real often and certainly not making it part of my daily plan.

angie~~ Thanks... I "Think" I  know I can really have whatever I want. I tell peopel that in my journey... But I think my willpower has not yet failed me to want to have what I want.. No pizza for 8 months... thats like unheard of for me.. I had it AT LEAST 2 days a week. But I have managed... I do GREAT if its not around me.. or I dont smell it... Sounds weird but true.... My birthday will be coming up..... I will decide then I guess. I know my life time change, and I can see it.. Brown Rice, Wheat patsa ect... but I choose NOT to eat any of that I guess to lose my weight faster. I want to hit my goal..... being healthy.... and then corporate change. Is that bad? This is my thinking.. I dont want to be blindsided.....tell me what you think?

My story, I am a 21 year old college senior who is 6'1" and went from 175 to 215 in the first year of college because of severe homesickness and depression. At the beginning of this summer, I decided enough-is-enough and have been loosing weight ever since. In the past 3 months I have lost 22 lbs and am feeling better then ever. My strategy is to watch what I eat very closely during the week. I usually eat between 1600-1800 cal 5 days a week and on the weekends I don't count calories (not exactly but roughly) and I try to eat sensibly while going out with my friends. Having options like salads and grilled chicken or fish instead of a fat filled hamburger and I have nixed fries all together. Another trick of mine is to work in a small dessert or two (a 100 cal pudding cup, small scoop  of lowfat ice cream, or an all fruit popsicle) every day to avoid cravings that lead to binging.

I also eat 3 small meals and 3 large snacks every day to deafen the call of the vending machine where i work

I have lost close to 80lbs so far, and I started last Dec with the birth of my baby girl at 237lbs!  The biggest thing for me was the realization that weight loss takes time.  I am not a patient person, and this was hard to realize.  But, eating around 1500-1700 cals, and excersising 4-5 times a week got me down to 185lbs in April. 

Then I hit the ever dreaded plateau!  I decided to change my workout, and basically freak out my body by ordering SLIM IN SIX.  It is a 6 week program that focuses on resistance training.  After the 6 weeks I lost 15lbs!!  WOOT!

Since then, I have lost another 10lbs by doing some of the gym classes that are offered at my gym.  I am at 161lbs now.  25lbs to go!!  :)

rae~~ Good job on your loss & progress...... BAD VENDING MACHINE!!! Im glad I dont have one of them to fight with... Im bigger lol... I'd win!!!

crazi~~ GREAT JOB..... 80 lbs is Excellent...... I am with you on the patient part!!!

Hi everyone! Congrats on all your successes!

I'm 27, 5'8, and have lost almost 14 pounds since May when I actually started trying to lose weight again. I have started lifting weights over the past couple months so I know the scale doesn't really reflect the progress I'm making. My waist have gone from 38" to 32" and I'd like to get that down a few more before my wedding in November.

I try to balance my diet and eat a variety of foods. I eat 3 meals a day with 2 small snacks, like an apple or hummus and crackers. I eat between 1350 and 1500 a day, lift weights 3 x's a week, and do cardio on the days I don't lift (although I have been slacking lately). I also try to drink 3qts of water a day, at least. I eat a lot of soy products and the water helps counteract all the sodium. I eat fish but no other meat, which isn't part of any particular diet plan but is a lifestyle choice I have always had.

I've also cut back on alcohol, and it has helped a lot.

Trisha, the willpower plays the most important role in this weightloss journey. I agree with all that you have said but i do believe in portion control congrats to u for not giving into pizza temptations but do you really think you can stick to never eating pizza again ever in your lifetime? If you can i applaud you but for me it would never work out I like pizza I eat every now and then and will continue to do so. I feel like eating what you like but very small portions is the key depriving ones self of everything that you once loved to me is likely meaning i will pack it all back on at some point.

What works for one person doesnt always work for the next. This works for me but for you or anyone else completely cutting things out works best. I hope you continue on cause you ROCK girly and it shows in your before and after pics.

angie~~ No I couldnt live forever withoutit... I DONT WANT TO... but my way of thinking is... the longer I go without it the better.... then add it back occasionally... Not all at once... I know the whole once you hit your goal weight you cant say.. Ok I did it... and then eat whatever...   I just stayed away from it so that I wasnt eating prcessed foods in the beggining and now I  HAVE had the willpower..... Am I setrting myself up for disaster? DO you see something Im missing tell me? I .. in my brain... am figuring thatI will add a slice her and there with a salad one evening and incorporate it that way...... I already have the plan to not have more than one slice available to me as to not over eat!!!!

Hi, all...you are all inspirations! I'm doing Weight Watchers, eating 5 small meals every 3 hours and making sure I get plenty of protein so I won't get hungry. I use the WW and South Beach healthy eating guidelines - lean protein, fresh produce and whole grains. I like the 35 "bonus" points idea from the WW Turnaround Program. Once a week, for one meal, I can eat pretty much whatever I want and still be fine. At least, it has worked that way for the last 3 weeks. I've lost 7 pounds (down from 220 to 213)...it's a start!

I think the 35 "anytime" points allowed each week on the plan is a safety valve for me.  For example, I was able to quit smoking because a 24 hour grocery opened a few blocks from my house. The idea of going without cigarettes scared me but I knew I had car keys and a credit card and, if I really needed them, I could get cigarettes anytime I wanted. The idea of sticking to a plan that must necessarily limit portions of beloved foods (ice cream, potato chips and dip, etc.) was also frightening until I realized the 35 "anytime" points gives me a weekly splurge. That's what's been making it possible for me to stick with this so that I think I can make healthy eating a lifestyle and not a punishment for being fat.

I love reading about other people's strategies and struggles...it makes me forget to feel deprived!  Thanks to all of you! :-)  Jane

I just figured out yesterday that the trick (for me - YMMV) is not to deny myself what I want, but to want less. Zen detachment-style.

I eat 1500 cals a day, don't exercise. Lost 32 lbs in past 3 months (5'8", SW 240, CW 208). Some days I go over, to maintenance cals. Some days I go way over (has been special occasions - trips to NYC).

Trick to not feeling deprived? Have what you love, sure, but don't forget to make yourself love what you have.

trustwomen~~ I like that!!!! Doesnt make it feel so grulling long!

I lost 119 pounds by having sugar free Jello or diet soda when I felt hungry... Bad, I know. I gained a good chunk of that weight back, though, and I am now trying to just get to my minimum healthy weight and stay there.