I'm a 20 year old college student looking to lose about 30 pounds, at a starting weight of 163. My big problem is that I quickly lose focus of things, and never manage to stick to any goals past the first few days. I don't feel like this is something I can discuss with my parents or friends, so I'm looking for a buddy who can help me stay in line and who I could hopefully help as well in return. :)
Let me know if you're interested.
I think 1400 is probably perfect for you...what does your CC counter suggest? As far as the water YES it will help you lose weight. You want to drink an ounce for every two lbs you weigh. So if you're still at 156lbs that's about 80 ounces or 4 of those nice vending size water bottles, per day - more if you're exercising. You're about a half a liter away from that goal! Excellent!
As far as plateaus, many of the suggestions I've read involve changing up your exercise schedule. Instead of doing running/cycling/eliptical - try some strength training instead (this will tone you up, and toning muscles will help you burn more calories), or try to add some more resistance to the machine you're using or look into HIIT - High Intensity Interval Training (I think that's what it stands for - search for it in the forums and I'm sure someone can give you some ideas). Shock your body!
Keep going everyone! We can do it!!
WOOHOO! So I've been really bad this week... things have been crazy and I've been so exhausted and sleep-deprived that I didn't go to the gym for an entire week (I'm such a klutz that going when I'm that tired could actually be dangerous) and was an average of 250 calories over my goal each day. (That's still less than I burn each day though.) I also don't have a scale at home: this is on purpose, so I HAVE to go to the gym to find out my weight and can't check it several times a day. I've been worrying about this for a few days now, and I finally went today and weighed in before my workout. I was wincing as I stepped onto the scale, irrationally convinced that I'd somehow gained. To my complete shock, I am actually DOWN by 2.8 pounds since last Saturday!!! And despite skipping an entire week, my workout went even better than the last one. I spent almost 10 minutes more on the elliptical than usual!
Lesson learned: screwing up now and then doesn't necessarily mean you'll gain or that you'll lose ground on workouts. Either way, it's not worth losing sleep over it! 
Hang in there everyone, we can do this!
Good going, elune!
Another one of my problems is that I always give into my cravings and once I start eating, it's hard for me to stop because I never feel full.
I'd really like some people to talk about this stuff because I don't know anyone that understands. It's so hard right now. I'm a very happy person and everything in my life is great. It's just my weight that's my problem.
Hey Jessica! Glad you found us.
Cravings are sooooooo tough! One thing I do is I buy a bunch of flavors of tea, and make myself a cup when I get some kind of craving. My favorite is Market Spice, which is awesome when you're craving something sweet or sweet-spicy. It's naturally sweet and has no more calories than any normal unsweetened tea. I'm also finding that it helps if I reduce the size of my meals and add snacks between, or just spread out each meal: e.g. meat or main dish first, wait until I get a bit hungry and then have veggies, wait a bit longer and have fruit... which reminds me, I should go get that broccoli about now.
If you don't mind my asking, how tall are you? I'm curious because 110 sounds a bit low in general... I know everyone's different though, so it might be a reasonable goal.
btw, have added you to my friends.
Original Post by princessjess54:I HAVE THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM! The best suggestion I have, is to not look out for when you feel full, but when you don't feel completely hungry anymore. That's what I try to do...?
Another one of my problems is that I always give into my cravings and once I start eating, it's hard for me to stop because I never feel full.
Hi Jess! I'm a Jes, too! We're everywhere!
You'll find a lot of great information about how many calories you need to take in in order to lose weight, and how much you need to exercise, etc etc.
I think the biggest thing I've learned that has helped me stay motivated, is that it needs to be a complete lifestyle makeover...which meant, completely ridding myself *edit run on sentence* of the cookies, ranch dressing, and ridiculous portions that populated my meals (and my cupboards). Also, make sure that your friends are supportive or your new choices and not lifestyle saboteurs. And realize that there are SO MANY helpful people on this website ready to be your supportive, knowledgeable friend!
Good luck, and I hope you keep us updated on your progress!
I HAVE THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM! The best suggestion I have, is to not look out for when you feel full, but when you don't feel completely hungry anymore. That's what I try to do...?
I've read about an asian society whose lifespan is several years higher than those around, because they have this belief you need to eat at 80% of your capacity. You'll later feel full, that is, when your stomach's hormones reach your brain to tell it's full and has all it needs. Takes about 15 minutes.
Lots of us eat up to 120% of our capacity, because we wait to be feeling full (or over-full!) to stop eating. I guess the '' when you feel full, but when you don't feel completely hungry anymore '' falls into the 80%. Which would apparently be a good thing to put in application.
Dunno how much of that research is true, haven't looked up at the way it's been done, but accurate or not, it still means we should all try to banish over-eating from our habits! (no matter how hard it is :[)I usualy keep vegetables at hand in the fridge, so whenever I REALLY want to eat something, and can't seem to stop, I grab the bag and eat vegetables. Works for me, and I prefer having a stomach full of veggies than a stomach full of whatever-I-was-craving-for (usualy not very healty stuff :( ).
Original Post by princessjess54:
Like I'll be supermotivated for awhile, then suddenly I'll stop and not care anymore.
I'm totaly like that! I'll be super motivated and then stop because I get overfed with my exercise routine, or because results aren't coming as fast as I'd want them to (and I'll tell myself '' well...I like myself the way I am...so why try to loose weight? and...studies...''). I've found setting little goals help me keep focus on my main goal... Like loosing 1lb a week, going to the gym four times this week... I also challenge myself (trying to squeeze in a 500 cals exercise routine within my 45 minutes lunch time)...
I also study while walking on the treadmill... and can burn up to 400 cals without really noticing it...it's just like taking a 1h30 walk! So I still exercise on the days I can't go to the gym, or to the pool.
I've decided that I'm going to make Sunday's my free days, where I can eat whatever I want and that the rest of the week I'm going to watch what I eat. I've heard of some diets that work like that but I'm not sure how well they work. I'm not even that sure if I can follow it myself. What do you guys think about this?
My diet is really bad right now and I don't know how I'm going to change it to make it better. Everyday I start off with a package of one of those nature valley granola bars, then if I'm at school I'll have a bagel or if I'm at home I'll have a big bowl of pasta, then Ill have a carmel apple as a snack in afternoon and at night. For dinner, I'll eat what my dad makes, probably something with meat and rice or take-out and then I'll probably eat another granola bar again afterwards. I usually drink a bottle of vitamin water everyday too.
I think I can stop eating dinner with my family and just eating a lean cuisine instead but I don't know what to do about the other stuff. They say to eat healthy stuff but what if, when you do eat healthy stuff, you eat too much of it. Like when you eat a whole bowl of grapes and 6 plums at one time. That's what I do. I'd tried to watch what I ate and I would eat fruit if I was hungry but I'd just over eat the fruit and then I gain weight because of that. I don't know what I should do.
As far as the big bowl of pasta...I'd suggest keeping measuring cups handy. I'm amazed at how full I get after my favorite new dinner:
1 serving of whole wheat ravioli (9 pieces)
1 package of spinach, mixed with garlic, and spices - (sometimes I add mushrooms and artichokes, too...yum!)
1/2 cup of spaghetti sauce.
= 500 calories
Try to plan what you're going to eat the day before and see if that helps. Let your dad know that you're wanting smaller portions and only one portion - perhaps he can help by limiting the amount of food he puts on your plate? (Just don't get up and get a second plate if you can help it).
You might also need to balance your diet a bit better. You might get hungry and eat an entire bowl of grapes and 6 plums (that's way better than eating an entire bag of potato chips, btw), because you're not getting enough protein and other good stuff elsewhere throughout your day. Write everything down that you eat tomorrow...and enter it into your food log on CC. Shoot for mostly A's and B's. Shoot for at least 1200 calories. And drink as much water as you can possibly manage. Try to drink an ounce of water for two lbs that you weigh! You'll see tons of results with that.
Let us know how you do Jess!
Original Post by princessjess54:
Everyday I start off with a package of one of those nature valley granola bars, then if I'm at school I'll have a bagel or if I'm at home I'll have a big bowl of pasta, then Ill have a carmel apple as a snack in afternoon and at night. For dinner, I'll eat what my dad makes, probably something with meat and rice or take-out and then I'll probably eat another granola bar again afterwards. I usually drink a bottle of vitamin water everyday too.
First, try to stay away from what I call '' made-up products '' (store's muffins, bars, cookies, sanwhiches, already cooked meals) and all these little snack we can just grab off the shelf... They tend to contain a lot of sugar (sometimes up to 16g!) and sugar ends up as carb in your body, and then fat. Bake home-made muffins, cookies, even granola bars! Using less sugar (in every recipe you can cut sugar by half without altering the taste), less fat (switch butter for plain low-fat yogourt), and better ingredients (wheat flour, oatmeal). Speaking of oatmeal, you could take a hot bowl of oatmeal as your evening snack instead of a granola bar after dinner. It contains less calories, less sugar, and tastes as good :) (you can put apple pieces, makes like a crustade).
Second, try to avoid bagels, they contain =a lot= of calories and carbs for nothing, usually from 300 to 500 calories (the lowest I've found was 250cals!), while two toasts range from 110 to 200 cals. Take wheat products as well, it contains less sugar, and is better for your health. Try to take a piece of cheese, or a tbs of peanut butter, an egg,... well, anything that counts as a protein, during your breakfast. It will make you last 'til the next meal.
Instead of a caramel appel as a morning snack, why nut grab a couple of nuts? They're full of protein and will cut your hunger, and binges. It will help you get to lunch without wanting to eat every food passing under your nose :)
You should try to avoid carbs for lunch, since you're already eating carbs in the morning twice (granola bar/oatmeal & bagel/bread). Take a salad as an entree, peppers or any other vegetable, and eat them before your main course, it will fill you up a little and you will eat less of wathever's left to eat. Vegetables brings essential nutrients and are low-cal, which make them the perfect side dishes. :)
You can eat tuna, beans, salad with cheese, salad with nuts, any meat, ... Eat a fruit or two for desserts.
As dornroschen wrote, you can ask your dad to order smaller dinner portion sizes, or only eat one plate (if you,re still hungry, eat veggies! :-)). Try to measure what you eat...
One portion =
pastas : 3/4 cup (around 300 cals)
meat : 1/2 cup (around 200 to 300 cals)
rice : 1/2 cup (around 120 cals)
oatmeal : 1/2 cup (around 150 cals)
Fruits are usually 60 cals for 1 cup, or 70 cals for a medium apple-peach-etc, well, you've got the calorie counter at hand ! :)
Get your apple and caramel as dessert, or as evening snack, munch on fruits... And drink more than one bottle of water! (I totally understand how hard that is...)
It's a question of balance, good luck and hope it helps!
why nut grab a couple of nuts?
Ha! Did you mean to do that?...if so, you're awesome!
You're still awesome if you didn't, 'cause that was an awesome post!
Thanks, but I must admit I didn't mean it 
so bad for my reputation, haha.
Hmmm...I've got this problem lately I'm not eating enough (850 cals, 940 cals, 1000 cals), and yet I don't feel hungry. I guess having very little time to eat at work (20 minutes) does not help at all -- I barely have time to eat a salad! (and a salad for lunch is a pleasure I can't refuse myself...I just love salad :s)
It's 9h20 pm, and I've eaten about...1050 cals, and that implies 200 cals I just put up as '' munch munch munch '' in the calorie counter -- basically, just the calories I think I've eaten by taking one spoonful (only one!) in the frozen yogurt my mom was eating, or taking a bite in my sister's piece of bread, and couple of extra grapes (they were just lying on the counter).
Which reminds me of another of my dieting problems : if food's on the counter, I'll tend to eat it...just a mouthful or two...but, it's still a calorie or two isn't it! Which is why I'm very strict at the food store, I just don't buy it, so I'm not tempted by it, and it's easier to look away in a store alley, than when the box is in my kitchen! But then...food on the counter? Awww...can't leave it all alone like that!
As far as the counter problem...I think that's very healthy as long as you're making room for it in your calories. As long as you're realizing your doing it and not making excuses or forgetting to count them, and as long as you're not eating an entire pint of ice cream because it's sitting lonely on the counter. :o) I think that's an okay thing to do. I bet that would help with cravings/binging a bit!
PS...have you tried to add different lettuces and toppings into your salad? Fresh baby spinach, Mushrooms, bean sprouts, almonds, walnuts?
These seem like things that you've probably already tried, sorry if I'm not being much of a help! I'm trying!
ok weight loss mom lol. is someone going to stop me from eating this delicious sandwitch before bed?? no?? ok then lol i'm hungryyyy but i havn'ty eaten much today.. I starve all through work so i can have lunch with my boyfriend and then i'm so worried about running out of calories that i don't eat much and then i HAVE to eat before bed... its kind of like being afraid you won't get full so ordering the BIGGEST thing on a menu... and then going uhhh i ate too much... but in reverse. I anyone doing anything to excersize?
(p.s.) thanks for letting me join the group lol
Okay Claire! Here's the plan:
1. At night, plan out your menu for tomorrow from beginning to end. How many calories does calorie count say you should be taking in? Plan for healthy snacks like fruit, veggies, high fiber/whole grains, and low-fat dairy products like yogurt.
BREAKFAST - high protein! - peanut butter spread on an english muffin was what I started out with. Add a half of banana and you should be feelin' pretty full until snack time.
I'm not much of a snacker...I usually can make it from meal to meal without a snack. Good snacks are: carrots, raisins, crackers, healthy granola bars, etc.
LUNCH - I know you usually go out with your boyfriend - perhaps you can both pack a lunch at least a couple days a week and go have a picnic - if it's too cold where you are - take it to the mall, or somewhere that will let you bring food indoors. If you usually eat sandwiches, take HALF a sandwich. Take some non-fat yogurt, some strawberries, some celery with 1 Tbsp of Peanut butter - that's about 400 or so calories (don't quote me on it, enter it into the CC thinger and see for sure).
DINNER - For me this was the rough part. Get some measuring cups, check the back of packages, get yourself used to what an actual "serving" is. Keep an eye on your portions. You should have at least 600 cals to play around with. Split it up, if you know you're going to get hungry later....eat a little 300 calorie meal at 5pm. Go for a walk, do whatever, and have another 300 calorie meal.
POINTERS - Whole grains, lots of fiber, lots of fruit and vegetables, half your body weight (in ounces) of water every day. I weigh 204 lbs, so I drink 102 ounces of water on a daily basis. keep an eye on your saturated fat intake. Believe me, I'm a ranch dressing addict. I loved it on everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) - except salads. I haven't had ranch dressing for nearly a month now. If I can do that, you can do anything!
EXERCISE - It doesn't take much of a change in lifestyle in order to see a difference. If you just start using the upstairs bathroom instead of the one on your floor...if you park as far away from the doors to the grocery store as you can and walk...if you take the stairs instead of the elevator. You'll see a difference.
** You're young! If your family is the supportive type...get them involved. Let them know that you are trying to control your portions and I'm sure they'll do their best to help you out.
lol that would probably be the way to do it! I'm going to have to start trying to pack al breakfast for work. I like the lunch part... 6 inch turkey on white with lettuce.... 280 cals or something... and it fills me up (subway, were big fans) The sandwitch was yummy last night.. and much needed... today I ate a foot long sub (turkey on white with lettuce) spread out throught the day and then we went out with my mans mom... and we... umm.. sorta had... the BUFFET! oh it was sooo good... I grabbed a BIG salad so i wouldn't be too hungry for the greasy greasy food.. and then had mainly mashed potatoes and dinner rolls.. and then... i.. umm.. had a slice of cheesecake... but OMG if you tasted it you would understand.. .they were more like quarter slices anyhow... but its ok... I need a little sweets sometimes or i go nuts.. but i stuck to the water all day (last time she made me have pop cause i was drooling over it) and had fun.
I'm doing Tae-Bo 3 times a week at least... trying anyhow... i started at being able to get 7 miuntes through the video.. now i can get 27 yay me... because i'm a valet addict and i have no upstairs bathroom.. but i love the taebo... its fun and gets me really sweating.. i just wish i didn't look so retarded doing it!!! I have kind of sworn off peanut butter... its so calorie packed.. and i like peanut butter and i mean LOTS... so i let it go.. no sence putting 1000 cals of peanut butter on a sandwitch when ican have the sugar free jam that tastes like regular to me at 10 cals a tbl. I do have nuts sometimes.. i like the trail mix with the dried fruit. and i eat a lot of protine.... I'm a meats and potatoes girl so besides subway and crystal light most of my cals go there (we have a quarter cow in our freezer... gotta use it). I also eat eggs.. but just the whites..and i make them in a freezer bag (boil water and put uncooked eggs in freezer bag, drop them in boiling water.. they cook and voila! no cals added in cooking) . I also eat a lot of Melba toast and tuna.. great snack!
I don't live near my family.. they are in Minnesota and I am in Wisconsin.. because thats where my boyfriend is.. yay. we've been together forever it seems.. about 3 years... and he like i said isn't totally supportive... but he tries... His family is pretty supportive! so thats good! Thanks for all the tips
I love bagels. When I'm at school, I have to have a bagel at least twice a week. But they do have tons of calories and they're full of carbs. But they just call on me and I can't resist them. Plus, that is one of the only things they sell that is not junk food at my school. I've tried to avoid buying the bagel and bring granola bars instead but is that a good alternative?
I'm trying really hard to change my bad habits and listen to all the great advice here but I'm still not getting there. When I woke up this morning I had a morning binge then I went to school and had a bagel. Then I came home and had a carmel apple and a peice of cake. I'm thankful that my dad is supportive of me losing weight because he stopped me from eating another peice of cake. I was proud of myself for one thing, I was able to control myself at dinner. Instead of eating a whole steak, I ate half of it and gave the other half to my dog and I skipped the rice. Then I went and worked out for an hour and I haven't worked out in a few days so it felt really good to do that. Right now I really want some ice cream but I think I'm just going to have a bananna instead.
Tomarrow, I hope I improve a little bit more!
Hello princessjess :)
You don't have to cut --all-- of it. If bagel means life to you, why not have it well, twice a week? And try to bring bread from home instead of a granola bar the other days? (or look for granola bars with very little sugar...if you really must have one). You also don't have to change just -everything- all at once! When having a bagel, try to eat no other carbs for the day, or very little (by no carbs I mostly mean, no pastas, no rice!).
See, it is a matter of progress...if you make too many changes, I fear you'll end up just dropping the whole thing. I've been dieting most of my life (my mother went on weight watchers when I was 7 years old and brought the whole family on the weight loss plan --)...and it took me years to learn how to eat properly! I'm just saying...this is all a matter of progress, of constant learning, and constant improvement.
Lately, it took me a whole month to ''teach my body'' not to binge between lunch and dinner ;).
Going back to the '' bagel case '' :), you can also eat only half of a bagel...thrice a week? Less calories, less carbs, and same great taste :)
Also, why not set up a '' binge day '' where you can eat one dessert after dinner, wether caramel apple or piece of cake (but very little!). But only one! And one piece! This will help you diet, and look foward your binge day (usually not the day before the day you go up the scale).
My mother weights herself on friday mornings, and gets herself a dessert on sundays. The treat is much more tastier, as you get to eat it less often, and one piece will fill your tummy like no other dessert has done before! You'll then be able to get only one binge '' evening '' per two weeks...then once per three weeks...and up to one point, it'll become sort of an habit to learn when it's okay to cheat, and when it's time to stick to the diet.
Also, try to replace your caramel appel with less sugar-hich and calorie-high desserts/snacks (made-up apple crustade, Jell-o fat free pudding (80 cals per portion...), etc.) If you want recipes, I can always put up some of mine.
But most of all...go to your own rythm, listen to your body, and, don't go from one side of the fence (eating anything at any hour of the day) to the other side (eating nothing, very strict diet). You need to find your own middle soft dieting spot. :) If that makes any sense at all.....hehe :)
Give me good news or bad news...just give me news!
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