Posts by debcowan

Holy Cow!!  After all these years!!  So happy I read this post, thanks for asking David!!

30 day Shred!

I'm the same way with certain foods.  Sometimes I can handle having them in the house, sometimes not.  There are a few things that I find do help if I do keep them in the house. 

1. Out of sight, out of mind.  If it's laying out on the counter I will want it all the time.
2. Pre-portion it into your serving size right away.  If it's a bag of chips for instance if it's a bag of chips put it in 10 little baggies (or however many it comes out to).  I'm less likely to take a second bag, but if I'm eating straight out of the bag it's easy to lose track of how many I've had, or just not care and keep eating. 
3. Buy smaller portions, even if it does cost more.  Yes, it's cheaper to buy a gallon of ice cream, but can I have that much at my finger tips?  Nope.
4. Share.  Buy a treat and bring it somewhere to share.  Leave the leftovers there. 

Hope this helps!!

I'd suggest that if you're in the healthy weight range of a BMI between 20 and 25 that you stop trying to lose weight completely and focus instead on loving the body you've actually got and looking after it as well as you can.  

First of all, well said.

My other half has a theory that every body has a certain "happy weight" and once we hit it, it will take HUGE effort to lose and that we will naturally maintain - if of course we stay active and eat sensibly.  Maybe you're at your happy weight? 

I know it's hard not to focus on the number and that this advice probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but wish you all  the best anyway!!

Original Post by freakybunny:

Don't shoot for your calorie limit everyday. Look up the zig zag method of weight loss. Basically, the zig zagging means eating an average number of calories per day. Some days you eat, say, 200 calories less than your limit, and some days you eat more. I saved up a few hundred calories for the week-end or for special occasions this way.

It keeps your body guessing (and burning like mad) and allows you to live life like the other humans do.

Good luck! I zig zagged my way from 251 to 154...you can too!

 

I'm with freakybunny on this one.  I am a huge fan of zig zagging.  HERE is a great site that helps you figure out the numbers. 

1. Take your time.  It's not a race.
2. Everything in moderation. 
3. It's a lifestyle change, not a diet.  
4. One bad day does not mean everything is down the toilet.  Start again, and again, and again.
5. Use the tools you have available, cc being a super valuable one.
6. Surround yourself with supportive people.  If you don't have them in "real life", cc is a great place to find support.
7. Set smaller goals so you get a sense of accomplishment.
8. Reward yourself.  Often.
9. Baby steps.
10. It's doable.

That's my best advice.  If you're looking for more specifics, feel free to ask!

I'm loving them roasted, but now I'm going to have to try them microwaved & soaked!!

Thanks everyone!!

No problem!  I tried 1200 at first too, even at a mere 5'6.5" it's not enough.  When I zig zag my calories I tend to get closer to 1200, but I know that there's a higher day coming and it's not so bad. 

Good Luck!

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

Where was anyone attacked by the cool kids?

Ah, sorry I used the term "cool" sarcastically.  I meant the chat regulars, who I've seen (over the last three years, so no I'm not going to go back and find you examples) mock and belittle people for even asking a question that has been asked (yes, a million times) before when in fact they probably asked it themselves when they were new. 

And at this point I'm leaving.  Not because I "can't back myself up" but because I just can't be bothered.  Happy calorie counting!!

I agree with upping the calories.  For my body anyway, I find that I don't lose much if I go crazy with exercise for some reason.  My body loses more when I exercise in moderation and pay more attention to the calories in.  That's just me though, everyone's body works differently I suppose.  

Have you ever tried zig zagging your calories?  This site here will first give you a guideline for how many calories to eat for Maintenance, Fat Loss and Extreme Fat Loss (not recommended by the site or by me).  Then you can click an extra option for it to give you a weekly zig zagging breakdown.  It's something that my body really responded too and also something that works for me because even if the low days seem hard, I know there's a higher day coming.  I've used it to lose these last stubborn pounds and I think I will keep doing it for maintenance because it just seems to work well for me.