Slow-paced dieters? Let's rally!!

Hi everyone!  I've read so many threads where people are dieting quickly and eating like 1300 calories a day and stuff like that.  I've got a very slow-paced goal for myself.  I want to lose 63 pounds but plan on doing so over the next 23 months.  I'm in no rush and don't have the discipline to "crash diet". 

I'm consuming 1700-2000 calories a day and trying to work out 20-30 minutes/day but I'm REALLY bad at motivating myself to do that, especially during the August heat.  I'll be doing more bike riding as fall comes closer. 

So, who else out there is dieting slowly?  Who needs motivation to work out?  Let's get on each other's friends lists and start supporting each other.

I am with you with the slow paced dieting. I to can't do any type of crash diet. I am consuming around 2000-2100 and would like to get that down to 1800. So far since starting June 4th I have lost 1.2 pounds. I am working out three times a week and have lost inches, so I am seeing progress with that. This is hard but I am determined to make this a life style change rather then any kind of diet. I am 5'3" and 244 pounds right now. So at this rate it will take several years to reach my goal. That's ok, I will get there eventually. My first goal will be 180. Once I get there then I will decide if I want to get down to the 127 cc goal or something in the middle and pick 150. I am about a size 7 at 150 too and felt very comfortable at that weight. Good luck too you!!

I would like to be on your friends list.  I can't seem to compete with these people who are eating so few calories a day.  My doctor wants me at 1400 calories a day but I haven't gotten there yet.  I have lost about 13 pounds so far but it has been very slow.  I am also 5'3" and this morning I weighed 244.  I am walking six or seven days a week and am now up to 2.2 miles which takes me an hour to do.  My doctor says go more miles and go faster.  I can't seem to do either.  I keep going every day but I don't seem to be making much progress.  I sorely need some motivation.

Wow -- we really are in a minority, aren't we?   I agree with all of you that slow and steady is the only way to lose weight safely and permanently. 

Sounds like your doctor doesn't quite share your headspace.  A lot of doctors don't know anything about nutrition, oddly enough, and still fewer nutritionists know anything about exercise.  To keep that engine revving you need to push a lot of calories through it -- esp lean protein so you don't lose too much muscle mass. 

Gee, Sadie's mom.. sounds like if you're walking for a whole hour you're pushing yourself lots.  Your body might need a new challenge as it's gotten so good at walking for long periods - maybe adding a few hills or stairs in there so you can burn more calories w/o adding more minutes? 

Do you like doing strength training?  That can really revv up your metabolism to burn more calories for 24- 48 hours afterwards.  Simple bodyweight exercises are doable anywhere, and you can spread them throughout the day. 

There are so many fun things to do that burn the same number of calories as walking... In crappy weather I sometimes make up some kind of crazy circuit to do at home.  We bought Dance Dance Revolution and I was huffing and puffing trying that!  It's all calories in/out, right?  

I share your difficulty with being patient and waiting for results that seem to come so slowly --- and exercising through things like work stress, family committments and injury. 

The main thing is, you're getting outside and eating well and that's a gift to your self and your family.  Focus on your amazing achievements so far, forget about the scale or the timelines.

You're doing great!!! 

:oD

Tara in Canada

Me too! I did it REALLY fast once... didn't "stick" *lol*... so now I'm 1600-1800 calories a day most days.

 I do workout A LOT... but that's just because I like it (6-7 days a week/ 1-2 hours/weight training three times a week... cardio every day.)

If I'm still this weight next year... I'm good!   *lol*... I'll be healthier and look better... but mostly it's about how good I feel... and on 1200 calories I was just MUCH too hungry... so my weight loss is SLOW and sporadic... generallyI lose like 3 pounds in one week... and then go 3 with nothing... so I'm averaging 1 a week.

I'm adding all of you to my friends list and hope you'll do the same.  Let's check each other's journals and send regular support messages.  We'll all be better off in the long run if we take our time.  I can't believe your doctor would suggest such a small amount of calories, sadiesmom.  I've read that anything under 1700 calories/day just isn't healthy!  I think I heard that from Dr. Oz on Oprah but I'm not certain on that. 

Alright folks, let's pace ourselves and do this well and do it together!!

Looks like we're also all in the 5'3" club!  I added all of you to my friends list and promise to stay in regular contact. 

A few things I've been trying the last week that have helped:

• lifting weights while watching tv (2 lb. hand weights)
  
• doing leg lifts when I'm lying down on the couch or in bed, even if it's just for 5 minutes
• slowly expanding and contracting my stomach muscles (I guess it would be considered a form of a stomach crunch) and gluds while I'm sitting down or lying down

I've also found that in any given week, my weight loss is much better if I consume AT LEAST 64 oz. of water/day and 25-30 g. of fiber/day.  Those seem to be the major factors for me. 

I'm also seeing some more tone to my stomach which is exciting.  I'm nearing the point where I can see my boobs overlap where my tummy hangs out.  Five more pounds and I probably won't be able to see my gut!!

I was around 224 when I started dieting (June) and 220.5 when I started on CC (July 10th).  I'm now down to 212.5 and couldn't be happier or more proud of myself.  This is definitely the longest I've ever committed to dieting.

Also, a friend of mine recently had a bone density scan and found out that her skeleton alone weighed 120 lbs.  I'm not suggesting everyone run out and get the test done unless your insurance covers it but that's made a big deal for her with dieting.  She knows now that if she weighed less than 170 or thereabouts (she's quite tall, about 5'8") she would LITERALLY be just skin and bones.  I think that knowledge has given her a better self image.  So keep in mind, ideal weights don't help if you have strong bones and a "heavy" skeleton.

That's not very slow kthompson!!!  *lol*  I'm not part of the 5'3 club :-( I'm 5'8... hopefully you'll still let me be in your group...

Did you know that the rule of thumb for dieting and water is to drink half your weight in ounces... so I'm 233... that means that I should be drinking 115 oz a day... and even MORE than than for working out and when it's extra hot or extra cold.

I know it SOUNDS like a ton, but my trick is that I fill a gallon jug every day... and I have water by me all day long...  I take the gallon and pour it into a one liter bottle... and I carry that with me EVERYWHERE all day... I make sure I always have water next to me.

I had a "party" weekend last weekend... ate just fine... but drank two bottles of wine, so I'm still flushing the toxins out of my system, too... weight went back down somewhat today... it better stay there!!!

I'm trying to do it slow.  I think it was just the typical early dieting pounds that fell off and now I seem kinda stuck between 212-214 on any given day.  Also, I gave up pop and caffiene almost overnight (it's an occasional treat) and since I was having 20-40 oz. of regular soda a day, I'm fairly certain that contributed a LOT.

Half your weight in water, huh?  Guess I'd better start drinking more... water that is! 

And yes, we love you tall dieters as well.

I am so happy to have found this thread!  I am new to this forum and have found a lot of encouraging posts, but was surprised to see how many people severely restrict their calorie intake.  I am 41 years old (which sounds impossibly old to me!!  I still feel like I am about 20!) and I have lost 50 pounds 4 times in my life.  Each time I did it eating healthful foods (no "crash" diets) but very quickly, and each time I stopped I gained back about 80.  I hit my highest weight in my life after my most recent diet and started out this time at 325.  I could not believe I had gotten that high.  I am now down to 310.3 as of this morning! 

My doctor, who is surprisingly supportive, unlike every other doc I ever had, agreed that I should try to go very slowly this time.  The funny thing is that he then said "eat about 1200 calories a day."

Where did this one-size fits all approach to calories come from?  It's so wrong-headed.  And I think it has done crazy things to my metabolism over the years.  So I decided to figure out my BMR and eat around that each day.  Sometimes I don't get up that high and that's OK!  I have not started a regular exercise routine yet, but I am slowly incorporating more "movement" into my days and am going to start doing some exercise videos that I always used to enjoy. 

I TRULY believe, after dieting on and off for 33 years (yup, put myself on my first diet when I was 8!!) that doing it slowly is the only way to do it in a meaningful, sustainable way.  I feel like my body will get used to the gradual changes and won't have such a desperate desire to boomerang back after months of deprivation.

Thanks for listening!  And thank you for all the support you all give me each day with what you share!

:) Wendy

YAY Wendy!   I feel like we're in the same boat... I spent a LIFETIME of dieting... I remember packing lunches for school... dry tuna and pickles when I was in first grade.  Where I got the idea, I don't know!   My very supportive mother took me to a nutritionist...

and then a series of diets over the years... diet centers...  cabbage soup... and I always lost 50 pounds easily... and then I don't know WHAT happened... I TOLD people it was a lifetime thing... that I was changing forever... but in my mind, this big flashing "goal weight" always seemed to be what I REALLY cared about!

Then, the last time, I was just too huge... 343 pounds... and 32 years old... and MISERABLE, so I went to another program... highly restrictive 800 calories a day through the hospital... lost 169 pounds in 8 months... My hair fell out, my gall bladder had to be taken out... but there I was!   15 pounds above "GOAL WEIGHT!"  But my mind was not in it...

so here I am again...  and goal weight has become a thing of the past!  *lol*... Ijust want to be healthy for real and forever.

As far as your dr. goes... doctors know SURPRISINGLY little about actual nutrition/weight loss.  (Just like nutritionists can't really help you with good exercise plans).  I know I should be eating more calories than I do now (I do eat 1600-1700... but according to this site I SHOULD eat 2050 if I use their plan...  my plan is SLIGHTLY different... I'm eating at just under maintainence level for my "goal weight"... we'll see how that goes!)

Good job on the working out!  I started REALLY slowly with that, too...  I did water aerobics in the very beginning... EXCELLENT, low impact, no one notices you're sweaty!   But even just telling yourself you're going to march in place for 15 minutes while watching TV is effective... I'm kinda a workout NUT now... but this is three years later... Even when I gained back my 75 pounds, I never COMPLETELY stopped working out... I just like the way it makes me feel!

So congrats on your weight loss!!!!  Eventually (we are the slow losers here)... you'll be under 300 ... and NEVER go over again as long as you live... (I should have said that as FIRMLY to myself at 200 as I did at 300!  Maybe I wouldn't be here again!)

Oh, I'm so long winded!   Sorry!  I'll shut up now :-)

Wow!  Amazing stories, gals -- (I think we're all gals, ?) -- really inspiring!!

I'm 5'3" too! haha.. lots of us shorties out there...

It's true about the water -- we should all be drinking a whole lot -- in Canada it's 2 - 3 litres, which is about 70-100 ounces or something... no one in my family believes me, haha -- but when I'm relaly hydrated and eating lots of fibre, I feel way better, I don't retain water, and my skin looks better too.

Anyone taking supplements?  I take a few -- loving the fish oil!  That's crazy stuff -- makes your hair, nails, skin, etc.. really healthy. I also take calcium, a concentrated phytonutrient, iron, and glucosamine for joints.  I think you can get pretty much everything you need from food, however dieting and working out a lot put an extra stress on your body and I think a little nutritional support is a good idea.  What do you chix think?

I love the focus of this forum on overall health and sensible weight loss, not crash dieting and starving yourself.

It is so nice to see women who aren't talking about losing 100 pounds in six months and how much they work out in a day so that I get to feeling like I could never compete with them and just give up!

I did my 2.2 miles in 53 minutes this morning which was seven minutes faster than yesterday! I was quite proud of myself!  I was really huffing and puffing though.

I take a multivitamin every day.  I have done that for several years now and I think it helps a lot.  I wish I could find a way to get my water intake up.  I just don't like it.  I have tried several "tricks" to get myself to drink it but nothing seems to work.  I know all the benefits of it and I think I would feel better if I was drinking more but just can't seem to do it.

Food is my problem.  I can't seem to cut my calories near as much as I should.  I now eat on a salad plate and I use a child size fork and spoon.  That seems to help some.  I am trying to never take second helpings.  The scale has just been stuck for awhile and I am getting discouraged.  When I started this I told myself that I was doing it for my health and I wouldn't let the scale run my life but it is so hard not to want to see some progress.

Hope everyone has a great day.  Got to take my girlie girl shopping.

I do a few supplements... four fiber pills a day... (sooo personal, but I have NEVER been regular... like once every three days)... I eat PLENTY of whole grains, at least 7 servings of fruit/veggie a day... have no idea what the deal is!

I also do green tea supplement, calcium, and a multi-vitamin.. whatta load, huh?

sadiesmom...  logging calories BEFORE I eat seems to help me.  I log as much as I can think of for the entire day that I know I'm going to eat... then, and only then do I see if I have "wiggle" room...  If I do, I'm RARELY under calories by the end of the day.... I eat to fill 'em all!  (I have HUGE trouble believing some of these 300 pound women on other posts who say that they eat 1000 calories a day... they just aren't hungry... the exercise... and don't lose weight... AND have been to the doctor and have no thyroid problems or anything... I mean COME ON!   SERIOUSLY?  Am I REALLY meant to believe you became 300 pounds on 1000 calories a day?  I know for me it took apx. 6000 calories a day to reach 300 pounds... and ALL in garbage!!!!)

I'm still hungry some days, too...  but I eat my veggies FIRST when I'm going to have a meal... or for a snack... because I know if I overeat on those... no big whoop... I LITERALLY had 3 cups of steamed squash last night.. that's a LOT of food... but only 75 calories...

Hunger sucks!!!  My husband crash-dieted and lost 100 pounds in 6 months by eating like a girl and working out for hours every day -- u n h e a l t h y --... he said it was the worst experience of his life, (he probably lost tons of muscle mass too) but b/c of that experience, he decided to learn everything he could about food.  Now he can eat about 1000 cal's MORE a day than he did when he was heavy -- just better foods, with more fibre, more protein, etc.. Now I'm inspired to learn all of this stuff too, and I feel so healthy from the changes I've made so far!!  I think there's more to losing weight than just 'not eating' -- it's very individual, and a bit complicated, but we are all on the right track trying to understand what works for us...

This is my first time really counting calories and it's quite an eye-opener!  I used to just 'ballpark' it -- and I'm not that far off, but it's amazing how a little extra of this and that can really add up fast!  I agree that adding up some planned meals in advance helps me make choices that allow me to keep room for some of my favorite foods.. like a little teensy bit of dark chocolate... just a little..

Filling up on vegetables and fruits first is an awesome idea too.

My blood sugar crashes very easily, so I consume quite a high-protein diet. (like, 40-50% carbs, 25/25 or 30/20 protein/fat). (I eat about 100 grams of protein a day).  My 3 rules of thumb are:

• Protein: eating a little protein every couple of hours is great for maintaining my energy and keeping hunger at bay
• Fibre: fills me up longer too. 
• Healthy fats:  low-fat foods are usually very high in carbs and have no staying power. 

My son's the same as me and I always try to get him to 'slow down the carbs' with a little fat and protein -- peanut butter, eggs, esp egg whites, protein powder, low-fat cheese, cottage cheese, nuts & seeds, etc.. and just a small amount goes a long way.  I'm lucky I actually like these foods, b/c they aren't exactly everyone's craving, haha.. but when I need salt I pop some Smart Pop (100 cal's a bag, can't beat that), or if I NEEEED chocolate I can use cocoa, skim,  and Splenda to make a very low-cal hot chocolate.  Or I just eat the damn chocolate.. life is short.  :o)

Re: regularity (hee hee) -- I'm ok, but I find water is paramount when you're eating a high fibre diet.  I know it's a little lackluster.. My son (who won't eat vegetables but gorges on fruit) is frequently really stopped up.  We feed him lots of whole grains, high-fibre stuff, but he doesn't drink enough water.  He doesn't like it at all.  I found two things he does like, though:

• Crystal Light (lots of ice and a bendy straw sells it, ya he's totally spoiled, haha), and
• Fizzy water with a little juice in it.  Just for a laugh we sometimes make these little 'mimosas' with fruit on the side and a paper umbrella -- we're very festive around here. 

You all deserve a fizzy cran-orange with crushed ice, a bendy straw AND a paper umbrella for being such warriors!!

If I was going to try to lose a lot, I would do it slowly. But I only am 10 pounds away.

You'll probably be able to keep it off better than people who do it too fast, and it will be well worth it.

Good luck to you all! :D

Hi All~

Misscooter, I agree that you're in a different boat at this point (and congratulations!  That's fabulous!)  I am really talking about the problem with telling a 130 pound woman and a 330 pound woman that to lose weight they both have to eat 1200 calories a day.  I just don't think that will work in the long run.  I intend to reduce my calorie intake slowly as I lose weight.  I can't start at the end!

As for supplements, I just take a multi-vitamin, GNC's Women's Ultra Mega.  I have taken more of different things at different times in my life, though, when I had specific needs.  I never have a problem with "regularity" when I am eating right... all those veggies seem to do the trick LOL...

I have found that drinking plenty of water makes a huge difference in the weight loss.  I tend to retain water unless I drink a lot of it.

Also, I think people's hunger varies on different days.  Some days I am starving all the time and some days I can go for long stretches without feeling hungry.  I try to listen to my body and I feel like it's ok to eat more some days.  I think that varying your caloric intake somewhat from day to day actually keeps your metabolism from getting stuck... keeps it on its toes, so to speak...

And one trick I have, if you can call it that, is that I have at least one huge portion of veggies during the day.  Sometimes it's a snack, sometimes it's part of a meal.  Like today, I grated 3 yellow squash and one small onion and I cooked it in a frying pan with about a tablespoon of olive oil.  It creates a lot of broth and I sometimes let it cook till a lot of that evaporates... I had that huge bowl of squash and it was really filling.  (I like the texture of squash cooked that way.)  And after I do that, I sort of feel like I have my veggies "in the bank."

I'm rambling... it's so nice to have you all to talk to...

:) Wendy

I'm so glad I found this post....Although I love this site, sometimes it's a little discouraging to hear about people who are losing like 2 to 3 pounds a week.....

I'm definintely on the slow road to weight loss - if not by my own choice, by the way it's just happened to be. I'm a shortie (like a few others here), but 5'2"....so just a wee bit smaller than the rest. I started at a whopping 160 lbs (which, when you are short, really shows) back on my b-day last year, 08/06/07.

It's been a year since I started and I've lost 20lbs. I've got about another 20 lbs to go. For me, the focus has really been on fitness, not so much calorie counting. That said, I do try and make healthy food choices, and focus on portion control...but I don't punish myself if I have pizza and beer for dinner one night.

I've made a lot of progress in terms of running, which is now my new found love......When I started, I was able to jog for 5 minutes at a really slow pace (12 minute mile or 5.0 mph on the treadmill). I'm now running as far as 12 miles at a 9:30 minute mile pace!! Today, I ran 10 miles on the treadmill.....I usually average 20 to 25 miles of running a week.

It's really been amazing to see how far I've come....and how much weight I've actually lost. The beauty of working out is that I can have my "binge" days and it really doesn't show up on the scale the next day. Truthfully, since I'm not really restricting what I eat (and I eat around 1500 calories a day), I rarely "binge" on junk food - because I'm not limiting myself.

I'm training to run a 1/2 marathon in January.....and trying to get my 5K time to under 27 minutes.

Glad to hear that I'm not the only one who's focused on changing a lifestyle and acknowledging that it won't happen over night :)

fitnessfreak:  Oh my... I bow down to you... NOTHING... and I mean NOTHING could make me want to run like that.  I love a good hardcore workout... don't get me wrong... I'll do the elliptical or stationary bike at a SERIOUS resistance and good clip for hours... but running!  Wow!

and a half marathon... sounds like you're ready...

Yeah, I came to the realizatin this year with all of this crazy calorie restricting and the need for RIGHT NOW weight loss was making me NUTS.  If I lose half a pound for a week in a year I'll be 25 pounds less than I am right now... that's a really GOOD thing...  and how good will I FEEL!  If I throw my hands up in despair and say "I don't care!  I can't keep to 1200 a day... I quit.._  In 52 weeks I'll be in the same shape I am right now... or worse...

so... at 5;8 and currently 233 pounds I eat 16-1700 calories a day... (the website says with the amount I workout I coulg actually go 2050 for 1.5 lost a week... therefore, I ALSO don't freak out if I have an occasional 2000 calorie day... because I don't care if I lose 1.5 pounds a week!)

I take a few supplements as well: a multivitamin, a calcium + vitamin D supplement, and a fish oil pill.  I also take 2 or 3 Viactiv calcium chews during the day. 

Wow!  I'm incredibly glad I opened this thread and for such an outstanding response.  Even if we're in the minority on this forum, we can still help each other.

I bought myself a new pair of shoes for my walks today.  They cost a small fortune but I am hoping they will help my feet and ankles stop hurting.  I am trying to walk faster and that has seemed to make my ankles hurt more.

I also bought some grapefruit juice.  Someone told me it might jumpstart my weight loss.  I don't know if it will help or not but it is the lite version and it is only 40 calories a serving and has 100% of the daily need for vitamin C. 

My goal for tomorrow is to drink at least 6 glasses of water.  Someone please hold me accountable.