Lets get started.

Now we all joined with the goal of losing a certain amount of weight.  Well it just doesn't work by saying "I am going to lose this weight by a certain date" and the weight will just fall off.  You need a plan.

Well what is YOUR plan?

Are you going to follow one of the thousands of diet out there?
Are you going to make up your own?
Are you going to exercise?
What new foods are you going to incorporate into your new lifestyle?
What foods are you going to give up?
Do you have a deadline or just keep going until you reach your goal?
Is your goal to live a healthier lifestyle? 

I love your plan!  I thought I ate fairly healthy. I drink "real" juice from fresh fruit and have salads mostly for lunch.  I think my issue might be I was eating TOO much of this food.  So, I'm measuring now.  Oh, and I had No exercise in the mix so I re-joined the local Y and yes, at least 4 times a week maybe 5 to start.  I've been doing pretty good the last two weeks, but it's early in the game.  Good luck to you, and keep in touch - WE CAN DO THIS. Polly in Delaware

Well what is YOUR plan? My Plan is to lose 35 pounds.

Are you going to follow one of the thousands of diet out there?  I thinking of Weight Watchers.

Are you going to make up your own? I guess that would be the first step.

Are you going to exercise? Vigorous Walking (right now I cant for another 4 weeks due to knee surgery from a car accident)

What new foods are you going to incorporate into your new lifestyle? I guess more fruits and vegies.

What foods are you going to give up? My weakness is chips.

Do you have a deadline or just keep going until you reach your goal?  No real deadline, just as soon as possible.

Is your goal to live a healthier lifestyle? Yes, But I need help. Thats why I'm here.

I weigh now 174. I am 33 yro. I want to lose 44 lbs.
My plan is to start with 30 - 45 minutes daily of Wii Fit.
Going back to making sure I eat at least 20 grams of fiber /day.
~ at least 5 tall glasses of water/ day.
Cut back to 1000 - 1400 Cal/ day.  I make out a "menu" now to be sure I am not going to go over, but at least reach my 1000. I get headaches if i dont eat when I get hungry. lol, it's not like it was 10 yrs ago.
I just ordered the trials of Acai berry and total cleanse, that will at least help kick start this to see almost immediate results!
If I can loose 2 - 3 lbs wk, that would be great.
Once I hit 130, I know I will gain some when i back off my diet so my end date is May 10! The math makes sense in my head: 2lbs/wkx25 wks = 50lbs total - giving myself a little room for turkey day and xmas cause I know we're going out of town for both holidays, and there will not be much exercising or CC. I will hopefully not gain weight, but I doubt I will loose any either.

Are you going to follow one of the thousands of diet out there?

I need to lose 30 pounds and have already taken off 10. No, I can't seem to stick to any diet. Diet plans just make me want to rebel inside and then I eat more than ever. I tried going to WW but all that talk about food just made me hungrier after the meetings and didn't work at all.

Are you going to make up your own?

I counting calories very strictly with the help of the great tools on this website.  I am trying to convince myself that food does not really taste that good after all. I found that the first bite is always the best when the tastebuds are just activated but after that it's all down hill. It's really like that for me. I also want to eat a lot of hot peppers because I love them and they really seem to cleanse, if you know what I mean.

Are you going to exercise?

I belong to a gym but don't go as often as I should. I have a new Ipod and plan to listen to music and walk at least twice a week there.

What new foods are you going to incorporate into your new lifestyle?

I'm trying to drink more water.

What foods are you going to give up?

I'm trying to stop going through fast food drive-thru windows, my big downfall.

Do you have a deadline or just keep going until you reach your goal?

Just keep going until I reach 135.

Is your goal to live a healthier lifestyle?

My goal is to get myself back under control and not be ruled by my stomach or be careless about what I eat.

Hey Junebaby....Did you have a good time on your cruise? We got just back from one to the Bahamas on the 14th! Maybe you got on the boat after that? I gained 3 pounds on our cruise but have been dieting like crazy since we got home and have taken it back off already. Part of my plan is to take any weight off right away after a binge like that, so it won't get out of control like it has in the past.

My weight problem began when I lived in Germany for 5 years with a scale that measured in Kilos and it just had no meaning to me. A Kilo is 2.2 pounds, so on a European scale, we weigh half as much and it makes a person feel thinner when they are not.

My plan is to follow weight watchers. The journaling is what helps me the most. I have also gotten an exercise buddy. It is hard to make excuses when you have a friend that is waiting for you at the gym. I am going to looking for new ways to make old recipes a little better for me and watching my portion sizes. I Think the most important thing for me to limit is bread. My weakness. I would love it if I could lose between 12-20lbs by the new year. But my ultimate goal is to teach my children healthy habits.

I plan to track my daily eating habits and count the calories of everything I eat. I plan to exercise at least three times a week with a combination of weight training, pilates and walking. I will stay on track with the support of my friends and family. We will be having weigh-ins once a week to track our progress with a group at work.

that's great. I'm glad to hear you are so committed. I have to tell you, crunches do work. They are to tone up, not so much to lose. I so them and they definitly do work.

I have to get motivated to get on the treadmill.

Crunches are easy, all I do is roll off the bed onto the floor. HA HA HA

Treadmill requires thought, effort to go upstairs, I think about the 15-20 minutes I will "waste" and don't do it.

Yes I know , it is not a waste, I can lose my waist if I do it.

Happy Holidays...

Pat

I am not sure as I am new.  I plan to eat healthy.  The main plan is increasing exercise on a daily basis.  I want to be around for a long time and I believe that the extra weight I am carrying is hurting my heart( let alone what it si doing to my self-esteem).  I basically eat healthy but am I eating the right amount.  I am not sure.

HI all:

I'm new to the group. Have 25-30 pounds to lose, but will be happy with anything at this point that isn't gaining. I can't wait to hit 5 pounds! I'm 5'1" and 155 and want to get back to 125 or 130 (after my second son was born 10 years ago I was at 110 because of weight watchers, spinning and nursing), so even tho I'm over 40 and not nursing I should be able to get to 130 or 125 in the next year or two. I really want my weight loss to be slow and feel permanent (kind of like the weight gain). I'm not looking to lose 10 pounds this month - I'd be happy with a pound or 2, if I can make that consistent over the next year or two.

My plan:

journaling - writing down what I eat and calculating the calories makes a big difference.

exercise: I do bikram (hot hatha) yoga 2-3 times per week and it's really strenuous and amazing for me - but it takes a lot of time and it's hard for me to get there (kids, work, commuting, etc.) so I intend to add some treadmill walking/jogging on the off days.

no alcohol during the week: I had crept up to 1/2 bottle of wine each day. just cutting out those empty calories 5 days/week should be a significant difference.

far less sweets and white carbs.

I'm thinking beans, soups, vegetables, hearty healthy homecooked fall/winter foods.

Will see how far I get with this plan and then revise.

grabbypatty - You and I are very similar in size and starting weight.  I'm also 5'1", and I started at 163.  I've been very slowly losing  the weight (CW 148).  The journaling *has* made a big difference, especially since I seldom eat out.  Being able to see whether a recipe is high-cal has allowed me to make better choices about what to fix. 

I admit I don't have to consider other people's tastes, since I live alone, but I keep so busy I have the same problem making time for my exercise.  I dance once or twice a week, plus there's a gym at work I use after business hours.

I'm an all or nothing person, and more liable to binge, so I'm going to stay away from what I consider my 'trigger' foods - so called 'white' foods. Keep eating fruit and veggies (which I love) and keep cycling/walking everywhere (easy in cambridge, and I can't get  a gym membership because I'm a year too young :))

My plan is to create long term goals that force me to be good! I hope to run a marathon next, not sure which one yet but for sure will be around September. I also just changed the way I eat by becoming vegetarian. I'm hoping to live off of a lot of fresh fruits and raw veggies in addition to the vitamins.

Today is only my first day on CC but reading everyone's progress really helps. Friends, support, and motivation are much needed; Especially with the new year around the corner.

I don't workout regularly but plan to start with jogs/walks at least two times a week and then progress to more intensive workouts that I can handle with asthma. Additionally, I want to start using weights, something I have never really done.

Does anyone have any suggestions to help/motivate me to have great results? Any help would be great.

Hi Cyntrita,

I can very well understand your need of staying motivated on your 'weight reduction program.' I am not sure if this will work for you but still would like to tell you my story.

Till few months back I an emotional eater. I used to get upset with my weight and in eat more in depression. I was on the verge of giving up the hope of a 'slimmer' me when I read a blog
http://offbeatspirituality.blogspot.com/ and realised that no body else is going to do anything about me. I will have to do it myself. I am my own judge, critic and well wisher. It is me that needs to take control of my life and decide that what is good/bad for me. I did a lot of thinking this way, and have reached a point now where I am able to control my carving.

I suggest you also read something that motivates you to the extent that you become a tougher person. Any plan that you make will give you positive results, provided you stick to it.

Hope this has helped. Plz write back if you have any comments.

Regards,

Hi Komosaki,

Thanks for the kind words, it really means a lot to know that there are other that have gone through what I am going through. I read the blog and loved it! I have taken direct quotes and posted them around my office, where I am most of the day, to continue to inspire me and to think twice about how and why I eat.

Thought I should let you know that I have devised a very strict plan that I know I can stick to, consisting of workouts in the office, while I travel, and basic cardio and strength training that won't give me an over kill! Variety is the key for me. Yesterday, I ate below my calorie limit by about 200 calories! Today I started the day off right, with a positive attitude and packed fresh fruits that will help me with that 3 o'clock candy craving. I have also figured that I don't want to weigh myself daily, it might create more negativity. I'm going to do the weekly weigh in's and maintain that I am in control of what that scale tells me.

Thank you for the motivation!

Warm Regards!

I am going to get to 145lbs (loss of 45 lbs) by actually doing what I tell others to do.  I have quite a few friends that are a lot larger than I am  and they come to me for advice because I went to school for nutrition and am apparantly(the voice of reason).  Many of these friends lost weight and live much healthier more productive lives... I however let things slip 5 lbs at a time and am finally determined to get back on track.  I will fill my fridge with a large container of fruit salad that I prepare weekly... only my favorite fruits none canned and as many organic as posible and that way there will always be fresh fruit available.. no excuses like "i would eat that orange but the darn peel is always in the way"also my husband is a "hard gainer" and has begun an excercise regimen which gives me a chance to work out with him.  Also he is trying to eat healthier to and has banned his junkfood from the house and so I let mine go too and we are to keep a large container of greens and salad fixins in the fridge as a snack instead of junk before dinner(we tend to say "dinner" in my house and while I cook He snacks until we eat and I tend to find something to munch on too.)  all creamy dressings are gone and we have an assortment of  vinigrettes to keep the palate interested.  I will follow the advice I gave my best friend of working out for 20 min 3 times a day instead of a one hour session.  Save the hour sessions fro the weekend.  20 min of calisthenics int he mornign to get the heart going and rev the metabolism. 20 min walk in the afternoon at lunch (easy enough to get your legs moving and blood flowing but not too much that I sweat adn ruin my work clothes.) and 20 min of either a DVD or light jogging around the neighborhood after dinner followed by a few minutes of yoga stretches so my back doesn't hurt in the morning.  then weekend 1 hour cardio blast on a DVD or a long run around the park. As a busy person I find this works best and having a desk job moving midday is very welcomed. and I fulfill the 1 hour a day quota.  All this and a goal of sleeping no more no less than 8 hours a night I am hoping ot see 145 by mid july

Are you going to follow one of the thousands of diet out there?
Are you going to make up your own?
Are you going to exercise?
What new foods are you going to incorporate into your new lifestyle?
What foods are you going to give up?
Do you have a deadline or just keep going until you reach your goal?
Is your goal to live a healthier lifestyle? 

I am going to use the 1500 calorie exchange list, it is easier than counting calories. Next week I am comitting myself to 3 times a week at the YMCA

I really don't want to give up anything just incorporate behavior modification and I am going to keep on going until I reach 165 lbs.

I do not want to eat anything after 8pm and I want to be in bed by 11. I wake up at 5.

I do want to live a healthier lifestyle. I am setting an example for my granddaughter.

Are you going to follow one of the thousands of diet out there?

I think I am going to start with counting calories and if I follow anything it will be foods from a mediterranean food plan. What I want to do this time is make it a way of living- not just a diet for the short term. I have been down that road to many times and it just does not work for me.

Are you going to exercise?

Yes, it is mandatory that I walk and lift weights. I plan on walking 5-6 times a week and lift weights 2-3 days a week,

What new foods are you going to incorporate into your new lifestyle?

Don't know yet.

What foods are you going to give up?

White flour and sugar

Do you have a deadline or just keep going until you reach your goal?

My weight will be off by Nov 09. But this is a forever plan.

Is your goal to live a healthier lifestyle? 

definately!

my next step was joining this online forum. i've been at my weight loss plan for two months and have lost 8 pounds. 27 more to go, at least for my initial goal. the first five came off easy, the last three have been at slower than .5 a pound a week, so i think i need to get more religious about decreasing calories in a way that is smart and leaves me feeling satisfied. how to do that seems to be the question before me. fish is part of the answer. low cal, high protein, easy to prep, my kind of thing. 

things that are working so far: food journal, calorie counting, meal planning, eating only whole foods, excersize journal, goal setting, increasing variety as i gain strength, molbility, and stamina. 

work days are difficult because i have no fridge or micro at the office and my old standard, sandwiches, are high cal!. i only eat whole grained or sprouted grain breads, so thats helpful. but i love mayo, so i need to find a lower cal replacement for that. at home i have open faced sandwiches, which drops 180 cal off the count. 

problem areas: 1) not excersizing enough once the temperature dropped below 40. I was doing great until the weather changed, and then I turned back into a slug. 2) giving into the craving for sweets mid day-deadly! balance bars are a good replacement for giant coffee shop brownies, but then i want to eat several of them, and thats no good. i already eat an apple or more a day (i like em!).

best strategy for this seems to be increasing my protein intake. seems to reduce all sorts of unhealthy cravings. thats one aspect of my plan, keep a high protein intake and see if that helps decrease cravings for refined carbs. 

other things that have worked so far: switching high cal to low cal foods. increasing my intake of root veggies-i love them too!. setting the timer to get me started for a minimum amount of excersize minutes in the living room, and keeping the stop watch running so I will give my self credit for everything after the minimum. giving myself credit! that is a very important part of this plan! helps to keep me motivated. 

i also notice that just reading posts of people who have lost 20 to 50 pounds, began several years ago, are keeping it off, and enjoy their life, food and excersize, is also very motivational, hence my showing up here.

so my plan: 

keep on keeping on! give myself credit for what im doing right, tweek my plan in areas that aren't going so well, continue to assess and revise as needed, dont expect rome to fall in a day, it took 44 years to get here, after all---and find a way of eating and moving that feels sustainable for a life time. thats my plan. one day at a time.  

Well what is YOUR plan?

To write down everything I eat and use this website to list all my activity and keep track of weight, calories and activity

Are you going to follow one of the thousands of diet out there?

I plan on counting calories

Are you going to exercise?

Yes, walking and running with the dog (she needs to lose weight too!!).  Riding exercise bike or doing a workout dvd.

What new foods are you going to incorporate into your new lifestyle?

I need to eat more fruits and vegetables

What foods are you going to give up?

sweets and soda

Do you have a deadline or just keep going until you reach your goal?

Keep going to reach my goal

Is your goal to live a healthier lifestyle?  Yes