Struggling

I am very confussed on how to start eating correctly.  My daughter needs all the calories that she can get, and of course I think "well she is eating it so why can't I"!  I know deep down that I don't need the junk and calories.  I guess I just have to find the will power in me to say NO!!! I just don't know where to start.  I am 225 pounds.  I weight more now then I did when I was full term with my daughter.  I just don't know how I let myself get this way.  I know it is unhealthy and if I want to see my daughter through her High School years and every thing after that I have to take care of ME.  I just don't know how to

Do you want to lose weight or just maintain?? Check out how many calories you should be getting for either a healthy weight loss or a maintenence.

Split up your calories and plan around healthier meals and snacks you enjoy. Once you start it's a lot easier to know what you want then than before you start! Maybe instead of a bowl of chips have a bowl of popcorn or a smaller portion of baked chips, instead of a chocolate bar have a granola bar or fruit, instead of an ice cream sundae have a skinny cow ice cream cone, eat more veggies and leaner meats, etc. When you start you realize what you like in your diet and what you don't like... you can definitely find alternative, fun recipes to your favorite foods.

I want to lose weight and I want to keep it off.  Just not sure how to get through the cravings that always turn me back to the unhealthy ways.  It says for me to have a little over 1600 calories.  Now I have to make a change in my life style that is going to create the enviroment that will be a supportive enviroment for my daughter and I. 

Well, for example what are your top 5 items that you get cravings for?

I really crave potatoes and pasta.  I love Ice cream and chocolate cookie dough (i know that is really bad for me but I am trying to be very honest).  Cinimon Rolls from Cinnabon.  That is for starters.. I love to eat

Hi hsummers35,

I understand what you are going through I did the same thing for 5 years just telling myself i looked ok but inside i was lying to myself.  Here is how I changed my self.  the 1st thing I did was write down a realistic weight goal and I read it twice a day "I am 185 pounds in weight, I eat only healthy and nutritious foods".  i visualized myself at that weight and eating different foods and I started to believe what i was saying and then I started to focus on enjoying playing with grandchildren.  Then I found a fantastic exercise program that I wanted to do because the scale showed 218 but my mind saw 185 I have since lost 20 pounds it takes a "why" to set things in motion.  You cna do it once you choose to.

John FaMis

As far as pasta goes, you can have a portion of whole wheat or just regular pasta for around 150-200 calories. Sometimes I add 1-2 slices of cheese slices and 2 tablespoons of milk to make a 300 calorie macaroni and cheese bowl when I really crave it. When the pasta is cooked I just add those into the microwave and swirl around when it's melted my fork and it gets all cheesy.

Sliced and baked sweet potatoes are a great alternative to fries. You can also just bake potatoes instead of frying them and eat them in smaller portions.

As far as ice cream goes, I pretty much hate diet ice cream, but I do like the skinny cow and weight watcher ice cream cones. The cones are layered with chocolate and the bottom even has chocolate just like a drumstick ice crema cone would! They're also drizzled with chocolate on top and I think they're pretty darn good for diet ice cream (I didn't even know they were diet the first time I tried these).

As far as cinnamon rolls go, you can make healthier treats using cinnamon like low-calorie cinnamon pancakes. Instead of icing you can use whipped cream which is far lower in calories.

I don't really think you can replace cookie dough because mainly what's so good about it is the high-sugar, fat, and chocolate content but you can try to eat something chocolatey instead. :)

I always told myself that I would never get this big and I used to be very active but now my life revolves around my daughter.  I am busy running her to school and back.  Then to cheerleading and everything else life throws her way.  I just didn't ever want to be known as the "big" mother that all the other children stared and pointed at.  My daughter is so supportive and she thinks that I am very pretty and that I am not big (which I don't believe her) but she is so sweet.  I just wish ....

I am going to take y'alls advice on the eating different things to replace what I really love.  I do like sweet potatoes but now I have to like them without marshmellows.  I have never tried wheat pasta but I am willing to try.  The cheese in it is what I am going to love.  I have started eating smaller portions.  I have been doing that for about 3 weeks now.  I have not gained any more weight so that is a good thing.

I will start trying to see myself as a smaller person and realize that I am worth spending the little extra time to make my happy.  I know that it will take a while and that I will not see changes right away but I just want to be happy.

same here hsummer35,

I started at 227 (heavier than when I walked out of the hospital with my 2nd and last child 10 years ago!) I find that I am still buying the stuff the kids like but I have cut out buying the 'crap' that I am tempted by. Instead I buy fruits, triscuits, cheese sticks, my own bread and lots of canned tuna. If - no strike that - when I find myself wandering around the kitchen and tempted by something that I am normally not tempted by (kids' stuff) I will open a can of tuna and put a tomato in it. It's quick and easy and satisfies my hunger. Or grab a banana or apple instead.

Your child won't really notice the difference for a while anyway (mine don't! and my kitchen cupboards and fridge has changed quite a bit in the past month!) If they come home from school and want a snack - it's fruit, triscuits, cheese, PBJ etc. If they don't want any of it, well.... I guess they weren't that hungry!

Bottom line, I have nothing in the house that I could be tempted by including ice cream. I only buy skinny cow ice creams *three cheers for skinny cow* and the kids love them!

You can incorporate foods you love as a side dish or eat them in a small portion for lunch. Just makes sure to eat lot of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean meats to keep full that always helps too. If you're stuffed it's easier to control your cravings than when you're really hungry, obviously. You don't have to go hungry to be healthy!

I'm sure all of us share the LOVE for food, but you have to remember that you're doing this for yourself. I know a lot of people have a hard time with moderation, and if you're one of them (I know I am) just don't bring unhealthy foods into the house. If you REALLY REALLY want something buy a smaller portion of it.

I also really love chips so now I buy the Ruffles Baked! sour cream and cheddar chips and I can eat 10 for 120 calories (and they're big chips so it fills an entire bowl). I eat them AFTER I eat the rest of my lunch so I'm basically really close to full by the time I get to them.

Thank you guys very much.  I have to say that I was very reluctatant to post that I was struggling with all of this.  That just ment (out loud) that I was losing the battle with my weight.  But I hope this will be the beginning of my weight loss journey that I can share with everyone.  I just want to be healthy!!!

I don't know how old your daughter is, but it is NEVER TOO EARLY to learn good eating habits. She may look great now, but if she doesn't learn to eat healthy, she will be in the same boat you are in a few years.

Get rid of the junk. Eat more salads. And MOVE more! When you drop your daugher off at cheer practice, go to the gym for an hour or walk around the track at school. Get moving to help you lose weight and feel better about your body.

I know how you feel.  I always told myself I would never get this bad... I dont know what happened! 

I've recently started a vegan diet.  It's clean and makes me feel good. 

I know what you mean about loving to eat...I have a torrid love affair with food. I've been dieting for a little bit before finding this site and there are really no big secrets to losing weight. First, start small. I can't stress that enough. Small changes equal big results. For example, I used to have white toast loaded with butter every morning for breakfast. Now I have whole wheat toast with a little bit of fruit spread on it. Small changes for the better can truly have an impact on your weight and attitude. Think small and don't change everything at once. I promise you'll be happier that you're not falling off the wagon every 3 seconds. =P

Good luck and best wishes!

hsummers, you have taken the first step. realizing that you need to do something. do it now. do not wait. I am at 210 now, I have lost 70 lbs. learning portion size and calories of foods is very important. I realize now that I was not being real before, and that eventhough most of the food I was eating was"healthy", not all I say, but most, I was eating far too much of it.  going whole wheat will help alot because of the glycemic index. whole wheat sticks with you longer, the white bread, pasta etc potatoes burn off quickly and are like eating sugar, therefor you want to eat again soon after a meal. exercise is important. I never really realized how important it is to maintaining and esspecially weight loss.  I was turned off in school by the coaches that constantly crammed exercise  that I hated down my throat so I rebelled and said no to all exercise. I did dance in my young adult years( alot) so that kept my weight down, but still I was heavy.  I am still heavy now, at 210, but alot lighter than the 280 I was. start now, get your daughter to eating healthy too. healthy food can be fun too. you just have to learn a new way of cooking and it doesn't have to be a chore.  I cook up things we love like turkey chili,gumbo ,meatloaf and freeze for two more meals. that way when I am busy I can take something healthy out of the freezer.  one day at a time girl.  if you look at the big picture it can be over whelming. take it day by day. one victory at a time. also, don't deprive yourself of everything that you love. have a free day from time to time to allow yourself to enjoy a meal that you love.  getting started is the biggest hurdle. remember it is a lifestyle change, not a diet and rome was not built in a day.  make time to exercise. pilates are fun and very toning while you are losing. they have done wonders for me.

I found out that white breads, rolls, cakes, refined sugars, chocolate are my "triggers".  They seem to turn on my appetite switch and make me insatiably hungry.

When I eliminate these trigger foods from my diet I find it fairly easy to "eat clean" and the pounds slowly but surely drop off, especially if you watch your caloric intake and get at least a little moderate exercise.

You need to find out what your triggers are.  There's no need to starve yourself.  You can find lots of healthy low calorie foods and after a short while, perhaps just a few weeks, you will start to feel so much better, and it will get easier and easier from week to week to stick with the healthy eating plan.