Well... I did it... weighed myself and cried

Well. It's official.

As of today, I'm 15 lbs heavier than I was in August.

No wonder I feel like a whale in everything I own. I'm cramming myself into size 2's, 4's, and 6's and they're not made for me right now. It's embarassing but I also cannot afford new 'interim' clothes.

Found an older suit today and wearing it to work, but I need these lbs gone, like, now.

I don't 'see' time in my day to exercise but I am going to bring my gym stuff to work in case I can get away. Maybe after work and before my evening meeting. Maybe after the meeting.

Going to eat well today. I have to.

I need other suggestions........... anything that works fast? 

Unfortunately, the only way to lose weight is slowly but surely. You already know that the way to lose weight is to eat healthily and exercise more and that's what you need to do. In order to stay healthy, a maximum of 2 lb a week is all you should be losing. Good luck with it.

You didn't gain it overnight so don't panic about losing it overnight.   Rather than some vague idea about 'I need these lbs gone'.... break it down into specifics that you can work with.    Plan your food day ahead of time, be well-prepared &&n bsp;work out the calories rather than guessing.   If there are any particular bad habits you're conscious of (and you're best placed to know what they are), make a special effort to address those one at a time.   Remove anything from your home/desk/glove box that you don't want to eat and put it in the bin.  You may not be able to find time to go to the gym every day but you could schedule a daily walk in your lunch-break quite easily.... put yourself first.

Other things that help...

• Choose good quality wholefoods, wholegrains, lean meat/fish, fresh fruit, vegetables and home-cooking over processed and ready-made foods.  The salt, sugar and other additives in the latter two can cause up to 7lbs of fluid retention in the average woman.
• Sip plenty of water.... being well-hydrated also makes your body less likely to retain fluids.  One or two litres a day is plenty.  Try to avoid alcohol completely for 2 weeks.
• Eat regularly.  Start the day with breakfast and work from there.  Skipping meals temporarily lowers the metabolism making weight-loss less efficient
• Don't starve... !  Most women between 130 and 170lbs can start losing weight on 1400-1500 cals a day.  Crash dieting (a tempting idea when you want to lose weight fast)  is not only unhealthy but ultimately can lead to regaining weight very quickly.

Good luck

Unfortunately you already know that there is no quick fix.  I do have a question though, perhaps something for you to consider.  I was up on the morning of Jan. 2 5.5lbs!  I know I had too much salt and not enough water over the Holiday.  Add to that the alchohl and I was sooo bloated.  Today I am already down 4 of those pounds.  I have been powering down the water.  You may not be able to loose really quickly, but you can possibly ease it a little by staying hydrated!  I hope that helps some!  Good Luck!

aw, I'm sorry you gained :(  How did this weight creep up on you?  Were you keeping track of it?  Maybe next time if you catch it earlier on you can make corrective measures earlier..  For now long term consistency is the key though, no quick fixes as I am sure you know, good luck :)

There is no magic, quick fix. Look into clean/balanced eating. Complex carbs, good fat, lean meat, low-fat dairy, whole grains fruits and veggies. Stay away from processed foods, sugary foods, artificial sweeteners, fast foods, junk food, frozen food. Plan your meals ahead. Pack healthy lunches.

As for the exercise and not having time, the only thing I can say is if you want it you will find the time. It is a commitment for sure. Excuses are easy. I work 2 jobs, have a disabled husband a son with Epilepsy, take care of my disabled Step dad and I still workout 6 days a week. I get up first thing in the morning. Extra early and get it done. I could easily sleep in and skip it but it is important to me so I do it. I find the morning workout best because I get up, get it done and don't have to worry about it the rest of the day. Find something that works for you and "just do it" willpower is the number one thing you must have in eating right and working out. Willpower and determination. Without it nothing will get done.

3 days of weight training. Cardio 4-6 days. Mixing a few days of HIIT (sprinting) will do great things for you. Mix it up. Don't do the same thing everyday. Don't lift 2 days in a row. Always allow for a recovery day. Don't do HIIT 2 days in a row. Best to lift and do HIIT on separate days. Keeps you metabolism reved up all the time. Do some regular cardio on days that are left. Keep active in general. Walk, take the stairs, fidget. It has been show that people who are active in general. Just walking around while talking on the phone, standing to put on your makeup instead of sitting, kicking your foot or swinging your leg while sitting have a faster metabolism and burn hundreds of more calories in a day than sedentary people. Find things in your daily life that keep you moving. Be patient and you will get there.

I feel your pain, especially as regards clothing. I don't want to say it because I didn't like thinking it myself, but that thrift store is there for a reason. Consider it a lease.

If you don't see time, you have to make sure that time sees you.

Likewise, while nothing works fast, everything works faster than not doing anything.

Hi! Don't beat your self up too bad.  The last I logged in was in August and I was 10lbs lighter than I am now.  The up shot is that I KNOW why I gained the weight...Tom Turkey and Santa Clause.  I know I can easily cut my calories, and probably lose the weight I gained back. 

Like everyone else has said though there are no quick fixes to weight loss. IN the mean time go to your local second cloth store (goodwill, salvation army ect) and purchase one or two new outfits for a fraction of the price. 

HTH.

Denise

Original Post by weddingmama:

Hi! Don't beat your self up too bad.  The last I logged in was in August and I was 10lbs lighter than I am now.  The up shot is that I KNOW why I gained the weight...Tom Turkey and Santa Clause.  I know I can easily cut my calories, and probably lose the weight I gained back. 

Like everyone else has said though there are no quick fixes to weight loss. IN the mean time go to your local second cloth store (goodwill, salvation army ect) and purchase one or two new outfits for a fraction of the price. 

HTH.

 

Denise

I agree with Denise (and other great advices previously posted - especially water against feeling bloat)...

In my experience squeezing into clothes that are getting too small beats down on my self-conscience as a not needed reminder that I fell off the wagon. Then you have to watch how you sit, stand,etc.. Fine... you manage to squeeze it in, but how do you feel when you can rub your arms against "over-emphasized muffin top"? The thrift shop is a great idea to get you past those few pounds on a budget. I find that the temporary clothes looked better on me anyway (look slimmer without the obvious bulge) for the time being, thus making me feel better and letting my conscience breathe a bit from the constant "reminder" (like a nagging voice reminding you to lose weight - not productive). And you know they are just that... temporary - so you can work at the task at hand.

Too bad you don't work out... my scale doesn't budge much, but I can see the difference in the mirror and I am dropping sizes. Since you seem to be aware of sizes and appearance as I am, I think you would benefit from just the toning aspects.

So, get "temporary clothes" (does NOT mean you have "given in"), don't beat up on yourself (counter-productive), stay focused and positive, try working out and/or at least drink lots of water!

Good luck!

Brigitte

If you can squeeze in only 15 minutes of jump roping at two times during your day, that's 224 calories burned.

But mostly I just wanted to do this ((hug)) , because I remember very well realizing that I needed to lose and just crying. You will be in your body until you die, and compared to that, the few months that it will take to get it back to the size you want it to be are a very short time.

Totally totally what everyone else said.

I don't know how people who don't exercise manage to maintain. I saw someone in a different thread comment that it "wasn't easy to gain." Ha! I can easily gain 2#/week on the amount of calories someone else would use to "diet" on.

For me it's totally easy to gain weight. There is absolutely NO shame in that.

I hope you find some time to exercise. It will not only make you healthier, but the weight will come off faster and... YOU CAN EAT MORE!!!!!!! Yeah!

Original Post by freshbakedpi:

Totally totally what everyone else said.

I don't know how people who don't exercise manage to maintain. I saw someone in a different thread comment that it "wasn't easy to gain." Ha! I can easily gain 2#/week on the amount of calories someone else would use to "diet" on.

 

I don't exercise and manage to maintain. I've been doing this for a year! But it is a constant focus on not eating above your maintenance sedentary calories. Never said it was easy. And it's my plan to start exercising! I'm just a bum.

But as for you little lady that originally posted this topic, it will come off in time. The first few lbs will fly and you'll feel a lot less bloated. Nothing "works fast" that I'm aware of. I've lost 175lbs, and have learned slow and steady wins this race. You took 5 months to put on those 15lbs, it's not an overnight fix to take them off. I say in 2 months or so, you'll be able to wear your skinny jeans in confidence again.

Use the tools on here to find out how much you need to eat to lose weight. It might take a little time, but those pounds you make go away will be actual ones.

^Didn't I see you post in the holiday weight gain thread? Maintenence through diet alone is totally not easy & I'm willing to bank that everyone who maintains without exercise will see their weight fluctuate & need to reduce their intake at times when their weight creeps.

Exercise is a great way to live a more normal life with food. You can go out to eat, you can eat what you want, and you can eat MORE, which for small girls like me means a LOT! 1800-2k calories is far more doable than 1550.

Just off the record, you aren't fat according to your pictures...you look great if you ask me...but its you who needs to be happy with yourself.

Excercise is the hardest part for me too...I've got to drop at least 50 pounds and I feel I am so far away from it...things have been nuts for me so I haven't watched and my budget isn't th e best for me to eat so healthy so I'm trying yet again....I wish I was where you are in those pics!! lol

Good luck...and the hardest part is to stay focused...once you get past that part and get into a routine, you should be okay...

I'm in the same boat. But think of all the possibilities! Like new receipes to try, new exercises you could start doing, all the foods you ate while losing the last time.

& let us not for get that little Yay! feeling you get when another pesky pound has droped off!

& another thing. I got to get the weight down a bit to justify eating* chocolate & hot cross buns at Easter!

*in a controled manner mixed with exercise

There is no fast cure ... unfortunately.

Lots of us have gained over the holidays.  The important thing is to get back on the wagon, eat heathy, exercise - and before you know it, all will be on track again.

I had gone from 284 to 214 and bought new clothes since everything was way too big.  On Jan. 1st I was back up to 230!  Cringe!

But I'm back into my new heathy lifestyle, got rid of 8 lbs. of bloat/water retention and in a month I should be back to the 214 I had gotten down to - just in time to go on vacation :(

Original Post by shinyblackpit:

You will be in your body until you die, and compared to that, the few months that it will take to get it back to the size you want it to be are a very short time.

I really like the way you phrased this, it's like a motivational line!

Well. It's official.

As of today, I'm 15 lbs heavier than I was in August.

Tell me about it!! I worked so hard all summer to lose the weight and now I'm back up to where I was last April...Just gotta get back in the gym adn start eating the way I was eating before.

Good luck!

Original Post by shinyblackpit:

If you can squeeze in only 15 minutes of jump roping at two times during your day, that's 224 calories burned.

But mostly I just wanted to do this ((hug)) , because I remember very well realizing that I needed to lose and just crying. You will be in your body until you die, and compared to that, the few months that it will take to get it back to the size you want it to be are a very short time.

 224 calories? hmmm... sounds very effective and I think I will add that in my workout - something I can do at home with my daughter while dinner is cooking! thx!

I agree with netalie2. Your last sentence is well put!

Just wanted to say don't stress.  It's an easy thing to say when you're not the one in the situation but I jumped up in weight and started to do the same thing.  I realized how counter productive getting more upset was so I'm using that being angry at myself to get me working back to getting on track again.

I know how hard you're kicking yourself, I can just see it in your post.  But it's going to be ok and you'll get the weight off.  Hopefully you can look back and know that you caught it at 15 and not double that or more.

Not sure if it's an option but can you do chair squats at work or some other quick exercises?  Had a friend that ditched her desk chair for a yoga ball in her office and although she got some wacky looks at first was able to get results with that.  Even little things like parking farther out and getting those extra steps in will burn calories.

Hang in there!