What's your secret weight loss weapon??
Reason: 2/12/08: Stickied. 3/3/08: Unstickied
Hi Mary!
I was going to add my own advice and then read the other posts and saw that there were already sooo many pieces of advice on here! :D
Great tips everyone! :D
Though I will still put in my opinions/advice anyway. 
I agree with the points about trying to add more water into your daily intake, try to exercise some everyday or at least 3-4 days a week to start, (whether that means joining a gym, taking 10-15min. daily walks and increase as the days go by or even just house work or playing with kids/pets, etc). Yes, find something you enjoy doing that keeps your body moving. :D
I've been sticking with the gym more so on a regular basis since the beginning of this year and though I do enjoy it. I do find myself getting 'bored' even with going to the same classes at the gym or even going on the same days....so also note that your body is probably more likely to show results as well if you keep your routine varied. :D I try to mix up my exercise routine now and again (maybe every week or month...depending on what I have going on). It really does help! :D
Weight lifting is always a good thing too! :D Free weights/dumbells are good to do either alone or on a stability ball, etc.
Getting yourself into some sort of routine...even if you start out slow.....is going to make you feel better and give you more confidence as you start to see results...even if the results aren't instant. :D
I have been seeing more defintion in my arms w/ my exercising (cardio/weight lifting) over this past 5-6 weeks and it gives me that much more of a 'push' to work harder at obtaining my weight goals.
I think if you are new to all this...and even if you aren't.....starting out small and go from there is probably going to give you more progress than trying to go all out or be 'gun ho' at the start and then you may burn yourself out...
'One day at a time...' ;D
It's a daily battle with me as well...for food and exercise...but just try. :D
As for food/drink.....do what you can to slow down when you eat...enjoy your food and try to start out with a small/med. portion of the foods you are eating instead of maybe starting out w/ a large helping....
Try adding more fresh veggies and fruit to your diet. Maybe even buy some frozen fruits to make smoothies as a snack or as part of a breakfast meal. :D
Try to drink something w/ every bit or every couple bites of food. :D I'd say....try to stay away from soda...it fills you up quick, but it makes you thirsty for more too fast and it's just simply bad for you. Try to drink more water *put lemon in the water if plain is too blah for you*, or if you like juice (like grape or a mixed berry for example) put 1/2 or less in a glass and fill the rest of your glass w/ plain water. Not only will that make your juice last longer, but it will cut down on the sweetness and you still get your water intake. :D I have been doing that lately w/ the juice and it seems to be helping me w/ getting enough liquids...b/c I am one that doesn't drink enough during the day...(one of my battles). Also, milk is always a great choice (even a low fat milk choc. milk perhaps)....
Hope this helps.....Good luck!!! :D
-Margo
Hi Mary,
There are a lot of great suggestions some of which I am going to remember and use for myself. I wanted to share about my secret weapon. It is tea (not black tea - rather green or herbal). It works for me in many ways.
1. With all the tea I drink I make sure I stay hydrated and don't confuse thirst for hunger.
2. When I feel like I want some comfort food - I make tea instead of eating a chocolate or a cookie.
3. When I go grocery shopping and want to buy something fun for myself - instead of buying ice cream I buy a tea I have not tried yet.
4. When I want some special flavor - I can choose from my tea collection: there is chocolate mate, orange mate, roiboos, passion tea, tai delight with spices, green with jasmin, brown rice green tea, many berry flavores teas... If I want to "entertain" myself with some taste there is plenty of teas to choose from. So rather than opening a refrigirator for sometimes not so healthy snacks - I open my tea cabinet.
5. When I want to go out - I go to a cafe and buy myself a tea.
6. I can carry tea bags in my purse and make tea for myself at work.
Tea by itself (no adding sugar! - it ruins the flavor) is 0 calories. Many tea varieties are loaded with antioxidants and are really good for you. I am getting all my friends hooked on tea now :)
PS: It is not a substitute for a meal though - you still gotta eat to make sure you metabolism does not slow down. Tea is just a substitute for deserts and a tasty way to hydrate yourself.
Yana, I love your suggestion! I love tea also, but I have for sure been neglecting my tea stash lately. And, I have been avoiding the tea isle (they are especially fun in health food stores) because I figure, hey I already have a ton of tea at home. So I went through all my tea, and turns out I had to toss a few boxes away because they were expired. So now I am motivated to drink up the ones that are almost expired and now I can start buying new ones. And that can be a reward for reaching my goals!
Although I do love to put milk & sugar in black teas...but I will focus on herbal, roobois & green!
Hey, if you're ever in Denver, go to the Celestial Seasonings factory in Boulder (only about 40-45 min drive away). They have free tours and its so much fun, you get to try all kinds of teas and you get to go into the room where they keep the peppermint - its so strong it makes your eyes water! Such an experience!
Anyways, thanks for reminding me of one of my favorite things! Funny how you get so sidetracked with other crap!
Wow! What great advice you've been given! But I have to second what Monarch777 told you about weight loss not being just physical. You really have to want to do this and be willing to retrain your brain to rethink how you look at food.
Many of us with more than 100 pounds to lose got that way from denial. And some of us are still in denial about where we ended up and/or how we got there.
Take it from someone who's started diet after diet and quit each time after a few months. I finally took it seriously this time and have lost more than 190 pounds. So what was different about this diet? This time I took a good long at what I was doing to myself and I knew that if I didn't change my lifestyle, then I was only going to go downhill.
My advice to you is to ask yourself WHY you want to lose weight. Do you want to look good? Do you want to be healthy? Are you tired of all the negative aspects of being overweight? Then ask yourself if you REALLY want to change your eating and exercise habits in the form of a lifestyle change and not just another diet. Are you willing to make the necessary changes and to stick with them?
Take time to read several of the forums that are out here on CC. You'll find many motivating stories and will meet even more inspiring people.
As someone esle said on this thread, it IS A CHALLENGE, but it's one that any one of us can win if we go at it with the right attitude and are willing to make changes.
Good luck with whatever decisions you make on how you proceed with your new journey. Know that it's not an impossible task and that you aren't alone.
i don't ever eat after 5, unless i'm treating myself or doing something forbidden. i feel hungry as hell when i wake up, but that makes me saviour the food i eat so much more. when i wake up, my stomach is flat, and i usually have a good poop because all my food is digested. i did this last year, only i stopped at 7. it worked almost as well. :)
those kind of limits really help. if you create yourself a schedule, and organize your day, not just according to your food but to the rest of the things you do, and you REALLY follow it, you'll eventually be following a planned routine that just seems completely natural to you.
it also helps to sit somewhere and only concentrate on your food. that way you can see the food that is going into you and you're not just blankly putting it in your mouth. you eat with your eyes, as people always say. :)
good luck. :) if you wanna talk more, feel free to pm me !
You've gotten lots of great advice . . I don't really think there is a "great secret" it's just a personal change we each have to make. For me it's the pop - I need to cut it out of my daily routine - and I need to get moving. I have an office job which is what I've used as an excuse for several years is that I "can't" exercise - I sit all day. But I've started to make small adjustments - I park a little farther from the door. I get up and move ever hour or so - walk to get a drink of water or something to just add some steps.
I'm sure if you look at your daily routine - you too will be able to find a few small changes that will make a big difference.
I'd love to help you with your support. My husband isn't over weight - neither are any of my kids. It's just me! So I understand. You can add me to your list or IM or whatever works for you. Good luck! You CAN do it :)
When I started on here, I moved all the junk food to the pantry so I rarely ever have to see it. And if he decides to eat something bad, I won't make any for myself, but I allow myself a bite or two so I am not completely depriving myself of things I used to eat (like those Toninos pizzas!!!).
My secret is low-cal but filling foods. I will allow myself all the salad I can eat, loaded with whatever vegetables I want (go really light on avocado though!) and will even put some shredded cheese and sliced lunch meat or ham on it to add some protein and flavor. A can of drained black beans works well too, and I allow myself any kind of dressing, so long as it is on the side and I just dip my fork in it before scooping up any lettuce. That puts a touch of dressing on every bite and you only end up using about a teaspoon.
Good proteins are another idea. A steak will keep you filled for hours and isn't all that bad for you. Just have it with salad or vegetables. Tuna without mayo is also good, especially in a pita or salad.
Other ideas: banana, lowfat yogurt, nuts, tea, carrots, lean meats, Campbell's Chunky soups...
Hi everyone!
One thing that I find is a great secret weapon is Benefiber. I add it to yogurt, skim milk and V8 juice. You really don't taste it and it disappears in most liquid foods. It increases the fiber content of the food and makes you feel fuller. Thats my 2 cents.
Joe
Hi Mary, the only thing that will make you lose weight is, YOU. It is hard as food is nice, but all you have to do is think of what you are doing to your body and your mind. I bet not a day goes by without the thought of your weight, and how depressed it is making you feel. Inside you is a new Mary waiting to get out, only you hold the key. Less fat more fibre and moderate excersize BUT it is for life, all other diets fail, cause as soon as you reach your target, you reward yourself and the pounds pile on again.
Be good to yourselr and your heart, you can do this, I did, so I know it works. All the best. Need any tips let me know.
I've dragged my stability ball into the living room, and sit and do exercises while my husband watches TV. A good way to get in some exercise without too much effort.
Learn to love fiber. Eat breakfast. Eat lots of vegetables. I know there's tons of processed low-cal snack bars, but I've always found that stuff leaves me hungry. And when I have 130 calories to spend, ultimately I'm more satisfied by an apple and an orange or a bowl of oatmeal than a snack bar.
With that said, Blue Bunny does have some great fudgesickles, and they're only 35? calories apiece, and substantially sized.
Food-wise, here are a few vital things that helped me lose weight:
I just recently started drinking yerba mate organic tea, purchased from Trader Joe's. It is suppose to suppress the appetite, check it out on their website www.guayaki.com The jury is still out on what it does for me, as this is only my second day.
Also, I buy a brand of cubed chicken consomme (vegetable too) to use to concoct a drink to help suppress my eating. Knorr sells one kind, I like the Telma brand. I break off a small amount of this (don't want all the salt), and add it to hot water, along with 4 shakes of poultry seasoning and a few shakes of old bay seasonings- adjust to your own flavour. Then I drink this during the day in between meals and it helps alot. Low calorie, low salt, since I make my own. It makes me think that I have eaten something. There you go, just searching for a way, on the way to better health.
Mary- I have that husband too-
my new mantra is:
FOOD DOES NOT EQUAL LOVE.
when they whine about vegi's and chicken yet again- I just repeat it out loud -over and over.-
good luck!:-)
when i have the munchies about 3 pm i eat microwave popcorn. i can eat the entire bag for only 100 calories chug a glass of water and i am full when i am done.
when i have the chocolate craving i have one or two (depending how hungry i am) of the swiss miss diet hot chocolate (with water). totally works!
hit the gym-- do what is called HIIT (high intensity interval training) which is basically going at a easy pace for a few min then kick it up a notch for a min then kick it up again until you don't think you can go anymore, then go back down to easy again...repeat for 20 to 30 min.
weights--you got to do them if you want your body to change.
make it so it is not easy. do and easy set of 12, then a harder set of 10, then a max out set of 6 or 8 for each major muscle group.
breakfast--oatmeal and 1/2 banana
lunch-- i eat a lean cuisine everyday with something light or controlled amount of chips.
dinner--lean protein, veggie, and a starch.
hope this helps
i eat at my BMR (basil metabolic rate)
that has helped a lot.
i eat at my BMR (basil metabolic rate)
that has helped a lot.
What do you mean by that?
A couple of food items have helped me avoid cravings:
(1) Blue Diamond almonds (wasabi & soy sauce) I have them for a snack once in a while - I have 1/2 serving of wasabi and 1/2 serving unsalted. Lots of flavor and good for you, fills you up for a while.
(2) Hummus. Who knew? I buy some prefab hummus and have with carrot sticks, celery, etc... Very good for you and the taste has grown on me. I can't eat mayo and like tuna sandwiches, so I have tuna & red pepper hummus sandwiches instead. Yummy. A fellow user here at calorie-count.com put me on to hummus. (Thanks, buddy!)
I've been going since Jan 7 and lost 20 lbs. Long way to go, though. Good luck to you!
With Groups - you're not alone.Get the experience and support
of others who succeeded.
