What's your secret weight loss weapon??

Do any of you out there have any one thing in particular (be it green tea, jello, mirrors etc.) that make this easier for you? Unfortunately for me, I am the only one who has a problem with myself, therefore I am the only one who has a reason to change my ways... and I am not necessarily the best at that. My boyfriend is happy with the way I am and he says it wouldn't matter if I got fatter or thinner or what ever. I respect that but I wish he would push me! He has to eat alot because he's a very big man (6'8, 320 lbs) and for some reason I can (and often do) eat the same amount of food as he can and not be stuffed... I get ahold of something I like and its gone before you can blink. I have a horrible relationship with food. I love it and it loves me, but IT HATES ME!! I can not control myself and I can't put it down!! And no I am not one of those anorexic types looking for compliments. I am 21 years old, 5'4 and about 230 lbs. Help? I need some serious appetite control, and some real motivation. I can't find any here!!! If anyone wants to be a daily mentor/motivator for me... let me know please... I'll do the whole msn thing or message over here or what ever. My dread is that I will have to go through another summer wearing pants if I don't get some help and learn about this strange thing called self control... Thanks in advance!! I just ate the worst brownie in the world by the way... and I refuse to eat another!! I guess thats a step...

Original Post by koilady63:

Hi Mary!

You've created a great thread here! With all this advice and your 10 pounds loss you are off to a wonderful start.

My Weapons:

STAY POSITVE
WATER
MOVE IT
DON'T GET LONELY
SHOP SMART

koilady....  THANK YOU for stating the key steps toward a healthy lifestyle!  Sometimes we get so obsessed with finding quick fixes, we forget that it's really quite simple.... it just takes patience and dedication and you really have to WANT and be willing to make life changes.  I think the only thing I would add to your list is to be conscience of PORTION CONTROL.

Kudos for reminding us that our journey doesn't have to be complicated.  Challenging? Yes.  But it can be done.  I know this for a fact because I've lost more than 190 lbs to-date by following that same advice that you posted above.  And by making this part of my day-to-day life, I WILL reach my goal.

Hey, I know you've gotten a lot of responses, and I did not read them all, so I hope I'm not being repetitive.

As someone who also LOVES food, I know it's hard to stop sometimes when you are eating something delicious.

I don't know if you work out already, but that has helped me feel better about myself, so I'm less likely to pig out. Also, drinking more water and eating foods with fiber, especially apples and other fruits and vegetables has helped me a lot. I like to eat apples and reduced fat peanut butter.

What I'm trying to say is, instead of concentrating on what you CAN'T eat, it helps me to focus on adding certain foods and drinking more water. After that, my hunger is controlled and I'm a lot less likely to pig out.

Also, I know what it's like to have a boyfriend that eats a lot. On top of that, my boyfriend is a chef! He's always cooking delicious dinners, and they're usually not the most healthy. It's hard to eat right with him around.

I try to be aware of how much and how quickly I'm eating. If I'm eating as much or as fast as my boyfriend I slow down because I know I shouldn't eat as much as him.

Also, a trick is to stop eating when your food is half-way gone. Drink water and maybe just make conversation for a couple of minutes. During this time, I try and figure out if I'm really full and am just eating because it tastes good. If I realize I'm not genuinely hungry anymore, I wrap my plate up so I can eat it later and then join my boyfriend back at the table to continue talking to him.

Finally, two things that are very important and I need to work on too. DON'T LET YOURSELF GET COMPLACENT AND THINK POSITIVE!!

Another interesting trick I picked up when I started, but which I haven't seen very may places... relating to how to feel full without blowing your calories.

Your experience of feeling full (in the short term) has more to do with the weight and bulk of food than its calories. So one useful way to decide whether a food is good for your stomach without being bad for your tummy (if you see what I mean) is to think of its gram-to-calorie ratio. Go for food that has a lot of grams but low calories. For example, an apple has a high gram-to-calorie ratio, while apple juice has a very low ratio. You'll fill up on apples long before you fill up on juice, and have consumed fewer calories! Same for veggies. One nice thing, you can see how you're doing on the CC "analysis" page. When I started thinking this way, my calories went down and the total grams went up. And it was SO much easier to hit my targets than before!

This can be useful for substitutions. I have a vegetable pate I love, but used to eat on crackers. Crackers have a low ratio, but celery has a ridiculously high ratio. So I put the pate on celery instead, its almost as tasty, more filling and very low cal!

Secret to loosing belly fat quicker and starting up your metabolism:

Belly fat, include good fat in your caloric intake, eat 4 smaller meals a day and add some nuts or olives or olive oil or even dark chocolate...  watch and see the belly go down

 or Metabolism damaged, try this!!!

That includes:·    &nbs p;       & nbsp;     Meal frequency: eat 5-6 small meals per day ·      & nbsp;      &nbs p;    Meal timing: eat every 3 hours or so, with a substantial breakfast and a substantial post workout meal. ·      & nbsp;      &nbs p;    Caloric Intake: maintain a small calorie deficit and avoid starvation-level diets (suggested safe levels for fat loss: 2100-2500 calories per day for men, 1400-1800 calories per day for women; adjust as needed) ·      & nbsp;      &nbs p;    Food choices: Select natural, unprocessed foods with high thermic effect (lean proteins like chicken, turkey, egg whites and fish are highly thermic, as are all green vegetables, salad vegetables and other fibrous carbs) ·      & nbsp;      &nbs p;    Cardio training: Push up the intensity a bit if you really want to get a metabolic boost. Walking and low intensity cardio is fine, but higher intensity is more metabolism-stimulating ·      & nbsp;      &nbs p;    Weight training: The basic exercises that include the largest muscle groups or even call into play the entire body as a unit (squats, front squats, split squats, deadlifts, stiff legged deadlifts, overhead presses, all kinds of rows and core-activation exercises) will have a much greater metabolism stimulating effect than isolation exercises (concentration curls, calf raises, etc) ·      & nbsp;      &nbs p;    Mental training: Set goals, focus on positive thoughts, and use visualization for mental rehearsal and to improve your self image

Secret to loosing belly fat quicker and starting up your metabolism:

Belly fat, include good fat in your caloric intake, eat 4 smaller meals a day and add some nuts or olives or olive oil or even dark chocolate...  watch and see the belly go down

 or Metabolism damaged, try this!!!

That includes:·    &nbs p;       & nbsp;     Meal frequency: eat 5-6 small meals per day ·      & nbsp;      &nbs p;    Meal timing: eat every 3 hours or so, with a substantial breakfast and a substantial post workout meal. ·      & nbsp;      &nbs p;    Caloric Intake: maintain a small calorie deficit and avoid starvation-level diets (suggested safe levels for fat loss: 2100-2500 calories per day for men, 1400-1800 calories per day for women; adjust as needed) ·      & nbsp;      &nbs p;    Food choices: Select natural, unprocessed foods with high thermic effect (lean proteins like chicken, turkey, egg whites and fish are highly thermic, as are all green vegetables, salad vegetables and other fibrous carbs) ·      & nbsp;      &nbs p;    Cardio training: Push up the intensity a bit if you really want to get a metabolic boost. Walking and low intensity cardio is fine, but higher intensity is more metabolism-stimulating ·      & nbsp;      &nbs p;    Weight training: The basic exercises that include the largest muscle groups or even call into play the entire body as a unit (squats, front squats, split squats, deadlifts, stiff legged deadlifts, overhead presses, all kinds of rows and core-activation exercises) will have a much greater metabolism stimulating effect than isolation exercises (concentration curls, calf raises, etc) ·      & nbsp;      &nbs p;    Mental training: Set goals, focus on positive thoughts, and use visualization for mental rehearsal and to improve your self image

I am going down too from 5'11'' 246lb hoping to get to 210 by april 27th 

I was 280 and went down to 231 in 6 months and all it took was:

1. Water ( LOTTTTTS OF WATER), it takes water to lose water weight.
2. LOTS of veggies, fiber to keep you regular and complex carbs for energy
3. Avoid Fats as much as possible, ( take omega-3 oil pills) 
4. Avoid simple carbs (sugar, white bread, etc.) and take in complex carbs (wheat, etc.)
5. Eat proteins, ( Chicken, lean meats, TUNA, etc..) 
6. Reduce Salts, and you will lose all the water weight hanging around your body
6. Don't starve yourself or your body will break down muscles and keep the fat.
7. your calorie intake should not exceed this formula:

Your weight(lb) X 11 = calories per day to keep your weight as is
 

1 lb=3000 cals

So What you don't eat you burn for your body to get its needs
Co you cut a 750 calories from your diet and burn another 750cals on the treadmil, within two days you lose 1lb of fat.

Another good news, since you are in the begining you will lose pounds easily and then it will eventually get harder.

I will put you on my list and we shall work together.

I am also forming a support group for people 200-250

http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/post/825 29.html

Join in and we will talk there also 

Best of luck to you  and keep on it ;)

Great thread!

 One of the things I always have on me is sugar free gum. 5 calories each, and I just pop one in my mouth when I'm craving something even after I've just eaten, and it'll usually stop the craving for 1 or 2 hours. 

 Also, someone mentioned this, but I buy clothes at my target weight. I'm 50 or 60 pounds away but I'm buying nice clothes that I'd love to see myself in (even if I'm 5 months away LOL), but it's a great way to motivate me. 

Best of luck!! 

Chilli peppers!!! They are a good stimulant of the thyroid gland and you eat spicy food slower, therefore eat slower - get full quicker - eat less

 Some good ideas here, I think I might try some of them myself

I thought some great things out there that really helped me along were:

1) Cutting down my portions

2) Eating healthier

3) Including lots of vegetables and fruit into my diet 

4) Exercising, it's good for your body and you feel great after 

5) Drinking tea!! I really like green.

6) Indulging once in a while, or just "rewarding" myself I guess

Good Luck!   

 

Actually 11 calories per lb is low, that number is more for men...  The range for Women is 11 - 13, so if you do absolutley nothing you should stay with the 11 cal to stay at your weight....  remember to get in a sufficient amount of protien to keep your muscle in good health!

It seems like most people have covered the basics here, so I'll add a little trick.

My best secret weapon, especially when I was first starting, was to buy smaller bowls!  I got a bunch of little dishes and bowls at a Japanese store.  Eating 14 almonds in a cereal bowl is a little depressing, but when they're in a tiny little dish, it seems like a good amount.  A lot of people on here talk about how small serving sizes are.  I think a lot of this perception is based on the fact that our dishes have grown proportionately with American portions.

 

For me its my negative attitude about my body.  If I wake up and feel like I look Aweful then I tend to eat a lot during the day.  Now I wake up and look in the mirror and focus on something that I like about my body.  Thats helps me stay positive and I tend to eat less.

i run occasionally... i just like to make sure i'm drinking lots of water... and adding flavor definitely helps me drink more...

a product i found that i love is True Lemon.  I haven't found another product like it... it puts real lemon taste in my bottled water and it comes in convenient packets.  the best part is there are no sweeteners and no calories...

My 2 cents here would be to try yoga. I have found this to be a very rewarding experience. A yoga practice clears my mind of the stress I compile during the week and leaves me feeling good about myself - a very important conponent of successful weight loss. I have never been heavy - I am 5"4' and 120-125 - but I do make an effort to keep my weight at this level. Calorie-tracking is awesome, as is knowledge about good and bad foods, and what it does to your body and life when you ignore your own organism. Wishing you the best of luck!

Original Post by jsnow2002:

I started watching what I eat in May, I was the same way. I LOVE FOOD!!! It is so hard!! My fiance loves it too and he is by no means changing his ways anytime soon, which is fine. He is perfect the way he is, and says the same thing about me. Which again I feel your frustration. I used to tell him to tell me I was fat, I hated when he said I was perfect the way I was. It was flattering at the time, but now that I have lost 40 lbs, I realize more now then before, he should have told me I needed to lose weight. It would have motivated me more. I got the motivation once we started planning our wedding, I realized I wanted to look good on my wedding day. I don't really have any secrets except before I put things in my mouth I think about if it is really worth it. I have stuck to a 1000 calorie a day diet. It works for me, I have tried Atkins, weight watchers, and lots of other things. I felt to restricted on all those other diets, but for some reason the 1000 calories a day works. I can still eat things I want in moderation, and substitute certain foods, so basically sometimes I feel like I am cheating when really I am not, cause it falls within the 1000 calories. I used to get on the stationary bike at our apartment complex a lot more then I do now. I also kept a calendar that fit in my purse, and once a week I would weigh myself to keep up with my progress. I would set month long goals instead of one big goal. Sometimes trying to meet a goal like 50 lbs all at once can be somewhat frusterating. So each month I would set a goal for like 8 lbs. It just seems more realistic the trying so hard to reach a big goal and only losing like 3 lbs. If you have a smaller goal, you tend to feel more accomplishment, which to me was very helpful. If I ever want fast food, I look online at the restaurants nutrition list. I think it is mandatory that they post it online. I haven't come accross one fast food place that doesn't have it on their website. I can still eat chik fil a and KFC and even Taco bell. It is awesome. Sometimes I don't even feel like I am on a diet. Give it a shot you might be suprised.

That is exactly how I lost 52 lbs since April 07! Only I get on the eliptical for 30 minutes every morning for the past month or so (walked  my dog 1 or 2 miles per day before that).  Isn't it great keeping track of your calories and realizing at the end of the day, you can get online check out the calories on some fast food places and add/remove items to make it meet your daily calorie intake goal for the day?  (Not that that stuff is healthy and I don't do it often, but it does make you feel like you are not on a diet).  I am also getting married!  April 6th 2008!  1 year since I began my diet.  I bought a wedding dress in July (a little tight, but size 16) and tonight I just said forget that dress and bought a size 10 that is so much prettier!!! Anyone want to buy a size 16 wedding dress?  LOL.

Original Post by leighlada:

i run occasionally... i just like to make sure i'm drinking lots of water... and adding flavor definitely helps me drink more...

a product i found that i love is True Lemon.  I haven't found another product like it... it puts real lemon taste in my bottled water and it comes in convenient packets.  the best part is there are no sweeteners and no calories...

I use Replenish.  It is a great powder in convenient single serving packs that you can add to your bottled water.  It comes in Fruit Punch and Lemonade and actually tastes awesome.  It has 0 calories, 0 sugars, 0 carbs, and does contain 30 mg potassium and electrolytes.  The only place I am able to find it, though, is at the Super Walmarts.

My secret weapon is to break the rules once a week.  Once a week I spike my calories up about an extra 800.  I'm now living on 1700 calories a day.  After I spike, I lose an extra pound or two.  It keeps me motivated and I don't cheat myself of things I like to eat.  It's a nice time to go out and have a nice meal with my wife.  So far I've lost 38 lbs and people have finally noticed.

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There is so much valuable info here!  I have tagged this to keep checking it out.  The true hints are already here so thought I would add a little trick.

I am sometimes at my weakest willpower while driving home from work.  I can have great food at home but just want to pull in to a drive-thru.  If my purse is in my trunk I can't do this without parking.  This is enough for me to pause and think "do I really want to do this?".  By this point I just keep on driving.

Lame, but that is my 5:00 PM mind

Original Post by beaverley:

I am sometimes at my weakest willpower while driving home from work.  I can have great food at home but just want to pull in to a drive-thru.  If my purse is in my trunk I can't do this without parking.  This is enough for me to pause and think "do I really want to do this?".  By this point I just keep on driving.

I LOVE this idea!!!  I do a lot of business travel and can be on the road for two or three hours at a time.  I keep water, apples and other healthy nibbles with me when I'm traveling, but sometimes those darn fast food restraunts call my name -- especially those that pump out their wonderful aromas of grilled food!  I'm going to use this trick when I travel now!  Even if I just want to stop for a cup of coffee, I'll have to at least park and walk in to get it.

Thanks!!!