Dieters Anonymous: The healthy lifestyle thread

[amorey]

I’m going to try to start this up again, since I feel like I could use this group about now!

I started this thread on the other site, because of the problems that diets had caused me. See, when you diet, not only do you lose fat, but you also lose muscle mass. When you go on a restricted calorie diet (things like Atkins, South Beach, Fat Flush, or anything else where you lose 10lbs in two weeks) the first 8 lbs you lose are water weight. Then, after that you lose equally from fat and muscle mass. So if you lose 20lbs on a diet, you actually only lose 6 lbs of fat. Because you’re losing muscle mass and sending your body into starvation mode, your metabolism drops. Then, when you go off the diet, you gain weight like crazy, because your metabolism is all out of wack.

This past winter and spring I got a gym membership and was doing 3 45 min strength workouts and 3 30 min cardio workouts a week, and eating a slightly reduced calorie diet (1800-2000 calories) of balanced foods (yes, this means carbs!) and I was looking and feeling great.

However, since summer has began, I’ve fallen off the healthy bandwagon. I’m so busy, and I’m eating crap and barely going to the gym once a week. I’ve gained so much weight in the last 2 months.

Does anyone want to join me in the quest for a healthy, long term, lifestyle?

[DiscoDiva]

Based on the thread title, I have a question. Is this thread for dieters, or for those who live a healthy lifestyle? Those are usually two entirely different things!

I'd like to see a thread devoted to living healthy without dieting, encouraging healthy eating, exercise, healthy recipes, etc., but no talk about the latest trendy diet. The emphasis would be on overall health for life, not a current fad.

Is that what you mean?

[amorey]

This thread is definitely about avoiding the latest diet! It’s about making healthy, long term choices. I was thinking we could talk about balanced meals we enjoy, ways to squeeze exercise in, stuff like that.

I used to be on the diet rollercoaster, and I’m trying to get off, hence the title. :)

[DiscoDiva]

I'm a dork. I took the title to read "secret dieters/people addicted to dieting: let's share tips". :o

Count me in to this thread! I'm all about living my healthy lifestyle and the biggest thing I've noticed is that most people don't get it. They think eating healthy = diet, and they have no conception that you CAN eat all foods if you eat them in moderation, and you CAN eat a lot and stay thin as long as you eat the right foods.

[sheartm7]

This sounds like a great idea. :) I don't like diets because the second I stop them, I put weight right back on.

Especially with summer here - I really would like to find some permanent healthy tips and stick with them.

[Hello Kitty]

Checking in!!!

BBL to post, but I'm glad we're starting this thread again to keep each other motivated.

[stella24]

...I'm all about living my healthy lifestyle and the biggest thing I've noticed is that most people don't get it. They think eating healthy = diet, and they have no conception that you CAN eat all foods if you eat them in moderation, and you CAN eat a lot and stay thin as long as you eat the right foods.

Had to comment because I share your philosophy! Very refreshing to see others with the same outlook towards food.

Awhile ago I picked up a copy of French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano; it is a great book focusing on this same attitude towards eating habits. It might be interesting to others who share this same way of thinking.


eta: Oh, and I'd like to follow along, too. :) subscribing...

[TracieB]

I'm in!

Here's my take: the thing with "diet," is that it really is a diet. Not in the sense that you're restricting or anything, but, I guess your "diet" could consist of fast food all-day, everyday, ya know? Just something I learned in Nutrition 101 in college. But, I refrain from using that word... I think of it more like a healthy lifestyle ;)

Can't wait to share with you all!

[DiscoDiva]

It depends how you use the word diet.

Unhealthy use: I'm going on a diet. I can't eat that, I'm on a diet. I need to lose 10 pounds by next month: I'm on a diet.
If the word "diet" is preceded by the words "on a" then it's not healthy.

Healthy use: I do my best to have a diet filled with fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and lots of water. I also like to exercise about 4 days a week.
If the word "diet" is used to describe your eating lifestyle, regardless of the situation, then it's different.

See what I mean?

[claribella]

Cool!

I have been on the Jenny Craig plan since last Oct. but am just a bit shy of my half way mark. Its getting pretty expensive though. But I get lots of discounts and such. That is the only way I'm doing it.

I've lost 35 lbs so far!

http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/3;10729;129;0;0/c/-35/t/-93/k/8129/weight.png
(http://www.TickerFactory.com/)

[TracieB]

Perfectly worded, DiscoDiva! Completely agree :)

[miel]

Can I join? Giving up daily sugar and saving sugar for a 1 X a week or less treat. I fear diabetes and my blood sugar is so good now.

I think white flour is next. Potatoes are already pretty much out the door.

My next goal is to eat 5 servings of veggies a day and 2 of fruit. Set a good example for my daughter.

And finally, to give up butter. My fat intake is actually pretty low since I almost never eat meat or anything fried, etc. But I just love butter, esp. on popcorn. The grease is starting to gross me out though.

Bought some grapeseed oil to cook with this week.

[DiscoDiva]

Why grapeseed oil? I am an olive oil lover! Weird... since a year ago I never at it and was a butter freak. It's amazing how much you can change your eating habits in a year.

[amorey]

Grape seed oil is awesome! I tried it a couple of weeks ago. It's got good fat (mono-unsaturated I think?) and it doesn't have any flavor to it, so you can use it in just about anything.

[carrie9142]

Can I join? I am looking for a little more motivation!

I decided 2 weeks ago to take advantage of my university's free fitness assessment. They test your cardio/resp, muscle endurance, flexibility, and body fat composition. Yowch! I thought I did great with 10 pushups, but apparently that is below average for a woman my age. :confused: After the assessment I got a little workout program tailored for me...so now I am huffing and puffing away at the gym! I lost about 15 lbs for my wedding (2003) and not in a particularly healthy way. Now the weight is back plus some! I have lost about 8 lbs since Christmas, but have kind of plateaued motivation wise. I am back on it now!

The other very sad thing is the way I eat-I love to eat out, love convenience food, hate to cook! I am getting my masters in dietetics so clearly I know what I am doing wrong. I just can't help myself. DH and I are trying to make dinner everynight and eat more fruits and veggies.

:D

[Clattercote]

Oh, I'm interested in this thread too, and subscribing! I'm feeling out of whack in terms of healthy living, and want especially to concentrate on drinking enough water, eating enough whole grains and making an effort to get out and exercise every day. My main problem, I think, is that I eat chocolate with great abandon.

[ptrecluse]

Hi, may I join?

I have put on so much weight recently (stress) and feel so unhealthy and unattractive. I am addicted to chips and find myself snacking on them constantly. We are going to stay at the beach for a few days in August and I can't imagine going at my current weight. :(

I try to excercise for at least 20 minutes a day and have started to really fight the chip craving and try to only drink water during the day. I really want to add more fruits and veggies to our diet.

What does everyone eat for breakfast? I tend to skip it since I don't want toast or other high carb breakfast foods. I also don't have a lot of time in the morning since I leave the house at 5:30 everyday.

[stella24]

ptrecluse: I remember reading that you should always try to eat breakfast in the morning. Having that meal first thing is important to helping stave off hunger later in the day – I think I read in this month's SELF about a study of people who ate breakfast vs. people who didn't, and the ones that did eat breakfast ended up feeling less hungry and eating less throughout the day than the ones who didn't.

I don't have much time in the mornings for breakfast either, so I usually end up eating a Kashi granola bar or oatmeal, along with fruit. You could also fix yourself a quick breakfast with something like whole grain toast (good carbs), yogurt and fruit.

[claribella]

I lost 1.5 more lbs at weigh in today and I'm shocked. I haven't been doing well and didn't exercise at all last week!

But that's a 37 total loss...it makes me think though if I had stuck to the menu and exercised I would have lost more.

Its so tough!

[carrie9142]

What does everyone eat for breakfast? I tend to skip it since I don't want toast or other high carb breakfast foods. I also don't have a lot of time in the morning since I leave the house at 5:30 everyday

I agree with stella24-breakfast is very important. When you sleep, your body's metabolism shuts down. Breakfast is what wakes it back up. Without it, your body is forced to use glycogen stores which don't produce enough energy.

Carbs are your friend!!! WW toast in the morning is totally fine. Your body needs the glucose that comes from carbs-it is literally the only thing that fuels your brain.

[DiscoDiva]

I eat oatmeal every morning.

If chips are your weakness, don't buy them. Seriously, I've realized that some foods trigger a binge in me, so I just don't have them in the house anymore. If I'm hungry, I HAVE to eat something healthy, because that's all there is!

[ptrecluse]

stella24 & carrie9142 - Thanks, I am the worst at eating breakfast because I usually don't feel hungry in the morning. I guess I will go out this weekend and maybe buy some whole wheat bagels and yogurt.

I thought yogurt had a lot of sugar in it, does anyone know anything about this or can you recommend a low sugar yogurt?

DiscoDiva - One of the guys at work gives them to me, plus I have a little one that loves HOT Cheeto's. I will have to stop buying them for her and maybe find a healther alternative for both of us.

edited to say congrats to Claribella on losing more weight. Keep up the good work.

[DiscoDiva]

I LOVE the Dannon Low Fat and Fat Free yogurts. They are so good!

[Clattercote]

I agree with not having binge foods in the house anymore - but I'm afraid I'm going to have to start including in that even unprocessed cocoa and things like that - since I love to bake, and when I want my chocolate brownies or whatever, I'll make them!

Ack!

[stella24]

I like the yogurt smoothies (http://www.stonyfield.com/OurProducts/AllNatLightSmoothies.cfm) from Stonyfield. I mostly eat organic so I try to avoid artificial sweeteners. These have a blend of organic sugar and erythritol, a (supposedly natural, from everything I've read) low-cal sweetener.

[Annette]

I think I will subscribe to this thread. I'm trying to add healthy foods to my diet and exercise as well. I just started going to the gym at work on my lunch hour and I am always eating fruits and try to eat veggies once in awhile. DH doesn't like any fruits or veggies so I find it difficult to cook veggies for myself.

Grapes, cherries and baby carrots are a great snack food since they are bite size.

As far as breakfast goes, I have cereal, either Crispix or Cheerios.

[t3h_wookiee]

Subscribing! It's great seeing this thread again. :D


I'm not doing much better than before. We stopped going to the gym in early May when school let out because it was really inconvenient to go, and now with summer classes we have very little time to be able to go. :rolleyes: Food-wise I'm getting a little bit better, but still not very healthy. We eat out WAY too much. I did learn last week though that I actually like cottage cheese a lot! lol. I had always avoided it because I thought it looked gross. I also discovered that I like tuna too. Now it's just those pesky fruits and veggies that I need to find something I like in (besides just baby spinach and romaine).

[suzubeane]

Thanks for starting this thread, Ann. I know I'm new on it, and I fully expect to be a supportive participant, but right now I need help!

If there was a such thing as "dieter's anonymous" I'd be a member, because I've tried so many. I do well until I stop planning ahead (shopping often enough, making lunches the night before, etc.) and then I gain back whatever I've lost, and usually add more.

I agree that for optimal results and a real change of behavior, I shouldn't be "on a diet" but rather eating a balanced diet of healthy foods. That said, there were things about each of the plans I tried that had their benefits, and I did learn what foods to avoid. (Of all the "diets" out there, I found South Beach to be the most intelligent and uncomplicated. It really is about making good food choices, and eating things in the proper combination whenever possible.)

Anyway, my problem now is that I have "food phobias" left over from having tried so many different things. I now know that in prepared foods, "low fat" = "high carb." I also know that while I need to watch portion size, I shouldn't go too low calorie either. There's "Starvation Mode" to consider, and I'm also hyper-aware that if I lower calories drastically to lose weight, I'll just gain it all back later. I know I need to stay away from some foods altogether (bread, for example) but don't want to be too restrictive, because I know success will be short-lived.

For those of you who have "dieted" in the past, how do you get over these fears and start to eat more healthfully? I look at some of the suggestions posted here so far – which are all healthy - and I automatically think "carbs. fat. high glycemic index." How do you turn off the inner dialogue about food?!

Lastly, there are two other things affecting my eating habits now; one is that we are remodeling and have an incomplete kitchen. I can't cook, but I can grille and microwave.

Even more challenging is that I need to restrict sodium. I have some hereditary problems with blood circulation that make it not only prohibitive, but uncomfortable to consume even "normal" levels of sodium. This means things that most people take for granted have to be watched: salad dressings, cheeses, deli meat. After years of not eating beef or poultry, I recently added chicken back into my diet just to have a source of protein that could be prepared in a low fat, low sodium way. I've been grilling it eating it in salads, but chicken isn't exactly "snack food!"

Sorry to be so long-winded, but I'd love to hear what some of you "recovering dieters" have done by way of behavior modification.

Thanks in advance …!

[bookworm]

May I join? I've been "changing my lifestyle" for about 4 months now (down about 25 lbs, I think--I only weigh in once a month). I see a nutritionist once a week (I have a lot to lose), and a personal trainer about once a month (she designs a weight program for me, and changes it every month).

I'm still not "there" on really wanting to do all of this (I whine about exercise a lot ;) ), but I'm tired of feeling gross. Anyway, the current program is 2 days of total body weights plus interval cardio, one day of sustained cardio (45 minutes min), and one yoga class. 4 days seems reasonable to me--when I try to do 5 or 6 I start feeling put-upon.

suzubeane, I've tried a bunch of diets. This time, I decided to hire a professional. I do have to write everything down for now, but she reviews it, deals with my likes/dislikes/lifestyle issues, and keeps me from slipping in to "all or nothing" mode (my downfall). It certainly isn't coming off as quickly as it has on "diets," but this is the longest I've stuck with anything so I'm cautiously optimistic.

For protein, what about a few nuts or natural nut butters? Portion size is the big pain in the neck there, but 1T of natural peanut butter on a small whole-wheat pita is a good snack that has protein and fiber.



I'm looking forward to learning from all of you!

[ptrecluse]

I went shopping for lots of fuit and veggies and chicken (I can't eat red meat). I have been eating breakfast about an hour after I get up which seems to be working because I'm not starving by 10am. I also bought Mountain High vanilla yogurts since they use fruit sugar instead of corn syrup or nutra sweet as a sweetner. I have been mixing granola from TJ's in it, yumm it is so good. Plus I have been eating fruit throughout the day as a snack.

The 3 day weekend helped me add extra walking into my excercise for the week. Plus we are trying to add a short walk after dinner. I really hope I don't fall of the chip wagon (only had them once since this thread started).

Thanks ladies for the motivation.

~PT

[amorey]

I'm glad to see this thread has stayed alive a kicking! :D

suzubeane, I know exactly what you mean about the “inner food monologue.” I think South Beach phase 3 and possibly 2 are pretty good, but I am bitter towards South Beach because the meal plans were way to few calories for a tall, active woman in her mid 20s and I went into hardcore starvation mode.

I think it’s really detrimental to vilify food. Yeah, white bread is bad, but it’s bad because it’s over processed and nutritionally void, not because it’s bread or it has carbs in it. There’s nothing wrong with a nice slice of whole grain bread. It has good stuff in it like vitamin and fiber. I like to focus on eating good stuff and not avoiding bad stuff. If I make sure I eat all my fruits and veggies, it’s less likely I’m going to think about eating some Cheetos. And I don’t not eat the Cheetos because they’re a bad food that makes me fat, I don’t eat them because they don’t have any of the food value my body needs.

I use www.fitday.com off and on to keep me on track. I discovered that after years of low-carbing it, a huge percentage of my calories were coming from fat. Really, you only want 30% of your calories to come from fat. I had to learn to make friends with good carbs. Diets are always so extreme.

**

Does anyone have anyone have any yummy things they are doing with veggies? I need to eat more, but I can never figure out how to prepare them or get them in recipes.

[emmjay]

Hi - Can I join?! I was in the WC thread for a while too.

For veggies - the way I like to prepare them most often is to roast them in the oven. I normally do asparagus, red bell peppers and red onion all mixed together. Just cut everything into 1" chunks and put onto a cookie sheet or into a Pyrex casserole dish. Drizzle with olive oil (not too much - just enough to coat), and sprinkle VERY generously with coarse sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix it all up with your hands and spread out in an even layer. Roast at 425 for about 50 minutes, or until the veggies are starting to caramelize. I sometimes mix them up after about 25 minutes to be sure they are cooked evenly. Really delicious - I can eat this with plain brown rice for dinner and be totally satisfied.

[Esq.]

I will be lurking along...just so you know. ;)

[Marie]

Count me in!

I'm up about 5 pounds above my comfort zone right now and trying to drop those before the end of September when we start TTC.

I try to hit the gym 4-5 times a week. Buy a lot of organic stuff. Eat a lot of produce and "real" foods ~ I've really been elimating as much processed stuff as possible from my diet and I feel a lot better.

I think the key to long term health is a good combo of healthy eating (everything in moderation ~ gotta have cake once in a while!) and exercise. Very refreshing to see a bunch of women who realize this and aren't looking for the next miracle-quick-fix for all that troubles them.

[ani]

Oh what a great thread!!

I lost 30 lbs over the last year by doing exactly this. I'm a sugar addict and had to address this #1. Unfortunatly for the last couple months I've been really stressed and dropped all my good habits. I'm trying to get the ball rolling again though and start exercising regularly again. Also, I'm back on sugar and I HAVE to quit so I'm getting geared up to do that :( I dunno where I lost my excitement for living healthfully but hopefully following along with you ladies will help me out.

Ani

[Esq.]

Work is stressing me out. I didn't exercise Monday, I did Tuesday, and I didn't last night. I am not doing too great this week. I need somebody to yell at me to GET MY BUTT ON THE TREADMILL!

Come on...any takers? :)

[bookworm]

Kyrsten, GET YOUR BUTT ON THE TREADMILL! :)

I'm going at lunch today, for cardio only. I did weights/cardio yesterday. I usually take a yoga class on Thursday, but someone scheduled a meeting during my yoga-class time. Oh, the humanity.

[DiscoDiva]

Kyrsten, GET YOUR BUTT ON THE TREADMILL!!!! Now! Today! No excuses! Whatcha waiting for? You can do it! :D

[suzubeane]

Help - there is a coffee cake about 5 feet away from me, and it's calling my name!

Why do the sales people who come to my office want to feed us so badly?

Kyrsten, what worked for me this morning when I didn't have time for a whole walk (woke up late) was to still get out there, just for a shorter length of time. "Something" is better than "nothing," right?

[bookworm]

I am back from the gym (45 min cardio, split between elliptical/bike/treadmil because I get bored). I wanted to skip it, but I had posted that I was going so I felt obligated ;).

[Blossom]

Hello, my name is blossom...i'm a recovering diet-aholic checking in....
I used to lurk on the WC thread, but I think I finally need to formally check in this time around on CC.
Since I was a teen I've been battling the bulge. I'm tired of starving myself, working out to exhaustion and then gaining it all back out of frustration. I have no problem losing weight. It's maintaining the desired weight and changing my lifestyle that's the real challenge.
Looking forward to reading everyone's tips, ideas & thoughts.

Thought of the day: The vending machine at work is the enemy! ;)

[Esq.]

My butt did 45 minutes on the treadmill last night! Just wanted to let you all know that, apparently, yelling at me works! :D

[carrie9142]

Way to go Kyrsten! That is a very long time :D

Blossom- You and I sound a lot alike. I tend to go on these kicks of no eating, heavy exercise, and general obsessiveness. Then, when it doesn't work like it did the first time-I get upset and eat. And eat. I am trying to lose weight slowly and healthfully so I can maintain it. Good luck to you!

[DiscoDiva]

My butt did 45 minutes on the treadmill last night! Just wanted to let you all know that, apparently, yelling at me works! :D
Yeah! Now, someone yell at me to go walking and stop snacking!!

[Esq.]

Disco! Get Your Butt Out The Door And Go Walking! I Mean It! ;)

[suzubeane]

Please give me some feedback about yogurt.

Atkins says only the "high-test", and then only after the first two weeks. South Beach says low fat plain. Other "diets" seem to say the flavored ones are OK, but only the low calorie kind.

Ack!

I denied myself yogurt for a long time, and I'd really like to have some to take to work with me. Please post your thoughts on yogurt - the good, the bad and the ugly. Also, if you do it eat, brand names and flavors appreciated.

Thanks!

[amorey]

I heartily endorse yogurt, myself.

I usually eat the 100-calorie kind. Yoplait Light/Fat Free Yogurt.

http://www.simondelivers.com/products/13597.JPG

It does have some sugar and carbs, but it’s only 100 calories, so one or two a day isn’t going to kill you. It’s way better than many other sweet things you could eat. Plus it has protein and acidophilus.

Sometimes I eat Old Home (a local brand) low fat vanilla, too. I find that I tend to lose weight on low fat dairy like yogurt, part skim mozzarella, and cottage cheese. They say the calcium helps with weight loss.

My mom eats yogurt, too, and she’s the Nutrition Nazi, so it must be okay!

[Hello Kitty]

Why are you denying yourself yogurt - not anything against you, but for what nutritional reasons are you staying away from it? 'Cause we're not really following any of those diets here ;)

I'm a FF or LF Plain kind of girl - I eat it in homemade smoothies - just fruit and yogurt. I don't like the added sugars that are found in the regular stuff (think yoplait 'red' top) and I don't like artificial sweeteners (in Amorey's 'blue' top above). Milk carbs are not bad carbs, IMO. So I guess it depends on what you're going for. HTH!

[carrie9142]

I think yogurt is a good source of both carbs and protein. Very few portable and sweet snacks have the protein it does, and if you choose one with nutrasweet or splenda it has very little carbs. Not that I count carbs! I actually like the Kroger brand Lite. It is pretty small and only 85 calories.

[suzubeane]

Why are you denying yourself yogurt - not anything against you, but for what nutritional reasons are you staying away from it? 'Cause we're not really following any of those diets here ;) Um ... because I'm confused and afraid to eat it? Isn't this the place where we come after we've tried those oppressive diets in the past and want to form healthier habits now?

I know I'm not alone in my leftover "phobias" about foods from having tried those other things - it's been discussed here already. I guess I just want to feel safe confessing that I'm still afraid of certain things that were considered taboo before.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone ... off to go food shopping now!

[DiscoDiva]

I also love the Yoplait Light and Fat Free yogurt. I love the Strawberry and the Key Lime Pie flavor is excellent!

[Hello Kitty]

Isn't this the place where we come after we've tried those oppressive diets in the past and want to form healthier habits now?
Gotcha - I guess I thought you were trying to figure out what diet you were on or something, and asking us what yogurt we ate by which diet we were on. :confused: Don't be afraid of yogurt! :)

To expound on this - I guess each one has it's pros/cons, and it depends on what your health and fitness goals are.
Regular Flavored - high in calories (added sugar/HFCS), contains fat
Fat Free Flavored - lower in calories, contains art. sweetener, no fat
Plain - no added sugar or sweeteners, may or may not contain fat
Low Carb - art. sweetener, added protein concentrate

While I watch my caloric intake and C/F/P ratio, I try to get that from as many whole foods as possible. So its plain for me. I like the fat for saiety sometimes, esp. when I eat it at breakfast.

[Melne11]

I'm signing up! I'm not new to the desire to lose weight and be healthy while doing it, I'm new to actually doing those things.

I am so glad I found this thread, and I am suscribing, because I just feel so fat lately. I expressed this to my DH last night, (I usually keep quiet about that stuff) and he tried to make me feel better. He said he'd help me start being healthier, it feels good to have him behind me. And after finding support here on CC, I know I can do it! :D

My problems are that I can start a diet, or healty eating habit, and then in two days, it's gone. For instance, I vowed on Monday I was going to watch what I eat. I was going to count calories, and watch my portions (a HUGE problem for me). And today, i failed. I ate an enchillada at work. It was delicious, but I know it was not the best thing I could have eaten. (It was only 2 yards from a salad bar.) Which is another weakness, I work with food, all day long. I often find my self nibbling on things all day. I try so hard, but it is such a habit--I mean I do it without realizing it!!!

HELP ME LADIES!!! What is good food? What is bad food (aside from the obvious chips, sugar, butter, etc.)? How do you check yourself? How do you stop the bad habits? I want so bad to be healthy, but when I try, I feel like I'm starving, which is a HUGE red flag that I'm doing something wrong.... how I do this right???

[mel7dog]

Melne11

I'm actually just joining this thread now *subscribing*! but what worked best for me was WW. I don't consider WW a diet, more of a PLAN to get on track and get into a healthy life style. WW and reading up like crazy on being healthy, taught me so much about what kind of foods are best overall. If you don't want to pay to join, I know there are several websites who give lots of info on it. One is www.dwlz.com, which gives all the points foods :D

[DiscoDiva]

HELP ME LADIES!!! What is good food? What is bad food (aside from the obvious chips, sugar, butter, etc.)? How do you check yourself? How do you stop the bad habits? I want so bad to be healthy, but when I try, I feel like I'm starving, which is a HUGE red flag that I'm doing something wrong.... how I do this right???
First, there are no such things as "good" foods and "bad foods". You can eat everything as long as it is moderation. Second, don't beat yourself up over portion control if you don't know how much constitutes a proper portion. Third, snacking is a good thing, as long as you eat healthy snacks.

I recommend Weight Watchers. It is not a diet. To me, it is like kind of going to a nutritionist. They teach you how to eat healthy, what makes a proper portion, how to eat unhealthy foods in moderation, how to feel full, how often to exercise, how much to exercise, etc.

Don't get upset at yourself for not eating healthy if you really don't know how to do it!

[Blossom]

Just to piggyback on the whole yogurt discussion....What is your favorite healthy snack??
Lately, I've taken to making my own trail mix. I mix up raisins & various nuts for a snack at work. It's really been helping me avoid buying the cookies & Doritos. :)

[Melne11]

Thanks ladies for your advice. I'm going to check that website and look into WW more. My MIL does it and has had GREAT success. She's the healthiest person I know IRL.

Does anyone know of any good books I could pick up to help me out???

[ptrecluse]

I feel heathier since I started coming to this thread. I have included salads a lot into my diet not DIET. My pants feel a little looser also. I don't own a scale so I can't say if I have lost anything at all. I have been eating breakfast every day which is a huge change for me and I feel better during the day becasue of it.

Thanks ladies for reminding me of the importance of breakfast. I tend to eat a yougurt a day but by the Mountain High vanilla yogurt and sometimes mix it with granola or shredded wheat cereal. I have been diligent about bringing my lunch to work and it has helped me stay away from the chips (and I don't miss them or craving them anymore..yah). Also, I am trying to make sure we eat dinner earlier and liter than before.

Question: What does everyone do for excercise? Right know it has been a steady 95-100+ degrees outside and walking (my favorite) is so out of the question.

[DiscoDiva]

Question: What does everyone do for excercise? Right know it has been a steady 95-100+ degrees outside and walking (my favorite) is so out of the question.
I alternate walking, biking, and doing exercise DVDs. I walk even when it's 100 degrees. That may sound crazy to some, but I don't mind it. Plus, I get so sweaty I feel like I really worked out!

[Hello Kitty]

I post all my workouts in my LJ - as you can see, I vary things up. I lift (low reps, heavy weights) and do cardio (step, cycling, walking, etc) at varying intensities several times a week. I also do ballet once a week to clear my head :)

I have also been working out outside since it's so hot, but I'm used to it. I would caution you to take it easy and not go too far from home if you're not accustomed to it.

[stella24]

I try to use an elliptical machine, treadmill, or exercise bike for a half hour every day – the place I work has a gym, so it's easy to fit in some cardio during my lunch hour, plus we have an elliptical machine at home. I also do some strength training a few times a week. On top of that DH and I will usually take walks after dinner; the weather doesn't really affect that unless it's extreme.

[t3h_wookiee]

I'm starting a Body for Life challenge on Monday. Here's hoping it works well for me. What I really like about it, is that it isn't a diet. But it will help me to make sure I'm eating healthy foods and staying on track. And both DH and I are doing it, so we can encourage each other.

[dusthappy]

wookiee, you should love BFL. I did two challenges. Lost forty pounds, and something like 34 inches overall. I found it so easy to maintain the weight too. It really taught me portion control, and healthy eating. Plus that free day, woo hoo. Make sure you do your measurements and Before/After pictures like today! They are great motivating factors, and don't use the scale if you can keep yourself away. Use a pair of pants as a loss measurement.

I think you just encouraged me to get back on that bandwagon. I will start tomorrow too. Want to keep me accountable?

[ptrecluse]

It finally cooled down a bit so we all went for a long bike ride today. I can't always walk in 100 degree weather because I have a little one and don't want her to get overheated. If it was just me I would. Hopefully it will stay below 100 for good now.

What is BFL sounds intriguing? I think I need to learn what is healthy and what is not and portion control.

[dusthappy]

BFL= Body for Life. It is a lifestyle change for sure. Not a diet, just a change. It focuses on portion control, eating clean, and incorporating exercise to lose weight and get fit. What you do is eat five to six meals a day, spaced about three hours apart to get your metabolism moving. Then you also exercise six days a week, three days of weights, three days of cardio. On the seventh day you rest, no exercise, and eat whatever junk food you want. I lost forty pounds when I last did it, and managed to maintain for about 18 months. Then I "forgot" about eating healthy and exercise.

I would suggest you get the book, or look online to see what information you can glean there. Some people find it too structured, but myself I need the structure, otherwise I fall off the healthy eating bandwagon.

[t3h_wookiee]

BFL is awesome! DH did it halfheartedly one summer and still lost 20 pounds, and felt a lot healthier. I can't wait to see how I feel in 12 weeks!

Dusthappy-sounds good to me! The more the merrier. :) I'm going to go grab a shower, and then DH and I will do those Before shots. I sold my scale in a garage sale, so I don't have to worry about being temped to step on it at least.

Ptrecluse-Definitely get the book! Borders has a 30% off coupon that's good through today, and that'll help. It's a great read, and the stories are very inspiring. :)

[dusthappy]

Alright wookiee, plan on checking in tomorrow to tell how you did. I will do the same. Don't know as I will take b/a pics, since I did two months ago and nothing has changed. I just lost momentum last time.

[AKA Poohgirl]

Hey y'all, subscribing! I'm all about trying to eat healthy, I just don't always do it. Right now, I'm on WW, which I know this thread is not about "diets" per se, but WW is kind of like a healthy living program, when followed properly. I try and eat lots of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and good fats. (Almonds and avocados are your friend!)

Anyhow, one book that I would suggest is Superfoods Rx. I can't remember who wrote it, but it goes over the 14 superfoods, which are beneficial to your body. Not just foods that aren't harmful. I started eating these superfoods to help alleviate some symptoms that I have from an auto-immune disease. I didn't realize that dairy, processed and fried foods was causing me to be in so much pain, but it was. It's amazing what one bowl of ice cream can do to my body, now that I recognize what's triggering it.

Anyhow, I recommend this book if you're serious about eating healthy beneficial foods!

And I'm glad this thread is here!

[greenbunny]

I'm back!

I slacked off previously due to life insanity (moving to a new home, both DH and me in master's programs at the same time). We are moved in and hopefully I can get back on track before I start classes again fall term. Unfortunately DH didn't get the grant he needed to finish his degree so after August he will have taken his last class until he can get another grant.

We have an elliptical and we got a universal from a guy on Freecycle, but it's in a zillion pieces and we don't know how to put it together again! My main issue with exercise is my bad knee, I have to balance my elliptical use to avoid knee pain. Also the weights are supposed to help with that.


I have lost a couple of pounds because when it's hot I don't have much appetite. Also I've stopped boredom snacking at work because I've been too busy.

Today I got a black bean wrap and orange/raspberry smoothie at the Amazon cafe, so I'm on my way to healthy lunches. I usually pack but our fridge is empty. I also started buying whole milk again. DH insisted we switch to skim and I HATE it, I won't drink it. I figure I can make up for the fat elsewhere in my diet, but I wasn't getting much calcium and that's important for weight loss.

ETA: Forgot to mention that I have also been thinking about going vegetarian or vegan. Since adopting Bella I've gotten into animal rescue and I've become a lot more conscious of animal welfare, I find it hard to eat animal products anymore.

[bookworm]

I am back from the gym--I cut a few things down to 2 sets, b/c I was overheated (in the air conditioned gym--that's not good!) and a little dizzy, and did very light cardio at the end instead of my usual intervals.

I'm actually feeling quite proud of myself--I've come a long way if I think cutting down to an hour or 2 sets is a "less intense" day :).

[Blossom]

Well, Wednesday night I think I overdid it. I did intense weight training for about 45 minutes and then 30 mins on the elliptical. I did NOT want to get up this morning my muscles were so sore, so I was a smidge late for work. I don't think my boss noticed though. ;) Tonight I decided to keep it simple and did 30 mins on the stationary bike.

But Friday night my Dh made dinner reservations where the dinner will be a 3 course meal! I know I'm going to indulge so I'm not going to obsess...ok...I'll try not to obsess. :rolleyes:

[dusthappy]

Well, life sometimes gets in the way of our plans. I have done so good with my eating. Really clean, healthy, well proportioned meals. Lots of water, and lots of activity. But tonight my dad had pizza at his house when we stopped by to swim. I succomed to two pieces. I feel like a cow now. Oh well, tomorrow is another day, and it is really nice to know that I control what I put in my mouth and how I fuel my body. Not the other way aorund.

[greenbunny]

My college roommate visited last weekend and she left a half gallon of rainbow sherbert in our freezer. I've been gobbling it down and while I should go for less quantity, I realized that it tastes so good that I don't mind not eating ice cream. I'm going to make an effort to switch totally to sherbet and get away from eating ice cream.

Substituting less-unhealthy but still fun foods tricks my brain into thinking I'm still a junk-food junkie.

[t3h_wookiee]

We've ended up delaying starting BFL until Monday as DH still hadn't finished reading the book. :rolleyes: But I haven't been too bad about eating.

[Rosebud]

This is a great thread!!

I just wanted to jump in because I've been on the healthy eating bandwagon for a couple of years now. I've never had a weight problem (except that nagging 5 pounds you always want to lose) and have always been fairly active, luckily enough. Then, in 2003 I got a random virus that nearly killed me and was hospitalized for a week. I lost nearly 15 pounds in the hospital and then gained 20 in the 6 weeks I was in bed after leaving the hospital. Also, my immune system was totally shot. I picked up every little cold and bug that went around for the next year and just felt tired and icky all the time.

My doctor suggested some vitamins and recommended that I read two books on nutrition by Dr. Andrew Weil. This was the start of a total health makeover for my FH and me. (Him more than me, he's really hardcore and I still cheat and have sugar). We already ate pretty healthy (no soda, no red meat), but my health issues inspired us to go further. We eliminated all trans-fats from our diets- won't buy anything that has them. Totally increased our intake of soy, green tea, vegetables, lean proteins, healthy grains.... all that kind of stuff. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't all that hard to do and I don't miss most of the stuff I "don't eat" anymore.

My health has bounced back really well-- I haven't been sick in quite some time. I still have another 5 pounds I'd like to lose but I've also put on a lot of muscle from working out. My FH lost 25 pounds and looks amazing. More importantly, he says he's never felt better in his life. So... I'm a big believer that what you put in your body affects the whole quality of your life. I always thought of food in terms of pounds but now I think of it in terms of health.

I'm droning on... Just wanted to support everyone who's striving for better, healthier diets. :D

[ptrecluse]

Praise Report: I lost 2 pounds in the last week and a half. I've cut out chips, drinking extra water and eating only chicken, veggies, salads and fruits. I also am proud to say that I now eat breakfast everyday and I totally feel better during the day. I only get to excercise 2-3 times a week right now. I know I would lose more if I could get more time in but oh well. I already feel better physically.

[AKA Poohgirl]

ptrecluse that's great! Good for you!

Believe it or not, I've lost 9 lbs in two weeks. I KNOW that is a lot, and it almost would seem unhealthy, but I have been eating a LOT. I've just basically cut out all bread, dairy, sugar, and anything refined. I drink soymilk for calcium, I will eat corn tortillas, and I use honey to sweeten my tea. I'm doing WW, and counting all my points, eating 30 (!) a day, and still the weight is just melting off of me. Not that I'm complaining or anything.

Another thing to note, I've been eating this way for 3 weeks. Prior to that, I would try and eat as healthy as possible, but I always still had other stuff, i.e. potato chips, 'tastes' of whatever enticed me. But since I cut everything out, I seriously DO NOT even crave it. I did try one taste of an ice cream cone my husband bought, and it was so sweet, it was actually gross.

Anyhow, I wanted to say, that I noticed yesterday, that I can breathe perfectly clear from my nose. I have had allergies for years, with either both or at least one nostril always blocked and congested. All of a sudden, I'm free! It's awesome. I'm waiting to see what else I discover as I continue on this road to healthy living.

Oh, have to add, not exercising yet. Waiting til it starts cooling down a bit, then I will start walking a few miles a day, so this weight is coming off just from eating healthy.

Good luck everyone!

[bookworm]

Congratulations to those losing weight and/or sticking with plans!

Question: is anyone else having an awful time exercising in this heat?

My gym is air conditioned, and I still can't stand it (not cool enough--I get all overheated and dizzy). Last week, I almost passed out then made excuses for the rest of the week. This week, I figured I'd try doing something, which translated to 45 minutes of low-intensity cardio, and a 1 hour hatha yoga class today.

So what is everyone else doing? Or am I just a wimp?

[greenbunny]

bookworm, while I haven't been very good about exercising lately, our exercise machines are in the basement, so it's always cool down there. I don't know what to tell you about going to a gym business, maybe take some cold packs to wrap around your neck?

[bookworm]

greenbunny, thanks for the idea. I saw my trainer today, and she said to just take it easier (cut down to 2 sets, work more slowly), and that seemed to help. But I'd like to just stay cool so I don't undo all the work I've done over the past several months.

Now if someone could just explain why I just ate potato chips after busting my butt to get to the gym today....sometimes I'm not very bright.

[ptrecluse]

Thanks AKA Poohgirl! Wow, 9lbs you rock and without excercising, I'm jealous. Congratulations on eating healthy :)

Bookworm I am having the hardest time excercising in this heat but I try to get a brisk walk in a few times a week and we have been getting up early and biking on Sundays which has helped. I get headaches from the heat so I try to excercise before 8 am or after 7 pm.

[stella24]

I find the best way to make exercising in the heat easier is to stay hydrated (which is good to do at all times, anyway). I try to keep a bottle of water with me at all times.

[pacificbliss]

I haven't been here in a while. I will read and catch-up but just wanted to say that I started using FitDay.com about 2 weeks ago and have really enjoyed it. (I first heard about it on this thread and now DH is doing it too) It helps keep me motivated to go to the gym and I am a lot better about tracking what I eat. In the activities section I don't track every little thing I do every minute of the day but I give myself credit for aerobics classes, weights, sports, etc. The one thing is it sets my basal daily calories needed pretty high. I had to switch my lifestyle to bed-ridden to get it to a number that seemed even remotely reasonable.

I hope everyone is doing well.

[amorey]

pacificbliss, I've found that FitDay does a pretty good job of estimating how many calories you need. The estimate it gave me was right on target with what my trainer said. Could it be that you're estimate of how many calories you need was off? Most people do burn 2,000 calories a day, and can eat 1,800 and work out to lose weight.

[stella24]

I use FitDay too. I have to say I find it's estimate of calories needed fairly accurate as well.

On another note, I'm happy to say that over the past few weeks I've managed to lose 3 lbs. Very happy about that! I don't have a lot to lose so this little bit is monumental for me.

Hope everyone else is doing well :)

[Hello Kitty]

PacificBliss, ITA with Amorey. Fitday's estimate is in line with many other calculators out there - ones from nutritionists and PTs. Do a search for the 'Baylor College of Medicine' calorie needs calculator.

Try upping your calories 100 each week until you're meeting your body's needs. Your needs = basal metabolic rate (which can be tested more accurately using the 'bodygem' or other similar device) + lifestyle calories + any workouts you do.

Remember safe weightloss is 1-2 lbs/week (2 being high).

[pacificbliss]

Thanks everyone. That's good news.
Congratulations Stella24
Seb's Kitty I checked the Baylor site and they were pretty much in agreement.

Thanks again

[Janey]

For those interested, you can get your RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) tested. If you put your zip code in here (http://www.healthetech.com/dlrlocator/index.php) and it will show you places to have it done. I had mine tested last year. It came out to a measly 1,250 calories/day. Good information, yet extraordinarily depressing.

(FWIW - the Baylor site told me I needed ~1850. I wish...!)

[bookworm]

kjh924, both things could be true. I've had my metabolism tested too, and the way she explained it, your resting rate is the calories you burn if you just lie in bed and breathe. Once you get up, shower, go to work (even just sitting instead of standing), you burn "lifestyle calories." That could account for the difference between the 2 numbers.

[stella24]

I think bookworm is right... I've been told my basal caloric needs are right around what your RMR is, kjh924. On top of that, my lifestyle/activity level (which encompasses even basic tasks, like bookworm mentioned) requires an additional amount. So the higher number (1850) probably reflects that. From what I've read, you definitely don't want to dip below a certain amount of calories per day (is it 1800? I can't remember), even when trying to lose weight.

[Hello Kitty]

Yep, y'all are right BMR is nearly* the same thing as your resting metabolic rate. If you eat the number of cals in your BMR/RMR, you likely will be putting yourself in starvation mode. So eat up! :D

Figure:
+ BMR/RMR
+ lifestyle (desk job/standing job/walk to work/etc)
+ workouts
= maintenance calories

Then subtract out the calories for losing weight. Personally, I take off about 300 calories a day. It keeps the weight loss nice and slow, but I'm looking for an attainable lifestyle here, not quick losses.

* I say nearly b/c there is a difference, but I have Monday brain and can't remember :o

[Janey]

From most sources I've heard, the "Don't go below" calorie number is 1,200. It's unclear if that number is net or gross.

If my RMR is 1250, and I'm not supposed to go below 1200, I'm not sure exactly how I'm supposed to lose weight, though. Part of me thinks maybe part of my problem understanding this thing is that the "don't go below" numbers are for an "average" person. But at 5'1", I'm a lot smaller than "average." So shouldn't my "Don't go below that" number be smaller than average as well?

In any case, I'm eating around 1500 or so net calories/day lately, and am gaining weight like crazy. I've gone from 138 at Christmas to a whopping 153 this morning. :mad: It is especially scary for me since my high weight is 246... I'd really like to not go back there. I do an average of 300 PA calories per day, but usually more. Admittedly, I am not working out 10-12 hours/week like I was last year, but I'm not doing nothing ... and my weight is shooting up like ... (looking for simile) ... the horsetails in my yard. It's scaring the bejeezus out of me.

I'm really finding that eating any more than 1200 net calories, I gain weight. I wish it weren't true for me, but it seems to be so. Cause at this point... I'm honestly not sure how I'm supposed to get this 15 pounds back off. If anybody has any troubleshooting tips, I'd love to hear 'em... cause I've got a poofy white dress to fit into in 7 short weeks. :eek:

[bookworm]

MrsHill, I'm sorry I don't have any insight. It seems really wrong to me that you would gain weight on 1500 cal/day, but I certainly believe you.

This won't help in the short term, but I'd recommend weight training. From what I hear, building muscle mass is the best way to increase your metabolism over time.

[Esq.]

MrsHill, not to be alarmist, but have you had your thyroid tested? It seems really odd that a person who is, I am assuming the low end here, moderately active and eating only 1500 cals a day would gain weight like that. Have you kept a food journal to see where your calories are coming from? Counting calories for me has always been really hard, so I guess if you are sucessful in counting them, you are likely keeping a journal of some sort.

I feel for you. I am someone whose weight doesn't seem to budge. My body likes where it is at, and struggles to stay here. I read an article a while back in Self or Shape about "Happy Weight",meaning the weight your body is comfortable at. Maybe your body is just trying to get back to the weight where it is comfortable, and your going to plateau on the gaining soon? Maybe 138 was too light for you?

I am just throwing out stuff, so feel free to ignore me :)

On a side note- how much credence do you guys give a treadmill's calorie counter when it does not require you to put in height and weight? I know that bc treadmills have been around the longest, their calorie counters tend to be most accurate. But it just doesn't seem like it could possibly be right. I do 55 minutes on the treadmill quite regularly, and I shoot for 550-650 calories. I walk at 12% incline for 75% of my time on the treadmill in order to increase calorie burn in less time. But I just don't trust the thing. Does that calorie burn seem right to you?

[Hello Kitty]

Mrs. Hill, I agree about getting your thyroid tested. Other things that affect your BMR are: previous eating disorder (takes a few years to get a decent metabolism back) and body composition. If you're not weight training, you should be, if you can manage it. Pound for pound, muscle burns a few more cals than fat (for your body to keep them alive), but using them and working them increases your overall calorie burn.

Not only will muscle boost your metabolism, but it will CHANGE your body shape. My short story is I've lost 3 lbs and 3 pant sizes. Had I been staring at only the scale, I would have given up. This wasn't done on cardio alone, but with consistent, heavy weight training.

The calorie counters on treadmills / ellipticals are notoriously high. The best way to gauge it is by using a heart rate monitor. In my experience, better treadmills that ask you for input have come out to be fairly close to my HRM, but still a bit high.

Also, I assume you're walking. If you're walking as fast as you absolutely can, so fast that it's very hard to not break into a jog, you might be burning close to that calorie amount.

In the end though, as long as you are getting workouts of varied intensities and sticking with them, you're doing a much better thing than nothing.

[Janey]

Bookworm & Seb's Kitty -- Good tip about the weight training. I'm not doing any weight training at all these days. I just ordered "The Firm" and it arrived last week. So at least some light weight training is in my immediate future. Unfortunately between the remodel, work, and wedding planning, my time to go actually go to the gym has really dwindled. I'm bought these videos so that I would at least have an option to do something when I was at home.


I think I had my thyroid tested back when I weighed 246 lbs, but I haven't gotten it tested since my weight has come off. Good Idea; I should probably get it tested again, just in case.

I do have a Heart Rate Monitor (The Polar F11 (http://www.polarusa.com/Products/fseries/f11.asp?cat=consumer)). I used to be religious about using it. Then it broke, so I returned it to REI and got a new one. I am embarassed to admit that the new one hasn't even been out of the box, and all of this happened months ago. I should probably test my RHR again with this new one and get back in gear. (I see a HRM Thread coming soon to a message board near you)

I do keep a food log. It's a requirement of the weight loss/maintenance program I'm in (HMR). I used to use BalanceLog (http://www.healthetech.com/balancelog/), but got frustrated with the program. Lately I've just been writing everything down. (I see a "Food Software" thread coming soon to a message board near you) On a good day, my calories come from things like Subway, Fruits-n-veggies, HMR Meal Replacements, and lean protien. On a bad day, my calories come from restaurant food -- like good restaurant food, not fast food type stuff. I still try to make good choices when we land ourselves at a restaurant. Even so, I know that whatever I'm choosing is higher in calories than anything I'd make at home. Restaurants are killing me ... and B and I love to go out to eat. Hard to 'celebrate' at home with chicken breast & veggies. :p

Also, Seb's Kitty, you said something that struck a chord: "(takes a few years to get a decent metabolism back)" ... That could be at least part of my problem. Labor Day 2003, I weighed 222 lbs. Labor Day 2004, I weighed 132. 132 was too skinny for me -- My chest looked like it was out of national geographic ;), and it hurt to sit on a hard bench. However, I was fit, and (pardon me for saying this quite like this but I'm a little proud of it) my ass was rock hard. :D Anywhooo... I figure that 140 is just about my goal weight. Maybe my body is objecting that I've lost all this weight, and is figuring out where it's supposed to be. It's been a year now... maybe I just haven't waited long enough.


Ya know, I keep thinking, "Life is going to be so much easier once we're married! I won't be working... I will have time to go to the gym... I will have time to do shopping for healthy produce, and make us healthy meals at home rather than stopping at Subway cause that's all we have time for. I'll be able to get all of the house stuff done so that we can actually go do fun active stuff on the weekends! This is going to be great for both of us!" But, of course, I also won't have to fit into my wedding dress at that point, either. Sort of ironic, isn't it. :p

Anyway - thank you for your comments, ladies. You've given me lots to think about. Instead of being frustrated by the problem, I need to come up with solutions for solving the problem. I have obviously done it once; I can do it again!! :)

[QueenofCA]

I'm subscribing! I've put on about 10 lbs that I'd like to lose, and I need to be more active. I'm tired all the time, and I never cook at home anymore. I used to cook almost every night, but with all the wedding stress and craziness, I stopped. Now I'm just in the habit of picking something up on the way home because I'm too tired after work to think about cooking. Or, I'll pig out at lunch and tell myself that I'll just eat a light, healthy dinner, and then we get invited out somewhere or I'll get hungry and eat more junk anyway. I've noticed that it takes more food now to make me feel full--I feel like a cow sometimes because I eat so much at one time.

I have some great bellydance workout tapes and I used to do them 3-4 times a week, but I've stopped that too. I guess my problem is laziness! It's easier to just sit and relax and sleep, but do any of those things bring the rewards I'm looking for? NO!

I'm at least trying to re-organize my daily schedule so that I can have some time to cook at home more often. I think that is the first step for me!

I'm looking forward to getting healthy with all you ladies!

Melinda

[bookworm]

I have a question about heart rate monitors.

How big (long) is that band that runs around your chest?

I am still plus-sized (18/20). Will a "regular" HRM fit me, or should I look for a special model/band extender?

Embarrasing question, but I'd rather be embarrassed on the internet than in REI :rolleyes: .

I use the hand grips on cardio machines (treadmill/elliptical) periodically while exercising, but I'm curious about tracking heart rate/calories burned while lifting weights or doing yoga.

Thanks.

[Janey]

Bookworm, you have inspired me to get my HRM out of the box. :) The size on my strap says "M-XXL." Stretched out, it seems to be 4' long. It's pretty elasticky. Worse comes to worse, if you buy it at REI and it doesn't fit, you can always return it and just tell them it wasn't what you thought it was going to be. But, I think you'll be just fine!

[bookworm]

Thanks!

4' should more than do it. :)

[Hello Kitty]

Bookworm, my transmitter strap is a size medium that comes with the receiver (got the Polar A5). It depends on what brand HRM and what model HRM you get. You can buy replacement straps or other sizes on their website: http://www.polarusa.com/store/showproducts.asp?CatID=7

So you can get it in the store, and try it on at home, and always get another strap if need be.

[bookworm]

Thank you for the link!

I just looked at the site, and it gives the measurement for "medium" as up to a 50" or 54" chest, depending on the model. That would be the first time in my life my chest was called "medium" ;).

I may take a chance and buy one, and if it doesn't work I'll get a replacement strap, or return it and just keep plugging along until I am no longer "plus sized." (~30 lbs down in 6 months. This could take awhile...)

[Hello Kitty]

I have also tried sticking just the transmitter into the band of my sportsbra. It works okay, but I think I was just used to the strap. You could probably pin it in there so it doesn't wiggle around. I really think you'd be fine.

[stella24]

bumping, and checking in on everyone. :) I've been kind of at a stall for the last couple weeks, though I have lost a total of 5 lbs. so far now. More importantly though I can see I'm developing muscle... about time! Hope everyone else is doing well.

[t3h_wookiee]

Yeah I've been bad. Totally never got around to starting BFL, as I enjoy food too much to do it. I NEED to, but just am not ready for it yet.

I have been riding my bike to class everyday the last 2 weeks though! It's 1.8 miles to the closest part of campus from my apartment door. My legs are killing me! But I can feel improvement in them already.

[Esq.]

I just got off the treadmill. First time I have been on it in a week. Last week I had a bout of insomnia, and it is just too hard to make myself exercise when I am exhausted, even though I know it would probably help me get my sleep cycle back in place. I went five days with about 10-15 hours total sleep. By day five I had to call off of work bc I didn't think that I could drive.

I have to keep on track with my routine. It will help me stave off the next bout of insomnia.

[Lil_Mrs_0702]

Alright Ladies----
Count me in! My husband and I decided that we want to start a healthy life style together.
We decided to cut the frozen food out of our diet. I think too many $1 Hungryman meals is the top reason for our weight gain.
I also started waling 20 minutes 3 days a week on my lunch. We will be living in a third floor apartment soon I help that increases some metabloism as well :)
I also started only hitting the perimeter of the grocery stores. And only the neccessary middle aisles. I noticed that all the fresh stuff (produce, fruit, veggies, meat, etc) are on the perimeter of the store.

I hope my tips help and let me know if yopu have others for. Also we should start a healthy living cookbbok thread or something. My husband made an excellent enchilada style stuffed bake potatoe. It was so delicious and had all natural ingredients!!

[longislandlolita]

Alright Ladies----
Count me in! My husband and I decided that we want to start a healthy life style together.
We decided to cut the frozen food out of our diet. I think too many $1 Hungryman meals is the top reason for our weight gain.
I also started waling 20 minutes 3 days a week on my lunch. We will be living in a third floor apartment soon I help that increases some metabloism as well :)
I also started only hitting the perimeter of the grocery stores. And only the neccessary middle aisles. I noticed that all the fresh stuff (produce, fruit, veggies, meat, etc) are on the perimeter of the store.

I hope my tips help and let me know if yopu have others for. Also we should start a healthy living cookbbok thread or something. My husband made an excellent enchilada style stuffed bake potatoe. It was so delicious and had all natural ingredients!!

Can I join? I'm getting married in June 2006 and am turning 30 right after the new year -- and I want to be my healthiest for both occasions! I put on ten pounds last year and early this year (my first year of work after grad school) and developed a bit of "cubicle butt." Since we got engaged at the end of February, I have lost about 7 pounds and am hoping to lose about 7 more, which would put me at my ultimate, look-awesome-in-every-outfit-I-own weight. I generally eat what I want, in moderation, and do cardio 5 times a week -- which is no small feat, given that I work 70-90 hours a week! I'm looking to diversify my workouts and include some weight training. Any good recipes would also be awesome -- once we get all this great cookware we have registered for, I want to start using it!

[stella24]

longislandlolita, maybe you can try the magazine Cooking Light for some healthy recipes? I don't subscribe, but I do pick it up every now and then while I'm shopping for groceries and need some new ideas for healthier meals. Also you can try searching online sites like epicurious (http://www.epicurious.com) or allrecipes (http://www.allrecipes.com).

[bookworm]

Am I the only one who has fallen off the wagon? Between travel (business) and work being nuts, I've been stuffing my face and not exercising enough. :rolleyes:

I went to the nutritionist, and managed to exercise 3 days last week (only one was intense). Now I have a giant blister so I don't want to wear sneakers (and insert other whining here).

Work is going to be nuts for the next month. I will commit to moving (somehow--even just a walk or yoga) 3 times a week, and not stuffing my face at every opportunity. How is that for a compromise?

[Janey]

Am I the only one who has fallen off the wagon? Between travel (business) and work being nuts, I've been stuffing my face and not exercising enough. :rolleyes:
I've totally fallen, too. Between wedding and honeymoon, that was sorta It for me for a while. We completely ate our way (I almost typed 'weigh') through our honeymoon. :/ I'm even feeling worse, though, because I can see B's tummy starting to get bigger and I feel huge pangs of guilt because of it. Not that I'm putting food in his mouth, but when he says, "Do you want to walk down to Columbia City for dinner?" I say, "Mexican, Please!" instead of saying, "Nah let's take an hour walk even though I'm starvin' marvin' and then go home and make dinner that will be eaten 2 hours from now!" Cause if I'm hungry... no way am I waitin' 2 hours to eat, and exercising in the meantime.

So I guess that's a question: Do you think it's better to eat a thousand calorie restaurant meal *and* get the hour-long walk in, or forgo the walk, and eat a lighter-calorie meal? In theory we could walk after dinner, but it's dark, cold, and there are no good places to walk by my apartment (I can't wait till we move into our house).


I will commit to moving (somehow--even just a walk or yoga) 3 times a week, and not stuffing my face at every opportunity. How is that for a compromise?
I think that sounds pretty good! :)

I resolve not to eat out for the rest of the week -- including the weekend!

[amorey]

I have fallen off the bandwagon as well. :( And I started this thread! :p

I am so busy, it’s hard to find time to get to the gym. When do people exercise? The only time I can find is if I don’t have anything going on after work.

MrsHill, one hour of walking at a moderate pace burns 165 calories. So if the meal you eat at home contains less than 835 calories, that would be your best bet.

[kalogrias]

Newcomer! Can I join? I read through the first few pages of this thread, and it looks like exactly what I need as I try to maintain a handle on my eating and exercising life. I eat fairly healthily most of the time, but my downfall is baked goods and pasta. I'm in decent shape (try to run 3x/wk) and am at a good weight, but life is stressful, and I often need a kick in the pants to get out there and run, or else to not eat that last cookie. My husband is often deployed, adn while he is gone, it's a lot easier to keep to a decent menu and eating schedule, but when he gets home -- whoosh, it all goes out the window. He's a big man (6'5", 250 lbs), and requires about double the calories I do, jsut to make it through the day. So he eats, and I...well, I match him sometimes, and that's bad. Especially because I then feel terrible about myself.

So, I'd love to be a part of this support network!

[t3h_wookiee]

Yep, I totally fell off the bandwagon too. I'm rather upset at myself about it, but what can I do? *shrug*

Bought new running shoes today. So now I have all new stuff to start running in soon. I'm thinking of trying the Couch to 5k challenge-I love running, I'm just so out of shape that my body hates it.

[stella24]

Still on the bandwagon :) But it's been VERY hard, and so many times I've wanted to throw in the towel. Then I remind myself that I am starting to develop muscle (esp. in my legs, a place I've never had definition before... it was depressing to be fairly thin but show no muscle!), or I'll weigh myself and discover I lost another pound... things like that keep me going. I'm about halfway to my goal weight right now, and even though it's been slow going, it will be worth it. Keep up the good work everyone!

[Esq.]

I am still on the bandwagon for the most part. My problem is that I have been at a plateau for over a year now...and I am so frustrated. I must be at the weight my body is comfortable at, or I am making a major mistake that I just don't see.

I started keeping a food journal on Monday, in an attempt to see where I am going wrong. Then I got really sick, and have been flat on my back for 2 days now. Hopefully by tomorrow I will back to normal, and back into my routine.

I also change some aspects of my exercise routine...again. It has never helped in the past. I am just stuck.

poo :(

[eponymous]

Thanks to amorey for mentioning this thread in the Chit Chat thread! I admit that I'd assumed it was mostly for those on various diets.

In a previous lifetime, I was an elite athlete. Although I no longer compete at that level, I'm active as an adult competitor and have the goal of winning the adult national championship this year. (More realistically, to qualify and then medal in the top four). It's very difficult to find the time to train, however. I'd like to be stretching and doing core work everyday, then skating and do strength training three days a week. Yah right!

I need to keep my weight low because of the sport. I snack too much at night. I'd like to lose a few pounds that I've put on, mostly by cutting out snacks and non-nutritional food. I've also noticed that artifical preservatives, colors, and additives tend to make me feel terrible, so I've been moving towards more organic/natural-type products, but it's difficult to afford that stuff. I've also been trying to use less chemicals around the house, using Target's Method stuff instead of Clorex-type stuff, and wish I knew more about vinegar/baking soda-type homemade products.

[looch]

[QUOTE=kalogrias]I eat fairly healthily most of the time, but my downfall is baked goods and pasta.
[QUOTE]

Oh me, oh my, me too! Gosh, I just wish there was a vegetable that had the same mouthfeel of bread and cake. If there was such a thing, I wouldn't need them at all. Now pasta, I am sorry, there is no substitute for the real thing. I have tried corn, rice, whole grain, you name it. I have even tried those soy noodles that you find in the refridgerated section of the health food stores. Can you say "YUCK!"

[bookworm]

Now pasta, I am sorry, there is no substitute for the real thing. I have tried corn, rice, whole grain, you name it. I have even tried those soy noodles that you find in the refridgerated section of the health food stores. Can you say "YUCK!"

Have you tried the whole-wheat pasta from Trader Joe's? In general, I agree with you (brown rice pasta was among the nastier things I have tried in my life), but I really can't taste the difference in the TJ's version.

Having said that, I don't think there is anything wrong with a moderate portion of regular pasta. It's just the places that give you an entire pound as a "serving" :rolleyes: that cause problems!

[stella24]

looch, have you tried spelt pasta? It's one of the only whole-grain alternatives to regular pasta that I can stand because it tastes good (to me, at least).

[looch]

I have tried the TJs whole wheat. It's ok. I haven't tried the spelt, but I will give it a try.
I find that if i boil the water in a small pot and then measure out my pasta, I eat the right portion. It's when I bil the water in a huge pot and say to myself "i'll make extra" that I have issues!

[Hello Kitty]

Get a food scale! :) I like WW pasta, but can't always afford it, plus it doesn't always taste good with different sauces - WW alfredo? I don't think so!!!

I've found that measuring out my 2 oz. is fabulous. Round out the meal with some lean protein and a fruit or veg, and it's much easier to eat less pasta.

[Esq.]

I actually prefer wheat pasta. Admittedly, I didn't right off the bat. I am someone who grew up eating a lot of pasta and bread (I am Italian). Switching to whole wheat bread was difficult. But I made that change, and about half a year later switched the pasta. I find that making these permanent changes in steps, instead of all at once, is really helpful. I switched from regular to diet soda first. Then white bread to whole wheat (and make sure that it is whole wheat made from whole wheat flour...anything else is pointless) and then did the pasta. Other things I have changed: fake pb to natural pb, buttermilk pancake mix to whole wheat pancake mix, white rice to brown rice. There are more, but I can't think of them right now.

[amorey]

Glad to see this thread back in action!

I like buckwheat soba noodles. I mix some low fat cottage cheese with some pasta sauce (something without sugar or corn syrup like Classico) and heat it up to eat with the noodles. It sounds weird but it’s actually really tasty. It’s a good way to get a low fat high protein meal.

[looch]

Ahh yes, the pursuit of the high protein, low fat meal! Post your ideas! This one is a toughie for me!

[Esq.]

Wouldn't ground, low fat turkey also give you low fat/high protein? (I make this comment in reference to mixing cottage cheese with pasta sauce)

[amorey]

Kyrsten, yeah, I'm sure it would, but I really like the cottage cheese. Seriously, it's yummier than you'd think!

Looch, I got that idea from stumptuous.com (http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/index.php). She has a lot of good high protein eating tips.

[Hello Kitty]

I love doing things with cottage cheese for protein. It's great. I also eat a good amount of tuna and low fat lunch meats. Google some recipes for protein pancakes - they're really good!

So, Ann... ;) Tell us what you're learning from WW that could be applied to a dieters anonymous crowd? My workouts are good, but my eating, eh, you know...

[looch]

*bump*
The holidays are here, what are some strategies that we can use to fight off the end of the year weight gain!

I'll start:
Eat a small meal before going out, it will help you graze less!
Alternate alcoholic and non-alocholic beverages
Plan ahead!

[ceaserbride]

1. Scan the buffet for shrimp with cocktail sauce- virtually fat free and high in protein, iron and lycopene.

2. Switch out of holiday mode as soon as the party is over- dont turn Thanksgiving through New Year's into one long binge.

3. Save calories for only new, interesting foods; have one tast of each.

4. Indulge in a single serving of your favorite holiday treat at a restaurant with a friend instead of testing your will power by keeping it around the house.

5. Alternate alcoholic drinks with calorie-free sparkling water.

6.Destroy the plate. If you've had enough to eat but others are still picking, dump salt over what you have left!

7. Dont arrive at the party starving; the fat in an ounce of nuts and the protein in a glass of skim milk will blunt your appetite.

8. Dont deprive yourself- allow one holiday treat per *event*

Hope it helps:)

[DiscoDiva]

2. Switch out of holiday mode as soon as the party is over- dont turn Thanksgiving through New Year's into one long binge.
What? That takes all the fun out of it! :p

[Janey]

Eat a small meal before going out, it will help you graze less!
This one is huge for me! I never leave the house hungry when I know I'm going to be in a party situation.

Here's another one: If you're asked to bring something to a party, you be the one to bring the veggie tray with FF/low-cal dip! You'll be assured that there will be some healthy snack choices at the party.

[Hello Kitty]

2. Switch out of holiday mode as soon as the party is over
I think this is key. Go out, celebrate, have a good time in relative moderation. But then get up the next day, eat your oatmeal, workout, etc...

I think because we're in this 'season' we almost validate gaining weight or getting out of our routine. A few extra meals (depending on how busy your calendar is) really shouldn't cause you to gain 15 lbs.

One other thing that helps me is having DH. I have him keep me on track when we're going out - so I don't totally overindulge. To do that, though, I have to keep it in perspective and not take it personally when DH gives me a look or asks me if I really want to go back to the buffet.

I also like working out before we go out. Remembering that I worked out that day gives me reason not to eat all crappily.

[clzj]

Interested in the thread will read more later.

I have a late term pg loss and have the baby weight to loss a nd want to do it healthy.

[preppypinkgirl]

That is great advice. That is where I have my slips. I will treat myself like I did on Thanksgiving and then it continues for the rest of the week. I have to remember that one day won't wreck my whole weight loss and then get right back on track!

[Katy]

bump

[cherry]

hello all, i'd like to join you if i can.

i've gained about 10 lbs since the start of this year (and am up 15~20 lbs from my wedding weight, 3.5 years ago). i had a stressful year due to a few different factors and just completely took my eye off the ball in terms of weight and overall health. i was eating whatever i wanted, whenever i wanted, plus drinking a ton of caffeine. i literally NEVER exercised and was sleeping badly, working and travelling lots, etc. luckily for me, my life has slowed down over the past 2-3 months, and i realized i am totally sick of carrying the extra weight around (and the constant muffin top phenomenon with jeans, never having anything to wear, etc.)

i am a vegetarian and like to eat organic, so i wanted to be healthier and lose weight without a "diet" per se. i have been working on my version of this new "healthy lifestyle" plan for 3 weeks now. what i have been doing is:
- tracking my exercise and food i eat on www.sparkspeople.com - not sure how long i'll do this for as i don't want to be too obsessive, but it's been helpful and motivating so far.
- exercising: i joined a gym and it's been a slow start, but i've been trying to do 20-30 mins of cardio 3-4 times per week and strength training 2 times per week. i'd like to do more but it's a start.
- nutrition: i've cut out snacking, my biggest vice. i typically didn't eat too badly with meals, but my snacking was out of control. since i've done this i don't really crave my old pals (chocolate, nice cheeses, chocolate, ice cream, chocolate) too much but have a little here and there. i also started making myself eat breakfast and take fruit to work with me for a mid-morning snack.
- other stuff: i make myself drink at least 2 liters of water daily, and have really cut down the caffeine. i am also working on getting more and better sleep.

so far i have seen a little difference in my gut and hips, but haven't weighed myself. i will do that in about a week, at the 4 week mark, but i'm more interested in how i feel and look in my clothes. some more improvement would be a great motivator, though - and i need motivation.

thanks for the info everyone has posted! sorry for the novel.

[suzubeane]

I think I posted on this thread early on. I had some initial success, but have been dealing with some health issues since last summer that have made exercise extremely challenging. Now I'm on some new meds that are causing me to gain. Great combo.

I decided to stop weighing myself, so I'm going to have to find another way to measure my success; I'll probably go for some kind of measurement of endurance on the treadmill, or something.

Anyway ... I'm here and following along. Hi!

[looch]

Oh, I forgot about this thread!

Well, I've got a juicer and have been juicing. Today's count so far is:
3 apples
5 carrots
2 beets
1 c. cranberries
2 pears
2 c. grapes

Amazingly, I've been full all day. I only plan on the juice fast for one day, I have been feeling a little sluggish, and so far, the juice seems to be helping.

For dinner tonight though, I need something other than juice, so we'll see what that turns out to be.

[cherry]

looch, i've done the juice detox thing as well. i think it's never a bad thing to do that once in a while to refresh the system, so to speak.

suzubeane, i think i will be joining you on tracking my success by something other than weight. i am now 1 month into my healthier living plan and definitely see some improvement - my gut is smaller, some of my clothes fit better, my legs are toned from the exercise, etc. however, i weighed myself two days ago for the first time since i started and - i'm exactly the same weight as when i started! i know that muscle weighs more than fat and that i have toned up in some areas (with plenty of work still to be done), but come on. i decided that was just too demotivating for me so i am going to continue to focus on endurance and how my clothes fit. right now i do about 30 mins of cardio a minimum of 4 days a week. by january i'd like to be up to 45 mins, if possible, as i believe cardio is more valuable when sustained for at least 30 mins.

oh, i also need to improve my willpower around alcohol. the "party" season seems to have already started for me, and my job stress spiked a bit again this week. both things are bad for me, very bad.

hope everyone is well!

[looch]

Well, it's time to get serious. I pulled out a pair of pants today, and it was a miracle that I could button them, but then, i realized i wouldn't be able to sit down. So, needless to say, it's time to get to the gym regularly.

My main issues with the gym revolve around getting there. I don't mind working out once I am there, but for whatever reason, I just can't get motivated to get there. I, like cherry, believe that I need to sustain cardio activity for at least 30 minutes, so I will be doing that tomorrow.

I have been more careful about my food choices. I don't have any snacks in the house that make me feel bad about eating them. That means graham crackers and popcorn for me. I have a fridge full of fruits and veggies, i think i have close to 15 pounds of carrots, apples, pears, cranberries and melon in there. The problem is cooking or juicing it, so messy and not what I want to be doing after work.

I also drink almost a gallon of water day, which helps me to feel hydrated and it makes my skin smooth, or at least I think it does!

[greenbunny]

I'm a thread drop-out, over on the WW thread now. :o Turns out I really need the structure and boot in the butt of paying for a program. So my best advice is find what shores up your weak points.

[cherry]

i'm coming off a week or so of less than stellar eating and a bit of a slip in exercising (i also was a little run down and under the weather so i 'allowed' myself the lapse). however, the last two times i have exercised i've managed to get 40 minutes of cardio in, which is a new 'high' for me. planning on getting back on track as of tomorrow.

i did weigh myself and discovered i have actually lost 5.5 lbs in the past month (as well as gaining tone in my thighs), so i am motivated. been eating lots of kale, sauteed swiss chard, quinoa, grilled salmon, brown rice and salad with nuts and avocado. ah yes and sushi, my one true love.

greenbunny, congrats on the WW switch and good luck.

[Hello Kitty]

My main issues with the gym revolve around getting there. I don't mind working out once I am there, but for whatever reason, I just can't get motivated to get there.
Yes, this is me, too. Ugh, it's really hard, especially b/c I haven't been lifting lately. I've been saying things like 'today at noon, you're going to go for a run' and then making myself stick to it. I hope I can do the same thing with lifting - tonight I'm going to lift at 5:30, end of story... We'll see!

Cherry - you've got a great eating plan there. Everything sounds so fresh and yummy!

[cherry]

seb's kitty, i know what you mean about trying to discipline yourself to exercise. i've only been working out regularly for about 6 weeks. unfortunately, as of saturday i'm having problems with my SI joint (going to get my back checked out today) and can't exercise until it is sorted out. it was interesting to find that i have been missing exercising since i can't do it.

i have been trying to stick with the healthy eating more than ever since i can't exercise (last exercised last thursday!). i've stocked up on veggies and salads and tofu (i'm a vegetarian). the onslaught of the holidays has already started though and there seems to be candy and goodies everywhere i turn!

[cherry]

still trying my best to stick with the healthy eating, although holiday gatherings are conspiring against me! i have been trying to eat dinner at home except when i have an event to go to and then, to eat plenty of greens and protein. today i had a work holiday lunch at a mexican restaurant though, and eat about half my body weight in guacamole - it was bad. i also just found out i am pregnant, so i feel like i should do everything i can to eat very well now in case morning sickness hits.

hope everyone else is doing well and winning the holiday eating battle, at least occasionally ;)

[cherry]

forgot to mention exercising... yeeeeah, haven't seen the gym in 1.5 weeks now. d'oh! i have some catching up to do. i need to get back into a cardio routine.

[suzubeane]

Cherry, thanks for keeping this thread alive, and congrats on your pregnancy!

I work either from home, or in a small studio with one other Jewish person, so Christmas treats have not been a problem there. :). However, potato latkes must be eaten with sour cream! I managed to avoid them until last night, but it's back on the wagon today.

[looch]

Let's see, today I worked from home and I didn't drink nearly enough water. I also finally bought my cereal for work next week, and I just made up a batch of cranberry orange scones. Not the best breakfast, but I have been craving them, so I just bit the bullet, rather than try to compensate with a million other things.

[BumbleB]

Living healthier is my huge focus for this year - so I hope this thread keeps on going.

I had a bad systemic infection during my first year of college- about 6 years ago - but it affected my life so much, I feel like I'm still trying to make up for it. I had always been very active, but during that time I was sick so much of the time (with one thing after another: Bronchitis, sinus infections, colds, even got food poisoning once) that I didn't get much chance to work out. I gained the freshman 15 and ended up putting on another 10 pounds or so after recovering.

Add to that the BCP I was on for 3 years that steadily contributed to my weight gain, I am now about 50lbs over weight - SHUDDER. And my DH could stand to loose about 15 lbs.

That being said, this new year for us is going to be about making healthy eating choices and being more active.

We will be introducing more veggies and fruit into our diets, eating less meat, processed food, and going out less, and I will be trying to curb my horrible sweet tooth.

Another goal is to cook more on the weekends so I have healthy staples in the fridge that can be mixed with things throughout the week to make quicker meals and give me more time to go to the gym after work.

All of this seems like a daunting task, but I am determined and the next two months are going to be a huge push to get a GOOD start on it!

I look forward to seeing more people join this thread and hearing everyone's tips and succeses!

[BumbleB]

Living healthier is my huge focus for this year - so I hope this thread keeps on going.

I was always very active and healthy until about 6 years ago when I had a bad systemic infection that affected my life so much, I feel like I'm still trying to make up for it. For a year I was sick so much of the time (with one thing after another: Bronchitis, sinus infections, colds, even got food poisoning once) that I didn't get much chance to work out - and that is when I started gaining weight.

Add to that the BCP I was on for 3 years that steadily contributed to my weight gain, I am now about 50lbs over weight - SHUDDER. And my DH could stand to loose about 15 lbs.

That being said, this new year for us is going to be about making healthy eating choices and being more active. This will include eating more veggies and fruit, eating less meat, processed food, and going out less, and I will be trying to curb my horrible sweet tooth.

Another goal is to cook more on the weekends so I have healthy staples in the fridge that can be mixed with things throughout the week to make quicker meals and give me more time to go to the gym after work.

All of this seems like a daunting task, but I am determined and the next two months are going to be a huge push to get a GOOD start on it!

I look forward to seeing more people join this thread and hearing everyone's tips and succeses!

[Julss05]

A healthy lifestyle is exactly what I'm trying to accomplish. I've tried diets in the past and they never worked so I decided I needed a a new long term approach. I'm following guidelines from a book called The Best Life Diet by Bob Greene. He really stresses healthy eating, exercise, and making it a permanent change not something you do for a short time and stop. In the last two weeks I have gone from no exercise to doing cardio, weight lifting, and an ab routine for at least 90 mins. a week, changed my eating patterns (use to eat no breakfast now it is my biggest meal of the day), eating 3 meals a day with a snack if I get hungry, not eating 2 hours before going to bed, drinking more water, not drinking any soda or alcohol, and taking a daily supplement. I also replaced high-fat dairy with lowfat and regular pasta/bread with whole grain. I weighed myself 2 weeks ago and won't weigh-in for another 2, I really like the fact that I'm not tied to the scale, hec with all my flab turning to muscle I might gain weight at first, but that's okay if the weight is healthy verses fat. My next step will be exercising more once my body is use to exercising on a regular basis and watching my portions whether healthy or not. I would like to lose up to 50 lbs. and keep it off for good. I know this will take persistance and longevity not just something I stop doing once I lose the weight otherwise I'm sure the fat will return:rolleyes:. The older I get the more I'm concerned about my health, I wish I was as concerned about it in my early 20's! I guess I was a stupid girl back then thinking my wonderful metabolism would never shut down on me, that I could continue to eat/drink whatever and never gain a pound, I was invinsible:rolleyes:. I was about 120-125 lbs. and naively thought I'd magically stay that way regardless of overeating, eating fatty sugary foods, and drinking soda/alcohol on a regular basis. I think just like you can change careers and go back to school at any age you can turn your life around to a healthy lifestyle. Better late than never!:)

So far I don't feel like I've lost much weight but my flab in my stomach, arms, and legs is definitely turning to muscle! I didn't think I'd notice it right away but it's good to SEE results. Best wishes to everyone!

[Julss05]

I just wanted to come by and update that I've lost 3 lbs. so far. Hope everyone is doing well.

[Julss05]

I lost another 3 lbs! Woohoo. I'll admit I was very pestimistic about a new healthy lifestyle and didn't believe it would work after other failed attempts. It's weird though it took me 4 weeks to lose 3 lbs. and then I lose 3 in one week?! Maybe it's because I was gaining muscle from exercising, took body time for fat to turn into muscle? I actually thought I'd be at the same weight or gaining a pound or two from eating out this weekend but I was very careful about my portions. Wish the rest of you the best.