Losing weight

I am thinking about trying to lose 25 to 30 pounds. I would love to fit into my "skinny" clothes again. I really like them and myself a bit thinner. Nothing unrealistic here. No high school weight limit attempted.

I have never really dieted. Any suggestions? I am considering weight watchers because I think I might learn something about good nutrition and I do well in a group setting. I quit smoking years ago in a group and it helped.Any suggestions or thoughts?

Lynn

I love weigth watchers, but it's all about the kind of group. My friend and I have switched groups twice and have finally found the group that fits us. I also heard that the Discovery Health channel is doing some kind of challenge where they give you a free three-month membership to Bally's Gym and nutritional guidleines.
Good Luck.

Lynn, I hit that point when I turned 40 and I swear I have someone else's matabolism!

I walked before 40 and didn't gain weight, continued to walk after 40 and started gaining 3 pounds a year. Well then it turns to 10-15 and before you know it, you have to do something about it. I'm there too!

Now I go to Curves and walk occasionally, but I'm not losing weight, just maintaining. No fun!

One time I lost weight when my sister, and friend and I e-mailed each other with what we ate every day! HONESTY was THE only policy. That'll take the weight off because do you really want to record every little thing you put in your mouth?

I did have success with WW, but didn't stick with it long enough to make it count.

Good luck and let us know what you decide. I think anything works best when you do it with a friend so you have someone to be accountable to.

I'm a big fan of walking and when I do it, I stay in good shape, have tons of energy, and get lots done. However, I can't seem to get myself going alone. I need a partner. We talk and get our psychiatry out of the way early. My walking partner developed knee problems though so I'm becoming way too sedentery.

From what I read, it takes walking 3 days a week for at least 20 minutes to maintain, and 5 times a week to lose.

Recently I bought a recumbent bike, kind of like a recliner that you pedal. I got a bed tray type thing and can velcro my laptop to is so I can write while exercising. It's not terribly boring, just not as nice as walking with a partner.

Many of the great writers were avid walkers.

smile

My problem is finding the time to exercise. I refuse to get up any earlier to do it, but by the time I get home, it's the last thing I want to do. Any suggestions? I can't justify joining a gym to go during work because we have a small gym in my condo complex.

Losing weight is always a pain but I remember when I was in my 30's and 40's it was easier. That's when I walked a lot and seemed more inspired to lose weight.

It's harder now that I'm in my fifties. My motivation is lacking; however my husband and I purchased a treadmill and it should arrive this week or next. I can't wait to use it because I think the walking on it will really help! Plus, we have a stationery bike and a rowing machine. No excuse for me not to get into shape.

I'm also eliminating the peanut butter I used to eat in the afternoon. In place of that I'm drinking green or Red Tea. Really is helping! I don't know what it is but the tea is taking away my afternoon hunger!

Any one else experience this? Also, any other tips in losing weight and getting more inspired? I would appreciate any helpful hints. I really want to get the weight off.

Ann

Ann, I say put the treadmill in front of the television when a funny sitcom is on. Time will go much faster.

I also find myself hungry in the afternoons. Heck, add mid-morning and 8:00pm to that too!

I'm not sure about this but sometimes I think the fact that I exercise pretty much every day makes me hungrier. Any thoughts on this?

What I'm doing is drinkinglots of water and instead of reaching for that handful of Wheat Thins, chips, pretzels, cookies, candy...you name it, I'm eating boring stuff like grapes, carrots, cheese without crackers, or the mini rice bbq flavored rice cakes. Also sugar free pudding or jello. Hope this helps.

Dotsie,

I agree with you. Substituting foods like rice cakes and carrotts sometimes works, sometimes not. The peanut butter rice cakes, I've found, taste better and do help control the appetite.

I am finding, as I mentioned earlier that drinking Red Tea, really takes hunger away in the afternoon. The sweet taste calms "hunger pangs" and takes that "urge to eat" away. Really working for me!

Should get the treadmill this weekend or early next week. Having some exercise equipment is inspiring me to move on--and the Red Tea is definitely helping!

Good luck to everyone on this! We can do this--whatever we need to accomplish this goal,is inside each one of us.

Ann

ugh! Exercise!! The one and only TRUE cure to weight gain.

What can a person do who CANNOT exercise ??? Any activity causes intense pain and sends me to bed for 1/2 to a whole day, depending on what I do.

anyone else w/this issue and have some answers?

Maybe you could contact your local hospital and get some exercises from a physical therapist. They're experts at that stuff and sometimes they can devise exercises that actually relieve pain.

Of course, depending on your condition, maybe some online research would work. I'm astounded on the health info I find online nowadays.

Of course this is advice from a SLUG!!! I'm less active now than ever before in my life. Not sure why. I say I'm hibernating for the winter.

smile

The biggest hurdle I have with dieting is sticking with it -- I get bored very quickly with the same ole same ole --- so hubby and I went on a week to week diet last tuesday ---

This week -- for dinner -- we are eating a bowl of Total cereal with a bit of fruit and low fat milk -- and then snacking on a salad or other "goodies" -- like cheese puffs or pringles new low fat chips -- amazingly low in carbs and calories -- so far I've lost 2 lbs and he's lost 8 ( I HATE MEN ) -- and next week we'll do something different -- just to keep from getting bored

And today I ordered the winsor pilates tapes that I've heard good things about -- since I have 2 bulged discs in a back that's already had surgery I have to be careful -- but a couple of these exercises are the same ones the PT gave me for my back -- check it out -- www.winsorpilates.com --We can do this together in the evening when there's nothing on the boob-tube and I don't have to have any excercise equipment. I'll let you know after I get the tapes how they are

Yuhooo...Queen here. Don't forget about the Atkins diet. I have lost 6 lbs in 7 days...

yeeehawwww!

you can read all about it at www.atkins.com

hugs,

same problem for me

please email me at
chevre@inderalabo.com

Chevre,
After going on Atkins for a bit, my doc said to "get off that diet!" He was loud and the reason was my liver count sky-rocketed. So, I got off the diet, and it went back to normal after a few weeks. So, I don't do Atkins. After that experience, I had a bad wreck and was layed up for about three months, adding another 20 or 30 lbs...you still with me? Yep, I started resembling a basketball with teeth.

Back this past January, I started Weight Watchers, (just counting points) and didn't JOIN them, just did it on my own. So far I've lost 16 pounds as of yesterday and I am always full. I pretty much eat anything I want...I just count points. I take a mult-vitamin now, go to the gym every day after work and walk on a treadmill for at least 30 minutes (which I built up to) and of course, do the WW's thing.

It is working for me. If you want to know more, feel free to eamil me at GJawjaw1@aol.com It's slow working, but according to everything I've read, its a) a lifestyle change, and b) slow means it will stay off. I only have about a bazillion more lbs to go...

Hope this helps!

JJ

chevre, welcome. I hope you'll stick around and join the other forums. If you're interested in being accountable for what you eat, then email me about the BWS diet. Vicki has lost 50 pounds. I lost 10, but gained back 3 that I can't seem to shake. I think it's becuase I've been skipping out on Curves. As the metabloism changes we need to watch what we eat AND get exercise. It STINKS, but I don't know an alternative.

When I saw this topic, I wanted to throw darts at the screen. This weight watching is for the birds!

[ March 31, 2005, 11:45 AM: Message edited by: Dotsie ]

I'm fine until I turn off the computer in the evening and go sit in front of the TV. My minds has been trained by years of bad habit that thats the time to eat something. Now I buy carrot and celery strips and nibble on those, they're harder to eat and use up more calories than they give. Has anyone noticed that out of every 5 ads during the commercial breaks at least 2 of them is for food, or is that just here in Vegas? I think its maybe more here because all the Casinos advertise they're great food deals and so do the fast food joints.

I'll add another book....this one is really fun, an experience and I enjoy the sensibility.

'French Women Don't Get Fat..The Secret of Eating for Pleasure.' The author is Mireille Guiliano

Look it up on the Internet and see how you feel about the concepts she presents.

I was on the Jenny Craig program and it worked wonders on me. I didn't realize how much I had been eating until my portions were limited. It taught me how to eat right and I have ever since. I was never hungry, I just wanted to pig out but it wasn't from real hunger, just me being bored and needing to occupy my time with food.

Ladies, I just started the DietWatch program yesterday, so I will inform you of my progress if I see one. Looking forward to lose 30 lbs.
Just have to observe portion control and not exceed daily calories. Hope it works for me!

--------------------

Treadmill the excellent equipment. By means of it I perfectly support the form.
As to meal I do not eat after a sunset. If I feel famine I eat only apples. They give satiety. Excellent food. During other time I eat any food.

No, Chatty those ad's on tv don't just hit Vegas.
They have those commercials down pat too.... cause everything looks so good. Last night it was the mushroom cheeseburger at Wendy's.

Heard celery was good for the HPB, so I started cutting that up, along with apples, plus I will eat rice cakes. Have to pretend they are ice cream and cookies and pumpkin cheescake.

Cut out trips to fast "food" stops like McDonald's and Burger King, if I been real good I'll hit Wendy's for a Frosty, (not every day mind you). Eat a lot of chicken and fish. Kids aren't real thrilled, but at their ages old enough to fix their own dinner.

Not smoking any longer has added about 10 lbs, my nose works so much better, food just smells fantastic.
Evening time really is the worst for my appetite wanting to take over. I'm weak....but, fighting it.

Walk everyday outside if weather permits, something hubby and I can do together, otherwise it's the treadmill.

Hi! It's just for fun )

Do you know it?

http://www.burger.taopark.home.pl - the craziest diet in the world!

Burgerqueen... what kind of business are you running here? From the link I followed, it seems you want people to send you money everytime they think about eating a burger. Surely I read this wrong?

JJ

Nope you read it right JJ and it is either the biggest scam around or as burgerqueen says, just for fun but the less than intelligent people in the world will send the money, can you believe it???

Hello out there!
Would like to join the forum about BWS diet.
What do I do?
I know.........stop eating? Right?
Lynne

Email Dotsie for the password and you're in. It helped me when I was there. I wanted to maintain my weight and exercise. I really need to exercise but it is so darn hard to maKe time and Just do it...I know...excuses, excuses.
Yep, I quit smoking and if I get hungry, out of time, I eat seedless grapes or cottage cheese and mandarins. This way I am getting my calcium and fruit for the day.It is very satisfying too.
Cecilia, how is that diet going? Alexie, no food after sunset...interesting. I have to eat when I'm hungry even before bed.
Burgerqueen, how much money have you 'taken in' to date? Shame on you girl! Of course, I have paid money to lose weight and they are really all scams in one way or another.
chick
chick

I am sorry to say but I deleted burgerqueen. I hope that wasn't mean, but I don't like it when people only post about their sites/businesses.

Dots,

It looked suspicious to me...but what do I know?

Tks for keeping the site clean Dots!

D.

Good for you Dotsie and I have seen several of 'those people' lately. If they want to advertise here then let them be active mebers or pay for the priviledge to advertise...where does a thing like that stop, hang tough!

Well, for decades I tried dieting and it didn't work. I couldn't keep it up for long enough, and when I'd start eating regularly again, well... the weight just came back. I figured I'd have to say goodbye to sweets and chips and biscuits and gravy forever. *gasp* I couldn't do it.

So I tried to make small changes I might be able to keep up with for the rest of my life, like drinking my coffee black and eating at least some fruit and veggies every day, but that hasn't producing much in the way of results.

I've been trying to get more exercise by walking every day, but it's been hit and miss. Sometimes I have no time, or the weather's bad, or I'm just too tired to move when I don't have to.

I'm starting to look like my Grandmother did at my age. Oh dear.

And it's not that I'm that vain or want to look like one of those skinny models. Good heavens no. I just don't want to have all the health issues associated with excess weight.

Right now, I'm holding my own. Not gaining or losing. I guess that's something.

Well, I tried to send Dotsie a private message asking about the diet forum, but was told her mailbox was full and to try again later. If I wait, I won't. I'll let it go. So I'm going to slip my message in here, and hope she'll see it. I hope that's okay.

Dear Dotsie,

I was wondering if I might join the Diet Forum. I don't know what it's all about, but I'd like to try it. I weigh 180 now and my goal for the new year is to lose 30 pounds by December 31st, 2006. That's not unreasonable, is it? A little bit more than a half pound a week?

Anyway, please let me know what I'd need to do to join in.

Thanks,
Flo

Flo Voy, welcome to the diet forum. There's nothing to do to join in. Just post in as much as you want and enjoy our encouragement. A half a pound a week is not unrealistic. Ask questions and tell us what you've accomplished.

Dieting is about making yourself feel better and achieving all around better health. It should even help lift your spirits.

I walk about seven miles a day. I see that you live in a nice warm climate so take a 30 minute walk every day. Start cutting down on the portion size you normally eat. Always remember, do what works best for you. What may work for one of us doesn't always work for all of us. Don't be obsessed with getting on the scale every day. Wait about a month after you first start and then get on the scale.

Good luck, get started and post with us, we're here for you!

Flo Voy, I have a friend who says he's waiting until January to start his diet. I'm going to ask him why he's waiting.

Did you know that in some cases depression can be improved by dieting? Losing weight and taking daily walks has been shown to improve mental health.

If you don't feel well yourself it can be difficult to take care of another family member who needs you. You've got to take care of yourself. Do it now and don't wait. Don't use those "stall" tactics. This can be an especially difficult time of year to diet with all the wonderful goodies in your face everywhere. If you're going to a dinner party the worst thing you can do is starve yourself so that you can "pig out." You will over eat too if you've starved yourself all day. The body is programmed to pick out the highest calorie food when you've starved it all day. It's important to eat small meals as you feel hungry. Don't starve your body but don't feed it high calorie foods either.

just a note on all who are trying to lose weight: if you're including exercise, you may gain lbs. due to muscle weight. I always weighed more than I looked because of muscle. Muscle weight is good: it's the exact opposite of flab, and will help you burn calories faster. So lbs. per se are not the only judge of dieting success. Firmness is. But losing extra fat is a good goal, regardless.

To me dieting is about fitting into my new slacks I just bought a month ago! he he he I'm really serious. I'm going to have to move up a size if I don't start eating right.

Daisygirl

I think it's a good idea not to think of eating in a healthy way as a diet. Diet souds temporary and being fit, healthy and being a weight that is good for you shoud be a way of life. I like Weight Watchers and I also eat fruits and veggies and try to limit anything made with white flour and sugar. It works for me. I am also big on exercise.
Paige

Paige you are 100% correct.