Weight Loss Support Thread

[ceduke]

I'll jump on board. Since we moved to LV I've been at home instead of working, and depressed about the fact that we moved here. As a result, I've spent a lot of time sitting around eating, and not a lot of time....leaving the house. Or doing...anything, really.

I used to work in a gym, where my boss forbid scales and made us use BMI indicators instead, so my goal is to get myself to a healthy BMI, not a specific number of pounds.

For healthy and tasty recipes, I cannot say enough good things about the Moosewood cookbook. It's a vegetarian cookbook, but many of the recipes in there are great with meat too if you just can't bear to eat a meal without meat. I love to make their vegetarian chili and throw in some ground turkey!

Here's my favorite recipe from the book. Lots of veggies, it goes well over rice, polenta, whatever...and if there's a veggie you don't like or something you think is lacking, adjust accordingly! I've made dozens of variations with different veggies.

Ratatouille!

3Tbs. olive oil
4 cloves garlic
2C. chopped onion
1 bay leaf
1 medium eggplant (7-8" long), cubed
1/2tsp salt
1 1/2tsp basil
1tsp marjoram (or oregano)
1/2tsp rosemary
1/2tsp thyme
1 6-7" zucchini, cubed
2 medium bell peppers, chopped
1 14 1/2oz can diced tomatoes

Heat olive oil in a dutch oven or a big skillet. Add garlic, onion, and bay leaf, saute over medium heat about 5 minutes

Add eggplant, salt, and herbs, and stir. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes or until the eggplant is soft.

Add the rest of the ingredients. Cover and simmer for about ten more minutes, or until the bell peppers are tender.


I also LOVE to make Gazpacho on hot days. Cold soup is one of my favorite things ever!

 

[jenneses]

That's awesome, because my job usually lasts around 8 hours :grin01:

(I'm assuming you mean jog)

Sorry! I wish it meant job, cause then I'd be skinny. Unfortunately, I do mean jog.

I'll throw in my favorite lose weight treat/snack:

1/4 cup fat-free ricotta
1 tablespoon nutella

Stir and eat! Comes to about 125 calories.

 

[danielle]

Congrats on trying to lose the weight it's not easy, but very rewarding I promise. I have been thin my whole life until I got pregnant and gained 60 lbs. during the pregnancy (I was eating for two no laughing,lol j/k). I ate small, but frequent portions of things I would normally eat and worked out an hour a day- took 6 months but I was back in my size 3's again If you try to eat things you don't like or exercise in ways you hate it won't work. Look up what a normal portion is and stick to that while being active in the ways you actually like- it makes weight loss a ton easier and you'll be able to maintain the loss.

Also only drink water- no juice its full of sugar and carbs which your body will turn into fat, and no alcohol or sodas either their just too high in calories- drinking calories is naughty,lol Having a goal is good, but don't push to hard or your body will freak out and hold onto every pound you want gone, or just rapidly gain it back. Remember portions, water, and activity and you'll be back in a size 8 in no time- good luck!!!

 

[pridecity]

I did forget to mention one important thing for me. My goal is that by next summer, I'll be able to run ten 7-minute miles a day. It's my goal because I know if I can do that, I'll be feeling the best I've ever felt. Losing the 50 pounds will be the biggest step in doing so. As soon as I can fit into my size eights again, I'll start working my way up to being able to walk 10 miles. Then, being able to walk/jog those same 10 miles. Eventually I will get up to running 10 miles. Then I want to work on my time. I don't know why I want to be able to do 10 mile runs in 70 minutes every single day, but I do.

Danielle, the thing about the juice is that at this moment, and most of my moments in the past year, I've been having a really hard time staying awake for more than eight hours a day. Even now at 10pm, I'm having a heck of a time concentrating. And you may notice that in my posts after 9:30pm and before noon, I usually ask if what I type makes sense. It's because of the lack of concentration. The reason I want to take in a lot of home-made juice is for the natural sugars. I think my body is so used to the processed sugars that it will probably act like an espresso shot if I start drinking a lot of natural sugar. Also, natural sugar is so much easier for our bodies to process (according to what I've read). I think, and I may be wrong, that if our bodies receive a lot of natural sugar, it may actually help lose weight. That is, if you are also exercising enough to burn through it.

I didn't reach my goal today for getting started, but I'll be going to bed in about an hour, hour in a half. I've set my alarm for 6:30 am and fully plan on taking a walk (while eating a yogurt) and then doing some simple stretches. I know it's not a jog, but if I can do this for three or four days straight, hopefully I'll convince myself to wake up and jog at 6:30 in the morning.

Don't you hate the first few months of trying to get into a new habit? Waking up early, making your bed in the morning, exercising, or cleaning off your desk every day. Just remember, if you do something for six months straight it will become habit. Even if it's something you do once a week, it will become a habit by six months.

Lastly, my weight tonight is 186 pounds. But I did just eat a sandwich about 90 minutes ago and I really really have to pee. So, we'll really call it 185 pounds. Just to make me feel better. Lol.

 

[ssssinful-1]

Never had Orange Julius. They're around though. Let me ask about your tea preferences. Do you like sweet tea? I don't and drink regular Lipton or Celestial Seasonings. On my mom's side of the family, half are from New England and half are from Mobile, Alabama. I've learned a very key phrase in both areas: "I'd like some tea with my cup of sugar". Lol

I've bruised the bones in my shines before. Is that kind of what you did? With me, I'm a pretty broken 20 year old. On my 18th birthday, I tore both my ACLs in my left knee. Didn't have surgery because my physician said the pain, bruising and swelling were from "emotional stress" even though she had pictures showing what my knee looked like on the inside. I went to another doctor several months later and by then it was really pointless to re-break the ACLs and piece them back together properly. And my hurt hip is on the right. So, with the extra weight and trying to walk so one or the other doesn't hurt too much, I end up hurting on one side or the other. Go figure.

Sweet tea is delicious! I have a nasty habit of ordering iced tea at restaurants and taking 5 packs of sugar, dumping them in and crunching on the sugar granules. :grin01: With my diet I use the cold brew Lipton tea- make a huge pitcher of it. Other teas that I have tried and enjoyed are Pacific Chai, Sweet Thai Chai, Chocolate Mint Oolong. Some of those are from a company called Stash. The Chocolate Mint has helped with the chocolate cravings. It isn't the same as sinking your teeth into a fudge brownie or a Snickers, but it does have a taste similar to an Andes Mint.

I haven't damaged my ACL's and that is really a blessing for this 35 year old. Shin splints happen when the muscle starts to pull away from the bone in your lower leg. Impact exercise can cause it. This went from bad to worse. I was going through the Police Academy at the time and there is no rest for the wicked. Because I continued to PT on them, I strained my hip in my attempt to create a more comfortable gait to alleviate the pressure on my shins. My Doc went with the emotional stress idea at first because during the same time my father passed away and then the ongoing injury to my shins. I was put on a medication that was supposed to help that, but after a month and still gimping around, I realized the old body needed to rest. It took until August of last year for my gimp to go away. I know I have taken too much time off though. :awcrap:

I had lost quite a bit of weight going into the Academy then to gain half back because of an injury sucked.

 

[pridecity]

First you make me cringe with the sugar in tea thing. Then you make me cringe with the details of your injury. But I must say, I'd take your shin injuries any day if I had to choose between that and tea with sugar.

May I be nosy and ask, are you still at the Police Academy or are you doing something else? I know how taking time off can be. If you're officially in the police service or academy still, then I know it's about 20 times as bad when you have to take time off. Hopefully things will get better for you.

 

[Jessicat]

This might sound REALLLY cheesy, but it's something that has worked for me in accepting and loving my body.
I do personal affirmations in the mirror every day. Basically you look at yourself and say "I am beautiful, I am accomplished, I am loving, I am worth it, I don't need a man to make me feel good about myself. I love myself"
Things like that...
If you get hung up on one and your mind starts to talk back you have to say "no, I'm not (ugly), (fat)"
Oh, and if you can get there mentally, do them while you're naked! :crazy02:

All I know is that since doing these I've felt so much more comfortable in my own skin and confident! Also, I try to think of my body as far as "do I feel healthy" instead of "what's the number on the scale"? I find that I feel soo much better about myself on days when I've exercised vs. days I haven't. This summer I'll be taking a Spanish class every day at 8am, and I think since the weather will be nice I'm just going to ride my bike. It only takes me about a half hour to get to school on my bike, but it sure wears me out!!! I hope that I'll get into better shape over the summer just by biking.

I'm about 5' "3, and 140ish lb. While I do feel pretty good about my body and have come to accept myself, I feel like of course I could get more in shape! My main goal is flattening my tummy, which has ALWAYS been a bit pudgy my whole life. Oh, and I want to get a tan!!! I like the idea of putting up "progression" photos, but i feel like it would be less embarrassing to do afterward!

Anyway, good luck! You're way ahead of me as far as diet goes.

 

[pridecity]

Just an update for everyone on my goals. I found the perfect way to lose weight (sarcasm here). Have five different teeth start hurting all of a sudden on a weekend. That will stop you from eating real quick. Gosh I'm hating my parents right now. Both have terrible teeth. My father had to have all his pulled a year before I was born I think. And my mom has had work done on about every single tooth she has. I brush my teeth as much as possible, but I think it's still a losing battle. Two root canals and at least one filling are needed so I can eat again. Anyone got morphine? I could eat then. Lol

Anywho, just weighed in at 181 so I'm down 4 pounds at the moment. It's a good thing the pain is bad enough that I have no desire to have solids. Water is very much my friend at the moment. And Tylenol.

Have I mentioned how much I hate Sundays? Everything is closed!!!!

 

[pridecity]

Forgot to update this.

Got my teeth fixed. $600. Less than what I spent at the vet the next day ($900). Unfortunately, I've somehow managed to bump my weight back up to 185. I'm upset because I have no idea how I did it. I've been eating a lot less because of sore teeth and the whole thing with my dog trying to kill herself via chocolate.

I'm at the point where I want to start chopping off limbs to get my weight down. Just kidding on that. Honest.

Anyway, back to Square One, but with less time. Any ideas?

 

[desertanimal]

Well, why not start working on walking 10 miles a day before you fit into your size 8s instead of waiting until after? That will surely help.

 

[Rich in KY]

Halley I feel for you. Many of us have had to battle with extra weight. My advice is 1) Set smaller goals (more like 5-10 pounds). When you reach that goal, try for more. 2) Keep a journal of everything you eat and DRINK. It may be hard work, but losing weight is not easy.

Good luck to everyone who is trying to lose weight.

 

[pridecity]

I've been drinking Gatorade and water like it's out of style. Need to work more on healthy food, but exercise is going great. It's why I'm not on here all day anymore. Sadness. Lol.

 

[KingCrimson<3]

Gatorade is full of sugar and corn syrup, so try to avoid that.

I was a happy 145lbs and went off to college and ballooned up to 185. So I am trying to lose that and get back in shape again. Two years ago, I could run two miles in 14 minutes. Now I can barely do a 2 minute quarter, and I have to stop after because I can't breathe. But keep trying, keep exercising, and keep drinking water.

 

[diamondlil]

I've been stuck at around 4kgs over my ideal weight since my back got hurt. Not much at all in theory, but to me it's so annoying. I used to go to the gym 3-4 times a week and eat whatever I liked because I'd just burn it off. Having to think about what I eat because I can't exercise so much is a totally alien concept to me.
Why do I care about that little weight gain? Because it apears to have settled on my stomach! With my back playing up I find the core exercises so hard that I can't do any crunches at all. I used to have a washboard where I now have this little podge!
So I seem to have got my diet sorted out that I've stabilised my weight, no gain for a year, but the shape and tone is the issue. How do you exercise your core muscles when you have a back injury? I've heard pilates is good, but as I work irregular night-shifts getting to a class regularly is going to be hard to arrange.

 

[danielle]

Pilates and yoga are really good for your core muscles and as you strengthen them you will strengthen your back as well. I do yoga and pilates from home I'm sure you can order some good videos, light weights, and a decent mat. I also bought an elliptical machine for home because getting to the gym with a crazy schedule and 2 kids was a pain but it is great for your abs too

Pride- I would lay off the gatorade and juice even with natural sugars you have to work out twice as much to burn them and their high in calories. Water is your bodies best friend for weight loss I swear. It curbs appetite and helps your body burn fat faster

 

[Jessicat]

I really want to get into yoga! I have a bad back, and one of my friends told me I'd probably be a hunchback when I was older if I didn't change something about my posture now! That has me a little freaked out.

Pride, start doing little things every day. I started running up the stairs to my house, and that really has helped. Little things like that done every day build up muscles and give you extra energy. I feel great (when I'm not being warned about becoming a hunchback), I have a lot more energy, and I can generally out-walk my friends. As much as it hurts at first, it's soo awesome to feel it getting easier and easier, then fun.
Here are the steps I try to run up as often as possible. Sorry I don't have it all in one picture, it's kind of steep.

Find something like this that you encounter every day. This is easy for me, because it's where I live. Start out small, and just keep at it! Also, don't give yourself some kind of deadline. It doesn't seem productive, and then what do you do when you reach the deadline? Weight loss should be about fitness and health, not trying to fit into a particular outfit.

Good luck!
Oh, and also, I know you were kidding about the morphine, but well.. stay away from opiates! You most likely will end up losing weight if you are on them for a long period of time, but the health risks are not worth it. You definitely will not be running any kind of miles, that's for sure. Stay healthy and natural!

 

[diamondlil]

Pilates and yoga are really good for your core muscles and as you strengthen them you will strengthen your back as well. I do yoga and pilates from home I'm sure you can order some good videos, light weights, and a decent mat. I also bought an elliptical machine for home because getting to the gym with a crazy schedule and 2 kids was a pain but it is great for your abs too

Pride- I would lay off the gatorade and juice even with natural sugars you have to work out twice as much to burn them and their high in calories. Water is your bodies best friend for weight loss I swear. It curbs appetite and helps your body burn fat faster

I did do equilates (with Merlin as my therapist!) for a year or so, but Kim hasn't got a proper schooling area yet. I've got a gym ball somewhere with a dvd (Christmas present) that I really should try out. The key is finding something I enjoy so I'll stick at it.
I absolutely loved the gym, and miss it so much. I love riding, so that is helpful, it does help to straighten and strengthen my back. Now if I did the equilates exercises on the gym ball..................I think we may be onto a winner!

 

[danielle]

Pilates is super fun but I can't think of what equilates is- I'm going to look that up,lol I loved the gym without two kids, but with.....oh no!

 

[diamondlil]

Pilates is super fun but I can't think of what equilates is- I'm going to look that up,lol I loved the gym without two kids, but with.....oh no!

Equilates = pilates on horseback! Ideally you need a schooling area, a nice steady horse that will maintain the pace and a pal to call out the instructions. When I was really broken Kim got an equilates book and dvd for me and we worked on the exercises with Merlin keeping to a steady trot or walk with me stretching and doing the exercises on his back.

 

[danielle]

Thats so cool riding alone is great for the abs, tush, and thighs I can imagine pilates on a horse would be awesome.