I haven't actually read all the posts on this thread (I have to head to the gym soon ) so I may be repeating what other people have said -- sorry! I agree with what BigGirl 27 said about protein. It is absolutely KEY. Plus, it keeps your body more satisified than fat or simple carbs -- and therefore, you're less hungry throughout the day. Also, exercise is VERY important. It really is the only way to lose the fat. And after awhile of doing it regularly, you'll find that your body actually starts to crave it. Maybe instead of one of your evening snacks, you could get out and take a 10 minute walk or something.

I don't actually count calories (I can't be bothered ), but I pay very close attention to getting as much protein and as few carbs and fats as possible. And when I do crave fats, I have something that is high in protein as well. Almond butter on whole wheat toast is a good option.

I'm also VERY anti-scale. I only weigh myself once a month. That way I ALWAYS see results -- sometimes quite significant results. I know it's tough, but try to avoid the scale. As many people have said all across the 3FC forum, your weight can fluctuate during the day due to many factors. Also, I gain weight after exercising. My personal trainer told me this was normal -- example: I weighed myself Saturday AFTER cardio and I was 155 lbs. I weighed myself BEFORE cardio on Monday and I weighed 152 lbs.

From many of the posts I've seen throughout this forum, the scale seems destructive to morale for many people. I'm into "weighing myself" based on inches, how my clothing fits, and how I FEEL! Your body LOVES to be fed right...and you'll really start to feel better when you treat it the way it wants/needs to be treated.

Don't give up! You can do it!

Meg and MrsJim,

Thanks so much, great, fantastic posts in this thread. I have been getting back to good lifestyle habits for about 3 weeks now and I feel great. I am very excited about making changes and what I am doing. I completely agree with the burn more than you take in as being the bedrock of weight loss. Of course the ways of doing that well is what this board is about.

I was a tennis player and basketball player my entire life. I will be joining a fall tennis league for sure and I am excited that a house me and my wife are having built is within a half mile of a big regional park with tennis courts. Just within 3 weeks I have so much more energy which is a great motivation to keep going.

I get my 'gazelle' tomorrow and I am looking forward to it. I know it is only useful if it gets used and I am sure it will. The most amazing thing is that in about 3 weeks my cravings for all the fast food I use to eat are almost non-exsistent. I haven't had a burger in 3 weeks and just 2 trips for a grilled chicken sandwhich which I am going to cut out eventually.

My next step is going to be taking my food to work on a more conistent basis. I have been going subway these past few weeks (one of their low-fat choices, full veggies, no cheese, mustard only, baked chips, ice tea) but for money and for even better nutrition I want to take food.

I guess the word for me is excitement. It is exciting to take charge and to start to feel better. For me the feeling better is even more exciting than changes in the scale. I know those will happen, but having more energy and just feeling all around better is such an incredible reward for doing things better it is going to keep me going. Who knows maybe I will revise my long-term goal to 200 at some point. But for now 10lb goals for me along the way.

I'm just posting here to bring this thread back to the top. It has some fabulous advice in it.

i would recommend the south beach diet, in phase 1 it really rids your body of the sugar and carb cravings.. and and u also really get a lot of foods to choose from... so u never have that hungry feeling..

its more of a life change.. not a diet..and after a few months it just comes naturally.. you dont even want pasta, or bread.. it just doesnt appeal to you anymore.. just my suggestion..

most of us ended up heavy becuz we have always ate the wrong foods and we need to make changes forever...

i see it in myself.. i would always tell the dr " but i dont over eat!!" which i didnt BUT.. I ate all the wrong things.. hardly no protein... and all carbs and sugars..

amazing that now i am probably eating more food then before.. but no bread since march and no pasta.. and i eat only low gylcemic foods


oh and ya gotta get out there and move.. I do the ladies workout express (curves clone... more stations) 6 days a week then come home and walk 2 miles everyday..

I'm going to be REAL brave here and post what I ate the other day. This is a fairly typical day for me. I will add that I'm on Weight Watchers and losing at a good rate for me.
Breakfast @ 8:00:
1 C. yogurt (Dannon Lite & Fit)
1/4 C. Grape Nuts
7 big fresh strawberries, sliced
Snack @ 11:00:
1 mini bag microwave popcorn
1 C. sugar-free, fat free pudding (made with 1% milk)
Lunch @ 2:00:
5 oz. lemon pepper tuna (so flavorful, no dressing necessary!)
1 big handful fresh spinach
1 big handful steamed green beans (left over from night before)
Snack @ 5:00:
1 C. 1% milk
1 package graham crisp snacks
Dinner @ 8:00
1 thin-cut pork chop
2 little new red potatoes and
1 big zucchini, grilled in oven, brushed w/ olive oil

I resisted WW for a long time because I didn't want to "do all that weighing and measuring." What's working for me is just measuring those foods that past experience has taught me can be problem areas: cereals, grains, pastas. I know I had 1 C. pudding because the recipe calls for 2 cups milk and I make it into two servings instead of four. That way I count it as one of my milks *and* I have enough points allowance to do this. Since it's summer, I'm trying to eat more FRESH vegetables instead of canned or frozen. My primary focus the last couple of weeks, since I started visiting this board again, has been getting in my water every day and increasing my exercise.

I'd like to really thank those of you who are regular, long-term posters to this board. You share an incredible amount of experience, strength and hope with others travelling the same road and I, for one, really appreciate it.