Shane,
I dropped weight the good 'ole fashion way: diet & exercise. I've said time and again in other posts that I've tried every diet out there from low-fat to low-carb to no-carb (I've been a yo-yo dieter my entire life!
).
To let you know what I'm doing now, I started my diet at the beginning of this year. I bought an elliptical machine and have been diligently working out on it everyday! When I first started my exercise regimen, I couldn't go 20 minutes (burning 150 calories) on the machine without feeling winded. I can now go 70 minutes (burning up to 760 calories) during a workout! It feels great to be in shape, but it's time to change my workout to keep losing weight because I've hit my 135 lb. plateau (I've never been lighter than this, and in the past have quit my diet at this plateau only to gain it all back and start all over again. I must have gained and lost the same 30 lbs 5+ times during my dieting career! Grr!
) Incidentally, this is also what prompted me to join 3FC, in hopes that I will find the support I need to maintain this weight loss at the very least!
As far as eating habits go, that has also changed dramatically. I eat a high fiber cereal every morning and drink 1 cup of green tea. For lunch I usually have 6oz of yogurt (Danon Light n' Fit yogurt is only 90 calories a cup!) along with lots of fruits like BANANAs, oranges, apples or mangoes. For dinner, I have a turkey sandwich or salmon or skinless chicken breast with a salad. I also snack on cashews, granola bars, or high fiber cereal in between meals when I get the munchies. I know most people get sick of eating the same foods everyday, but oddly for me, I don't. I don't mind eating the same turkey sandwich or salmon, etc. In fact, it's easier for me because then I don't have to obsess about what I'll be eating next and how much. I know the portion size, I know how many calories I'm taking in and it makes easier for me. But again, this works for ME! Everyone is different and everyone has different attraction and aversions to food and taste, but once you get going, you'll figure out what's best for you.
And of course, there's no way around it, you HAVE to exercise while incoporating a healthy eating style to lose weight! Friend or foe, burning calories will help you move along on your weight loss goal. Remember, I started out very slow but gradually moved up. You can do the same!
I know this all sounds so simple and redundant, but it's all true. Business men out to get your hard earned money will tell you to buy their food and diet supplements to burn fat and shed weight in just a matter of days (even without exercise!). It's nice a thought, but just not very honest.
Please let me know how your doing in future posts, and we can keep each other motivated! Smiles!