redreine

I do it without the meetings and online help. I get a lot of help here, and I have lost 47lbs in about since April 08. I was unemployed from mar08-sept08, and have had a 10-15hr a week job at $7/hr since then, I was in school full time until December. It can be done I promise, its not the quantity as so much the quality of the food you eat. I find that I spend a lot less on food now that its better food for me as I did when I wasn't dieting

Calorie counting is cheap and easy. Try a free site like Fitday or The Daily Plate. Most people start off around 1800 calories and work down from there. Just don't go below 1200, even when you get much smaller. As you learn what calorie count works for you, then you can work on switching out your food to the healthiest alternative possible...plenty of fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, healthy oils like olive oil, and watch the added sugar.

I must look totally crazy. I'm trying to see if my belly button has an odor issue. :dizzy:

I absolutely love this thread.

I so agree on the calorie counting--it's easy and cheap. I also like that I learn so much about foods in the process--what a serving looks like, which item has the most fiber, which has the most protein, which one fills me up more, etc.

My boyfriend is not on WW. I just asked him to honestly answer if he is suffering. His answer was, "No." I don't control if he can eat a pbj sandwhich if he wants. I sorta control his portions but I let him have seconds. I just make veggies and healthy, veggie fortified main meals. ^_^ I lived with a room mate. He didn't suffer cause I was on a diet. His food was off limits and I just ate my healthy foods. I made separate meals than him. There was only 2 times I ate the same thing he cooked. Since he is naturally skinny, his tendency to put food on the place was much smaller than mine.

Look on the nutrition label. THAT IS THE KEY. Most soups are 2.5 servings. SO one can is actually not 100 cal but 250 calories. You don't even have to put it on the sites. You can just write it on a piece of paper.

I am picturing everyone who is reading this thread trying to smell their belly button right now, lol.

It can be frustrating redreine, I found that working on controlling my portions is helpful. I no longer go back for seconds (and thirds and fourths), I have also started using smaller plates and bowls and to me that really makes a difference.

I eat correct portions on everything EXCEPT veggies. I eat a ton of green veggies/0 points veg (75%/85% veg). I portion anything that has points though like a starchy veggie.

LOL "Land down under!" With the FUPA thing going on, it is indeed "down under". LOL:lol:....wahhhh:cry:

I heard it used once in a very derogatory way on the radio...I dislike that part of my body so much that I thought of it thereafter that way. Although, I never ever discussed this word or body part with anyone. Funny that I have more in common with you all (perfect strangers) than any of the other people in my life. Most of my friends are thin...even the chubbier ones...I couldn't say FUPA or talk about fat rashes or smelly belly buttons and booty cracks. It really sucks to be big and have all these self induced maladies. But it is good to laugh at them...to poke fun and own them.