3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community
Page 3 of 3 12 3
Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page

3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community (https://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/)
-   100 lb. Club (https://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/100-lb-club-55/)
-   -   Dropping calories is always hard (https://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/100-lb-club/214726-dropping-calories-always-hard.html)

Eliana 10-15-2010 08:13 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulaM (Post 3522286)
It's SO much easier to increase exercise than it is to keep cutting calories.
This doesn't work for me, and I'm really not sure why. The more I exercise, the more I stall. And that's fine! Stalling usually means I'm losing inches or toning something somewhere. But I don't generally notice any weight loss with an increase in exercise. I wish it was that easy because I am a gym nut. ;)

Weight loss truly seems to be 80% diet for me.

Eliana 10-15-2010 08:15 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ubergirl (Post 3522495)
Interesting thread.

I've been struggling a lot with this concept lately. I'm not losing on 1200-1300 calories a day....and I DID experiment with 1000 calories per day during the month of July. I was staying by myself on a research fellowship and it was very hot. I switched to a vegetarian only plan and consistently stayed below 1200 for an entire month while running 2-3 miles about 5 days a week. During that month I think I lost 3 lbs.... but in "real life" while eating family meals, going to work, etc. etc. I could not sustain 1000 calories...

So, I veer back and forth. Sometimes I think that I have a sustainable healthy eating plan that I feel like I could manage easily for the rest of my life, and probably if I eat this way forever, I'll slowly shed the last 30 lbs I'd like to lose and that I should get out of the "mission to lose weight" mode now.

Other times I feel like I don't want to settle for where I am now and I think of all kinds of drastic solutions-- like liquid diets or very low calorie diets...

I am different from a lot of people here in that I can keep "bad stuff" in my house without any trouble. Right now, I have cookie dough in my fridge, candy lying on the coffee table right in front of me, and ice cream in my fridge.

I never touch the stuff-- it's on my mental "no" list and that's that.

Where I run into trouble is the stuff that can fit into my plan but that I might want to overeat-- recently, I've had some trouble with almonds. We have always kept them in the house and I've always stayed away from them, but then I started eating measured portions sometimes... mistake. Two weeks ago, I took a closed bag and put it away in the cupboard, out of sight out of mind, but then, yesterday I opened the cupboard to make a cup of tea and ended up eating a serving of almonds.

I don't know if that really answers your question Eliana. I don't have a problem with chocolate, but I do have foods I have trouble drawing the line with-- weird stuff like lentils that I simply cannot moderate....

If you really want to eat chocolate, maybe you should just incorporate it into your calories. It's only if you are eating too much that it becomes a problem.
Oh wow. I hadn't realized how much you'd cut your calories without a lot of success. Ignore all my past advice. :D Clearly that's not working for you. I don't know...I think your body is pretty happy where it is, and why shouldn't it be? You do look phenomenal! But I understand the desire to really get there.

OrganizedChaos 10-15-2010 09:39 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockinrobin (Post 3522248)
You mentioned rice cakes and pretzels - if these are part of your diet - that could be a reason why you are ravenous. In order to not get hungry while adhering to a calorie budget you must really, really eat highly nutritious foods, because those nutritious foods are the ones that keep you full and satiated. Rice cakes and pretzels are empty calories which are not filling and you'll be starving in no time.

What does your menu look like? PErhaps we can help you to tweak it so you can get some more filling power from your calories. And don't forget snacks. If you're hungry at 2:00 - eat something. Something that's been planned, accounted for and filling.
Sorry! That statement was actually my lame attempt at humor. I have been experimenting for a few months now with some high protein lower calorie afternoon snacks to help with the afternoon hunger, but I have also realized that it really stems from being bored, which apparently working is boring for me. :yawn: I eat a pretty well rounded diet. A typical afternoon snack for me is a skim milk mozzarella stick (50 calories, 6gm protein) and a 100 calorie glass of Muscle Milk by GoLean. I have been wearing a GoWearFit armband since January and food logging with it. It was a real eye opener for me back then. I realized I was eating more than I thought I was even though I had been "dieting" for 3 months by then. I am someone who struggles to get my daily dose of veggies in, but I do it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rockinrobin (Post 3522248)
And the reward for being smaller is that you are smaller ;). And with being smaller comes countless rewards and benefits. But yes, the smaller we are, the less calories we require to run. You may also want to try increasing your exercise.

Congratulations on your weight loss by the way. Phenomenal!!
:thanks: It hasn't always been easy but it has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done for myself. My one year anniversay is coming up on Oct. 26th and back then if you had told me that one year later I would be 120 pounds less I would have really doubted you, but I went in to this knowing it would not be easy and it may take several years and I am OK with that. Along with the discovery of how much I was packing away every day I also realized I needed to incorporate more exercise into my daily routine. At the time I wasn't doing very much at all. I began walking on my lunch break and have worked up from there to walking/running 3-4 miles a day 4 days a week and strength training 3 days a week. I also take 2 zumba classes a week on the days I do not run and a step interval class on Saturday mornings that is actually my hardest workout. I will be running my first official 5K on November 13th.

This thread just reminded me that I am not alone and I am so thankful to have these boards to read.

Eliana 10-15-2010 09:55 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by OrganizedChaos (Post 3522979)


My one year anniversay is coming up on Oct. 26th and back then if you had told me that one year later I would be 120 pounds less I would have really doubted you,
I hadn't realized we started at the same time. My one year will be November 9th. I'm hoping to make that 80 pound mark by then. I had never before understood the concept that the year is going to pass whether I lose weight or not, so why not just see where I get. I never would have imagined I'd be 75 pounds lighter by this point. It's amazing, isn't it?

rockinrobin 10-15-2010 10:04 AM
Quote:
I am someone who struggles to get my daily dose of veggies in, but I do it.
Oooh, not me. I love veggies. Have you tried roasting them? They are a whole other breed that way. Broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, string beans, brussel sprouts. DELISH!!!! And what about salads; loaded with goodies such as pomegrante seeds, hearts of palm, grape tomatoes, colored peppers. There's also salads made with shredded cabbage - my fav - red cabbage, shredded carrots and mandarin oranges. I also love snacking on raw string beans. You can cut up veggies and dip them in salsa. Then there's the countless things you can do with green squash. Winter squash is also fabulous. Then there is home made thick, hearty, tasty veggie soups. Stir fries. Oh there's lots of ways to get in those incredibly filling, low calorie veggies.

Experiment, experiment, experiment.

For that boredom thing at work - do you drink hot tea? Or how about 25 calorie hot chocolate? It always put the brakes on any munchies (as opposed to true hunger) I may be having.

Happy almost anniversary. What a year it's been for you!!

OrganizedChaos 10-15-2010 10:31 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ubergirl (Post 3522495)
So, I veer back and forth. Sometimes I think that I have a sustainable healthy eating plan that I feel like I could manage easily for the rest of my life, and probably if I eat this way forever, I'll slowly shed the last 30 lbs I'd like to lose and that I should get out of the "mission to lose weight" mode now.

Other times I feel like I don't want to settle for where I am now and I think of all kinds of drastic solutions-- like liquid diets or very low calorie diets...
My thoughts exactly but you said this so much better than I ever could have. I have those fleeting thoughts of liquid diets and cutting calories to the bare minimum but I know those aren't the answer so I eventually come back to reality. I have thought to myself so many times over the past few months that if it is only a few pounds a month from here on out it will take me a few years to get this all off, but I can live with that.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ubergirl (Post 3522495)
I am different from a lot of people here in that I can keep "bad stuff" in my house without any trouble. Right now, I have cookie dough in my fridge, candy lying on the coffee table right in front of me, and ice cream in my fridge.

I never touch the stuff-- it's on my mental "no" list and that's that.

Where I run into trouble is the stuff that can fit into my plan but that I might want to overeat-- recently, I've had some trouble with almonds. We have always kept them in the house and I've always stayed away from them, but then I started eating measured portions sometimes... mistake. Two weeks ago, I took a closed bag and put it away in the cupboard, out of sight out of mind, but then, yesterday I opened the cupboard to make a cup of tea and ended up eating a serving of almonds.
I currently have 2 packs of Pillsbury Halloween cookie dough in my fridge. There is a birthday cake in the break room and on my desk in front of me today is a candy dish with Peppermint Patties, Kit Kat's, Mounds, and a Laffy Taffy. These are not my problem right now. I have also mentally excluded these from my diet so I don't even let them bother me. However, I CAN NOT keep almonds or raw cashews in my desk any longer. I tend to over indulge on "on plan" foods. I don't know how to stop at a handful if I have the whole can in front of me.

OrganizedChaos 10-15-2010 10:34 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eliana (Post 3522998)
I hadn't realized we started at the same time. My one year will be November 9th. I'm hoping to make that 80 pound mark by then. I had never before understood the concept that the year is going to pass whether I lose weight or not, so why not just see where I get. I never would have imagined I'd be 75 pounds lighter by this point. It's amazing, isn't it?
I KNOW! I have told a few people that have asked about my success that it amazes me that I never realized before this, that regardless of what I put in my mouth, Thanksgiving and Christmas will come around again. I used to only view time in the past, not realizing what potential the future has.

Onederchic 10-15-2010 03:13 PM
I agree, it is hard. I wish you the best of luck :hug:

ubergirl 10-15-2010 07:26 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eliana (Post 3522871)
This doesn't work for me, and I'm really not sure why. The more I exercise, the more I stall. And that's fine! Stalling usually means I'm losing inches or toning something somewhere. But I don't generally notice any weight loss with an increase in exercise. I wish it was that easy because I am a gym nut. ;)

Weight loss truly seems to be 80% diet for me.
Eliana-- I feel like we are diet sisters, because I'm like that too and I feel and look so much better when I exercise, but either way, I struggle to drop actual pounds...

But you know, I was watching my daughter, who is almost 16, on the soccer field today, and I know I'm built like her. There is no way on god's green earth that you would call her fat-- she is an incredible athlete, but she is built on the Venus and Serena Williams model-- she's medium to tall, but she's just bigger than most of the other girls. She weighs 175 lbs, which means that she's overweight by BMI, but she's just built like a mack truck. Other girls might be chubby at that weight, but she isn't.

I'm a lot older than she is, and not as fit, but as a young woman I was built like a mack truck too. I'm very strong, I build muscle easily. I'm not a frail little thing.

I pretty much developed a super bad binge eating disorder because as a young woman I had zero self-esteem about my body. I didn't understand that some women just have that type of build. I rowed crew in college--a sport in which being big, tall and strong is an asset, but I hated my body type and I kept trying to get skinnier and my body just didn't want to weigh less than about 160 lbs.

So, I'm trying to be reasonable here. I'd rather be super fit and weigh what I weigh than make myself NUTS getting frustrated that I'll probably never be willowy thin.

PaulaM 10-15-2010 08:02 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eliana (Post 3522871)
This doesn't work for me, and I'm really not sure why. The more I exercise, the more I stall. And that's fine! Stalling usually means I'm losing inches or toning something somewhere. But I don't generally notice any weight loss with an increase in exercise. I wish it was that easy because I am a gym nut. ;)

Weight loss truly seems to be 80% diet for me.
Wow, that is interesting. After I posted I saw how much smaller you are than I am, maybe that makes the difference. I have to say since I have been back at the gym I've lost 29 lbs without changing much at all in my diet, that is what I am basing my success on. I'm sure as I get to a smaller size I'll have to monitor calories more. I really hate that starving feeling though, and I am not one for constant snacking. I never ate that way all the years I was thin and don't think it's good for me. I like my calories in my meals or I still feel hungry afterwards.

Eliana 10-16-2010 09:18 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulaM (Post 3523808)
Wow, that is interesting. After I posted I saw how much smaller you are than I am, maybe that makes the difference. I have to say since I have been back at the gym I've lost 29 lbs without changing much at all in my diet, that is what I am basing my success on. I'm sure as I get to a smaller size I'll have to monitor calories more. I really hate that starving feeling though, and I am not one for constant snacking. I never ate that way all the years I was thin and don't think it's good for me. I like my calories in my meals or I still feel hungry afterwards.
Hey, I'm all for whatever works for YOU! If it's working and you love it, keep going! LOL! Exercise did not work for me when I was 235 pounds either. I exercise because I love it, because I consistently reach goals and therefore feel good about myself, and because of my biceps. :D I'm not vain. :D

Uber, you make me laugh. ;) Great post. I am definitely built like a mack truck from the hips down. I'm not a pair shape, but I am solid. I had similar issues at a young age that you did. I was borderline anorexic but I can't say I actually was anorexic because it was absolutely intentional. I knew exactly what I was doing, it was hard to do and I could stop any time I wanted. Even when I was a size 3 in college, but truly thought I was an 8 and only bought size 8's :rolleyes:, my thighs still touched. My goal at that age was to be able to cross my legs having one leg tuck beneath the other. I can visualize it but it's hard to describe. That's how all the tiny girls around me crossed their legs and I felt like I was fat because I couldn't. AND even as a size 3, I could not wear high boots because my calves were too big even though I have an incredibly narrow foot. (AAAA) So I have always based my entire impression of my body, and therefore self-esteem, on my lower body.

No more! I have muscle! And darnit, finally I am proud of that! Though I do still have moments of wanting to be willowy. :^:

Lori Bell 10-16-2010 09:20 AM
I have a suggestion on what to do with the Boy Scout popcorn. I understand feeling like you need to buy it so your boys will get their little badge thingy and "prise". We have fallen into the same trap. A cash donation is greatly appreciated by the Boy Scouts, but it's not the same for the boys. We would buy several different types of popcorn from our sons and that is what they gave as Christmas presents to Grandma and Grandpa, aunts and uncles. For teachers (school and Sunday school) and bus drivers etc., we would buy a few boxes of the microwave variety and wrap a few pouches up real pretty with a nice card. Grandpa, (who is thin and fit) always got a tin of the choclate. Just because you buy it, doesn't mean YOU have to eat it! ;)

Also, I never had to lower my calories, I started out at 1200 so in the end I was one of the lucky ones who got to add some back. When people talk about how they feel dizzy and weak and so forth eating that few calories I think it is probably for one of 2 reasons. First, they are no longer self medicating their anxiety and can now actually "feel" it, and need to address it, or second, they are eating a 250 calorie candy bar and 2 or 3 - 100 calorie packs of CRAP for the majority of their calories, and so they really are starving.

Eliana 10-16-2010 09:22 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lori Bell (Post 3524183)
I have a suggestion on what to do with the Boy Scout popcorn. I understand feeling like you need to buy it so your boys will get their little badge thingy and "prise". We have fallen into the same trap. A cash donation is greatly appreciated by the Boy Scouts, but it's not the same for the boys. We would buy several different types of popcorn from our sons and that is what they gave as Christmas presents to Grandma and Grandpa, aunts and uncles. For teachers (school and Sunday school) and bus drivers etc., we would buy a few boxes of the microwave variety and wrap a few pouches up real pretty with a nice card. Grandpa, (who is thin and fit) always got a tin of the choclate. Just because you buy it, doesn't mean YOU have to eat it! ;)

Also, I never had to lower my calories, I started out at 1200 so in the end I was one of the lucky ones who got to add some back. When people talk about how they feel dizzy and weak and so forth eating that few calories I think it is probably for one of 2 reasons. First, they are no longer self medicating their anxiety and can now actually "feel" it, and need to address it, or second, they are eating a 250 calorie candy bar and 2 or 3 - 100 calorie packs of CRAP for the majority of their calories, and so they really are starving.
Lori, best idea EVER. I greatly appreciate it and am surprised I never thought of that myself! It's what I do when I go to home parties, like Tastefully Simple just to support the host. :rolleyes:

PaulaM 10-16-2010 10:52 AM
Flex for me Eliana? LOL Good for you, I'm proud of my biceps too! and even more proud of my first ever triceps! whoo hoo!

rockinrobin 10-16-2010 11:11 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulaM (Post 3523808)
I'm sure as I get to a smaller size I'll have to monitor calories more. I really hate that starving feeling though, and I am not one for constant snacking. I never ate that way all the years I was thin and don't think it's good for me. I like my calories in my meals or I still feel hungry afterwards.
Monitoring your calories, adhering to a calorie budget does not mean starving. Please, please, PLEASE don't think that to be the case.

You might want to start working on it right now, because like you said, eventually you WILL have to do it. Why push it off. The sooner you start doing it, the sooner you will adjust to it. You won't have to have this big thing looming over your head. Start devising a plan for yourself, customized just for you. Find healthy, satiating foods that you love. Experiment. Find which foods work for you - and which ones don't. Kick it up a notch. Really, it's nothing to fear. You're doing so great, push yourself a little harder and amaze yourself with all that you can accomplish! Why wait??? Get into it. The sooner the better. :)


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:36 AM.
Page 3 of 3 12 3
Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page


Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.