I've lost 64 lbs, and I've lost about 52 of it in the last 6 months.
I don't have 'cheat days'. I work everything in, and if I go over one day (I think I"ve gone over 3 times but never by more than 200-400 cals) I compensate the next day.
For me, a cheat meal too easily turns into a cheat day, then a cheat week and before I know it I've regained all the weight I've lost. Why would I schedule that in for myself? Why would I want to make life more difficult? ha. Speaking only for myself here though.
Do I stay away from treats? : Yes and no. I can't have sweets anymore, at all. They lead to me binging. But aside from trying to get enough protein and nutritional shakes to keep my health up, I don't restrict my food choices. I still eat the occasional pizza, burger, fried chicken. It's all about reaching the right amount of calories for me. I've given up restaurant dining, though, because 1. it's simply too high cal, and 2. often it's difficult to confirm the calories.
It has been almost 7 months on my weight loss journey I started at the end of September of 2010 I have lost 80 pounds so far. I do allow myself treats such as skinny cow ice cream, sugar free pudding, etc. within my calories everyday.
I've lost 88 lbs since November 2010. I began with simple substitutions (fruit for candy, grilled for fried, etc) and slowly began exercising however I could manage.
I don't feel the urge to cheat because I think about how hard I work to burn calories (3 mph 1 hr walk = 300ish calories burned) and suddenly that 200-300 cal brownie doesn't seem worth it.
I also try to remind myself that later I'll be proud I didn't cave to a weak moment where I want to binge or skip exercise. Tomorrow I'll be happy I didn't go off plan today, next week I'll be happy I stayed on plan all week, next month I'll feel phenomenal for doing such a great job! That keeps me motivated every minute of the day. I think about how I'll feel in a month, 3 months, 6 months! I hope to be at goal in 6 months so every day counts.
wow!!!
you are all soooo inspiring.
you show that reaching a goal of losing 100+ pounds IS attainable.
for those that count calories, is that all you count?
where would find my daily allowance of calories?
i'm not counting anything...yet.
i am focussing on the food guide and making conscious efforts to get in more water, fruits and veggies, while getting in less grains (i realized i eat quite a few).
i am also doing regular exercise, which is very new to me at this point.
but once i get into the groove, i may want to count calories.
but being a former weight watcher, i wonder, is it just calories you guys count?
the weight watcher formula is so involved (fat, fibre, carbs protein) that i wonder if calories will be all i need to count?
I guess whatever my ticker says. I'm a slow and steady loser, and I do indulge now and then. I allow myself potato chips once a month and I don't beat myself up if I have a chocolate or two, you know?
I'd be at goal weight and beyond by now if I did, though. LOL
I've never been a calorie counter but I've been calorie 'aware' Honestly, I haven't lost a pound in the last 3 years.
At my lowest point, I had lost 163 lbs, now I'm at about 150 lbs lost. I lost in various spurts and I started May 2004 until December 2007. Since December, 2007, I've mostly maintained with some bouncing down and up (I've seen 202/201 so many times, I've lost count).
I also have a mental barrier with the 200 point I've also not been as strict with myself as I could've been. I'm happy with where I'm at but yes, yet again, I've decided to lose weight again and hopefully break the 200 barrier that has alluded me for so long.
Anawhatsme - its hard to decide on a calorie budget. Depending on your size and level of activity etc you will have a calorie budget and a good way to work that out it fitday.com Then start eating around that level of calories and if you aren't losing weight decrease it. It is better to start with too many calories than too few.
As well as calories, you could look at carbs or fats depending what path you want to go down. Personally I pay attention to fat levels but ignore carbs because I love my carbs and couldn't do low carb -LOL-
I'm down 177 as of today, took about 1.5 years, with the bulk being in the last year.
Personally i had to wipe away my relationship with food and relearn a balanced approach, i knew i would never be able to restrict myself from what i desired so i haven't, if i want it i eat it, counting every calorie that i take in, never going crazy, never over indulging in any one thing, everything is in moderation with a healthy variety.
I walk, it was about all i could do to start with and not even very well at that, yesterday i bought a bicycle and today for the first time in literally a decade or more i rode, i never thought i would ever be able to feel this again in my life at one point, it's been easy at times and utterly gruelling at others, through it all i've stayed true to myself, i've had ups and downs but continue to stay with my new lifestyle, it works for me.
A better question for me would be "How much have you lost and KEPT off so far?"
I started at 334 today I'm 286. When I pee off the TOM water weight, I'll be at 283-284...TMI, but darn it those pounds matter to me. So...50 pounds maintained after an almost 70 lb loss.
I just got back on the wagon, so those numbers should improve very, very soon.
A better question for me would be "How much have you lost and KEPT off so far?"
