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I find the amusing thing about a magic pill or diet is that there is a 'magic' statment at least: burn more calories than you take in and you will lose weight. It is about a simple a thing to understand as is possible. So....you can a) take in fewer calores you can b) exercise more and burn more calories. You can c) get more muscle mass so you burn more calories, etc.
I do not want to underestimate the challenge of losing weight but I do not believe that thinking about it as this hard mountain, harddddddd to do aspect all the time helps either. It isn't that hard really. I think very few foods are truly addictive like smoking or drugs are. And there are almost an infinite amount of foods to choose. So one of the big things when I start losing weight is what I call the 'undiscovered country'. All these foods and meals that if I take a little extra effort taste just as good or better than the junk I was eating. So I am losing weight AND enjoying eating more. Just takes effort, it really does. I also find personally that when I start exercising as long as I do not overly dwell on goals, it feels really good also. Feels great in fact to use my body, it is a wonderful gift. Sometimes I do more than I thought I would, sometimes less. The key thing about exercise is I read once the best exercise is the exercise you do. So I try and remember that and do something each day. But I enjoy the positive aspect of what I do and do not think darn I did not do this much this day. Anyhow the key to me has always been that internal moment when I say....food is to help me live and get healthy and yes to enjoy. But I do not enjoy food when I am abusing it or being lazy. And once I have that internal check saying is this good for me when I am making food choices, everything else seems to follow. And yes I eat things that are not good for me still but I eat slower and in moderation and at the end of the week I have eaten more good things than not and more importantly as that simple equation I started this post with, I usually end up burning more calories than what I consumed. |
Oh my goodness!!
I'm new here. I just clicked on your profile and saw your before and after pictures.
My first reaction was: Oh. My. Goodness! You are absolutely beautiful and I am so very happy for you! I'm about where you were and I'm just beginning, so your story is an inspiration. Bet you haven't heard that one before, huh? ;) I've dieted again and again over the decades, losing and gaining more weight than I care to admit. I'm now in my late 40s and going through perimenopause, and I can tell you one thing. Never again will I do the drastic deprivation thing, which can only lead to an ultimate weight gain (with rare exceptions, of which I am not one). About a year ago, I decided to learn to cook so that I could make nutritious, enjoyable meals, rather than continue to live on the junky convenience foods I had come to rely on. I've come to depend on http://www.recipezaar.com, which is a site where real people share real recipes and give reviews and tips on recipes they've tried. I didn't single out "diet" foods. I just found recipes I liked and tweaked them where necessary to make it more healthy (i.e., subbing apple sauce for fat in muffins, cakes, breads). A couple of months ago I finally found a reasonable replacement for my Classic Coke addiction, which is carbonated water with a twist of lime. I purchased a home carbonating unit from Sodaclub.com (I'm not affiliated) and I now enjoy my seltzer water more than I ever enjoyed Coke, and saving money to boot! A year and a half ago I picked up some part time jobs that require some physical activity, which forces me to be less of a couch potato. My point is I've been gradually making healthy changes in my lifestyle, and I'm finally at a place where I can begin my weight loss journey. Until recently, I found myself occasionally sliding back to old habits, which resulted in me losing weight for a while and then sliding back to old habits and experiencing a gain. I've flucturated in a 15-pound zone. I seem to have turned a corner. I enjoy my new eating habits and my stomach turns at the idea of eating some of that junk I used to love so I believe there will be less fluctuating. It took me losing any concern for what others think of me so that the only reason I'm doing this is for my own health. I'm blessed to be very healthy now, and I want that to continue. So there's no pressure from within for me to meet some kind of time deadline to reach x weight. Anyway, back to what set off this tirade by me: You were pretty before, and you're the picture of health now, which makes you even more beautiful, and I will again say I'm so very happy for you. Thanks for sharing your success with us. You're doing more good for other people who are struggling than you can ever know. |
Wow! I'm glad I read this, thanks so much for taking the time to post it. It's all stuff I knew, but as always, there is nothing like reading it again and again to make it sink in.
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I think eating often is the key! I eat every 3 hours, small meals of course! A packet of oatmeal is my usual! (Only 3pts/packet for you WW people!) I've lost 75 lbs in 8 months, so I'm doing something right! Now if I could just get my butt in gear to workout!
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Congrats on your great success in the weight loss department, Jen!!!
I also have to eat at least every three hours or even more often. It really helps. |
Hello
Thank you very much for your wise statements. I will try my best. Kind regards Yellowsub |
Hi!
I need you in my head everyday!:smug: You pointed out what we all need to know & hear,but don't always believe.I've tried A LOT of magic potions & wish I had the $$$ back!:dizzy: Angie |
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Thanks for the inspriation
Hi,
Thanks for all the inspiring words, I've always known the key to losing my weight, I guess I just wasn't ready again until now. I don't even like looking in the mirror anymore, all I see is fat!! I never had a weight problem growing up, I was extremely active, running track, soccer, basketball, swimming, and walking back and forth to school 4 times a day. I could eat anything I wanted, but I had no figure (nickname was Dawn the Un"bra'wn). Now I have the boobs but I also have 70 extra pounds. My weight gain came on slowly after college, I became a couch potato. I never really noticed that I was gaining weight until I saw pictures of myself on my honeymoon. That was my light bulb moment, so I joined WW in the new year and quickly dropped 25 pounds by chanign my eating habits and exercising to a Cindy Crawford video for 45 mins each day. I felt great and people were noticing. My self esteem grew, then I found out I was pregnant with my first child :dance: I was so happy but had to quit the program( but only gained 24 lbs while pregnant), 8 months later I had my beautiful baby boy. After losing my baby weight I kept it off for a while but slowly over the next 3 years it crept back on and when I got pregnant:dance: with my daughter I was back up 20 pounds (whcih the doctore loved to comment on! :cry: ) Anyways, I was so sick with her that I couldn't stomach anything and lost 15 pounds during the pregnancy and once I had her I was smaller than I was before I got pregnant. I think I was just so happy to be able to eat that I ate anything in sight. Which brings me to the present, to another light bulb moment. I recently stepped on the scale and nearly passed out, it was 10 pounds heavier than I thought (hmm, no wonder my pants have felt snug!) and I am no on my way again, thanks to your positive comments and my determination to to follow this to the end. Like Meg I want to stand in that change room and try on that size 4 jean (well maybe even an 8). Good luck to all of you, my heart goes out to anyone struggling like me, but with proper eating, exercise and a lot of determination we will succeed. PS Thanks for letting me get this off my chest, I know its a little long!! ;) Always, Dawn :hug: |
I find that eating every 3 hours helps me too. I am on NS right now, but instead of doing it every day (I am afraid to go off and gain weight again), I do it every other day and sometimes I skip two days, then go back. I still eat great, but I am educating myself more about what I eat & I think this is really going to be the year!!
I like to load up on cereals lol I have about 20 of them in my cupboard right now and if I get hungry I take out my ½ cup and pour a little milk on it. It seems to be the only "in between" snack that satisfies me. Anything else makes me want to munch on more. |
Mrs Jim From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for your inspiration and for quoting Meg's post here. It brought tears to my eyes. Five years ago I was a few pounds shy of my goal and loved feeling so powerful at the gym. I'd often spend a couple of hours there at a time and still not want to leave. I loved the way I felt, even more than the way I looked. Then I let everything get in the way and put all the weight back on and then some. I love this site and all the support available. I'm sure it'll help me keep my eye on the brass ring. Thank you again.
Cathyxxx Glucophage is another name for Metformin and is also used to treat insulin resistance in PCOS. |
Yo! Check this out!!!
Wanted to make sure that *EVERYONE* (yes, even you, the casual lurker) got a chance to see these awesome posts by LovesBassetts :D (Thanks to Mel for bringing these to my attention!).
This is GOLDEN advice. GOLDEN. The actual thread is located in the Support forum - see this link. Post #1: Quote:
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IMO, LovesBassetts is worth more than a solar system of Kevin Trudeaus, Anna Nicoles, and all of the other 'miracle weight loss system' infomercial peddlers out there *AND a bag of chips* :dizzy: Just my two cents!! |
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I know that one of the HUGE obstacles to surmount in weight loss (or heck, anything that's worth working for!) is "keeping your eyes on the prize". I know a lot of people just DON'T care for the gym for whatever reason...the intimidation factor...convenience...fear...whatever. One of the GREAT things about a good gym atmosphere, however, is the MOTIVATION to stay on the path towards fitness, weight loss and overall optimal health - (before I became a gym rat, I used to get the same motivational buzz from Jazzercise) since everyone there is (presumably) after the same goals. It's KEEPING that motivational spark through your non-gym/exercise time that's the bugaboo! (Kind of reminds me of that old Seinfeld episode where he finds out the rental car agency gave away his vehicle: "your problem isn't TAKING the reservation, it's HOLDING the reservation". :rofl: ) Journaling is a great tool to use to keep your 'eyes on the prize'. If it hasn't been made abundantly clear by now, it's not all those slick infomercial pills or gadgets or whatever that will make you lose weight - it's 90% head games. Getting the old brain in sync...focused on your goal of changing your habits and lifestyle...KWIM? ;) |
Hi all I am new to this site. I found Mrs Jim's post to be awe inspiring.
Thanks;) |
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Additionally - I never have done, and do not ever plan to dispense advice for financial gain. As I stated in the beginning - there are no "deep dark secrets" to losing weight - it's a matter of "calories in-calories out" physically, and changing your mindset, mentally. I've seen so many folks write that they 'can't' lose weight like Oprah or other celebrities because they can't afford that pricey personal trainer or that expensive spa or what have you. PLEASE don't let that stop you - it comes down to goal-setting, planning ahead, motivation, and determination to succeed and 'keep on keepin' on'. Oprah herself said it so succinctly in an issue of her magazine last year: Quote:
Nowadays - my life is pretty sweet :cool: . I generally start every morning by heading out to the gym for my AM workout - yeah I know it sounds nutty, especially on a freezing cold dark morning - but it ENERGIZES me. Once you get into these HEALTHY habits, they can be very difficult to break, ya know :) As far as the eating thing...I think I eat like a 'normal person' at this point, although I endeavor to keep a 'clean environment' at home (trust me...this makes it SO MUCH easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle - if you don't have the crap in the house then you're a lot less likely to eat it!). But there are times when I go out to dinner or lunch on business or when I'm traveling - remember that I live in the San Francisco area which is a foodie mecca :) If I'm at, say, Chez Panisse (which has a prix fixe menu each night) or French Laundry, I'm not going to ask the waiter to make me a plain chicken breast with steamed veggies on the side - I make sure I enjoy my dinner, and dessert if I want it. Hubby and I even go out for Mexican food or burgers and fries occasionally - I just don't feel compelled to get a large order of fries for myself - we usually just split an order between us, and I usually end up taking the leftovers home (which hubby has for lunch the next day!). It all comes down to retraining your brain, ya know? Instead of eating this stuff most every day of the week, keeping it down to once in awhile as a treat or special occasion. Good food can be a joyous part of life and home cooking can be a symbol of love; I'm reminded of a song written by buddy of my DH's which he wrote about his mom's soul food: Quote:
I give myself a 'five pound leeway' - if my weight creeps up by 3-5 pounds or I just feel bloated or whatever (you know, that Aunt Flo visit...) all I do is cut back a bit. The personal trainers at my gym have an easy system - just cut your calories by, say, 200 or 300 a day - the equivalent of 2 or 3 slices of bread - and keep up my regular exercise and the weight comes off fairly quickly and with minimal effort. Pretty easy, yes? Food is an essential part of life but it's not the only one...okay I'm rambling here... (PS...just thought SIXTEEN YEARS of permanent weight loss...man...I have nephews and nieces in Jr. High and High School that weren't even BORN yet...amazing how time flies - doesn't seem like that long ago but my life is so rich and full now - not just from losing the weight but that's definitely been a major catalyst!) |
Months go by...
It is amazing that you can see the fruits of your labor after 16 years! I realize that time keeps passing me by. It is now the middle of March, and I wonder what I could have accomplished had I started eating healthy in January like I had planned. I know, though, that I don't want to be in this same place in June saying, "I wonder what I would be like if I had started back in March..." Thanks for the motivation. It starts today. As that new song says "Today is where your book begins - the rest is still unwritten" I love it! ~aholden
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has anybody tried the rice diet?
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Ah Jill,
The voice of reason! I very much agree with you. In fact, Monday I had pizza! 3 small pieces instead of 4-5 large. When I want something I know is not that good for me, we buy smaller sizes. Like the pizza. Instead of buying 2 large ones, we bought 2 medium ones and I hope someday that we can get away with small ones. But I still have 3 growing preteens so it's going to be a while for that one! Elva aka Lill |
Hello, new member here, not new to weight loss or gain or loss or gain or.... well you get the picture! I have just found this thread and read a lot of it but... it's really a long thread so forgive me if I repeat any thing already covered. I concur with the search for the magic pill, potion, diet plan, exercise you don't even have to sweat with......... I found the answer to the all comsuming, oft asked question... How to lose weight and keep it off and keep your health too.... My formula is very simple:
"Eat Less + Exercise More = Success" It really is that simple, and I said simple not easy! I can tell you it's not easy, not by a long shot, and I know... believe me I know. I have however, finally found my goal weight at the end of 110 pds loss. I have kept that weight off for 14 years now, easy? NO... but worth the struggle? YES YES YES!! Follow a healthy plan, balanced, lower calorie with in a healthy range for you, exercise daily if possible, or as often as is possible. Find exercise you enjoy, walking is about the easiest and often the best choice. If you can't walk around the block, so what, you start by walking across the room, then out to the curb and back, then to the end of the block and so on till you can walk all you want. Anything you do that is more than you have been doing is success. Don't give up......... You are not a failure till you stop trying. I did this, you can do it to. I tried many, many fast diets, quick fixes, so sure there was something out there somewhere that would melt those 100 pds off FAST, and like someone said earlier in the thread........ I wasted a LOT of time looking for the magic that really was already inside me. That magic is the desire to do this for me, because I want to, I need to. So if you are still skeptical, still looking for some quick fix, please stop wasting time and just do it the right way, it's gonna take some time to lose........ it didn't sneak up on ya' while you slept one night.... it's not gonna go away that fast either. Come on, you can do this. Oh yes, if you are looking for a really great support group, TOPS (take off pounds sensibly) is IT! That's my plan and I'm stickin' to it. There is a TOPS thread here also. If anyone wants to know more I'll be happy to share info on it. Faith and hugzz to you all, Shirlee |
Glucophage/Metaformin
:carrot: Hello
Glucophage or Metaformin is used for those who diabetic, but it also helps those who are Insulin Resistant. Women who have PCOS use this along with a good diet, I use weight watchers to help them to loose the weight. Check out any Polycysistic Ovarian Syndrome web Kim |
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