Hi from Chicago newbie
 

Hi. I just found this website and I love it so far! I'm trying so hard to stick to my NY resolution to lose weight, but it's so hard. I'm hoping to find some motivation and even make some new buddies on this site. So, hi to everyone!

Hi Jes!

I've been doing this since the new year, too, and lost 10 pounds this month. Most of it has been because of changing what I eat and how much. I have a habit of not eating large meals but eating more frequently because then I get hungry 1-2 hours later. So my biggest change this first month has been some food substitutions and lowering portions. I think it's easier to deal with the loss of a favorite "sinful" food, if you've got an alternative that still tastes pretty good but has less calories. I still miss my Pringles (I could finish a can in a day or two) but now I've got Rold's Gold Honey Wheat Pretzels that are like 100-something calories for 8 and they're hard so they take me longer to eat. By the time I even get to the 8th one, I'm good, lol. If I start craving chocolate chip cookies, I have my little 100-calorie pack. Sure, it doesn't compare to having a bag of Chips Ahoy in the house but if I did, I'd be munching on those cookies because they were there and I wanted them. This way, with the little packs, I can at least have some of the taste and in a pre-set portion. Or, I happen to really like low-fat swiss cheese in a sandwich. So now I put one slice in instead of two and sometimes have low calorie bread instead of the regular.

I'm no weight loss expert by any means. I can only offer up that my experience the past few weeks has been that making small changes (not drastic ones, and not completely changing everything I eat) has helped me. And spontaneously doing little 5-10 minutes bursts of exercise around the house hasn't hurt. :D Well, actually that part has hurt some, lol, but I got over it. :D