Im here and Im ready to lose!
 

hello!

I am 25 years old and Im a newbie to this board, but not a newbie to the successful dieting thing. I started in April. I remember the decision sticking vividly. I was at my cousins house for Easter, we were playing games and eating junk etc..I looked in the mirror when I went to the bathroom(not during lol but you know what I mean) I was washing my hands or something, and I was disgusted at how I let myself get. and I actually said out loud "not anymore" the funny thing is, Ive tried dieting before and it never works. I let myself get upset at my "cheating" and I would binge because I thought whats the use? this is different because I totally went into it with a different mindset, if I cheat then I may get upset at myself for a bit..but I just shrug and say "tomorrows another day" and then do my best to start over. Its worked really well for me, and 30lbs later...im in a rut lol I was doing GREAT until August, and then I went on vacation and sort of went off it, not completely..I still ate better, didnt go crazy..havent had anything fried since I started..etc...havent had regular milk, only fat free etc..I havent been gaining..but I havent been losing either:(

Finally, this week I have been back to my rigerous diet schedule..and Ive lost another 3lbs!

I cant tell you(but a lot of you probably know) how exciting it was for me to hit 199(I started at 226) and tell the DMV when I regot my drivers license, that they could change my weight...and she said congrats :)

some things that have worked for me
I HATE water, and i wont drink plain water..so I get those water powder things(like crystel lite) at walmart(the generic brand) and I keep a water bottle with me and drink a LOT of those a day.

I carry around these sugar free hard candies..and if I feel the need for something sweet I pop it in.

non diet me: I am a CNA, I am an aspiring writer(mostly lyrics right now) I am a Clay Aiken addict(seen him 13 times!) and Im fun!! I have 63 more lbs to go, and Im determined to get there!! FOR ME!

Hey Makin' welcome aboard! It sounds like you're on the right track. Congrats on losing 30+lbs. Are you doing any exercise at the moment?

I was excercising a lot, then when I got past my vacation I kind of stopped, I recenytly started again, I hate to walk by myself, but im forcing myself to go anyways..and then I do sit ups, and stair climbs and squats and other stuff at night in my room before I go to bed.

That's pretty good. I know what you mean, I don't like to walk alone either. Do you have an Ipod or something you can take with you? That always helps me. I try to get my hubby to go with me but he has a bum knee so I'm stuck doing the elliptical for now. Are you on a particular diet or just trying to eat right? I just try to eat right and exercise. I have my slip ups more than I'd like but I try not to beat myself up too much.

I just do my own thing. No sugar, low fat..I keep away from gravies and Ive been using the I cant believe its not butter spray..the stuff in the tub has almost as much fat as regular butter lol I dont eat past 6..I drink fat free milk, and most everything if there is a fat free option I buy it. I also eat only the portion that is on the container...if it says half a cup then thats what I eat. I dont fry anything..I use the cooking spray with no fat..its some kind olive oil spray...the biggest thing, which is what I think worked the most is I used to drink a 2 liter of Pepsi a day!! now I only drink diet coke! :) thats my treat for not having any sugar lol I havent had a regular pepsi since april, except the other day, when I was going to the machine at work, I accidently got one..and it was to sweet, I couldnt finish it. I mostly drink my water during the day..I only drink diet coke at night...Im making sure that it doesnt replace water, cause thats important.

Wow! That's really amazing that you gave up soda like that! I am weird and water has always been my favorite drink so I never really had a problem with it but I've really seen people struggle with giving it up. It's funny how sweet it seems when you haven't had it in a long time. It sounds like you've set yourself up for a healthy life. That's really great. Diets don't really work. So no sugar at all? I have a huge sweet tooth! You'll have to let me know how you quit eating sugar. I am terrible I eat ice cream almost every night! It's such a bad habit. Does that mean granola bars and things like that are off limits too?

yes, anything with sugar in it! the only reason is because I know if I eat a cookie, Ill eat 10 cookies, so for me its easier to just say no to all of it. It wasnt that first week...the very first diet week I was shaking I wated a donut or something in the break room at work so bad..food is an addiction, and its hard to give up...but I really truley dont have problems with sugar anymore, except every once in awhile Ill slip up and eat a cookie or something, but I dont go crazy like I used to.

my problem is salty stuff..like chips! but Ive started eating pretzels instead of chips..and it fills your tummy and the stick pretzels have no fat in them.

wow!! you really killed your sugar thing. CONGRATULATIONS!! you are deff. and inspiration. I've been having a tough time the last couple of days cause I'm sick and, anyway, you've just motivated me, a whole lot.
oh, and welcome!!

Wow that's great I really need to lay off the sugar. If you like salty snacks may I suggest roasted salted soy nuts? they taste like sunflower seeds and are high in fiber and protein. :)