22 with ten pounds to show for every year
 

Hello out there. I'm very new to this site but very old to dieting.

I have been a pudge-a-potamus my whole life and am so tired of it. At one point I had lost 70 pounds and have gained it all back! I'm an emotional eater and also just really love food. In short I need a new way to diet (The first time around was not the healthiest which is probably why it didn't stick.) So I was hoping maybe everyone who would like to help out someone new would send your number one tip or thought, to kind of kick start my existence here on this site and in my new home (I recently left the nest for the very first time.)

I'm at 220 and want to lose 100 lbs, so if you have more than one tip I'd be really pleased to hear those too!

Thank you to anyone who posts.

New and Alone.

Hi there Bukirouge

:wel3fc:

Well... the first problem is.... dieting. Around here you'll see a lot of people talking about changes they make. Permanent changes. Dieting tends to have this temporary mentality. In reality, if we go back to what we were doing before... then all we're going to get is what we got before... fat! So, say no to dieting. Say yes to changing your life!

There are a few ways to go about this... some people have a plan or program they follow, others are making baby steps by changing one thing at a time to become healthier & lose weight. If you have a look under Diet Central you'll see some of the more common methods being used successfully around here.

You say you're just movin' out on your own :) Fantastic! And a little scary, eh? I have to say that one of the best things about being on my own now is the ability to decide what comes into my house, what goes into the fridge, and what goes into my mouth. You may find that it's easier to say no to overeating if you just don't buy the stuff that tends to lead you overeat!

I've got just about 100lbs to go, too :D There's the 100 lb club to check out, and the 20-somethings :) But, truly the whole site is great for support and friendships.

So! Keeping in mind that you want to take the weight off, but more importantly KEEP the weight off. Why not start with one thing in mind that you can do that will bring you closer to that goal? Drinking more water... eating a few more vegetables.... taking a short walk... small things :)

Make sure you look around & post wherever you're comfortable. We all can't wait to get to know you and help you on your way!

Best of success!!!

I just wanted to say Hi, I'm new here also and that Faerie hit it right on the nose. I love that I don't have to deal with anyone else's junk food. Only bring the good stuff in and you won't eat the unhealthy.

Heather

Hi,

I'm new here too and have found lots of support on this website. Everyone is soooo nice and helpful!

I'm doing WW online due to my work schedule and this coming Monday will be my 3rd weigh-in. This past week I added walking on a treadmill at the gym to my plan. It took me a week or so to get in the routine of learning the points of foods, cooking & planning meals. I have found loads of helpful ideas from the many threads about recipes, etc. I have set a goal for myself at the gym to walk 3 miles each day and take Sundays off. It takes me about one hour going at a speed of 2.8 to 3.3. I watch my heart rate and try to keep it in the fat burning range for my age... so I will increase or decrease the speed every few minutes based on my heart rate... sort of a mild interval training thing.

I too love food. I mean really love food. When I look back on the special times of my life I can somehow always remember where & what we ate to celebrate. When speaking with some friends who do not have issues with extra weight it was a real eye-opening experience to realize that they do not remember the food/places they ate during celebrations (one exception is that they all remember the restaurant where they became engaged...) Anyway, this made me realize that I am spending way too much of my thinking on the subject of food. My mind has been unbalanced in this area of thinking. Now I am doing my best to think of food more of fuel for my body than food for my soul. It's working slowly but surely. Also eating healthier foods has greatly decreased my cravings for high calorie/fat foods and also seeing my slow but steady weight loss has been a real boost too. Lastly, I want to be healthier and I finally have realized that the path I was on was not taking me to healthy-town, so I have decided to take the fork in the road to the right place.

Please join in on many threads. We are so glad to have you here and we don't want for you to feel alone. I know the lonely feeling and must say that this website has been very helpful for me to not feel so isolated.
:welcome3:

Hi!

I'm 20 and have been living on my own since college (at 18) and I love it. Exactly what everyone else said, I love being able to buy my own things. At home my mum was always really great about keeping whatever I wanted in terms of "healthy food" in the house, but I have a younger brother and sister and they get the occasional box of cookies and granola bars and I can binge on pretty much anything. It's nice being in control.

You sound like you have experience in dieting and I definitely encourage you to look around and find something that doesn't feel like deprivation. I think that's the key to being able to do it long term. Find something you can stick with forever. There are TONS of options out there that work differently for everyone.

Good luck!

:welcome3: you are no longer alone!

Wow! Thanks to everyone who posted so quickly!!

Sweet Caroline: Yours really stuck out to me, because I think I know why I emotionally overeat...both my parents were always morbidly obese and are stress/emotion eaters, I think it was a family taught coping strategy, its also one of the key ways we express love. It was also the only common ground I had with my parents for many years, the fact that we enjoyed the same TV shows and loved to chow down while watching them... so whats the next step? I mean, I imagine deprogramming, but how do you go about it?

Also I never feel like cooking... after two jobs I buy whats fast and cheap-ish and scarf it down. I know its nutritionally stripped food for the most part and its getting crazy price-y, any advice?

Learn to cook. :devil:

Seriously though. I'm sure others will jump in with easy things to make (I like to cook, so I'm not always that helpful). Soups are great when you get home and you want something right away. You can make a pot when you have time and freeze some of it. I've seen people recommend a small grill to make fast chicken breasts, fish and such. A few quick seasonings can change the taste so you don't feel you're eating the same things

I personally love fruits, veggies, salads, and such. If you don't love 'em, find ones you at least like. Look for low fat yogurt and cottage cheese, mix in your own fruit. (I admit I don't eat either, but they're fast.)

Eat breakfast. Really. I didn't used to. In fact I wouldn't eat that much during the day at all. Then I'd hit the drive-thru on the way home... and then make dinner. (very bad) Portion snacks through the day (fruit, yogurt, nuts, etc.) so you're not starving when you get home.

Whatever you do, enjoy yourself.

Hi and welcome to the board!!

I just signed up too, and you'll find LOTS of great advice from everyone. I agree with the others about being able to stock your own pantry and fridge with healthier choices.

As for the not knowing how to cook part? That's ok! There's TONS of delicious, healthy and quick meals you can learn to make!

I know this isn't for everyone, but I pretty much follow a vegetarian lifestyle for the most part (and sometimes have fish), but Boca and Morning Star put out REALLY great meat-alternatives!! If junk food is your weakness, I suggest Boca patties or the Boca chicken patties...you really can't tell the difference! And morning star puts out AMAZING meatless hot dogs!

I know it's a huge change, but when you're really craving a cheeseburger or something, it's a great alternative and SO much more healthy for you!

Anyway, best of luck hun. You'll have tons of support here!!

Hey Bukirouge, welcome!!! I'd have to agree with what a lot of people here are saying, just find things you can enjoy. If you love your diet and love your exercise regimen, you'll enjoy what you're doing and it will only take you that much further. At first, I had a problem with not wanting to lose weight for myself, so I'd lose and gain back, lose and gain back. But once you really want to do it for you and you alone, you'll definitely reach and exceed all your goals. Good Luck!!!

I buy snack foods and portion them into baggies as soon as i get home: pretzels, low fat popcorn, low fat graham crackers, dried cereals, etc. Throughout the week you can just grab a couple and throw them in your purse/backpack. You are not alone!!!!

Hi! I'm new. I suggest some packaged rice mix say Uncle Ben's Au Gratin with another packaged food called On the Go Bistro, mine was Haddock with Ratatouille. The Haddock was supposed to be microwaved, which I choose not to own. I cooked the rice and then added the the barley and fish mix and it was comfort good! I got a quote from EZ Money
I started my "JOURNEY OF BETTER CHOICES 07/23/07 with the TRUTH ~ I got FAT from ROTTEN CHOICES!

:wel3fc:

Throughout my adult life, I've lost, gained more than I lost, lost again, gained more than I lost, etc. Every time I lost, I went on a "diet", restricting my food in general until I reached goal. Then, I stopped dieting. Slowly, I resumed my old habits and I gained what I'd lost and more.

What I never paid attention to was nutrition. Until the last year, my veggie intake was ridiculously, abysmally low. My fruit intake wasn't much better. Whole grains were a rarity. I didn't eat a lot of "bad" stuff like fried foods, dessert, ice cream, etc. But, I didn't eat a lot of healthy stuff. This time around, I'm learning how to eat properly and intend to keep it up forever and ever. I'm even trying to be a little vegetarian. Have you ever known a fat vegetarian? Once I hit goal, I intend to stay at it for the rest of my life.

Change your life. Learn to eat like the person you want to be. It's kinda like being the person that the person you would want to marry would want to marry. Don't be fake, of course!

Absolutely! I've never been a fan of cooking either, so if there's an easy way to go about getting food, I'm right on it. Also, I'm one of those folks who, when I'm hungry, wants something NOW, not in an hour...so generally, cooking's not my thing. :)

Quick'n'easy suggestions:
Cut yourself up some veggies for the week. Dice up an onion and a capsicum. Store them separately in containers in the fridge. They'll keep for at least 3 or 4 days, and you can just walk in at the end of the day and either toss them in a salad, or - as I mentioned it in another thread - make mini-quiches. So easy, so low-cal. Requires no cooking skill, either, and only minimal patience!

MINI QUICHE
Ingredients: Eggs, random vegetables and/or edible fungi.

- Use a large-cup muffin pan (not a giant one though)
- Using one or two eggs per person, crack a single egg into each muffin hole.
- Throw in diced capsicum, onion, spinach, mushrooms, or anything that gets in your way. Shredded ham is good too, but watch the calorie count!
- Cook in the oven for 25 minutes at 180C or whatever the fahrenheit equivalent is.
- You may need to stir it about 5 mins before the end of cooking to ensure it's cooking evenly (which can make them a little ugly, but hey..do you want satisfying food or do you want to be Jamie Oliver?).

Note the lack of pastry base and cheese; it's not necessary. What is, however, necessary is seasoning (pepper, maybe salt) and some herbs of choice. I like rosemary, but your mileage may vary.

EASY SOUP (Requires a crock pot/slow cooker)
Ingredients: Sweet potato and/or pumpkin (you can also use potato, but bear in mind it's higher GI, higher in calories and not as filling).

I generally work on 1/2 a butternut pumpkin, or about 3 sweet potatoes, or a mix of both. Depends how big your crock pot is; you want the vegetable content to reach at least halfway, though, 'cos that's what the safety use instructions say and we don't want An Incident on our hands, right?

- Quarter your sweet potato, or cut your pumpkin into large chunks. (Wash the veggies, but no need to peel them.)
- Stick it on to cook for, like, 4 hours or more. You can't really over-cook it, so feel free to set it running on 'low' while you're at work so it's ready when you come home. You do NOT need to add water; in fact, this can make the veggies stick and burn.

That's it. While it's cooking you can throw in some curry powder, or herbs, or (in the case of pumpkin) some ginger, or whatever, or you can leave it plain and just salt'n'pepper it at the end. Whatever floats your boat.

To serve: grab your stick mixer and blend the crap out of it. Call it soup. It's the best, thickest and heartiest soup you're ever going to see (except for the ones involving double cream, but we really don't want to go there, do we?) and it's really very filling. And best of all, aside from stabbing it with a stick mixer, it's ready to eat the instant you walk through the door at the end of the day. (And actually, you can eat the veggies in chunks anyway, if it comes to that.)

SIMPLY DIVINE CAPSICUM SOUP
This one's a little bit naughty, but really not very much so. Takes a while to cook though, so not one for straight after work. VERY easy to make, however.

Requires: onions (1), capsicums (1-2), tins of tomato (2), minced garlic (optional), goat's cheese (optional, but totally fabulous)

- Get yourself some red capsicums (aka bell peppers) - and yes, they have to be red, or at worst yellow or orange, or this is going to look pretty gross at the end, trust me.
- Cut into long, wide strips (carefully removing all the pith - that's the white, membraney stuff inside. It gets bitter when you cook it, and makes food taste nasty.)
- Get a freezer bag. Chuck a tablespoon of cooking oil in there. Throw in the capsicum pieces and fumble them around to get them more or less coated.
- Chuck the capsicums on a tray, and whack 'em in the oven for ... oh, as long as it takes, really. You want them roasted, basically. (My rule of thumb is about an hour and a half at 180C. I dare say you could do it faster at higher temperatures, but since I'm as distractable as a kitten I find it best not to push my luck by using potentially incendiary temperatures.)
- Go kill some time. Read a book. Don't worry if the capsicums blacken a wee bit; it's all good.
- When the capsicums are fully roasted and smelling delicious, wander back into the kitchen and proceed to ignore them.
- In a pot, fry yourself some diced onions. Use minimal oil, or you'll defeat the whole 'diet' purpose.
- Look at your jar of minced garlic. Think about how much is 'too much'. Throw in, oh, I don't know, maybe 3/4 of a teaspoon worth anyway. Worry if that's too much. Stir. (Remember this quantity for next time in case it was a horrible mistake.)
- When onions and (possibly too much?) garlic smell tasty and the onions are mostly cooked, throw in two tins of diced tomatoes.
- NB: it doesn't matter if the tomatoes are plain or the ones with 'mixed veggies/herbs/whatever' in there, provided they're not actually flavoured (like, don't use 'curry style' or something equally flaky).
- Bring the tomato mix to a decent heat. Worry about the garlic a little more.
- When the capsicums least expect it, pounce on them and throw them in the pot. Haha!
- Grab your trusty stick mixer (if you don't own one yet, go out and buy one. I'll wait) and blend the living daylights out of the soup.
- At this point, you can also throw in some baby spinach leaves if you like; they never saw it coming and won't put up a fight. Cook them until they're wilted but not soggy. (Spinach is purely optional, and does nothing particularly good for the look of what is otherwise a pretty impressive soup.)
- Serve, and crumble the totally optional but oh-so-good goat's cheese over the top. (Try to keep the cheese thing to a reasonable quantity, and not say, an entire goat's worth.)

This one has the benefit of also looking totally swank if you're trying to impress people. It's the cheese that does it. Crack some pepper over the top and they'll think they've wandered into the Hilton by mistake.

Hope these help as starter recipes. :) I think the important thing is the 'lose weight' bit, not the 'lose weight instantly but non-maintainably' option. By learning to cook simple but tasty and - most importantly - filling food, you'll make it easier to start new, healthy habits to last a lifetime. And you might even find that you don't totally hate cooking.

One more piece of advice - go to somewhere like recipezaar.com and search out recipes for:
1. slow cookers
2. low GI/diabetic-friendly. Food in the low-GI/diabetic range is generally pretty low-cal, and far more satisfying, because you don't get the blood sugar spikes after eating it (which generally make you want more food). They also tend to be more filling, for longer.

Good luck on your weight loss journey! :D

Brilliant
 

Those are fabulous recipes! Thank you so much! And thanks to everyone who posted and made me feel so welcome! A new found optimism abounds within me!:thanks:

I find that the secret to keeping on track is to never let myself get really hungry. If that happens, I go nuts and eat anything that gets in my way! Having food that I can bulk cook (like pumpkin soup - make on a Sunday, nuke for dinner for the next 3 days) or make in a hurry - like mini-quiches - before I'm tempted to snack out on toast (yeesh, sooo many calories in bread!) are the things that keep me sane and focused.

Another thing to invest in, if you don't have one, is a sandwich press for making toasted wraps. If you substitute mountain bread/wrap-type bread for normal sliced bread you halve the calorie count, and you can still pack them full of content. If you like mushrooms, I highly recommend sliced mushrooms and some bbq chicken in a wrap and cooked between the two plates of a sandwich press - you basically get sauteed mushrooms (not quite) and the bbq chicken absorbs a little of the liquid that comes out when mushrooms are cooking. It can still be a little soggy if you let it sit, so it's a cook-and-eat-NOW meal, but really nice. Particularly with a wee bit of garlic mayonnaise spread on the wrap - you only need a thin smear, and it kicks the mushrooms up a notch.

Edit: It should be clarified that while I've lost over 35kg (80lbs-ish?) on this kind of food, it wasn't overnight. It's taken a year, but it's come off steadily and the important thing in my mind is that the number on the scale doesn't go backwards (well, except at THAT time of the month, when it's been known to jump 5lbs overnight, but I don't take that seriously). On the plus side, because what I'm eating is tasty, easy and healthy, I can easily see it working as a lifetime solution rather than a quick-fix. Also on the plus side, I haven't had to do much exercise - I walk for an hour or two on Saturday and Sunday, and do a Tai Chi class of a Thursday night, and that's it. It's a simple case of calories in vs calories burned; I'm working on 1200 calories/5000kj per day, and that's all it's taken for the weight to steadily and surely make its way off. I have to admit it's plateaued a couple of times, but I just plug along doing the same thing and eventually it restarts and travels downwards again.

Hint: Always keep diet jello in the fridge. If you really need to put something in your mouth right now and dinner's not ready, it's a good 'filler' and has almost no calories, and it keeps you away from eating stuff you'll kick yourself about afterwards.

Wow!! Congratulations on the loss! Its always a good reminder that weight loss is supposed to be a gradual process. I'm one of those people who is all about the instant gratification and speed weight loss. Sometimes when I tell myself to remember it is a slow process, a much louder voice reminds me I did it within six months before... Its nice to be reminded from an outside source who has done it and is doing it, that to do it right takes time.