[hiphipaway]

HI,

I am just starting and need help! I have tried many diets in the past and I seem to fail. My problem is when I don't see results I give up. I know that I am not healthy and I am not happy with the way I look. I need a plan. Would you please share with me your successes and what has worked for you? I know we are all individuals and what works for some may not work for other. I am 53 years of age, 5'3" and weigh 215. I have set a goal to lose weight for our family reunion. I am tired of being the fat sister! I hate to have my picture taken, I don't even recognize myself. My husband is very supportive and wants me to get healthy. I am not getting any younger! I do have a bad knee which might limit my exercise a bit, but I can walk!

What has worked for you?

Sandy

[the shiv]

Hi Sandy, welcome to 3FC! *waves*

What has worked for me personally is not dieting. I've lost a stone so far doing Intuitive Eating (check out IE thread 16 in general weight loss plans... I think that's what it's called? And I also blog about it so you can see if it appeals). If you want a more structured plan then calorie counting is maybe the way to go. There are loads of people here having success with it, you don't have to cut out any foods, and there's a great support forum here for it

I started by changing one thing at a time until I formed a new habit, then added more changes. For me (a serial dieter in a past life) it was the only way to go that I thought could be permanent. As for tips, here's some that have helped me

* Eliminate guilt from your diet! It doesn't help you stay on track AT ALL.
* Excess sugar makes me supremely hungry. Try experimenting with how you feel after you eat it. It's easier to avoid certain foods if they make you feel awful, rather than just telling yourself you "can't have it".
* Walking is awesome! Low impact, easy to work into your everyday life, I even get "runner's high" from it if I push myself a bit. I love yoga and strength training and walking and swimming and skating. Find something that makes you feel good while you're doing it, something that works for you! Don't just pick the highest calorie burning one and bust yourself up. Go out for a walk, and concentrate on EVERYTHING BUT the fact it's exercise: look at the scenery, sort through stuff that's on your mind, feel your body moving and how awesome that is, take photographs if you like, walk to do errands instead of using transport, listen to the birds singing, grab an mp3 player and listen to your favourite music... Just find the formula that makes it most enjoyable for you, and most worthwhile doing again!
* Not everyone likes plain water. If you do, great It makes me stupidly hungry for some unknown reason, so I add lemon juice to it. Maybe you like green tea. Experiment with different things.
* Take progress photos! I do this every half stone. I've only done a few, but even after the first 8lbs, I could see where the weight had disappeared from, even though I couldn't feel it! VERY motivational.
* Concentrate on 1lb at a time. You gain weight 1lb at a time, and you'll lose it the same way.
* Reward yourself as often as you like! Even if it's every 1lb, do ANYTHING you need to do to stay focused. Say, if you lose 1lb, reward yourself by watching a film you love. For example. It helps you to learn to associate weight loss with feeling good. Eventually that habit should stick.
* Post often! I know I'm accountable to people here, and I don't want them to feel disappointment on my behalf any more than I want to feel it myself! I've found some really supportive groups and settled in, and I look forward to posting It's brilliant moral support

I hope any of this advice helped even a little, please do come back and post some more! Congratulations on making the decision to do this, and I hope you find the plan that suits you best! And if it doesn't, you can always switch to one that fits you better

[AussieMags]

Welcome! You have actually already succeeded at the most difficult part. I used to "diet", but I don't do that anymore. The thing that works for me is listening to my body - not the evil voice that wants to stay on the couch, but the physical bit.

When I eat poorly, I feel poorly. When I don't exercise, the same is true.

I had a personal trainer for a couple of years and he told me once that he simply couldn't understand people who said they didn't have time to take care of their bodies. He asked "did you have time to brush your teeth today?" I replied "of course". I made time. He then asked why was exercise any different.

So make small changes daily. Think about what is important to YOU. If you have a favourite TV programme that you like to watch, watch it from the treadmill. Start eliminating packaged food from your life. Prepare fresh. Keep a journal and rate what works and what doesn't. Increase what works and eliminate the rest.

One more thing - Listen to feedback/ideas from others, but use your own solid judgement as to what works for you.

Good luck in your journey.

[shcirerf]

What worked for me was to quit looking at it as a diet, but a lifestyle change and to be healthy.

Weight loss and maintaining, done in the kitchen and fitness done through exercise that I enjoy.

It does take a bit of time to figure it all out, but through tracking my food, mood, activity and how it affected the overall picture, it so far has been success!

[pomelo]

I've tried soooo many things in the past (you name it, I've done it). Really the only thing that's worked for me in a sustainable way is the Dukan Diet. I feel relatively satisfied and you get fast results. (and I don't gain huge amounts of weight if I have a celebration meal or snack here or there). I've lost 20 pounds in 1.5 months on Dukan after years of trying to lose the weight with no success. I've been converted!

[Mozzy]

welcome and good luck on your journey!

[penmage]

Welcome!

[Misti in Seattle]

Hi Sandy and

What is working for me is not dieting or counting calories but just getting on a healthful eating plan... lots of fruits and veggies with enough added in things to make sure I get enough protein. Very little processed food, as they are mostly loaded with cornstarch, HFCS, salt, sugar, chemicals and other assorted junk. I eat mostly organic and avoid fake sugar, etc. The best part is that I actually enjoy eating this way as my foods are yummy and nutritious.

Oh and I have limited movement in one hip so I work out a LOT in the pool.. have water weights and all kinds of water workout equipment.

Best wishes on whatever plan you choose!

[irish51]

Sandy,

I am 61 yrs old. and 5' tall. Like so many others here, I have tried a lot of different diets over the years. The one thing I have found, for me, is that I do better with high protein low carb.

I started on Wonderslim and have done well. Initially, I lost weight fairly quick, it of course has slowed now that I am about half way to goal. That's okay, I am learning all sorts of things .

My suggestion would be for you to look through the forums and read a lot. Even going back to some older threads. I have learned so much by doing this.

There are people on here that have no idea, how much they have inspired and taught me things. For instance, I do not care for cooked veggies, by reading through the recipe forums, I found out about roasting green beans in olive oil and salt. (I am not much of a cook).

Guess what? I am now hooked on green beans. which is a definite change from raw broccoli!

As you look through the threads and read about the different diet plans (or lifestyle plans) people are using, you will see how much everyone supports each other.

Good Luck, hope to see you on the boards.

[bethFromDayton]

I'm calorie counting and that appears to be working for me. (I haven't updated my ticker, but down 12 lbs in 5.5 weeks) I've never successfully calorie counted before because it seemed so hard to keep track of. Now, with apps being available for smart phones, it's easy--and kind of fun.

I use MyFitnessPal, others on here use LoseIt or myNetDiary.

I'm also reading and working through The Beck Diet Solution: train your brain to think like a thin person. It's a cognitive behavior therapy approach to weight loss--and it really clicks with me and I'm finding it really helpful in learning how to stay on my diet and change the way I think and interact with food.

I find being daily accountable to a few groups on here is really good for me, too. Find a thread or two (based on age, diet plan, approach, amount to lose) and become involved--support others and they'll support you. I've committed to posting daily, and if I do miss a day, not to miss two in a row. I think that is really helpful, since I know that I'm reporting what happens to my diet buddies/coaches.

Good luck on your journey!

[Roo2]

:welc ome:Sandy

There are so many different diets choose 1 that best fits your personality and lifestyle.
I am on Ideal Protein this has enabled me to transform my body in a relatively short time span. It is highly structured which I am not so Perfect Fit for me!

This is a wonderfully diverse site...with that said you will get a variety of different perspectives and be exposed to different ways of looking at things.

Sometimes I enjoy reading posts just to see how people view the weight loss journey.

Know that if you want to lose the weight ....you will ...it's a matter of deciding what your Truly willing to do to get yourself there.
You will have highs and lows on the Weightloss Rollercoaster. Enjoy the ride!
Roo2