Looking at your fitday information, you may need to cut back on your sugar intake. I know that some things say they are low fat but they can be very high in sugar which adds to the carbs. Start with what you drink. If you like ice tea, try it with 1 packet of sugar and the rest with Splenda. Increase your water intake to at least 64 oz - more if you drink alot of tea and soda.

Also try increasing your protein. This will fill you up faster and give you great nutrients.

I agree with everyone - stay within you same calorie range - you can even switch up and increase the intake but it is all about what you eat. We can eat 1600 calories of donuts and exercise but we won't lose weight, but if you eat 1600 calories of minimal fat and carbs and high protein you may drop 3-4 pounds in a week.

Good luck!

Im eating every three hours and eating small portions, healthier portions and walking a mile everyday. ive lost 5 pounds in about 3 weeks. I dont even count calories. But, I do write down what I eat every day. The one thing that helps me the most is that I buy the meals like lean cuisine and smart ones. With these the meals are already portioned out and I wont over eat because I know that I can only have one of them. I will eat a yogurt or crackers with the meal. Also, you might be gaining muscle mass and will lose more weight later. Dont give up, it will happen when it is meant to happen for you. You cant force anything that God(or who ever is in charge) doesnt have in your life plan. I think that with some things have to happen after you learn an important lesson that will help you with your goal. Good Luck!

Thank you to everyone! I appreciate the input. I know (SusanB) that I am probably being a little too impatient, I was just a little paranoid, because the last time i tried to diet, earlier last year, The same thing happened....I dropped 6 pounds and then the scale never moved. Of course, I'm doing things a little differently this time.
Curves4life - I think you're right, as much as I hate to admit that I might have to give up my sugar, esp in my iced tea. *gasp* we southern chicks just don't know what do with it when it doesn't have a gallon of sugar mixed in. Luckily, I have enough English in me till I think I can handle it, with some effort. And I've started this week looking up recipes and marinades for chicken so that I can start with that as the main part of my meals - beef is a little too expensive, so that will have to be for special occaisions. I have noticed I don't get as hungry when i eat more protien.

THank you all so much! I really appreciate it! You're all AWESOME!

Vanessa

When's the next time you're going grocery shopping? Have you made a list yet?

Actually I was supposed to be going this evening, but I am making my list firstand going through the new American Heart Assoc. cookbook I bought (it hasthe nutritional info listed in it)

I can always take suggestions!

There are some of that kind of thread under nutrition I think. But we could start something right here.
vegetables, protein, fruit, oatmeal ....

Hi there and welcome! You know, the one thing I noticed in your last post was the comment about "starting TO DIET" and the one thing I might encourage you to think about (this sort of ties with Susan's comment about being impatient in a way) is that what you are doing now needs to be FOR LIFE. If you think along the lines of depriving yourself and losing weight and being "on a diet" for 6 months, losing some weight, and then going BACK to what you were doing....well, then you'll just ride that horrible merry-go-round the rest of your life. One of the other reasons that going with a higher calorie count and thinking about slow and steady weight loss (versus that emotional initial satisfaction of fast loss) is that you need to make permanent changes.

Boy, this sounds preachy! SORRY! Just recognize you're doing well so far, and that it's gonna be a road that doesn't end once you hit your goal weight. I find reading threads over on maintenance a good "psychological" boost and reality check--it's not over just because the scale hits a particular number

On my fitday, I don't even see a place for sugar. Where do you see that at?

NoworNever! ~ You don't sound too preachy. It's a mental block I know I have to get past. I know it needs to be for life, I just have to keep reminding myself that when i think too much about doing something that's too much like what I had tried before. I've tried Atkins, and WW, and "dieting" and it never ends up working out for me. I lose a little and then totally screw up and end up worse than before I started. This time, I plan on making it more a lifestyle change, or at least, that's my goal. I just have to keep reminding myself of that.


Thank you to all you lovely ladies. I really appreciate the help, encouragement and assurances that I am doing what I need to. It is silly, and I was feeling rather discouraged when I posted. (Altho I really shouldn't have. I know better...but sometimes you just ignore your good sense!) Thank you all so much!

Vanessa

Hi everyone... I've very new to this site, too... and 2.5 weeks into MY NEW LIFE... and was, like Grumbleworts, feeling like I wanted to see more during the first few weeks. But I'm 7.5 down and started walking yesterday. Short walks, but it's a start. I just wanted to tell you that I am getting a lot just reading. I've never posted to web sites before this one, so who knows if I'm even doing it right.... but I had to tell you how much I admire you all for doing what you're doing and for being so positive and helpful to each other---and us newbies.

Hey Vanessa--I totally hear you girl. I've been through WW and other dieting efforts on my own. I've lost up to 40 pounds before too--but always gained back. I'm 46 now and I think the one thing I knew going in this time was that I HAVE to make some mental changes. In the past, I really took an "all or nothing" approach and so whenever I "cheated" that would just about be it. I'm working really hard this time on trying to keep things in perspective--there will be days when I eat badly (sometimes because I lose control, and SOMEtimes because I choose to have certain things). I just have to make sure that the good efforts outweigh the bad as much as possible. This is making a huge difference for me. But...it's just never easy and the ladies over on maintenance make it clear that for many of them the MAINTAINING is harder than the losing (imagine!). I figure if I can incorporate some of their good mental insights while I'm in the losing process...well...maybe that will mean that by the time I get near a goal weight I'll be living the way I need to. Everybody here is so supportive--it makes a huge difference when a bad day pops up and you need the perspective of the people who have really been doing it

Tracy

I am definitely impatient, Grumble, it sounds like we're in the same boat. I want results IMMEDIATELY. I work out 6 days a week, including weights, and eat 1200-1400 cals/day. I've decided to focus on fitness instead of weight. My goal is to be able to do a pull-up!

Keep going - it's calories in vs. calories out in the long run.