I am in serious need of help. I have tried every diet in the book. If it is out
there then I know that I have tried it. I was going to try atkins again but I just don't feel like doing that one again. I can't afford to join a place to do it but I can't stand to be this big anymore. My son left for the Marines on Sunday and his graduation from bootcamp is September 21st and my 10 year anniversary is the 20 of September. I truly don't want to be a fat cow on my anniversary or at his graduation. I want to be skinny or smaller so that he will be proud of me when we go to Parris Island. I can't stand this anymore please someone help me. I don't know where to turn to anymore. My sister is doing LAWL and has already lost 15+ pounds I am so proud of her and I just don't know what to do! What diets have worked for you and which ones didn't. Please help me!!



Blessings,
Karen

Hi and welcome. I, like you, have tried more diets than I can count and every time I lost weight I gained it back when I got tired of restricting myself so much. I joined up here and so far have found that simply counting calories is working for me. There are a few different sites (thedailyplate, fitday, and nutridiary) that allow you to search foods and record their nutritional info every day. That way you can track your calories and plan your meals that way. You can still eat the things you love, you just might have to eat them more in moderation, or put a bit of a different spin on them to make them a little healthier. If I want to have pizza for dinner, I just have to eat low calorie meals the rest of the day. I find that counting calories and fat is the easiest plan for me, that way I'm not denying myself the things I really like. Good luck and I'm sure you can do it!

I vote for calorie counting too , it has the added attraction of being free.

There are a bunch of reviews of different plans here

Research is the key to finding the plan that works for you. That being said, I'm a calorie counter, too. I also swear by weight training and daily exercise. But you don't have to start everything at once. Maybe just start by logging what you are eating? Then you can look back in a week and see what probably is the biggest problem. If you aren't currently exercising, maybe start with a 15 minute walk.

- we are rooting for you!!! BTW - you are NOT a fat cow, and your son will be proud of you whatever size you are. And THANK YOU to your family for your son joining the Marines. Our country is in his debt.

Hi there. I am sorry you are feeling so down right now. But you've got plenty of reason to be hopeful, because weightloss is one of the few things in life we really do have control over. You CAN indeed lose weight if you really, REALLY set your mind to it.

You asked which diet works best, well most of them do work IF you STICK with them. So the key is finding something that you can stick with forever and ever. That's a looong time. So in order to lose weight and then maintain it, you really need to make this a lifetime commitment. To a better way of eating and a healthier existience. It took me years and years to figure that one out. I would check out the various forums here at 3FC, take a look around and see what piques your interest.

I for one count calories. For ME, that's what makes the most sense. It helps me to sit limits and keeps me accountable to the most important person n this equation - me. This way I get to choose the foods that I like best, choosing to eat mostly low fat proteins and tons and tons of vegetables and some fruit. Breakfast is almost always high fiber cereal and skim milk. Part of my plan is to exercise daily, but I did start out slowly with that and added more activity to my day as I progressed.

There is no one correct across the board way to lose weight. We all need to find what works for ourselves - and just as importantly - what doesn't.

Regardless of what you weigh come September, I am sure your son will be so very proud of you - just as I am sure you are always proud of him no matter what size he would be.

Good luck to you. Please always remember that you CAN do this. 3FC is a great place for advice, support and encouragement. So pop in frequently so that we can help you in whatever capacity you need. I greatly look forward to hearing about your progress.

I agree with the others! First track what you're eating now. Think of making small changes to start with, like Chick in the Hat suggested.

Don't be discouraged--think of this as a lifestyle change, not as a "diet" that will end the day you stop.

If you don't like figuring things out on your own, then try a structured program like LAWL or WW or some other plan--even if you did them before, you could have better results this time because you're motivated!

Good luck!
Jay

Counting calories with a little bit of volumetrics thrown in is what worked for me. Because my calories are restricted, I naturally gravitate towards a diet that includes a lot of whole foods, fresh fruit and veggies, lean meats, and that is low fat. But all of that is effortless; the main thing that I focus on is the number of calories I'm eating and making sure that I'll be satisfied--not hungry--with the foods I'm eating (that's where the volumetrics comes into play).

I agree with the others about thinking of this as a lifetime commitment. Don't look for another diet, look for a way of eating that you can manage for the rest of your life. You want a program where you like what you are eating and you feel satisfied, not deprived.

Also, as others have said, you don't have to change everything overnight. I started with exercising. I signed up with a personal trainer and all I did were those sessions. I didn't do any exercise on my own and I didn't change what I ate. Then after a few weeks, I started trying to eat a little healthier. Then I add some cardio on my own. Then I started full out tracking everything I ate and limiting my calories. But it was a natural progression, not an overnight change.

Robin is completely right--you do have control over your weight and you can make this change in your life! Check out Robin's Before and After Pics and some of the other stories in the Goal Forum; they are very inspirational!

You can do this!! It's more a matter of finding what works for you -- like suggested, there are tons of different approaches out there, the "by the book" diets and the individual plans people have developed for themselves. Little changes are the best way to start -- you can't expect to do it all overnight. You can and will do this. It's a matter of finding an approach you are comfortable with. I'm sure you are stressing about your son -- so trying to change all your bad habits at once would probably drive you crazy!!

Good luck, come back here often, I know it helps me a lot.

And, thank your son for us too!! My sister was a marine and spent her "vacation" at Paris Island too!! I really appreciate his commitment to our country. Good luck to you both.

Thank you all so much for all your support. I am going to go and review all the Life Style Changes (diet) and see which one workes for me. I really haven't been myself with my son gone and last night when I was sitting on the couch thinking of something else I could eat. I got up and started doing laundry instead took my mind right off of the food. I have to do this not only for myself but for my children and husband who I want to grow old with and be able to see grandchildren. Thank you for all your support and I will check back often.

Blessings,
Karen

I am right here with you. Counting calories has been a start for me. I was totally amazed at how my food breaks down. I use the fitday.com tracker. I found that even though I was within my calorie range on my first few days, I was eating way too much fat and sodium. Good luck to you. Fitday.com might help you, it did me.

Tammy

, angelsofjoy03 !!


I'm with the rest... calorie counting! Like you, I have tried a couple commercialized diets, and I either slipped up or gained the weight back. You simply need to burn more calories than you're taking in, either by a combination of healthy eating and increased exercise, or by limiting your food intake and creating a caloric deficit. If you haven't already gone there, I suggest setting up an account with fitday.com - it's helped me a lot with tracking my calories and exercise and how much I'm burning.

I was on diet after diet myself. I've tried meal replacements, weight loss supplements, exercise, starvation dieting (consisting of eating lettuce in large quantities LOL). None of them worked. Oh, they worked...short-term. It took the realization that EVERY diet was going to fail unless I could stick with it for life. And seriously, who wants to diet for life? Could I go to my exercise class every day? Nope. Could I eat lettuce for life? Nope. How about taking pills or drinking shakes...nope and nope.

But what I COULD do for life was to stop eating burgers and fries and pizza and Chinese and Mexican on a daily basis. I COULD do SOME form of exercise at least a few days a week, if not more. I could stop being a couch potato and do something instead of sit. I started marching in front of the TV, going for walks, hoola hooping, jump roping, bike riding, running, you name it. It didn't have to be grueling exercise. I could do something FUN. So I wasn't seeing it as exercise so much and kept it interesting and entertaining. There's a huge world out there I was missing. Instead of begging off shopping with a friend because I didn't want to be on my feet, I went, and I started parking at the back of the lot. That long walk became easier and easier, and now I do it from habit without even thinking.

As for my eating, I just got rid of the junk in the house. Started making better choices. I HAVE counted calories, but not at first, not always. I just made changes. I switched from soda to carbonated flavored waters, then from those to the non-carbonated ones, then to plain water. I switched from salt to sea salt, from white flour to whole wheat breads and pasta, from hamburger to chicken, turkey and fish. I started eating more vegetables but not making them my whole meal this time around. I kept the house stocked with fruits. To this day, I still like chocolate, but I don't have to have it all the time. I might have some once or twice a month. I reach for an apple instead. I've come to LOVE fruit, as much as I loved my Ruffles, Twix, M&Ms, etc. And I will drink a diet soda from time-to-time now, but I opt for ice cold water most of the time.

I think if you just start making changes, like the soda to water change, one or two at a time, stick with them a couple of weeks then add another, you'll find its easier to accept those changes into your life, and find the weight dropping. But most importantly, finding it STAYING down. Because you will have ultimately learned to live a different way, to eat a different way. It doesn't mean I don't still get a burger and fries, or have that pizza. But frankly, I'd say I had pizza at least once a week before. Now I get it maybe every few months. Its a treat for me now and not my lifestyle any longer.