Hello Ladies!
Yes weight watchers is a wonderful plan. I lost close 20 pounds. I'm off the plan now because I could not afford it anymore but they teach you to make healthy LIFE STYLE CHANGES. This is very important. You have to control your portion size. And Ladies...when I coupled my life style changes with taking a step aerobics class 2-3 times a week, the weight FLEW OFF http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif People at my job and at church asked me what I was doing. It comes down to: Life style changes (drinking water, portion control)and exercise.

I recently had surgery and was on leave for 6 weeks and gained some weight. I just started going back to the gym (woo hoo http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif) and would love it if everyone posted their progress. It's good to have a support group!

Hello Ladies:

Hope you all don't mind me butting in.

The keys to safe weight loss have already been echoed on this thread.

Weight training is the key as well as cardio. Lean muscle burns more calories that fat does so the weight training is the absolute key (for me at least). Additionally cardio is a must as well. 30-45 minutes (for beginners), then try to increase to an hour. The reason I sat this is because it takes your body 15-20 minutes to even "realize" that you are exercising. The remainder of the time you are burning.

If you can afford it, get a heart rate monitor. This will indicate where you are within your training zone and how many calories you are burning...even when walking.

Finally diet. For me, I limit my carbs. I don't eliminate them, I limit them. The bulk of my carbs, I eat in the morning so I burn them throughout the day. ALso, I try to eliminate excessive potatoes, breads, rice, etc. from my diet. If I mus have them, I try to eat fortified types and whole grains, etc. WHite wonderbread...a no-no.

I've talked enough. I can go on forever on this topic.

Good luck.

Sorry for any typos..it's a laptop.

I think the name of the pill is Adipex. My best friend used it, and it works, but they are a little pricey. I, too, am trying to lose weight. I used to be an emotional eater, but not too much anymore. I changed a lot of my eating habits, but I still have a long way to go. Drinking water is the hardest thing for me. Well, outside of exercise, but I've started back with my Tae-Bo, and I hope I stay motivated enough to stick with it. The doctor that prescribed the Adipex for my friend is an obesity doctor. He also gave her a shot of Vitamin B12, and a diet. The diet is a little strict, but I tried it, and it works. It basically reduces your daily caloric intake. Nothing I would do forever, but it's nice to do once in a while, just as motivation. So, in trying to take the cheap way out (obesity doctors are a little pricey, too), I went to GNC and got some little diet fuel (not hardly like MetaboLife, that stuff has TOO MUCH caffiene in it!!), and some Vitamin B12 tablets. The B12 is to increase your metabolism. The diet fuel is more of an appetite suppressant, which is what Adipex is. So it's pretty easy to do these expensive diets for next to nothing!! But they are not lifestyle changes! It's just a start, I think. It helps to motivate you when you lose 10 Lbs in a week, to keep exercising and eating right to keep it off. I think I'll try weight watchers, since some of you guys have had such good things to say. And I agree, it is so much harder when you don't have a support group around you. Me and my best friend tried it, but she's two hours away, and it's just not the same. But I am definitely interested in having a little online support!!! Ok, this post has gotten a little out of hand, so I'll end now!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by Ideal08 (edited December 12, 2000).]

First of all let me thank you guys for letting me know I'm not alone in this! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

Anyway, I've heard so many bad things about GNC products. Ripped Fuel was something I tried and it was just like I was on speed! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif I lost weight really fast and of course it all came back! I'm a little frightened of any type of diet pills after that.

Thanks for the correct spelling. I could not understand my doctor's handwritting.

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You are the master of your own destiny!

Has anyone tried Meridia? If so, what results did you have?

Hey serenity! Email me so that we can start this!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif sweetsista7@yahoo.com

Exquizit,

I don't own a scale to weigh myself. If I did, I'd be obsessive-compulsive and looking at every .lbs I would want lose. I'd be in the gym or working out every hour on the hour...

I have held a size 6 for the past 6-7 years and now I'm a 30 something... It seems it's harder to lose weight as a woman gets older.

I agree with the others with weight loss: it mainly has to be a lifestyle change with a consistent exercise regimen. More than ever before, I would highly suggest making sure you are checked out by a physician before you try any massive changes for weight loss.
When I switched to a vegetarian diet, including no chicken or fish, my hair became really dry and started to fall out. It wasn't until I started taking a vegetarian multi vitamin when I started getting better. But being a veg eater gets way too expensive... I still eat dairy products, i.e. things that have milk/eggs in them such as coffee with cream or sweet potato pie, but I don't buy plain milk or eggs, nor order it when I eat out.

Which reminds me, watch that eating out!!! You can massively tack on pounds that way even if you order a salad!!! Take your breakfast/lunch/snack/dinner with you to work!!! And no money except to buy a liter of water... That way you will only be forced to eat what you bring.

Also, try not eating after dark because if you goto sleep after eating, you are not working off the calories which turns into fat while you sleep---AND no, don't do a chromium picolinate or other metabolic suppliment while you sleep thingy, that pumps up your blood pressure and you don't want hypertension, too!!!

If you are super-duper hungry after dark, drink all your foods (meaning no alcohol!!!).

And the way to tell you are increasing your metabolism safely, and this is rather disgusting but it works, is you are very regular--not diarrieha (sp.) or constipated, but regular with ease at least daily. Drinking 8 oz of water or more really helps this process...

Serenity, pleeeaaasssee! Girl I wish I was 132lbs! I am 5'2" and weigh 152lbs. with a big ole grandmama booty! Girl, my mother is 5'9" and wears a size 6(still has the figure) and was a model. I have soooo much pressure to lose this fat, it is depressing just to talk about this.

But on a postitive note, I lost 12lbs over a few months period. I lost track but I will start back(after finals)this Sunday and tighten up because before you know it, Spring will be here and besides, you don't have to wait until summer to think about your health.

WARNING: PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN TAKING PHENTERMIME, MERIDIAN, VIASOMETHING, ETC. Girl, not only will you gain your pounds back but you may also suffer from side effects years from now! If you do decide to go this route, PLEASE consult a doctor first, and don't just randomly purchase this items off the internet. Please, don't get upset, just trust me.

I WISH I weighed 152 pounds! I'm 5'2, 185 with a big old grandmama booty. Ezquizit, I'm glad you brought this thread back up to the top. I joined a gym to take an aerobics class. I have Tae-Bo tapes, but I've discovered that I cannot work out alone. It's more fun if you know other people are "suffering" with you. I've got to get rid of these pounds for my health's sake. I have a family history of diabetes, fortunately it hasn't caught up with me yet, but I'm not going to wait on it. (and you know I gotta be cuter for the summer!

How do I got in with the motivational group?? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by 12dn94dst (edited February 07, 2001).]

I mentioned this on the Sisterly Forum (o.k.a. Seeker) but there's a video tape that my mom has called "Body Flex". For those of us who don't have time to take a yoga class or anything like that, the video tape is 15 min and EASY. My mom went from a 10-12 to a 4-6 (women in my family are small, and she knew what weight she was supposed to be. Like Pop said, if you're naturally built a certian way, talk to God, and Thank Him/Her for it! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif). In the tape, the instructor informs you as to why the tape is basically only breathing and stretching (serious stretching). One example she gives is of ballet dancers. When I did ballet, I was always toned up, and I never did any other excercises (sp?). The exercise comes in the stretching of the muscle (the stress causes blood to flow to that spot in the body) that is inherent in ballet. Anyways, the tape talks all about that, and like I said, it works. Not only are you burning fat, but your building up your muscles also. Also, try to educate yourself about the foods you take in. I think if more people knew the reality of the harm we do to our bodies by what we put in it, we'd be better off. It doesn't matter if you eat "health food" frozen dinners if they have been cooked once (which removes the nutrients) frozen and recooked (no nutritional value left in the meal).
OH!!! One more thing, now this may sound odd, but CLEAN YOUR COLON!!! Besides the fact that it reduces our risk for colon cancer (a growing malady in our community), when food is trapped in there our metabolism is decreased. So just some tips...please keep us posted!!! You can do it!!!

WOW! I didn't know your were Seeker! I shout you out often! LOL http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif. I'm going to try a few of these suggestions because I want to be healther overall as well as being cuter for the summer. I gotta flex! LOL

This just goes to show you how small the world is!!! LOL!!! I saw one or two names on this board that were the same as on Sisterlyforum, but never assumed that they were the same person (sometimes, NOT assuming can be just as bad http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif). I had to change my name because someone already had Seeker (although there is only ONE original Seeker http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif). Talk to you soon!

Girl I am going to the gym today after about 3 weeks (no let me stop a month) of not going. I really haven't gained any weight. But I am starting to become untoned(quickly)Not to mention my boyfriend inspired by my weight loss...will NOT have a better body than me!! So call me, I am going to Foxy's on a free 2 week pass, they have free passes all over town.

Girl don't play! I'm at 147lbs. as of today, I am on a mission and I'm not taking any prisoners. I'm not going to lie, I cheat a little bit with(Metabolife). And it is ssssooooo hard to get into the habbit of drinking 64ounces of water a day. But it is happening, it's easier now to eat 2-3pieces of fruit a day than a month ago. But I have to do it for my health.

One good motivator for me was joining a martial arts class(I know this sounds stupid or extreme) but trust me, it is fun, you sweat a lot, and after a month you will think you can beat the world. Also, my stress level goes down alot and I feel sooo relieved. Hey, if you can, sign up for a class at leat twice a week. If you go to class for 50minutes/twice a week, that is more than what you've done before.

Go for it, what do you have to lose but weight. Good Luck. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif