After being thin (5'9", 135 lbs) all my life, I began gaining weight after developing thyroid disease. It's been a long hard battle back to being healthy. I'll never be that thin again (and don't want to be), but I'm not as heavy as I was when my thyroid disease was at its worst. I went on the Adtkin's Diet in Sept 99 and lost 65 pounds in 8 months and have kept it off. I'm in a size 10 dress now, down from a 16. The secret for me was to cut back on sugars (in fruit and soft drinks, pastries, cakes, cookies, etc) and other carbs (to include pasta, breads, rice, corn, and potatoes). I also increased veggies, and drink LOTS of water. I do allow myself a treat (McD's fries, ice cream, some hot, buttered corn bread muffins) now and then. I just don't go to the extreme and go hog wild, and I don't beat myself up about breaking my lifestyle change, either. The next day, I make up for it with better eating habits. In terms of exercise, I walk, walk, walk. I take the stairs instead of the elevators and park as far out in parking lots as possible. It's simple things like this that make a difference. Juggling two kids, two cats, a full-time job, and grad school, I've just recently gotten the energy to start combining weight lifting and aerobics to try to tone up and reduce body fat. Two suggestions about supplements: take multi-vitamins with B-complex and stay away from ANYTHING containing MaHuang and/or Guarana. Both of these additives artificially raise the heart rate, metabolism and other bodily functions, sometimes dangerously high. The potential damage done to your body isn't worth losing a little weight. What ever you do, make it a lifestyle change. Work to get healthy, not just to lose weight. My last admonition: no matter what size/shape you come in, be comfortable with yourself as you are.
Skee Wee, Sorors and peace SFs and others.
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