HELP!!! I wanna lose weight!

[RedefinedDiva]

Exercise DVD?
Turbo Jam Cardio Party

Fitness magazine?
Fitness Magazine

Healthy treat (dessert-wise)?
Yogurt with fruit

Healthy snack?
Fat-free Jell-O

Healthy meal (at home)?
Baked salmon with steamed broccoli

Healthy meal (dining out)?
*Sorry that I can't answer this because I have NEVER made an attempt to eat healthy when I eat out!!* (One of my goals for '07)

Weight-loss website?
3 Fat Chicks

"Trick" to stay on plan?
Blogging, taking progress pictures, keeping a log of compliments

*Added* (Non-DVD) Cardio Exercise(s)?
Walking on treadmill and Couch-to-5K

*Added* Favorite Weight Loss Progress Album?
BeanRuby

[James]

Hello.

I started a weight loss thread in chit chat and will be adding to it anyone is itnerested.

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...ht=weight+loss



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[Ideal08]

Originally Posted by treblk

You better work it out Ideal! I'ma be like you in a few months, as long as I stay focused!
*sidebar* Happy New Year..missed the CW this year

I'm tryin', girl, I'm tryin'. You can do it!!!! C&W is no more. Maybe one day we'll have #5, but I doubt it. 2/3 of MoKenSteph have left the District, and our other hosts (Marcus & Nikki) just don't have the space. Trust, we all missed it A LOT, too.

I just wanted to drop in to see how everyone is doing. I haven't been doing what I need to do, so I've only lost about 5lbs in the past 5 months or so (I'm at 176.5). I have been consistently losing inches, though (and I don't completely understand how). Haven't been eating right or exercising like I should. I got up today and did some stability ball exercises and danced for about 30 minutes. Walked last week, but that's really all.

But I'm back on the bandwagon. I'm joining Dr. Ian's 50 million pound challenge. I have about 25 more pounds to go. I'm going to buy a bikini to take before pics in (I won't use it for anything else; I think wearing one outside is like wearing your underwear outside). I'm going to start going back to Pilates and once it warms up (for REAL this time), I'll be committed to walking again. And I'm going to look into belly dancing classes again; I don't feel like my core is as strong and flexible as it was when I was taking belly dancing. So I have a plan, I just have to stick to it and be as disciplined as I was when I first started this thing. I've taken some pics and will create a Fotki for my weight-loss journey soon.

BabyBlue, where you at? I know you have some motivational loss to post. Let's hear it!!!

And let me hear from everybody: what are you most proud of in your weight-loss journey? Me? I'm happy that even though I haven't been doing what I'm supposed to, I haven't gained back ANY weight. This lets me know that I can maintain my goal weight once I reach it. Your turn!

[James]

Ideal08,

You may want to try incorporating a minimum activity level. That way you can raise it from time to time to encourage weight loss.

And an Upper Limit Calorie level also.

[RedefinedDiva]

Well, I fell off the bandwagon last week, but I am hoping back on tomorrow. Ideal, I commented on your blog a few weeks ago to encourage you to hop back on the wagon. Now, I need someone to kick ME in the pants!

Anyway, I will be starting Phase I of Dr. Ian's Fat Smash Diet as a slight jump start. I have started blogging again, try to be faithful to SparkPeople, and will be exercising again starting tomorrow. I'm about to get back on track.

I am proud that I have discovered what needs to be done and am willing to go the distance to do it. While I still have faults and struggles, I will not quit. I'm going to make it!

[Ideal08]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

Well, I fell off the bandwagon last week, but I am hoping back on tomorrow. Ideal, I commented on your blog a few weeks ago to encourage you to hop back on the wagon. Now, I need someone to kick ME in the pants!

Anyway, I will be starting Phase I of Dr. Ian's Fat Smash Diet as a slight jump start. I have started blogging again, try to be faithful to SparkPeople, and will be exercising again starting tomorrow. I'm about to get back on track.

I am proud that I have discovered what needs to be done and am willing to go the distance to do it. While I still have faults and struggles, I will not quit. I'm going to make it!

I responded to your comment, but I was SO late seeing it, lol. It was, in fact, that comment that kicked me into gear. I wish I could start Phase I with you, but I just don't see it happening right now. Too much goin' on and not enough time to plan and THAT takes planning (as we both know, lol).

Re: your last paragraph - I FEEL THAT!!! I think I'm going to print that out and put it on the 'fridge or the bathroom mirror. I'll put your name on it, lol. Now, all I'm sayin' is this: if I'm motivatin' myself with YOUR words, you BETTA be handlin' yo' business!!! That should be motivation enough for you!!!

[RedefinedDiva]

Originally Posted by Ideal08

I responded to your comment, but I was SO late seeing it, lol. It was, in fact, that comment that kicked me into gear. I wish I could start Phase I with you, but I just don't see it happening right now. Too much goin' on and not enough time to plan and THAT takes planning (as we both know, lol).

Re: your last paragraph - I FEEL THAT!!! I think I'm going to print that out and put it on the 'fridge or the bathroom mirror. I'll put your name on it, lol. Now, all I'm sayin' is this: if I'm motivatin' myself with YOUR words, you BETTA be handlin' yo' business!!! That should be motivation enough for you!!!

LOL!! It DEFINITELY is motivating!! I have been planning all week and weekend to start Phase I. In fact, I am on my way to the market right now to pick up some things. I have discovered Cream of Wheat/farina, so I'll be alternating between that and grits for breakfast. I'll pick up some fruit or yogurt for my mid-morning snack. Lunch will consist of salad or whatever leftovers that I have from dinner. Mid-afternoon snacks will consist of fruit or some broccoli florets/cucumbers in Italian dressing.

For dinner, I've found some really good tofu recipes. I will also make a pot of chili and possibly some corn chowder. I found a really good recipe that didn't require any forbidden foods (i.e. potatoes). It SOOOO hard to find really good soup or chowder recipes that don't require potatoes. I'm sure that I could mosify and just leave them out, but I'm always afraid that it will take away from the flavor.

So, I think that I am "well armed" (foodwise) to make it through the phase! I'll have to blog my way through!! The good thing is that I have been off sodas, etc. for the entire Lenten season, so I don't have to worry about those pesky caffeine withdrawals. It's just gonna be an adjustment giving up the meat. That's why I tried to ensure that I found tofu recipes. I need some sort of "meaty" substance to eat. It will be a good experience because I have been entertaining the thought of becoming a vegetarian. I'll see how that works out!!

[Ideal08]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

LOL!! It DEFINITELY is motivating!! I have been planning all week and weekend to start Phase I. In fact, I am on my way to the market right now to pick up some things. I have discovered Cream of Wheat/farina, so I'll be alternating between that and grits for breakfast. I'll pick up some fruit or yogurt for my mid-morning snack. Lunch will consist of salad or whatever leftovers that I have from dinner. Mid-afternoon snacks will consist of fruit or some broccoli florets/cucumbers in Italian dressing.

For dinner, I've found some really good tofu recipes. I will also make a pot of chili and possibly some corn chowder. I found a really good recipe that didn't require any forbidden foods (i.e. potatoes). It SOOOO hard to find really good soup or chowder recipes that don't require potatoes. I'm sure that I could mosify and just leave them out, but I'm always afraid that it will take away from the flavor.

So, I think that I am "well armed" (foodwise) to make it through the phase! I'll have to blog my way through!! The good thing is that I have been off sodas, etc. for the entire Lenten season, so I don't have to worry about those pesky caffeine withdrawals. It's just gonna be an adjustment giving up the meat. That's why I tried to ensure that I found tofu recipes. I need some sort of "meaty" substance to eat. It will be a good experience because I have been entertaining the thought of becoming a vegetarian. I'll see how that works out!!

Soror, you sound like you have it together!!! I'm impressed!!! Why am I tryna be like you?! LOL! Maybe after I move I'll give it a try. I could use a detox, for real. I've also entertained the thought of being a faux vegetarian (I'd still eat fish), and I blogged about it. I even went to the library to research it (and found a HILARIOUS book called The perfectly contented meat-eater's guide to vegetarianism : a book for those who really don't want to be hassled about their diet, by Mark Warren Reinhardt), but I don't know if I'll ever be able to let go of the bird. I looked at Quorn products and I'm STRAIGHT on that; it seems to have shady origins, lol. So while I could replace ground turkey with soy products, I don't have a replacement for THE bird. Then I had to be completely honest with myself and imagine a life without fried chicken. It's my most favorite treat, especially when I'm in DC (oh how I miss the cuhrry-outs). And then no more corned beef sandwiches??? Girl, it's such a conundrum for me, it really its, lol, cuz I keep getting books on vegetarianism and researching it on the internet. I'm in a battle with myself. I wouldn't even care if it weren't for the whole cloning issue.

Question: is poultry like meat in that if I don't eat it for a while and then I eat some I'll get sick?

[RedefinedDiva]

I would still eat fish also, so I would be a pseudo-vegetarian. LOL! And yes, I LOVES me some fried chicken! Popeyes is RIGHT around the corner. It's a wonder I don't eat it everyday!

Anyway, I doubt that you'd have chicken withdrawls. I know ALLLL about pork withdrawls. I felt like a crackhead, literally. Though I've never been on crack, I'm sure it's a comparable feeling. And the sickness that I felt was horrible.

I had a carbonated drink today because it's been a LONG 40 days. Now, my head is banging. It could also be the fact that I've been in front of the computer and TV all day. I'll test it out again tomorrow. If I feel bad again, I may have to slowly reintegrate the other drinks. The question is, do I want to? It's only empty calories. Not really worth it. But, I'm sure I'll want one every now and then!

[BabyBlue91]

Originally Posted by Ideal08

I just wanted to drop in to see how everyone is doing. ...

BabyBlue, where you at? I know you have some motivational loss to post. Let's hear it!!!

And let me hear from everybody: what are you most proud of in your weight-loss journey? Me? I'm happy that even though I haven't been doing what I'm supposed to, I haven't gained back ANY weight. This lets me know that I can maintain my goal weight once I reach it. Your turn!

Wow, it has been a long time -- in February I went shopping in regular stores for the first time in years! I bought items in NY&Co, Old Navy, and fell into my first pair of Gap jeans!

The losses are really slowing down since I don't have as much to lose. March was very tough -- I went down 0.8, then gained 0.2, then maintained, then at the end of the month lost three pounds.

Yesterday at a chapter meeting, some sorors were joking today that I was at a Spring '89 weight (I was made in 1991). I didn't have the heart to tell them that I haven't been at my current weight since 1986. I turned 13 that spring, so I didn't know any of them then. That made me very sad -- I often wonder how different my life might have been if I hadn't become so heavy so early in life.

Normally I would weigh in today with WW, but all centers were closed due to the holiday -- I may break my 1985 (seventh grade -- holy chit!) weight tomorrow. Will keep everyone posted.

I have 13.6 lbs to lose to reach a total of 150 pounds lost, and I am thinking about traveling to a new city. Ideas, please!

Ideal08, I will be emailing you pics from my birthday. Hope to hear from you soon!

I had my Curves measurements last taken on March 26 -- here's another Tale of the Tape (FYI, then refers to June 2003 when I joined).

BUST - Then: 64"; Now: 43"

WAIST - Then: 55.5"; Now: 39" (under 40 inches at last! Yippee!)

ABDOMEN - Then: 58.25"; Now: 40"

HIPS - Then: 51.25; Now: 41.5"

THIGHS - Then: 33.75"; Now: 23"

ARMS - Then: 18.5"; Now: 12.5"

BODY FAT - Then: 48.6%; Now: 33.6%

Total Inches Lost: 100.50
Total Pounds Lost: 124.75
Body Fat Pounds Lost: 88.42

[Ideal08]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I knew it!!! The tale of the tape is amazing!!! I wished today that I'd taken measurements of my abdomen. I guess I can start now. You are a true inspiration!!! I don't know where you haven't been, so I would say look for an attraction and choose the city based on that. Like if you wanna go to a spa, hit Sedona. Museums, shows, stuff like that. Then you can be entertained while visiting the new city.

Doesn't it feel great to shop where you want?! I still don't like shopping, but I like that I can go to any store and not have to search out a LB or AS.

I, too, have been thinking about how life may have been different had I not gained the weight. Especially socially. I've always been shy (no one believes this, but it's true), but I wonder if it was exacerbated by the weight gain. I can't help but wonder if my love life would've been different. And then I wonder if I'll ever be able to let 'it' go, 'it' being the fat girl that lives inside me. I think about being overweight when I walk between cars in the parking lot, when I squeeze in a parking spot and have to squeeze out of the car, when I sit on desks or tables, when I'm eating at a buffet, whenever I'm in a new place, etc. It's as though my brain hasn't caught up with my body. Part of it knows we've lost weight, but the part that's supposed to create the vision of me in my head hasn't gotten the message. I can't see the lighter version of me in my head. I also feel like I'm carrying around a secret that I used to be a big girl. I feel like wearing a sign that says, "I used to be 250lbs," or else I feel like a fraud. Am I the only person who is having these issues? No one EVER talks about the mental aspect behind weight-loss. I think I need to blog, cuz I'm about to be all off topic, lol. And I've blogged like twice today. Weight-loss is heavy on my mind.

BB91, I look forward to the pics!!!! You know you motivated me to have a photo shoot after I reach goal, right? And I mean my REAL goal, toned and all. Girl, I can't wait!!! It's a heck of a motivator.

Another motivator? I went thrifting and bought some dresses, size 12. That's the size I wear, right? The dresses zipped up just fine, no struggle, but they looked horrible. So I put them on and took pics to post in my album so I can work toward looking good in the dresses by summer (mid-July). One of the magazines (I think it's Fitness) has a chick who has to lose like 25lbs or so, and she has 3 profile pics in a one-piece swimsuit to compare her weight-loss each month. She has small losses, but they are so visible in the pics. So that's what I'ma do with the dresses. Next month, I'll put them on and see how they look and take pics, then the same thing in June. I took a pic in a swimsuit, but since it's too big (and I've NEVER worn it, what a waste), I don't know if it's a true representation of what I look like. Hence the reason I'm going to take some before pics in a bikini. And you know once I open that album, it will be locked! LOL!

[Ideal08]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

I would still eat fish also, so I would be a pseudo-vegetarian. LOL! And yes, I LOVES me some fried chicken! Popeyes is RIGHT around the corner. It's a wonder I don't eat it everyday!

Anyway, I doubt that you'd have chicken withdrawls. I know ALLLL about pork withdrawls. I felt like a crackhead, literally. Though I've never been on crack, I'm sure it's a comparable feeling. And the sickness that I felt was horrible.

I had a carbonated drink today because it's been a LONG 40 days. Now, my head is banging. It could also be the fact that I've been in front of the computer and TV all day. I'll test it out again tomorrow. If I feel bad again, I may have to slowly reintegrate the other drinks. The question is, do I want to? It's only empty calories. Not really worth it. But, I'm sure I'll want one every now and then!

I know all about the hype behind the dangers of diet pops, but if you MUST have a pop, have a diet one. And that way you don't have to worry about the empty calories. They don't taste all that bad to me. Try to make sure it's not one with aspartame in it. *shrug* I dunno. I don't drink a lot of pop, so I figure when I do, diet pop shouldn't be too harmful. But I haven't let go of the coffee. One day, maybe, one day, lol.

Ok, then if I won't get sick, then I may just cut back on poultry and still eat it every once in a while, like I do beef (once a month or so). We'll see, lol. I'ma look into that. Dr. Ian and Dr. Ornish may be on to something. I'll give it a try. I won't buy any more meat and will stretch out what I have. If I feel better with eating more veggies and less meat, I'll continue on with it. Ok, I guess it's back to the library, lol.

*wondering whether giving up chicken is comparable to celibacy...*

[RedefinedDiva]

I just got back from the market a few minutes ago and it's a funny thing that we were talking about chicken because the brand that makes the soy crumbles also makes chick 'n strips. It's soy but it's supposed to be a replacement in meals that require chicken. I was tempted to buy them, but I didn't. Now that I thik about it, I may go back tomorrow to get them. They may make a tasty addition to my salads. Now, if only there was a replacement for Popeye's....

Congrats on the goal BB91!! Like Ideal has stated, you are an inspiration!!

As for the sub-topic that has developed, I think I'll blog about that one also!

[delph998]

You all have inspired me to keep pushing. This voyage is the hardest voyage for me.

Ideal, you stay MIA for too long!

[camii]

Exercise DVD? Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds

Fitness magazine? Fitness Magazine (I love to read the success stories)

Healthy treat (dessert-wise)? Frozen Yogurt (the Publix Premium brand helps me to cope with my love for real ice cream)

Healthy snack? Yoplait Yogurt Fat Free Thick in Creamy (Key Lime Pie is theeeee best)w/ 1/4 c. Fiber One Bran Flakes)

Healthy meal (at home)? Brown rice w/ a tomato and cilantro sauce, stir fry chicken, and steamed broccoli

Healthy meal (dining out)? hmmmm, I am still experimenting

Weight-loss website? www.fitnessmagazine.com

"Trick" to stay on plan? Mental pictures of me at my goal weight in my dream outfit.