HELP!!! I wanna lose weight!

[lillady85]

Thank you IvyBeauty, BrownSuga and Ideal. It gets very discouraging when you know you are trying very hard but you don't feel anything changing. I have cut out soda so that I am not so dependent on it anymore. I will add it back in eventually though. I have been trying to cut my portions so that I need less food to be full. I know it will take awhile but that's the part of the challenge that I will eventually grow to accept. I am going to continue to work out 5-6 days a week so that I at least have a break!

:-) I feel better now. Reading this thread is giving me motivation.

Originally Posted by lillady85

Thank you IvyBeauty, BrownSuga and Ideal. It gets very discouraging when you know you are trying very hard but you don't feel anything changing. I have cut out soda so that I am not so dependent on it anymore. I will add it back in eventually though. I have been trying to cut my portions so that I need less food to be full. I know it will take awhile but that's the part of the challenge that I will eventually grow to accept. I am going to continue to work out 5-6 days a week so that I at least have a break!

:-) I feel better now. Reading this thread is giving me motivation.

want to feel even BETTER? Check this out!

. Last year, Ilost 18 pounds in about 6 months. After my race in September, I said I'll take a break from working out for a week or two. That turned into 4 months. The gym did NOT see me until January 7, 2008. I finally got on the scale on my birthday on 1/6 and saw I gained 21 pounds. so after losing all that weight last year, I was 3 pounds heavier this year than I was last year. Talk about depressing.

I'm not too mad though since I basically gave up after my race. I am in training again for the NJ Long Branch Marathon and I will NOT make the same mistake twice!

[likeaTREE]

Originally Posted by lillady85

::sigh::

Does anyone have any good tips of things that they have done that really work?
I've cut out soda, I try not to eat out, I've been doing 30 mins of cardio if not more a day everyday (I'm on day 10) and some strength training. But I don't feel any better.

Dear lillady85,
I have been life changing for the last two months "not dieting" diets are usually only temporary....But one of my main successes is setting daily goals such: adding a glass of water into one of my meals, drinking a glass of juice when I REALLY want a soda, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and I have actually been doing a boot legged Weight Watchers. One of my use to be coworkers mother is a coordinator so she gave us all the info so I count the points but I don't per say LIVE by them. To the date I have shed 15 pounds. I wish you the best of luck and remember anything is possible through prayer

[Luckie1922]

You did not mention your water intake...I suggest 8-10 glasses a day, bottle water preferably not tap, more water if your activity increases.

Food I suggest eating 6-8 small meals a day, no grease, process foods that cost $1.00, fruits, vegetables, nuts(not honey roasted)

Visit
http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html

http://www.fastfoods.info/

http://www.menshealth.com/20worst/worstffchicken.html

If you drink Starbucks, I love Lattes but know that most Grande lattes are about 190 calories, try skinny latte (tall) instead

Rest: You need at least 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night

30minutes of cardio is good, but you may want to increase to 1 hour of Cardio 3-4, days a week, light strength or heavy depending on your body type/training-rotating days

Do you know your body type? Many people begin to exercise not knowing what their bodies are

Heavy top smaller bottom:
Do: stair climber, step aerobics, moderate to heavy weights for lower body, leg
presses/squats, and stationary bike with moderate to heavy tension, jogging, running

Avoid heavy weights to the upper body, elliptical machines,

Do: Walking uphill, stair climber, squats, kickboxing

Smaller top and larger bottom: jumping rope and stationary biking at a very high speed with low tension or resistance are ideal for your lower body

Avoid stair climber, step aerobics, moderate to heavy weights for lower body, leg
presses/squats, stationary bike with moderate to heavy tension, jogging, running

Stomach: Cardio, proper diet and Pilates

I hope this help

Originally Posted by exquizit

Hey everyone I need your help!!

I know we've talked about it here before but I wanna lose weight! Does anyone have any REAL, ACHEIVEABLE, ideas? Here's the catch though........ I want to go from a size 12 to a size 8 by this summer. I've tried alot of things but I've only been abole to drop a dress size. I got upset then gained it back! What's a sista to do?

[texas*princess]

pardon my crash ladies, but I have found that keeping a "food journal" has really helped me shed some lbs.

I didn't realize until I started keeping track of everything how random stuff I ate all "added up"... I didnt feel like I was really eating anything until I started writing everything down.

For each meal, including snacks, I track the amount I ate, calories, fat, protien, fiber, & carbs. For this particular phase of my diet, I am trying to keep my caloric intake at around 1300 calories per day. I also make sure I eat fruits & veggies each day. Instead of even baked chips with a sandwich I usually eat 8 of those baby carrots that you can buy at the supermarket.

I've also found drinking at least 8 8-oz glasses of water each day helps keep me hydrated. Sometimes I will add the single-serving of Crystal Light or Propel to my water to give it flavor. I STAY AWAY from drinks like Vitamin Water because there is at least 100 calories in a single serving. The powder mixes like Propel and Crystal Light have vitamins, and are only 5-15 calories each.

Desserts like Sugar Free Jell-O Pudding snacks only have 60 calories. Animal crackers are also a favorite because their calories are low compared to other snacks.

Last but not least, I stay away from food that has more than 30% of it's calories from fat.

It can be time-consuming to keep track of everything but it really has helped me.

Best of luck.

[lillady85]

Wow! Thank you everyone!

I do try and drink a lot more water than I used to. I went to the doctor about two weeks ago and she told me I am pretty dehydrated. She had a point, I used to barely drink a glass of water a day. However, I have been changing that. I now drink 3-4 (I'm trying to push that up) and have not bought any soda. Also, I have completely cut out 'fast food', so anything that I can buy that isn't a healthier sandwich from Subway or similar. I love, love, love, Panera but I will go overboard! The exercising part is rough for me though. As much as I love to run, I have terribly flat feet and will get shin splits, cramps, back pains, etc, if I even run for more than 10 minutes. I've tried insoles, wrapping my foot, everything. So I go for the stationary bike or the elliptical because they are the only cardio machines that I can do that won't hurt my feet so much. I'm only 5'0 but I have a D cup, so I look bigger than I really am so I'm not going near any machines for the upper body.

I'm going to start doing Pilates everyday in the morning from now on and keep on with the strength training machines for my legs.

Thank you for all the support! Really, I came home after being at the gym and this is making me smile so much!

[christiangirl]

Glad to see so much progress!!! I researched my situation on the internet and found out HUNDREDS of people gain weight when they start exercising (including some classmates I talked to). No one could explain it, but it was only temporary for everyone, so I just stuck it out. I just weighed myself this morning and I have dropped 4 of the 5 pounds (woot!). Oh, and I found a new muscle last night!! I never knew I had a muscle there, but lifting weights has been paying off because I was rubbing my arm and felt a newcomer. Also, I did find out that my %bf is absolutely atrocious, I'll have to do something about that.

Okay, somebody said something about body type...I have no clue. I'm heavy on top (D cup), bottom and middle. I have an okay figure, but it's pretty round all over--I call my body shape "cylindrical." I've never found exercise tips geared toward me.

Something that helped me, I bought a bunch of bottled water (12 bottles for $1.99--thanks Kmart!) and put it in my trunk. Both my job and my internship re 20-30 minutes from where I live, so I grab a bottle before I start driving and make sure it's empty before I get there. I also drink a glass of water before every meal and with a meal when I eat out (water's free, lol). I try to eat veggies with every meal (except breakfast) and I like to cook some healthy stuff, then put it in containers so I can just grab it and take it with me--tonight's oven-fried chicken night! I love how the chicken's baked but still crunchy; it makes my tummy happy.

[lillady85]

I lost three pounds!
I went to the doctor and she weighed me and I am down by 3. I fell off my wagon for a couple days because I was sick but I'm back on. I've added Pilates and I REALLY feel it burn.

And I'm drinking tons more water!

[likeaTREE]

Originally Posted by lillady85

I lost three pounds!
I went to the doctor and she weighed me and I am down by 3. I fell off my wagon for a couple days because I was sick but I'm back on. I've added Pilates and I REALLY feel it burn.

And I'm drinking tons more water!

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BabyBlue91]

Great morning!

I am pleased to announce that this morning I was down 5.6, which put me over the top for reaching my goal weight. I was a little nervous going into WI because I encountered drama ALL day yesterday. The next six weeks will be a challenge, I'm sure, but I think I'm up to it.

I would like to thank everyone on this board for their support these last few years and hope to eventually meet all of you at the goal line!

I am leaving shortly to donate platelets today but wanted to share the good news. Happy Sunday!

Total weight loss: 159 lbs on WW, 171 lbs overall

[lillady85]

I read your blog (and most of your website) BabyBlue and it really inspired me. It's really starting to hit me that I have to work on this as a way of life and not just, "I want to go back to weighing what I did at 19".

Congrats on your goal!!

[Ideal08]

Originally Posted by BabyBlue91

Great morning!

I am pleased to announce that this morning I was down 5.6, which put me over the top for reaching my goal weight.

Total weight loss: 159 lbs on WW, 171 lbs overall

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! The site looks WONDERFUL!!!!!

[delph998]

BabyBlue, I'm so proud of you. I swear you and Ideal keep me motivated every time I view this thread.

Well, I haven't worked out in two weeks, but I'm still losing weight. I've given up meat for a month (a fast that I'm doing with the church), and the results are crazy. The pounds are coming off and my clothes are getting looser and looser. I'm hitting the gym hard again next week.

Stay encouraged ladies! We can do it, but it takes tenacity and consistency.

D

[lovelyivy84]

A. It's about time to start getting fit for summer (well maybe past time).

B. Having been sick for a while, I haven't been to the gym for about 6 months, and I am now cleared by my doctor to get back into the gym and whip myself into shape.

C.I don't actually want to lose weight, just be healthy and fit- a goal that I think everybody on this thread shares (making it better than 90% of the internet- yay for no anorexics!).

D. Because this thread was always the BEST at helping motivate me, and I hope others.

How are folks doing?

[RedefinedDiva]

Well, I am on a quest to reinvent myself, so I am about to kick my weight loss efforts back into high gear. With the help of the treadmill, the outdoor track, DVDs, and Extreme Fat Smash, I am trying to do it big (or do it small! )

It's time to REALLY lose this weight baby!