HELP!!! I wanna lose weight!

[lovelyivy84]

5 meals/day is ideal, but really difficult to pull off without a lot of preparation. I bought a buttload of mini-protein bars and soy crisps that I bring to work. I also buy fruit from the local diner (since that's all we have in Newark *sigh*) for one meal.

I try to count on exercise as opposed to watching what I eat as a method of control though, because at the end of the day if I want a cookie or a cream soda (ok...more likely both) I'm going to have it. I just am, lol.

[Prissfit1908]

Soror LovelyIvy, I agree that it is much easier to control my workouts than my cravings! lol Plus, I find that I can rationalize my doughnut if I hit the gym for an hour...

I plan to really hit my upper body this week. I'm mentally preparing for pain while I drive. I hate that! Parallel parking becomes a contact sport when you work out your upper body.

[lovelyivy84]

Originally posted by Prissfit1908

I plan to really hit my upper body this week. I'm mentally preparing for pain while I drive. I hate that! Parallel parking becomes a contact sport when you work out your upper body.

What does your schedule look like? My focus is lower body right now because I totally let it go for a while. Of course it doesn't matter so much if I target legs and it lasts for a week, lol. I am working on consistency now. At LEAST for working out with weights. If I can hit the weights 3X a week and stick to it I will be happy with myself.

[Prissfit1908]

Originally posted by lovelyivy84
What does your schedule look like? My focus is lower body right now because I totally let it go for a while.

Do you mean my frequency or my actual routine? I'll try to answer what I think you're asking.

Instead of switching every day or every other day between upper and lower body like most people and like I would suggest my clients do, I personally prefer to exhaust my muscles by working out upper one week and lower the next. My routine is to do weight training on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. On those days, I do cardio (for 20-30 minutes) and weights. On Tuesday and Thursday, I do only cardio for 45-60. Sunday, I sit on my bum! I do crunches as soon as I wake up in the morning. I get out of bed, put my feet on the bed and do crunches until my abs fail. No counting. (I do push ups along with my abs when I am weight training my lower body.)

I am strong and I build muscle very quickly, especially on my lower body. To prevent bulking up, I use lower weights and higher reps. It takes patience for me because I like to FEEL it quickly, you know? But, I can focus on form and I get better results.

Hope this helps!

[toocute]

Bringing this up for inspiration this Holiday season with clients and co workers bringing in Yummy BAD stuff.

[DEvynSince84]

Greetings Everyone!

I recently lost 25 pounds on the Atkins diet. I'm sure you all have heard of eliminating carbs from your diet. Well it truly works. I lost my weight rather quickily because I exercised twice daily, took vitamins daily and drank plenty of water. I was basically tired of looking in the mirror and not being satisfied with what i saw. Although it may not be that serious for you, everyone's body is different and it may not take as much for someone else to lose weight then it took me, but most things are mutual if you want to achieve successful and healthy weight loss that stays gone! Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Take daily vitamin supplements, and like I have seen several times in this thread... make sure you keep your colon cleansed. love yah, ba-bye!

[lovelyivy84]

Originally posted by toocute
Bringing this up for inspiration this Holiday season with clients and co workers bringing in Yummy BAD stuff.

toocute girl, I will not even talk about what I ate on Friday here, lol.

You have to read my HC for that

But I looked in the mirror today and noticed that everything is definitely getting better- more definition in the abs, and the arms are downright cut- despite the holidays. I have been VERY good lately about getting my proetin and weights workouts in and that really makes all the difference.

DEvyn, what do your workouts look like? I applaud you for your Atkins success, and just want to make sure that everyone understands that you put a lot of hard physical work into looking as good as you do today, and it's not just about never eating bread. Also, how many carbs do you let yourself have per day now? Are you in maintenance?

Congratulations on your success!

[lovelyivy84]

Ephedra-based stimulants, when used properly, can be very effective, as you have found out. I just hope you are being careful with your dosage and making sure never to mix medications!!!!!

When using those stimulants you also have to be careful with your diet. You can't look at the pills as a quick fix or you'll gain the weight back as soon as you stop taking them- and they can only safely and effectively be taken for so long. I hope you are making lasting changes to your diet so that you can be sure to stay healthy and slim when you stop taking Xenadrine.

As for your chest, we can't pick where we lose weight first, but the more weight you lose the more likely your breasts will get smaller. Breasts are made of fat tissue after all. When I lost weight I went down a cup and strap size. Just keep losing and eventually it'll come from there too.

In the meantime get re-sized so you can be sure you HAVEN'T gotten any smaller, and buy good bras that give adequate support.

[ykimber]

I have just started this supplement called Starch Away. It prevents starches from turning into sugar. It is all natural. I know some people who have used it and they have lost a few pounds. Here is the webpage for the product http://www.starchaway.com/

[lovelyivy84]

lol, you're only obsessing a liiiiittle bit.

Unfortunately, nothing short of lipo can cause spot reduction. We just can't pick and choose where the fat comes off first. The only way to lose is to gradually lose bodyfat, and if you're lucky, eventually the fat will come off of those places too.

The only way to do it is to be consistent with your weight loss basically.

As to chocolate, I so hear you on that one! Sweets are my downfall. I'm not even going to go into how many sugar cookies I've eaten this week. *sigh*. Not to mention cake, candy, candy canes, and today I have to bake for my mother's class.

It's like some damn holiday plot, lol. My problem is that I can't have just a little bit of anything. If I start eating it, I'll eat it until I get sick of it (which can take anywhere between a day and three weeks).

But I am not going to beat myself up too badly about it. It's the holidays, and it's a time to do things that make you happy. I enjoy the food around me. In my family it's just another way of showing that you care about someone- you feed them! So I will let myself feel all good and appreciated during the season, and wok out a little bit extra (Christmas shopping ).

Happy Holidays!

[Sistermadly]

lovelyivy, thank you for posting that message. I'm sitting here feeling awful because the holiday blues put a dent in my resolve and I ate 10 sugar free reese's cups. But today is today, and there's always tomorrow.

[rho4life]

One thing I've found helpful during the holidays is getting up to walk for 30 mins to an hour b4 I go to holiday events. Especially on days I don't have to work, I'll go on treks through my neighborhood. When I'm somewhere w/ a dog, I always volunteer to walk the dog after dinner. By getting in some exercise, I don't feel as bad about haivng dessert.

Happy Holidays!

[Sugar_N_Spice]

Okay Gals...

I have goal: To lose about 5-7 lbs. and to tone-up. Over the past few months, I have gained at least 15 lbs. I know that's not a lot of weight, but I gained it almost instantly. I know it's due to the stress of being a student, as well as other factors and pitfalls that have occured throughout the course of 2003. However, I really need to do this before things get out of hand. I am tall (5'10"), and being tall and unfit is so not cute! But, I DO NOT want to be skinny--I just want to be able to eat without looking like I'm a couple of months pregnant I know you can't spot-reduce, but I would like to find a way to maximize weight loss in my problem areas (lose the pooch, lose a bit and tone my backside, and thighs) without losing too much weight in my okay areas (arms or ok as far as tone, legs are thin--I would like to get some muscle there, etc.)...In other words, I want to maitain my natural shape and not turn into a twig...

So, any tips for a sistah? (ahem, Lovelyivy )

I can give you the following info that may help in giving me some advice (beyond the obvious areas that I know need to work on):

Diet:
I eat pretty healthy most of the time. However, b/c I'm currently living at home, I'm not eating as healthy as I would like (I'm at school ALL DAY, and I leave so early in the a.m. that I rarely eat breakfast or pack a lunch, which often leads to eating fast food. So, I need tips here. Normally when I'm living on my own (which will be soon), I eat breakfast, pack a lunch, and eat much healthier. That's also due to the fact that I'm not the one who always purchases the food. I don't eat red meat or pork (at all). This also poses a problem though b/c I'm not always good with supplementing my lack or iron from meat with iron from other foods (I'm currently taking supplements though, bit I know it's not the same). Also, I drink and eat lots of low or non fat foods, soy foods, etc. However, I know I should be eating more fruit, and less sugars (not necessarilly sweets, but sugar in say, juice that's not all-natural) and salty food (my weakness). I don't know how to (or should I say,I 've never tried to) count calories or follow daily percentages for carbs/proteins/fats. I also suspect should drink more water, (I drink a couple of bottles a day, 20 FL OZ. How much (in FL OZ) are you supposed to drink anyway?). I could also get more veggies, I guess. I snack throughout the day (when I have time to eat). Sometimes (not all the time but fairly often) I may just forfeight the meal (usually lunch) and eat later. I also have a tendency to have late-night snacks, as I'm often up late.

Exercise:
Umm...Okay, this is obvious: I need to exercise. The problem is I don't have the time (or I don't know how/where to make the time to fit it in my daily routine). I go to a large school, so I get a semi-decent amount every day (minus weekends) walking across campus). But other than that, I don't lay a foot in the gym (even though I have access to one at school). Should I try to use the gym? Or try videos (any reccomendations)? I also don't what types of exercises I should do, as I've never really used a real gym before. My exercise in the past (like, high school) has involved sports--basketball, volleyball, dance, etc. but nothing more formal. So, I need direction here.

Time Contraints:
I go to school, do extra-curriculars, and work, in addition to the occasional familial repsonsibilities...my schedule is very tight. I can only work out a few days a week. I can make small changes though, like taking the stairs instead of the elvator more often (or all the time if it's reasonable).

[Sistermadly]

Read our lips: there's no way to spot reduce! Trust me, as someone who is carrying around about 10-15 lbs of extra skin, I wish it were true, but it just ain't!

Really, the best way to see a change is to lose weight all over. Doing a mixture of cardio and some sort of weight-bearing exercise at least 3 times a week for 30-40 minutes at a time is an excellent way to see benefits.

I was always told that you should drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. I drink about 80-96 ounces per day.

Good luck - I could use a little myself!

[lovelyivy84]

THis is going to be a long post, so bear with!

Originally posted by Sugar_N_Spice
Okay Gals...

Diet:
I eat pretty healthy most of the time. However, b/c I'm currently living at home, I'm not eating as healthy as I would like (I'm at school ALL DAY, and I leave so early in the a.m. that I rarely eat breakfast or pack a lunch, which often leads to eating fast food. So, I need tips here. Normally when I'm living on my own (which will be soon), I eat breakfast, pack a lunch, and eat much healthier. That's also due to the fact that I'm not the one who always purchases the food. I don't eat red meat or pork (at all). This also poses a problem though b/c I'm not always good with supplementing my lack or iron from meat with iron from other foods (I'm currently taking supplements though, bit I know it's not the same). Also, I drink and eat lots of low or non fat foods, soy foods, etc. However, I know I should be eating more fruit, and less sugars (not necessarilly sweets, but sugar in say, juice that's not all-natural) and salty food (my weakness). I don't know how to (or should I say,I 've never tried to) count calories or follow daily percentages for carbs/proteins/fats. I also suspect should drink more water, (I drink a couple of bottles a day, 20 FL OZ. How much (in FL OZ) are you supposed to drink anyway?). I could also get more veggies, I guess. I snack throughout the day (when I have time to eat). Sometimes (not all the time but fairly often) I may just forfeight the meal (usually lunch) and eat later. I also have a tendency to have late-night snacks, as I'm often up late.

All too often the diet is our downfall. 80% of changing the way your body looks can be about diet (IMO). Even with a great exercise program, you wont make the best progress if you dont supplement your work in the gym with the same amount of effort in the kitchen! If you want to lose weight and keep it off you have to make changes to the way you eat that will last. You need to find a way of eating that you can live with in your crazy life. I have been in your situation, so this is the best advice I can give!

Diet tips:
1. Preparation, ESPECIALLY in a situation like yours can be key! If you dont have time in the mornings to pack a lunch or mini-breakfast, do it before you go to bed. Make sure you have a lot of ready-to-eat foods around the house.

A good protein drink would probably be great for you, first thing in the morning it takes 5 seconds to mix up and it is a low-fat high protein breakfast that gets 20-40g out of the way, lol. If you start exercising regularly (if you can fit it into your schedule- you have a more than full plate so dont beat yourself up about it TOO much) this will be key!

2. I have been in the situation of living at home/not controlling the grocery list before, and it's rough. Talk to your Mom, or whoever does the grocery shopping, before they go to the store. Make a list of healthy foods that other people in the house will also eat that you would like her to pick up for you. Lean chicken breasts, microwavable veggies, fruit, baby carrots, those bags of salad are all foods that are easy to prepare and can be really tasty. If she can't/won't then you should go grocery shopping separately for your own grocery items. Make your list at the beginning of the week and pick up the items on a Sunday or whenever you have a moment.

3. Be CAREFUL with low fat/no fat items! A lot of them have added sugar or calories to make them taste the same, but let people feel better about "no fat". They are no better for you than the actual item.

And not all fat is bad! Saturated fat is bad and transfats (listed as partially hydrogenated oils) are bad, but other kinds of fat are NECESSARY for your body to run properly. Foods like salmon or peanut butter are fatty, but when you look at the nutritional content, the omega 3 and 6 fatty acids make this fish one of the best things you can eat (it is suggested that you eat fish two-three times a week to get an adequate supply or supplement with flax seed oil for your Essential Fatty Acids) and natural peanut butter is a great addition to your diet as well.

Look at the ingredient lists on your foods. If it says "high fructose corn syrup" as one of the first items then CHUCK IT! Items high in saturated and trans fat should get the boot too. Look for food items that are high in fiber, low in SUGAR and SATURATED FAT. Whole wheat and oats, vegetables and LEAN meats/fish should make up the bulk of your diet.

4. Fast food - a necessary evil! If you are living a busy life (like so many of us nowadays) then you end up eating it one way or another. Two things can minimize the damage you do here (can even make a meal at McDonald's healthy):

a. make good choices - you don't eat red meat, so a lot of the really terrible things are probably items you don't eat thankfully. But fast food can be useful to a dieter too. Two great items are chicken salads and grilled chicken sandwiches. Every fast food place has these one if not both of these items, and if you stick to them it's really not bad eating at all. You're never going to find grilled asparagus at Burger King, but you can make the best of what they offer, and fast food salads can be a good deal if you don't drown them in salad dressing and mayonnaise (pick ketchup and italian dressings instead, or have them plain)

b. portion control - if you HAVE to have fries, have a small. If you MUST have a soda (which should really be one of the first things you eliminate from your diet - permanently) have a kid size. If you have to have a burger, get a cheeseburger (no mayo, lol) from the dollar menu and skip the fries.

5. Replace the things you crave. You know what your food weaknesses are. If it's sweets, find things like sugar free syrups to make creme sodas, or sugar free chocolate. If it's salty things, find snacks that are salty but won't kill your diet- peanuts and cashews are good for this, the baked chips Lay's are coming out with aren't so tasty, but they'll do in a pinch. One item that I REALLY enjoy is Soy Crisps with cheese. Those are yuuuummy, taste like real chips and are actually fairly low in sodium (also high in fiber and protein). Do your research, look around and find things that are healthy and salty.

Exercise:
Umm...Okay, this is obvious: I need to exercise. The problem is I don't have the time (or I don't know how/where to make the time to fit it in my daily routine). I go to a large school, so I get a semi-decent amount every day (minus weekends) walking across campus). But other than that, I don't lay a foot in the gym (even though I have access to one at school). Should I try to use the gym? Or try videos (any reccomendations)? I also don't what types of exercises I should do, as I've never really used a real gym before. My exercise in the past (like, high school) has involved sports--basketball, volleyball, dance, etc. but nothing more formal. So, I need direction here.

Exercise:

1. Increase your overall activity level. Your idea about using the elevator less and walking more is key. It seems like you already know most of what you need to do, you just have to do it!

2. Work out. You know you need to work out already. You have access to a gym, you know you should take advantage of it! Does your gym offer any classes? Some gyms offer beginner's classes in weight training that can be really good for folks who've never lifted using machines before. If they have personal trainers, then you might think about having a session with one where they show you how to use the weights. Ask for that specifically! Dont let them sell you anything else! You want someone to show you proper form with the weights first and foremost. If you like it and it seems like a good investment, then take it from there.

The core of your workouts should be whatever exercise you like to do and will do consistently! Any is really better than none on this one BUT in terms of efficiency, weights are the the absolute hands-down best way for anyone to change the way their body looks. If you want to make permanent changes, weights are the way to do it!

If you're a bit intimidated, then workout videos are a good place to START. Look into videos by The Firm. They have a new Basic Body Building set that I've heard good things about. But if you go the video route, you have to buy a good set of weights. For a beginner using the Firm, I would suggest 3,5 and 10 lb. weights. Watcht he video alll the way through before you do it, so you have a good idea what's involved, and the first time you actually use the tape, take breaks, drink water, and don't use your weights! Work on your form first! If you can exercise in front of a mirror at home, this is a great way to get an idea of how you are doing form-wise. As you progress you will need to buy more weights to supplement- these weights just won't be heavy enough for you. For The Firm you will also need a stool for step-ups and MAYBE a dowel (you can use a broom for that though). Dont buy these from The Firm because they'll charge you an arm and a leg. The weights and step can all be purchased at K-Mart and Wal-Mart for less.

I hope this helps! I'd write more but I'm going to bed now!