Weight Loss

Ya'll I am trying to lose massive weight (i.e. like 100 lbs. to get where I need to be weight-wise for my height and bone structure). For those of you that have lost a little weight or massive weight, what did ya'll do? how did you stay motivated to exercise and eat the foods you're supposed to eat? How did you not cheat? how did you resist the temptation to eat when you got hungry, say, at 10 pm?

[PenguinTrax]

By making slow changes to diet and lifestyle over time, you are more likely to stay motivated. Start with small goals - lose 5 pounds by June and exercise 3-4 times a week, for example.

Make an appointment with a certified nutritionist or dietician - don't rely on fad diets like South Beach, etc. Go with good, solid science.

Get a list of low glycemic index foods - these help maintain a steady blood sugar and really fill you up w/o adding a host of calories. (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...=Google+Search)

Avoid processed foods, especially foods aimed at helping dieters (lo-fat, lo-carb processed snacks, etc.). The closer your foods are to nature, the better they are for you. Avoid white foods (white bread, white rice, white potatoes). Avoid vegetables that grown underground (potatoes, carrots, etc.). The only exception to that is sweet potato, which has a low glycemic index and offers a lot of fiber and vitamins.

Learn moderation. It's OK to have 1 cookie on occasion.

Drink more water - at least 8 glasses a day. I find I drink more water when I use a sports mug with a straw, rather than drinking straight from a glass.

Find activities that you enjoy and use those to round out your exercise regime. Walking, hiking, biking, tennis, yardwork all burn calories. You don't have to to it in a gym or on a piece of expensive equipment.

[FSUZeta]

i agree with barbara, set small reachable goals so that you stay motivated. as for physical activity, it is a must. if you don't have a favorite, this is your opportunity to try a lot of different things.
most gyms will let you have a session with a personal trainer for free and/or their exercise classes. if in your trial period you find one thing that you really enjoy, stick with that until you get bored. establish a set time to exercise and don't let yourself miss it. it is "your" time to devote to your self. simply walking at a brisk pace, parking at a distance at the mall and taking the stairs will make a difference. good luck. zlam, lisa

Thanks ya'll! I really HAVE to lose the weight. I am only 23 and my knees creak and crack and hurt, my ankles are swollen and I'm not pregant, my hips and ankles hurt and I have a cramp from h*ll where my leg meets my hip, and I can't fit into cute clothes so in turn I have to buy old, frumpy lady clothes.

I went today to a nurse practitioner that used to be severely overweight and said I am swollen and it has to do a lot with my sodium intake which makes sense (duh! why couldn't I have thought about that? ). She said she had the same problem I have. She's skinny now. Well, she's a normal weight.

[FSUZeta]

best wishes on your new lifestyle choices and be healthy!!

[aabby757]

I also try to tell myself that the hunger feeling you have sometimes is a GIFT. Meaning, when you have hunger pains, that means you are burning calories!

It is really bad eating late at night. That is one of the minor things I did that really made a difference. I don't eat past 6:00 pm. And no regular soda. That to me was a minor but major thing!


Remember, hunger is a gift when you are trying to lose weight.

[GMUBunny]

Everyone has offered such great advice so far, and I know you can do this!

Never cut out things you love -but shouldn't eat- cold turkey. If you totally deny yourself, say, chocolate you'll eventually end up cracking and binging on chocolate. It's okay to reward yourself with your favorite food or snack every once in a while. It won't kill you. And yes there is a huge calorie difference in regular and diet soda. I managed to lose a little weight by making small changes like drinking diet soda and taking the stairs or parking farther away from Wal-Mart than I normally would Of course, now I have Crohn's Disease and my whole diet got flipped upside-down. I can't diet like normal people

Drink lots of water!!! It will help with the water weight and whatnot. Avoid low-carb!!! It's horrible for your liver, among other things.

Good luck and know that you have a host of sisters behind you!

ZL,

Meghan

[pinkyphimu]

get a personal trainer....i have been on a mission to lose weight for a while now, but was never successful long term...ie, i would lose the weight and then gain it back. last fall, i started working with trainer two times per week for 30 mins and it has been the best thing ever. it is definately expensive, but well worth it. i have always hated to go to the gym, but working with a trainer has kept me on track and has helped me to enjoy being there!
if you have some extra time, get a job at a gym...like at the front desk. most places offer free membership to employees...and huge discounts for training. the gym i work at charges $635 for 10 hours of personal training. as an employee, i pay $270! and i only work one day per week!


oh, the other thing that has been helping me is to keep things in perspective. it took me 6 years to gain 40 lbs. and it is ok that i didn't lose it all in 6 months! once i figured that out, it has been easier for me to lose weight slowly. i have also lost significant amounts of weight in the past and gained it back. my goal this time is to never see these numbers on the scale again, so i am trying to do it differently!

[Dianne]

Wait, carrots aren't good to eat? I love carrots...

Anyhow, remember that low carb is just a fad. It all comes back to counting calories, and just like going low-fat, low-carb is just another way to reduce caloric intake. Also, take a look at Kraftfoods.com if you like to cook. They have a ton of low calorie, low fat recipes that are really good. I make them for dinner all the time. And keep us updated on how you're doing. Good luck!