NSBR: Weight loss

[jacinda]

OK, I'm needing a little help here. I want to lose some weight this year, and get fit and healthy again. My years in the military where I was active and could eat anything I wanted and still be skinny are obviously behind me . I have a few kilos of weight that I don't want anymore, but losing them is proving to be a real challenge. There are so many different diet options out there that I'm not quite sure where to start. I know eating smaller meals more often is a well promoted method.

If you all could tell me what works for you, I'd appreciate it. Paula, I saw on facebook you lost 10.2 lbs this week. How do you do it?

I'm also looking for a good food/exercise tracker/menu planner kind of thing (online or printable).

[Jennilyn]

Did you want to join our Skinny Jeans Challenge? Just PM me if you do and I'll send the link to the forum! Starts Jan.24th!

[glumirk]

Over the summer we rearranged our meals so that we didn't have carbs with our dinners or after dinner, and we both lost 5 lbs in a month, when we weren't even exercising. We learned that carbs aren't evil and we need them for energy, but how much energy are you going to burn in the evening? It was a great diet, but then I got pregnant and am carb crazy. It's a really easy diet during the summer too, when you can just grill lots of veggies to go with your meat. I also hear it's the kind of carbs you do, but ours was a one month trial and it worked for us.

[Paula]

Originally Posted by jacinda

Paula, I saw on facebook you lost 10.2 lbs this week. How do you do it?

To be honest, I've been using My Food Diary and have been counting calories. I was following Weight Watchers, but the new PointsPlus plan just isn't working for me. So, I signed up for My Food Diary and have been following a meal plan that my cousin devised for me based on the amount of calories that I need to intake according to my weight, height, activity level, etc.

In this plan, I eat six times (small meals) a day. Many dietitians will tell you that this is a good idea because it helps your body to realize that it isn't going to starve and it will start releasing the fat it's holding onto. By feeding it every 2.5-3 hours, you're keeping the metabolism going as well as telling your body that it will receive food and to let the fat go instead of storing it up.

However, I will say that I have cut out all meat except chicken and fish. Red meat has been doing a number on my bowels, so I decided I'd rather live without the red meat than have the bowel pain. I also do not drink anything but milk (two servings) and water (I drink a gallon of water a day).

I also work out two hours a day (30 minutes is the recommended minimum). Working at the local fitness center really helps with that! LOL Here's the routine that my trainer (boss/friend/supporter) has me on:

Treadmill: 30 minutes at 1 mph set at 1 incline
Bowflex: 1 hour doing several different routines - MWF is upper body and TThS is lower body
Yoga: 30 minutes - we have a lady that specializes in senior/heavy weight yoga

I know this may seem like a lot, but I have a goal to be 100 lbs smaller by the time my son graduates from high school on May 31. So far, I have lost a total of 68 lbs. which is taking into account the small gain I had during the holidays.

I hope this helps you out. You're welcome to PM me if you would like more info.

[MamaBee]

For hubby and I, it is cutting down on carbs (wheat and starchy veggies) and up the protein... that has helped me loose 15 pounds so far... and my hubby just said this morning that he lost another 2 inches this week and that is with a business trip and going off the diet. The protein helps build muscle, which will in turn help burn the fat. Eating too many carbs can make your insulin levels go nuts... and can also make you more hungry, thus eating more. Eating more protein has defiantly filled me up that I'm not snacking as I was.

[ColleenSwerb]

The problem is that it's the last 10 pounds or so that are the hardest to lose. I've gained and lost the same 5-7 pounds multiple times in the last 2 years. I'm back to being 150 and wanting to lose 10. 15 would be awesome, but I just don't think it's in the cards for me.

Things I've learned. My metabolism SUCKS. Because of that, I am one of those people who is going to have to workout 5-6 days a week. That's necessary for me both to lose weight, and to keep it off. Running alone won't keep it off for me either, I need to do some sort of weight training (I like Jillian Michael's various DVD's). I eat around 1300 calories a day, and try to eat 4-5 times a day. Water water water to drink (I'm AWFUL at it, but it definitely helps).

Really though, if you haven't been doing anything, just start doing SOMETHING. You need to figure out what works for you, because we're all different and our bodies will all react to the various changes/workouts differently.

[meems]

I like My Fitness Pal for tracking. They also have iPhone & Android apps.

[AmberK]

Im doing high protein/low carb. I had the lap band placed in August 2010 and its important for me to get AT LEAST 70 gms of protein per day. I also log my foods on My Fitness Pal and like it so far. I also like that it has an iPhone app.

I need to start doing some cardio but Im just getting back into the swing of things and am taking baby steps. Plus Ive been sick and just havent felt like working out.

[scrapperjade]

I'm not currently trying to lose weight (only because I'm pregnant), but when I am watching what I eat, I eat clean. Basically, I eat whole foods (usually cooking from scratch with fresh produce, eating lots of fruit, making sure I read labels & eat whole grains, etc). I do use canned stuff, but I really watch the ingredients list. If there is an ingredient I can't pronounce, I don't buy it.

I really like going to this website for stories, inspiration & recipes! I also have 3 of Tosca's books, and like a lot of the recipes in them!

[Angie4b1g]

I suck at dieting so I can't really help. I just run and run and run and if I gain a pound, I run more. LOL. I've noticed that at about 25 miles a week, I can eat whatever I want and not gain, so that's what I try to do.

[jacinda]

Originally Posted by Angie4b1g

I suck at dieting so I can't really help. I just run and run and run and if I gain a pound, I run more. LOL. I've noticed that at about 25 miles a week, I can eat whatever I want and not gain, so that's what I try to do.

See that's half my problem. I've been eating whatever I want, and not exercising. Running is really hard for me. My knees are not good, though I'm sure if I took it easy I could work my way into it.

[littlekiwi]

Originally Posted by jacinda

See that's half my problem. I've been eating whatever I want, and not exercising. Running is really hard for me. My knees are not good, though I'm sure if I took it easy I could work my way into it.

I'm the same except walking is hard as my knees and ankles are really bad plus I have water retention in my legs too.