Feel free to post here if you are doing weight loss as a goal.
One of my goals is to lose 30 pounds in 2008.
I have enlisted an overweight brother and sister in this quest and we are all studying the book "You on a Diet" that I gave them for Christmas, along with a note that I wanted us to do this as a family since I want them to be around for a long time!
It's nice to have someone close by for accountability. My brother is already ahead of me on the reading so I better get busy and catch up! We may also go on the Weight Watchers diet again too. We are officially starting the day after New Years.
What are your plans and strategies???
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Lin
"Will Write For Chocolate"
My blog: Land of Lin
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Dec 29, 2007 - 12 25
Hm...well, my goal is to lose 5 stone (or 56 pounds) and lower my body weight to 170 pounds. This shouldn't be too hard, as I've lost 40 pounds over about 8 months before...
Last time, I turned vegetarian, and only a week or so later, had enough energy to go on 1, 2, and eventually 4-mile walks around the neighborhood every evening. I lost weight, gained muscle...and all that fun stuff. =(. Then Thanksgiving (Eat 'Til You Die Day) came, and fell off the veggie wagon. I promptly gained back most of my weight, felt far more lethargic than before, and stopped going for walks.
So, I know how to lose weight and exercise and all that good stuff, I just have to keep up the willpower needed to follow a balanced diet (I won't eliminate meat this time, but I'll definitely be eating less of it).
BTW, lindan: how is that book "You on a Diet"? I've heard good things.
50,011 / 50,000
Dec 29, 2007 - 12 41
Sounds like you have a plan that works for you RiftDoggy. I want to lose the weight (30 pounds) and keep it off. I actually need to lose more than that, but I thought I'd set something I thought I could achieve without killing myself in the process. The "You on a Diet" sounds almost like a modified vegetarian plan, with meat something like once or twice a week from what I've heard (I could be wrong- early days yet). I know I'm learning all kinds of trivia about the body human and how it functions. Maybe it will come in useful as I fight the Battle of the Bulge! The book is well-written and funny, so that makes it a keeper!
18,468 / 50,000
Dec 29, 2007 - 18 33
This is one of the things on my 2008 To Do List - to lose weight. I'm 5'1" and 193lbs. My ideal weight is around 115lbs so I have a long way to go but I'm determined to start New Years Day and give it a real shot for the year. Which includes doing some type of exercise daily and definitely eating right. No more of the sweets (Twizzlers and chocolate chip cookies are my weakness). I'm also thinking about eating less meat. I stopped eating pork late last year-early this year and after my 30 day Daniel's fast last March, I don't eat much beef. But I do eat a lot of chicken (mostly all baked).
Good luck to you two. I'll try to keep in touch.
50,011 / 50,000
Dec 29, 2007 - 19 07
Glad to hear from you, Writing Sister. I need to lose a lot more than 30 pounds but I settled on that as a do-able goal that would be within reach. I already go to Lung Rehab where we walk on a treadmill and ride an exercise bike twice a week. I need to do several more days of exercise though. I have a treadmill at home which is seeing more action as a clothes holder than as a piece of exercise equipment! Must remedy that come January. Also I want to start eating more fish. I already eat a fair amount of chicken. I do beef when I have a burgher out or ribs but that's not every week. I've been buying more organic when I can afford it. I feel better about that. I worry about all the processed kwap in our food and the genetically modified food as well. A pity it is unlabeled here in the USA.
50,240 / 50,000
Dec 29, 2007 - 19 31
Me too!
This summer, I lost 15 pounds, and I've maintained it ever since. But I could still stand to lose 10 pounds or so. That doesn't sound like much, but now that I'm down to the last 10 pounds, it's really hard--they just don't want to come off!
It'll be great to have support here. Best of luck to everyone else, too.
50,011 / 50,000
Dec 29, 2007 - 19 46
Skyra, congratulations on losing the weight and keeping it off. That is hard to do, so kudos!
Ah yes, those last pesky pounds. Could it be that you've plateaued and need to bump up your calorie intake a bit to jump-start your metabolism and get it moving in the right direction? There are diet books that detail how to do that. It's either that or step up the exercise, or maybe a little of both. Gee, I sound like some expert who slept at a Holiday Inn last night, don't I??? Need to get my butt out of the recliner and onto the treadmill!
9,453 / 50,000
Dec 29, 2007 - 22 46
I'm in for the Weight Watchers plan. I've actually been a member for a while but haven't been obeying the plan at all.
However, one of my goals is 50 pounds in '08. I really need to lose 80 to be at the healthy weight for my height (5'8") but 50 will put me at 180 which was my skinniest ever (and I reached that on Weight Watchers back in 2000 so I know it can work).
So, January 1 I'll be counting points again.
Yay for the dieters among us! :-D
50,011 / 50,000
Dec 29, 2007 - 23 08
Anna, which version of WW are you doing, old plan or new? I've never tried the new one but it sounded interesting not to have to be counting everything all the time. Boy when those points ran out, was I ever cranky!
Lin
50,130 / 50,000
Dec 29, 2007 - 23 09
My plan is to continue eating 1600 calories per day and add exercise now that my foot is healed. I am training also to take the brown belt test which has been delayed because of several years of non-martial arts-related injuries. I have lost 20 pounds and need to lose 70 more pounds. I lost 1/2 pound while traveling for Christmas. A miracle LOL.
Nancy
50,011 / 50,000
Dec 29, 2007 - 23 15
Gee Nancy, the Diet Angels were hovering over you while you were eating Christmas dinner! That martial arts training will be great mentally and physically. Congrats on losing the 20 and here's to losing the 70!
Lin
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Dec 30, 2007 - 03 41
Hey everyone!
I'm in the weight loss group, too. My goal is to finally get to the proper weight for my height and body build (5'6" and medium frame), so I put down that I want to lose all 90 pounds to get there. So come January 1, I'll be counting the calories and walking, walking, walking. I'm also going to try jumping rope.
Anyways, good luck to all, and I'll be checking on frequently!
Nonny
50,011 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 04 28
Nonny,
What a neat name! You have a plan- great! Are you doing your own diet, low-carb, Weight Watchers, or what? Maybe you can find a buddy doing the same method. Although we are all here for support and ideas.
Lin
50,240 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 12 08
Thanks, Lindan! I'm proud of myself. :-D
Could be! I've been 128 pounds for ages (I know that sounds low, but I'm only 5'2")--the scale just doesn't want to budge. Do you know how much extra exercise you have to do to bump past a plateau? I have a hard enough time getting in half an hour most days of the week.
Maybe I should just eat less--though that's hard to measure. Whenever I start counting calories, I get obsessive and exhaust myself and then quit. (Any tips on how to count calories without obsessing over it?) I just try to just get in a lot of veggies and fruit and not worry too much about it. But that makes it hard to know how many calories I'm eating and how much more I need to cut out.
Hmm...
Anyway, I'll be watching this thread for tips! It's nice to know there's a lot of support out there.
51,333 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 13 24
Thanks, Lindan! Good to hear from you!
My plan will entail two weeks of detoxing, which may sound a little rough, but that's what I know I have to do to get started. For me, detoxing means getting off all bread and refined sugar, and I'll have to do this for at least two weeks so my body can let go of the addiction. Sounds rough, huh? Yep, it is. But I know how my body works, and bread is one of my biggest enemies. When I eat a lot of bread, I seem to crave more sugar. Weird, I know, but that's how my body works.
Once the two first weeks are finally over, and I make the break from being controlled by bread and white sugar, then I'll start really counting the calories. I've worked the numbers backwards and forwards so I know I need to eat between 1,500 and 1,700 calories to lose weight. The diet will consist of well-rounded meals, usually in the proportions of 1/4 meat, 2/4 veggies, and 1/4 raw fruit (at least that's how the meals will cover a typical plate). My biggest problem is portion size, so I suppose for a while I will probably use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate, or I will figure out another way to restrict portion sizes. Got any suggestions? Because I know that will be one of the things I will fight with.
Oh, another thing that will have to go: high fructose corn sugar, which is in everything! If you read labels, it's amazing where you find that stuff. So that will limit my diet considerably.
Anyway, that's the basic breakdown. the first two weeks will be the hardest, I assure you. If I can make it through those two weeks, and if I can make myself pack my lunch every day before I leave the house, the diet part should be easy, right? lol!
it's the exercise part that I'm going to need someone to push me on. Starting a walking/jumprope program in wintertime is not always easy.
So I welcome nagging! and loads of encouragement! And I will provide same for anyone who wants it!
9,318 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 14 09
Well, I'm working on getting back to the weight I was in high school. Because of illness and new meds I've gained a lot of weight and left the 97 pounds I've always carried in the dust. I've switched to mostly organic and a lot of gluten free. I also eat a lot of raw stuff rather than cooked. I find when you start cooking things you start adding stuff you don't need. I'm not really strict about raw food like my friend is, but she's from California and a lot of people do this and they have places they can shop that are "raw fooder" friendly. Here in the small town I live in you're lucky to find organic let alone anything that is "weird". (That's what they call the raw food movement here -- weird.)
I look forward to keeping up with everyone through their posts.
0 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 17 07
,
Hi all
Something I've tried and found helpful is http://www.sparkpeople.com/.
It's free and helpful and you can keep track of what you eat, how much you work out and other goals as well.
I started it because I have arthritis in my feet and need to lose weight for that...
S
50,011 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 17 45
Thanks for the link, checking it out..
50,011 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 18 13
We are lucky here in Florida. One of the big grocery chains has started carrying organic produce (not from China) and they already had a decent organic boxed food section. They do their own version of organic milk but they call it "natural" milk as I guess it doesn't meet the organic standard exactly. At least it doesn't have the hormones in it.
A pity that your town views decent food as weird. I know that makes it hard to shop. Check with your local Dept. of Agriculture or go on their web site and look for organic food co-ops. We have one here too. More pricey than the store but fresher and local grown.
Good luck!
Lin
50,011 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 18 37
You're not kidding about the high fructose corn syrup, it's in everything from sodas to bread and it's terrible for us, almost as bad as most artificial sweeteners. I dread having to clear out my kitchen. I'll be left with a pepper shaker and a box of oatmeal!
Why don't you buy a couple of attractive 8 inch plates to eat off of? Make the food look as nice as possible is important psychologically, I'd say.
As far as exercise, I have to convert my treadmill from clothes hanger to working equipment once again. Then DO the exercise, frequently. Not sluff it off as I am well known for doing. I depend on you to help me with that!
Lin
50,011 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 18 44
Skyra, there's bound to be a formula out on the Net somewhere, telling how many calories to increase to get off a plateau. Maybe if you Google "plateau" "weight-loss" and "calories"??? If you find it please post it so others will have it too. Good luck.
9,453 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 19 57
Lin
I guess I'd be old plan. By new, you meant Core plan, right? That one's definitely not for me. I think it's probably wonderful for those who like a variety of the foods on the "free" list but I'm such a terribly picky eater.
I do better with the freedom to eat whatever if I just count. And, yes, running out of points sucks. I usually eat pretty low point throughout the day so I have an excess in the evening which is my munchy time. :-)
That said, I'm so excited about losing weight. I even think some of my other big fun scary goals will help. My debt-repayment plan will necessitate eating in much more often (and I eat better when I eat in). And my clean-up-the-pig-sty-apartment is necessitating a brutal clean-sweep of the kitchen.
And, yeah, this is gonna be a good year!
51,333 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 20 23
Lin,
Found this one link: http://www.mommysavers.com/boards/health-fitness-weight-loss/18409-frust...
Haven't read all the way through all the posts, but you may find some good points here.
I'll keep looking for stuff on getting beyond plateaus.
And I agree with you about the HFCS. Did you know that it's also in some soups? And salad dressings? And some breads? It's also in ketchup, and some peanut butter I think, and a whole lot of other things that I can't think of right now. So I'm right there with ya when it comes to cleaning out the fridge and the cabinets. There's going to be a whole lot of salad with no dressing for a while!
I will keep asking you about the treadmill, if you will keep asking me about the walking! Deal?
Nonny
50,011 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 20 52
Nonny,
Found the calculation of calories here: http://wilstar.com/lowcarb/resistance.htm
They are a low carb plan but that shouldn't make any difference in the weight-loss part of this, The other info about oils and fats is good too. Check it out. Maybe you need to do some tweaking.
OK, deal, on the Mutual Nag Society (in a nice way of course).
Lin
50,240 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 20 55
Well, there doesn't seem to be an exact formula. But I found a couple sites that suggest some ideas. Looks like doing anything unexpected will shake your body up and get you past the plateau. So just doing a different type of exercise--even for the same amount of time--can get you past it.
Here are the links...
http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2006/02/27/5_ways_to_break_a_weight_lo...
http://www.oprah.com/health/omag/health_omag_200308_plateau.jhtml (click "try these 7 ways" at the bottom of the page)
Hope these help someone!
Cheers, Skyra
50,240 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 21 03
Nonny--
Two weeks of "detoxing" sounds like a great idea. My biggest weakness isn't bread, it's chocolate, but my cravings for the stuff always ruin my diet. If you want a partner for support during those two weeks, I'd be willing to try to give up chocolate while you give up bread! I think it would help for both of us to know there's someone else trying to detox. We could send emails back and forth with our progress, or something. Let me know if you'd be interested!
I tried to give up chocolate once before, but I devoured everything else in sight instead. NOT good--I gained quite a bit of weight. So I'm nervous about trying this again. After 2 weeks, do you still crave bread, or do the cravings finally go away? It'd be such a relief to not be hooked on chocolate the way I am now, but it seems impossible. I'd really appreciate any info/advice on this.
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Dec 30, 2007 - 21 09
My goal is to drop 10 pounds, and keep them off.
I already do dance, and know I need to practice more in order to meet some of my other goals (placing in competitions), but my plan is to also cut back on the starbucks + sweets, and try and add in some more exercise - probably something with weights, since I already have the aerobic stuff in.
50,011 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 21 30
Skrya,
Put the calculation link in the post to Nonny. It was pretty specific which will be helpful for us. We are all likely to need it at some point. Some people have also mentioned, in other research I did, tracking their food intake at the site that was mentioned earlier because that site made it easy to calculate calories consumed.
Lin
P.S. Found the site, it was sparkpeople.com
50,240 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 21 56
Anyone know if rock-climbing (and by that I mean a climbing wall in a gym) is good for weight loss? I mean, does it count as aerobic exercise, or as muscle training? Both?
50,130 / 50,000
Dec 30, 2007 - 22 03
Thanks! I weighed again today and apparently I actually lost 2 pounds while traveling!
Nancy
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Dec 30, 2007 - 22 07
Nancy:
So now all you have to lose is 68 pounds! Yea!
Lin