ellemenope

I'm in. My younger brother was just diagnosed with diabetes. He and I are of similar body types. I hear footsteps...

BCEagle91

Idad has been losing eight to ten pounds a month for quite some time and he says that it has been easy. He started as a smoker and seriously overweight and has lost over eighty five pounds. He had to start somewhere too. Personally I'd want to know what he is doing if I were struggling to lose weight.

At the end of March, he was talking about live strong and low carb. I started using those and have dropped about twenty pounds in two months. I workout regularly which helps. The other thread is for people at any level whether you are just starting out with short walks or cutting back on calories or sharing helpful recipes. There is research thrown in for thOse so inclined and discussion about clothes, gyms, times, etc.

NYMomof2

I'm in -I've been trying to find the motivation to improve my diet and exercise regularly. I seem to be so busy, tired, and distracted that I am not making any headway. My diet actually isn't bad, but I have one really bad habit that I need to break:

I drink Coke. Not diet. 24-48 oz/day. I love it.

dylanr, I like Geneen Roth's writing a lot. I'll have to look for that book.

doingdishes

Fifteen years ago my husband dropped 17, yes 17, pounds by switching from Mountain Dew to Diet Mountain Dew. It was the only change he made, and it brought him from the overweight category into the normal weight category. I still have a hard time forgiving him.

NYMomof2

I think it's easier for men to lose weight, doingdishes. My husband has been able to drop weight very easily when he wanted to. But I am sure my Coke habit is the major part of my problem. Can't stand diet soda.

BCEagle91

I've dropped soda and fruit juice from my diet even though we have a large selection of soda, juice, and other drinks free in the office.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/ma...17Sugar-t.html

> Fifteen years ago my husband dropped 17, yes 17, pounds by switching from
> Mountain Dew to Diet Mountain Dew.

That works out to 360 cans.

whartongrad08

I started going to a nutricionist about ~4 months ago after my physician told me that I was over my ideal weight by ~40 lbs. I the past 4 months I am down ~36 lbs.

Pretty much what I've learned is that for the most part you don't really have to cut anything out of your diet...you just need to follow a few basic principles.

1. In order to prevent ghrelin (the chemical that tells your body that you are hungry and causes you to overeat) spikes you should eat approximately every 3-4 hours while you are awake.

2. All your meals and snacks should include a mix of very lean proteins, healthy fats, and non-starchy carbohydrates.

3. Since you are eating high satiety items you should be consuming ~1,500 calories per day. It doesn't sound like a lot but since the items you eat are high satiety and you eat every 3-4 hours you actually never really feel hungry.

4. Major meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) should consist of roughly ~ 6 oz of very lean protein, 1 serving of healthy fats, 2-3 servings of non-starchy vegetables, and 1 serving of non-starchy carbs (generally fruits...try to limit it to berries). Target 300-400 cal. Snacks should consist of 2-3 oz of very lean proteins and 1 serving of healthy fat or 1 serving of non-starchy carbs. Target 200-250 cal.

5. You should get at least 30 minutes (ideally 1 hr) of intensive exercise 5 times a week.

6. Limit caffeine intake to 8 oz per day as caffeine makes you have cravings.

7. Do not consume artificial sweeteners as they have the same impact on your brain chemistry as real sugar and can cause cravings and can actually cause insulin resistance which prevents weight loss.

8. Do not consume alcohol as it prevents weight loss.

9. You should consume 64 oz of water per day.

10. You should get at least 7-8 hrs of sleep...lack of sleep (in addition to stress) is also a major preventor of weight loss.

ilovedcollege

NYmomor2-
try Coke Zero. I am an avid Diet Coke drinker and I HATE Coke Zero because I think it tastes like REAL full strength Coke. Just a different sweetener I think...but give it a try!

I have lost 60 lbs on Weight Watchers---only to gain about 25 back. I am determined not to go all the way back!!
I hit the gym about 4 times a week but naughty food and I are still having an intimate relationship.
Time to get back to the "nothing tastes as good as 10 pounds lost!"

laketime

I'm in.

Furthermore I volunteer as the poster child and lowest common denominator for all to measure themselves against! I struggle to get to the gym and do my 35 lousy minutes on the treadmill and my 20 minute stretching routine so my back doesn't completely give up the ghost. Some of you have expressed a desire to shed 8-10#. Well that's me x 3! Okay 4.

I, like some others was somewhat out of my league with other threads. I aspired to attain their ranks, but in mean while have been homeless. EPTR thanks for giving the rest of us a place for comiseration, inspiration and motivation.

Summer is a complete bear for me. We live in a summer resort area, have chronic company and the the food and the wine are non stop for 9 weeks. Maybe this thread will keep me on the straight and narrow? Or the straighter and narrower?

snowball

I do think men have a bit of an easier time losing weight, and I also think those that have more to lose see progress faster. Those of us with 10-15 pounds to get rid of see a much slower trend.

My son gained about 60 pounds in college; talk about the freshman 15! When he finally decide to try to lose weight, he cut out his alcohol, diet drinks, decreased his calories, started exercising, and drank huge glasses of water all day long. He dropped the weight so fast he thought maybe he has cancer or something!! The problem he had was he also lost muscle mass as his exercise was only the elliptical. He has recently started adding weight training, but hasn't seen any improvement yet. He still drinks water all day long and has kept the 60lbs. off for over 1 1/2 years.

NYMomof2

That sounds like a good, sensible plan, whartongrad. Thank you for typing all the information in.

Artificial sweeteners make a minor condition I have worse, ilovedcollege. I've tried using diet soda as a crutch to get off real soda, but I can't tolerate it (besides hating the taste). Strangely enough, iced tea is the best substitute for me - strange because I cannot stand any sugar in iced tea.

laketime, make room on the lowest, least common denominator, rung of the ladder for me! We'll be LCD buddies.

I am glad we have a new thread. I find the other thread completely intimidating.

mominva

I have also switched to tea.
I use noncaffeinated mint teas. They are refreshing either hot or cold without sweetening.

worknprogress2

If anyone is interested in knowing about racewalking (don't laugh) I am ready to coach and cheer you on. If you can't run anymore because of bad knees, hips, feet, etc., and you are willing to have people giggle when you go by, middle school boys follow behind you, and dogs **** their heads as you pass - then it can be an efficient way to burn calories.

I have been racewalking for about 7 years, I have a close friend who started about 3 years ago and she would echo my feelings that it changes your body - in a good way.

I am ALWAYS trying for recruits!

NYMomof2

Is it possible to race-walk on a treadmill? How does it change your body? is it similar to Chi-walking?

worknprogress2

I have never been able to master racewalking on a treadmill. I know people who do it - but for some reason, I just can't.

How does it change your body? First of all, racewalking requires a conscious effort to maintain proper form and great posture. You are conscious of standing tall with your shoulders back. I see a LOT of women runners with their shoulders rounded all hunched over.

Because of how you place your foot when you land, there is a much greater workout for your butt. And because you are engaging your arms at all times, your shoulders get very toned. My friend ran for years - she wasn't fast, but she was faithful. Her hips and thighs are much firmer than when she was running.