<p>PS - I don’t drink soy milk straight either.</p>
<p>Hi, I’m joining this group…</p>
<p>“* don’t drink diet soda because it fools your body into thinking it has taken in real sugar and causes your body to store fat.”</p>
<p>BEWARE: Gained 10 pounds when changed from diet soda to Welch and Tropicana Juice. Delicious, but I almost have a heart attack when visited the scale. So, I will change to crystal light (20 calories)</p>
<p>“My main problem is that I love carbs., bread, pasta, potatoes, and rice.”</p>
<p>I LOVE BREAD- This is my sin: If there something as good as French or Italian bread (without the calories)? What is life without a hot and tasty piece of French bread? I need similar flavor or taste without the calories? Is there any other replacement (food) that can please my taste?</p>
<p>TREADMILL: Every time I see the treadmill I have panic attacks. Resolution: I plan to move it to my living room to see if I can confront my fear. Probably next weekend…umm, I promise!</p>
<p>I’m in …Great thread and I’m adapting some of your ideas. My cholesterol is high and want to lose 15 pounds: I will…</p>
<p>1-Eat Oatmeal with cinnamon with some hot pepper.</p>
<p>2-Walk at least 20 minutes everyday</p>
<p>3- I will buy yogurt, dried cranberries and almonds for snack.</p>
<p>4- I will drink water more often.</p>
<ol>
<li>This weekend I will try the treadmill…</li>
</ol>
<p>Was surprised to hear someone thought my breakfast had lots of sugar. I know the banana is high but my cereal has 0 grams. Hmm…need to add some protein I guess. I have to force myself on the fruit servings so I always try some type of fruit for breakfast…apple, orange, banana usually. I will try some nuts in between lunch and breakfast. If I don’t have something in my stomach I have to take zantac regularly. I hate getting old!</p>
<p>Thanks for the link abasket!</p>
<p>Today I did NOT have a strawberry shortcake.</p>
<p>Odessagirl ordered one at Roy Rogers. And I sat across from her and didn’t eat a bite. Not that she even offered me a bite…</p>
<p>So that was good.</p>
<p>I think I used to be a fruit bat in my previous life because I have yet to meet a fruit I did not like 
but some people are not natural-born fruit eaters. NM, try to add some “zing” to your fruit so you do not have to force yourself to eat it. Cut your banana or apple into pieces and add some cut up strawberries and/or sprinkle some blueberries on it - it looks very pleasing to the eye and tastes delicious. I serve such fruit medleys in ice cream dishes every morning, and DH likes the presentation and the taste! </p>
<p>Greenery - many Welch and Tropicana “juices” have added sugar! I buy organic 100% orange juice at Costco or local organic apple juice and dilute it with water 1:3. It tastes weird at first, but your sweets cravings will go away after a few days without sugar or its substitutes! The trick is to avoid artificial sweeteners while you are weaning your body off sweets!</p>
<p>Here is a breakfast idea that I love. Cook a package of reduced sugar instant oatmeal. In the microwave, thaw and warm a handful of frozen, mixed berries (I get mine at Trader Joe’s). Mix the warm berries into the oatmeal. It’s delicious and you don’t have to have fresh fruit on hand. If you’re a purist, you can use “real” oatmeal instead of instant. </p>
<p>Stay strong today, everybody!</p>
<p>hmom5, the reason I was wondering about the carbs is because I don’t have any waist. The difference between my chest, waist, and hip measurements is 5 inches each. I have gained and lost a lot of weight over the years (classic plus/minus 60 pound yoyo) and have pretty good journals over the decades. That relationship doesn’t seem to change much no matter what I weigh or how old I get (age 50 now). </p>
<p>I don’t have too much I have to lose right now to get back to the top of the range for my height, which puts me in a size 6 for hips and chest but I need some elastic if the outfit is fitted at the waist (skirt suits which I wear for work). The smaller the sizes, the fewer clothes come with that, so finding things that fit is a real problem. Rather than find elastic, I would really like to find a waist. Maybe I have to get down to size 2 and a waist will magically appear? (We all know sizes have increased by 6 in the past 15-20 years, so a size 2 is the old size 8 and not really that small.) But it is hard enough for me just to stay at goal. I’m not sure a lower weight is realistically sustainable. The discussion on carbs was making me think maybe my mix of carbs to other stuff was the problem. Right now I am working out for about an hour a day (30 minutes of which is at an aerobic heart rate level) and eating about 140 grams of carbs.</p>
<p>A banana has 22 grams of sugar! The bellyfatcure diet suggests only 15 per day. Gotta be careful with the fruit. 1/2 cup bluberries has only 3 grams. For us sugar bellies it is better. My next big move is to finish off my splenda & equal packets. Better yet, I need to just buy the Stevia as it is natural and the others cause even more belly bloating according to this diet (which says it’s not a diet but a life change.) Feel better (lighter) with the sugar to carb ratio recommended 15/6 after 2 days.</p>
<p>TheAnalyst, I’m short waisted and I adore the lower ride in slacks…lets me be a size smaller if the waist doesn’t have to be fitted.</p>
<p>Although many of use blame menepause for our weight gain, we’ve also got to remember the number that childbearing did to our bodies. I gained and lost 40 lbs with each child, but although the pounds were the same, they were in a different place. During pregnancy, my rib cage expanded…I weighed the same but there were dresses that I couldn’t zip anymore. My waist line was permanently larger, even though I was down to my pre-pregnancy weight.</p>
<p>When I started eating better (less carbs, less sugar - notice I did not say I eliminated these) the first physical change I noticed was my waist-stomach area. That side look into the mirror was scary (!) and seemed to respond to less of the above. Though I have been able to maintain my weight loss PRETTY well, when I eat more carbs/sugar (i.e., the last month) I notice the area under my bra and above my waistband to suffer. </p>
<p>Glad some of you have explored The Daily Plate link. Two days into it, I’m also giving the “Lose It!” app a BIG thumbs up!!!</p>
<p>The first few days of my new eating habits went great. Less refined carbs, no sugar and lots of vegetables with a small portion of protein. Sat night I came down with what I think is a flu. Headache, fever, congestion and exhaustion. I still feel terrible. Have spent the last two days at home and will do the same today. Last night was the first night with some appetite. Nothing was appealing. Settled on eggs with whole wheat toast. Being sick I naturally want to reach for comfort type of food. Stomach is somewhat unsettled in the am due to congestion. (YUCK_SORRY)
It also takes any incentive out of exercise when you are exhausted walking from the laundry room to your bedroom. I hate that this might derail me.
Have most of you also enlisted your spouse and kids in your goal of healthier eating and more exercise? I have not. I have a spouse who is fit and has no problem limiting himself. He might be the other extreme. He rarely will have a sandwich since he tries to limit bread products. He doesn’t eat sweets. We tease him about how strict he is. I know he would be supportive but I also know he would call me on cheating and I don’t think I want that. This is a guy who on a normal sat might start the day with 3 sets of singles tennis and move on to a couple hours of surfing (surfing at a break that is a 15 minute walk from the parking lot) or maybe a few hours of 2 on 2 beach volleyball all without having to even catch his breath. All this on a bowl of cereal or 1 piece of toast or once in a blue moon an egg or two. Lunch is often a handful of raw almonds, two pieces of fruit and a cliff bar. He can make you sick.</p>
<p>HELLO mom60! Want to go on a vacation with us? Your DH sounds like a perfect playdate for my spouse.</p>
<p>DH does not play tennis (although I am sure he would happily start) but he exercises everyday and in the summer he usually does two things - biking+running or swimming+running, etc. He also does some light weight lifting. And stretching. And going to out to breakfast with him is like hosting a bachelor’s party at a monastery. His order? Oatmeal w skim milk and dry english muffin. </p>
<p>Now, I do feel lucky that he takes good care of himself. He doesn’t make a big deal about it, he just works it into his life. On the other hand, I never want to draw attention to my fluctuating commitment to exercise or diet. His idea of helpful and mine are a little different. He had a defibrillator put in on a Friday and was back walking on Monday. Hasn’t missed a day since. It is hard to have a valid excuse when you are living with mr. Perfect! :)</p>
<p>I couldn’t get out there this morning. Just couldn’t face 10 degrees and a windchill much lower than that. I have the gear, but cold, dark 5:30…just couldn’t do it. Part of it is adjusting to being back at work and having to get up early after 2 weeks off.<br>
I hope I can get myself to the gym (along with the Resolution crowd) and suffer on the dreadmill. My running streak might be on life support… Trying to keep my hands out of the candy-coated pecans that are lying around the department (business gifts). Is there anything more stupid than candy-coating perfectly good pecans?</p>
<p>Another one with an H that fits that mold. He works out incessantly–runs, yoga, weights, pilates, & speed work weekly routines, but will also swim, play tennis, golf, hike, and basketball pretty frequently. He is a health nut foodwise, but does consume a lot of calories in the form of nuts and healthy carbs. I try to distance him from my diet as much as I can because he can get pretty competitive. It would kill him to think I might be eating healthier than he is on any given day.</p>
<p>MOWC, don’t worry, I covered the roads for you. I was out there in the bitter cold/wind at 5:00 a.m. In spite of all my unhealthy habits, I don’t mind running outdoors in this weather. Now the heat/humidity of summer…that’s a different story! I am also married to an exercise and healthy eating fanatic. He’s happiest when he’s on a 3 hour bike ride. Then he comes home and eats lots of healthy stuff. He’s also the guy with perfect blood work. Last week he went to the eye doctor for the first time in 5 years; his prescription was unchanged. Did I also mention that he can go years between dentist visits and still maintain a shiny and healthy mouth? </p>
<p>Me…not so much. I do exercise regularly, but I still fight the scale…a lot. I’m probably addicted to carbs and sugar, at least my glucose levels seem to be heading that way. I love the support this thread is providing for me. I really need to look and feel good for the big graduation party coming up in May.</p>
<p>Awesome goal Mansfield, mine too! That and winning the office biggest loser contest…</p>
<p>I do not struggle / balance whatever…, I just do what needs to be done and enjoy it. It is crucial that you do enjoy exercise activity of your own choice, participate in life of and enjoy your kids, enjoy your job and cannot imagine not working, enjoy food that you eat, not the rest of your family (or friends) and not because it is healthy and good for you, enjoy all that decided to participate in. I exercise for about 2 hours every day for the last 20+ years, eat tons of fruits and chocolate and a little bit everything else, weigh within limits of normal range for my height although it is not persfect weight, have been working full time for my whole life since 19 (even while going to school, having kids,…) and recently got interested in new activity and learning a lot about it by taking classes and spending a lot of hours with it. It is about freedom of choice more than anything else. Allow yourself freedom of choice and stick to what you love and do not listen to others.</p>
<p>Great MiamiDAP, what if what you really love is sitting on the couch with your puppy, in your pjs, watching movies and gnoshing on bon bons though? LoL And yes I have one of those husbands that takes millions of supplements, knows everyone at the gym, and hits the ground running every day! Ugh.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Have most of you also enlisted your spouse and kids in your goal of healthier eating and more exercise? I have not.
[quote]
</p>
<p>No, but for the opposite reason. H is an overweight SAHD with severe food issues. Last night he finished a HUGE plate of Chinese takeout leftovers…truly enough for 3 people if not 4. To him, finishing leftovers is a much more righteous goal than eating right. When he “cooks” it’s something frozen or processed - full of salt and fat - then he gets angry when I don’t eat it. Or when I eat only half a patty of the frozen cheese filled hamburgers that he buys.</p>
<p>And I agree about finding activites that you enjoy. I ADORE sitting in my sun filled living room reading a good book. How many calories does turning the pages of a book burn?</p>
<p>very behind on this thread but I’m enjoying the tips!
Except for the sardines and soy milk…eww.
Wild salmon for me…canned, fresh or frozen.
And I am now staying away from soy products other than a few drops of soy sauce here and there. I am low on thyroid and soy is not good in that case. Actually took a soy supplement a while back (before i knew) and it sent my whole system haywire…took three months to recover. So no soy milk.
I am missing the sun since it’s so darn cold and windy. And I need the sun. Oh well.<br>
WSJ had lots of cool info today in the Personal Journal section (marathoners were one topic). I know I need to do more. And it’s not just about losing weight. Chubby exercisers are likely to be healthier that skinny couch potatoes. I’ll have to keep telling myself that while I’m bored on the treadmill.</p>