<p>I find even a tiny bit more exercise really helps me lose weight. We were doing a 100 kettle ball swings a day challenge at one point on that thread. It took hardly any time - I would do a set of 15 (takes 5 minutes max) instead of a coffee break every hour or so.</p>
<p>I believe that. I am very near my college weight now after losing 50 lbs. Despite strong effort, I don’t seem to be able to go down even one lb from here. </p>
<p>Sitting now if front of the PC, I could feel all the fat near my mid section. So I know I have another 20 lb to lose. But I am running out of ideas to push myself below this “set point”</p>
<p>I believe in that “set point”. At my lowest I went two pounds under my goal weight but my body keeps trying so hard to be five pounds heavier! I am only five feet and very small boned. I think I want to try to get down to 118 or 117 but my body so badly wants to be 123. Every other time I have tried to diet, I have gotten stuck at 123 and was unable to go below it. This diet (17 Day Diet) is the first that has worked for me to get below that stubborn point.</p>
<p>Sorry about the illness, lost phone, broken water softener, etc! I can relate! My D went back to school the other day only to discover that half of her belongings were thrown out. Clothes, shoes, etc. Ughh. I’m looking into whether I can claim it on homeowners or if the sorority house can file a claim.</p>
<p>Geophys … What was your old account so we know who you are?</p>
<p>EPTR, you and I are shorties, but I have 2 and three quarter inches on you, so now I feel like a tall petite. </p>
<p>I found an old photo of me 6 months before my first pregnancy … I didn’t know how great my legs were then and I wish I had appreciated it more. I hung out with too many runners and athletes back then, and although I was one of them then, I never had that skinny runner leg look. Now that I am 10 pounds above my runner weight, and I don’t run anymore, I think it is equivalent to 15 lbs of fat gain since I am not as muscular.</p>
<p>But, it’s a new year, tan is still glowing, and I am re-setting my ‘get healthy before I turn 50 this year’ goals. Step one, write down everything I put in my mouth for one week. Bonus: exercise for 30 minutes at least 3 mornings.</p>
<p>Kid just went back to school yesterday. Will be back and regularly posting this week. Happy New Year everyone—onward towards our goals of health and beauty!</p>
<p>Snowflake- you have a great attitude. I am flunking Weight Loss for Dummies. I know what I need to do but just have not been able to get myself moving in the right direction. My mind keeps telling me that I want carbs. I have learned over the last few years that carbs don’t agree with my body. If I limit my white carbs to one day a week I lose weight and my mid section looks great. I put jeans on yesterday and the pairs I have been wearing for the last year comfortably are tight. They can’t all of shrunk!
I leave in a week for a vacation. I go back and forth between getting back on track before I leave or just blowing it off since I know I will eat more carbs on vacation.
Can I blame the carb desire on starting estrogen replacement back in August?</p>
<p>Mom60,
You sound like me. I really started having success when I switched to the 17 day diet. It isn’t just 17 days but it is broken down into 17 day cycles. The first one restricts all bad carbs and even some good ones. After that, you reintroduce healthy carbs a little at a time. I find that my waistline reacts immediately when I get complacent about carb intake, especially the white ones.</p>
<p>I have heard of that 17-day thing, my sister-in-law did it last year and she definitely lost weight. For me, I just need to have the discipline to actually follow the diet, because I have proven to myself that I can lose, at least for the first week or two, regardless of whether it’s Atkins, 30-day Shred, weight watchers, or just tracking what I eat and how much I exercise.</p>
<p>Speaking of which, did you know that a serving size of Spree chewy candy is 8 pieces, which is 50 calories and no fiber or protein? And guess what you have to type into the food log if you eat 32 pieces? </p>
<p>I defined a reward system for myself, too: if I drink at least 32 ounces of pure water, then I can have one glass of wine, provided I log it into MyFitnessPal. (Guess who chugged the rest of her 32 ounce bottle at 7pm tonight?)</p>
<p>Mom60… Start little by tracking what you eat with me!</p>
<p>Mom60 the week before vacation is absolutely a good time to buckle down! First of all, you’ll have a little less weight to deal with when you return (in my book, EVERY pound counts!). You’ll be a little in the swing of things and will be able to get back on track after vacation. You’ll have had a little taste of success. You have something to motivate you for the next week- a nice vacation waiting just around the corner!</p>
<p>Eptr- bought the 17 day diet book on my IPAD. I doubt I will follow it before I go away but it is pointing me in the right direction.
Like Snowflake in Vermont I know I can lose. Tracking my food does work. I just need to do it. It forces me to be aware of what I am eating. Need to get back to doing that.
For this AM I am good. Drank water, had 2 eggs scrambled with spinach. I used non stick spray instead of butter.</p>
<p>Been dealing with illness. Last week ached, chills , tired etc. Started feeling a bit better over the weekend so got back to the gym. Yesterday came down with cold symptom/ cough. All I have ate for the past 2 days is honey nut cheerios. Weird that I am craving that. Not my cereal of choice. But, really have no appetite for anything else. Ugh!</p>
<p>Sally hope you are feeling better. My friend craves peanut butter sandwiches when she is sick. PB is not normally in her diet.
Taking it one day at a time. yesterday was good and so far good today. I am meeting up with my best girl friend for a walk. Walking instead of a meal. We are both trying to lose a few pds. I am back tracking on MyPlate.
Thank you for keeping me focused.</p>
<p>I’m new to this thread.
Just curious – are there any other McDougall (low fat vegan) converts here? My husband and I made the switch just about a year ago. He was being treated for a particular cancer and his doc recommended giving up all dairy products; I decided to do it with him to make things simple and show solidarity. Didn’t do it to lose weight, as my H is slim. No dairy led to new cookbooks, including McDougall…and suddenly, chubby me had dropped 17 lbs. Almost a year later, I have only 8 lbs left to lose. Don’t think I’ll ever go back, as it’s habit now and surprisingly easy. We did cook a turkey at Thanksgiving…and found we just were not tempted to eat more than a bite! Loved the pumpkin pie, though.</p>
<p>Longrange – I experimented with giving up dairy (macrobiotics) one time many years ago, and lost weight. I have read that a macrobiotic diet (similar to McDougall, I think) can help those with cancer. I don’t know though, I really, really like dairy products, so wasn’t able to stick with it longer term, and I do worry about bone loss. Do you find you are getting enough calcium?</p>