<p>Weighed myself, measured around the waist, and I have downed 3 glasses of water so far today. Baby steps, baby steps…</p>
<p>Just found this thread. ellemenope thanks for starting it. I joined WW one year ago more to help my college age daughter try and lose the 25 she gained her first two years. I’ve lost ~ 20lbs. Became a lifetime member at WW, but there are definitely days when I fall off the wagon. My main goal is to maintain where I am. It really is small changes that have to be made for good. But WW’s new point system allows all the fruit a person could want which means all I have to do is buy and cut it. The buying is the easy part…sometimes the fruit sits in the refrig for a few days before I’m motivated to cut it up. Also, I stay away from crackers since I can eat an entire box once I start. I buy Pennsylvania Dutch hard pretzels for “junk” snacking.</p>
<p>Speaking of falling off the wagon…I think it’s ok to share those moments too, cause it lets us know that we are “real” and human! The important thing is , to have the support and motivation to get back ON the wagon!</p>
<p>I will admit, that when I first read this thread last night, I was having a rare weak moment in the evening where all I craved was some barbequed chips - a TERRIBLE snack to have especially late at night! But there I was munching on some as I opened this thread. This thread made me put them away before I went overboard. Chips can be a weakness for me - I hadn’t had any in quite awhile. Once I get away from them I can usually stay away, but last night was another story. :)</p>
<p>Wirefox - Hammonds are the best!</p>
<p>Oh, one surefire tip for weight loss - braces! (Can’t touch pretzels now)</p>
<p>I have found that since I have my braces I must cut my food into much smaller pieces, I chew more carefully and slowly, I drink LOTS of water while I eat, AND as a result, I am satiated before I finish my meal. It has cut down on any mindless snacking, because who feels like cleaning their teeth several times a day? </p>
<p>Not a real practical solution - but I do think that I will maintain my slower, more careful eating habits when the braces come off. Honestly, I never realized how quickly I ate meals - just a sign of how rushed we feel.</p>
<p>Well, today’s calories are blown. :(</p>
<p>At work today we had “farewell pastries” in the morning for the intern who’s leaving us. Then, this afternoon was “Birthday Friday” for all June birthdays in the dept. Since I’m a June birthday, I didn’t decline a scoop of strawberry trifle. :o </p>
<p>I guess I’m having a head of lettuce for dinner. 
Oh, well, tomorrow is another day.</p>
<p>I’m in. I gained 15 lbs when my mom got sick & I stopped exercising. I’d like to lose the 15/ get back to regular exercising. I felt so much better before.</p>
<p>re snacks - I like the 100 cal packets of Blue Diamond almonds, also, I will stick a baggie of baby carrot in my purse, they’ll keep for the day.</p>
<p>DougBetsy, don’t just have the head of lettuce! Just because you indulged, you don’t have to suffer the rest of the day. Put a piece of grilled chicken with that head of lettuce and some other veggies and maybe even a whole grain bread product - still will be eating healthy and light but not starving yourself!</p>
<p>I’m in. Hoping that this thread will be the motivational jump start that I need. It’s time to concentrate on me.</p>
<p>Would love to lose 20, but living healthier is my real goal.</p>
<p>“Oh, one surefire tip for weight loss - braces! (Can’t touch pretzels now)”</p>
<p>Oh, wnp, I dunno. I managed to eat all sorts of hard foods with braces (do not like pretzels): almonds, baby carrots, toffee, etc. Never a loose bracket or wire. I guess where there is a will… :)</p>
<p>I highly suggest the Okinawa Diet. Do not buy any books or join any websites, though. All you need to know about this diet is one thing: eat your regular foods, but do it slowly, and as soon as you begin to feel full - STOP eating. Get up from the table, take the plate to the sink, discard all uneaten food.</p>
<p>My husband and I have lost 31 and 16 pounds respectively since Feb. 4th. We did hardcore Atkins for about 10 weeks and now we are happy with our weights so we just try to stay generally low-carb but we have been unable to resist cupcakes at all the graduation parties we’ve been to lately. Atkins has a bad reputation but it works. We both agreed that there were a lot of foods we would give up before we would give up alcohol so Atkins does allow alcohol after the two week induction period. You do feel like (insert bad word here) the first few days. Now the goal is not to gain so if we eat bad stuff on the weekend, we just dial it down during the week.</p>
<p>I try to drink a glass of water or iced tea every time I am hungry and wait half an hour.
I try to NOT eat in the 2 hours leading up to exercise- you don’t want to twist & turn in yoga with a full stomach.
I try NOT to eat after 10PM, 9PM, 8PM, any PM at which I can stop. </p>
<p>I figure that each time I avoid eating at one of those times, I am cutting a few hundred calories from the daily total.</p>
<p>I have noticed that the earlier I stop eating at night the less I weigh in the morning.</p>
<p>Okay so i weighed myself and measured my waist. I think it’s a good idea to mark your weight and measurement on your calendar so that you can keep track each week and see the progress. I also think it’s good to state your goals here so that it becomes more real. I decided that I need to loose 8-10 lbs (I’m only five feet so that really shows). Can’t figure how many inches but I guess if they get less that’s a good thing. </p>
<p>I did well on food today but have to go out to dinner to celebrate my nephew’s graduation from elementary school (give me a break!).</p>
<p>Love some of the tips so far! And love that nobody has gone overboard with details. The simpler the better for busy people!</p>
<p>Out to dinner:
Salad with grilled protein on top OR
Burger (yes to cheese, mushrooms, grilled onions) no bun, no fries, substitute steamed veggies or fresh fruit
Skip the cake and order berries and cream for dessert</p>
<p>When I am serious about really watching what/how much I eat, I have one trick for dining out. I have a habit of eating everything on my plate no matter how large the serving is. I now ask for a to go container when my food comes and packing half of the dinner to take home. I never miss the food if I don’t have to look at it, and I think have leftovers for lunch or dinner the next night.</p>
<p>My husband and I have also tried splitting a meal and ordering an extra salad. While this isn’t a huge meal, it is more than enough food for each of us. I know my problem is the number of calories I eat at dinner, as we eat out more night than we eat in. Besides eating less at each meal, we save money. Now all we need to do is start eating at places with early bird special; then we really will have become our parents!</p>
<p>It’s 95 degrees and humid. I’m heading out for my 1:15 power walk. Who’s with me? I’m getting an awesome tan going with these walks…</p>
<p>cyclone, I hope you applied sunblock and are taking ample amounts of water with you on your walk. Have fun!</p>
<p>Those 100 Calorie bags of microwave popcorn are good.
H & I gave up those big bagels. We use “Bagel Slims” (100 calories)
Been walking every day this week so feel good about that.
Those salad dressings that come in spray bottle are good at 10 calories per squirt.
We also gave up alcohol (sigh) (beer & wine) but that does make a difference in how quickly the weight comes off.</p>
<p>Has anyone tried diet to go.com? They send your meals that they are fresh made each week. It is just too hot to cook and it looks like it might be a fairly easy way to make sure we’re not eating too much.</p>
<p>Can I join in? I’m feeling very out of shape, and I need to get motivated to exercise. I’m a stress eater, and the stress levels are through the roof these days. I’m selling my mother’s house, and we just countered the offer we got yesterday. What do I do? Reach for the ice cream. Agghh.</p>
<p>I’m late to the party, though, so I didn’t weigh in today.</p>
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<p>My long lost sister!!</p>