Wolflady, congrats for trying so hard. You're coming along better than I am. ;)
Don't we all wish it was as easy to lose weight as it is to gain it? :rolleyes:
Maria, we'll be waiting for those motivating quotes. ;)
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Wolflady, congrats for trying so hard. You're coming along better than I am. ;)
Don't we all wish it was as easy to lose weight as it is to gain it? :rolleyes:
Maria, we'll be waiting for those motivating quotes. ;)
Since misery loves company scoot over cause here I come. I'm right there with many of you. I've been feeling lousy about myself. I've been fat all my life but 10 years ago I lost around 90 pounds. Unfortunately during the past 10 years I've gained back most of it. Three weeks ago I made the mistake of trying on some clothes and got really ticked off. It ended up being a good thing because I immediately went to the grocery store and loaded up on healthy food and started a diet and exercise program of my own making. Hubby and I have been walking 5-6 times a week and in the past three weeks I have lost 13 pounds. The down part is that I'm only back to where I was last summer because I really packed it on the past year but at least those new pounds are gone.
I'm already feeling better about myself and I'm very motivated. I just hope it lasts but I think it will. I'd love to lose 65-70 more pounds but my immediate goal is to lose 17 pounds by the fourth of July. I do better setting short term smaller goals.
It is amazing to know how many people have a "weight struggle" :( . Congrats to all who succeeded to loose weight!!
I feel a bit in a hopeless situation. Since I am on anti-depressives, I started putting on weight. Nothing is wrong with the way I eat, and I exercise more than enough. Still, everytime I get on that scale, I gained weight. Now, that is even MORE depressive...:( . Last week I tried on my summer pants, and NONE of those still fits...8 I have no idea what to do about it. I asked my neurologist to me off the medication, and she prescribed me another brand. Let's hope it works :rolleyes:
Congrats, Lori! :)
I'm feeling so motivated ny hearing all of your stories. I'm off to the store to stock up on healthy food, and when I get home, all the unhealthy food is outta here. ;)
I would like to apologize for my extremely whiney post earlier. I don't know why I let that all out like that. I'm very sorry. Thank you so much for all of your kind words and all of the support. You guys are great. I'm sending out big hugs to all of you. Lets all keep working at this together.
Love and Hugs....Robin :)
Atkin's is not a "no carbs" diet. So many people just read that it's a carb restricting diet with high fat and assume that it's "no carbs" and high fat. I've read the book, and it's not that at all. For the first two weeks, you restrict your net carbs to around 20 per day. He emphasizes REPEATEDLY not to stay in the first phase permanently. That first two week phase is ONLY to break the carb addiction. During that first two weeks, people often lose a big chunk of weight, but it's mostly fluid weight because your body stops retaining fluids when you do it as it's outlined. That prompts many to keep doing that first phase when they are supposed to move on to the second phase, and THAT is unhealthy. I'd say it's more accurate to say that doing Atkin's the wrong way is unhealthy, but if you do it the way he instructs you to do it, it's not.
During the induction phase, in order to make up for the lower carb amount, you are supposed to eat more high protein foods (including some fattier foods, but not processed and unsaturated fats) than you normally would. Yes he says things like bacon are okay to eat, but he always emphasizes IN MODERATION. He NEVER claims to eat a plate full of bacon for breakfast, he merely says eggs with a couple slices of bacon are okay. He highly promotes a lot of vegetables in the diet, using cauliflower to make "mashed potatoes" and spaghetti squash for pasta, etc.
During induction, your body burns up these carbs and then begins to burn fat. That is the weight loss you see. By the end of the two weeks, if done correctly, you should see an overall decrease in the need to eat large portions or eat often. He states, and I found it to be true, that often when you get the urge to snack, it's not true hunger but is instead your body craving more carbohydrates. I know when I felt like snacking, I didn't feel like munching on a carrot, I wanted some bread or chips or something along those lines.
What most people pay no attention to is the NEXT phases of the Atkin's diet, the phases when you slowly add BACK some carbohydrates, and lower your protein intake accordingly. The induction phase helps break the carb addiction and the hunger pangs which are actually your body craving more carbohydrates. He explains our bodies get basically addicted to all the carbs and burn that for energy, and burn carbs rather than fat. That is why if you eat a high carb meal and then go take a walk, you burn the CARBS and not any fat!
As you go through the phases, you find your body's personal level of net carb intake that you can have without gaining weight from it. For some people, it's 80 or 90, for some it may be 100 or 150. Everyone's body chemistry is different. He never advocates eating huge steaks and plates of bacon the way I've seen some people claim. He states a serving size of meat is the size of a deck of cards. He simply states that you CAN eat red meat, that it's perfectly healthy if kept to the smaller serving size. His diet recommendations are largely vegetable dishes with a modest sized meat serving to go with it. He states sugar and refined white rices and flour should be cut as much as possible, and of course fast food should be minimal.
Ok, I didn't mean to get into lecture mode here, I just get frustrated with the formation of opinions on something without knowing all the facts! Please read the book from cover to cover, it's very fascinating and even if you don't follow it, it's quite educational and has a lot of factual information to back it up.
As an aside, Robin I don't think you should feel bad at all about your post. There are times when all of us need to vent some of these pent up feelings. Your post didn't come across as whiny at all to me. I think you are a beautiful woman though, and I hope with all my heart you are able to feel better about yourself at some point. Don't give up! {{hugs}}
*EDITED to add a quote from a book review that explains the Atkin's plan in a nutshell:
This is a review of the book Atkin's For LifeQuote:
The Atkins weight loss method is a 4 step approach. Phase 1 INDUCTION is where you limit your carbs to 20 grams per day to jump start your weight loss program. Phase 2 OWL or ONGOING WEIGHT LOSS allows you to slowly add back carbs until you discover the amount of carbs you can eat and still lose weight. Phase 3 PRE-MAINTENANCE has you slow your weight loss by adding in more carbs so good eating habits become ingrained. And in Phase 4 LIFETIME MAINTENANCE you learn to enjoy a wider variety of foods and maintain your weight loss.
I'm only 5'1 and I weigh about 125, which is not obese, by any means, but, I could stand to lose a little bit. For my height, that's not the ideal weight. The struggle I face is that I love to eat, and, I am lazy as all get out. I love to exercise, but, it's just getting the motivation to start it again. And, the biggest problem is that the only problem I have is in my tummy area. And, it's the only place my mother has extra weight. She is never on me about losing weight, but, she has said before that I need to keep an eye on myself, because I'll just wake up one day and wonder "hm, where did that extra sixty pounds come from?" and it will be harder for me to get healthy at that point. I know I'm wanting to lose weight, but, guess what I had for breakfast? A cinnabon cinnamon roll. :) Yummy! I guess I can exercise later. ;) Ugh.
Thanks for the Atkin's info, Jessica. After being raised to think that fat is bad and carbs are good, going down to 20 carbs a day is really tough and I never really lost my craving for them although it did subside a bit.
Robin, please don't feel like you have to apologize. You're talking to a group of people who know exactly how you feel! I don't think anyone saw your post as whiny at all. :)
My husband and I went on it for a few reasons, partly to lose some weight, but also because he has a strong family history of diabetes and back problems, both of which can be helped by weight loss and better diet. I wouldn't say I ever completely lost my cravings for things like bread and chips, but they weren't as strong, and after awhile I began craving fruit and veggies much more than I ever have in my life.
We have not counted carbs in awhile and we don't follow a specific diet plan now, but we have cut out a lot of sugar, white flour, pasta, etc. compared to what we used to eat. Now whenever we eat something really sugary, like a bowl of ice cream, we can really feel it sitting in our stomach and feel the effects of it much more keenly after having been off of it awhile. Of course we still indulge from time to time, but it's not the norm now.
I try to keep fruits, nuts, cheese, deli meats, and vegetables around for snacks. I try to keep fresh veggies chopped up in a ziplock bag and then we get various veggie dips, and snack on that rather than chips/Doritos like we used to. I also made an effort to stop eating as soon as I feel full, rather than keep eating for more of the taste of something (I was especially bad about that with pizza, as I love the taste). We cut out soda almost entirely, as it's a huge source of sugar (at least regular soda is). We drink sparkling water (no sugar). All of these things have really helped us eat healthier and stay at a healthier weight. Of course we aren't perfect at it and we slip from time to time into unhealthy eating, but the longer we work at it, the easier it gets to stick with it. Those first few weeks are incredibly difficult. I don't think I would have made it if we hadn't both been working at it together.
K9 - thanks for the education! I guess like all things moderation is the key. Whole wheat is a great way to cut out some carbs. Even Weight Watchers has you eating more points if you opt for high fiber, low carb foods.
Those of you looking to get back into exercising who don't want to join a gym, buy epuipment or are uncomfy with the thought of exercising in public......I've also recently started doing exercise DVD's and I am feeling muscles I never knew I had. And this is coming from someone who's done an hour of gym exercise 4-6 days a week since August. I highly recommend Walk Away the Pounds Tapes and Billy Banks Tae Bo DVD's (although the tae bo might be for the more advanced). I also record programs off the Fit TV. It's actually kind of fun.
I used to use Billy Banks' tapes all the time. :D Of course I was like...12. LOL.Quote:
Originally posted by CatMama78
I highly recommend Walk Away the Pounds Tapes and Billy Banks Tae Bo DVD's (although the tae bo might be for the more advanced). I also record programs off the Fit TV. It's actually kind of fun.
I really recommend that people do alot of muscle exersises as well. While it's true that building muscles doesn't really burn fat -- if your muscles are strong and being worked out regularly, you lose more calories by sitting around doing nothing than you would if you don't do muscle exersises. I have been doing arm exersises for quite some time and my arms are nice and toned. I recently started doing alot of crunches and my stomach feels alot stronger and my posture is actually starting to improve.
I was just watching an infomercial about Billy Banks today. What he does looks hard! :eek:Quote:
Originally posted by CatMama78
I highly recommend Walk Away the Pounds Tapes and Billy Banks Tae Bo DVD's (although the tae bo might be for the more advanced).
I did the tae bo tapes for awhile, but, I hated them. :( They work, but, I just didn't enjoy them at all. If I exercise to videos, I usually only enjoy the ones that are lean towards yoga and/or pilates. I feel goofy as heck leaping around my living room. The pilates dvd that I have is great, though, for me. I'd do tae bo if I was actually in a class, it's so much more fun that way. Even though it can be very embarassing. I just can't do those kinds of things by myself at home at all! The tae bo videos are a really good workout, though, if you like to do that type at home.Quote:
Originally posted by PJ's Mom
I was just watching an infomercial about Billy Banks today. What he does looks hard! :eek:
LOLQuote:
Originally posted by finn's mom
I feel goofy as heck leaping around my living room.
I feel goofy stretching and breathing in my living room. :p I have time to do the workouts alone, so as long as I don't laugh at myself, everything's fine. :D
I am right around 70 to 80 pounds over weight. About 7 years ago I met my husband, I was tiny, then we started going out to eat all the time. Man has the pounds caught up with me. :( I have been going to a gym for the past 2 years. I have lost 30 pounds and I have only seen 5 pounds come back so far.
I just started a new program yesterday. (Which my mom paid for, for my birthday) They told me I will be down to my goal weights within 20 weeks or they pay for the program. I did eat a few chips yesterday but once I realized what I was doing I put them away and ate a salad. I really hope to lose 70 pounds within 20 weeks. That equals out to a little over 3 pounds a week. Which is still healthy. I just can't wait to be able to eat my mashed potatoes and steak again. :D That will come in time. I just think of it like this. If it takes me 20 weeks to lose the weight I want, then I can suffer without my potatoes for that amount of time.
I have to go back in tomorrow (my diet place) and get on a new eating plan. I had to cut all carbs for 3 days, then they will put me back on real foods again. Or atleast that's how I understand it.
Katie
I started Atkins today. :) My uncle was right, carbs really DO make you hungry. Today I only had scrambled eggs, carrots, salad, and some strawbrerries -- normally at this time I would have already had 3 bowls of cereal, not to mention a variety of other things. I just don't feel hungry. It's great! I do find that I'm very tired though. I'm sure my body isn't used to having such a small amount of carbs.
wolfsoul - There seems to be several Atkins diet books on sale. Which one do you recommend?
I'm not actually going by book --- I'm getting my information from the internet and K9soul. :) She gave me www.atkins.com . It has lots of good information and recipes!Quote:
Originally posted by elizabethann
wolfsoul - There seems to be several Atkins diet books on sale. Which one do you recommend?
You ate carrots? :eek: I didn't know carrots were allowed. :D
LOL I'm eating carrots right now...With an omelette. ;) You should have seen the amount of vegetables I ate yesterday. It was insane. I never eat veggies! The last thing I ate lastnight was this big bowl of peas and carrots. I feel so healthy, it's creeping me out! :p
How often are you going to weigh yourself.?
I've never been a veggie eater either, but I'm having a salad for lunch. :p
I rarely weigh myself as it is lol. I'm convinced my scale is broken because it will tell me I'm a different weight every day, even when I weigh myself in the morning before eating anything with no clothes on. I'll be 134 one day and the next day I'll be 130. I don't think I lose four pounds in a day lol. So until my mom buys a new scale, I'm not really going to bother weighing myself. I don't think it matters how much I weigh, as long as I look good! :) With all of the muscle I'll be gaining, I'll weigh more anyways. I've been doing more muscle exersises lately. :D
Wow, good for you! Let us know how it goes. :)
Sorry I keep butting in, but I've been 'dieting' since last July and one thing that's pretty consistent in all diets is you should only weigh yourself once a week, same time each week wearing similiar types of clothing. Weight certainly does fluctuate up to 5 pounds in a day. To get the lightest weight, best to weigh yourself first thing in the morning wearing as little as possible (only once a week though). But to get a true sense of loss each week, you only need keep the similiar circumstances - for instance - weigh yourself every Friday evening an hour after dinner, wearing jeans.
So getting on the scale 3 times a day isn't how it's supposed to go? :D