Disappointed....

[mruffruff]

Reggie, at 13 you need the calories. We women over 20 (or more) need to limit ourselves to 1200-1500 calories per day or we end up looking like blimps. Active people can work off calories, but most of us are sedentary. I don't know anyone who can survive healthily on less than 1200 calories average a day.

Unfortunately the only way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you take in. It's a pain to calculate the calories in everything that goes into your mouth, but it does work.

Now pass the candy and I'll let out my pants tomorrow!

[Hellow]

Reggie, at 13 you need the calories. We women over 20 (or more) need to limit ourselves to 1200-1500 calories per day or we end up looking like blimps.

LOL that just made me crack up, the blimp part lol lol lol!

[moosmom]

Kim,

I've always had great success with Weight Watchres. So has my daughter. She lost 45 pounds.

I'll make a deal with ya. How about we do it together?? You can do it online or go to meetings. I need someone to help nudge me towards getting this weight off.

Let me know.

[Catty1]

Sorry this is long - but I hope it helps!

Kim - I use a commercial nutrition program and I am not going to push it on you or anyone else. I pay only for the products.

What I did learn when I started this several years ago is that PROTEIN was key. No, not for EVERYTHING I eat. But I was startled when I was told - and realized - that the "safe" diet snacks like carrot sticks and celery and fruit were all CARBS. Healthy carbs - but still carbs, which the body uses up quickly.

I always liked Susan Powter's motto: Eat, Breathe and Move. I didn't even read that book - the title said it all. Balance.

Here's what works for me:

1. Each meal balanced - good carbs, protein, veggies/fruit. Called a "colourful" meal. (In Canada we have the Canada Food Guide - in the US, I think it is the Food Pyramid??? Good resource to use.)

2. Snacks - Protein snacks. Look carefully at your grocer's, or a health food store, and find protein snacks that are LOW in carbs. A lot of so-called 'protein bars' are LOADED with sugar. If sugar is listed 5th or further along in the ingredients list, the amount is negligible.

A chunk of cheese (I use low-fat). Piece of chicken or other meat. Roasted soy nuts are great for protein - they are high in fat, but VERY filling!

3. Water. Water. Get a bottle of water that holds about 4 cups (here it would be a litre), and drink one of those a day. Though you're not supposed to, I used to rinse mine out with soap and water, rinse REALLY well, and allow to completely dry on its side. Now I use a washable water bottle.

I found that often when I thought I was hungry - I was actually a bit dehydrated! AND by upping the balance of protein in my diet, I had far fewer cravings!

I lost weight and kept it off - I did use soy shakes (fruit and protein powder - frozen fruit gave me smoothies! LOL). And - I have been on Celexa, and SSRI like Zoloft, for a number of years.

(Bonus - extra protein builds lean mass and raises the metabolic rate. If you have liver or kidney problems, ask you doctor. General rule of thumb - max 30g of protein per meal.)