Weight loss tips?

[Emeraldgreen]

I've heard that when doing stomach crunches, it's good to do them every other day to give your stomach muscles a chance to heal and strengthen. Then you can do a different exercise on the days inbetween and mix it up so it's not boring. We bought one of those stomach cruncher things that has a pad for your head and you hang on to the bar above your head with your arms upstretched. I think it cost about 30.00 and it really works well and keeps your back from hurting.
I'm a huge water drinker. I don't drink pop, mostly because the bubbles upset my stomach but I also don't really drink juice (though I probably should!). I have the odd orange juice now and then and of course my morning coffee but the rest of the day it's water. I bring a glass jar of it to work with me as well.
There are some good high protein snacks out there that can leave you feeling full without too many calories. I like to make humous and I leave the tahini out of it and it tastes exactly the same to me. I just throw a can of chick peas in a blender with some lemon juice, a dash of water, some garlic and cayenne and some olive oil. I eat it with one warmed tortilla ripped in pieces.
Refried beans also have less than a gram of fat. (I think!?!) I love beans.
And lately, we've been eating alot of Cobb salads for dinner with shredded turkey and boiled egg and sliced almonds and cranberries and some lowfat cheddar cheese with a lowfat dressing. It's sooooooooooooooo good!

[Catty1]

If you like green tea, since it's summer, make it into a nice iced tea!

I kinda think that artificial sweeteners just make a person crave for the 'real thing' - the only one I will use is Stevia, which is made from a plant, and sweetens a lot more than the usual sugar. It's not artifical.

You can get it in a small dropper bottle - it lasts a LONG time.

I'm going to look up a learn-to-run group here. Maybe there is one where you are? It's good because you are taught how to do it without hurting yourself...and you do it with nice people...and it's maybe one minute walking, one minute running to start with.

Take it easy on the body!

You go girl - good for you!

(PS Your bratty brother - I used to tell people "I'd rather have the fat on my hips than in my head!" Look at him MEANINGFULLY if you say that! LOL)

[ILoveMyAbbyGirl]

I'm trying to lose weight too.

Just to add my two cents---

NO SODA!

Seriously, I quit drinking soda about year ago, and stayed off of soda for 6-7 months, and I lost almost 20lbs. I started drinking soda again though, and out of bad habits and eating bad, I've gained most of it back.


I like the 4 steps that Moesha posted though.

Good luck everyone!

[Karen]

Try drinking water, instead of soda. If you don't like the plain taste of water, try Fruit-2-O. It's yummy-tasting fruit-flavored water, sweetened with sucralose. Some people find sucralose has an aftertaste, some people don't - it's one of those weird genetic things. Sadly, I cannot drink anything with sucralose any more, but that's just my body that developed an allergy to it, along with my gazillion other strange food allergies. If you like the fizziness of soda, try seltzers.

I now drink water most of the time - sometimes you think you're hungry, when actually you're just thirsty. Staying well-hydrated is always a good thing.

[jackie]

Walk everywhere. At least one hour a day. That alone will make a enormous difference. MOVE!

Cook the bulk of your food, don't eat out.

Eat a good healthy big breakfast so you don't pig out later from hunger. My breakfasts are HUGE. I had a weetabix with banana, a boiled egg, wholewheat toast, and apple and a yogurt for breakfast (I eat that over about an hour period, not in one sitting) and I am full of energy until about one when I eat lunch.

Don't buy into diet fads. Just eat veggies, fruit, whole grains, and lean protein. I doubt drinking green tea will make a huge difference in your metabolism and most people put either a ton of sugar or artificial sweetener in it. Water is best.

[Moesha]

Try drinking water, instead of soda. If you don't like the plain taste of water, try Fruit-2-O. It's yummy-tasting fruit-flavored water, sweetened with sucralose. Some people find sucralose has an aftertaste, some people don't - it's one of those weird genetic things. Sadly, I cannot drink anything with sucralose any more, but that's just my body that developed an allergy to it, along with my gazillion other strange food allergies. If you like the fizziness of soda, try seltzers.

There's a product called True Lemon (also True Lime and True Orange) that are little packets that can be used to flavor water or tea. They are made from 100% natural ingredients with no natural or artificial sweeteners. It also has no calories an no carbs. I haven't tried them but have requested a free sample. It was voted in Prevention magazine as one of its 38 flat-belly foods.
Click here for their website. You can get more information and a free sample too.

[sumbirdy]

Sorry, haven't posted in a while. I've been trying to get in at least 45 minutes of physical activity a day, even if it's just chasing Nathan around the yard. I fell off the soda wagon today and had a couple of glasses. But I'm trying to do better! I already feel better about myself, just want to keep it going and not get over confident.

[Medusa]

Sorry, haven't posted in a while. I've been trying to get in at least 45 minutes of physical activity a day, even if it's just chasing Nathan around the yard. I fell off the soda wagon today and had a couple of glasses. But I'm trying to do better! I already feel better about myself, just want to keep it going and not get over confident.

Don't be hard on yourself; that kills our resolve. Allow yourself some missteps and get right back to your new way of living. You're doing great!

[Karen]

There's a product called True Lemon (also True Lime and True Orange) that are little packets that can be used to flavor water or tea. They are made from 100% natural ingredients with no natural or artificial sweeteners. It also has no calories an no carbs. I haven't tried them but have requested a free sample. It was voted in Prevention magazine as one of its 38 flat-belly foods.
Click here for their website. You can get more information and a free sample too.

Sadly, I am terribly allergic to lemon and other citrus, so that wouldn't work for me. But maybe someone else would find it useful!

[jackie]

One can of coke has 12 teaspoons of sugar.

[catnapper]

Its HARD. The past year has been without a doubt the year I obsessed over food... what I was eating, what I wasn't... how much, how little. Ugh!

Here are some more things I've noticed:
* There IS such a thing as eating too little. I notice if I eat every few hours, I'm never hungry. I don't over-eat at meals. I have consistent energy.

* Mix up your food. I ADORE oatmeal. I was eating it every single morning. I noticed I flatlined when I did, so I make myself mix it up. I eat oatmeal most days but I also throw in cold cereal and the occasional pancake breakfast.

* give yourself a treat each day. My current treat-du-jour is a Hershey's kiss. I look forward to that kiss every day. I make myself stop at one, unless Cameron insists I need one.... calories eaten on his say-so don't count I also love to look forward to fortune cookies, 100 calorie packs, etc.

* don't keep the food around. My daughter came home from college and wanted cheese cake. I'd have gladly goten it.... but I knew it would be inhaled the second it came home. I'm actually scared of Easter baskets next month! I can't resist jelly beans and Peeps.

* I can't stress portion control. Its shocking to see what exactly IS a portion. I now measure how much cereal I pour into my bowl. I was eating twice what I should have and had no idea.

* Also..... I can't stress the importance of a journal. Keep your thoughts and frustrations, as well as your success on paper. It makes you accountable. I never kept a food diary, but am told its the most powerful tool. I was just honestly too scared to SEE my food intake on paper.... then have a written record that someone else miught find? I have been thinking about trying one now though.