Weight loss tips?

**ILoveMyAbbyGirl** · 05-31-2008, 01:50 AM

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** · 05-31-2008, 03:09 AM

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** · 05-31-2008, 05:43 AM

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** · 05-31-2008, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 06-03-2008, 12:15 AM

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** · 06-03-2008, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

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!

**sumbirdy** · 06-03-2008, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by Medusa

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!

Yep, that's what I'm trying to do! I'm very proud of myself. Something that has happened many times to me before though is that I'll lose some weight, feel really good about myself, and then tell myself I can eat something really bad for me just once, but then end up going back to my old diet. I'm determined not to let that happen this time.

**Medusa** · 06-03-2008, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by sumbirdy

Yep, that's what I'm trying to do! I'm very proud of myself. Something that has happened many times to me before though is that I'll lose some weight, feel really good about myself, and then tell myself I can eat something really bad for me just once, but then end up going back to my old diet. I'm determined not to let that happen this time.

I think we've probably all done that. It's normal to want to reward youself when you lose weight, so the next time, treat yourself in some other way. Maybe buy a bottle of new perfume or bubble bath, something small but enough to feel really good. Keep up the good work.

**Karen** · 03-19-2009, 01:45 AM

Originally Posted by Moesha

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** · 06-03-2008, 03:30 AM

One can of coke has 12 teaspoons of sugar.

**catnapper** · 03-19-2009, 10:01 PM

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.