New Weight Loss Goals Thread

[mish_mish]

I simply cannot give up coffee and do weight watchers. I have to have something to look forward to each day--the coffee is such a small amount of calories and it's one of my few "treats."

Fortunately, I cannot eat Splenda, so a lot of those kinds of fake treats just don't even tempt me. The horrible stomach pains that come a couple of hours later just aren't worth it!

Yasmindiab, why don't you order an americano from starbucks. It's basically just espresso with water. No milk at all. The caffeine headache, for me, is just not worth it. I will *never* give up my coffee. I'm afraid I'd be impossible to live with.
I drink tons of seltzers, (sparkling water for those who are not east coasters)
No caleries, just carbonated water.
I have severe PMS this week, and I did NOT run out for a reeces peanut butter cup! Very proud of myself. Just had a scrambled egg this morning with a little olive oil instead of my regular banana and orange.....and/or toast.
I am cutting out my beloved diet pepsi also. I feel it makes me crave sugar more.
Using splenda in my coffee, *blech* tastes like fake sugar to me. I will start cutting down the amount in my coffee, however. This morning I used two splenda's instead of three, and next couple of days I'll cut down to one, etc. till I am drinking my coffee black.
I am *determined* to lose this last ten pounds.

[Adishakti]

So, I started anew today with oodles of determination. Thanks Lucy, for this thread. It really helps me to know that others do struggle with this... I want to lose about 15 - 20 lbs.

This morning I started back on the South Beach diet. Weight Watchers was very good to me in the past, but I'd like to try something different. I had the low fat, cholesterol-free egg things this morning, scrambled up with leftover turkey and diced veggies. Lentil soup is on the stove warming for lunch.

Here we go!

[yasmindiab]

I may try an americano...but I'm one of those weirdos who needs to have REALLY sweet coffee, and I can't do sweetners other than sugar. Thanks to my beloved Grandmother, who would put 8 sugars in a small cup of coffee and then let me drink some, its hard for me to do straight espresso. :)

I can honestly say I'm not familiar with the South Beach diet...I'm intrigued though. I want something that is going to help me lose weight, and keep it off. I didn't eat very much yesterday, and I gained 1.6 lbs since yesterday! That sucks!

More water for me today, and more veggies. I think I'll skip the salad, since I've had the tendency to drown it in Ranch dressing.

Anyway. I should get some work done.

~Yasmin

[mahira-michelle]

Considering how much of a candy and chocolate junkie I am, I think I've beed good. Especially with all the easter candy my daughter has in the kitchen. It calls me, like jaws. da dum, daa dum, da dum da dum da dum. LOL

I'm also trying to eat till I'm full, not stuffed. I switched to sea salt instead of regular table salt. (Thank you Nilaja) I use Splenda instead of sugar. I've been passing on deserts, even when my evil husband asks me if I want any. I just bought a whole bunch of yogurt. yum.

Severina, be careful on that south beach diet. My Mother In Law (sound funny to say that) did that last year and she loved it, lost lots of weight from it. Then it gained all back and then some. Make sure that your doctor knows the diet you are doing, for health reasons.

Example, I tried that no carb diet a few years ago, and I got Gout. Then kidney stones. I didn't tell my doctor about the diet till it was too late. Some peoples bodies can't handle the same diets that everyone else is doing.

Just be careful. Everything in moderation.

[severina]

Originally Posted by mahira-michelle

Severina, be careful on that south beach diet. My Mother In Law (sound funny to say that) did that last year and she loved it, lost lots of weight from it. Then it gained all back and then some. Make sure that your doctor knows the diet you are doing, for health reasons.

Example, I tried that no carb diet a few years ago, and I got Gout. Then kidney stones. I didn't tell my doctor about the diet till it was too late. Some peoples bodies can't handle the same diets that everyone else is doing.

Just be careful. Everything in moderation.

I think a lot of people think the South Beach is a low carb diet. I think if you follow the book, it really isn't. Of course, I don't know the situation with your mother-in-law. But, I am eating carbs, lots of them! I'm just being very careful about what type I'm eating.

For example, I think Atkins limits even veggies? I'm doing four cups a day minimum of veggies, plus two servings a day of whole grains (whole wheat english muffins, whole wheat pasta, barley, brown rice, stuff like that), and two servings a day of fruit.

Another difference is I think Atkins allows any protein source? I'm eating only low fat protein sources like fish, chicken, or legumes. I'm also eating reduced fat cheese. I know a lot of people hate it. I wouldn't eat it alone or on a cracker, but I find it perfectly good in recipes.

As I read the book, this is just sensible eating. If you try to leave out the massive quantities of vegetables, however, then it starts to look more similar to Atkins.

[Souzan]

Just came back from a brisk walk break at work. 25 minutes up and down the hills and now I am ready for the afternoon. Just finishing up the first week on Metformin and I think I am noticing a decline in my sugar cravings.

10 lbs since January. 40 more to go!

Souzan

[katharyncnelson]

I'm jumping on, too. Need to drop 1" to 1-1/2" off my hips. How many pounds is that?? If I drop a little more, I can buy the pink Sim on the swap page!! Off to buy lentil soup ingredients...

PS--I'm glad I'm not the only one....group hug?? we can do it!!!

[BabsGrrrl]

I actually only had ONE piece of chocolate over the weekend - but that is never difficult for me. What WAS difficult was not going back for seconds on potatoes at Easter dinner. And NO bread. *sigh*

I need to head to the grocery store to stock up on some more veggies for the week. I love 'em as snacks. Also, the stuff for that lentil soup - sounds divine!

I know I'll see two more sets of number slide by on the scale by July! Thanks for the inspiration everyone!

[GeorgiaGal]

I'm down 8 pounds since Jan 1 but still want to drop 8 - 13 more.

I'm picky and mostly eat natural foods with very little packaged items but I do use the herb stevia as a no calorie sweetener in my tea. I can't eat gluten so that keeps me away from a lot of snacks. My diet downfall is cheese & wine!

I found I do better if I track my food intake at fitday.com or sparkpeople.com. Logging everything in is a real eyeopener!

[yasmindiab]

I feel accomplished. I drank four 12 oz Fiji bottles of water today before I went to lunch!

I also walked around the property for 25 minutes at a "brisk pace", and now, I'm exhausted, but I feel good.

I'm rewarding myself with a cup of coffee. (No, not my addiction, Starbucks, the free stuff here at work.)

I think I have to print out the recipe for lentil soup..it sounds so good!!!

~Yasmin Diab

[weese17]

Yay!

Babs, I SO hear you on the bread -- I can pass up dessert before I pass up dinner rolls.

Lucy

[mihri]

Originally Posted by severina

I think a lot of people think the South Beach is a low carb diet. I think if you follow the book, it really isn't. Of course, I don't know the situation with your mother-in-law. But, I am eating carbs, lots of them! I'm just being very careful about what type I'm eating.

For example, I think Atkins limits even veggies? I'm doing four cups a day minimum of veggies, plus two servings a day of whole grains (whole wheat english muffins, whole wheat pasta, barley, brown rice, stuff like that), and two servings a day of fruit.

Another difference is I think Atkins allows any protein source? I'm eating only low fat protein sources like fish, chicken, or legumes. I'm also eating reduced fat cheese. I know a lot of people hate it. I wouldn't eat it alone or on a cracker, but I find it perfectly good in recipes.

As I read the book, this is just sensible eating. If you try to leave out the massive quantities of vegetables, however, then it starts to look more similar to Atkins.

Precisely. My hubby did Atkins for a while after his mom found success (and then liver problems) on it. I tried to go with him but found it too limiting and also found that I had zero concentration anymore. Read up on it and saw that your brain needs carbs to function efficiently. Anyhow, when the hubby and I both wanted to lose weight, I researched South Beach since *I* wasn't about to go Atkins and I didn't really want him to either. It's a much more sensible plan. Atkins is so high fat and low carb.... South Beach is low fat and smart carbs. So far I like it.

[kozmique]

I've lost between 120-130 lbs in the last 5 years. I was a complete couch potato and very depressed all my life. I started by signing up for BD classes. Then I stopped eating fast food. Then I stopped eating all highly processed junk food and switched to organic, whole foods. Then I stopped eating wheat, sugar, and dairy (mostly to pinpoint possible allergens that were giving me crazy skin & sinus conditions). Then I stopped eating meat. By then I had started to figure out that the real problem was not even my weight but deep personal issues that stemmed back to earliest childhood. I was able to reintroduce sugar, dairy, and wheat in moderate amounts. Now I monitor my emotional state and notice when I am eating for comfort instead of nutrition and take measures to redirect my thoughts & behavior. My weight still fluctuates madly at times but I am in more control than I have ever been. I went from a size 26 to a size 10 but I can gain or lose a lot in a very short amount of time so I have to be careful. I don't have any particular weight goal at this time except to feel healthy which seems to be in the 160-170 range. Any smaller and the psychological problems set in: I lose my desire to dance and start eating as much junk as I can cram in my mouth. Dealing with all of it in therapy. I guess my goal is to be healthy emotionally and then my weight should cease to be an issue. I don't really see the weight as a problem so much as a gauge of my emotional state now. I just wish people didn't feel compelled to comment every time I lose a few pounds. Of course they wouldn't say anything when I gain a few! The most important thing through it all - keep dancing! That is what saved my life. I'm also about to start training to run a 5K, something I've never done before & never would have imagined myself doing. Dancing has absolutely been the catalyst in my healing which is at once painful and exhiliarating. It's all about the layers.... just like belly dancing!

[danidance]

Weight is a nice comfy thing when you're stressed out. I completely hear you, Kozmique. I'm a stress eater and an emotionally defensive eater. Something bothers me emotionally, I want food.

Now, while I recognize that - acting on it has been harder. If I'm upset, technically I know that I should go to the gym or do something creative, etc. But, I'm not too good at doing what's right. Grabbing a snack is easier (and way less helpful!)

[acmcgraw]

Originally Posted by kozmique

I've lost between 120-130 lbs in the last 5 years. *snip* I don't have any particular weight goal at this time except to feel healthy

Your dedication is an inspiration!

Adrienne

[yasmindiab]

Kozmique, that is truly wonderful to see how well you are doing. That is a lot of weight to lose over time...

I really admire your goal to be healthy. I think thats what we all want...I know that *I* don't want to be stick skinny! I just want to be healthy. :)


Good for you!

And good for all of us, for being accoutable about our weight!


*shimmies off to start drinking water!!!*

[mish_mish]

Kozmique, that is a great way to put it. The weight is an emotional gauge. Totally. I have had times of stress eating and times, when things are REALLY bad where I just don't eat at all (those are the really really dark times). It sounds like you are really learning about yourself.

[poohbear]

Thanks for sharing Kozmique! What an inspiration :) I've gained back so much weight because of stress and emotions lately it's frustrating. The last couple days I've been easing back into the Sonoma diet. Even getting my hubby to help fix some of the recipes :) I'm feeling more committed and focused now than I have for several months.

[Lauren_]

Originally Posted by yasmindiab

Yesterday was hard. I had an awful caffine headache (No Starbucks. None again today!)

You could have coffee. It's almost calorie-free. It's the milk & sugar that are the problems.

And, depending on what you drink at Starbucks, the whipped cream, candy syrups, chocolate....

[Lauren_]

Here's a little quote I picked up from somewhere. I've actually set up my Yahoo calendar to e-mail this to myself a couple of times a week, it really picks me up!

Are you ready to stop fighting against your own success? Are you ready to break free of your limitations? Think for a moment about your desire to lose fat and get fit. Know that if you would attempt it, you would without a doubt, achieve your goal. Think carefully about it. Now, reach out and touch that highest vision.

That bit about "know that if you would attempt it, you would without a doubt, achieve your goal' gets me every time. So, I may be plateauing right now, or have backslid yesterday. But overall, if I keep burning more calories than I take in, every law of physics says I must, eventually, lose weight.

You will, without a doubt, reach your goal if you keep at it.

woohoooooooo!