Weight loss/staying thin advice

[jazzicat]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 7:07pm

Soo.. I went out to on New Years and I realized that I'm not as thin as I used to be. People in NYC are f-ing skinny!

I wouldn't say I'm overweight..not at all but I just look kind of soft right now which stinks. I run a lot, but I don't really diet and now I think I need to really watch my calories.

Anyone else in the same boat? What works for you to keep the weight off?

Posted: 1/4/09 at 7:13pm

Don't tell anyone- but the secret is....eat LESS or exercise MORE. You have to burn more calories than you consume and you will LOSE weight. If you eat more than you burn, you will GAIN weight.

Not one fad diet works- not Sugar Busters, not Atkins, nothing. You may lose weight temporarily but it will come back as soon as you go back to your old habits.

How can I be sure? I lost over 150 pounds and have kept it off for 8 years. I am re-focusing my efforts tomorrow and hope to lose about 40 more.

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 7:17pm

wow joe, really? that's awesome. I'd like to be able to do that. I'm starting a new plan (of eating less and better and exercising more) that I'm hoping will get me on a downward motion of 2lbs a week as I'd like to be under 200 pounds by my 25th birthday. I've never been as motivated as I am currently, so I have faith that I can do it.

[Weez]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 7:17pm

DON'T FRICKIN' DO IT!

Seriously, it's SICK how much emphasis there is on being slim these days. As long as you're healthy, who CARES if there's a few more inches around your middle than around your neighbour's? And skinny people are nowhere near as attractive as normal people who don't spend their whole life fretting about their size.

[broadwayboy1]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 7:17pm

The main thing to focus on is controlled portion sizes, way less junk food and eating more healthy foods, and exercising daily (running on the treadmill, taking walks, etc). If you continue doing what you are supposed to, you'll be seeing good results. But since your not overweight, then don't worry about the tiny portion sizes. Maybe after a few weeks, increase your portion sizes a little, and then eventually settle it at one reasonable amount. Treat yourself once in a while, but still don't end up eating too much.

Updated On: 1/4/09 at 07:17 PM

Posted: 1/4/09 at 7:21pm

Weez I did it for two reasons- health and clothes. I have never had trouble landing a man, but I was in miserable shape. And I grew weary of having to shop in Big N tall shops and spending three times as much on clothes that were ugly and cheaply made. Once I could shop at the Gap, I was elated.

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 7:27pm

Seriously, it's SICK how much emphasis there is on being slim these days. As long as you're healthy, who CARES if there's a few more inches around your middle than around your neighbour's? And skinny people are nowhere near as attractive as normal people who don't spend their whole life fretting about their size.


Yeah, i agree with this in partial, I know I'll never be svelte. Everyone in my family is over weight (except for my father's mother and his oldest son) and my father could work out to the end of time and he's always be stout, it runs in the family, but honestly, like joe said, health and clothes. I'm not in terrible shape, I don't have great stamina, but i still enjoy sports and I can go to the gym and do an hour of cardio without passing out, but I'd like to live past the age of 60 and would rather not develop diabetes. Also, being able to shop at the gap would be bitchin'. or at least, better than than the BigNTall section at Penny's

[Marianne2]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 7:37pm

I agree with what everyone else has said. And, don't over do it. It's much more important to be healthy than really skinny. I'm not sure how, but I have lost about 8 pounds this year. I wasn't even trying to. I'm not sick, so I guess maybe it was a mix of my eating and exercise that I end up getting, but not like I'm actually trying.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 7:44pm

I found cutting out wheat, white rice, and processed foods (including sodas) made a huge difference. I slack back every once in a while, and then rededicate myself to trying to put only healthy things in my body. I lost about 30 pounds in seven months by staying away from pasta and white rice and breads. I also avoid dairy for health purposes.

I still need to get a few pounds off, and need to work out more, but Joe's advice is good advice. I would just urge you to try and avoid processed, packaged foods - I honestly think all of the chemicals are bad for weight loss and general health.

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 7:50pm

Well, there's one thing I wouldn't do, I would rather slit my wrists than give up pasta.

[TheHumanTorch]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 7:55pm

in my family's experience it really depends on what size a person is ...

if you're relatively small but "soft" or "curvy" (don't know m or f) what has worked for me is tons of walking and portion control

if you're a little bit larger than average or healthy, then more exercise comes into play alongside portion control and flat out dieting

Exercise does not burn as many calories as one thinks it does and walking (for a distance rather than a time) burns more calories than running

[feline0favenueQ]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 8:19pm

I lost 15 pounds recently, by just watching portions, and cuttng down lunch and breakfast a bit. Also, when you are watching TV, do ten sit-ups/push ups/etc., they add up.

[tazber]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 8:21pm

Lots and lots of meth.

and as a bonus you'll have a really clean house.

Updated On: 1/4/09 at 08:21 PM

[nygrl232]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 8:32pm

Here's what helped me--going to the gym every other day and mixing it up when I could (looking up new exercises online). As for diet--took out all sugar, pasta, white rice, bread, things like that.

Once in a while, I'll have dessert, rice, spaghetti, whatever. But that's a small, occasional thing. The rest of the time I have veggies, fruit, yogurt, chicken, fish, eggs (supposed to have egg whites only, but I haven't quite gotten that down yet).

Lots of fluids--herbal tea (caffeine is occasional), water, veggie juices, smoothies with various supplements. I make sure I get my multivitamin also.

Exercise gets your body circulating and attuned, the food keeps things in balance. Just keep everything simple.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 8:34pm

To echo some of what's been said, you have to change your lifestyle--the way you eat and exercise.

To do that successfully and happily, you need to be educated about food and exercise. You don't have to give up a single food you love--but you have to learn how to moderate and budget food. The best place to learn this is weightwatchers.com. If that's too pricey, then get ahold of information on calories--how much you should be eating daily and weekly to lose weight where you are, as you lose and then to maintain your goal weight.

As for exercise, learn what a healthy cardio regimen would be. Learn about weights and/or resistence training. Muscle burns fat. For starting out, I recommend the Biggest Loser Dvds.

You need a system in place for eating and exercising so it becomes a series of action steps instead of aimless chaos that can be maddening and cause you to give up.

But, again, this is a change of lifestyle. Otherwise, the results will only last so long.

[jazzicat]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 8:45pm

thank you a so much, these tips are definitely helpful and inspirational.

That said, I honestly think I know all the rules, but I just have a hard time avoiding bread and rice and drinking a lot of water. I don't over do sweets, but I never say no to food ever if that makes sense. I don't restrict to go that extra mile and I think to really notice a difference you have to do that. I don't over eat, but I don't under-eat either. And I drink socially.

I was also wondering if anyone noticed positive results from the following changes: drinking more water, taking a multi-vitamin, increasing veggie intake.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 10:28pm

Definately don't eliminate things you enjoy completely. That equals deprivation and that equals noncompliance. Increase you protein and exercise cardiowise @ least an hour 4-5 x wk. Weight train the other days BUT DON'T STRAIN!

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 12:10am

To lose weight, I have a very simple routine. Eat less food.

I eat whatever I want. I don't eliminate anything. The difference is that I only eat when hungry, and only eat enough so that I'm no longer hungry. My diet is mostly carbs and very few vegetables. I eat a lot of cookies, candy, chips, pasta, pizza and bread. If I want so see faster results, I cut out most of the sugar, but I'm in no rush.

I always lose weight this way.

[Madcap Maisie]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 12:11am

Jane, that is my theory too!

Theres no point in eating when you arent hungry...

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 12:29am

So true, but that has been the bane of my existence. Eating just because.....I can.

not good.

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 12:30am

barilla plus is awesome! I got down to one of my lowest weights, eating that like 4 times a week. Its fiber on a plate..rich with omega 3 acids...VERY healthy. I make my own sauce too...olive oil,tomatoes,garlic,onions,peppers,mushrooms, and crushed red pepper. Trust me..this is good!!!!

[Radiana]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 1:54am

Hamlet you are right on about the whole wheat pasta, with the fiber content you need to be eating it especially on a weight loss diet.

This is my theory about weight loss. If you are going to be eating less you want to make every morsel count. Write down your most favorite foods and use them in your diet. As an example, I love artichoke hearts. I buy them by the large can and try to make them stretch for a week. I make an artichoke omelet every morning. I use half a yoke and four egg whites cooked in a little olive oil. I never get tired of this and I always feel like it is such a treat.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 1:55am

Some people need to eat more to lose weight, so all this "eat less" stuff isn't exactly helpful. People need to eat the right amount of food. If simply eating less and moving more is all the info some of you need to accomplish the body and health you desire, bravo. But I would guess most people need a better action plan than that. Structure. Guidance.

[danmag]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 6:10am

I find the key to maintaining your weight is to be thoughtful about what you eat Monday thru Friday and pretty much eat what you want on the weekend (not like 10 pizzas, but what you are craving).
That, and running. A lot. I think cardio only works when you sweat profusely.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 1/5/09 at 7:29am

>>I was also wondering if anyone noticed positive results from the following changes: drinking more water, taking a multi-vitamin, increasing veggie intake.

Yes, I have--changing certain habits helped with things like digestion, thyroid function and immune response. I've always tried to have healthy habits, but stress, stress eating and a sweet tooth tended to undermine efforts to trim down a bit and feel better.