Nutrition and exercise!

[Jo Larke]

I've recently started doing yoga again-- it's not the most intense workout, but it's a nice way to stretch and get your heart pumping a little faster. I also take walks every day. As for "diet," I usually go by a modified version of the paleo/caveman diet by eating at least two out of three meals per day of foods that are 100% natural (not processed).

 

[Mrs.Williams]

So many wonderful stories in this thread! It seems like you girls are all doing well with new diets, etc.
I got married last April and soon left my nearly-vegan diet (I'm all for vegans, but after 3 years I just wasn't getting much protein). I immediately gained 10 lbs and so I started doing Crossfit with my husband. I feel so strong, it's crazy!
Now my goal is losing fat, not weight, and just staying healthy. So I'm trying to cut back on alcohol and bread... My two favorite food groups..... :}

 

[Emily the Storyteller]

I'm a bit of an exercise freak to be honest... I walk two miles to and from school every day, plus an aerobics class and 6 hours of dancing lessons each week. Occasionally I will go for a swim as well. I don't eat as heathily as I could though - I just tend to eat a lot, of everything

 

[ThemThereEyes]

For me it's running after my two young boys, and holding my younger son. I wish I had more time and energy to walk a few miles a couple of days out of the week.

 

[Vera Godfrey]

I'm going to Key West in May (birthday present!), so I need to get back to my eating plan. I had been doing calorie cycling which was working quite well, then had some crazy weeks right after Christmas and got away from it.

I'd also like to add some kind of exercise in!

 

[Priscilla]

Getting healthy is what helped me go retro! Staying away from processed foods and refined carbs helped me lose 40 lbs. I've got about the same amount to go, but it gave me the confidence to wear what I love! As far as exercise working retail keeps me on my feet, but pilates and my kinect help the weight loss. Just keep moving!!!
:cheer2:

 

[Flicka]

I'm going to conduct an experiment... Losing weight vintage style! I've seen the claim that Swedes have never been as healthy as during the war due to diet and exercise. It got me thinking. Shouldn't that work just as well today?

Instead of doing swanky diets I'm going to do old-fashioned cooking, war period style, which means light on the meat and heavy on locally grown vegetables. Vintage-sized portions. This has the added bonus of being eco friendly. For excercise, I'm going to walk lots and ride an exercise bike (we've got a lot of snow currently or I'd go outside) which matches what people did during the gasoline shortage. My theory is that it'll work just as well as most diets, but be much healthier. I'm going to keep track of what I eat using the WW program but use old recipes - after the first week I'm surprised how well these recipes fit their recommendations.

I have 8 kilos to lose and I have 1 June as a deadline. I'm really curious to see the results.

 

[Miss Golightly]

I stopped eating potatoes, pasta and rice (white or brown) a couple of months ago - kind of like the Paleo Diet (but in no way will I be giving up dairy - I mean, no cheese?! Come on!!!!!!!) and I've found it much easier to maintain my weight. I avoid processed foods if possible and don't tend to eat a lot of sweet things (savoury things are my weakness though!) and I walk a lot which also helps. I don't miss the things I have given up - initially I was thinking "what on earth will I eat now?!" but found a good website with tasty Paleo friendly recipes that made things much easier.

 

[Dixie_Amazon]

Vintage-sized portions.

I think this is key. Portions today are much larger.

http://www.divinecaroline.com/22177/49492-portion-size-vs-now

Quiz

 

[AmateisGal]

After some health issues where I gained 10 pounds in a few months for no reason(ack!), I'm trying to get back on track. I go to Curves, try to eat sensibly (an apple a day!), and stay fit. But the good news is that, after a visit to an endocrinologist, all my levels (cholesterol, blood sugar, etc.) are in the normal range (though hormones are not because I have PCOS), and that's the most important part for me. I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that it's more important to be healthy than skinny, though it's hard...

 

[sheeplady]

I stopped eating potatoes, pasta and rice (white or brown) a couple of months ago - kind of like the Paleo Diet (but in no way will I be giving up dairy - I mean, no cheese?! Come on!!!!!!!) and I've found it much easier to maintain my weight. I avoid processed foods if possible and don't tend to eat a lot of sweet things (savoury things are my weakness though!) and I walk a lot which also helps. I don't miss the things I have given up - initially I was thinking "what on earth will I eat now?!" but found a good website with tasty Paleo friendly recipes that made things much easier.

Any diet that makes you give up cheese should be *banned.*

 

[Flicka]

Result after weighing in after completing week one of the vintage diet: I'm down 1.4 kilos (which should be around 3 lb). Not bad!

 

[Dixie_Amazon]

Result after weighing in after completing week one of the vintage diet: I'm down 1.4 kilos (which should be around 3 lb). Not bad!

Very good, congratulations!

 

[Miss Golightly]

Any diet that makes you give up cheese should be *banned.*

Absolutely!!!!!! If I was told I was dairy intolerant and could have no more - I don't know what I'd do!!!!!! (and please don't offer me any "dairy substitutes"!)

Flicka - well done!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Belle Fatale]

Absolutely!!!!!! If I was told I was dairy intolerant and could have no more - I don't know what I'd do!!!!!! (and please don't offer me any "dairy substitutes"!)

I am lactose intolerant enough that most cheeses make me feel sick. I still eat them sometimes, though. There is nothing that can take cheese's place. (Don't even get me started on vegan "cheeses." They don't even melt properly.)

 

[1961MJS]

I am lactose intolerant enough that most cheeses make me feel sick. I still eat them sometimes, though. There is nothing that can take cheese's place. (Don't even get me started on vegan "cheeses." They don't even melt properly.)

Hi

Fake food is well, fake. I tried to eat a low fat, low calorie Mexican plate years ago. Low Fat Cheese, Low Fat Sour Cream, grilled Chicken, beans, and lettuce. I accidentally ate into the Styrofoam box, it didn't taste much different, but it was harder to swallow.

later

 

[magnolia76]

I have no problem consuming skim milk, whole wheat, fat free cool whip (freeze it for ice cream yummmm), but cheese is by far not something that can be substituted, so I usually go for 2%. The fat free kind gets hard and shiny when melted, yuck! Portion control is my best friend and my arch enemy.

 

[SugarKitten]

Flicka Great progress! I'd love to know what you're cooking/eating and how you're deciding portion sizes.

For the lactose folks - hard cheeses that have aged the longest have almost no lactose in them, if it's a lactose and not a dairy intolerance. Just thought I'd throw that out there! Everyone should be able to enjoy cheese!

As a part-time vegan (religious reasons) - Vegan cheese is the worst/strangest food stuff there is!

So, in my almost-30 years on the planet, I've never dieted if you don't count that stretch I decided I wasn't going to buy candy bars for the week leading up to spring break in college.

I'm naturally lean and quite tall, so no one has noticed I've put on about 10 lbs or so in the last few months (vacation, holidays, a whole month on the road for work with way too many snacks around) I could wait until it just fell back off, but it's far too annoying for that. I'm naturally active, but I work 50-60 hours a week, so the gym is mostly out. Any great ideas for a "diet" that you all like to get rid of the extra weight? I cook fresh meals, eat lots of veggies, etc... the health side of things are pretty well covered when I'm not traveling but I'm back on the road at the end of the month, and I really don't want to compound the problem!

Sorry - it's a cringe worthy question I know, but my weight is usually just my weight, and I'm not used to thinking about it!

 

[ThesFlishThngs]

SugarKitten, I don't 'diet' either; have just made adjustments to my habits over the years, most of which are common sense and you probably do already. I don't do soda pop (other than the occasional zippy, stingy ginger beer), but have water when I'm thirsty. The idea of consuming a big dose of something sweet and syrupy while eating a savory meal quit making sense to me years ago. I've tapered down my sugar usage, but haven't cut it out of my diet, nor substituted artificial chemical sweeteners. I'd much rather have a little bit of the real thing than replace it with those suspicious concoctions. Just a touch in my coffee is all I need.
Being vegetarian immediately eliminates all those daily doses of calories, fat, & cholesterol, though I still do dairy and try to be mindful of my intake.
Tempting snack foods are kept to a minimum in the house, forcing me to have fruit, or make the effort to prepare something if I feel peckish. Most times I can't be bothered and the urge passes. When we do have things like tortilla chips around, I leave the bag in the kitchen, either putting chips into a very small bowl, or even my hand. That way, if I want more, I have to at least make the effort to go fetch them.
If you have a dining partner, it's great to share meals when eating out - more reasonable portions and easier on the budget. The Mr. and I have date night once a week, and haven't had a whole entree each in ages and ages. Sometimes a couple of appetizers shared is plenty, others we'll split an appetizer and an entree. (Of course, our wine intake sort of cancels out the meal frugality, but it's all about give and take. )

As for exercise, I'm not disciplined or motivated enough to do the gym thing, or even, for that matter, most home workouts. I love to kayak, and can stick the yak in the back of my car, drive ten minutes to the river, have a thirty minute paddle and come home, all within an hour. That's a nice full workout, cardio included. However, it's not always practical, is it?
What I do at home is Pilates. Back in the fall I began a weekly local class, which was helpful as the instructor was on hand to explain the moves and the breathing, and - most importantly - proper positions. I'm hopeless at figuring that stuff out from charts. So, that routine got familiar, and I began noticing subtle changes in my muscle tone, and that pesky tummy area. Now that the instructor is off with her new baby, I'm on my own, but remember many of the moves, and my body is trained enough to fall into correct position. There's so much Pilates you can do with only a mat, as opposed to all the fancy equipment and machines that are gaining popularity. Most of what I do is mat work, with a stretchy band added for resistance work. Here at home I can do 20 minutes or an hour, depending on my schedule, but it all adds up. Also, I recently read an article claiming that doing an hour of Pilates charges up your metabolism to continue burning more calories all day long, which can only be a good thing.
Good luck, and be sure to share what works for you.

 

[betty amazing]

I am lactose intolerant enough that most cheeses make me feel sick. I still eat them sometimes, though. There is nothing that can take cheese's place. (Don't even get me started on vegan "cheeses." They don't even melt properly.)

I did once find a vegan mozzerella substitute that was pretty close to the real thing... and then they stopped making it! I do agree though, most vegan 'cheeses' are absolutely dire x