Weight loss options

[Paisley]

Yes, starchy food is a lot cheaper than meat, and ordering out can bust a budget. But I find that I'm a lot less hungry when I cut way down on starchy, sugary carbs. It's OK to eat cheaper, fattier meat, too.

The protein powder I buy is only 40 cents a scoop--a pretty good deal.

 

[Puzzicato]

Thank you for your encouragement Paisley. I really must stop talking and DO!

 

[i_am_the_scruff]

Thanks so much for your replies! I'm going to PM those who've had surgery.

I am on the pill but I was fat before I was on it. But i'm going to make an appointment when I have a day off from college and ask about the pill and thyroid checks.

Thank you all again for being so nice!

 

[Kate O Potato]

Scruff, if you are on contraception you might want to bring that up with your doctor too.

I went on Microgynon in 2007 and have put on 4 stone since. Despite dieting and going to the gym three times a week, I struggled to lose any weight whilst I was on it.

I came off it last month and have started dieting again so fingers crossed this will help!

That's interesting. When I went on Mycrogynon I was on the larger side already, so didn't notice any difference. I've been on it for 4 and a half years and about 3 years ago I dropped 2 dress sizes. Nobody had mentioned anything about weight gain to me, but now I'm wondering if I stopped taking it I'd be able to fit into my Freddie's jeans..... hmmm! Mr Potato probably wouldn't be impressed!

Anyway, back on topic. The way I lost weight was stress mainly, but also walking more often. No crazy exercise regime, but if I could walk somewhere within an hour, and I had the time for it, I would. When I moved to London, this was brilliant as it helped me to see so much more of the city, and notice the little things that you just wouldn't see if you caught the tube or went on a bus. Just little changes to my daily routine really helped.

 

[bellabella327]

I would like to sign up!

 

[Lillemor]

I know they say you shouldn't weigh yourself too often but I've recently gained 7kgs and I'm in shock! I used to weigh myself daily just for the sake of routine otherwise I'll forget and I'd just make a mental note of weekly, later on monthly weight. I'm going back to weighing myself daily and making a note of the weekly weight until I get back to my "ideal" (personal preference) weight so I don't lose control again.

Yes, starchy food is a lot cheaper than meat, and ordering out can bust a budget. But I find that I'm a lot less hungry when I cut way down on starchy, sugary carbs. It's OK to eat cheaper, fattier meat, too.

So true Paisle. It's the starches I have to watch and not so much how much I eat because I naturally tend to eat less when I fx. keep away from wheat and keep the starch low. I need to stop making excuses for why it isn't walking weather. Just an hour's walk nearly every day used to be enough to keep my weight in check. No, I've never had a rock hard body but I'm not under 25, I'm not very modern and I'm female so I don't think rock hard is the aim here. Each to their own though.

I've got to remind myself that the initial reason for losing weight was so I could fit vintage clothes more easily. All other reasons washed off me.

Sleep lack and dehydration affects my hunger and weight too.

 

[Black Dahlia]

Hi Ladies!
Couldn't help reading this thread and chiming in. I too have lost a lot of weight over the past several years, 90 lbs in total! I'd like to lose some more (wouldn't we all!). But, I'm comfortable where I am so it's not at the forefront of my thoughts (though it is niggling in the back of my mind).

I too suffer from some of the same issues/problems. I have to say...what can one do about the arms? My goodness..surely there is a toning exercise that will help? Or would that be useless as it's skin and not fat? I hate seeing my arms...flabby.

BD

 

[Viola]

I have just, and I mean JUST (as in yesterday's dinner and today as first whole day) gone vegetarian and am feeling very tremulous and worried about doing this correctly. I was told it could help my joints, which is a thing for me already having arthritis and general joint-yuck at ripe ol' 26, and it could help my still-apparently-15 skin.

PLEASE let it help my joints and skin, seriously.

I am not wanting to eat fake meat and Assorted Fake Soy and candy all the time either, like some of my girlfriends who play at vegetarianism. Fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains. I have about four months to give this a shot and I want to see what effect it has, and give it a fair shake and time to work.

Encouragement, hugs, and recipes greatly appreciated.

 

[Lady Day]

Starting off vegan (Are you vegan or do you eat dairy?) is the hardest part. You will more than likely be tired for a while, your skin will go crazy and you will poop strange for about a week

Cleansing out the body may take about 2-4 weeks, then you should start to see a change in all of the above.

Ive been vegetarian for over 12 years, vegan for about 2, and I noticed a huge difference when I gave up eggs/dairy. I also dont do the processed soy foods either. Whats the flippin point? Staples in my diet (stuff I eat weekly) are tofu, spinich, oatmeal, and beans.

vegweb.com is my favorite site for vegan recipes. Read the ingredient lists carefully, some have the heavy processed food substitutes like fake eggs and the like.

If you bake, a GREAT egg replacer is 2tbl cornstarch, 2tbl ground flax seed, 1tbl canola oil and 4tbl boiling water. Mix that into a paste and its about two 'eggs'.

Lastly, dont be afraid of fats. Eat nuts, and avocados, and olive oil and such. Your body will need it and it will make you feel full.

Good luck

LD

 

[Viola]

For now at least I am going to eat eggs and dairy but no mom not fish and chicken (it eludes me how one can be a vegetarian and eat chicken and tuna but my mom is a sweetie) while I grow accustomed to not eating meat at LEAST once daily the way I have been. I know its not hardcore but I need to take it in steps to stick with it, and I want to stick with it.

Today I had a bagel and butter, half a can of pineapple w/ some pineapple juice, a veggie burger on rye, and a black bean and rice burrito. Not fried beans, or any cheese, just black beans and rice, so for me that's pretty good. I feel pretty good about today but I have to put some menu ideas together so it stays doable.

 

[Puzzicato]

Good luck with turning vegetarian! I admire people who make that commitment. I think the best thing for your diet is to look to cultures that have a lot of vegetarians - I can eat Indian and Middle Eastern vegetarian food for weeks and never even notice that there is no meat. And they don't use pretend meat, they just make incredibly delicious healthy food!

 

[The Shirt]

I am going to sing the praises of the Moosewood line of cookbooks. I loved these when I went veg. and learned how to cook. Find a few staple things you love that can be made quickly.

Regarding eating out, I actually gained a lot of weight going veg though because I ended up frustrated at my options. Oftentimes it was a heavy pasta dish or a cheese heavy dish. But I think times have changed (I did this when I was 23 so about 15 years ago for about 7 years). You will have to find your voice and order things how you want them, something I was terrible at.

I also felt sluggish when I didn't concentrate on eating enough protein. I had trouble with my hair falling out and terrible nails. This was my experience and I don't think typical of a vegetarian lifestyle though. I made poor choices and was not thinking about what I was fueling my body with. I agree with Lady Day about nuts and avocados - You shouldn't be afraid.

Good luck to you! Have fun convincing your mom - I remember my first thanksgiving as a veg and boy was it interesting to say the least. She tried all sorts of wacky concoctions to make me feel like I was't missing anything.

 

[zendy]

Today I had a bagel and butter, half a can of pineapple w/ some pineapple juice, a veggie burger on rye, and a black bean and rice burrito. Not fried beans, or any cheese, just black beans and rice, so for me that's pretty good. I feel pretty good about today but I have to put some menu ideas together so it stays doable.

Don't forget your greens!
A ton of the vitamins your body needs will come from dark leafy veggies. If you don't eat enough, you'll start feeling like hell. And I agree with your wanting to stay away from the processed soy. As LD stated, vegweb is a blessing! Also take a look at the Post Punk Kitchen. YUM YUM!

 

[Viola]

So far today I had rice w/ sundried tomato dressing, two hardboiled eggwhites and one whole hardboiled egg, and a small can of mushrooms. NEED to go buy produce but it is danged expensive so I will have to ration salads, which is sort of a sad thing to have to say. There's an Asian market a few miles away and I may have to walk down there - I suspect, as always, the weightloss in my diet comes from how far I walk for those healthy groceries!

Trader Joes is, of course, in the diametrically opposed direction, but they have my almond milk, ezekial bread, and veggie burgers if I want to buy them which I may do just for brown-bagging to work. (Produce is more expensive there, though, which is why I don't one-stop-shop)

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"Im doing the low carb thing, and have discovered i can make a very good hamburger or meatloaf, or tuna patties, substituting the breadcrumbs with Psyllium seed husks , which i buy in a finely ground form, very filling and zero carbs!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyllium_seed_husks

 

[Puzzicato]

I don't add any binders to hamburgers! Just beef - 10% fat Aberdeen Angus - seasoned with salt & pepper.

 

[sixsexsix]

So far today I had rice w/ sundried tomato dressing, two hardboiled eggwhites and one whole hardboiled egg, and a small can of mushrooms. NEED to go buy produce but it is danged expensive so I will have to ration salads, which is sort of a sad thing to have to say. There's an Asian market a few miles away and I may have to walk down there - I suspect, as always, the weightloss in my diet comes from how far I walk for those healthy groceries!

Trader Joes is, of course, in the diametrically opposed direction, but they have my almond milk, ezekial bread, and veggie burgers if I want to buy them which I may do just for brown-bagging to work. (Produce is more expensive there, though, which is why I don't one-stop-shop)

Asian supermarkets are usually pretty good for cheap produce and super cheap (and lots of different types) of tofu. I would walk down there asap

 

[Lady Day]

NEED to go buy produce but it is danged expensive so I will have to ration salads, which is sort of a sad thing to have to say.-- I suspect, as always, the weightloss in my diet comes from how far I walk for those healthy groceries!

A good cheat on produce is bolthouse farms. I generally get 3 of their 50/50 berry blend quarts, and about a gallon of the green food drink per month. Its not a substitute for the real thing, more like a supplemental. They make great stuff, and the company is nearly 100 years old

Aw, walking is good for you! Pop on that iPod and take a stroll.

LD

 

[Meeting Gman]

I want to lose this fat under my chin. I've lost weight already and have a thin build but then why do I have this infernal fat under my chin? It makes my profile look horrible. I know that they say you can't target a specific part and that weight loss happens all over the body, but I can't really lose any more weight and still be healthy. Is there anything I can do to make the under the chin fat less noticeable?

 

[The Shirt]

I do know a little photography secret about the chin. When posing, press your tongue up to the roof of your mouth. Instantly raises it a smidge. Shoulders back and neck out slightly helps too.

As for exercises for that area - hmmm - I'm clueless.