This is why I’ve been yoyo’ing these seven pounds for months. At home, I lose them. Then I pull a stint here at my mom’s, where I am right now, and put them back on. Not only does she ALWAYS have at least three different kinds of ice cream, but my siblings bring all kinds of temptations in. Just today, my brother has tried to give me donut holes and a sausage kolache. So far, holding strong, but I am only on day two of six. Y’all think good, healthy thoughts for me!
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It’s a journey and commitment. Do you know how many strange looks that I’ve gotten over the years when I turned down desserts? If I had a nickel…
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Our Friday beer/dinner gang has gotten used to the fact that I order small (4 or 5 oz) beers. That allows me to have a 2nd beer that is a different kind…. or same/cold. It’s my compromise between none and lots.
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There is sometimes, “shaming,”/mocking that goes along with that if one is thin.
I am gluten-free - by choice, not necessity, and it eliminates lots of desserts/temptations. My friends know this, and mostly respect that I don’t eat bread, cakes, pies, cookies, etc. Honestly, I don’t think I am a person who is easily tempted. I’m not sure what makes one more susceptible to temptation.
I do occasionally have ice cream, and I, too, keep a stash of dark chocolate. And, I make a mean key lie pie with a gluten-free crust (I use gluten-free animal crackers - delicious! Everyone raves and prefers my crust to one made of graham crackers) when guests come and stay with us. I indulge then.
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I lost 20 pounds last summer taking a weight loss contest at the gym that included 12 weeks of food journaling and once a week workouts. I was going to the gym 3x a week, sometimes four and sticking to a 1500 calorie diet most says. I had plenty of days I was over but journaling helped keep me on the low side when I had days that I overshot my calorie goal.
I gained maybe 7 pounds back. I did the weight loss contest again through the holidays but did not lose (but I did not gain over Christmas/New Year!)
A friend and I are signing up for the summer contest again and my goal is to lose 20 pounds and drop a pants size. My big, hairy, audacious goal is to drop 35 pounds. This will be hard. That is contest-winning amount of weight loss.
I am starting now. I am going to do calorie counting all summer with a target of 1,500 calories. I am suffering knee pain right now so I will need to focus on the food more than the workouts and I might take up aqua aerobics / swim.
You have to be consistent every day. Measure your calories and write it all down. Drink tons of water. Eat foods that are filling that are low cal.
Ideally I will spend all summer eating grilled meat, salad, fruit and soup. Yes I will have a few treats but not many!
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I think I was eating about 1500 calories when I was doing my slow change the way you eat diet. I was never hungry, but I did miss bread. We usually split desserts at restaurants if something appeals. I eat one or two pieces of chocolate for dessert, but otherwise only have sweets when we go out or for birthdays and parties.
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Question. Would it make more sense before committing to a #certain number of calories diet to first see where you calories/net calories are now? To not start a diet but log your current eating habits for 2-3 weeks …and then determine a cut in calories?
For instance if I log my daily calories for 3 weeks and see that I am averaging 2400 calories a day (literally just picking a number), maybe I decide to THEN pick a number to reduce to 1800 calories which would net approx a pound loss each week? Or 2100 and look for a loss of a pound every 2 weeks (if theory worked perfectly - I was rounding off here).
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Yes. I don’t calorie count anymore, but I did years ago and I just find it helpful now to have an idea of how many calories are in an item. Things like nuts that are delicious and nutritious but highly caloric - I still eat but in smaller quantities. A lot of it is common sense, but I know there were some things that I ate regularly that I did not realize were so high in calories. I know now!
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Who is the cc member who recommended that Starting Strength program?
She (I believe) hasn’t posted in a long time, but it was @Midwest67 .
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Gotcha, it’s good to know the source.
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Back in 2011, I was inspired by the Weight Loss for Dummies thread here on CC. At the time, I noted “ I am totally educated as to what I should be eating and how much I should be exercising. But knowing and doing are worlds apart. “ My main question at the time: “how do you change what you like to eat? I like most everything bad for me and really don’t like most everything good for me. …How do you keep from being hungry all the time? Can you really change from a lifetime of preferences? “
I did make some lifestyle changes, essentially eating (much) less and exercising (a little) more. And the weight just started melting off steadily. I lost close to 50 pounds over a year. I kept it pretty much off until I got laid up with a broken ankle (other one was sprained) for three months in 2013. Over the course of the next couple of years I gained about half of it back. It pretty much bounced around that level. Then a few years ago I started a new diabetes drug (not Ozempic!) and lost about five or so pounds. Then I started bouncing around that weight. Then I got pneumonia after last Thanksgiving, and a Campylobacter infection last month and lost another six pounds. (Incidentally, I do not recommend these last activities as a way to lose weight.) But I am currently about 37 pounds down from my 2011 high.
I still keep up many of the eating habits, such as mainly drinking water, eating small portions, only eating half the bun on a burger, weighing pasta, etc. But exercise is tougher because my feet do not like being walked on.
My initial response to how do you lose weight? Eat less and exercise more, who knew!
How to keep it off? Self control and portion control. I’m better at the second than the first.
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This may not be very helpful to those who don’t like to cook or don’t have time to cook, but we’ve learned to make and use cauliflower rice as a tasty and perfectly acceptable substitute for rice and crusts. I don’t like cauliflower and don’t eat it raw, but nicely spiced and “fried” in a non-stick pan gives the right mouthfeel for any dish served over rice, and it makes a great quiche or pizza crust. Also, we discovered Kibun Foods Healthy Noodles at Costco for Asian dishes we enjoy, like Pad Thai. These even stand up well to tomato-based sauces. These two substitutes have enabled us to keep eating most of our favorite things without sacrificing taste or worrying about carbs and excess calories.
The hardest thing for me was stopping all the (wonderful sourdough) bread-making I had been doing for years. I was constantly enjoying the process, so we always had fresh loaves which we liked to share with the birds and chipmunks at the first hint of staleness—so I could start again. I miss that. I’ve made a few loaves to give away, but the fresh-baked smell is too hard to deal with, so I’ve shelved that activity for now. I’ll pick it up again eventually when DH reaches a good maintenance weight, but only enough to supply us with the occasional piece of toast or hors d’oeuvres go-with. Sigh.
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The program I did actually started this way. My coach gave me a target for calories but it was more of a baseline. After the first two weeks of me tracking everything and with those calories /macro percentages as a goal, we adjusted to a new level of calories for weight loss based on what happened the first two weeks, and then lowered the calories a little more, one more time a couple of weeks later.
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Food logging is a good idea. If you set a calorie goal, do give yourself “credit” for exercise. For example, with a 1600 calorie goal a day with 200 calories of exercise would allow 1800 calories.
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Marilyn, I literally feel your pain regarding your feet not appreciating being walked on. After years of plantar fasciitis, and long episodes of weekly PT, wtih home exercises, my feet are finally improved. I can walk 5 to 10 miles with no issues. It helps that I adore walking, and have spent good money on shoes, but to be pain free, finally, is incredible. Writing here to encourage you to try PT, as well as other treatments, and stick with it.
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Unfortunately I’m dealing with bunions, hammertoes, and arthritis. The last is why my feet protest every morning when I first stand. I’ve had PT for ankles and hips, which helps some, and do have orthotics. Voltaren didn’t help. I don’t necessarily have issues with a few miles, but my foot bones will protest for the next few days in retaliation.
I am not big on swimming / pool logistic myself. But gotta say that my friends with swimming fitness habits really do seem to like it. Good workout with minimal joint stress. I assume it could work well when there are feet issues.
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Yes indeed, which is why I bless our lovely pool. It’s been great for slow laps (40’ long), but we only heat it starting in late May.
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May will be here before you know it 
Does it take time for the pool to come up to temperature?