Can everyone please post their.......

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Can everyone please post their.......
29
Thu, 02-26-2004 - 6:54am
Can everyone post their lifestyle change/diet that they are employing to lose weight? Whether it's just eating right, Atkins, calorie counting, South Beach etc. and how they are doing as far as keeping up with it, not feeling deprived, and whatever else they feel is important to their success.


I'll start if ya'll don't mind?!

I am eating holistically- whole grains, fruits & veggies, legumes, good oils, seeds & nuts, and soy products (tofu, tempeh, etc.)

It was very difficult to omit cheese and dairy out of my diet and sometimes I backslide, but always return to this vegan diet because I feel really good about myself when I'm on it. I eat between 1500-2000 calories a day and manage about 20-25 grams of fat (all good fats) a day, but in both cases if I go over it doesn't really affect my weight loss negatively. This is my own diet, but I think Dr. Ornish writes something similar, he does the "eat more, weigh less" regime. It works for me.

The way I started was to follow the vegan food guide pyramid and not add calories or fats. Amazingly, if I go back and add what I've eaten in the day I fall within the correct range. For example, 5 servings of grains, 6 servings of soy, 3 + of veggies and so on. This also helped me to learn what it is to eat 1 serv. of something, which I didn't know because I didn't grow up eating nutritiously AT ALL.

I look forward to hear what the rest of you's are doing!

Sarah

263/198/130 (new weight this morning, lost 2 pounds!)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-2003
Fri, 02-27-2004 - 4:18pm
I pretty much do my own diet, including protein, carbs, and trying to choose good fats and just paying attention to portion sizes. I try to eat between 1500-1800 calories lately because I tried to cut to 1400-1500 and was always weak even though I never really felt hungry at that amount. I'm also trying to avoid high fat and cholesterol foods. I try to eat a lot of veggies and salads without dressing to really fill me up and use meats (about 4-6 oz at the most per meal) and dairy products as more of side dishes since your body can only use so much protein at a time or it will turn to fat unlike carbs which your body can store up to 2000 to use later (but if its not used it will also eventually turn to fat). So I try to eat carbs with breakfast and lunch in the form of fruit, multigrain or wheat breads,oatmeal, and pastas. FOr a lot of the dairy products I use low fat or nonfat versions, being careful that the lowfat/no fat versions don't actually contain more calories than the regular (some products do so check the labels!). I try to eat less carbs later in the day unless I'm working out later or will be rather active in the evening. I try to mainly cook at home but go out occasionally, even fast food and am just smart about stuff like no ordering mayo and salad dressing on the side and all. Plus I've switched from regular soda to diet sodas which has made a huge difference in the amount of calories I found I was eating. And drink water throughout the day. I've never really been hungry with how I'm eating, in fact a lot of times it seems like its way too much food (but I found that I need to eat enough to not feel weak and give me energy to exercise). However I do have cravings and let myself have something small to satisfy them (ex: 1 of those Doves chocolate pieces or a piece of hard candy or some fruit when I want something sweet). I also sometimes crave regular sodas (diet does not taste as good, I don't care what everyone else says) but find I'm now satisfied with half a can instead of the 1-2 cans I used to drink at a meal.

As for exercise, I try to walk more (I'm a college student so I try to walk around campus and to classes if I can), I sometimes go to the gym for cardio and weights if I have time (which is rare), do Tae bo and the Firm, I want that body, and winsor pilates, and some hip hop videos at home and lift on my own at home. I also have taken a hip hop dance class a few times if I have room in my schedule that quarter, and like to go out dancing on the weekends.

I never really feel bad about cheating on my diet or exercise since I've found that even if I do slip a little its still usually less than I used to eat! And I use exercise as a stress relief so I'll usually at least be able to do something 3 times a week or so even with busy weeks, and I found that even when I slip with the exercise I've still been losing weight (just slower) since I've been watching the types of foods I eat.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-10-2003
Fri, 02-27-2004 - 9:06pm
Well I went to see the MD today and since Im feeling like my old self again, (I've been on Wellbutrin XL for a month), and it's that really great. She told me to go with Slim-fast, because she said the Atkins wouldn't be good for me, (stomach issues with meat), so that what I'm gonna roll with. Soy-based though, can't do dairy.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2003
Fri, 02-27-2004 - 10:43pm
I'm doing my version of the weigh down diet. My aunt lost about 80 lbs on it and has kept most of it off for about 3 years. Basically you eat anything you want, but you have to wait until you are genuinely physically tummy-grumbling hungry. Then you eat a small portion and really monitor yourself for feeling sated, but not "full." So you end up eating what you love, just less often and is smaller quantities. In some ways it's a lot harder than calorie counting (or WW or Atkins or anything else I've done recently), but it feels less restrictive to me. Every day is not perfect, I'm still catching myself eating for reasons other than physical hunger. But, I'm being very mindful and taking it a little at a time (sometimes an hour at a time).

I'm also trying to walk like a maniac. I enjoy exercise, so I'm trying to build on that stregnth. I set mileage and speed goals each month and try to top them. I've done so many other diets and gotten frustrated, this seems like the only one that will work for me.

Erin

http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics
Mom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 02-27-2004 - 11:55pm
Interesting Erin!

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2004
Sat, 02-28-2004 - 11:11am
I eat ordinary foods, but choose carefully and not too much. And I find ways to incorporate movement into my day. For example, play golf? Nix the cart and carry the clubs. And nix the car wash too: wash my own. I'm pragmatic. And I'm progressing steadily.

Rudy

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2003
Sat, 02-28-2004 - 11:17am
Shawna,

It's pretty similar to the plan laid out in the 7 secrets of naturally slim people. I really liked that book, but I lent it to someone and they never gave it back. I need to buy another copy off of half.com or something.

It's really behavioral (like you never ever eat while doing something else), but it seems like it can really be a lifelong thing.

Erin
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics
Mom
Avatar for angelinoh
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
Sat, 02-28-2004 - 1:38pm
wow a lot of posts and no arguments..LOL

I am exercising 5-6 days a week(aerobics,treadmill,walks,weights),

keeping track of what i eat/calories/read labels now

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-2003
Sat, 02-28-2004 - 2:30pm

I'm doing my own thing! I

Deb 270/228/145ish  (updated 4/19/04. Next weigh-in: 6/1/04)

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2003
Sat, 02-28-2004 - 4:06pm
Congrats on quitting smoking! That's awesome! My husband just hit his 2 year smoke-free anniversary. I know it can be hard, but it can be done.

Erin
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics
Mom

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