NEW HERE AND NEED ADVICE!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2003
NEW HERE AND NEED ADVICE!!
10
Sun, 06-06-2004 - 5:58pm
First I would like to say hello to everyone here, Im new on the block, Im looking for a place I can come to for help and advice about my problem. I have gained over 100pds in the last year due to stress and of course eating,oh and a baby. Anyway Im currently weighing about 319pds, If you saw me you wouldnt think I was that big, Im also 5'10, and IM also wearing a size 22..omg... I hate even saying it. I just joined a very good gym here in my city, the only thing is I dont have no one to go with me or any type of motivation so I have not been yet. I dont want to take any pills, Im just stuck because I dont know what to do, I dont no what I should and shouldnt eat, I was thinking of cutting out red meat, but I dont know if that will help, I just am so confused and I dont have any help or motivation. My weight gain problem is really stressing me out and taking a tole on my body and life, I dont even go out anymore becasue im worried about what people think, And now my kids and my husband is suffering because I dont even want to leave out the house with them, someone told me to just eat fruit and veggies and drink water and exercise but I dont know, Im just confused. Do anyone here have any suggestions and comments, because I really need it. Thanks
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-23-2004
Sun, 06-06-2004 - 6:55pm
Welcome to the board! My names Vikki and I just found the board a few weeks back. I started out here at 310 lbs. and I'm now down to 304. I know EXACTLY how it feels to be too embarrassed to go anywhere or do anything. For a long time I put my life on hold saying, "I'll do (fill in the blank) when I lose weight." Well, years passed and I wasn't losing any weight at all. I finally decided I had to get out into the world for my own sake and for my families sake. It is hard and sometimes people are mean, but you know something....I am a heck of a lot happier. You can do it, too. Its not going to be easy, but living life the best you can is better than just watching it pass you by.

I don't know much about any particular diet or exercise plans, but I can tell you what is working for me. I have a pretty laid back eating plan. First I cut out all the fast food, which was a major source of fat and calories for me. My family was eating take-out at least three times a week (I know, that is bad, bad, bad!) Then I cut out excess sugar, from candy, cakes, etc. I also had to learn what regular portion sizes were because I was used to over-eating at every meal. This article helped me with that: http://www.ivillage.com/diet/experts/askdiet/articles/0,,221776_80163,00.html

I try to make good choices now. I have fruit, veggies, calcium, protein, and healthy carbs at ever meal. For example, this morning I had a V-8, two pieces of whole wheat toast with "I can't believe it's not butter" on them, some cantelope,two slices of turkey bacon and a glass of skim milk for breakfast. I also don't skip breakfast or lunch, because that sets me up to over-eat at dinner.

For exercise I walk twice a day, a mile and a half in the morning and another mile and a half after dinner. At first I was panting like an animal at the end of each walk, but it is slowly getting easier. I am considering joining the local gym around August or September. To avoid feeling too self-conscious when I workout there, I'll probably go early in the morning when the gym is mostly empty. If I go at 5 a.m. I could work out virtually alone and be home well before my husband and kids wake up. Maybe that would work for you too.

Well, I've babbled on and on. Sorry about that. Just know that you are NOT alone and you can do this. Just take a deep breath, do some research into diet and exercise plans (I pasted a couple of links that might help with that below), and post as much as you need to in order to get the answers you're looking for. You can do this, really. I speak from experience. If I can do it ANYBODY can.

Big welcome and a big hug,

Vikki

http://www.ivillage.com/topics/fitness/0,,165513,00.html

http://www.lhj.com/lhj/category.jhtml?categoryid=/templatedata/lhj/category/data/c_292.xml

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2004
Sun, 06-06-2004 - 8:21pm
Welcome! I'm glad you decided to join us :-) First, since you don't know what you should or shouldn't eat to lose weight, I would suggest talking to your doctor. He or she should be able to guide you in the right direction or even recommend a dietician or nutritionist. I think it's good that you don't want to take any pills. I feel the same way and have never taken them. I believe that this can usually be done without taking pills (of course there may be some medical exceptions to this).

IMO, the advice that you got to just eat fruits and vegetables and drink water and exercise is incomplete. Of course all those things are important to losing weight, and you should definitely do them, but you also definitely need some protein like chicken breast (no skin), tuna or other kind of fish or lean meat. Other protein sources would be nuts, beans, tofu, yogurt and cheese. It's important to get some kind of protein in your diet so that you don't start losing muscle along with the fat. There's so much information about nutrition out there but these are some of the basics to hopefully get you started. I would definitely recommend doing some research on your own along with talking to your doctor.

Good luck and I hope to see you around here more often :-)

~~Linda

~~Linda

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2003
Sun, 06-06-2004 - 10:07pm
Awww, you too, made me feel so welcome, I appreciate the time you took to give me some advice, and I will use it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 9:13am

Hi Kismet and welcome to the boards!

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

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 9:30am
just continuing with the thread...

what i did was one made the decision to do something and then two i went to a dietian. she taught me things i didn't know or even think of. after i got my eating under control, which is a daily battle, i decided to work on the exercise.

i would say set a goal each week and decided on what you want to work on first and go from there. never beat yourself up if you don't follow through. everyday is a new day and you are allowed to have a day off from the diet. also realize that you are a beautiful person on the inside and you are just letting that beauty shine even more on the outside. don't let anyone steal your joy and determination either.

:)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 10:58am
Hello Kismet :-)

You've come to the right board for support! I started out like many of the other ladies here. I ate more fruits and veggies and lean proteins and whole wheats, drank water, exercise and you will lose weight. Have you thought about keeping a food journal? I find this to be quite helpful in seeing how much I really do eat. I think everyone's advice is good and yes you can do it! You definitely gotta gain some confidence back, because you are your own best friend and only you can take care of you. When you feel the need to eat something you aren't supposed to, treat yourself to makeup or a new outfit or going for a pedicure. Also start small minigoals for yourself. Mine is to be down to 230-240 pounds by summer's end and down to 200 by the end of the year. Welcome to the board! Please stick around ;-) Heather

since 4/5/04

274/256/150ish

Heather and Shawn 7/16/04

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 2:58pm
>>just stuck because I dont know what to do<<

Hi and welcome. I think what you do...is just start somewhere. Eat three healthy meals today, and the next day, and the next. Get in some kind of exercise today, and the next day, and the next. Just start, and then keep it up! And before long, you'll have what you want. In other words, what can you do today to un"stick" yourself? Do that!

Forte

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2003
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 3:41pm
Again, I would like to think all of you for your responses, I feel like I came to the right place for motivation and help.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-31-2003
Mon, 06-07-2004 - 4:08pm

The only thing I would add is that many in the dieting advice world suggest that having 5 mini meals instead of three main meals is actually better for blood sugar and metabolism.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2004
Tue, 06-08-2004 - 1:51pm
One thing I'd say about that is....it doesn't necessarily HAVE to be a diet. It is possible to just change one's ways of doing things. I for instance decided, months ago, to lose weight and I did it not by adding a lot of mini meals (which would have been artificial to me) but rather by making conscious choices to change the way I did some things. I eat three meals (no skipping breakfast) and I make sure those are healthy meals. Then I incorporate activity into my daily life. Even with a wheelchair it's possible to be active, and actually I probably have more upper body strength than most because of it. Anyway, for some people who hold time-clock jobs for instance, the mini-meal approach may not be feasible. I think it's important to build a program for yourself, whatever that is, which actually FITS into your lifestyle. For you furry, it may be most convenient to eat small meals 5 times. But for Forte (or me too) it may be most convenient to eat three squares. One thing is for sure...if it's NOT something you can live with, then you WON'T. That's what stats show, anyway. Most people don't stick with diets which are artificial to them. Rather, those who succeed learn new ways of enjoying the life they have at a healthy new weight, and that way they insure there's no going back.

Astri