New To Board, But Not To Weight Loss!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2005
New To Board, But Not To Weight Loss!
11
Tue, 04-19-2005 - 6:53pm

Hello All!

Well, as you may have guessed (as per the title) I am new here but not new to trying to lose weight. My name is Sharon (I'm 32). I am trying to lose 100 pounds. Maybe a little more. In the past I have tried tons of things to lose the weight and nothing has worked. So far I've tried the following. Not to mention some I'm sure I am forgetting (this also spans out over a 10-14 year period):

Herbalife (lost some but then got stuck)
Slim Fast (didn't lose a thing)
Weight Loss Pills (nothing)
Curves (lost inches but only half a pound in 4 months)
Low Carb (did it while doing Curves and didn't seem to make a difference)
Starvation (need I say more? LOL!)
Cabbage Soup Diet (LOL...what a joke)
Grapefruit Diet (another joke)

So, last night I figured I'd try to simply change the way I eat in a different way (like I said above, I did try low carb but it didn't work for me). So, my new way is going to be simply adding more fruits and vegetables, more fish, more chicken, and no sugars, sweets, junk food, red meat, etc. Today I went food shopping and stocked up on tons of fruits and veggies, boneless/skinless chicken breasts, eggs, no fat cheese, rice cakes, sugar free Jello, cottage cheese, yogurt, fruit juice, etc.

I am hoping that this will work. If it doesn't I don't know what else to do. Motivation is a big factor for me. I lack it big time. So, I thought I join here for some support. I also plan on walking and/or bike riding starting within the next 5 days (gotta get the bikes fixed first). My husband and son are more than willing to walk and ride with me. Which should be a great help with staying motivated to exercise.

The food part I don't think will be too hard because I have altered my eating in the past as I mentioned above. I was so excited to start the low carb thing back then and then was so upset that I only lost a half a pound after 4 months! And, that was with 30 minutes, at least, of exercise 5 days a week. And, I drank nothing but water all day and night for those 4 months. Not one drop of soda (not even diet), coffee, tea, not even fruit juice! Just strickly water. You'd think I would have lost something, but no. Just inches. And not even enough to make any real difference. For instance, even though I lost inches I never went down in pant/shirt sizes.

Anyway, I am trying to start new here yet AGAIN! I hope it works this time. Has anyone else out there taken the approach I am now taking (i.e., fruits, veggies, leans meats, etc.) And, if so, how has it been going for you? What have you lost if anything? And, in how much time? Thanks all for listening! Sorry it was so long. Please feel free to give me your advice on anything. Thanks.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2005
Tue, 04-19-2005 - 8:55pm
Hi Sharon, I am taking that exact approach (sort-of). I am eating whatever I want, but in smaller portions. I am trying to wean myself down to normal size portions. I used to eat about triple or quadruple a normal portion--now I'm down to 1.5 or 2 times normal portion on most things. I try to avoid sweets and too much bread and pasta especially b/c I am a carb addict. I have been at this now for a week and have lost 5.5 pounds. I am really happy about that. I have never had any motivation before either--that's why I've never tried to diet. I would think about it, then never start the diet. This board REALLY REALLY helps me stay motivated. Good luck on losing and come here often!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2005
Tue, 04-19-2005 - 9:07pm

Me again. I have a few mored questions for all of you. I plan on eating smaller meals all day long. However, I usually don't get hungry in the am until I've been awake for at least 3-4 hours (but by then it's lunch). So, do you suggest I still eat anyway even if it's just a hard boiled egg or something? And, since I am planning on (as I've done tonight) just eating a small normal sized portion of meat (chicken or fish) and veggies for dinner, do you suggest I still eat some fruit and good healthy food here and there even if I don't feel hungry? Or should I just eat the good foods when I do feel hungry?

My problem is that I never eat breakfast, never eat lunch and usually just eat dinner and then snack on junk food in the evening. So, I am assuming I gain weight because my metabolism is at a stand still due to not eating during the day (not to mention the junk food I eat in the evening...lol). I also ask because right now I don't feel hungry yet I only had a small salad today (with just lettuce, cabbage and carrots and 2 tbl spoons of vineger and oil dressing) and some low fat/sodium soup for dinner. Plus about 64 oz of water and some watermellon slices. That's it. Calorie wise it doesn't seem like much (I think it actually comes in under 800 for the day). And, even though I am eating healthy foods I don't want to eat too little and risk keeping my body in starvation mode/low metabolism. Know what I mean? I hope I am making sense. LOL! But at the same time I don't know if I should eat just to keep my body running even though I don't feel hungry. Any advice you could give would be appreciated.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2005
Tue, 04-19-2005 - 9:10pm
Thank you so much. Yes, it looks like this board will be a great help. My biggest problem I think will be the exercise. But, I will keep at it. Thank God I have an awesome husband and son who are so willing to help me too.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2005
Tue, 04-19-2005 - 9:26pm
Take it from me--I am a nurse (I'm pulling medical rank). Yes, you should eat at regular intervals all day long. Several small meals and should have no less than 1200 cals a day if you want any metabolism. You should not go more than 4 waking hours without eating something--even if its only a teaspoon of peanut butter or something really small. Also, you should be taking a multivitamin--its really hard to get all your nutrients from the food anyway and especially when dieting. Many times, nutritional deficits can cause your cells not to function properly and can kill your metabolism as well. Call your doc and ask what a good vitamin for you would be. You can go to fitday.com and log in your food--do it for just one day, then click reports and go to the one about nutritional requirements--you will be surprised at how low most of your values are.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2005
Tue, 04-19-2005 - 10:02pm

Thanks for the advice. I was kinda figuring I should be eating anyway even if I don't feel hungry. As long as its healthy foods of course. Not eating and eating the wrong things when I do eat has always been my problem. The vitamin is covered. I always take one.

I've also used Fitday in the past when I was going to Curves and doing the low carb diet. So, I am familiar with it. I guess I could start using it again.

Thanks again for the advice.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Thu, 04-21-2005 - 11:14am

Hi there and welcome to the board!


Many of us have been through the diet wringer in much the same way you have.

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Fear

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2005
Thu, 04-21-2005 - 11:21am
Thanks Kerstin. Sounds like you are doing great! Don't worry, I drink about 128 oz of water or more each day. Sure I may be in the bathroom every 10 minutes but it's worth it. LOL! I got this huge pitcher type jug from Walmart that has all these neat facts on water consumption and weight loss. It holds 64 oz of water. I usually fill and drink 2 or more of those a day. This is how I know I am getting enough water. Thanks!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Thu, 04-21-2005 - 11:39am

YAY!

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Fear

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2005
Thu, 04-21-2005 - 12:04pm

LOL! Yes I am! My husband laughs at me all the time. Yesterday I got a headache and said to him "I wonder if I should drink more water?" He looked at me, laughed and said "You drink 100 gallons a day now." LOL! I guess I just kept that habit from when I did do the low carb diet about a year ago. I was drinking so much then that I actually had the lady who ran our group tell me not to drink too much due to "water intoxication". I didn't worry to much about it. In fact, for four months straight I drank nothing but water all day and night long. I didn't even have one sip of anything else. LOL! Just water.

My water container also hold 64 oz of water and looks like a mini cooler. It's so darn big! LOL!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-17-2004
Thu, 04-21-2005 - 12:08pm

LOL!

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Fear

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