Getting Serious

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2006
Getting Serious
8
Tue, 07-25-2006 - 2:22pm

So I turned 30 about 3 weeks ago, and I have had it with myself being over weight. I know it is time to get fit, not only for myself but for my family! I don't eat unhealthy, I just don't think I eat the right things for my metabolism. Here is my main question: do I choose a diet (South Beach) to follow, do I count calories, what type of eating plan should I do. I am a member of a gym ,and will start working out atleast 5 times a week, I can do this, I know I can. I just need a little help with the "diet" part of it, or do I even want to say "diet". Here are my stats: 5'5", 180. goal is 135

Any tips, suggestions, anything would be greatly appreciated!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
In reply to: adp1976
Tue, 07-25-2006 - 3:31pm

Hi and welcome! For me, I have never been able to stick with any diet plan ... and I don't trust a lot of them. I'm in the process of figuring out what works best for me. One thing I learned about from this board that I think is really helping is to log my food into fitday.com. This way you can see where your calories are coming from -- fat, carbs, protein. I found that I was eating too much fat and not enough protein and I had no idea I was doing that! Also it just helps you to be more aware of what you're putting in your mouth when you know you're going to log it in! I think I was eating a lot that I wasn't aware I was eating.


I'm sure others have some great suggestions for you!


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
In reply to: adp1976
Tue, 07-25-2006 - 3:42pm

Hiya adp!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2004
In reply to: adp1976
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 9:12am

Hello, and welcome. I am not into following diet plans either. I really don't like plans that eliminate entire food groups. All food groups serve a purpose, especially if you are physically active five days a week as you have planned.


I see you got the basics from the other ladies' posts. I certainly agree. I just read a book about sports nutrition by Nancy Clark, which made good sense for anyone really. In the book, she states that the complex carbs are the foundation for your diet, good ones, like Miranda said, that are rich in fiber. Then you need the fresh fruits and veggies, then smaller amounts of protein. She even eluded to the "tip of the food pyramid" as those things we would call "junk food" that we can keep in our diets, as long as it stays proportionate to the rest of the pyramid. She said that when people eat too much of the refined sugars and fried foods and thing, the pyramid is kind of upside down, and unstable.


I basically enjoy exercise. My difficulty has been with my diet as well, although I've never lived on fast food or eaten all that badly. I've just been able to do some research and reading recently to learn how food works and what it can do for me and what to eat.


I still have to say, though, I have learned a lot, but there's a lot of info out there. Sometimes it can get overwhelming and frustrating. Keep in mind that we know what to eat and what not to, really, and to keep the portion size correct. You also do need to experiment some with what will work for you. I know I did.


lorie6-26-09.png Lorie 6-26-09 picture by runningwomen

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2006
In reply to: adp1976
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 9:37am
Thanks everyone for your replies! I think you are all right by not limiting myself to what I can eat, because when I do that, I am more tempted to want what I can't have more and more. Portion size is so important, and I need to really concentrate on that! I will keep you all updated on how my progress is. Good luck hkdredbelt on your 5K! WOW!
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2006
In reply to: adp1976
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 2:45pm

I think each 'diet' out there has some good advice, but I've tried a lot of them, and find it too restricting to stick to one specific 'diet'. I have gone back to the basics. Take in less calories than you burn. Pretty simple. But I do try to make good choices in what I choose to eat. I try to get some protein in each meal to help 'fill me up', and I try to eat more veggies or salad than 'main dish'. I also try to watch out for 'white food' (bread, rice, potatoes, etc) since I really don't need the huge amounts of carbs. I also choose the lower fat options when I haev a choice. This way, I find that if I'm craving chocolate, I still feel I can have some as long as I keep track and know that I need to add it to my overall calorie count. It seems to be effective, as long as I stick with it and don't go overboard on the weekends (my downfall...)

Tonya

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2005
In reply to: adp1976
Wed, 07-26-2006 - 8:25pm

Make small realistic goals. i.e. your workout 5-day a week plan, is good, ONLY if you've already been working out maybe 3 days. If you haven't worked out in months, you should cut that down. You don't want to burn out, and if you jump into it with diet and exercise all at once, most of us just burn out after a month. if we get that far.


so, i say, make small goals. i.e. i set myself up for doing exercise 1-3 times during the week, and do somethign on the weekend (be it walking around the mall at a faster than normal pace, etc). or make small changes to your diet, instead of big ones.


What I"m learning is...........losing weight, is a lifestyle change that requires you to be healthy for most of the time. It means, changing how you eat, how you view food, how food affects you. It means changing how you view the gym, how you exercise, what you do for exercise and start incorporating that into your daily life. And sadly, i'm not ready to make that lifestyle change. lol.


Good luck. I was here before I turned 29, and well, I hope to see you leave before me (meanign you'll lose weight first. lol. I'm going to turn 32 soon).

~IDM
It was
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2006
In reply to: adp1976
Thu, 07-27-2006 - 12:04pm
Thanks for your post inkeddogmom- it makes total sense!!! You are so right about making the smaller goals!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: adp1976
Mon, 08-07-2006 - 7:03am

Hi there, and welcome to the 30's board!


How have you been doing? Hope to see you pop back in soon ;-)

~IslandGirl





School's out for summer!


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