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Post by Emilysmom on Jan 6, 2008 20:04:25 GMT -5
I've needed to lose a LOT of weight for years, and I tend to lose and gain it over and over again. I've been watching "The Biggest Loser" for the past 2 seasons and have really become addicted! It has totally inspired me to get SERIOUS about eating right (not so much DIETING) and getting more active.
SO..................I'm hoping that many of you have some interesting TIPS that you can share with me (and share with anyone else who might be interested) here.
I want to start by saying that the "Biggest Loser" way of eating involves: The "4 3 2 1" plan. Four fruits and veggies per day, Three lean proteins or low fat dairy foods per day, Two whole grain/high fiber foods per day, and One extra thing with less than 200 calories. In order to figure out the number of calories per day, they multiply your current weight by SIX and that number is the number of calories per day. EASY, huh? I don't do well with low carb anything, but I am sure I can stick with this!
And my one suggestion to start this out is DRINK LOTS of WATER!!!!!
Thanks in advance for any helpful hints!
Susan
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Post by laurasmom on Jan 6, 2008 20:41:31 GMT -5
I am there with you Susan. Both Mike and I are trying to lose weight, although he has less to lose than I do. We have started the Abs Diet, which is more of a lifestyle change than a diet. Healthy eating, veggies, multi grain, low fat. That kind of stuff. It is an easy plan to follow, I have lost about 15 pounds without even trying, no exercising. Can't wait to see what happens when I add exercising in. My weight loss tip is watch your portion size!!! That has been a big eye opener on this eating plan. I now measure servings rather than estimate, and I have been so shocked. For instance, I fixed a casserole the other day, one of the plan's recipes. It was in an 8x8 casserole dish. Four servings, right? No, it was 6 servings. So my tip is portion control. Read the packages, read the recipes, and watch your portion size. And good luck!!! I know you can do it!! Sharon
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Post by laurasmom on Jan 6, 2008 20:45:47 GMT -5
Okay, I just can't stop at one!!! ;D
This eating plan we are on has a cheat meal per week. In the book, it says, Saturday night (or whatever night you want), cheat. Eat what you have been craving. Beer, wings, pizza, steak, cake, whatever it might be, eat it tonight, and back on the plan in the am.
I have found this is a great help. If you are getting weary during the week, Saturday is not far away. One Saturday we went to Outback, and I had the smallest filet, tossed salad with low fat dressing and baked sweet potato. Mike pointed out to me it wasnt really cheating, but it was what I wanted, and I didn't have to cook it. So my cheating that night was really not having to cook.
Anyway, my second tip, allow yourself a cheat meal (one meal only) per week, where you eat what you want, and enjoy it.
Sharon
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Post by jessjetland on Jan 7, 2008 17:38:35 GMT -5
The one thing that made a huge difference for me when I was trying to trim down was to NOT DRINK any POP! I lost I think 6 pounds in one month and that was the only thing I changed. Not to mention I had way more energy Jess
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Post by Tammy on Jan 7, 2008 19:07:29 GMT -5
Get a Pedometer and count your steps!
People NEED to walk a minimum 10,000 steps a day, just for good health. For actual weight loss, this needs to be over and above 15-20,000 steps!!
Believe me, once you get that pedometer on, and realise that you are nowhere even near the 10,000 for good health, you want to start running!!
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Post by Chris too on Jan 7, 2008 22:15:44 GMT -5
My tip is to increase your muscle mass. One of the reasons that men lose weight faster is because their muscles burn the fat even when they are just sitting on their butts - it's called resting metabolism. So lift those weights, girl. I too love the Biggest Loser, and you see Jillian killin' them with the weights & making them run FAST - way faster than they think they can. The successful ones have gained lots of new muscle mass & so burn that fat faster.
Oh, one more: if I have a weakness, say Ding Dongs, I up the ante - I learn to dispise the easy-to-get Ding Dong by comparing it to a really good petit four. I'm not tempted by my church's weekly offering of doughnuts anymore because I remember the wonderful French bakery I used to go to for "pains aux chocolate" (non-crescent shaped chocolate croissants). Even Crispy Creams are blah compared to that. I convince myself that I will be disappointed with the quality of whatever is being offered to tempt me, so why bother?
One more: wear tight pants. It's harder to overeat if you are wearing tight pants.
Best wishes! Hope you are a big loser! Chris too
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Post by victoriasdad on Jan 8, 2008 1:37:18 GMT -5
i burn about 300 calories a hour blanking my wife out,, now that i have started ignoring my children i have been losing about four pounds a day.............................................lol
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Post by Emilysmom on Jan 8, 2008 7:04:53 GMT -5
GREAT suggestions everyone!!! Keep them coming!
Chris Too, I just have to say...........around Christmas or Thanksgiving on the "TPBM" thread, I think it was you who posted "TPBM is going to wear tight pants to avoid overeating". I nearly fell out of my chair!!!! I kept thinking "NO! You wear LOOSE pants so you're not miserable all day long"!!! (And you still might have to unbutton those pants!) But, I'm definitely seeing the light.
Honestly, my problem has never been that I overeat at any one meal. People comment to me all the time that they can't believe how LITTLE I eat................BUT, I tend to "graze" all day long! I notice it at work more than any other time, and especially between lunch and quitting time. I've bought some of those "100 calorie" pack things and will allow myself ONE of them per afternoon. For me, it's the snacky foods and the KIND of foods I enjoy most that have contributed to my weight gain over the years more than the amount.
Maybe I can call this a "tip". During the winter, we tend to go to movies a couple times per month. We have developed the habit of always eating popcorn and a candy bar and drinking a Coke during the movie. When I went the other night, I thought if I didn't plan ahead that I would cave in and buy popcorn. So, I took with me (shhhhhh, don't tell the movie theater!) a 100 calorie pack of "Chex Mix" and a bottled water in my purse. I saved SO many calories by not having popcorn and Coke.
I've found one little "recipe" that I want to share. Take a med sized apple and slice it (don't peel it). Place the pieces into a bowl and spray the nonfat "butter" spray over it. Then top with cinnamon and Splenda and microwave it for 2 minutes. (It might require longer). It's delicious, and feels like the BEST dessert after a healthy meal!
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Post by laurasmom on Jan 8, 2008 11:15:10 GMT -5
Susan,
The apple recipe sounds great, I am going to try it.
And I love what Chris says about uping the ante. I can see myself using that, and it working!
Sharon
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Post by Kristin on Jan 9, 2008 23:58:27 GMT -5
One of those life style changes my husband instituted was to be sure to order a salad, if the meal doesn't come with one, everytime he has dinner at a restaurant. It helps fill him up on the veggies. We've also eliminated a lot of the sauces that add those extra calories. It doesn't take long to adjust to those changes!
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Post by Emilysmom on Jan 12, 2008 9:02:24 GMT -5
Keep the ideas coming!! I appreciate all the help I can get! I totally get what you're saying, Chris! I spent an hour grocery shopping last night after work (Friday night, and my idea of fun was rolling slowly up and down the grocery aisles searching for HEALTHY stuff!), and normally the last aisle I pass is the produce area. The BAD thing is that just across from the produce aisle is the DONUTS! I can't tell you how many times I have gotten a donut or cinnamon roll and devoured it long before I hit the check out lane! (They are all the same price and I just tell the clerk to charge me for a pastry). Last night, I spent quite a bit of time looking at the fruits/veggies and honestly had a sort of disgusted feeling when I even looked over at the donut section. It's getting easier!
Susan
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Post by Kristin on Jan 13, 2008 21:30:06 GMT -5
I have a stationary bike in my bedroom. I can move it across from the television. I'm trying to schedule my bike time according to certain shows I watch, so I bike as regularly as I watch certain shows.
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Post by Emilysmom on Jan 14, 2008 7:17:56 GMT -5
Does anyone have an eliptical "machine"? I keep looking at them, and I think I'd really enjoy using one. I read several reviews of one of them at Walmart.com and one person said she never felt "steady" on it. The last thing I need to do is to fall off something! Several years ago, I bought (Walmart, $10!) the Leslie Sansone walking video. I got up this morning at 5:30 so I could walk before my shower. What's not to like about this? ? It was 35 degrees outside, but I was walking indoors.........no kids awake to laugh at me. I'd recommend this video........NO difficult moves at all!
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Post by ALLISA on Jan 14, 2008 12:49:22 GMT -5
You all are inspiring me....so keep 'em coming ! A friend of mine a fews ago limited his food intake after 7 PM.....no snacks at all......and he lost some wieght just with that alone. If you make it non-negotable with yourself you never need to "reason" yourself into a sncak....if you watn dessert...just have it before 7 PM....if you missed it and it's too late...chances are you won't be " missing " it anymore come morning time and you realize that you won't die from missing sweets !
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Post by Chris on Jan 14, 2008 13:15:49 GMT -5
To stay out of trouble at the grocery store, just shop the perimeter of the store. Don't go up and down the aisles. You can't do too much harm if you only shop dairy, meat and produce. I make a huge pot of veggie soup. I use non-fat chicken broth as a base, add a can of diced tomatoes, maybe add a small can of tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, pepper and tons of veggies. I usually use carrots, cabbage, green beans, zucchini, spinach, a can of cannellini beans and a cubed potato. You can skip the cannellini beans and potatoes to make it really low cal. Sarah LOVES my veggie soup and will eat and eat and eat. It's hard to believe that just a few months ago she wouldn't touch a single veggie. ;D Truthfully, I am struggling with my diet efforts right now. I just want to eat the wrong foods like candy, cookies and ice cream. I have done such a great job until this past three weeks. I know I need to attend my WW meetings but something always seems interfere (at least I always seem to think I have a good excuse). What I really need is an exercise partner. I just have a few pounds to lose before I'm at my goal weight. ARG!!! Chris
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