diets

[OliveOil]

Ok trying to shed a few pounds though in truth to get below the obese level on the body fat scale i need to lose 2 1/2 stone!  Frightning really as i weighed around 8 st when i met ex!  He was  a feeder and now im fat!

Anyway by the by - lets talk diets.

I made cabbage soup yesterday and it was lovely, had it again tonight and will probably have it again tomorrow. Then out for tea thursday so night off the soup.  I've done atkins for a week just to maintain my weight previously when i was slim which worked.

But i really need to lose weight, none of my nice clothes fit and im tired of buying clothes only to find i look crap when i get home so im on strike as far as clothes buying is concerned.

I know i need to exercise, so will try to get more active once i've finished work :-)

But most of all i need motivation to stick to healthy eating!

[OliveOil]

[ACE]

Work harder and longer, works for me, stuff the diets, I eat when I'm hungry.
I did try the red wine diet once, I lost 3days.

[manicscousers]

OO, try the gi way of eating, don't know about what you eat now but, multi grain bread, low fat olive oil spread, ray lost half a stone in 3 weeks, he's more active than me, it took me 4 months to get rid of the same, still need to lose another stone to let my knees etc have a chance ,
don't like diets, they screw up your metabolism, tried every diet going since I was 12..up and down weight, now I eat little and often, as much as I can get away with is healthy but, I don't feel guilty if i have a splash out every now and again, just get back to it next day, no guilt  ;D

[Mrs Ava]

I loss stacks by just eating sensibly, plenty of fruit and veg, no crisps and only 1 portion of carbs a day.  Also, zero booze, which was the hardest for me.  Finally, and the most boring bit of all, exercise, at least 5 times a week!  Pah.  hated it, was a year of hell, but shed 3 stone.    The only time we didn't diet was weekends where we would eat sensibly, but more normally, so if we wanted take away, we had it on a Saturday night.  Life didn't seem quite so harsh then.  Crash diets only thingy up your bodies metabolism.  Healthy, sensible, small portions, and when peckish, peck of fruit and raw veg, that is the way to do it.

[asbean]

Get a smaller dinner plate.  Fill the plate so it's normally filled (ie not overflowing) and you'll be eating smaller quantities.  I moved to a smaller plate when I had flu some years ago and didn't have the appetite/motivation to eat much.  I can't eat off a big plate now, it's too much.   ;) ;) ;)

[SamLouise]

OO, know where you are coming from.  I did this a few years back.  I lost five stone in just over six months.

It's not a diet you want, forget all of those ridiculous eat this but don't eat that diets.

At the end of the day it's about changing your eating habits.  Replacing things that you know you shouldn't be having too much of.  Checking the nutritional information on things before you eat them.  Knowing which foods will keep you going and which foods won't.  Do some internet research, you'll be very surprised.  Search also for high energy, long lasting foods.  These are the foods you will want at breakfast and lunch to keep you going.  Never save up your biggest calorie meal for your evening meal.  You don't need it.  You will be going to bed about four hours afterwards, why do you need all of those calories, fat and carbos when all you'll be doing is sleeping?  Use them in the morning or at lunch when you know you can burn them off.  Avoid heavy carbos if you won't be doing much afterwards.  They will make you sluggish and tired after their initial 'zing' 

Most people who are overweight and decide they want to lose weight suddenly think, "Ooo, salad, soup, cereal" etc but that ISN'T the way to go to lose weight and keep it off.  There are loads and loads of yummy foods in allsorts of combinations that you can eat in vast quantities but are still good for you. 

Retrain your body to enjoy foods of a different nutritional value.  Throw in some exercise.  It has been said that 20mins of exercise at least three times a week will make a difference.  Personally I think that's rubbish for people bordering on obesity (I was) I joined a gym and started on a basic 20min workout every day.  By the time I'd shed my five stone, my workouts were almost 2hrs long (and still are)  Don't get me wrong, I know that a lot of people cannot do this - I guess I'm just lucky with my working hours and no children to look after but I cannot emphasise enough the importance of regular exercise.  Dance through your housework, walk where you would normally drive (unless you are shopping of course lol) Try and allow yourself AT LEAST four or five sessions of some kind of exercise per week - whatever it might be; lottying, walking, housework, gardening, going for a walk at the weekend, kids to school, the local shop etc etc etc.

At the end of the day it's all about logical thinking.  You need to burn off more than you are putting in your mouth.

I hope this has been helpful  :)

Edit:  Another thing to remember are the guidelines given for a daily allowance of fat, carbo, calories etc.  The one thing I will say is just stick to the calorie allowance but for the fat and carbo allowance GO LOWER  I can't possibly see how 70grms of fat a day for a women of any size can be acceptable.  I go for 50-60 (and I push it to the limit lolol) with fat and it's suggested that 230grms of carbo for women - again I try and aim lower than that also.   The more you check these things, the easier and more routine it will become.  After a week or two you will just know without looking.

[gordonsveg]

  Nice one Ace, when I was at sea I had friends like that  ;D ;D ;D ::) ::)

[emmy1978]

OO - I have most of my carbs in the morning - wholemeal/seedy toast and marmite, yoghurt and a banana. I don't have a cuppa any more when I get up (I do on Sundays) but chug large glass water instead. I also try not to eat after 8pm. These are by no means hard and fast rules, sometimes I fancy a tea in the morning, so I have one, we might eat out ( :o :o :o) so then it is after 8pm. a little of what you fancy and all that.
I am a bit of an exercise junkie and find the gym and running very therapeutic. I have just replaced yoga with callanetics which is excellent for toning. I've tried all sorts of stuff in the past. Maybe try salsa or belly dancing or kick boxing if you don't want to do aerobics or gym - much more social and fun.
Poo to diets, they are horrible and will only depress you. Good luck.

[pigeonseed]

also they say that people who fidget are less likely to be overweight and that even small things like not using the remote control help keep you slim and fit. I suppose it must just be because although it's very little exercise, it's very frequent

so maybe if you don't already, you could mooch about a bit, fidget and a little light pottering!

good luck!

[emmy1978]

Oh and if you have stairs run up and down them 10 times in a row each day (try not to fall and break your arm or something though!!) As 10 times becomes really easy keep upping it in small increments.  ;D

[Si D]

Best bit of advise I've heard is "cut down not cut out".  If, for instance you really like chocolate or beer, then cutting them out altogether can lead to sudden binging when you are having a bad day and your will power snaps.  If, instead you just allow yourself a little regularly it is much easier to resist eating/drinking too much.

For what it's worth, I lost a stone and a half last year.  All I did was:
1. stopped eating bread at lunch time (I have ryveta and fruit & nuts instead of sandwiches now - but still have a sandwich at the weekend so I don't miss bread)
2. stopped drinking alcohol at home - used to have a pint or two, or a couple of glasses of red, every other day, esp in the summer.  Now I only drink when I go out for a meal and then only in moderation.  In fact I'm finding that I don't miss it and often don't even bother when going out: this is leading to more money left in the wallet and feeling a lot better the next morning!
3. Slight increase in exercise.  Leave the car at home for journeys under three miles and walk.  Longer journeys try to use the bike.  Again, feel better for it and more money left in the wallet.
4. apart from the above I always try to eat moderately healthily anyway.

[Carol]

I ditto everything Savage Blue has said about diets.  Everything in moderations and exercise even if it is a walk a day getting your heart going at a decent bpm.  I also agree what Emma says in that a treat at weekends does you good, but moderation is the key and def. a smaller plate.


I am not a foodie and my weight is spot on for my height, age etc.  but I have gained some lbs round my middle with age.  I have cut back on food on my plate and have found it has also helped my IBS which I have had since my 20's.  So again, this is moderation and eating little and often.   

[OliveOil]

Ooo gosh lots of advice :-)

Problem is i dont really eat alot and what i do eat is generally good... so need to completely cut out the not so good and probably the booze would help.  I have cut back from 3 glasses of wine a day to 1 or none.  I drink loads of tea with semi skimmed milk but with 1 1/2 sugars... so cut down on tea would cut down on tablespoons of sugar each day.

And being active active active is a must. 

Once work is finished it should be easier as im too tired after doing a 9 hr day to do anything else.

[emmy1978]

Hi OO. I had a thought that because you are working so hard and are having a stressful time you are probably craving lots of 'junk' like crisps/choc etc for quick sugar high on top of all the good stuff you eat. I do this when i am stressed out.  :( It is just about cutting as much of all that out as you can because I really believe that the chemicals in it react very badly with a healthy body- leaving you tired and craving more.

[asbean]

Oh and if you have stairs run up and down them 10 times in a row each day (try not to fall and break your arm or something though!!) As 10 times becomes really easy keep upping it in small increments.  ;D

Whenever you have to go up a long flight of stairs always run up, don't walk. For some reason you don't get puffed. And you get there quicker. I found out living on the 4th floor of a Milanese block with the lift out of order.  :) :) :)

[SamLouise]

Running up and down stairs is not a particularly good idea for somebody who is obese imho.  Weight on the ankles & knees, shift in balance etc.  Might just be how I was at that time but I'd take it easy in regards to that sort of activity.  Up and down hills maybe, but stairs I'm not so sure of  :-\

Another little titbit of info that I remember my gym instructor saying to me back when I first started - speed up and slow down your walking.  If you are walking to the lottie, shops, park, work etc., then two mins fast pace, two mins slow pace and repeat.  It kick starts the metabolism nicely.  Although you may look a little odd to passers by, LOL!

Now, where'd I put that secret kit-kat of mine ....  ;D

[OliveOil]

LMAO - actually I dont consider myself obese as i am still in size 12 clothes... but for my height i am obese according to the BMI chart LOL... I think i'll be ok running up some stairs... 

Really need to exercise i'm such a lazy arse!

[cornykev]

I lost ten pounds last week.  ;D ;D ;D

[manicscousers]

don't think you need to lose weight, OO, just tone up, the dreaded excercise..it's amazing what you can do with twists and turns and bending sideways, I used to do them in the mornings, lost 3"from my waist
good luck, I have to do it all by what I eat now,  ;D

[Hot_Potato]

I agree with all those who've said 'dieting' is pretty useless!.....sensible eating is the only way to go, watch your portion sizes, definitely cut down on booze....cut down not out and get more exercise....I firmly believe that breakfast is probably the most important meal of the day and I always look forward to mine....try to have something different every day - variation makes it interesting.

With regard to exercise, if you don't get time to take regular walks or visit a gym (if you really want to)....one of the best ways for me is music....I love all sorts but when I hear something suitable come on the radio....I do an aerobic workout (learned from the days when I went to Rosemary Conley's dynamic keep fit class locally) and find that fun and not too exhausting...doing it in short bursts that last the length of the track/piece of music is great...you can repeat this several times a day, whenever you hear something that appeals & is suitable.....(well I'm lucky cos I'm home mostly during the day)

something off topic right now....was looking for the 'options' button to add a picture here straight from 'my computer' but can't see one ???....where is it please...have paid Dan my money so I can add pics that way!