Would love some weight loss support!

[nikkic3po]

I spent most of my life thin and in shape, and I never appreciated it. Almost 2 years ago, my fiance broke his neck and I began stress eating. Our wedding is coming up, in June. He has had many surgeries, and is almost back to normal. He is getting in better and better shape every day. I want so badly to lose about seventy pounds.

I need to lose at least thirty for my wedding band to fit. I have high anxiety, so counting calories just causes problems. I would love to hear success stories from other women, and possibly support and advice for losing. I understand that seventy pounds will never happen in that amount of time, but I know that the thirty is possible.

Thanks all!

Nikki

[jamiller598]

Weight Watcher is really simple and great. Especially if you do it online and get the app for your phone.
It is not something that I currently follow, but I am just trying to make an effort to eat better.
I drew a lot of inspiration from a book call "The Four Hour Body" by Tim Ferris. I don't necessarily stick to his strict diet plan but it does give you a basis of what food is good for your body and what food will help you lose weight the fastest.
I also follow a lot of clean eating people on instagram, and lots of blogs about healthy eating. I just try to find ways constantly keep it on my mind and find things that inspire me to make better choices.
If I am out eating with my Fiance, getting on my phone and looking at all the instagram photos of people eating healthy , or just recalling a blog I read somehow helps me choose water over the sugary sodas and so and so forth.

I hope some of this helps.

-Joy

[src47]

I can relate and have the same goals myself! So far I've been focusing on exercising regularly. Some options that work for me are group weight lifting classes at my gym (I go 3 times a week) and doing a couch to 5k running program. For me I find having everything pre-scheduled in my calendar works. I'm running a 5k race in October which helps motivate me to complete the running program. Diet wise, I've been trying to increase my fruits & veggies, and planning meals ahead of time. Every week I plan the weekly dinner menu, and try to focus on healthy balanced recipes - one of my favorites is stir fry, since it means a huge serving of veggies! One thing I've found really helps me is switching to smoothies for breakfast every morning - I just toss some frozen fruit, a handful of dry oats, Greek yogurt, a splash of juice and water in the blender. It's filling, fast and delicious.
I found starting to exercise first really helped me, because I started to notice some small results which the encouraged me to increase my workouts and make improvements to what I ate. One thing I find helpful too is focusing on my size/fitness rather than weight. My weight has stayed fairly steady (since I've been building muscle) but my clothes are getting looser so I know I'm seeing results!
I hope this helps!! Good luck!!

[whatsername]

One thing I find helpful too is focusing on my size/fitness rather than weight. My weight has stayed fairly steady (since I've been building muscle) but my clothes are getting looser so I know I'm seeing results!

Absolutely! I dropped four sizes a few years ago and my weight stayed pretty much the same. I'm back up now, so I've been walking and doing yoga, and trying to eat more natural, whole foods and cutting out trans fat.
Good luck!

[jenniferamsmith]

Hey Lady! I'm in a similar boat to you, due to some medical reasons I've gained about 50 pounds from my normal weight in about 3-4 years. The good news is that most people don't believe I've gained 50 pounds, apparently I hide it well and dress well. The other good news is that of that 50, I've lost 15 in the past 6 weeks through an "interesting diet" (as my friends call it) and my own weird exercise rountine.

I'll start with the diet first - join calorie counter - it's free and lots of food is in there and it's a GREAT logging tool! There are great success stories and a "calorie camp" where people can encourage you if you're into that sort of thing. It also has smartphone apps for on-the-go. After about 2 weeks I figured out where the spaces I needed to clean up far. My diet hasn't been a diet per say, as much as a "Good life choices diet" of eating real food that's good for you - lots of veggie and fruit, whole grains and less-to-no packaged food. I even make my own pasta sauce now, it's REALLY easy and quick when you get used to it - invest in spices - they're pretty much the best thing ever. So the 2nd part of my "good life choices" diet is that I'm not elimiating everything. Are you crazy?! I love to bake and I'm pretty flippin' delcious at it, so if I'm gonna eat a brownie for breakfast (no shame here!) I'm also going to have half a serving of oatmeal with berries or a yummy smoothie. Sure have that 2nd glass of dinner wine but no dessert! I think it's all about balence, if you're eating healthy and want something don't deny it (but don't go over the top!) because I totally noticed that's how I started binging on food... my body would be "ZOMG SUGARRR!"

Secondly I started exercising, uggh I hate exercising and sweating (ewww) but in the past 6 weeks I've grown to not hate it. The perfect start to me was a really awesome playlist and the 2nd was that no matter what I'd exercise each day. Just a half hour walk? No problem, if you get into the habit of doing something everyday you're more likely to not forget it. Every other day I do a couch-to-5K thing but modified, I don't really focus on the minutes running but each day I run I try run just a little bit further, even if it's an extra few houses down the street. The other thing that I do, that I'm certain real trainers would tell you is ridiclious is that I've been focusing on using free weights to work the arms-chest-back muscles doing exercises I found on youtube. Yeah I could be doing squats and lunges but lets be realistic, you want the arms-chest-back toned because that's what people are gonna be seeing! No one is gonna be seeing those not-so-washboard abs of mine!

So yeah, a real nutrionist would say cut out the brownie and stop working "just the glamour muscles" but meh, what I've been doing is working for me, so who knows, maybe it'll work for you? I've got a little over a year to my wedding and if I don't lose weight no big deal, as long as I feel better and try. Looking great in pictures are nice but really what matters is how you feel about marrying your finacee, you're going to look like a million bucks regardless!

<3 Jen

[bifbangpow]

Here's the tricks I've learned.

First, you absolutely have to cook. Find somebody who can share meals with you and get to cooking. Not only will your food be fertile with fresh nutrients and your ingredients tempered exactly to your liking, but also cooking effects the brain much like eating does. The experience of the pungent aromas and the bright ripe colors send chemicals through your brain that trigger the very same feelings your brain has while eating (this is why you salivate at the sight or smell of your favorite food). This actually means by cooking, your brain experiences the sensation of eating longer. So you're more likely to feel satisfied more easily.

Secondly, there are a handful of ingredients you can keep around the house that will infuse your meals with all the flavor that the best comfort food has to offer without the stuff that keeps you fat. Here's a list of products you should pick up next time you go to the store. Start cooking with these, and you're life will change. I honestly use all of these in almost every recipe:

Low sodium-low fat Chicken Broth
low-sodium soy sauce
cornstarch (as a thickening agent without needing fat)
evaporated skim milk (in place of heavy cream in sauces)
reduced sugar ketchup (heinz has one, it's low cal and makes a great tomato paste for sauces)
reduced fat cheese
garlic
Truvia (calorie free and it doesnt make a strange aftertaste to your food)
salsa (whatever kind you like)
Turkey bacon
paremsiana cheese
egg substitute
fresh herbs and aromatics
whole wheat pasta

If I had to reduce this list down to three things it would be the chicken broth, the soy sauce, and the garlic. You can make a wide variety of fantastic dishes as long as you have those three things.

Thirdly, you have to go outside once a day and be active. Whether you take a walk around the block, or do something more intensely cardio, I really believe the changing terrain, the fresh air, and the awakened senses do more for your brain (the part you have to convince first to lose weight) than any stationary work out routine there is.

Fourthly, every two weeks or so, introduce a new ingredient to your diet and remove one. So let's say tomorrow start adding Kale or Broccolini to your salads and get rid of the rice you're always eating. Then in two weeks try something new again. Changing your body's PH levels and nutritional expectations can help kickstart your weight loss.

Last, try to eat more greens than whatever else you have on your plate. So if you're eating a steak and salad, try to eat more volume of salad than steak. There should be more salad than steak in your stomach.

Anyhow, I've spent my life since puberty trying to shed my I-had-a-crummy-childhood-and-now-the-memories-have-manifested-themselves-as-fat body. For a long time nothing short of drugs and starvation ever made a difference. But at 27, I just shed the first few pounds I've ever lost the right way. It's life changing. So goodluck to you! and let me know if you want any recipes.

May