1. When Jamie and I wnet through a very bad phase of our relationship before we were married. His touring with a rock band, known for its partying life-style, for months on end, was to blame and we had a crisis which nearly ended in a break-up. I lost a couple of stone, mainly because I was smoking so much I didn't have time to eat and,
2. During my pregnancies. Yes, I lost weight then. From me. I put on a few pounds which were basically the babies, but I shed loads from my face, arms, legs etc. I always end up skinnier after a pregnancy than before I start. That'll be because I feel so nauseous in the first few months and have no room in there for food during the last few.
But apart from those times above, my track record has been putting weight ON from about age 22 onwards. The last 15 years, I've been more or less stable. But far heavier than I should be.
I've tried exercising regularly but just end up putting on weight. The exercise makes me hungrier and so I eat more. I know, I know. No one ever believes me. I'm used to that. When I was about 30, Jamie and I were living in Los Angeles and we went to a personal trainer every day. Even when I was training hard, still smoking, so not eating that much I only managed to maintain a UK size 14. Sad but true.
Diets? I tried all of them in my 20's and early 30's. I spent the best part of 10 years feeling horribly hungry. Yet still overweight. I always swore I would never go on another diet.
Yet, here I am again at the start of another one, This feels like it's my last chance to get my weight under control before I end up a heart attack or stroke statistic like so many of my relatives. Soooooooo....
I'm trying the diet so many people rave about, the South Beach one.
Oh boy, I don't know if I can face all that meat, but I'm trying. After living on an almost vegetarian diet (living with Jamie who is vegetarian) for so many years means that it's a struggle for me. After 24 hours with no cereals of any kind (no carbs for the first 2 weeks) I realise that I am pretty much addicted to them. The cravings are weird. And unlike when I was giving up smoking and could just not have any cigarettes in the hiouse, I can't do that with bread etc. The kids need the energy from them.
It's a very expensive diet to be on. My last shopping trip cost me twice as much as I normally spend, but thankfully, Jamie is behind me. He's going to do a modified form of it. (He really doesn't need to lose weight.) And he's going to help me with the exercise too. We're starting to use the wii regularly again, after a little prompting from my friend Windy, who reminded me of its fun nature.
Here we go again, then. It's been 20 years since I made a serious effort to lose weight and get fit. Let's hope it works this time.
Do you have any stories, experiences or tips for me?
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9 comments:
I have started exercising again, as well. I started about two weeks ago and have only missed one day. I use the Wii Fitness Coach dvd and really like it (mostly!). My problem, well one of them anyway, is actually getting my jiggly butt out of bed in the morning to exercise! I lay there and listen to Satan telling me how warm the bed is and how much I need sleep. ugh I have been praying for strength to get out of bed! lol I had an eating disorder in high school so I only modify my eating instead of cutting things out.
You can do it. Baby steps and keep going. If you mess up or don't work out one day, just keep going and work out the next day.
I look forward to reading your updates! :-)
Good luck - Wookie had success using Weight Watchers online combined with the Wii and some exercise such as biking. I've restarted Wii Fit plus yoga and expect to walk now the waters are receding around the house.
Good luck Dorothy. I too put on weight when I exercise - because I get even hungrier. Hubby lost weight last year, but combining walking, watching what he ate and going on his eliptical trainer thingy. I need to start to exercise more as I've put on over a stone this last year and don't want it to continue. We got a Wii for Christmas, so I ought to try that.
I have been up and down over the past 10 years (since my youngest was born) but mostly up in recent years.... I was doing good getting on the treadmill regularly until this coldspell hit --- it's too cold in the garage to walk on the treadmill. We are supposed to be back up to 50*F on Friday so I should get that restarted..... surprisingly I'm not more hungry when I exercise... I get thirsty and fill my belly with water... less than a year after John was born I was down to 117 lbs (chronic diarrhea)... I now way 40 lbs more than that..... I would be happy to get to 140 and maybe then 130...... I do not feel the need to be superultraextra skinny which is what 117 looks like on a middle aged 5ft2in woman (at least on me)
Like you, I struggle, and I eat nutritious meals. I've been monitoring my calories and it appears that I need less than 1500 calories day to loose weight! A normal person can eat 2000 calories a day.
I do exercise daily, but that does me little good in the weight loss area, but my doctor says it's good for me anyway, so I continue just because it's healthy. I began with 15 minutes on the treadmill and worked up to an hour(4-5x a week).
Find out what your calorie threshold is. Mine is so low that I often say the heck with it. If I'd stick to it, I'd loose. Bread is caloric - around 110 calories for a plain slice, whereas a mixed salad, low cal dressing, and a bit of shredded cheese(2 sprinkles) is about the same.
You might do well if you just remove two or three breads from your daily diet and replace it with veggies and a little shredded cheese(watch the cheese intake as well). Shredded chicken is much less caloric than a chicken breast. I sometimes have this over a salad.
Then see if you loose. If not remove something else, like dessert. Slow and gradual is better because your brain is less likely to notice it's gone.
I use caloriecount.about.com to keep track. They've got a tool bar ap.
http://caloriecount.about.com/
This is all I've gleaned so far. It's so much more difficult after 40 to lose the weight!
Oh, I'm with you! I'm trying to screw myself up to the need to do something serious about losing weight. I went to Weight Watchers for a while after H was born, and it worked for me - you can eat anything, just not too much of the high fat / high calorie stuff. But then the weight crept back on, and I haven't been able to get myself motivated to deal with it. I did try the online Weight Watchers last year, but only lasted a couple of weeks. It seems I need the motivation of actually being weighed by someone else and handing over real hard cash!
My current plan is for Lenten abstinence - cut out chocolate and eating between meals (except fruit and veggies). Then after Easter I will reassess and see where I go from there. I'm also planning to cut out all unnecessary spending and put what I save towards buying a Wii for the family at Easter. Given my track record of abysmal lack of self-discipline it may be a complete bust on both fronts, but I'm going to try.
Good luck! I'm rooting for you.
LOL! It's great to know so many of you can relate to this!
Momma 24, it sounds like I need to get that wii Fitcoach thing, although I seem to remember she was quite rude to Mrs W when she used her! Getting out of bed has never been a problem for me. I'm outta there between 5.00 and 6.00 cos of problems sleeping.
Serenata, The eliptical machines are too hard on my naughty hip and my knees hurt afterwards too. I suspect it's for people whose joints are still okay! Yes, you should try the wii fit games. Some of them are quite fun, though I can't do the skijump for love nor money.
Renee, I hope you manage to get back in the garage soon! Let me know how you get on with the treadmill!
Alexandra, counting calories just simply doesn't work for me. I would be on 800 calories pd to lose any normal amount of weight. (That's what it took when I was in my 20's anyway.) I cannot go through my life feeling as hungry as that again. I could take up smoking again, but that would probably defeat the object. {g} I also don't eat desserts. The kids feel most deprived. Cakes etc are a rarity in this house.
Cheese is my downfall. Not being able to eat cheese or BREAD is the biggest problem for me. I can't even have the tiniest little oat cracker. If this Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet actually works and I lose weight, I will be flabbergasted because it seems to me that I'm eating an extraordinary amount of animal fat. But what do I know about dieting? Absolutely nothing. I'm sure getting sick of eating so much flippin spinach already.
Kathryn, I'd forgotten all about Lent. We missed Pancake day etc. I hate the thought of abstinence, probably because it was forced on me as a child, but I suppose I could think of this diet as something to go through working towards Easter Morning (and a Cadbury's cream egg? LOL!) I hope you can save enough for a Wii. It's great fun! And good for the kids to share with others.
Onward and Upward!
You'll be happy to know that Lenten Catholic fasting is for those over 14-59, and in good health. It may be different in other countries, but this is the rules we have been given here in the states. And it's not as strict as it once was when you were growing up. The children don't fast(too young), but we do give up the meat on Fridays for abstinence. I'm sure the rest of the Catholic world thinks we are a bunch of slackers here in the states. lol There is much more of a focus on giving up, or fasting from ungodly behaviors and attitudes than actually giving up "things". The spiritual must be behind the giving up of things or it's meaningless. Thomas Merton mentions in his writings that it would be better to not give up anything if you can't put Christ behind it. Not your ole' time Catholicism anymore, and some people dislike it, I think it's an improved version.
Sorry, hope I didn't ramble on too much!
Hope the diet works well. Perhaps it will because you have a better reason to lose weight now. When we are young it's all about trying to be thin. Then we get older it's more about staying healthy not getting older and sickly! So yes better reasons once we are older so maybe better long term results?! Ah well that's my attempt at a pep talk!
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