A thread for people working on 50+ lb weight loss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll join! I used to be a size 4-6 but over the past 2 years or so, I’ve put on 60 pounds because of a medical condition which greatly reduces my ability to exercise. I have a closet full of clothes I can’t wear I lost about 15 pounds prior to the pandemic but have since gained back about 7. I really want to lose the weight, it’s made me a hermit, I don’t want to see people or my family because of it.

I’m doing IF and low carb.

PP here, I’ll call myself Naomi. I’m a female.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm game to join. I'm pushing 200lbs but when I felt my healthiest as adult I was about 140. My added challenge is that I have a teen who is about a year into recovery for an ED (orthorexia, which is a special kind of hell of anorexia focused on clean healthy eating taken to a life-threatening extreme), so I need to be so careful not to talk about losing weight or doing anything that signals that my weight is something to be concerned about or obsessed over. At this point I don't care about how I look, I genuinely have no desire to "look thin" (having a kid with an ED will knock that right out of you) but I need to do something because I feel crummy and tired all the time.

I'm thinking about contacting my child's dietician for advice on how to manage this whole thing but in the meantime it's good to see how other people are tackling things in small steps.

TITF here. Cheers to you for thinking of your daughter's needs while considering your weight loss journey! Check in and let us know how it goes!

[Anonymous]

NP chiming in.

My biggest downfall is snacking in the evenings. I love the act of eating in the evening while relaxing, whether it's watching TV, reading, playing a game, etc. To combat this, I will try to keep things on hand that I can eat a lot of without causing a lot of excess calories (fruits, veggies, etc.) This has become an issue where I will absolutely overeat higher calorie snacks if I have them in the house, so I choose not to buy them. BUT that leads to a never ending cycle of diet/lose weight/stop dieting/re-gain the weight because of course it's not sustainable to never eat the good foods again. Has anyone been able to break this type of cycle? How do I control myself around the "treats" so that they no longer become forbidden?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a great thread! I'm 5'3" and started at 217 in November '19. Started on an anti-depressant and dropped about 10 lbs. When COVID started, I started walking 8 - 10k steps a day but didn't really adjust my eating. So the weight held.

In May, I started calorie counting. Started at 1500 cals/day but realized that I would usually go over and get to about 1700 calls/day. Switched to 1300 cals/day and have seen consistent loss and am down to 191 this AM. A couple of things I found helpful:

- I like breakfast and I like to eat dinner with my family, so IF in the traditional sense doesn't work for me. However, I don't care much about lunch. So I eat a sizable breakfast usually 400 - 550 calories. Eat a snack at lunch (if hungry) and then dinner.
- I calorie count regularly, but not obsessive. I do weigh/measure things a few times to get a good ballpark on calories. I use the Nutritionix app. Very, very easy.
- I started to focus on my fiber intake and aim for 15 - 20 g a day. This helps with veggie intake.
- I found easy ways to reduce calories. An egg and an egg white instead of two eggs. Using the 'thin' version of bread instead of larger version. Not getting fries at fast food places.
- I recognize weaknesses. When I drink alcohol, I tend to eat more. So, I do that sparingly.
- My goal is to count my calories most days, but am not 100%. We had a crab boil this weekend and I couldn't even tell you how much I ate. I just accept this as part of life.
- My weight goal is incremental. First goal was to get below 200. My next goal is under 190 and aim for 175. Really, I should weigh 115 - 135 -- but that just seems too daunting now. So, I go for the smaller goals.
- I recognize that weight loss is not linear. I've been in the 191-193 range for about 10 days. The drop will come.

I have very similar stats. I too should weigh like 130 but since the last time I weighed that was 10th grade, I’m going for 165.
But I’m at 224 so I have quite a way to go.
I’m doing IF and have dropped 6 lbs first week.
It feels sustainable.
Eating 2-7. Large lunch, small dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP chiming in.

My biggest downfall is snacking in the evenings. I love the act of eating in the evening while relaxing, whether it's watching TV, reading, playing a game, etc. To combat this, I will try to keep things on hand that I can eat a lot of without causing a lot of excess calories (fruits, veggies, etc.) This has become an issue where I will absolutely overeat higher calorie snacks if I have them in the house, so I choose not to buy them. BUT that leads to a never ending cycle of diet/lose weight/stop dieting/re-gain the weight because of course it's not sustainable to never eat the good foods again. Has anyone been able to break this type of cycle? How do I control myself around the "treats" so that they no longer become forbidden?

I love to snack in the evening, and sometimes in the middle of the night if I can’t sleep. What has helped me is saving most of my calories for dinner and making sure it has enough fat in it to be satisfying- typically, a protein and multiple vegetables.
Tonight’s dinner was grilled Italian sausage, grilled zucchini that had been tossed with olive oil. steamed broccolini, and a bagged kale salad ( I toss the included dressing) with chopped apples and Trader Joe’s Champagne orange Muscat vinegar for dressing. Don’t be afraid to sprinkle some Parmesan and olive oil on vegetables, they should be enjoyable and not a punishment.

I try to limit carbs and sub quinoa or sweet potatoes for rice/Russets. I’ll have either cherries, grapes, or mango and something like three tootsie rolls for dessert.
I don’t keep snacks I have absolutely no control over in the house. For me, Cheez-its, chips, etc. Pick a dessert that you like but not love: ginger snap cookies, sour candy, etc. Sure, some evenings you might eat too much of them, but Sour Patch Kids aren’t that fabulous. I know people vilify sugar, but it works for me to have a little sweet after dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anyone have any lunch ideas that aren’t salads? I just can’t eat that for lunch 7 days a week!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have any lunch ideas that aren’t salads? I just can’t eat that for lunch 7 days a week!

NP: what about omelets or frittatas or stir fries? All of those will allow for lots of veggies and protein for flavor, and can adapt for low carb or almost any plan that you’re using. I usually make lunch my biggest meal of the day.

[Anonymous]

I will join this thread! It seems so uplifting! I am CeCe - I started February at 196 (am 5’7”) after my last baby. I am now 153ish but can’t seem to lose the last 15-20lbs. Probably doesn’t help that I am still breastfeeding but ugh I hate dieting so much. I want to fit back into my jeans by fall if possible. I am running or biking 5 days a week. I have gained and lost over 180lbs over the last 5 years (3 pregnancies) so I know my body can do it but I am older now and it is way harder!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP chiming in.

My biggest downfall is snacking in the evenings. I love the act of eating in the evening while relaxing, whether it's watching TV, reading, playing a game, etc. To combat this, I will try to keep things on hand that I can eat a lot of without causing a lot of excess calories (fruits, veggies, etc.) This has become an issue where I will absolutely overeat higher calorie snacks if I have them in the house, so I choose not to buy them. BUT that leads to a never ending cycle of diet/lose weight/stop dieting/re-gain the weight because of course it's not sustainable to never eat the good foods again. Has anyone been able to break this type of cycle? How do I control myself around the "treats" so that they no longer become forbidden?

I love to snack in the evening, and sometimes in the middle of the night if I can’t sleep. What has helped me is saving most of my calories for dinner and making sure it has enough fat in it to be satisfying- typically, a protein and multiple vegetables.
Tonight’s dinner was grilled Italian sausage, grilled zucchini that had been tossed with olive oil. steamed broccolini, and a bagged kale salad ( I toss the included dressing) with chopped apples and Trader Joe’s Champagne orange Muscat vinegar for dressing. Don’t be afraid to sprinkle some Parmesan and olive oil on vegetables, they should be enjoyable and not a punishment.

I try to limit carbs and sub quinoa or sweet potatoes for rice/Russets. I’ll have either cherries, grapes, or mango and something like three tootsie rolls for dessert.
I don’t keep snacks I have absolutely no control over in the house. For me, Cheez-its, chips, etc. Pick a dessert that you like but not love: ginger snap cookies, sour candy, etc. Sure, some evenings you might eat too much of them, but Sour Patch Kids aren’t that fabulous. I know people vilify sugar, but it works for me to have a little sweet after dinner.

Thank you for the tips. I think I need to just accept that I cannot regularly ever have my absolute favorite snacks in the house (like cereal.) It's just not realistic to ever maintain/lose when I just can't seem to control myself!

[Anonymous]

I started out at 200 in January, lost 15lbs until mid-March and then Covid happened and I have been flat at 185-190 since then. I am about to start a weight loss medicine, so hopefully that will kick me in gear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have any lunch ideas that aren’t salads? I just can’t eat that for lunch 7 days a week!

If it’s not a salad. I eat:

Egg salad on whole wheat with a side of raw veggies or fruit

Amy’s enchiladas

A kodiak waffle with sun butter and a banana

A mini plate of a hard boiled egg, apple slices, celery, a good cheese

Curried chicken salad - leftover roasted chicken, a bit of mayo, celery, onion, apple or grapes, and curry powder. Make it ahead of time and let the flavors mix.

Pho with half the noodles and twice the hot sauce

Butternut squash soup

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have any lunch ideas that aren’t salads? I just can’t eat that for lunch 7 days a week!

Trader Joe’s “Cuban“ Sandwich Recipe has been my go to, I measure everything out so it’s about 450 cals.

If not I love the Evol line, it’s high in protein, and never more than 450 calories.

Theirs also the Birds Eye frozen dishes, lots of frozen veggies (I struggled eating them as a kid and sometimes now!). (220 cal)

As you can see I’m maintaining a quick but not ultra-processed foods on the table to make this work for me.

-Roe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Started on 6/15 at 227.6 lbs. Been doing IF, cleaned up the diet, trying low carb, no sugar, very little alcohol, long walks (5 plus miles) 5-6 times a week.
Weigh in this morning was 218.8.
Targeting 160 lbs by the end of the year.
Long long way to go.

Checking in after a little bit. Weigh in yesterday was 205.8, down 21.4 lbs in 50 days.

Weigh in today was 198.2. Thrilled to see a 1 as the first number in a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Started on 6/15 at 227.6 lbs. Been doing IF, cleaned up the diet, trying low carb, no sugar, very little alcohol, long walks (5 plus miles) 5-6 times a week.
Weigh in this morning was 218.8.
Targeting 160 lbs by the end of the year.
Long long way to go.

Checking in after a little bit. Weigh in yesterday was 205.8, down 21.4 lbs in 50 days.

Weigh in today was 198.2. Thrilled to see a 1 as the first number in a long time.

Congrats!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Started on 6/15 at 227.6 lbs. Been doing IF, cleaned up the diet, trying low carb, no sugar, very little alcohol, long walks (5 plus miles) 5-6 times a week.
Weigh in this morning was 218.8.
Targeting 160 lbs by the end of the year.
Long long way to go.

Checking in after a little bit. Weigh in yesterday was 205.8, down 21.4 lbs in 50 days.

Weigh in today was 198.2. Thrilled to see a 1 as the first number in a long time.

Congrats!

Yes, congrats to both of you! I can't wait til I hit the hundreds....it will be closer to Christmas though.