How do I lose this dratted ten pounds?

[Anonymous]

I currently weigh 140 (I'm 5.5) - would like to weigh 130. But, I just can't seem to get the needle to budge. My main problem is I love to eat (and drink!). I average probably 7 miles a day (between walking to work and running 2-3 miles on the treadmill), plus weights 2 x/week, yet the weight stays on.

What do you do when one of your favorite activities is eating/drinking?!

[Anonymous]

Sorry to say, but you have to limit/reduce the eating and drinking!

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I agree with PP. If you already exercise regularly, exercise is not going to do it. You have to keep track of your calories and stay within a reasonable amount-and I suggest limiting/cutting out alcohol if you want to lose 10lbs.

[Anonymous]

It's been said a thousand times before, but weight watchers (or really any app like "Lose it" etc) where you have to journal everything you eat and drink. makes you accountable for what you ingest and you start to realize places that you can cut stuff out. Good luck though, I'm in the same boat. I had 15 lbs to lose and using weightwathcers have lost 9lbs. 6 more to go!

[Anonymous]

Well, number one is to change your eating and drinking habits. I found the lose it app really helpful, though you still need to make sure you're eating "healthy" calories.

As far as your exercise routine, just shake it up a little. Do intervals when you're running instead of just a steady pace. Try the stair stepper. Start a different weights program or a circuit program. Anything that's different to kind of wake your body up.

But to actually lose the weight, it's unfortunately going to come from changing your diet. Hard, I know.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, PPs are right.

I'm finally down to my goal (140 and 5'9") down from 176. I don't drink anymore and don't eat white starches. I also got there with the help of Weight Watchers.

[Anonymous]

This question always amazes me. Losing weight isn't rocket science. We all know HOW to do it, we just don't want to.

[Anonymous]

Weight Watchers long-term, SlimFast short-term always works for me. I have issues with my premenstrual sugar followed by salt cravings which always bumps me up two pounds once a month. Keep a food diary!

[Anonymous]

Op, you can try eating half as much as you usually would every other meal or skipping a meal every other day. If you want to keep eating the same stuff, (not give up the foods you love) and still lose weight, you will have to cut portions or skip meals sometimes.

[Anonymous]

1) Cut the alcohol--1 glass on Friday, 1 glass on Saturday only
2) Reduce carbs--no bread pre-appetizers, eat whole grains, load up on veggies and proteins
3) No juice, just fresh fruit

I'm guessing that it if you make these adjustments, you'll lose 3 pounds, easily.

[Anonymous]

Here are some different tips than the basic "eat and drink less" - something I am sure you know already.
- Drink a TON (target a gallon) a water a day
- Take multivitamins, including iron
- Don't eat after 8pm
- Stop eating red meat (at least for a while)
- Cut out all sodas

[Anonymous]

You decide what you want more- a fourth slice of pizza, or to weigh 130 pounds. You can't literally have your cake and eat it too when it comes to this. You either cut back on your eating and drinking or you find a way to be satisfied with weighing 140 lbs. This is not rocket science.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I know it is not rocket science. I guess I just wonder what those of you who REALLY enjoy food/drink do. I mean, if my first thought of a "reward" for losing the ten lbs is a fancy dinner out . . . well, I suppose that is a bit counterproductive! (Before anyone says "clothes" . . . once you get the clothes you need a fancy place to wear 'em!) I like the skipping meals idea . . . might need to give that one a shot. As it is, I'm pretty good during the week (I'd guess somewhere between 1500-2000 calories a day, which I tend to drop weight at b/c of all the exercise I get). But then the weekend rolls around . . . and it is blowout Friday and Sat nights (my husband is a glutton too! Easier, though, for a 6.2 guy to maintain/stay slim).

I guess I need to find a replacement highlight-of-the-day for meals (in particular dinner).

[Anonymous]

Skipping meals is the stupidest advice I've ever seen. It's the #1 thing you shouldn't do to maintain a healthy weight over time.

I love food. I also maintain a healthy weight. I eat whatever I want-in moderation. To me, there are no "taboo" or "bad" foods. If I want to eat pizza, I eat pizza. Just not half a pizza. I order whatever looks appealing to me off of a restaurant menu. I just don't eat the entire portion. I get a doggy bag nearly 100% of the time.

I will say that I don't really drink alcohol, because I prefer to eat my calories. I suggest cutting your portion sizes and cutting down (or out) on alcohol.

[Anonymous]

OP, is it the experience of the meal and the food that you enjoy or are you hungry all the time? If it's the actual eating that's fun, yummy, social, etc., why not plan for those meals (some call it the "celebration meal") and try to eat just fruit/veggies/something light and healthy for the other meals? So next week, you know you want to have Sunday dinner with family, Tuesday lunch with a friend and Thursday dinner with a client. Those are your "celebration meals" or whatever next week and try to really cut back on the other meals. Not starvation but how about start with no white food for all the "other" meals? The alcohol consumption with have to decrease too. Kudos to you for keeping up with the exercise! Now I need to take some of my own advice (I feel like the last 3 days were "celebration").