Finally Had It - Want to lose 30 lbs

[Anonymous]

I am fed up with looking like I am still carrying a baby, even though it's been 3 years since that was the case. I am in worse shape than ever, and it really doesn't work to just eat less. I have a pretty healthy diet, but having snack food around and being a stay at home mom is not helping things. I absolutely hate to exercise, and after starting and never finishing P90X I am at a loss as to what to do here. I want out of this body, but going to a gym isn't an option.

My initial thoughts are reduce the food by having meal replacement shakes (I've heard good things about Shakeology) for two meals, then a salad for dinner. But I also know I need to MOVE and I have a treadmill, but no more than 30 minutes a day. It just seems like it's impossible to lose weight at my age (40+) by the easy things like easing up on ice cream, and I just keep getting bigger and bigger. Do I absolutely need to lift weights? My stomach looks HUGE!

Anyone else been in this boat? Did you get out of it? And what do you think about shakes for two meals, plus fruits and veggies, then a salad for dinner - do I have a chance for success? I can't stand to look like this anymore, I need advice.

[Anonymous]

Why isnt the gym an option? Can you hire a trainer to come to your home instead?

[Anonymous]

I would try giving up carbs for a week. I think it will jump start your weight loss and get rid of bloat that makes you feel fatter. i lost 30 lbs this way b/c i got rid of cravings. Never felt better.

Set out a meal plan of 1800 calories each day for the next week. Eat eggs, turkey, a salad with 1-2 table spoons of real full fat dressing, maybe feta cheese, etc. but measure what you add. A head of broccoli but with a little butter and salt. Basically any lean meat, fruit and veggie, lots of nuts (1 serving at a time measured). Dark chocolate and fruit for dessert, real fruit Popsicles are good too.

Don't deprive yourself or set out to eat a shake for a meal. Eat filling foods and eat whole foods. Fat and salt etc. are okay in moderation and will fill you up. Stay away from sugar and any diet type foods like 100 calorie cookie packs made of crap or yogurt that is not plain fuller fat variety.

Set out to either walk early in the am or at night and find a 30 minute video at target like 30 day shred. You have to eat though, you can't exercise on replacement shakes. Best thing, a balanced diet will retrain you to eat and you can do it forever, adding in some carbs here and there later.

[Anonymous]

Yikes, I am so in your shoes that if my friends read this they might think it's me. IT'S NOT. HAHA

Have you tried improving your diet AND working on portion size at the same time? I upped my veggie intake by a lot and it really helps. I recently started weight watchers and am working on getting my meals to realistic portion sizes. I'm also trying not to be a perfectionist about it and accepting that there will be times that I screw up. For me accepting that has made it easier to pick myself up and get back to the plan, versus when I used to feel like I had to be 100% perfect and any slip up would result in me ditching my meal plan altogether.

And that leads to my other idea - have you tried making more gradual changes one at a time? I know it's tempting to declare I've had it! and go on a crash diet and exercise binge. But does that ever last?

I have no answers, since I am in the same boat as you, just ideas and support. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Yes I was the same as you and lost the weight. I just cut back portions (get used to being a little hungry a lot of the time) and going to the gym at 4:45 a.m. before anyone was awake. No secrets. I was was just DONE with being pudgey. Done.
It's not complicated but it is difficult.

[Anonymous]

I lost 30 Lbs starting just about this time last year. It took about 6 months and i have kept it off since. I cut out white carbs and processed foods as much as possible. Tried to keep to about 1400-1500 calories. Did not exercise in the beginning because that would make me hungry. It was slow and steady, about 5 lbs a month. Agree with pp to stay away from diet snack foods, I just don't think they are satisfying. I do cheat with skinny cow ice cream sandwiches every once in a while.

[Anonymous]

You know what's helped me... Limiting processed foods and desserts to the weekends only. That way you're not totally giving them up and they end up being a reward for eating well during the week. Perhaps you can start with one day at a time. One day eating whatever one day no junk/processed anything. Then up it to two days, three days, etc until you can go the whole week without eating the junky stuff.

Also, I joined a 't-fit' class (think crossfit) at my gym (not local) and that really kicked things into high gear. I go every morning at 9:30 and take my kids with me to the day care there. Best of luck to you !!!

[Anonymous]

All of these extreme diets where you totally eliminate foods or eat something that you wouldn't ordinarily eat may initially lead you to lose weight but you are much more likely to put it back on because they don't train you to make changes in your diet that you can sustain. Weight Watchers is much more effective over the long run because it is sustainable. Also, it incorporates incentives to exercise. I used WW ten years ago and I didn't put the weight back on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of these extreme diets where you totally eliminate foods or eat something that you wouldn't ordinarily eat may initially lead you to lose weight but you are much more likely to put it back on because they don't train you to make changes in your diet that you can sustain. Weight Watchers is much more effective over the long run because it is sustainable. Also, it incorporates incentives to exercise. I used WW ten years ago and I didn't put the weight back on.

So far posters have suggested moderating portion sizes and cutting processed foods and white carbs. That's not extreme.

[Anonymous]

I gave up soda, cut back on eating out and bought a FitBit (Google it). The FitBit has kept me honest by helping me log what I eat and keeping me on track for my weight loss goals. It also shows me how many calories I burn for diff exercise includ walking and other things I don't usually think of.

[Anonymous]

What to do about hunger pangs? They hurt!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of these extreme diets where you totally eliminate foods or eat something that you wouldn't ordinarily eat may initially lead you to lose weight but you are much more likely to put it back on because they don't train you to make changes in your diet that you can sustain. Weight Watchers is much more effective over the long run because it is sustainable. Also, it incorporates incentives to exercise. I used WW ten years ago and I didn't put the weight back on.

So far posters have suggested moderating portion sizes and cutting processed foods and white carbs. That's not extreme.

Giving up all of anything is difficult to sustain.

You shouldn't have hunger pangs. You shouldn't be hungry. Thats a recipe for failure. WW does not lead to hunger pangs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of these extreme diets where you totally eliminate foods or eat something that you wouldn't ordinarily eat may initially lead you to lose weight but you are much more likely to put it back on because they don't train you to make changes in your diet that you can sustain. Weight Watchers is much more effective over the long run because it is sustainable. Also, it incorporates incentives to exercise. I used WW ten years ago and I didn't put the weight back on.

So far posters have suggested moderating portion sizes and cutting processed foods and white carbs. That's not extreme.

Giving up all of anything is difficult to sustain.

You shouldn't have hunger pangs. You shouldn't be hungry. Thats a recipe for failure. WW does not lead to hunger pangs.

Bull. Even on WW people get hungry. When there is calorie reduction, there is hunger.

[Anonymous]

My "baby" is 6,5 and I have yet to lose the 30 pound I put on.
The only time I lost some weight is when I was working on a farm in my 20s.That tells me that I need a few hours of climbing,walking, lifting and pushing something along with good diet to lose weight.
Every time you are craving for something, crab an apple and go circle your neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

totally understand where you are coming from and also don't love to exercise - if you are a SAHM can you do something social that you can bring your kid(s) to, maybe something like stroller striders or a mommy/kid yoga class?

in the end, though, I think what you eat is really the key - I'm the same as you, eat pretty healthy but just eat a bit too much, too many snacks, etc...and weight has slowly crept up

I probably have about 20 to lose (30 would be awesome but probably isn't a maintainable weight for me)

One thing I've tried with some success in the past is to think about a week as 21 meals and try to eat really healthy for 19 of them - for 2, I can eat whatever I want (and I'm not talking about eating a container of ice cream or anything, but allows me to enjoy a dinner out, or a party, etc...)