Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with the “it’s diet” crowd. I started exercising in December regularly after doing nothing for years. I lost zero weight until I changed my diet. Am down 16 lbs in 2 months! I am still exercising and added Intermittent fasting 16:8. I don’t eat anything until the kids get home from school. It was hard but is getting easier. Sometimes I can make it until dinner. Then I eat whatever the heck I want. I’ve tried several lesser approaches over the last few years (gave up alcohol, gave up my favorite pasta,, etc) and nothing. I had to go more draconian on the diet. But hey, that 16 lbs is a whole clothing size which is motivating. You can do it.

Don't you think it is the combination though? It takes a few months for your muscle mass to build up and start burning calories at a higher rate.

New poster who also thinks it’s mostly diet, like 90% if not more. It’s not easy to build muscle and even if you do the increase in metabolism is marginal. I’ve always exercises a good amount, I only lose weight when my diet is completely in check.

Anonymous wrote:Studies show that exercise doesn't do a heck of a lot to lose weight, it's overwhelmingly diet. Exercise is great for your body, for your health, but for weight loss? Not so much.

Where exercise really helps me with weight loss is the awareness I've finally gained of how few calories are burned by, say, running or swimming for 30 minutes. To cancel that out with just a meager donut, or especially drinking my calories in any form now seems insane to me.

OP here. I am 36.

Studies show that exercise doesn't do a heck of a lot to lose weight, it's overwhelmingly diet. Exercise is great for your body, for your health, but for weight loss? Not so much.

Anonymous wrote:I’m with the “it’s diet” crowd. I started exercising in December regularly after doing nothing for years. I lost zero weight until I changed my diet. Am down 16 lbs in 2 months! I am still exercising and added Intermittent fasting 16:8. I don’t eat anything until the kids get home from school. It was hard but is getting easier. Sometimes I can make it until dinner. Then I eat whatever the heck I want. I’ve tried several lesser approaches over the last few years (gave up alcohol, gave up my favorite pasta,, etc) and nothing. I had to go more draconian on the diet. But hey, that 16 lbs is a whole clothing size which is motivating. You can do it.

Don't you think it is the combination though? It takes a few months for your muscle mass to build up and start burning calories at a higher rate.

I’m with the “it’s diet” crowd. I started exercising in December regularly after doing nothing for years. I lost zero weight until I changed my diet. Am down 16 lbs in 2 months! I am still exercising and added Intermittent fasting 16:8. I don’t eat anything until the kids get home from school. It was hard but is getting easier. Sometimes I can make it until dinner. Then I eat whatever the heck I want. I’ve tried several lesser approaches over the last few years (gave up alcohol, gave up my favorite pasta,, etc) and nothing. I had to go more draconian on the diet. But hey, that 16 lbs is a whole clothing size which is motivating. You can do it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP, just want to tell you that you're 3 months away from a hot and healthy body. You got this OP!!

OP here and thank you!!!! I get SO OVERWHELMED with the number and how “bad” it is. 3 months, though? How do you figure?

I also like that so many people suggested diet over exercise. I just don’t have the time for exercise now. But diet I can do! I think!

How old are you OP? For me, approaching 50, diet alone doesn't work. I have been on and off exercising for 2 years now and watching what I eat. I can do IF for days and "lose" weight and then gain it back in 2 days of regular eating if I don't work out. When I work out, even half an hour cardio and yoga twice a week, I lose and keep it off. I know people say it is diet only, but that has never worked for me. Not even at 30 to lose baby weight after my second. Once I went to gym, it just went away with a combination of Atkins and watching my eating but not at all as much as when I don't work out. When I work out, I am losing even if I eat more than regular. Maybe it is just me?

Anonymous wrote:I’m in your shoes too, OP. I lost 25 pounds and gained it all back (plus some probably but I won’t get on the scale) I lost it the right way, slow and steady but foolishly thought/hoped that I could maintain that lower weight without continuing to diet like when I was younger. So here we go for good 3-5 months of hard work and saying no. We can do it!

I’d be glad to buddy up with you!

I’m in your shoes too, OP. I lost 25 pounds and gained it all back (plus some probably but I won’t get on the scale) I lost it the right way, slow and steady but foolishly thought/hoped that I could maintain that lower weight without continuing to diet like when I was younger. So here we go for good 3-5 months of hard work and saying no. We can do it!

OP, I am certain that this is 'not you,' but in case someone's reading for whom it's the case:

If there've been any changes to any medications, be sure that you discuss those and any possible side effects with your docs as well. I was on a med that's decidedly NOT 'weight neutral.' After careful consideration and very,very deliberate 'titration' off the medicine (gabapentin), what stunned me the most was how much the med had increased my appetite, which I had not at all realized. I'm still not sure it's worth it because the drug hugely decreased the neuropathy it was treating, and the 'substitute' isn't doing the same job, and I know that the 40 extra pounds in a year (huge heavy sigh -- pun intended) isn't due solely to the gaba -- but if I ever find myself gaining more than a few pounds again, I'm going to start querying long before I'm at this many ....

Hang in there, OP. Again, I know my situation's different, but I do feel your challenges. I would also encourage you not to feel embarrassed, though. Many of us have been there. We get it. You'll get through it. And if you do have another baby, you definitely want to be healthy when you conceive, so putting your body through negative dieting or unhealthy practices is not doing your or your two little ones any favors right now: stay the course and take care.

I do the same thing and it is hard to get it under control. I wrote down my work out plan and goals for eating (ie don't eat anything in the work kitchen - they stock it with chips, cookies, and even cupcakes) That helps it feel more like a plan. If you are the only one in your house that eats it just throw it away and don't buy it. Something like Whole 30 could help you break some habits.

You can do this!

Anonymous wrote:NP, just want to tell you that you're 3 months away from a hot and healthy body. You got this OP!!

OP here and thank you!!!! I get SO OVERWHELMED with the number and how “bad” it is. 3 months, though? How do you figure?

I also like that so many people suggested diet over exercise. I just don’t have the time for exercise now. But diet I can do! I think!

Keto

NP, just want to tell you that you're 3 months away from a hot and healthy body. You got this OP!!

Anonymous wrote:On a podcast I was listening to recently, I heard the phrase, "you crave the foods you eat."

It really stuck with me. If you eat sugar and crap, you crave sugar and crap. I used to binge some in my 20s, I was just extreme all around. I'd eat REALLY great or I'd binge. I'd exercise a ton. it was all focused on weight, not health.

Now in my 40s, I eat so much healthier and mainly walk and do yoga for exercise. I focus on health, not weight but the result is I'm thin as ever. I eat a ton of fruit (I'm a big fan of smoothie and throwing fresh or frozen berries depending on the season) on yogurt or oatmeal. I've found it really helps cut my sweet tooth. I don't crave sugar anymore. I like a little dessert but it doesn't control me. I don't believe in diets that limit fruits and veggies (I know there a lot of keto fans here, if that works for you great but it's not for me).

Eat real, whole foods. It's hard at first, but it gets so much easier.

OP here. Thank you. We’ve done two rounds of whole30 and it helps so much. After the week of sugar detox is done, then I don’t even want sugar anymore.
It is too sweet.

I gotta do this...