How do I lose weight?

**tbs727** · 03-28-2008, 10:19 AM

I would really like to lose 10-15 lbs. I'm not extremely overweight but I'm only 5'4 and a size 10 and I know I'm bigger than I should be. I do eat fast food, partly because I like it, partly because of convenience. I could cut that out if I was better at keeping convenience food at home. I like to walk with my friends and go hiking to be active but I HATE going to the gym. I really don't snack much and I don't eat foods that aren't real (i.e. fat free cheese, artificial sweetners, margarine) I don't mind replacing applesauce for oil in a recipe, but I won't use fake eggs in place of real ones. I hope that makes sense.

Can someone give me suggestions, recipes that I can cook for myself and my hubby, convenience foods, ANYTHING? I appreciate all the help I can get!

**forHISglory** · 03-28-2008, 10:36 AM

Hi Tiffany!
This is a hard question to answer because we are all so different. I'm about your size, and I reached a point where my body just wouldn't cooperate. It thought a famine was coming and everything I ate went into storage! Of course, age plays a role in this also. Nothing that I had done before seemed to work, so I tried something new: Adkins. It worked so well, so fast. I felt great, was never hungry, and the weight came off. I moderated myself off the diet and went back to eating just a balanced diet. Now if I see any weight gain, I just go back on Adkins for a while. This has worked well for me, but it may not work for you.

I'm not a snacker, and I don't eat after supper. I try to drink plenty of water, and I have a cup of tea every afternoon. We have green salads and fresh fruit every day, and I don't do much with refined foods, boxed foods, convenience foods, or fast foods. That's not to say that I never eat them, but it's rare. I have some kind of protein for breakfast (this morning it was fish) as I found out on Adkins that protein in the morning curbs my appetite almost all day. I usually have soup and sandwich for lunch, and try to use high fiber bread. I have a small amount of protein in the sandwich, and the soup is veggie based. Supper is usually salad, fruit, another protein, and a veggie. I don't do dessert.

I wish you the best as you find the right path for yourself.

**tbs727** · 03-28-2008, 10:42 AM

I have actually been thinking about doing something like the adkins high protein diet. My body seems to like that I'm just not sure I can stick to it and I want to make a permanent change. Thank you for the suggestion, I think I'll look into it a little more.

**stinkbug** · 03-28-2008, 11:22 AM

I highly suggest Weigh Watchers...there are no forbidden foods and several options of how to work the program. I am a lifetime member and have been for 6years. I stay within 2 pounds of my goal weight. I was up a bit, but have dropped 10 pounds just by going back on program and paying better attention to what I eat. I am 5' 3" and every extra pound shows! (and I am 49, so it's harder to keep if off!!!)

**annymoll** · 03-28-2008, 11:42 AM

We follow the Pritikin Lifestyle program, and have since the 80's.It is not a diet, it is a way of life and it works.I am 5'5 and weigh 115( I walk, run, or swim daily or I would stay around 120)and this is what I weighed in school- I'm 46 now. It is an excellent plan for disease prevention as well. I haven't a single ache or pain and no health problems.(I am always shocked when I hear others my age complaining
of poor health and stating they are old.) The lifestyle info is readily available.You might check it out.

**tbs727** · 03-28-2008, 02:37 PM

I would love to do weight watchers but I won't allow myself to do anything that involves counting. I've recovered from an eating disorder and still struggle with that obsessive/control issue. I can deal with a foods to eat or not eat list, but no numbers. I know, crazy, huh?

**magnolia** · 03-28-2008, 02:54 PM

I have lost 10 lbs in the last 2 weeks on a plan that I saw on the TV channel TLC. It's from a show called "Paul McKenna: I Can Make You Thin". I can't link to the website because I'm new here and don't have enough posts to allow me to link but if you Google "Paul McKenna" or go to the TLC website it will link you over to McKenna's site which gives you all of the info.

Basically it is just a new way of thinking about food. You can eat *anything* you want (really!). It is wonderful for a frugal person like me because I don't have to spend big money on diet foods.

There are 4 basic rules to this program:
1. When you are hungry, eat.
2. Eat whatever you want.
3. Eat consciously. (Slowly, 20 chews per bite, and savoring each bite. Eat without distractions like TV, computer, or reading while eating)
4. Eat until you are full (or until you think you might be full).

(I just did these all from memory so hopefully they will match up with the rules on the website.)

It is amazing how much less I am eating since starting this. I'm leaving food on my plate because I'm in tune with my body's full signal and I stop eating when I am no longer hungry. I don't feel deprived at all and don't have an obsession with food anymore.

Anyway I realize I sound like an informercial but I am so excited about this because it is the easiest way I've ever lost weight and I can honestly say that I think I can live with this way of eating forever.

There's more to this program including ways to stop emotionally eating and ways to beat cravings.

Good luck with whatever plan you choose to use.

**stinkbug** · 03-28-2008, 03:08 PM

If you do the WW Core plan, there is no counting.

**tbs727** · 03-28-2008, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by stinkbug

If you do the WW Core plan, there is no counting.

Oh, I thought there were points or something. Obviously I haven't looked into it that much.

**nuisance26** · 03-28-2008, 05:27 PM

~I just lost 17 lbs the old fashioned way, diet and exercise. It did involve counting calories and cardio minutes. I have control issues and the counting was actually good for me. I LOVE my food scale! Since you've had issues with food in the past, maybe you could work from the other end and add more exercise only. I wish you lots of luck!~

**FrugalMomof3** · 03-28-2008, 05:46 PM

Tiffany,

I lost 52+ lbs over 2 years ago and have kept it off and here's what I did.

Cut out eating out, cut out junk food and eat smaller portions and include fruits and veggies.

That means no chips, cake, chocolate (maybe a small hershey kiss now and then) but you have to have willpower, it will be REALLY hard in the beginning but the results are awesome. I was overweight for over 9 years after the birth of my 3rd and last child and I got a job sitting on my butt all day which made me even bigger, I finally got fed up and started a cut down diet... meaning I cut out and cut down portions... no weight loss pills, no meetings, just me!

Let me just say that it might not be easy in the beginning and you might want to give up but dont. P.S. I ate those Michelina meals the lean ones and they are only like $1.10-$1.29 each and they worked wonders. Today I am 108lbs and have been this way for 2+ years and I feel great and if I can do it, so can you! PM me if you ever want to talk.

**PrairieRose** · 03-28-2008, 06:16 PM

Hey Tiff, I typed out this answer (on how I lost weight and have continued to keep it off for this amount of time---started October '06). It's long but goes into the details of my life.....lol. Hope it helps. The most important thing is to tackle one or two things at a time, don't try to change it all at once......

[ame="http://www.weightlossmoms.com/forums/showthread.php?t=729"]In response to SheilaQ's question about weightloss at FV - Weight Loss Moms Forum[/ame]

**Libby** · 03-28-2008, 07:49 PM

I have seen the few episodes of that "I Can Make You Thin" show with Paul Mckenna....the concepts are nothing new, rather old fashioned and simple. I can see how it could work.

South Beach Diet - its called a diet but its really a lifestyle change. With any suggested lifestyle change you can modify to what suits you best.

I eat very similiar to the SBD (keeping in mind that I am diabetic and need to watch what and when I eat) and have started using the 4 basic principles of Paul Mckenna.

I also have/had a hyperactive thyroid which made me drop weight but it was during the same time I also started exercising more regularly - swimming twice a week and gazelle once a week. Total that came off was about 20-25lb's but now that I am on meds to control my thryoid, I am going to keep up my better eating (with cheats and snacks every now and then) with my exercise in hopes of NOT gaining back any or as much weight as I have lost. So far so good!

All in all, you just have to believe in yourself to make it happen. Start with small changes. You will see the difference. You can do it!

**G'MaDebbie** · 03-31-2008, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by tbs727

I would really like to lose 10-15 lbs. I'm not extremely overweight but I'm only 5'4 and a size 10 and I know I'm bigger than I should be. I do eat fast food, partly because I like it, partly because of convenience. I could cut that out if I was better at keeping convenience food at home. I like to walk with my friends and go hiking to be active but I HATE going to the gym. I really don't snack much and I don't eat foods that aren't real (i.e. fat free cheese, artificial sweetners, margarine) I don't mind replacing applesauce for oil in a recipe, but I won't use fake eggs in place of real ones. I hope that makes sense.

Can someone give me suggestions, recipes that I can cook for myself and my hubby, convenience foods, ANYTHING? I appreciate all the help I can get!

I have been doing Atkins since January. I have lost 30 lbs! I never thought I could give up my carbs (bread, pasta, sugar)! Let me tell you, when the inches and the weight started coming off, I realized how easy it was. YOu do need to be prepeard in order to do this diet as far as having the right foods in the house, but it isn't like you have to buy any "special" foods.
Try lowcarbfriends.com and you will be amazed at the info and ideas you will find there!
Good Luck to you!

**tbs727** · 03-31-2008, 03:33 PM

Thanks! I bookmarked that site. Also, congrats on your weightloss!

I also found some motivation and good recipes at www.sugarfreesheila.com . Today is my first day and I was really excited to start. I got some recipes for sugar free sweets so I think that will help me take care of the sweet cravings. I'm a carnivore by nature so eating protein and veggies isn't a huge change for me. I even started a food log here at FV.