2013 Weight Loss & Healthy Living Support Thread

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
261

So I’m a little over the one month point since I started swimming regularly. In the past, whenever I’ve gone from being in bad shape to a crash course in fitness, I’ve lost 20-30 pounds in the first month. This month I’ve lost, I think, 3. Quite unexpected. I wonder if it’s because I was already dieting beforehand and got some of the easy weight off (every other time I’ve started diet and exercise at the same time), or because I’m not exercising to the point of exhaustion as I had in the past, or if something is different with my diet, or if my body just sucks now that I’m older. Pretty disappointing.

On the other hand, I’m clearly getting stronger and fitter, and that’s more important. I should’ve taken some measurements and compared I suppose to see if I’m actually losing some fat but offsetting it with lean mass, or rather water retained by lean mass, which you usually get a surge of when you start working out (I shot up about 7 pounds within a few days of starting).

Still, I’ve always been able to get off to a fast start so it’s discouraging. I’m not going to hit my goal by june as I’d hoped.

I’ve never watched calories or restricted calories whatsoever, and in fact I used to add calories to meals deliberately out of concern that I wasn’t eating enough, and still lost a ton. I’ve never thought calories in/calories out is the whole story - I mean, obviously thermodynamically it is, but your body can use those calories differently and what constitutes “in” and “out” can vary. But I’m wondering if I should restrict my calories further for faster progress. My main concern is that if I don’t eat enough I won’t build muscle as efficiently as I could, but I’m hoping that protein supplementation will help with that.

262

I am really looking forward to hitting the trailheads near Boulder, now that I am a bit more active, and the weather has been great here in Colorado for the past 3 weeks since I started walking/running. Except on my days off. Cold, snowy and miserable Spring storms that swoop in as soon as I am done working for the week, and my first day back to work it will be 60 and sunny. Pretty funny the first three times, nature, but I am no longer amused.

263

I’ve been doing really well lately, but I’m going for a medical test at the end of the week.

I have to cut so many things out of my diet, for the test, and I don’t know how I will do it.

I can’t have:

eggplants, bananas, avocados, tomatoes, any nuts, any dried fruit, coffee, tea, plums, kiwi fruit, pineapple, dates, melons and more…

It wipes out any fruit I like eating, and it wipes out my ability to have salads.
It wipes out what I usually have for breakfast.
It wipes out what I usually have for lunch.
and it wipes out a lot of stuff I have for dinner.

I don’t know what to do.

264

Perhaps start by making a list of meats, vegetables, pulses etc that you ARE allowed? Then post them here and maybe we can come up with some nice recipes for you!

Perhaps also let us know the sorts of meals you currently eat, so we’re not suggesting anything too ‘weird’ for your palate.

265

Okay, pulled out my slip, it seems I’ve listed everything I can’t have, but a lot of those things feature heavily in my food, especially tomatos, bananas and avocados

I usually have either poached egg and cooked tomato, or tomato on toast, or a cereal with dried fruit in it for breakfast,

I’ll usually eat a banana or some melon for a snack.
At the moment, I’ve been having ham, tomato, avocado and onion wrap/pita bread for lunch

the last four meals I’ve had for dinner are:
spaghetti and salad ( tomato and avocado)
Vegetable Lasagna (tomato and eggplant)
lamb koftas, couscous, veggies and salad (eggplant, tomato, avocado)
minestrone (eggplant, tomato.)

So, basically, every meal I’ve had in the past four days has something I can’t eat in!
Dinner I’m not too worried about, because I do have a lot of recipes that don’t have the forbidden food.

However, I don’t know what I’ll have for breakfast and lunch.

I never realized how much I ate avocado and tomato, until now.:smack:

I am pretty open minded when it comes to eating, time is more of a issue with me.

266

Maybe steel cut oats with fresh strawberries or blueberries? My husband actually has a long list of foods he can’t eat (13 items; I’ll spare you) and he manages somehow. He eats a lot of oatmeal. You mentioned nuts - what about seeds? Your avocado sounds like a regular source of healthy fat, so you’ll want to replace that somehow. I think eggs are a good choice, maybe all you need to do is shake up that recipe a little. I like to scramble eggs with spinach and feta. Do you like Greek yogurt? That’s an option. When I have it plain I usually add a bit of honey; if you want more fat you could throw on some seeds.

Just throwing stuff out there. Good luck!

267

I sucked this weekend. I ate what I wanted. I was still (barely) under what I burn in a day but really, I could be doing so much better.

At least I am still tracking religiously. And I am going to the gym tonight (dammit)!

268

Question for the low-carbers… I recently came across this recipe for ‘pancakes’ made from ripe bananas, eggs and peanut butter. 3 Ingredient Banana Pancakes | GlutenFreeFix

What role does the peanut butter play in the cooking process? I’m not keen on peanut butter, I’m more inclined to leave it out and serve the pancakes with some bacon rashers and a dash of maple syrup. But will the pancakes not come out right?

269

Peanut butter will give you fat and protein, and oil. I don’t think you’ll like it without it because they’ll just be shitty banana-flavored eggs with no density. What if you try almond butter? It’s more neutral tasting than peanut butter.

Low carbers generally don’t cook with bananas so I don’t know how a recipe with banana and egg would really be, but that’s my guess.

270

So… It’s time for me to jump back in.
Back in October of 2011, I decided to get my life in order, health-wise. I started walking a few times a week, and I cut my caloric intake gradually. In the space of one year, I lost 90 pounds.
Unfortunately, in October of 2012, I decided to ‘take a break’, and… It lasted six months. I gained back almost 20 pounds, and I’ve had various health issues.
Three weeks ago I started therapy for food addiction, and let me tell you, it’s a bear. But I’m going to get back on track. Starting today.
So, I’m posting this here, hoping to both hold myself accountable, and to get some encouragement on the process. I can do this. I proved it last year. I can do it again. I know I can.

271

Welcome back, Matey!

272

Yes, you can do it. Sometimes one thing works, sometimes another. Keep trying til you find the right combo. Then find another combo when you need to. It’s hard not to get discouraged and give up. Remember - a slip doesn’t have to become a slide. You can do this.

273

Ended up suffering my first injury. I’ve been working my abs and back really hard in the pool between laps because core strength is super important and often overlooked, but I’ve been working too hard. I did something that not only majorly pulled a lower abdominal muscle but seemed to rearrange my internal organs - everything felt screwed up down there and I was even having gastric distress. I was really worried I gave myself a hernia.

But after 5 days off it’s mostly feeling better, so hopefully I didn’t do anything too bad. I guess I’ll need to back off on the core stuff.

It’s only been 6 weeks but I have noticibly more muscular definition, and you can definitely see more moving when I flex. Barely any progress on the weight front though, no way I can make my goal of 35 pounds between mid-april and the end of may at the current rate. May try drastically cutting carbs to see if that gets the weight loss flowing.

274

Back to WW tonight to see the damage. Fell off the wagon several days ago. One food-oriented event I could have managed but three in four days (2 birthdays and a nerd night, all involving aspiring foodie friends and alcohol) was too much. I was fine for the first, didn’t slip too far for the second, but gave up and wallowed for the third. Climbed slowly back on track last Wednesday, and only a pound up at my weigh-in, so not as bad as it could have been.

Feel renewed energy, did my next several days of food planning and shopping, tracked the daily points, and feeling better about things. As long as I don’t have that first glass of wine - the one that says go ahead, have another, and order a pizza while you’re up - I should be fine for a while.

275

I’ve been on maintenance for four weeks now, and predictably, I’ve been bouncing around all over the place, but I’ve also had that nasty Easter and a baby shower that involved a lot of standing around and eating. But, for whatever reason, I lost 3 lbs. after the baby shower, so it’s all good. I’ve been working out more and working out harder, so that’s helping. And I think increasing my daily points has helped, too.

I’ve got an appointment with a plastic surgeon in a few weeks to discuss post-weight loss surgery. The skin really is awful. :frowning:

Finally, good job for everyone!

276

I have not been dieting for the last month but I have still been tracking what I have been eating. That act alone has kept me thinking about what I am eating and my pants are a little looser.

I am pretty happy with that.

277

Slow and steady wins the race! Just the act of tracking affects how much you put in your mouth, no question.

This weekend was Crazy Town. Saturday I went on the first of two planned hikes, and wasn’t even 10 minutes into the thing before I fainted dead away. According to my husband I was completely non-responsive for at least 30 seconds, then I started shaking so everyone thought I was having a seizure. I woke up panicked and confused and left in an ambulance.

Long story short, I spent two days in the hospital and tested negative for everything serious. They don’t know what happened, other than I passed out for no apparent reason. When I fainted I was at the top of a set of granite stairs, so I’m pretty damned lucky that’s all that happened.

Being in the hospital can really put a crimp in your healthy lifestyle. I wasn’t allowed to exercise until all the tests were run, and they kept bringing me hospital food of questionable quality. I really don’t have an excuse for eating that stuff; I could have sent my husband to get me something else. For example, there were pancakes with syrup. I just ate them without thinking of a healthier alternative. Then when I got home I had some potato chips just because.

Since coming home, I’ve just been tired. Took a sick day yesterday. So today I’ve just been focusing on getting back on that horse. I did today’s workout and have eaten a lot of salad today. Today is Day 40 of clean eating, I don’t want to slip up now. I think I’m back on track now.

278

A friend once told me a story about how she ended up sucking the cheese of the noodles and spitting them out in the hospital because they couldn’t find any non-starchy food for the diabetic.
I’m glad you’re ok Olives. You must have scared the pants off of poor Mr. Olves.

I’m really hungry and the “cup of hot tea” trick didn’t work. Maybe I should for a short walk.

279

Taking a walk is like finding gold for me. Seriously. Most of my life I didn’t walk anywhere, even short distances. A year and a half ago, though, I walked a block. Then a little more the next week. And a little more the week after that. Today, I’m walking about a mile and a quarter when I walk. Recent health things have made it more difficult, but knowing I -can- do it is amazing. Endurance is up, and obviously, it helps with the weight.
TL: DR? Go walk. :slight_smile:

Olives! I hope you’re doing okay! Is it possible your blood sugar went screwy? (I know, no real way to check that right now)

Perfectparanoia yay looser clothes! Sadly, my +20 pound regain has made my stuff ill-fitting again, but I’m working on it!

280

Should food choices be displayed as walking-minutes vs calories: When Cheeseburger = Walking, Will We Eat Less?.

I’ve always thought this would be a good idea. People don’t have a good concept of what 300 calories means to their body. But they understand what an hour and 20 minutes of walking means. I also think it’s why exercise can be beneficial. When you really know what 300 calories on a treadmill feels like, you tend to be a lot more critical of what you eat.