A variation of this thread:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=556058&page=2
How much effort do you do expend to stay (or achieve) a healthy weight?
Probably not as much work as I should. I’m currently obese and am losing 1-2 pounds a week. I exercise approximately 1 hour a day and I’m mindful of what I eat (especially the amount), but I don’t track my food religiously. That might have to change as I lose weight and my calorie needs change.
I picked *Healthy weight- I take large measures, such as counting calories and exercising on a schedule *but I don’t really count calories. I choose the healthiest food I can most of the time (everyone should splurge sometimes!) and I watch portions, but I don’t count calories.
I workout 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I mix it up from day to day with kickboxing or swimming. Each day I do some weight training with light weights for toning, walking lunges, and inverted crunches.
I could exercise every other day instead, but I’ve gotten so used to it being my routine I like to just do it each day. Plus that way I can worry less about what I’m eating
I’m one of those skinny people who eat meals the size of their heads. Gaining a pound is a cause for celebration. After one massive meal, I was happy to find I gained 5 lbs. The next day, after I woke up and before I used the bathroom, I had lost 5 lbs.
I’ve been 115lbs for most of my life. I gained 20 lbs after I turned 30, and 20 lbs this year. I hope to hit 150lbs soon. For my height and bone structure, I’m supposed to be 135-150.
I’m fairly slim.
I don’t count calories, but I will glance at the nutrition label and use moderation for high-calorie foods. I don’t restrict what I eat, but I do pay attention to portion size and will stop myself at half a plate for really bad-for-you foods. If I’ve had a snack or soda, I’ll try to eat less at dinner. If I had a big eating day, I’ll try to cut back a bit the next day. It’s not difficult for me and comes pretty naturally. I just kind of keep half an eye on what is going in.
I do some exercise, but mostly I try to keep active in the course of my day- I have a stand-up job and I don’t have a car, so it usually adds up to a reasonable amount of physical activity…
Overweight, but it’s hard to know by how much as the “top weight” I’m told I should have actually causes me health issues linked to being underweight.
It varies a lot depending on whether I am in charge of my meals or not; in general, I try to eat the kinds of food that I know work well for me (proteins, high-fiber carbs, the veggies and fruits I like, lactose-free dairy; avoid sauces and white flour; eat only one dish per meal unlike the Spanish custom of 3-4 dishes), to eat moderate amounts and to get my ass off the chair. Going for a walk 2-3 times a week doesn’t sound like much compared with people who run half an hour daily, but my idea of “a walk” takes 2-3 hours and it still has to be better than sitting for those 4-9 hours.
My BMI puts me as overweight; so I chose “Overweight with Formal Measures”. I did calories counting, but stopped after a while as I tend to eat at the same places every-time. I cut down on snacks, soda, fast food and sugared water and restricted myself to food that are steamed, boiled, stir-fried or braised.
Fitness wise, it’s two 30 minutes run, two 40 minutes swim and two one-hour weight-training session per week. It’s more than to keep my weight down; I notice my mood lifting and depression getting better too.
A lot of food I eat isn’t really particularly healthy. But I don’t eat enough of it to make a big impact, so it evens out. I also don’t drive so get a reasonable amount of exercise by walking most places, sometimes longer distances.
I don’t do this to maintain my weight, it’s just my regular lifestyle, though it has varied depending on where I lived and how far things were away from my home.
It would be nice if there was an option for ‘slightly overweight,’ as I’m inactive and lazy, but only 15 pounds over a healthy weight. I also don’t eat healthy, but I don’t eat by the truckload either. Meh.
Alas, not enough… I still need to lose at least 35 lbs.
I either walk or run every day. When I run it is usually two miles, when I walk around 1.5.
I try to stay on top of my sugar intake, but that is where I fail and fail and fail.
I used to be Superhal, I actually had to go on a weight gain diet to get accepted to the airforce. I continued to be effortlessly slim through two pregnancies and I cried a little when I hit 150 while 9 months pregant with my second.
But that was 20 years ago. Through the inevitable age related changes my weight rose til I was stable at around 170 for many years. In the last 5 years some medical issues and drugs with weight gain side effects I’ve put on another 45. I had surgery in October last year and I somehow thought that with all the drugs gone the weight would just melt off again but it hasn’t so last week I started a serious lifestyle change. Tons of fresh vegetables means more meal preparation work I’m still trying to figure out where I can manage some free time in my life now.
Formerly obese, been maintaining a 70lb weight loss for 5.5 years. I food journal, count calories (although I round to the nearest 100 and keep a running estimate in my head - helps to keep me accountable), cook healthy meals, pack my lunch every day and still carefully measure foods which tend to have “portion creep” for me (rice, pasta, nuts, salad dressing, etc). I avoid fast food, sugary soda, cream based sauces, packaged baked goods and most fried foods. I try to eat foods with powerful nutritional value and avoid foods with limited nutritional value.
It is a lot of effort. Lots of trips to the grocery store, lots of meal prep, lots of planning.
I’m sure it sounds horrible and doom and gloom, but I like all the foods I eat. I have a weekly treat meal where I drink a glass of wine, split dessert. Occasionally, my inner 5 year old stomps around and wants SCONES or MUFFINS but I remind myself that I had 20 years to eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted and it didn’t make me happy. When I weighed 200 lbs, I was depressed, lethargic and hated pictures of myself. Now that I eat mindfully, I’m a much happier person - food did not make me happy.
I do spend a lot of effort on thinking about food, what to make, what I’ll eat, what onplan meal I will order in a restaurant (if it’s not a treat meal), but I remind myself that I spent a LOT of mental energy when I was fat - dreaming and wishing and planning on how I would be thin. It was completely useless mental energy. Now, I spend mental energy on staying thin, but it’s positive energy - it’s actually going someplace valuable and productive.
I have been a lackadaisical exerciser, but I am trying to start a new habit of 3 miles on a treadmill, 3-5 times per week. I have kept it up for a month so far.
I just don’t eat a lot of food.
Sure, every now and again I’ll eat too big of a meal, or will have a slice of cake that someone brought in to work, but for the most part, my meals are moderately sized, and I stay away from processed junk. I like riding my bike, and I go to the gym sometimes when the weather is too crappy for a ride.
And Glory, I don’t know if I’ve told you this before, and not to blow sunshine up your ass or anything, but I think you rock. I’ve seen the before and afters in another thread, and it rocks my socks that you made the choice, and started living healthy the good old fashioned way.
Thanks MeanOldLady 
Not to get too smushy, but you’re one of my favorite posters! Drinks on me!
6’2"
Age 18-165 lb
Age 25-200 lb.
Age 35-215 lb.
I have started to moderate what I eat. I get some physical activity through occasional walks, hiking, and push mowing the yard. Most evenings I can be found playing baseball, soccer or football with Rafe, Jr.
My response was “Healthy weight- I make no special effort, but try to moderate my meals and/or keep somewhat active.”
EDIT: Glory, MOL is right. You kick ass.
MOL, Glory is right. You kick ass.
I’m a healthy weight and put effort in to maintaining my weight. I used to be 25 pounds less then I am now (5’9" and 155 lbs - female) but found that it was just too much. I was so restrictive with my calories and so focused on exercise that I developed an eating disorder. Now, I am careful with what I eat, and while I don’t count calories any more (one of my triggers), I focus on eating as much veggies and (some) fruit as possible, eat lean protein with every meal and try to stay away from sugar, though I have a sweet tooth.
I exercise most days of the week (5 or 6) depending upon the time of year. I teach fitness classes, so some days I have to work out by default, but I also run, swim and cycle regularly and do triathlons and races fairly often.
I was an overweight teen, and the last 10 years or so have seen a drastic change in the way I think about food and exercise.
I am maybe 5-10 pounds over weight, which might as well be skinny in the US. I’m not heavier despite almost no exercise because I don’t eat much. I don’t eat much because I’m rarely hungry. I’m rarely hungry because of my depression. I recently had to think about punching another hole in my belt (or gasp buying a smaller one) because I was on the last hole and it was almost at the point of not holding my pants up.
I recently started taking Adderall, and it has because it has helped with my depression it has made me more hungry even though amphetamines are often used as appetite suppressants. I’d hate to think how hungry I’d be if I wasn’t depressed or taking that drug.
I chose: Healthy weight- I take large measures, such as counting calories and exercising on a schedule.
I’m doing it a bit less right now since I’m pregnant and have to modify what I was doing, but my weight gain has been at a healthy pace.
I was never a thin kid, even as a toddler I was chubby, and eventually got to be just plain fat (I was heavier at age 12 than I am at 8 months pregnant). It got better in college - boredom eating tends to be my issue, and there was just too much to do, plus I lived in Boston so I walked everywhere. Once I started working and got more sedentary again, I actually started to try losing weight on purpose - first through exercise, and eventually Weight Watchers. Now, I feel better if I exercise regulary and eat healthy. I liked WW b/c I don’t have to count calories which tends to make me a bit crazy, and I wasn’t too restricted in what I could eat - I still ate healthy (or did after being on the program for awhile, that was a learned behavior, too), but knowing I COULD have a treat if I wanted made it work for me.
ETA: I’m also a person who likes to eat often, and I do feel hungry several times throughout the day, so that’s how I eat. Eating mostly whole grains, veggies, lean protein, healthy fats & fruit, I can eat fairly often and not feel hungry - as opposed to eating junkier food which just left me hungry.
I voted something else.
I put this because I make no special effort, however I don’t eat large amounts of food and I stay physically active. I just don’t have that much of an appetite I guess. Also, I’m only 24 and a former athlete so that helps I am sure.
I chose the first option, though it should read: Healthy weight, eat an assload of bad for you food, don’t move unless necessary, don’t care if I die because I eat ice cream every day.
I don’t eat large meals, I tend to graze. French fries for lunch, ice cream for desert 80 percent of the time.
I have the stamina to work outside for several hours in 90 degree heat (with appropriate water breaks), so I figure I’m doing okay. I tend to lose 10 pounds each summer from gardening then gain it back during hibernation.