# SDMB Weight Loss Thread for (mid) July **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 19, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531 "2009-07-19T15:17:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/21 "2009-07-22T23:52:28Z")
Congratulations. 25% is a great start! šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/22 "2009-07-23T03:24:45Z")
A small woot? Honey, that deserves a big ā€œYay, ME!ā€ woot. Now, go jump on your bed and say Yaaaaaaay, ME! over and over. šŸ™‚ Yeah, I used to be obsessed with pie, pastry, cake, rolls, etc. right around 4:00 everyday. I donā€™t even really think about them any more, and itā€™s only been a few weeks. Plus no brain fog, plus no unstoppable processed carb factory line. (Donā€™t forget, Yaaaaaay YOU!) ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/23 "2009-07-23T03:58:07Z")
-60 since January 23rd. Restricted carbs, water walking at least 3 times a week, salad for dinner every other night. No bread, no fruit, no baked goods Actually, was down 50 by mid May and itā€™s taken me 2 months to drop the last 10 pounds. Life got in the wayā€¦sonā€™s graduation from Bradley, old friends came to visit for 4 days, birthday, 30th anniversary, mother-n-lawā€™s funeral. But despite all that I still manged to drop 10 more pounds. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/24 "2009-07-23T04:03:42Z")
That is fabulous, **flickster**. 60 pounds! Thatā€™s like an entire Whatsit Jr. (OK, he currently weighs 65 pounds, but close enough.) When you do the water walking, do you wear one of those aqua vests? I was watching someone do that in the pool at the community center the other day and it looked interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/25 "2009-07-23T04:06:24Z")
Iā€™m still discouragedā€¦ logging my food intake carefully and staying in range, and trying to exercise more, and Iā€™m floating around the same weight. Iā€™m trying to ramp up the exercise but I still see it as a punishment and not something to be enjoyed in itself. The only way to **make** myself get on my exercise bike is to have certain TV shows I will **only** allow myself to watch if Iā€™m pedaling. Still, Iā€™ll do it for a week or two and then get busy or need to go to work early a few days and it throws me off and I lose my rhythm. Iā€™ve moved towards healthier choices in general and I know I should be proud of myself for that fact alone, but I would _really_ like to see the scale dip a little. Trying to find other little goals to be excited about (I did my biking at resistance level 4 today, thatā€™s a step up from yesterday), but itā€™s so hard. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/26 "2009-07-23T04:11:52Z")
**Antigen** , how long have you been on your current program? I ask only because I saw very little weight loss for about the first 3-4 weeks that I started running. It was kind of discouraging, although I was pretty excited about running, so that helped a lot. Iā€™m not sure if it was because I was putting on muscle or what, but after that first 3-4 weeks, the scale started moving at last. I kind of feel you on the exercise bike thing. I donā€™t really hate the exercise bike per se, but itā€™s not my idea of a good time. I have always preferred riding an actual bike, because that way at least you get somewhere. But, if exercise bike is what is working for you, then go with that! ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/27 "2009-07-23T04:48:18Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > That is fabulous, **flickster**. 60 pounds! Thatā€™s like an entire Whatsit Jr. (OK, he currently weighs 65 pounds, but close enough.) > > When you do the water walking, do you wear one of those aqua vests? I was watching someone do that in the pool at the community center the other day and it looked interesting. No, just me and my trunksā€¦along with my fellow walkers. However, I am a pretty aggressive water walker. Usually have my arms working against my legs in swimming stroke fashion no matter which direction Iā€™m going in (backwards/forwards). ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/28 "2009-07-23T08:46:38Z")
Hi, new kid here. Iā€™m hoping some sharing will help me stick to my plan. Iā€™ve been actively trying to loose weight for about a year, although I fell into a depressed slump somtime around cristmass - I couldnā€™t stop thinking that Iā€™d never make it, that there was no point etc. Atleast the 5 kilos I did manage to loose have stayed off, which is definately a good thing. Then, I have to fill in at work (Iā€™m a part-timer during the year, but part of my contract is to work a month full time in summer to allow for time off for other people). There is a exercise room at work, and a fysio that gives exercise advice every monday. She made an exercise plan for me last year, but I havenā€™t been good about following it. Then, the day before last, I finally managed to drag my ass into the exercise room. Holy Cow! There was a spring in my step the rest of the day. Iā€™ve never been high, but thatā€™s the only comparison I could think of. I was marching everywhere at full speed, runnning up the stairs, smiling like crazy. I went back yesterday, and it was just the same. I have a day off today, but my plan is to get some exercise before or after work every working day for the full month. Then when that month is over, weā€™ll see. Anyway, I need to loose about 30 kilos at this point, which will leave me at the heavy end of ā€œhealthyā€ weight. I donā€™t want to be skinny, ever, but Iā€™d like to fit normal clothes and not struggle in tight spaces. ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/29 "2009-07-23T13:35:01Z")
Stuck at 197-202, depending on the day/time of weighing. On the up side, it takes me almost 30 minutes to break a sweat on the elliptical, and 45 minutes to breathe heavy. Thatā€™s what I was most concerned about. When I first started 5 weeks ago, I had no resistence yet was sweating and breathing heavy after the first 5 minutes. Now, itā€™s resistance of 10, and Iā€™ve just started moving towards a brisk run on the treadmill. Almost forgot: the goal is 190lbs/34 inch waist by Spetember. 180lbs/32 inch waist by December. 200 Never again. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/30 "2009-07-24T02:07:01Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I will now allow myself a small: Woot. Allow me to turn up the volume. **WOOT!!** ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/31 "2009-07-24T20:07:06Z")
I am having bad, bad cravings! ā˜¹ Odd, when I work alone I almost never have this issue, now that I have a coworker in, I feel the need to munch. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/32 "2009-07-24T21:51:06Z")
After a couple false starts, I finally got stuck in. Just finishing my third week of South Beach. Itā€™s been easier than I thought, although Iā€™m getting a bit bored with phase one - luckily I start phase 2 next week and can get some whole grains and fruit back in. Also starting C25K next week, up from daily walking. I decided not to obsess over pounds at the beginning. Instead Iā€™m going to base success on how my clothes are fitting and how I feel. When I can wear my size 10 jeans (Iā€™m wearing a 16 now), Iā€™ll start weighing in. Aiming for a comfortable size eight, and Iā€™ll use that weight as the one to maintain. Iā€™m also not going to worry about how long it takes as I intend this to be a lifelong change in eating habits. If is does what it is said to do, South Beach will help prevent heart disease and diabetes, and my weight will normalize where it is supposed to be. Hereā€™s hoping - I lost 25 lbs on South Beach several years ago and kept it off for a couple years, but went through a down patch and depression and inertia brought the 25 lbs back with and extra 10. I think the C25K will help this time - Iā€™ve never been a runner before and have friends doing this who are pleasantly surprised to actually enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/33 "2009-07-26T21:52:10Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > ā€¦ water walking at least 3 times a week ā€¦ . Holy shit, I am NEVER going to be able to lose weight if this is what it takes. Iā€™m not nearly pious enough. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/34 "2009-07-26T21:57:47Z")
My goal was to not gain weight while my UK business partner was here - 3 weeks. Week one down and Iā€™ve stuck to the goal. We ate out 3 times this week, which makes it tough to count calories, but I estimated and kept off the pounds. I would prefer to lose, but I this is still good. I currently weight just between 5 and 10 pounds more than when I graduated college in 89. Not too bad. But I am less muscle dense, so I am still a little fatter than I was then. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/35 "2009-07-26T22:08:15Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Holy shit, I am NEVER going to be able to lose weight if this is what it takes. > > Iā€™m not nearly pious enough. Rick, regarding fitness, you have to find something you like. This is much easier said than done. But seriously, I spent years - YEARS - trying aerobics DVDs, bicycling, going for walks, etc., and nothing really lit my fire. Then I started running, and Iā€™m sold on it. It motivates me to get out there and exercise because I enjoy doing it. That being said, if you have to pick one thing, exercise OR dietary change, then pick dietary change. From inputting all my stuff into SparkPeople I know that, for example, I would have to run for about half an hour to burn off one large box of fries from McDonaldā€™s. I hear people say things like, ā€œOh, I had an extra donut, so Iā€™ll have to walk a little extra on the treadmill tonight.ā€ Yeah, I hope theyā€™re walking about an hour extra to burn off that donut, because thatā€™s about what it will take. I say this not to be discouraging but just to point out that itā€™s a lot easier not to eat the calories in the first place, than it is to exercise them off. Exercise is fantastic for improving your general fitness, and it helps burn off calories, to be sure, but you CAN lose weight without exercising. It just takes longer and will leave you less fit at the end. Jeez, I donā€™t know if this is helpful at all. Anyway, I guess my general advice would be to just keep trying stuff until you find an activity you like. Thereā€™s tons of stuff that you could do. **Khadaji** , that is fantastic. Not gaining while on vacation is a huge achievement, IMO. Woot! ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/36 "2009-07-26T22:17:30Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Holy shit, I am NEVER going to be able to lose weight if this is what it takes. > > Iā€™m not nearly pious enough. You owe me a new laptop. And a glass of water. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/37 "2009-07-26T22:35:02Z")
That deafening sound you hear is the jet-sized whoosh going over my head. Oh man, I hate it when this happens. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/38 "2009-07-26T22:56:31Z")
Never mind, beaten to the punch . . . ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/39 "2009-07-26T23:10:16Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > That deafening sound you hear is the jet-sized whoosh going over my head. > > Oh man, I hate it when this happens. Jesus walked on water, according to the Bible. šŸ˜ƒ But your advice, as always, was fantastic! ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531/40 "2009-07-27T15:09:29Z")
Can anyone recommend a reliable scale that shows tenths of a pound? Depending on how and where I stand on my scale, I either maintained this week with no loss OR I lost a pound and a halfā€¦ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-weight-loss-thread-for-mid-july/503531.md?page=3)