Weight loss...some ideas, if you don't mind?

Factual Questions
1

Well, I passed a benchmark a few weeks ago… for the first time in my life I weighed over 200 lbs. This has me upset, for several reasons, but the baseline here is that I’m about to get into weight loss in a fanatical way.

My assets: My lardy self, a small assortment of weights, a set of stairs, moderate self control(more on that later).

My problems: No license to get to the gym, no motivation other than my own, no real workout buddy, kids I have to take care of during the day, and my self-control…

My self-control: I am really good at some things, for example, I could stop eating, no sweat… but I can’t NOT drink my soda in the morning. I’m a lousy self starter… getting up and doing calisthenics is almost impossible for me.

I’m looking into options to get to the gym, as that would help quite a bit, and next school year I will start the martial arts again, as the kids will be away at school during class… I’m switching to a low fat/low carb diet, and am going to make an effort to kick this soda addiction…

In the meantime, some advice? Anything would be helpful!

2

Well, I wouldn’t suggest low fat and low carb simultaneously. Part of what works (for me) on a low carb diet is that that fat keeps you satiated. There’s nothing that says you have to eat bacon every day on a low carb diet. Olive oil is good.

When you say soda, I assume you’re talking about the sugary stuff. It’s pure empty calories - absolutely no nutritional content, and really has no place on a low carb or low fat diet.

You might want to do a search - there have been quite a few threads lately on dieting.

Good Luck with whatever you decided to do.

3

Tristan – how attached are you, really, to that morning soda? Would orange juice work? Coffee?

A guy at work (and I’ve mentioned him here before) said he lost 60 pounds in about six months, and he swears that all he did was give up soda. He didn’t switch to diet – he gave it up, period.

Maybe there’s something to it.

4

If you must have a soda in the a.m., why not a diet soda? I was practically raised on cokes, but now find them too sweet; my favorite drinks now are: iced tea (unsweetened), water, and diet Dr. Pepper. (I have juice in the morning.) IMHO, there is a difference in the various diet sodas, so maybe try a few; I just think diet Dr. Pepper tastes most like the real Dr. Pepper. As for a hi-protein, low-fat, low-carb diet, it worked for me. I was doing an aerobics class three times a week in the evening after work (I’m like you – just can’t face exercise in the morning - it’s a struggle just getting out of bed). I quit the aerobics cause I didn’t like the instructor, then I quit smoking, and now I’ve gained 10 lbs. (making me 30 lbs. overweight) Even though I have an aerobics video tape, I just can’t seem to get motivated by myself. The group aerobics works for me,so I’m going back to aerobics twice a week after work (different instructor), and getting back on a high-protein diet. I think routine is important – and treating yourself once in awhile. I’m strict about what I eat during the work week, but then have my favorite Chinese dish on Saturday AND a dessert.

5

I had just gained about 10 pounds of fat within a year recently and that sent me to the gym to lift weights. I started working out at the gym (it’s free with my job, which makes it easy) and within a month or so I noticed my pants were getting looser.

Even though weight lifting isn’t aerobic, it takes a lot of metabolic energy to build and maintain muscle mass. Fat is what you get when you don’t burn what you eat (obviously). Adding an aerobic martial arts workout would be a plus.

Personally, I think diets are bullshit. Most of the fad diets are designed to lighten your wallet, not your body weight. And what happens to you when you go off your diet? Weight gain, and the next round of ‘binge’ weight loss becomes even harder and the next rebound weight gain even worse.

For me, it’s simple, burn off more calories than you take in. Which means not eating junk and working out (or even doing simple things like taking the stairs instead of the elevator if you can’t join a gym).

As an example, I worked in a bar my senior year in college. We (the employees) drank probably 7,000 Calories in booze a night after work in addition to the fatty employee meal. But because I rode my bike 4 miles to and from work every day, I actually lost weight.

So, for me, even excess junk calories with exercise still lead to weight loss. Now, I don’t exercise as much, so I try to eat decent food. And as long as I don’t take in as much Calories (I don’t keep track of Carbs, Fat, or Protein intake) as I metabolize–I don’t gain fat.

Substitute a lean chicken breast instead of a BigMac and it will eventually work wonders.

In my experience it is really that simple.

I would say that some people have hormone (insulin, leptin, glucocorticoids, and ect.) imbalances/deficiencies that will make them gain weight; these people should ask for medical advise from a competent source before deciding on a diet or exercise program.

6

I started the catabolic diet. As of November 23 I lost 32 pounds. I’m sure I will gain about 8 back as I have suspended the diet for Thanksgiving (a reward for making my weight loss goals) but I’m going back on the diet on Monday.I have about 20 more pounds to lose. It works well, and I’m not hungry. A free copy of the diet is at: http://www.rarebooks.net/beck/cataboli.htm.

If that doesn’t work or you don’t like it, try Susan Powters “stop the insanity” diet. It works quite well also, though not as fast as the catabolic plan, Powters lets you eat more. Here are some more tips:

*Find a diet soda you like and stick with it! Just cutting down on regular soda won’t work in the long run. Also, sugar free kool Aid and Crystal Light are a good way to go too.

*You must do some sort of exercise. Walking, mild arobics, what ever.

*Stick to your diet, but set goals that allow a treat (like my Thanksgiving goal). Don’t let others try to get you to cheat by tempting you.

*Godd luck!

7

I guess you mean no driver’s licence. How would you feel about a bicycle? Just going to the gym (or work) and back may be enough excercise. I got a recumbent bike earlier this year (a BikeE) and for the first time since high school I’m getting regular excercise - and enjoying it!. Yesterday I went riding and didn’t come home for 4 hours just because it was a beautiful day.

Check out the excellent Bicycling Life web page for practical ways of using bikes and safety tips. Bikes in general are good for excercise, but recumbents are more comfortable and, IMHO, as much fun as you can get with your pants on. They are a bit more expensive, but you can look for used ones.

Good luck, and feel free to e-mail me (or post here) for more info.

8

Dang it, this sounds interesting (is it the Atkins plan?) and the URL didn’t work… when I tried to shortcut my way in, I got sent to a very odd page…

9

Fad Diets! Fad Diets!

I point to my original post. There is no Fad diet that really works-- (and this includes any diet any poster wants to testify to!) that works in the long term.

Let’s start a post in the apporiate forum for people that have done a diet and maintained weight loss over ,let’s say a year. Don’t tell me the Zone has dropped in the first ten weeks. Tell me the Zone has made you your ideal weight a year later.

10

I started Atkins in January of 1999, lost about 50 lbs by December of 99, and have maintained the loss since.

11

Ok, some cheap ways to cut a few pounds. 1. Add more fiber- A high fiber cereal, and get a good fiber supplement, and take it- more BMs & a 'full feeling"- and, few of us get enuf fiber anyway. Good for maybe 5 lbs @ your wieght level- but it is good for you. Next- NO FRIED POTATOES- no chips, not fries. bad for you anyway. Another 5 lbs, easy to remember, good for you, not a fad. 3. If you drink regular, drink diet. Add lemon, it helps. But, and this is very, very important- drink ONLY diet for about a month- beleive it or not, at the end of that month, it is the sugared soda that will taste 'wierd & too sweet". Really. Another 5>10 lbs.

There- no fads, no unhealthy stuff, 3 small changes, and 20 lbs- slowly, yes.

12

How old are your kids? Is it possible that you could do more physical activities involving them? If they are really little, a double stroller (if needed) and baby pacs are helpful for taking little ones for walks.

If they are a little older, teaching them some of the sports, like baseball or basketball, and playing with them, can be really good exercise.

When my ex-husband and I were raising his young grandson, I was the only one physically healthy enough to play with him, so I learned (to the best of my nerdy abilities) to play some of these sports with him, when he was between the ages of four and seven. We also went on nature walks on a nearby trail, and played with some toy cross-country skis in the backyard.

I don’t know exactly where you are on the West Coast, or what the climate is like where you live, but some of these might be possibilities for you, or you could adapt some of your own ideas.

Good luck to you, ////Tristan\\.

-----:slight_smile:
—////\\

13

A few months ago, I was grousing to my SO about how many calories I consumed per day just in soda (hardcore Mt. Dew drinker). She suggested that I switch over to the diet version, never thinking that I’d do it. Out of curiosity, I did and over the last, I dunno, two months or so, dropped from 172 lbs. down to 158 lbs. No other changes at all - just soda. She’s still pissed at me 'cause she isn’t losing as much with her diet & exercise program :D. Sometimes that Y chromosome comes in handy…

14

How about running? You can do it from home. No gym necessary. No bike necessary. Just a pair of running shoes will do. You can choose the hours and can sneak it in anytime you have some free time.

15

I lost my Freshman 15 (actually more like Freshman 30, in my case) just by riding my bike to and from work (4.4 miles each way) for a summer. It’s still my primary form of transportation, and while I’m probably not at my ideal weight, it’s pretty stable and not too high. It’s also a lot cheaper and more convenient than driving.

16

revolutionary new diet method:

  1. put less stuff in your mouth
  2. move your body around more
17

porcupine–let me know what happens when you go back to eating like you did before the Adkins diet.

I’d rather eat what I want and burn it off with exercise.

Unless you’re willing to stick to a ‘diet’ for the rest of your life–enjoy the yo-yo effect.

Eat responsibly and exercise–it’s that simple (without a metabolic disorder). Hopefully the only thing that will weigh more is your wallet.

18

Eat less, exercise more, that always works.

I wonder if getting a skinny lover gets you skinny?

19

Thanks all for the advice… I’ve started today (none of that “I’ll start on Monday” crap for me!) with changing the diet… phase one, drasically less sweets, more veggies. Phase 2, a diet soda, or, if we can afford it, bottled water.

Tomorrow I’m going to the gym, next payday I’m buying some cross training shoes.

I’ll keep you posted, the goal right now is 10 pounds.

What do you guys think of Metabolic Burners, like metabolife and what-not?

20

What the others said: eat less (or more healthy), and exercise more.

But be aware that there are limits. My wife is an eating disorders specialist, and she just about throws things at the TV when fad diets and exercise machines are advertised.

According to her, everyone has a different ‘setpoint’ weight. No matter what you do, it’s very hard to move more than 10% or so off of that weight and maintain it. Sure, if you starve yourself you can lose whatever you want, but if your new weight is way below your setpoint, you’ll be tired, unhealthy, and the minute you go back to normal eating you’ll gain all the weight back.

If you exercise, you can move your setpoint slightly so that normal eating will result in a lower weight. But once again, this has to be a permanent lifestyle change, because the minute you stop exercising the weight will come right back.

Of course, some people eat too much, and maintain weights above their setpoint. So moving to a healthy diet might allow you to drop 10-20% back to your setpoint (depending on how much you overate before), and exercising regularly might let you get a few percentage points below that.

But her advice is: be happy with who you are, unless your lifestyle is unhealthy. The average healthy woman is around 140-160 lbs. If that’s where you are, and if you eat a fairly balanced diet, then just live with it. According to her, extra weight doesn’t become unhealthy anyway until it’s more than 50% over the average for your height and bone structure.