Healthy Weight Loss

[Lizzy]

Originally Posted by Tommi

I go to a WW Meeting every Sat. AM at 6:30. They have a new points calculator and a new ponts system that started this year...UGH..

My Doc told me I was borderline diabetic about 6 months ago. My cholesterol was high, along with my BP..and my thyroid was wacky.

She said you must have beans, legumes, veggie's and fruits in the house. You must quit using Drive-Thrus as your food groups, and you must exercise.

I BEGAN eating organic fruits and veggies, veggie soups , regularly and quit eating meat, bread and dessert. I eat fish more often. My lab results last month were dramatically improved, plus I had a healthy weight loss, and feel great.

It will be an amazing year, and I am dedicated to either growing to 8 feet tall, or losing weight, feeling better, and having my bloodwork and BP results be great. Tired of being undertall for my weight.

I struggle, but am surviving and thriving. I am a NON-Cook, so, steaming veggies and making veggie soup is easy. After dinner was hardest-because chocolate or sweets call to me. My solution was not to buy, or allow bad stuff in my house. Holidays and Birthdays are exempt, and looked at as an okay time to have single portions of bad stuff I can't leave in the cupboards or fridge. I have air popped popcorn, without anything, and that does the trick.

Jacuzzi and pool in the morning, and walking the 2 flights of stairs at work instead of the elevators has helped.

When I NOW grocery shop, I take the extra steps and return the shopping cart to the rack at the store. Every step is helping. Oh..and my buddy bought me a new pedometer for Christmas.

Okay. subscribing and thriving, with a LOoooooonnnnng way to go.

Dieting is so hard and to have thyroid problems on top of it all makes it even harder!!My thyroid has been giving me troubles over the years, and it has made me seriously ill a few times in the begining until I was able to get it somewhat under control.
I will admit all though my thyroid makes it harder it isn't my biggest problem when it comes to my weight it is the horror munchies I get at night.I behave so well all day at work, I make a healthy dinner and then around 9:15 I am thinking of a snack.I try not to keep any sweets in the house but it doesn't stop me.I turn into a contestant on Iron Chef and I will find a way to make something out of nothing.Oh and the weight watchers desserts or skinny cow ice creams taste so good but I am pretty sure your only supposed to eat one at a time......
Then there is the whole exercise thing......I do good for a month or so and then the excuses start. I am tired when I get home after caring for 12 3yr olds all day long, but I know better.The more you work out, the more energy you have.So I have decided that now that my kids are back in school I am going to try and refocus on my health and get back into better shape.

[Oneida]

Originally Posted by Lizzy

I will admit all though my thyroid makes it harder it isn't my biggest problem when it comes to my weight it is the horror munchies I get at night.I behave so well all day at work, I make a healthy dinner and then around 9:15 I am thinking of a snack.I try not to keep any sweets in the house but it doesn't stop me.I turn into a contestant on Iron Chef and I will find a way to make something out of nothing.Oh and the weight watchers desserts or skinny cow ice creams taste so good but I am pretty sure your only supposed to eat one at a time......:

Lizzy!!!

This is one of my all-time favorite posts! I have quoted your reference to iron chef to my friends, and we have all laughed so hard with total understanding (my best friend Anna said, "two words: sugar burritos"). thanks for sharing your fantastic wit and stories!

[JustJo]

I have become a big fan of the "giant salad lunch"

Today's salad (up to the 2 quart line) includes lettuce, half a cucumber, a big handful of raw cauliflower, a carrot, about 1/2 cup canellini beans (again, straight out of the can...just rinsed...such an easy way to eat more legumes), handful of black olives and my homemade olive oil/apple cider vinegar dressing.

It's crunchy, it's filling, it's yummy and I just feel so good after I eat it!

[nycfem]

I too love big salads. What is your dressing recipe?

Originally Posted by JustJo

I have become a big fan of the "giant salad lunch"

Today's salad (up to the 2 quart line) includes lettuce, half a cucumber, a big handful of raw cauliflower, a carrot, about 1/2 cup canellini beans (again, straight out of the can...just rinsed...such an easy way to eat more legumes), handful of black olives and my homemade olive oil/apple cider vinegar dressing.

It's crunchy, it's filling, it's yummy and I just feel so good after I eat it!

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

I too love big salads. What is your dressing recipe?

I actually have one of those "Good Seasons" salad dressing cruets that you use with the packets of seasoning to make it at home.

It has lines on it for vinegar, water and oil....so I'm not sure of the measurements because I just fill up to the line.

So, I pour in apple cider vinegar up to the line (because it's supposed to be a healthy vinegar that helps you lose weight....and I like the taste), water to the next line, then...instead of the seasoning packet I put in a little chopped garlic that I buy in the jar, a little salt and pepper, a little parsley, a little dried onion flakes, a little italian seasoning mix that has oregano and basil and probably more parsley ...just whatever looks right. Then extra virgin olive oil to the oil line on the cruet and shake it up.

It literally only takes a few minutes to make.

When this one runs out I'm planning on trying a mexican-ish one with a little chili pepper, some cilantro, maybe a blob of salsa lol....and use black beans and avocado in my salad instead of the white beans/chick peas I've been using.

[Scorp]

Hey All,

One of the BEST things we have invested in is a Vitamix.

We've had ours for 3 years and it's amazing. It makes everything you can think of and very easy. It comes with a great, easy recipe book and the things you can do with this is unbelievable.

It costs a pretty penny but worth every cent.

It's NOT a blender, or a food processor. What makes it so ideal is:

It has a 2 peak horsepower motor that proples blades up to 240 mph and blends tough ingredients.

It chops, creams, blends, cooks, grinds, kneads, churns.

Cleans itself with a drop of dish soap and warm water; just run on High for 30 seconds

We even make fresh fruit sorbet, "real" peanut butter out of salted/unsalted nuts, hot soups and MANY other things (too long to list here)...This thing is amazing and well worth it and it's nutritional value will also blow you away.

[PinkieLee]

Scorpie sounds like an infomercial
**kidding**

That sounds like an awesome kitchen gadget to have ~ actually useful, and won't sit in a cabinet collecting dust!

[ruffryder]

That's great Scorp! I just bought one by GE from Walmart. Less than $20. It's a blender and food processor in one. Has different sizes of cups and shakers for juice. I used it this morning to make a fresh orange juice smoothie with a dash of stevia and ice! saved some aside to drizzle on my spinach I'm going to have for lunch with cod. The other day I used it to puree some tomatoes and jalapeno for a spicy tomato sauce I used on my chicken breast. Good investment indeed!

Originally Posted by Scorp

Hey All,

One of the BEST things we have invested in is a Vitamix.

We've had ours for 3 years and it's amazing. It makes everything you can think of and very easy. It comes with a great, easy recipe book and the things you can do with this is unbelievable.

It costs a pretty penny but worth every cent.

It's NOT a blender, or a food processor. What makes it so ideal is:

It has a 2 peak horsepower motor that proples blades up to 240 mph and blends tough ingredients.

It chops, creams, blends, cooks, grinds, kneads, churns.

Cleans itself with a drop of dish soap and warm water; just run on High for 30 seconds

We even make fresh fruit sorbet, "real" peanut butter out of salted/unsalted nuts, hot soups and MANY other things (too long to list here)...This thing is amazing and well worth it and it's nutritional value will also blow you away.

[ruffryder]

Thanks Jo for the ideas! I will have to try that.. Any other ideas for no fat, no sugar, low sodium dressings anyone?

some one sent me to this website.. http://www.waldenfarms.com/products/dressings.html not sure if they sell it in any supermarkets though.

Originally Posted by JustJo

I actually have one of those "Good Seasons" salad dressing cruets that you use with the packets of seasoning to make it at home.

It has lines on it for vinegar, water and oil....so I'm not sure of the measurements because I just fill up to the line.

So, I pour in apple cider vinegar up to the line (because it's supposed to be a healthy vinegar that helps you lose weight....and I like the taste), water to the next line, then...instead of the seasoning packet I put in a little chopped garlic that I buy in the jar, a little salt and pepper, a little parsley, a little dried onion flakes, a little italian seasoning mix that has oregano and basil and probably more parsley ...just whatever looks right. Then extra virgin olive oil to the oil line on the cruet and shake it up.

It literally only takes a few minutes to make.

When this one runs out I'm planning on trying a mexican-ish one with a little chili pepper, some cilantro, maybe a blob of salsa lol....and use black beans and avocado in my salad instead of the white beans/chick peas I've been using.

[nycfem]

I use Waldenfarms dressings all the time and think they are pretty good. My favorite is the Honey Dijon, and I also like the Rasberry Vinaigrette. Of course, the negative, imo, is that they are artificially sweetened (with sucralose, which is hundreds of times sweeter than a lot of other artificial sweeteners, like Splenda, so - on a positive note- a tiny bit will do the trick as an ingredient in the dressing). I am generally keen on avoiding artificial sweeteners, but I do like that it has 0 calories with a decent taste

Originally Posted by ruffryder_0187

Thanks Jo for the ideas! I will have to try that.. Any other ideas for no fat, no sugar, low sodium dressings anyone?

some one sent me to this website.. http://www.waldenfarms.com/products/dressings.html not sure if they sell it in any supermarkets though.

[Zimmeh]

I love the organic olive oil based raspberry vinegarette that I can pick up at the grocery store. Usually, when I eat a salad, I have the cook put it on the side and I dip my fork into it. The name of the company is BoltHouse farms. I am including a link to their recipe page.

Enjoy!

http://bolthouse.com/our-recipes/dressings

Zimmy

Originally Posted by ruffryder_0187

Thanks Jo for the ideas! I will have to try that.. Any other ideas for no fat, no sugar, low sodium dressings anyone?

some one sent me to this website.. http://www.waldenfarms.com/products/dressings.html not sure if they sell it in any supermarkets though.

[Corkey]

Originally Posted by ruffryder_0187

Thanks Jo for the ideas! I will have to try that.. Any other ideas for no fat, no sugar, low sodium dressings anyone?

some one sent me to this website.. http://www.waldenfarms.com/products/dressings.html not sure if they sell it in any supermarkets though.

Make your own? EVOO, honey mustard or dijon, lemon juice, and ponzu. Wisk and pour!

[Liam]

Originally Posted by JustJo

I actually have one of those "Good Seasons" salad dressing cruets that you use with the packets of seasoning to make it at home.
It has lines on it for vinegar, water and oil....so I'm not sure of the measurements because I just fill up to the line.

The garlic Good Seasons dressing has become a favorite at our house, and we don't have the special cruet with the lines marked on it, (years ago, I had several, but they never seemed to move with me...) and repurposed an empty jam jar with a leak proof cap. The measurements for the different liquids are on the back of the package, and it even tells you how to make it low-cal, by decreasing the oil and increasing the water. Good Seasons means good savings!

[Leigh]

Originally Posted by Sachita

It all starts with baby steps. Try watching documentaries for inspiration. It really does work. When I watched "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" it put me in high gear. It really inspired me. I watch it at least once a week and I follow the site foodmatters.tv to learn what others are doing.

You know what taste good and more healthy, no chemicals is agave and lemon in water. Agave is better then processed sugar or even raw natural sugar. I buy large bottle from Marshalls on sale in the gourmet section. Or even maple syrup.

Another thing I have been doing, which is hard but drinking at least 24 oz of water first thing in the morning. You can add lemon and maple. It kick starts your metabolism and helps detox your body. Be forewarned that you will eliminate a lot.

On another note....

I have been juicing daily for quite a few weeks now and I've lost 10 pounds without really trying. My energy has increased. I didn not diet while doing this btw and was eating pasta and steak once a week. But I'm really ready to take it to the next level and do a 10 day green juice fast. I'm planning it with Wanton Sex Toy Boi to help me during this time. The first few days will be hard because I'll detox and won't have coffee, no sugar, nadda, just juice. I'm thinking about doing this the first week in Sept and have two art classes lined up at the artisan center to keep me busy.

I've watched a few documentaries over the last few years and plus I watch The Biggest Loser alot and I was also watching that show called Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition to see the transformations that people have made goiing from extremely obese to much healthier. Obviously I'm not gonna do it that radically but to see how people can change after some of the unhealthiest of lifestyles and eating habits, I know that I can do it. I'm going to begin the water thing tomorrow morning ~ what is 24 oz equal to, like glass size wise? With lemon can it be lemon juice from a bottle or should it be fresh? How much lemon should be put in? Figure I'll ask this stuff now :-)

I've been wanting to get a juicer for awhile now, think I'll have to look into that soon. I've seen those things in the store called a Magic Bullet; I've seen its website and you can make smoothies as well as use it as a juicer which I think is very cool (plus it does lots more stuff too). I won't be able to afford to get anything until next month but guaranteed I plan on buying one plus investing in a book or two on juicing. Not sure if anyone has seen any informercials on the Magic Bullet but I'll leave the website incase anyone wants to look at it ~ its a neat gadget and replaces ALOT of appliances in the kitchen, very handy and cute too!!!

http://www.buythebullet.com/index.php

Originally Posted by Anastasia

I debated posting this morning because: 1.Everyone's doing so great and I, well, ate like I was going to the electric chair yesterday and 2. I am new and don't know anyone and I hate my introduction to a thread to be whining.

But, alas, whine I shall.

I rejoined WW for the 10,000th time about 7 weeks ago. I have struggled with my weight for my entire life (my first foray into diet programs was Nutrisystem that my parents enrolled me in as a present for my 17 th birthday. Nothing says, "Happy Birthday" like "Hey, Fatass, clearly you need help." but I digress...)

I had lost 9.6 pounds total (I say 'had' because after the last couple of binge eating days I am sure I will be up on Monday). I am tired of the diet yo yo and the inevitable self-flagellation that follows the upticks on the scale. I have adopted a very active lifestyle that has made me much healthier than in the past. It is time to get the food part of this equation.

This time I wanted to do a realistic plan that changed the way I look at food, not as my best friend, not as a magic elixir that will wash away pain or stress, but as nutrition to keep me healthy.

I do not want to work toward some mythical number on the scale that will make everything in my life perfect, nor try to attain some bikini model level of perfection, just eat in a way that reflects my other healthy life choices.

Granted, if I ever have sex again, I would like my partner to 'growl in approval' rather than 'gasp in horror' when I take off my clothes, so a little less junk in the trunk would not hurt my feelings.

*end whining*

Today, I vow to not let a 'Fuck it' day turn into a 'Fuck it' week.

Hi Anastasia,

We all have the right to whine sometimes, and I don't feel this post was so much whining as it was just a good way of getting your feelings out about a crappy situation. All of us in this thread at one time or another have gone through our own struggles in life and anything to do with food is a serious struggle, especially when your overweight. I can't imagine how any parent could sit there for their child's birthday (no matter what age) and hand them an enrollment in a weight loss program. Perhaps if it was very serious and they made it clear that it was with the best of intentions I can sort of understand it, however I don't agree with doing it on your birthday and yes that would certainly seem like a slap in the face.

I think its very smart to not necessarily be obsessed ith the numbers on the scale, but rather just worry about making lifestyle choices that will benefit you in the long run ~ heating better, getting more exercise and just overall being more aware of things like triggers, emotions and such (I'm learning alot of that Myself, its this threads fault too LOL). But its true I am learning about triggers and how to keep My emotions from making Me pull food out and just eat (which is what I always did). Today for example, My dad comes home from work today and starts yapping at Me for leaving a light on (I was using it and told him it was needed but he shut it off on Me) then proceeded to cut Me off when I tried to explain to him why I needed the light. He is all about blaming everyone else for things, and when he starts on Me its triggers My depression and I eat ~ but today I recognized the trigger and I did NOT grab food, instead I had water and did some house cleaning.

It certainly isn't easy, as we all know, but little changes will lead to bigger things and a much healthier lifestyle which is really what its all about ~ not necessarily numbers on a scale. And whoever is lucky enough to be your partner in the future will not see your weight as a bad thing, rather they will growl and appreciate every inch of you no matter what

Originally Posted by Scorp

**ACT NOW ** AND GET YOUR FREE DVD TO EAT THIS NOT THAT!...SO CALL OUR OPERATORS TO CHAT!

Damn operators were busy!!!!

[PinkieLee]

Jo you salad sounds YUMMY! When I eat a quick lunch at home, I always try to add a small side salad or sliced tomato & cucumber to my frozen WW lunch. It seems help fill me up.

I've gotta work my 2nd job tonight, so it looks like Subway is in my future. I'll buy a $5 footlong sandwich with lots of veggies... have 1/2 for lunch and the other 1/2 for dinner. I started skipping on the chips (even the baked ones) and have switched to either the apple slices or I bring an orange with me.

I'll probably have a yogurt this afternoon for a snack.

[nycfem]

Anyone else have any really simple, healthy salad dressing recipes?

And don't just tell me lemon juice cuz I aint there yet