Healthy Weight Loss

[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.

[sylvie]

[QUOTE=Tommi;261051]
Oh..and my buddy bought me a new pedometer for Christmas.
[QUOTE]

those pedometers are GREAT.. i have one, and actually need to start using it again, im curious just how much walking i do in the run of a day, but when i was using it, i found that seeing how many steps i took was very encouraging to want more and more, and you are right every step does count Tommi!! mine comes with a radio on it though which burned the batteries like crazy, i need to figure out how to switch that option off, or maybe ill just buy some rechargables!

long road for us all, but i'm on board too.. i needed to clear my mind before i could commit, and i feel i am 'there' now..

i need this, for health & for self esteem!

[JustJo]

Yay! I am so glad to have others to share this project with!

And yes on pedometers! My doctor told me to aim for 10,000 steps a day...challenging when I work from home and the furthest I go is the coffe pot.

I put the dog on leash and walked 2 miles today...first time in a long time (like over 4 months). Wow, I could feel it ...and so could he, poor thing...but it's good for both of us. I figure I'll start with 2 miles and work our way up. The doc said that doing 2 separate walks of 2 miles a day is even better because it keeps the metabolism fired up...so that's what I'm aiming for.

Tommi...I'm so glad you're seeing results. You definitely want to stay out of diabetic territory if you possibly can...it's no fun. I have damage to my eyes, and the nerves in my feet...scary stuff. And, oh yea, fast food is my mortal enemy. Periodically it lures me back (because I simply adore Big Macs)...but they really aren't worth what they do to me...or anyone for that matter!

Yay us!

[sylvie]

10,000 a day! seems like sooo much, hehe..
but, i bet they add up way quick, i am going to dig out my pedometer right now, actually and get the battery/radio situation figured out , and then use it tomorrow or sunday! just curious how many steps i would take in the run of a normal day, without an actual work out.. and then one with a work out.. heh

i'm really happy about this thread..
i was tested for diabetes not all that long ago actually, but results came back negative, thankfully.. i had a lot of the symptoms, especially the excessive thirst, i can't seem to quench it most times..

[lipstixgal]

I just shoveled not something I really want to do but does that count as an activity?? I also walked today too which should count as an activity also..whoo hoo

[katsarecool]

Shoveling does count!!!! Count me in!

[Gemme]

Just for kicks, I plugged my info into the points'ometer and came up with 24. I'm not sure what good that will do me, as I don't count points, but it's good to know, I guess.

*grin*

I use the website thedailyplate.com to log my daily food intake and exercise. You set up your free profile, with your age, activity level, et cetera and then, as you add food, it makes the adjustments necessary. When you add exercise or actitivies (shoveling, sex, even walking on crutches!), it makes the adjustments to your caloric limit, since an exercising and/or working hard body requires more fuel.

For me, it's helped a bit to remind myself that that's all food is. Fuel. Some days, usually about 10-14 days out of the month, I don't care what the Hell it is, I just WANT it, but the rest of the time, it helps. I don't put sugar or sand in my car. It would ruin my engine, so why do I put so much sugar and junk in my body? I've had to have some pretty heavy 'what is food to me' discussions with myself over the past few months.

On my better days, it's fuel for my body. On my less than stellar days, it's comfort to soothe sadness or hurt feelings, to alleviate boredom, or to fill a void of some kind that I'm just not ready to address.

I've actively been exercising and eating healthier for about 2.5 months now. I had the luxury of being able to spend a LOT of time at the gym (nearly every day for at least an hour) before I found my job. Now, I am going about 3 times a week for an hour and a half each time. Since I began doing all this, I've dropped about 15 pounds.

I still have a little ways to go before I am at my goal weight, but it's not just the number on the scale that I'm working towards. I'm slowing teaching myself that, while it's fine to indulge now and then and for special occasions, when I reach for something to eat, I want my first instinct to be something that is good for me. I am making progress, but it's definitely a journey that I've just begun.

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by katsarecool

Shoveling does count!!!! Count me in!

Never gonna have snow here. BUT , I did trim a 15 foot high Bougainvillea bush, and raked eucalyptus and pepper tree debris from our 7 days of rain. Grass is still too mushy to mow today though.

So,if interested, here is a Body Mass Index Calculator . Here it is..

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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