hello

horseman65

:flowerforyou: Hello from Idaho, USA. this is my first time any suggestion.

LittleEva44

:flowerforyou: Hello from Idaho, USA. this is my first time any suggestion.

Hello Horse :flowerforyou: Your first step was to admit that you want to lose weight. Here are my tips for you as I myself "monthly" and have lost 20 pounds (see the before and after photos. My hubby took my picture this morning, 16 Oct 09).

TIPS:

Drink 64 oz of water daily. I suggest you eat 1,250 calories at the beginning, take your vitamins/supplements, talk to your doctor before exercising/dieting, use extra virgin olive oil, eat wheat products: bread, spaghetti, cereal, etc., eat fruits and veggies, snack on "any" type of nut (walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds are best), drink skim/soy milk, eat yogurt, eat fish/chicken/turkey/lean meats, have salads WITHOUT dressing (use extra virgin olive oil), stay away from POPS/SODAS (drink diet sodas/pops once a day if not, once a week), don't eat "fried foods" (French fries, potato chips, etc), eat Baked Lays, air popped popcorn, go to www.pilsbury.com and buy a pizza stone ($29.99) you can create your own delicious homemade pizzas with Boboli wheat pizza crust (already made); veggies to your heart's content, one can of refried beans (protein), one can of whole kernel corn (drained), and lite mozzarella cheese...yum! You can eat the Oreda crinkle cut fries that you bake in the oven, stay away from the salt shaker, stay AWAY from processed foods, foods made with hydrogenated oils (cookies, cakes, pies, etc). For dessert you can eat a skinny cow chocolate w/peanut butter ice cream sandwich....yummy!

Stop eating 2-3 hours BEFORE you go to sleep. I learned from Oprah's Boot Camp you have to STOP eating 2-3 hours BEFORE you go to sleep because your metabolism shuts down (as everything does when you're in a REM (Rapid Eye Movement).

Go to www.prevention.com. They have yummy recipes and are another source of website for motivation. Did you know that if you pay for your subscription to Prevention they give you a free pedometer? One should walk/step 10,000 steps daily. Check them out! They have a free website w/the magazine there in front of you in case you can't subscribe just yet.

Don't drink COFFEE. Drink Chai black/green tea instead. Chew gum all day. It keeps your mouth "busy". I've also heard/learned that before you eat a meal eat your soup first since it helps fill you up before the main course.

Weigh yourself "monthly". I swear (Eva crossing her finger and doing a "cross" by her heart) you WILL lose 3-4 pounds every month. If you do the "math" that's THE average of 1 pound a week. This helps you from NOT getting discouraged IF, if, you weigh yourself daily/weekly as allot of women/men in this site tend to do (weigh themselves daily/weekly and then get discouraged and give up on dieting/exercising). I have ADDED my "monthly" weigh-in so you can see it:

01 January 2009 189 pounds (New Years Day) :noway:
15 February 2009 (lost my notes!!) :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad:
15 March 2009 186.5 pounds
15 April 2009 182.0 pounds
15 May 2009 180.5 pounds
15 June 2009 177.0 pounds
15 July 2009 177.5 pounds
15 August 2009 171.8 pounds
15 September 2009 172.8 pounds......DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!!!
15 October 2009 169.4 pounds

Thirty minutes before you work out eat one of the following: one apple, OR one small box of raisins with a handful of walnuts, OR soup, OR yogurt. Why? "They are packed with high-quality carbohydrates, which provide a quick source of fuel for your muscles, but they have just enough protein and fat to help you maintain a steady, elevated energy level" (source: Prevention Magazine April 2007).

AFTER your work out, drink a protein shake (Slimfast, Special K, EAS Myoplex, etc). Why? "After a workout, your muscles need protein to repair microscopic muscle tears, plus another shot of carbs to help restock energy stores. Cyclists who drank it after a tough racing session had improved endurance and recovered fast than those who drank an ordinary sports drink (which supplies carbs and electrolytes, but no protein)" (Source: Prevention Magazine April 2007).

Stay away from alcoholic drinks (includes wine).

Set small goals for right now. Start with the FIRST 10 pounds. Later, the weight will be HARDER to lose. Remember, it's soooo easy to gain the weight, but hard to lose it. "No pain, no gain!" No worries if the weight is harder to lose since it means that it is time to "up" your exercise regimen (1 hour 3-4 days a week). When you've lost the weight, then you can go "up" to 1,500 calories (maybe for the last stubborn 10 pounds). If you closely watch "THE BIGGEST LOSER" they have to lose more than 50 pounds; their calorie intake is 1,000-1,100. Wow! Bless their for doing that!!! If you've watched the Diet Detective, he gets rid of all the "fat" foods in your fridge and pantry (cakes, cookies, pies, etc). He fills those places with veggies, fruits, wheat products, dairy products, low fat cheeses, olive oil, etc. I LOVED that show, but you can still check out his website: www.dietdetective.com/lose-weight.aspx

If you want more "tips" let me know as you know how to reach me. Blessings and good luck!

Eva

AprilKill

Hello, everyone, I just joined and I have updated my profile....Last Night, I had an appoinment with a trainer at my gym, he did a complete body measurement for body fat and I am 32% which means I am Obese by National Standards, I weighted 190 on there scale at 5:30 in the evening. I can do cardio on my own, but he is going to put me on 3 day a week 30minute strenght training with him routine for 8 weeks. I weight back in on Nov 23 and for every 6 weeks after. He says I should be able to lose 9 pounds every 6 weeks and be at my weight loss goal by April 2010. I am going to do this, i am a curvy female who wears a size 12 and I have been this size for a long time. I need to do this, this site seems pretty good, with the calorie counting log and exercise log which are really great and easy to use. But its a hard blow when you hear the actual numbers coming out at you...:huh:

vhuber

Welcome "horseman65"!! This is truly an awesome sight and I think "LittleEva44" said it all! Just do what myfitnesspal says to the best that you can and keep posting and you will find success like everyone else!!! I am your neighbor from Montana !! Wishing you the best!