scrappin999 wrote: »

lesa - excellent - healthy feels great - huh - plus saves $.

Daisylee87 wrote: »

The sale is going back on at Costco!

Daisylee87 wrote: »

Been wanting to eat the world for the past few days cause it's that time... Now I'm struggling to even get down the meals... Just not hungry at all hopefully doesn't hurt my weight loss. Going to my favorite sushi place for a delayed happy birthday lunch.. Can't wait.. Love me some sushi

Eat Less to Lose More? NO!!!

One of the questions/problems I've seen quite frequently asked on the NS discussion boards concerns eating all the food on the plan. MANY newbies apply logic and think if they skip the dessert or some of the PowerFuels, SmartCarbs, or Veggies, they'll lose weight more quickly. I fell into the trap when I was a newbie, too. I mean it makes sense (if you don't understand about nutrition).

But it is one of the biggest mistakes I see on NS. One of the essential keys to weight loss is to keep your metabolism fired up and burning calories. The other is a calorie deficit which NS accomplishes by having us eat a prescribed and well-researched meal plan.

Now, in order to keep your metabolism fired up, you have to keep it fueled. I picture my metabolism as a coal burning engine inside me. Food is coal (aka fuel). If I don't throw in a shovel full of coal every 3 hours or so, the fire dies down and the engine stops burning as much and as quickly. And the type of fuel is important. NS takes care of that part for us.

So, what will happen if you ignore this advice and undercut the calories required by the NS meal plan? I can't know for sure for each individual. But I have seen it hundreds of times over the 4.5 years I've been participating in the program and the discussion boards. In nearly every case, one of two things happen. Which of the two typically depends on how you were eating in the weeks leading up to starting NS.

You won't lose much of anything at all the first couple of weeks. Your metabolism never kicks in because your body thinks you are starving. And it is confused. At this point many members quit as they aren't getting the positive reinforcement on the scale that they are so desperate to see.
You will lose a bunch for the first 2-3 weeks. You get all jazzed thinking you'll be at goal sooner than you ever imagined. Then the weight loss stops, or you may even gain a little weight. Then hopefully someone clues you in and you start eating properly. You can sometimes actually GAIN weight doing that -- but usually only the first week you start eating more calories. After that, the metabolism is hopefully on even keel again and you'll start your slow descent into goal.

Both these are usually corrected when you start following the plan as written. Additionally, if you don't teach your body how to eat a healthy amount of calories, you are going to have a hard time keeping your weight off after reaching goal.

Another way to keep the metabolism fired up is to exercise. That is why NS has included the Daily 3. And that is why you'll find that the vast majority of people that are able to maintain their weight loss have incorporated exercise into their daily routine. It is essential to a healthy lifestyle. It doesn't have to be grueling. You just have to find activities that you enjoy that get your heart rate up and build some muscle. Slowly if you want. Lean muscle burns more calories than fat tissue. So the healthier your body frame gets, the better able to lose and keep off the pounds.

Another hint is to make sure you stoke that coal fire up just as soon as you wake up. At the very least, drink 8 ounces of water first thing. THAT will take your body out of sleep mode into burning mode immediately. And of course, eat something just as soon as you can. If you aren't hungry in the morning -- that isn't a valid excuse. Neither was I at first. But it is ESSENTIAL. So if nothing else, have a protein shake or other PowerFuel as soon as you can. Then you can wait for the rest of your breakfast if you have to.

"This is just too much food and I'm not hungry." A common complaint for newbies. That usually corrects itself in a few weeks. If you can't get all the food in at first, try drinking some of the servings. One cup of Skim Milk for a PowerFuel. One half cup of No Sugar Added Fruit Juice for a SmartCarb. One half cup of Low Sodium Veggie juice for a vegetable serving. Not ideal, but just skipping them is not a healthy or efficient approach now, or after goal.

So -- why are you rethinking a plan that has proven success? Why are you delaying your success by messing up your metabolism? Why aren't you just doing NS the way it was intended? Stop it. Read the material again, and follow the plan to goal!

scrappin999 wrote: »

dh was surprised to see a turkey vulture feasting on squirrel roadkill on our street the other day. We also have a Cooper Hawk hanging in the neighborhood. Odd stuff - normally huge birds don't hang here. Dave said the vulture's wingspan was quite awesome.

Saw eye surgeon today - new plan is right eye only, no premium lense. Different guys, different approaches. Should know date by next week. He has to compete for OR 26 - can't be done away from an ICU. Being high risk is expensive for surgeries!

hope4change_val wrote: »

Roger...that's a great explanation about eating regularly....I keep adding fuel to my pot-bellied stove...and the belly is melting!

Shirl...glad you're working toward getting the new logistics lined up. Very true, when things get complicated, the costs rise. Hoping the planning process, surgery, and recovery all go smoothly!

5mates wrote: »

Good Morning all and Happy Friday! Official weekly WI this morning - up 1 lb. Decided not to vetch about it because I am quite happy with my progress and know I will see a result next week. Sometimes the scale isn't the measure of what we have done during the week. I say keep a positive attitude and stay on plan this coming week. Also, take time to appreciate what I have accomplished (smaller clothes, better health, more energy, more mobility). Shirl - I wish you well with your medical issues - hope they are resolved soon. Roger - your walks intrigue me - you may have inspired me to do a walk every morning that I am on vacation. May not be quite as far as you do but one step is more than I am doing now. Headed home to the great state of NJ this weekend - a little work then - off to the beach for a week.

Daisylee87 wrote: »

Sorry I've been mia... Someone took my bank information and cleaned me out so I've been dealing with that. Found out I'm a stress eater.. Had a few cupcakes the other day :x still managed to lose weight though. My nutrisystem shipment should be here including a nutribear so that's exciting.

hope4change_val wrote: »

Oh Daisy, I'm so sorry to hear that. What a headache. I hope you can recover what was taken. Do you know how or who???

Hi Roger, I MUCH prefer walking my dogs, playing with my kid, taking a nap...compared to work. But, I MUCH prefer work to sleeping on a sidewalk and eating out of trash cans. So, I'm grateful to have the opportunity to work!

Hi Shirl, I started to research cataracts. I'm 51 and two eye doctors told me I have them, but so far I can't tell. Sigh. So, I bought Leutine (with something else) that is supposed to slow cataract growth. But, then I was thinking...if my current lenses lasted 51 years, and I get them replaced now...would the artificial ones last another 51 years? (That's the next Googling question I'll look into).

hope4change_val wrote: »

Progress photos. First one shows 25# loss, second one shows 56# loss. I have no clue what I'll look like after I lose another 50#.

scrappin999 wrote: »

Daisy - what a pain! I hate criminals and the mischief they make. Wish they'd get a more productive life - not by stealing ours.

Val - wowza girl - way to go! You're looking fab. As for the cataracts - was told a while a go that I had them - don't remember when. When I lost right eye vision due to clot hitting it - eye guy said cataract surgery would help. That week I was out at night and couldn't see the road - rain storms also make it hard to drive - other than that really not sure. I remember when mom had her cataracts removed in the late 60s that she cried when she saw her "clean" house - I thought I had it clean, she disagreed. They didn't put lenses in back then - she had to lay flat for days and use sandbags to keep her head steady.

Apparently - I may crab alot about my health - but don't dwell on how bad it actually is. You'd think after being told no anesthetic and having surgery without it, having 2 other surgeries in the big OR when they're normally outpt surgical procedures, that I'd catch on. Diabetes is always a pain, sleep apnea messes with both your heart and breathing, asthma is a breathing issue, and heart failure - well that's the engine that keeps all of us going. Doah!

Looking back I initially didn't tell my hubs nor my big boss that I had to have heart surgery until just prior when it actually landed on the radar. Just read that spouses often don't share when they're ill - so as not to worry their partner. I never consciously chose not to share - I know I shared with my friends - but not those closest to me - go figure.

Daisylee87 wrote: »

Yikes! Thankfully my police department handles fraud reports fairly often... Or not thankfully I guess? But they take the report and forward it to their investigations and go from there. He said since it was used in Miami, they doubt anything will come of it like it would have if they were local. He also said if I was able to, use credit for everything and then pay it off at the end of the month because they hit my checking account, I'm out all of my money until the investigation is done. Where as if they got my credit card, I'd still have my money. It's just a pain. Froze my credit and everything. I just bought my house and a new car a year ago so I don't plan on needing to open a loan any time soon

Daisylee87 wrote: »

I also am proud to present Pound! I am 5.2 pounds away from the next bear... So I'm going to go for two bears in my next shipment be 15 pounds for the month if I do

hope4change_val wrote: »

Congrats on your first bear!!! At first I was wishy-washy about the idea of the bears...and subsequently, I LOVE them. It helps to have a visual reminder of how far we've come.