share your tip(S)

Not sure if this even helps or not, but I go against what my grams always taught me. She always said, "sit still", Well, I move and fidget all day long. I am never still, no matter if I am sitting at my desk, at the copy machine, in line at the store, ALWAYS moving something, if it only burns 10 calories, hey, that's 10 calories gone!:drinker:

I have a lot! lol Here they are!

• WATER, WATER, WATER!
• DO NOT exceed 1,200 calories a day
• NO fast food
• NO fried/deep fried foods
• NO sweets (only non-fat, sugar free, & low-carb)
• NO sugar & carb-filled drinks (ONLY diet drinks & water)
• ONLY low/non-fat, low carb, low-sodium, low/non-sugar items
• ONLY fat free dairy products are to be consumed
• Meat portion, per meal, should be size of a deck of cards (4-6oz)
• ONLY lean proteins (chicken, turkey, fish, lean red meat, etc.)
• Carb portion, per meal, should be size of half a tennis ball, or up to 1 CUP (corrected from "1/2 cup"*)
• ONLY whole wheat/whole grain bread products
• ONLY one carb a day (for example: 2 slices of bread a day OR 1 cup of pasta/rice a day)
• No carbs after 5pm
• UNLIMITED vegetables, (excluding starchy ones like potatoes)
• eat vegetables filled with fiber (leafy green veggies, etc.)
• eat fruits in moderation
• limit fats and oils when cooking ( up to 2tbsp E.V.O.O.)
• DO NOT eat after 7:30pm

~TIPS~
• drink a full glass of water before every meal
• use smaller dishes when eating
• stock fridge/pantry w/ fat free snacks & condiments
• eat salad or soup before main meal
• eat slowly, as it will trigger the CCK brain chemical
• drink caffeine to curb hunger (without additives, only f.f. milk)
• chew sugar-free gum to curb hunger
• sugar-free sweets do wonders for your sweet tooth!
• limit alcohol intake as it has contains a lot of calories
• limit eating out at restaurants (it simply makes it harder)
• attempt to exercise at least 3x a week for 30min/work out


*A Collection of Created & Contributed Straight-Forward Tips*


In The Kitchen


~ Use chicken broth (fat free & low-sodium is best) instead of oil to sauté meat and veggies.

~ Next time you make meatballs, meatloaf, or burgers, use ground turkey.

~Use fat free cooking spray to coat cooking pans/surfaces

~ Avoid anything breaded/fried. Flour and bread crumbs not only add calories but also absorb more cooking oil.

~ A healthy alternative to normal breading is using crushed Corn Flakes. Crush them into a bread crumb-like consistency, and wet meat with egg white. Coat with corn flakes & bake, saute, or non-stick grill (george foreman).

~ Use small dishes (6 inches diameter) & utensils (teaspoons & small forks) to avoid over eating.

~ For main meals, 1/4 of your plate should be lean protein & the rest should be plant foods high in fiber & iron.

~ When making packaged rice or stuffings that call for butter/oil, use fat free low sodium broth.

~ Baking cakes/cookies, then substitute oil/butter with unsweetened applesauce.

~ Fat free/reduced fat cheeses make the world a better place.


Eating Out


~ Stick to lean grilled meats & steamed vegetables for your main course.

~ Ask for low fat/fat free dressing for your salad, or use vinegar. Have only vegetables or lean meat on your salad, no other additives unless they are fat free/low fat

~ Ask for a to-go box when they bring your meal.


Distract Yourself


~ Work out with a partner

~ Surf the net.

~ Watch a movie.

~ Talk on the phone.

~ Chew peppermint gum.

~ Drink something.

~ Wait 20mins. after a craving arrives.

~ Look through progress photos/stories.

~ Rock out & Dance to your favorite music.

~ Plan ahead activities/errands for your day.

~ Join a fitness group or class.


Boost That Metabolism


~ Have a healthy breakfast.

~ Have your Java black, or add one tblsp. fat free milk.

~ Drink icy cold water & lots of it.

~ Take a B12 vitamin & a fish-oil supplement.

~ Pump the Iron: Broccoli, bok choy, spinach, etc.

~ Keep it Spicy, add heat to your foods.

~ Eat Nemo...well, his friends, salmon, tuna, & sardines. They are packed with omega-3 fatty acids.

~ Eat slowly, savor the flavor!

~ Go to bed early, you'll eat less & your body will be able to regulate energy use & appetite for the following day.


Keep Exercise Interesting


~ Fat Burners: (Circuit-12 reps 3x) push ups, crunches on ball, planks, squats w/ weights, walking lunges, & planks with arm raised.

~ Mix cardio in between reps (jump roping, jumping jacks, leap squats)

~ Do activities that don't feel like "exercise". Dancing, playing sports, hiking, gardening, yard work, heavy cleaning, swimming, etc.


Stay Motivated


~ Place a "before" or undesirable picture of yourself on your fridge.

~ Keep a weight loss chart with specific goals.

~ Keep motivational quotes handy.

~ Surround yourself with supportive friends & family.



Here is a sample grocery list containing foods that make my diet much easier! ("f.f." is short for "Fat Free")

1. Meats-

* lean red meat
* boneless skinless chicken breast cutlets
* salmon
* shrimp
* 98% f.f. turkey meat (for sandwiches)
* tofu
* imitation f.f. crab
* mussels
* clams
* scallops

2. Veggies-

* asparagus
* tomatoes
* broccoli
* bok choy
* baby bella mushrooms
* Chinese cabbage
* scallions
* romaine lettuce
* baby spinach
* radicchio
* arugula
* bean sprouts
* garbanzo beans
* snow peas
* bamboo shoots
* water chestnuts
* cucumbers
* celery
* basil
* garlic
* fennel
* zucchini
* yellow squash
* green & red bell pepper
* peas
* green beans
* carrots
* Italian parsley
* rapini
* mustard greens

3. Fruits-

* apples
* oranges
* kiwi
* strawberries
* blueberries
* grapes
* bananas
* lemon
* lime
* honeydew melon
* watermelon
* pomegranate
* grapefruit
* pineapple
* pears
* raspberries
* apricots

4. Cheeses-

* f.f. mozzarella
* f.f. american
* f.f. swiss
* f.f. pepperjack
* f.f. ricotta
* f.f./reduced fat feta
* f.f./reduced fat parmesan cheese
* f.f. cream cheese
* f.f. sour cream

5. Breads-

* sarah lee 45 & delightful wheat bread
* nature's own light wheat bread
* whole wheat pitas
* wheat tortillas
* wheat bread crumbs
* brown rice
* rice paper
* whole wheat pasta
* wheat bagels
*Quaker low-sugar instant oatmeal packs
*Whole Wheat English Muffins

6. Condiments-

* Kraft f.f. mayo
* f.f. mustard
* low sodium ketchup
* sea salt/ no sodium salt
* black pepper
* paprika
* McCormick Montreal steak seasoning
* f.f. salad dressing
* f.f. butter (I Can't Believe it's not Butter)
* Worcestershire
* Extra virgin olive oil
* f.f. oil cooking spray
* f.f. strawberry preserves

7. Snacks-

* f.f. pudding
* f.f. jello
* f.f. yogurt (FAGE)
* f.f. popcorn
* f.f. fruit bars
* f.f. fudgsicles
* baby dill pickles

8. Drinks-

* Light Minute Maid lemonade
* Diet V8 Splash Berry Blend
* Diet Pepsi Max ( Zero everything)
* Cafe Bustelo instant espresso
* f.f. energy drinks
* green tea

When I started I took a bunch of my fitness magazines and cut out pictures that inspired me. I made a collage and hung it up right where i would see it every morning! It put me in the right mindset at the very beginning of the day and helped keep me on track. I found that when I started off well, I was more likely to finish well with little to no calorie "damage".

I eat every 3 hours and exercise for 30 minutes everyday. I have a bit of chocolate 2 times a day and for me I don't have a timeline, this is how I am going to eat always, I am never hungary and enjoy my food.

If you find you just really don't want to work out, promise yourself you'll do at least 20 minutes. Chances are you'll continue until you finish if you do that much.

I also remind myself that the first 10-15 minutes are the slowest ones, and once you're past them time starts to fly by. So the sooner you start, the sooner it's over!

-works for me anyway.. :happy:

@Bella
Could you show your food diary, I would love to get a peek.
:bigsmile:

These are things that I have learned during my journey:
1Don't over think things and don't get obsessed with the way you look.
2 Realize that appearance is a small part of it, health is the main goal.
3Don't compare yourself to others.
4Be sure to work on mental health so that you can figure out why food has become a comfort.
5There are no quick fixes so just suck it up and put in the work.
6 Everyone is different and their bodies need different things so what works for one person may not work for you.
7 And don't give up!

I've been doing this for about 6 months now, and I have one that you guys have forgotten...don't give up the foods you love just because you think they are "bad" and don't beat yourself up if you indulge. This is a lifestyle change, and it means thinking differently about food. I don't eat terribly all the time like I used to, but if I want a cheeseburger, I have a cheeseburger, and I don't feel bad about it. I'm not going to gain anything from that cheeseburger. Just don't let this thinking get you into trouble

Basically: a pound is 3,500 calories and if I have a cookie it's not going to ruin my whole day

Everything in moderation....I tried every, no carb, no sugar,no food diet out there....I realized if you just learn portion control. You can eat EVERYTHING you ate before!!! and since there is no "depriving" there is no falling off the wagon!!!!

Move lots...even if you dont have time for exercises

No excuses......there are ALWAYS excuses for not working out. I would pack my shedule with meeting friends, going out ect ect...so of COURSE i didnt have time to work out. NO excuses.......if Im meeting my friends I now tell them. I have to work out, I'll meet you after. Put your health first!!!!!

Read "Good Calories, Bad calories", they should have it at your local library. i started at 293 am down to 235 and was never really hungry........

I have been trying to lose weight for the past month and have dropped 7 pounds. Which I consider to be a good start and reasonable. My tips are what everyone always says...

1. Drink lots of water - It has ZERO calories and if flushes out the toxins in your body.
2. Switch your soft drinks and what not to diet - I did this because I realized how many calories I was consuming before. And lets just say I would rather save those calories that make me feel full.
3. Work out - Yes I said it. You can't be lazy and get skinny. I try to do cardio mostly because it gets your heart rate up. I am not saying you need to go to the gym for hours. But you do need to get moving. I really like swimming but even going for a walk is good.
4. Don't eat past a certain hour - Set this for yourself. For me I don't eat past 8pm. I know before I would eat while watching TV and then once the show was over I would just go to bed and not burn those calories. So pick the time that works in your schedule and close your kitchen.
5. Read the labels - Once you start to notice all those calories, fat, salt and chemicals in the food you might think twice about eating it.
6. Add FRUIT and VEGGIES - Stop whining about how they don't taste good... just eat them. They have lots of nutrients you need and they are low in calories. I personally like bananas, apples, kiwis, carrots and celery. If you have this on hand you are more likely to actually eat it.
7. Finally my best tip would be to add in simple exercise throughout the day - This means taking the stairs, parking further away, walking to the office down the hall instead of e-mailing and even walking to the store instead of driving. Just adding this in your day, you won't notice it but it will show on your body!

Good Luck with everyones' weight loss. I hope these tips are useful. I try to follow them.