ruthmiriam Member

While it may not be an addiction on the order of alcoholism or heroin, I would definitely say that the way my body reacts to sugar and highly processed carbs is close. If I don't eat much of it, I am fine resisting it. Once I start eating those types of foods, they get harder and harder to resist. They become all I can…

I almost always have some protein with my snacks. Protein seems to help me feel satisfied the longest. So I have an apple with some almond butter, or carrots and hummus, or greek yogurt or cottage cheese with some fruit or vegetables.

If they are asking people to bring something, bring veggies and hummus. Then mostly stick to that, maybe having little samples of other appetizers if they look really good. I agree with the drinking water, and definitely limiting the alcohol. My usual rule on desserts is that store bought is never worth the calories. They…

Me too! My diary is open, and I log every day--except tomorrow, we are going into San Francisco for a night out to celebrate my husband's 40th birthday! But other than that, I am very consistent. I love looking at other people's diaries and getting ideas on things to try.

Trader Joe's sells dark chocolate covered almonds with sea salt, and about 6 of those (about 115 calories) is my treat for dessert any night I have the calories leftover. I will often put it on my diary early in the day just to make sure I save those calories.

By far it is my Xbox with Kinect and the Zumba Fitness Rush game! It's how I got started on this journey, and still one of my favorite workouts--though I did a great Zumba class at the Y today, which is a different kind of fun. Just got the Zumba Core game, I'm planning on trying that tomorrow.

Zumba Fitness Rush on the Xbox Kinect is what got me started with my entire lifestyle change. I bought it for myself, and started doing it a little bit and I LOVED it, so I did a bit more and a bit more until I was doing Zumba almost every single day of the week. Now I have branched out into other cardio and strength…

Try not to let it get too complicated in your head. I try to bear in mind the line from Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma: Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants. Eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, and then protein and carbs in moderation. Move more, doing something you enjoy so that you will do it for the rest of your…

My diary is open also. I also eat real food, and a lot of vegetables. I am right around there calorie-wise, sometimes higher or lower depending on how hungry I am. I have the same breakfast every morning, because it is so yummy right now with fresh tomatoes from our farm share or my garden: One slice of bread toasted, then…

I just hit onederland this week also, it is a terrific feeling! Congratulations!

Thanks for posting! I'm bumping in case I need it later.

Well, I'm sure many would disagree with me, but in my mind I am trying to train myself to eat like a "normal" person. A "normal" person does not eat if they are not hungry, and they eat when they are hungry. I am trying to learn to listen to what my body is trying to tell me. If I am really hungry one day, I eat more. If…

I'll be eating those veggies right along with both of you. That has been the secret of my success this far, eat an appropriate portion of protein and carbs, and then fill up on the veggies. It has worked great, and I don't feel deprived at all.

Bumping in case I hit a plateau down the road. Thanks!

I am on week 7 of the Couch25K program, which means I am doing 25 minute jogs 3 days this week. I did Zumba on my Xbox Kinect for about 3 months before starting, and was doing it for about an hour a day, so I had already gotten my cardio endurance up pretty well. I started by doing a sort of shuffle-jog (someone on a…

We are almost twins! :) I am also 44, starting weight was 240, now at 204, total I want to lose over 100 pounds. Are you weighing and measuring everything? That is really important when you are first starting--I am still weighing and measuring almost everything. There is a good chance that you are overestimating your…

Well, I can't say I know how you feel, since I don't think I've ever been at my goal weight...YET. :) I have been overweight my whole life. I am 44, and finally working towards getting to my goal, and though I still have a long way to go, this time it seems like it is going to work. So I'd say, if I can do it so can you!…

Thank you for posting that! I was just noticing today how much more things were jiggling (yuk!), glad to hear it is actually a good thing!

Bump so I can see the responses later!

Yes, using MFP to keep track of calories, and Zumba on the Xbox 4 days per week (burn about 500 - 600 calories in an hour) and Couch to 5K jogging 3 days per week. Never thought I would enjoy exercise, but with Zumba I really do! I hope I can find a class near me that fits into my schedule once my kids are back in school.

LOVE Zumba! That's all the exercise I did for the first 3 months or so, now I am also doing the Couch to 5K program--jogging 3 days a week. Down over 30 pounds so far! I still can't find any classes that work for my schedule, so I do Zumba Fitness Rush on my Xbox Kinect.

I hate sugar substitutes, I just gradually reduced how much sugar I put in my coffee. Now down to about a teaspoon, which only has about 15 calories, not much in the big picture of things.

Thank you for posting your sensible tips! There's so much confusing information on here, it seems like I lose sight of common sense sometimes. My husband and I switched to using salad plates for dinner, and we fill half of the plate with whatever the veggies are, and then use the other half for the starch and protein. It's…

This is just what I was going to say...eat a lot more veggies and fruit. For the amount of calories in the fries you had with lunch, you could have had a giant salad with a lite vinaigrette for both lunch and dinner, which would fill you up more. Substituting some of the high calorie, low nutrient foods for low calorie,…

I would love some serious weight loss friends as well. For the first time in my life, I have tons of confidence that I will follow this all the way through. I exercise every day, and am eating healthier than I ever have. I am not trying to diet, I am trying to completely change my life. So far so good!

I eat tons of tomatoes every day, and I've been losing about 2.5 pounds per week. I agree with other posters, coincidence.

I'm new here too, and would love to have some additional support! Your story sounds similar to mine...I started this journey around March, at 240 pounds, and I am also trying to lose 100 pounds. I also started exercising first, with Zumba Fitness Rush on Xbox Kinect. I discovered I really enjoyed it, I love to dance and…