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Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Thinking about going on a diet, tips?
Last time I went on one, I failed, by 7 pounds. So, I'm going to try it again! I've been very sedentary and eating unhealthy foods, it's time to change that. I'm aiming to drop 15-20 pounds, which then I'll be at my ideal weight.
Any tips? TIA!
Re: Thinking about going on a diet, tips?
I don't like diets. And I don't encourage them. I'm more of a 'healthy living is the way to go' kind of gal.
However here are some tips:
1) Portion control. This is very important, especially when going out to eat. If you go out to eat, ask for a box when they bring your food and automatically put in half-ish in the box. Out of sight, out of mind. As far as daily living, read labels! I could eat a box of cereal by myself, however, if you look at the label, one serving is generally 3/4 a cup.
2) Don't buy crap. This is key for me. If I lived in a house full of ho-hos and lays potato chips, I would be twice my size. I have a sweet tooth and loooove junk food, so I simply do not buy it. I allow myself to dig in at parties that generally have those types of snacks, because totally eliminating them from your life is not good. However, keeping healthy snacks on hand is helpful. DH and I like grapes so when we buy them, we come home and wash them and remove them from the stem/vine and put them in tubberware (half in the fridge, half in the freezer) so they are easily accessible.
3) MOVE YO BODY. If you are one that talks on the phone, walk around your house and talk instead of just standing/sitting in one place. If you like watching TV, do it while doing planks on the floor, or flutterkicks, or balancing on a ball. Just be physical when you get the opportunity. Now that spring/summer is coming, park farther away at the grocery store and give yourself the opportunity to walk more.
4) Watch your salt intake. (or sugar). I add salt and butter to my popcorn, but that's the only thing I salt and butter. Things are naturally sweet, salty, high in fat and calories, you really don't need to add anything else. Also, read labels for sodium levels. It's amazing when you compare some.
5) Don't starve yourself. A billion people have probably said this, and that's because it's true. It doesn't work like you want it to and it's totally unhealthy. Not worth it. I live a "eat when you're hungry" life. However, that doesn't mean I eat an entire mammal when I am hungry. I grab a snack, grab my water bottle (17 oz.), and consume them both at a somewhat slow pace. Then I busy myself with something else (Nesting, perhaps?) and then see if I'm still hungry.
6) Water. Drink it.
7) Fruits and vegetables. Eat them.
8) Candy, chips, ice cream, whatever. Eat them too. Don't eliminate them from your diet. Eat them in moderation. And if you're like me, you'll try to find "healthier" alternatives. Frozen yogurt, for example.
HTH and good luck on your journey!
Also, I have used myfitnesspal.com to track calories before and it works if you stay committed. I don't do it much anymore but sometimes I'm interested in finding out how much I ate on certain days. I say check it out, and eat like you regularly would one day. Record everything. Then go from there.
I agree with this. It is just a number on a scale. Don't worry about that.
I'm another that never "diets" but I occasionally will want to lean out a little so I will concentrate on eating oatmeal, fruits and nuts. I never really cut pizza and such things out but I will actively choose a grilled chicken salad over a burger if I eat out.
I think the biggest step in losing weight is working out. Since H's accident I've gone through phases of working out, then not and when I stop it is really hard to get motivated to get back to the gym. 15 min of cardio and 30 min of weights makes a world of difference for me though, when I keep at it.
I lost 20lbs 6 years ago and have been able to keep it off.
What was a big factor for me was tracking my calories. I know some people don't like doing that, and it can be a drag, but it's the only way to truly know what you're eating. Even if you only do it for a week or two, you can still get a good picture of what you're putting in your face.
When I first started trying to lose weight, I changed my eating habits almost completely (gave up most junk, switched to whole grains, more fruits and veggies, etc) and worked out 5-6 days a week. In 6 weeks I did not lose a single pound, it was very frustrating to say the least! So I started actually measuring out my portions and tracking my calories on sparkpeople.com. Even though I was eating healthy foods, I found out I was still eating too much of them. So I lowered my cals some and the weight finally started to come off.
Also, working out is huge. A mix of cardio and strength training is key. Cardio strengthens your cardio vascular system, but when you put on muscle, you actually burn more calories b/c it takes more cals to sustain muscle then it does fat, so strength training is very important. Don't worry about bulking up either, most women do not have enough testosterone for that to happen.
Hang out on the H&F board some, there is some great advice on there!
ETA: Just saw you posted over there
One more thing, forget about that damn scale!
It does not show the complete picture at all. Remember, it measures absolutely everything: food in your stomach (not to be tmi) but pee, poop, water weight, clothes, etc. A better gauge is to go by how your clothes fit. If you want to weigh yourself, do it once a week, on the same day, in the morning right after you get up and go to the bathroom. That will give you a more accurate picture.
My weight can fluctuate by up to 5lbs in a single day due to numerous factors, so if I weighed myself often and obsessed about that it would drive me crazy!
RAW VEGETABLES WHEN YOU CAN
Limit sugar- a lot
REMOVE REFINED STARCHES LIKE WHITE BREAD AND WHITE RICE. WHITE IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT! (unless it is jicama)
WATER IS YOUR FRIEND!!!
NO SODA. . . NOT EVEN DIET SODA!!
LEAN MEATS! (Chicken breasts with no skin, SALMON, turkey breasts and the leanest cuts of pork and beef you can find)
Weight loss is 30% Exercise and 70% Diet. Work out- it is a great mood booster! (trust me, I know!)
Do not own a scale! I used to and I was obsessed but your weight fluctuates through the day and during your "moon cycle" (period)