Can I jump in on the weight loss program? I lost over 50 lbs in 2004 when I learned of the mess I was in, did great thru the holidays, but those football playoff parties got me in January when I let my guard down. It's been jumping back on, seems like I'm okay for a while and then in one bad weekend I gain 3 to 5 lbs and it never leaves. So now 15 pounds later......... it's way past time to get rid of it and more. And wouldn't you know, I had just started a candy bar and diet dew before I started reading this! So is the goal basically 2 pounds/week to the end of 2005? Can I play too?
Live your life while you are still living. Riding the trail less traveled.
Sure you can play, though I don't know if Ellie is happy for us all to play on her thread... What do you say Ellie? We won't let you off lightly over here!
Livnlearn
"The unexamined life is not worth living" - Socrates
I need you all here to kick my behind - so feel free to join the party!
I walked 4 miles on the treadmill yesterday, did 2 miles this morning and lower-body weight training today. My goal is to try to burn about 400 calories a day in exercise, leaving me about 600 calories a day to cut from my diet (not as drastic as it sounds, I tend to eat in the mid-2,000's calorie range).
So far this week I am having more success with my appetite - don't know how much is due to changing my OCPs to the morning, how much to the cinnamon I am adding to my tea (supposed to decrease insulin resistance), how much to being consistent with my multivitamin and magnesium and chromium supplements (which also decrease insulin resistance). I can't credit the Hoodia because I only took it one day, then keep forgetting it.
I've always had normal blood sugar levels on blood tests, but Type II diabetes runs in the family, and my brother has a liver disease related to insulin resistance, so I am operating under the assumption that my insulin sensitivity could probably be improved.
Two things I would recommend we all do - - take a "before" picture. Hurts, I know, but I sure wished I had one when I lost the weight before. I'm gonna take one today.
- keep a food diary. Not only to increase awareness today, but I am finding it very helpful to go back to the one I kept (sort of) during my last successful weight loss, and seeing what worked for me then.
LNL - as to your comment about becoming a DB Coach - don't you think I'd be a little too blunt?
I have been keeping a food journal since August 1st. It really helps keep me honest about what I'm eating. Starting November 1st, I decided to stick with approximately 1800 calories, most days (recently it's been 1800 - 2000, but one or two days a week - at least - it was more). I do try to get up to between 400 and 500 calories in exercising most days as well.
I get my fruits in most days by making a smoothie - strawberries, blueberries, low sugar OJ, with a banana and some raspberries. Then I am getting most of my vegetables in at night by mixing the mushrooms, squash, and onions in a pan at night. It is really easy to get all my fruits and veggies this way!
Ellie, I'm curious. How much magnesium and how much chromium do you take? I've heard it's helpful...I swear I am haveing cravings, I think I'm in menopause, and if i'm not careful i will be gaining back everything i've lost. the weird thing is I swear I am hungry. I'd forgotten about the cinnamon in tea, I may try that. How much do you use? I think I also saw cinnamon capsules somewhere.
I've never been to a gym to workout, I wouldn't know what to do! I did try step arobics for a while long long ago. I just eat less and try to be more physical. I haven't convinced H that sex would help lose weight, and it wouldn't hurt him to shed a few pounds either. So what does cinnamon do? I like cinnamon coffee, does that count?
Last year I also measured and tracked inch loss. It was amazing! I measured arms, chest, bust, waist, hips, thighs. You can lose inches without losing pounds. But I bet you all know that?
Live your life while you are still living. Riding the trail less traveled.
Find a YMCA - they will show you what to do, I had 3 sessions to show how the equipment worked (though I really didn't need it). Also, you won't feel like a fish out of water, there are a lot of beginners there and it isn't a meat market.
WCW - I highly recommend adding weight training of some sort (or equivalent types of exercises like pushups and squats). Seems to me that you get much quicker and better results in the shape department when you do. I always remember Rachel McLish, one of the early (read - FEMININE, not on steroids) bodybuilders. In one article I read, she was 144 lbs. (she's very petite - like 5'3"?) and looked really svelte. Since muscle is more dense than fat, you can get slimmer even if you don't lose pounds (and believe me, you will NOT start looking like those female bodybuilders).
I think the amount of cinnamon wasn't that big, like 1/4 teaspoon? I just put a good sprinkle in each of my several cups of tea in the morning.
As for the chromium, I just take one a day (200 mg?). Note that chromium has not been shown to correlate with weight loss in some studies, but does correlate with better glucose control, which is part of my aim to control cravings.
S18 came home from college for the weekend last night! Today we have a round of doctors appointments (flu shot, dentist, oral surgeon) so I get to drive around with him a lot
Quote: - take a "before" picture. Hurts, I know, but I sure wished I had one when I lost the weight before. I'm gonna take one today.
It sure would hurt, LOL!
Another thing I've noticed is that whenever I look at myself in the mirror these days, I pull my stomach in and think - well, I'm not sooo bad... Then a couple of days ago I didn't pull it in while looking, and was HORRIFIED - that was a real paunch! Ugh!
Livnlearn
"The unexamined life is not worth living" - Socrates
KML, I came here because I need help. please I see you are doing well , and I just entered this area, but something happened, I do not know what to do next. Can you give me any input?
Christian
"I'm not to sure that this will go the way I or any of us want, but maybe go the way it has to."
So is the goal basically 2 pounds/week to the end of 2005? Can I play too? 
Today we have a round of doctors appointments (flu shot, dentist, oral surgeon) so I get to drive around with him a lot 
Ugh!