topic Re: Diet...can you relate? in Community Chat

Diet...can you relate?

Shorty2U — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 04:08:56 GMT

Who can relate? I started a diet or a change of my life this week. I feel so sick its unreal Visions of pasta and bread are dancing in my head (lol). I have tried to lose weight the past years because since my backs bad and I cant work I gained weight and feel sluggish and now Ive had it. I basically lack a lot of exercise b.c it knocks my back out (yes I tried water therapy)

Anyway I made up my mind to not give up this time even if i get pain on my treadmill. My son is getting married next year, and not only that I don't feel like I used to and need to lose it. I have been on my treadmill walking very fast, starting w 10 minutes (I hope to get up to 30) I felt like I was dying when I was done (lol).

And the topper is, I sleep late so I was only eating breakfast, dinner, and an Italian ice and did not lose weight before. (Yes my dinner plate was a big plate of food though and used to eat lots of pasta and always bread w dinner). Drs said eat less, eat less. I said how much less do you want me to eat? lol

So now I am basically eating cereal with skim milk in the morning, a small piece of fish a veggie of my choice, and a small salad for dinner because I get up late I don't eat lunch. I have a piece of fruit for a snack and tons of water all day and night (that I am floating)..So I cut out bread and I will limit my pasta and meat (I don't eat a lot of meat to begin with, now it will be less,) and eat more vegetables and salad, as well as fruit. Another words I am eating healthier dinners.

PS I also cut out all diet drinks because my Dr told me the artificial sweetner makes you feel hungry!

I sat here today thinking I wish I had my dads metabolism. He used to eat anything and was skinny as a rail. Of course when he was alive, he worked 6 days a week on his feet until he retired at age 77.

Anyway I hope this works or I give up. I used to (pre back issues) work full time, dance for recreation, run around constantly, so I felt discouraged when I was on my treadmill and felt horrible after. BUT I will keep at it! I want to lose 40 lbs by next year!

Re: Diet...can you relate?

SunValley — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 04:16:39 GMT

@Shorty2U I wish you all the best in your journey to health. It's nice to have the great incentive of a family wedding. I tried the water exercise but could not deal with the chemicals.

I am sure you will look lovely for the wedding, even if held this week.

Re: Diet...can you relate?

ECBG — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 04:24:47 GMT

Please be careful. It doesn't sound like you're getting your nutrients. Also, replacing food with liquids can depleat the salts in the body necessary for the reactions involving nerve function.

When I, (we) were pregnant, pregnancy hated my body. I gained about 70 pounds! After I had the baby, I got it off in about four months with Weight Watchers. I got in my same belt holes~!

Such a fantastic group of people and everyone is in the same boat and they support eachother. I've stayed on that with variations, all my life in addition, I taught nutrition, I just wanted their measurements. Every measuring cup will in your dishwasher, but you'll never be sorry!

Be sure to google the WW Cabbasge soup, but don't add the carrots or any white/yellow vegetable.

Re: Diet...can you relate?

chrystaltree — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 04:32:48 GMT

You need to see a nutritionist. That do-it-yourself program is so bad and so unhealthy in so many ways that I can't even list them. It's setting you up for failure.

Re: Diet...can you relate?

skuggles — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 04:52:33 GMT

I wish you good luck. Persistence is key, after that portion control. It takes a while. Once you get to your goal, you can start playing around a little with more variety, but you'll need to basically maintain the diet for the rest of your life, so make it one that you can live with. You sound as if you've made a good start. Cutting out the white starch is great. Just make sure that you do meet your calorie needs with the vegetables and good sources of protein, which are not indicated in all the meals that you mentioned.

I would buy boneless skinless chicken breasts and fry in a non stick pan with different seasonings and a little olive oil, and for some reason that sustained me at dinner for a very long time. I ate a lot of oatmeal for breakfast with cinnamon and different berries. Water and through out the day. Also flavored seltzer with a splash of cranberry and OJ at dinnertime fills you up too. I think you may need to add a protein at dinner with that salad. I lost 50 pounds and have maintained the diet in large part, adding desserts now and occasional pasta and rice strictly adhering to portion size.

Exercise regularly along with diet and you will reach and maintain your goal weight. It takes self discipline and willpower, for the rest of your life. But your body acclimates to the new weight and the diet, and over eating will once again be physically uncomfortable, making the former "diet", feel like normal.

ETA As another poster mentioned, you may need nutritional counseling through referrals to a nutritionist, because as written your diet is not well balanced and may not supply necessary nutrients or calories. I know a lot about nutrition and did not require assistance, but that may not be true for you. And you may just have oversimplified it in your post, and it may be balanced.

Re: Diet...can you relate?

Kachina624 — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 04:35:15 GMT

@Shorty2U If you have a back problem, I don't know how you walk the treadmill for 30 minutes. Mine is killing me when I walk to the mailbox, maybe 50ft. The only exercise I could do in rehab was ride a recumbent bike.

Weight Watchers is a wonderful program. If you start needing support, give it a try.

@ECBG My pregnancy was the only time in my life when I lost my appetite. I didn't have one minute of morning sickness; just didn't feel like eating. I gained no weight and when it was over, lost over 20lbs.

Love WW cabbage soup.

Re: Diet...can you relate?

CamilleP — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 04:42:59 GMT

Shorty, I can definitely relate! As I aged and my metabolism slowed, the weight went on easier and easier, and nothing took it off. My DH got diagnosed with Type II diabetes a few years ago, and I had to start cooking differently for him, but I didn't change what I was eating, and then, two years ago, my A1C edged into the "pre" zone and I said "Oh no, by Golly!" and got serious. So I went low-carb, and started riding an exercise bicycle at home in the evenings, 500 calories every night. I also hear you on the bad back, I blew a disk in 2001, so for me, walking or running is very risky, as the next disk down is bulging, and if I blow it, I'm paralyzed from the waist down, at least temporarily, if surgery gets done fast enough to relieve the pressure. In addition, genetically cruddy knees (surgery on the left one this past December) and a right foot crushed when I was a kid, so now it's horribly arthritic also makes running or fitness walking a no-go. That's the great thing about an exercise bike, it's nowhere near as weight-bearing, so I can move much faster and get my heart rate up.

For me, the best thing about low-carb is that there are now so many alternatives. Trader Joe's has a couple of different kinds of legume pasta, a black bean rotini and a red lentil ziti, that I substitute for grain pasta, and we can eat what would be a "normal" sized serving without causing a blood sugar spike. I think it's Orowheat that bakes a double fiber bread that is also better for the blood sugar. I use sugar-free coffee creamer and Splenda in my coffee, that is my "sweet treat". We've found some wraps that are high fiber and thus lower carb, and those make excellent crusts for baking a lower-carb quiche. I baked a low-carb cheesecake last month, using almond flour, cocoa powder and Splenda in the crust, and Splenda again in the filling, and my DH's blood sugar held steady.

The upshot of going low-carb, trying to limit my carbs to 45 or less per meal, and biking in the evenings let me lose 50 pounds in one year. I backslid when my knee got really bad this fall and I had to have surgery, but once my doctor cleared me to bike again, I built my tolerance back up and and now I'm doing the 500 calories a day again. So I know you can do it, too, Shorty! Right now, I know it feels really hard to you, and I honestly cannot imagine using a treadmill, it would kill my knees and feet, but however you can put those miles in, keep plugging away at it, and you'll build up your strength and tolerance, and once you start seeing results, the rewards will be evident. Give those legume pastas a try in your cooking, they may taste funny to you at first, but if you can eat a small bowl of mac-n-cheese and NOT feel guilty about it, you'll find yourself loving that flavor pdq! Believe in yourself, Shorty, I know you can do it, because I did. I still have to keep working at it, but knowing I am not going to stroke out early and not live long enough to enjoy my retirement is worth it.

Re: Diet...can you relate?

Noel7 — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 04:48:26 GMT

@Shorty2U

You're not on a good food plan, it will fail unless you get better nutrition and a better food plan.

Would you consider going on Weight Watchers? It always comes out on top when they rate diets.

You can either go to meetings or just join and follow online.

I wish you the best with your goal.

Re: Diet...can you relate?

ECBG — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 04:49:22 GMT

@Kachina624,It's an incredible life plan, isn't it!

When the boys were in high school, I wanted to drop a few pounds and I made the cabbage soup. In those days, I had to hand chop all of the cabbage with a French chief's knife! I also added frozen green beans. My soup seemed to be evaporating at an alarming rate! The boys were heating up large mixing bowls of it and eating it with grilled cheese sandwiches upstairs! Guess who chopped the next cabbage!!!

Re: Diet...can you relate?

fourpaws56 — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 06:27:38 GMT

@Shorty2U you are practically starving yourself with that so called diet. add a few whole grains and some more protein...eggs, cheese and lean meats have no carbs, they will fuel your body without putting on the lbs...good luck dear..

Re: Diet...can you relate?

CareBears — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 06:50:15 GMT

As others have mentioned, Weight Watchers, Weight Watchers, Weight Watchers, it is the BEST lifestyle plan for making permanent changes to improving your health, I guarantee any doctor would stand behind you with this plan!

Re: Diet...can you relate?

AuntG — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 10:48:23 GMT

Sure I can relate to your struggles. Wishing you luck - try what you think might work for you and ignore the naysayers on the boards who are quick to tell you what you are doing " wrong".

Re: Diet...can you relate?

nunya — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 10:49:44 GMT

I refuse to use the "diet" word. It makes me miserable and I feel like I am missing out on what I want to eat. So...I just eat less of what I want. I started doing this about a yr and a half and lost 40 lbs.

Re: Diet...can you relate?

willdob3 — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:17:56 GMT

@Shorty2U

It sounds like you have good intentions but have no clue how to go about it in a healthy manner. Especially because of your back issues, I highly recommend you check out Whole30. It will get the "junk" out of your diet, help you feel better, and also help you identify what foods you might want to limit in the future. It is a great way to get started eating healthy while foods.

Re: Diet...can you relate?

OnlyShopsOnline — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:44:06 GMT

@Shorty2U I've lost 40 pounds since September, with very little exercise because of back pain, and muscle weakness. This has been caused by my hypothyroidism. I now have a low grade thyroid cancer. And they have discovered I am also hyperparathyroid (parathyroid adenoma) which may be the cause of my body pain.

I've been insulin resistant for years and it was creeping up, so my endo started me on Metformin. My whole metabolism is a mess, and it's probably been that way most of my life. I think The Metformin has helped with my weight loss. But, I have been careful about what I'm eating. I've looked at your daily menu, and I don't think you're eating enough, and you need a little more protein.

I'm from an Italian background and never thought I could live without pasta. But, I rarely eat it now. I don't even eat the whole grain variety. I do eat Quinoa. You need to learn to balance your meals with a healthy carb, lean protein, and veggie/fruit. My typical breakfast is a whole grain sandwhich thin with a slice of low fat cheese and egg. And, a banana. That puts me slightly over my mealtime carb count, but it doesn't disturb my blood glucose. Eating out is difficult. Even when I thought I was ordering healthy, I checked restaurant nutrition online, and I was astonished at the calorie, fat and carb content of a simple restaurant meal. If you have a Zoe's Kitchen in your area, try them. That's about the only place I will eat out anymore.

Another thing that I think has helped was to get my body clock back on track. Over the years, I had become a night owl and my body clock reversed. I think a lot of that had to do with my hypothyroidism as well. I would sleep all day and then couldn't sleep at night. When my thyroid meds were changed, my sleep cycle normalized quite a bit.

It's a daily struggle. I fell off the wagon, a little, since Easter. But, I'm back on track. Once you have eliminated the "bad" carbs, you'll lose the sugar and carb cravings. But it does take a couple of weeks, so stick to it! You'll get there.

Re: Diet...can you relate?

SaRina — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:55:46 GMT

If you completely eliminate foods you love and go on some restrictive eating regimen, you will fail both psychologically and physically. You need to fuel your body with nutrients in order for your metabolism to work optimally.

Do you love pasta and can't imagine living without it? Then you need to have pasta, but there are a few things you can do to minimize the bad effects -- measure it out before cooking, make sure your vegetables out-volume the pasta, make sure to have some lean protein with pasta.... or.... save your pasta for a cheat day, which you should allow yourself.

Some tips that helped me in the past and that I still employ: I eat my dinner in a bowl or a salad plate, I eat protein at every meal, I only eat carbs like potatoes, bread, pasta, rice at one meal during the day.

Losing weight is 85% diet. With this in mind, I have been able to lose weight during times I wasn't able to exercise.

Re: Diet...can you relate?

SilleeMee — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:57:32 GMT

Buy these two things. Together they will cost less than $25. Very helpful! A nutrition coach suggested these for me. The scale is "Biggest Loser" brand.

Re: Diet...can you relate?

2blonde — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 13:00:48 GMT

@Shorty2U You are hungry because you are eating way too many carbs! Please add more protein to your diet. Lean chicken, fish, and lots of beans (especially dark red kidney) will be great for you, and you can just add them to your salads. For breakfast (or whatever your first meal is), eat protein.....even 1 egg will make you feel satisfied for quite a long time. You can even incorporate a little cheese. Peanut butter is something I eat by the gallons.....even right from the jar. It won't make you fat. Instead of eating only a couple larger meals, you should spread your food out during the day......even 5 small meals will keep your metabolism running higher all day without the insulin spikes.

If you can add some weight training to your routine, that would build some muscle. Muscle burns calories all day long, even after you're done exercising, while fat justs sits there. I've been working out, jogging, riding my bike for 38 years, so I've learned a few things. I'm 68 and still very fit and trim. I wish you the best of success!

Re: Diet...can you relate?

SaRina — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 18:43:34 GMT

@2blondesaid: Peanut butter is something I eat by the gallons.....even right from the jar. It won't make you fat.

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I take some exception to this statement. PB is loaded with calories and fat, so if you eat enough of it, it will make you very fat -- especially for someone who doesn't exercise as rigorously as it sounds like you do.

PB is excellent for satiety and may keep a person from over-eating, but that means only a tsp or tbs in a day.

I can just picture some people sitting there with an open jar of PB, diggin in, so I didn't want them to be misled. :-)

Re: Diet...can you relate?

2blonde — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 13:14:47 GMT

@SaRina wrote:
@2blondesaid: Peanut butter is something I eat by the gallons.....even right from the jar. It won't make you fat.
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I take some exception to this statement. PB is loaded with calories and fat, so if you eat enough of it, it will make you very fat -- especially for someone who doesn't exercise as rigorously as it sounds like you do.

PB is excellent for satiety and may keep a person from over-eating, but that means only a tsp or tbs in a day.

I can just picture some people sitting there with an open jar of PB, diggin in, so I didn't want them to be mislead. :-)

@SaRina Sorry, but it doesn't work that way for me. Anytime I get the munchies, I eat some extra crunchy peanut butter, and I feel satisfied. The more of it I eat, the less I eat sweets, and I stay thin. I also have a desk job where I sit for the better part of 40 hours a week, so it's not like I'm moving all the time. I'm 5' 4-1/2" and weigh 105.