BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 09:05 AM

That's one of the reasons I pay a shrink....

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 09:24 AM

I'll tell you the best ever motivation - a consultant cardiac surgeon saying 'diet,or die before you hit 50'.

Threads on here saying how fat my arse is just made me eat more chocolate. A consultant suggesting if I don't lose a few extra pounds, I might not reach my half century was by far the biggest incentive.

I hope you are making some progress, even if it's just in your attitude to food and rethinking some menus.

So what if you ate a candy bar yesterday.... celebrate that you didn't eat one today as well.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 09:27 AM

Well, it occurred to me that if I look at my own situation, there is one tiny but powerful fact that bears a closer look. And that is, whether I believe it or not, each day since I embarked on this life-saving program, there has been something I tried and found I COULD DO. Most if not all of them were tiny, accidentally-discovered things I had no idea would have profound implications; most if not all were things that went against the prevailing wisdom; most if not all were counter-intuitive; most if not all flouted medical personnel's urgent imperatives.

So what I am thinking now is that what matters is the HINDSIGHT-- noticing the vast number of things I had thought I could not do, that it turned out I had actually DONE. And that's what I choose to look to for my continuing success-- remembering to keep noticing that, and that if I do that, I can keep learning what does actually work, and having a long enough string of those will result in my achieving much more than I now think I can.

Learning "I can" as a new part of my deepest operational beliefs will depend on learning HOW I already HAVE DONE. On the level of the smallest details, learned in practical applications. THEN I will have enough of a reality base for "I can" to operate from it, eventually.

This morning I woke up with a headache all over my body-- a now-familiar, inadvertent workout result. This has happened before; I think I have written about it. Well, on one morning like that long ago, I accidentally discovered how to break the rigor mortis and get moving, and I found out when I did that-- it actually carries the pain away. Every nerve is screaming, "hold still!" But stopping it requires over-riding that, so I take a deep breath and go for it. So this AM I was up making Hardi's coffee and thawing what I should eat later. Lying in bed in agony a few minutes earlier, I would not have quickly predicted I would now be sitting here at the puder even trying to make sense. Every internal tape says, "You can't, and you better not try!" But my SENSE says, "You have done this now hundreds of times. You WILL be able to do all those things today that you wanted to do. You'll see!" It wasn't a matter of self-esteem, or loving myself enough, or re-parenting myself, or any of that abstract stuff! It was concrete-- having had some experience and noticing it.

So I would invite you to consider the premise that you are embarking not so much on a new challenge, but on a new learning laboratory. "How Brett actually works." Writing a new owner's manual. You probably already have some things you know, that you could put in it. You have shared with me about other areas of your life where you decided change was necessary, and change occurred. What do you already know about how you tick, in areas where you have had some success? Throw out everything else, and start from there, and build your program around that!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 11:28 AM

On Syndrome X and insulin resistance:

Q: Which lifestyle changes are most important?

A: The most powerful are how much you weigh and how fit you are. If you're insulin-resistant and over-weight and you lose weight, you become less insulin-resistant. And you stay that way as long as you keep the weight off. The average over-weight person [can] benefit [as regards insulin] from losing [even] ten or 15 pounds.

Whether or not you lose weight, exercise also makes you less insulin-resistant. But if you stop exercising, you lose the benefit. So it's relatively transitory compared to the benefit of weight loss.

Q: What kind of diet is best for people with Syndrome X?

A: Not a high-carbohydrate diet, because you have to secrete more insulin to handle the carbs if you're insulin-resistant. I recommend limiting carbohydrates to 45 percent of calories. So if you're eating a 2,000-calorie diet, that's 225 grams of carbohydrate a day.
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0813/2_27/60051349/p4/article.jhtml


On the other hand, from another site:

There is concern that a diet emphasizing carbohydrates will exacerbate Syndrome X in certain insulin resistant people. Syndrome X, a term coined by Gerald Reaven, M.D. of Stanford University, is used to describe a group of heart disease risk factors that include hypertension and lipid abnormalities (high triglycerides and low HDL levels). However, according to Xavier Pi-Sunyer, M.D., an obesity expert at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York, very few insulin-resistant people react to high carbohydrate diets with signs suggestive of Syndrome X.

Reduction of excess weight and increased physical activity are more important in the treatment of insulin-resistance than the dietary percentage of carbohydrate or fat. Exercise and weight loss reduce triglycerides, increase HDL cholesterol, and lower blood pressure. In addition, both weight loss and exercise independently increase insulin sensitivity.

Weight loss allows the cells to more easily "recognize" insulin so that less insulin is required. Regular physical activity is important because muscle cells are the biggest users of insulin. Decreasing the muscle's insulin requirements through exercise cuts down on insulin resistance to a large extent. This means that insulin can bind more easily to the cell receptors and is more effective in promoting glucose uptake.
http://www.cruciblefitness.com/nutrition/etips/carbo-ba.htm


One more:

Question: I have been recently diagnosed as insulin resistant. I have been told it is a precurser to diabetes. Though it doesn't mean I have it or will get it. I have been told to cut back on sugar and carbs, but other than that, I have had no help at all in learning what I can eat.

I NEED HELP. I want to be healthy I just don't know what to do. I don't have alot of money to spend I make just a little over 10 thousand a year... lol. I am going crazy. I don't know if I should eat like a diabetic or what. Any books or web sites or tips would be heaven sent.

Answer: You are at a point where you must decide if you are going to take control your health, or are you going to let your health take control of you. If you continue to eat the way you have been, your health can deteriorate to the point where you will be required to have a very restrictive diet. You need to make a choice and stop making excuses about why you do not eat healthy. You know what you need to do; it seems to me that you just do not want to do it. However, if you don't make a change for the better now, your body will force you to down the road.

First, if you have a hard time eating something for breakfast, then drink something. Liquid nutrients are easy to consume, digest and prepare. You can either buy a powder to make a shake, or get a pre-made breakfast drink. This way you can drink your breakfast on your way to work or school and not have the excuse that you "do not have time for breakfast". Many of these products can be found at regular drug stores or supermarkets, like soy protein powders, "Slim-Fast" and "Carnation Instant Breakfast" powders or ready-made shakes in a can. You need to get into the habit of putting something in your stomach in the morning to rev up your engines and get your metabolism in gear (this is your calorie burning regulator).

Numerous studies have confirmed that skipping breakfast will make you gain weight. Your body has not eaten for at least 8-10 hours, and because your body detects that there is no food available, it will slow down your metabolism to conserve energy and prevent starvation. Because your stomach has been empty all night and most of the morning, when you do eat something for lunch, you will be more apt to gravitate to foods that are high in fat and sugar. Your body at this point is craving instant calories.

Secondly, stop buying foods that you don't eat. Not only is this a waste of money and resources, it does not make you any healthier by siting in your refrigerator rotting. Instead of buying veggies and not having the time or energy to prepare a salad, get the pre-washed and pre-cut salad mixes. Then all you need to do is put it on a plate and add some salad dressing. Cut up some carrot sticks and keep them handy in the refrigerator at home to nibble on, or take them with you and chew on one every couple of hours at work or school. When ordering from a restaurant or "fast food joint", order a salad with the dressing on the side.

Thirdly, try to get into soups. Soups are high in easy to assimilate nutrients and water. By having soup before your meals, you will feel full more quickly and end up consuming less calories. You will not feel deprived because of this full sensation. If you can't have soup, drink a glass of water before you eat your lunch and dinner, and another glass during your meal.

Finally, you need to adjust your activity level. Our weight is a balance between the calories you take in and the ones you burn up. If you are experiencing weight gain, it means that you are not burning up all the calories that you take in during the day. A few changes in your diet and lifestyle are all that you need to obtain optimal health and weight.

Make a commitment to yourself to eat a variety of healthy foods, and not just buy them. Take the stairs instead of the elevator; park your car farther away from the entrance of the building you are going into; take brakes at work and walk around the office every couple of hours; do a squat to pick things up instead of just bending over, and try to do stretches before you go to sleep. All these small changes in your lifestyle will over time add up to great health benefits. You can prevent the onset of diabetes if you are really committed to being healthy. You just need to motivate yourself, stick to your decision to be healthy and keep a positive attitude.
http://www.geocities.com/healthyadvice/Health-Q9.html


What do these all have in common? Exercise, and eating enough. I used to look for the perfect nutrition program, and the most accurate physiological info. (Some other articles suggested adding chromium and I think magnesium, but if I eat what I know I should, I will get those too.) Now I have learned that in the end, it's gonna be the exercise, and remembering to eat when I need to and what I need to eat.   Along the way I ALSO learn about the physiology and nutrition, but MORE important, will I or will I not make that workout today? Some days-- too often-- I don't. I progress as fast as I allow myself to; that's the bottom line.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: freda underhill
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 02:21 AM

eating is an addiction which can be used as a remedy for to escape from stress or uncontrollable personal situations.

following a schedule or "solution" from someone else, no matter how well meant, can feel oppressive, which makes the whole set of rules approach counterproductive & likely to trigger reaction.

internal decisions to changing a life (swimnming, low carbs, bicycle) - sounds good.

maybe i even believe i could do it too!

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: momnopp
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 06:01 PM

One small and powerful tool I've been trying to incorporate whenever I can is about "self-talk". Replace the phrase, "I can't. . ." with the phrase, "How can I. . ." and watch the way that possibilities seem to open up in places you didn't think there were any options. This works with all stumbling areas of your life.

Another really small semantic change is to replace the word, "but" with the word, "and". The first sentence in the first paragraph I wrote began, "One small but powerful. . . "

Peace,

JudyO

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Joybell
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 07:10 PM

I hit on something that helps me. Mind you I haven't hit on the absolute answer for me and I'm still very overweight, but I'm on the way to slimness again. Anyway I attended a short course on coping with chronic ilness and we were set the task of practicing relaxation. I let my mind wander away into what was supposed to be a country scene with a river and flowers and birds, but it distracted me because all I could see were the introduced weeds and the destruction of the landscape. So I took myself into a sweet shop and began to smell and taste the chocolates. I found I could satisfy my craving for restricted/prohibited food. It was like actually tasting the sweets, and it got easier with practice. I visited fish and chip shops and cake shops. A side effect was that I could actually recall how things smelled when my condition had destroyed my sense of smell. Just a very small trick really, but I add it here for what it's worth. It helps me, maybe it might work for someone else.
Good luck Joy

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 07:49 PM

Two small and helpful things I keep in my mind daily are:

If it's to be, it's up to ME!

It WILL come!!!! (Almost said in an "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" kind of fashion.....and indeed...slowly...the changes ARE coming!)   :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: freda underhill
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 09:34 PM

these last three messages are very helpful and inspiring ..thank you!

freda (a queen sized catter)

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Joybell
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 02:17 AM

Queen Freda. Yes! I really like that title. Wonderful. I never could use the "F" word. Maybe we can meet in the virtual sweet shop. Joy

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: freda underhill
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 05:06 AM

I may be queenly in size, but hobbitly in connections. i have never met arwen or galadriel, but love to dream of them. the virtual sweet shop sounds like the safest one to indulge in!

but in the stars has been revealed the true secret to weight loss!

LEMBAS BREAD!!! only one bite a day needed for all our sustenance requirements!

freda

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 11:10 AM

"The few who do care are the envy of the many who only watch."
- Jim Rohn

Do it anyway
You can always find a good excuse not to take action. But what would you rather have -- good excuses or the real, satisfying fruits of achievement? There is always some person or some circumstance you can blame when you fail to live up to your possibilities. But what good will that do you?

The next time you find yourself looking for a good excuse, stop and ask yourself why. Keeping up appearances is easy. All it gets you, though, is a good superficial appearance. Wouldn't you rather go for real substance?

There are many very good, very understandable reasons why you cannot be the best you can be. Pay them no heed. Make the commitment to succeed in spite of the excuses, rather than to fail because of them. It's your choice.

There are plenty of things to stop you. Go ahead and do it anyway. Instead of amassing a large collection of excuses, build yourself a life that's rich in meaning and accomplishment.

Copyright 2003 Ralph S. Marston, Jr.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 02:56 PM

Take kelp tablets; they speed up your metabolism.

Eat this dish: fry onions in olive oil until transparent, add lentils and fry for another five minutes, then brown rice and fry for another five, then add chicken stock and cover and cook till delicious.

Take the dog for a one-hour walk every day.

It won't take the weight off fast, but it'll melt off, and it'll stay off. Good luck. Thoughts with you.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 07:30 PM

So does anyone have a dog I can borrow?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 10:20 PM

"The next time you find yourself looking for a good excuse..."

Finding an excuse is no work at all. They come unbidden whenever I try to do something about my weight or lack of exercise or housework or...

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 05:55 AM

housework?

Brett, I haven't done anything since you, Charlie & Judy visited. The floor & table are a nice, comfortable scatter of library books, things I'm working on (dress material & pattern, my knitting, crosswords), things I've finished (at least I put the christmas cards away yesterday!!) & stuff I mean to work on soon ...

The ironing is sitting in the bedroom ...

Anyway as we both know "it just silts up again"

sndra
(ps. don't make New Year Resolutions as they often get broken the next, treat every day as a New Year & do your best that day)

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 08:50 AM

Anyone going to join the National Event being advertised on TV? On Jan. 10 we are all invited to weigh in at local Discover Centers where we will receive a weight loss kit, a hat, and free three month membership to Bally's health club. This is a national initiative to address obesity. I intend to go.

As promised earlier, I will also start a chat room meeting once a week where we can share recipes, successes, frustrations, etc. Maybe someone in the UK will share the fun - so that the time difference doesn't prevent anyone from participating. Anyone prefer a day or time? Monday PM is the only bad day for me.

Just a thought: this room is for support only. No lectures, no criticisms, just a support group to help each other get on track and stay there. Even those not losing or trying will be welcome. Those eager to ridicule are asked to stay away.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 08:54 AM

I have set up the Chat Room under the name Weighty Issues. It is a Public Room. Anyone can access it through the drop down list. I will be there tonight at 8PM EST to wish all a Happy New Year.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Kim C
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 10:50 AM

Sounds like you are on the right track, Brett. I haven't checked in on this thread for a couple of weeks so I am a little behind on the news. I don't know anything about blood pressure medications, but I can tell you that antidepressants have not affected my eating habits in the least. I am a protein/veggie/whole grain eater, and have good luck with that program. When the weather was still nice, Mister and I walked almost every day - since it's got cold, we haven't been walking and the decrease in activity has caused me to put on a couple of pounds, so I have had to make some modifications in the diet to compensate. I have been holding steady at 120 (don't gasp, anybody, I'm a little bitty person - I was heavy at 136) so it's not a great big deal. 115 is just about perfect for my height and build so I'm trying to get back there. The irony is, it's very difficult to get rid of just five pounds.

I have also started Ashtanga yoga, which is pretty intense, and will get your heart rate up pronto. It should make up for the lack of walking. One of these days I hope to be able to put my foot behind my head. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Kim C
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 10:53 AM

And to the ladies: try belly dancing. Not only is it good exercise, and great fun, it does wonders for your self-esteem.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: mg
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 03:59 PM

please everyone..either buy if you can, or go to Barnes and Noble and just read them..and also check on internet.. Dr. Schwarbein's the schwarzbein principle II. Combine that with the Metabolic Body Typing Diet by Wallet I think...and Nourishing Traditions or Know your Fats by Dr. Mary Enig....if you are of a particular metabolism, prone to overweight, probably of Northern European ancestry...these books will give you lots and lots of information, and permission to eat what others would deny you....they are very very good. mg

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: momnopp
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 04:10 PM

Here's a blicky (Discovery) for the Discovery Channel thing. (Commercial though it may be, I'm not against any help I can get!) I just heard about it from a friend of mine. He and I are going to do a weight loss "contest". This is an attempt to capitalize on each of our somewhat competitive natures and to make the task somehow palatable.

One thing about such a challenge between the sexes, it has been fairly well documented that men and women metabolize and therefore lose weight quite differently. We've designed our challenge to see who can lose the target number of pounds first -- he's got to lose twice as many as I do -- and there's no real time limit.

I'm not coming up with any of the specific articles we looked at right now, but if your own search for specific material about the differences between men & women isn't satisfactory, PM me and I'll find a couple of decent links to send you.

Peace,

JudyO

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: GUEST,JudyB
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 06:03 PM

You know what worked for me when I actually lost that bunch of weight a couple of years ago (and kept it off for quite a while, though it's crept back up the last year or so - time to jump-start again).

Anyway, I was having wicked heartburn, and my doctor gave me this really stupid diet sheet - no fruit, no sweets, no spices, no coffee(!!!) - really stupid. And being raised to be polite, I said "thanks" out loud while my inner voice was going "this is the most absurd thing I've ever seen - a couple of those might occasionally cause heartburn, but no way is this going to solve all my problems...."

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: GUEST,JudyB
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 06:16 PM

Interesting - the lights flicker and my message gets posted....

Hmmm....

Anyway, to make a long story short, I decided to follow the stupid diet for a month just to prove that it was garbage, and got great satisfaction out of mentally drafting my letter to him saying how silly it was.

Only one problem. It worked.

And not only did I have less heartburn, but I'd lost a nice chunk of weight by the end of the month (didn't really notice until the gang at work commented on it, then dug out the scales and was surprised). And it set me up to maintain, because I'd pretty much reset my sweet tooth - so I could eat a bite or two of something and happily put away or throw away the rest (the first couple of bites of a hot fudge sundae is what I crave - and it's amazingly liberating to toss the rest in the trash!).

For me, "proving" that the heartburn diet wouldn't work was the key to making it work. (Nothing like using my negativity!) I can't use that trick again - but now I know that if I follow it for a month, I will see progress and will reset some of my trouble spots so they don't bother me as much.

Best of luck, Brett, & Happy New Year!
JudyB

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 08:48 PM

Pathetic!!! Our first attempt at a weightloss chat room was nothing short of pathetic. I arrived on time with pizza and champagne for the New Year. JudyO followed with a repast of munchies also to celebrate the holiday. So where were the rest of you???

Nevermind. Tomorrow at 8PM EST. I would love a copy of the heartburn diet, Middle age is a bitch.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 05:39 AM

Sorry, Sins, Mister and I were out eating with friends. (I had a chicken wrap with spicy beans and corn - I only ate half and brought the rest home.)

I am not a big eater of sweets anyhow, but I have found that two dark Dove Promises, or one piece of chocolate orange, are very satisfying to the female chocolate craving. The portions are already measured out!

It's ice cream and baked goods that are my ruin.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: mg
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 02:45 PM

I personally would stick with the ice cream and forgo the baked goods, especially if they are baked with trans fats...and I will try to join in the chat room..I guess 5 p.m. Pacific Time? mg

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 06:22 PM

So... where is the chat room and how do I get there?

Today is the day. I officially start Atkins today. It seems to be perfect for the island. There really are few fresh vegetables and fruit available and meat is the main staple anyway. I know I'm understating the plan but this should work. Or to follow JudyB's philosophy, I can try to prove it won't work.

One thing I have to do is put up recent pictures of myself. Believe it or not I really have no idea what I look like until I see the pictures. When I saw pictures of myself from the Australia trip I was amazed at how awful I look. It's funny how that can sneak up on a person. I see fat people out and about and think, I never want to look like that. Then I see the pictures and realize I already do!

So today it begins. I brought in all the carbohydrate rich foods from my cupboard and left them out on the table with a sign saying "Free Food". I had a ham and cheese omelette with bacon and sausages for breakfast. I'm not sure what I can find for lunch but that is a bridge I have yet to cross.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 06:29 PM

Good for you Naemeson, at least you have started!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Peg
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 06:29 PM

Brett, you can't JUST eat meat cheese and eggs on this diet,   you do need some vegetables too!!! very important to get your vitamins and minerals and fiber to keep those potentially-toxic cured    meats from staying in the body too long...

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: mg
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 07:29 PM

yeah...eat some vegetables...as many green ones as you want..get frozen if you can't get fresh. Find a local gardner and pay them to grow specific veges for you...there are ways around various obstacles. Atkins is not a no-vegetable diet. The people who tell you it is are dumber than dumb and don't pay any attention to what they then proceed to tell you....mg

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 08:58 PM

well... I am not sure if I have mastered the art of opening a room. I was in one named Weight Issues which could be accessed from a menu dropdown headed General. Guess no one else could find it. I will check with Joe Offer on a permanent room.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: mg
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 09:02 PM

I was there for a long time. I'll go back now..6 p.m. Pacific time. someone else came in for a minute...mg

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 09:36 PM

Well I can tell you tis-- I have NO idea where to even look for you!

Will join you some time when I can-- nesting with hubby this week and weekend.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: freda underhill
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 10:04 PM

re atkins

you can eat almost any vegetables except heavy carb ones (not potatoes in particular)anything else (cabbage spinach, cauli, brocc etc etc) you can eat as much as you want of.

and to get to the chat room, go to the quick links at the top of your screen, pull down the tab to chat room & press go. it will have a number beside it - if there is 0, no-one's in there to talk to. if there is a number eg 5, there will be 5 mudcatters there already chatting. you will see their mudcat names on the right. there is a box on the bottom left of the screen - that's where you type.

best wishes - freda

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Bob Hitchcock
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 10:30 PM

I am on the Atkins diet, only it's the "Chet Atkins" one. You can eat whatever you want, just pick at it.

Good luck.

Bob.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 10:35 PM

I have been very willing to limit processed carbs - but I have never given up potatoes entirely! I love potatoes. I don't eat as many as I used to, and tend to save them for a treat.

I don't eat many baked goods anymore, but every now and then I just HAVE to have a Krispy Kreme doughnut. And my mother's coconut cake! But I only get that three times a year, tops.

Brett, one of my favorite no-fuss lunches is some mixed greens (like you buy in a bag, if you can get them where you are), maybe some tomatoes, whatever you like, with some tuna/chicken/turkey/ham/salmon, depending on my mood and what's in the fridge. Lowfat salad dressing. Maybe a little feta or gorgonzola cheese and a few walnuts or sunflower seeds. Chicken is really good with some mandarin oranges on a salad. Anyhow, this way you get some protein and some roughage altogether. Makes a nice easy supper in the summertime as well. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 11:11 PM

Thanks, Freda, I didn't know where to go. Now I have to conquer the time difference. For those on the East Coast of the U.S. I am asleep from your 9:00 AM to your 3:00 PM. I am at work from your 5:00 PM to your 3:00 AM. I'm afraid I missed your last chat because I didn't know about it, I hadn't checked the thread.

Bob H. that Chet Atkins diet sounds right for me. LOL

I know I can eat veggies under the Atkins diet. As I said earlier I am understating the diet.

The hard part will be the next few days as I go through my sugar withdrawal. I tried going without sugar once before and was sick all day. I would like to think it was something else but...

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: freda underhill
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 11:30 PM

good luck mr N. yesterday (NY's day) I went for a long walk, down to Broadway (45 mins from erskinille)saw a movie, walked a lot more, got some things, and then walked back. now i'm looking for some good walking shoes.

i am following sandra's advice to treat every day as a New Year & do your best that day

i'm sure jennyo & i will be around to chat weight loss if you ever want it. same issues and we're closer to your time.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: freda underhill
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 11:40 PM

i'm going out now (walking again)but another useful thing (re chatting) is to go to the same link at the top of the page and pull down messages by date. that way you see who is visiting & posting around the same time as you are. you might be able to work out a chat time that way with inter time zone catters - on a weekend or something.

fred

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 07:41 AM

I used to live on sweets - cakes, choccies, lollies, ice creams etc - I needed the sugar to keep me awake! Bags of sweets in my desk & constant visits to the cake shop, usually buying two cakes when everyone else was buying one.

Turns out it was the sugar that was sending my blood sugar up & down, according to my doctor. I didn't think I could live without sweet stuff, but I have never felt deprived.

At the time I was re-adjusting my eating (with a lot of help from my friends, ya can't do it alone) I was looking at my half-full glass & seeing what I could eat to give me health. My colleagues on diets were punishing themselves when they were "bad" & ate a cake or something "off" their diets. Their glasses were half empty & they kept "failing" & berating themselves.

Congratulations to those who can eat part of a treat, me, I'll stick to the fruits & healthy stuff I like eating.

Now, all I have to do is re-adjust once again & stop eating the excess amounts of savoury junk food that I add to my good food. What I normally eat is yummy & nutritious & satisfying & can be followed all my life. Maybe I need to follow the advice I followed 13 years ago & stop doing it alone.

There is a lot of caring & inspiration on this thread. Not all the advice & experience is relevent to me (or everyone) but thanks to everyone who has taken the time fo share what works for them.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 05:04 PM

Well, I couldn't even make it one day. I got home, hungry, and there was nothing to eat that conformed to Atkins. I had not prepared for this. I will try again starting Monday and use the weekend to make sure I have food that conforms to the diet in the kitchen.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Peg
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 05:51 PM

It's only   Friday! Isn't your grocery store open on weekends? ;)
Seriously, Brett, try to   have some raw nuts in the house, they are loaded with protein and nutrients and the fat content makes them a satisfying snack as long as you only eat a few. They also keep well so if you don't have any animal protein on hand they are a good protein fix...
other protein snacks: low-fat cheese, yogurt, natural nut butters (good on celery sticks)

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 06:02 PM

GAH!!! 7lbs appeared overnight! Well, over a week actually - I've not been doing enough walking!

Who would have thought that eating 2lbs of chocolate would make 7lbs worth of difference?!

Ah well, back to the pate and salads again!

Naem - as it says in an advert (for smoking actually) - never give up giving up. If you can even just cut down on the carbs, or calories or whatever you've chosen, it's a start.

Take care.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 06:15 PM

Keep fresh cole slaw on hand, Brett. It is Atkins safe and tastes good. Plus it is a normal food. Liz is right. You cut back from your usual amount of junk. Congratulate yourself and look forward to tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: mg
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 10:45 PM

yeah..there is Saturday and Sunday...if you don't have food on hand, how about some nice Chinese food...

mg

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 11:12 PM

If you like boiled eggs, make up a batch and keep them in the fridge.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: mg
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 11:47 PM

OK...please if you are overweight get your insulin levels checked. I got mine checked, and one idiot doctor flatly refused to do it with my other labs, even though I offered to pay any expense that insurance didn't cover. Anyway, it was 46. That is way high. I haven't found ranges, norms etc...because it is just not being done that much. Maybe someone else can find something..I have read different things..5 or so is excellent..I think around 10 is pretty good..20 is still maybe OK..I don't know any of this for sure..but I know 46 is not good...it is important to look at it in conjunction with your blood sugar level..blood sugar can be good for many years while you are developing insulin resistance, then on to diabetes...mg

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 11:59 PM

I find I have too many addictions and I cannot break them all at once. The most powerful one is my addiction to sugar and sweets. I have just finished with the caffeine headache that comes when you give that up. Now I have to wean myself off sugar.

Last Friday there were too many needs going at once. I have to eliminate them one at a time. Then I'll be ready to tackle the rest of my life changing.

Subject: RE: BS: It's time for weight loss! HELP!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 12:26 AM

I'm going to "trace" this thread and read it in the morning. I spent the day walking around in my "fat" pants that are at this point way too tight. I have to drop about 25 pounds to get into the majority of the clothing in my closet.

I didn't make a resolution for the new year because those are bound to fail and I don't want to set myself up that way. I know that when I get past a sedentary writing project (due next week) and back into yard work (now that my foot has healed) I'll lose the weight. But I'd like to kick start the weight loss.