lose weight

I LOVE ice-cream. One of the things I’ve had to do with my change in eating habits is just not to buy certain fattening items. If I only have fruit and fresh veggies to munch on, I eat them because they are there.
My mother always has at least 3 half gallons of ice cream, nuts, hot fudge and bananas. Can you spell Banana Split? Well, I had SEVEN in 2 days. Each one is 19 weight watche points. I currently get 26 points. so that day I had 76 points not counting my other food. I gained almost 4 pounds in 4 days! That was three weeks ago, and it has taken me that long to get back to my 24 pound loss.
There’s a lesson in here somewhere!

I was 237 and now am 214. Can you imagine? Have you ever picked up a 25 lb. bag of sugar or rice? I was carrying that around all the time. Ridiculous! My next goals are:

• get down to less than 200 by the next 3 months (Labor Day).
• get down to 185 (29 lbs. to go)
• stay there in the 180s for at least a year.

Your body will just shut down to a lower energy level, so you won’t lose weight. In fact, DON’T DIET AT ALL What’s needed is a lifestyle change that will be ongoing!!
Here are some suggestions:

• eat smaller portions (say 2/3 of what you do now)
• snack on fruit or vegetables
• look for low-fat foods at the grocery store
• if you go out, divide your food in 1/2 and take the other half home with you.
• Eat LOTS of veggies and fruits, and little of fatty or sweet foods.
• Don’t deny yourself any food, but try taking 1/3 of an 8th of a pie (1/24th?) Taste it preciously, because it’s all that you get.

I’ve lost 21 pounds in 10 weeks and improved my health by eating healthier. You can do it, too.

I was very proud of myself for making GOOD CHOICES I still ate the 5.5 oz. steak (6 points), but then added broccoli, green beans, cauliflower, stewed tomatoes and okra. For desert, I had 1/3 of a 1/10th piece of cherry pie (1/30th of the pie, right?). I also had small amounts of 3 other deserts. I’m finding that it’s not WHAT you eat as much as the portions you can eat of healthy vs. fattening foods.

That’s 38% of my goal of 50. Yes, I started 8 weeks ago, but wanted to document some of the process and progress here at 43things. By the way, I’m certain there are other programs that work. Just commit to one, DO IT, and stick with it!

What I like about weight watchers so far is that it’s NOT a diet, but rather a lifestyle change. I’m learning more about

• the nutrition value of foods
• portion control
• excercise
• plus the weekly weigh in makes you accountable.

I lost 6 pounds the first week! (results may vary. I’m told that men tend to loose faster.

Why? because I’ve tried unsuccessfully on my own too many times. When we are seriously sick, we don’t try to fix it ourselves, we go to a doctor. Similarly, I thought; if this is worth it, then go to the experts. WW has a good reputation for helping people take it off, and more importantly keep it off. At my first meeting, I met a 65-year-old guy who lost 130 pounds 5 years ago, and has maintained 180 since then. Another lady lost 70 pounds 20 years ago, and has maintained 130!!!! I learned soooooo much the first day. I’ll keep you posted.

Because goals should be:

• measurable
• attainable
• specific and
• personalized

But I’m moving this to the “lose weight” category, so I can better see how others are progressing.

I weighed 185 pounds at the time of my marriage 9 years ago. No, I’m not blaming my marriage, but since then I have reached 235. I have tried on my own to diet, and lost as much as 15 pounds. As soon as I loose some, I go back to my old eating habits, which by the way, were the ones that got me fat in the FIRST place.
I know that what I need is help: Help to change my eating lifestyle to one that matches my age and level of activity. I found a concise diet that works, but I need support, new ideas, and a way to track progress.
Here’s the diet link:
DIET

I recently found that I was 50 pounds over the BMI (Body Mass Index) That makes me obese (though I don’t like the label). You can find your own BMI by going to this link at the American Cancer Society’s web site:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_3_1x_Body_Mass_Index_Calculator.asp?sitearea=PED

An encouraging quotation from the Cancer Society:
Even a small weight loss (10% of your current weight) lowers the risk of several diseases. People who are overweight or obese have a greater chance of developing certain cancers—including breast cancer for women over age 50—as well as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol or other lipid disorders, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.