Need a Strong, Persuasive Nutritionalist to Wake Me up and Put Me in My Place

S.,

Nutritionists are VERY expensive if you don't have a medical problem, like diabetes or something. If you see a nutritionist just for a healthy eating plan, you will be paying for it out of your own pocket. If you can find a someone(a friend, a co-worker, whomever) for both of you to motivate each other to go walking together at least three times a week for 30 minutes each time, that would be GREAT. You can go fast walking in the morning before work (just wake up 30 minutes earlier than you normally do) right in your neighborhood. Obviously, you will have to walk very close to home since your kids will still be sleeping.

About eating healthy. It appears that you view eating healthy as a chore. If I am right, then you should try to view eating healthy differently - as a yummy way of life! For breakfast, you should eat oatmeal and berries (and an egg or some yogurt for protein that will hold your hunger longer). You should put raw sugar (the all natural healthy sugar (brown in color) made from cane juice - I get mine at Wal-Mart in a big clear container in the sugar section) in your oatmeal for a no-guilt sweetness. Go to Sams or Costco and buy a big bag of frozen berries. You should put 3/4 cup to one Cup of berries on your oatmeal. For lunch, you can eat a turkey sandwich (with spinach and perhaps peppers) and either mustard or avacado on whole grain bread, and a pickle. Or, you can eat a PB&J sandwich on whole grain (which is what I eat almost every day for lunch), and a piece of fruit (you're supposed to eat an apple a day). For a mid-afternoon snack, you can have some whole grain crackers with low fat cheese, or another piece of fruit and some cheese. Dinner should be lean meat with either brown rice or whole wheat pasta, and veggies. I LOVE making my veggies. I marinate them with extra virgin olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar and pop them in the oven on low broil for 15 minutes. It is DELICIOUS! I do it with broccoli, asparagus, carrots, zucchini, squash, and eggplant. Or, sometimes, I sautee them. My point is - healthy foods are DELICIOUS, so try not to look at it as a "chore." Instead of potato chips, for example, buy Baked Lays. They also sell baked cheese puffs (for you or your kids). Give your kids whole wheat pancakes or waffles with banana or berries for breakfast (put the all natural sugar on their berries, too). Give them PB&J for lunch (or cottage cheese with fruit, and whole wheat crackers with cheese or cream cheese and jelly). Have them eat what you eat for dinner.

You just need to reset your brain's thinking about food. Please know that healthy foods truly do taste great, so don't look at your new eating healthy plan as a sacrifice! If you have a craving for ice cream, you can eat ice cream! Just eat it no more than once a week, and buy the "no sugar added" kind. It really does taste good! Whatever you crave, just alter it a bit. Dark chocolate is good for you, as long as you only eat 1 or 2 squares per sitting.

Weight watchers is a way to go, where you count points. I did that and it worked great for me. However, counting points is a pain. If you just eat healthy and have some portion control, then you won't need Weight Watchers.

If you have any questions, please send me a personal message. Best of luck to you and your kids on your journey of a healthy way of life!!

3 moms found this helpful

Hi S.,
Well what I have to say is probably not what you want to hear but here goes.
Anytime you are looking to change something with yourself you are going to have to rely on yourself. Not someone else to give you the motivation and strength to make those changes. Yes they may help you to get started and maybe even make a different for a while but in the long run you have to be the one that makes the effort and endure. You sound like you seem to know yourself and what your trouble is already. Looks to me all you need to do is make up your mind and do it or not. It's your choice. The older I get I realize that alot of life's struggles are because of our choices or lack of them. This needs to be YOURS and not anybody else s. And when you reached your goal you will take pride in knowing that you did all yourself and help keep you in the state of victory in your life. Please know that I say all of this with respect of what you are going through and have crossed these same roads myself. I wish you the best and hope you can find the courage, time and patience to give yourself health for you and your children.
C.

2 moms found this helpful

I think you can make the changes you want without a nutritionist. You have taken the most important step-you want to change. Now you just need a plan. Even with a professional, YOU still do the hard work.
Enlist your friends and kids to help you. Kids especially will pull no punches and love to enforce rules. Maybe sit down as a family and decide on one small diet change every week. Start slowly and build up to it. Maybe first you stop buying candy, then next you stop buying presweetened cereal, then you add fruit to every meal and so on. Get good at one step before taking on a new one and your changes can stick. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Dear S., Motivation is what you need. I have found out that it is not possible to loose weight alone. you need someone who is enthusiatic who can work with you and see results. find buddies in the same situation. I struggled with weight for years and finally, just with my online buddies, I was able to loose 51 pounds. I still have some more to go but when you smell success, it can be intoxicating. it just makes you keep going. if you want to be my online buddy, then we can work together. just NO excuses.
if you are ready, then send me a private mail at ____@____.com
A.

1 mom found this helpful

S.:
See personal response I sent you re: my business which does meal planning by the week/month, meal prep, even grocery shopping and cooking with you if you request!

You may reach me at: ###-###-#### for more information as well!
A.

1 mom found this helpful

Hello, I'm a single mom of two children 9 and 6 and I understand your depression. I have suffered from depression for MANY years, but I have found that staying active has helped with that. I don't mean working out everyday, while there is nothing wrong with that I just don't do that. I have found an activity a day helps.
I recently started a business that I can work in the evening and helps me meet other women. These women are wonderful and have been great encouragers. You may not be interested but if you are call me or send me an email. ###-###-#### or ____@____.com Plus a little extra money is NEVER bad.

1 mom found this helpful

I have two suggestions for you, as I have been there and I totally understand what you are going through. I still struggle, but things are better than they were. I recommend checking out the Lifestyle Management Class at a place called ____@____.com's Ridge. (www.SOSinc.org) It will deal with the underlying problems of depression, weight "tapes" (the things we believe about ourselves that may or may not necessarily be true), boundaries with others, and self-esteem. It is a miraculous program and is changing lives every month! I also recommend finding an accountability partner on www.SparkPeople.com. It's specifically for losing weight and has LOTS of motivation. Good luck! B. P. ###-###-####

1 mom found this helpful

S.,

To be blunt, you have all the motivation you need - look in the faces of your children and imagine their life without you. My sister-in-law was obese for many, many years and, despite the support, encouragement, and urging of her family, she didn't do anything about it. She died last year, leaving her three boys without a mother. She hadn't even made it to her 40th birthday. Her name was S., too. That is part of what motivated me to write to you. My nephews lost their mother and I lost my friend.

If this scares you, good. Obesity is something to be afraid of. Tell yourself to get off the couch and do at least one thing every day, one thing that is good for you. If it is good for you, then it is good for your children.

1 mom found this helpful

I don't have a nutritionist, but I do have a doctor. If you move your kids to Dr. Bain at Healthy Kids Pediatrics, she'll get you in line with them, and yourself. We made some dramatic changes for our kids and we are now all much healthier. I feel so much better and have TONS more energy. Unfortunatley, ours started with some serious health issues. You can be proactive now or wait until the health issues arise because they inevitably will. You can tell what I did and I wish I would have been more proactive before getting sick.

1 mom found this helpful

My nutritionist changed my life--I found out I was highly senstive to several foods and have completely overhauled my eating habits. Feel better, more energy, lost 25 lbs, went from a size 10 to a 2 and am easily maintaining it. My 14 year old daughter told me she feels a lot better when she's at my house than at her dad's (I'm a single mom as well) because I eat so much healthier so she bugs him to provide her with healthier food-yea for her! We now share clothes! Information about my nutritionist: Her name is Rhonda McKinney and her business is Healthy Solutions, website healthysolutionstoday.com. Her office is on Abrams in Arlington.

1 mom found this helpful

Your post tugged at my heart strings!

I go to a church in west Frisco called Genesis Metro, and we have a "boot camp" of sorts called GM Fit. A lot of our members of all weights and ages participate. But the biggest benefit you recieve, is making friends and being surrounded and motivated by those loving supportive friends. It makes you want to get up and go!
If this sounds like something you might be even remotely interested in, message me, or go to the church website which is genesismetro.org.

1 mom found this helpful

If you can afford 40 a month or they may have a special right now goto a weight watchers meeting. that got me on the right track and put me back in charge of my life. I went from 185(my heaviest) to 145 and am so happy with my life. My husband and kids are now on the diet with me. I have splenda only in my house and no sugar. When I buy stuff I get fat free or sugar free. They stay healthy with me. It's awesome just gotta think HOW BAD DO I WANT IT? Goto Weightwatchers.com to find out more.

1 mom found this helpful

Good for you for asking for help.
The hardest part is getting started and it takes 30-45 days to make a new habit and at least 60 to break old ones. Plan on that for the hardest struggle then it gets easier after that.

I would recommend starting an evening walk every night. Start planning on five minutes then ten then twenty. The kids will love it.

As for meal planning, good idea - especially for the kiddos. If you are overweight it is most probable they are too.
Calorie counting is always the best way - an average woman needs about 1500-2000 calories a day.
Breakfast (small bowl, dairy and fruit) Lunch (small bowl, dairy/protein - like 3 egg whites - and 1c. vege or 1c. fruit) Snack - (non sugar cookie, yogurt) Dinner (2-3 oz meat, 2 veges about 2 cups raw or 1 cup cook ttl) and eat a salad BEFORE lunch, BEFORE dinner, and even after dinner.

Careful pasta is wonderful but you can only have about 1/2 cup. Bummer huh?
Try excluding starches like chips, potatoes, FF, and pastas.

Implement more veges and fruit like apples, carrots, etc and eliminate chips. Hope someone else has good advice and again, good for you for asking and making that first step.C.

1 mom found this helpful

I work for 24 hour fitness and i highly recommend that you get a membership and a personal trainer. Why a personal trainer? Because you need to be held accountable to someone. A trainer will be there for you every step of the way to get you to your goals faster. Feel free to contact me if you need any info. So many ppl put this off, they say i'll do it monday but monday never comes. How many more mondays will you let pass you by?

1 mom found this helpful

The biggest grocery store hint that I can give you, is shop the outside aisles. Use the rule of thumb only buy food in the natural form the way God created it. I also keep in my mind the quote "If it doesn't rot, don't eat it, because it is NOT real food!" Avoid the tempting inner aisles and freezer section. Do self check out and avoid the counter candy displays. Once you stop eating the garbage you will find that it doesn't even taste good any more.

Don't keep things like ice cream in the house, take the kids out for an ice cream treat.

1 mom found this helpful

You should read "Skinny Bitch" by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. It's got a lot of 2x4 language in it but the information seems to be working for me. I'm finally losing the baby weight. You may be able to find it at the library.

1 mom found this helpful

S.,
I have a great diet plan, BUT.........I don't think you are ready for it. I have a book for you to read. It is an easy 28 day program to follow. I loved it. I would suggest you go to the bookstore, take a peek, and see if it is right for you. It might just do the trick to getting you on the right path. Or better yet, you don't have to go to the bookstore. The author has a website.
The book is "Soul Coaching" by Denise Linn. Her website is: http://www.deniselinn.com/index.htm
Good Luck,
P.

1 mom found this helpful

A friend of mine is a nutritionist and another is a dietician. Both have given me advice to eat healthy on a budget. So I'm sharing it with in hopes that it helps. I know I can do better. But the simple advice I was given was mix your milk with carnation powdered milk, it has twice the protein and will increase the amount of protein in your milk that you already are eating. The other was eat twice as many veggies, yuck! But its the truth. Nothing bleached or white everything whole grain/wheat. The last thing is a major one in our house and totally surprised me...eat jello as a snack and eat as often as u want. It has no fat so the logic is if you increase your protein by increasing the veggies and protein in milk then your fat will work itself by increasing your metabolism and them your stomach will feel very full by the jello filler. I hope it helps. Personally I eat major breakfast and minor lunch and a dinner snack and it seems to be working so far. Good luck!!

1 mom found this helpful

Contact Yvette Quantz at ____@____.com. I was sabotaging myself every time I dieted because I "thought" I was making the healthier choices. After going to her, I get a better understanding of what the healthier choices were.
E-mail her and she can tell you what she charges. She also has an e-mail newsletter she sends out.

Get a crock pot! It's the lazy cook's best friend. I have my healthy dinner going right now!

For weight loss, I'd recommend Mediweightlosscenters.com. They have nutritionists and medical doctors to supervise the weight loss and once the weight is off, they slowly build you back up to eating "regular" foods on your own.

1 mom found this helpful

I attended the Frisco Weight Loss Challenge
http://www.friscoweightlosschallenge.net/

Matt is a Herbalife Rep and has his products available for sale, but there is NEVER any pressure to buy anything, he teaches nutrition, you have to weigh in weekly and have to PAY $1 per pound if you gain, if you lose a lot you may win some $$$$... I lost 20 pounds in 24 weeks, it was very hard but well worth it...

Matt Schultz
###-###-####

1 mom found this helpful

Do you have insurance? Children's Hospital has a great program called LEAN Famillies. Maybe you could check them out.

1 mom found this helpful

The NRH Recreation Center has a great nutritionist. Try calling them at ###-###-####. Also, this is b/c of other things that you need to purge, I can relate. If you do a weekend with SOS you'll be done with the things that are in your way, the things that keep you down. Divorce is very hard and you need a release from all the hurt, etc. even from anything before the divorce. Trust me. Go to www.sosinc.org. Fri-Sun, only $79 and you'll have the motivation to do what you want and what you deserve! It's not religious, not a cult, no Koolaid. It's a wonderful weekend anyone deserves. It's also not group therapy. Much luck. I completed the program last year and it has made me a better parent, spouse, friend, coworker, daughter.

1 mom found this helpful

S.,

I am no nutritionist but know all the tricks of the trade. I am currently in training to become a personal trainer specializing in pre and postnatal bodies. If you need tips, diet info and motivation call me. I love giving advice and seeing results in clients I help. If you would like, please call me @ ###-###-####. I am a firm believer in looking the part if you are preaching to someone so if we meet I think you will be able to see that I mean business with bodies.
Good Luck
L.

1 mom found this helpful

I know your not going to like this, but have a friend email you the "oush" you need to stay healthy for your family. I am almost 60, I walk, I dance by myself I dont do hours of exercise, but I do eat almost right. Everyone needs one day a week, say sunday or the day of your choice to go off and splurge, not binge have a friend or family keep you in line through encouragement. Again, you might not like this but no one but you can make the choice.

1 mom found this helpful

Doctors say that when there is inflammation in your body, it attracts weight. Vemma goes after the inflammation, and people are dropping weight as their body heals. Plus, as you get the nutrition, vitamins and minerals that your body needs absorbed into the blood stream, it gives you energy as your body starts to heal itself. My husband and I have both been so blessed by Vemma that we ended up being in the business side. You can go on my website and see about it, and place yourself an order to try it if you like. There is an empty bottle money back guarantee. My whole family is on it, including our two dogs (their portion size). It's a liquid, tastes so good, and you drink it cold with a dosage glass that comes with it. Look at my website. I tell on it a little of what it has done for me. Also, the doctor that introduced it to me is a Doctor of Nutrition. I can have her talk with you. She is such a wonderful lady.
http://www.myvemma.com/annnoble
Blessings, A.

1 mom found this helpful

You need to call my friend, a dear lady who is a nutritionist, Marcy Morgan--###-###-####.

Good luck and God bless!
~A.

1 mom found this helpful

I don't have a nutritionalist for you but I recently joined a new free on line support group for people who have trouble with weight. I weigh 228lbs. I have struggled with weight since I've been an adult. Maybe it will help you.
____@____.com
Lonie

1 mom found this helpful

I joined boot camp 2 nights a week. Since I am paying for it, I will go to class (no wasting money). Its been 8 weeks and I have lost 17 lbs. There is a great group of people and everyone motivates each other. I am in the beginner class. www.texasbootcampllc.com

It works!

1 mom found this helpful

Girl it sounds like we need one another to motivate and do with each. Help one another and gain a friend. Interested? I can recommend a book or 2 even share mine and tell you the stuff I learned free. I think what it comes down to is having someone to go through the motions with you. To do it with you and that's what I "need " too. Our situation is so very alike. Give me a shout. Aloha D.

1 mom found this helpful

I did not read all of the responses and I certainly hope I do not come across the wrong way.

ONLY YOU can do this for yourself. No one can come make you do anything.

Motivate yourself from this perspective. (Don't think about YOU)..........Do it for your children so that you will be around when they get older......Do it for your children to set a good example and model for them to follow....

You already said you know what is right and wrong as far as healthy eating, you know what foods to have in your house, most especially if you have eating issues..... Show your children your self motivation and power to overcome your hurdles. You will then be setting a good example for them AND they will hopefully have mom around a lot longer.

Best wishes to your family.

1 mom found this helpful