Weight Issues - Maineville,OH

Updated on April 20, 2010
H.S. asks from Kings Mills, OH
21 answers

There obviously isn't a miracle weight loss diet, otherwise everyone would be doing it if it was fast and easy. I am struggling with my weight because I'm getting older. At 32, it's much harder than when I wanted to lose some weight at 22. As I get older, I'm unable to commit myself to something unless I see results. I've never been so frustrated as when I've done great all week, get on the scale, and the number is the same. It's like, I just went through a week of hunger pains and headaches, for NOTHING! UGH!
I get a lot of people suggesting weight watchers, and to be honest, I work very part time, and I cannot justify the $13 for the site, and the $12 for the meetings. I'd like to hear some suggestions on a great diet that costs nothing! I'm envious of the people who have the $400 a month for Jenny Craig, or nutrasystem foods, but that's not an option for me. I don't just have 10 pounds to get rid of. I'm holding on to about 45 pounds of child bearing weight! I'm literally holding a thin person inside of me that is SCREAMING to get out! I remember her well, and I'd like to see her again!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

HI H.,

I suggest the low glycemic diet. My family has been eating like this since I was little. It was originally sought after to control blood sugar for diabetics but Jenny Craig and Nutrisystems are both using it now because it will aid in losing weight and it will get rid of cravings because the nutrition is balanced. I also always recommend an absorbable mutlivitamin because food does not contain as much nutrition as it used to. I take one that is guaranteed to absorb.

My husband lost 110 pounds 5 years ago on this vitamin and has kept it off. The first 60 pounds came off without any diet change or any activity change. He did start eating less because he was more satisfied because of the nutrition he was getting. (Food costs went down.) It has worked as well for my sister in law and my husband' s best friend.

Hope I helped!

M.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.M.

answers from Erie on

can you start slow just be switching from pop to water? and be realistic that it will be a few months. good luck, i need to cut out the extra slice(s) of pizza and be eating some veggies but YUCK

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.C.

answers from Albuquerque on

I have always being thin. I'm 36 and after my third pregnancy (2 years ago) I was unable to loose the last 10 pounds. Here is what I did to loose those 10 pounds in 10 weeks without starving or expending money in programs like the ones you mentioned: I just changed my meals schedule and drink a lot of water (I'll explain some more below).

It was really not too fast but it worked and I have been able to keep it off and not gaining the weight back.

I drink 2 liters of water a day (without ice -very important).

I eat 5-6 times a day (like every 2 - 2 1/2 hours).

I switch to whole grain bread (it makes me feel full sooner).

I eat a very good breakfast

I don't eat after 6:00 PM, (my dinner is between 4:30 - 5:30) unless I have a party.

If I get hungry around 8 or 9 PM I eat a fruit, small bowl of cereal or yogurt.

My snacks are yogurt, all kinds of fruit, vegetables, toast with honey, cucumbers (with lime and salt), salads.

No sodas even if they are diet. For what I have read, they are really bad for your health as all sugar substitutes.

Don't buy junk food.

Forget fast food restaurants. I recommend you to watch the Documentary FOOD INC.

I only eat processed food (such as pizza) once a week may be less.

Reduce sweets but I still eat cookies and chocolates in moderation (once a week).

Exercise may help you loose weight faster.

At last PATIENCE AND CONSISTENCY WILL PAY OFF.

Now I look better, have more energy, started to exercise and working on toning.

Making the right changes to your diet will help you loose all the weight you want, it just takes time but the benefits are long lasting.

Hope this help you.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

Since I was previously on Jenny Craig, and lost all my baby weight and then some, I can give you some pointers that don't cost anything and will help you lose weight. One, you have to watch your calories. In order to lose weight you have to burn more than you take in. I was/am eating about 1200 calories a day give or take. Each meal should be about 300 calories with 2 150 calorie snacks. A typical day looks like this:
Breakfast-oatmeal or english muffin w/peanut butter
Snack-yogurt
Lunch-Lean cuisine and an apple
Snack-veggies w/hummus, string cheese and an apple/fruit, or a granola bar
Dinner-chx/fish/or steak, veggies
In addition, you have to work out at least 3 times a week. Not just cardio but weights as well. I have 2 children a 3 1/2 year old and a 15 month old and I am slimmer than BEFORE I had my children. Jenny craig really taught me how to eat smaller portions and the fact that you have to physically active most of the days of the week. I still eat out, have my desserts, etc. but I am very aware of what I eat, when, and how often, which is key. By the way, I have a huge sweet tooth and if you like ice cream, Skinny Cow is low calorie and has a bunch of different kinds and Haagen Daas Sorbet(chocolate is the best!). I drink Diet drinks only, try to drink at least 64 oz of water a day(it's a lot I know), and make your family eat what you eat. That's probably the biggest reason people don't stick to their diets, so if you only buy healthy food, you can only eat healthy food. I am no expert but have been very successful and have done this after both my children and have kept the weight off. Good luck, you can do it, it just takes real discipline and follow thru!!

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.A.

answers from Lansing on

sparkpeople.com It's free. It will give you daily menus based on foods that you like and a shopping list for what you need. There is a lot more to it you should check it out. And did I mention that it is FREE!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.S.

answers from Eugene on

Good luck H., I have the weight prob too. So tired of it & I wanna see results so I can be motovated & stick to it. I have over 100 lbs. to loose & it seems like it takes so much & so long just to loose a few...& I have so far to go. I do know drinking LOTS of water helps flush fat & a cleanse helps too. I was on ISAGENIX for awhile & felt so great & healthy w/ the shakes & vitamins, but....I can't afford to keep that up any longer. It's hard ~ I know.
Wish I had a miricale cure for us! Much luck to ya.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.A.

answers from Youngstown on

Hi H.. I think we can all relate to that...your metabolism definitely slows down. I did Weight Watchers following my daughter's birth, and it worked fine, but realistically I quickly learned how to adapt it to stay within my allowed points even with junk food. Not the best way to do it! After my son I followed the Zone, and it was amazing. The weight fell off, but more important was how I felt! No sugar cravings...which is major for me...and I wasn't hungry. It's all about balancing your carbs (low-glycemic index is best), proteins, and fats to keep your hormones (including insulin) balanced properly. It's still my favorite way to keep weight down. I'm not as strict as I was when I first did it, but still incorporate it into my everyday life. Best of all, you don't have to pay a weekly fee. You can get the books at the library, though I preferred the audio ones there. You can also check out www.drsears.com for more info, or google zone diet. It's really such a good life-style change..not a diet that you suffer on. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.B.

answers from Columbus on

I sort of follow Atkins because I have insulin issues. I'm not strict with it but I lost all my baby weight very quickly and feel amazing when I stick to it.

Insulin effects your hormones, which in turn effect how you feel overall. When I eat too many carbs/sugar, I feel nasty - moody, tired, unmotivated - and because carbs/sugar are addictive, the more I eat, the more I crave of the! I think our country has made processed foods such a normal thing to eat, that everyone is getting way more carbs than they are supposed to and therefore feeling icky and packing on weight like crazy!

Anyway, when I first started doing it, I was shocked about the amount of carbs in things that are "good" for you - milk, orange juice, certain fruits. I spent the first week just documenting how many carbs I was getting without really changing my diet and realized I was probably eating about 500g a day! No wonder I was gaining weight and feeling nasty! (The Atkins maitenance plan - which is basically what you should be getting - suggests 100g a day!) I'm not super strict with it - I probably get anywhere from 100-200g depending on what's going on each day, but I'm way more aware now what I can eat a lot of and what I need to avoid completely. Granted, I do splurge sometimes... just not every day anymore!

I did notice when I first started cutting back, that I was always hungry. That lasted for about a week, but once my body got over the addiction, the cravings went away (sugary things taste too sweet now - sometimes even nasty!) and the high protein, high fiber things started doing what they are supposed to do - keep me full! I always have a high protein breakfast - ham, egg and cheese in some form (scrambled eggs with ham and cheese, boiled egg with a couple slices of ham and cheese, etc.) and then just try to be aware of what I'm eating the rest of the day.

I've also found some great low carb foods. Kroger has a CARBmaster yogurt which is delicious and has a lot of protein in it. Ole has an Extreme High Fiber tortilla wrap that actually has a NEGATIVE carb count so I can still eat burritos and wraps.

Oh yeah - very important: Each gram of fiber negates each gram of carbs. That's why the wraps have a negative carb count. There's like 5 grams of carbs in it, but 12 grams of fiber, so it ends up being -7 on the carbs! Which is perfect for burritos, because it basically cuts out the carbs from the tomatoes or salsa that you put on them! Add refried beans and you've got a very high protein low carb and filling and yummy meal!

Atkin's shakes and bars are very yummy, too!

Oh, I also heard once that healthy weight loss should only be about 1-2 pounds lost a week. None of this 15 pounds a week like on The Biggest Loser! (That's because they are working out 8 hours a day!) Granted, I know some people lose like 10 pounds the first week they are on Atkins because you cut out basically ALL carbs that first week.

Okay - I've written way more than I planned. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from Columbus on

Here's another vote for sparkpeople.com - track your calories, it's eye opening.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.L.

answers from Canton on

Hi!
I definitely know what you are going through. I gained 80 pounds during my pregnancy & only lost about 30. I miss my sexy pre-pregnancy body (although I LOVE what got in return, an incredibly beautiful little girl.)

I will tell you what has truly worked for me. Like you, we are on a very tight budget and I also do not have the time to attend WW meetings. I have done weight watchers completely on my own. You can get the WW calculator and books thorugh someone who is in WW or you can go on ebay. Ebay has everything you need to start WW. It is so simple and easy PLUS it works! I have tried everything. Weight Watchers PLUS working out has been extremely successful. I have been losing about 6 pounds a week.

My problem is I do not eat enough and WW really forces you to eat and make healthy options based on how many points. I can send you the chart that tells you how to figure out how many points you have. It is SO simple and WW is a lifestyle change, not a diet and I have heard/seen so many amazing results from numeous people who do WW.

It cost me about 25 ONE time to get everything I needed for WW.

Good Luck and be excited for this amazing journey towards getting your body back in shape!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.W.

answers from Cleveland on

Try eating vegetables for two weeks. ANd then slowly start adding back other foods. Watch your carbs. Stay away from breads. Watch your sugar. MAry Lou Henner has a great book out. Exercise. Try walking at least 30 minutes a day. Put the kids in the stroller and enjoy. Stop drinking pop. Drink a lot of water. This will flush out your system. Never starve yourself. Eat smaller portions.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.L.

answers from Cleveland on

H.,

We have a great weight loss program and it is very easy. I myself have had great results on our product, Slimplicity!

Check out our website. Call or email me with any questions, or if you'd like to know how to get started.

www.HopeShared.com

Sincerely,
A.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Cleveland on

I love, love, love the South Beach diet. Yes, it is a "diet" but eventually it just becomes a way of eating. You eat lots of vegetables, whole grains, low-fat diary, lean protein, etc. The first two weeks you are supposed to cut out all fruits and carbohydrates which is hard at first, BUT if you can do that, you will free yourself of the cravings.

Even if you skip the first two weeks of the diet and just follow the general guidelines you will have a healthy plan for eating. The book has easy recipes and even includes suggestions on what you can buy at the store if you don't have time to cook or what to eat at a fast food place if you're in a hurry. And, it's free if you can borrow the book from your library!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Washington DC on

I just lost 9.8 inches in 3 weeks and I did it on a budget. If you want details send me a message and I will fill you in including a meal plan. It is doable and I promise no hungerpains. Edit in I am 43

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.W.

answers from Toledo on

H. you're right there is NO miracle diet. However if you are truly committed to managing your weight, it will have to become a way of life. I am a Shaklee distributor and for just $10 a day you recieve 2 meals a snack and a cup of tea, not to mention a program you use in your own computer to monitor your progress and ideal recipes. Right now it is buy three months get the fourth month FREE which amounts to aprox $6 a day. (This offer won't last long). It is also gaurenteed to work and keep you healthy in the meantime. If you work it right and are not happy you send it back and get your money back....I only say that because it has never NOT worked. We can Talk. You lose inches before you see the scale move....It is a GREAT program. Let's talk
S.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.R.

answers from Columbus on

There's something totally different out called Sensa. It's "tastants" and it reduces your appetite without drugs or stimulants. My daughter has lost 25 pounds since Jan. Not fast, but a sure and steady 2 lbs. a week painlessly with no willpower battles or starvation.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.K.

answers from Indianapolis on

First and foremost.........you need to change the way you THINK. THAT is the most important part of all. Once you tackle that.......the rest will fall into place.

This is a LIFESTYLE change. Focus on protein and fruits and vegetables, eating 5 small meals a day....handful of almonds and an apple, boiled egg and a piece of fruit, string cheese and some veggies, etc. It HONESTLY isn't that hard and obviously not alot of cooking with those kinds of things, but you have to focus on protein and fruits and vegetables AND water, of course. NO sodas....of ANY kind. Not hard to find research on MULTIPLE reasons for this. I've got info if you want it.

DO NOT focus on the scale. Remember that you will ALWAYS FEEL the changes before you SEE the changes. Focus on changing from the inside out, NOT the other way around. IT WORKS. Think about it, if you put the RIGHT things IN your body and work out to improve strength, endurance, function, etc....it WILL show up on the outside.

In addition, you didn't get 45 pounds overweight overnight. Don't expect to return to your ideal weight that way, either.

When you workout, do intervals....even 30 seconds -1 min of something at a higher intensiy, i.e. jump roping, running up stairs, etc. It raises metabolic levels AND burns calories. Make sure you are weight training (muscle burns more at rest than fat) as well as doing some cardio work.

Hope that helps.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.A.

answers from Toledo on

I can understand what you are talking about. You should check out this website: www.sparkpeople.com
This site is free and has a ton of resources for you and support for weight loss. There are meal planners, and recipes, along with exercise plans and goals that you set for yourself.

Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.D.

answers from Dayton on

Hi H.! I'm having the same issue, and I just turned 34. I liked Liliana's answer the best- the small/frequent meals, not eating much after a certain time in the evening (and if you do, make it a healthy snack). I'm sure counting carbs and so forth works for people, but it drives me crazy. Whole foods/whole grains and lots of water! I've been working out a lot, so after I use a protein powder, light soy milk and varied fruits, with ice and a blender it's really good! I've been training for a sprint triathlon and I find I really like it- it helps keep me motivated and I have friends doing it with me. I think finding a form of exercise that you can really get into helps- so try different things. I couldn't lose weight without exercise- I really love to eat! :) Plus, I'm in a much better mood if I've exercised- and when I do manage to eat well and get in my water- it's that much better. And you shouldn't be hungry and get headaches to lose weight! (Although I've been there!). You can eat a lot if you're getting in good foods. I'm reading Jillian Michaels book (from Biggest Loser) now about eating for your metabolism. I really like it, but I'm not done yet. But I can't be really strict with my diet, because I burn out and give into cravings. It's just about finding a balance.
Good luck. It's an on-going battle. But I've learned to not get caught up so much in the scale, and go by how I feel.

J.F.

answers from Cleveland on

I'm 52 so can attest to the fact that as we age our metabolism does slow down thus making it harder to lose weight. However, in the past 12 weeks I have lost 36 lbs, and still going. I'm not on a 'diet' as I don't believe in diets. I'm on a lifestyle change. It would take me too long to explain here how to go about doing this but KNOW that it is VERY possible and you CAN DO IT. It takes time, commitment, and a strong desire for change, all of which cost nothing but your health. Email me if you'd like and I'll help you get started on the right path. This is no gimmick, no pills, etc, just plain nutritious foods and exercise.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Lafayette on

My husband lost 100 pounds with diet & exercise. He'd drink a slim fast along with a piece of fruit for breakfast, and a slim fast with an apple for lunch. (The apple added the substance he needed.) He ate a normal dinner, and then exercised with a buddy after work nearly 5 days a week. That was several years ago & he still drinks the slim fasts! =) He's kept most of the weight off (he varies 20-25 pounds), and his skin is tight (like normal...not saggy) because of the exercise along with the food changes.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask questions that you may have. I lost all of my pregnancy weight with exercise. (I don't like to limit my foods.) It's VERY difficult for me to loose weight, so I'll encourage you as you need it! =)

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions