Weight Loss Advice

When I was still working, all I wanted was carbs...I was so stressed and pretzels and chips and dip and chocolate just filled some hole in me. It actually calmed me to eat. What I did was plan for some things that were good, or at least not so bad for me, so that when the cravings started there was something besides the really bad stuff ready. Like fried banana with cool whip/fat free cream cheese topping. And apples baked in black cherry diet soda. And homemade zucchini chips. Or baked onion rings breaded with ground bran cereal. It's definitely more time consuming than opening a bag of cookies but it worked for me - good luck!

i am also 5'3" and weighed about 165lbs when i started www.sparkpeople.com. i've lost just around 25lbs so far. i'm a slow loser, and i do love my chocolate and cakes, etc. so it's even slower. honestly, when i found sparkpeople, i lost most of my weight in the first 2-3 months. they are a great online community with great support and references. you can track your food intake (which is about 70-80% of the weight loss process) and exercise...if you don't exercise they account for that. you tell them how active you are, and they give you the calorie range you should be in. it's also FREE! i love it. now, if i could just stop eating my sweets :(

Oh I so feel you, it is so much harder to put the time and energy into yourself when a million other responsibilities beckon every moment. I am pregnant now, but after this one that's it!! I am so over being so chubby. But what I have decided is excercise is wonderful, really it is. But for me when I have a bunch of weight to lose, its counter productive. So I am just going to count my little calories and get it off and worry about working out after I am down to a good weight. Whenever I have actually managed to lose, this is what I have done. I lost 35 lbs with Weight Watchers and kept it off for 5 yrs with very little effort. I gained with my first pregnancy and have never managed to keep up with a healthy eating program. So that is it for me, after this one, I am going to get serious about eating and maybe go walk or do the elliptical or something like that because really it works. Weight training is awesome, but for me focusing my attention on healthy eating helps me stay focused and not get spread too thin. Good luck, you can do it!!

Commit to a program like Weight Watchers that holds you accountable for your eating. When you're tracking what you eat, learning to eat the right portions and choices, and investing effort into serious weight loss, you'll succeed. It's worth the expense.

I tried a free site called SparkPeople.com before WW and they put me on such a low calorie count my body went into starvation mode and I didn't lose a pound. First week of WW, I was eating more and lost weight. I did their online only program and dropped 20 lbs. last year and have kept it off. I even lost weight on a cruise while having dessert every day.

If I can do it, you can, too!

Start with simple changes that make a huge difference. Drink water. Cut out sodas, even diet ones. The artificial sweetners contribute to overeating. Cut out juices, people have the false impression that they are healthy but you're not getting the full benefts that you would get by just eating the piece of fruit instead. You don't get the fiber etc. It is a LOT of sugar, even if it is naturally occuring sugar. Even drinking lots of milk is a lot of extra calories.
There are lots of ways to jazz up water without adding sugar or artificial sweetners. splash of lemon, you can buy carbonated waters with natural flavors. I will drink more water if it's cold so I always keep a Brita filter container in the fridge.
When you're out running errands pak further away from the store so you get that extra walking in. Unless its raining or we're in a super hurry we always do this.
Take the stairs instead of elevators or escalators.
If you're in the store for only one or two things and not in a hurry take the longer way around the store to get to the things you are getting.
Do 10 squats while waiting for the hot water when you turn on the shower.
I have to get creative with 3 kids that I home school plus taking care of all the typical house junk and finding time to enjoy my day family and have some fun so we're not all work.
Best of luck! I'm working on trying to get rid of the last couple inches and about 10 pounds post baby and it's not going away as fast as I would like.

Why is it hard to find time to workout? Wake up 30 minutes earlier and start moving. If you really want it you can get there! Don't keep tempting things in your home either becuase then it is that much easier to go binge when you are feeling weak. Are you eating enough fiber, protein and fruits and veggies? Do you have any friends that are trying to lose weight? Maybe sign up for a 5k or something so you have a goal to attain. Also eat frequently too and first thing in the morning. I hate the excuse of "I can't find the time?" Sorry :( I wake up at 4:30am to get my run in and I feel great! I know everyone isn't a morning person but that is what I suggest for my clients that have a hard time staying motivated is to do it first thing in the morning. Place your clothes by your bed, set you alarm across the room so you have to get up and turn it off and then put your workout clothes on. I have a 7 month old baby, work a ton of hours but still I know that I want to be a good example for my little girl and I feel so much more healthy.

Sounds like you want it bad enough though so Good Luck!

Try reading The Healthy Weigh to Loose Weight by Alan Carr. The book reminds us that we are happier and feel better when we eat healthy food in sensible portions. Also, our bodies crave exercise, you will feel better and more energized if you exercise.

If you want something more concrete, try one of two strategies:
1. eat your meals in half.
don't increase or decrease your portions just double the number of times you eat. this will keep your blood sugar more stable, and leave you less susceptible to binging.
2. eat more.
of the right stuff. start each meal with a cup of broth, two cups of salad with a herb vinegar dressing, an apple or pear, a bowl of berries, a bunch of celery or carrots. only when you've finished these "appetizers" can you start your meal. you fill your belly with high fiber low calorie healthy things before you get to your usual fare.

as for motivation
try adopting or fostering a dog. you have no choice but to go out and walk them 2 or 3 times a day. they won't take no for an answer. it might be the sort of thing which will keep you on the right path.

my answer isn't the healthiest...but when I wanted to kick off losing weight I'd always do a fruit and veggie diet for a week (water and sugar free drinks)...J. fruit and veggies---more veggies than fruit and only limeted potato veggies, you can use some things to season or flavor in moderation, like vinigarette dressing, after a week of this your portion sizes will be under control and you'll see a big drop in weight fast (i lost 7 lbs in one week my ex lost 10lbs) and I was only 10 lbs over what i wanted to be....its always been our go to to kick off losing weight...it gives you motivation...i'm horrible right now and have an extra 5lbs to lose and am doing a 2-3 day water fast (done day 2 at 8pm) most people think thats unhealthy so y advice might not be the best...i'm not suggesting the fast...i'm suggesting the fruit and veggie diet

From what I hear (and I had a former eating disorder so I can relate and read between the lines), I would take your focus off weight loss and seek some help from overeaters anonymous. You are describing emotional eating and you will need to find out why you do that before you can find a way to stop doing it. Only when you overcome your impuls to binge can you be sucessful at weigt loss. I'm sure you'll get tons of advice for calorie counting, and weight watchers, and all thing that are very good for people who don't struggle with emotional eating. But it sounds to me that you are going to have to start with a different approach on a much deeper level. Best of luck and warm wishes.
http://www.oa.org/

I completely understand what you are going through. You could try to pack your lunch for the day even though you work from home. Make sure you don't allow yourself to eat anything in the house other than what you packed (make sure you include some snacks for yourself). You could also try chewing gum when the urge to snack hits. Basically the taste of gum (preferably mint) makes food taste different so you'll be less likely to eat and the act of chewing gum can satisfy the urge to have something in your mouth. As far as exercising, starting small is the best way. For 2011 I made it my goal to run a 5k. I'm doing the couch to 5k plan (30 minutes 3 times a week) and so far I have stuck with it. It doesn't take too long and I went from being out of breathe after running one minute to running 25 minutes at a time. If you can find a friend/neighbor to be an exercise buddy, I strongly recommend it. Anytime you try to add exercise into your daily schedule, it can feel like a struggle. Having someone to do it with makes it more enjoyable. Good luck!

Do you have a facebook? Message me if you do.
I just joined a group of ladies and it's been great! We're all each others accountability partners. We weigh in every Friday and that REALLY helps me because I don't want to weigh in one week with a gain.
I didn't start working out and eating healthy until 3 years ago. My husband joined the military and we had a free gym near us on base so I decided, with his help, to go. I've been a regular gym rat since then. We've since moved and joined a gym closer to us and in the past year I've taken up running. It really doesn't take long to get in the habit of working out.
3 weeks ago I broke my ankle and can do NOTHING. I was training for a half marathon and was VERY bummed about this because I won't be able to start running again until November but instead of feeling sorry for myself I'm using this injury to my advantage by focusing on what I eat! We've always been healthy eaters but portion control has always been an issue for me. As far as snacking and bingeing go, DON'T BUY IT!! If it's not in the house, you can't eat it! Keep track of what you eat. Sparkpeople.com and myfitnesspal.com are great!

I also LOVE Sparkpeople, www.sparkpeople.com, the nation's largest online free weight loss/diet site. I met tons of people on it and there is so much information and support, you could be on that site all day.

I also second Katrina, that you have to make time for it. My motto is "You're always going to be too tired, too busy, too stressed, too this or that. Too bad. The only way you will strip away the fat is by stripping away the excuses."

Don't keep ANY junk in the house. I have a horrible weakness for junk food like cheetos and cookies. So if I have a craving for them, I don't have any to binge on. If it's in the house, chances are, you are going to eat it.

Start by exercising slowly. Walk 15 minutes from your house, turn around, and walk the 15 minutes back. THat is 30 minutes total. Start out by doing this daily.

I am a full time working mother of a 5 yr old and a 6 month old, and the only time I have is 5 am to work out. But I do it, becuase i want to be fit and healthy for my family and best of all, myself.

I am there - or at least I was. I never had a weight problem but I was a HORRIBLE binge eater. I would sit on the couch late at night and eat an entire package of cookies without thinking twice. I could never get past the cravings. I read an article a few months ago about a woman that was also an over-eater who attended an Over-eaters Anonymous meeting and she talked about how she thought it was "pointless" - she felt it was more geared towards people with "real" addictions, etc - and stopped going. She then said that two years later she realized she was back at the same point she had always gotten - weight back on - eating terrible - and decided to cut out sugar/sweets/snacks cold turkey.
It really resonated with me. I totally recognized myself in her story and decided i would do the same. I stopped eating pretty much all sugary foods - no cookies, candy, etc - and nothing after dinner. The first week was sheer hell - I was crabby and constantly craving sweets - but by the second week I felt much better - and within a month I had lost this stubborn 5 lbs that always plagued me. It's been 2 plus months and while I still crave sugar occasionally I am RARELY tempted to actually EAT it.
I've always been active so that part was easy but my recommendation would be take it slow - start walking everyday (btw I work from home too and that is NOT A GOOD EXCUSE!!!) even if it's only for 30 minutes. If you can afford it join a gym or workout program that you can work into your schedule and DO IT. Get a work out buddy if you are someone that can't self motivate - that makes a huge difference.
Good luck - I promise if you can stick through the initial withdrawls you WILL NOT miss the sugary stuff!