Weight Loss Motivation I want to lose some weight in the worst possible way but I just cannot seem to kick my ass in gear. I'm 33, female, 5'7 and currently weigh about 180. My realistic-goal is to get down to 160 and my dream-goal is to get down to 145. I work out 3-4 times a week, but my problem is that my job involves entertaining clients and eating out a fair majority of the time for lunch and dinner (I am not the one choosing the restaurants and sometimes it's fixed menu). Between that and a busy social life (I could probably stand to cut down on the booze) I just can't stick to any one diet or calorie-counting plan. Is anyone else trying to lose weight (successfully or not!) and would like to be my weight loss buddy? I'm looking for someone where we could seriously PM each other every single day to motivate one another to work out, share food tips/journals and help stay on track. If not, I still appreciate any insight or advice here if you've tried something that worked well for you -- tips, strategies, ideas, etc.http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,341101#msg-341101Thu, 16 Jul 2026 19:29:54 +0000 Phorum 5.2.20 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,438771#msg-438771 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,438771#msg-438771
I hated making bulletproof coffee because apparently blenders and hot liquids don't get along and I'd wind up cleaning a puddle of greasy coffee off the counter when the blender lid would inevitably get blown off. Tasted fine to me - not delicious, but fine - but it wasn't worth the mess. I'm a carboholic, so no sense fighting it.

I'm starting to get pissed at this point. I've cut down to 1000 calories a day and I dropped like 7 pounds in a week, then my weight came to a screeching halt yet again. I don't know why I keep stalling at the same weight. I figure this week's gonna be a bust because it's Thanksgiving and there's no way I can figure out how many calories are in what I'm going to eat, but I don't get why it only worked for a week either. I can't be that fuel efficient.]]> Cambion The PatioThu, 26 Nov 2020 04:18:31 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,438769#msg-438769 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,438769#msg-438769
I tried bulletproof coffee, but it gave me a horrible gut ache. True I didn't eat, but that's because I felt like heaving all day.]]> mumofsixbirds The PatioWed, 25 Nov 2020 19:32:16 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437937#msg-437937 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437937#msg-437937

I gave up on eating low carb, partly because I wasn't seeing any weight loss from it and partly because it was just getting annoying again not being "allowed" to eat so many things. I love carbs too damn much to give them up and I'm not doing low carb ever again.

So now I'm trying intermittent fasting again (16 hours of fasting, 8 hour nom window), first without strict calorie restriction to see what happens and if I don't see some progress in two weeks, I will go back to calorie cutting along with it. I'm starting to run out of options here - by all logic, eating fewer calories than I burn should result in weight loss, only it's not anymore. I was literally eating less than what my body needed to sustain its most basic functions (basal metabolic rate) and I still wasn't losing weight!

If I can't get below 200 pounds with a few weeks of IF, I'm going to a doctor because this is bullshit. My next options are to quit eating entirely (which I've done before) or to give myself a tapeworm.]]> Cambion The PatioTue, 22 Sep 2020 03:45:32 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437676#msg-437676 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437676#msg-437676
I agree with the talk here about riced cauliflower. Breads and rice make me bloaty lately so having a rice substitute that is also low calorie and a veg serving is great.

I got into running a couple of years ago and it has helped me tremendously with weight loss and mood. I did Couch to 5K and it took me doing some of the weeks repeatedly but I finished it. I was never a runner before, in fact I couldn't run for one minute without getting winded but now have done a couple half marathons and lots of shorter races (COVID has pretty much screwed the race industry this year unfortunately, not great for my motivation!). I'm down 27 pounds and my weight has stabilized. Working from home for a few months and being cooped up inside really sucked though. I haven't been running as much as I did last year and I am constantly trying to maintain the habit so I don't lose what I've gained in terms of my pace and physical benefits.

My goal is now to firm up and lose body fat. I feel like I'm getting flabby and hate it.]]> Ketchup The PatioWed, 02 Sep 2020 13:00:33 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437656#msg-437656 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437656#msg-437656
The pre-cooked chicken sausages tasted reeeeally familiar to me, but I could not place what I've eaten before that had that flavor. Anyway, these were good!

Got something called beef bitlong, which is like thinner, drier beef jerky. I like jerky, but I didn't care for this stuff personally. I got the teriyaki flavor one, which didn't taste great to me.

Bought several drinks too. The Fit & Active lemonades have about 5 carbs per bottle, so not super great if you're watching your carb intake, but still really good for a diet drink. The sparkling waters I picked up are not sweetened in any way, so they're kinda bitter and gross. Very similar to Bubly if you've ever had that. Meanwhile, the sugar-free energy drinks (Red Thunder, I think) were really good and I'll definitely get those again.

I also finally got to try some Lily's peanut butter cups (made with stevia-sweetened chocolate) and they're... okay. They taste kinda funny from having no real sugar in them, but they weren't awful. They're all right for diet chocolate, but they cost $8 for a small bag, so I won't be buying them again.]]> Cambion The PatioTue, 01 Sep 2020 04:17:21 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437642#msg-437642 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437642#msg-437642 bell_flower The PatioSat, 29 Aug 2020 21:52:34 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437641#msg-437641 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437641#msg-437641
I drink so much every single day. I pee at work more than all my coworkers combined because I'm always chugging something. I'm not thirsty most of the time, I think I just have an oral fixation or something. I've found that carbonated things are great for keeping my appetite down because they make me feel fuller and more bloated.

Coffee (iced or hot), tea (iced or hot), seltzer water mixed with Mio or pureed fruit, flavored sparkling water (Walmart has really awesome large bottles called Clear American for like 70 cents - the strawberries & cream, orange & cream and vanilla cream are my faves), diet Powerade or Propel water with No-Salt mixed in for potassium, diet soda and just plain water are all my go-to diet drinks. Also protein shakes made with almond milk if you count those as a drink.

I still want to try bulletproof coffee sometime, but the idea of buttery coffee kinda makes me gag a little. I love coffee and I love butter, I just don't know if I will love them together. Those decaf teas sound really good too!]]> Cambion The PatioSat, 29 Aug 2020 21:46:09 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437637#msg-437637 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437637#msg-437637
I generally follow the rule of letting 12 hours pass between when I eat dinner and when I eat (usually lunch) the next day. If you can do 16 hours more that is even better.

IF was pretty easy when I was going in to an office. I would drink coffee only when I woke up, head in to work, and I was busy until noon or later. COVID and full time telework and being near food all the time blew that all to Hell.

On the days when I let 16 hours pass, I feel better. I have also realized that although I like breakfast food like cereal, I am not really all that hungry in the morning and food tastes better during the hours of 12-8 p.m. I think I can live with eating lunch and dinner and really enjoying it rather than eating a bunch of smaller meals a day, which is conventional diet wisdom, but never worked for me. There is a lot of brainwashing about "breakfast is the most healthy meal of the day," probably promulgated by cereal companies.

Now that I am retiring, the key is to drink coffee only and go to the pool 3-4 days a week in the morning. Or plan another morning errand to get out of the house and keep my mind off food.

Another key for me is finding things I like to drink as opposed to eating. If I am going to fast, I want to be sipping on something tasty. I drink decaf flavored coffee with lots of almond milk and stevia or iced decaf tea with stevia. The Republic of Tea's Decaf Vanilla Almond and Decaf Ginger Peach teas are to die for.]]> bell_flower The PatioSat, 29 Aug 2020 16:30:14 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437622#msg-437622 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437622#msg-437622
Thanks for the links, bell_flower! I'm definitely curious about the veggie pasta if I can find it. I know everyone raves about zoodles, and while I love zucchini, I'm not nuts about zucchini noodles, so I'd definitely be interested in a lower carb pasta replacement.

I gotta find better snacks. I have a little stash in my desk at work and it's mostly smoked sausage sticks and some Quest cookies. Sausage sticks are low carb, but I figure they can't be very healthy to eat every single day.

Paragon schnitzophonic, I've been doing something similar - having just two meals a day instead of three because it was much easier to have two high-ish calorie meals than three low-ish calorie ones. And I liked being able to relax more about what I ate because I had a 700 calorie budget, so I could have pretty much anything that wasn't fastfood. It did definitely work for weight loss, but god I hated how hungry I was every day. It's hard to get used to. Still, good luck with intermittent fasting! :)]]> Cambion The PatioFri, 28 Aug 2020 04:11:29 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437620#msg-437620 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437620#msg-437620 paragon schnitzophonic The PatioFri, 28 Aug 2020 03:15:27 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437615#msg-437615 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437615#msg-437615
Sometimes I grill a piece of fish and viola, you have a great and filling dinner. Or I cook some of that fake meat and put McCormick's gluten free taco mix in it. (Ground turkey works too if you are not vegetarian.)

It is not easy to find but I've seen it at Publix and Wegman's and sometimes Kroger:

https://www.amazon.com/Alexia-White-Cheddar-Cauliflower-Pepper/dp/B071KFSQTN/ref=sr_1_4_0o_fs?almBrandId=QW1hem9uIEZyZXNo&crid=55GFVO5IFX8D&dchild=1&fpw=alm&keywords=alexia+riced+cauliflower&qid=1598534359&sprefix=alexia+riced+%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-4

These sandwich rounds are also good:

https://www.amazon.com/Outer-Aisle-Cauliflower-Sandwich-Friendly/dp/B07B4P6MRS/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=55GFVO5IFX8D&dchild=1&keywords=alexia+riced+cauliflower&qid=1598534359&sprefix=alexia+riced+%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVUNTUlYyNUE3QUlHJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODc0MTU2MVNaNzlGNlNSNEMzRyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjUwMTA4UUMzWDVGTldTRFVCJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

They are not cheap. I buy them locally at Wegmans and they are $6.00 for a packet, which comes down to $1.00 per crust, but they are really good.

I order this brand on-line sometimes. They are not cheap either but they do have the lowest carbs and if you sign up for their mailing list they are always sending you coupons and sales. I order them in bulk and freeze them. I cook two at a time and divide them into thirds and eat that for bread during the week.

Bird's Eye has pasta that is made entirely from vegetables that is lower in carbs and is pretty good.

ETA: Sadly healthier food costs more than unhealthy food. Cheetos are cheap.]]> bell_flower The PatioThu, 27 Aug 2020 13:29:32 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437611#msg-437611 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437611#msg-437611
I decided to give a low-carb diet another try in an effort to break my plateau, even though I had a lousy experience with it in the past. I'm not being super strict about it and doing keto - just trying to not eat as many carbs. It's a little hard finding things to eat, but I'm not having as hard of a time as I did before, nor do I feel as shitty as I did last time.

Still, finding low-carb stuff can be a pain in the ass because almost everything has freaking carbs in it! And low carb desserts SUCK - at best, the ones I tried were edible. Thankfully, I have a couple recipes that do work (mousse/fluff and flourless chocolate cake) and Quest bars/cookies are easy on the carbs too.

Weight came off pretty fast when I started low carb, but then it kinda stalled again. At least according to the scale Meanwhile, my jeans I just bought are falling off me, so something's happening.

But it has its perks - I've learned to cook some things I might not have bothered with before. I've made cauliflower crust pizzas, crispy tofu and I made a steak for the first time tonight! They all turned out okay for first tries.]]> Cambion The PatioThu, 27 Aug 2020 05:21:24 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437309#msg-437309 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437309#msg-437309
:balloon]]> bell_flower The PatioMon, 03 Aug 2020 13:33:15 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437282#msg-437282 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,437282#msg-437282
That's what I get for letting myself get so fat in the first place, I guess. I cringe to think how much less I'm gonna have to eat to hit and maintain my goal weight if I'm losing so slowly eating 1200 calories a day.]]> Cambion The PatioSat, 01 Aug 2020 19:39:52 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,434150#msg-434150 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,434150#msg-434150
I am sticking very closely to the "At least 50 percent of your plate is veg" rule. Then I'll add a little fruit (fructose is still a carb) sometimes. I've been making very good use of our Instant Pot for batch-cooking beans, and the produce delivery company makes having a decent supply of veggies pretty easy. I don't completely deny myself those tasty, tasty carbs because for me that's a surefire recipe for disaster. I have the occasional packet of M&Ms or slice of toast.

Exercise has been harder to do in the winter when it's cold, dark, wet, etc. I am not afraid of weather and am practical about just putting on outerwear and going on with life, but this winter I've been a bit of a fair weather hiker. So I am walking in town more and just trying to work in some small stuff like taking stairs instead of elevator/escalator, taking transit instead of driving, etc. I've actually kind of stopped trying to find "good" parking spaces sometimes...I mumble, "walking is good for me" and take whatever space and hop out of the car. We do live within walking distance of a good grocery store, so I'm trying to get back in the habit of taking my daypack and a couple bags and doing food shopping that way.

ETA: I totally hear you about loving carbs. I miss baking. I make a mean pad thai. I love me some deep dish pizza. I'd utterly fail at Atkins (if only because I'm a vegetarian and that diet's very animal product -intensive). I like having the occasional carb for sure! I just try to remind myself how much better my digestive system is doing and that needing an entirely new wardrobe is a good problem to have, in a way.]]> randomcfchick The PatioThu, 16 Jan 2020 04:15:01 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,434059#msg-434059 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,434059#msg-434059
I always try to put mostly veg on my plate and then protein, followed by some carbs. I love carbs unfortunately. I make a killer fried rice, lol. I'm happy with what I have lost over the past six months, and I'd like to continue on that track. My weight has been a continued struggle due to a lot of the medications I was placed on unnecessarily. I'm hoping to get my metabolism back to normal eventually.]]> mumofsixbirds The PatioMon, 06 Jan 2020 19:32:09 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,434056#msg-434056 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,434056#msg-434056
I'd like to continue shrinking if possible...right now it looks like I'll have to control portions a bit, or exercise more. I mostly have been focusing on cutting obvious carbs and eating mostly vegetables and protein. I also think whatever I lose now will happen more gradually, which is fine. As I said before, shrinking was not the goal. It was just improving some lab numbers. But I certainly feel better in terms of energy, sleep quality, joint comfort, etc.

Hopefully I can keep this up.]]> randomcfchick The PatioSun, 05 Jan 2020 23:59:22 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,419761#msg-419761 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,419761#msg-419761
Maybe I have made some progress. I normally take a size 22 in jeans and most 22s fall off me now, and a shirt that fit me like sausage casing in the spring now fits me a bit more normally. All I know is the scale says the same thing and I can't have made much of a dent if my liver is all screwy and I still weigh the same.

Plus, I have no idea how to effectively diet when my mother is such a control freak and does the cooking. I really do not want her riding my ass and dictating every single crumb that goes in my mouth. She stresses me out enough as it is and I don't feel like adding even more stress to my life. If I just eat less, she'll ask why I'm not eating as much and/or throw a fit that she made so much food and will have to throw it out since I won't eat it.]]> Cambion The PatioWed, 04 Oct 2017 03:31:35 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,411921#msg-411921 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,411921#msg-411921
My husband is taking me out to get fitted for a new bra, and buying me some matching panties for my birthday. Everything is too big, and I'm not even sure of my bra size anymore.

All I know is that I'm feeling healthy, attractive and confident. I've never felt better in my LIFE! :D

ETA: I'm never getting big again, so I've decided to take my larger sized clothing and donate it to my local battered women's shelter. My clothes are in beautiful shape and look like brand new stuff. If I can't use it, I might as well give it to women in need.]]> mumofsixbirds The PatioThu, 20 Oct 2016 15:21:01 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,411072#msg-411072 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,411072#msg-411072
I also work out 5 days a week now. I'm trying things I never thought I would try and getting way more fit. I'm starting to have visible definition in my muscles. I won't be concerned about losing more fat once I get to the normal BMI, but I will keep working on my body composition because it just feels really cool and I feel sexy as fuck building my muscles. :P As a huge bonus, my husband has chilled out about my weight loss. I think he sees me enjoying the fitness aspect of it and reaping benefits of feeling well, and also sees that now that I'm down in weight my health is better and I get more horny and want to jump his bones all the time (when I was at my heaviest, sex had turned into a chore because I didn't feel well most of the time, my libido was really low and I had to will myself into it because I didn't want to live in a sexless marriage). I did kind of have to put my foot down on his resistance at one point. We literally had no other relationship issues besides his resistance to and whining about my weight loss. Once I laid it all down he realized he was being a dork about it and now that he sees the positives he doesn't complain anymore. He knows he married a headstrong woman and that I'ma do what I want (within reason, lol). Relationships require work and we are in a great place now.

EDIT: I don't drink much, and this is not something I have to put a lot of effort into. I find that my workouts provide the stress relief I was hitting up the booze for. Now when I do drink, it's not much, and the couple of times I've overdone it a little I found the after-effects to be unpleasant enough that I now have it pretty reigned in. I have alcohol maybe once a month now and don't even drink enough to get much more than a mild buzz most of the time. Pretty good to go from thinking I might be an alcoholic to not even wanting alcohol most of the time.]]> cosmictraveler The PatioSat, 17 Sep 2016 12:15:42 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,408257#msg-408257 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,408257#msg-408257
My husband has lost weight as well, because he was worried, and because the meals I was preparing were much lighter and more veggie filled than normal. I've discovered that I love veggies more than anything, and chilled fresh fruits are perfect for cooling off on a hot day. For the first time in my life, I'm craving broccoli, cauliflower, fresh beans and snap peas, oranges and watermelon. I steam the veggies in the microwave with just a touch of butter and salt, and serve. They are amazingly delicious.

My aunt, who has been there for me through the entire thing, is also teaching me how to can, freeze and prepare foods well in advance so that I can just have them handy and ready for when I need them. She's been bringing me blueberries, canned and fresh, cranberries and canned apples. She's going to show me how she does it, because she also had a health scare awhile back and wants to teach me some healthy eating tricks.

My husband has been thrilled with all of the positive healthy eating changes we've made, even if he was worried that I'd not been eating for a couple of weeks. I promised him that I'm going to get back on the wagon again, and make sure that I have a balanced breakfast, small lunch and healthy dinner from now on.]]> mumofsixbirds The PatioWed, 29 Jun 2016 20:16:38 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,407016#msg-407016 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,407016#msg-407016
I still enjoy food, but smaller portions and cutting out the junk has done wonders for my waistline - and my husband's. He's lost weight too, and is feeling a lot better.

As the weather warms up, I'll be eating a whole lot more fresh fruits, veggies, salads and other things, and meats will be a rare treat. I am a meat and potatoes gal, but prefer not to eat heavy meals in the heat.

Also, the house keeps me much busier and more physically active, and I'm moving around a lot more. It's amazing what some moderate housework / yardwork will do for one's physical strength and health! :D]]> mumofsixbirds The PatioThu, 02 Jun 2016 17:47:53 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,406997#msg-406997 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,406997#msg-406997
I need to lose about 5 more kilos. I've found the only thing that works for me is going extremely low on calories. I can eat three meals a day stuffed with vegetables and I'll only maintain. It takes some time to figure out what works for your body. For me, exercise seems to be about condition and doesn't affect weight, not like reducing my intake does. For a lot of people it is carbs, although for me it isn't. When you feel better, try tweaking your diet in various ways to figure out what you need. It took me years before I hit on the right combination for me, and that was after seeing three dietitians and two doctors, none of whom could figure it out.]]> yurble The PatioThu, 02 Jun 2016 07:29:55 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,406958#msg-406958 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,406958#msg-406958
Still struggling here. Just quit my birth control in a last-ditch attempt to lose the pounds that have steadily piled on in the last few years. Counting calories religiously and exercising 6 days a week doesn't seem to be having any effect whatsoever. My hiatal hernia is causing such severe acid reflux that my stomach burns constantly, causing me to eat more than usual to stop the pain. I also have chronic constipation, which makes me FEEL like a bloated tick and adds ~5 lbs to the scale. Oh, and I turned 30 a year ago which supposedly spells disaster for one's metabolism. I haven't been this big in over a decade. Blah.

On the bright side, I'm having hernia surgery before the year is up, which will shrink my stomach and (hopefully) lead to weight loss. So there's that! :P]]> trance formation usa The PatioWed, 01 Jun 2016 07:55:10 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,404130#msg-404130 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,404130#msg-404130
I may have some stretchmarks around my midsection, hips, and rear due to puberty and poor nutrition in childhood (seriously, my parents fed me instant ramen for several years), but I think that they have faded and will eventually become unimportant once I get good muscle tone and a flat stomach (sooooooo close! I can almost taste it!)

I think that my journey of taking care of my body really plays a part in my childfreedom. I think that a flat stomach is a sign of health and never having children due to the prevalence of the "dad bod" for men and the fact that a woman's stomach muscles literally separate to make room for the fetus and generally don't go back where they started.

I am pretty self-conscious about my collection of fading scars and stretch marks, but I am learning to feel more confident in myself by gaining strength and being able to run, and I could never do that if I were taking care of sproggen.]]> seamstress The PatioMon, 04 Apr 2016 01:12:46 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,400473#msg-400473 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,400473#msg-400473
About my alcohol consumption, I'm pleased to report that thus far, I've been able to mostly abstain. I've enjoyed a few glasses of beer or wine here and there and have managed to quit before I got drunk. One of the times I got close to mildly tipsy (New Year's Eve) and decided I was good at that point and didn't want to drink more because I wanted to wake up feeling refreshed the next day since I had plans with a friend to hang out during the day. I haven't drank since NYE and don't feel the pull to do so any time soon. This little experience is really making me doubt the whole disease model of addiction in any way, although I know total abstinence is the best way to go for some people. But the fact that I've showed myself that I'm capable of moderation in this area is really encouraging to me.

My weight mostly maintained for months (didn't gain over the holidays, yippeeeeeeee!), and has just recently started to go down again. I got back into some patterns of binge eating and wasn't sure why, but reading a couple of good books on the subject helped me understand some common behavioral patterns and how I can actively address them. So now I've been more into learning habits and moderation. I was starting to feel like a crazy person counting every calorie, feeling deprived, and then finding myself having eaten an entire container of calorie-dense junk food du jour and wondering what happened. I do want to keep working on my weight loss and body composition but I decided that I want to address the actual behaviors and mental roadblocks I have which lead to dysfunctional and out of control eating. I'm focusing now on learning how to eat intuitively but sensibly, using logic, reason, and self-love. I think intuitive style eating backfires on people because we confuse intuitive eating with "go hog wild." "Permission to eat" becomes, "permission to eat everything in the Universe in one sitting." It's probably the result of years of negative self-talk and deprivation.

Basically I'm using my body's feedback to determine what and how much I'll eat. I'll allow treats but remember that an abundance of treat-food makes me feel nasty and that eating in a way that gives me a powerful punch of nutrient-dense fuel is much more satisfying anyway. Learning what true hunger is, and that it's not actually an emergency, has been great in helping me reframe my relationship with food and making peace with this whole process. I can go hungry for hours if a situation gets me in a bind with no food (or desirable food that I'd actually want to eat and not just some nasty junk that I don't actually like, like vending machine food) around, and I just try to take my mind off it by reading or listening to podcasts or something until I can get home to the kitchen, or to a restaurant or food store where I can get something actually tasty and nourishing.

I may not get pencil thin doing any of this stuff, but I am hoping that I'll get down to a normal BMI eventually. I do enjoy this way much more than strict dieting and then feeling like a shark-monster who wants to devour every morsel in sight.]]> cosmictraveler The PatioSun, 24 Jan 2016 13:28:05 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,397745#msg-397745 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,397745#msg-397745
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Dorisan
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cosmictraveler
He says I look good where I'm at and he thinks I should stop. It took him until just now to really notice the changes in my body since we see each other every day. Since I'm still technically obese, I'm simply not ready to stop losing weight yet. I thought initially since he's a bit chubby (and not even chubby enough for most Americans to consider him fat) he might feel like if I got to be proportionally slimmer than him that I'd feel like I deserve a more slim mate. He claims he wouldn't be worried about that. I guess he's worried that I'll go too far and get too thin.

If he brings it up, perhaps emphasize on how the weight loss makes you feel, rather than look? That you have more energy or it is easier to climb steps .... and also the positive aspects: lower your risk of diabetes, blood pressure, reduce the chance of vascular issues down the road.

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Lean Habits for Lifelong Weight Loss.

I'm going to check that out. I need to lose weight, but I'm not really going for the look, but the health. I'm at the age where I'm being given pills to correct issues such as getting my blood pressure down. It's like the doctor is thinking "middle age lady, just like all the rest. If she'd just adopt a healthier lifeststyle, but I know she won't..." so she gives me a script for Lisinoprol. I never thought I'd reach that point in life, looking and acting like other middle age women, but here I am. It sucks :(

Yeah, with the husband I can tell he sees that I feel better and am more fit, can do a lot of things more easily, etc. and he knows my health will be better as a result. He gets that part of it and seems happy for me that my confidence and abilities have increased. After thinking it over, I really think there has to be some latent insecurity on his part since he's a bit overweight too, an insecurity he is in complete denial about, but it's not my problem. He maintains that he doesn't have a fat fetish, and I believe him. His high school crush was thinner than me by miles, for example, so I think it's a bit of insecurity, even if he won't cop to it. My health is really important, and so I'm not going to waver. He married a strong woman so I won't be swayed. If he has a genuine fear of me "going too far" and developing an anorectic disorder, that's so unreasonable and illogical. It's like he's watched too many after-school specials on eating disorders.

I didn't just marry him because I was fat at the time. There's that whole being in love and compatible personalities thing after all. He's quite good looking, and his amount of overweight is not severe. He's pretty conscious about not getting bigger so the fact that he's chubby doesn't bother me. For me it would become a problem for me if he fucked up his health with it or if he got so big we couldn't do normal things together anymore, sexual and other fun activities, and I would have a talk with him and offer to help remedy the situation, and I still wouldn't leave him over it. Either way as of now he doesn't show the telltale signs that he's going to pack on the pounds. He's maintained at the same weight for years. My honest thought is that if I don't bug him about his weight, he shouldn't bug me about mine. I hope this won't cause any conflict, but I'm not going to get and stay fat to appease anyone. If it comes down to it, I will lay down the law and remind him that nowhere in my wedding vows did I say I promise to be fat, and if he doesn't like it it's kind of his thing to sort out and figure out why it bothers him. My bodily autonomy is not something I'm willing to sacrifice for anyone else. He's a great guy but this issue kinda drives me bananas, even though we never really "fight" about it. He just kind of whines about it.

Dorisan, I think you can get your health back on track by adopting a healthier lifestyle. Surprise the hell outta your doctor, it'll be fun! :) The no-nonsense but sustainable and step-by-step approach in the book is really helpful to a lot of people. What helps is it's something you can live with, it's not just a temporary and dramatic change which is overwhelming, but something you can break down and do easily, so I highly recommend it. Honestly at this point even though I'm still young, it's more about health for me too. I would prefer not to end up being elderly before my time. I have hopes of being one of those old crones who's oddly spry for her age and that everyone's vaguely afraid of because they're not sure what I'll be up to next. ;)]]> cosmictraveler The PatioWed, 25 Nov 2015 11:59:49 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,396990#msg-396990 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,396990#msg-396990
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cosmictraveler
He says I look good where I'm at and he thinks I should stop. It took him until just now to really notice the changes in my body since we see each other every day. Since I'm still technically obese, I'm simply not ready to stop losing weight yet. I thought initially since he's a bit chubby (and not even chubby enough for most Americans to consider him fat) he might feel like if I got to be proportionally slimmer than him that I'd feel like I deserve a more slim mate. He claims he wouldn't be worried about that. I guess he's worried that I'll go too far and get too thin.

If he brings it up, perhaps emphasize on how the weight loss makes you feel, rather than look? That you have more energy or it is easier to climb steps .... and also the positive aspects: lower your risk of diabetes, blood pressure, reduce the chance of vascular issues down the road.

Quote

Lean Habits for Lifelong Weight Loss.

I'm going to check that out. I need to lose weight, but I'm not really going for the look, but the health. I'm at the age where I'm being given pills to correct issues such as getting my blood pressure down. It's like the doctor is thinking "middle age lady, just like all the rest. If she'd just adopt a healthier lifeststyle, but I know she won't..." so she gives me a script for Lisinoprol. I never thought I'd reach that point in life, looking and acting like other middle age women, but here I am. It sucks :(]]> Dorisan The PatioThu, 12 Nov 2015 12:11:27 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,396989#msg-396989 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,396989#msg-396989
That being said, I wanted to highly recommend an awesome weight-loss book called Lean Habits for Lifelong Weight Loss. The author is a registered dietitian and fitness coach, but she doesn't condescend or boss you around. It's about slowly working over time to change your habits, one at a time, to make it so you eventually just have habits that support weight loss and maintenance. Working the habits is getting me out of the plateau I'd hit all summer. And I'm not counting calories (although I use the label as a guide to help me make a decision about what to eat), and nothing is necessarily "off limits." Basically the entire time I've been fat, I've wondered how skinny people can sometimes eat junk food and still be skinny. This book sort of breaks that down for you and busts a lot of myths and misconceptions. It's a really cool and enlightening read if you're looking not just to drop weight but learn how to also keep it off in a sustainable, livable way where you won't feel like you're starving all the time or being deprived of anything. I've lost a few more pounds since I started working the habits. I'm down to 161 now.

Now I'm dealing with my sweet and well-meaning but misguided husband showing some resistance to the change. He says I look good where I'm at and he thinks I should stop. It took him until just now to really notice the changes in my body since we see each other every day. Since I'm still technically obese, I'm simply not ready to stop losing weight yet. I thought initially since he's a bit chubby (and not even chubby enough for most Americans to consider him fat) he might feel like if I got to be proportionally slimmer than him that I'd feel like I deserve a more slim mate. He claims he wouldn't be worried about that. I guess he's worried that I'll go too far and get too thin. He's going through some shit with his family right now so I don't argue with him, I just tell him that I've got this, and I won't let myself get starvingly thin or develop anorexia or anything. It's somewhat annoying but I suppose it could be worse. I was always grateful that he never pushed me to lose weight or be a certain way in any case.]]> cosmictraveler The PatioThu, 12 Nov 2015 11:35:13 +0000 http://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,394920#msg-394920 Re: Weight Loss Motivationhttp://www.refugees.bratfree.com/read.php?7,341101,394920#msg-394920 cosmictraveler The PatioSat, 03 Oct 2015 20:24:55 +0000