Embarrasing, Advice, Tips, and Encourgement!

[RileyMay]

I'm worried to death. Me and my father were sitting on the bed, in a room. He told me something that scares me. He told me that his left side of his heart is trying to give out, and it's trying to give out because he has fat building up around it. The doctor has recently told me that I need to loose a lot of weight myself. I need to get down to 250 pounds to be back into the safe zone, same thing with my father. I just need some advice, tips, and encourgment to loose this weight. My dad gave me a ton of encourgement by telling me he'll take me all the way through beginners, and competetive agility classes! We're both encourging each other as well. I need some tips and advice on how to loose a lot of weight as well, so tell me how you did it. I understand that how each and every one of your ways don't work on everybody, but I will give it a try!! By the way, this is a big step for me. I HATE talking about my embarrasing weight issues!!

[Ikons dad]

I lost 45 pounds with Nutra-system, first 2 weeks were tough but after that it was easy. Good luck and stay positive.

[chelle]

Originally Posted by RileyMay

I need some tips and advice on how to loose a lot of weight as well, so tell me how you did it. I understand that how each and every one of your ways don't work on everybody, but I will give it a try!! By the way, this is a big step for me. I HATE talking about my embarrasing weight issues!!

Well, good for you, this is the first step!!!!!!!!!

I've never had to lose large amounts of weight, but in a way, I don't think that matters.

It is about changing your lifestyle and changing your views on food. If you're the type of person who turns to food for comfort, you have to find the trigger and deal with that.

Everyone does it differently. Trying Weight Watchers is a good start! I didn't do that myself.. I just woke up one day and said NO! I'm tired of this! I calorie counted. That was my thing. Right off the bat I saw that my soda pop was contributing enormous calories, so I cut it back.. day by day.. and cut all soda out eventually. I've been soda-free for over three years and I don't miss it one single bit. Yuck, in fact.

I started looking at other ways to cut fat and calories. FAST FOOD has to go. Maybe not all at once, but cut it back. I found that as I cut it back, I wanted it less. As I looked at how many calories and fat it was, it wasn't worth it! At my age, maintenance calories are around 1800. I dole those out quite carefully. I went over and over the fast food menus to see what options were the best if I had a fast food craving. Things like Wendy's chicken nuggets were lowest calorie -- best bang for the buck. (210 calories) Learn those menus and calorie counts if that's a weakness of yours. You can download cool apps for an Android phone to help you keep track of calories and all those foods are pre-loaded with calorie/fat counts!

Next things to go... potato chips (unless baked, and still, calories accounted for.) Then bye-bye candy bars and ice-cream. (Don't totally deny a sweet tooth or you'll eventually overindulge. Weight Watchers has YUMMY treats around 200'ish calories in the frozen section. A McDonalds cone (yogurt, but yummy!!!! is only about 200 calories.)

Keep working on changes. Not too many, not too fast. Don't let yourself feel deprived. Once a week, go out and enjoy a meal somewhere if need be.!

Work on substitutions. Fat free options of things like cheese, sour cream, so many things. (But check labels to ensure the less fat is worth the added sugar. Many manufacturers add sugar to make up for the less fat. It may not be worth it.)

That's just a small list. I can give you 150 more, small things, that can really help.

But, bottom line, count your calories and aim for about 500 less than your daily maintenance needs. If you screw up, then you do... don't kick yourself and get back on the bandwagon the next day. If you can cut 500 calories per day, you'll drop one pound per week. A very healthy goal. If you incorporate exercise, you can burn more (and eat a little more!

You can do it.. but again! It is a LIFE change -- don't think of it as a diet. A diet fades and fails. A lifestyle change stays with you.!

Go for it, girl!!!!!!!! You can do it!!!!!!!!!!

[Emoore]

The easiest, cheapest, and most workable diet advice I've ever heard is the "No S Diet." No snacking between meals, no seconds after meals, and no sweets, except on Saturdays, Sundays, sick days, and special days. Eat meals that you like and make sure to include some fruits and veggies. Limit your servings to the inside of your plate (not the raised rim part). And when the food on your plate is gone, you're done eating until your next meal. On the weekends, try to stick with only one serving of sweet or one snack per day. Not a bunch of sweets or snacking all day. It sounds easy and kind of silly but it is easy and I swear it works.

[KSdogowner]

Originally Posted by RileyMay

We're both encourging each other as well. I need some tips and advice on how to loose a lot of weight as well, so tell me how you did it. I understand that how each and every one of your ways don't work on everybody, but I will give it a try!! By the way, this is a big step for me. I HATE talking about my embarrasing weight issues!!

I am not into counting calories even though that is a great way for others to lose weight. I started out by cutting out sweets and eating 1/2 portions of what I ate throughout the day. A huge plus was increasing the activity and making simple changes such as parking in the back of the parking lot so I would have to walk farther, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, etc. Strap a step counter on to count your steps. I had lots of fun with that . As I lost the weight, I increased my activity to jogging, longer hikes, etc. I can also recommend juicing. You can pack a lot of vitamins, minerals antioxidants into one glass of veggie, fruit smoothie or juice. Here is a link to a great program Reboot Express Program

Those are just a few suggestions. I went from size 10 to size 4 within less than a year. Wishing you success in your endeavor to lose weight. It CAN be done and with determination I know you will do it.

[dawnandjr]

your off to a great start already...and having someone (your father) doing it with you is great...if you can...drink only water...buy fresh lemons to squeeze into it...I also watch Dr. Oz for healthy tips....I take notes...it is a life style change...like already stated...go through your kitchen cupboard...get rid of the foods you know are not good for you...put those indulgent snacks up high or down low....making them less tempting...but dont starve yourself or cut out too much...that just sets you up for failure...set small achievable goals to build your confidence. Good luck and Happy New Year!!! its going to be a great one for you!!

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by dawnandjr

.if you can...drink only water...

I believe RileyMay is a young lady so she should make sure she's getting enough calcium, either with milk or yogurt, fortified orange juice, etc.

[lifeisgood]

Hi RileyMay. I'm a certified personal trainer and would love to help you out. I don't believe in crazy diets or deprivation. I do believe you have to change your eating habits for good, understand that this is not a sprint it's a lifelong journey and making changes as you go will lead to success better than changing everything at once. If you would like a coach...just let me know. We can do it through e mail or phone calls...whatever works for you. I'm offering this because you had the courage to reach out...that takes courage and I just want to help people get healthy.

[amaris]

Cut out Starbucks (i keep telling my dieting friends that) :P Lots of espresso drinks go from 200-500 calories for a grande, if you have a breakfast sandwich from macs or starbucks with that coffee, that's about 700-1000 calories just for breakfast.

I realize most of my friends (we're all early 20s) hate counting calories, so i convinced them to have whatever they want, just in smaller portions...have chocolate, just half of what you normally have....have pasta, rice, pizza...just half the portion. Eat more greens and protein foods, less carbs.

Exercise lots, find something you love doing...a sport? Rollerblading? Any physical activity you like makes it easier and more fun to exercise than say a treadmill. I personally love to dance, so that's what i do, stretching exercises followed by 30-45 mins of dance. Always remember to switch things up, don't follow the same routine so your muscles get used to them, if you're doing anything gym-related, try upping the resistance level. Jogging on a treadmill, slowly increase the speed or the incline...or BOTH :P Lifting weights? Lift heavier amts each time, more reps etc. Don't run through the same routine all the time.

OH...there's a chinese saying, my dad swears by it and he, in is 50s, has gone back to slightly bigger than college age waist size :P Saying goes: Eat well at breakfast (as in good foods), eat till you're full at lunch, eat less at night.

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by Emoore

I believe RileyMay is a young lady so she should make sure she's getting enough calcium, either with milk or yogurt, fortified orange juice, etc.

That's a myth. We already put waaay too much Calcium into our body as it is. A little less would be much better.

The Juicing program is awesome but not cheap since Veggies and Fruits are ridiculously expensive. Other than that I'd cut back with carbs.

Get the books "Eat this not That". Get the whole series. It'll open your eyes about a lot of things, especially about what you can safely buy, eat in restaurants and where you should stay away from.

Some meals, in restaurants, that look healthy, have over 2000 calories... so learning what to eat, not to eat, what is healthy, what isn't healthy, the myths about Calcium, Carbs, Sugar, Protein, etc... that helps.

Also, if you Juice. Sweet Potatoes, Carrots and Cucumber Mix ROCKS!!!