It’s that time of year again. How many of you make New Years Resolutions??? Ones that you can actually achieve?? How long do you stay on it or does it just fly out the window after a few days or weeks?? Is this something that we all do? I must admit my resolution is the same every year-lose weight or won the lottery…….LOL!
This brings me to my next question. SERIOUSLY!!!
I want to lose about 30 pounds. In saying that I do realize that there are no magic pills or quick fixes. I do try to watch what I eat. I consider myself somewhat active. I know I should probably exercise more.
But this is my question. Does anyone have any good tips or advice on HOW to do it? To stay on it!! To actually LOSE it!!! Things to help control appetite?? Anything!! HELP!!! I’ll take all the advice I can get!!! Please…..help!!!
Thanks….I’ll be ready to take all the advice I can get.
Us Girls..Our Views 
As far as resolutions go, I used to make them, but I would always forget what they were before the end of the year. This year I kinda mentally told myself I’d waste less time on the internet, but so far I’m not succeeding.
As far as losing weight, I’ll tell you what works for me. I quit eating chocolate and fried foods and I don’t imbibe alcohol. I’m not “trying to cut down”; they are completely off limits, as if I were allergic. Think of all the things you can easily say no to if it’s “completely forbidden.” You go to a restaurant and you automatically avoid all the fat and calories in most of the appetizers (might as well order a tasty salad instead) and most desserts (latte/coffee can be just as satisfying). You’re in the grocery/Wal-Mart checkout line and all the snacks staring you in the face have chocolate, so you pass them by. And since you weren’t really hungry anyway, the urge to snack disappears once you move on to your next activity.
For example, I don’t eat any kind of fried chips any more. Since I need a salty treat once in a while like everyone else, I have done my research and come up with some really healthy snacks that are baked. They still have calories, but I can eat a lot more of them and get actually satisfied before I run the risk of putting on any weight.
Same thing with fat-free milk (organic if you can swing it). I love milk, and as long as I stick to fat free, I can have as much as I want. It has a perfect balance of protein and carbs so it doesn’t make you fat. Plus it has feel-good chemicals and helps you feel satisfied and happy. It also satisifies a lot of your nutritional requirements so you don’t feel the need to eat, say, red meat for dinner.
Developing a habit of eating more whole fruits and vegetables helps me too. I have to admit I don’t stick to this every day, but it’s better than not trying at all. Another thing is to take a multivitamin every day, so you don’t get “cravings” which lead you to snack on bad stuff. Finally, I think drinking more water is supposed to help by preventing you from mistaking thirst for hunger and helping you to feel full sooner. I must admit I haven’t given this last one a serious try.
One non-food thing that helped me is that I bought clothes in the size I wanted to be in and decided to never again buy clothes in a larger size. (This was about 10 years ago and I have stuck to it.) Once my existing wardrobe became threadbare, off it went and I would either be naked or slimmer.
I guess the key behind most of these is to make a serious commitment to yourself. You have to really mean what you tell yourself. It’s easy to cheat, but that disrespects the promise you made to yourself.
Good luck!
This is how I lost about 25 pounds…worked me ass off!!! I cut out all white foods and fried foods. I turned everything that I ate that was white into brown. Brown rice, bread pasta. I cut sugar down by 90% and I ran on my elliptical for 1 hour at least every other day if not every day. It takes 100% dedication. The food was easy, it was getting my butt on the exercise machine that was hard. I also highly recommend a sweat suit. It’s kinda like wearing a garbage bag but it really does make you sweat!! You can find them at Walmart or Target with the exercise stuff.
I do need to get back on the elliptical. I haven’t gained any of my weight back but I could use a good toning up!! I hate diets…they don’t work!! It has to be a lifestyle change. Another thing I did was cut out a picture of this hot girl with a rockin body and put it on my fridge! Some people even put a scale right in front of their fridge.
SKL pointed out the water thing. They say most times when you feel hungry to just drink a glass of water to get you through until your next meal. I’m bad at that, I generally only drink coffee.
GOOD LUCK!!! I know you can do it!!!
As far as my New Years resolution…live MY life and be happy to be ME!
Thanks so far these are all really good tips ! I know the first thing I have to get out of my life is STRESS , than I’m hoping the rest all falls into place.
I forgot to tell SKL that I love that she buys clothes that are too small!!!! I do that too, I still have a few things I’m working on getting into. You have to find things that will motivate you. I love clothes!!! Give yourself a goal and reward, whether it being a spa treatment or mani or pedi. They could be monthly goals. Who doesn’t like to be spoiled…that’s some motivation!! Oh and don’t eat those Lean Pockets or frozen low fat dinners. They are full of sodium and that’s why my cholesterol is high. They’re easier and taste pretty good but they’re not very healthy for you.
Well, my type of diet is pretty unhealthy, but I DO have some good tips:
-Start eating slowly. Really slowly, taking the time to really chew each mouthful. Not only is it healthier to eat slowly, but you’ll get full after less food – the brain understands that the stomach is full only about 20 minutes after it is, so by eating slowly you’re letting your brain catch up to your stomach so you don’t overeat.
-Eat from smaller plates – the portions will look larger that way even if they’re smaller and even though this is psychological, I swear it works.
-Try putting an “Is it REALLY worth it?” sign on wherever you keep snacks so that you always think twice before grabbing for a snack.
-Take walks whenever you can – it’s the best excercise there is for weight loss, and you can slowly build up speed and walk time until you’re walking 40 minutes a day or so.
I’ve been thinking about posting something about weight control, and your post is acting as a catalyst. By the way, I linked to your by way of mssc54.
I lost about 65 pounds just by exercising 30 minutes a day, portion control, and eating healthy foods. The water thing works too.
I have gained about 15 pounds back but that is due to my body craving sugar since I quit drinking and me giving into it! I totally need to due what SKL said and just forbid myself to eat it!
I don’t do New Year’s resolutions. First of all I would have to admit that there was something I hadn’t recognised that needed changing or improving and I was waiting for this “Magical Day” to spur me in to action.
Isn’t it better to develope a lifestyle of change as needed?
And another thing… why are people so hung up on their weight. I know it’s easy for me to say since im 5′ 9″ and weigh 160lbs but c’mon’ what’s the deal.
Stressing about something that we perceive is “wrong” with us creats an unhealthy attitude.
How about a New Year’s resolution to stop stressing and just take action. 🙂
I’ve been sitting here for 30 minutes thinking of how to write about this. I’m not sure what to say. I could smack you Lisa for writing about this!!! Just kidding….kind of!!!! I could only say that to you 🙂
I lost 50 pounds 10 years ago and kept it off until 3 years ago. My reasons were simple. Jason and Nikki moved to CA and Toby and Sue went off to college. I felt I had no control over anything in my life anymore. I would wake up each day with nothing to do and kind of felt my life was over. But my weight, I could control that. I cut out all fat and started running. I didn’t run far but it was enough. When I would plateau, I’d add something new like light weights or dancing. Your body gets used to what you do so you have to keep adding more or changing what you do.
With me it wasn’t really about eating because I don’t really eat that much. I’m just very lazy and need to be more active. Motivation is different for different people but mine has changed. I just want to be able to breath and feel better. My energy is gone and I’d really like to get that back. I love being a grandma but I don’t like feeling like one!
To bad there isn’t a way to all do it together.
Just to clarify, my stressing is not over my weight – it’s actually family stresses. That’s how I gained more weight i eat when I am stressed. My daughter is sick and going in for surgery. So it’s not that I am stressing about my weight, I think that I just feel that I would personally feel better if I lost some weight. Not to be on the cover of a magazine or anything like that — lol !!! But like you said more for a healthy lifestyle change…. Thanks again for all the comments and advice.
I’m not stressed either over what I look like. I just want to feel better.
I wasn’t stressed about weight either – I just got tired of pants that were too long and had to be rolled or sloppily hemmed. The next size down was the perfect length.
But I do agree that stress can make you abuse your body. I don’t know what you’re doing to address it. One thing I used to do a lot of was read spiritual literature in the mornings, including the “holy books” of different religions. Since I became a mom, I don’t do much of that any more, and I know you have 4 kids . . . but sometimes just a few minutes of spacing out and loving myself is enough to turn a bad day around.
One of my news years resolutions is also to lose a bit of weight…and since new years I have decided to vegetarian…and I’ve already lost 3lbs…not sure if that is the answer for you or not, but I have found cutting out meat and cheese and bread, and keeping the diet around veggies, pulses, grains has worked for me – I feel a lot better as well. Not sure I can keep it up forever that’s the only thing…! Good luck! I’m keeping a log on my blog on how I’m doing check it out if you have a mo!
One thing I want to add is that I don’t necessarily agree with the “current wisdom” that you have to exercise more in order to lose weight. I feel we are all made differently, and for some of us, it really is all about what we eat (for others, maybe it’s not about what we eat at all). I’m one of those people who can exercise a ton or not at all and it makes little difference. Besides, I hate boring, repetitive exercise. I like exercise that has a point, like hiking and housework, but on days when I don’t have any particular reason to move, you won’t catch me running on a treamill. Ultimately, we each have to find our own balance. Nobody knows your body better than you.
I think what a person eats has a HUGE impact on their weight. You can eat healthy and loose weight without exercise, but you’ll only get so far and will you have the body you want to have? Loosing pounds will help you breath better, but if you’re not exercising you’re still going to get out of breath when playing with the kids. I have seen plenty of skinny people that were/are in just as bad of health as someone who’s 300 lbs.
I think the key is to find activities that you enjoy that burn calories, get your heart rate up, and make you sweat a little. For me, running is fun, but I don’t run outside in the winter! I also like a good workout video. Those you can do anywhere and they are pretty cheap. Since you live on the frozen tundra you could try snowshoeing! I read in my Prevention mag this month that you can burn 100 calories in 11 minutes of snowshoeing. Pilates can be challenging, but it doesn’t kill you like a 45 min aerobics workout would.
I think mindset has a lot to do with it too. Set a weekly goal so it’s more achieveable and be realistic. You can do whatever you set your mind to.
Thank you all so very much for all the advice. I really appreciate it and I will keep you posted as to how it goes.
I too am wanting to lose a few pounds. I have no place to exercise and won’t walk on the ice and snow…so that walking might have to wait until spring. I need some lower calorie meals to cook though. The only 1 in the house who couldn’t stand to lose a few is the ISband. He can eat all the time whatever he wants and won’t gain. The rest of us look at food and it goes to the hips.
I think a lot of us in this little circle are wanting to eat better and be healthier. That’s a good thing!
A few years ago, I resolved to not make any more New Year’s resolutions. It’s the only one I’ve ever kept. 🙂
Well Lisa, I have lost a considerable amount of weight and have kept it off for years. I too am a stress eater, and am challenged with exercise due to health.
What I find the best food plan for me is a tip is.. no bread, no sugar. Basically lower your carbs – not get rid of them completely. Just stay away from the stuff that people normally bulk up on. Potatoes, rice, pasta. You can have them, but have smaller portions of them compared to larger portions of veggies and meat. Skip dessert. It wont take but about a week of eating this way and you wont want sweets. You lose your sweet tooth.
Getting off the bread will help bloating. If you want a sandwich, make it a wrap. Its not that hard. You’d be surprised how many of your normal things you can eat without depriving yourself, and being healthy and balanced.
If you are going to eat fruit, make sure you eat it with your meal rather than as a snack. This will keep your body from raising your insulin levels in your body and creating hunger. Keep the amounts down. Stay with berries. No juice. Apples are good once in a while for fiber. Banana’s are good for right before bed. They aid sleep and digestion. Also the smell of bananas (seriously no lie) helps prevent hunger – it releases some chemical in the brain – don’t make me look it up please. But only eat one small one at night.
Skip the alcohol…. empty calories. If you must, keep the sugar content low – 1 glass of red wine with a meal… or a spirit and diet soda mix.
Stay away from excess salts that will make you retain water and also make you want more salt and feel like you want more food and liquid.
Thats pretty much it.. simple.
Good luck!