BP.Net Weightloss CHALLENGE

[recycling goddess]

i've got extra you can have!

no really, i don't mind at all!

so judy, how's it going?

i haven't weighed myself in awhile but... i just bought myself some size 32 jeans... and i can buy clothes in regular stores now. i got some nice stuff today as my old clothes are just hanging off of me LOL

[tigerlily]

Girls, I don't know how you do it!

I still have a major attachment to my foods. I can't seem to cut out the sweets, and I suck at moderation. I do exercise quite a bit, but I really need to cut out the calories so that I can drop those last 20 pounds. Although I am REALLY enjoying my workouts. I get to talk with a bunch of wonderful women, and I know I'm doing something good for myself.

Do you gals have any strategies for not eating the bad stuff?

[AzureN1ght]

I thought I'd make a post that I've finally made a commitment to myself to make a change in my life. I know what I want and I'm going to go after it. I'm going to start something and actually finish it!

Thank you all who have kept the thread alive for so long *HUG* Congrats on the new clothes, Leesha! I know that's been one of the most exciting parts for me on this long road. I weighed in today, to see the damage. I'm right at 162. I was down to 151 this summer, so that's a good 11 pounds gained back! Though it's a far cry from 185, where I first started. I'll make it to my goal yet!

Christie-- I've had that same problem, with the junk food. What happens to me, though...is that I'd usually be "good" for 5 days, then binge on crap for two. It's counter-productive and the reason that I've been treading water for so long. I'm trying to satisfy my sweet tooth with fruit, and I'm giving up the cookies, candy and all refined carbohydrates (chips, white flour-based things, straight sugar, etc.). I wish I could tell you what has worked for me, but the reality is, is I'm still struggling with those demons myself. Maybe after a few weeks, I'll have a good report. I jumped back on the wagon starting yesterday

Love all you girls (and boys)!

[JLC]

Well...it's finally a week from my start day, and I weighed in today. I let go of 3 pounds. Not as much of a sprint-start as I was hoping for, but I'm not gonna complain. I didn't follow the plan perfectly and didn't exercise as much as I'd intended. Having a bad cold hit right after I started didn't help much.

What I did right though...was journal every bite I ate. And because I did that, I was able to stay aware of my calorie intake and keep it at or near my intake goal each day of the week...even if I didn't make the most healthy choices for how to spend those calories.

Christie, I know exactly how you feel. Junk food and "convenience" food are my downfall, my demons, my drug of choice. And especially when going through emotionally difficult times, it's been very challenging to let them go. Sometimes, too challenging, so instead of letting go completely, I made an effort to keep it moderate and to track every calorie. I'd have a couple of cookies and take very tiny nibbles to make them last as long as a bigger handful of cookies might have lasted. And so long as I was careful about the entire day's food choices and monitored exactly what I was eating, I could fit a couple of cookies or some chips in with everything else and not go over my calorie goals.

For tracking purposes, I found a very cool website.

www.my-calorie-counter.com

It's a very nifty program that lets you keep an online journal. It has an extensive database of foods and as you put in the food and amount you ate, it automatically calculates all the food stats for you (calories, fat, carbs, sodium, cholestoral...you name it). If the food you ate isn't on their list and you know the stats for it, you can add it to your own personal list and it will keep track of that, too. And tons of other great features there. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to journal their meals and who spends a fair amount of time either on or near their computer.

And that's my report for the day. All in all, a very successful week. I'm not beating myself up for any missed marks this week. This is a life-long change I'm working on here...and it will take TIME to get good at it. No matter what it is we begin, we're never perfectly accomplished at it in the beginning...it takes time to build the skills....so long as you keep practicing and working at it and never give up!!!

[littleindiangirl]

I too have avoided this post for about as long as I can, but lately, I've really looked at myself, and instead of being satisfied, I was disgusted and ashamed. I've always been at war with my body, usually letting treats and salty foods take over and win.

I was pretty heavy in highschool, I think when I hit 200 I just about freaked. I played soccer my whole life, but my junior year I really stepped up, quit afternoon snacking and really put myself in my sport. I lost 45 lbs in that season. (Jan-may)

I was doing really well after my graduation. I had only gained about 10 pounds in 4 years putting me roughly at 160-165, but since I've met Chris, I have gained all of that weight back, plus more. I'm right back to where I was back in highschool as a sophmore.

I'm pretty bummed with myself. I used to have a high activity job, working frieght. I would literally move a ton of product by hand a day. It was stressful, but I never really lost much weight. I gained more upper body strength. Now, since august 1st, I have a desk job. I sit in my computer chair, listen to music on headphones and just work for 8 hours. I go home, tend to the animals, and go to sleep at 9:30- 10. I don't want to blame chris, but I do. LOL. He used to snack ALL THE TIME, on doritos, chips, everything. The man has the metabolism of a bird I tell ya. I gained 30 lbs in that first year with him!

But now, with how sedentary my life is, I know I need to start exercising. I HATE running, but once I start, I know that I like it. It's a weird love hate relationship.

It's funny, last time I was fed up with my weight was in the middle of winter too. Now I need to buy some goofy long socks, leg warmers, long johns and start running again. I know it will be harder than before, because I dont have any teammates to help push me. Or me help pull them. And I also smoked for about 3 years. I've quit a while ago, but i know my lungs aren't what they used to be.

When I used to run by myself, I would push myself until I almost fainted. It was addicting to hurt that way. The ecstacy of finishing a mile in 3 foot snow drifts will do that to ya.

Okay, enough rambling. I'm going to hop on this thread, and tell you guys and gals how well, (or not) I've been sticking to my running and no snacks. Wish me luck!

Oh, I forgot to add. My eyes are bigger than my stomach! I serve myself huge portions, and feel bad for it, so i always finish. I never know when to say "that's enough food", and put down the fork! It seems like my stomach comes around an hour later and says "*SMACK!* Fool, you ate too much! *groan*"

[AzureN1ght]

For tracking purposes, I found a very cool website.

www.my-calorie-counter.com

Oh, Judy! I'm so glad that you've done so well! 3 pounds is fantastic! Unfortunately, I can't allow myself any sort of "junk food", even in small amounts. A small amount always turns into wolfing down the whole package (those 100 calorie packs? I'd end up eating most of the box, which defeats the point ). But I'm SO glad that you're able to do it! It keeps you from felling deprived.

I wanted to add, about the tracking your food aspect. In regard to websites to track your food intake, I wanted to say that I use www.fitday.com (just to provide options, if anyone's interested). It sounds like Judy's site is very similar. I like how Fitday's set up (it's very easy to navigate). It tracks your food, exercise, weight, etc. I liked the free online version so much, that I bought their $25 program for the PC.

littleindiangirl, if you're determined to make the changes, you will succeed. If your eyes are bigger than your stomach, I might try tracking my calories for awhile. Once I started weighing and measuring my food, I was shocked at how many MORE calories I had been eating than I thought I was (eyeballing is rarely accurate). Be careful about running in the wintertime, too! After having to go out in my car today during a snowstorm, it reminded me why some people shouldn't have drivers' licenses! I prefer doing HIIT for cardio, or taking a class at the gym to running But if running's your thing, then do it! Whatever you enjoy for exercise!

Let's do it, ladies!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Do you gals have any strategies for not eating the bad stuff?

Don't buy the bad stuff to start with, in my house during a diet you will not find any bread, rice, pasta, cookies, candy, ice cream etc. (of course this mean cooperation of the whole family)

Bad stuffs out, good stuffs in. The reward one day a week is to go out treat yourself, eat your favorite food, ice cream whatever you want but do not have it in your house or you will not be able to resist.

And the most important thing write down every single calories intake, every day throughout your diet, know what you are doing wrong and how you can make up for it.

[PigsnPythons]

This is such a great thread. My room-mates and I are all on what we call the "Peer-Pressure Diet." We have to write down all of our calories for the day and post them on facebook. Writing down all those calories really helps me not to eat. I don't want to report that I broke down and ate 200 calories of raw cookie dough...lol Some things that I've been doing to avoid the junk food and snacking: 1) eat crushed ice (it gives me something to eat that is zero calories) 2) eat hard candy (lasts a while and most have less than 20 cal each) 3) I also have found several foods that make good snakes that are very low : tomatoes (down south we just cut these up and eat them raw...:-) grapefruit and tangerines, pickles, fat free jello pudding (60 cal! and chocolate!!!) Well I hope those tips at least help somebody. Good luck everybody, and congrats to those who are sticking to it!!

[recycling goddess]

i agree... if the food isn't in the house you are more likely to NOT go out and get some when you are craving.

personally i replace my cravings with fruit or a raw dessert as there is no 'bad' fats or sugars in them. here's an easy one for you to try!

Velvet Chocolate
1 cup raw cashew or macadamia butter
1/4 cup water
3 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoons raw carob powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon celtic sea salt

Blend well, pour in a flat dish, freeze until solid
Serves 1-12 (depending on how much you like chocolate)

or you could make:

Carob Balls
1 cup of walnuts
1/2 cup pitted dates
2 tablespoons carob powder

Mix in FP until they form a dough consistency. Roll into bite size balls.
Then you can either pop them in as they are or roll them in coconut, caorb
or cacao powder, I rolled mine in hemp nuts, rolling them in chia seeds
would be good too. Really you can roll them in anything..Chill in your
cooler and munch at will..

[jglass38]

Congratulations to everyone that has been part of this challenge and has done so well! I have always struggled with my love of food and control of weight. I just finished a challenge of my own (which you can check on on my MySpace). But the real challenge is getting to where you want to be and keeping it off. Good luck to everyone!

Jamie