Weight loss challenge before the new year.

[Minnie]

Hi Everyone

 

I have decided to do it. I am 5'1 and all of 240 pounds and I know I need to lose weight and get it together. Please help. I just do not know where to start. All I can think about is all the shoulds and all the methods but just need to do something. It seems so overwhelming. My doctor cleared my and I am good to go. I just am tired before I even start.

 

Walk first...no - eat a salad--drink water---run--lift weights--journal--cry---or just give up. Seems like such a long road. I used to be a swilmmer and active running partner to my husband and we took karate together and then something after baby number 2 snapped...and the time and the pounds conspired ....and then baby number 3.

 

I never met a crunchy salty chip or chocolate that I did not totally enjoy....and I know I can have a wonderful long life w new habits and renewed spirit and exercise. Many great reasons to do it.

 

I want to start today and not tomorrow or the new year...any ideas? I just need to focus and take one day at a time. Just seems like such a long road and companies are out to make money on my challenge and weakness. I do not trust these weight loss companies.

 

Where do I start and what do I do? 240 to 140 seems like a long road. Anyone actually make it happen!??

[LucreziaBorgia]

I had a friend tell me once that the first day of exercise and dieting is not the hardest. Its the second day. And the one after that. And so on. I'm a champ at diets, I go through them like tissues. Yep, I'm a serial dieter. And exercise? I'll be perfectly honest. I fu**ing hate to exercise. I resent the fact that I'm in my thirties and my metabolism has slowed down. I hate it that to keep a decent shape and in decent health I have to exercise. Gyms don't cut it for me - routine is boring, and I highly dislike people in general and am never comfortable with going out to places like that. I get tired of Denise Austin, and tired of Billy Blanks and tired of the hundreds of dollars I've sunk into other workout tapes and equipment. The same old boring workouts. I cannot force myself to do the same thing in every single workout. It is monotonous and boring. I get depressed because I'm too big (IMO anyway), and too unmotivated to do anthing about it or know where to even start.

 

My solution that works for me? Got an Xbox? I'm not kidding here -

 

I kid you not: I found a personal traniner 'game' for Xbox. Here is why I like it.

 

* Mix it up and stay challenged: Dynamic fitness routines change each time you workout, based on your progress.

* Enjoy more than 500 unique exercises: Featuring yoga, pilates, cardio fitness, strength training, flexibility exercises, and targeted weight loss routines.

* Experience six unique workout environments: Including Empress’s Dojo, Alpine Retreat, Island Paradise, Urban Oasis, Desert Springs Resort, and Meditation Garden.

* Make it a part of your everyday health: Take advantage of the customized meal-planning feature with more than 4,500 recipes.

* Incorporate existing equipment into your workout experience: Including a heart-rate monitor for target zone performance training, a step bench for high-intensity lower-body workouts, a stability ball to strengthen core muscles, hand weights for upper body toning, a yoga mat for flexibility sessions, 75 contemporary music tracks across multiple genres, and more than 100 helpful health and fitness training tips!

 

Sounds hokey, but I'll never get the same workout twice, I get to chart my progress, I can incorporate existing workout equipment into my routine, and I can control the music, the pace and the type of workouts I want. If I don't feel like controling it myself, the game will calculate my workouts for me based on my progress and my target heart rate. I am making myself do this. It is easier to get up my willpower when I am on my toes and mixing it up every day.

 

Plus, I'm a geek and being close to my Xbox will make me happy. Heh.

 

Seriously though, it starts with will and determination. Find something that works for you and stick with it. You can start easy with stretching exercises every day for a week, then work up to stretching/walking. Once you start walking, work your way up to 10K steps at least three times a week. Once you get into that groove, add a day until your walks become daily routine. Keep a journal of your progress - I keep a calendar on my bathroom wall. The key to staying on track is seeing physical evidence of your progress. Don't crash diet. Don't cut stuff out of your diet - just rework how you portion out your food. If you are used to having a biscuit along with a double scoop of mac-n-cheese then keep the biscuit - drop the portion of mac-n-cheese to half and sub in some sort of vegetable. Don't eat less, just eat more of what's good for you and less of what's not. Two fist sizes for good: one fist size for bad. That's my easy 'rule of thumb'. Drop your 'white food' intake down some and replace it with 'brown food' intake. Oatmeal, less cereal. Whole wheat bread, less white. Brown rice, less white. And so on. Drink lots of water. Lots of it, all day long. Ask your family to help you. Their support is crucial.

 

If you 'fall off' a day, then take a deep breath and accept that you have tomorrow and commit yourself to it.

 

Good luck!

 

I added this too. It helps to visualize - I found this site through a body image page I was reading through. What you do is click 'create' to create a virtual 3D body of yourself, and then you can change the weights to see how it will look at 240. At 220, 200, 180 - for some reason, seeing it helps. Not sure why.

 

My Virtual Model.

[HokeyReligions]

Start by increasing your water intake. Walk more. Park at the back of the lot, take the stairs.

 

If you watch the Sit and Be Fit lady -- try some exercises with her (I have limited mobility and her workouts are great for me)

 

Don't try to rush the diet -- you didn't gain the weight in one week so you can't lose it in one week. If you have a particularly strong craving -- have a small amount. Focus on portion control as much as content.

 

Add to your diet at first -- don't just take away. Add a salad (try lemon juice instead of salad dressing) before you eat to help you with your portion control.

 

People who have never been seriously over-weight simply cannot grasp the difficulty of losing weight. It's not easy. It's not simple. But it can be done.

[tiki]

Is there a Curves near you? I have been going since July, on my lunch break 3 times a week. I've lost 13 inches or so. I love it. It's nor boring, but fun actually.

 

http://www.curvesinternational.com - I believe.

 

Stay focused once you get focused. Set your goals realistically and small. Then you conquer them one at a time!

 

G'luck, I know you can do it.

[corythosaurus]

A great plan that encompasses diet and exercise, both cardio and weight lifting, is Body for Life by Bill Philips (book).

 

Gives you common sense approach to dieting, with charts and plans to help track your progress and basically change your life.

[Leikela]

Weight Watchers is healthy guide to actually lose the weight! If you follow their easy plan, you WILL lose the weight. http://www.weightwatchers.com

 

Curves is a great place to exercise. I've been going for a year now and am a new person. I love it!

[Minnie]

Wow

 

I think I have a great start and some great new friends here. I have just seen the pbs frontline special on diets as well tonight and that gave much to think about.....that actually we all are intaking more calories and doing less and less. If I am able to target 6,ooo steps or more a day and eat less, move more.....well. the program pointed out the very essence of refined sugars and junk foods and white bread in our diet actually increases the blood sugar which decreases rapidly to instigate hunger which causes us to eat more.

 

I will track down curves and the weight watchers around here. IN the mean time the water bottle is full and the calandar in the bathroom.

 

One day at a time.....gang! My oppostitional self needs to get mad at commercialism in our society.....mad at metabolism decreasing and mad at making poor choices.

 

Thanks and keep checking up on me !

[Leikela]

I'm so glad that you're so motivated and are taking steps in the right direction. Good for you! Drinking lots of water is great and walking as much as possible is even better. Let us know how you are doing.

[startingover1028]

I lost 50 pounds last year and I did it by starting with a low-carb diet and exercising everyday... The low-carb diet is a great way to start. The weight comes off really fast and all the protein stops the hunger. I did it for 3 months and lost most of the weight during that time. If you are a sugar addict, like I was... the hardest part is the first 3 days of going "cold-turkey" off the sugar!

 

I now eat whatever I want but I still exercise at least 5 days a week for at least an hour. If I slack off, the weight starts to creep back on. As tough as the exercise is, I have learned to like it. I will never go back to my size 16's. I try to vary what I do. Some days I walk/run. Some days I climb the stars at the local stadium. I swim and bike and hike. I have a gym membership but usually only go when I just can't get outside. I live near the mountains, so I also spend a lot of time hiking there. The key really is staying active.

 

I know it will be an up and down, day to day, (sometimes minute to minute) journey, but you can do this! I wish you the best of luck. I'm certanly willing to offer any help that I can and listen if you need an ear!