Weight Loss Progress Thread!

[LauraLeigh]

I'm down 1.5lbs this week- I don't want to weigh myself until next week so I won't become scale obsessive.

Yesterday I ate a LOT. It was Ian's b-day and I cooked a huge delicious meal, but it had NO carbs and wasn't too bad (lamb, lobster, mushrooms, carrots). I just over indulged lol. Oh, and I had some ice cream cake... but I couldn't avoid CAKE on a birthday!

Tonight I had a small bowl of pasta and a salad with a low fat dressing. Dressing is normally my downfall but I bought a good healthy one yesterday at the store and it's delicious. I ran and walked a few miles tonight. I'm trying to do that every other day at the very least.

I'll have to take a before pic... I'm not overweight at all (I'm similar to Fran's size) but I want to be more toned and healthy. And, I want to lose 15lbs.

I love all of the motivational pictures- they really do help.

Awesome!!!

But there are carbs in carrots, and a small amount in mushrooms as well.. Just so you are aware... I had no clue until I started reading up on them... Onions too (not that you had any..)

It's frustrating but unless you ate really restricting carbs big time, it won't matter I don't think

 

[sillysally]

WW works for lots of people! I really hope it works well for you, it seems like such a supportive program. I was on it for quite a while and lost nothing, not a single pound. Made me so sad, the friend I joined with lost about 20 pounds.

To me this is sustainable, If I want Mcdonalds I can easily fit it in with out the bun, or have a cheat day, which is no biggie as long as its like once every couple of weeks.

The thing with cutting out pastas and such is that I don't want them anymore. Its easy to say no to foods when you don't want them Not saying you should do it (def do WW first!) but I was one of those people who for years said, "I could NEVER cut out bread!!" actually its not hard when you don't want it anymore. I can have it (there are low carb breads and recipes) I had rolls over the holidays.. just not every day like I did before.

It must be very frustrating to do everything you are "supposed" to do diet wise and not lose. My issues, at least at this time are fairly straight forward. I love high fat food, fried food, sweet food, food that is both sweet and full of fat, etc. I tend to do all the things the experts warn you about with food--eat fast, eat mindlessly, eat when bored, sad, stressed, etc. This last week we have been cooking at home rather than getting carry out and I was horrified to discover that finishing a meal and not being uncomfortably stuffed was a feeling I had almost forgotten.

I will say that this week I feel MUCH better though, and I have more energy. I have switched all grains to whole, which is a huge change. I will say that I stay fuller for longer if I have fruit and cheese as a snack rather than crackers.

 

[Laurelin]

I wish there was just a weight loss group that wasn't WW oriented. I think I'd love the community aspect and meeting new people here especially since I know no one around here.

I tried WW too for a long time and lost nothing. But I wonder if I went about it wrong for my body/PCOS. Maybe combining the program with a low GI diet would be the trick. Mia, how are you doing WW with lowering your carbs?

 

[AllieMackie]

I gained a chunk this week. From 202 to 205. Sigh.

I did cheat some this week, so it's my own fault. Back to the grind!

 

[nikkiluvsu15]

I haven't even weighed, so I'm not sure if I've lost any or not. lol

I do know that I've only had water (and like 2 coffees) - no soda or sweet tea!! I've done okay with eating... packed somewhat healthy lunches, so I'm getting somewhere with that. lol

These are the only two pictures I could find... they are from last year, but I haven't changed so we'll just use them. lol

 

[~Jessie~]

Oh man, I'm not a fan of this picture at all. This was from last December. I've been the same weight for the past year.

Tucker and Me by Chihuahuaesque, on Flickr

Like I said, I'm not overweight... but this is the most I've ever weighed in my life! I want to be skinny-healthy... I want to be nice and toned and go down 1 pant size.

 

[~Jessie~]

Awesome!!!

But there are carbs in carrots, and a small amount in mushrooms as well.. Just so you are aware... I had no clue until I started reading up on them... Onions too (not that you had any..)

It's frustrating but unless you ate really restricting carbs big time, it won't matter I don't think

I had no idea!

I'm not restricting carbs big time, but I'm trying to cut down on them. I love pasta, bread, crackers, potatoes... those are my weaknesses! There are days where I'll have an english muffin for breakfast, pasta for lunch, and then meat and potatoes for dinner :yikes:

Now I do yogurt every morning for breakfast, something either low or no carb for lunch, and I try to minimize them for dinner as well. I'm trying to be more aware of the amount I eat.

 

[Renee750il]

WW works for lots of people! I really hope it works well for you, it seems like such a supportive program. I was on it for quite a while and lost nothing, not a single pound.

This, except I GAINED. And yes, if anything I was cutting back a little farther than the guidelines.

 

[AllieMackie]

Like I said, I'm not overweight... but this is the most I've ever weighed in my life! I want to be skinny-healthy... I want to be nice and toned and go down 1 pant size.

Good for you! You're adorable in that photo. And I totally agree, being fit is awesome. Even now, I'm still big, but more fit than I was six months ago and the difference is huuuuge.

A pet peeve of mine is when "normal" weight people mention that they'd like to lose a bit of weight/get more fit, and are told by others that they don't need to lose weight, they're so skinny already don't change a thing, etc etc!

If I had worked on getting back to my ideal weight when I was, say, 160lbs, I wouldn't be at 200lbs today. As long as you're aiming for a healthy weight range and not super-skinny, what's the problem with catching yourself early on and solving the problem BEFORE you actually become fat?

Rant over. :rofl1:

 

[Dekka]

I had no idea!

I'm not restricting carbs big time, but I'm trying to cut down on them. I love pasta, bread, crackers, potatoes... those are my weaknesses! There are days where I'll have an english muffin for breakfast, pasta for lunch, and then meat and potatoes for dinner :yikes:

Now I do yogurt every morning for breakfast, something either low or no carb for lunch, and I try to minimize them for dinner as well. I'm trying to be more aware of the amount I eat.

A few notes on carbs...

Food has one of three primary components: Fat, protein, and carbohydrates. If its not one its one of the others.

Fibre is typically considered a carb. But its non digested do doesnt' count. If you live in North America and look up a food and it says 10 g of carbs but 7g of fibre you subract the fibre to end up with 3g of carbs.

Now that is not to say dont' eat carrots!! Carrots are good. Just you can't eat a bag of baby carrots (higher in sugars than big ones) and think you are going low carb.

Jessie.. I would think if you just cut the 'empty' carbs you would be just fine and wouldn't worry about any veggie or most fruits. The main issue with empty carbs like bread and pasta (even if its whole wheat) is that its quickly converted to sugar and acts as if you just ate something sugary.

I look at carbs like money. I have only so much I am willing to spend in a day (cheat days are like special occasion splurge) I want to get the most nutrition for my 'money'. Carrots are a pretty good deal, bread is a rip off.

 

[AllieMackie]

A few notes on carbs...

Food has one of three primary components: Fat, protein, and carbohydrates. If its not one its one of the others.

Fibre is typically considered a carb. But its non digested do doesnt' count. If you live in North America and look up a food and it says 10 g of carbs but 7g of fibre you subract the fibre to end up with 3g of carbs.

Now that is not to say dont' eat carrots!! Carrots are good. Just you can't eat a bag of baby carrots (higher in sugars than big ones) and think you are going low carb.

Jessie.. I would think if you just cut the 'empty' carbs you would be just fine and wouldn't worry about any veggie or most fruits. The main issue with empty carbs like bread and pasta (even if its whole wheat) is that its quickly converted to sugar and acts as if you just ate something sugary.

I look at carbs like money. I have only so much I am willing to spend in a day (cheat days are like special occasion splurge) I want to get the most nutrition for my 'money'. Carrots are a pretty good deal, bread is a rip off.

Dekka, I meant to ask you yesterday but forgot, do you know if any good resources about starchy/empty carbs vs. soluble fibre/soluble carbohydrates? I was having some discussions with a co-worker about it, who doesn't want to cut carbs entirely but is hoping to remove most of the "crap" carbs from her diet. I mentioned that it's best to stick with more soluble fibre solutions like whole oats, quinoa etc. as well as fruit/veggie carbs, but was wondering if you knew any good info about that.

 

[Paige]

For those of you who are eating less carbs and healthier carbs can you tell me what you eat in a day? i really suck at meal ideas.

 

[Dekka]

Dekka, I meant to ask you yesterday but forgot, do you know if any good resources about starchy/empty carbs vs. soluble fibre/soluble carbohydrates? I was having some discussions with a co-worker about it, who doesn't want to cut carbs entirely but is hoping to remove most of the "crap" carbs from her diet. I mentioned that it's best to stick with more soluble fibre solutions like whole oats, quinoa etc. as well as fruit/veggie carbs, but was wondering if you knew any good info about that.

The best thing to do is look up the nutrition information and go from there. Things packed with good stuff (vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients etc) and have a lower net carb count are better.

Pretty much any veggie is good (minus potatoes) and if she just wants to cut back without seriously lowering carbs fruits are fine. For fruits choose berries most often. Grains are a hard one. For how much the 'cost' they don't do much for you. But if you ate small portions and not every day you would also likely be fine. There was that study that showed that women who ate low carb a few times a week lost as much as those who ate a calorie deficit daily. So even a few minor changes might make a difference.

 

[~Jessie~]

Good for you! You're adorable in that photo. And I totally agree, being fit is awesome. Even now, I'm still big, but more fit than I was six months ago and the difference is huuuuge.

A pet peeve of mine is when "normal" weight people mention that they'd like to lose a bit of weight/get more fit, and are told by others that they don't need to lose weight, they're so skinny already don't change a thing, etc etc!

If I had worked on getting back to my ideal weight when I was, say, 160lbs, I wouldn't be at 200lbs today. As long as you're aiming for a healthy weight range and not super-skinny, what's the problem with catching yourself early on and solving the problem BEFORE you actually become fat?

Rant over. :rofl1:

Thanks! The most redeeming part of the photo is that Tucker has this funny look on his face, like "PUT ME DOWN RIGHT NOW AND LET'S CONTINUE HIKING, K?"

That's a pet peeve of mine as well. I've had people say that before to me as well, like "oh, you don't NEED to lose weight- you're a size 2."

Yeah, I'm a size 2... but I have flab in places I don't want it. I want to be able to run a 5K and feel GOOD afterwards. I want to fit into the pants I wore 3 years ago BEFORE I gained extra weight. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to be in shape no matter WHAT size you are. I know people who weigh plenty more than me who are more fit and active.

I feel SO much better since starting a healthier, more active life. I already have more energy.

A few notes on carbs...

Food has one of three primary components: Fat, protein, and carbohydrates. If its not one its one of the others.

Fibre is typically considered a carb. But its non digested do doesnt' count. If you live in North America and look up a food and it says 10 g of carbs but 7g of fibre you subract the fibre to end up with 3g of carbs.

Now that is not to say dont' eat carrots!! Carrots are good. Just you can't eat a bag of baby carrots (higher in sugars than big ones) and think you are going low carb.

Jessie.. I would think if you just cut the 'empty' carbs you would be just fine and wouldn't worry about any veggie or most fruits. The main issue with empty carbs like bread and pasta (even if its whole wheat) is that its quickly converted to sugar and acts as if you just ate something sugary.

I look at carbs like money. I have only so much I am willing to spend in a day (cheat days are like special occasion splurge) I want to get the most nutrition for my 'money'. Carrots are a pretty good deal, bread is a rip off.

That's really helpful. I actually feel a good bit better since I've started replacing my empty carbs with other things. I feel more full after having a yogurt vs. an english muffin. I used to eat a carb-y breakfast at 7am, and I'd be hungry by 10am again. It's already 11:30am here now, and I'm not even hungry for lunch yet. The greek yogurts I eat have between 120-160 calories- the english muffins and bagels were much higher than that.

 

[Dekka]

For those of you who are eating less carbs and healthier carbs can you tell me what you eat in a day? i really suck at meal ideas.

I have a LOT to lose so I am seriously eating low carb. So my meals might not interest you. But I did post some in the recipe thread. Once the weight is gone I plan to put back fruit and yogurt!

 

[AllieMackie]

The best thing to do is look up the nutrition information and go from there. Things packed with good stuff (vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients etc) and have a lower net carb count are better.

Pretty much any veggie is good (minus potatoes) and if she just wants to cut back without seriously lowering carbs fruits are fine. For fruits choose berries most often. Grains are a hard one. For how much the 'cost' they don't do much for you. But if you ate small portions and not every day you would also likely be fine. There was that study that showed that women who ate low carb a few times a week lost as much as those who ate a calorie deficit daily. So even a few minor changes might make a difference.

In terms of grains, I suggested quinoa simply because it seems to have a lot of other nutrients going for it along with its relatively high carb count. As it is she eats a lot of rice and pasta, so I told her cutting out that alone should make a HUGE difference (along with junk food, pop etc).

 

[Dekka]

sound good then.. I don't know much about quinoa

 

[~Jessie~]

Plain Chobani Greek yogurt only has 7g carbs... vs. 22g in the varities with fruit. It's delicious when you add a small bit of honey, blueberries, or raspberries. Yum! Such a great low carb breakfast!

 

[Paige]

I have a LOT to lose so I am seriously eating low carb. So my meals might not interest you. But I did post some in the recipe thread. Once the weight is gone I plan to put back fruit and yogurt!

I'm going to go check it out for some inspiration. I can always tweak it. I just do not understand what is low carb at all.

 

[Beanie]

I looked into switching from rice to quinoa - I eat a lot of stirfry so plenty of rice... quinoa is pretty much nutritionally superior in every way. Fewer carbs, fewer calories, more protein! But holy cow, quinoa is expensive. =/ I ended up not buying any. I'm going to see if Trader Joe's might have it a bit cheaper so I can try some, but I just dunno if I can afford to make that switch. Urgh.