I have gained 25 pounds over the last year due to a combination of PCOS, dad's declining health and being in graduate school. I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers but wonder if I need something more due to the PCOS. I can't stand the way I look, shopping isn't fun anymore, and I am starting to worry about my own health. any like minded people out there? would love any suggestions. Thanks.
Stop looking at your scale when you are trying to reduce your size. It is good during maintenance, not good when you are trying to lose fat.
Low sugar and cabs works best for me. I do not use the Atkins or diets like it, they are too extreme but I only cut back on sweets and cards.
Stop drinking huge amounts of diet soda and similar drinks. There is something in artificial sweeteners it seems that interferes with your metabolism. Research has come out showing that large amounts can upset the good bacteria in your system.
Do not diet. Stop it. Dont do it. Just watch what you eat and stop thinking you are some sort of regimen.
Fruits and vegetables are delicious, rediscover them.
Moderate exercise helps.
I have taken off 40 pounds in 2014 by not spending one day dieting or feeling deprived and basically eating what I want. I noticed that I no longer want to go to Outback for a steak, and there is no Ben and Jerries at home -- I do not like it. I have let my body take care of how I should eat.
Good luck to you.
My goal this year is to eat lightly on the late night snacks and try to exercise a bit. Try to force myself to eat fruits (apples, oranges causes my acid reflux to act up). My goal for now is to just halt my expanding tummy. I look pregnant and I'm now down to 5 slacks that I can still wear to work. And I do believe 3 of those slacks hurt my tummy because it's too tight when I'm sitting. I have successfully not bought a box of ice cream in which I would eat a large bowl of it every night. I think I went thru 2 boxes of Dreyers ice cream a week. One down, and many more to go. I wish you well in your endeavors with the weight gain. Hopefully this year will be better for us, than last year. =)
I would avoid going on a diet. They don't work long term, IMO, though I hear good things about Weight Watchers.
I would avoid buying sweets for the house. If you want a sweet treat, eat it out of the house. It helps on temptation.
I would let your belly get really hungry at least once per day. I know some people say to eat lots of small meals, but I find that I need to have my belly feel hunger, but not stuff it full.
I would really try to not eat after 7:00 p.m. at night. When I do that, I can feel my tummy being small the next day.
And don't kick yourself. Your size doesn't reflect who you are. I would go for health benefits and how you feel.
Half of my slacks are in boxes to donate, there is no way I will be able to get into those slacks ever again.... and same issue with some slacks fit nicely standing up, but too tight sitting down. Darn it. Now I am buying elastic waist band slacks, which I find very comfortable but a bit baggy. Oh well.
And what really irks me are those advertisements for quick fix diet pills... some gal saying she now weights 130 and is a size 4. Size 4? Maybe if she is 6 foot tall she would be size 4 :P
I have got to start exercising and losing weight. I just went to the doctor today and was shocked at the scales... I was afraid to weigh myself all this time but I knew I was gaining weight.
Anyone up for the caregiver weight loss challenge???? ... lol
It's not so much of a diet as just making healthier choices and you will find once you cut the food out of your diet, you really don't crave it as much anymore. It's easy to say that when you're on the other end of the fence but trust me, I cut sodas out of my diet a few years ago. I don't want them anymore. I never liked how I felt on them to begin with and now I prefer juice or water. Same with chips, I eat veggie sticks instead which are much healthier and still have that crisp that chips have. Also we dragged the treadmill into the living room where my grandma is. We have her facing away from it so she's not staying at me while I'm walking but I have it in the room with her so that if she needs me I'm right there still but am able to get in my walking. I find the sound of the treadmill will put her to sleep so I find I'm able to get a good 30 minute walk in without worrying about her.
If you need support let us know. Perhaps you should start a new discussion so everyone can chip in and tell each other how we are doing so we can feel encouraged.
I have gained 35lbs over a year and half while caring for my Alzheimer mom. I've always been a healthy eater and it wasn't til she went to a home a few months ago before her passing , I realized what it was.
Because she could be up at night - anywhere from midnight til 4ish - I stayed up with her for the most part -dozing off here and there. But while awake I found my great de-stresser was "comfort" foods. I could down a half gallon ice cream in no time at 2 o'clock am. Sometimes I baked and called it my "baking therapy" - of course there was much to gain 'negatively' eating what I baked.
When I stopped fitting my clothes, I just bought bigger ones. I had no social life and spent all my free time cleaning and learning more on how to best care for mom.
I hope none of this sounds like resentment. I am blessed to have had the chance to care for her before she left this place. My only regret is that I wish I had a plan set prior to care giving so I would not have to look to food for comfort.
So you are probably wondering where this leads to. My dear caregiver, the answer is to NOT BUY the comfort foods. If it is not readily available, you cannot consume it. My thinking is my will power is while shopping.
I agree with previous post regarding those lose weight fast programs. That's only more stress and an invitation for a let down when you don't stay on task.
Stay away from carbs and sugars and drink plenty of water. And if all possible - make it a point to do a little walking and get some fresh air on a regular basis. I was not concerned bout my appearance as with my health.
I pray you find the means to free yourself of some of the stress, taking a bit of time for you. It is well known that the caregiver can become sicker than the patient, so take care of you ASAP.
Blessings for a new year and a new you.
One day a week, I will eat just about what I want. (I no longer really enjoy foods that are terrible for you though. I can't stand to eat pizza anymore.) The other days of the week, I just eat what is good for my body. I actually love fruits and vegetables anyway. When I daydream about a dish, it's usually, a Greek salad or grilled salmon.
My problem has never been huge meals, but night snacking. That's my problem. I've had to cut that out though. If I have a snack, I have to keep it early and limit it to cottage cheese, fruit or nuts.
Like the OP I do not even look like my. I have gone from a small to a large/extra large in just a year. Maybe supporting each other in this forum would help. Thanks everyone! It is always nice not to feel alone... whether it is weight or caregiving.
Remember the book, Growing Up Brady, written by Barry Williams of the Brady Bunch? Early in the book he recalls wishing as a small child that he could be an actor but not having a clue how to accomplish it. He wrote that he was at a neighborhood party with his parents where actor Peter Graves from Mission Impossible (the TV series) was in attendance. At some point during the party, young Barry walked up to Peter Graves and asked him how he became an actor. He wrote that Peter Graves thought for a moment and then looked down at little Barry and said something to the effect of: Well, Barry, I just thought about it.
That's the whole point--if you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to find a way to make THAT more attractive to you than excessive eating. To get there, just start daydreaming about what your life will be like once you've lost the weight--the smaller-sized clothes you'll be able to get into, the events you'll want to go to instead of dreading because of how you look, and so on. KEEP visualizing and daydreaming until losing the weight eventually becomes an OBSESSION. Dream about how you'll feel with the weight off and the things you'll be able to do and enjoy. Make your dreams SO REAL that it's like it's already happened. If you're not to that point, just keep trying until you find your key reason for losing weight--something that will keep you motivated enough to accomplish it.
Once you've turned your weight loss into an OBSESSION, you'll automatically develop the weight-loss strategy that will work for you. You'll notice that people responding to your post have mentioned DOZENS of different ways to lose weight. There is no ONE way that works for everyone. Everybody has to figure out what they can and cannot live with, in terms of reducing the amount of food consumed in a typical day.
Myself, these days I can't live without snacking in the evenings. But I'm able to reduce my calories in the evening by substituting lettuce salads, carrot sticks and stuff like that for the potato chips, ice cream, or candy bars I used to grab. I've also reduced my breakfast size. But typically I eat a pretty big lunch--and anything I want, even fattening desserts now and then. For other people, this might not work at all. When I'm stressed, I find other ways to deal with it instead of eating more than I should. Like go to the Y or take a walk outside or call somebody. Or do more daydreaming.
There's (almost) always a way, if you want something bad enough.
I could literally feel myself gaining weight due to stress-eating. When my dad passed a year ago, i felt slightly less stress. Last April i had major surgery that included a hysterectomy. My mom's health continued to decline throughout the summer; she passed in October.
I am happy to say the day-to-day stresses of caregiving have subsided, and I'm left with 30 extra pounds! I want to be motivated and long to fit into my clothes again. I'm wondering how much is menopause and how much is just being lazy. Haha. My husband and I are trying to eat 'cleaner' for health reasons. Good health and strength to all in 2015.
I think we get running to much and have to make something fast to eat, and those choices usually aren't the best for our bodies long term. Or in my case I will not have time to eat all day, then over indulge at night since I'm starved, and go to bed too soon after eating since I'm exhausted.
I used to work out quite a bit at home, have bike, elliptical, weight bench in a little room with a small flat screen. I've gotten away from it, and am going to make my own time to do it again starting very soon. The elliptical sure does tone the body and burn calories, had great success using it in the past and doesn't tear up my joints like other equipment. I got a cheap version at a sports box store several years back to make sure I'd use it. I wore the thing out so then stepped up to a pretty nice one. You might want to go try a few that are set up in stores and see what you think. The 1st one I got was at a Dick's Sporting goods store, wasn't much, ($300 range), was pretty decent little machine for the $. I set a time in the a.m. and guarded that time, made those close to me aware of it, then didn't answer phone then. I made sure I did it at least 4 days per week. Had to start slow at 1st, but then built up to longer times and higher resistance settings. I stretch out slowly before to avoid injury. Actually got to look forward to that time, and enjoy it.
I also "used to" make out a menu for the week, build a grocery list off that, then not buy anything extra at the store. Found it just took a little more planning, rather than just grab whatever and go. But with a plan you can cook fresh veggies and meat in larger amounts, boiled eggs and such, then have them handy in the fridge on days you're short on time rather than microwaving something "processed". For me when I am doing that and then it something processed or sweet it tastes AWFUL. ;-)
Mom has been living with us for a year and a half. Keeping weight on her and liquids in her are at the top of the list of things we are trying to do. Sooo... we buy and eat a lot of cream pies and of course to be encouraging to her I eat pie with her. That however does not explain the 5 lb bag of Chocolate Peanut Butter cups I keep next to my bed. No... these are just for me, they have been my replacement medicine instead of tranquilizers or using a whole lot of alcohol to cope with my feelings toward her, and the changes that have taken place in my life over the last year and a half.
Well, "any port in a storm" as they say.
We all need to be kind to ourselves. We are all coping the best we know how.