Posted by BeardedLady on August 13, 2002, at 14:03:25
In reply to Re: Weight Loss Support Group: Beardy, posted by Roo on August 13, 2002, at 13:27:48
Roo:
Very few of us have the luxury of going off meds to lose weight. A lot of times that's what caused the weight gain in the first place, but it's also allowing us to feel better. Still, there doesn't have to be a trade. If you like your meds, then you can lose weight with them, but you often have to do something drastic to kick start the weight loss.
What most people don't want to hear is that they must really make a commitment to exercise, especially if they are taking something that slows their metabolism or makes them hungry. Weight lifting (we're talking small hand weights here) is also important, but I haven't started yet.
On Weight Watchers, it took me 18 weeks to lose 8 pounds--kept losing and gaining the same two pounds. So I did something drastic (I mean hard, not dangerous), and I lost 8 more pounds in 5 weeks.
Ready?
I bumped my exercise from 25 minutes every day to 50 minutes every day. AND...
I stopped eating bread.
That's it. No bread. No crackers or pasta, no cereal. I eat potatoes, corn, legumes, beans, rice, and tons of fruits, veggies, and lean protein (mostly boca burgers, fish, shellfish, chicken, some steak). Just no bread. I melt 2% cheese on boca burgers and eat them with a fork. (Generally, I eat two bocas and a 97% fat free hot dog for lunch! And then I have four more ounces of protein for dinner.) I mix tuna with low-fat mayo and eat a whole can plus a hot dog. I eat tons of fruit, salad, cooked veggies with Land o' Lakes Light Butter (1 T). I have carbs for breakfast and protein for lunch, both for dinner.
You have to experiment with what works for you, but I think bread was keeping me fat. In fact, I'm certain. I was eating diet bread--about two hot dog or hamburger rolls and two to four slices of bread every day. In WW points, it's only four points (I'm allowed 18-23 for the day). But it has made a HUGE difference.
The carbs you get from fruits and veggies are PLENTY, and they are natural, unprocessed carbs that don't spike your blood sugar like bread does.
Anyway, that's my tip. I am not an advocate for high protein, high fat diets. I think the Zone plan is really smart, but it's hard. This is just my own no-bread diet.
For everyone having trouble losing weight, no matter what diet she's on, I'd recommend stopping bread for one week. I have great energy and feel really good, and I'm finding that I don't miss bread at all. (And I'm not a lunatic. If I have a slice of bread or some pasta once in a while, it's no big deal.)
Hope that helps.
beardy
poster:BeardedLady
thread:28515
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020813/msgs/28517.html