| Motivated31
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I've tried every diet on the planet (not really but it sure feels like it).
I read both the SBD and Atkins books a few months ago and decided to try Atkins. Poor choice...I gained 20 pounds.
So....here I am and am very much in NEED and WANT of shedding a whole person from my body.
Since most of you seem to be losing weight on this plan, please give me the top 2 or 3 pieces of advice that have helped you to get as far as you have.
(A little more about me...I'm 31, work evenings and have very little time to cook elaborate meals. I own a treadmill and my husband and I just recently bought a home gym.) We also have an 11-month-old baby.
Thanks in advance for any wisdom you can provide as I start this long yet lifesaving journey!
:?: |
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Sat Apr 17, 2004 7:07 pm |
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| Moira
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First of all, welcome, Motivated31. This board is great support. Come back often.
I, too, have tried bunches of diets, started at 264# and am also 5'2". I've lost 19# in 5 weeks and can 'feel' it. The first week was very hard for me, especially in the middle of that week. But hang in there...it does get much better and it is SO worth the crumminess of that first week or so.
I kept it really simple (still do) as far as cooking and eating. I ate alot of salads-probably the thing that took the most prep time for me. I kept low fat, lean lunchmeat on hand all the time as well as cheese. Cheese and turkey or lean ham roll-ups were a mainstay for me when I didn't have time to fix a salad or grill or bake a chicken breast or small steak. I always had tuna and boiled eggs on hand, again for a quick fix.
Drink plenty of water...I drink anywhere from 64-96 oz. a day, depending on how close I'll be to a bathroom. :? Veggies are your friend. Find the ones you like the most (or can handle the easiest). Mine are celery and cucumbers-they're great cut up and dipped in low fat ranch dressing for a friendly snack. I stir-fry alot of green peppers, red peppers, onion and mushrooms to go with my grilled meat. Sugar-free jello is also your new best friend.
Take a good look at the list of permittable foods and stock up on the ones you know you'll eat...at least in the beginninng. I didn't follow the book to a tee those first two weeks as far as how often to eat. I ate when I was hungry. I always ate breakfast, lunch and dinner. But if I was hungry awhile after I had a snack, I had another one..many times it was cheese or a piece of lunchmeat because they really did the job as far as sustaining me.
By the end of the first week, what the book said would happen, actually did. My cravings and pangs of hunger were very few and far in between-pretty much non-existent. I could pass up the goodies at work and not be bothered and feel I was 'sacrificing'-the goodies just didn't appeal to me. This is first time in all my 'lose weight' endeavors when I don't think of food constantly...I'm not planning in my head what I can eat this hour, next hour, next meal, the meal after that, etc., etc. I didn't count or calculate calories or portions or anything like that. I did read labels A LOT. I ate what the book says you can eat and ate till I was satisfied, not full.
SBD works really well for me. I think it will for you, too. Hang in there. And come back to the boards often. There are great ideas and experiences here that will help you immensely. Good Luck! :D
Moira |
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Sat Apr 17, 2004 8:20 pm |
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| losin it
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Reiterating the previous post -- definitely keep lots of water on hand. In my case, my body told me....I was SOOO thirsty the first few days!
My other piece of advice is to do as much food prep as you can when you have time (weekend, I guess) so it's easy to just grab a quick meal when you come home late from work. Great advice I picked up from another poster....pre-wash, pre-dry, and pre-tear a head of lettuce. If done properly, it will last all week without turning brown. The tricks are to TEAR (not cut) the lettuce, and to take the time to make sure it's really dry before you store it. I recommend a ziplock bag for storing it. This is much better than the salad-in-a-bag you can get in the store. Pre-cut veggies generally last decently long too. Last Sunday night I made three pieces of grilled chicken too, and threw them in the fridge. So I basically had my own little salad bar in there. Makes it much easier to throw something together quickly.
Like you, I work a lot of hours. In my pre-SBD days, my typical dinner after working late would be pasta or take-out -- anything quick and easy. I've been on SBD for about a week and a half now, and the novelty is still there to keep me interested. (Plus, I have seen some results!) :D But I am afraid of backsliding once the novelty wears off.
I was happy last night to figure out another decent dinner that took < 5 minutes to prepare. Breadless tuna melt and roasted tomatoes. Prepare tuna w/ mayo etc, cover with cheese and microwave for ~30 seconds until cheese melts. Meanwhile, cut some tomatoes in half and stick them in the toaster-oven on "broil". Tomatoes are done when they start to bubble.
Another quick meal (works for lunch too because my office has a microwave). Canned beans, topped w/ cheddar and monterey jack cheese, microwaved. Kind of fills the void in my life left by mac and cheese!
Final piece of advice....keep reading these forums! This is a supportive place with some creative people. Best of luck! |
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Sat Apr 17, 2004 11:49 pm |
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| Firedancer
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| Welcome. I recommend all of what the two pp said. I also recommend that you take a calcium supplement and green tea. Green tea will boost your metabolism. I have a 13 mth old, so I know how hard it is to get rid of that baby weight. This diet has been wonderful for me. Definately pre-cook as much as you can so that it is easy to grab and go. Work out at least 30-45 mins a day, about 4-5 days a week. That has been great for me. I go to Curves, and it has helped with my weight loss. Good luck, and welcome. |
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Sun Apr 18, 2004 1:19 am |
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| dh22
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| what do you do when you don't like somehting? i don't care for the mozerella stick and i can't eat the ricotta thing.( gross ). i need something to help curb the sweet crave but that's not gonna do it. are there any other snack stuff that would help? |
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Sun Apr 18, 2004 5:21 pm |
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| Moira
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dh22,
Sugar free jello or sugar free popsicles come to mind firsthand for the sweet-fix snacks. For other snacks, are there any other cheeses you like, colby, cheddar, cojack, swiss, provolone? Cut blocks of those cheeses up into snack size bites. What about Laughing Cow cheese on celery sticks or peanut butter on celery? There's peanuts and cashews....and a lean lunchmeat roll-up if you're really on the hungry side. Cut-up veggies dipped in ranch dressing are great. I'm sure there a bunches more, but maybe some of these will help.
Moira |
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Sun Apr 18, 2004 8:31 pm |
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| Mags7461
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The biggest piece of advice that I can offer is to remember that variety is truly the spice of life. Try to avoid falling into the rut of eating the same things day in and day out. You'll do fine for a few weeks or a month eating salad for lunch and grilled chicken and grean beans for dinner, but if you're in this for the long haul, you need to try new foods and new ways of cooking old foods if you're going to be successful. Food boredom is a HUGE killer of any diet/eating plan. While I know you're a very busy person, remember that your health is number one in your life. Take the time you deserve to do this right and you won't fail. Good luck to you.
Mags |
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Sun Apr 18, 2004 9:12 pm |
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| mcmousee
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Welcome to your intention and commitment for good health. I am almost finished with phase 1. For me the key to this eating program is accepting and committing to doing the shopping and preparing for wll the foods I need. As long as they are available, it is the easiest thing in the world to choose them. So for me, the effort is in the planning, shopping and preparing. It takes about 10 days to get the hand of that for me.
I make eggs in the morning and have them with veggies left over from last night's dinner.
I have wonderful salads for lunch with leftover meat from last night's dinner.
Dinner I make new each night, grilled meat, chicken breasts or fish, grilled or stir fried veggie mix. Its pretty easy and fast. Marinade cx breasts or fish in low carb italian dressing.
The lunch salads I make are huge and last me and my husband for two days of lunches and snacks. I make them with hb eggs, bell lpeppers, cilantro, parsley, onion, jicama, nuts, shaved parmesan, tomatoes, cukes, basil, mint, water chestnuts, artichokes or grilled veggies. Make it special, like restaurants.
For dinner I make enough to be sure we'll have leftovers for the breakfast veggies and salad meats.
Also I like for snacks to roll some turkey breast or roast beef around some green beans with spicy low carb dressing. YUM
And suddenly, for the first time in 50 years, I like jello! |
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Mon Apr 19, 2004 5:07 pm |
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