Newbie
Hi All,
I found this web site from cruising Google. I hope this site becomes my new found friend! I started editing my life style in July 2008. I have been overweight most of my life and I was tired of always feeling down about myself, and not liking the way I looked. I decided it was time I changed my lifestyle. I have done all the diets out there. WW, Nutri-Systems, Jenny Craig, Aktins, counting fat grams, you name it I tried it. This time around I did something different. First I educated myself by reading as much about daily healthy nutriation as possible. I had never considered the sodium levels of food before. This is key to losing weight. I had always bought all the diet TV dinners I could find. Southbeach diet, lean cruisines, WW, Heathly Choice, Smart Ones. Well let me tell you a secret not alot of people realize. These meals are full of SODIUM!! You should not have more than 2000 mg of sodium a day, when trying to lose weight. Sodium makes you retain fluids and makes it nearly impossible to take the weight off. I discovered how to stay within the 2000 mg. a day and eat healthy foods. Vegatables, fruits, fish, meats. I count calories and watch sodium intake. I only allow 1200 calories a day, but I eat everything. I just count it in my daily 1200 calories. I have had cake, cookies, ice cream (daily, Schwan's Dessert One Cup - Chocolate). I don't mix my carbs at a meal. If I want a piece of garlic bread, then I don't have potatoes, rice, or pasta. If I want potatoes, then no bread, rice or pasta. I allow one carb per meal. When I have a sandwich for lunch I make it open face with reduced fat cheese, (lower calorie), deli turkey, mustard (spicy) and 12 grain bread (90 calories slice). I have taught myself protein control. I started by buying the just right products in the stores. Pre-measured package fruits, veggies, nuts, chips. The 100 calorie snacks are good too. I take some with me whereever I go. That way if I get a urge to eat, or get hungry, I have something legal to eat. I have lost 53 lbs. as of this morning! Now you are probably saying geez, that's not much from July 2008. But let me tell you something, try carrying around 53 lbs. of potatoes and see what it feels like. I am healthier for having lost it slow and feel great! I also decided I needed to get some exerise. I bought a treadmill and get on it 3 times a week, 3 miles, 3mph. But let me tell you something, when I started the treadmill I got only do 3 mins., 1 mph. Could hardly breathe. It took awhile to work up to what I'm doing now. For me, I could never control my weight loss after trying the other above diets I went on. Don't get me wrong, I lost the weight, but always put it back on. Why?? Because unless you choose to stay with the diet forever, it is hard to try and maintain when you stop eating all that prepared food. (Jenny Craig, WW, Nutri-Systems, Aktins). The way I have lost it this time, has been every day regular food. Just smaller amounts, and watching sodium intake!! If I can do it.... anyone can. I am 52 years old. I have a new lease on life!! Still going to take off about another 20 lbs. Then hold it there for life!!
Shirley
haha
