I'm a newbie.. =]

[Strive_to_Drive]

Hello everyone! Okay, well a little about myself.. my name is Stefanie, and I'm really looking to drop some pounds (ok alot), my dilema here is none of my family or friends think I can do it, so I've never really had the support to stick with it, my family doesn't exactly rank health & fitness high on the priority list. Which is most likely why I am the weight I am now but it's time for me to take control and make a change.

I've never tried anything like this before, but I think the added support of the online community would help tremendously, if you guys have any tips I'm all ears.. I have a good 40-50 lbs to lose, I'm 18 years old.. 5'6" and 190lbs.. blech.

 

[Life_after_30]

Hiya Strive2Drive ....

Welcome to the forum !

As for tips - there's LOADS within the forum already. Just read the stickys and cruise around to get savvy with it. Everyone here is good value and you're bound to have a laugh here and there.

There are no quick fixes and/or weight loss concoctions to be found, and apparently the WLF storeroom is fresh out of magic wands - BUT there is plenty of encouragement when needed.

Have fun ....
Post often ....
and don't be shy !

 

[Ben Coomber]

Hi strive to drive,

yeah have a good lokk at the info, all i will say is have a good look around and draw sensible conclusions on peoples advice, make a plana nd most of all stick to it.

Also i would suggest not counting calories as it does not seem to work in the long run and ends up being a bit of an unhealthy habit.

I feel you will do well if you think about fresh wholesome food, meat, vegetables, fruit, pulses, beans, nuts, seeds and dairy etc and try stay away from as many grain based foods as possbile.

Good luck

 

[MGR1]

Also i would suggest not counting calories as it does not seem to work in the long run and ends up being a bit of an unhealthy habit.

ORLY? Has worked for tons of people I know and it certainly seems to be advocated here a lot. I think you can get too caught up in it, sure, but I still would advocate it as a useful tool.

I feel you will do well if you think about fresh wholesome food, meat, vegetables, fruit, pulses, beans, nuts, seeds and dairy etc and try stay away from as many grain based foods as possbile.

I would disagree here too. Lowfat dairy is fine in moderation-barring any intolerances, of course. Meat is only good when it is lowfat, and too much red meat is still bad even when it is lean (too much saturated fat, same as full-fat dairy). WTF are pulses? Beans/nuts/seeds have to be used in moderation due to being high-fat (although good fats, so please have some) and calorie-dense.

And nothing is wrong with grain by itself. That's right, have some grain. But make sure the following applies: you want 100% whole grain. No enriched wheat flour. Nothing bleached or over-proccessed. Second, don't abuse it. You can overeat on anything, even healthy stuff. Finally, don't eat it by itself.

And if you don't believe me, please look around at all the happy campers reporting weight loss and improved health by both counting calories AND involving grains in their diet. Hell, half the journals on here list steel-cut oats as breakfast no less than 1/2 the time.

And Ben, please stop blanket advocating to people to cut entire categories of whole food from their diet. This is not a rational thing to recommend to everyone.

 

[Ben Coomber]

hi MGR, oh definately dont eat grain by itself, i think the key point im trying to make with the grain is people tend to eat it by itself far too much, and as you say is not desirable.

i dont know what ORLY means?

im sorry if it sounded like a a blanket assessment, although in the past with clients most meals have a lot of focus on grains and they creep into the diet in larger and larger proportions far to easily.

if reference to the saturated fat etc, the research is very mixed and in my opinion far too confusing. i have just written a paper for my nutrition professor at university regarding the influences of sat fat and cholesterol on the diet from at least 70 references i think, and the majority of the research that seems to be unflawed indicates a balance that is required but most diets contain too much poly-unsaturated fat (pro-inflammatory) in comparison. I can forward you my essay if you would like? it took me a long time and there is a lot of research in there.

i dont mean to sound like im blanket advocating, in past with research ive found that people struggling are the ones with the problems with grain based foods.