Does anyone have that magic weight-loss wand they can wave over me?

[Bullwinkle925]

I need to seriously lose 30 - 35 lbs and can't seem to become motivated at all to do anything about it.
Every damned day I think I'm going to start anew and it never happens. Seems like I'm hungry ALL the time.
Never seem satisfied.
Anyone else feel this way too?

If so, what are you doing or have done about it - short of surgery.

[auntAgonist]

1. Take a serious look at what

you're eating. Perhaps you're filling up on empty calories. Calories that don't satisfy but help you to keep the weight on. Your body could also be in starvation mode or self preservation mode whatever they call it today :)

If you're constantly hungry try something nutritional that tastes good, like an energy bar, high in protein low in fats.

You're not a candidate for surgery given that you need to lose 30 - 35lbs.

It IS hard, it's very hard to lose weight and it IS all about altering how you eat ALL the time forever.

I wish you all the best I have no magic pill :)

:hi:

aA

[Bullwinkle925]

4. I know I'm eating far too many empty calories.

And I have become very 'sloth-like'. Not a good combination. I have to force myself to get any exercise at all. I spend too much time on this blasted computer instead of getting out and doing things. I'm semi-retired with an ill husband. I find that I am physchologically keeping myself 'imprisoned' in a downward spiral way-of-thinking. Becoming motivated and staying motivated is a huge endeavor for me.

It's such a vicious cycle and very difficult to break.

Thanks for your support and good wishes.

:hug:

[LSK]

2. calorie count

Start here:

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

Then write down the calories of EVERYTHING you eat and try and stay within your daily limits.

[Bullwinkle925]

3. Thanks for the help - and support.

Interesting site. I've taped my 'daily calories' to my refrigerator.

:hi:

[Lost-in-FL]

7. Another site...

http://www.calorieking.com/foods/ Calories for all foods and a guide on many popular fast food chains. You'll be surprise how many calories in a seemingly healthy wrap or sandwich. This will help you pick the best places or foods to eat when you go out.

http://www.3fatchicks.com/Fitness/3FC_Gets_a_PUSH/Balancing_diet_and_nutrition_with_a_new_exercise_routine./
Site with lots of tips.

The only magazines you'll ever need for nutrition and exercise at any age. The rest are just only fuel for a fire.

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/

http://www.menshealth.com/cda/homepage.do

[ginnyinWI]

5. what's working for me:

I eat three meals and two snacks a day, so I eat something every three hours or so: 9 am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm. And I find that the healthier options keep me full the longest. Like today's afternoon snack: One medium Gala apple(my favorite), plus two rice cakes with a tsp. of peanut butter on each.

The meals have to be smaller than normal, but the snacks make up for it, because it's always almost time to eat again. :)

[Lost-in-FL]

6. It might sound crazy but...

If you are willing to spend money on your journey I'll suggest a personal trainer. I have lost 25 pounds already in a little over 2 months. I see my trainer twice a week for a half hour of PAIN which is paying off and then I do cardio and weights 3-4 days a week. If the trainer is serious about his job he/she would give you advice on dieting (mine gave me a great plan and make sure I carry a daily calorie journal to the sessions). I am hoping to lose at least 15 more before spring break (I am soooo taking my time cause if you stress over weight loss you will get stuck). I had tried lots of programs and this is paying off.

Most importantly, I was not motivated before I started but I needed to do something about my weight. This was supposed to be my final attempt before considering the "LapBand". I don't think I need it. I am very happy with my decision. I think is money well spent.

[IronLionZion]

8. It's psychological

you have to find some kind of motivation that works for you.

Nothing makes me want to do cardio as much as reading about people in the hospital or dying from high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, etc.

If you read the front page of DU you'll see Senator Johnson's health problems.

or maybe you want to look good to attract that special someone. Find something that works for you and go for it.

[Onlooker]

9. South Beach

As someone who has tried various diets for years, I've finally found one and have lost 25 or the 35 pounds I want to lose. The South Beach Diet is amazing. I think the key to its success is that you lose a lot of weight in the first two weeks, so it's very encouraging. Also, it's pretty each to get off and back on it after a couple months. The main theory behind it is that if you stay away from carbs, you won't get hungry. Guess what. It's really true. The first two weeks of the diet are really important and kind of strict, but after three or four days, your food craving are greatly diminished.

A key for me has been to avoid gross diet foods that do nothing but remind you of how bad dieting is. I use no diet food, other than skinless chicken, skim milk, and Splenda in my coffee. But, I do like fish a lot, which is always helpful to dieting. One of things I do is buy shirataki noodles at a Japanese food market. You have to wash these thoroughly before boiling them for 1.5 minutes, but what you end up with has no taste, almost no calories (40 cal/portion), is all natural, and are great with a rich pasta sauce and cheese. (Since the noodles I'm eating are so low calorie, I don't worry about the calories of the sauce.)

The other thing I do is what is the perfect exercise routine for me. I go to the gym two to three times per week and ride the bike at a hard level while reading a book. I don't lift weights or do any other exercises (except occasionally the rowing machine for 10 minutes) for they always bore me too much.

This is the first time in years that I've been successful dieting, and I might add that I know four other people who went on the diet before me, and it's been a success for all of them. You just have to get started, but don't worry too much about it this week. It's impossible to diet between Christmas and New Years.

[Lisa0825]

12. One major correction re South Beach - it does not say stay away from carbs.

It's about eating the RIGHT carbs... whole grains, brown rice, etc... staying away from over-processed foods and choosing whole foods instead.

[rox63]

10. I wish there were such a thing

I would have sought it out years ago. :)

I've been doing NutriSystem since July, and I've lost 56 lbs so far. I've recently considered doing the plan on my, without buying their food. (It's possible to do it that way, and would cut down considerably on my expenses.) But I've got about 60 lbs more to lose, so I don't know if I'm ready for that yet.

The keys to their plan are like any Low Glycemic Index diet. There are books available that explain how the whole low-GI thing works. Basically, I eat 5 times a day, 3 meals and 2 snacks. It's high-protein (soy is my friend :D), high fiber (lots of fruits & veggies) low-fat, and stresses "good carbs" (whole grains & slowly-digested carbs instead of refined starches & sugars) rather than no-carbs. Having carbs in my diet helps me feel more full and satisfied with my meals. Eating 5 times a day keeps me from getting hungry. Portion control is really key on this plan, along with eating the right types of food.

I know I ate too much yesterday. I didn't binge or freak out on sweets. But my Christmas meal was much bigger than the meals I've gotten used to eating over the last few months. I didn't feel good last night, and I'm still a bit queasy this morning. My digestive system just isn't used to processing that much food at a time any more. But today, I am back on plan. Another key thing that's helped me is to not beat myself up when I have gone off-plan. I just get right back on, knowing that this is the only thing that will keep me heading in the right direction. None of us is perfect, and no one can follow a food plan perfectly. What we do need to learn is to move past our imperfections and keep moving forward.

I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season, whichever holidays you celebrate. :)

[mahina]

11. I can reccomend dietorganizer.com

My nutritionist gave me a target range for caloried, fat grams, etc daily but this program makes it easy to know where you are every day. I like hard data so it's good for me.
The good thing is you can try it out for ten days for free and see if you like it before you buy it.
The bad thing is when your computer crashes, or you lose your blackberry (both happened to me) you have to buyit again if you didn't backup. So I've bought it three times.
Works for me!