Anybody out there lost some weight?

Question

I want to lose weight the natural way, by eating healthy and exercising. I have been eating really badly and not exercising at all and need to lose 50-75 lbs. I will be trying the YOU: On A Diet ideas, which is just cutting out processed, fatty foods with no nutritional value, moderation, walking and light weight training daily.

I guess I just want some positive encouragement from people who have been successful at losing weight the natural way. How long before I may see results?

Any advice and encouragement is appreciated. Also, any tips for staying motivated?

Thanks for the advice and well wishes everyone!

Answer 1

you may see results right away, or it might take some time - it really depends on your body type. just make 5 or 10-pound goals. if you are 180, make your goal to be 170, and then 160...just so it doesn't seem like an impossible goal.
it took me close to a year to go from 185 to 155, but i didn't need any tricks or plans - just did exaclty what you are doing, making small changes. substitutions are your best friend. make sure you find healthy food that you like, and get creative with cooking. spices and herbs can flavor stuff so that you feel like you are eating tasty stuff without adding fat. lean meats (if you are a meat-eater) are great, esp. fish...and my favorite way to cook is the BBQ because it makes veggies taste soooo good!
If you are going to school or work or on a trip, make sure you take little pastic ziplocks full of things like nuts and dried fruits and healthy things to snack on so that you don't get so hungry that you end up at the vending machine or gas station looking for just anything to eat.
I know if I could do it, you can. Just don't expect it to happen overnight. Also don't expect to ever stop being healthy, it is a lifetime commitment and in the end you will feel better for doing it. :)
Oh! one more thing - you should let yourself cheat every once in a while. Have a tootsie roll if you want to. It is not going to "ruin" your diet.

Answer 2

Loosing weight the natural way is hard, but effective.

I have been eating better (eating much less carbs, cutting out processed food, eliminating soda,and exercising) for the last 4 weeks, so far I have only lost 8 pounds, so it is hard! But the reason I'm sticking with it is because I feel better, I have more energy and fell I could do more. My first workout in the elliptical machine was....laughable, I only lasted 10 minutes! Now I do 30 minutes daily on level 2 and in reversed! I know is a small vicotory but I am happy anyways.

One thing that has helped stay motivated is try new things, I try a new class in the gym (again laughable), hey at least I survived!

I hope you are succesful on loosing the pounds, everywhere I read that loosing weight slowly is the best way to keep it off for longer! So keep it up!

Lots of luck,
Guasabara

Answer 3

I've lost weight by eating right and exercising every day. I lost about 100 pounds, then stopped watching what I ate and gained some back, now am losing again. I'll have to live like this forever, so I'm doing the things that work for me. it shouldn't be long before you notice results. a month or less unless you weigh often. then you'll notice small changes sooner. I lost 45 pounds without really trying, just being more active. then I started working on it. I eat every 3 hours or so and am never hungry. I still eat things I like that taste good, so I don't feel deprived. you can do it, too!

Answer 4

For me, the only thing that has worked successfully was doing Weight Watchers. After my 7th meeting, I have lost 14 pounds total! You have a calculated number of points you can use each day and then some extra points to use for those little cravings throughout the week. I have been drinking lots of water and just eating their Smart Ones brand of microwave meals. I have not lifted one finger yet to exercise! I know I should, and I will eventually and my results will probably be even better. I knew that I had made smaller portions a habit when I went to Johnny Carino's for dinner the other night. I ate only 1 piece of bread, I didn't finish my Casear side salad, and I ate a third of the huge skilletini that I ordered! I was very proud of myself. It's a great plan that has really worked well for me. Good luck to you! Drink lots of water, that's key!

Answer 5

You have to come up with some type of a reward system, this will help keep you motivated. One of the best things to do is make a contingency contract. Stating what you want to do, who will help you do it, and what do you get for doing it. Then also try to find a well balance diet program. My friend did this one diet program where the average weight lose is 7 pounds in 9 days. It might be the thing you are looking for, I know it's well balanced. If you want e-mail me and I can tell you more about either of these.

Answer 6

I lost about 50 pounds by doing smaller portions whenever I could. Not like saying I have to have breakfast at 7, lunch at noon... And I did two miles of walking a day.

What made the pounds really melt was a hectic job and "grazing" on food. I used to do low-fat which didn't work, and when I started eating meat and cheese again, I lost 40 of those pounds in 2 months! It was amazing!

Good luck, and keep up that walking. I like putting on my walkman and just walking around the neighborhood. Having some tunes really helps you walk well.

Answer 7

I started lifting weights and eating healthy recently after having my second baby...in two weeks I lost two inches from my waist and I now have enough energy to keep up with my two year old...I have found awesome recipes from the Sonoma Diet website and from Eating for Life (a cookbook)...my husband and I also recently purchased the Abs Diet cookbook, because I think that the hardest part is changing the way that I eat and all of these recipes believe in using flavor in your food...that is how I keep inspired

Answer 8

stand while you open and read your mail

Answer 9

skip the people movers

Answer 10

Chew thoroughly chewing each bite 30 times before swallowing