I need some help - Weight Loss Message Board

xenaswolf · 08-28-2007, 10:31 AM

Hi I'm new to the board and I'm hoping I can get some help with losing weight.

I am a 41 year old female, 5"4 and 240. A life time dream has been to join the Army. This is my last year of being in the right age range.

I know the basics...eat less, exercise more. I have had no insurance so have had no medical advice on this so I'm hoping those here can help me.

According to what I've read I need to lose at least 90lbs by April 29, 2008.

I'm willing to listen to any advice.

Thanks in advance,
XW

SixFootOne · 08-28-2007, 08:54 PM

Well, I don't know how much I can help you, but I'll try. I managed to lose 40 pounds in a year or two, so I do know *something* about losing weight, lol.

1. Cut out juice and soda/ drink water. This is probably the #1 thing that helped me lose weight. A bottle of soda has about 250 calories, which is about equivalent in calories to that of a candy bar. Juice is really about the same - don't fool yourself into thinking it's any healthier than soda! Drinking water while eating really makes you feel full fast (and therefore eat less), and I find it more refreshing, so it's my preference - but I guess you could go for diet soda. I have no qualms with diet soda except that like any carbonated beverage, it tends to make you a bit bloated.

2. Exercise. I walk up an incline, because that seems to be the easiest, fastest way to burn calories - walking up an incline of 10 for 1 mile at 3.5 burns about 200 calories, but would probably burn more for you based on your weight. However, an incline of ten is really hard to do when you're out of shape, so maybe walking is probably your best bet.

3. Portion control. Try just cutting your portions in half. It's hard

but not as hard as you think. If you buy a candy bar, just eat half and then throw it away. You actually don't feel that bad, because the first half was more enjoyable anyway.

All in all, just keep a watch on caloric intake. You can find calories for almost anything by just typing in the name of the food and "calories" into a search engine. Stay away from french fries - they're a biggie at 400 calories per medium serving (if I remember correctly). I hope I helped!

chevyman · 08-29-2007, 06:48 PM

hi,
counting calories would be a way to lose but losing 90 lbs in 7 months would be pushing things,m it can be done with a very restrict diet low calories, like 1200 daily and lots of exercise and drinking lots and lots of water.

Try only eating half of what your use to eating see if that helps?
..if it don't then stay away from high calorie foods meats carbs, or only consume very little, a rule of thumb is if I belch then I'm full and stop eating even if I think I'm hungry.

I count calories and I log them all down very precisley, it lets me know that I had enough for the day and then nothing but water after that...well a little Crystal light =0 calories and makes the water tast a lot better.
Counting calories you can have the foods you love just not as much as your use to, so try cutting back on all the foods you eat half way.

DON'T EAT ANYTHING WITH REGULAR SUGAR AT ALL.
SPLENDA/SWEET-LOW EQUAL ECT,,ECT,, IS FINE.
BUT BE CONSERVATIVE WITH THAT.
Watch the fruits
remember sugar raised your metab and glucose levels and you get hungry much to soon and often.
Learn to read food labels and see the nutrition facts.

If you were comsuming say 2800calories on a daily basis, then cut that in half to 1400 calories....you can do that slowly, also you don't have to do that all at once...cut out 100 calories every 3 days until your at the 1400.
you can look up your BMR and see just what you need to maintain your weight and then go down from that.
And exercise at least an hour a day if your able to!
it maybe a good Ideal to lose about 20lbs or so first.
but your right you need to eat less and exercise to lose and if your going to lose 90lbs in 7 months, just be careful, my advise would be for you to check with your family Dr first before you do anything
get a clear from him/her!

xenaswolf · 08-30-2007, 01:54 PM

Thanks for the advice

I'm drinking tons of water and watching everything right now. Adding in some walking and gonna go from there. Will let you know when I see some results

MerelyMe · 09-01-2007, 11:54 AM

The only advice I can offer, is what has worked for me....

It seemed way too simple to work, but first off, drink WATER...lots and lots of water, I consume about 3 gallons plus a day and it took some time to get used to that, but now I have water with me at all times unless I'm sleeping.

All I did, was decide I wanted to lose HALF of my weight, I wanted to weigh half as much as I did, so for a solid week, I wrote down everything I ate, down to the last bite and then I just cut it in half...
Sounds too simple I know, but if you write it down, you'll be surprised at how much you really do eat, I eat anything I want to eat, but only half of it.

The only other thing I did, was begin to eat all day long, before I would never eat in the morning, usually didn't eat until after 2pm and then ate constantly until 11pm, now I eat all day long and drink my water, I am never "starving" like I used to be by 2pm and have lost as of yesterday, when I weighed at a Dr appt, 136.11 pounds in 19 months.