Weight Watchers, and it's ilk, work for Amanda. It has also worked for me in the past. But I'm terrible about sticking to things, really. I get bored and distracted...and fall off the path. That is my main problem when it comes to losing weight: sticking it out for the long haul. I can hang for a month, maybe two...then I stop dropping weight each week. I get discouraged. Or I start thinking I can do it on my own (which, by the way, is complete bullshit and I know it.) and abandon the "program". My very nature tends to rebel against authority...even my own.
The last time I was pregnant, I developed gestational diabetes. It was a miserable experience, even though it was well controlled by a lower carb diet. I managed to end the pregnancy weighing only 10lbs more than when I started. (Which is fine for someone who is under a doctors care and already overweight to begin with.) From this experience I learned that, as much as it sucks, low carb is the way for me. I feel better when my blood sugar is nice and stable, and I definitely lose weight easier.
I will be trying to stick to this plan:
- 30-45 grams of carbs for breakfast
- 15-30 grams for snacks
- 45-60 grams for lunch
- 15-30 grams for afternoon snacks
- 45-60 grams for dinner
I do have a weakness for sweets and breads. They are a definite problem for my forward progress. Add to that my complete intolerance of artificial sweeteners...and I think you can see where my trouble spots will pop up.
Where I'm at Now:
Right now, I am 33 years old and 224 lbs. Definitely no where near where I wish to be. In the last couple of years, I have managed to lose and keep off 30 lbs. I am very proud of that. I need to add more exercise into my life, which sucks. I don't like sweating at all. But it may become a necessary evil at some point. Because of some health shenanigans (that I may or may not get into later) I need to do whatever I can to insure healthy bones as I get older. I am already looking into lower impact thinks like yoga and walking, which should be a decent start for someone lazy like me.
My Goals:
Like Amanda, I'd like to be under 200. That is my goal. Anything beyond that is icing on the cake. I want to wear normal clothes purchased in normal stores for a fair price. I want to be comfortable in my own skin. I want to be healthy and watch these little minions of mine grow up. I want to be a good example for them. I want to annoy my husband until we are both old and gray.
Hopefully posting this will make me accountable to someone other than myself, and I won't give up on it the first time it gets less-than-fun. Good luck to anyone else out there, and good luck to Amanda and me.
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Would you mind if I joined your journey? I weigh a lot more than you but my goal is to lose at least 40 pounds by the end of the year. I am also very lazy and will probably be starting with low impact exercises like walking and possibly yoga (which I've never done before). If it would be okay, could you maybe add me on FB or e-mail me so we could keep in touch? :) I am looking for some sort of support group.
ReplyDeleteHell yes! join us! you can drop me a line at pgsnichole@gmail.com and we can go from there.
DeleteYou are me.....breads and sweets are my downfall, always. Carbs are evil little bastards that hate me, as much as I try to love them. I only gained about 20 lbs when I was preggo, but my kid was also premature so who knows what could have happened if he had been full term. I lost that immediately and more after he was born. I've gained it all back....boo. I am also extremely lazy. My knees are starting to give me some concern that I think could be relieved with some weight loss. I'd like to drop about 4 sizes, however much that is. I want to be a comfortable size 10 or 12, rather than the current 16 (or 14 if I want to be really uncomfortable). I don't own a scale, lol. Well I do, but its under the couch covered in dog hair. Maybe I can give the low carb thing a try with you ? I don't think I can keep up with points, it seems complicated.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a hard thing. Breads, pastas, etc are so tasty. And easy. But I learned the hard way that wheat products and my blood sugar do not mix.
DeleteThe biggest thing for exercising in my mind is finding something FUN. If it's not super enjoyable, there's no way you'll want to keep doing it.
ReplyDeleteI am NOT an athletic person in the least. I think I'm only 15-20 pounds over what would be my ideal weight (although I don't tend to use weight as a measurement - I use how I feel and how my clothes fit), but I have FAR from the perfect body. I never did sports in school - I hate the competition and I'm not graceful - and I too am a bit of a carb junkie, although much less than I used to be.
Needless to say, I pretty much disliked any form of exercising, and although sometimes I'd find something "bearable" or even "kinda fun" like Zumba, I could never stick to anything because it'd get boring and repetitive. It was hard and took a lot of trial and error, but I finally found something I love: rock climbing!!
Of everything I've tried, rock climbing is the first physical activity that engages my brain with a "puzzle" to keep me from focusing on the pain/hurt/tired/heavy breathing/etc. It can be easy, but it can also be super difficult and strenuous, but it's always what you make it. It's also very rewarding; every time you finish a route, whether you've done it or not, it feels like an accomplishment. And an encouragement to keep going.
The only possible downside to climbing is that it's typically done with a partner, but if you can find a workout buddy then that's perfect!
So that's my recommendation: find some physical activity is truly fun for you, one that takes your mind away from the stress and strain your body is going through. Maybe try rock climbing if you have an indoor gym near you :o)
You are right. I need to find something fun, and someone to do it with. I enjoyed yoga, when I tried it a couple of years ago. I may try and take a class in that next semester. I don't think I could do rock climbing...I'd lose my mind if I broke a nail ;)
DeleteHahahaha! I definitely know what you mean!
DeleteHowever, I've obviously needed to keep my nails a bit shorter ("sport length" would probably be a good descriptor), but since I've been climbing and trying to eat more healthy, I've actually had only one(!) break in the last 7 months and it had nothing to do with climbing at all (it's actually a problem nail).
Yoga is kind of fun for me, but I still have a hard time being motivated to actually go do it - plus it's usually a set time and I like to run out the door to the rock gym whenever I get the slightest urge to be active :oP
I can TOTALLY relate, friend! At the beginning of November my weight was 222. in 2011 my weight was 232 and I'm only 5'3" (on a good day...)! I'm down to 212 after a little over a month and it has been easier (for me) with WW.
ReplyDeleteAs for the breads and pasta thing... I love them, but they cause me EXTREME gastrointestinal distress. So it's made it easier to stay away. "MMMM! A cupca-- ouch. Fffffuuuu..."
I'm with you on this one! Let's live to torment our loved ones for as long as possible :) SPITE IS MY MOTIVATOR... kidding... kinda.
GO SPITE GO!!! I want to take a yoga class so badly. I want to be able to kick a robot in the teeth!
DeleteRobots don't HAVE teeth. Silly... but "I work my ass off so I can kick yours!" is still a good motto.
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