20lbs or less club

I eat two snacks during the day (or at least try to): one around 10am and the other around 3pm... it helps get me through to dinner w/o scarfing everything in sight. Usually they are between 100 and 200 calories a piece.

What also makes a difference are the types of foods you snack on. things high in fiber fill you up and stop the cravings. an apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter to dip in is one of my fav snacks! and sooo quick!
 
Kat, you are one positive lady! After a couple months at maintainance I'd forgotten how tough it feels at first to eat less than you're used too...talk about moment by moment....I know when I realize my goal of getting rid of that last little bit I'll be glad I went the extra (hungry) mile...but right now I'm trying to ignore the pesky little voice going "awww, you're fine like you are...let's go pop some corn"
 
Feels like I am eating more!

The diet my trainer has me using actually makes me feel like I am eating so much more! I eat 5 meals per day, usually starting at 8am and one every 3 hours. I have certain caloric and protein/carb/fat % that I have to meet every day and they are different per my activity for the day (weights/cardio/rest). It is rough, lol! I can already feel and see the change already though. I actually have a hard time getting enough food to meet my goals without feeling like I am stuffing myself (you can eat so much more volume when you are eating good things!). When in doubt, have a cup of steamed broccoli or something, it actually is a lot of volume, but only ~30 calories.
 
I am so happy to see a thread like this. As many people have mentioned, I feel "funny" posting on here with my current weight and wanting to lose 18 pounds, where many other posters on here have more to lose. I felt almost vain or whatnot.
But I know I need to lose this weight *takes hold of love handles* even if just to feel better about myself and feel fitter.

Right now my goals are to keep drinking lots of water and cutting back on processed foods (I can't remember the last time I had chips or pop).

I digress, I'm going to read through this thread to see any tips people have given when our goals may not be 2 lbs a week. I see a lot of like minded people so far that are trying to increase exercise and routines. That's currently my goal- get to the gym at least 3-4 times a week and also start mixing things up- pilates on non-gym nights and yoga on weekend mornings.
 
Water is such a help to this whole lifestyle - and I can totally feel it in my body when I haven't had my 64 oz a day.

I'm so proud of myself - got to the gym last night and this afternoon... I want to make it to the gym 4-5 times a week, so I'm off to a good start!

I agree with you daisy - I feel pretty good about myself and others think I look fine - but I know that I have love handles and lots of fat around my buns and thighs... and only work will take it off!
 
hey-i'm just barely able to be on this group. i am at 170, and i am 5"3". i had my second baby 6 weeks ago. i am very anxious to get this weight off! my goal is 40 lbs, where i was before my kids. still not thin, but hey. it's good enough. i don't know if i was designed to be that thin, i'm not sure it's possible. i think 130 is okay for my height. i just started trying hard to lose the weight last week, cutting cals down to 1200 and doing a half hour of ddr daily. today i did my grocery shopping,and i think i did pretty good! i got ingredients for low cal recipes i got off the internet, and didn't get any junk, except a small box of chocolates(only 3 inside) i need to control portions, so....i then got sonme yogurt covered pretzels which i think are just as good as the choc flav ones. i got fruit to snack on, and granola bars. i am proud of myself! i am usually a junk food addict, so this is major progress!
 
You are the Kat's PJ's

Thank you, Kat! I'm feeling much better about things today, thanks to your msg. I've been trying to eat more during the day, which is a little scary, but it's 3:45 and I'm not hungry, which is great. Uh oh, baby crying, just wanted to post a quick THANK YOU! Oh, and I'm down to 121!! (start wt 123 - woohooooo!):)
 
Count me in

I've been reading the posts for the past 2 days and I really like this thread. I think losing the last 10-20 is the hardest to do because statistically, we're all at pretty healthy weights and we all want those muscular physiques and lean bodies. Reading how everyone's making these tiny changes really encourages me to make small goals to get to where I want to be.:D

I'm still trying to cut my sweet tooth habit. If I see cakes or chocolate my brain says no, but my body tells me to take it and work it off later. I have to train my body to realize that all my workouts will not show progress, it'll just equalize everything and in order for me to lose those last 20 pounds, I have to realize that the pice of chocolate cake in the kitchen is not the last piece in the world. Good luck to me...:)
 
arghhhhhhhhhhh

whyyy cant i stay under 1500?! i do so well until after dinner (when i shouldnt even be hungry) and then i just scoff. adding a couple of hundred cals. does anybody have any tips on how i can help to avoid this?
 
sophie, that sounds like me every day this week except yesterday - the first day I actually met the 1500...and then I was whining at bedtime "I'm hungry!" I'm always fine until the night time snack comes a knocking and then it's 200 calories added on top of my daily 1500.:mad:

So today, while grocery shopping, I came up with a new plan. I'm going to add a cup of raw broccoli/cauliflower to lunch, snack, dinner..to add more volume but cutting down on the cals, then I'll take the 200 cals I've hopefully saved through the day and use 'em toward a healthy night-time snack like berries & c. cheese.

Fingers crossed that it works as well in practice as it does in my head.:)
 
Hi everyone :) welcome to the newcomers. I haven't been on here in a while, Abby learned to crawl so she keeps me very busy. I've lost a few lbs since the last time I was on here and I now have 7 more lbs to go before I'm at my goal weight. yay! I was trying to get rid of these last ten pounds by just eating right, not counting calories, etc. But it wasn't working so I'm on the slim fast diet. It's working great and I'm always full and it tastes great so I'm happy! I'm starting to rethink my goal... if I get down to 125 and still am not happy with my weight then maybe I'll try 120 or somewhere in between the two. I want to get down to a size 6 jean and right now I'm between an 8 and a 10. But maybe the trick would be to just work out and tighten everything up nice and good instead of moving my goal. I don't know, guess I'll have to see when I get there! you're looking good everyone :)
 
So many posts... yippeee!

Welcome courage to be! I feel the same about the water... I gasp at how I used to live on a couple diet cokes a day and nothing else. How awful!?! I'm not drinking a ton of water a day, but a nice amount and I feel much better.

Hang in there cym. I think the adding the veggies idea sounds really good. Evenings are horrible for me, I really pout sometimes and would just love to pig out each and every night. I do know that'll we'll adjust though, we just need to be patient. We'll support each other through this!!

jennay your eating plan sounds great, from what I know that's ideal. Great job!

PaintedDaisy keep us posted on your workouts. I've just started back the first of the year and it's feeling good.

Welcome havaer! Congrats on your new baby!

Yeh AnnaBananna! Congrats on being down!!!! I can't wait to post some weight loss. I think i'll be jumping up and down by the time it happens. :)

Welcome mnexercisegirl! Glad you are no longer lurking, please come and join in. I have a wicked sweet tooth too, it's the worst... I'm hoping to keep it in check. It'll be hard with my PMS week coming. :eek:

Sophie335- I wouldn't try to stay under 1500... especially if you're exercising, you need a good amount of calories. Maybe spread your cals out and save some for night time is the only thing I can think of. If you're hungry before bed, that's ok.. but if you're starving then you do need to eat something.

newmommy1- I do the slim fast shakes for a quick breakfast, GL on your plan!
 
oh - so many good things to comment on =)

yeah, these last pounds are the hardest. and it is so hard to figure out what your goal should really be because it is more about how you look trim/fit wise than an actual number - at least that's how it is in my case. I was down to 135 a year ago, and felt really really good, but still had some areas to tone. But perhaps if I tone as I go down now, I'll get there and feel fine... who knows.

I too have problems with after dinner eating. I have found it easiest if I plan in a snack after dinner (depending on when dinner is). Either some frozen yogurt or cottage cheese, popcorn, or even sugar free jello (only 10 calories!) is enough just to tell my body that I have eaten and I can be done now.

The adding extra veggies to meals is such a good idea! My hardest part is that lunch is usually on the go - so a healthy sandwich out or a lean cuisine taken to work. But I could definately do that with dinner - and it wouldn't be as if I were making a completely different meal than my honey eats.

Funny story about that... I carefully portioned out the correct serving size for my spaghetti last night. And I gave him a double serving - because he's tall and thin and eats like a horse. And I filled the rest of my plate up with romain lettuce and a bit of vinaigrette. And after dinner, I proudly announced that I had eaten half as many calories as him. And he LOOKED at me like i was nuts and said "you had a full plate too! what are you talking about?" - It struck me how little he was aware of the lengths I go to count calories, and also how uneducated he is about how many calories things contain. I was quite amused and had to explain everything to him =)
 
update to funny story... fiance has totally taken an interest now, and left me a note as to how many calories the dinner he made for me had! it was sooo sweet!!!
 
Got a question for everyone.

Now you are 20lb or under to your goal, do you still lose weight at a steady 2lb a week or more?
 
courage to be -- how awesome that he is taking an interest! It will make it that much easier for you if he is thinking about it too. Also, I wanted to share some tips for lunches and such on the go -- I prep several meals worth at a time and then tupperware them off in precise portions, then I can just grab a container on my way to work in the morning. I know exactly what I'm getting and I don't have to worry about taking 15 minutes in the morning to prepare something to take for lunch. I do breakfast that way to -- make a big batch of oatmeal over the weekend then measure out a portion and microwave in the morning, 30 seconds to a yummy good for you breakfast :)
 
I don't expect to lose more than a pound a week... mostly because I am trying to slip into a mode where I can maintain and so that means baby steps...
 
courage to be: that's very sweet and thoughtful of your bf..and yea, picking a "final number" is tricky cause at some point it really is more about how we want to look and feel (and what we can comfortably maintain) rather than a random number on the scale.

EazyE I don't expect to lose (or really want) to lose the 2lb week average I was losing at a heavier weight. I'm trying super hard to make sure this last bit is a) just fat loss and b) sustainable over the long haul. I'm going to be pretty content to see even 1/2 lb a week of steady decrease.

jennay I do the same pre-portion thing. Takes me forever after I grocery shop cause I then pre-measure/portion every thing from meat to veggies before putting it in the fridge...so whether I'm grabbing something to go or to eat in, I know exactly what/how much I've got.

Yesterday was my maint. cals day, so today and the next 3 days are back to 1500...I have great motivation to stick to it cause I'm going to a party Saturday night and the outfit I plan to wear is very unforgiving of the least lump/bump/bulge...which brings me to the question....

now that the basic health issues of weight loss are resolved, I find that fitting into certain clothes are a big motiviation to continue to "do the right thing" food wise....what motivates you guys to continue to stay on track?
 
So many great posts and tips!

Hiya lean and lovely ladies!

I keep wanting to write and finally I have the time - phew! Thank you so much for all the great tips. The whole portion measuring idea is a really good one. I'm lazy, so I've been trying to buy things that are already measured out (e.g., oatmeal packets). Lots of good nutrients and fiber to keep me fuller longer (in theory - ha!) Speaking of which, I love the FitDay site b/c it's shown me 2 impt things:

(1) that I'm eating way too many cal's early in the day, so that by the afternoon I freak out and try not to eat much... and then (shocker!) I get really hungry... and then (again, shocker!) I CHOW at dinner. SO,thanks to your posts that helped me figure this out about my eating habits, I'm trying to change them. Yay! A step in the right direction!

(2) that I'm skimping on some key nutrients. It tallies up how much of each nutrient you've eaten that day compared to the FDA recommendations, and shows you where you're lacking. I keep coming (way) short in folate and calcium - yikes! Not good for someone who hopes to get pregnant again!!

Which brings me to my answer to your question about what motivates me to want to lose the weight. First and foremost, I want to have another baby, so I want to make sure I'm in tip top shape for that. I've read that if you put on the lbs after your pregnancy you're at higher risk for preterm birth. After having preemies already, I'm determined to carry one to term (if I'm lucky enough to get pregnant again, that is!) So, that's my #1 motivation for sure.

Second, I can't fit into any of my clothes! I've always been a little person, so these extra 15 lbs I gained since my son came home from the hospital (he was in there for 4 months after he was born... yes I am a stress eater!) have put me into sweatpants 24/7. I see all my old cute clothes and I miss them so much! I just don't feel like myself at this weight, you know?

What about you guys, what motivates you?

Also, THANK YOU for all the tips you've shared. Please share more: what is most helpful to you? This forum has been great for me! You guys are an awesome support system (I heard on the radio that a recent study showed that people who had support when they tried to lose weight were 3x more likely to be successful... yay us!)
 
Motivation...

Definitely wanting to look a certain way, i.e. vanity, but I am also dangling a carrot so to speak ;)

I love to shop, mostly for clothes, although who can exclude shoes! So, what I am doing is not shopping. I haven't bought any new clothes since Xmas and I don't plan to, until I get where I wanna be. In the meantime, I've been saving my mad money (hubby and I work off of a budget and each get a certain amount of mad money to splurge on whatever with each month), so that when I reach my goal, I'll have some cash saved up for a really nice shopping trip!

Also, for some extra motivation, I plan to go to the Arnold Fitness Expo the first weekend in March. I've gone in the past when I was fit, lol, but have avoided it the last few years since I've let myself slide. It is great motivation to see all the hard bodies and such. Their dedication and work reminds me that what I am trying to do is only a fraction of what I could be doing and a little ab envy doesn't hurt to push me a little extra too!
 
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