Greetings from The Great White Frozen North

[weezy1]

Better late than never, I will introduce myself.

I am a singer/songwriter; webmaster (yes, web MASTER), and health nut. I am 63 years old and about a year ago I was selected to appear at a jazz festival here in my home town, Toronto, Canada.

I was wondering what I could wear for the show when I realized that nothing fit me anymore and that I actually had grown into an overweight person.

This was in January 2003 - the show was in May 2003. I decided that I needed to lose weight . Diets hadn't really helped over the years, and after talking to my local Health and sports nutrition store, it was decided that I should take a weightloss supplement to get me over the first hump.

By April I had shed almost 10 LBS. this was encouraging. I was walking about four miles a day for exercise ( I have this rather large dog you see....), but I wasn't seeing any improvement in my waist and hips, or at least only minimal.

It was suggested that I begin a regime of half sits (crunches) to help get that flat ab.

By the time May arrived, I was two sizes smaller, and was able to wear some nice outfits for the festival...

By September 2003 I was down four sizes and was feeling pretty good.

I had stopped bothering with the scale because I was now mainly interested in building muscle, and as long as the clothes fit, I was happy. However, last week (Feb 3) I stepped on the scale with my car to get her weight (together we weighed 140 lbs), when I put her down and got back on the scale, so I could subtract her weight from mine, I discovered that I now weighed 122 Lbs. Same as I weighed when I was 21. Unfortunately the cat has gained 2 lbs ....

I joined the forum so as to benefit from other people's experiences and ideas.

Cheers

 

[Natalie2]

very impressive!!!
Are you still taking that weight-loss-supplement? I always scare away from any type of medication - I'd rather just use my diet, well that's not quite true. I am taking a Multi Vitamin and a Calcium/Magnesium supplement - Doctor's Orders, but other than that I am very reluctant to take medication for any reason.

 

[weezy1]

Originally posted by Natalie
very impressive!!!
Are you still taking that weight-loss-supplement? I always scare away from any type of medication -

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I take it for three months, then I take Tea Tree Oil capsules for three months....

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I'd rather just use my diet, well that's not quite true. I am taking a Multi Vitamin and a Calcium/Magnesium supplement - Doctor's Orders, but other than that I am very reluctant to take medication for any reason.

Don't blame you.....I had to really think about it first. However, I feel that with the diet and lifestyle I have, I will probably not require it soon.

Right now I'm conentrating on building musicles.

By the Way, you are definitely on the right track with those Calcium/Magensium pills - gotta keep that calcium coming....

Cheers

 

[DbLxTx01]

Hi..I wanted inspiration..I found the right place. Congrats!! Would you have any advice for how I could prepare my meals separately from my children and husband.Or should I get them involved in this? U are a very knowledgeable person. Thank you

 

[Erica2]

Congratulations!!!! That is awesome. Hope your cat wasn't devistated though(lol)! What supplement are you taking, if you don't mind me asking? I take a few, but I like to research on other types of supplements for my own knowledge. Thanks, and keep up the good work, you are inspiration to us all!

 

[allcdnboy1]

DbLxTx - My dad is currently on his own health food kick with the Atkins diet and he simply prepares his own meal on top of what he prepares for the rest of the family (that's still at home). If you think your family should get involved, I would discuss it with them first ...

 

[weezy1]

Well Hi there!

Originally posted by DbLxTx01
Hi..I wanted inspiration..I found the right place. Congrats!! Would you have any advice for how I could prepare my meals separately from my children and husband.Or should I get them involved in this? U are a very knowledgeable person. Thank you

First,, thank you for your kind words....I appreciate it.

From personal experience, I think any regime you are undertaking works best if you can incorporate it into your normal dailing routine.

Also - if you have to now prepare two totally different sets of food, you will not be much encouraged to follow through and stay with the diet, right?

Now, getting the rest of the family to eat "mommy's rabbit food" may not go over so big, BUT, if "Mommy's Rabbit food" looks appealing, you can bet they'll want to try it, and once they do and like it, you will have them hooked.

First - Keep a diary for one week and list EVERY particle of food or drink you take in.

This is an important first step in determining how to shape the diet.

Make a list of things you love to eat, another of things you hate to eat, and a list of things you CAN'T eat.

"Enough with the lists already" I hear you scream...but Listen, this is a first step in finding out what sort of food you can have that will help you in achieving your goal AND satisfy your cravings.

Some things to think about in the meantime: A high protein snack will satisfy your hunger and do more for you poor old body that any quick fix high carb snack.

Good snacks include: Boiled eggs, chunks of tuna or salmon, scoop of peanut butter ("I want cookies" you moan".; Celery (Celery with tuna). Carrots are okay too but are faily high in sugar content.

Plan your meals out ahead of time. this is a timesaver that will save you slamming together some high carb junk.

Back to involving the family. If you gradually introduce more healthy meals, the family will be pleased to take part.

If your family is supportive, you can get them to help you out with suggestions for things that fall into the "good foods". Get the kids to write up the menues for the week, have a contest, best menu gets a prize.

Be realistic in your goals - If you are prone to binge on fave foods, find out what triggers those binges.

One thing I learned many years ago, when I was working as an instructor at a gym: "Think thin". Visualization is really important.

the other thing, don't haunt the scale. Once you have a plan in place for a good regime - weigh yourself at the start. Keep a chart and write down your measurements:

Chest; Waist; oblique (tummy), Hips

Check your measurements every week, weighyourself once a week - no more.

Do NOT expect to lose more than 2.5 LBs in a week, but also don't sweat it if you haven't lost anything.

IMPORTANT! Build up your water intake (gradually) to at least 8 glasses (2 liters) daily. think of it as one glass per hour in an 8 hour day.

Anyhow - start those lists, and share them with us. There's a section here for that purpose, I think it's called Weightloss Diary.....

Don't give up on yourself, be strong and become more powerful as a person by so doing. Email if you need support......

The snow is melting and the sun is out today, I have some hopes that maybe our horrible Canadian Winter is starting to call it a day ...




Best of luck


Weezy - "

 

[weezy1]

Supplements

Hi Erica:

Originally posted by Erica
Congratulations!!!! That is awesome. Hope your cat wasn't devistated though(lol)! What supplement are you taking, if you don't mind me asking? I take a few, but I like to research on other types of supplements for my own knowledge. Thanks, and keep up the good work, you are inspiration to us all!

My cat is devastated if she is required to get up and move between naps (lol)

Seriously though - I take a Calcium/magnesium capsule which my doctior tells me is an important combo for ensuring absorption of calcium.

I use a topical wild yam cream (natural source progesterone)

I take additional Vit. C (Ester C) three 600 mg caps daily (this seesm to have kept away colds, flu and bad gums)

I take suplemental Vit a/D Halibut liver old capsules ( for nails, hair and teeth).

I take a multi vit twice a day with stuff like copper, manganese, boron,and the b12 complex stuff, etc..

And for the next two months I'll' be taking green tea capsules (not as previously and incorrectly mentioned - Tea Tree Oil caps )

Once April arrives, I will probably go back on Ephedrine if I think I need the boost, but maybe not ...right now I feel good and my main goal is building up slack muscles.

Hope that helps

Cheers

Weezy

 

[weezy1]

Atkins

More power to you Dad!

Originally posted by AllCdnBoy
DbLxTx - My dad is currently on his own health food kick with the Atkins diet and he simply prepares his own meal on top of what he prepares for the rest of the family (that's still at home). If you think your family should get involved, I would discuss it with them first ...

Atkins is a great way to lose wieght, butmay not be not suitable for everyone .

You said your Dad just prepares his food over top of what he does for the rest of the family, but it doesn't sound as though he has small children around. I think that makes a big difference.

Of course the family needs to be consulted if they are going to be involved, but as I mentioned, if they are supportive it shouldn't be hard to get them involved.

Much better to encourage the whole family to eat healthy if possible.


All I have to do is show up with some new food, and my husband wan6ts it at once...he always figures whatever I've made is more interesting than what he has