Hey girls,

I know some of you ladies have had great success in losing some weight over the last few years.

I would love to loose at least 20 lbs (my first big goal). So now I am here to get your advice! What has/hasn't worked for you? What foods should I be eating more of and less of?

Currently, I dance 2x a week for 2 hours (dance team!) not including dance team performances at basketball half-time. My family also has a relativly nice treadmill, so I was thinking fast-paced walking everyday for 30 mins (I hate runnning and have bad knees).

Also, I know that I shouldn't be eating much fast-foods and not a lot of sugar, as well as drinking lots more water.

Anything else?:)

Load up on fiber (veggies, nuts, fruits, etc.) and protein. You're workout plan sounds fine as it is. :) Good luck!

For me, eating whole grain foods instead of refined flour products really helps fill me up. One slice of rye toast with almond butter is more filling than whole wheat (as it can be blended with other flours thus reducing its nutritional value).
I also eat brown rice when possible and potatoes. Also lots of cruciferous veggies like broccoli and cauliflower. Salads arent filling unless you have eggs, cheese, nuts or tuna added as leaves are just water and very little fiber.

Weight Watchers is an awesome, awesome program that I've had great success with in the past.

Try carrying granola bars/snack bars with you. You can munch on that before you decide to get fast food. :)

I lost 60 lbs w/Jenny Craig in the past year and a half, so I'm a huge advocate of their program.

If you can't do something like that, follow their regimen:

*eat smaller meals more often -- 3 meals, 3 snacks ... keeps your metabolism from slowing down

*sugar free everything (you'd be shocked at how good some things are, like Jello, pudding, soda, etc)

*create your meals while picturing a clock: 1/4 hr serving of carbs, 1/4 hr of protein, and 30 minutes of veggies (so half the plate is taken up)

I'm trying to lose 15-20 lbs. this year too. I also own a treadmill, and I always power walk on it. I really don't like running. I power walk with my iPod and move fast to the beat of the music. I usually do it for 20-30 minutes and combine it with my Crunch dvd's. I highly recommend those dvd's. I do the pilates, yoga/pilates and ab attack ones.

I only drink water throughout the day, and if I drink soda it's always diet. I buy the mini cans so I don't drink a whole one, and they're just enough to satisfy my soda craving without adding calories to my meal. I also avoid fast food and junk food, and buy only healthy snacks. When I do buy junk food, I only buy the 100-calorie packs. They have them in so many varieties now, so it's easy to satisfy a craving and still stick to your diet. Fad dieting never works for me, only eating healthy. Otherwise I always still feel hungry.

Does your college have exercise classes? I love going to mine because sometimes the thought of hopping on the treadmill AGAIN makes me want to scream. If you can do classes (or workout DVDs), you're less likely to get bored. I also love recording FitTV programs to try out something new.

Thanks girls for the added info! :)

and yes, there is a small gym at school, with free yoga for 1 hr every week. I'm also signed up for ballet class next semester, which is 1 day a week, for 1 hr. So I'll be adding those 2 items in next semester.

Now to shopping for workout clothes! lol

The clock idea that LipstickChick mentioned is a good one.

My best suggestion is to read nutritional labels - especially ingredients lists. Stay away from white flour and high fructose corn syrup as the main ingredients. They aren't good for your metabolism and make you sluggish.

Count calories. I stick to 1200 max per day.

When I diet, I eat Kashi every day for breakfast. I like the regular Kashi GoLean. It's an EXCELLENT source of fiber and whole grains. The rest of the day I stick to eating lean protein (mostly turkey), veggies, and fruits.

Since I've packed on 20 pounds this year (eek!) it's time to get myself back to the routine... I don't get too hard on myself though because all in all I've lost 100 pounds in two years.

Good luck. :)

I lost a lot of weight from my pregnancy (70 lbs...but about 20 lbs was baby & water...so really 50 in fat). Months after the baby was born, I realized I was still eating more and more often out of habit. When I realized that, I started to ask myself a couple questions:
1. Am I actually hungry, or am I thirsty?
2. Could I be making a better choice with the meal or snack I was wanting to eat?

Once I was honest with myself, I was surprised at how often I was just thirsty.

When I had to ask myself the second question...sometimes I ate the junk because it's just what I wanted, but most of the time I thought about the junk, and decided to make a better choice.

I did try to do more exercise than I was used to but that was too hard with an infant around & doing everything else I had to do. For me, cutting back on the quantity and correcting the quality of foods made the biggest differences.

It took me 1 year and 2 weeks from when DD was born to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight...so it was slow...but it was steady & healthy & isn't coming back.

Whoa, Gayle0000 I hope I can lose the baby weight after our daughter's born like you did!! If I can lose close to 70lbs, then I'll be back to my pre-married ideal figure!! I've gained so much weights since I'm pregnant and I really don't care for how I look like right now :rolleyes: I'll certainly try my best to be back in shape, with a lot of willpower (that I don't have!)

Whoa, Gayle0000 I hope I can lose the baby weight after our daughter's born like you did!! If I can lose close to 70lbs, then I'll be back to my pre-married ideal figure!! I've gained so much weights since I'm pregnant and I really don't care for how I look like right now :rolleyes: I'll certainly try my best to be back in shape, with a lot of willpower (that I don't have!)


Oh, you can do it. You have to decide within yourself you are just going to...and then willpower is not an issue anymore.

Another thing with the baby weight...my neighbor (she had 3 kids) told me early on that whatever you lose within 6 months after the baby is born is pretty much the end of what you will lose, so lose it quick. She also told me that those "last 10 lbs" will never come off if the weight gain is from pregnancy.

I just made the choice to prove her wrong. I knew that was crap anyway...but the way my brain works, that's the kind of stuff I need to hear to keep my motivation going. Being told I can't or won't be able to do something is all it takes for me to get it done.

I've lost some weight recently, and my number one tip is to eat several small meals through out the day. I feel like I'm constantly eating, and it seems at the time like I have to be gaining weight, but sure enough, I'll step on the scale the next time and I'll have lost a pound or two. I've lost about 15 lbs. this way so far...hopefully I can lose a few more. :)

Two words: Weight Watchers! They seriously saved me from the life of shame, rejection, and constant humilation! When I first started out at WW, I weighed 185 lbs, and now I'm down to 115.

The best part is that it's not too difficult at all, since you have two plans to choose from (Flex or Core). I also drank alot of water, snacked on veggies, and went to the gym.

I've lost 25 lbs on weight watchers. It's a good program, and I love going to the meetings. You can attens one for free to see if you like it. Otherwise eat lots of fruit and veggies, and lots of water.

I recommend Weight Watchers as well! I joined WW online, and even just keeping track of what I eat throughout the day helps a LOT. I've found that the points system is much easier for me than calorie counting.

Just remember that losing weight is more about a lifestyle change than a quick fix. :-) That's what I have to keep reminding myself when I want to reach for a bag of chips (my guilty pleasure!)

I don't get too hard on myself though because all in all I've lost 100 pounds in two years.



:eek:

WOW, Julie! That is AMAZING! Congrats to you, and continued success :).

Try Elle Glam Fitness Total Toning DVD! I found it at Ross clothing store for $5 dollars, also try Ripped 1,000 to burn up to 1,000 calories. I found that also at Ross. They have some really great cheap exercise DVD's! I bought a dress recently from Charlotte Russe store at the mall and didn't think I could fit into it. I thought I needed a size 5, but they didn't have anymore size 5's, so I tried on a size 3, and it actually fits! It's a slinky pretty sleevless black dress with a skinny belt. I am amazed I can fit it! So I am thanking my new dvd's for that.:D Nutrition is important too though!:cool:

I have lost 75 lbs this year. I am hoping to lose another 10-15 more in the next two months and be at my goal of 145.

I keep a food journal - go for 1200 calories
I run 15-20 miles per week. You can also do other cardio...but for me I have really enjoyed the running. I am hoping to do a 1/2 marathon maybe this year too!