Diets....

[SHADOW_THE_STAFF]

Has anyone had any particular success on any particular diets? I've never really been a fan of diets, just healthy sensible eating. But I haven't been eating healthly or sensibly or exersizing. I feel like a big whale, and I really want to get in shape before I go to New York. Mainly because when we go to new york we'll be shopping, loads, and there's nothing worse than going on a shopping spree when u hate the way you look, i'll end up buying nothing!

So I have 6 weeks to get in shape.

Also any fun exersize tips? I hate exersizing, i take the dog out for at least 30mins a day and im too knackered to do anything else (prob the food i eat). I used to go to the gym 3 times a week, and I looked fantastic, but it got boring after 2 years. so i stopped.

Im about 5'2" and 117lbs, which is healthy, my BMI is healthy and so is my bodyfat. But IM not happy with the way I look. Everytime I look in the mirror I see a huge person looking back at me, even thou I know in reality im not huge. Im really self conscious I suppose, my depression doesnt help, I cried myself to sleep the other night I was so upset about my weight. I've been to the doctors and Ive been on a waiting list to speak to a counsellor for 6 months (unless ur suicidal u dont get to see anyone straight away). I didnt want anti depressant, cos I dont think they help....... anyway, sorry went off on a bit then.......

so any tips any one??

 

[Barb04]

Found the best way is to try to eat healthy. I learned from my dad to lose weight don't cut out any foods, just cut down the portion size. If you cut out foods you love, your destined to fail. It's true that after a few bites of sweets, you continue to eat just to finish it.

 

[bogolove]

South Beach diet. I don't normally do diets, because I am an exercise freak, but I am also a go out to eat freak lately, and so basically I didn't completely do the diet, but I applied some of the techniques to my diet, bascially I cut all white, processed carbs, and I have only been doing this a week and a half and I think I have already lost 7 pounds or so, because you should see how baggy my pants have gotten. I eat quit a bit still, I just eat more of the right things, and not so many white carbs. I still eat wheat bread. My diet this week has consisted of eggs, (also egg beaters for a change up), hummus, wheat pita bread, turkey, cheese, wheat bread, low fat yogurt, low fat milk, olives, steak with cheese wrapped in, crab meat stuffed in mushrooms with tomatoes and a little cheese on top, sugar free fudgesicles for snacks (only one a day), cottage cheese, green beans, etc. I even cheated this weekend and had mexcian food and margaritas. Mostly I have just cut down on my white carbs though and I am trying to cut my sugars also. If I want a coke or coffee, I use splenda, or drink a diet coke. It has worked for me so far.

 

[Melissa_W]

Hon, 5'2" and 117 pounds doesn't sound fat to me. Be very careful with dieting, because you sound like you could be at risk for developing an eating disorder. I used to be very unhappy with the way I looked. I'm not a stick figure. I have hips and thighs and boobs. But I wanted in the worst way to look like one of those stick thin, small framed models, when my body type is really more like Marilyn Monroe. My weight and diet started to consume my life. It was practically all I thought about. I was absolutely miserable, developed and eating disorder, etc. Now, I have learned to work with my body type, instead of against it, and I am MUCH happier. Don't get too sucked into all the media hype. Guys like healthy looking women that have a woman's figure (not a twelve year old boys figure) and don't spend all their time obsessing over their weight. I totally understand where you are coming from with this. I spent so much time, from when I was 14-18, torturing myself like this. It's no way to live. Sorry for the lecture, but I had to say it.

First, my advice is to learn to like your body the way it is... or at least accept it. Then eat healthy and exercise. Cut out junk food, and don't mix carbs with fat. I think exercising is more enjoyable when you do it with someone else. If you start jogging with your dog, it will keep you motivated- because he will be expecting to go and you can't let him down. Listening to music helps. Also if you get your exercise doing some sort of sport, that helps. This year, when school starts, they are offering a "fitness pass" that you can purchase for $35 dollars. It allows you to go to any fitness class you want all quarter. There's pilates, kickboxing, cardio, weight training. That will really help keep me interested (I get bored too, I haven't been exercising much this summer.) So the point is, you can try to find something like that were the activities vary... I dunno, sorry this is so long. I really hope you feel better soon. Maybe talking to a counselor will help. If you ever want to talk to someone who understands (because I really do), feel free to pm me.

 

[SHADOW_THE_STAFF]

Thanks so much melissa. I figured at 22 I'd be over my issues with my weight. At 18 I was overweight, and decided to do something about it, I lost 3 dress sizes. I have serious self esteem issues now thou, dont know why. My height doesnt help, I alway wish i was taller, i figure id look better proportioned that way.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Melissa_W]

You're welcome.

P.S. I used to want to be shorter. I'm 5'7", which isn't too tall, but I was always jealous of those tiny little petite girls. Standing next to them I felt like a huge ogre. Always want what ya can't have, eh?

 

[bogolove]

Mixing up your exercise routine is key. It keeps you from getting bored, plus it helps you to work out different parts of your body. Weight training was a key factor in helping me tone my body and lose some of that "baby roundness" when I was in college. I still very much enjoy working out with weights. I used to love cardio, but now I am having a tough time to sticking to any one routine, so I mix it up. Hubby and I have been running bleachers one day a weekend, and I am about to up it to two. We did lunges across a parking lot last week too. I run with Brady 3 other days a week. I do weights 4 days a week, but I just mix everything up. I really want to start taking hip hop dance classes. You just need to find something that motivates you and that will really help.

It doesn't sound to me like you need to lose weight at all, but I totally know the feeling that you are feeling, just like Melissa. I think a lot of girls go through that, you just have to realize when it gets to be an unhealthy obsession. You are genentically built to be a certain way, and Melissa is right in saying go with it. Don't try to live up to another person's body build. That person could be 4 inches taller than you and built to have no curves what-so-ever. I still do that sometimes and catch myself, and try to remember, that I am who I am, and while I can better myself to MY full potential, it is not the same as say, a Victoria Secret Model's full potential who is probably at least 3 inches taller than me. I see tall girls that are beautiful, short girls who are, skinny girls who are, and fat girls who are gorgeous too. It is not all about how you look, but also about how you feel about yourself. When you shine from the inside, other people will notice that too.

 

[bogolove]

You're welcome.

P.S. I used to want to be shorter. I'm 5'7", which isn't too tall, but I was always jealous of those tiny little petite girls. Standing next to them I felt like a huge ogre. Always want what ya can't have, eh?

LOL! I was too. I am 5'7 also, so I was always in that middle ground. Not the tall exotic girl, nor was I the tiny petite precious girl. I was just me, at 5'7. A friend of mine used to date a tiny petite girl and I always felt frumpy next to her, even though I wasn't. It is so weird how the world works....

 

[SHADOW_THE_STAFF]

You're both right, i wish I could like the way I look, I just cant. I have no self confidence. I think the reason I dont enjoy exersizing is because I have no one to do it with. My partner goes to a "Man's" gym, with his mate, bodybuilding, the type of gym that women dont go to, cos its full of steriod pupming muscle men.....urrgh. And I have no-one else I can go with, no friends unfortunately. I used to go woth my mom, but since I moved (35miles away) its too much of a chore to go exercise, by the time I get to my moms, Im tired from the drive, and just want to sit down have a cupa and chat! I used to go to aerobics with lee's mate's girlfriend. But it was the type of class where everyone takes it soooo seriously, I like to have fun doin an aerobics class, I have fits of giggles when Im trying to learn the new routine, cos I have no co-ordination, but they frown on that in that class, at one point I was doing so badly the aerobics instructor dragged me to the front of the class! So she could keep an eye on me. I was mortified. Haven't been back since. And I find its no fun exersizing by myself, just me reminds me how pathetic my life is....

 

[Melissa_W]

LOL! I was too. I am 5'7 also, so I was always in that middle ground. Not the tall exotic girl, nor was I the tiny petite precious girl. I was just me, at 5'7. A friend of mine used to date a tiny petite girl and I always felt frumpy next to her, even though I wasn't. It is so weird how the world works....

hehe... that's funny. That's exactly how I felt. It seems to be programmed into girls to be unhappy with what they have.

 

[bogolove]

I know. It is almost depressing. I have friends who are so beautiful and will say "I am so fat" or something, and they are not AT ALL. It is crazy what we females do to ourselves. Or I have another friend who would say she needs a nose job, and she doesn't at all, it is a completely normal cute nose.

 

[Melissa_W]

You're both right, i wish I could like the way I look, I just cant. I have no self confidence. I think the reason I dont enjoy exersizing is because I have no one to do it with. My partner goes to a "Man's" gym, with his mate, bodybuilding, the type of gym that women dont go to, cos its full of steriod pupming muscle men.....urrgh. And I have no-one else I can go with, no friends unfortunately. I used to go woth my mom, but since I moved (35miles away) its too much of a chore to go exercise, by the time I get to my moms, Im tired from the drive, and just want to sit down have a cupa and chat! I used to go to aerobics with lee's mate's girlfriend. But it was the type of class where everyone takes it soooo seriously, I like to have fun doin an aerobics class, I have fits of giggles when Im trying to learn the new routine, cos I have no co-ordination, but they frown on that in that class, at one point I was doing so badly the aerobics instructor dragged me to the front of the class! So she could keep an eye on me. I was mortified. Haven't been back since. And I find its no fun exersizing by myself, just me reminds me how pathetic my life is....

Wow, you definitely need to find a new aerobics class! That's not cool at all.

I will be exercising by myself for the next 3 months, starting next week, while my boyfriend is away on a co-op... and I won't have the dog either. We have a new rec center at school too, so it'll be really weird at first. But, I figure I'll meet some new people and eventually it will seem normal. I hate doing stuff by myself too...but I figure it's something I should try to get over... hehehe

 

[SHADOW_THE_STAFF]

You are right there, maybe I should go to a new class in the leisure centre in my town. Maybe I'll meet some new people, make some new friends. Could be the start of soemthing.

Sorry if I seem ignorant, whats a co-op?

 

[Melissa_W]

It's like an internship, except it's a longer commitment. You also have a better chance of getting permanent employment. His is 6 months total, but I was able to spend my summer vacation with him. But school starts for me next Wed... so I'm gonna have to go home without him.

 

[bogolove]

I agree with Melissa on all of that. If I were made the "example" in an AEROBICS class, I would have just walked out. You have to try to make it fun for yourself. What about a jump rope? Buying weights for your home? Running with your dog? Taking your dog hiking? It is never fun by yourself, but you just have to realize that to acheive your happiness and the body you want, you have to make some sacrifices. Healthy sacrifices. Don't think about it, just do it. (boy that was a Nike slogan if I ever heard one ) What about buying a video to do at home? Carmen Elektra has that strip tease one, or there are pilates, yoga, Taebo, etc. You can do anything you want in your own home with a video.

But if you get out and exercise, the chances are good that you will make new friends. That is how I met Liz, because we both walked our dogs who are now totally inseparable and love each other so much. Liz even helped me get a new job at her work which I start on next Monday. You never know where it could lead you when you meet people.

 

[SHADOW_THE_STAFF]

Im sorry ur gona have to spend time apart from ur boyf. that sucks. It'll be so great when u get to see him then thou.

I've got weights and exersize Dvd's at home, did them the 1st day I bought them, then they gather dust on the shelf. When I get home from work I just dont have the motivation to do a dvd at home. After cleaning up, playing with the dog, walking her, cooking tea, doing the ironing....etc Im just too tired. Thats why I think ill enrol in a class, once ur there u have to do it!!

Thanks for all the advice thou u guys.

 

[bogolove]

Good luck! I know how hard it can be to be motivated, but if you put yourself in a situation where you don't have a choice, it helps, such as a class. Good luck!

 

[Melissa_W]

Well, at least it's only temporary.

And like bogo said, good luck! You can do it.

 

[Zoom]

Shadow, I completely understand. I'm 5'1", used to weighing between 104 and 107 and this past winter I was around 118, the heaviest I've been in my life. No one ever said I looked fat, but I felt it and my pants were getting a bit snug. I couldn't stand to look at myself in the mirror. I'm back down to about 107, and that's been through LOTS of walking at work and cutting down on what I eat. Smaller, healthier portions, don't eat after 8pm and cut down as much as you can handle on the amount of pop/soda you drink. Cutting down on the amount of beer I drank has done wonders as well. Also, when you feel 'munchy', drink lots of water and start walking. Flushes out your system and the exercise makes you forget you're hungry.

If anything, try eating vegetarian for a few weeks. Just make sure that you're not replacing meat with pasta and limit the amount of cheese you eat.

 

[SHADOW_THE_STAFF]

oh cheese is my arch nemisis, I love cheese soooooo much I could eat it all day. It doesnt help that I use cheese to train shadow, and I alaways have to have a piece when she has one. I could eat cheese all day.....i love it, on toast, with crackers, with apple....