I have a few more things to add, (as a girl who watches her weight).
- Watch your Salt Intake. Increasing your sodium levels means your body retains water, which means you can feel bloated and the number on the scale
will increase - which is the opposite of what you're trying to do.
-Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. Now everyone tells you you should get about 8 glasses of water a day - and they are correct. The Water flushes toxins out
of your body, keeps your cells nice and moist (i dont think thats the scientific term for it), and helps with digestion.
- Watch the Sugar (Especially Refined Sugar - White Sugar, Icing Sugar). Now, I didn't do all that well in my HS Science classes, so I can't tell
you the exact chemical reaction that occurs in the body when Sugar is introduced... I know that somehow that Sugar gets stored or turned into Fat,
which is what you are trying to avoid).
* Fruits have Natural Sugar in them, and are good for you - but eating excess amounts of fruit is not. Having a healthy balance between foods is a
good idea.
- Fibre (Okay I hate talking to people about this crap, but you know, its very important). Did you know, some people can have up to 10lbs (or more) of
undigested food in their intestines? Keeping your insides working is just as important as keeping your outside in good shape.
- Vegetables (My opinion of Vegetables is slightly bias as I am a vegetarian). But incorporating more vegetables to your diet is always a safe move,
not to mention that Vegetables have fibre in them, and about 3g of protein per 1/2 cup serving depending on the Vegetable.
- Now, the thing that gets people is FAD diets. The reason "diets" don't work, is because they are a quick fix, a bandaid, to a problem that needs
to be solved, not avoided. Changing the way you eat is a lifetime comitment. Which is why diet pills, and liquid diets are not a good idea. Long term
exposure to the chemicals in diet pills (IMO) can't be good for you. With liquid diets, you aren't learning how to properly portion solid foods, so
when you stop the diet, you're unsure of how much you should be eating and thus, gain back the weight you lost.
- Making slight dietary changes here and there, will help keep you on track and keep you from being discouraged.
* Instead of the Salad with the Creamy Dressing, opt for the Tossed Salad with a Vinnagrette.
* Instead of French Fries, maybe try a Baked Potatoe or Steamed Vegetables.
* Cut back on Beef, and up your Fish intake (which is high in Omega 3's and good oils for your body)
* Instead of Ice Cream, try Yogurt.
* Choose the options that you know are healthier for you when eating out
Just minor things that will add up over time. It's like finding a quarter in the couch, over time, those quarters add up.
- Don't set unrealistic goals for yourself, otherwise you will become discouraged. (Trust me, I did this and I ended up gaining back all the weight i
had lost.
- Moderation, is the best way to go about eating things. A healthy assortment of foods will keep you from being bored of certain foods, and it will
help you to NOT deprive yourself of things.
* If you end up over-doing it one day, make up for it the next day by getting back on track. So what if you had cheesecake for breakfast? Tomorrow get
back on track, and don't beat yourself up over it. It's not worth it to make yourself upset about it.
- Shop the outside of the store. I avoid the inside aisles unless I need Crackers, or Vegetable Broth for Soup. That's it. I don't go down the junk
food aisles, and I don't buy the frozen pre-packaged, or "convenient" foods. If I'm having a craving for Chocolate or Chips or something, I'll
buy a small bag of chips, or one of those 100 Calorie ones at the checkstand, which keeps me from over-indulging.
- I personally try to stick to Fresh Foods as much as possible, like i said, I'm paranoidal about chemicals, and additives. I have a box of organic
protein bars on my shelf in case of ermergency (like sleeping in and running late to my frist class in the morning). I've found that since cutting
out the food chock-full of preservatives, I feel better, and my body works better.
- Read the Lables, and learn your servings. Look at the Ingredients so you are consious of what you are putting into your body. You're only as good
as the fuel you put in your body. You don't put Gas in a Diesel engine car, and you shouldn't put crap into your body.
- Be Honest with yourself about what your eating. If your eating crap and you know it, then you have to make the change if you want results. Don't
get discouraged if you don't see results right away, stick with it and over time it'll start to add up.
- You'll do it, if you want to do it. If you want it bad enough you'll find the motivation for it
It took me a couple months at an uncomfortable
weight until i finally decided on a change. I started slowly, cutting back on certain foods and increasing others. I used to eat out a lot, and LOT of
processed foods. In college I LIVED on Sidekicks, Kraft Dinner, and the Value Menu at McDonalds (or whatever its called). I gained an uncomfortable
amount of weight and had to make a change.
Having since gone back to University Last year, I haven't gained weight. The pair of jeans I wore to my first class last year, I still have, and they
still fit me.
- On the subject of stetch marks, I don't think they ever go away. They're like a scar, because the skin is tearing. The marks will fade from that
awful purple/red color to skin color, but they don't ever go away. Some people say Vitamin E Oil helps with stretch marks, but I've personally
never tried it. I've just accepted them as part of my body and let them fade themselves. Dropping weight I think, will make them less prominent, I
found that anyway in certain areas of my body.
As Chissler said, don't get discouraged.
You can do it, I have faith in you.
Good Luck my friend.
- Carrot