QuestionTHANK YOU, 1ST OF ALL. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS. I WAS ADDICTED TO PEPSI. I WAS DRINKING 3 TO 4 20 OUNCE BOTTLES A DAY. NOWM I AM DOWN TO MAYBE 1 OR 2 EVERY 3 TO 4 WEEKS. I NOW DRINK 1 CUP OF COFFE IN THE MORNING, WITH MAYBE 2 SPOONS OF SUGAR. THE REST OF THE DAY, I DRIMK LOTS, AND LOTS OF WATER. MY HUSBAND AND I WALK 3 TO 4 TIMES A WEEK, AND WE DO NOT EAT AFTER 6PM. AT FIRST I LOST 9 POUNDS. NOW, I AM AT A STAND STILL. I AM GETTING A LITTLE DISCOURAGED. I NEED TO LOSE ABOUT 25 TO 30 MORE OPUNDS. I AM NOT A BIG SWEET EATER, AND DO NOT EAT ALOT WHEN I DO EAT. MY MAIN PROBLEM WAS THE SOFT DRINKS. EVERYONE SAID IF YOU PUT THOSE DOWN, THE WEIGHT WILL FLL OFF!! WELL IT HASN'T. I CONSIDER MYSELF PRETTY ACTIVE. I WORK WITH 17 5 YEAR OLDS EVERYDAY. ALSO, WE DO 10 MINUTES OF SCHOOL WORK OUTS IN THE MORNING WITH OUR SCHOOL PROGRAM, ( THE KIDS WORK OUT TOO!) LOADS OF FUN... SO, COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME TO FIND OUT WHAT I NEED TO DO NEXT. IF I GET TOO DISCOURAGED, AND SEE NO RESULTS,I HAVE A TENDENCY TO BE A BIG BACK SLIDER. THANK YOU FRO ANY HELP OR ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE ME,OR REFER ME TO SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP. SHEILA
AnswerHi Sheila!
I apologize for taking so long to answer your question. I have been working a lot of hours, and just haven't been able to be on the computer. It is a question very near and dear to my heart.
Weight loss is so frustrating, isn't it? I can certainly relate to your dilemma....I lost 100# with Weight Watchers, and it was very discouraging a good portion of the time, because you want to undo in a few weeks what took a long time to do.
How long have you been on a plateau? What do you eat in a given day? Perhaps, even though you don't eat a lot, you maybe take in a lot of calories with what you do eat. If your walking with your husband hasn't changed, sometimes, you need to step up the activity because your body is used to x amount daily.
I can tell you what worked well for me, but everyone is so different. And just because someone tells you if you stop drinking the sugar pop the weight will fall off, don't count on it. If it were only that easy....
Grazing works much better than three meals a day. Taking 100 calories here, 200 there, is much more conducive to weight loss than 500 calories three times a day. Load up on fruits and vegetables, and force yourself to drink a lot of water.
Not eating after 6pm can backfire on you. They have proven that calories are calories no matter when eaten, and time of day doesn't matter. In fact, if you don't eat after 6pm, and then don't eat until 6 or 7 or 8 the next morning, you have put your body into a state of starvation. It gets used to this period of being without food and shuts down the metabolism, so you actually are more prone to gain, or to stay at that plateau. Eat something before you go to bed, even if it is a glass of skim milk, or some yogurt, or a little low fat ice cream and a sandwich or something. That way, you are evening out your calories, your fuel source, and your body revs up.
Low fat dairy taken at least three times a day DOES help. Skim or 1% milk, low fat string cheese, cottage cheese, whatever you like really does make a difference.
Lots and lots of water does help! You really are good to do that....I like water, but I have to flavor mine often with ice tea mix or crystal light...lol.
If you ever want some delicious things to do with basic low cal items that will satisfy any craving, just ask me, and I can give you some ideas. Tell me what you like, and I can tell you ways to make you feel you are eating more, and making them richer and more satisfying.
Best of luck to you and God bless you in this battle!
Andrea
