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Let’s share our journey for those of us that want to pursue a healthier lifestyle to lose weight.

ccwu

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Once my heart doctor explained that the way I can lose weight is by not eating carbs, I tried it & verified by my own experience that he is right about that.

I actually got down to a healthy weight & my clothes fit better.

Then when the covid-19 shutdown hit, my healthy regimen slipped away & disappeared. Resumed gobbling down carbs. Quit going to the gym. Predictable results.

Yes, it was during the covid-19 shutdown. No, the shutdown is not the cause. I have no one to blame but myself. (Shux upon me.)

What's most vexing is that so far I am unable to summon the motivation (or whatever it takes) to regroup & move back to something more like the healthy routine that was working so well for so long.

Knowing what the problem is & knowing what I need to do about it aren't enough. Something else is needed that's beyond my current grasp. The part that's missing is still missing.

So it goes.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​


Just saw this. Talking about diet. We started diet 24 months ago when I don’t fit to my cloth after weeks of vacation from Hawaii. I lost 17 lb in about 4 weeks. After that we changed to low carb diet. I maintain BMI to be 20. We are doing well with the the low carb diet. We eat moderate meat and cheeses, lots of vegetable and fruit. We cut bread, pasta and rice (use more vegetable serving for it). The blood work show all is good. Cholesterol is higher but HDL is high 98. Triglycerides is 69 and LDL is higher because we love shrimps, lobster crab cake and scallops. (I personally don’t like fish), eat salmon occasionally. We stopped eating deserts other than ice cream. use stevia and monk fruit to make keto cookies with almond flour. We buy everything organic, no preservative. Our weight goes higher during vacation when we eat outside and sometime
we have fresh baked bread with butter and pastries. But alway lost the weight we gain in a few days on low carb. We think the low carb diet is good for us.

Knowing some vegetable and fruit are high in carb but it is much better than bread, pasta, rice, cookies. If we have choice, we stick to low carb fruit (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, avocado….and veggie of broccoli, broccoli babe, kale, cabbage, Cauliflower…). We eat dark chocolate. Sometimes making keto cookies using stevia and monk fruit. We always buy fresh organic and read ingredients on the label. You need to have a healthy body to enjoy travel.


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rickandcindy23

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My Optavia food arrived a few weeks ago, but I am just trying to maintain right now and not starting on the program as I assumed I would. I am eating Built Bars, yogurt, cottage cheese, and I am not eating chips and potatoes right now. I am eating my lean and green, which is lean meat and green vegetables. Last night I had a cauliflower crust pizza. I make about 10-12 crusts at a time and freeze them. This makes them perfect for a quick meal.

The Optavia food plan is a simple low-calorie, balanced carb to protein diet. I love it, and it works really well for me specifically with my body. I need low calorie and I need to eat often. I eat six times a day. This is starting to be a popular idea, six meals a day, five small meals of about 90-130 calories, and a lean and green meal at the end of the day that is not provided by Optavia, so it's easy for me to do the dinner meal. Roast beef, shrimp, baked fish, chicken, steak (my favorite) and vegetables. I also like hamburger patties on our grill at home with a salad.

I need to lose that 12 pounds. So far, it's not budging. It's not going to budge until I get back on Optavia. I did maintain my weight for a good long time before gaining it back. Too much celebrating after we sold the townhouse. I was working hard on the townhouse with Rick and then kind of relaxed too much after the work was done.
 
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TravelTime

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I am down to 120 as of last week. My BMI is 21.3. I was as high as 154 in late June. I am 5’3”. I feel great right now but I want to lose 5 more pounds because my ideal weight is 115. At my current weight, I can fit into size 4. At 115, I can fit into size 2 although I was thinking I may want to still buy size 4 so I have room to fluctuate, which is normal.

I eat whatever I want but in small quantities. I am trying to eat healthier foods although I am not counting calories or completely limiting high carb foods since I eat so little of them right now. We tend to make pretty healthy dinners but that is because we like heathy food.

I did blood work after starting to eat healthier. All my numbers were beyond perfect. The best in my life. Even better than I was in my 30s.

I still have some Octavia food leftover and some other similar high protein foods from Healthwise. I finally threw them all away. I can no longer tolerate the taste of fake food.

I hope I can lose the last 5 pounds, then maintain between 115 and 119. I used to use 119 as a warning sign to cut back a little. That worked very well for 6 years. Then in 2017, some things in my life got stressful. I slowly regained 40 pounds from 2017 to 2021 from my overall loss 75 pound weight loss. Then Covid came and like many people, I started to eat more due to being home all the time. Sweets were an escape when Covid was at its peak and we were not going out.

When I gain weight, I feel heavy and I mean I feel it is harder to move and I get sluggish. I am feeling more energetic now and lighter in my body. My mood is better too. I feel happier about life.

There is a Health at Every Size movement that celebrates loving your body no matter how overweight you are. Some of the followers weigh 300+ pounds. I really can‘t get into this philosophy. If it works for other people, that is great.
 
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Luanne

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There is a Health at Every Size movement that celebrates loving your body no matter how overweight you are. Some of the followers weight 300+ pounds. I really can‘t get into this philosophy. If it works for other people, that is great.
At my heaviest I was 211 pounds. I thought I was going to be "okay" with this. But after awhile I decided I couldn't be that happy fat lady. So I got serious. I used Weight Watchers, which works for me, 20 years later I am still at my goal weight.
 

nomoretslt

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@rickandcindy23 great you have a plan to get back to it when you’re ready. It’s okay to celebrate....we all do it, but know how to reel ourselves back in. I’m still below my Weight Watchers goal weight, even with the couple pounds From eating too many sandwiches and beer poolside at Disney. I never eat sandwiches, only at Disney. Just had to vacate our rental and move into another (was leased to someone else because we never dreamed we’d still be waiting for our new home to be finished). Haven’t weighed myself but should have shed what I wanted with all the packing, unpacking and cleaning.

@TravelTime ... how tall (or short) are you? I haven’t been 119 in decades and don’t think I’ll ever get there again. I was always too thin....was 100 lbs when I got married. I’m comfortable at my current weight.....around 132 - 135. I just wish I could get rid of the belly. I’ve been doing some high something or other exercises in the pool and it seems to be helping. Once that layer goes down I’ll work on doing crunches of some kind. I agree that the Health at any weight movement is not a good idea. The pressure of too much weight on your knees and hips is so damaging.

@Luanne ... weight watchers is an excellent program, although I’m not really happy with their latest tweak to the plan. I’m lifetime at goal so I don’t have to pay as long as I weigh in once a month. I wish they would talk more about getting counseling for those that can’t control their eating. Meetings are the best IMHO.

Best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
 

rickandcindy23

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@rickandcindy23 great you have a plan to get back to it when you’re ready. It’s okay to celebrate....we all do it, but know how to reel ourselves back in. I’m still below my Weight Watchers goal weight, even with the couple pounds From eating too many sandwiches and beer poolside at Disney. I never eat sandwiches, only at Disney. Just had to vacate our rental and move into another (was leased to someone else because we never dreamed we’d still be waiting for our new home to be finished). Haven’t weighed myself but should have shed what I wanted with all the packing, unpacking and cleaning.

@TravelTime ... how tall (or short) are you? I haven’t been 119 in decades and don’t think I’ll ever get there again. I was always too thin....was 100 lbs when I got married. I’m comfortable at my current weight.....around 132 - 135. I just wish I could get rid of the belly. I’ve been doing some high something or other exercises in the pool and it seems to be helping. Once that layer goes down I’ll work on doing crunches of some kind. I agree that the Health at any weight movement is not a good idea. The pressure of too much weight on your knees and hips is so damaging.

@Luanne ... weight watchers is an excellent program, although I’m not really happy with their latest tweak to the plan. I’m lifetime at goal so I don’t have to pay as long as I weigh in once a month. I wish they would talk more about getting counseling for those that can’t control their eating. Meetings are the best IMHO.

Best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Travel Time said she is 5'3".

I did weight watchers and felt I would never reach my goal, but I think it would work for me today. I may go back sometime. It would be interesting to see how the program would work for me.

My sister worked for a weight-loss program for a while between jobs, cannot remember the name right now, and they encouraged salads, big salads with no salad dressing or only very low-cal dressing, only a very small potato occasionally, only very lean meats and low-carb vegetables. It was very low carb and not a lot of protein. It was more drastic than Optavia. She coached me in that program without charge, but guess how she is losing weight, even with all of that knowledge? Optavia.
 

Luanne

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@nomoretslt I am also Lifetime and don't have to pay. I haven't gone to a meeting in years and I no longer weigh in monthly. I am very loosely following the program at this point, and I'm not even aware of what the program changes are. The only thing I still do is journal (but not count points) of what I eat. It seems to be working for me. Last year dh was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and I was considered pre-diabetic. So we have both altered our eating habits greatly. I think that has helped me maintain over the past year.
 

nomoretslt

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Just read travels post...missed she was 5’3”...thanks. I’m not quite 5’2” (shrinking). With My short legs and broad back I feel like I’ll never look thin again but that’s okay with me. I was always too thin growing up...mom hated to cook and I think we were half starving. We were all too thin. But I could eat anything and not gain. Until it all caught up to me at around 40.
@Luanne ... are you able to use their on line tools? I only really use it for the bar code scanner and for their “connect” feature. I like to read about people using their airfryers. Finally got one but won’t open it until I’m in my new kitchen. Not enough counter space here.
@rickandcindy23 ... you did great on the Optivia plan. As you said, you went a little overboard with the celebrating. I know foods I usually need to stay away from...chips are a trigger. Bread maybe once a day. I enjoy greens with hard boiled eggs, tuna, grilled chicken breast for lunch. Congrats on the soon to be twins!
 

Luanne

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@nomoretslt yes I can use the online tools. I have free etools until June 2026. But, I'm not using them. Since I'm not counting points I just use a paper notebook to write down what I've eaten each day.
 

nomoretslt

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I was stacked with free months also. Good for you! They’ve taken that away going forward. You can’t collect and hoard those free months (you are grandfathered in). I track on line sometimes but mostly so I can earn credits towards freebies. So far I got a mini wireless speaker and a portable device charger. I like free!
 

Icc5

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What model? Trying tog find one for Robin (5’1”) with low step thru.

I did this recently...
(I would have never been able to ride these hills without pedal assist).
In hills above Saratoga (CA). Weather has been in 70s...

ef53a12d63b6b9b0f1cf8b8a3e519f25.jpg


33ca4d89b85dac50b7bb68ca09002c61.jpg

You're in my neck of the woods. Used to train running that area for my black belt training. That was about 40 years ago. Was 5ft.9 and about 185 and as fit as could be. Now, I'm one of those that needs to lose. Got up to 225lbs and want to get back to 185. So far in a couple months down to 206. Sure can't put in the 5-10 mile runs I used to do so have to eat less and gradually build the exercising back up. My body also doesn't burn the calories like it used to so I really have to watch what I eat.
Bart

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bogey21

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A number of years ago I was 5'7' in hight and weighed 205 pounds. I asked myself where most of my calories were coming from. Quickly I figured out it was the pint and a half ice cream I was eating every afternoon and the 6-7 shots of vodka I was drinking every night. I stopped buying ice cream and vodka and the weight started coming off. Then I stopped eating french fries, chips and deserts and I guess a few other things I decided were bad for me. Eventually I fell to about 150 pounds. In the last 5 years or so I have crept up to between 155 and 160 but still avoid ice cream, alcohol, french fries, beef, chips, etc...

George
 

TravelTime

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At my heaviest I was 211 pounds. I thought I was going to be "okay" with this. But after awhile I decided I couldn't be that happy fat lady. So I got serious. I used Weight Watchers, which works for me, 20 years later I am still at my goal weight.

Wow impressive!
 

TravelTime

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@rickandcindy23 great you have a plan to get back to it when you’re ready. It’s okay to celebrate....we all do it, but know how to reel ourselves back in. I’m still below my Weight Watchers goal weight, even with the couple pounds From eating too many sandwiches and beer poolside at Disney. I never eat sandwiches, only at Disney. Just had to vacate our rental and move into another (was leased to someone else because we never dreamed we’d still be waiting for our new home to be finished). Haven’t weighed myself but should have shed what I wanted with all the packing, unpacking and cleaning.

@TravelTime ... how tall (or short) are you? I haven’t been 119 in decades and don’t think I’ll ever get there again. I was always too thin....was 100 lbs when I got married. I’m comfortable at my current weight.....around 132 - 135. I just wish I could get rid of the belly. I’ve been doing some high something or other exercises in the pool and it seems to be helping. Once that layer goes down I’ll work on doing crunches of some kind. I agree that the Health at any weight movement is not a good idea. The pressure of too much weight on your knees and hips is so damaging.

@Luanne ... weight watchers is an excellent program, although I’m not really happy with their latest tweak to the plan. I’m lifetime at goal so I don’t have to pay as long as I weigh in once a month. I wish they would talk more about getting counseling for those that can’t control their eating. Meetings are the best IMHO.

Best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I am 5’3”. How tall are you?

I feel great at anything below 130. I just like to be 115 because I feel light. When I get below 130, my tummy gets flat without me doing anything and my waist line comes back.

I do have a permanent problem. Since I was once 190, I have a lot of saggy skin. It is impossible to get rid of it. It’s on my arms, legs and stomach. The worst part is my legs. In pants and a long sleeve shirt, it is not noticeable. However, in a bathing suit, I can’t hide it.
 

rickandcindy23

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A number of years ago I was 5'7' in hight and weighed 205 pounds. I asked myself where most of my calories were coming from. Quickly I figured out it was the pint and a half ice cream I was eating every afternoon and the 6-7 shots of vodka I was drinking every night. I stopped buying ice cream and vodka and the weight started coming off. Then I stopped eating french fries, chips and deserts and I guess a few other things I decided were bad for me. Eventually I fell to about 150 pounds. In the last 5 years or so I have crept up to between 155 and 160 but still avoid ice cream, alcohol, french fries, beef, chips, etc...

George
Simple changes in Rick's lifestyle have kept him under his ideal weight for most of his life. He is 6 feet tall, right on the nose, long legs, skinny body, incredibly muscular, really strong guy after being a firefighter for 40 years and doing major remodeling projects in our house. He is underweight at 165 pounds. But he says that is my opinion.
 

VacationForever

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I hit 140 lbs 3 times in my life, the most recently about 6 months ago. I am 5 ft 7 in. My healthy weight is about 120 lbs and my goal is to get down to 125 to 128 lbs. I am now 134 lbs, up a lb from a month. I was watching my carbs and portion control and then I was put on a miserable drug a month ago which causes significant GI problem, and I snack on carbs to calm my stomach down. I hope to keep working on my weight and my goal is 128 lbs by May 2022 when my friend from overseas comes visit. :)
 

TravelTime

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I am down to my goal weight range now at 118, BMI 20.9. I have been eating whatever I want in very small quantities. I would like to lose a few more pounds and maintain between 115 and 119.

I think it is time to consider a long term maintenance plan. I am considering using the Bright Line Eating program because it focuses on real foods and lowering food addiction. It is a tougher program to follow since it eliminates certain types of food from your diet such as sugar and flour. I try to limit unhealthy carbs anyway so I think if I could get into this eating style, it would help me with maintenance. Has anyone done this program or heard anything about it - positive or negative?

The other thing I am considering is starting to use a food tracking app such as LoseIt or MyFitnessPal. My main goal is to track macronutrients (protein, carbs, fats, sugars, etc) and not calories. I used paper tracking for 5 years and that helped me lose and maintain weight loss in the past. Now I would like to consider an online app because it will be more accurate and allow me to track against more goals.

I have used MyFitnessPal in the past and it was hard for me to be consistent with it. I did not like that you set a maximum calorie goal per day and then it tracks in green or red how far from that calorie level you are in the day. It bothered me because it made me feel like I had to eat up to that calorie level so sometimes I would eat extra even if I did not feel the need to. I am not sure if I would like LoseIt more. I am going to try the free versions for a couple of days and use both at the same time to see which one I like better, if any. Does anyone have experience with LoseIt and/or MyFitnessPal? If so, what did you think of them?
 

VegasBella

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I stress gained weight in 2021 but I lost more than I gained! Woo hoo!
My current plan is this calorie counting plus exercise. Pretty simple.

I have a coach who is helping to keep me on track and who is giving me good info too. One of the key components she taught me was that I need a minimum calorie goal not just a max. I always knew the rule of don't go below 1200/1400 calories per day. But her minimum for me was higher because I have a lot of muscle. She explained that if I dip too low (which I was doing for a week or two because of a different kind of stress) it will have a negative impact on my metabolism and hurt me long term.

I'm exercising 6 days a week. My exercise is bike 3-4 times per week, weights 3 times per week, walks 4-6 times per week.
 
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