Weight Lose Support Thread - Page 9 « Back to Group Discussions

[Abraisme]

My DH uses a smart-phone app to remember his meds (dose-cast).  He also takes a sleep aid at night, which forces him to sleep, thus he can function well without a manic episode.  I think that the sleep aid also reminds him to take his meds at night.  If he lays down and is wide awake, he knows that he's forgotten to take his pills.  ;)

Oh, and from my experience.   You'll sleep much better if you work out.  So, even if you hardly feel like you can get up, you still have to work out for a couple of days, which should help you sleep better at night, thus getting you into a better cycle. 

Originally Posted by Becky Wheeler 

I haven't been able to work out. My energy is still zapped. But I've been losing weight since I stopped eating out of boredom. I'm now 9 lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight. Thing is, that still leaves me 20 lbs heavier than my ideal weight (125). Which I'll be able to kick off when I can get my energy back. I know it's my sleep habits that's doing it, but I'm still struggling with the insomnia that goes with bipolar and regulating my medication. I can't seem to remember to take my medication every day and that really messes things up. I need to force myself off my bum and at least walk, so I get that routine.

[Jaimee]

Even if you don't have a smart phone you can set a regular cell phone alarm to go off every day at a certain time to remind you.  You could even set a reminder in your email and it would send you an email telling you to take your pills.  I also agree with Abra, that the exercise cycle can be hard to start, but once you do it gets easier and easier.  I was on a great 4 day a week running routine and then I got sick, dh went out of town for 2 weeks, and we went on vacation for a week so I didn't run hardly at all for 3 weeks.  Starting up again was torture and I'm still not back to where I was prior to that, but I'm back in my routine and feeling better.  I say just get out there.  Make a plan for tomorrow or the next day- set a time that you will go- and then stick to it.  Really the first three times are the hardest!  You can do it!

[dashley111]

I had great weight loss success doing paleo a few weeks ago.  I lost 7 pounds and it put me down to 154, which is down almost 30 pounds since January and the lowest I have weighed since having ODD in 2006.  BUT, I felt like CRAP.  I felt AWFUL.  I was eating huge amounts of food, starving all the time, and just exhausted and cranky.  It was not for me.

Paleo allows for lots of high fats-  nuts, coconut oil, things like that.  Perhaps for those trying to keep weight on, just using healthy fats in foods could help you keep extra calories?

[Becky Wheeler]

I've tried the alarm.  And then something happens with one of the kids and I turn off the alarm. BUT I made up a schedule for myself that I'm following very closely. It's helped me a lot today. My day feels alot less hectic.

[Becky Wheeler]

What is everyone doing right now to help tone back up and drop the weight? I just quit smoking 13 days ago and have found the energy to start running again and will be throwing in hiking and yoga soon. I'm already able to run 1.5 miles without walking in between.

[seraf]

I went off wheat and dairy and I'm below my pre-pregnancy weight. I have no desire to go lower.

[TalkToMeNow]

I've gone mostly vegan. I'm trying to make most meals primarily plant based. So I've started losing weight again. I need to exercise more, but it's tough with the short days plus work. I've been doing yoga, though.

[Abraisme]

Before we left Chattanooga I had been going to the gym 3 days a week. My weight has finally normalized at my pre preg weight. I dropped down to 117 for a bit and now I'm up to 123, which is a good weight for me.

[dashley111]

I say cut out white carbs.I feel so good when I don't eat carbs, and I lose weight pretty fast. I cut out all breads, noodles, potatoes, etc- but I keep rice and beans. I started eating gluten free breads and what not during the holidays and gained back about 4 pounds but lost it all pretty fast when I cut them out again.

My husband does full on paleo and has lost a ton of weight, very fast.

[Becky Wheeler]

Originally Posted by dashley111 

I say cut out white carbs.I feel so good when I don't eat carbs, and I lose weight pretty fast. I cut out all breads, noodles, potatoes, etc- but I keep rice and beans. I started eating gluten free breads and what not during the holidays and gained back about 4 pounds but lost it all pretty fast when I cut them out again.

My husband does full on paleo and has lost a ton of weight, very fast.

How much more or less (hopefully) a month do you spend on groceries after taking out breads, noodles and potatoes?

[dashley111]

It depends on what you replace it with. I replaced them with a lot of fresh veggies and things like hummus or yogurt. I make a lot of vegetarian crock pot meals- I use Kroger (Fred Meyer) organic mixed beans ($1 a can) a lot, sometimes use organic frozen veggies, a lot of bagged lentils (super cheap) and occasionally rice, Oatmeal and fruit. I still give the kids sandwiches for lunch, they still eat bread.

But, over all, replacing breads/noodles/cereal with fruits/veggies, lentils, and nuts costs about the same for us. But, we didn't start out eating Pop Tarts and Cheerios- we have always eaten a lot of whole foods and mostly organics.

Do you have a Trader Joes nearby?

[Becky Wheeler]

Nope. No Trader Joe's, but there is Bountiful Baskets (fruits and veggies and other things) through a volunteer program. Quality produce for $25 a basket and organic is only $10 more. I'm going to get signed up for it during tax time. There are also good food co-ops here that I'm going to be getting involved in that are pretty good priced.

[Abraisme]

We also eat on a basically paleo diet (GAPS), but my food bill did go up dramatically when we changed over. However, we eat mostly meat, veggies, fruit, dairy and nuts with a few beans and lentils. If you replace bread and pasta with homemade beans, it can be a wash. If you replace them with more quality meat or almond flour bread, it will cost way more.

[birdhappy85]

I handed in a 7-day food diary to my doctor last week since I've been reaching out for help in the midst of my downward spiral of bad eating and weight gain. He went over things with me today. He reiterated to me that I have a sugar addiction and HAVE TO eliminate it from my diet entirely... and he's concerned about my 12-lb weight gain in a few short months. My BMI is alarming, and he said I have about 75 lbs to lose to be at a healthy weight. I feel defeated before even trying anything right now. I wanted this kick in the *** from him, but I still don't feel like I have it in me to get anywhere new after struggling for years on end with the same problems. I've been thru treatment programs, therapy, weight loss programs, the whole works... so what's suddenly going to be any different now? *sigh* I still have a mental block that isn't budging. Now I'm in a crabby place with my DH because I'm really anxious about how I'm going to handle the new FT job + old PT job + school + mothering + homemaking if he doesn't take some things off of my plate so I can have some room to breathe and take better care of myself... I don't know what's just my anxiety speaking versus what's real anymore as far as whether or not he's putting in enough effort to relieve me. Maybe I'm overreacting, or maybe I'm underreacting. All I know is that I'm annoyed with him saying that I "chose" this... as in, I chose to get the full time job, I chose school, I chose this and that... so I internalize that as him saying that I'm not allowed to be stressed by any of it because I willingly put it on my plate.

Anybody else here have a spouse who watches too much TV? DH has to have it on at all times, even if he's not watching it. I want the television OFF so we can stop hiding behind TV and food and start living like normal people. He doesn't think his TV watching is an issue, though, so I don't see this changing anytime soon...

I hope I didn't make the wrong decision by taking this new job. I can totally handle the adjustment to a new lifestyle and new schedule, but I don't know if I can handle the jealousy and frustration I'm going to have if DH doesn't live up to my expectations with our new schedule! He mentioned joining a golf league on Mondays (while I'm at work and Sora is at daycare)... and I nearly snapped on him. 

As for weight loss, I have little faith in myself right now.  Sorry for the pity party. It's a dreary day.

[Autumnshades]

Sorry to hear about the weight thing. I am in the same boat. I did really well following the 17 day diet for 2 months, then my weight loss stopped and I fell off the wagon . I haven't gained any of the 15 lbs I lost back but I need to get back to doing it. The first stage worked the best, the second stage didn't do anything for me. So I am probably just going to go back to cutting carbs and eating more veggies etc. sugar is a serious addiction for me too unfortunately. When I was on the diet, my craving for sugars was completely gone by day 5 (I was a crabby nut case leading up to that point). And it stayed gone for a long time. I could walk by chocolates and even breads, and not even want them but I am back to my bad sugar place. I am planning to start back at loosing weight, or trying to, once our 'weekend' is over. I can't see us having another baby until I have lost more weight. I walk 5 km every day with Eli, even did through the winter and the rain.

I am sending you a big hug. I hope you figure something out in the midst of it all...

[seraf]

Hugs, Joanie. I <3 sugar, so I'm no help there (made caramels today, lol). I despise the TV, so I'm probably no help there, either. Can the TV be moved to a place that's less obnoxious?

Working 2 jobs while in school sounds really hard. It may be something you can figure out or it may just be too much. What support from him would make it more possible?

[TalkToMeNow]

Joanie, why are you keeping the part time job? Why not just work the one full time job? What do you need your dh to help out more with? I've had to lower my cleaning expectations a lot since I've been working. Maybe you need to compromise on a few things? 

I hate the tv, so that's been a battle here. At least I've managed to not have it on as long as Jasper is awake. Can you start there with your dh? I brought out studies showing the effects of tv on little ones... it helped get my point across. My dh will mindlessly eat and watch tv. He has gained about 20 lbs in the past 1.5 years. It's hard for me to not say anything. So I get the tv and food thing. And the golf thing. Dh goes to the gym while I am at work and Jasper is at daycare, but he doesn't have time to do the dishes. I just have to let things go. It's hard, I know. 

I think it really helps to have concrete examples of things you need. "More help" is way too abstract for some men. It needs to be, "put the laundry in the dryer, buy dog food, pick kids up at school at 2:30." And probably in writing. With reminders. Have you tried approaching it like that? My dh is willing to step in, he just needs clear ideas. 

[Abraisme]

I agree with the others, it sounds like you really do have too much on your plate.  I can't imagine doing all of those things without a kid!  Perhaps you can cut back to just 1 or 2 things?  Taking time to take care of yourself and Sora are much more important than trying to get a degree to working yourself to death.  

While I've never had a binge eating problem, I can also easily get into a sugar craving cycle.  Like the others have said, once it's out of your system, it's so much easier to say no to it.  Maybe just plan a week where you're going to detox from sugar and remove it all from your house?  Now I make 'healthy' versions of treats with honey and have a small bit every day.  It's enough to make me feel like I'm not depriving myself and I enjoy it.  Quite quickly I stopped craving the bad foods and I'm much more likely to stick with my diet.  I've also found that because GAPS is so much work, I'm not motivated to cheat because I've put so many hours into doing it right.  I feel like I have so much invested at this point that we have to finish it out!  I'm sure that it's possible for you to figure it out too, it just sounds like you need to get all the junk out of your house and start from scratch.  All in all though, you have to want to do it for you and your health.  

Luckily, we don't have TV battles around here.  My dh and I do watch some TV, but we're not attached to it in any way.  I agree with what Amanda said, maybe you can show your DH some studies about how it's bad for Sora to have the TV on all the time?

My dh mentioned to me once a while back that he thought I was going to have to get a job or help earn some money in some way.  I said this..  "That's fine, but then you're going to have to do half of the cooking, half of the cleaning and I'll be too tired to have sex".  He never asked me to get a job again.  ;)  I do think that if both parents are working that the household chores should be split 50/50.  It's only fair to me, as I can't imagine taking care of my house, cleaning, etc AND working.  Honestly, it doesn't even seem to me like you want a job so much as just a social life and friends.  Being a sahm can be isolating if you don't have a good social network.  I can understanding wanting to work and have adult conversations if I didn't have friends around on a regular basis.  My friends in Oregon kept me social and sane.  Right now I'm just sort of coasting along until we get someplace stable so that I can build up my network again.  Overall, I think my point is that you shouldn't feel obligated to do so much.

[Autumnshades]

When I went on the diet I did buy a dark chocolate bar (I dislike dark chocolate but it is better for you and I allowed myself a tiny square, once a day) it really helped me ease off the sugar for sure. I need to get away from the sugar very soon. I am tired of feeling like I 'need' sugar to get through the day.

We don't have a tv at all. We have tv shows on our computer and we don't watch much stuff. I try to spend lots of time out of the house so Eli can run around -- it's been great weather wise! It was so warm today!

[jbk21]

We don't have TV but we let the kids watch a few shows here and there- mostly when I am stressed and NEED to get something done.  I don't want to rely on it too much, but it seems okay for the time being.  I would not be okay having the TV as background noise though.  In fact, when we were in Ohio that was an issue.  My family ALWAYS has it on, and so every time I'd see it on but nobody watching I'd turn it off.  My niece would say "Hey I want that on!" (she is 4) but she wasn't watching it.  She had been playing contently.  She also falls asleep watching late night cartoons (YIKES).  I have so many issues with that.  

Anyway, this is the weight loss thread so let me say something about that-

I've been at my pre-preg weight all along but I am soft.  I have been running lately and LOVE IT and I already feel a difference (I've only run 3 times!)  I just feel stronger in general, my posture is improved, I feel less winded, etc.  I am pleased.  But now I am starving all the time and want to eat ALL THE CARBS.