Community » Motivation » 50+ Lbs to Lose » Have to lose a lot of weight, no idea where to start!

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Zanny Zanny
Wed, Jul 14, 2010 09:07
 Unrated
Have to lose a lot of weight, no idea where to start!
Hi,

So I'm 20 and 230 lbs. My ideal weight is 150 lbs, so I have 80 to lose. How do I do this? It just seems impossible! I spend most of my day in classes, and when I'm not, I'm reading or writing essays (I'm a Literature major so I normally have at least 2 novels to read each week and I teach, so a lot of my time is spent marking or preparing lessons).

What can I do to help me achieve this goal? I normally don't eat very healthy, in terms of portion, but that I can fix myself. I just don't know how to get the exercise in. Also, does anybody have healthy items that I can snack on during my breaks? It has to be things that will keep for many hours in +30 deg. weather since we are in the summertime at the moment.

Thank you, all of your feedback is appreciated.

fatal fatal
Wed, Jul 14, 2010 17:07
 Unrated
Encouraging First Step!
The first big step, which you've already made, is deciding that you want to do something. I haven't been at this too long but find the calorie tracker combined with the workout tracker to be very influential in getting fit. I heard some others around the office talking about calorie counting and the Body Bug system. I really didn't want to spend a lot of money up front. This program seems to fit with my level of need very well. I track all my food. Everything. What I've found is that after the first couple of days I started to see what the calorie intake is for the food I was stuffing in my pie hole. Surprisingly, within a couple of days it started to become second nature to start self regulating the food on my plate. (IE: instead of two chicken thighs for dinner I had thoughts like "gee I just stick to one and save 200 calories off my intake for the day".) I don't really feel like I'm giving up on anything just changing my ways through self education of what I have been doing. Another part of this that acts like an endorphin is the workout tracker. Firstly let me tell you I'm no gym body. I don't walk on the treadmill yet (it's still banished to the basement under the pile of clothes). I have started walking at lunch for about 45 minutes and I walk between buildings to meetings instead of getting in the car. What I'm getting at is that I'm seeing a big difference in just adding small amounts of focused excersize instead of setting aside hour(s) of time going to gym. So far it seems to be working.

As for snacks, I'd suggest carrot or celery sticks. Can't really stand most health food but these seem to do the trick for me. I take an apple in my lunch sack and save it for a mid-afternoon snack. This has saved me from raiding the peanut and pretzel snacks around the office here.

Good luck to you.

tbbiker10 tbbiker10
westland MI
Sun, Jul 18, 2010 07:07
 Unrated
re; body bug
where do I get the info on body bug I am allreay using this site tracking diet and workouts plus blog

Rachmarc Rachmarc
Sun, Jul 18, 2010 23:07
 Unrated
Snack ideas
I find nuts to be really filling...almonds especially. A small handful plus an apple and some laughing cow cheese is a great snack that will stick with you. My issue is that most snacks leave me wanting more...especially those carb-filled 100 calorie packs. I lost a lot of weight last year and found that protein was the key. As soon as I went crazy on carbs, I gained weight. Hard boiled eggs, a few slices of deli meat rolled in lettuce and cheese, are all great.

Keeper Keeper
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 22:07
 Rating: 4.0/5.0
Buying time
When I was working on my Masters I taped my notes and played them back while I did my walking. The exercise seemed to make the info stick better. Also, I know it's expensive, but books on tape may help... sometimes you can rent them for not too much... I hope this helps buy you some time to work out.

sleonkress sleonkress
San Clemente CA
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 01:07
 Unrated
Protein ideas
I have been doing lots of protein, low carbs and low fat. Some snacks I've really found to be helpful are these great protein shots. The are called New Whey Protein Shots, 42 grams of protein and taste pretty good (like ungelatizied Jello). Also, Atkins has a vanilla shake that is only 2 net carbs, 18g pro and filling. One other thing, La Tortilla factory has these amazing low carb whole wheat tortillas that are only 3 net carbs for the small size. These are great with eggbeaters in the am and fat free jalapeno jack cheese or with diced grilled chicken breast.
Good Luck with your progress and hope these ideas help keep it interesting.

sleonkress sleonkress
San Clemente CA
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 01:07
 Unrated
Love this idea
Thanks for sharing this idea! I love it. Can't wait to try it

JOHNSTONCOOKIES JOHNSTONCOOKIES
Mequon WI
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 23:07
 Unrated
do it at any age
I'm 68 and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 4 months ago. I'm otherwise healthy and weighed 241. I took two blood pressure meds and am 5'-10"tall. My doctor said I would have to take pills to control the diabetes. I said I would never take more pills...PERIOD! Doctor said OK but then you have to change your lifestyle by adding regular exercise (cardio and strength), changing to a more healthy diet, and losing weight. I was told that I would need to come in for another checkup soon and had to lose 12 pounds by that time to show that I was changing my lifestyle. I also had to present a record of my daily glucose measurements. I was scared. I don't want to die blind and with my legs cut off which was definitely in the prognosis and maybe only 10 years away. That was my MOTIVATION and Motivation is the first and most important step in changing lifestyle.
I don't have a diet but use FitClick to record everything I eat accurately so I can see the calories I eat. My doctor said that calories are the most important factor in weight loss. I also started going to the Y and forced myself to do stationary bike starting with low effort and low heart rate and gradually working up to higher effort. I began to see results on the scale. 1 pound in the first week. I was encouraged and still very motivated. I didn't want to die (and still don't). I gradually worked up to a standard set (1 minute rest and 4 minutes very hard biking) and finally was able to do six sets and feeling very good. I lost my 12 pounds by my next meeting with the doctor. I have overcome shyness and began mild strength exercises in the weight room. Over a couple of months I can really see the difference. And I found that strength training was a great calorie burner. The motivation is also enhanced by the knowledge that I can do something that twenty somethings do. Great! My life is changed. My doctor said I was very inspiring. Now I weigh 204 lbs and have been able to eliminate one of my blood pressure meds. I have to get to 160 lbs and I'm convinced that it is fun to see results however small and know that in the long run I will be successful. Age does not make a difference. MOTIVATION DOES.
My strongest suggestion for anyone is to find a strong MOTIVATOR and convince yourself that you should be always influenced strongly by YOUR OWN motivator. For me it was health (at my age it's kind of scary). At twenty something it could be SELF RESPECT, PEER ACCEPTANCE, BEING COOL, LOOKING SEXY, DOWNSIZING SHIRTS AND PANTS, ACCOMPLISHING SHORT TERM GOALS etc etc etc

If I indulge on a particular weekend I know that I must return to the lifestyle I've selected. I do return. Anyone can do it. Think of the guy on the Subway ad. You can be inspiring too. Begin with yourself. It gets better and better.

AshiaDG AshiaDG
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 02:08
 Unrated
With the help of fitclick, I lost 50lbs in 3 months!
It really does work! fitclick was and still is my source for food calorie amounts, and the weight tracker i great too! I have been aked by so many poeple what my "secret" was, I startd to blog about what i was doing. check out my blog on Blogspot
[email protected]

msjeanette msjeanette
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 09:08
 Unrated
Great work keep it up
I to have been struggling with my weight and have lost 38lbs. But May comes along and I am stuck and dissappointed. cannot seem to loose one lb. I eat approx. 1000-1200 calories a day. I do swim stretch excersises for 1 hour and then arobics and swimming for the last 45 minutes (3x a week). Nothing do I feel great yeap sure do. So I stopped logging and somewhat paid attention and I have gained 2lbs.
So.....today is a new day and I am back on track for sure.
Joined a workout club and will be at it. Let's see what this may bring. Wish me luck. Oh and I am back to fitclick.

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