Slimming Down and Getting Ready!

[CarlosHoney]

I wanted to start a thread on ways to get fit for the wedding (and for life). So, just add what works for you!

Drinking nothing but water. Even juice has lots of sugar.

Whole wheat pastas and breads are processed differently by your body I.E. SMART CARBS!

If you have oily skin, or have problems with acne and blackheads, use the Proactiv Solution's Refining Mask overnight. It dries it all out, and leaves you really perfect skin.

Not eating meat, eggs, and dairy, and when I do, I eat a lower fat variety.

Lots of raw, fresh veggies.

Using Mayo in your hair doesn't really work. If you need a conditioning treatment, use cholesterol. It comes in a tub in the haircare aisle (with the african american products). Put it on, leave it for 30 minutes, and rinse well.

When I have a craving, I eat something to satisfy it. Like, if I want chips, I eat the baked kind..

Get plain yogurt and mix in honey and fruit. Even low fat yogurt with the fruit in it has TONS of sugar.

When you brush your teeth, use your toothbrush on your lips. Exfoliates and natarally plumps them.

Walking is great!

Take 2 large lemons and a bunch of sugar, make your own exfoliating scrub. Make it really grainy and rub it on your face, elbows, feet, knees, etc.

Don't eat 4 hours before bed. NEVER eat and go straight to sleep.
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What do you girls have? :bbmrgreen:

[bnd94]

Let's see what I can add.........

Eat breakfast. It really is the most important meal of the day. I eat breakfast not long after I get up. I hear it gives your metabolism a boost. I eat it even if I am not hungry. I try to buy a cereal with low sugar and high fiber. Maybe I am weird but I love bran flakes. Oh and special K. Smart start with antioxidants is really good too. It is pretty low in sugar but it tastes pretty sweet (for all of you that have a sweet tooth like me in the am. ;))

I have been watching my calorie intake. But don't forget getting too few calories a day can prevent you from losing weight.

Alot of fruit is high in fiber so you feel fuller longer. I snack on fruit now when I am hungry in between meals.

I use to always skip breakfast and lunch. But since I have started eating them I have lost more weight than when I skipped them. If I have a really hectic day and I know I won't have time for lunch I make up on of those slim fast shakes and take it with me.

I have been taking my vitamins now too and I feel better. Although I will warn you all I was taking those one a day active ones and they work. I was getting to the point where I couldn't even sleep I was so hyper. I am taking the weight smart ones now. Honestly though the main reason I am taking vitamins at all is to get the folic acid. You all know what that means! LOL! ;)

I drink ALOT of water. Not only does it fill you up and flush your body it makes your skin healthier too. I drink soda too but only diet. I didn't like the taste at first but I love it now and wouldn't dream of drinking any soda that isn't diet.

I get at least 30 minutes a day of exercise a day (usually alot more) I try to get my heart rate up enough so talking while I am working out takes quite a bit of effort. Also it is good to get your heart rate up for a few minutes and then go slower until you are comfortable talking and then bring it up again so it is an effort to talk.

I try not to eat anything at least 3 hours before I go to bed. If I really feel hungry I will have fruit or veggies.

Back when I did the low carb diet I brought in all the whole wheat foods I could and have stuck to that.

I read labels. If I am in the store and want something I will read the label. The first thing I look at is the calories and fat if either of them are really high it stays in the store cause I know if I bring it home I will eat it eventually. Especially if it is something that isn't going to fill me up or anything.

I am sure you all know, don't go grocery shopping hungry!!

Go outside and play with your kids. You are never too old to go sliding(whether it is on a slide at the playground or on a snowy hill it is fun and make you feel young again!!!!!:D ) Your kids will love it too. I know the majority of my favorite childhood memories are when my parents played with us. baseball, kickball, jump rope, skiing, whatever. We don't have kids but we still try to get friends together and do something active even if it is fourwheeling.

I've lost 10 pounds so far(4 weeks) just doing this stuff so it does work :D

I am sure I will think of some more things. I look forward to reading what you all do to cut corners too.

[ikkin510]

Thanks for the tips ladies! I have been trying to lose a few pounds and so far, am not having any luck. My major problem is I can't get motivated. I have never been a big fruit/veggie person so that's been hard to. Today I am going grocery shopping and I'm determined to only buy healthy so that that's all I can find in the house to eat. I didn't know that wheat bread/noodles was the way to go, but I will definatly pick that up today! Thanks again!

[CindySue]

Thanks for the tips ladies! I have been trying to lose a few pounds and so far, am not having any luck. My major problem is I can't get motivated. I have never been a big fruit/veggie person so that's been hard to. Today I am going grocery shopping and I'm determined to only buy healthy so that that's all I can find in the house to eat. I didn't know that wheat bread/noodles was the way to go, but I will definatly pick that up today! Thanks again!

Ive been trying to too and it just aint working. Im not "over-weight", but I would like to lose about 15 lbs. Ive been trying and trying although to be honest, Im not trying real hard :bbredface: .

Here is a tip I has used before and it worked...i need to start using it again now:
When you are craving something salty like chip, eat a pickle (if they dont make you gag ;) ) because its not actually the chips you are wanting, its the salt your body in craving.

Same things with sweets, eat fruit. Your body is craving sugar so eat the good kind.

If you DO crave something specific, like cheescake, eat a small piece. This will usually satisfy the craving. If you try to fight it, the craving will usually win and a whole cheescake will be toast.

[bnd94]

I never thought of eating pickles for a salt craving. I'm definetly going to try that!! :D

Another thing I thought of is the best way that I have found to get portions smaller is to put half of what you normally would eat on your plate. If after you eat that you are still hungry eat half of what is left. Even if you eat 3/4 of what you normally eat you would be surprised how many calories you save in a day.;)

[CindySue]

Another thing I thought of is the best way that I have found to get portions smaller is to put half of what you normally would eat on your plate. If after you eat that you are still hungry eat half of what is left. Even if you eat 3/4 of what you normally eat you would be surprised how many calories you save in a day.;)

Something that has me eating less (when i do it) it to eat SLOW.....it take 20 minutes for your brain to register that you are full.....think of how much you could eat in 20 miutes. If you eat real slow, when your brain realizes your full you have eaten maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of your dinner.

Something else was to eat 2 or 3 bites and then drink a few swallows of water.

I dont know how this one works but it does.......eat 5 smaller meals throughout the day instead of 3 large ones. I guess eating the smaller meals more often, youre not as hungry so you dont over eat.

[Kacie_bride]

I would like to loose about 10 pounds before my wedding in December so I figure I can wait until June to start :cool: . If we weren't going to Jamaica I probably wouldn't care, but the whole bathing suit thing gets me. My problem is I am an extremly picky eater. I don't like food that is good for you. I do like fruit, but it does not fill me up. I tried to eat those fruit cup things with yogurt from McDonald's for lunch and my gosh I thought I would die of hunger the rest of the day. I love sweets. I love beef. I couldn't live without a good steak ever so often. Really the only vegetable I like is green beans.

[countrygirl]

I am going to have to keep this thread handy!!!

[StaceyMc]

I started a diet late last year because I was disgusted with the 10 lbs. I'd gained. It worked, until stress overtook the diet. I'm doing the following again, so I hope it works again.

Breakfast - Slim Fast (I like the powdered better than the canned)

Around 10:00 a.m. - Yogurt or cottage cheese

Lunch - a Lean Cuisine and carrots or celery or any veggie I have.

Snack around 3:00 - one of those 100 calorie cookie packs (the peanut butter is so yummy!) or some other kind of low cal sweet snack.

Dinner - whatever I decide to make (I just don't let Joe fix my plate)

I try not to snack in the evening, but if I do, I try to buy "Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches" so I can get my ice cream fix without eating a huge bowl.

I drink water throughout the day. Sometimes, I just have to have a pop fix, but I've really cut down on the amount that I drink during the day.

[Jenn060306]

I've found that buying a pre-made veggie tray has been good. I am a bit to lazy to chop up veggies myself it seems. I don't know why, its not difficult. But with the veggie tray i can pull it out and snack on it while i am watching TV or doing homework. Also i have also started putting fruit on the coffee table infront of the TV. That's when Mar and i really get into snacking mode so we are more inclinded to have veggies/fruit when they are smack in front of you.

Also, apperently when you eat protines a chemical is made to help you digest it, and the same with carbs but a different chemical. When you mix the two together the different chemicals cancel eachother out so it takes longer for your body to digest the food. So try to eat protiens with veggies only and no carbs or carbs with veggies and no protines at each meal. You can have both in moderation but don't mix them, and allow at least 3 hours between them. I will try to find an article on this. I saw one not to long ago.

[brewsells]

I have never heard of not combining carbs w/ proteins before. I will have to try that. I am trying to lose at least 20 pounds before my wedding in August.. I have lost 5 already. I do my pilates in the morning as soon as I get up (I heard somewhere that excersize first thing in the morning gets the metoblism going great for the rest of the day). After work I walk the treadmill for 1/2 hour(about 1.25 miles). Drink LOTS of water while I am at work. That is when I want to snack the most since I have a desk job...

You all had some great tips, though. I will definatly give them a try. Can't hurt, right? :bblol:

[countrygirl]

Josh and I both want to slim up a bit before the wedding. I have to start cooking healthier!!!!

UUGGHH!!!!

[WeddingManager]

At max 300 Calories a meal and you will lose the weight. Amena has lost a bunch of weight after having Delphine just by doing that, after she could not get the weight off.

She has gotten me on it as well and I’m now starting to lose weight just over 2 weeks, she has been doing it for 30 days and lost 15 points. Just try to get a balanced diet every day. Veggies, meat, grain, etc. and don’t go over 300-400 cals.

I can eat what I want (no candy, no soda), but I just can not go over 400 cals a meal 3 meals a day. Really not all that bad, I just have to remember not to go off and eat the kitchen-sink late at night when I have nothing to do. I’m also starting to feel a lot better in mind and body because of it, and I don’t feel like I’m missing something or forcing myself to eat less. ;p

Hope that helps some one!

[CarlosHoney]

Something that I've also found, is read the labels.. If the ingredient list is longer than your thumb nail (no fakes) then it's going to be a lot better for you. Also, stick to the perimiter of the store (fresh fruits and veggies, meats, dairy, and breads) and only get what you need to fill in the gaps.

Breastfeeding can help. Everyone is different, though.. I've known people who are thinner than ever after breastfeeding for 6 months, some women retain water and stay heavy. I know it's not going to help many people, but it's helping me!! ;)

Oh, and I really second the breakfast thing. I eat oatmeal, malt-o-meal, cereal, or potato egg and cheese tacos every morning. I tend to eat less that way. Days that I don't eat breakfast I end up eating a lot more over the course of the day.

Glad to know that this is helping people. L3vi, thanks for that tip! I need at least 2700 calories a day since I'm nursing, but I'm going to try out that 400 calories per meal, and a couple of snacks along the way. :bbmrgreen:

[AllyM1]

When you eat 5 small meals a day it naturally boosts your metabolism. Even if you're not hungry, you still eat something.

A good timeline is every 3 hours...

example: 7am-breakfast
10am-snack
1pm-lunch
4pm-snack
7pm-dinner

Another tip that someone told me is to not eat anything after 7:30-8pm.

A lot of people stop eating or eat very little. People think that if you stop eating as much then you're body will "eat away the fat," but your body actually stores the fat.

[WebLady]

Something that has me eating less (when i do it) it to eat SLOW.....it take 20 minutes for your brain to register that you are full.....think of how much you could eat in 20 miutes. If you eat real slow, when your brain realizes your full you have eaten maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of your dinner.

Something else was to eat 2 or 3 bites and then drink a few swallows of water.

I dont know how this one works but it does.......eat 5 smaller meals throughout the day instead of 3 large ones. I guess eating the smaller meals more often, youre not as hungry so you dont over eat.

This is what my former personal trainer use to tell me. (I wish I could go back to him)

I sometimes eat too fast and I am sure when I do I eat too much. But I am getting better with that. I just put smaller portions on my plate.

As for eating more throughout the day, this also keeps your metabolism working throughout the day. The key is smaller meals but don't over do it ... grazing causes major weight gain.

... A lot of people stop eating or eat very little. People think that if you stop eating as much then you're body will "eat away the fat," but your body actually stores the fat.

Yeah, don't skip meals! I have a problem with this sometimes, I will forget to eat breakfast :bbredface: sometimes I won't eat or drink at all till like 5pm and then I am starving and I eat too much. I need to drink more water too!

The whole concept is that food is energy, so if you are just sitting around the house all day, you shouldn't eat as much. You have to burn more calories/fat than your body uses in order to loose weight.

LOL with all this knowledge, I should be in better shape huh, :bblol: I have gained weight over the last couple of years (ever since turning 30!) and I really need to loose about 30lbs. I have been making a better effort lately so I hope to see some changes soon. I just want to be in better shape to be healthier, I don't care if I never get back into a bikini ;)

[AllyM1]

For the past two months I have been working hard to get my body in shape. I have been doing cardio an hour in the morning and then a half hour at night and strength training 3 times a week.. It's tough and sometimes I don't feel like doing it but then I think about wearing a strapless dress and don't want jelly arms!!! :bbmrgreen:

[amystl]

I have been on the Weight watchers diet since Jan 1 and have lost 20 lbs. my problem is that i am losing my motivation. I am starting to kickbox and that seems to be helping. but i would love to have a workout partner to help motivate. I only have until Sept to lose about 50 more lbs ugh.. I really need to shape my arms and back.. any help would be appreciated

[WebLady]

... I would love to have a workout partner to help motivate.Me too, I have a problem staying motivated sometimes ;)

[AllyM1]

I'm the same way. When I go by myself I get bored. I keep bugging my fiance to either go when I go, or get me an MP3 player so I can atleast listen to music!

I just get bummed sometimes because I have been working out since the beginning of March but I myself cannot tell any difference. Everyone else says, "You look like you're losing weight," or "Your diet seems to be coming along, I can really tell a difference already," but I just don't see it.

[Jenn060306]

I would love to loose a couple more pounds. but i just haven't got alot of time right now. I have times where i really would like to go out for a run or walk but i'm a little nervous about doing it alone at night where we are living right now. Hopefully we will move in down the street from Mark's sister so her and i will go out and walk with the kids. I also plan on getting into Yoga. When we move Mark will be much closer to work so he can walk and i can have the car so i can get to the yoga studio :D

[usahgrad]

I would love to loose a couple more pounds. but i just haven't got alot of time right now.

I'm right there with you. So I'm working more right now at coming to terms with how I look than trying to fix it. Someday, in my dream world, I'll have time to exercise and money to eat healthily (ya I don't think that's a word). Right now, I just keep telling myself my fiance loves me and thinks I'm beautiful (I know, he tells me everyday) and I'll just make sure the photographer doesn't do any profiles! ;)

[Jenn060306]

I'm right there with you. So I'm working more right now at coming to terms with how I look than trying to fix it. Someday, in my dream world, I'll have time to exercise and money to eat healthily (ya I don't think that's a word). Right now, I just keep telling myself my fiance loves me and thinks I'm beautiful (I know, he tells me everyday) and I'll just make sure the photographer doesn't do any profiles! ;)

Yeah... i think i'll be able to loose the weight when i am ready. I'm just not there yet. Mark loves me being a bit cushy as i am now. It's just fustrating that i carry all my excess weight arround my waist. If i didn't i'd be perfectly happy. When i am done school and working i should have more time in the evenings for myself to excesice more and be more active. I will have Tues-Fri night to myself to go where ever since mar won't be home till 930ish.

And definatly no direct profiles, maybe slightly angled ones.

[rainbowtreat]

As much as I would love to lose some weight it just is not in the cards for me just yet. And defanitly not before the wedding. I know I will look beautiful on my wedding day no matter what. I have always been a big girl. Well when I was in hgih school I was small but then life started up. I know I could eat healthier but right now I am just trying to get through my days. Once I live in the same town I work in I can go home for lunch and not have to worry about bying something fast foodish or grabbign a bag of chips to snack on to hold me off till supper time. It will be easier also if I want to join the gym. Living in town and not 30 mins away.

[bnd94]

I noticed this winter the more I ate the more weight I lost.( I know this sounds crazy so let me explain)

I use to go the whole day and eat very little and not lose any weight. I ate alot of junk food though when I did eat. So I cut out most of the junk food and started eating small healthy stuff more often and it worked for me.

I read this somewhere and it makes sense...... If you don't eat enough during the day your body goes into starvation mode and anything you eat your body hoardes it, automatically stores it as fat and won't let your body use it for energy. So hence you don't lose weight.

My SB diet book says to think of your metabolism as a fire. You have to put wood on the fire to get the fire going same with your body you have to give it food throughout the day to keep your metabolism going. I apparently have a sluggish metabolism cause if I eat like every 4 hours and have breakfast shortly after I get up in the am I lose weight.

[CindySue]

Im running out of time to lose weight too. I was looking at my shower pics thinkig I really need to get busy!!!

[MOB Karen]

Oh, Cindy, I hope you don't have much to lose because you are down to days! Gosh, that came fast! Good luck with that! Amber & I also have to lose weight before the wedding, but neither one of us is motivated to start. Dieting sucks!!!!

[CindySue]

Oh, Cindy, I hope you don't have much to lose because you are down to days! Gosh, that came fast! Good luck with that! Amber & I also have to lose weight before the wedding, but neither one of us is motivated to start. Dieting sucks!!!!
If I could just lose 10 or 15 pounds I be happy. And I could if I put my mind to it, but you said it - Dieting SUCK!!!!! My thing is we are going fishing on our honeymoon so Im going to be spending a lot of time in my swim suit......I just dont want to be poking out all over!!!

[brewsells]

If I could just lose 10 or 15 pounds I be happy. And I could if I put my mind to it, but you said it - Dieting SUCK!!!!! My thing is we are going fishing on our honeymoon so Im going to be spending a lot of time in my swim suit......I just dont want to be poking out all over!!!

I hear you there!! We are planning to go on a cruise, so I will also wear my suit at some point. I have lost 10 already, but I don't really notice it. I hate that!!!

[CindySue]

I hear you there!! We are planning to go on a cruise, so I will also wear my suit at some point. I have lost 10 already, but I don't really notice it. I hate that!!!
Well I do know a lot of mine is in my head. I will lose the weight, but look in the mirror and see the weight still there. I have to be careful with it though.

[brewsells]

Well I do know a lot of mine is in my head. I will lose the weight, but look in the mirror and see the weight still there. I have to be careful with it though.

I gauge mostly off pants size, and I haven't been able to get into a smaller pair yet. That's what is frustrating.

[CindySue]

I gauge mostly off pants size, and I haven't been able to get into a smaller pair yet. That's what is frustrating.
Yeah me either...http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_19_5.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm414CPUS)...or worse, one of your favorite pair all the sudden are kind of tight! [/URL] [URL="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm414CPUS"]http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_4.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm414CPUS)





http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb068&pp=ZNxdm414CPUS (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb068_ZNxdm414CPUS)

[Jenn060306]

[QUOTE=CindySue]Yeah me either...http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_19_5.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm414CPUS)...or worse, one of your favorite pair all the sudden are kind of tight! [/URL] [URL="http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm414CPUS"]http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_4.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm414CPUS)


That's what i was thinking the other day. Did i gain weight? I don't think so.... maybe i haven't worn these for a while and forgot how they feel.... What the :censored: is going on?!?! I guess i've been snacking more or eating not as healthy food cause i am totally stressing about school and the wedding. :bbeek:

[ikkin510]

I'm going to jump on the I hate dieting wagon too. I only want to lose 20 pounds. Slim down my belly and my thighs a bit. The thing is, I have been trying to eat healthier and have been exersizing. I got on the scale the other day, I GAIN another 2 pounds. I just can't win!

[CindySue]

I'm going to jump on the I hate dieting wagon too. I only want to lose 20 pounds. Slim down my belly and my thighs a bit. The thing is, I have been trying to eat healthier and have been exersizing. I got on the scale the other day, I GAIN another 2 pounds. I just can't win!
Nikki.....muscle weighs more than fat so if youve gain muscle, it will make the scales say youve gained weight. The best way to gauge your success is to measure yourself. The inches wont lie. You could lose inches and gain muscle and while youve gotten smaller, the scales say you havent.

[woohoo2me]

if you eat your calories and fat intake mostly in the am and eat a light dinner it is alot better for you. you'll be burning more because you have all day to do it. so eat like a king-prince-pauper method. eat you steaks and stuff in the moring and have your cerals at night.