I wanna talk weight loss!!

[rainbowmoon]

Alright. As a lot of people in this forum know, I have had some weight issues in the past. I went from 150 to 130 in about a month and a half by starving myself, and spent a good year or so with some restrictive eating habits and excessively exercising. After that I began binging seriously and struggled to get that under control; my weight eventually hit 178 and is back down to 170 now. I should mention, probably just for reference, that I am 5'3 and 18 years of age.
I am finally at place where I feel I can be somewhat sensible about my eating and about a weight loss effort. Although its difficult and I have to monitor myself, I CAN eat moderatley and exercise, too. My motivations for weight loss are no longer to be so skinny I fade away or to "show" my relatives who made me feel bad for so long for being overweight; I want to look good, feel good, and be healthy.
The reason why I am posting is because I need a little advice. First of all, I cannot count calories. Because I have disordered eating in my history, counting calories makes me a total nuerotic worrywart mess. I'm just not sure how to go about losing weight, I guess. I plan to exercise 5-6 days a week, and I love to exercise, but my plan regarding food is just to eat small, healthy meals when I am hungry and not worry too much about it. No diets, no crazy plans- this time I want to learn how to eat properly for life.
I am not sure where to get a goal, either. The height/weight tables recommend I weigh 110-125, and I've never been that light, even when I was abusing myself.

I attached three photos to give you an idea of what I've looked like at each weight. The first one is of me at 135, the next one at 155, and lastly, vbpic3, is of me currently, at 170 or so.
lovenlight,
Linz

[rincaro]

Hmmm... I think you look good in all three pictures. But I'm not one to give good ideas about how much to weigh. I'm 5'10" and I used to weigh 135. Nowadays I'm quite rubenesque and really trying just to get healthy. I need to lose, but I'm trying not to focus on it.

How did you feel at each of the weights? Not look in the mirror feel, just moving your body around healthy feel?

Can you identify the culprits in your weight gain? For me, it's sweets. No questions. I'm almost to the point where I've eliminated non-vegan sweets from my diet. But then there is the wonderful world of vegan sweets waiting for me.

[rincaro]

btw - i've never seen your pic before. you're so pretty!

[Music Girl]

Oh, you're so pretty!

Be happy and eat healthy - when you're hungry, be active, and try not to worry about the numbers (easier said than done, esp. in today's messed-up society...)

I wish everyone would start understanding that true, eye-popping beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Seriously....you look equally lovely in ALL THREE photos...I'm serious. Just take care of you and enjoy the body you have. You aren't supposed to look like anyone but you, anyway. I drove myself crazy for years trying to look like something I was never meant to be!!

Best, best wishes to you.

[kristadb]

I like them all. I don't see a difference between 1 and 2. I see a difference in 3, but it's not much of a change - mostly breasts, upper arms and legs.

[Peter Parker]

www.drmcdougall.com

common sense weight loss thats vegan and works. starch based with the addition of vegetables and fruits. easy to follow.

[Formerbaboon]

The only advice I can give is to subsitute things like vegan ranch for balsamic vinegar, and using preserves instead of pb. You need some fat, but when my stepmom went on a diet, her doctor reccomended a diet lower in fat...

[April]

Wow Rainbow! It's so cool to finally see you. You're an attractive young woman in each of the pictures. You're also not nearly as apple shaped as sometimes you say you are. I think you know everything you need to know in order to lose weight healthily. It just takes patience and self confidence at this point. Be your best friend, not a drill instructor.

[glamboy]

You actually look pretty healthy at 150 hun.
~Glamboy

[IamJen]

You are a cutie! I've never seen a picture of you either.

So much of what works, what doesn't, depends on your personality. The two big traps for me are: emotional/stress eating, and availability of junk food. The availability issue is easily resolved - don't buy it (or if you need a fix once in awhile, buy a one-serving amount). The emotional issue is harder - one of the things that helped me in this area was having someone to hold me accountable. I wrote in another post that it's kind of like having an AA sponsor. :) I also did alot of reading about emotional eating.

The biggest key though, for me losing weight (110 lbs as of yesterday), is regular exercise. Sounds like you're on the right track there. :)

Some other thoughts:
*try your best to keep your diet varied - fruits, veggies, grains, fats, protein
*eat less processed foods when possible - they often are more filling
*drink water - helps you feel full, and will keep you hydrated
*have healthful snacks around - I'm a sucker for red-pepper hummus w/veggies
*try smaller, more frequent meals - your stomach will adapt to receiving less food at a time
*aim for 1-2 lbs/weeks, but don't worry if there are 0-loss weeks, it happens. :(
*use your gut as the guide for when you've reached your desired weight. The "guides" are broad and vary widely - when *you* feel good, that's all that counts. :)
*allow yourself treats once in awhile, but don't use food as a reward :no:

[Artichoke47]

I agree that you're very pretty, RB. :)

I think you need a break from exercise. I'm not joking. Give your body a week or two. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts, especially the first two.

Then start exercising again and eat when you are hungry.


ETA: and also what I suggested here: http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showpost.php?p=409862&postcount=24

[Descentia]

I think you look gorgeous in all three pictures. I do understand where you are coming from. I too struggled with my perception of myself.

I think your plan to eat reasonably sized healthy meals and exercise comfortably is fine. Watch the snacks and if you have a tendancy to eat junk try not to buy it or as someone else mentioned by a small one serve pack.

[brownieB26]

I agree with everyone, you look fantastic in all of the pictures. Even at 170 lbs, you still look mighty fine, not at all like you describe yourself. I couldn't begin to imagine you at 125 pounds, as the height chart suggests. You look really healthy in the picture of you at 155, so thirty pounds less, yikes!

Take your weight loss slow. You've probably read- reduce the calories by 250/day (I know you don’t want to count cals, but maybe just leave out a snack a day?) and increase exercise 250 cals/day. 500 cals a day * 7 days = 1 pound /week. Maybe you want to lose 20 pounds- it will take about 20 weeks, which is 20/52weeks/yr = 4.6 months to lose the weight. That’s only about 1/3 of a year, which really isn't that much when you think about it. You can do it. When you get there, you'll most likely reach a new set point for your body, which will allow your body to stay at this weight by controlling how it sends out the hormones that tell you it is full/not full. If you are always feeling hungry at this weight even after the transitional/set point period, it may just be genetics, and that you can't help.
Quick tips: -take a piece of fruit (bananas rock) with you to the gym. Eat it right after you exercise. That way, you won't get home and be starving, and eat the whole loaf of bread.
-Never judge yourself by the number on the scale. Don't work out to lose weight, work out to make yourself healthy. If you are able to run a mile and not get out of breath even thoguh you still weigh 170, man you're still damn healthy. Looking good- you've already accomplished it :p.
-Always have fruit and veggie handy to snack on. Hide or don't buy the high fat snacks (not that I thought you did anyway), and if your parents buy them, try to think of them as 'theirs' and treat them as you would a roommate in college- you don't touch their stuff, they don't touch yours.

I hope I'm not triggering anything with all of this. If I am, give me a :whack: and I'll delete this so you don't have to see it. All the bets to you honey!

[qetta]

Rainbowmoon, you are so, so pretty! In all three pics. And I agree with brownieB26. I couldn't imagine you at your "healthy weight" of 125. Forget you even know that number!

Everyone else has already given great advice. I just wanted to say that you're beautiful, sweetie!

[Reda]

Great pictures, you are very pretty! :D Like qetta I just wanted to show my support and say that it's really great that you have such a positive and healthy attitude towards food and exercise. :up:

No, wait.... there's one thing!
I read in a magazine about health and exercise, that you should NOT exercise MORE than 5 times per week. 3-4 is actually best. The reason is that if you exercise almost every day then your body thinks that this is normal and lowers your metabolism accordingly. :down:
Does anyone else have any experiences/thoughts on that?

Good luck with it and have loads of fun in the meantime! :D

[Peter Parker]

Great pictures, you are very pretty! :D Like qetta I just wanted to show my support and say that it's really great that you have such a positive and healthy attitude towards food and exercise. :up:

No, wait.... there's one thing!
I read in a magazine about health and exercise, that you should NOT exercise MORE than 5 times per week. 3-4 is actually best. The reason is that if you exercise almost every day then your body thinks that this is normal and lowers your metabolism accordingly. :down:
Does anyone else have any experiences/thoughts on that?

Good luck with it and have loads of fun in the meantime! :D

your going to alter your exercise due to what you read in one magazine? How many people were in the provided study?

[tearhsong2]

RBM, you are a very pretty girl.

[Coney]

If you can quit white sugar and white flour/white rice, you'll notice a big difference. Sugar's hard cause there's sugar in almost everything. MSG is also a culprit as is Corn syrup. You can hardly buy a bottle of juice w/o it containing corn syrup.

Stick with fresh veggies/fruits and foods where you know what the ingredients are. If the ingredient label is all chemicals, don't buy it.

That's how I started to take the first 5 of the 15 I put on after age 30. I had a really bad habit of eating a king sized candy bar every afternoon, drinking many pints of beer almost every night, and eating french fries with white bread and a protein. I kept asking "why am I gaining all this weight?" Then I took a look at what I was eating, and decided to change.

If your exercising, that's great, keep it up. An hour a day of steady aerobic sweatiness will really help take the pounds off.

[kristadb]

Not sure if any of you know this, but RBM has been an active exerciser for a long time. She often doesn't consume a lot of calories and has struggled with her weight a lot.

Personally, I think all this weight loss talk is nonsense for you and just start enjoying your life and your body.

[MsRuthieB]

Personally, I find all this talk about weight loss, what did you eat today, blah blah getting to me lately. So many kids with so many body image issues....where the heck did society go wrong to have a whole generation so consumed with being "x" sized. A lot of actions going on that I'm reading about are so unhealthy. And it's like the kids don't even care....or maybe they don't know how to care? It's disheartening to see. Really is. They are missing the best days of their lives and don't even know it. Sometimes I just wish I could reach through the PC and shake some sense into them. I swear!!!

(sorry about the rant)

RBM - You look good girl!! If you walked down the street here where I live you would be turning heads all day long. Keep excercising for your health and not specifically to get smaller. You'll not find happiness in a number stuck on a tag.

Peace,
Ruthie

[mayuko]

i concur with krista and ruthie.

and linz, love the pics :up: that second one is so cute! ^_^

[Bobsy]

my plan regarding food is just to eat small, healthy meals when I am hungry and not worry too much about it. No diets, no crazy plans - this time I want to learn how to eat properly for life.

Linz, you already have the answer, and you wrote it right here in your post. :)

Can I tell you a little story?

My bf has always had weight problems. He has been overweight most of his life. We met through writing letters to each other and we eventually planned to meet. He lost a lot of weight by the time we met, through basically starving himself, because he wanted to be slim when he met me. At his lowest weight, he was at the low end of the 'ideal weight' section of the chart, despite having a large build. But he still wasn't happy. He never felt happy with the way he looked. He still felt fat and told me so regularly. Now he's put on quite a bit of weight again, he looks at photos from that time and says to me 'why wasn't I happy with that?'

His mum has similar problems, and so often says, 'one day I'll be slim and happy,' even though she too has been slim in the past and it didn't make her happy.

What I'm saying here is that simply being skinny won't make you like your body and be happy. Your body can't do that for you. There will always be something you dislike about the way you look. Only you can decide to be happy with the way you look and stop focusing on the 'faults'.

And you know what? You don't have to weigh 110-125 pounds to be able to do that. You can do it right now. :) You're a beautiful girl, Linz!

I know there may still be reasons why you want to lose weight, and I wish you best of luck with doing so if that's what you want, but please don't pin all your happiness on getting down to some 'target weight', because that's not where happiness and self-esteem come from. I promise.

Krista is right, enjoy your life and your body. She's much better at these pep talks than me, and I'm sure you've heard what I've said a million times before, but maybe hearing it from one more person will help. :)

Re-read the line from your post that I quoted. That's all you need.

Good luck, Linz!

[Reda]

your going to alter your exercise due to what you read in one magazine? How many people were in the provided study?

Did I ever say that I altered my exercise schedule because of this? Noooooo....
I exercised 3-4 times a week before I read this study and I still do.

Geeez, lighten up!! :rolleyes:

[rainbowmoon]

rincaro- Aww, thanks! You're too sweet. :p I think I felt best when I was between 135 and 155- something in the 145 range. There I felt really energetic, and although I wasn't incredibly thin, I definatley, looking back, think I was fat at that weight. Oh, and 5'10 and 135 is really thin! But I realize that we're all built differently, too.

Music Girl- Your advice is good. I realize that I need to stop expecting to weigh as much as my Mom, or my aunts, or my best friend- because I'm not them! I am also trying to sort of avoid the scale so much...I mean not get too hung up on the number stuff.

Peter, Thank you for the link, I will check it out.

FormerBaboon- I think some fat is good, just as some fat is bad, and that being veganish, I don't get a lot of bad fat. The main thing, I guess, is that fatty foods contain more calories, and you have to cut those to lose weight, right?! Lol.

Hey April! I think I'm pretty apply, but you know our perceptions of ourselves are generally far more critical then the way everyone else sees it! You are right about being my own best friend instead of drill instructor- in other words, supportive, kind, ect., rather than like, critical and hard on myself.....

Glamboy- I always thought I was so fat at 150, so fat as 135, I think my head is a little messed up! Its hard to know because being that I am short, my weight according to the doctors and insurance tables is so low!

IamJen- Thanks for all the sensible advice, I will pay attention to all of it!! :) I am a big emotional eater, and thats definatley a factor for me, but another thing, like you said, is simply availability. It becomes tricky, because my parents eat poorly and there is a lot of junk in the house...so I have to really crank on the willpower at times around here.

Artichoke, why do you think I need to not exercise? I thought exercise was good for weight loss! :confused: I could try the points thing, too...

Descentia- My snacks are small, like an apple and a handful of almonds or something like that. Today I had a bag of graham crackers in the car with me, and I was driving, and I wound up eating way too many of them!! So from now on I am going to measure out a portion instead. I don't care if it takes me some time to lose weight, either...I want it to happen FOR GOOD, not fast! Lol.

[rainbowmoon]

Aww, brownie, you didn't trigger me! It was a nice post...and I realize there are certainly things you have to do calorically to lose weight. My plan is to do most of it through exercise and just plain eating sensibly...its hard, and you probably understand this, but the control freak in me is like DYING to count calories. But that will only make me a freaked out mess. I don't know if it makes sense that counting calories messes me up, but I just get too focused on the numbers.

Thank you, qetta! You're too sweet! :kiss:

Hmm, Reda...I always heard that exercise revved up your metabolism!! I just want to say that my 5-6 days a week, I'm not going crazy. I only have one day a week where I do an hour of cardio, most other days I do a little bit of body toning stuff, 30-45 minutes cardio, and 2-3 days a week, weights. So I'm not like, doing marathon 3 hour workout sessions 5-6 times a week!!! Anyway, thanks so much!! :)

tearhsong, thank you! Next time I need a self esteem boost, I'm just gonna post a pic on VB!!!! :wayne:

jwnyc- Good advice about additives and crummy white bread products! I definatley try to avoid those, although I could do better. I am trying to cut down on sugar, too, but that really is difficult!!

kristadb- I only want to lose weight to be healthy, and I am trying to maintain my focus on my HABITS, instead of the scale. I don't feel like I, personally, am meant to weigh 170 lbs., and I think 145 would be better, but I'm not killing myself or going to make myself crazy over it anymore. No way. :no:

MsRuthie, maybe I should move!!! Lol. Everyone keeps assuring me its different in college...;) Anyway, I just want you to know, I am proud of the person I am, I am happy to be me. I haven't been able to say that in a long, long time because of my size. I'd like to be smaller (I won't lie!) but at the same time, I am happy to be me here, and my main focus is on my health. I'm not saying its bad to be bigger or that its unhealthy, I just think a healthier weight FOR ME is a little lower, at 145 or so like I said. You're fabulous, MsRuthie, and you feel good at your weight, don't you? Don't let it get to you, because we're not all made the same here...and you're the superest. :D