Health & Wellness

August 20, 2010 - 8:16am

Sandy Tankoos

In my continuing battle to lose weight -- I've just lost 11 pounds -- as I've mentioned, I am going on the Cruise to Lose with Richard Simmons, leaving from New Orleans on September 25th. I hope to pick up good suggestions to bring back to the website. I will be taking lots of photos and hope to have lots of fun.

There are very few cabins left, but if you are interested in joining us, you can make a reservation by calling: 800-637-8124.

Sandy

August 18, 2010 - 9:15pm

Rosemary Byrne

Ana - Thanks for sharing you story - You are proof positive that taking small steps,
and setting realistic, achievable goals is a key to successful, long-term weight loss. Take one habit, decide to change it and develop a new habit to replace it. You don't feel deprived and you feel a sense of accomplishment. In my weight loss journey I learned that success breeds success and that small steps can change our lives.

I can't help but ask questions - I know many will want to know -- How long did it take you to achieve your weight loss ? If you would be willing to share, Was there a particular event or episode that fired your motivation & got you going on the weight loss path - Did you join any form of support group - on-line or live - You haven't mentioned exercise. For me, that was the hardest - again I started slowly -- short walks and climbing the stairs at work. I walk & swim more now but I'm still not a lover of the exercise component.

Thanks again for your thoughtful comments and for helping us all to learn from your experience.

Rosemary Byrne
Step By Step Coaching
rcb@sbscoaching.com

August 17, 2010 - 11:48pm

Ana Kuspilic

Hi again, My very first lifestyle change was to try to get at least 7 hrs/night sleep, then a month later I began using Splenda or stevia granulated in my morning coffee rather than sugar. I also gave up non-dairy creamer and began to use fat free half and half but recently have begun to try taking my coffee sweetened but black. This takes some getting used to again, even though I used to drink it that way from my youth. The next big thing was to get nearly totally off anything fried in a crust or breading, then off anything fried or floating in grease at all. I do love butter and lard, but I also love olive and flax oil. My bread consumption had to be lowered considerably as I had for most of my life made bread, butter and coffee in the mornings my regular breakfast as well as a snack or even another meal. I also kept a log of what/how muchI ate as well as the emotions I was experiencing when the craving would fling itself on me. I calculated how many calories I was eating in a 24 hr period and how many I genuinely need to nourish me and give me strength without loading me down. It was also in this way that I learned to recognize my brain and body's own signals of satiety so that I only ate to just the beginnings of the feelings of fullness and went no further even if tempted. So I would eat only 1 or 2 small cookies or crackers and not the 6 or 12 I might ordinarily have quaffed. This was pretty hard for me and I continue to struggle with this aspect. However, one of the ways I use to discourage myself from falling off the wagon is to recall to mind the un-healthiness of eating to the bursting point and the biochemical changes that occur in my body when fatty foods or simple carbohydrate foods enter my GI system and bloodstream. And this month (Aug '10) I have resorted to trying to buy organic when possible and this takes plenty of strict budgeting for our household. We already eat plenty of vegetables and fruits coming from the local Farmer's Market and from our own backyard and that of so many of our neighbors who plant a small garden and share with us the fruits of their labors. I'm a fairly good and creative cook and we often have neighborhood get togethers where we all bring our special dishes of the harvest to share with each other and to spend time laughing and getting to know each other much better. The encouragement of my friends and neighbors has meant a great deal to me and has often bolstered my flagging spirit on occasion. And although I sometimes make a few steps backward and regain a few pounds, I nip it in the bud very quickly by seeing where I went off the path and not permitting myself to just continue along that way, I turn it around and begin again - a hundred times if need be. There's no sense "crying over spilt milk" - you simply pick yourself up and start again where you had left off. Attitude is important in so many of life's circumstances and particularly when attempting to exchange bad food/lifestyle habits for healthier ones. I still have quite a ways to go with this, but I just put one foot in front of the other and keep on keepin' on! LOL

August 10, 2010 - 8:41am

Rosemary Byrne

Thanks for all your comments - I hope my story can be helpful. It's difficult but it can be done, We all wait so long to get motivated -- I'm not sure of the source but I love the quote -- "MOTIVATION IS WHAT GETS YOU GOING, HABIT IS WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING" It's about slowly developing new food habits.
Maxsa - Nutrisystem is great way to get jump started - and give you the success & confidence to begin developing (or restoring) healthy "real" food habits. Go for it ! I wish I could take the cruise but already have a vacation planned.

Gloria - Celebrate the weight loss you've had. When I was confronted with Type 2 possibility, I also turned to exercise - short, easy walks. Don't think about the thirty pounds - My suggestion focus on what you can do to lose a pound or so a week - small changes, a little less butter or sugar or bread - whatever your weakness -- you will feel so much better for it --

Rhona - 2o lbs in a year is great - consider the suggestions for Gloria and look for an article that will be posted soon for some additional "TIPS"

Anna - Congratulations - 85 lbs. is great - plateua's are good - they give us a chance to look back at where we were, to see where we are and help us determine where we want to go - Would you mind sharing whatyour first habit/behavior change was --

Look forward to hearing from all of you again as you continue on the journey. Also please don't hesitate to contact me at rcb@sbscoacihng.com

Rosemary

August 2, 2010 - 12:53pm

Sandy Tankoos

Rosemary's story is getting a great resopnse. It's obviously a problem that many of us share. I noticed that Maxsa mentions that she is considering joining TOS50 on Richard Simmons' Cruise to Lose. If you are really serious about doing that, we would love to have you and anyone else interested in cruising with Richard, and with me, because I'm going. However, it's getting late to make these reservations, so if you're serious, call today.

As a benefit for being part of the TOS50.COM traveling group on Richard's Cruise to Lose, you will be entitled to select up to $35 of Richard Simmons' merchandise.

To receive a discount coupon and more information about the cruise,go to Richard's website: www.RichardSimmons.com.

Check out Richard's workout video in the Travel Section.

August 2, 2010 - 5:49am

Maxsa R

I was inspired by viewing the Richard Simmons video -- am actually considering going on his Cruise to Lose -- however, your story is really giving me the push I need to move forward. Nutrisystems, here I come!

August 2, 2010 - 5:44am

Gloria Lustig

I didn't start gaining weight until I was in my 40's. Up until that point I could eat whatever I wanted and I stayed a size 8. I gained very little when I was pregnant with my only child and what I gained came off immediately upon giving birth. But I'm in my early 60's and I'm now a size 16. Okay, I'm not really very obese, but I am certainly very overweight. I very recently developed diabetes Type 2 and I know I have to do something about it. The doctor has given me a diet regimen to follow and I've been following it, but the weight loss is minute to non-existent. He tells me I have to lose at least 30 pounds and I've managed to lose two pounds in 4 months. Clearly, I have to do better than that; a pound a week sounds fine to me, but I haven't been able to do that thus far.

Having read about your accomplishment, I am planning on joining Weight Watchers TODAY. Thanks for giving me the inspiration to do what I have to do.

August 2, 2010 - 5:23am

Rhona S

I also have been struggling with weight my entire life. I'm in my late 50's at this point. I was a fat kid, managed to lose weight in my 20's, married, had 3 kids and with each pregnancy I put on 20 lbs that never came off. I've been working on it real hard for the last year and have managed to lose 20 lbs in a year. Pretty discouraging, but your story gives me the inspiration to continue. Thanks for sharing.

August 1, 2010 - 4:17pm

Anna C.

Good for you, Rosemary! Weight loss is a long haul for me, but I wholeheartedly agree that taking baby steps is the smartest way to accomplish something big. I've lost 85 lbs by getting rid of a poor habit & replacing it with a new positive one about once a month. It's not easy but small goals are better than huge ones. I continue to make small changes for better health and don't miss the old habits. I'm on a plateau just now but hope to break that in the near future. Still have a long way to go. Wish me luck.