Ok men and women, the moment of truth has arrived! I got up early, took a deep breath and stepped on my new scale. (the old one broke about 3 months ago) Closed my eyes first, then slowly opened them! Uh-oh, it must be broke, I can't weigh that much!! Ha, Ha, but alas I do!

So anyways I am going to start this thread with my goal and one simple tip for weight loss. I know many of you will have many tips, but PLEASE limit it to just one per person, or we will run out before the end of the year!

My goal right now is to lose 36 pounds (a little more later, but this will do to start)

My weight loss tip is to eat at least 5-6 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 03, 2002

Answers

I have already almost blown it today. I forgot what day it was and ate a small baggy of chips and half a pop tart. But never to fear. If I eat right the rest of the day it will make up the difference. I am counting points I get 29 and have used 12. Salad for lunch and a small dinner with fruit for a snack and I should be just fine.

-- melinda (speciallady104@hotmail.com), January 03, 2002.

I Have three goals-to lose 10 pounds, to lower my colesteral level and increase my endurance.

Weight loss tip today-drink LOTS of water-most of us don't get what we need.

-- Kelly (homearts2002@yahoo.com), January 03, 2002.

I have also steped onto the scales this morning and I have decided they are part of an evil plot to destroy my self esteem, so I am not getting on them but once a month. I will post how much I have lost monthly and the rest I will consentrate on how I feel and the new things I am doing. My goal is 40 pounds by the end of the summer. There will be more after, but I feel that is realistic and attainable.

My weightloss tip is to do things the long way. If you can take the stairs , take the stairs, if you can add a block, add a block, if you can walk, walk. Good luck to everyone and God bless!!!!!!!!

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), January 03, 2002.

I'm afraid to get on the scale. I can hardly get my jeans zipped and that's enough proof for me :) Walking is my choice of exercise. Of course, living out here in the country and seeing all the wildlife and having the peace and quiet is a good incentive. I have a treadmill for when it's too cold to get out.

-- Anna in Iowa (countryanna54@hotmail.com), January 03, 2002.

I weight in at 198, Don"t really want to drop to fast, {to old} and skin doesn"t go back, I would hate to have flab hanging all over, especially on arms, and stomic. I quess the only hint for this week, Is if you got to eat cake, Eat angel food. Any one got a idea for the crunchy, munchy, food we all like to eat in front of TV? Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), January 03, 2002.

I plan to lose 20 lbs by the end of 2002. I want to do it slow so it will STAY OFF!! I plan to accomplish this by eating smaller portions, walking more, and trying to cut out sugar as much as possible. Once I have quit sugar for a couple of weeks, I don't miss it. There is diabetes in my family, so I have to watch that. My tip for the day: Eat the foods you normally do , just eat smaller portions.

-- connie in nm (karrelandconnie@msn.com), January 03, 2002.

I am going to start with a 20 pound weight loss as a goal. I am a Family and Consumer Science teacher and currently we are talking about nutrition. My tip for today would be for everyone to get a copy of the food guide pyramid, including serving sizes and stick to it. For instance, a serving of cream of wheat, my hot cereal of choice, is only 1/2 cup. I would gladly email or post the information I have about the food pyramid to anyone who is interested. Polly

-- (jserg45@hotmail.com), January 03, 2002.

Well, I did it too! I need to lose 16 pounds for now. I think this cyber group will be a great motivation, so that will be my tip for today!

-- Darcy in NW WA (gatecity@nomail.com), January 03, 2002.

Polly please post the current guidelines, especially the portion sizes. If you would, start a new thread for this info, as it will be easier to find later if anyone wants it! Thank you so much.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 03, 2002.

give eating your full attention. if you eat while reading or in front of the tv, it just disappears without much enjoyment. savor your food. take small bites. think about how it tastes, how it feels in your mouth. and after swallowing, notice the lingering aftertaste. never, never put in another mouthful before completely swallowing [and savoring] what you already had in there.

yrs ago they sold the little caramel-vitamins for weight loss. I could not afford them. my Grandad suggested that I take a 1-a-day vitamin and a regular caramel, sit down with a cup of tea to eat one caramel in the place of one meal a day. you can slice really thin slices off to make one of those things last a loooooong time. I did this alone and gave it my full attention. I adopted the attitude towards all foods and it works.

no white flour, sugar or [added] salt helps too.

oops! was that more than one tip?

-- carol (kanogisdi@yahoo.com), January 03, 2002.

Well, as normal on the first day of the new term we were in a rush and I forgot to weigh myself, however I know I weigh far too much so my goal is to lose 21 lb's by the end of May. That is roughly a pound a week.

My tip is if you must have a pudding make up sugar free jelly (is that what you call it - rubbery fruit pudding that sets and goes wobbly, not jam which you spread on bread. This can help with those sweet cravings.

Alison

-- Alison Homa (alisonhoma@hotmail.com), January 03, 2002.

I'd like to lose 30 pounds, but I'm making 20 my goal, because I gotta be realistic. Right now, even standing on the scale is a bit awkward(foot still swollen from sprain), and exercising is on the back burner, so I'm working on getting my mind ready;) and cutting back the snackies. I hope to get more serious in a couple of weeks.

When I lost weight before, I did it simply by having a small can of soup for lunch every day, instead of something heavier. I had a small bag of M&Ms every afternoon, lol, so I wasn't craving them, but never had seconds. And I walked a lot.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), January 03, 2002.

My low fat way to overcome the urge to eat unhealthy foods late at night (I always crave something before bed--like a brownie or cookies) is to have a small bowl of cereal with skim milk. Some sweet cereal is enough to convince my body I'm having a treat. It's very low fat (depending upon the cereal).

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), January 03, 2002.

My first goal is 20 lbs. but have more than that, don't want to get mad at myself thinking over a 100lbs. at once!!!!!

My hint is to count carbs. I have a medical condition that my Dr. just said that helps carbs pack on more weight,so got to watch them stay less than 25-30 a day. I started looking at the count and Lord I was eating more than 100 a day.

Good luck to everyone!!!

-- Sandy(N.E.FL.) (REDNECKGIRL32@prodigy.net), January 03, 2002.

Do I get to give two tips if my husband wants to chime in? His tip is oatmeal for breakfast-- the rolled kind (I prefer whole oats), because you feel fuller longer and it's great for the cholesterol level.

I weigh in at 146, but still need to lose 10 pounds to be in my margin for optimum health. I forget what the acronym is, not BMI, something else, anyway. The first 30 pounds was easy, because I love being outside (walking is my exercise of choice, too), the second 30 was not as easy, and I've heard the last 10 are the hardest. So, I am cutting fat calories in the small ways, too-- that's my tip. Opting for no butter on my popcorn, dry toast, and am looking for a low-fat granola recipe. And I am cutting back on the chocolate.

-- Dawn (olsoncln@ecenet.com), January 03, 2002.

Hi everyone, sounds like we are off to a good atart. I will be asking some questions about your progress as time goes on, and exploring our realtionships with food and exercise. Don't feel badly about breaking down your weight loss, that is exactly what I am doing too. Believe me I have more to lose than 36 pounds, but just to be realistic I am keeping it in manageable amounts. Dawn it sounds like you have already lost a good bit, so that is great, you can be a great inspiration. My trouble is not sweets, although I like them I can give them up easily, mine is crunchy, things like chips and tortilla chips and anything munchy and crunchy. If I get a head-ache I eat popcoen and it is gone! So that is the hardest thing for me. Well everyone keep working hard, I think that having to come one here and fess up, is going to help tremendously!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 03, 2002.

After all my clothes got way too tight and all I was confortable in was sweat pants, I decided to take action. So far I've lost 20 pounds with another 20 to go. This hasn't been as bad as I thought. I drink 8 to 10 glasses of water each day (can't go far from a bathroom, but...), try to get in at least 30 minutes of walking and limit my portions, avoiding fast food completely. One thing that helps "flush" out your system is a few cups of hot lemon water during the day. On this program, I've done well losing about 2 pounds per week and I can get back into my jeans finally.

Keep up the good work and let's check in again next week.

Wishing you enough.

-- Trevilians (aka Dianne in Mass) (Trevilians@mediaone.net), January 03, 2002.

I am a big- boned (ha ha) 5' 9" 257 pounder. My goal will be to lose 50 pounds by new years day, 2003! my tip is to workout/walk riskly/ whatever for 15-20 minutes, 3 times a week.

Ann says she is a big tushed 5' 9" 170 pounder. She wants to lose her 25 pounds.

We will be spending 6 weeks, and various weekends at our homestead in West Virginia this year, so wish us luck. ( We are puttung in in advance for 6 weigh-in exemptions - unless we can get to the local library)!

Good luck to all.

-- Rick (Rick_122@hotmail.com), January 03, 2002.

I will put in my goal to be 20 pounds lighter to start with. I guess that means I will have to use that 40th birthday present I got 3 years ago......yes my mother gave me a scale. If you know my mother it wasn't done with a mean thought. She just thought I needed a new one! But what a 40th bd present! My tip....get rid of any junk food! Denise

-- Denise K. (Rabbitmom2@webbworks.com), January 03, 2002.

For many years in practice, I had discussed weight loss with my patients...about ten years ago, I came up with a plan and I must say that ALL the patients who followed it lost as much weight as they wanted to without giving up a thing..here it is: 1: Eat exactly one half of what you think you want..example..if you crave an entire box of chocolate donuts, eat half the box..if you want a big piece of cake, cut it in half and eat that...three slices of pizza?..eat one and a half pieces..same with bowls of cereal, portions of meat, etc. etc. etc...2: Drink at least 8 full glasses of water every day (8 oz glasses)..3: At least once a day, cover an entire dinner plate with veggies and eat them all up...has to be enough veggies to cover the plate..4:Do 5 minutes of SOME FORM OF BODY MOVEMENT first thing in the morning and the last thing at night....notice I did NOT say exercise..some folks chose to stand in one spot and wiggle all over to music for 5 minutes, others feel like jumping rope, others bend and twist..it truly does not matter. Do this for one month, religiously, every single day..do not add to it or take from it. That's it..that's all the rules...think about it..if you are overweight, you are either eating all the wrong things or too heavy portions of things, and not enough exercise...this "diet" allows folks to eat all the goodies they are used to, but at half the rate..add that to a full plate of daily veggies, lots of water, and 10 minutes a day of moving your body that you never did before, and the pounds will disappear slowly, steadily, and permanently. I came up with all of this from watching thin folks eat. How many of you have ever been around a thin person at a birthday party? They have a hunk of cake on a plate, eat half of it and push the plate away. (I was always the one who said, "Are you done with that?", reaching for the plate....LOL...this works at MCDonalds also....order a burger, fries and a salad and a large soda...bring a friend and split the soda and the fries and the burger..you eat all the salad....thin folks eat anything they want to..no reason to deprive yourself of the goodies and be able to lose weight at the same time.....BTW, one 15 year old young man who was my patient, lost 98 pounds in a little over a year by following this plan...God bless.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), January 03, 2002.

Hey, I'm a day late, but I guess that's better than not signing in, eh? lol

Well, my goal is 20 pounds by June 10th. Doctor's orders. I hope to lose more, but I will be satisfied if that happens.

My tip: Recently, (the weekend before Christmas) my dental bridge fell out of my mouth. With everything so hectic around the holidays, I didn't have time to get to the dentist. Soooooo, I was forced to chew very slowly on one side of my mouth only. This made for a longer eating time for less food. But I was surprised that I felt just as full when the meal was over. I lost 7 pounds in one week that way. Maybe I should knock out the rest of my teeth. lol

Good luck folks.

Iris

-- Iris (WatchingWideEyed@peaceful.com), January 04, 2002.

Ok melissa im joining up my goal is to lose all i can and the way im doing it is to cut all pop not even diet ones ill drink water instead soon to be a skinney. i hope. Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), January 05, 2002.

Finally got up the courage to get on the scale this morning! News was rather good. Only need to lose 5-10 pounds but they may not be easy. That's my goal, as well as to remain active--I always feel better when I do and it really helps get through the winters out here.

Tip--have an interesting exercise program that you love. (for me, at the moment, it's x-country skiing and yoga).

-- Cat (catcrazy@somewhere.com), January 06, 2002.