Anyone want to join me?

Wait labcross, what I was addressing was the diet of the poster who is hypoglycemic.
 
Having tried every diet out there and just continueing to get BIGGER, what worked for me was eating only when I'm hungry as opposed to when the clock said I should, eating sensibly, as in healthy and wholesome foods, drinking a lot of water, and increasing my exercise.

Glenda, I know - but the same basic principles apply to eating healthy. Lowering your *simple* sugar intake (which includes refined grains) actually lowers your body's production of insulin. It's useful for everyone - not just those who are hypoglycemic or diabetic. AND it will help anyone lose weight as the excess insulin is stored as fat - for everyone.

Yes, you're right  My focus was a bit narrow because I'm really concerned about the diet of the poster with low blood sugar problems.

I'm in....I blame school and all of the studying that I need to do for my lack of excercise!  (See, that's what I'm doing right now....hehehee)  I need to take off 25-30lbs  Glenda, great point with the water.  A few years ago I did the Zone Diet, by Barry Sears and it was WONDERFUL except that it was a lot of measuring and counting, etc.  I ended up losing 15lbs of fat and 2 dress sizes in 1 month and had the most energy I have had in a loooong time.  I love the theory behind it because it's good for you.  Everything in balance and moderation.  You NEED fat, protein and carbos in your diet to be able to metabolize things.  DON'T deny yourself what you are craving, you want some chocolate, have a couple of bites, just don't have the whole cake.  So, I would love it if we could find and share good recipes that are balanced and EASY!  DH won't eat all that "health stuff" so I have to trick him into it!  heheheheeee
 
So, where do we start?

Mini_mom - there are two issues you mentioned - hitting a plateau, and interval training. You are right about the plateau. Research has shown that your body becomes accustomed to your regular exercise and you need to vary your routine to continue to challenge yourself. For example, you go for a one hour run at a 7min. mile pace every day for three months - it may be difficult at first, but by the last run, your body will have adjusted and the same distance and pace is no longer providing you w/the same challenge. That's where the interval training comes in - instead of running at a moderate pace for a long time, try jogging at a moderate pace to warm up, then sprint a couple minutes, then jog a few for recovery, sprint, jog, sprint, etc... The result is a more efficient workout. Same applies for lifting - you lift the same weight for too long, and after a point you will see no gains. Switch up your training! Run for distance one day, sprints the next, or go for a swim, biking, etc. You've got to challenge yourself not only with different paces, but with different muscle groups that different activities call for. Yikes that was a long explanation. Sorry. Maybe you read it all. []

Wow I'm in too!  I want to lose about 40 pounds ish.  So I will need a bit more than a month.[]  I guess my body needs a complete overhaul.  As do my eating and exercising habits.  Whoever said "If you're overweight, your dogs aren't getting enough exercise." never went to a doggie playgroup. 

Lisa I too had Gestational Diabetes.  Plus my mom is Native so my chances of getting Diabetes is REALLY high!  Not something I want.  When I was pregnant they caught my diabetes really early so I went on what was basically a high protein diet on recommendation of my nutritionist and would have lost alot of weight had I not been pregnant at the time.  I gained a whopping 21 lbs while pregnant and lost 18 in the hospital.  2 weeks later I had dropped another 12 pounds bringing me down to an all time low of 139!  It was great!  Unfortunately it didn't last. 

So here I am today 40 lbs overweight.  Complaining that I dont have any clothes to wear cause in reality they just don't fit.  I have a ton!  And I was soooo happy to find this post.  So I will start tomorrow morning.  Tonight I have to whip my house back into shape cause my big sis will be here in the morning and I am embarressed to have her in my messy house!  Well I guess going up and down the stairs tonight will be like a workout!

Count me in.  I'm not excessively overweight, but I'm getting a little bit chubbier every year and lately I've felt very frumpy and not terrible attractive.
 
I'm 5'2 and about 150 pounds.  My body looks best and feels best at about 130.
 
I think that instead of obsessing about calories, it's best to pay attention to your hunger.  That's my main problem.  I'm truly a glutton.  As I'm eating, I think to myself "I'm not hungry.  At all.  In fact, my tummy kinda hurts", and yet I'll STILL reach for another cookie.  So I have to start listening to my hunger cues.
 
The best way for me to control my hunger is NOT to skip breakfast or lunch.  In fact, I aim for about 600 calories every morning.  I have a huge bowl of plain oats, cooked in milk (instead of water) with walnuts, raisins, blueberries, ground flax seed and cinnamon.  Oh my goodness, it's soooooo good and doesn't need any sugar at all (and coming from a girl with a major sweettooth, that's saying a lot).  With regards to low blood sugar, if I have a bowl of processed cereal (like cheerios), I'm shaky and absolutely STARVING in about an hour.  With a big bowl of oatmeal at 7:00, my tummy feels happy and my brain works well until about 10:30, when I have a snack of fruit and some peanuts.
 
Shannon, I really wouldn't recommend that you cut down to 1000 calories per day!  Even 1500 would be too low for me.  When I try to cut down on calories, I just end up feeling deprived, moody, and likely to binge when I get home from work.
 
My goal is 2000 calories per day (although I don't really count...I just roughly estimate) and double the exercise that I'm currently doing.  Doubling my exercise will actually be easier over the next three months, as my partner is leaving me until June 15th.  Because the dog will be alone all day, he'll really appreciate longer walks and more playtime.  My goal is 45 minutes before and after work every day.  I'm also going to try to drink more water and more tea.  That won't be too hard for me, as the only "liquid calories" that I take in right now is my nightly glass of wine (which I have NO intention of cutting out!).
 
Anyway, long post. Count me in.

I chuckle reading about clothes not fitting, cuz I've got the same problem.....only MINE are all too big.  I've got two lawn and leaf bags FULL of too big clothes ready to go and still need to go through my wardrobes in the basement and dig out the rest of the too big stuff.  If not for Freecycle I'd be running around nekkid!!  But, gosh it's a GREAT feeling to be able to get rid of all that stuff!

Here's a useful web site: [linkhttp://www.dwlz.com]www.dwlz.com[/link]
 
It is run (free) by a woman who lost a lot of weight on weight watchers.  However, she lists a TON of restaurants and the foods they have.  For each one, she tells fat, calories, etc. for each menu item so you can make healthier choices and also know how many calories, etc. you are eating.
 
 

Huskymom, I was on insulin three times a day and poked my finger seven times a day while I was pregnant, they found it at 26 weeks.  I did very well with my diet during pregnancy and gained only 24 pounds, but then because of depriving myself of sweets (I'm a sucker for sweets/carbs) I gained more weight after having him than during the pregnancy! Argh!

Someone told me today that if u take fish oil before working out it is supposed to increase your metabolism.  I have heard fish oil is good but does anyone know if the metabolism thing is true?
 
 

Anyone else hungry? I sure am! I think I'll go eat a carrot...
 
But I've been keeping track of everything that's been eaten today with that site [linkhttp://www.calorie-count.com]www.calorie-count.com[/link]. It works wonders and only takes a few seconds to input everything.
 
Did anyone CHEAT today?  [sm=eek.gif]

Did anyone CHEAT today?  [sm=eek.gif]

 
I'll fall on the sword for y'all and let you feel REALLY good about yourselves.  The day after saying that I wanted to eat healthier...
 
Breakfast: 1 fish oil pill, 2 sips of flat warm Sprite left over from last night
Snack: several goldfish crackers and a couple cinnamon graham sticks (worked in nursery today)
Lunch: (this took place over the course of several hours) Snickers egg, bottle of water, tortilla strips, sour cream/onion dip, carrots, Jack-in-the-box hamburger, curly fries, pepsi
Dinner: haven't had it yet, but I think I'll have a smoothie to counterbalance all that [8|]

Ooh, count me in!  I need to lose a few pounds too.  Well, more than a few.  I just need to be motivated to eat healthier.  For example, today I forgot to eat lunch before my road trip, so I ate a QP with cheese at McD's on the way back home at 4:30pm.  Now it's 9:30 and I'm hungry again.  [:@]
 
 

Count me in too. I quit smoking about 5 weeks ago and have gained weight. I am in my fat jeans now and not comfortable.
 
Shannon, allow yourself only 30grms of fat a day. Eat a small breakfast, and have your protien during the lunch hour, lean meats and no bigger than the palm of your hand and at night have a lite meal.

I tend to gain more weight when I eat a lot of protiens and low carbs. So, I eat more carbs, and less protien to lose the weight. Not everyone is like I am. I just gain too much weight eating more protiens.

Cut out empty calories like soda's, too much coffee or teas. Water is good. You can flavor the water with lemon, lime or fruit juice to make it taste better or do as I do. I freeze my bottle of water, and take it out the next morning. I find it more enjoyable this way. I don't know why, just do. Build up to drinking a gal of water slowly. Eventually you'll be drinking at least that by the end of the month. Make a game of it. I also didn't like drinking water in the begining but now have a better attitude about it and do prefer it over anything else.
 
I cannot do your run of the mill exersizes because of medical problems, so low impact walking the dog, swiming, and lite stretches are all I can manage.
 
I find it easier if I don't count calories and just count fat grams. The formula I use is this: Total fat grams X total cal = _ Divided by 9 will get the total fat grams.
Also stay away from foods that say 97% FAT FREE, loaded with sugars. And sugars turns to...... fat. Also you will find out they do not add up the total amount of fat grams on foods. Example, Mono and Saturated, Unsaturated fats. Add them all up.
Mono saturated fats are good. The others are not good as they don't pass through your system like Mono saturated fats do. So mono saturated fats are your friends. lol
 
Thats all I can think of at the moment. If I think of anything else I'll post again.