[Bytsi]

Wow!!! This is awesome guys!!! I'm gonna try to reply, but if I don't hit everyone personally, please know I am reading and so appreciative of everything being posted here!

Originally Posted by Susan4

I found capsules in the pharmacy section of a grocery store I think... No need to pay GNC prices.

Thanks Susan - I'll check when I hit the grocery store tomorrow.

Originally Posted by jesca

ALL of this sounds like me. I suck at working out in the morning, but I agree that running or elliptical in the morning seems easier than trying to swap weights and lifting heavy in the a.m.

I also get mega sugar cravings at night, but I will sooooo go back and forth. The worst is something with both. Chocolate covered pretzels, for example I think the hardest thing is that my office eats lunch out every day and they are big guys that eat things like burgers and fries and that's all I want. FRIES! Damn them. I find the less I eat them, tho, the easier it is to resist them, however getting to that point is really hard.

Chocolate pretzels - you just HAD to mention them, didn't you? I feel ya' on the lunch thing. I don't have to deal with it as much at work, but just in general, it is hard to see people eating lotsa crap that tastes good. I agree with getting on a roll though - once I've been "good" for a few days, it's easier to stick with it. Like tonight - no fries from DH's plate or DS's plate. Not one!

Originally Posted by kfisherx

Miss Jane NAILED it Bytsi. My cravings totally went away when I took sugar out of my diet. That is why I said to cut out Hi Gly carbs. You can drink A and W diet Root beer or make things like cottage cheese ice-cream to help you get over the sugary cravings.

Once you are purged of all of that your next assignment is to figure out if fatty foods or carby foods make you feel better and more fullfilled. I tend to feel really sluggish on fatty foods and so I know that my carbs need to be a big part of my diet if I want to be succesful. Jane does TNT type things with great success which tells me that fatty foods keep her feeling energy and full.

Spend the next couple of weeks getting rid of high Gly carbs, making sure you get your water (Don't just say you keep a 32 oz bottle around and sip it but count that you get 4 of those in you a day) and paying attention to everything you eat and how that feels to you. If it is a carb how does it make you feel? (like a piece of fruit) If it is fatty food you eat how does your body feel the next couple of hours?

Jane & Karla... ok - let's see. I am getting all the processed carbs out - this week I've been much more strict and aware. I can't eat cottage cheese (apparently I am lactose intolerant, but I'm gonna try the lactaid pills because I love cottage cheese except for what it does to my stomach!). I don't do diet drinks at all, but I'll find something... Tonight my plan is to sip some tea.

I don't think I do well without carbs, but I'll continue to work on my awareness of how I react to types of foods... And I DO drink a lot of water - that part I know I have down, no question. I am definitely not dehydrated!

Originally Posted by kfisherx

I remember when I was in that place and specifically the day I had to buy clothing and NOTHING looked even remotely good on my fat body. I remember also being ready for that change.... The rest was easy...

What's hard is that I went through this once... I was much fatter (wore a size 16 from the plus-size shop, and I'm 5'2"). I dieted down, learned how to exercise... and maintained pretty well. I'm nowhere near being as fat as I was, but I'm still too far from where I could and SHOULD be. I used to love going in and having clothes fit in regular stores. They still fit - I just got more and more aware (critical) of my body and removing the blubber is going to go a long way towards helping with that.

Originally Posted by kfisherx

Don't forget chips (even baked) and breads as well. You know there are some popcorns that are freakishly high in protein and in fiber and low in fat that you could probably do without any problems.

I've eliminated the chips too. Gonna KILL my DH if he starts munching and chomping right out of the bag while sitting next to me though .

Originally Posted by DirtyMartini

Yeah, I completely agree on cutting out "white" foods and those junky snack bars (like Kashi, Luna, etc). I don't care how much fiber & protein they have in them. They all have 30-50+ grams of added sugar - no thanks!
I think they key for some people is to cut out all refined stuff, but to continue small-to-moderate consumption of foods like berries, apricots, whole wheat pasta, ezekiel wraps, homemade pizza with whole wheat crust (or on whole wheat tortillas/pitas), etc...

I haven't had a bar in forever, except this past week when I had to grab one or else go 7 hours without food... I need to be better prepared for emergencies, but I figured eating something with protein was the lesser of the evils, even if it was sugary too. Your suggestions are all good... I am definitely keeping the natural foods (whole wheat, fruit, etc) but dumping the "white" foods.

Originally Posted by foodfromafar

The thing that is so bad about late night eating isn't just timing. It's because that is when most people will exceed their calories for the day. If you spread your daily amount over the evening hours, that won't necessarily sabotage your weight loss/maintenance efforts. As long as you are eating the correct number of calories - when doesn't matter as much...

I'm going to work on "saving" more calories for the evening... I could never skip breakfast (nor should I - I can't believe I used to eat my first meal of the day around 1 or 2pm when I was fat - but then it was one giant meal for the rest of the day!)... but I can probably be more comfortable on slightly less in the earlier part of the day.

So much to think about, but I feel like I'm making steps in the right direction. Maybe it's all "simple", but when you're living it, it isn't always that easy to see...

Today's food was pretty much on-target. My goal was 1700 kcal (workout day) and I came in just over, at 1758, with 45% carb, 33% protein (139 g) and 21% fat. Considering that today was a holiday which included a movie (NO popcorn or candy, just the baggie with 12 almonds I had in my purse) and a dinner out (again!) - I ordered mahi mahi grilled, steamed broccoli and a plain baked potato (all with no added butter or oil). I skipped the bread basket and didn't eat a single fry and no dessert. I still got in NEAT too (took DD to an outlet mall and we walked for a few hours since it was so nice outside, and she conned me into spending too much $ on her )...

Workout will be posted next...