Hi Y'all

"you need to find a plan that works for you. yes, you could work out 1-2 hours a day and eat no carbs, but really how fun is that? " Andy, if that's referring to my plan, I do not advocate no carbs whatsoever.  I advocate that they come from fruits and vegetables, not refined sugars and starches.  And if they come from starches, only have them in the morning preworkout so it's burned off.  But how fun is working out 1-2 hours a day and eating no starch?  A TON!  I have never been this satisfied and happy in my life.  No depression, no emotional eating, tons of energy.  I am disappointed when I can't spend more than an hour in the gym.  Exercising has become something I wish I could do day in and day out for hours on end.  I wish I could live every day like yesterday (training, cardio, yoga), but I have a mortgage to pay.  I just love how it feels and makes me feel day in and day out.  And like I've shared, I feel free of temptation.  I moderate it when need be, but don't feel drawn to anything like refined and processed foods or foods that I know won't do my body any good (can you say pizza)?

 "I advocate that they come from fruits and vegetables, not refined sugars and starches.  And if they come from starches, only have them in the morning preworkout so it's burned off.  " but again, there is no reason to do this. grains are a natural and integral part of a balenced dietary plan. and like it or not, refined stuff will be a part of your life - you need to learn how to manage them, not exile them. your plan with saying what are "good" and "bad" foods really encourages the diet mentality, which is a really awful thing to be caught up in and totally counter to a balenced lifestyle.  "But how fun is working out 1-2 hours a day and eating no starch?  A TON!  I have never been this satisfied and happy in my life." again, get back to me in 3 years and we'll see how you're doing.

Grains are a good part of maintenance and okay during periodization.  I've never said they aren't okay.  They just work a number on weight loss!  Andy, I had a traditional diet many times over.  I've been dieting for 30 years.  When it incorporated starches, I either stalled or had crazy mad cravings.  When I avoided them, my blood sugar was level and I was satisfied.  Why do this?  To balance your blood sugar, prevent insulin resistance and to lose weight.  To build muscle to power your metabolishm.  Can you lose weight on a more traditional program?  Some can, I couldn't.  I consider 0.25lb/week on grains as an example of such weight loss resistance.  So not worth it.  I'd rather feed my body and lose the weight than deprive myself the rest of my life, than have to live on a diet always, than ruin my metabolism, than face regain. Refined stuff need not be a part of your life.  Why invite it in when it reaks havoc on the body???   I do not believe there are good or bad foods when it comes to natural foods--at all.  That's where I think in your head you think Atkins.  I believe food should be used as fuel and should be enjoyed and satisfying, but if something works against your efforts (like sugar and starch), why allow it in?  Why have the bite of bread or worse that donut when it will make you want 10 and start you on a downward spiral?  Why starve your body so that it canabolizes itself to stay "thin" and makes maintenance a struggle?  You know, you use your maintenance as a trump card, and I congratulate you on losing the weight, but I find such a phrase as an attempt to undercut another and wholly unnecessary.  All I can say is what I've said--I've never felt more in control or balanced.  And I don't doubt reaching goal next year.  The lifestyle of exercise for me is easy.  And I don't diet, so that's not hard either.   And when I return to good carbs, I trust I can manage it because my body will no longer be obese.  And I don't doubt maintenance either...why?  Because I didn't incorrectly reduce my calories so that I'd be creating the likelihood of yo-yoing. All I can say is your intake approach never worked well for me.  What does?  Food that God put on this planet, not food that man screwed up! You can say others have success on WW or yours (Duke).  I've seen the opposite just by looking at the people I know .  I've seen folks struggle just to stay on WW or other lowered calorie diets.  But I see people *****duced starches AND relied on exercise who have actually barely any problems with maintenance.  Their body now works for them the way it should. I just won't be the older woman living on 1200 calories to stay slim.  I will be enjoying God's plenty and enjoying life.  That's all it takes, IMHO.

It sounds like you got lots of info to think about I'm just gonna say..."Welcome!" :)  Glad to have you here with us, and looking forward to talking with ya more.

Thank you everyone for your ideas and support.  I keep telling myself, "just cut out the junk food and snacking in from of the t.v."  That along with exercise......I should lose!  But I know it's more than that.  I think I will definitely cut out the starches and fried foods -- that's very doable.  I haven't had a carbonated drink in over 4 years, so that's doable too.  The hard part for me will be giving up the fake sugar stuff -- not necessarily junk stuff -- but like my crystal lite.  I don't think I can give that up.  That is my WATER and I sip on it all day long.  I really don't like the taste of just plain water -- it isn't fulfilling for me.  I understand about the going natural part-- I do intend to do more of that, rather than all the processed stuff.  I am in the middle of reading Dr. Oz's  You on a Diet and a lot of it makes sense about the processed stuff. I am also going to check out that Duke site.  You all have done so well!  I think I can do this this time.....for the long haul.  In fact I am going to go jump on the treadmill right now.  Thanks for the time you all have spent reading my posts and responding.  I am taking it all in, and I hope to continue posting and reading.  There is a wealth of information here, from people who've walked the walk so to speak. Thank you!

Yeah, Jenn!  

absolutely no reason to give up your crystal light, especially if that is what keeps you drinking your water. there is NOTHING that you MUST give up. giving up something that is a staple for you is just setting yourself up for desperation, craving, bingeing etc. and bottom line, there is just no reason to do that to yourself. why make it more difficult than it has to be? i don't eat red meat or fish - i know i could never cut out bread, pasta, rice. just would not work for me. yet i have managed to lose weight and keep it off. crazy! bread is not the enemy. just focus on small, maintainable changes. there is probably some ideal way of doing things - like buying all food from whole foods, having a personal chef, unlimited gym time, on call trainer/therapist but most of us can't do that. we have jobs, families, limited time and budget. so therefore we do the best we can with what we have. there are many ways to get to the same destination and you really do have to find what will work for you.

Welcome, and your right thes people are great, im new here myself and they have made me feel like family. i know where your comeing from when you say "I really need to do this" and then the next day I think, "I will just wait one more day"" i think most of here do. that why were here, to get some support and ask questions. I hope u enjoy your self here and good luck with eveything!

Welcome!  For you, as a younger person, I cannot emphasize ehough two SIMPLE things: 1.  eating all foods, higher quality the better in the correct portions sizes and  2.  a daily exercise program of at least ine half hour. C'mon... we all know the "bad" things:  fast foods, most desserts, added sugar, fats, salts. Not that these foods cannot be part of a weight loss plan, but the less they are eaten, the better. I have found out the hard way that when I give my body what it craves, epscially fresh fruits & veggies with all the best quality food I can buy, i do not crave the "bad" stuff. And, finally, in the rare times (like vacation) when I eat "bad" foods all day or for a week, I do not like how I feel. Therefore it is not hard to stick to my plan of eating inbalance every day! Now that I am 50 (64 inches tall and 180 pounds, 20# to get to dream weight): I am happy with my bariatric foods for the workdays:  high protein drinks or bars and fresh fruits & veggies I pack along or find at work. I also bring cottage cheese, lean meats, frozen veggies for the time when I can heat soemthing up. I have small protions of unflavored soy proetin to add to things like lentil or bean soup. I try to eat a little something every couple hours. I like the convenience of the bariatric foods.  At night, I eat a "normal" supper:  ideally lean protein, veggies, fruits, whole grains, low fat dairy. But I do eat things like grilled cheeseburgers, I eat one and veggies on the side for example. My goal at supper is to include lots of veggies, and to be mindful of portions. I eat all foods in moderation, in other words. Weekends, I drink low cal alkyhol - vodka + fresca or diet gin tonics or low cal beers. I trade off for desserts, sweets are not my thing. Also on weekends, I try to stick to low fat, high fiber foods, and again, be mindful of portions.  I also exercise very faithfully. Have for 21 years.  My centerpiece of my plan is to walk bbefore work, about an hour, most workdays. Weekends, i hike, bike or walk for 2-4 hours. I work in yoga and floor calisthentics (pushups, crunches, lunges) at least 2x a week.

I like my plan - works for my incredibly busy schedule, and mainly, it does not exclude foods. I will lose when I am very careful about my suppers and my weekends. If I am not that careful, i just stay put.

Neecee, thank you for the info.  Question -- so are you maintaining now?  If so, when you were initially trying to lose, did you eat the same as you do now, just more careful about supper and weekends?  Just wanted to make sure I understood you correctly? I do think I will start by cutting out the obvious things.  I probably can't commit to no starches, breads, whatever EVER but I know I need to cut them back or eat them reasonably when I do. I am definitely doing the exercise part and I want to make sure I get in enough fluids every day.