10 pounds, sciatic nerve, 3 torn jeans- Need diet help!

Hi, I haven't been on here for about a year.  I've ate like a normal person, no special diet or exercise but not binging either.  In that year I somehow put on 10 MORE pounds- 295!  5 pounds from 300 is unsettling to me.  Two years ago I had lost to about 245.   2 weeks ago I had to go the doctor for my right side sciatic nerve (weight gain perhaps?) causing some major pain and of course they weighed me.  

If 10 pounds and a hurting back isn't bad enough (this is embarassing...) since my back hurts when I bend down I started squating instead and in a two week period THREE pairs of jeans have ripped open on my left upper thigh(guess thats where I gained it)!  I refuse to go back up to a 24 and need serious diet advice.

December- March I ate only organic, no hfcs, no growth hormones, and no artifical colors and while doubling my grocery bill trying to eat healthy, I didn't lose anything.

Please help me with starting a diet that I can make permanent and start to feel better!  I'm turning 30 3 months and would like to shed some pounds before that milestone.  I appreciate all help!

Crystal

Crystal:

Glad to see you back!!  Do you have limited/unlimited time to cook?  Are you insulin resistant or is there a particular type of plan that works best for you?  Are you able to exercise?  Are you a volume eater?  binger?  sweets/carbs/fast food eater?

Give us an idea of what you're wanting to do - what type of plan might work for you or have worked for you in the past - and I'm sure someone on the board will have some great ideas.

Thanks for such a quick reply!

I can cook supper most days of the week, breakfast is usually cold, and if I eat lunch I have a fridge and microwave at work.  Weekends I can usually fit in time to cook.I'm not diabetic so no limits.  I CAN exercise (except bending right now- still hurts) and actually have a current Y membership (kids sports) but haven't been in forever since to be honest I'm lazy and need to force myself to do something physical.  My current hobbies are couponing, shopping, more shopping, watching movies,  the internet and hanging with my kids- exciting I know, lol!  My job is on my butt in an office chair 40 hours a week.  I eat larger qtys usually if we eat out or I'm up late and bored, otherwise I think I eat somewhat normal portions.  My weaknesses are soda (Mt. Dew,Shirley Temples, the new Cherry Dr. Pepper), sweets **** cream, chocolate, Dunkin Doughnuts), and carbs (potatoes & bread about any way).  Oh, and milk (...I like way too much, maybe a gallon a week- at least 16oz per sitting, usually 1%).  I eat out a few times a week, but not really fast food.  I don't like salty crunchy snacks often.  I like cooked veggies, but the only raw one I like are lettuce and cukes.  I eat beef, pork, chicken, and shrimp, no fish or game.  I'll eat most fruits but melons, pears, and bananas.

When I lost the most weight,  limited sugar/salt/bread, lean protein, mostly fruits & veggies plan worked the best.  I don't like artifical sweeteners, so the limited sugar is the hardest for me to stick with. 

Crystal:

Well it doesn't sound like you're picky.  It's kind of hard to eat healthy sometimes for those of us who are picky.  LOL

Basically what I do is eat several meals a day; I try to have protein at most of them; I don't eat alot of processed foods and I try to eat junk (sweets, chips, etc) in moderation.  I think the change that made the biggest difference for me was drastically reducing the frequency of eating out. At my heaviest, I ate out probably 5-7 times a week and it's hard to control quantity, calories, etc. when eating out.

I found out years ago that the all or nothing type dieting worked only in the short term so my suggestion is to make small changes which will become habits and then build on that.  For instance, make a commitment that you're not going to eat _____ for the next two weeks.  If you choose something that is junk, cutting that out will get rid of the cravings for it.

Another suggestion is to post on the "what did you eat" thread or fitday or something similar to help keep yourself accountable.

Best wishes for success!
Kim

I do eat out a lot- Hams and steakhouses (where I order chicken usually-weird) are my faves.  I think the 2-week thing might work, I do like short term goals better.  

 Hi there~

First off welcome back and secondly, Sciatic nerve is terrible! I have had that off and on since my oldest child was born, almost 10 years ago! my poor Husband has also had trouble with it, I know it is painful! well I am a 30 year old mom of 3, and I started a nutritional cleansing program 9 weeks ago, in that time I have dropped 28 lb's and over 25 in. I started the program at 303 lb's, before that I lost 18 lb's on my own (was up to 322) by cutting out fast food, processed food, sweets, soda's and going Organic. Last week I was interviewed on a conference call and shared my Testimony on how my life and health have changed since starting the nutritional cleansing program,  If you are interested  in hearing the call PM me and I will send you the link. I know for me a total change of mind was necessary and a total change of my Nutritional intake, but I feel impowered now, I know I can and will do this! I wish you all the desire, drive and tools you need to accomplish your goals!

Michelle 

Thank you for the welcome.  10 years of sciatic nerve pain- ouch!  Congrats on 28 lbs!  I'll pm you for the link. 

 I rarely ever have the pain anymore Thank God! infact it's been quite a long time, but I know your pain!

Welcome back. I think we all know what you're going through - been there, did that, bought the XXXXXXXXX size Tee shirt. LOL You can get a handle on this. I hope you don't mind I copied the response I gave to another post.

Give up as much processed food as you can - there is so much hidden fats and sugars that you can't imagine. Yes, lots of the processed food is cheap and delicious - but you pay for it in health and weight. Eat whole foods like fruit and vegetables, grains, beans etc. Limit meat and dairy to only the lowest fat choices. I make bread once a week in a bread machine using Whole wheat flour - no oil whatsoever and it's delicious. Who knew I could bake such wonderful bread? Well now I know I can. There is so many places you can knock empty calories such as fat out of your diet - and you can still eat healthy sized portions of food so you aren't hungry.

The real trick is to make this your new way of living - it's not a diet to lose weight, it has to be the way you eat for the rest of your life to keep you healthy.

Three books that helped me are The China Study by Dr. Colin Campbell and Eat to Live by Dr. Furhman as well as Reverse and Prevent heart disease by Dr. Caldwell Essylstyn. If you understand why you have to change your diet it may help you stick to a healthier lifestyle long enought that it becomes your routine.

Skylar

No problem on the copied post :). 

I've been wanting to get a bread machine.  I love the whole wheat & grain breads, would love to make them healthier to still have bread in my diet.  I'll be sure to check out those books, thank you.