Healthy Eating Motivation

J

Jcrew3082

Cathlete
Hi everyone,

I've been doing well with my workouts but hardly see results because my diet hasn't been great. I'm a vegetarian, and some days I eat wonderfully, but others are just awful. I know TTOM has something to do with this, but I'm having so much trouble getting back into my groove. This is a really pain in the butt kind of post, because I know all of the reasons eating healthy is important, but sometimes it's nice to have reinforcement. If anyone of you wouldn't mind, can you share some uplifting stories about eating well and being patient for results? Wow, I'm a geek lol!

Thanks :)

Gina
 
I lost 20 lbs in about 2 1/2 months, or about 2 lbs a week...late last year. Mostly through eating right..I don't have much extra time to spend doing a lot of aerobics to burn off eating improperly. I would weigh myself once a week ONLY, the same time under similar circumstances. I looked forward to that weekly weigh in even just to see those 2 lbs. ALso, believe it or not, I could sort of tell where that week came off...my face, my arms, my lower back, etc...it was addicting and motivating. I didn't need to lose more than 20, so I started eating more on a daily basis after reaching that point, and have stayed that weight ever since.

I found for me, that there were times that I would be triggered to eat unhealthfully....for me, that was stress or boredom. I recognized that and tried to combat it with alternatives. I also would stop and drink a glass of water before I was sure I was hungry.
It worked.

HTH
Jen
 
Hi Gina....I have to say I know how you feel. I had tried so hard to follow the Zone diet as it had worked so well for me. But the last couples of yrs the pounds came back on even when I exercised! TTOM was of course..awful for weight gain. Then I read a post in Ask Cathe about weight loss. I heard about the book "Eat to Live" which is pro vegetarian. I thought "No Way" could I be a vegetarian. Well...I have followed this diet by Dr Joel Fuhrman and I have become a vegetarian. My Husband too...(a total shock!). In 5 weeks I have lost 15 lbs and finally see my muscles again, I am 1 pound from my goal. I have never lost weight this easily and this fast. My Husband has lost 23 lbs so far. I also have started P90X and it does deserve some credit. I am 45 and seriously realize it will always be a diet issue for me. If I don't eat healthy I will gain weight. After reading how bad animal protein is for you...it was a no brainer to go vegetarian..at least IMHO!...good luck and yes be patient, you will get there...:)...Carole
 
Hi Carole,

I really appreciate your reply. I'm glad to hear that you and your husband have gone vegetarian and are enjoyed it. I'm already a vegetarian for health and ethical reasons. I think I'm closer to a vegan, but I'm having trouble finding a substitute for yogurt.

Thanks again!

Gina
 
Hi Jen,

Thanks so much for responding. Stress can be a big problem indeed lol. I think I just need to get back into the right mindset. Congrats on your weight loss!

Gina
 
Gina, its funny you mention yogurt...thats really the only thing I miss is my fat free plain yogurt with fruit. On Eat to Live you cut out dairy for 6 weeks then Dr Fuhrman says if you add it after...it needs to be fat free. Don't they make some sort of soy yogurt or something like that??....:)...Carole
 
They make soy yogurt, but it's not fat free. I like Whole Soy and Silk brands, but they are definitely not as tart or rich as cow's milk ones.
 
Gina,

I work out six days a week but didn't start to see any weight loss results until I started eating clean. One thing that helps me is keeping track of what I eat. I use fitday.com - it really motivates me to eat better.

Laurie
 
Hi Carole,

I love Horizon Organic fat free yogurt. I think I've sampled just about every soy yogurt out there, and the only one that came close to not having an awful aftertaste is the Trader Joe's brand. It still wasn't that great, though. Have you tried Soy Delicious frozen desserts? The vanilla/orange "ice cream" is delicious!!!!!

Gina
 
Well, I kept losing my focus so I typed up a reminder and taped it to my computer monitor.

Why I eat well?
1. To avoid insulin resistance - Type 2 Diabetes
2. Keep my blood pressure down
3. Avoid CVD (cardiovascular disease)

Why I Exercise?
1. Avoid lower back pain
2. Keep my blood pressure down
3. Feel the rush

It helps to keep me focused during the day, maybe your personal reasons list could help you stay on track with motivation.
 
Oh Gina! I know how you feel, and find myself with the same concerns as you on many days!

I'm a vegetarian, too--for 23 years. Two years ago at this time I weighed 241 lbs. (no one ever seemed to believe a vegetarian could be so overweight), with no fitness level of which to speak. Fast forward to today: I weigh 125-127 lbs. and can make it all the way through IMAX2--even the cursed interval 9!}(

What I'm finding, though, is that maintaining my loss is actually much more difficult than losing it was, and my lack of consistency when it comes to eating properly is the culprit. I exercise with Cathe 5-6x/week, and I LOVE it! But lately when it comes to eating well, I've been making very poor choices. I was on a cruise two weeks ago and gained seven pounds. Although it's coming off slowly, I still sabotage myself with the thought that "well, I'm pretty thin, I can afford to gain a few..." Well, we all know the stats when it comes to weight maintenance. That "few" extra pounds tends to lead to a few more, and so on and so on... I never, ever want to be where I was before--so unbelievably physically and emotionally unhealthy.

I really relate to the statement you make about having difficulty "getting back into the groove." Know that I'm right there with you--same questions, same struggles, same desire to do better for myself as you. I know we'll make it!:)

Oh, my! I hope I didn't scare you off with that little cathartic diatribe, Gina! Paging Dr. Freud.....!:eek:
 
Thanks Gina....no, I haven't tried any kind of yogurt yet. I just know being female that there are things in yogurt that are very beneficial to us. And I have eaten it all my life until now. So after I get thru this 6 weeks phase of eating I will check out the products you mentioned...thank you again....:)...Carole
 
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