The Fight of My Life

[Skytteflickan88]

Hi, my name is Caroline, and I'm a candy-holic. I've always been overweight, but the last few years my weight has reached new horrible heights. I've seen recently pictures of myself as a child, when I thought I was very fat, and compared to today, I was in very good shape. I had no idea I looked that different today.

I'm 1,72-ish (5'8-ish) and weigh 126,2kg(278 pounds). That's 16 kg more than the last time I weighed myself (can't remember when I did that, about a year ago I guess).

I weighed myself yesterday and was chocked. So I decided to not eat any candy, cake, sodas or anything like that for a year (to 25th August 2011).

I don't think I can make it (after a month I'm going to think "A cookie won't be that bad, just one" and end up eating until I puke) but I'm going to try. I'm very out of shape, and am currently trying to get used to 30 min walking or 20 min aerobics per day, until I can do more without hating the world.

I hope to My goal is to one day weigh 80kg, and maybe even less. That's almost 50 kg I need to lose.

I'm going to buy some kind of soda stream thing to replace sodas, I hear they're healthier. I'll still eat fatty food, but try to eat the right kind (I ate chinese food today, bad, bad Sky).

That's where I need you. Tell me about food recipes(fruit salad will my friend for the next year, because it's sweet tasting) of different kinds, anything tasty I can eat, that's not candy or cake-stuff.

Some encouragement and horror stories about obese people might help too. You know, "No sex", "Having to use a wheel chair to get places" and "killing my mom's dogs by tripping over/on them".

[The Night Lord]

Deep fried crumbed fish and chips! Well, you said no candy or cake. Sorry, couldn't help myself. Good to hear about this, Sky, though I didn't know this at all really. A fruit salad for me is usually grapes, sliced banana and apples, some kiwi fruit and perhaps some mandarins or oranges. Only tried that once and it turned out well. I don't have a horror story, but my mother was fat at once point and she walked for half an hour every day and night. Now, she's slim and she's been able to keep it off, so I suggest walking. Nothing wrong with walking. I don't mind it myself, so give that a try. Have a look around at any destinations you wanna walk to and that you'll enjoy walking back and to from

[Talkie Toaster]

Drink lots of water (2 liters a day) which is integral to weight loss.

Try to eat more often per day, by this i mean instead of 3 large meals per day try to eat 6 small meals per day (this helps speed your metabolism)

Try to find some low sugar Jelly (or jell-o as some places call it) eat as much of that stuff as you like! (it is essentally just solid water after all)

Sugar is your enemy (Yes, morso than fat!) try to limit your sugar intake by only drinking low-sugar sodas (Now, you ARE going to feel awful for the first week or two, but after that you hardly even miss the sugar)

With main meals try to eat more soups (best if you make them yourself, i'll try to add some recipes to the recipe book page) if you eat bread with soups only use Wholemeal or Grain never use white bread.

EDIT: by doing this i managed to go from 115 kg's to 97 kg's, also walking 30 miniutes in the morning and at night helps.

[orangejuicepony]

I want to be helpful, but then I realized that I am pretty much in the same boat as you. I was trying to think of things that are good for you and still taste good and all that came to mind was fruit. I'm mostly trying to just exercize in front of the tv alot. Just try working out a little more and more everyday until you are more comfortable with it.

I think I'll keep checking back to this thread, maybe it can help me as well and we can lose weight together.

[Darth Rosie]

Hey Sky, that is indeed some kind of fight!

You will get a lot of good advice, I'm sure, so I will state only one thing, echoing Talkie Toaster: Drink water, but stay away from sodas of any kind, even the low-sugar ones. Drink fruit tea and herb tea and water. It will be difficult at the beginning, but the good thing is: you will start to taste more.

All the best!

[Scarygothgirl]

Would it help if we alll gave up something as well? Then you'll know you're not alone in the struggle.

When I'm trying to avoid eating too much I often chew sugar-free gum. It satisfies the urges when you want something to munch on but you're not actually hungry.

[Billie Erin]

I really admire your resolve Sky, something I'd recommend is coming on slayalive if you feel yourself about to eat a cookie, we'll stop you!

Also:
a) Keep the exercise up, it helps LOADS
b) Check the nutritional information of everything before you eat it, I never realised a "Boost" chocolate bar contained two thirds of my daily saturated fat . . .
c) Always eat breakfast- if you don't then your metabolism doesn't even start burning fat until lunch time
d) Eat meals straight after exercising: your metabolism is still running at the enhanced rate required for exercise for about 20 mins after you stop so eat within this time frame and it's burnt really quickly

You should be really proud of yourself for making this decision, if you need anyone to talk to I'm always here.

[whitecandy]

Good luck with this Sky, I really hope you reach your goal. Have some karma to help you on your way.

I would say pretty much what everyone else here has already said, drink water, chew gum, herbal teas, etc. I am a bit of a chocolate fiend and can easily work my way through bar after bar if I'm not careful. Luckily I don't have to worry about my weight, but I still worry about my health. I buy a tub of strawberries or blueberries and keep them on my desk at work. Everytime I feel a pang of hunger for chocolate I eat a few berries instead. They are healthy, tasty and good for you.

[bonoferox]

Drinking hot tea helped me with hunger issues. Don't ever buy diet pills or any kind of "herbal supplements" that state they'll help fight hunger (they won't).
Unfortunately as far as food itself goes, everyone's body can react differently to different things. You could have the healthiest meals available and still gain weight. It just depends on how your body breaks down the carbohydrates.
The best foods you can have while staying healthy would be white meat chicken and fish. Turkey sausage, burgers, bacon etc is also a great substitute for red meats. And stay away from "Sugar-free" candies a lot of sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners can be just as bad or worse.

[willowswarlok]

Good for you! I know this can be difficult but it is doable. I cant really offer any advice since im underweight for my height, BUT

Maybe you should set up a jar. And put a couple of pounds/dollars in a week, money you would normally spend on sodas and sweets.

At the end of the year you would have a nice little pot of money to buy yourself something nice

I would say avoid the take away services and mcdonalds. In the UK we have this cereal called "Special K", im not sure if you guys have that over there, but they have a "Special K Diet" that can help drop dress sizes, apparently. You have this cereal for breakfast and lunch and then have dinner...

It may also be worth keeping a food diary for a week. Write down absolutely everything you eat in a day. then you can find out where portions may be too big, or where you are snacking the most. then work around it from there

Good luck!
Wayne

[Randi Giles]

Good luck Sky I hope you make your goal. I myself think I'm addicted to sweet and have recently started to try and eat healthy and workout more. Great tips Talkie Toaster.

[Billie Erin]

*Karmas* for your resolve Sky

[PJ]

good luck to you Sky. This really is getting me inspired to do the same because i really need to lose some weight as well....anyways, as long as you stick with it, you should be able to reach your set goals. Also, here's a tip i think i might have said before somewhere else here but im saying it again! Do not let the scale control you, as long as you are dieting and feeling the changes, it does not matter what that darn thing says! So try not to weight yourself alot, because sometimes it can make it alot worse!

[Skytteflickan88]

You guys are all so awesome. Now I have support and feel like I can stop, because I don't want to disapoint you. Don't want you all to have to wonder what happened to me if I one day stop coming here, because I've gotten stuck in a doorway somewhere.

You all have great advice, some I knew, some I didn't. Keep the advice coming.

Here's answers to a few of your posts and advice (I felt like saying "I agree" over and over again would be kind of weird )

@ Peej,
don't you worry, I have no scale at my place. I weighed myself at mom's place. The scale is my enemy. They make me feel so worthless. I will let my old clothes be my messurement. I will fit into them some day.

willowswarlok
That's a good idea. If I can see that I'm saving money, I would be happier. I saw this cutest little flowery piggy I can put money in. I have to buy it (my shoppaholic issue is for another thread)

We have special K. I love the kind with dried up strawberries. Soooo good with milk. That and yogurt will be my basic breakfeast.

@ Billie Erin.
Don't you worry, I will complain on slayalive everytime I get a cookie urge. Maybe if we slay Time, I could focus, since that guy still keeps sending my cookies so I'll join up with him again.

@ scarygothgirl.
You are too sweet. You don't have to give anything up. Of course, I'd like you to be alive for a long time, so if you have similar food habits, cut back on something?

[Billie Erin]

^^^ Time sent you cookies?! The fiend! That's it. I'm renewing my slaying resolve and this time it's personal

[midwesternwatcher]

I wish you luck. I don't have suggestions to offer right now, but I want you to know I'm tracking you. I should, you're tracking me. Curious. Was there something about me that made you want to "watch" me, or was it just time to choose a watchee? R

[Skytteflickan88]

I should keep a food diary, like willowswarlok said. I must remember to buy one. It used to be a pain in the butt to keep one, since I had it mainly to see how much candy I ate, and since I ate a lot, had to write down a lot and got bored with it. Hopefully it will be easier now, with no candy.

[Scarygothgirl]

I think I'm going to give up biscuits. I eat way too many, Ilike to sit and eat through a whole packet. It'll also be good for me when I start uni as I imagine there to be biscuits everywhere... My mother said on her first day of uni she bought a packet of biscuits and ate them all, and continued to do so every day for the rest of her course.

So I'll probably also be on here complaining about wanting to eat cookies as well...

Anyone else want to join us and give up something unhealthy?

[47kwest]

Good for you!! I gave up sugar 6 months ago!!! Read all labels! There are hidden sugars in so many things! You'll be amazed how you will be able to taste things that are too sugary. Especially sauces, they can be loaded with sugar. Stick to natural sugars if you need something sweet. You'll notice your energy levels will not vary so much, highs lows that kinda thing, and mood also evens out, at least it did for me, and you will lose the taste for it. And if you slip up do not feel guitly!!! It's about making healthy choices and putting yourself first. Like all things it takes time. Again read labels beef jerky has sugar in it! You CAN do it! I like to snack on almonds and other nuts if I need a snack. If you ever need an ear just message me!!

[Scarygothgirl]

I'm gonna have to alter my giving up biscuits to giving up all biscuits except fig rolls, 'cos I need them to take my drugs...