Weight Loss Thread

[serenity]

hi all, I’d like to join this thread if it’s okay. I have ALWAYS been a little heavy, but managed to get my weight down twice - the last time after I had my son, but I was losing weight while pregnant, and replacing it with water unknown to me (I was a very sick little girl to say the least and dropped to my surprise almost 40 pounds 2 days post birth). But, I slowly climbed a little up a couple of years later (10 or more pounds) and now what I’ve been staying home for a little while (not permanently thought), I have balooned up another 25 pounds. My husband is losing interest in me - heck I am disgusted when I look in the mirror now.

Ice cream and pop is my weakness lately. It’s so hard when you’re at home and with a toddler who doesn’t like the good-for-you food and a husband who wants gourmet food on the table, lol. Hmm…I could just really use the support.

Hi! Please check around at churches in your area for a Light Weigh group. I cannot tell you the difference it has made in my life. I am no longer a “garbage can” for my kids food. Even though I’m not yet at my “ideal” weight, I LOVE my body now… it’s GOD’s BODY.

 

[bernadette08]

Hello,

I’m so pleased to find this thread. I have just joined CAF today, and my hope in finding a Catholic weight loss forum was one reason I wanted to do so. May I join you?

I saw in some of your previous posts that several of you are doing the Light Weigh Program. I’ve checked, but I haven’t found any church offering that program in my area. I wish I had the time to start one myself, but I don’t. Does anyone know know if there are any online programs using the Light Weigh? And does it cost a lot to get the materials?

Well, in any case I have plenty of other books on weight loss and a Bible, so maybe I can wing it for a while. I recently read the book “Secrets of a Former Fat Girl”…and found in it a funny weight loss “coach” to motivate me. I can recommend that book to anyone with a good sense of humor. I’d love to find a good weight loss book that incorporates the Catholic faith into a weight loss and exercise program–one to purge and exercise the soul as well as the body, one written by a woman with a wicked sense of humor to keep me laughing, because dieting is too depressing not to–but haven’t found one.

A little bit to introduce myself…I’m nearly 39. A single (never married–formerly unlucky in love) woman who is facing that which I’ve tried desperately to avoid for far too long–dating! <> I can’t keep hiding out in classrooms or at work to avoid the inevitable any longer! I want a family (and a man) of my own, and so I need to pry my fingers off from around the handle of the refridgerator door and get my feet into some walking shoes and out the kitchen door to get some exercise. And now that I’ve tried going for a walk a few times, it’s not so bad. My heart didn’t explode out of my chest from overexhertion, nor did I die of boredom–I actually look forward to my walks now. Nevertheless, I am not going to start dating until I lose a few (well, more than a few) pounds. But I still love food–anything from a bakery will suffice.

I’ve gained a significant amount of weight over the past decade, but have had a problem with my weight since I was a child. I have been on blood pressure medication for the past three years. Yes, my doctor assures me that I’m otherwise healthy and can get off the medication once I lose weight (60-70 pounds). I’m fighting decades of (bad) habits, however, so it’s an uphill battle. Well, and being an overweight woman in a skinny world is intimidating–I bought a gym membership, but have yet to work up the courage to walk in and use an elliptical machine or attend a yoga class next to a bunch a thin people. I’m too tempted to walk in with a pan full of freshly baked (so still gooey) fudge brownies and offer them as much as they can fit in their faces to put a little meat on their bones. God forgive me!

Anyway, I’m glad to be here…and hope you’ll allow me to hang around.

Blessings,
~Bernadette

 

[serenity]

Hi bernadette08

The Light Weigh program is really easy to start. You get the materials and listen to the tapes. It’s pretty simple and easy. The meetings are once a week for about an hour and a half. Everyone pays the initial fee once and you can repeat the program free of charge until you loose all that you want. No, there isn’t an online Light Weigh program per se. Just weekly meetings.

For me personally, I stopped beating myself up. I eat anything I want as long as it’s within the Light Weigh guidelines. I learned about my “bad” habits, something I never learned on any other weight loss program (hmmm, I wonder why ) To think I was putting so much time and energy and money into so many other weight loss programs that never did for me what the LW has… I thank God everyday for it.

Don’t beat yourself up any more dear. You are God’s Precious Child. Glad to have you here and my prayers are with you.

 

[BlueRubies]

Thanks serenity - I will check it out. Today I am feeling down. I never felt when I was 40 pounds heavier that I was too fat, and then I didn’t feel that different when I lost the weight, but now that I’ve GAINED that back, I feel horrible - amazing how we don’t even realize it until we take it for granted.

I have an interview today and I am feeling so down. My pants are tight and my shirt is not very forgiving. Enough of this!

Can you please say a prayer for me? Thanks.

 

[BlueRubies]

Thanks serenity - I will check it out. Today I am feeling down. I never felt when I was 40 pounds heavier that I was too fat, and then I didn’t feel that different when I lost the weight, but now that I’ve GAINED that back, I feel horrible - amazing how we don’t even realize it until we take it for granted.

I have an interview today and I am feeling so down. My pants are tight and my shirt is not very forgiving. Enough of this!

Can you please say a prayer for me? Thanks.

 

[Ted_in_Charlott]

Here are some suggestions:

I used to do my rosary on the tredmill. Mark Mallett had a nice rosary cd took about 70 minutes to do all 4 sets of mysteries. If I ran the whole time I could do about 6-7 miles.

Slow down when you eat. Use chop sticks or eat left handed. Put them down between each bite.

Always drink water. Lots of water. And when you drink enough, drink some more.

Buy frozen or fresh veggies at the store. Don’t buy canned.

Do not neglect strength training. Muscle burns more calories than fat so you get a double benefit. If you attrify your muscle mass in your weight loss then might get sick.

A Martial Art has so many benefits, strength training, aerobic training, discipline, self-confidence.

Park further away when you go to the store.

Add a lemon to every recipe. The citrus acid helps burn fat.

Take your lunch to work, buy some good tupperware/rubbermade and prepare a weeks worth of food at a time.

Crunchy food like triscuits seem to help me with a snack. A low salt tricuit with low fat peanut butter is cheap and filling.

Eat fish whenever possible.

Eat the super foods: Spinach, Brocolli, Tomatoes, Kidney Beans, Whole Wheat Breads, Apples, Grapefruits.

Buy a nice pair of shoes to exercise in, comfortable and 1/2 or a full size larger. I run with two pairs of socks. A tight pair of shoes can cause all kinds of foot problems like hammertoes, the socks compensate and helps avoid friction and blisters.

When you go to adoration tell Jesus about your struggles. Ask him to curb your hunger and give you the strength to do it.

Try to get a partner to help motivate you. Beachbody.com is a great example.

Do not dismiss the idea of a personal trainer. You need a good start.

Gyms are good at providing equipment to get started.

Start a log of your progress. Not just weight, but record inches, weights lifted, foods eaten, cardio done.

This might be the most important: Do a little warm-up 5 minutes (pace in place, jumping jacks if you are able) then do some light stretching 5-10 minutes. Stretch every major muscle group. After your work-out stretch the muscle groups you worked. As you get older you will see really see that benefit. And try to drink something to help your muscles recover.

 

[serenity]

Thanks serenity - I will check it out. Today I am feeling down. I never felt when I was 40 pounds heavier that I was too fat, and then I didn’t feel that different when I lost the weight, but now that I’ve GAINED that back, I feel horrible - amazing how we don’t even realize it until we take it for granted.

I have an interview today and I am feeling so down. My pants are tight and my shirt is not very forgiving. Enough of this!

Can you please say a prayer for me? Thanks.

Yes I will pray for you dear. Please, please try to get into a Light Weigh program. It really teaches you NOT to beat yourself up and to NOT pay attention to all of those stupid secular diet rules. You can be free of counting calories, drinking tons of water (which only stretchs out your stomach - yeah!), eating like a bunny, etc. They only serve as distractions.

Giving your all to God in the Light Weigh is what makes those pounds come off. It’s so freeing and you’ll have such peace with food!

How did your interview go?

 

[jc-servant]

I have an interview today and I am feeling so down. My pants are tight and my shirt is not very forgiving. Enough of this!

Can you please say a prayer for me? Thanks.

Darling if you can afford to buy a nice outfit in your current size, then buy it. I just went through a major interview at my “fat” size, but I got myself something flattering at that weight. I bought separates that I can still wear if I lose more weight and which looked more suit-like. The jacket is structured with a bit of stretch in the fabric and it covered my waistline so I did not have to tuck in a shirt.

There is no point in torturing yourself by squeezing into tight clothing. I used to “punish” myself by waiting to buy anything new and stylish and flattering until I lost “enough” weight. Well what is enough?

I’m now working diligently at presenting the best “me” that I can at whatever weight. As I said before, I had some medical issues that were holding the weight. Now, I’m back to scheduling, motivation, temptation. You know, the usual issues. However, one thing that I’ve changed permanently is wearing old, tight things while I work at the weight loss.

I’m enjoying the last go round for my very loose winter slacks right now. I plan to donate them before it gets cold here again if my weight continues to drop. If by some chance it goes up again in the future, then I’ll buy a couple of decent things that fit until I can work it off again. Looking nice in clothing makes me feel better, which makes me eat less and go out more equaling more weight gone.

 

[jc-servant]

Oh my big news for this week is that I bought the Pilates machine that is the Today’s Special on QVC (shopping channel) today. I have been looking at them for quite awhile, but either the price was too high or they did not offer all of the attachments with it. Now it is on 4 payments (but they ship it right away). This one has a “rebounder” that allows sort of a jogging aerobic exercise while on one’s back on a sliding platform. It has the straps for stretching and 4 power cords for strengthening exercises plus DVDs with routines.

I have severe arthritis in the knees and it is spreading, so this will be a nice compliment to the water aerobics. I need core strengthening since my surgery and the stretching too. I feel like I’m hunched over and tight after working at a computer all day.

It should arrive in about 2 weeks, so I’ll let you all know if it works well.