No Meltdowns, Just Meltoffs (updated 9/10/08: A New Challenge Has Begun) (Page 4)

I would say 2-3 lbs/week would qualify as great results!  I'm certainly jealous I also tend to make food for multiple days.  I also tend to eat the same types of things week after week.

I just bought a month of nutritional coaching because I think I need a little guidance.  I haven't seen a nutritionist since I was a kid so I'm looking forward to her advice.  

Maybe I should hire a nutritionist. I am think I am going to try it on my own for another month or so (I'm kind of poor and need to save the money), but I might need some serious help.

Elishia

I visited a nutritionist at my gym and it was worth the $40 it cost if for no other reason than to find out I was "on track". She gave some great advice and made some adjustments I think will be a BIG help. 

If you have health insurance, sometimes they will offer nutritional counseling.  I pretty much know the basics of nutrition but I honestly got scared when I started getting hungrier and put on a couple pounds.  This last week, I actually lost those pounds and I'm back to where I was a month ago before increasing my exercise.  I like the idea of a sports nutritionist because I think they can go further than your standard nutritionist. 

I was a bit worried that she wouldn't be able to help me because I follow a vegan diet but she said she can so I'm looking forward to what she has to say.  

Speaking of vegan diets . . .

About four years ago, I went on a strict vegan diet for 3 months.  The diet included lots of whole foods, a daily multi-vitamin, and I eliminated white sugar and white flour.  I also drank only water.  I did not count calories, but instead ate moderately.  After 3 months, my weight had dropped from 245 to 205.  But alas I fell off the vegan wagon & the weight came back when I resumed eating fast food & other junk.

I do not follow a vegan diet these days, however, I seldom eat red meat - mostly chicken breast & fish.  And I never drink milk because I 'm concerned about growth hormones & antibiotics.

I wish I had that luck!  I did lose 20 lbs when I went vegan but then I've been bouncing around the same weight for a while.  Although you'd be amazed how many things are vegan... like cinnamon bunny grahams.  

I actually love following a vegan diet, I tasted meat a couple months into it (was on vacation, not a lot of food choices) and it just tasted gross and that pretty much cemented the vegetarian portion but even my one true love cheese doesn't tempt me anymore.   I've had some nonvegan things such as milk chocolate (but then I realize I don't even like milk chocolate anymore, weird!) but I try to stay far away from them.

 Oh and speaking of chocolate, I bought a shirt today "Will Run for Chocolate".  It describes me perfectly.   I plan to wear the shirt until I'm swimming in it.  

I just gone done being a full-time vegan. Now I am a part-time vegan. Hahaha. I lost about 20 pounds doing it, and now I add and lose five of those all the time. Hahaha. I did it for health reasons (I have endometriosis) . . . yeah . . .

I am now on a pre-diabetic diet. I have to control my blood sugar, but I couldn't stand the ridiculousness that was the vegan diet I was on. I couldn't have sugar, white flour, oil, meat, or dairy--ever. It was a bit much. So now I try  to avoid meats and stuff (Yes, again, the growth hormones is why I'm not supposed to eat all that stuff . . . yeah  . . .). I try to stick with chicken or fish if I am dying for meat.

Congrats on the nutritionist, let me know how it works out for you, I may need to seek that advice myself.

Can I still join the challenge? I lost some weight in the Spring and fell off the wagon over the summer. I am 46, 5'7", and weighed 171 this morning. I have just started back into a base building routine with the idea of doing an Oly next Spring. I really need to get this excess weight off permanently for my own well-being. Any help is appreciated!

Well, I'm going to go one more month then, if I can afford it, I am going to hit up the nutritionist. It might help. Maybe a sports one . . . that does seem better!

It's not too late to join the group! Welcome!!!

You're totally in!  We're doing what we can to melt away those unwanted pounds while having as few meltdowns as possible. 

Well I am back from vacation and the news is kind of mixed. I left at 291 and planned on being at 290 for the next weigh-in. With a goal of -2lb per week I was confident that it could be easily achieved. Well I managed to put on 3lb over a week on vacation. It could have been worse but I am disappointed in myself that I couldn't even maintain my weight. Anyway I am back on track and am down a pound on last week bringing me to 293lbs.

I am focussed on maintaining the 2lb weight loss each week.

Don't sweat it... My weight can fluctuate +- 3 pounds from the beginning to the end of one day. Eat good for a day or so and watch the sodium. You might see it dip several pounds. Sometimes when you are on vacation you eat salty foods that make you retain water and gain weight. Just keep doing the right things and the right things will happen!

-Brad

The scale was my friend this morning!  I'm down 3 pounds since last week -> 234.5 to 231.5.

I pretty much kept to 1600 calories a day on weekdays & 2600 calories a day on weekends.   Now if I can just keep at it.  I stood for a long time at work today looking at the ice cream freezer, but finally just walked away.  I guess when it comes to weight loss, its the cumulative small victories that matter.  May you all have many of your own small victories between now and the end of the year!

Thanks for the encouragement Brad. This makes perfect sense to me and would explain alot. I actually have some kidney issues and have been prescribed Diuretics to combat fluid retention. The effect, naturally, is that I pee like a racehorse. I did stop taking them while on vacation as it was very inconvenient. Now that I am back I am dropping the weight again and that explains why.

Hello all, Well my diet has been for crap and I drank a few beers tonight while watching my BSU Bronchos beat the tar out of La Tech.  But all of the studying for my state boards and stuffing my face must have been off set  by my time on the trainer as I was at 228.3 this am.  I'll take it. 

Great job everyone and I'll try to be more involved after the 15th of October (the day I take my boards).

Take care.

Jared

~~~~~~~~~~~Sending positive vibes your way for the boards!!!~~~~~~~~~~~~