Never Learned to Eat Nutritionally

There is a great site to help with weight loss. It's called Sparkamericanhttp://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/messageboard_subscript...

It's got recipes,exericise, tracking your exercise and food, messeage board home pages, motivations, setting up your goals ect...

I just joined http://www.sparkpeople.com/. Check it out it is free. You apparently register free, check in and be held accountable. There are tons of experts on the site too. Good luck!

T.

Hi, S. ~
I would love to share a weight loss program (with optimum nutrition) with you that would produce results, cost you little to nothing, and provide you with a home-based business and supplemental income if you're interested.
I am a mother of 1, wife, teacher, and have had my home-based business for 4.5 years.

You might try sparkpeople.com. It's free and has every level of help you may need. I find it very helpful.

Check out sparkpeople.com. It has alot of great tools, all completely free!!!

Good luck!

S., you can do it! I have about 60 pounds to lose and cannot afford to join any of those weight lose programs either. But I did come across www.sparkpeople.com which is FREE and oh so cool. Check it out! It has nutritional trackers, fitness trackers, you put in how much you weigh and what not and how much you want to weigh and how many pounds you'd like to lose per week and they tell you how many calories to eat, etc. Plus there are exercise demo videos you can do anywhere and a recipe page where you can calculate your own recipe nutritional value. Anyways it's KILLER! Good luck! I am christinichka if you want to look me up =)

Hi S.,

I'm a big fan of "Eating Well". It's a magazine I subscribe to but their website has a lot of great recipes and things to offer as well: http://www.eatingwell.com/

What I love is how simple and yet delicious the recipes are. Best of luck!

I have the same problem. I tried Nutrisystem for 3 months and I never felt better. Probably the first time in my life that I ate how I was supposed to. Anyway, I agree it is to expensive so now I'm trying it on my own. But you can have access through their website for free. I found a wealth of information. If you try the chat room, many of the people are very knowledgable. Hope it works for you, L.

A little about me:
I'm 44, have 1 kid age 6, good husband, sell Avon to stay at home

Hi S.,
You can go to www.mypyramid.gov. It offers you a personal eating plan and assessment of your food intake and physical activity level. This site is supported by the American Dietetic Association. Here you will find the best nutrition information without fad diets. Good luck.
A.

Great that you're lookin for new avenues! I DO NOT recommend the no-carb craze fanatically, but a couple of years ago, my husband and I went on the South Beach Diet to lose some weight, and the principles I learned have kept me within 4 lbs of my goal weight (lost 11 lbs) for 3 years. Basically, you change our old way of thinking about how food fuels us, how every meal has to have a veggie, a meat and a starch, stop using carbs as major sources of fuel. You can still carefully choose some carbs and some splurges, but stay fueled by eating the right foods at the right times of day, avoiding the white flour traps. I NEVER purchased the prepackaged food, I just got the book from the library (FREE!) and researched it online. I also like the website SparkPeople.com for inspiration and links to lots of health tips, design your own plans, etc. Good luck to you!

S. my weight has gone up & down since menapause. I've tried everything! The best thing I ever did was to eat less. I am a meat & potatoe person also and just can't live on diet food more than 2 days. To keep myself satisfied so I don't feel like I'm being mistreated I just eat what I want but less. This has worked better for me than any diet or gym.
Good Luck!

the biggest loser is having the million pound match up. they have the biggest loser club online. don't know if it costs anything but it's worth looking into. i had success with weight watchers before pregnancy... sometimes you can find old materials for sale on craigslist or ebay really cheap if you want to check out what their program is about. I know I have a weight watcher cook book on my shelf collecting dust that i never use anymore!

anyway...good luck to you! i was raised on fast food too and it's hard to re-train yourself into healthy lifestyle living.

You don't need to rely on WeightWatchers or other programs like that. I exercise 5x a week, mostly walking. I watch what I eat and try to include one meal as a salad. I drink a lot of water throughout the day. Don't diet just eat in moderation and exercise. It works for me! T.

Hi S.,
I am in the same boat. A friend turned me onto Raw Food. Check out www.rawfamily.com for great ideas. Changing over completly is not easy. But, following some of there ideas has got to be better than nothing. (I hope, for my sake.)
A.

Hey S. -

Learning to eat well is actually pretty easy. Learning to lose weight is harder, lol! I lost about 75 lbs in a year on a modified Atkins diet -- it works very well.

Essentially, the diet is about 12-14 oz of lean protein (lean meats, fish, chicken, cheese, milk -- sparingly, nuts, beans), 2 fruits (no bananas), 2 carbs (like, two slices of bread), 2 tbsp fat, and unlimited vegetables, preferably steamed. NO sugar, NO alcohol, LIMIT the carbs! The trick is to pump up the veggies, cut out the carbs, eat lots of good protein to fuel yourself. It works beautifully.

As to long-term nutrition -- you can add more carbs, but be careful, as the weight creeps up again. ALso, make those carbs count! Instead of white bread, always eat whole grain breads. Instead of regular pasta, choose the whole grain variety. Use yogurt instead of sour cream. And veggies, veggies, veggies, veggies...veggies are your friend!

Good luck!

J.

http://www.foodaddicts.org/

It's amazing.

I understand your situation. I have alays beeen heavy and in our family we never ate nutritionally. For the last 15 years I have battled my weight and lost. In the last year though I have really beeen able to do it on my own. I did go to WW for a little while and really all that provide was support. The one thing that people need to remember is calories in need to equal calories out. When you are t rying to lose weight this iss so important because tlo lose the weight you need to reduce calories in. Being aware of what you eat and what it's calories are is crucial. Calorie King is a great website that can help with that. I would suggest you start journaling and at the end of the day go to this site and figure out what your calorie consumption was. This will make you aware and then you can begin to make changes. Once you know you can begin to make better decisions. I have cut out fast food for our family. I try to use fresh as often as possible and I understand what a serving is now. I have lost 65 lbs. and I still have almost 80 to go. I love the gym but just get yourself out and walking everyday for 30 minutes and you will still see changes. I hope you can find some success with this info. Good luck. This change will not only benefit you but your family and that's the best part.

Start with Dr Oz's You on a Diet book. He talks about eating healthy and makes it easy to read. Its not a website, but its a good start.

Hi S.,

A basic rule of eating nutritionally is to keep your meat portion the size of your palm (as thick and as wide) not including your fingers. Then fill the rest of your plate with fruits and vegetables. If you have a salad, use 1 tablespoon or less of dressing - even fat free. For snacks, have carrot sticks, celery (negative calories), grapefruit (negative calories), anything brightly colored! Just remember the golden rule: If it is beige stay away! Basically almost everything beige is overprocessed and nutritionally horrid for the body. I know this isn't a website, but they are easy "rules" to follow. Also, move your body. If you don't have time for a real exercise routine, 10 minutes of running/walking three times a day is great exercise and easier to squeeze into a full schedule. If you feel that is too easy carry something in your hands as you go (take canned food or two of those potatoes you love). They make cheap weights! Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

The website pcrm.org has lots of good info.

Good luck!
JB

Dear S.,

Good for you!

Because you want to loose weight, you have taken the first step. Be sure you are working with your physician. S/He will have resources for you within your insurance, which often won't cost you more than a co-payment. I found a couple of sessions with a nutrition counselor very helpful to identify what was and was not healthy about what I was doing.

Second I made an honest and personal journal for about two weeks to see what I really was doing. I found that I sabotaged myself frequently. I found a couple of friends that I could trust and talk to them about my progress and concerns. They continue to be a wonderful source of support and inspiration!

Third, I read several books and mixed and matched things tactics that energized my when I read them. If I thought, Oh, that felt like it will work for ME. I also kept a journal of feelings, progress and insights. The books I read were "The Fat Flush Plan," "Fit Not Fat," and "South Beach Diet Book." I worked with these books and concepts for about 2 years and made good progress.

Since I realized and accepted that I ate to ease emotional stress, worry or sadness. So now I communicate these feelings in a light and accepting-of-myself-and-others way. I don't eat as much, and I am eating healthy and balanced meals.

I hope this helps you! Many people's stories in the South Beach Diet website and in the Fit for Life book were my support and catalysts!

Best of luck to you!

I use VFL.com. It's very affordable, informative, and easy to use. It is a total physical wellness system that provides diet plans, exercise plans, education, a convenient way to track your vital measurements, and a community to connect with others. You can e-mail me personally for more information (____@____.com), and if you are interested we can chat on the phone. :) ~B.~

S.,
I don't necessarily have a website to refer you to,but I can tell you one thing that will work. Eat less and exercise. Its not so important of what you put in as to HOW MUCH YOU PUT IN. I have watched my weight for years and been very into exercise. After looking at different diets etc I have learned to just eat less. It really about control/disipline and portions. Go on oprah website and get the name of her nuritionist and look at his website. He has the best advice. All these diet and restrictions are hard bc once you quit you gain the weight back. You can't look at something as diet it has to be a lifestyle change. You will be a much better role model for your kids. My son wants to eat what I eat, so he eats sushi rolls or dolma's with me which is hilarious. Also limit or cut out all processed foods. Since I have done that I have noticed celeculite on the back of my legs disappear. My sister is very into the Raw crase so she has great ideas. Smoothies packed with carrots, spinach, and berries are great bc the berries override the veeg flavor. You can get frozen berries but make sure the only ingredients are the berries themselves. I also live my philoshpy not to eat anything that has more than 4 or 5 ingreditents. That keeps you away from processed foods. Hope this helps.
S.

Hi S.. There is ALOT of FREE information out there. I would go to FitDay.com as it has a free diet journal for you to write what you eat down and will give you your daily intake and reports for free. Next I would go to the library and get a book called "The Zone Diet". It's one of the best diets out there and my cousin, who is a nutritionist and a professional mountain bike racer, recommends it highly. You can also get that book very easily at the second hand bookstore or online. Just a thought. Good luck as I know how hard the weightloss thing is. I was morbidly obese for a large portion of my life and have lost 127lbs through the gastric bypass surgery. I love my new life but it also has a new set of challenges.

Let me know if you have any questions.

To Your Health,

R. W., CMT
www.RebeccaWithey.com

I just finished a PhD program with a family so I know how hard it is to eat right but SO worth the effort especially with the stresses. I would second the library as a great resource. The book You on a Diet (featured on Oprah) and You Staying Young are both excellent resources for teaching you how different foods affect your body. Take it slowly and forgive yourself for setbacks. If you can cut out one thing right away, I would recommend refined sugar - the first few days without it are tough because your body will crave it but I promise that once that's over, you'll have much more energy. Also, planning meals (grocery shopping for the purpose of specific meals and/or preparing snacks in bags ahead of time) and only shopping on the perimiter of the grocery store are two tips we pretty much live by (but does take some getting used to).

S.,

I lost about 50 pounds two years ago just by not eating until I'm hungry and stopping when I'm satisfied. My diabetes has gone away (doctor says once diabetic, always diabetic, but tests look like I'm not) no more medications, no more heart burn, no more IBS. Our bodies are designed with signals to tell us when it is time to eat and when it is time to stop. Also, eat real food. You will crave what you need. All foods are good, even fat, as long as you don't overdue any of them. It's a no brainer. No counting calories or points, no weighing ounces. If you stop eating when you are satisfied, you get hungry again sooner. Always know that the food will always be there and you don't have to have it right away. Also, when you want to eat and you are not hungry, drink lots of water and exercise. I lost the weight very quickly, within months, and it is easy to keep off if you make it a life-style instead of a diet.

Hi S.! I really like sparkpeople.com it's totally free and has tons of info plus nutrition and fitness trackers. Good luck!

Good for you S.!

I don't necessarily have a website for you to go to, but we started eating nutritionally about 5 years ago, with changing the items we were used to (Soda to Sparkling Water, Milk to Soy Milk, Coffee to Tea,etc.), and we always look at the nutrition labels to note the fat content, cholesterol, and especially the sugars. I make it a point to avoid any pre-processed foods or packaged items, and usually skip the frozen section in the grocery store, since most of those food types are located there.

Our main staples are vegetables and fruits, and how we cook our meals is we always have a base (Chicken, Fish, or meat), then any type of salad, and a side (peas, corn,etc.), and limit what we eat to a decent sized plateful. Seconds are okay since we cook our own meals and usually use Olive Oil instead of Butter, and use seasonings for taste, but you might start to notice your stomach shrinking if you are used to big meals, and you can't help but be full with just one plate.

Another thing that has helped me in the past is you can usually take what your body is used to the most and reduce that amount, and you might find that you will lose weight just from doing that. An example would be if you are used to eating pasta alot or bread, that you cut that out of your diet or limit it to a smaller fraction, and see what happens.

By doing this, you will not only possibly lose weight, but save money, and feel and look better!

Hope this all helps! Good luck!

I think the best diet out there is the south beach diet. It's easy to follow and makes perfect sense and all it takes is reading a book. There is also a website you could subscribe to (I think for a small fee). The first two weeks are tough, but it's to get you out of bad habits. Once those are replaced it's an easy diet to maintain for life. I loved it and went back to pre-baby weight after 2 kids. Good luck and feel proud of yourself for taking the steps to be healthier.

Hi, S.,
Boy, do I know what you're talking about! Meat and potatoes -- I could live on that, if it weren't so unhealthy!
I'm a Personal Wellness Coach; I'm also an Herbalife distributor. Through these two avenues I've learned to eat healthier. I lost 42 pounds before I learned about wellness coaching; I've lost 15 pounds and kept it off through healthier choices. If you'd like a free wellness evaluation, which includes tips and suggestions for better food choices, let me know. I'd love to teach you what I've learned!

Hi there, it's a good thing that you can't afford one of those weight loss plans because they are not healthy. I was always one of those people that never believed in low fat (even young) because how can putting chemicals in your body be better than the real thing! This turns out to be true. Eating nutritionally is not eating low fat necessarily. It's eating real food (non-processed) in moderation. My health and life were turned around after I found a doctor that knew something about nutrition (which most doctors don't) I would suggest that you read Real Food, What to Eat and Why by Nina Planck. Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Mary Enig, and Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. Check them out of the library or buy them on Amazon (much cheaper). Of course regular exercise is a must as well.

I hope this helps!

J. B.

Oh my gosh...go to www.3fatchicks.com its the best website in the world! It's a huge online community of people who have/are losing weight through all different methods!!!!!

S.

I was raised the same way and have struggled all my life. I found a great book callled the Lord's Table. I have learned over the years I can not do anything on my own. I need the Lords help. This book teaches you disapline.I'm not sure if they have a website or not. I am 47 and I'm just now learning how to handle this the right way.

I love the magazine Cooking Light. It has a lot of very good recipes, often using ingredients that are in season. It has a lot of ideas on how to cut down fat and calories without taking away taste. The recipes are very easy and tasty.
Following recipes is a great way to change how you eat. Getting info on good nutrition is also important but often times, people don't know how to put in practice, so this magazine can help you do that. You can even borrow it from the library.
They also have a website: cookinglight.com
Good luck!

Hi S., I think it is fairly easy to eat right once you learn. You should eat lean meats, like white chicken, pork and fish. Some red meat is okay but not all the time, I eat it about once or twice a month. Incorperate lots of fruit and veggies into every meal. Try eating a salad for lunch instead of a sandwich. Eat some fruit and a yogurt for breakfast, skip the cereal and toast. Once you learn the little tricks and retrain your mind and body you won't crave the higher fat and higher carb foods anymore. I lost over 40 pounds using this diet along with Herbalife shakes as meal replacements, I lost the weight in 4 months, I also sold the products so I could afford to take the products. Like you I could not afford to do any diet program, that is when I decided to become a distributor for Herbalife. I was always thin, until I had three kids I topped out at 210 with my third and got to 160 on my own and to 120 with Herbalife and even lost a few more since then. If you are interested I am willing to help you, I could coach you along and we could work together to get you healthy! You can email me at ____@____.com or feel free to call me ###-###-####
Sincerely, A.

http://mercola.com Check out his health resources section.

Hi S.: I recently lost 22 pounds by changing my diet and daily plan. A great book to get is called, "Good Fat, Bad Fat" by: William P.Castelli, Glen C. Griffin. It's a great book. You still get to eat good food, including sweets. It just explains how to eat better, has recipes etc. Also, it's important to add some exercise into your routine. Even if it's walking 30 minutes a day. Good luck

Hi S.,

I have not ever had a baby (a friend sent me a mamasource gram just because!), but I find that whenever I'm seeking to lose weight I simply add more vegetables in place of some other kinds of food and try to go to the gym a few times (or a few more times) a week.

I also have been using an exercise book entitled "Firefighter's Workout" which is a weight training regimine. In it are a few routines specifically designed to lose weight. In following these regimes, I have found that not only am I losing inches, but even when I need to skip workouts the weight does not come back. There is also advice on how to use the routines based on your personal schedule. Further, assuming you have either a gym membership or a set of weights at home, the book is only an additional $16! :)

Finally, I am also a big fan of yoga classes a few times a week, if you can afford it. If you're trying to lose weight, those hot room classes are popular, but I find Ashtanga style yoga classes are the best for weight loss. The routine is the same each time (depending on the level that you go to) and usually starts with a bazillion Sun Salutations which alone will start to melt off the pounds.

Anyway, I hope this is helpful and I wish you lots of luck in your endeavor!

Sincerely,
N.

Dear S.

South Beach Diet!! You will have to give up your potatoes but you keep the meat! And the book only costs $12.

I lost 30 Lbs and my husband lost 45 (figures huh?)

Good Luck!

R.

There is are a few free webpages out there that will teach you to eat right. My favorite one is www.revolutionheatlh.com. You can customize your diet according to your health too (i.e. diabetes, hypoglycemia, heart disease, etc.). It does cost a little more to eat healthier because of the cost of produce. My husband and I were just talking the other day about how it is cheaper to buy dinner for the family at a fastfood restuarant than it is to cook a healthy dinnner at home. Also, if you can, sneak in a Nutrition class while you are going to school. I took a nutrition class and it was a real eye opener for me! Good Luck!

Try Kimkins.com. There is a very basic formuls which did work for me for several weeks before I fell off the wagon. I lost 12 weeks the first week and then lost an average of about 5 pounds a week. I want to go back to it. There is a one time fee of 40 bucks or so and then you have access to all sorts of forums and support. Try that!

Good luck

Hi-

My girlfriend just emailed me about this FREE web site called Sparkpeople.com. You can get recipes, set goals, etc. I filled out my profile haven't really cruised the whole web site so far but it looks like it's full of great information. Hope this helps & good luck!

I recently lost about 60 lbs., and I did it with The Firm. I ordered the work out kit off of the t.v. but they have an online support also. I have found that you still have to pay a membership fee for doing the online stuff too, it is less expensive than doing Weight Watchers though. I also like the magazine OXYGEN. They have a lot of great recipes to help you, some workout tips, and just some good general information. They are online also. I know that Weight Watchers has a magazine out also. Just remember to start out at your own pace, even if its slower than everyone else, and its takes time to get to where you want to be, I'm still not there yet.

Hi S.,

Right now, Discovery Health has a National Body Challenge. It's free to register and it gives you day by day help to help get in shape and lose weight. They even give you 8 weeks free to Bally Total Fitness. Its gives you suggested recipes, what to eat all day, if that's what you need, an exercise regimen (starts easy then gets harder each day). Sounds like a great program.
Weight Watchers also has a website with some free things on it (you have to pay to get exclusive things).
Also, I love www.hungry-girl.com. I sign up for a free subscription, I get emails every day. She sends new food finds, recipe make overs, compares and rates different foods. Lots of great ideas. I've come across a lot of new great foods, that are usually "diet" friendly.
Good luck to you.

Hi,

What a great way to start the new year! I am going to start doing Tai chi again and walking.(when the weather allows!) :)
I recently had a friend tell me how much she likes the "biggest loser" diet website. I guess there is a tv show and people challenge themselves to lose weight on it. Well, the website is there to help you if you want to do it too! She said there were recipes and routines and she loved it! I hope this helps! I think it is on a TV channel website, maybe health channel or Discovery channel? Good luck! :)

I was also raise on meat and potatoes. My doc said that all those weight loss plans are this: take what your eating now, like make your plate up, and then remove half of everything, off. I have been doing this and it is working to learn more portion control and I dont feel hungery. He also said wait 20min before I take another bite if I still feel hungry then have some fresh veggies. I am losing, and it isnt' hard because I can still eat what everyone else is so there isn't any preperation or different eats.

hope this helps.

Hi S.,

Congratulations on your decision to eat healthier. You can do it yourself! And it's really easy!
Here is my list of recommendations:
http://www.healthfitonline.com/resources/tips/eatwell.html

Just pick one tip a week to really focus on, so you're changing your habits slowly and for life. Send me an email if you have any questions!

In health,
M.
www.healthfitonline.com

Hi S.,

I suggest trying Oprahs weight loss challenge. It is great as it teaches you from step one to change your lifestyle.

Millions of people from all over the US have lots weight by dogin this. They give food tips, excercize tips, and others you can e mail who are dogin it too..

Good Luck!

http://www.thebestlife.com/ms/mvchallenge/index.html?cm_m...