What doesn't work?

[Anne Westlund]

Maybe we could come up with a list of things that definitely don't work in terms of losing weight, feeling good, and being healthy. I realize everybody is different, so what doesn't work for one person might work for someone else. Here's one to start: counting calories. Never did work for me. Maybe it was the math. :)

[Carol Clark]

Something that doesn't work for me is to set exercise goals too high. For example, when I've said, I have to walk 40 min every day, guess what? It doesn't happen.

So now, my goal is 1/2 hour at least 4x a week, and that usually works. Which reminds me... I need to go walking today.

:-)

[Susan Hosken]

I made the mistake of deciding to do 2 hours of exercise each day. You guessed it I didn't get very far. I used to do an hour a day for years when I worked. Nowadays I am happy with half an hour a day and some exercise bike riding and stretching and weekly dance.
lots of love from susan in australia

[debb]

what doesn't work -- getting on the scale daily (or more than once a day)

those numbers on the scales are deceiving and what really is more relevant is how clothes fit... how things Really fit & move with our body over the course of the day.

[Susan Hosken]

I have a huge problem with weighing myself too much. Nowadays i weigh myself once a month.
lots of love from susan in australia

[Lin Neiswender]

Losing X number of pounds by X date. Weight loss is a two steps forward, one step back thing for me. It takes as long as it takes.

[Cai]

oh gads Lin!!
aint that the truth about X # of lbs!!
I decided when I had the bypass that a) I was not going to weigh every day (once a week..I use the freight scale at work and its ACCURATE!) b) I dont look at the total number of lbs wanted gone
I still dont after losing 138 lbs...I still have more to go at 236...its just taking it one day at a time
c) setting those exercise goals too high has shot me off that mark a couple of times
so I walk more and farther and go and look for things that I can create with on my walks
makes it fun!!!

[Lin Neiswender]

Wow Cai, congrats on your great losses so far, more will come. That is a great thing to do on your walk.

[Anne Westlund]

Congratulations on your weight loss so far, Cai. What do you mean "look for things I can create with"? Like picking up leaves to do art with? Just being curious.

Anne

[Cai]

EXACTLY! a pine cone here a redwood branch there leaves and colors and rocks and all sorts of things to not only look at but create with (I made 3 wands out of the redwood branch before Halloween!! they are TOO COOL! have to scan them)

[Carol Clark]

Wow Cai, you deserve a lot of credit. That is amazing, your weight loss, and I know you'll stay on track.

When I quit smoking 10 years ago, out of anxiety I just walked and walked and walked. THen walked some more. It started feeling so good, I couldn't go a day without it. I lost about 30 lbs back then, kept most of it off, I've just come back up a little.

CONGRATS TO YOU...!
Carol

[Cai]

CONGRATE CAROL!!!
smoking is one of the hardest thing to do
and thank you all of you
looking back it doesnt seem as hard as its been
the operation wasnt too bad even and the food restrictions sometimes are not fun
no bread no pasta easy on the sugar (most dont want you having it cause it increases your appetite like sodas and caffiene tend to do)
its all a very interesting transformation
I feel like the moth in A Bugs Life
IM A BUTTERFLY!
hehehe

[Hannah]

I guess cheating doesn't work for me. Sounds obvious, huh. So why did I eat so much this weekend when presented with a glorious opportunity to do so, not at Thanksgiving dinner, but at work where everyone brought in munchies to share? As usual, I didn't even overeat that badly, and most of it was "healthy" -- four or five mini corn muffins (adds up to about one and a half full size), an extra sandwich (but turkey on full grain bread, no mayo), a handful of nuts, and yes, four? ounces of chocolate, and I'm up 3 pounds, and that's even though after starting to be active in this group, I did do two full workouts last week. Some of that is water retention from my period, but I'm worried, because there always seems to be a reason I either don't lose weight or gain it back.