FYI Hoola hoopin burns like 10cals per minute for those that enjoy this exorsize like myself.

sexersize sounds like a more fun way to me!
im not fat just a bit podgy and i wanna get rid of it, so i look and feel a bit better in myself.i find normal exersize kinda dull, though i do try to do some. i have cut down on my snacking but i think only way i can get rid of it is more walking and such like.

My rule is this: do NOT ask when someone is due unless you see the baby crowning. Period. No exceptions. Maybe we should post this at every bar.
I have about 50-60 lbs to lose. I have a very small frame, and I am miserable. So, I feel your pain.
My family and I went and had family pics taken this weekend. Ugh. I cried on the way home.
Sometimes you look in the mirror and only see the parts you want to see. The rest you squint at and see differently than the camera or the world. Reality hits and.......SNAP!
I think about exercise daily, that apparently isn't enough.
Maybe we should post pics and support each other. I am in!

Ooooh! Pics!? That is totally frightening, but not an all around horrible idea. My niece got a particular horrifying shot of me. Too bad she lives about 15 miles from me and I don't see her very often! LOL. Pics might be easier than giving out weight. Though I noticed a few of you have. Brave souls.

I'll join in.

I'm not so worried about the number on the scale, but do want to have a smaller waistline.

I exercise every day, with the hound. Mostly we just walk, but we're working up to jogging. Right now we walk 2-3 miles a day, except for Tuesdays and Thursday, when we jog as much as I can, which is about a mile right now, with a short 'breather' at the halfway mark.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday I bike to the gym and do some cardio and weights, then bike home.

I started this beginning of December. I've dropped a few pounds, but have gone down one full size around the waist, so am not complaining about the scale.

Too muc, anyway. Yet.

this is a fantastic goal that all can work for. I want you guys to know that it is possible, even if the results dont seem immediate. I had a belly all of my life and just got rid of it. I don't know much about fitness for girls, but it might be close to the same.

Get three good meals a day, at least one salad, and skip the snacks between meals. You dont really need to worry about cutting carbs that much. B/c skipping the snacks will drop your fat intake.

Exercise. Cardio is good for losing fat. Weightlifting are good for gaining muscle, and calisthenics (push ups, sit ups, pull ups, leg lifts, etc.) are good for a little of both.

Muscle weighs more than fat.

This is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Muscle weighs more than fat, but it takes up less space, and it burns more calories. That means that adding muscle raises your base caloric need, and will allow you to lose weight and eat the same (as long as that means healthy, portion appropriate).

Keeping a food journal helps a LOT.

I've done it. I just bought a 120 ct. bottle of Alli. I'm totally aware of the side effects, and I'm willing to risk it.

Ideally, I'd like to lose ~40 lbs. I know it will take a long time, and that I'll have to change my way of eating... the hardest part will be convincing my husband to make a different meal for me than the one he is having. :(

Has anyone tried Alli, yet? Advice, thoughts?

RG, I think you're crazy. I also want to know how it works for you.


I'm trying to shrink, and it's frustrating. I have absolutely NO positive support from my BF on the issue. One day he'll comment on me craving a few french fries, but the next he'll comment about me eating generally healthy or exercise more than he thinks I should. Argh!!


I run for 30 minutes 4 times each week, go to the gym for strength training 3 times each week and try to keep my calorie intake below 1400/day during the week (I'm just careful, not count-ey on weekend). I'm gradually shrinking. I have one shirt that is my goal, and one pair of pants which are now a bit too big for me. I don't know how much I weigh, but I know how I want to feel.

I am 5'3", and when I was in the best shape of my life I weighed 130. I was ridiculously in shape then, and I'd like to try and get back there.

Haven't tried it, probably don't need to. I've worked hard for my figure and I'm not going to let all that hard work go to waste.

40 lbs is way above average accord to this:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alli/WT00030

Are you obese? Do you need to lose 40 lbs? What is your ideal weight?

Cardio is good, but in order to burn more calories, one must also build muscle. Muscle burns fat while you are doing nothing. Muscle is a good thing. ;)

Weight/Strength training is a must.

Take measurements and do not fixate your progress on the scale. You will be sure to be disappointed. The scale for me did not start to move until this past month and I have been doing this since July.

Trust your measurements, trust the way your clothes are fitting and be conscious of all the calories you are putting into your system. I belong to Daily plate. Exercise can also be logged there. Even housework. Count everything!

A few things that really helped me.

1. LOG your food. We usually don't have any idea how much we eat thru the day. Is it a hassle? Sometimes, but at least you know where you stand. Also, portion control. Count out the chips in a serving and eat only that. Weigh your food. Measure it. And stick to it. I feel like I eat all the time. I eat 4-5 meals/snacks a day.

2. I take CLA, conjugated linoleic acid and omega 3's. We all lack this as most of our diets are not from grass fed ruminants.

What does it do?

Increases metabolic rate -- This would obviously be a positive benefit for thyroid patients, as hypothyroidism -- even when treated -- can reduce the metabolic rate in some people.

Decreases abdominal fat -- Adrenal imbalances and hormonal shifts that are common in thyroid patients frequently cause rapid accumulation of abdominal fat, so this benefit could be quite helpful.

Enhances muscle growth -- Muscle burns fat, which also contributes to increased metabolism, which is useful in weight loss and management.

Lowers cholesterol and triglycerides -- Since many thyroid patients have elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, even with treatment, this benefit can have an impact on a thyroid patient's health.

Lowers insulin resistance -- Insulin resistance is a risk for some hypothyroid patients, and lowering it can also help prevent adult-onset diabetes and make it easier to control weight.

Enhances immune system -- Since most cases of thyroid disease are autoimmune in nature, enhancing the immune system's ability to function properly is a positive benefit.

3. Calorie cycling Just like mixing up your workouts to avoid a plateau, we should with our diets as well.

i think the real first step is be happy with yourself. i think each and everyone of us have some aspect we'd like to work on, but i can tell you from experence that the moment you begin to obsess, is when you put yourself in a greater risk of injury or illness. baby steps!

If you offer to do the shopping every so often, you could get some fresh foods of your choice. It works when my daughter does it; saves me a trip to the store, and she benefits too. Although we are on a budget, I don't mind trading some of my time for a little money.

I was hoping someone would drag this back out again because I need inspiration. I feel like a whale.

Technically, yes... I'm obese. My current BMI is 30.4, and according to all the sources I've found, any BMI of 30 or greater qualifies as obese.

Losing 40 lbs would bring my BMI down to 24, which is the highest number that qualifies as "normal" weight.

I know how you feel, honey. Diet once the baby's born, and enjoy your pregnancy. My advice to you is don't wait until you have 40+ lbs to lose. It's really discouraging when you have a lot to go. (Take my word for it!)

Use the 10% rule: If you need to lose 40 lb.,focus on losing 4. When you've reached that goal, set another. Small goals are a lot easier to reach, and won't set you back so much psychologically.

RW- Those BMI's are bulls**t! I wouldn't go by that. I'd bet you are far from obese. When I went for my yearly physical last February, my BMI was 25 and they listed me as overweight. I am 5'7" and wear a size 6/8. If a size 6/8 is overweight, good grief, save us all! As I have aged, I'm not as "solid" as I used to be, but I definitely don't consider myself overweight. Since I do not ride horses competitively anymore, things have gotten flabbier and I've traded some muscle for fat. Big deal!

Go by how you feel and how your clothes fit. I never go by what I weigh on a scale.

*edit- really awful typo.

Who is pregnant?

Any way you look at it, I'm overweight. My jeans don't fit anymore, and it's damn near impossible to buy a pair that actually fit me.

I have larger hips and thighs, but I have a flat stomach and a tiny waist. Classic hourglass, that's me. So buying pants that fit in the seat and legs automatically means the waist is a good 2-4 inches too big.

I'm also carrying weight in my face... I look like a damn chipmunk. :P

Yoghurt.