Hello,
I have been overweight for 20 years off and on. After our daughter was born(1989) I was told that my thyroid gland no longer worked due to an autoimmune disorder. I knew that thyroid problems could sometime affect weight; and wondered if that had anything to do with my inability to lose the weight I gained while pregnant, so I asked the doctor about it. He informed me that I could eat only lettuce and gain weight. That had a tremendous impact on my mentality and I decided that if only lettuce would make me gain weight, there was no reason to attempt to lose or control my weight. After a while I grew tired of being overweight and tried many diets, lost weight, then gained it back as soon as I went back to what was normal eating for me. I love salty snacks, especially chips. Over the last three years I have lost both my parents, and after watching them suffer from various problems and seeing how it affected their quality of life I have finally decided to attempt to get healthy.
It may take me a long time to get to where I want to be, but this time I approaching it all differently. To get to an acceptable weight for me I need to lose somewhere between 70-80 pounds. However, I'm not that wrapped up in getting to a certain number on the scale. Yes, it would be nice to lose weight, but my main concern is to lose fat. I bought a scale that monitors body fat through bioelectrical impedance analysis. I realize these scales are probably not that accurate, but at least it will hopefully give me a way to monitor myself. Since I began(last month) I have lost 8 pounds, 6 inches from around my waist, and according to the scale I have reduced my body fat by 2%.
One of the things I am doing differently this time is measuring or weighing everything, keeping track of the calories I take in. I read all labels and am not eating any junk food(chips or candy etc.) The only junk type thing I have still had a little of is diet soft drinks, but I have cut down a great deal on those, where the soft drinks used to be just about all I would drink, I have only had one this week. I'm drinking more water. I'm also exercising (walking, exercise bike, stretching, and using weights) For now I'm only using light weights, to hopefully tone as I reduce fat, I feel sure that I will lose a little muscle while trying to lose fat, but hopefully the exercise will help prevent too much muscle loss. I feel sure my diet will have to change somewhat when I get ready to try to build muscle, than it currently is while I'm trying to lose fat.
I'm not using a specific diet plan other than trying to eat sensibly, diets are too "written in stone" for me. I also assume that if I change my habits, then I will be able to maintain any losses that take place.
Do I really know what I am doing? Probably not, but I am willing to learn. If anyone has any suggestions or notices any errors in my way of thinking, please let me know.
I have been overweight for 20 years off and on. After our daughter was born(1989) I was told that my thyroid gland no longer worked due to an autoimmune disorder. I knew that thyroid problems could sometime affect weight; and wondered if that had anything to do with my inability to lose the weight I gained while pregnant, so I asked the doctor about it. He informed me that I could eat only lettuce and gain weight. That had a tremendous impact on my mentality and I decided that if only lettuce would make me gain weight, there was no reason to attempt to lose or control my weight. After a while I grew tired of being overweight and tried many diets, lost weight, then gained it back as soon as I went back to what was normal eating for me. I love salty snacks, especially chips. Over the last three years I have lost both my parents, and after watching them suffer from various problems and seeing how it affected their quality of life I have finally decided to attempt to get healthy.
It may take me a long time to get to where I want to be, but this time I approaching it all differently. To get to an acceptable weight for me I need to lose somewhere between 70-80 pounds. However, I'm not that wrapped up in getting to a certain number on the scale. Yes, it would be nice to lose weight, but my main concern is to lose fat. I bought a scale that monitors body fat through bioelectrical impedance analysis. I realize these scales are probably not that accurate, but at least it will hopefully give me a way to monitor myself. Since I began(last month) I have lost 8 pounds, 6 inches from around my waist, and according to the scale I have reduced my body fat by 2%.
One of the things I am doing differently this time is measuring or weighing everything, keeping track of the calories I take in. I read all labels and am not eating any junk food(chips or candy etc.) The only junk type thing I have still had a little of is diet soft drinks, but I have cut down a great deal on those, where the soft drinks used to be just about all I would drink, I have only had one this week. I'm drinking more water. I'm also exercising (walking, exercise bike, stretching, and using weights) For now I'm only using light weights, to hopefully tone as I reduce fat, I feel sure that I will lose a little muscle while trying to lose fat, but hopefully the exercise will help prevent too much muscle loss. I feel sure my diet will have to change somewhat when I get ready to try to build muscle, than it currently is while I'm trying to lose fat.
I'm not using a specific diet plan other than trying to eat sensibly, diets are too "written in stone" for me. I also assume that if I change my habits, then I will be able to maintain any losses that take place.
Do I really know what I am doing? Probably not, but I am willing to learn. If anyone has any suggestions or notices any errors in my way of thinking, please let me know.
