miboca5,

             I actually hit a plateau that lasted 5 weeks!!! It was a little frustrating but I was feeling better about myself and still losing inches so somehow I managed to get thru it! And that 6th week I was down like 4 pounds..........1.5 hours of exercise 5x's a week! WOW! I usually aimed for 30 minutes of cardio ! What type of exercising are you doing? I didnt add the weights until I had lost a good portion of my weight(not saying thats right , just what I did).... Keep up the great work and enjoy becoming healthy!

 Hey Brody,

I have read in a few of your posts that you ate a lot of spanish rice. I am getting a little tired of brown rice and I was wondering what type of spanish rice you ate? I went to the grocery store last night and there was so many different types. I ended up buying a yellow rice in a box but I also saw that they had white rice in a bag and so many other types in a box. Just trying to spice things up a bit.

I think that it is great that you still come on here even after you hit your goal. You are very inspriring.

JGauthier82

          I rotate between the brown rice and plain old white rice. Actually a lot of the minute rice brand....... I actually never have tried yellow rice. In my opinion the boil in a bag rices are pretty sticky (maybe I overcook them)... Even now I stil eat my spanish rice, something that I never tire of! Good luck to you ! These boards really are helping to keep me on track in maintenance.

 I lost 6 lbs the first week and then nothing the second week. I too was BUMMED. I did lose 3 lbs this last week. I know they tell you 1-2 lbs a week, but that is so frustrating!LOL... I just want it to be gone fast!!!  I need to uptake my exercise. That is where I am lacking. I did notice that I've "snuck" things in that I didn't do when I first started. I stopped journalling my food intake, BIG MISTAKE. So now, it's back to business.  Good luck!!!

 fredi811

         How long have you been on Alli? Is it only 2 weeks? If so 6 pounds is wonderful!!! I have been on maintenance for almost 8 months and I still document everything I eat everyday . I have an electronic food calculator and it keeps track of calories, fat, sodium, etc and also my bmi every day. I am finding that documenting my food intake has been a major key to my success........Good luck to you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Michele,

documenting for me too is key. otherwise it's kind of out of sight out of mind. i'll wonder did i or did i not have something and other things entirely will just be forgotten, and those forgotton things can be high fat and/or high calorie which totally adds up.

nita

 Wow.! You have lost 9 lbs in three weeks.  That is fantastic!  You are off to a terrific start!  You are right on that this changing of our old habits can be so frustrating.  Especially when our husbands can eat anything they want and never gain an ounce.  That makes it all the harder, for sure. 

You sound like me.  I know what I am doing wrong...not enough exercise and a sneak of a little of this and that...My weakness is wine.  I just need to break my bad habits and "Just Do It" ...easier said than done, right?  With my recent surgery, eating right and not drinking is all I can do for now.  I will be thankful not to gain.

What are you doing for exercise?  Do you set aside an "appt" with yourself to make sure you get it in?  I actually put the "appt" in my journal for treadmill time or walking the dog time.This works for me about 1/2 the time...better than not doing it at all.  It seems to help me not to let other things get in the way of my "appt."

You should be really proud of all you have done in making a great start to change for the better.  Congrats!

Leahi

Oh my gosh...Brody!  That's incredible!  Congrats to you, and all of you that have started this journey.  I started my low-fat diet on 7/30 (to make sure I could stick to it!) and Alli this past Wednesday.  I feel like I have such a long way to go, but I'm finding great inspiration here!  Any before and after pictures would be greatly appreciated...staying motivated is the hardest part for me right now!  I struggle with hunger more than temptation--I think I've been eating way too much for so long that it takes more to fill me up.  Any tips on super-filling, Alli-friendly foods? 

Also, does anyone here do shift work for a living?  I work overnights in a hospital and it's hard to balance my weird meal times and Alli between the days that I work and the days I'm off.  Plus, working overnight wreaks havoc on my already too-large waistline...sometimes I feel like food is the only thing that keeps me awake when it's slow!

Sorry to just jump in as a newbie, but you've got to start somewhere!!

-Lauren

 lauren.. i used to do shift work, so i do understand..i work in a hospital that the cafeteria is open while i am there too.. my first recommendation is to pack your own food!.. seriously ---bring a lunch, drinks and a snack..fruit, veggies.. low fat granola bar... maybe some cereal..mix it up... bring a wrap sandwich with turkey.. lettuce whatever else you like.. write everything down that you eat.. you still need to stay within your cal and fat allotment..stay away from the vending machines!!!i still bring my breakfast and lunch to work every day..i know what i am going to eat..and i know what is in it..the benefits of bringing your own food is that you can eat when you get a chance and you wont be tempted by other junk that is laying around.. and you also save a lot of money..sometimes i bring in a frozen lean cuisine or some other pre-made frozen entree and eat that..there again.. you have portion control and you can keep track of the fat and cals...try and keep your goals managable.. start with 10 lbs and then another,... yes its a long road, but you did not put your weight all on in a month either....make an appointment with yourself to get moving... take a walk or hit the gym or the pool on most days...that will get your metabolism going..you burn  more calories if you can try and be active... there again.. start slow.. start with a 15 minute power walk..increase it a little --by 1 more minute every day .. try and get at least 30 minutes of excercise in..they have them on tv  and dvds too..you will not regret losing that extra weight! good luck.. keep on posting.............kathy

Welcome!!!!!!!!     

          I too do shift work. My schedule is 2 overnight shifts then two day shifts then 2 days off. My body never has a clue whats going on! I pack my snacks for my overnights.... cheese sticks, popcorn,fiber one bars, strawberries,cucumbers,granola bars etc. On my overnights I try to eat a snack every couple of hours and also drink my water(diet soda too)... My day shifts I do the same but pack an actual lunch item (sandwich,lean cuisine meal,fat free hot dog with a roll,spanish rice etc) On my overnights I still wait and eat my "dinner" at home with the family. I mark down everything I eat and just count my days from midnight to midnight. I dont worry at all about what time Im eating just my calories and fat. Hope this helps some! And again Welcome!

Kathy and Brody-

Thank you both so much!!  Thanks for the exercise tips, Kathy!  I'm doing my best to keep active, but I have a six month old at home so going to a gym doesn't really fit into my schedule.  I do pack her up in the stroller and walk around the neighborhood or the mall when I can, but with my schedule nap time usually wins.  But adding just one more minute to whatever I can do everyday is something I can manage!!

Brody, I too feel like my body is completely confused!  I'm trying to get on some reasonable food schedule, but it seems that I'm always stomach-rumbling hungry at the wrong time.  Some of my off days I just don't feel hungry but I wake up at 2 am hungry, or, when I'm working, I have snacks overnight, but I'm still hungry before "breakfast."  The suggestion to snack more often is one I hadn't thought about since reading through all the Alli info...I want to make sure I do this right!! 

Thank you both for being so warm and welcoming!  It helps to know that I'm not alone in this!!

Cheers,
Lauren

 Hey !

I read your story and everything and congrats on losing the weight. It's really great to see real people stories and all, you know ?

I'm just wondering (for tips), HOW did you do it ?

Thanks !

 i think you should see that your weight lass of 3.5 pounds is right on the money, a loss of 1-2 lbs is perfect... to want to lose too much will cause your body to react ,,and to take alli if you do not eat enough fat will cause your body to store fats so just stick to the plan your doing just fine

 Brody, how, just how on earth did you loose all that weight? How much exercising did you do , how on earth did you get all the fat intake worked out? I know how to count calories but this fat thing..I bleh at.

 Im new.. I want this weight off for good this time.. I need a buddy.. any volunteers??

Thanks! Marilyn