Why, Oh Why...

You might want to try writing down everything you eat. Most people say they're watching what they eat, but you'd be suprised how easy it is for calories to creep up on you. I was also excercising regularly, not dieting though. Then I started counting and tracking food intake, calories, things like that. This July I weghed 198lbs/28% bodyfat. This afternoon I was 179.5 lbs, 26%.

i'd say try some weight training. but above all, keep perspective.

Remember, even if you are just doing cardio and not lifting, your body is going to reproportion itself. Don't get discouraged, instead, take a look at how your clothes are fitting.

a fun web site is fitday.com-- you can keep track of your food intake. It is fun

My husband went from 185 to 140 in 4 months using a site we made: http://www.caloriefreak.com


Some easy things to help: NO SODAS ever. Drink water all the time. Water retention is caused by not drinking enough water and drinking water can help you release water in your skin that may be giving your skin a thick look. No desert. Eat small meals often and eat lots of veggies like carrots, green beans, spinach, asparagus or broccoli. All extremely low calorie. Dont eat rice or grits or pasta. You can have some carbs, but don't pig out.

EDIT: even diet sodas are bad. caffeine can mess up your metabolism, as well as your nerves.

hiz_child said:

is it so hard to lose weight. For the past 4 weeks i've been doing cardio exercises 3X a week. I'm not dieting(because it will discourage me to much) but I am trying to be careful about what I put in my mouth. I lost 4 pounds the first week and nothing since. I'm the type of person that if I can't seen imediate results then I get discouraged. What can I do to see results?

Click to expand...

You sound like me. I can only tell you this...don't psych yourself out. Just keep in the habit and try not to be results oriented. 4 weeks is not enough time for some people, I know. I used to be able to do a little cardio and see improvement the next day. Not any more. Give it time. Don't beat yourself up over it, just keep at it. And bear in mind that when you cease to exercise, you're metabolism slows down.

By the way...what herbs are you taking? Just curious.

hiz_child said:

The herbs i'm taking are Licorice root, chickweed, beet root, fennel seed, and hawthorne.

Click to expand...

What exactly are these supposed to do?

hiz child:

An important thing to consider is this: rarely does someone who loses a lot of weight immediately keep said weight off in the long run. Physiology requires most people to slowly lose weight in order for the body to adapt to less and less weight, and your metabolism to adjust appropriately. Keeping up with the cardio and any strength training; and keeping a balanced, low calorie diet are crucial elements of true weight loss, and prolonged keeping the weight off.

I know it's easy to get discouraged when you don't see immediate results, but be patient, it's better for your health and more rewarding in the long run if you stick it out and lose the weight correctly.

hiz_child said:

I'm not sure if they speed up the metabolism or block fat or whats the deal. I personally haven't seen any results from them yet but I may not be taking enough. But it makes my mother happy that I'm trying something natural.

Click to expand...

Licorice root:Benificial for hypoglycemia, bronchitis, colitis, diverticulosis, gastritis, stress, colds, nausea & imflmation. Cleanses the colon, promotes adrenal gland function, decreases muscle or skeletal spasms, and increases fluidity of mucus from the lungs and bronchial tubes. has etrogen-like homone effects; changes the voice. Studies show licorice root stimulates the production of interferon. Warning: Do not use if you have high blood pressure.

Chickweed:Reduces mucus build-up in the lungs. May effectively treat asthma. Use for gastrointestinal disorders, constipation, coughs, colds, rheumatism, scruvy, pleurisy, skin diseases, tumors, cancere, inflammation, and blood disorders. Use as a vitamin C supplement.

Beet root: I do not have any information on this.

Fennel berries, fruits, roots and stems:Appetite suppressant and as an eyewash. Promotes function of the spleen, liver, and kidneys, and also clears the lungs. Used for acid stomach. Relives gas, gastrointestinal tract spasms, abbbbdominal pain, and colon disorders. Effective in the treatment of gout, and good for the cancer patient after chemotherapy and radiation.

Fenugreek seeds: Helps asthma and sinus problems by reducing mucus. Good for lung disordersa and inflamation. Acts as a bulk laxative. Reduces fever, lowers cholesterol, and lubricates the intestines. good for the eyes.


Hawthorne berries, fruits and leaves: used to dilate the coronary blood vessels, to restore the heart muscle wall and to lower cholesterol levels. Used to treat heart disease, sore throats, and skin sores. Relieves abdominal distention and diarrhea.



These are the the nutritional supplements that are listed under obesity in my nutrition book:

Aerobic Bulk Cleanse:As directed on label
or glucomannan: 3 tablets 1/2 hour before meals with large glass of liquid;Especially good for hight or low blood sugar problems and also provides fiber. Warning: Do not take within an hour of medication or vitamins.

Primrose or linseed oil:As directed on label;Used with a low-fat diet to replace essential fatty acids.

Kelp:6 tablets daily;Balanced minerals and iodine aids in weight loss.

Lecithin:Take with meals as directred on label; A fat emulsifier, breaks down fat.

Protein (free form amino acids): Use as directed on label; Free form amino acids are better utilized.

Spirulina or Spiru-tein: 3 tablets between meals; Excellent source of usable protein. Contains needed nutrients, stabilizes the blood sugar, and can replace a meal.

Vitamin C: 3,000-6,000 mg daily. (use buffered) Necessary for normal glandular function.

Vitamin E: 400 IU daily. ; important in fat metabolism.

Multivitamin and mineral supplement: Obesity and nutritional deficiency are parts of the same syndrome.

*The information I've provided came from "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" by James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C. published by Avery

I was trying to find a polite way to say do not waste your money.


There are a couple of supplements that have actually been shown to increase thermogenesis, but I am reluctant to make recommendations over the net.

Dear hiz_child, first thing that comes into my mind is, DO YOU REALLY NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT? Because with the models we are being imposed day after day we might lose the perspective of what is really good for ourselves. Only if your weight is a real risk to your health, you should consider doing something about it, like cutting down on butter and oils.
And "natural remedies" are not always good either. To take one, the "harmless" liquorice causes high blood pressure in some people.
So, be careful, ok?
Take care,
Echo

There are other naturally occuring compounds that have actually been shown to exhibit thermogenic properties in double blind placebo controlled studies. The list of them is quite short, and does not include any of the things you are taking.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using natural methods to achieve a goal. Honestly, in the long run, it is probably better and safer. However, just because something is natural does not mean that it is effective.

Licorice has been shown to lower testosterone levels in males by 30% I believe, so stay away from it guys!

Hi everybody. Since this is what I do for a living, maybe I could be of some help. There are many factors that could be involved when it comes to weight gain (food allergies, leaky gut, parasites, improper food combining, etc).

For beginners, this is one of the handout sheets that I give to my clients that are interested in weight loss. Remember, there could be many factors but this is a good place to start.

Avoid white flour, white rice, processed foods, junk food, sugar, sweets, soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, processed meats, table salt.

Consume more fresh (organic if possible) fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, brown rice, cold-water fish (such as salmon), soy, nuts and seeds (in small amounts), filtered water, fresh fruit and vegetable juices.

Use only extra virgin olive oil for cooking and stay away from hydrogenated or partly-hydrogenated oils in any form (e.g. margarine); use fatty foods such as avocados, olives, and nuts and seeds in moderation.

Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine.

Never skip breakfast.

Eat small meals throughout the day.

Make lunch, not dinner, your main meal of the day.

Chew your food at least 30 times before swallowing.

Get regular exercise, such as running, swimming or walking. Increase your flexibility through Yoga or stretching exercises. Do strength training at least a couple times a week.

Do not go grocery shopping when hungry and do not keep unhealthy food in the house.

Don’t give into your cravings immediately. Cravings are like waves, they tend to peak and then subside. If you can keep busy for a little while the craving will usually pass on its own.

The easiest thing to remember for those of you who don't want a complicated program to follow is DON'T EAT ANYTHING WHITE!

Supplements that may help with weight loss:
Chromium Picolinate
Ginko
Fiber – keeps colon clean – will help diminish appetite if taken before meals
Omega 3 (flaxseed oil caps)
CoQ10 (energy production)
Ginseng
Vitamin C (speeds up metabolism)
Lecithin (breaks down fat)
Calcium (activates Lipase)
B vitamin complex (burns calories, lessens sugar cravings)
L-Carnitine (breaks down fat deposits)

I hope you find this useful.

Scot, NC