2019 WIR Healthy Lifestyle Discussion

[laterbloomer]

So I've gotten back to Lazy Keto since Jan 1. I didn't want to say anything until I had some success doing it for a while. I've cut out the bad carbs without too much problem but I really need to get my portions under control. I'm not an exerciser but I need to change that too.

GW and GW2 are 22 and 23 and have eating habits like angels daughter. They have both put on a lot of weight with no signs of getting it under control. The best I can do is try to be a better example. I've put on a lot of weight too but I did it in my late 40's, not my early 20.s, I worry what their weight will be at my age if they don't get it under control now.

[NoNamePerson]

Jan 12, 2019 15:25:46 GMT -5 chapeau said:

Jan 12, 2019 14:47:38 GMT -5 flamingo said:

I’ve FINALLY found some veggies that my DH will eat, besides canned corn. Tonight I’m making brussel sprouts to go with our prime rib. One our new year’s goals is to eat more veggies.

It’s so hard to make dinners that are interesting and not boring and healthy when you are married to a man with the palette of a toddler. 

I do a certain amount of hiding vegetables like I’m feeding a toddler with mine. I lie a lot about what I’m serving for dinner, too. If he thinks he’s eating something he likes, he’s fine.
Several years ago we went out to eat with friends. DH was shoveling the appetizer in with both hands, talking about how good it was, why hadn’t I ever ordered it before, etc. then he asked what it was. Calamari our friend said. Toddler style, DH quit eating it and has never had another bite. (Except in the seafood stew I make using Trader Joe’s seafood medley. But what he doesn’t know won’t take another delicious food off my menu!)

This has always blown my mind when people do this.

[debthaven]

laterbloomer I have had a lot of success on keto ... but the point of keto is cutting out all carbs (except those from green veggies), not just the bad ones. Lazy keto means only counting your carbs and not the other macros (protein and fat).

I looked up local Zumba classes. Man they are pricey! There is a class VERY nearby on Wed nights. I emailed the instructor to ask if I could join in March (after my play) and she said no problem.

There is another class on Thursday nights, a bit further. That instructor offers a 10-session card. I'd rather go as nearby as possible (I am lazy and I know it) but that 10-session card sounds like a good solution for me. I haven't contacted her because she mentions on her website that you can join the class at any time.

The other thing I am considering is horseback riding with DH's best friend (my best friend's husband). That's probably a lot pricier, but I know you can buy 10-session cards there too. I know the manager very well (DS1 practically lived at those stables starting age 11, he's 32 now and they're still close friends.) I need to find out the prices. And yes, I rode horses (fairly well) in another lifetime.

I have decided to do SOME form of exercise once my play is over. But since I never know whether I'll be in a play, which play (we do 2 every year), which role and when the rehearsals are until fall, I'm thinking that exercise options that offer 10-session cards are better for me. The musical rehearses Tues+Thurs, the straight play rehearses Mon+Wed. If you have a small role, you often don't need to go to both rehearsals.

So, a 10-session card is probably a better bet for me.

[laterbloomer]

Later I had a lot of success on keto ... but the point of keto is cutting out all carbs (except those from green veggies), not just the bad ones.

That's what I mean, right now just green veggies and spaghetti squash. I might do smoothies with berries soon.

[debthaven]

laterbloomer I don't want to derail the thread but as of today I have lost 40.5 lbs on keto. I was less strict over the holidays because our kids were here.

Also, I have no desire to stay on keto for the rest of my life. Once I lose the last 3.5 lbs, I'm going low-carb (which is basically what I did since they arrived in mid-Dec, I went back to strict keto last Mon after DS2 left on Sun.)

[laterbloomer]

Jan 12, 2019 17:45:54 GMT -5 debthaven said:

laterbloomer I don't want to derail the thread but as of today I have lost 40.5 lbs on keto. I was less strict over the holidays because our kids were here.

Also, I have no desire to stay on keto for the rest of my life. Once I lose the last 3.5 lbs, I'm going low-carb (which is basically what I did since they arrived in mid-Dec, I went back to strict keto last Mon after DS2 left on Sun.)

It's the Healthy Lifestyles thread, I dont think we are derailing it. Way to go on the weight loss! How long did it take you? I want to lose more like 70 lbs. I'm trying to get myself into a mindset that this would take a year, don't be impatient, and keto is probably a lifetime thing for me. I'm an all or nothing kind of person. I can't have a bit of sugar or a bit of starch. It's like I can't have a bit of nicotine or a bit of alcohol.

[debthaven]

OK

I started in late June 2018. I was hoping to lose 44 lbs (20 kilos) by Christmas. I didn't manage, I only lost 40.5 lbs/18.5 kilos.

I gained 2 lbs (1 kilo) over the holidays, I lost it as of today.

I started keto because I have chronic tendinitis in my right hip. My rheumatologist told me, you need to do this diet for a month. My hope is that you will see results and continue. And that's exactly what happened. (I also had a different infiltration into that hip under ultrasound in July which HUGELY improved that issue.)

She (the rheumatologist) told me, there is too much weight on your hip, PLUS (and for some reason this really hit home), belly fat makes you secrete enzymes that attack your joints.

I checked her info with one of my best friends (a GP), she said, K is absolutely right.

K is local, also a friend, but not a close friend. More of an acquaintance.

So I had ZERO guidance, except for the occasional text to K every few weeks. She was always super encouraging, and always gave me advice, but I felt I wasn't really being "followed".

After losing 16 or 17 kilos (I think) I started feeling extremely tortured. I couldn't decide if I was constantly "cheating" on keto or if I had moved to low carb.

At that point a good friend suggested I see a nutritionist, and I did. I liked her a lot. She said, apples aren't the enemy, carrots aren't the enemy, you're being too extreme. She told me which brand of apples to avoid (can't remember which). She told me my favorite apples were fine (Pink Lady). I buy the smallest ones, and eat a half an apple every day (it's winter, otherwise I'd be eating berries and melon.) She said, you've made amazing progress. Take what you've learned from keto and try to eat more "normally" (my word not hers, can't remember what hers was). Enjoy yourself when you go out, when you are invited out. Learn to use balance.

She also said, pasta is NOT a meal, it's a side. Pizza is NOT a meal, it's a side. You can eat pasta or pizza occasionally, as a side, with veggies or a salad.

My rheumatologist told me besides a bit of whole wheat bread at breakfast, to limit myself to 3 meals with carbs/week. That's what I've been doing.

I think it's pretty good to have only gained 2 lbs/1 kilo over the holidays.

Also, my body is changing. I went from a size 12 to a size 8. Two weeks ago I had to buy new belts because the 8s are falling off. First world problem LOL!

ETA: My rheumatologist was horrified to see that I'd done US keto (20 grams of carbs) instead of the French keto (50 grams of carbs) that she had prescribed. She told me Keto, I googled it ... and ended up doing 20 g/carbs for 5 months, with VERY VERY few cheats. It worked!

But it definitely is a lifestyle change.

[debthaven]

Also, I still drink. Hey. I'd rather eat less and drink more. So I eat lunch, and I drink dinner LOL.

[laterbloomer]

Way to go!!!! You're inspiring me!

[debthaven]

That makes me very happy laterbloomer! I used to buy my clothes in the US or the UK. For the first time in decades, I can go into any store and buy clothes. It is an AMAZING feeling!

Please feel free to PM me anytime!

[debthaven]

Also I "lurk" on Reddit Keto. Not so much anymore, but I found it REALLY inspiring! It definitely helped me "stay strong".

And know that women lose less quickly than men. And short women lose even more slowly LOL. (I'm 5'2".) So as they say on Reddit, KCKO (Keep Calm and Keto On)

[andi9899]

Jan 12, 2019 17:32:57 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Jan 12, 2019 15:25:46 GMT -5 chapeau said:

I do a certain amount of hiding vegetables like I’m feeding a toddler with mine. I lie a lot about what I’m serving for dinner, too. If he thinks he’s eating something he likes, he’s fine.
Several years ago we went out to eat with friends. DH was shoveling the appetizer in with both hands, talking about how good it was, why hadn’t I ever ordered it before, etc. then he asked what it was. Calamari our friend said. Toddler style, DH quit eating it and has never had another bite. (Except in the seafood stew I make using Trader Joe’s seafood medley. But what he doesn’t know won’t take another delicious food off my menu!)

This has always blown my mind when people do this.

Right! I mean, you were just raving about it and now that you know what it is, it's gross?

Thing 1 had a friend that lived with us for a while. One day I had this really good burger and asked her if she wanted to try it. She did and said it was good. I said "you couldn't even tell it's buffalo, huh?" The immediately spit the burger out and declared it gross. She just said it was good!

[andi9899]

Jan 12, 2019 18:12:13 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Also, I still drink. Hey. I'd rather eat less and drink more. So I eat lunch, and I drink dinner LOL.

Same girl, same. I switched the beer out for vodka, but I'm not giving alcohol up altogether. I mean, I quit smoking and lost weight. I gotta have something.

[debthaven]

andi9899 I switched wine out for gin and zero tonic (no carbs LOL.)

And congrats on quitting smoking! That's how I got so fat in the first place. I'd quit smoking, gain weight, then start smoking again. Rinse and repeat.

Smoking is my last frontier ... hopefully next summer.

[Cookies Galore]

This weekend is going to be a bit of an off weekend, but I don't get down on myself because most of my meals and activity during the week is good.

A friend of ours hosted a brunch and board games party today. I opted to stay in bed too long this morning a d didn't allow myself time to workout. I ate half a Death Star waffle (yay for nerdy kitchen gadgets!), some eggs, and two mimosas. One of our buddies from run club we haven't seen in a few weeks said I looked good and asked if I was still walking or back to running, so I guess Barre3 is working or he was just being nice. Fun was had by all, though.

Dinner was used all the fresh veggies night so I cooked green beans, mushrooms, and an orange pepper with a brown rice and barley medley we have. It was good. I have enough left for lunch tomorrow. Speaking of, tomorrow we are going to the local brewpub to watch the Eagles v. Saints game with some friends. I am allowing myself beer and nachos. I've planned on beer and nachos since the Eagles won last Sunday. I plan on doing a 60 minute B3 video tomorrow morning.

All in all, this week was pretty good. I worked out most days and I had three awful meals out of however many meals there are in a week. I've been doing good about sticking with beer only once a week. Everything else doesn't count. 😉

[andi9899]

Jan 12, 2019 18:41:15 GMT -5 debthaven said:

andi9899 I switched wine out for gin and zero tonic (no carbs LOL.)

And congrats on quitting smoking! That's how I got so fat in the first place. I'd quit smoking, gain weight, then start smoking again. Rinse and repeat.

Smoking is my last frontier ... hopefully next summer.

Same. I quit smoking several times before it stuck. I finally got to point where I couldn't breathe and was on an inhaler. I decided to quit smoking. I did and gained a bunch of weight. Then I decided that I was tired of being fat and not being able to even walk up a flight of stairs and changed my diet and joined a gym. Now that I've done that I've started on a mission to build muscle. It's been a long road so far.

[Cookies Galore]

Jan 12, 2019 18:29:01 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Jan 12, 2019 18:12:13 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Also, I still drink. Hey. I'd rather eat less and drink more. So I eat lunch, and I drink dinner LOL.

Same girl, same. I switched the beer out for vodka, but I'm not giving alcohol up altogether. I mean, I quit smoking and lost weight. I gotta have something.

I was not a beer drinker when I lost my original 37 pounds back in 2012, so it was easy for me to not have to quit certain boozes because I was already a wine and vodka drinker. Now that I want to lose 5-10 pounds and counteract the bloat feeling after having gotten on the beer wagon a few years ago? It's so hard! If that damn brewery never opened along my running trail in 2014 I never would have started drinking beer in the first place! Nor would I have ventured into sours and hazy IPAs, sigh. I also wouldn't have made some of the friends we have now, so I guess I'll take the good with the bad. Lol

[flutterby]

Jan 12, 2019 18:11:12 GMT -5 debthaven said:

OK

I started in late June 2018. I was hoping to lose 44 lbs (20 kilos) by Christmas. I didn't manage, I only lost 40.5 lbs/18.5 kilos.

ONLY lost 40.5 lbs? You've accomplished a lot!

[flutterby]

At this point, the only thing I notice is that my shoulders are sore. And time moves very slowly when I'm doing these!

1/6: 1:30 regular planks, :15 each side planks
1/7: 1:33 regular planks, :15 each side planks
1/8: 1:36 regular planks, :20 each side planks
1/9: 1:39 regular planks, :20 each side planks
1/10: 1:42 regular planks, :20 each side planks
1/11: 1:45 regular planks, :25 each side planks
1/12: 1:48 regular planks, :27 each side planks

[laterbloomer]

debthaven do you eat stuff with sweeteners? Did it affect your weight loss efforts.

[financialpeace]

I fell off the bandwagon today a bit because we had a party at our house and there was just too much tempting sweets. I paid for it with an upset stomach. I’ve had zero stomach issues since I started eating clean on the 1st so this is just more motivation to get back on track and make it a permanent lifestyle change instead of just a January challenge. I’m still losing at a good clip. 7.5 pounds since the 1st.

[imanangel]

I have tried Keto, but I really struggle with sticking to it. I like all the stuff you can eat on it, but I MISS all the stuff that you can't. I am not going to lie, I am a bread and pasta whore.  It is really hard for me to give up.  I see the awesome results my friend has had on it, but....man,...bread and pasta...and wine. 

I really should give it another try. I have plateaued in my weight loss. I KNOW I have to add more exercise, and I am, slowly. 

[andi9899]

I can't do keto either. I'll hurt someone for a piece of bread.

[Cookies Galore]

I just did a 60 minute Barre3 workout. I'm dead.

Scale said 152.4 this morning. Yay.

[debthaven]

Thanks flutterby . I was just hoping to be done by then lol.

financialpeace that's fantastic!

laterbloomer just stevia in my morning coffee, and about 2 diet cokes/month.

andi9899 you are really inspiring! You give me hope about the cigarettes.

61.2 kilos (134.6 lbs) today. My lowest weight yet! DH and I went for a walk, so hopefully that will help with those last few pounds (as will going back to a normal teaching schedule tomorrow, I'm sure).

[WholeLottaNothin]

I worked out again this morning, but not as much as yesterday. My legs and bum hurt so I was trying not to overdo and hurt myself. TMI - I woke up with my period this morning. It's the first one I've had since last April. I too have a mirena IUD. So I wasn't feeling 100% this morning. Weigh in is tomorrow morning so we'll see where I'm at then.

[gacpa]

I have been addicted to carbs and sugar my whole life.  Last fall, I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes with my blood sugar reading over 300.  I have had to say goodbye to all but whole grain carbs in limited amounts and no more sweets for me.  The doc put me on two types of diabetic medication to get me under control.  I have lost 20 pounds and my blood sugar is close to 100 where they want it to be when I get up in the morning.  Big wake up call for me.  I still need to lose more weight, but don't know how disciplined I can be now that it is tax season.  I am trying to keep only healthy food in the house.  We will see what happens.

[debthaven]

I am trying to keep only healthy food in the house.

IMO this makes a huge difference! Our "kids" are grown and flown which makes it much easier not to keep crap in the house (except when they are visiting).

20 lbs is great! And it means you know what to do so you can lose more if you want.

A lot of people on reddit keto ended up going off their diabetes meds once they lost enough weight. Obviously I am NOT a doc and I don't play one on TV, but I read that board a LOT for inspiration (still do, but less) and I saw a TON of posts about that.

Best of luck to you gacpa !

[msventoux]

I haven’t been feeling well this week and haven’t been moving as much as I should. I barely met my activity goal for the week.

I also ate some unplanned, not so healthy food when I met an old friend for dinner who was in town unexpectedly. The scale was up .1 lbs this morning from last week, so I’m not going to beat myself up over it too badly.

I think I will take the dog for a long walk outside today though. It’s almost 30 degrees right now and not snowing yet. It’s been below 0 for the most part for days, so it would do both of us good to get some fresh air.

[gacpa]

Yeah, I am under 5 feet tall.  Twenty pounds is huge for me.  I could not have done it without being on the diabetes medication, which makes me not want to eat.  When I do eat, I am satisfied with much smaller portions.

I hope I can make this work.  I do not want to be on insulin, which is what will happen if I don't keep control of the blood sugar.  I have read most diabetics eventually end up on insulin at some point anyway.  I will do all I can to push that as far off in the future as possible.