The Official RAA Weight Loss Thread

[sillysally1983]

Someone started one of these on another forum, and it was really popular. There were a surprising number of people trying to eat healthier, exercise more and otherwise get in shape. So if you're included in this group, don't be shy, post about your ventures into the land of health and fitness.

I don't know my body specifications other than BIG, but I've been working on it for the past two weeks, and I'm going to continue working on it. I feel so much better, and I've only made a handful of changes to my lifestyle:

1. Water is my best friend.
2. Walking. Wherever, whenever.
3. Another form of physical activity five days per week for at least half an hour.
4. Watching my calorie intake.
5. Being cognizant of sugar, fat, sodium, and other content in food.


I know all of those are common sense and are proven facts to lose weight, so there's nothing groundbreaking here except the fact that I've finally taken initiative to change my health.


I'd love to hear from those in the same position, others who have faced weight loss in the past, and those who might want to use this as a springboard for weight loss in the future. It can never help to have too much support.

[LostLucy]

Thanks for posting this. I have a ongoing problem with keeping my weight down, sedentary job, and i like to eat, so....I was doing ok, but during the last spell of rain here, that lasted a couple of months, I just didn't walk as much. Then my office (which had been a half hour walk away,twice a day) moved (to a fifteen minute walk twice a day), and i've gained 10 pounds. i really need to lose them because i have inherited knee problems (that i made worse by jogging on pavement) and losing weight usually helps that. so yeah. i know I need to walk more despite my knees hurting and eat less. I've managed to do this before, but it keeps getting harder. Your suggestions are really good, it's rousing my will to do it that I've been struggling with. Actually your post and answering it has made me focus on this for the first time in a couple of weeks, so that alone is good.

[spotondrums]

Three Words:

CARBS ARE EVIL!!!!!!

:mackeyico:

[FridaH]

I am also trying to lose a bit of weight. I've started running after not doing any exercise over the winter, when I was too lazy to exercise. I've lost a few pounds but I still can't fit into my summer clothes. I am trying to eat less, which is easier when I cook for myself, but I went to a few buffets over the weekend, so it was hard to resist the food. Luckily, going to buffets is not a normal activity for me.

I've stopped buying juice and pop, so that's been helpful, and I'm drinking more water. And I also try to walk as much as possible.

I should be doing some strength training, like push ups and stuff, but it's hard to get motivated to do that alone. I like running alone, but it's hard to make myself do push-ups.

One of my friends is also trying to lose weight, she told me about this 'conscious eating', where you eat whenever you want, if you are hungry, but you have to chew your food properly and just focus on eating, not eat and watch TV etc., and you stop when you think you're full, or just before. She said she's been eating a lot less since trying that, and she's lost a few pounds. I tried it a few times, and I realize that I tend to scarf down my food, and watch TV while eating, sort of mindless eating. So I can see how you could eat less if you just focused on the eating and nothing else.

I don't think carbs are evil :)

I'm not a fan of restrictive diets. I think you can eat whatever you want, and lose weight, just as long as you don't eat too much. Basically, eat less, move more. That's from a book I read by Marion Nestle called 'What To Eat'. It's a really good book about the food industry, how food is marketed and what is in the foods we buy. She's a nutritionist and even though it's not a dieting book, I think it's a good book to read if you want to lose weight, it will make you think about what you're putting into your body. This is her website for the book: http://www.foodpolitics.com/pages/whattoeat.html

Thanks for starting this thread sillysally :)

[deanokat]

I could stand to lose at least 40 pounds. Maybe more. I'm 6 feet tall and weigh 230. My problems:

*I sit at a desk all day.
*I have horrible knees, so walking/riding a bike/jogging are all too painful.
*I fucking love to eat. And cook. And I eat all the wrong foods. Bread, cheese, etc. I could live on pizza. I am addicted to food and have been since I quit smoking 18 years ago.
*I hate water. I just hate the taste (or lack thereof) of it. I drink flavored water when I can, which I don't mind. But that stuff's not cheap.

Don't know what I contributed. Not much, I guess. But that's my story. Now....Off for a hunk o' Havarti. :)

[AmyG]

I know that it's very important to eat breakfast.....to get the metabolism going for the day. Also...try to eat protein for breakfast along with what else you eat.

On that note...I hate eating breakfast, hate drinking water, love to eat...am trying to walk at least 5 days a week....and have a "few" pounds to lose myself. AND...the older you get, the harder it gets to lose weight...AND it's easier for men than women.

Good luck to all trying to lose. I feel your pain. :(

[deanokat]

I know that it's very important to eat breakfast.....to get the metabolism going for the day. Also...try to eat protein for breakfast along with what else you eat.

On that note...I hate eating breakfast, hate drinking water, love to eat...am trying to walk at least 5 days a week....and have a "few" pounds to lose myself. AND...the older you get, the harder it gets to lose weight...AND it's easier for men than women.

Good luck to all trying to lose. I feel your pain. :(

I hate eating breakfast, too!!!!!

Damn...No wonder I'm a tub of goo! ;)

[bluehealer]

Try eating little bits of food every two
hours or less (little snacks - veggies,
fruits) and that will help so much.

I hear you Deano. I hate eating anything
early in the morning, but I'll choke down
a Nutrigrain bar just to have something
in my stomach to soak up the gallon of
coffee I drink in the AM.

Good luck you guys. Your best weapons
are your feet and your mp3 player.

[LostLucy]

I hate eating breakfast, too!!!!!

Damn...No wonder I'm a tub of goo! ;)

I have all your problems, too. Pizza, sigh. Ice cream. I did eat less when I smoked, but I think the smoking was worse for me than the eating--I mean, I have asthma not to mention the long term problems from smoking. Oral fixations, so hard to shake. I used to be able to bike, but my knees are getting old, even faster than I am. But I do like that idea of conscious eating, cause since my daughter moved out on her own, I do tend to eat with the tv.I don't like cooking either, so of course I am vulnerable to convenience foods and oh yeah, pizza. Well, it's good to see all this in black and white. The first step toward solving a problem is to know the problem, right?

[cgoodwin22]

I lost 15 pounds on the RAA diet....thank you RAA!

[austin_art_girl]

Count me in! I've lost a lot (A LOT) of weight via simple diet and exercise, but I've hit a slump. Time to get my act in gear!

[ritchiem4812]

Can I start a Weight gain thread? :)
I could actually stand to gain a few pounds. Being 6'1'' and 155 pounds is nice though I guess. I could just use some meat on my arms. I just hope eating whatever I want today doesn't catch up on me tomorrow. Basically I "exercise" all day long. I do a lot of bike riding, hiking, walking and stuff throughout the day and I usually go for a nice run in the evenings as the sun is going down. Good luck to all you guys trying to lose the weight and may a few pounds of it find it's way over to me. ;)

[deanokat]

Can I start a Weight gain thread? :)
I could actually stand to gain a few pounds. Being 6'1'' and 155 pounds is nice though I guess. I could just use some meat on my arms. I just hope eating whatever I want today doesn't catch up on me tomorrow. Basically I "exercise" all day long. I do a lot of bike riding, hiking, walking and stuff throughout the day and I usually go for a nice run in the evenings as the sun is going down. Good luck to all you guys trying to lose the weight and may a few pounds of it find it's way over to me. ;)

Dude...

Compared to my son, you're obese. My 18-year-old son is 6'-3" and weighs 135. He HATES being so skinny.

[FridaH]

Dude...

Compared to my son, you're obese. My 18-year-old son is 6'-3" and weighs 135. He HATES being so skinny.

OH my god. I'm 5' 2", 32, and I weigh 135. Jeez... In my defense, I would say I'm more muscular than the average girl...uh yeah...and muscle weighs more than fat :)

Oh yeah, and everyone else in my family is super skinny...I am an anomaly.

[duce1982]

Pretty guitar Deano!!!!!!!!--- this is a very smart thread, i think it will help people.

[Rubber Duck]

I don't have to lose weight, but I can gain those muscles I lost, when I stopped playing sports!

[deanokat]

Pretty guitar Deano!!!!!!!!--- this is a very smart thread, i think it will help people.

That's my son and his Danelectro '59 reissue in Keen Green. ;)

[duce1982]

That's my son and his Danelectro '59 reissue in Keen Green. ;)

Very nice! :)

[Blossom]

I know that it's very important to eat breakfast.....to get the metabolism going for the day. Also...try to eat protein for breakfast along with what else you eat.

On that note...I hate eating breakfast, hate drinking water, love to eat...am trying to walk at least 5 days a week....and have a "few" pounds to lose myself. AND...the older you get, the harder it gets to lose weight...AND it's easier for men than women.

Good luck to all trying to lose. I feel your pain. :(

Wish we could walk together AmyG! xx

I hear ya.' I have my HS reunion coming up and I'm going...Last one I went to was 14 years ago, and I was pregnant and didn't look fat! It was much easier to be thin 15 years ago even when pregnant. LOL!

My husband and I have been doing the "Skinny Bitch" diet for a while now...I know that name is so offensive. But it's basically everything I've read before in one form or another:

- Only complex carbs
- No dead animals
- No dairy (only soy milk)
- As much fruit & veggies as you want
- As much nuts & seeds as you want
- Only organic wine
- Only organic desserts

(haven't gotten to the section on oils yet but I bet they are going to say all plant oils are fine)

I would say we are doing it about 90% of the time. My husband is on meds that he'd like to get off of, even though he is in his weight range more or less and in really good shape for his age. But he has familial stuff. Anyway, so far so good.

Wanna' be my bitches? ;)

[Blossom]

Deanokat, my son who is 19 is a freakin' rail. He has to walk back and forth to the cafeteria for his food (college) and he's a vegetarian. He's 6'2" and maybe 140-145 @ best. My husband and I were both waifs at that age too...alas, no more!