Keith from CA

Kieth, read your post on the healthy page about 100% I too have had problems in the past. This time, as we can't stop food altogether I'm stopping certain foods. On Dec 31st I had my last alcohol(for January anyway) my last wheat, last sugar and last dairy( other than a little milk in tea. I still find more than enough to eat by increasing the number of vegetables at each meal. I also eat fruit only at breakfast and with nothing else. I read somewhere that it digests better on it's own. I still cook potatoes for Steve and he still has his wine. This is the first time I've found a way that I think I can follow through.
With the increased walking this seems to be working for me. My guide is the belt which holds my pedometer and in 11 days it has moved from the first to the third notch.
Good luck with whichever food path you settle on, we are all different. I am finding the back up and full support from this site very encouraging and helpful

Keith, I think it is important not to let yourself get too hungry. I try to snack on fruit and have a fruit bowl sitting in the kitchen. It certainly fills the spaces without putting on weight.
Your tummy will adjust to having less food, but it takes time. A little bit of regular exercise helps also.
Of course, this is all from my own experience - I have no qualifications in either nutrition or medicine. I suggest you seek advice from those who are qualified and encouragement from your friends. Go for it!

Keith
I agree with Ian
dont go hungry, try to find foods that are low in fat and sugars to have as snacks. cut down portions, eat smaller more often if that helps to stave off the hunger.
fruit is a good snack - fresh or dried, grainy bread is low GI and sticks to you better than white or wholemeal and you can have some toast as a snack with maybe some diabetic jam on it. not sure if you have some of the things we have here or you call them something different to us. we have vita wheat dry biscuits which would be probably crackers over there made from whole wheat or 5 grains.
check out your supermarket shelves for things that are low GI - low glycemic index - low fat foods. I am having as a treat a Weight Watchers icecream in individual tubs which are nice and also give me a hocolate fix. they are only a small portion but enough to help the cravings.
and if you have a professional that you can ask for assistance all the better. just build up the exercise gradually as you feel able to and in no time you will be feeling better and more in control.
here for you if I can help.
cheers keith
water of course(shhhh an occasional beer is ok)

Hey there Keith! How goes it? Sounds like Rose has already made some of the suggestions I was going to. I have started keeping sugar free jello cups and even the sugar free pudding is a nice snack in the middle of the morning or afternoon. I keep them in the fridge at both places that I work, hell right now I can keep all of that in the trunk of my car, it is cold enough outside! .

I was reading your post on the health and fitness page and I just found out that I really have to watch it now, I could be looking at Type II Diabetes. My husband is diabetic and checked my blood and it was a little high, so I am hoping that with healthier eating and getting more exercise I will be able to head it off at the pass.

Now for something ironic that I discovered yesterday. A Slim Fast drink has more carbs, sugars and calories, than a can of Miller Lite although they are empty calories, but doesn't that s**k!

1/11/07 Hi Keith! Just dropped by to say hi & congratulate you on your new goals for increased fitness & decreased weight. I know it's not easy. Back in 2003 I weighed more than I wanted to & decided to try the South Beach diet. I took off 15 pounds & ended up TOO thin! Now I just try to eat right MOST of the time, but still allow some indulgences like the chocolate & wine I love! After all, they're good for me, right!

GannieMo, Ian, rosemary, LK, & Kathy, what wonderful supportive comments. I've finally gotten my exercise area ship shape and tried it out for a bit today. I hope I can be consistent, which has always been my downfall in the past. The scale has not changed since Monday, but I'm still eating better and no beer. Thanks again for all the positive encouragement. I wish you all success in your attempts as well.

Keith, Thanks for your interest in the cruise. Heck you should go anyway with your S.O. just to have a good time. Just tag along to get the group rate. Help me light a fire and get some interest in the cruise from everyone else, ok??

Keith, Seems like things are coming together for you and the fact that you are drinking lots of water is really good. You know we didn't pack all of the excess weight on in a few weeks, so it only makes sense that we won't lose it in a few weeks. We can't let that discourage us. Small goals rather that large ones are easier to keep. If say you aim to lose 10 pounds in a month and you don't, you may decide its not worth all of the hard work, but if you say, I'm going to exercise for 30 minutes a day or every other day for a month, you will find that easier to keep, AND, the scales will move. Perhaps not as much as we'd like, but we know we had had success! Your head does seem like its in the right place to keep on working, so I believe you will do well! Hang in there. It doesn't always get easier, but it does work. I'm here for you my friend!

If tomorrow is your weigh in day then good luck Keith, I know you are probably starting to feel better and happy with yourself that you are doing something positive for your health.
the weightloss will take care of itself if you put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
cheers
water of course

Keith, Wishing you all the best with your weight loss and exercise plan.
6 years ago i weighed 115kg and the doctor told me i had diabetes and i lost 10 kg in a month as I cut out all sugars, breads sweets, etc. my doctor scared me when he said i couldnt eat any carbs, sugars etc otherwise i would die.
Anyway, not that scared anymore. six years later i have gone down to 86kg. it has taken a long time, but it has come off slowly. which means that it will not pile up straight away. Exercise is very important, but dont overdo it straight away. ease yourself into it. you will see. you will start enjoying the exercise and you feel so much better after it. but you just have to get through the first couple of weeks, until it is in your routine. then it will all be easier. but dont starve yourself, eat the right foods and in moderation.

Keith,
Thanks for your input on getting the cruise to go.

Week 2 progress report (Jan. 15): I lost one pound this week. I could think that's disappointingly small, but I don't. I feel so good about no beer all week and getting my exercise program on track that I'm not worried about the scale. I know I'm doing well. I must work harder on resisting the 'hungries' but that will come too. Thank you all for your support and encouragement. I just generally feel better.

Just calling in to see how you are doing Keith and congrats on losing weight this week! You will probably find next week more loss as your body adjusts. It is difficult but keep on going x I have started walking everywhere, mainly uphill and can't believe how unfit I am but am determined to get up the hill without sweat!!

Congratulations Keith. A pound is a pound is a pound.
If you need proof just go to the grocery store and pick up a pound of lard or margarine. Take a good look, weigh it in your hands. Then discard it as you have your pound.
Well done, by the way could we have a healthy person 'pool loft' warming party? I'll bring along some raw veg sticks and a very low fat dip, and some water of course. Can't go drinking yours.

Way to go Keith! Although my total weight loss is only one pound, I shall not give up, (yet). Keep up the good work!

BTW, my husband would love to have a pool room like yours!

GannieMo, I love visitors to my pool room. A healthy party sounds perfect. Chips, dip, water and a fun game of pool. What could be better. Great point about a pound of lard. I have several more I'm interested in discarding...all in good time. LK, thanks, and you'll have to stop by and play pool while you're in the area visiting the Redwoods. André, great attitude. Endurance does come with repetition.

Hey again Keith, I will say that I am seriously considering going on the cruise as an incentive for the weight loss, but also becase I have partied with suz and her buddies, they are a riot!

How is the healthy living going keith? The wind today would have blown me up the hill!!
I think a game of pool is called for since you have kindly set it up for us! When you say Chips do you mean our 'crisps' or the hot Chippendales?? Don't answer - let this woman dream

If you're coming by, the Chips can dance on my pool table.

Hi Keith, Stopping by to see how things are going for you. You are looking good with your lost, and I love GannieMo's comparing it to a lb of lard. Great analogy! Like the pool room too. Nice job. Count me in when you start partying. I'm doing pretty good too, so we'll all have something to celebrate.

Hi Keith
you are doing really well, keep up the great work. Love the pool room, you have done a fantastic job building it all.
I am sure putting all the pieces together you will soon see the weight moving off permanently into cyber space.
cheers
water of course

How are you doing? Just popped by to wish you a great weekend. As you may have seen from my posts I had a slight, well enormous, lapse this week, but it's over and I'm onward and downwards(on the scales) I hope. Weigh in tomorrow!
I'm beginning to feel fitter, less breathless and wait for it.....able to touch my toes!!!!!Just

Thanks again for the support. No doubt you guys are the reason I'm sticking with it. rosemary, out of curiosity, I weighed all the water I drank yesterday. It was 203 ounces or about 1.75 gallons. It was more than I thought I was drinking. Weigh in for me is tomorrow.

Keith
sounds like a lot of water to me ... . but better for you than anything else, just hope you are peeing a lot of it out and not holding on to it. Good luck for the weigh in tomorrow.

Weigh in time for me. I lost 2 pounds this week, for a total of 8 since we started this. I had a good week all around, lots of water (no worries rosemary, it goes out as easily as it goes in), I stuck to my exercise program, no beer, 1 glass wine, 1 sniffter Grand Marnier, did pretty well on my eating except for one day where I gave in to the hungries. I'd hoped to lose more, but I feel better because of what I have lost and the exercise and can't complain. One more thing, about half way through the week I quit drinking coffee, so I haven't had any caffeine since. Not sure why I did that, but I was a heavy coffee drinker and I suspect it will be better for me to be not consuming it.

Good Morning Keith, Well almost afternoon (1/22/07) Sounds like you are doing well, keep up the good work. I am not, but will keep on keeping on. I did have a photo of me from a birthday party this weekend where I drank club soday and friends took a photo because they are not use to seeing that, but it turned out really grainy. Stay on track, and maybe I will find the track this week

Keith, that was kind of freaky, you were leaving me kinds words on my page and I was on yours! Thank you very much, and I will keep on with it, as another person who enjoys a nice adult malted beverage I applaude your restraint, I have gone to a glass or two of wine rather than beer. Thank you for the inspiration, you are a great guy!

Hi Keith! Just read your post on the More page. Keep on trucking along on the weight loss! Remember that you didn't put the weight on in a short time, so taking it off slooooowly is the way to go. The slower the better as it means you are making lifestyle adjustments and you are more likely to keep it off! I'm guessing you are already feeling healthier and have more energy. One day of giving in to the munchies is much, much better than eating extra everyday. Keep up the Good Work! By the way, coffee is not evil as long as you can keep it to 2 8oz cups a day. Try the half caff stuff if you are feeling the side effects of caffeine withdrawl. I gave it up almost 9 years ago and went cold turkey. Bad, bad idea. I drank my caff cold (Mountain Dew, about 12-14 cans a day) and now only have it when I'm out. Also remember that one or two barley pops a week isn't a terrible thing. Keep us all updated on your progress!

Linda, nice to hear you are ''keepin' on.'' That's all we can do.

Angie, I do feel better. About caffeine, in the past, I've had bad headaches when I dropped it off, but not this time. For some reason, I'm having no withdrawal symptoms at all, so, I'm OK with just forgetting about it. I wasn't a caffeinated soda drinker, so all my caffeine has come from coffee.

Keith
fantastic effort
so pleased you are feeling and seeing results from all your hard work. the slower it comes off the longer it stays off.

cheers
water of course

Awesome job this week, Keith! Don't change your habits TOO much ... we like you just the way you are! Re: caffeine ... many diets warn that it can stimulate the appetite, so you may have helped yourself out and weren't even aware of it!

Good Morning Keith, Thank you for your words of encouragement, I have my new pedometer on and ready to

Hello Keith, Popping in to give you a shout out and to let you know how proud I am of you and the rest of the weight off crowd. You are doing a great job. Exchanging life long habits is not only difficult, but can be boring. We need enough variety in both our exercise and food so that we don't revert to our old ways. Although I indulged in a third of a chocolate bar, doing so helped relieve the tedium of 'being goody-goody'..the breakout, allowed me that period of time that I needed to regroup. I still lost weight, and learned it is okay to have a great treat maybe once a week without guilt and still stay on track. I have made it a point to not eat after 8p.m. this resolve has helped me stay away from the beloved junk food. You seem to be doing the same basic thing with your wine,beer and single day of eating more than you should, with continued good results. Don't feel guilty, relish the indulgence. I've read that when a person restricts his/her caloric intake too low, which many trying to lose weight do, your body holds onto the fat because it(the body) thinks its being starved, and its actually more difficult to lose weight. Based on that, I think we are doing the right thing. More power to our common sense,lol. Hang in there, things are looking good!

Right on Mamacita, I love your attitude. I think we both have the right level of strictness, with little naughty times once in a while just to keep it fun. Don't tell anybody, but I have a box of See's Chocolate Creams ... once in a while one doesn't hurt ... right?

Right you are Keith...as long as its once in a while...lol!

Just popping in to see how your doing? Been occupied with watching those 'chips' on your table can't think why!!! Well done on the weight loss that is fantastic, and I can smell those chocolate creams from here... nothing is safe

andré, I know you're trying to be good, but I'm happy to share.

Great remodelling job Kieth. What a nice spot to escape to! What size is the poll table? WAnt to have a game?

Hi Kieth, how's it going? Just popped by to say hello. Wish I was close enough to challenge you to a game of pool.Have a nice weekend

CG & GMo, come over any time.

Weigh in report for the week: I lost 2 pounds for a total loss of 10 since the beginning of the year. This was a good week; never missed an exercise session, no beer, 1 glass wine, ate less, but more fruits and vegetables and less red meat, and I'm starting to notice that I feel better and move easier. Thanks for everybody's support in helping me do this.