Lose Weight (and get fit) Before Roo Thread

Hey, one other thing that I hope is helpful, and then I'll shut up for a while...but maintaining a positive attitude about your progress is key if you really want to drop weight, and one of the worst things people do is step on the scale every morning and then fret over what the dial says.

Your body weight fluctuates a good bit during the day. My normal fluctuation is about three pounds. So the daily weight is meaningless. It's the trend that's important.

That said, I think a better way to measure your progress is to watch your waistline instead of your scale weight. Take a measuring tape around your middle at the level of your navel once a week, first thing in the morning (or whenever your lower GI system is at its emptiest.) You're trying to burn fat, but as you do so you're also building muscle (albeit at differing rates depending on your workout regimen), again making it difficult to trust the scale.

I've done a lot of research on this as I had the same questions you do and I do like the XXX Zero calorie one. So, first, there is crap in there that might be better than sugar and fat and calories, but it's not as good as water. As to the vitamin RDA amounts on the bottle - keep in mind that the body doesn't process vitamins and minerals from liquid as well as it does from food, for obvious reasons (ps - this is another healthy side effect of live culture yogurt. It can promote health and good bacteria in the intestines which is where most of our vitamin absorption occurs). This is why dieticians always recommend getting your RDAs from meals as much as possible, then supplements, then liquids.

Finally - I have been told that the sweet flavor of the Vitamin Water actually fools the body into wanting more sweet things which can lead to falling off the wagon if you're trying to cut out sweets.

My takeaway was this - a bottle every once in a while wouldn't kill me, but stick with water as much as possible. For folks like me, who get bored with water, iced green tea is supposedly the best substitute/healthiest alternative to water.

Some of this information may be off as I'm no expert, it's just stuff I've found in my constant battle to keep my family as healthy as possible.

Also, thanks for all the answers guys. I am an idiot when it comes to this stuff and really want to change my diet for the better.

I had no idea I liked seltzer up until a few months ago. I was never a big pop dude, but it helps cover that occasional craving for something carbonated...that's not beer (that other big beautiful problem I have). La Croix has some pretty tasty flavors. Once you get away from the really sweet stuff for a period of time, you'll find yourself craving it less. You'll begin picking up on more subtle flavors and flat out not enjoying the sugary crap...

it's kind of neat.

I loathe "working out," but I've recently come around on the awesomeness of the kettlebell. Here I am in action...

For the last couple months I've been drinking a meal replacement shake for breakfast in the mornings. I blend powder, water, ice, couple shakes of cinnamon powder, flax, and a handful of leafy greens; it really gives me a good natural buzz. Sometimes I'll add a small spoonful of peanut butter for a different flavor. The liquid meal gives the intestines time to rest, and with the garbage we sometimes ingest, this is much needed.

The powder I use is a safe alternative to the powder that Dr. Junger uses in his "Clean Program". Here is a link to the product page: www.metagenics.com/products/a-z-products-list/UltraMeal My wife orders ours through Amazon, and I'll ping her for a link to the right one as there are a variety. As an aside, I have done the Clean detox in the past, and though it was tough, the experience gave me a better understanding of how my body works. I'm no longer detoxing, the powder is just being used as a meal replacement.

At the end of July I weighed 252; this is the most I've ever weighed. My weight gain was a result of eating stuff I didn't need when my wife had pregnancy cravings last fall/winter/spring. This morning I weighed in at 234. I do not attribute this change in weight to drinking morning smoothies. Other parts of my diet have been adjusted as well. I'm trying to be more conscious of what I eat and drink as well as exercising on the elliptical machine.

At 6'1" my ideal weight would be 190. My goal for now is to get back to 200 and see what happens from there.

Thanks for all the tips and inspiring updates, folks. Please keep them coming!

This can't be stressed enough, I feel like. There is no advantage to drinking "diet" soda, it's just a way to get people to drink more soda.

I can't say the meal replacement shakes are for everyone, but they're helping me manage my weight. The vanilla tastes better than the chocolate in my opinion, but both of them are more palatable than shakes I've tasted in the past.


Natural Vanilla
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UEMQ7I/

Dutch Chocolate
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UEMQ6E/

Yeah, it's nice to see this thread poppin' again! Most everything these guys have been saying is something I would get behind. I'll say I try to avoid shakes as a meal replacement because I dont stay full as long and find myself snacking a little more.

A couple of my tips:
Replace the mayo on your sandwich with mustard
No cheese on your sandwich either
Double check the granola you're thinking about eating. Its probably fattier than you think and then eat some Special K or Total or something.
Skim Milk has way fewer calories than 2% and you'll get used to it in a couple of weeks.
Roast a buttload of veggies one day a week and eat them with your meals for 3 or 4 days.
If you want a late night snack have something handy with low calorie counts. I keep pretzel sticks (100 cal for 50) and those 100 cal snack popcorn packs. A little is usually enough.
If you want to splurge on something occasionally I think its ok. I like Doritos, so every once in a while I'll stop at the 7 11 and get a snack bag not a full bag that I'll eat for 2 or 3 days.
Low fat mozzarella string cheese is a pretty filling snack too and usually pretty low calorie.

I will also make sandwiches out of any extra cheese you dont want and by sandwiches I mean cheese in between two slices of cheese

By the time I mail you my cheese it'll probably have a nice smell.

If you're going to drink pop at all, drink regular. The diet pops have chemicals that actual harbor fat around your trunk. Aspartame is a carcinogen. Diet pops can lead to metabolic syndrome and type two diabetes. Just work out for 15 minutes longer, or don't eat a cookie or something. I feel like saying "drink regular pop over diet" is like saying "smoke American Spirits over regular cigarettes." They're both bad for you, but if you must....

Another thing: (I'm sorry if this has already been posted. I don't have time right now to read through everything.) Pay the most attention to sugars. Your body turns bad surgars into fat quicker than bad fats. For instance: If you're debating on cheese fries or a "pop," eat the cheese fries.

If anyone needs an amazing work out just PM me your email address, and I can forward it to you. I didn't need to lose weight, but did the routine as a guinea pig for my friend who is an officier in the Army and had to come up with something for his troops. It only takes 20-30 minutes a day and I lost 20 pounds in three weeks. There's also a very good reference guide to how you should and shouldn't eat. It's great!

That is all.

I'm actually pretty sure she's a real person.