Hi Rosie, Lisa, RObin, Deb,
I'm a newbie. Just popping in to say, congratualtions on your wieght loss, Rosie! I've seen your other posts and you're doing so well--especially in such a short amount of time. I know it's discouraging sometimes, but slow and steady really does win the race!
I've been dieting (I actually prefer to call it my healthy lifestyle) since the end of July and I've lost 35 pounds. Like you, I walk and walk and walk. And jog a little bit too, but I have asthema, so just a little.
I'm a firm believer in eating a low-fat, blanaced diet. Our bodies need all the food groups to function properly. Along with being more strict about exercise, the only thing I've done differently is counting calories. I write down what I eat and calculate the calories and fat grams every day. My mother is a dietician, so I was raised with this stuff and I know the calories and servings of most foods off the top of my head, which is handy.
It's a funny thing, but I don't want to cheat most of the time when I remember that I'll have to write it down in my book. It's silly, but it works for me. And when I just have to eat that piece of pizza (Or whatever), I go to Dottie's Weight Loss Zone, -
www.dwlz.com - look up the calories and fat grams, and calculate it in (she has a Restaurants section--it's great!).
Dieting is short term, but a healthy lifestyle can last for ever. Healthy lifestyles are about making choices. If I choose that slice of pizza, the rest of my meal is a huge salad with non-fat dressing and maybe some fruit later for a snack. I still got my pizza, but I cut calories in other places. It works for me and I don't feel deprived. (When I feel deprived or stressed, I pig out.)
I have a really slow metabolism too, so I have to exercize every day. I'm also almost 40 and I knew it was going to just get slower, so I decided to take the weight off once and for all in time for my 40th birthday. So far, so good. I plan to lose 20 more pounds. I might not lose it all before July, but I'll get close.
It's nice to be here. I'm glad I "discovered" Bella Online. I'm off to look around some more...