Hi! I'd like to introduce myself - I'm so glad to have this group

[Maru Kitteh]

I'm a 38 year old Mom in Nebraska. I'm currently 5'0" and 157 pounds which gives me a BMI of 25 and puts me just at the lower edge of obese. JEEEEEEEZ was that hard to admit and find out about myself! Like most of us I guess I'm probably harder on myself than anyone else would be. I hate looking in the mirror but I'm going to get over that in the next week or two. I'm going to lay off the processed foods and fried tofu and get back to reasonable portion control. I'm going to eat more fresh and raw vegetables again. I really LOVE raw and fresh vegetables so how and why I got out of the habit of eating them more often? I don't know. Convenience maybe?

Just 3 years ago I was very near my ideal weight of 115 pounds. That sound like too small I know but remember, I'm a short stuff LOL! I was very happy then, I actually wore clothes I liked and enjoyed how I felt. I kept that size for a pretty good amount of time always trying to stamp out those infamous last five pounds. Last winter I did a little bit of backsliding and probably put on about 5 - 10 lbs but then in the spring I was back on track and taking them back off. That's when I hurt my back. I thought I was destined for a wheelchair for a while but lucky for me I have a wonderful neighbor who helped me and while I do still have some pain I'm ready to start exercising and getting this weight off again. I think it will help the back problem to carry less around and get stronger again.

I plan to check in here every day because I've seen so much positive thinking and great ideas and advice in here. I'm going to be more conscious about my what I eat and stock the fridge with healthy fresh food. I'm going to continue to exercise every day because it's hard at first but I'll feel better and I know that because I've done it before.

I think when I go into the doctor next month I'll ask her about an apatite suppression prescription or what she thinks might be best. Have any of you used a prescription from your doctor? Did it help? Were any of them awful?

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYBODY !!!!! Have a pretty rose on me :)

[cfield]

1. Sounds like a great plan!

My biggest problem is portion control, along with cravings.
I'm 24, and my husband and I are hoping to start trying for a minifield in about a year. We're both determined to lose some weight first! I'm a shorty too, about 5'2" and want to drop about 13 pounds. That would put me at 130, and satisfied with my weight.

We're doing Weight Watchers and I think we're both so sick and tired of feeling and looking the way we do we'll actually take it seriously.

I'm glad I found this group so I have somewhere to come during the days when I get cravings at work!

Vegan, let's do this!!!
(and thanks for the beautiful rose!)

[Maru Kitteh]

2. It's so nice that you are working to get into good nutrition and exercise

habits BEFORE having the baby. I wish I'd known more about proper nutrition and exercise habits before I had my girl. I would have liked to have brought her up on healthier food but I can't say I did too badly. I kept most sugar out of the house, and we never did eat very much red meat at all. Of course that's down to zero meat now.

My craving problems - POTATOES. Yummy yummy hash-browns are my faves. I'm still going to eat them but I'm going to make some serious changes in how I do. I used to pour them out of the bag, frozen into a skillet with way too much margarine in it. This is one area where I just kidded myself about a proper portion, or ignored it. Now I will stock real potatoes in the house and limit my portion to one small potato grated by hand and cooked with a minimal amount of Mazola natural cooking spray.

I was eating way too much starch in proportion to my green veggies. I'm going to reverse that ratio. As many greens as I want but careful control of the corn, potatoes, rice and bread. I'll still enjoy my tofu but I won't be soaking it in sesame oil anymore :spank: , It will be lightly browned with the natural cooking spray and seasoned with things like smoke flavor and garlic or zesty orange and ginger instead of oil. I'll still enjoy my beans but instead of two plates of them I'll have a reasonable portion and lots of veggies.

I know I can do this.

Good luck to you and hubby and keep us updated on how the WW goes for you! I think WW is a better program because they focus on nutrition education. Jenny Craig looks awful to me because you have to use their franken-food creations. I don't trust food from laboratories anymore, even if it is vegetarian/vegan.

[Longhorn]

3. Welcome, Veganistan!

Reading your comments just made me realize that after about a month on WW, I have lost that need to feel full after a meal. I'm satisfied, yes, but I don't have to reach fullness in order to stop eating. And I've gotten better at noticing the difference between true hunger and an urge to eat.

I'm not losing very quickly but I've stopped gaining and there's no reason I can't go on like this forever. I think it's going to take while to convince my body that it's okay to "let go" of the fat, after all I've put it through!

Good luck! :hi:

[Maru Kitteh]

6. Hunger and the urge to eat. Yup. I know about that one!

Now when I'm not hungry but wanting to eat I reach for some water. If that doesn't do it I make some tea or flavored decaff coffee.

Thanks for the welcome :)

[Katherine Brengle]

10. Losing weight as a vegan...

I never paid attention to what I ate or how much exercise I got before I had my daughter. Afterwards, different story...

I basically existed on Three Musketeers bars and cheeseburgers when I was pregnant. Not good--gained like 60 lbs...

Unfortunately, I lost most of the weight before becoming vegan, so I don't really know how to do it on a vegan diet.

But seriously, I went from 215 the day I had my daughter to 155 (as of now), so it can be done. I actually came here to see if anyone had any input on losing weight on a vegan diet--I've dropped about 12 lbs since I gave up animal products, but I am having a really hard time giving up french fries, cuz I love them so much, lol. Anything with potatoes--that's my vice... I am only 5'2", so I definitely still need to lose a little weight myself...

Any advice Veganistan?

[Maru Kitteh]

11. Hi KB! I'm a starch freak too. Any potato is a good potato.

I also love fried tofu :spank: and a wee to much margarine in my brown rice :spank: and hash browns :spank: AND FRENCH FRIES :spank: AND PEANUT BUTTER :spank: :spank::spank:


AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh.


O.K.

I'm concentrating on portion control and balance and losing the fast food fries. Lots more green veggies and less starch. Brown rice is good for me I just don't need to drown it in margarine, I can saute my onions in mostly water. I can still have fried tofu sometimes just not drizzled in Sesame oil but rather pan sprayed.

I've replaced a good deal of my regular bread items with Wasa bread which is deliciously crispy, if you've never had it look for it at your grocer. It has about 1/4 or less the calories of bread.

Here's a cool new thing I tried the other day too - instead of salad dressing on my salad I gave it a couple of shakes of Kikoman Teriyaki sauce. It was YUMMY and I saved about 105 calories!

[auntAgonist]

4. WELCOME to our group !!!

I have tried appetite suppressants in the past and they only caused problems for me. Many years ago I had a Dr who gave me ionamins a prescription amphetamine. Not only did I lose weight but I never slept!
I was driving truck and the time and there but for the grace of god I never had an accident even although I was driving in sheer exhaustion some days.
I've had other prescriptions that messed with my blood pressure too.
Good luck in your quest to lose some weight! Be very careful of your back when you exercise.
I'm looking forward to seeing your progress.

:hug:

aA

[Maru Kitteh]

5. Thanks Aunt A! I promise to be careful of my back

I'm sticking to a stationary bike and resistance lifting right now. I'll probably return to trail biking this spring and summer/fall. My husband just got a great new job at the local state university so I now also have access to all the weight and training equipment as well as the pool! Yipee! Did I mention I'm also going to have health insurance for the first time in 14 years? I'm ecstatic.

My lunch today:
1-2 cups salad, buttercrunch lettuce and radiccio so I didn't really feel a need for dressing.
3 large cherry tomatoes (YUM)
1 sliced cucumber
1 sliced bosc pear
small handful of unsalted roasted peanuts in the shell

Why did I quit eating like this? I love this stuff.

A big valentines hug to everyone!

[u4ic]

7. Howdy, Veganistan!

Welcome to the group!

Bravo to you for taking control!

There have been some incredible success stories in this group...lots of inspiration and support. I definitely find it here.

Best wishes to you in your journey to good health!! :hug:

[Kathleen04]

8. Hi, Veganistan

Good to see you here. :) I identify with being short. I'm at about 151 (and going down!) and 5'3"..my goal weight is about 135.

I take it from your name that you're vegan?..I'm a vegetarian but trying to lean more vegan (cheese is one of my downfalls!)..

Best of luck to you!

[ernstbass]

9. Hello Veganistan

Welcome to this wonderfully supportive group. Good luck on your journey!