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Post by sevenofnine on Jul 31, 2013 23:01:52 GMT -5
Well, fuck, girls. I just got back from the ER where I left my boyfriend with an overnight bag to get checked out by the docs. He's been experiencing a myriad of symptoms since Sunday night but finally decided to see a doctor tonight. His doc said he had an irregular heartbeat and should get checked out more seriously, hence the ER.
This has to do with you because this is the last straw and means we really are going to get serious about our health. I weigh around 240 and he's at least a hundred pounds more than me. We're trying to eat better and mostly do when we're home. But we eat out a lot and we really like our beer and all the food that goes really well with beer. So, while I've never even lurked TK's GIS boards, I'm coming here for help. What's my first step? What is one thing I need to start doing, stop doing, or do differently in order to get in shape? And how do I encourage the boy?
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Post by blueeyes90 on Jul 31, 2013 23:08:47 GMT -5
I'm sorry about your boyfriend! *hugs* I've had to take mine to the ER way too many times (but not for health, for accidents!).
Good luck for the goals on weight-loss! I'm struggling with that too. I don't know how to help you, but the first step I generally read is starting a food journal. Record everything you eat and all physical activities. That helped me cut down on snacking when I was bored and really evaluate if I was hungry. If I read what I've eaten today I tend to eat less.
I've read elsewhere (I am by no means an expert) that weight is more of what you eat and exercise should start as the supplement. My mom lost about 40 lbs by just counting calories and walking 3 miles everyday. She only needed to lose about 40-60 though.
Sorry I can't be more help. Hope that helps some.
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Post by sevenofnine on Jul 31, 2013 23:13:49 GMT -5
Thanks, that totally helps. Writing things down will probably stop me from sneaking mini-Twix and Milky Ways out of the candy dish on my reception desk at work tomorrow. And maybe I'll start that walk around the block twice a day during my breaks again (I've recently just gone outside and stood reading under the trees.) Alrighty, I'm good for step one, now someone give me step two.
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Post by blueeyes90 on Jul 31, 2013 23:27:42 GMT -5
Also, don't cut calories too far. This is a lesson that everyone in my family learned on our own. When I first started I must have been eating 1600-2500 a day (before I cut calories) and then cut to 1200. I just couldn't sustain that. So now I eat 1200-1400 daily, depending on how hungry I am and I adjust when I exercise. I use the "lose-it" app and aim to lose 1.5 lbs a week. It is a nice app on android and iphone and just online that looks up some calories for me.
Don't get down on yourself if you mess up one day, just record it! If you get upset about it, it may lead to more eating... That is true about me. If I get down on myself because I had that cookie, I then want a brownie as well. So I just try to remind myself that this isn't a diet but a lifestyle change and that I can have a healthy and maybe cut 100 calories out of my dinner, or I can just eat a healthy dinner and go back to the 1200-1400 range tomorrow.
It is also a ton easier to eat within my range when I cook at home and snack on carrots or celery. I get hungry around 4pm daily so I drink some water and chew gum and wait until six. Oh, I forgot! Drink water! It helps flush your system and makes you feel fuller and is healthy!!
You will probably lose weight quickly for the first few weeks and then slow down, but don't get frustrated-that is completely normal and usually where I first get frustrated.
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Post by NonosG on Aug 1, 2013 6:44:07 GMT -5
I'm so sorry to hear about your bf. I hope that everything turns out okay. Sometimes it takes a really tough event to inspire change and while it totally sucks to go through this maybe the positive that comes out of it is that you have decided to make some changes.
I've been on a weight roller coaster for many years, gaining in losing somewhere in the neighborhood of 50-ish pounds at least three times. I was just over 200 pounds in college and I joined a weight loss group with my mom where they focused on eating habits, I lost around 40 lbs just by modifying my eating habits. Then I gained some back and decided to hire a personal trainer (he was expensive) but I got down to 138 pounds. I didn't maintain it for too long and before I knew it was was back in the 180s. Finally in January I hit an all time high of 213 and the Dr. was hounding me about my blood pressure, it was slightly elevated and had always been normal previously. I decided then that I would get back to a healthy lifestyle. Since then I've lost just over 22 lbs. I did it by tracking what I eat (even on the bad days) and started trying to move more.
I agree with what others like xcaly and lobsters have already said, but the one thing I would add is make changes you can stick with and don't change everything all at once. My FI and I enjoy eating out too but we've learned to make better choices, veggies instead of fries, water instead of soda, we try to skip fried food. I don't mean to say we don't ever eat these things, we just try to skip them most of the time. Another thing that has help us is planning and preparing food ahead of time. We grocery shop on Saturdays and put together our lunches for the week on Sunday. We always keep fresh fruit and sliced veggies (cucumbers, peppers, baby carrots) on hand for snack attacks. It really seems to help us.
Your last question about motivating the boy is a much harder one. I wish I knew how to answer this for you. I actually have a hard time telling you what motivates me. One day it just clicked and then I started feeling better so I just kept going. I think if you start making positive changes he may be inspired by you.
Good luck on your journey! I hope you stick around and check out the accountability threads, they really help me out.
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Post by sevenofnine on Aug 1, 2013 8:49:27 GMT -5
An email from the boy sent just after midnight last night... "They are about to move me upstairs to a room for the night. They will take some more blood and I'll probably take a stress test in the morning. They did say I have a weird heart rhythm but not a type that really causes concern." A text at six this morning said he's going to see a cardiologist.
This morning I had my regular coffee with half n half and sugar (travel mug that equals three "cups") and refrigerator oatmeal (a pinterest recipe) with blueberries. Just filled up my water bottle and had to avoid the leftover cake from yesterday. I'm writing things down, but not counting calories or anything else. In the fridge here at work I have dates, lite string cheese, a mason jar salad (of chickpeas, cucs, carrots, green peppers, romaine, and italian dressing), a pear, greek yogurt and granola.
I'm hoping this health scare will be all the motivation he needs. His dad was recently put on insulin for his diabetes which had been managed by oral meds before then. Yeah, I think we may be good to go.
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Post by blueeyes90 on Aug 1, 2013 8:52:43 GMT -5
An email from the boy sent just after midnight last night... "They are about to move me upstairs to a room for the night. They will take some more blood and I'll probably take a stress test in the morning. They did say I have a weird heart rhythm but not a type that really causes concern." A text at six this morning said he's going to see a cardiologist. This is good news I hope! Wishing you and your boy the best!
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Post by winelover123 on Aug 1, 2013 9:07:11 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about BF and hope he's alright! Start small. FI and I like to eat out too, so I usually plan out what I'm going to order before I get there. If I already know I'm going to order the grilled chicken or 6 oz steak and veggies, I'm not going to go for the cheese fries. Order water instead of soda. Park further away so you have to walk further, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Start keeping track of your calories. I'd suggest eating normally for the first day to see how many calories you're taking in then slowly decrease.
As for exercise, try out different routines until you find something you like. For me, it's yoga and swimming. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to motivate BF. You can pack him healthy lunches and invite him to the gym or to take walks with you, but it's pretty much on him to get healthy.
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jaenella
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Post by jaenella on Aug 1, 2013 9:17:04 GMT -5
Welcome, and sorry to hear about the health scare for your BF! I echo what all the other ladies above have said about taking it slow with small changes, tracking your food using MFP, finding an exercise you like and overcoming the mental barriers to pushing through a workout (my biggest struggle!).
About eating out - one thing I found was effective at scaring me into eating out less was looking up nutrition information for restaurants. When I see that my favourite steak dinner has 1800 calories and triple the salt I should have in a day, it's an extra motivator to avoid it. Even if it's not posted on the restaurant website, MFP sometimes has estimates if you search for them.
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Post by sevenofnine on Aug 1, 2013 9:59:35 GMT -5
Just got another text. Current theory is Lyme Disease, which might actually be good because the other option is that he gets a pace maker. Awesome.
And another starter question... what is one food that I probably have in my house that I should just throw away? Super bad for you, calories not worth the flavor, chemicals that will end up killing me, etc.
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Post by winelover123 on Aug 1, 2013 11:10:08 GMT -5
For me, the one food I almost never ever buy are chips. Because I will eat the whole bag. I can't think of a specific food that is god-awful for you to have and will end up killing you because of the chemicals or whatnot, but if you have a food that you just can't control yourself around, throw it out.
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Post by sevenofnine on Aug 1, 2013 11:14:07 GMT -5
Just got another text. Current theory is Lyme Disease, which might actually be good because the other option is that he gets a pace maker. Awesome. And another starter question... what is one food that I probably have in my house that I should just throw away? Super bad for you, calories not worth the flavor, chemicals that will end up killing me, etc. What kind of stuff do you have in your fridge and pantry? I keep almost no processed foods in my house, but that is personal preference. I don't have any Lean Cuisine meals or any ready made frozen food if that's what you mean by processed foods, but what about cereal, store-bought bread, etc? Isn't that stuff technically "processed" as well? Stuff like tofu and soy milk isn't "natural", right? But is it healthy enough to make up for the processing? I like that answer about not having any chips or crackers in the house. That's something I can do. Not necessarily give them up entirely, but only have them when partying at other people's houses. They're sending his blood to the Mayo Clinic, so he'll be in the hospital until at least Saturday. What a sucky way to get the house to myself.
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Post by FTL on Aug 1, 2013 12:19:13 GMT -5
What kind of stuff do you have in your fridge and pantry? I keep almost no processed foods in my house, but that is personal preference. I don't have any Lean Cuisine meals or any ready made frozen food if that's what you mean by processed foods, but what about cereal, store-bought bread, etc? Isn't that stuff technically "processed" as well? Stuff like tofu and soy milk isn't "natural", right? But is it healthy enough to make up for the processing? I like that answer about not having any chips or crackers in the house. That's something I can do. Not necessarily give them up entirely, but only have them when partying at other people's houses. They're sending his blood to the Mayo Clinic, so he'll be in the hospital until at least Saturday. What a sucky way to get the house to myself. Yes. All that stuff is processed, even tofu (and tofu isn't that great for you anyway). Kicking out processed stuff is difficult and nearly impossible. I'm considered "rawist" because 80% of my diet is raw, unprocessed fruits/veggies/nuts/seeds. This means I make my own almond milk instead of buying store bought. My freezer is practically empty minus my homemade sorbets, cereal doesn't come into this house until it's a quinoa-hemp seed blend (H isn't fond of it) and most of the flours I keep are raw, ground up quinoa, almond, coconut, etc flours. Now many consider me a bit extreme with the unprocessed stuff. I think it's about finding a balance and what makes you happy and healthy with the time you have in your day/week. It's a slow slooooow process to cut stuff out. But as a one food you probably keep in the house that should be thrown away, I agree on the chips/crackers! They are just empty calories that your body craves because you continue to give in to the cravings ("you" meaning "one" not YOU specifically ) Also, anything that is "nonfat" that shouldn't be nonfat. Those are automatic BAD NEWS BEARS items. FOr realsies..
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jaenella
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Post by jaenella on Aug 1, 2013 12:26:21 GMT -5
I agree with the ladies above and think cutting out chips or crackers is a great start! It depends on what your biggest weakness is - for my, my kryptonite is cookies. I can't eat just one, so it can't be a treat food for me and I can't have it in my house. FI is chips; he will eat the whole bag. Another thing might be pop - if you drink a lot of pop, cutting it out or cutting back can have a big impact.
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Post by sevenofnine on Aug 1, 2013 22:06:24 GMT -5
I just signed up for a MyFitnessPal account. I filled in all my food for today, but otherwise I have no idea what I'm doing. If anyone wants to find me over there, I'm Hogan843.
I managed to abstain from the candy dish all day today. And adding up all my food on MFP, I see what I need to stop eating or eat less of. Even with the beer I enjoyed while entering my foods, I only went over by 43 calories!
While we're pretty certain boyfriend has Lyme's Disease, we won't find out for sure until Saturday when his blood tests get back from the Mayo Clinic. I refused to supply him with the requested sandwich, chips, and a cookie when going to visit him tonight.
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