NationStates Jolt Archive

So a few weeks ago I posted a couple of times about my efforts to improve my health and get into shape. Part of that included losing weight. We talked about calculating BMI, using a bowflex, etc.

Well I've been approaching it in an informal sort of general change of lifestyle way. I've eliminated caffeinated/high sugar drinks from my diet, eating smaller portions, and using the Dance Dance Revolution pad my wife gave me for Christmas.

I can't say exactly how much I've lost, but I can report the following:

My jeans, which previously were snug on my hips enough to be a little uncomfortable, can now be removed without unfastening them first. (Easily.) In fact, without a belt, they're no longer wearable. My wife reports that my sleep apnea is less severe and I heve felt the quality of my sleep has improved. My wife has even complained that it's less comfortable to rest her head of my chest when we snuggle because I've lost a lot of the padding ;)

Why am I posting this? Partly to say thanks to those who have offered me advice, and partly as an encouragement to anybody who is working on the same goal. Now, for the sake of discussion: Has anyone else similarly made changes that have had a positive effect on life? (To include quitting smoking, drinking etc?)

Why am I posting this? Partly to say thanks to those who have offered me advice, and partly as an encouragement to anybody who is working on the same goal. Now, for the sake of discussion: Has anyone else similarly made changes that have had a positive effect on life? (To include quitting smoking, drinking etc?)

Congrats!

after my Diverticultis, I took that opportunity to retrain my eating habits. now I get full on less foods and, according to others, I've lost alot of weight.

I sold my car so now I walk and bus alot, not to mention alot of weight carrying since I now have to carry things around.

salt and sugar still remain my bane, but i've been cuting back. instead of soda, I use those drink mixes... and as I get used to them, I cut the amount of mix I use by half. making the drink weaker and less 'Sugary'.

No, I haven't been weighing myself nor have I been checking my blood. (cholesteral, blood pressure, sugar levels etc...)

I've started eating at regular times, breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner every day. I have been taking advantage of the cold weather to take the kids on more hikes. I can report that my blue jeans which used to fit perfectly now have about 3 inches of empty space around the waste. I can't say I've lost any weight on the scale but I feel better and I have been sleeping more regularly.

The children have also been napping in the afternoon (after a 4 mile hike!) and so I get a bit more quiet time, I have finally finished a book that I have been trying to read since November.

Inspiration for me! I just started my new keep-fit regime today. I hope I can achive the same success you have at the moment!

Inspiration for me! I just started my new keep-fit regime today. I hope I can achive the same success you have at the moment!

What finally worked for me was to not try and make sudden and radical changes to my lifestyle. Changes like that are very difficult to sustain. Instead, make little changes here and there that will, over the long run, start to add up to a noticeable benefit.

This is especially true of the soda. I used to drink huge quantities of Coke and Pepsi. Problem was that Diet soda tastes like ass, caffeine free sods tastes like ass, but ironically, caffeine free diet soda isn't too far from the taste of the original... so that's what I've switched to.

if you like root beer diet A&W root beer is sugar and caffeine free and tastes just like regular.

also *buys DDR for her PS2*

Regular Root Beer has caffeine?

What finally worked for me was to not try and make sudden and radical changes to my lifestyle. Changes like that are very difficult to sustain. Instead, make little changes here and there that will, over the long run, start to add up to a noticeable benefit.

This is especially true of the soda. I used to drink huge quantities of Coke and Pepsi. Problem was that Diet soda tastes like ass, caffeine free sods tastes like ass, but ironically, caffeine free diet soda isn't too far from the taste of the original... so that's what I've switched to.

if you like root beer diet A&W root beer is sugar and caffeine free and tastes just like regular.

also *buys DDR for her PS2*

Regular Root Beer has caffeine?

nope. However, it does have tons o' sugar. Diet root beer had no discernible difference to me. (they say you can't taste caffeine anyway)

nope. However, it does have tons o' sugar. Diet root beer had no discernible difference to me. (they say you can't taste caffeine anyway)

I guess it's something to do with the overall formula when they go to compensate for the removal of the caffeine (in soda).

I don't know if I've tried diet root beer but my son drinks droot beer heavily. It may be a good idea to wean him onto the sugar free stuff too.

one way my friends got off of soda to Diet is that they mix the two. for instance, you buy two 2 ltr bottles, one diet, one regular and you mix it in your glass.

eventually, you cut the regular soda till you're only drinking the diet.

But beware, Diet Soda =|= healthy.

which is why I'm striving to cut out my soda completely.

I tried to switch to other drinks entirely, but one of the big advantages of soda is that it's cheaper than juice or most other types of drink. (Other than water, which I drnk vast quantities of during the day already)

What finally worked for me was to not try and make sudden and radical changes to my lifestyle. Changes like that are very difficult to sustain. Instead, make little changes here and there that will, over the long run, start to add up to a noticeable benefit.

This is especially true of the soda. I used to drink huge quantities of Coke and Pepsi. Problem was that Diet soda tastes like ass, caffeine free sods tastes like ass, but ironically, caffeine free diet soda isn't too far from the taste of the original... so that's what I've switched to.

one way my friends got off of soda to Diet is that they mix the two. for instance, you buy two 2 ltr bottles, one diet, one regular and you mix it in your glass.

eventually, you cut the regular soda till you're only drinking the diet.

But beware, Diet Soda =|= healthy.

which is why I'm striving to cut out my soda completely.

So a few weeks ago I posted a couple of times about my efforts to improve my health and get into shape. Part of that included losing weight. We talked about calculating BMI, using a bowflex, etc.

Well I've been approaching it in an informal sort of general change of lifestyle way. I've eliminated caffeinated/high sugar drinks from my diet, eating smaller portions, and using the Dance Dance Revolution pad my wife gave me for Christmas.

I can't say exactly how much I've lost, but I can report the following:

My jeans, which previously were snug on my hips enough to be a little uncomfortable, can now be removed without unfastening them first. (Easily.) In fact, without a belt, they're no longer wearable. My wife reports that my sleep apnea is less severe and I heve felt the quality of my sleep has improved. My wife has even complained that it's less comfortable to rest her head of my chest when we snuggle because I've lost a lot of the padding ;)

Why am I posting this? Partly to say thanks to those who have offered me advice, and partly as an encouragement to anybody who is working on the same goal. Now, for the sake of discussion: Has anyone else similarly made changes that have had a positive effect on life? (To include quitting smoking, drinking etc?)

Congrats, man! Yes, I did make such a change 3 years ago, when I started running every day. I'm not such a butterball anymore:)

I tried to switch to other drinks entirely, but one of the big advantages of soda is that it's cheaper than juice or most other types of drink. (Other than water, which I drnk vast quantities of during the day already)
dunno if you guys have this. but I think you mainlanders refer it as "bug juice" or 'red dye #5"

we have various flavors including the normal orange, grape, strawberry, plus local flavors as Pinapple orange, passion orange, fruit punch...

I can buy a gallon jug for 6 bucks. and at my current mixing ratio (which is now less than half of recommended mixing ratio) I get a little over 12 gallons of juice.

with normal mixing ratio, you can get 6 gallons of juice.

Congrats, man! Yes, I did make such a change 3 years ago, when I started running every day. I'm not such a butterball anymore:)

Thanks! I think once I get a little further I will start something like that as well.

dunno if you guys have this. but I think you mainlanders refer it as "bug juice" or 'red dye #5"

we have various flavors including the normal orange, grape, strawberry, plus local flavors as Pinapple orange, passion orange, fruit punch...

I can buy a gallon jug for 6 bucks. and at my current mixing ratio (which is now less than half of recommended mixing ratio) I get a little over 12 gallons of juice.

with normal mixing ratio, you can get 6 gallons of juice.

Isn't 'bug juice' Navy slang for fruit juice?

Isn't 'bug juice' Navy slang for fruit juice?
Dunno if Navy uses that slang, but I've heard it referenced for Children/teen camps.

basically it's a syrup (commonly used for snowcones) that is diluted in water to make juice.

the ratio for the brand I buy is 1 part syrup to 5 parts water.

Dunno if Navy uses that slang, but I've heard it referenced for Children/teen camps.

basically it's a syrup (commonly used for snowcones) that is diluted in water to make juice.

the ratio for the brand I buy is 1 part syrup to 5 parts water.

Hmm.... might have to try that.

I started swimming not to long ago and I kind of like the effects it had on my body, mainly more muscles and even less fat (I was and still am quite skinny) but I mainly started to do some sports because I had zero condition and because it's more fun than I thought it would be.
Other than that I also plan to eat more fruit, although that is quite expensive, and maybe eat a little bit more varied (I'm a student so I don't eat that varied).
A year and a half ago I gave up meat, which was quite easy but didn't have such a great effect on my health. I also drink almost no soda, but more now because I have exams, I plan to stop doing that too, it only tastes good when you're used to it, if you drink no soda for a month or so and then drink some coke it tastes horribly sweet. *hugs water bottle*
A few months ago, when I rented a room in the city and started to live away from my parents for most of the week, I also started drinking less alcohol, which is kind of strange, being a student away from home, but getting really drunk, waking up with a hangover and seeing you spend waaaay to much money kind of got old. I didn't really plan to drink less, but I think I'll try to keep this up for various reasons.

Those are all the "lifestyle changes" I underwent I can remember, most of them were semi-spontaneous so it wasn't that hard.
Good luck with the loss of weight and keep up the good work!