Small things to change to help lose weight

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

1. No softdrink, juice etc
2. Eat smaller meals more often - always have breakfast lunch and tea but make sure your having good healthy snacks in b/w - fruit, carrot sticks etc etc
3. Go for walks if you can

I'm not PG but for me right now i found i was not eating enough or regularly enough to get my metabolism working so i was storing anything i took on.
For anyone who wants to check out the Summer health challenge thread, it's not all about loosing weight, it's about maintaining goals and feeling good about ourselves.

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ge-146633.html

[Fleur]

Fleur what's wrong with Nestle?

Too much for me to post here

Check these threads out

What started the Nestle boycott...and should we just get over it?

What's the Nestle "hate" all about?

HTH

MummaSue, that sounds like a great book, will be having a look for that!

[Ginger]

always eat BREAKFAST!! no matter what. it fills you up for the day and stops you from picking at food all day.

[Raupe]

They just brought out a study from Denmark that shows that when you eat low fat diary (yoghurt, milk, etc), the body absorbs less fat from your food, as it lines the stomach and reduces fat absorption. So add some dairy to most of your meals! (Low fat products though!!)

Also, it has been proven that soup keeps you fuller for longer, even when it has the same calories as a normal meal. So go for soup, but avoid the cream based ones!

[luna moth]

Also, it has been proven that soup keeps you fuller for longer, even when it has the same calories as a normal meal. So go for soup, but avoid the cream based ones!

Oh yeah! In the first tri, I made a thin vegie soup and froze it in coffee cups, so it was always ready to go. Awesome, easy to keep down, and keeps you full for ages. Best snack ever. And a great way to keep your fluids up.

On that... water water water. I know everyone has said it, but it's key. If you're craving something in particular, drink a half litre of water (it might not have to be so much, but I can throw back water like it's a sport) and wait half an hour. Also, drink a glass before every meal, it will help you to notice when you are full.

As for breakfast - always have some protein. It gets you through for so much longer. So baked beans on toast, or eggs, or even peanut butter or cream cheese on toast. Keeps you full for ages. I can get to midday on a protein breakfast, and barely past 10am if I don't have one.

Wholegrains, of course, and low GI foods, are waaaay better than their refined cousins. Look for high fibre pasta, eat a wholegrain bread, use longer grain rice etc etc.

Use a knife and fork to eat everything - even toast. Sounds silly, but it slows you down, so you will notice if you're getting full.

[Rouge]

If you have more than one food issue, or addiction do not try and conquer it all at once.

A wise woman said to me once... "How do you think a heroine addict would go if we told them, you can't have anymore heroine but you have to have it 3 times a day to survive."

So the best plan is to do everything slowly. Start with one habit and once you have chipped away at that one then start with the next. If you attack all at once you'll be left feeling deprived.

I swear this works, it's how I have done it and I haven't even felt the changes because they are gradual. If you were going to start exercising you wouldn't automatically just expect to run 4 k's a day... the same goes for habitual changes. They will last longer this way too because you won't feel the need to "fall off the wagon" because it is a way of life.

[MrsFabuloso]

Wow, thankyou everyone! These are all realistic things I can do for now

Well, it starts today. The plan of attack is:

*Slowly does it! If I need to have a bit of a sugar hit, I will have some diluted juice or cordial. I figure that's the easiest and best way to do it!
*Drink 2 litres of water
*2-3 serves of fruit and 4-5 of veggies (I might struggle with this a little, I don't have alot of room in my tummy any more! Yesterday I went all day with just a big breaky I stuffed into my tum until dinner!)
*No more junky stuff like chocolate or chips until I think I can handle just having a normal serving (rather than scoffing a whole block of chocolate!)
*Smaller portions (which won't be a problem! I have been eating less naturally as my stomach gets less room to expand anyway, lol!)
*More healthy protien like tuna, legumes/beans, low fat dairy, egg, nuts
*Cut out added sugar and butter! No more buttery toast or sugar in tea and coffee!

That's it for now. I don't want to overload myself and get frustratedif I don't manage it all. But these things are fairly easy to start with since some of them are happening naturally anyway, as with the smaller portions! I am also drinking more because the weather is heating up, eating more fruit because it's small and my tummy can manage it. I just have to cut the junk most importantly!
I can't exercise at the moment, it is getting way too hot out here and I am starting to swell terribly in the heat, plus I have some issues with my back pelvis and hips, so can't do much at all at themo! When I can manage it I will be walking or maybe swimming though. But that won't be for at least 3ish months!

[sloane]

i agree with the 'taking it slowly' advice.

i've been seeing a trainer & the training side is going pretty well but i haven't really been losing weight. for the last few weeks she's had me keeping a record of food & exercise & each week i cut something out of my diet. so far i've cut out things like soft drink (i only ever had diet softdrink, but there's just no nutritional value, you know?), chocolate (has killed me!), hot chips, white carbs & a few others. by doing it one thing a week i haven't felt so deprived & i am feeling so much healthier overall.

[krystals]

I agree with the 'take it slow'ers! Small changes are good changes!
Don't stress about low fat yoghurt- go with normal full fat yoghurt with cultures- it'll help you stay fuller for longer and give you a good protein hit at the same time!
Go BROWN! Brown bread, brown pasta, brown rice- all have better nutrients for you and your bub and will help you stay fuller....for longer!
Veggies as snacks are my life at the moment
Capsicum- especially red is a great healthy snack you can eat whilst boosting your metabolism (ever so slighty LOL)
I haven't gone off chocolate all together- I've switched to dark- means I don't eat so much of it because I don't like it AS much, but I still get a choccy hit

And I know it's easier said than done, but don't stress, you're growing a bubs and you'll be needing the energy to take care of one too- it's a long journey puytting the weight on, and it'll take just as long to take it off- but...you can do it!

hahaha... wrote that last part as a reminder to myself as well! LOL

[luna moth]

When you *do* indulge in something, make it something AWESOME. So if you have treat day on Thursday, for example, and this week you fancy chocolate cake as a treat, you need to make sure it is the thickest richest densest wickedest bestest ever chocolate cake. Not a stale vaguely cocoa flavoured piece of junk - you'll be left unsatisfied. Chips? Make it your favourite kind. Custard, ice cream, whatever it is, it has to be the bes knees.

Also, indulge at a time when you won't be interrupted. Take your time, and fully surround yourself with the experience. Drag it out for as long as you can - it's another 7 days until next treat day!

[little_mrs]

I only skimmed thru the other posts so dont know if this has already been said, but ALWAYS ALWAYS keep a water bottle with you. You will drink it without realising just coz it's right there! Refil it as soon as its empty, and keep ice cube trays stocked so you can always have cold water in it. On the days i have my water bottle on hand, i drink around 5L of water a day, if i dont have it i dont think i even reach 2L, and the water will keep you full between meals and give you loads more energy - it's mostly oxygen!!!

Good luck to both you and your other half

[Sopdet]

Redue the size of your plate, I actually eat off a small plate, I also put my cutlery down between mouthfuls.

We eat our meals around the "wrong" way, huge breakfast, medium sized lunch, dinner is small and eaten early.

[Mum2Romone]

I didn't have time to read the previous replies but what helped me go from75kg to 50kg was making my meals smaller, the meat portion only the size of my hand ( that's all that is recommended per meal ) and five small meals a day rather than three big ones,,,, also don't eat after 8pm, if you go to bed late or 7pm if you go to bed early....

Best of luck, it's always hard but you just have to stick with it

[Nettie]

M2R - do you mean the size of your palm or the hand with the fingers for the size of meat?

I too was going to say don't eat after 8pm. Another tip is to get enough sleep - it makes a difference to your ability to focus and stay strong.

One other tip is to eat what you actually feel like eating (not just what's convenient) and enjoy every mouthful. Only eat when you're hungry - not at 'mealtimes'. Good thread!