trying to loose weight for 15 years

any more tips on eating better for working mom?

i need easy- no time to cook meals and i like to eat it seems to "take a break" even if not hungry also when stressed and to celebrate EVERYTHING ... anyway to handle these bad habits?

Re: trying to loose weight for 15 years

Have you tried Weight Watchers at all?

I have been trying to lose weight for SO long, and nothing ever worked...I would lose weight, and then gain it all back on the weekends. I joined Weight Watchers two weeks ago, and I'm really happy so far.

I don't feel like I can eat only certain foods, which I think is a huge help. If I want to have ice cream or something once in awhile, I can b/c of the extra points. I find the point system to be extremely helpful!

Re: trying to loose weight for 15 years

I can totally relate to what you're saying. I used to commute to the city and work long hours, which made weeknight dinners a challenge. And now as a real estate agent, I sometimes work in the evenings. So I've learned through trial and error what works and what doesn't, and I am still learning!

I find planning -- in terms of meals and food shopping -- really helps. If I stock my fridge and kitchen with healthy, portion controlled foods that are good for me, than I am less likely to reach for something like cookies or chips when I am hungry.

You say you don't cook/don't have time, so do you mostly eat out or have take out, or do you do eat at home, but like to eat frozen meals and stuff like that versus cooking from scratch? Maybe you could try to plan on the weekends, if you have time, to have things on hand for weeknight dinners that you can eat at home and that you can make/assemble yourself. It can be as easy as cooking and shredding some chicken breasts on the weekend to use in wraps, salads, etc. throughout the week. Or making a big pot of soup or healthy chili that you can reheat for dinner. Same with breakfasts - maybe you can make a batch of hard-boiled eggs to use for breakfasts and even snacks during the week. And there are tons of "overnight refrigerator oatmeal" recipes online that you can assemble the night before and then just grab and go in the morning. For side dishes, I try to buy things like frozen veggies that can be steamed in their bag, quick cooking brown rice, or potatoes/sweet potatoes I can use to make baked potatoes in the microwave for quick side dishes. Even if you resort to a frozen dinner, maybe add a bag of steamed veggies or a side salad to make it more filling. Planning a bit of a time investment over the weekend but saves so much time (and money, too!) during the week.

I find it helps to think in terms of what you CAN eat rather than what you can't. So find things you like that are relatively good for you and fit into your diet plan, and focus on those things. Even if some things can't be enjoyed every day or in huge portions, you can still have them from time to time and/or in limited quantities. For example, I love wine and cheese. But now, I've decided to limit my wine consumption to weekends or social occasions (and not have it at home, with dinner every night, etc.). And I often have a small portion of cheese - like a string cheese or a lite Babybell round - with fruit for a snack during the week! And maybe you can make some easy switches that would lead to results - like switching to skim milk or cutting out a soda, or something like that, to get you started (if it seems overwhelming).

As far as rewarding yourself by taking a break with food, maybe you can try to think of other ways to relax that don't involve food (watching a show you like, reading a fun magazine or book, taking a walk, getting a mani, etc.) OR try to think of lower calorie ways to treat yourself. You can relax with a cup of tea or coffee or hot chocolate with one cookie or one piece of chocolate, and savor it. Portion out what you will have and then stick to that portion, rather than eating out of a box or bag. And try not to eat while you are doing something else, which can lead to mindless eating... try to focus on your food when you do eat.

As Jen suggested, I think a program like WW, or even something like MyFitnessPal.com, can be great for someone wanting to change their eating habits. There is a lot of information to be gleaned (even just online) about portion sizes, what to eat to have a balanced diet, recipe ideas, and supportive message boards. You might want to check something like that out.

Most of all - I think when you are trying to lose weight, you can't be a perfectionist. We all have off meals or off days when it's impossible to stick to the eating plan. Life happens. But we can't use that as an excuse to say, "ok - I had a huge dinner, may as well just eat what I want going forward." I try to take a long-term view of weight loss (it's what we do most of the time that matters, not just one meal or one day) and just get back on track the next meal, next day, whenever.

Re: trying to loose weight for 15 years

Re: trying to loose weight for 15 years

Thank you so much for all your ideas and tips. I have tried weight watchers but always ate way more than the points allowed- I still lost 10 lbs but that was it.

Re: trying to loose weight for 15 years