I want to fit in my pants again!

Kate2dance

I was going to post on the "Getting in Shape" board, but sometimes it scares me so I am going to throw this out to all the nice Columbus brides

Ok, so a while back I posted something about trying Advocare. I hesitated because I think stuff like that can be kind of a scam. Anyways, my bridesmaid's mother sells is (i've known this family for YEARS) and she pretty much talked me into paying $80 to sell it. I do get $50 of product so I guess that's a good thing. I LOVE the "Spark" drink so much. I have not had a soda in 4 days (which is SO weird for me). But other than that, I am terrified to try this Herbal Cleanse thing. I have a pair of jeans I want to fit into for our engagement photos on the 11th, and everyone keeps saying the Herbal Cleanse will allow me to drop weight fast, but I don't know how safe it is. With this 10 day cleanse, you literally eat fruits and veggies and chicken (that's it) and drink nasty powder stuff and take SEVEN pills a day. I have to wonder if you lose weight because you are literally eating fruits and veggies. Yeah, if I cut out soda, chips, and cookies I am sure I will lose a few pounds. So, do any of you have experience with this stuff? I also am not a fan of how HUGE the pills are... like horse pills. I can barely take a Tylenol! I want to continue taking Spark because I feel it has kicked my soda habit, but I don't know about popping pills all the time. Plus it's SO expensive. Sorry... I am rambling. LOL Just wanted your opinions

GApeachOH

First, let me say that I studied nutrition and diets in school. It was short lived, but I have a basic knowledge. I do not claim to be an expert, but I lost a ton of weight as well.
I do not believe that supplements, unless perscribed by a doctor, are good for you. A lot of them claim to pull the weight off, but when you stop taking/drinking the supplement, the weight comes back on and sometimes you add more. You are better off to work out on a daily basis. 30 mins of cardio at the least- walking for 30 mins, running, etc. If you can do pushups, and crunches, do those too.
Yes, cut out pop. Cut down on sweets. You will not lose weight if you completely deprive your body of the things it needs.
I lost 40 pounds. It took a year and a half, but I did it. I have regained 10 of it and am working to get it back off.
I am eating better, salads, whole fruits and vegetables. Lots of whole grains. Fat free dairy. And, I have one naughty thing a day- cookies or chips or candy. Its what keeps me going.
I say screw it to those supplements and do weight loss the old fashion way.
Exercise and eat better.
Check out the food pyramid website for good tips and what you should eat daily. It can do a menu for you for a week. Or, it could, not sure if it can anymore.

Kate2dance

Thanks!! Yeah, that is what my FI said, too. He was like, "Ok, so you basically go on a diet with the Herbal Cleanse... you are probably losing weight because you are on a diet, not because of those pills." Definitely makes sense. I also put salt on practically everything... if I stop doing that, I will probably lose some of the bloating! I definitely did not want to start the cleanse without talking to a doctor. Advocare is supposed to have some of the best doctors around on their team, but if it's SO good, why don't all doctors around the world put their patients on it? And why don't they just sell it in stores like other supplements? I think so many people want a quick fix... I wanted that, too, but I don't think that is healthy. Also, I believe you can overdose on vitamins and supplements... I am a pretty small girl and I feel taking 7 huge pills a day is excessive. The last thing I want is to do something wrong and end up in the hospital! 

GApeachOH

The problem, is some of these "best doctors around" are paid money to say these things. The reason it isn't sold in stores is because it's either not approced by the FDA, has horrible side effects, can't get a patent or has something illegal in it.
My boss drinks this stuff called Xango. (like zango) It is the entire mangosteen, rind and all, ground up and made into a drink. You are supposed to drink two ouces of it every 2 hours. It's $80 for like 2 litres.
I read the ingredients and its all preservatives. Citric acid, and things like that. It's supposed to be natrually occuring, but its not. It also says right on the bottle that it is for improving joint tension. Not curing cancer.
A lot of the weight loss pills you see around now can cause bigger problems than they say. Blood clots, cardiac arrest and strokes. Premature death. Ulcers and kidney/liver failure. They can kill your body before you even get to use it. It also can harm your firtility. Not something I would want to play with.
My vote, just start excerising. Unfortunately, there is not "quick cure." Americans want instant satisfaction, and that just doesn't happen. Weight loss is something that has to be fought for and is hard to do.
If you set your mind to it though, you could lose it.
You should only average about a pound per week. No more than 2.
And, unless monitered by a doctor, 2 or more is bad for your body.
Definitely cut the salt. Go for a salt alternative. OR, Mrs. Dash. Those products are salt-free and MSG-free. They taste GREAT on everything. So many options. Eat one piece of fruit a day and two vegetables. Give yourself some dip if you need it. Drink a TON of water. Like, a gallon a day is about what I averaged. It sounds like a lot, but 8 glasses of water will be about that amount.
And, walking and running will help too.
Having an accountability partner is always good too.

KellyRVT

You're right, they will crucify you on that board for even suggesting anything other than proper diet and exercise. While they may be right, I don't think it's very practical to not discuss fad diets. People are going to do them anyway, so they may as well share their experiences with others and let them decide if they want to try it. JMHO. 

I'm sure it will work since you're drastically cutting your sodium and calorie intake. If you just want to fit into the jeans real quick then as long as you're taking a multi-vitamin and it's short term it will probably be fine (not an expert either). The issue is going to be what happens when you start eating normal again. You could easily gain it all back in a matter of days. 

Fad diets work in the short term, but not long term. Healthy diets and exercise are great lifestyle changes to make. I can certainly appreciate wanting to drop a few pounds quickly though when it comes to it. I know a lot of people that do the Master Cleanse once a year, which sounds similar. It's tough to do and if you try it make sure you take a multi-vitamin so you aren't throwing your physiology into a tailspin all around. 

Be careful regardless of what you try, and if you start feeling sick or faint stop ASAP. 

Good luck! Hope they end up fitting! Oh, and never underestimate the power of Spanx! 

Combs132

This post really touches home with me - I am a Physical Therapy grad student and my undergrad was in "Health Sciences" so of course I am surrounded by health, nutrition, exercise, etc.  My trick is 5-6 smaller meals a day - plus exercise!  But however you choose to go about it, good luck getting into your pants, but please remember you are gorgeous anywas, and I am sure your FI would agree that you are the most beautiful girl in the world just as you are.

Kate2dance

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_ohio-columbus_want-fit-pants-again?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:112Discussion:1c16d7be-0f4b-413a-a11e-b2a0abbc0139Post:f10ba3a7-6ea5-4657-99a4-a2244b28c72d">Re: I want to fit in my pants again!</a>:
[QUOTE]This post really touches home with me - I am a Physical Therapy grad student and my undergrad was in "Health Sciences" so of course I am surrounded by health, nutrition, exercise, etc.  My trick is 5-6 smaller meals a day - plus exercise!  But however you choose to go about it, good luck getting into your pants, but please remember you are gorgeous anywas, and I am sure your FI would agree that you are the most beautiful girl in the world just as you are.
Posted by Combs132[/QUOTE]

<div>Aw, thanks!! My FI does encourage me... I can be down on myself about it and he always stops me. I used to be 5'4 and about 105 pounds if not a little less. I wasn't anerexic-looking at all... I was a ballet dancer and just had a really toned body. Now I am 29 and my size 1 and 2 pants have turned into size 6. I know that's not a bad things because metabolism slows as we get older, but I know it's also not healthy for me to have gained so much weight in my mid-section that fast. I just recently left my office job up in Waldo, OH and after 4 years of doing that I am pretty sure that's where most of the weight gain came from. My boss would literally stock his fridge with Mt. Dew and bring me boxes of snacks. I never had the will power to say no! Now I am trying to get healthier... I still don't have a job here in Columbus and I am getting super discouraged so of course I want to snack to make myself feel better. I am trying to use the time I don't have a job to work out and feel better, but it's not brining in any money for bills! :( A big bag of Doritos should do the trick! hehe Just kidding. </div>