Diet!

KCLindgren · July 2013

Did you diet before your wedding (engaged girls, are you hoping to lose weight before your big day?)?

I have gained weight here and there in the past few years. Fiancé is my high school sweetheart and he loves me no matter what. BUT....I'd like to be thinner on my wedding day. I just feel chubby. We got engaged last month and i joined a gym last week. Fingers crossed! I've never been good with diets....

Anyone in a similar situation?

How many months to your wedding? What's your plan to get fit? Are you nervous about how you'll look?

SB1512 · July 2013

I did not "diet" before my wedding, but, I already lead a healthy eating and active lifestyle, so losing weight was not an issue for me. I have a background in exercise science and have always been interested in nutrition and healthy eating. I think it's great you joined a gym!

A couple pieces of advice: Once you start working out, and assuming you are doing fairly strenuous workouts, you will probably find yourself hungrier and wanting to eat everything in sight, so just make sure you are reaching for healthier option (a handful of almonds, carrots or celery with peanut butter, fruit, humus, etc). Pay attention to serving sizes too. Almonds for example, while a good snack choice, can also be very fattening.....but, a serving size is pretty big, about 28 nuts. I usually will eat half a serving and then something else (piece of fruit, or raw veggies).

Second: I'm a big believer that you shouldn't completely restrict yourself from foods you enjoy just because they are "bad" for you, because more likely than not you will end up falling off the diet wagon and binging on unhealthy food. Husband and I love ice cream for example, but we limit ourselves to only eating it twice a week (and we only have small cups). Satisfies the craving, but we aren't going nuts eating it everyday.

Third: If you gym offers group exercise classes that fit into your schedule, especially if you have never lifted weights before, go to them. After years of running and doing a lot of cardio, I discovered in the last few years that lifting weights has transformed my body in a way I like much better than running and doing the elliptical did. I still go to spinning classes because I love them, and I'll run 5Ks every few months, but for the most part, I only lift weights (which if you do circuits is a cardio workout!). I don't have crazy huge muscles, but I'm defined and toned, and think I look better now than I did when my main focus was cardio. If you have never lifted weights before, group exercise classes for lifting are a great start. You'll learn proper techniques and they can give you the confidence to lift on your own in the gym eventually. You'll also learn a variety of exercises for different body parts so it's easy to not get bored and stay motivated.

If you need any encouragement or advice, feel free to reach out! I love helping people with this kind of stuff.

KCLindgren · July 2013

Thanks so much!!! Those were some great ideas!
Yes, I've found myself hungrier than usual lately. I was wondering why! haha But you're right, it's because I've been exercising more. just making sure there are healthy foods available is important.
I've also found out that I really like salads!! I thought I hated them!

Thanks so much for the encouragement. I'm sure I'll need it in the next few months. I have a long way to go!

MoonlightSilver · July 2013

Definitely avoid dieting, but plan on life-long changes to how you eat and behave. You'll get a lot farther that way.

SB1512 · July 2013

Great! Salads are awesome and there are so many ways to create variety with them. You can add grilled chicken to them, steak, even shrimp. I also like to add a handful of craisins and almond slivers or some other type of nut topping. You can chop up a hard boiled egg to add too. Also, a light sprinkle of feta cheese goes a long way for additional taste and texture.

Aray82 · July 2013

SB1512 said:

I did not "diet" before my wedding, but, I already lead a healthy eating and active lifestyle, so losing weight was not an issue for me. I have a background in exercise science and have always been interested in nutrition and healthy eating. I think it's great you joined a gym!

A couple pieces of advice: Once you start working out, and assuming you are doing fairly strenuous workouts, you will probably find yourself hungrier and wanting to eat everything in sight, so just make sure you are reaching for healthier option (a handful of almonds, carrots or celery with peanut butter, fruit, humus, etc). Pay attention to serving sizes too. Almonds for example, while a good snack choice, can also be very fattening.....but, a serving size is pretty big, about 28 nuts. I usually will eat half a serving and then something else (piece of fruit, or raw veggies).

Second: I'm a big believer that you shouldn't completely restrict yourself from foods you enjoy just because they are "bad" for you, because more likely than not you will end up falling off the diet wagon and binging on unhealthy food. Husband and I love ice cream for example, but we limit ourselves to only eating it twice a week (and we only have small cups). Satisfies the craving, but we aren't going nuts eating it everyday.

Third: If you gym offers group exercise classes that fit into your schedule, especially if you have never lifted weights before, go to them. After years of running and doing a lot of cardio, I discovered in the last few years that lifting weights has transformed my body in a way I like much better than running and doing the elliptical did. I still go to spinning classes because I love them, and I'll run 5Ks every few months, but for the most part, I only lift weights (which if you do circuits is a cardio workout!). I don't have crazy huge muscles, but I'm defined and toned, and think I look better now than I did when my main focus was cardio. If you have never lifted weights before, group exercise classes for lifting are a great start. You'll learn proper techniques and they can give you the confidence to lift on your own in the gym eventually. You'll also learn a variety of exercises for different body parts so it's easy to not get bored and stay motivated.

If you need any encouragement or advice, feel free to reach out! I love helping people with this kind of stuff.

This. I started Pilates earlier this year to supplement running and I'm planning to add weight training. Plus, muscle burns more than fat when you are doing cardio--a win-win! I also still eat ice cream and in addition to measuring out a small serving size, I also find that I'm much more satisfied if I go for the full fat/Ben and Jerry's style when I do eat it. In general, I try to pick desserts and snacks that are more enjoyable to me and therefore "worth" the calories (i.e., dark chocolate-covered dried banana chips versus the E.L. Fudge cookies FI bought yesterday). Summer's been tough because there have been so many outdoor BBQs/ going away parties with delicious junk foods. I'll eat a snack or small meal before going so I'm not ravenous when and tempted to load up on chips when we arrive.

SB1512 · July 2013

Aray82 said:

SB1512 said:

I did not "diet" before my wedding, but, I already lead a healthy eating and active lifestyle, so losing weight was not an issue for me. I have a background in exercise science and have always been interested in nutrition and healthy eating. I think it's great you joined a gym!

A couple pieces of advice: Once you start working out, and assuming you are doing fairly strenuous workouts, you will probably find yourself hungrier and wanting to eat everything in sight, so just make sure you are reaching for healthier option (a handful of almonds, carrots or celery with peanut butter, fruit, humus, etc). Pay attention to serving sizes too. Almonds for example, while a good snack choice, can also be very fattening.....but, a serving size is pretty big, about 28 nuts. I usually will eat half a serving and then something else (piece of fruit, or raw veggies).

Second: I'm a big believer that you shouldn't completely restrict yourself from foods you enjoy just because they are "bad" for you, because more likely than not you will end up falling off the diet wagon and binging on unhealthy food. Husband and I love ice cream for example, but we limit ourselves to only eating it twice a week (and we only have small cups). Satisfies the craving, but we aren't going nuts eating it everyday.

Third: If you gym offers group exercise classes that fit into your schedule, especially if you have never lifted weights before, go to them. After years of running and doing a lot of cardio, I discovered in the last few years that lifting weights has transformed my body in a way I like much better than running and doing the elliptical did. I still go to spinning classes because I love them, and I'll run 5Ks every few months, but for the most part, I only lift weights (which if you do circuits is a cardio workout!). I don't have crazy huge muscles, but I'm defined and toned, and think I look better now than I did when my main focus was cardio. If you have never lifted weights before, group exercise classes for lifting are a great start. You'll learn proper techniques and they can give you the confidence to lift on your own in the gym eventually. You'll also learn a variety of exercises for different body parts so it's easy to not get bored and stay motivated.

If you need any encouragement or advice, feel free to reach out! I love helping people with this kind of stuff.

This. I started Pilates earlier this year to supplement running and I'm planning to add weight training. Plus, muscle burns more than fat when you are doing cardio--a win-win! I also still eat ice cream and in addition to measuring out a small serving size, I also find that I'm much more satisfied if I go for the full fat/Ben and Jerry's style when I do eat it. In general, I try to pick desserts and snacks that are more enjoyable to me and therefore "worth" the calories (i.e., dark chocolate-covered dried banana chips versus the E.L. Fudge cookies FI bought yesterday). Summer's been tough because there have been so many outdoor BBQs/ going away parties with delicious junk foods. I'll eat a snack or small meal before going so I'm not ravenous when and tempted to load up on chips when we arrive.

I also do this. And, another trick. I always eat a salad before my main meal. If possible, I'll try to eat my salad 10-15 minutes before dinner is ready, so that I can make sure my main meal is a correct portion size and that I'm not taking extra food than I need because I'm hungry. It's all about portion control. If you go out to a super fancy restaurant you might feel like you got ripped off because you pay a lot of money for a steak the size of your fist, and if you went to chilis you could get the same meal, but double the size for half the price. Well, what you get fed at a super fancy restaurant is the correct portion, and chilis gives you way more than necessary.

Also, while paying attention to calories and fat on a food label is important, one of the first things I look at is the sugar content, since too much sugar can definitely aid in packing on the pounds. And often, things that are labeled no fat, or low fat are actually loaded up with sugar to improve the taste so they are not necessary a healthier option. I advocate eating real food rather than processed foods as much as possible, but I know sometimes when you're on the go or rushing between meetings at work, etc, you have to grab something prepackaged and quick. So, just make sure you check the label on packaged foods first.

SB1512 · July 2013

Aray82 said:

SB1512 said:

I did not "diet" before my wedding, but, I already lead a healthy eating and active lifestyle, so losing weight was not an issue for me. I have a background in exercise science and have always been interested in nutrition and healthy eating. I think it's great you joined a gym!

A couple pieces of advice: Once you start working out, and assuming you are doing fairly strenuous workouts, you will probably find yourself hungrier and wanting to eat everything in sight, so just make sure you are reaching for healthier option (a handful of almonds, carrots or celery with peanut butter, fruit, humus, etc). Pay attention to serving sizes too. Almonds for example, while a good snack choice, can also be very fattening.....but, a serving size is pretty big, about 28 nuts. I usually will eat half a serving and then something else (piece of fruit, or raw veggies).

Second: I'm a big believer that you shouldn't completely restrict yourself from foods you enjoy just because they are "bad" for you, because more likely than not you will end up falling off the diet wagon and binging on unhealthy food. Husband and I love ice cream for example, but we limit ourselves to only eating it twice a week (and we only have small cups). Satisfies the craving, but we aren't going nuts eating it everyday.

Third: If you gym offers group exercise classes that fit into your schedule, especially if you have never lifted weights before, go to them. After years of running and doing a lot of cardio, I discovered in the last few years that lifting weights has transformed my body in a way I like much better than running and doing the elliptical did. I still go to spinning classes because I love them, and I'll run 5Ks every few months, but for the most part, I only lift weights (which if you do circuits is a cardio workout!). I don't have crazy huge muscles, but I'm defined and toned, and think I look better now than I did when my main focus was cardio. If you have never lifted weights before, group exercise classes for lifting are a great start. You'll learn proper techniques and they can give you the confidence to lift on your own in the gym eventually. You'll also learn a variety of exercises for different body parts so it's easy to not get bored and stay motivated.

If you need any encouragement or advice, feel free to reach out! I love helping people with this kind of stuff.

This. I started Pilates earlier this year to supplement running and I'm planning to add weight training. Plus, muscle burns more than fat when you are doing cardio--a win-win! I also still eat ice cream and in addition to measuring out a small serving size, I also find that I'm much more satisfied if I go for the full fat/Ben and Jerry's style when I do eat it. In general, I try to pick desserts and snacks that are more enjoyable to me and therefore "worth" the calories (i.e., dark chocolate-covered dried banana chips versus the E.L. Fudge cookies FI bought yesterday). Summer's been tough because there have been so many outdoor BBQs/ going away parties with delicious junk foods. I'll eat a snack or small meal before going so I'm not ravenous when and tempted to load up on chips when we arrive.

I also do this. And, another trick. I always eat a salad before my main meal. If possible, I'll try to eat my salad 10-15 minutes before dinner is ready, so that I can make sure my main meal is a correct portion size and that I'm not taking extra food than I need because I'm hungry. It's all about portion control. If you go out to a super fancy restaurant you might feel like you got ripped off because you pay a lot of money for a steak the size of your fist, and if you went to chilis you could get the same meal, but double the size for half the price. Well, what you get fed at a super fancy restaurant is the correct portion, and chilis gives you way more than necessary.

Also, while paying attention to calories and fat on a food label is important, one of the first things I look at is the sugar content, since too much sugar can definitely aid in packing on the pounds. And often, things that are labeled no fat, or low fat are actually loaded up with sugar to improve the taste so they are not necessary a healthier option. I advocate eating real food rather than processed foods as much as possible, but I know sometimes when you're on the go or rushing between meetings at work, etc, you have to grab something prepackaged and quick. So, just make sure you check the label on packaged foods first.

[Deleted User] · July 2013

I'd like to lose a few inches off my middle and tone up a little.

I do zumba twice a week and my job is exceptionally physical, my problem is that when I am busy or stressed, my diet goes to crap.

I need to exercise good habits and self control more than I need to exercise my body-- I still eat like a teenager sometimes. =(

It's not that I don't like healthy foods, I just hate cooking and when I am busy, my go-to is the bad stuff.

Diet!

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