WEIGHT LOSS FOR MILITARY SPOUSE HOMECOMING

[Militarywife01]

Good Morning. I'm contacting you today because I'm looking for understandings on proper weight loss.

I'm a 27 y/o mother of a handsome 12 y/o son. Married for 7 wonderful years to active duty husband who's away defending this country. This is something I should have been doing for months already BUT TIME IS TICKING! JUNE 25 is only 2 months away!

Height:5'3
Weight:188
Neck:11 in
Waist:34
Hips:47
Arms:13

As you can tell I'm a "peach" shape but carry the weight well, lol. goal is to get back to 155-160 range I'm used to.

daily intake is:

Breakfast: Right Size Smoothie, 2-16 oz bottles of eater

Lunch: Ceaser Side Salad, 2-16 oz bottles of water

Dinner: Right Size Smoothie, 2-16oz bottles of water

daily intake is limited to >500 calories a day. I'm also medicating myself with HCG ( 2-oral drops 3x a day). With shakes I use 2% milk bc everything is "0" on fat, cal, etc.

workout is at 2-a-days:

Cardio
Run:30mins (30 sec break if needed)
Walk:40mins at 6-10 incline/3.8-4.0 speed
Situps:100
Pushup Jacks:10x5 (KILLER)

I do this twice a day!!!!! So one workout I burn in cardio 700-800 calories, not calculating Situps or pushup jacks.

** Question**
AM I GOUNG ABOUT THIS RIGHT TO LOSE 30 lbs in 2 months???

[Boss Man]

Hi there .
Are you saying your caloric intake is limited to 500 calories a day or less. If so why, is it the HCG?

500 calories a day will not help you lose weight, except perhaps cause thinning bones and muscle loss and as 1lb of muscle can help to burn 45-50 added calories. losing it could lead to increased Fat storage, plus low calorie diets encourage a "starvation" mode, where you end up holding onto Fat, because the body will not sacrifice it.

Also if you are getting too low a caloric diet, you may be missing out on enough nutrition to keep bones strong and well, which includes things like Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vit D, Vit K2, Vit C, Copper etc etc.

If you get Bones that are thinning, (Osteopenia), exercise impact could increase the risk of fractures, because the tolerance levels of a bone or joint, might be substandard, in relation to levels of impact at or above a certain strength.

Also those Smoothies look on appearances like your typical below standard product, where they give you silly caloric amounts, ramp the product up with Micronutrients and then brag about the Micros on the packaging. One problem is, that drinking something with 90-100 calories in it, (if indeed these Right Size things do have that many), could just encourage snacking or hunger pangs, because 100 calories is often not enough, to help promote satiety for a decent timespan between meals, I.E. 2.5-3 hours, particularly if the product is low on Carbs or Protein, because Protein fills you up and Carbs can help to utilise Protein.

I admit though I didn't look at the specifics on those shakes, because it would have involved me having to download a PDF document, though I do like the company linking to Adobes site, to download Acrobat reader and actually giving the information fairly readily, instead of making it difficult to know the facts.

Though I would stil lbe interested to know why your calories are restricted .

[Militarywife01]

Hi! Thanks so so much for responding....

Ok, the reason for the low caloric intake is yes, bc of the HCG. HCG is a new weight loss program that requires less than 500 daily caloric intake. They suggest if hunger arises to eat apples or various acidic fruits to help promote more fat loss.

metabolism is so off the wall to where I can workout in the morning before work ( listed workouts) go to work and not feel hungry until maybe 9-10am. This is where the confusion in metabolism starts. The Right Size smoothie suggest 8-12 oz of their product mixed with skim milk and water. I mix 8-12 oz with 2% milk bc it's labeled at zero fat and so on. So when I drink it, I can only consume 4oz at a time. Lunch comes at 1:00 and I'm not hungry, actually still full from the 4oz. So I force myself to finish the remaining 4oz then. So for breakfast and lunch I will then have only consumed 100 cal. When I get off I go back to the gym do another vigerous workout (as listed) burning more calories. Dinner comes ANC son supports what I'm trying to do so he's even suggested he eats before I get home to avoid temptation of cheating. So I get home and by this time I'm ready to attack the fridge! LITTERALLY!!! LOL! But what saves me is I cleared ALL carbs and fat, snacks, all unhealthy foods out the house. I font remember the last time I had a cookie or chip let alone cereal. IM TERRIFIED OF CEREAL DUE TO SUGAR CONTENT. Kind of sound backwards when 1 protein shake has a days worth of sugar in it. So I'm honestly guessing that's what kills craving for snacks bc the shakes are so sweet. The reason I went back to Right Size is bc 2yrs ago I drunk it for a month and lost 30 lbs in one month. But to keep it real... As soon as we were restationed to our current location the weight fell on me so fast I gained 30 lbs + 7 lbs extra in 3 MONTHS!!!! So when I stepped on the scale I'm like HECK NO THIS IS WRONG! I STARTED BLAMING EVERYONE EVEN THE PRESIDENT ON WHY I GAINED!!! LOL! LOL! But at the end of the day it was the crash diet.

What I'm doing differently this time is only substituting 2 meals with it and salad. 2yrs ago I ate no food just the shake 3x a day. But this time I'm doing 2 meals with a salad. Today I tried to increase the salad size and added sum lean turkey only a palm full (deck of cards) plus croutons. I normally have a saucer size salad only lettace, caesar cheese, and ceaser dressing. I choose ceaser bc I hate ranch and another dressing. I'm Cuban so I go for spicy if I can, wink! Lol!

But honestly is the workout effective to lose the 25-30? Hubby loves the thickness in hips but big picture HE'S NOT THE ONE SQUEEZING IN JEANS, SUCKING IN THE POOCH, and trying to be sexy while unhealthy. He'll be surprised I'll be back to what I was when we were stationed here in MD, but he also loves a little something to hold on to. LOL! If I were to upload pics you will see I don't look a bit bigger than 170. I have a small waist but thighs and hips are shapely but arent the OMG you might usually see in a women at weight.

A trainer suggested intake should be 1200-1400 due to the EXTREAM workout I've been doing the last 2 weeks. In 2weeks hips went from 52 to 47. Also two weeks ago I weighed 197. FAT! But agian metabolism won't support 1200-1400 cal, I'll be fat agian. Its hard being a women bc our bodies are complicated just like our daily decisions, we go left knowing we should have went right! Lol! Lol! But we mean well! Lol!

If you have suggestions don't hold back I'm open to anything. Count down ends June 25 when I'm picking him up from homecoming! I can't wait! Lol!

[Boss Man]

I'm still a bit confused on the HCG. You say you wee taking 1-2 drops a day, which sounds like a medication or supplement, then you say it's a weight loss programme, which sounds more like a dietry thing.

I now suspect it's one of those things a bit like a Isagenix. Something that encourages bizarre use of liquids and chemicals for about 14 days, so you lose around 10-15 lbs, mostly from water weight and supposedly to you.

30lbs in a month at the time was too much. Most people who are morbidly obese could get away with 4lbs of FAT a week, any additional weight being water and possibly muscle, however some people will lose weight moreso in the first 1-3 weeks of a dietry change, because they are shedding excess water, then they often taper off and stabilise.

If the HCG is like Isagenix I'd forget it. Those things are often expensive and hit and miss, but when you have people like Monica Brant endorsing them, they can look tempting.

Sedentary females need around 1,800 calories a day, but you could add another 300-400 for exercise, that is just normal standard exercise, not endurance type training for competitions.

Gaining muscle would as stated before, help to burn fat, but a good efficient exercise regime with Cardio and Weights will work anyway, so you could eat the kind of calories I suggest and be fine. You might possibly gain a little weight, for the first 1-2 weeks, as the body adjusted, but the body would get used to the calories and then hopefully losses would kick in if they didn't from week one .

This below diet plan was given to someone just recently and I think it will work okay for you as well, but it is an example and not something you have to do unless you want to.


Breakfast

Option 1.

Bowl of Whole-grain Cereal + 3 Scrambled Egg Whites + 1 Yolk.

Option 2.

Portion of Chopped Chicken + Apple. Give the Apple 10-15 minutes to improve digestion, then eat the Chicken.


Snack.
Option 1.

Portion of Low Fat Cheese.

Option 2.

Portion of Peanuts + some Berries, (same advice on the fruit).


Lunch

Option 1.

Ham Sandwhich, which could include things like Tomato, Cumber, Lettuce, Mustard etc etc.

Option 2.

Bowl of Soup. Chicken and Mushroom, Chicken, Oxtail or Pea and Ham would be good for the Protein content as well.


Snack

Option 1.

Small portion of Turkey and Nut Yoghurt.

Option 2.

A couple of Chicken Sandwhiches made with Wheat or Rye Crackers. Could include things like Lettuce, Cucumber, Tomatos etc etc. Just make sure the Crackers are low Salt.


Dinner

Option 1.

Steak and Mashed Potato

Option 2.

Pork Stir-fry, with things like Mushooms, sliced Peppers, Peas, Rice and Mini Corn Cobs, so whatever you want with the Pork from those and / or your own choices.


Snack

Option 1.

Beans on Toast

Option 2.

Small Bowl of Whole-grain Cereal and some chopped Ham.

[PandorasVise]

Hi I have a husband overseas serving now too, He will be back in august. I have been heavy and then lost the weight. Been on every diet known to mankind.

Best Diet that really works!
First thing, EAT FOOD!! for one thing you will tire of those shakes, your body will rebel and send out starvation signals that will change your metabolism making you store fat because your bodys system will think there is a famine.

Second thing, chew slowly. Like really weirdly slow. At first it feels weird but try to chew every bite of food at least 20 times. Really taste your food, enjoying it, savoring it

Third, eat with no distractions. No tv, no radio, eat at the table. Have conversations with that awesome 12 year old, i have one of those too, and they are really funny on their views about life and politics.

Forth really get in tuned with your body. In between each bite ask yourself, are you still hungry. Remember this isnt a question of being full but a question of being hungry, there is a difference. When you are not hungry anymore, put away your food. If you are not sure, put away your food. You can always reheat it if you are hungry.

If you think you are hungry, but 'know that you shouldn't be, like you just ate an hour ago, drink water. Most people get the majority of their fluids from their food. You may be dehydrated and the body is sending you a confused signal. If you are still hungry 15 or 20 minutes after a tall glass, then eat something.

Try to choose the best quality food that you can afford, and try new things. Use lunch size plates, 8 to 9 inches because we eat with our eyes. Eat your veggies.

Exercise
I am a proponent of women weight lifting. Muscle burns fat and if you want to get the maximum benifit, lift heavy weights. 3X a week

for cardio, if you have something you like do it. If you really aren't into the whole aerobic video thing though try playing. Take up tennis, vollyball, basketball or (like me) karate. make it a social experience and you will want to go again and again.

Best weight lifting exercise- pick up your scale and toss it out. try only weighing yourself once a month somewhere other than your home. Those numbers in the morning are bad for the selfesteem


IMHO you are hurting your metabolosm with you low calories. I ahve so totally been there and done that. Did you know that under 1500 calories is considered semi-starvation? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_ ... Experiment" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for 24 weeks participants of this starvation experiment were served just over 1500 calories and some of them went freaking nuts, one even cut off three of his own fingers with an ax all because the brain wasnt getting the proper nutrition.

Like I said I have done those types of diets in the past and when you go from 500 - 600 calories a day to 1600, you do gain a little weight but your body will start burning calories like it should after a while.

I try not to throw befores and afters around too much but I will today. I have totally been there http://www.kihonwasa.com/2010/07/fat-story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;