HELP!!! I have to shed 20 pounds ASAP!!!

@marguicha (214294)
Chile
April 25, 2009 5:31pm CST
I knew I was overweight. But that was not the reson I went to the doctor. My back hurts too much and I had back surgery years ago PLUS I´m not that young anymore. The doctor examined me, did some tests, saw my cholesterol levels and all that and pronounced me FAT!!! She said everything would be fine if I lost the 20 pounds I put on when I quit smoking. She also said that a diet was all I needed. No pills, no nothing. So: Can you give me ideas on healthy eating so that I can get last years jeans to fit again? Thanks for helping
3 people like this
9 responses
@B3lla86 (101)
• United States
26 Apr 09
I can actually give you a couple of really simple tips to follow... First, I don't know how much water you drink on a daily basis, but water intake is a big one. The more water you drink the more toxins your body will flush out. Also, if you are big on eating starches a good thing to do is to substitute regular pasta for whole wheat pasta and regular potatoes with sweet potatoes. They are an amazing vegetable. Here is a site that will tell you all about them: http://plantanswers.tamu.edu/vegetables/sweetpotato.html Basically if you eat more whole grains, drink lots of water, and substitute some of your starches then you should lose the weight in no time.
@marguicha (214294)
• Chile
21 May 09
I´m doing that. Changed white bread for the other and I´m eating little bread. I don´t eat so much pasta: I´m more a potato and rice eater but not that much either. I should take walks instead of sitting all day at the computer. And I´ll try to remember your advise about more water. Thanks
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
26 Apr 09
Plan your meals around vegetables (preferably green leafy ones, not potatoes and corn). Veggies should take up 3/4 of your plate, with meat being simply a side dish. You need to eat healthy snacks between meals, such as fruit. Stay away from sugar and white foods (white rice, bread, pasta, potatoes). Eliminate regular soda and drink diet versions or water instead. And walk at least 30 minutes per day at a brisk pace. It'll come off. But don't expect it to happen quickly. The most anyone can lose in a healthy manner is 2 pounds per week.
@B3lla86 (101)
• United States
26 Apr 09
Actually I don't know who told you that diet sodas were healthier, but they aren't. You ask any doctor that knows anything about nutrition and they will tell you that one regular soda is far better than 20 diet sodas. The best thing to do is to drink water or some kind of non-carbonated drink, such as tea or juice. I also don't know who told you that 2 pounds a week is all that can be healthy to lose. Start with working on your foods first, then add in the exercise. Start with one or two times a week and then increase from there. Just remember to make sure that you are eating your fiber and save your carbs for the meal right before you exercise because it will give you the energy you need.
1 person likes this
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
26 Apr 09
Of course water is a better idea than soda anytime, but personally, I feel that drinking a little artificial sweetener is far better than drinking a cup of sugar water. I don't know who told you juice is healthy. It's better than other beverages out there, certainly. But you're always better off eating the actual fruit than drinking juice. One glass of juice can contain several servings of fruit so you're getting all of the fructose, but none of the fiber that comes from the actual fruit. And high amounts of fructose without the added benefit of fiber are linked to the growing trends of diabetes, especially in children. And many of the juices marketed out there are actually contain very little in the way of real fruit juice. Many sources say that 2 pounds per week is healthy. The most anyone can lose in a week is 2 pounds of body fat. If a person loses more than that, they're losing water and lean muscle tissue. I tend to tell people this bit because most people don't want to lose in a healthy manner and think they should be able to lose 20 pounds in two weeks, and that's not healthy, nor realistic. I lost over 100 pounds 3 years ago, so I kind of know what I'm talking about here.
@B3lla86 (101)
• United States
26 Apr 09
Well congrats on the weight loss. I have never been over weight so I can't tell you how hard or easy it is. However, I do have diabetes. I have had it since I was about 4. I am only really going by the diet that I basically stick to. I work out or run everyday, I eat healthy, and I weigh 126 lbs. I don't eat any red meat, but I didn't include that because realistically there are a lot of people that do, and asking them not to... well sometimes they make it seem like the end of the world LOL. Anyway, have a good day!
@anetteh (3590)
• Sweden
26 Apr 09
Hi marguicha, wow, you stoped smoking..god for you...but the bad habbit of eating went on istead wich is the side effect of stop smoking. I am a smoker and I am also overweight to. I am reducing my smoking habbits with the help of mylot. Mylot keeps my fingers busy...lol. When it comes to the eating habbits....well, I try to eat three meals a day...breakfast, luch, and dinner and in the between I take snacks...but not bad snacks, I eat fruits...I try to combine my eating with lot of fruits and vegetable. I make shore I am drinking a put of water a day. Like five glasses or something. You do not only need to eat healty you also need exersising...and power walking with sticks are really god since you use hole bodey and that is a fat burner. Hope you find this useful and god luck.
• Philippines
26 Apr 09
hmmmmmm. Well, lessen the eat of carbohydrates and keep drinking water. remember to exercise every morning. you can jog for at least 30 minutes a day that can burn your calories.am not young anymore either but strict diet is necessary for you to loose weight. don't worry if your determined you'll loose weight in no time.
@marguicha (214294)
• Chile
21 May 09
I hate being old!!!When I was young I could eat lots and was skinny. If I could make myself take walks everyday it would be wonderful! Thanks for sharing
• United States
26 Apr 09
Hey! I lost around 40 pounds, but it was because I was sick and could not eat. My struggle came when I got better...trying to keep it off. First, I would say you have to find the right combination for you with your eating habits and activities. To start out, just do more than you are doing. As you begin to feel better, you'll be able to do more. On eating, I have found that it is easiest for me (maybe not everyone else..) to eat 6 small meals a day. After I eat I won't let myself eat for at least 2 hours. that's not usually too terribly long to watch the clock! I try to eat lots of fruits and veggies and definetly protien. I also limit my fats to only good fats. (avocados, nuts) You may have to try several dfferent systems until you find what works for you and helps you reach your goal!
@jedopi (401)
• Canada
25 Jun 09
The only thing that I can suggest is to cut back on the fats and carbs and move more. Eating too many starchy foods will be stored as fat, as well as too much sugar. Fats are obviously fat from beginning to end. The best things to have are fruits and veggies of all kinds and low fat protein. The best thing to do of course is to work off whatever it is that you do eat.
@Sissygrl (10912)
• Canada
26 Apr 09
well you could even everything out without giving up too much of the foods you like.. just cut out some of the really fattening foods you like.. and keep a few of the ones you enjoy, but only eat them as a treat say at the the end of the week.. and i know you said your back hurts, not sure if you can do any fitness activities, but i always enjoy a good walk especially since teh weather is getting very nice and warm out, and there is no slippery ice to break my neck on now!! Crunchy things are always good. like carrots sticks, the baby carrots are much more tastier and less work (no peeling)!!! celery.. ew.. um.. cook with pam instead of butter.. no fried foods. or my weakness.. chocolate!! ahaha boo.
@maximax8 (31055)
• United Kingdom
26 Apr 09
You don't look overweight to me. However your doctor wants you to become slimmer for health reasons. I suggest that you look at food packaging to see the fat content. I think you could eat salads, other vegetables and fruit dishes. I love to eat grapefruit at breakfast time and a cereal. I drink pure fruit juice with no added sugar. I like to eat strawberries and raspberries. Banana slices with passion fruit I find delicious. I suggest exercise like walking, swimming and cycling. Good luck my friend.
• United States
26 Apr 09
Hello Friend, I also gained some weight when I quit smoking and I struggled to lose it. I have to watch my cholesterol also. So what I found that worked best for me was to stop eating fating foods . I switched to tofu cheese and no longer eat dairy cheese. I drink rice milk instead of cow milk. Basically anything that has a lot of cholesterol I exchanged with similar types of food products that have very low or no cholesterol . Also eating no sugar or use a healthy sugar substitute will help you lose weight. Carbonated soda pop is bad to drink and I no longer drink this either.It is best to find a book about healthy low cholesterol recipes. Once you start watching you cholesterol intake you should naturally start losing weight.Also walking for exercise is good also. Good luck!