Ms PatriYacht
Charter Member
I probably have the slowest metabolism on the planet, I lost 30 lbs last year which took about 5 months. I would like to loose 10 to 15 more, however since Nov. I have gained and lost the same 4 lbs, so I am at a standstill. I exercise constantly, I am at the gym for at least 1.5 hours 5 to 6 days a week. I go very early in the morning and start with 35 to 45 min of cardio then weight training on different body parts. I don't rest between sets, for instance today I did chest and back and in between each set I did various leg raises with ankle weights, then at lunch time I did a 40 min ramp it up ab DVD and most nights I go to a yoga studio for some heated intense power type yoga. In the summer at lunch time I run or bike ride. Exercise just about consumes my life, I work at home and unless I am going out someplace nice I hardly get out of my workout clothes, most days I wind up putting off taking a shower until bed time because I aways think I might exercise again, it's really sort of ridiculous.
Chris is right about a food journal, studies have proved that dieters that record what they eat loose more, I try to but never really follow through with it. It is also a good idea to have healthy foods ready to eat so when you get hungry you don't have to spend a long time preparing a meal or snack. I am the queen of cooking bulky low calorie food, so I will give you a few of my favorite ideas. I read several places that if you include low cal soups in your diet it will curb your appetite and I have found that to be true. I make a low cal veggie soup (no peas or potatoes) I start with chicken stock, full head of cabbage, onions, carrots, parsnips, spinach, bokchoy, large cans of chopped tomatoes and a few parsnips, after it is cooked most of the way I throw in some canned kidney beans. Depending on if it is meal or a side dish when I heat my portion up I will add things to it like chicken, brown rice, left over steak, parmigian cheese, etc. Another thing I use a lot of is chicken, it's sort of my staple, I always have it around. I will simmer a big pot of chicken breasts in broth until the meat starts to shred, I add it to stuff like chili, soups, brown rice, low cal chicken salad etc. If you like Mexican shredded chicken you can also simmer the chicken breasts in chopped tomatoes and green chilies. Now here is an odd one, I snack on roasted Brussel sprouts, I sprinkle some olive oil, kosher salt and garlic powder over them. I roast them in the oven at about 400 for 20 min. or so, I like it best when the outer skin is brown and crispy, just shy of burnt. I keep a container of them in the fridge and can eat them cool or warmed in the mico wave. I put them on a veggie tray once and my friends that did not like Brussel sprouts wound up eating a bunch. For snacks or dessert I eat the 45 calorie pudding cups, I dip fresh strawberries in the chocolate flavor or an apple in the carmel flavor. I love key lime pie, so I buy the 80 calorie key lime yogurt and sprinkle a teaspoon of Graham cracker crumbs over it. LOL I even put the yogurt in a shallow bowl so I can sprinkle the crumbs over all the yogurt not just in the top. I find a cup of hot chi tea with a tablespoon of half and half and a no calorie sweetener will make me feel like I ate a piece of warm apple pie. Don't get the Starbucks Chi, way to sweat and fattening. My two big problems are wine and salty stuff. I have made a big attempt not to have wine during the week (this week I fell off the wagon several times) and I stopped buying pretzels. I am afraid Exercise and food deprivation is a life time sentence for me
Chris is right about a food journal, studies have proved that dieters that record what they eat loose more, I try to but never really follow through with it. It is also a good idea to have healthy foods ready to eat so when you get hungry you don't have to spend a long time preparing a meal or snack. I am the queen of cooking bulky low calorie food, so I will give you a few of my favorite ideas. I read several places that if you include low cal soups in your diet it will curb your appetite and I have found that to be true. I make a low cal veggie soup (no peas or potatoes) I start with chicken stock, full head of cabbage, onions, carrots, parsnips, spinach, bokchoy, large cans of chopped tomatoes and a few parsnips, after it is cooked most of the way I throw in some canned kidney beans. Depending on if it is meal or a side dish when I heat my portion up I will add things to it like chicken, brown rice, left over steak, parmigian cheese, etc. Another thing I use a lot of is chicken, it's sort of my staple, I always have it around. I will simmer a big pot of chicken breasts in broth until the meat starts to shred, I add it to stuff like chili, soups, brown rice, low cal chicken salad etc. If you like Mexican shredded chicken you can also simmer the chicken breasts in chopped tomatoes and green chilies. Now here is an odd one, I snack on roasted Brussel sprouts, I sprinkle some olive oil, kosher salt and garlic powder over them. I roast them in the oven at about 400 for 20 min. or so, I like it best when the outer skin is brown and crispy, just shy of burnt. I keep a container of them in the fridge and can eat them cool or warmed in the mico wave. I put them on a veggie tray once and my friends that did not like Brussel sprouts wound up eating a bunch. For snacks or dessert I eat the 45 calorie pudding cups, I dip fresh strawberries in the chocolate flavor or an apple in the carmel flavor. I love key lime pie, so I buy the 80 calorie key lime yogurt and sprinkle a teaspoon of Graham cracker crumbs over it. LOL I even put the yogurt in a shallow bowl so I can sprinkle the crumbs over all the yogurt not just in the top. I find a cup of hot chi tea with a tablespoon of half and half and a no calorie sweetener will make me feel like I ate a piece of warm apple pie. Don't get the Starbucks Chi, way to sweat and fattening. My two big problems are wine and salty stuff. I have made a big attempt not to have wine during the week (this week I fell off the wagon several times) and I stopped buying pretzels. I am afraid Exercise and food deprivation is a life time sentence for me
