Thread: Need to lose weight

First good job on eating healthier and getting more exerciseI! Are you on any medications? I know that some antidepressants can cause weight gain (that is how I gained weight in my life). Portion control is another important thing to losing weight. Sometimes people get the misconception that "oh it's healthy so I can eat as much of it as I want", but the truth is, everything should be in moderation. I gained weight too and how I lost weight was (first switching my antidepressant) and then I made sure my meals were under 400 calories and under 100 fat calories. I ate yogurt, skim-milk string cheese, or granola bars for breakfast. I had no regular soda, didn't eat pizza (sometimes I'd sneak a piece) and just cut out things that would be greasy. I went from 171 to 120. Not over night of course...it will take time and patience, but I would think after 3 months, you should be seeing some results.

10 Eating Mistakes That Slow Metabolism

You Don't Eat Enough
You need to cut calories to lose weight, but it's important not to overdo it. Going too low delivers a double whammy to your metabolism. When you eat less than you need for basic biological function (about 1,200 calories for most women), your body throws the brakes on your metabolism. It also begins to break down precious, calorie-burning muscle tissue for energy.

Eat just enough so you're not hungry—a 150-calorie snack midmorning and midafternoon between three meals (about 430 calories each) will keep your metabolism humming.

By eating a meal every 3 to 4 hours, you'll stay satisfied and keep from overeating later in the day.

You Avoid Caffeine
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, so your daily java jolts can rev your metabolism 5 to 8%—about 98 to 174 calories a day. A cup of brewed tea can raise your metabolism by 12%, according to one Japanese study. Researchers believe the antioxidant catechins in tea provide the boost.

Your Carbs are White
Boost your fiber intake by switching to whole wheat bread, pasta, and eating more fruits and vegetables. Research shows that some fiber can rev your fat burn by as much as 30%. Studies find that women who eat the most fiber gain the least weight over time. Aim for about 25 g a day—the amount in about three servings each of fruits and vegetables.

Your Water is Room Temperature
German researchers found that drinking 6 cups of cold water a day (that's 48 ounces) can raise resting metabolism by about 50 calories daily—enough to shed 5 pounds in a year. The increase may come from the work it takes to heat the water to body temperature.

Your Food is Covered with Pesticides
Canadian researchers report that dieters with the most organochlorines (pollutants from pesticides, which are stored in fat cells) experience a greater than normal dip in metabolism as they lose weight, perhaps because the toxins interfere with the energy-burning process. Other research hints that pesticides can trigger weight gain. Always choose organic when buying peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes, and pears; non-organic versions tend to have the highest levels of pesticides.

Your Meal Lacks Protein
Make sure protein is a component in every meal. Your body needs it to maintain lean muscle. Add a serving, like 3 ounces of lean meat, 2 tablespoons of nuts, or 8 ounces of low-fat yogurt, to every meal and snack. Research shows protein can up postmeal calorie burn by as much as 35%.

Your Diet Needs to Pump Iron
Iron-rich foods are essential for carrying the oxygen your muscles need to burn fat. Until menopause, women lose iron each month through menstruation. Unless you restock your stores, you run the risk of low energy and a sagging metabolism. Shellfish, lean meats, beans, fortified cereals, and spinach are excellent sources.

You're Missing This Crucial Vitamin
Vitamin D is essential for preserving metabolism-revving muscle tissue. Unfortunately, researchers estimate that a measly 4% of Americans over age 50 take in enough through their diet. Get 90% of your recommended daily value (400 IU) in a 3.5-ounce serving of salmon. Other good sources: tuna, shrimp, tofu, fortified milk and cereal, and eggs.

You've had One Tipple Too Many
Skip the second cocktail. When you have a drink, you burn less fat, and more slowly than usual, because the alcohol is used as fuel instead. Knocking back the equivalent of about two martinis can reduce your body's fat-burning ability by up to 73%.

You're Not Getting Enough Dairy
There's some evidence that calcium deficiency, which is common in many women, may slow metabolism. Research shows that consuming calcium through dairy foods such as fat-free milk and low-fat yogurt may also reduce fat absorption from other foods

The most success I've seen anyone have is in eliminating processed foods - this includes white flour, "whole wheat" stuff, low-fat dairy, and sugar. It sounds extreme, but the only way to truly heal a damaged metabolism is to remove the things that damage it in the first place and teach yourself to like healthier foods (it will happen!). No, this is not what the USDA recommends. But the USDA is the Department of Agriculture, and their mission statement is to further the interests of agriculture. Their dietary recommendations - which are the foundation of college nutrition and dietetics education - are flat-out damaging. I've seen too many people try, fail, become less healthy, and tailspin trying to "eat healthy" by those guidelines. They don't improve hunger management, they don't improve satiety, and they don't activate the chain of hormones that tells you you're full. The USDA recommends carbs and vegetable oils, which don't activate Cholecystokinin or leptin. It's so frustrating to see people struggle and blame themselves for not succeeding when it's not actually their fault. Yes, some can amass the willpower to succeed despite this, but not everybody. I never could.

Grass-fed meat, poultry, eggs, lots of veggies, healthy fats from olive oil, coconut oil and avocado are the way to go. Don't be afraid of fat. The lipid hypothesis is slowly unraveling. Also, the above commenter mentioned both vitamin D and calcium, which are co-factors for one another. They work synergistically with magnesium, potassium, and Vitamin K2...but only if your gut is healthy enough to absorb the vitamins and minerals you're taking in. This goes back to the point about flour and grains. These foods contain substances called lectins AND phytic acid, both of which are "mineral binders." When your diet is heavy in grain, especially "whole grain," these elements will literally bind to the minerals and prevent their absorption by the body, causing mineral deficiency. Vitamin D is also a fat-soluble vitamin. Fat-free dairy, ironically, will not allow you to absorb that vitamin D. It's part of the fat-phobia in this country. Additionally, the water-soluble vitamins are absorbed in the presence of the fat soluble ones. Also, the Vitamin D fortified dairy is usually fortified with Vitamin D2, not D3, which is what you actually need. So, in a nutshell: You aren't retaining enough of the calcium or Vitamin D you're taking in with low-fat dairy. Eliminate the grains and low-fat dairy, and you will retain MORE calcium, therefore needing less.

Can you tell I'm exasperated with the low-fat propaganda?

Look up your local CrossFit gym. Google Robb Wolf. Eating real foods and doing high-intensity, short-duration exercise will change your life.

Don't listen to much too the numbers on the scale. It might be possible that you are gaining muscle and losing fat. Have a nutritionist check your body fat percentage. Don't judge your results only by your weight, use other indicators like how you feel and look. I everything seems to have hit a plateau I suggest you change your routine a little bit.

1. Try other types of exercises. Be sure to give an all out effort every time you train.
2. Add a cheat meal once a week. This helps you create a much better hormonal environment for weight loss.
3. Sleep well.

Add this to the other great advice given in this thread. Good luck

I just posted in the weight loss thread regarding the 90 day challenge. Lots of people are seeing results, including myself. It is not a fad diet, in fact, it's not a diet at all. It's healthy nutrition incorporated in a nutritional shake. I have always struggled with my weight and I am seeing results with this. It's Lactose free and Diabetic friendly. (EDIT)

I think you should do other routine other than walking and hiking. I remembered that a fitness instructor said that the those who've tried to lose weight should do new routine every week so that the body can adopt it and find more easiest ways to burn and lose fats. If this still not effective i think you should do the in-take of weight loss supplement. The one that i know effective are those who have an ingredient of Bitter Orange and Guarana to help burn fats. For a specific supp. I've read rave inputs about the Slender Factor. But if i were you, try first the natural ways before you've come out with the in-take of supp. Cheers and Good luck!