Are there any thin girls out there? How do you eat?

[Anne Bonny]

I do not look good in a dress because I look like I'm pregnant! I have been jogging but not doing sit-ups or push-ups because I don't want to build upper body strength and add to my biceps - hum I believe sit-ups would be ok, I have been jogging about 3 miles per day but am 54, retired and all I do is sit around except for mowing the grass, edging and blowing it off. I also walk the dog twice daily and do all of the house work as my wife has dementia, not a problem I don't mind being a housewife - ok so moving is a check. I do need to make sure I drink my water that is 4 16oz glasses of water one with each meal and one at some other time. SO! that leaves eating and snacking frequently. I stopped buying nuta and chocolate, and have replaced that with fruit but I find myself eating raw oatmeal like eating a snack. It is hardest at night, My sons are vegitarians, one is a vegan and they are as skinny as a rail! We don't eat a lot of meat but I have a tendency to over eat. I have to lose the belly - It is not healthy. Any suggestions? Stress eating, eating for comfort - yep....

[Michelle M]

Well I've found one of the things that helps me keep from overeating is tracking calories. http://www.myfitnesspal.com has a lot of tools to help you lose weight. It'll calculate calories burned during exercise, calories eaten (and has almost any food you can think of), and has a social aspect to it to help get others to encourage you.

I'd recommend also drinking more water throughout the day. A lot of times when we feel hungry, we are actually thirsty. It's a very similar feeling that we often misinterpret.

Lastly, setting reasonable goals/expectations is important. Your goal should be no more than 8 pounds lost per month. More than that is unhealthy, so starvation and lots of exercise is not a good idea.

Coming back to exercise, switch things up. I know you don't want to do a lot of upper body, but you need to change your routines. After about 3-4 weeks (roughly) your body gets used to doing the same exercises and starts to do them more efficiently, i.e. burning less calories for the same work. That means if you're running 3 miles per day at a constant pace, after a few weeks, you're getting less out of it. You need to change it up, run a shorter distance faster or do some sprints instead. Same thing goes for other exercises like situps or pushups. You can do 1000 situps a day, but over time, they'll burn less calories. Switch it up and do things like yoga or pilates or whatever.

Good luck!

[Davita]

Anne, you pegged my trouble. I over eat. What I do for exercise at 57 and some change is Jazzercise and bicycling -- neither as much as I should.

I have a tummy too, but so do a lot of other women. I wear dresses so I'm saying you can too. You just have to watch the styles so you don't exaggerate the tummy. Yeah, they exist cause I need them too.

[Anne Bonny]

It is always a thrill on these sites when total strangers are willing to reach out and give advice. I hope I can return the favor some time. I will try the site, push the water, and try crosstraining to switch things up. And there are dresses that will work. Thank you, Anne

[Paula G]

Let's not get into the thin is beautiful thing, people, men and women, come in all shapes and sizes, more often than not these days quite large sizes! As far as being a woman goes as a general rule women carry more fat than men, but in different places, certainly there are dresses out there for larger women and you should be able to find some that work for you.
However being over weight with a large belly is not healthy. The way to lose weight is simple use more energy than you take in. Sounds easy doesn't it, until you try. Diets don't work because when you come off the diet more weight goes back on, changes in eating habits do work, lifestyle changes work, i.e. eat less work more.
Most doctors recommend a minimum of 20 minutes exercise per day, this will not effect your weight, but will help your cardiovascular system, to have much effect on your overall fitness levels and weight you will need to do a lot more. I am lucky these day I find that my work gives me all the exercise I need and allows me to eat and drink pretty much as I like, but I have found in the past that it helps having a "buddy" you are working with or joining a group. Some years back I lost over 45 lbs with weight watchers - but I was a lot younger then and it gets harder the longer you leave it.

[DonnaT]

First, you need to find out if it's belly fat. Some bulges are not.

If it is, then you'll need to increase your metabolism which will work to burn calories all day. That means building muscle, which can be done without building bulk.

Metabolisms change into a state called ketosis. Ketosis means the body converts from burning carbs for fuel to burning its own fat. When fat is broken down, small bits of carbon called ketones are released into the bloodstream as energy sources. Ketosis tends to suppress appetite, causing people to eat less, and it also increases the body's elimination of fluids through urine, resulting in a loss of water weight.

As Michelle mentioned, you need to vary your workout.

When jogging, after a couple of minutes run at a faster pace for 30 seconds, and repeat.

You can't target just the belly fat, but sit-ups (crunches) will build the abs to burn more fat. Don't rely on sit-ups alone for building abs.

To build muscle, you need to break down the muscle fibers by strenuous workouts, and eat the right kind of protein to repair the fibers. Proteins such as:

• Fish: Fish offers heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and, in general, less fat than meat.
  
  Poultry: You can eliminate most of the saturated fat by removing the skin.
  
  Beans: Beans contain more protein than any other vegetable protein. Plus, they're loaded with fiber that helps you feel full for hours.
  
  Nuts: One ounce of almonds gives you 6 grams of protein, nearly as much protein as one ounce of broiled ribeye steak.
  
  Whole grains: A slice of whole wheat bread gives you 3 grams of protein, plus valuable fiber.

Eat about a total of 7-10 ounces (198-283 grams) of protein spread out over the day. Extra protein may help initially, but sustaining that for longer than 6 months is hard for many, so keep it simple.

Note that protein is also burned for energy/fuel, meaning less fat will get burned for fuel.

Workout for a minimum of 2 hrs in the morning and 2 hrs in the evening. This way you'll keep burning fuel throughout the day and while you sleep.

Now, if I only took my own advice But then again, I'm not retired. Excuses excuses

[Kimberly Kael]

Keep in mind that it's possible to make a lot of apparently healthy choices and undermine them in ways that people don't think about. Dressings can turn salads into caloric nightmares, ditto sauces on fish and so forth. Build a habit of asking for dressing on the side and going light on the sauce in addition to the more obvious changes.

The only other tip that leaps to mind is forgetting anything your mother ever said about cleaning your plate. Learn to show restraint by pushing your plate aside without having to finish everything and you'll have a better shot at managing your intake. It's true for drinks as well - chugging down the last of your beer or glass of wine when leaving a restaurant isn't thrifty, it's just another form of over-eating.

[Carolyn Summers]

I have had a lot of success by eating often but having small portions. A half a sandwich, meat the size of the palm of your hand, etc. Using a smaller plate will help get you used to smaller portions and prevent overloading the plate. After a while your stomach will not let you eat huge amounts, it seems to shrink.

Do not eat two hours before going to bed. Watch the clock and have your snack early. Don't grab the bag of whatever. Pour a small amount in a container, put the bag away, and then eat what you poured in the container. It takes some will power not to go get some more, but it is better than having the whole bag in your lap.

When eating at a restaurant, eat just half of the meal and take the rest home for lunch the next day. Restaurant portions are usually always much more than one person should eat at one sitting. Try to pick healthy choices on the menu.

These are some things that have helped me to attain my size. 5'8" 130 lbs.

[Michelle M]

Carolyn is onto something. Most restaraunts give you 2-3 times the calories you should eat at a meal. Some strategies I've heard is asking for a to-go box at the beginning of the meal and separating the meal before you eat. (I've never been that successful actually following that advice.)

Eating slower is another thing that helps. The simple act of chewing starts sending signals to the brain that you are eating and should be feeling full. It's hard to slow down. I've been trying (mainly because it annoys my wife how fast I eat), but it's possible. Also, if you're eating slower, it gives more time for you stomach to signal that it is full too. Too often we eat until we are "stuffed" but by the time you feel stuffed you have already put about 2-3 times what you should have down there.

As for Donna's workout advice of 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening, I would recommend you don't just start that up. Ramp up to it if you want (and have) the time.

Losing weight isn't a sprint, it's an endurance race. You have to keep at it for as long as you want to be thin. I've lost almost 45 pounds over the last couple years and I still want to lose at least another 20-30. Once I get there, I may still want to lose more depending on how I feel and look. Good luck!

[Michelle M]

Kind of funny, after posting my last response, I found this article. http://fitbie.msn.com/lose-weight/tips/ ... unds/tip/0 It seems that we are all somewhat right and some of us are working off myths.

[KimberlyS]

I am in the same boat. Too much comfort food and not enough exercise.

[Susan]

I am thin.

I don't claim anything special for this, its entirely down to my genes I suspect. It has its advantages in this in that I fit normal size femme clothes,

Saying this, I do not have a big appetite, only normally eating one meal a day with a sandwich or similar in between. I do not eat cakes or pastries simply because I find them too sweet. I suppose its symptomatic of me in that I do eat a fair amount of celery (good for gout) and this is one of the few foods that have a negative calorie count as it takes more energy to eat than the plant gives you when you have eaten it.

[April Rose]

Losing weight is HARD!

[Anne Bonny]

Lots of good suggestions, perhaps dresses with a high waist or start under the breasts - empire wasteline? I suppose if it is hopeless a colorful Moo-Moo, and we can "Moo" for effect! I suppose we all know what to do - increase water, cut the wasted calories. crosstrain, work out at least 30 minutes preferably most days of the week. weighing daily, adding the calories and tracking them. Not eating a couple hours prior to bed. and eating a balanced meal in correct portion size or using portion control because diets do not work but regular diets with portion control are easily maintained for a life time. Celery?? I plan to pick some up - a negative calorie food! Grapefruit is also good but can interfere with some medications but it also can help in weight loss. I also like the tip on drinking water when you are hungry because sometimes you are really just thirsty - I have been working on that. It is healthy to be at our weight, for me with an average build, and a 5'9.5" height would be about 168# realistically 173-178 I have hit that but usually begin to drift back up over time. The really really hard thing is eating due to stress, for comfort, because we feel deprived, or just to eat period! I remember some movie when the kitchen cabinets are chained shut and the guy rips them off the wall to eat!

[Absaroka]

I went to see a fairly mainstream nutritionist who explained how many calories I need and what I should be eating. I write EVERYTHING after weighing it and measuring it and add up the calories-it only takes about 2 minutes a day now. I lost a lot of weight which did wonders for my knees. I also get at least an hour of aerobics (if you aren't sweaty it doesn't count) most days. It's all worked pretty well, although I tend to avoid parties where there is a lot of junk and I don't know people well.

All that said, a middle aged man will never have the figure of a teenage girl. So don't buy into the patriarchie's myths that perpetuate the beauty and weight loss industy.

Zari