Forums: January 2010 Kickstart Forum Archive: Weight Loss Anyone?
Created on: 01/10/10 01:31 PM Views: 15958 Replies: 61
Jackie Joined: 12/31/09 Location: Wallingford, Connecticut Posts: 14	Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Sunday, January 10, 2010 at 1:31 PM I'm not going to get on the scale until the 21st day and I plan on weighing in every three weeks for next 4 months. However one of my co-workers asked if I lost weight and it's killing me not to know. I told her no, it's your imagination. I have not cheated or felt the urge to splurge. I've cut out all crap between meals. And I only drink water and Royal Greens when thirsty. I feel like I dropped a few but it's only week 1 and it's probably just water weight anyway. Good luck to all of you and all I can say is focus! My husband is a huge meat eater and I call my 16 year old the milk man because he lives on dairy so it's in my face everyday!!! This is my year!!
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Harmonicgogiberry Joined: 01/01/10 Posts: 47	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Sunday, January 10, 2010 at 7:46 PM Hi Jackie, Nice to see another Connecticut name out there! I'm in Farmington and have been vegan for 9 days. I've lost 9 lbs! I plan to weigh myself no more than once a week because I know there will be normal fluctuations and I'm trying not to get hung up on the number. Like you, I'm focusing on all of the benefits- enormous good- of this healthy new lifestyle, both personally and worldly. This site has been a great help to me, too. Vegans are awesome people!
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rb Joined: 12/30/09 Posts: 85	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Monday, January 11, 2010 at 2:54 AM You've been losing a pound a day? Isn't that too rapid?
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Harmonicgogiberry Joined: 01/01/10 Posts: 47	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Monday, January 11, 2010 at 6:12 AM Initially, I don't think so. The first week is mainly water weight and I don't expect to continue to lose at this rate. I have modified my diet significantly but have been careful to get enough nutrients each day. I always lose quickly at first- I think it's just my body telling me that it doesn't want to be fat! Also, I exercise every morning and believe that gets my metabolism humming and sets me up for a good day.
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DrDons Joined: 01/11/10 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Monday, January 11, 2010 at 12:00 PM I'm a Family Medicine physician with additional training in statistical process control(reatient safety). I would suggest weighing daily at similar times and plotting these values on a "run chart". For most patients either at night near bedtime or first thing in morning works best. Y axis weight and X axis day. In my experience patients have found this useful for weight loss, blood pressure and blood sugars. For years patients would bring me lists and books with values which were always difficult to interpret. The run chart allows one to easily interpret data, see trends and realize when your efforts have stabilized. Additionally it allows you to appreciate the normal variation in processes and not get discouraged. The literature shows that this type of tracking improves success. I hope this helps. Don www
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LaniMuelrath Joined: 12/30/09 Location: California Posts: 557	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Monday, January 11, 2010 at 1:55 PM Dr. Don's plan is a smart approach because it takes into account daily fluctuations. As he says, it is the change over time that we are looking for. Even a simple piece of graph paper will do the tracking trick! Lani Lani Muelrath, M.A. CGFI, CPBN the Plant-Based Fitness Expert McDougall Health & Medical Center 5 Minute Fitness & Plant-based Blueprint www
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beebianca Joined: 01/08/10 Posts: 3	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 12:35 AM Hi Guys, I'm feeling a bit down in the dumps as I've been really hoping to lose weight and I don't think I've even lost a pound yet. I've been really trying to not overdo the carbs and eat mostly fruit and veggies. I've been pretty active over the last week.Is it normal for the weight to come off slowly for anyone else?
	Edited 01/13/10 3:03 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
rb Joined: 12/30/09 Posts: 85	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 1:41 AM I haven't lost weight either, and I cut out dairy and processed cereals, which used to make up half my daily calories, among other things. I have been having soup for dinner, oatmeal for breakfast, and mostly produce and some whole grains - what feels like a lot less food (especially since I used to eat so much cereal). And I started exercising too! I understand your frustration because I have it too! I thought this would be a nice side benefit (and it does seem to be for some people).
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Tifster513 Joined: 01/02/10 Posts: 3	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 10:18 AM I have lost 7 pounds! and I feel GREAT!
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LaniMuelrath Joined: 12/30/09 Location: California Posts: 557	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 10:45 AM beebianca and rb, I wish I'd bookmarked it because when responding to this issue on another thread! This happened to me as well. Actually, I gained 2 lbs in the first month. And this was after decades of vegetarian diet! So the changes for me were dairy, free fats, higher fat foods. They came on pretty quick, stuck around for that month, and then in the month after I dropped them, then the next month 2 more... our bodies need adjust time. We always dread the idea of weight coming on fast but want it to go OFF fast, aren't we something? if your changes include a step up in dietary fiber (usually does, did for me) then you have more fibrous content in the digestive track which - holds water. Translates to poundage, but not bodyfat poundage. So you may be losing fat yet holding a bit of water in the system. carbohydrate binds more water in our system than protein, so if your macronutrient content has shifted, this can explain water weight as well. I look at it as getting hydrated, especially for those coming off a dietary plan that is too steep in protein, which purges water from the system. You may be re-hydrating. I hope you find this encouraging! Give it time, take care and have compassion for your body, and keep getting support for positive changes! Lani Lani Muelrath, M.A. CGFI, CPBN the Plant-Based Fitness Expert McDougall Health & Medical Center 5 Minute Fitness & Plant-based Blueprint www
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rb Joined: 12/30/09 Posts: 85	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 3:46 PM It's just hard with frequent announcements on these threads about people dropping 5-10 pounds already and it hasn't even been two weeks. I appreciate what you wrote (especially about your own experience) but I guess I don't understand why similar dietary changes work so much better for others. It also leaves me unsure how to make changes - how do I know if the reason is that I am holding onto water, overhydrating, underhydrating, etc? Also, losing two pounds a month seems a little slow to me, given the thought that 1-2 pounds a week is considered a healthy pace.
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LaniMuelrath Joined: 12/30/09 Location: California Posts: 557	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 4:13 PM For one thing, it is very helpful if we stop comparing ourselves to others. We never really know what they are actually doing, their bodies our different then ours, we all have different dietary and exercise and genetic histories - there is so much that comes into play. That is why studying a proven pathway and honing your practice of the guidelines is your best bet. You may be surprised to find areas you hadn't thought of that may be impacting your progress. Two pounds a month is a great, sustainable pace. Look at it this way. 2 lbs a month. Might end up being 24 in a year. Would you be pleased to be 24 lbs lighter, have most of it be fat weight lost, in a sustainable lifestyle, one year from now? I'm betting yes. That perspective helped me a LOT. Also, just to clarify, I have not really weight to lose, so though not skinny, I leaned out a little more. The closer you are to healthy goal weight, the slower the fat loss. Lani Lani Muelrath, M.A. CGFI, CPBN the Plant-Based Fitness Expert McDougall Health & Medical Center 5 Minute Fitness & Plant-based Blueprint www
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beebianca Joined: 01/08/10 Posts: 3	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 4:33 PM Thanks Lani, I feel encouraged by your posts and you seem to be quite knowledgeable about food issues. I'll keep on trying. Aside from the slow weight loss issues I am feeling great and that's the main thing.
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LaniMuelrath Joined: 12/30/09 Location: California Posts: 557	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 4:46 PM bee, yes, I have what you would call a long and colorful dietary history. Which is why I have such compassion for others with the struggle for clarity, peace, freedom, and something that just plain works on all levels. I have been able to achieve that - the peace and freedom being important elements, as well as eating freely and being healthy - and encourage others with the news that it IS possible! Lani Lani Muelrath, M.A. CGFI, CPBN the Plant-Based Fitness Expert McDougall Health & Medical Center 5 Minute Fitness & Plant-based Blueprint www
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sfl Joined: 01/13/10 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 9:16 AM I have been working at vegan food consumption since completing the book "breaking the food seduction" about 3 and a half weeks ago. I kind of went cold turkey on the meat and dairy and to date have lost about 8 and a half pounds. Along with keeping some regular physical activity up, I think the weight loss has been at a healthy rate, and I'm sure I feel the cholesterol breaking off my arteries as I write this It is wonderful to see so many other ppl working at it and becoming more healthy on the inside, and losing weight right now or not, its a wonderful thing we are all doing for ourselves. Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.
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Bev Joined: 01/08/10 Location: OKC Posts: 4	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 11:55 AM I have not lost any weight. I had already given up red meat and dairy long ago but have not seen the scale move much. I have done vegan for Lent a few years ago and actually gained weight. It is usually my fault because of portion control. I am a carb addict. I hope that staying a little more centered will help me this time.
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DrDons Joined: 01/11/10 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 12:11 AM Two additional thoughts on "weight" loss. Most of my patients were actually interested in losing fat. So it is important to realize that if you go to a plant based diet and exercise then early on you might not see results due to building muscle weight while loosing fat. One study a number of years ago showed a net weight gain for the first 2 months of 2# with 4# of fat loss and 6# gain in muscle weight. That study was not on a plant based diet and my patients experienced better results when going plant based. So following weight as a measure can cause some confusion. It is also important to follow other measures such as how you feel and how the clothes are fitting. I also encouraged patients to repeat their cholesterol and fasting blood glucose after 1-2 months on a plant based diet. Patients were usually very impressed with their improvement. Be well. Don www
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rb Joined: 12/30/09 Posts: 85	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 12:33 AM Thank you, that is the most useful and encouraging information I have read so far. The thing I don't get is why some people are losing so much weight already. I know everyone is different blahblahblah, but the differences seem to be on the extreme. A number of people on these forums report losing about a half a pound to a pound a day so far, and others of us haven't lost an ounce. It just seems there would be more consistency, given what you are saying - like everyone would be losing weight, even if it was just a little for some and more for others. But it seems to be a lot for some and nothing for others. There are not a lot of in-between, at least writing in.
	Edited 01/14/10 12:35 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
janicestanger Joined: 01/01/10 Location: San Diego Posts: 26	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 1:41 AM If you stick to a variety of whole foods (whole grains, beans, potatoes, fruits, vegetables), eat when you are hungry, and stop eating when you are full, you should lose about a pound or two a week consistently. If you are not losing weight, here are some likely reasons: 1. You are already at a healthy weight. This diet put you at an attractive, trim weight but will not make you model thin. 2. You are drinking calories. Stick to water, sparkling water, and tea. Any drink that supplies calories will fill you out without filling you up. Avoid artificial sweeteners as these disrupt your appetite. 3. You are cooking with oil or margarine or putting these empty calories on your food. Oil is a dense source of calories. Like drinks with calories, these highly processed substances will fill you out without filling you up. 4. You are eating too much vegan junk food. A little is ok, but go easy on the dark chocolate and tasty vegan ice cream, cookies, pies, etc. 5. You are eating other processed foods such as white bread or white rice. Again, these lack fiber and so fill you out without filling you up. 6. You are eating too fast, which means you are more likely to eat too much. 7. You are stuffing your daily calories into one or two large meals that you eat when ravenously hungry. Eat frequently throughout the day but in smaller amounts. This will help keep your appetite in check. 8. You are eating too many nuts and seeds. A couple of tablespoons a day of these calorie dense foods is enough. I hope this helps explain why different people are having different experiences. www
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rb Joined: 12/30/09 Posts: 85	RE: Weight Loss Anyone? Posted Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 2:14 AM Thanks for all the ideas; unfortunately, none of them fit! I wish they did! I eat a bowl of oatmeal in the morning with water and a handful of walnuts or almonds (literally just a sprinkling), lunch is often either a couple of rice cakes or thin-sliced 100% black rye bread with a thin spread of hummus, and for dinner I have been making soups of vegetable broth, frozen or fresh veggies, and canned beans. For snacks I have been having fruit, occasionally a handful of cereal (like a raisin bran), a rice cake, or a handful of dried fruit (like juice-sweetened cranberries). I have had some dark chocolate, but it would amount to about a bar since the plan started. I'm not cooking with or using oil (I'm not against it; I just haven't been since I have been making soups every other night). I only drink water, tea, and every few days a glass of oj. And I used to eat a ton of dairy and processed cereals every day, every morning and late at night, as well as a lot of sweets. It makes no sense to me. Plus I started exercising again, both at the gym and in a dance class, for the first time in almost 2 years. I'm not at my ideal weight, so that's not the answer - I used to be slim (slim, not thin) but now could lose about 20 pounds to be at a good weight for me (that's not unrealistic - I do need to lose that and my doctor agrees). The only thing that I can think of is that I have hypothyroidism so my metabolism is pretty slow. But it's been that way for about 5 years now.
	Edited 01/14/10 2:18 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom

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