I lost about 20 lbs. But due to anxiety I have put on a couple. I'm too tired to make a salad and may crab a carbo. Or when I'm sad and eat a small amount it doesn't make a difference.

Have any good idea that worked for you?

Hello, Victoria,

I never have the motivation to exercise and eat right. But the Lession 5 tape makes perfect sense when it says "eat well and exercise for your mental well being". I would do anything to eliminate or reduce anxiety attacks or being thrown into a depression just because I watched "A.I."

I had used Susan Powter's book as a motivational tool when I lost 20lb in 5 weeks. I like her no nonsense and often over the top way of drilling basic common senses into reader's mind. I highly recommend her book, "Pocket Powter". It was a Q&A type of book in which she talked about eating, moving and breathing. Short and to the point.

BTW, I gained that 20lb back. That was partly because I didn't listen to Susan Powter who encouraged everyone to eat. I went on a unhealthy diet and ate very little. I had more respect for myself these days to try that again. The diet worked but there are other more healthy ways.

Good luck,

drop

This is my 2nd week on weight watchers and I have lost almost 5 lbs. It is a very healthy diet and I notice a change in anxiety very definitely. I was a little discouraged today though because I only lost 1 lb. this week. I know why, every other day I went over the point limit some. I would like to at least lose 2 lbs per week. I have ten lbs to go to reach my goal. I journal everything I put into my mouth. Weight watchers is very reasonably priced also and I am satisfied with what I eat. Of course, there is a sacrifice one must make to reach one's goal (if you know what I mean) No big juicy hamburgers, pizza, etc. I have to keep my point range this week and see if I can get two lbs off. But I understand what you mean. It is frustrating, but just like everything else, we have to change the way we think, and look towards our goals. Good luck, and wish me luck. I want to feel good about myself and I know you all do to.

I used to weight 235lb before I knew anxiety existed. Now I'm down to 170lbs. Most of it I've lost during bouts with anxiety, since my appetite decreases and sometimes cannot eat for days. I used to be the opposite and eat everything in sight when sad.

I do exercise. I jog a lot to relieve mental stress and anxious feelings. However, I've noticed that my weight goes down with each non- eating bout with anxiety only and not because of the exercise.

I love jogging. It gives me the feeling of running away without actually "running away."
It's also very inexpensive since it can be done anywhere and it doesn't cost a dime.

I'm worry about how much weight I can safely loose. Right now I can probably afford to loose another 20 to 30 pounds. Anything more than this wouldn't be safe for me.
Any thoughts?

Thanks for all your above replies. What works best for me is eating small low fat meals and lots of salads with olive oil. For desert frozen blueberries w/o sugar and lite cool whip. For drink - Steward's diet root beer. I have found that I can't eat chips and things out of the bag or crackers out of a box. I need to count or put them in a small bowl or cup.

Richard Simmons deal-a meal helps. It's just that once in awhile I get caught up in crackers. Oops.

The secret to not be cought suddenly with extra weignt is NOT to make it a habit to wear pants with a elastic waiste band or jogging pants. Wear stretch pants or jeans with a zipper. Then you feel it or it will show when you put on weight and you can do something before you change to the next size.

What do you think about this idea? Has it ever caught you by surprise?
Victoria

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Victoria

[This message has been edited by Victoria (edited 07-07-2001).]

Victoria--

The two things I would suggest are exercising every day, doing a lot of walking, and cutting out most junk food. I find that I can lose weight even if I'm still eating quite a bit--and I LOVE to eat--as long as I make sure that I'm really active, and if I stay away from *really* high-fat foods like ice cream or cookies. But, I've recently lost almost 30 pounds, and it was just from cutting out ice cream, chips, and getting more active. I still eat pizza and cheeses and stuff like that, but I also eat lots of raw veggies and I have fruit for dessert (but usually with something kind of "junky" so it still feels fun, like strawberries in cool-whip or apples with caramel). I actually didn't set out to lose any weight, but was just trying to live a healthier lifestyle, but I went from about 187 lbs in December to about 160 lbs now. I'm pretty tall, almost 5'9", so I didn't really notice, especially since I don't have a scale, but everyone was telling me I looked thinner so I weighed myself at my parents' house and I had lost weight. Anyway, I find that if you focus on living a healty lifestyle and eating well, you'll probably lose weight naturally. Of course, you also have to be realistic. I will NEVER weigh 120 lbs; I had times in my life when I've practically starved myself and been able to get down to maybe 140 lbs or so. I'm just not built to be very thin, as a lot of people aren't. But I find that if I eat healthy and am active, my weight usually stays between 150-160 lbs, and I'm really happy with that.

Thanks Loria, great tips. I have been the better part of my life on health foods and therefore rarely eat sweets or anything with sugar. I usually eat under 1000 calories. I think because I am somewhat older now it is just harder to loose. I am 5'4" and weigh about 129 or 130. I want to get down to 125 where I was a couple of months ago.

I love blueberries with light cool whip. That's how I lost the weight. I now have a desire for low fat cottage cheese and tomatoes for breakfast and will try that. For some odd reason when I excercise it doesn't make a differance. I am now digging out the ground and laying a brick patio. I do a lot of yard work so that's my exercise. I love walking especially for the mind.

Again, thanks for your great ideas and keep up the good work. You obviously do well with self-control and are a great example to many of us!

Sincerely

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Victoria

[This message has been edited by Victoria (edited 07-12-2001).]