Hi everyone. I'm doing the best life diet from Bob Greene's book. You know Bob Greene, the weight loss guru, from the Oprah show.

Well they are having the big weight loss challenge - with about a million people, and I was wondering how many of you are doing it too. It sounds like a good idea. I already bought the book and will be buying new clothes this summer because I will need smaller ones.

Am I the only one that wants to lose a few pounds? Just want to know.

Thanks. DeeDee.

Hi DeeDee,
I actually haven't heard of the book or about the author, but I am definitely going to check it out. I need to lose weight too. I don't know about you, but I reecntly put on about 30 lbs. emotionally eating. I'm so uncomfortable with my weight and not fitting into any of my clothes. So, thank you for mentioning the book, and I too will give it a try. Good luck!
Stephanie S.

deedee00

hi! I am not doing the best life diet-I know who and what you are talking about, I love that guy!! BUT, yes, I want to lose some weight. For the last 6 wks I have been using the Total Gym and when the weather is bad and I can't walk, I have a recumbrant (sp?) bike I do. I've always been a healthy and bland type of eater but the problem is I LOVE TO EAT. I mean, I could overeat chickpeas!! (ha ha). My goal is 12 lbs-not putting a time on it though. I've noticed no great results on the scale, but my body is changing definitely and my clothes fit better. For some strange reason I really want to get fit. Anxiety in the past has made me lose ridiculous amounts of weight in short amounts of time and that was horrible. Of course I've gained it back when I start to feel better. I've been feeling real good and now I really want to get in shape and be healthy. Good Luck and I think it is GREAT that you bought smaller clothes. Let us know how you make out.

Hi Stephanie. Thanks for the "well wishing". Losing weight is not easy so I really appreciate it.

Hi Karmerri. I am practicing eating bland foods and it's so difficult. One of my brothers is a personal trainer and he says that after a while of eating like that it will become "natural" for me. I truly hope so because I, like Stephanie, am an emotional eater and I seek out "comfort foods". What keeps my weight from going up is my working out everyday.

Kamerri, I didn't buy smaller clothes yet, but I know that I will.

Take care. DeeDee.

DeeDee,
I wish you well on the diet.
What is eating bland? And what is different about this diet book from the others? I don't watch tv so am never up on all the new personalities.

i will do the diet with you deedee . i have to do some sort of a diet any way. i just got weighed at the doc yesterday. i' on a new med and side affects are weight gain. i will get the book tomarrow ...........malikye

Hello DEEDEE

Finally, I feel like I'm meeting you for the 1st time after seeing your pretty face on your various postings - w/ the most positive words - NICE TO MEET YA, LOL!!!

I see him on Oprah quite often - I love me some Oprah. While I am not on the Best Life Diet - me & hubby are making a major lifestyle change. This change coincides w/ my journey & recovery fr anxiety disorder.

When I originally started the program, in Nov-2006, I started to exercise & change my dietary intake. I started w/ a little walking - orig only 10 -15 min's, which felt like 50 miles. You see, we got married 10 yrs ago + got comfortable + food became an extracurricular activity for us both. I had gained a lot of weight - not obese, just FAT(I own it). I don't even know what my weight was cause I avoided a scale - I know my size - SIZE 22!That was the heaviest I ever was in my life - when I got married I was size 3. So, we started little by little - eventually w/ my motabilism & stamina growing. I started working out on treadmill at home(no excuses in bad weather) & hubby & I joined a gym for evening or weekend exercising. It was a great start for us as a family: we were going in the wrong direction - a dangerous & unhealthy one.

In March-2007, depression came - for the 1st time in my life(39yrs old). Part of my healing fr the depress(in therapy for it - no biggie) is me facing WHY I AM DEPRESSED. So, little by little - 1 by 1, I started chipping away. In beginning of June-2007, I faced a BIG ISSUE for me - FOOD. I, like you, am an emotional eater. Prior to anxiety disorder triggering & subsequent therapy & Lucinda's program, I never learned how to deal - my way of dealing was via food. In addition, I had some fears w/ food that stemmed fr childhood(going hungry, living w/o any)- so, I ate even more food - emotionally = "I better eat it now b/4 it goes away". So, I told myself if I'm gonna GO THERE, I'm gonna GO THERE. I hit it dead on. I initiated the topic in therapy HARD CORE - to get it all out of me. It's pretty hard to experience bad depression & face food issues & lose weight - I had too, 1 day @ a time.

I had the knowledge of nutrition, experience of having done this LOSE WEIGHT THING b/4, & having gone thru 2 yrs of therapy @ that point (June-2007) - I was smart enough to realize - I NEEDED TO CHANGE MY "behaviors/association to food" + "what I ate/how much = portion control" + consistant exercising. I KNEW BETTER to know, quick fixes don't work - I was looking for a lifestyle change - opposed to a DIET(implying deprivation). The end of June-2007, we joined WEIGHT WATCHERS. I chose them for their premis: not dieting, not deprivation - rather behavioral changes, lifestyle changes, exercising/more physical lifestyle, & better choices w/ food / portion control. I was not looking for a plan that I would purchase all our meals FROZEN - that wouldn't do it. I like to cook & w/ that, I wouldn't change my behavior - WHETHER I LIKED IT OR NOT, THERE IS A REASON I GOT FAT & I HAD TO BOTH FACE IT & CHANGE IT.

We attend meeting everyweek. I workout everyday: 1 hr on treadmill = @ 3.2 speed - @ 6.5 incline(built up during the course of 1 1/2 yrs. In addition, we workout at the gym every sat + sun. We've also gotten more active: taking walks in the various parks here - playing basketball(I stink, lol), taking our puppy out, going to the mall just to walk around - anything. THERE IS NEVER a day that goes by - that I don't exercise in some way. We also greatly changed our dietary intake: emphasis on fruits, veggies, lean meats, poultry, etc. Now, I do have a TREAT now & then = a slice of pizza, a burger fr the diner, low fat ice cream: its just strictly monitored. ONE THING WE HAVEN'T EATEN IS FAST FOOD = mc'd's, burg king, etc - in 8 MTHS, lol. There is VARIETY in what we eat - a healthy balance, so we don't feel deprived.

As of today: I've lost 50lbs & my hubby has lost 120 lbs(w/o surgery - just darn hard work & committment) Depress can & does make it difficult - but I am winning that battle. I've gone done fr size 22 to size 12: CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT GIRL - let me tell you what it was like when I realized I am size 12: I was buying some needed clothes, cause the rest was too big. I ASSUMED bigger - 16, nope. I said 14, NOPE. I said right there in the store(hubby was waiting by the coffee area & I cld him on my cell)- w/ every one looking "hun I am size 12 omg I am size 12, heyyyyyyyyyyyy " I started dancing right there & didn't care who was looking.

The health need for this was initially obvious. Initially, it was LUCINDA. When she references exercise + dietary intake vs anxiety & depress, that did it for me. I started cause of the anxiety. Then, it was like a DOMINO EFFECT.

I know you were looking for folks who have read his book & taking that challenge - I just had to reply. I think it is so totally cool that we are taking control, getting healthy: mentally, emotionally, physically, & spiritually. That is why I replied.

GIRL, HERE'S TO THOSE SMALLER PAIR OF SHORTS IN THE SUMMER - can't forget them "yeah I got it like that" shades either. Continued success.

LENORE

Did not get the book, but I am watching the show THE BIGGEST LOSER! Those people REALLY inspire me! They worked out like maniacs, but some of the women were afraid to eat (or thought by NOT eating they would lose more) and dropped to something like 1200 calories a day. Jillian said that is a BAD thing to do as one cannot drop caloric intake your bodies need it, your metabolism will shut down, hence why some of the female contestants did not lose weight.

It is work to lose, but it is and will be worth it!

Hi Florence, when we wre talking about "bland" food we were just talking about food without so much season, fat, and flavor.

Hi Malikye, I'm counting on you now (but no pressure) LOL

Hi Lenore, It's really a pleasure to meet you. You are such an inspiration. I know that took a lot of hard work.

Lenore, I am the youngest daughter of 10 children (8 girls, and 2 boys) so I know how you felt about eating b/4 it goes away. I think that that is still a problem for me subconsciously.

Lenore I am glad you posted here. We all can use your story for inspiration. Thank you so much.

Take care y'all. DeeDee.

Hi Schnauzermom. I LOVE THE BIGGESST LOSER. I love to see how they continue to lose weight after they go home. You really look different when you get some of that excess fat out of you.

I have a problem with not being hungry. I'm never really hungry. I just started to make myself eat more often because I would not even realize I haven't eaten until I start feeling shaky. Sometimes it would be late in the evening before I realize I hadn't eaten all day long. When I was young, I use to eat just so that I would get some, now I can't remember to eat. But when I do, I eat too much.

It's true what jillian said too, Because I gained weight by forgetting to eat. I think it's because your body thinks you're starving as if you're in a famine and it holds onto the weight to keep you from starving. Wow, I guess your body thinks it's saving your life.

Take care. DeeDee.

Hey Stephanie S...see you are from South Florida! Me too! As for loosing weight, I am all for it. I am going to do Healthy Living by Strand. Its eating healthy, not weird, but less Sugar...for me alot less sugar since I drink about 5 cokes a day and cut down on "white" carbs. I am ready, when is the weigh in! Hey maybe we can start on own WEIGH DOWN!

lenore, congrts on the weight loss and exercise. you are MOTIVATED. exercise is good for everything. gonna go make some fruit salad for the week-end. frozen blueberries ,frozen strawberries (fresh frozen),bananas,apples fresh peaches and i'll throw in a small box of raisons. hell,maybe even some nuts. i'm with you deedee. maybe 2 buddies too. you know who you are come on. ................malikye

I would love to join in here girls. WOW LENORE you rock girl you have done so awesome I will make you my inspiration. I have trouble eating like DeeDee I can't eat with the dizziness being a strong side effect from the anxiety I always feel somewhat motion sick from it hence I don't eat sometimes not all day other day's maybe a small meal. But I have some weight on think it is my age to 45 and not eating isn't helping me at all. I just joined weight watchers online a bit agora still so figured it was a good way to do it from home for now. But I would love to join the group even though I owuld be doing weight watchers. I have one more issue I have a slipped disc in my back that is pinching 3 nerves so for right now excerise is not happening I am in so much pain I can't even stand to do the dishes need a chair. So that is my only problem,but if you will take me and have any suggestions on the excerise I would love it. This would be such a positive thing for me I think it is what I need. Let me know.
Good luck everyone on there journey. And Lenore you go girl keep up the awesome work wow.
Mimi

Hi,
I am glad you brought this up Deedee. I have been thinking about this for the last few days.
king on the treadmill again. But I wanted to share something I saw on the 700 Club this week. They always do a special show on Wednesdays called Thin Wednesday with health and fitness with weight loss tips. If you have never seen it, check it out. Christy is always part of it and I love her as a host. Anyway they had a fitness instructor on there this week that works with celebrities and he said that instead of walking and running and doing cardio exercise, he has his clients do weightlifting since that also gets your heart rate up, but increases your muscle mass and makes it so much easier to lose weight.

Here is the web link for that info if you are interested.
http://www.cbn.com/700club/guests/bios/Jim_Karas020708.aspx
There is a link there to watch a demo of his workout. This web site also has a large section about health and nutrition that is very helpful.

My sister has a total gym so I think I will commit to going over there and working out 3 times a week. At least if I start to see some change in my body shape, I will be more encouraged to keep it up. i need something because my self esteem is at an all time low.
Good luck to all of you.

Oh Boy! What to do! I do need to get back on the wagon with my diet and exercise, but it's hard! I was on a roll for the last 6 months of 2007 and then the anxiety kicked in and I quit my 5 to 6 day a week workouts completely. I have been afraid to workout. My anxiety came from chest pains, and even though I now know my heart is ok, I have given myself other symptoms in its place. BUT, recently I have been in better control and I started back with the basics = walking. I still feel a little nervous, but I also feel good. I am not sure of how long it will take me to step it up, so I'm not sure about starting a program if I can't commit to a serious workout. Food is also an issue. I eat when I am bored noramlly, but lately I wasn't eating - too stressed. Now my appetite is returning, but I'm not eating as helathy as I was before. I am defintiely worried that the progress I made is going to suffer if I don't get on a helathy routine. I'm just not sure if I can focus on a program though. Maybe if I read the book I would be motivated. I'm thinking about it.