Need to loose weight

[Karen1969]

Hi. My name is Karen and I'm 48. I'm looking for ideas of the best food to eat to loose weight. I'm 14 stone and feel really heavy. I love cakes and sweets. I know that I really do need to stop ... please help.

[BadHare]

Take a look at a TED video I posted last week.

Stop buying the things that are bad for you, & try swapping for healthier alternatives. It's a help in the supermarket to avoid the aisles with junk food in them & take longer in the fresh food sections.

I keep two jars on my kitchen table, one with nuts & one with seeds. I also like sugar but opt for fresh & sometimes dried fruit. These are the easiest things to eat as the only effort is taking the lid off the jar. I also like chocolate, but buy the quality stuff with >70% cocoa, not padded out with bad fats & sugar.

Try cooking everything from scratch. I love soup when the weather gets cold, so always have at least one type on the go. It's easy to make, very filling, & I choose vegetables that are nutritious.

Avoid eating processed foods such as margarine & sunflower oil, & artificial chemicals like sweeteners. These are disruptive to our digestion as well as toxic to our bodies.

Set yourself a target to eat a smaller percentage of bad foods each week, & to increase your percentage of good foods. Promise yourself something you'd really like if you can stick to eating healthier.

[Karen1969 in reply to BadHare]

Thanks yes I think it’s time I gave it a go

[PhilFreeToAsk in reply to Karen1969]

Good advice from Badhare. A sensible approach is needed to move away from your current diet onto a new eating regime. Don't beat yourself up by not being perfect.

Try to eat your food away from distractions (such as television), so that food is eaten and enjoyed. Each mouthful should be chewed (eat soup, drink food) well so that it is well broken down in the mouth. This is the start of your digestion process. By eating slowly (and mindfully), you may find you get fuller quicker.

I am on a low GI diet and I find it almost impossible to put on weight. You can also lose weight on this type of diet and there is no need to feel hungry. Low GI is wholefoods not refined carbs (well very little as I do have some) and no sugar. I also love eating nuts as a snack.

One thing that Badhare did not mention that I know she is passionate about is to incorporate some fermented foods. Good for digestion and good bacteria may help with weight loss.

[Activity2004 Administrator]

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[Karen1969]

Thankyou what are the best things to eat

[buddymac48]

love this reply that's what I have done, lost 4 stone has taken a year.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to buddymac48]

Fantastic job done, buddymac48 ! Congrats on the weight loss.👍😀 Keep up the wonderful work!

[ladyofcastile]

Dear Karen, my experience has made me see things from a different perspective. Weight loss which I rather see as body stabilization or alignment, regardless of the number on the scale, is something that just happens when you take proper care of yourself as a whole, starting with your emotions. I believe that has actually very little to do with calories in and out or restricting or not eating cake or killing yourself in the treadmill. Each of us is unique. you will have to find what works for you. I just have a few suggestions, again, born from experience.

Try to, as honestly as you can, imagine how you would feel if tomorrow you woke up without the extra weight. How do you feel? Can't you wait to leave the house? Do you have a sense of panic like a hoarder who wakes up in an empty room? it is very important that you observe those emotions and reflect on them. Often, the weight stays or keep coming back because somehow we feel we need it to stay safe. You have to talk to your body and tell that is alright to let go.

Have a look to a documentary called "Hungry for change". Also a man called Jon Gabriel. They talk about loving your body, nourishing your body, avoiding chemicals and your body will naturally let go of the unnecessary weight.

Explore Mindfulness. One of the best things you can do for yourself. Do you feel like a piece of cake? By all means, have it! Observe if it is a healthy, happy desire to enjoy it and celebrate life with gratitude, not an unhealthy, anxious craving. Sit down in a special place with a cup of tea. Take your time, feel the smell, feel the texture, enjoy the memories that might bring, enjoy every little bit slowly and mindfully. Feel good. Your body is a wonderful machine. Don't punish it. Just imagine yourself like a little girl. Would you deny that little girl a reasonable piece of cake in a winter afternoon or a cup of hot chocolate or an ice cream at the beach? Would you humiliate her, make feel that she is not good enough or presentable enough, force her to exercise in a way she doesn't enjoy and that makes her feel miserable every day? That is the path to depression or an eating disorder. Why would you do that to yourself? That kind of obsessive self punishment, via deprivation or exercise you don't enjoy is not sustainable. You need to build a good routine you can be consistent at because you love it and makes you feel good. Whatever it is. It has to be YOUR routine. Nobody else's.

Yes, exercise is amazing, but listen to your body. Focus on getting stronger and feeling good, not burning calories. Think of those activities you enjoy. Walking in the park? Wonderful. Perhaps you can take a cup of tea with you for the end of your walk, even your tea/ lunch/breakfast? Use your imagination. Swimming? Bike? Yoga is amazing, You can do it at home, building your own routine from ideas you can get online. I do yoga most nights and I sleep like a log. If you feel self conscious going out, download music on your phone and use your headphones. What about dancing? Again, you can do that at home! Love yourself, take care of yourself and whatever you do, have fun. You are 48. Believe me when I tell you that you have just stepped into the best years of your life. Big hug.