The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[bikipatra]

Robin, do you know if you can get that sports bra from a department store also?...wanna get one...ok, ttyl!

Getting it online might be easier. They explain how to measure to find the proper fit on the website.

[DogMa]

Yeah, their size numbers bear no resemblance to normal ones, so I got mine online, too. Although if you want to try one on (and see just how crazy-small it seems at first), they list retailers by state on enell dot com.

134.4 this morning. Did the Shape workout, plus a few extra minutes at the end. Saw some MAJOR definition in my waist this morning. Yay!!

[bikipatra]

How exciting. I love waist definition but usually need shape wear or something with lycra to get it!

[DogMa]

Yeah, now if I could just get rid of the belly ...

I worked up a killer sweat, though, this morning, so that was good. This afternoon is Tae Bo Abs with the group, and then we'll see about the gym tonight. I'm hoping to make it there, but I'm not making any promises.

[DogMa]

Interesting. Everyone's eating pie at work and raving about how wonderful it is. And I don't even care. The only thing they've had here recently that came close to tempting me was the big ice-cream blowout a few weeks ago. And I never really seriously considered having THAT, either. I was perfectly fine having my morning snack of yogurt and fruit.

I think those no-sugar-added Fudgsicles (on maintenance only, people!!) have changed my life.

BTW, I was thinking I should post a typical food day for me on Burn the Fat, for anyone who's curious:

1) Egg Beaters (half cup) with spinach, red peppers, 1 tablespoon low-fat feta and a Medifast oatmeal
2) Fat-free, low-sugar yogurt and fruit (usually a cup of blueberries, sometimes cherries or something else)
3) 3.5 ounces of chicken breast or turkey, 2 low-carb tortillas, a little roasted red pepper (occasionally reduced-fat mayo depending on the rest of my day; otherwise mustard)
4) 1 tortilla, about 2 ounces of chicken or turkey, more roasted red pepper, sometimes a tablespoon of reduced-fat mayo (basically a third roll-up)
5) another yogurt and an ounce or so of nuts (sometimes I have the yogurt earlier, though)
6) chicken breast (or fish; occasionally lamb or beef, but then I have less) and a pile of green beans or broccoli, followed by 2 no-sugar-added Fudgsicles dipped in a few spoonfuls of Cool Whip Free

I've had one bar in the past three weeks, which is great. I'll probably have another on Saturday because I'll need something portable to bring with me. Although I may bring a little cooler instead and just bring a couple of roll-ups. I love those things.

[DogMa]

Interesting item from the Burn the Fat newsletter:

Women: How To Stop Bingeing, End Emotional Eating And Avoid Diet Relapse
Tom Venuto

In a study published in the American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, Susan Kayman and colleagues set out to discover the difference beteen women who took off weight and kept it off succesfully (maintainers), and those who took off weight but eventually regained it all (relapsers). They found many differences between relapsers and successful maintainers, but one of the differences stood out like a sore thumb…

Relapsers were emotional eaters who lacked skills to respond to and cope with stress and unexpected problems.

While almost all of the women reported stressful issues or problems, there were major differences in the way the relapsers and maintainers coped with their problems.

Very few relapsers used problem-solving or confrontive ways of coping with their problems as compared with maintainers.

Instead, they were more likely to use emotion-focused or escape/avoidance behaviors for coping such as eating more, sleeping more or just wishing the problem would go away.

Relapsers reported using food to make themselves feel better when they were upset. They also attributed weight gain to unexpected or unpredictable stressful life events.

Maintainers, by contrast, confronted their problems directly and looked for alternative ways to cope with them (other than eating)

These included relaxation techniques, meditation, exercise, focusing on productive work, seeking social support, getting professional help, or talking out their feelings with other people they trusted.

This by the way, confirms previous research in the area of addiction recovery which found that a person who has made a successful behavior change will return to a previous negative pattern if a stressful situation occurs and no coping skills have been developed to deal with it.

Another big difference between maintainers and relapsers was conscious awareness (or lack of it)

70% of relapsers ate unconsciously in response to emotions.

Maintainers, on the other hand, were vigilant and conscious of EVERYthing:

They were conscious of the quantity and type of food they ate
They were conscious about the amount of activity that they needed personally to maintain their weight
They consciously worked to “keep in shape” after they reached their initial goal
They were conscious that they felt uncomfortable in their clothes after they gained even a little weight such as a few pounds after a vacation
They intentionally wore close-fitting clothes to keep themselves aware of their bodies, which prompted them to exercise more eat less if their clothes felt tighter.
From these findings emerge two of the very first steps that are absolutely necessary for you to end emotional eating and prevent diet relapse:

1. Develop greater conscious awareness
2. Develop alternative behaviors and coping mechanisms for dealing with stress and emotions

It takes courage to directly confront your problems and strength to overcome them, but you can’t even begin to solve a problem unless you are aware you have one. It all begins with AWAREness.

One of the best ways to increase conscious awareness of your eating habits is to keep a nutrition diary at least once in your life for a period of at least 4-12 weeks.

many people are catching on, as reflected in the popularity of sites like fit day, which lets you log in your daily food intake, while others keep extensive written journals.

[bikipatra]

Thanks so much for posting that. A really interesting read.

[Lauren]

Hey, Robin -

That is a very interesting article, and one that I think we both totally relate, since we are uber-conscious of our weight and such, you know?

It sounds like you're seeing some awesome results with the body toning and leaning thing, that's great - I am so glad it's working for you!

Cheers!

lauren

[SuzyQ66]

Thanks Robin for posting such an interesting article. I also like that you posted a typical day of what you eat. That is so helpful for those of us that are looking forward to maintenance.

[DogMa]

Well, it's typical on the new plan, when I'm still trying to lose weight (or at least fat), rather than maintain. I don't know that I'll ever reach true maintenance, because I'll probably be working to improve my body and fitness level the rest of my life.

[Tawanda]

Thanks Robin for sharing both your daily menu and also that article. I could see the truth in it just from what we read on these boards....the mindset, how we deal with our emotions/stress during the program and expectation of how we will eat the rest of our lives--if that doesn't change then it stands to reason that we'll regain the weight. I'm going to save the newsletter to reread and make sure that I do all possible to make sure I'm not going to regain the weight. Thanks again!

[DonnaS]

Thanks Robin for sharing both your daily menu and also that article. I could see the truth in it just from what we read on these boards....the mindset, how we deal with our emotions/stress during the program and expectation of how we will eat the rest of our lives--if that doesn't change then it stands to reason that we'll regain the weight. I'm going to save the newsletter to reread and make sure that I do all possible to make sure I'm not going to regain the weight. Thanks again!

Yea, what she said!

[nickieluv]

Yes, I needed to read something like that today. I am a relapser waiting to happen - I have to let go of my idea that once the weight is gone, I can go back to my happy-go-lucky way of eating. And that starts with being more aware of what I do NOW, in the weight-loss phase. I can't let MF be a bandaid, I have to think about each meal I eat or don't eat, each activity I do or cop out of. A good read, thank you.

[queenielou]

Hey Robin,

The article and your menu were really helpful to me, too. I'm going to make it a priority to become consciously aware of what I'm doing to my body. Thanks!

[Sojourner]

Saw some MAJOR definition in my waist this morning. Yay!!

WooHoo!!! D'ya think it was the Hip Hop Abs??
I actually watched that infommercial the other night, and it looks pretty interesting, and way fun. I might be able to adapt it to something I can do - at least parts of it.

Thank you, Robin, for keeping me and my family in your thoughts. Thanks, too, for pointing out the obvious "silver lining" of my nephew's situation. Well, it should've been obvious, but in my near-panic I wasn't giving it as much credence as I should have been. When it comes to emotion vs. logic, emotion usually wins out - well, at least for a little while.

Awesome article, btw...thanks for sharing it with us! Yet another instance where attitude and preparation make all the difference in the world. I need to remember that right about now, don't I?

I was watching The View the other day ( I know!), and Joyce Behar said something about JDate and I had to giggle.

Ciao, Bella!