STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

How did you learn/adopt healthy eating habits?

Kelly · Hermes

I don't know if I can answer your main question - I was raised with pretty healthy habits but my diet has gone to shit lately!

But I'm posting because I am wondering what you mean by "recently"? If it hasn't been too long maybe you just aren't giving it enough time to really make a change. Or, is it possible that when you eat better, you feel more "virtuous" and give yourself more slack when it comes to exercising? (I definitely do that.)

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

Started exercising 3 or more days a week in September and I made dietary changes in January (notably, no more aspartame, going easy on dairy and eating a TON more fruits and veggies). I feel like I've been eating out less too.

I don't think its my making up for my healhty stuff with more junk. I do that from time to time, but I am aware when I do...

I feel like I was raised with pretty healthy habits, but when up to my own devices apparently I cannot be trusted to be smart in my choices. I know it doesn' thelp that my hubby can eat 4x the amout of calories and not gain an ounce.

Boots · Gucci

I was raised with 1970's eating habits. hmm

So I think it's fair to say, not particularly healthy.

I had had enough of being chubby about 10 years ago so i started eating helathier and excerising. What jumpstarted it for me was seeing a photo of me at a cousin's wedding taken from behind. I didn't recognize myself at first and when it clicked in that the woman was ME, that was enought to motivate me to do something. It took a while to drop the weight. Over a year and a half, I lost around 45-50 pounds and have kept it off since (which is a whole other kind of daily work.

You really do have to give it time. I think a lot of people get frustrated because losing weight doesn't happen quickly like they see on TV. For motivation I like to read magazines like SELF and Cooking Light. Ypu can get some good pointers and receipes from them.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

I grew up with not-so-good eating habits too. My dad died at age 62 with heart disease/failure, liver failure, maybe kidney problems too, overweight, etc. My mom has type II diabetes and the usual companions (weight prob, cholesterol, etc.). Getting out of that lifestyle, IMO, is a mix of initiative and luck. There are so many books, articles, and resources that I have stumbled upon, and I am grateful that I did. If I didn't have access to them, I don't know what I would have done. Otherwise, I am always researching, reading, and trying to find reliable sources for health info (not just Yahoo's top 10 list for healthiest, trendiest foods).

DH is a healthy eater, so he helps me stay on track.

If you want to see a difference, looks wise, I would recommend Pilates. I have seen a major, visual difference in friends and myself who do Pilates. One friend of mine who has always had a more rounded, soft body shape (as opposed to slim and angular) was able to completely change the way her body looked for her wedding by doing Pilates.

Since you have what sounds like a great head start, maybe this is a good time to hire a professional either trainer and/or nutritionist who can help you improve and get past this plateau.

As for sticking with it, that is definitely the hardest part. In my case, ADHD doesn't help, at all, but I do what I can. I just try to remind myself how good I feel when I am taking care of myself. And, I try not to beat myself up when I fall off the wagon (another, equally difficult thing).

If there is a buddy you can ask to join in with you, maybe that would be helpful. Good luck with whatever you try. I'm proud of you for getting started.

Hermes

I was raised with pretty good eating habits as far as food choices are concerned. The first time I endeavored to lose weight was when I was 10 and I have been as thin as 110# at 5'7" in my late teens.

However, I don't blame the weight on food choices and exercising. I blame it more on my addiction to food. My weight is a result of eating when I'm not hungry or eating too much because I am thinking the food will make me feel good. Additionally, weight has a lot to do with hormones and my hormones are non existent/messed up. I can't do hormone therapy, and that seems to be the latest angle for the weight loss gurus.

My husband can also eat a lot and not gain (because men have more muscle mass, they have more efficient metabolisms) so it's difficult to keep my weight down and cook for him, go out to eat, etc. I want to enjoy the food as much as he does. Eating as a form of "entertainment" is a bad habit too...

Not sure I have much to add, but perhaps some thoughts to contemplate. Have you checked out Jillian's latest diet book? Has a lot to do with hormone levels and weight. I bought the book but can't do the hormone therapy. I'd be happy to send it to you if you're interested.

atlgirl · Gucci

Over the last few years, I have made a very conscious effort to change my eating habits. You wouldn't believe me if I told you what I used to eat, and how much. I told my husband once, and he said, "I'm amazed that you're not 200 pounds!". When I look back, so am I. Fortunately I am nowhere near that (at 5'5"), but in recent years I am concerned about weight creeping up and how what I eat affects my mood, my skin, etc.

I don't actually count calories or do points, but I did for a while, so I have a rough idea of what food works for me to maintain / lose weight, and what food is dangerous. I didn't realize things (like my favorite sLad dressing) were so detrimental...so I switched to a healthier type of salad dressing. Or that my portion sized were torpedoing my goals...my husband loves to "cook large" and if you put it in front of me, I WILL eat it. So I have had to train him a little...or immediately put half of what he serves me into the fridge as leftovers for another day.

I also fell into the habit of eating because I was either bored or emotional. I started asking myself, "Are you really hungry?". And if I wasn't, I would not eat. Paying more attention to what's really going on with my body has helped.

I find that the more bad things I eat, like sweets, the more I crave them. So I don't cut them out entirely, but I pay very close attention to when I eat them (and how much of them I eat). For example, my only form of PMS seems to show up as a major chocolate craving right before my period. So every few weeks, I have a little more chocolate...it doesn't seem to be killing me or adding pounds.

Last year I lost 8 lbs with changes to diet and exercise. This was over 7 months...it is not a big drop, but I worked hard for every pound. This year I am exercising more and paying more attention to my eating and I have lost a few more. I don't have huge weight loss goals...I'd like to drop 25 total. So 8 lbs was a third of my goal. I am celebrating that and striving for more in a healthy way.

I think part of the trick was resetting my expectations. And trying not to get frustrated along the way.

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I have all the tools at my fingertips - my husband is a personal trainer and is very supportive, but not pushy. I really need to insert meslef into his schedule, but I hate feeling like I'm jeopardizing his schedule. I guess I should talk to him about it. I do work out with a friend in the morning, but I'm the stronger and more motivated one of the two of us, so it is easy for me to slack off and have it not go noticed.

I know I eat when I'm bored or emotional, and I know my portion sizes are too big. These are things I'm addressing. DH keeps assuring me my changes will pay off visually, but for now I have to be satisfied with knowing I'm healthier on the inside. But, just because my insides are healthier doesn't mean my jeans look any better on.

Patience is not a virtue I was blessed with, so I know I need to scale back my expectations, but I don't have the attention span for the results I want either.

Boots · Gucci

greendiamond wrote:

I have all the tools at my fingertips - my husband is a personal trainer and is very supportive, but not pushy. I really need to insert meslef into his schedule, but I hate feeling like I'm jeopardizing his schedule. I guess I should talk to him about it. I do work out with a friend in the morning, but I'm the stronger and more motivated one of the two of us, so it is easy for me to slack off and have it not go noticed.

I know I eat when I'm bored or emotional, and I know my portion sizes are too big. These are things I'm addressing. DH keeps assuring me my changes will pay off visually, but for now I have to be satisfied with knowing I'm healthier on the inside. But, just because my insides are healthier doesn't mean my jeans look any better on.

Patience is not a virtue I was blessed with, so I know I need to scale back my expectations, but I don't have the attention span for the results I want either.

Maybe smaller goals will work for you? Like saying "I want my arms to look toned" then working towards that goal until you reach it. That way you are seeing results, but very particular and doable results. Arms shape up pretty quickly too so acheiving that might make you feel better about all your hard work.

I'll bet that if your husband needed help with a project that your talents were suited to, you'd be more than happy to help him. I'm sure he'll feeel the same about helping you meet your health goals. You're partners, right? aww

Kelly · Hermes

I almost think you'd be better off with someone else as your trainer. Obviously he will still be very helpful but maybe you need someone who will really push you, someone you can hate for making you work so hard, and then go home to your loving husband. Maybe that's why your husband isn't pushing you - you're his wife, not his client, so it might be more emotional for him to be "tough" on you.

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I should clarify, he pushes me in a training sense (hat ehim when he's training me) but he isn't pushy in a harpy kind of way.

But, maybe I should work out with someone else.

Boots, you may be on to something, maybe a smaller/more defined goal would be better.