The Freshman Twenty at Forty
Like most college freshmen, I packed on a few pounds when I went away to school. For undergrad I went to USC (University of Southern California--Tommy Trojan above) and not only did it have excellent food, it also had a valadine (sp?) program. Basically, a charge card for food tied to the tuition bill. Once I got over the novelty of being able to eat whatever and whenever I wanted, I dropped most of those pounds. Not all, but most.
Other than for the times I was pregnant, freshman year was probably the biggest weight gain I've ever had.
Until now.
Flash forward twenty (cough, cough...or twenty plus) years and I am no longer that svelte eighteen year old, but a forty-one year old mother of two who seems to be adding weight every week. I'm exaggerating, but it seems like the moment I hit 40 everything changed. I've always worked out and eaten relatively healthy (my big weakness being burritos and cheese), but all of the sudden it caught up to me. Granted with all my recent tight deadlines I've had too much butt in the chair time, but these pounds don't want to come off!
Calories in, calories out, should be simple. Then why is it so HARD.
I thought I'd throw it to you guys and see if anyone has any diets that have worked for them. Atkins is a little too scary for me. Life without carbs? Ick.
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UNLV did the same thing with our student id's acting like debit cards for the dining commons. luckily I walked so flippin' much around campus that I didn't gain. but then I had kids... sigh. I try to read while I walk/jog on the treadmill, but now that the weather is triple digits (and since the treadmill's in the garage) maybe I can sweat the weight off! :) cutting fried foods dropped about 10 lbs for me though.
I cut fried foods out after college and dropped quite a few of those pounds. LOL about the treadmill being in the garage. I don't envy those triple digit temperatures--I am so not a hot person. My hubby grew up in Houston so he's used to heat (and humidity).
I can't give up carbs either. I don't follow any specific diet plans. I've been drinking less soda and eating less junk food, but can't seem to give up fried foods and desserts.
Hey Jane,
The carbs are definitely a deal breaker for me. Most of my friends how have done Atkins DO lose a ton of weight, but they gain it back (and more) when they go off. No thanks. I know I'm strange, but I've never really craved deserts. Up until now, I think that's really helped me. But now it seems like whatever I eat, it's sticking.
The only diet advice I've ever seen work - and keep working - is:
Burn more calories than you eat. (Or conversely, eat less than you burn.)
Sounds easy, right? I wish. It does work, though. It's the sticking to it that gets me in the end. Literally.
Yep, what B.E. said, unfortunately! And I totally hear you, Monica! I'm about to hit the big four-oh, and boy, in the last year or so, I'm realizing in numerous less-than-great ways that my body isn't as young as it used to be and it isn't behaving as I expect it to! Grrr!
One interesting book we've been reading on the whole weight/diet thing is Move a Little, Lose a Lot:
http://www.amazon.com/Move-Little-Lose-Lot-N-E/dp/030740854X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246378700&sr=8-1
Nothing earth-shattering, but it's encouragement to fit activity into whatever spaces you've got in your life :)
Keep us posted! :)
B.E., you and me both! It is so simple, but hard to implement. I also want to make I take it off slowly enough that it's "permanent."
flchen,
That book sounds really interesting! I really like the premise. I think not moving as much is what has really hurt me the past couple of years (as well as getting older). You are so right about the body not behaving--it's amazing how fast things changed for me. Sigh.
The best luck I've had was with Weight Watchers. I'm not into meetings so I joined online and it was really easy. Also, I never really felt deprived. I upped the exercise, followed WW and dropped 40 pounds. About 10 crept back on over the past 6 years and I'm now working on taking that off, mostly through exercise and cutting out the junk. Well, most of the junk. lol I've been working hard at it so I can fit into a couple outfits I want to take to DC. One more week until my final try-on before packing. Keep your fingers crossed!
PJ,
40 pounds is amazing. I actually used WW to take off that freshman twenty I was talking about many years ago. Maybe I should re-look into that. You alluded to exactly what got me raring to go to lose this weight--fitting into conference clothes. Too funny! I've definitely got my fingers crossed for both of us!
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