Need to lose 10 pound by end of the year--Start my food log

[lovedance]

Hi everyone,
I need to lose 10 pounds by the end of the year, but I also want to remain strong.  I liked Rob's suggestions.  I am going to start a food log to keep myself honest and enter it on this board.
So far this morning:  snack 1--oatmeal with flax seeds 
now I am off to the gym.
snack 2 --5 crackers and an apple
snack 3 -- whole wheat toast with ham, with carrots
snack 4--cup of chicken noodle soup
snack 5--oatmeal bar
your suggestions and comments are welcome,
Thanks,
Lovedance

[rob]

Good job   If you want to add some protein, I highly recommend almonds. A great source of protein and mixed with medjool dates, very tasty!

[Ewan Can]

If you've been making good progress, that's great, go for it. But if you're at a standstill, don't stress yourself on reaching the goal by a certain date. I've seen it explained that doing so may, not always, but may be detrimental to your progress and lead to disappointment and frustration. Aiming for a specific weight is best with no time limit in mind.

I felt compelled to say this because the end of the year is only a couple months from now.

[lovedance]

Thank you!  I needed that.  I had a few "good" days and then a few not so good days.  It is awful feeling to feel like I am not going to make my goal of 10 pounds by the end of the year.  I think I need to just start making progress--even if it is slow.
Tomorrow is another day--hopefully it will be a "Rob snack day"!

[Ewan Can]

If you're weighing yourself every day, it would be best to switch to weighing yourself once a week. I heard Jillian Michaels on her radio show(fitness show host) explained that weight will go up and down within a small range. It's from the food material going in, waste going out, sweat, water, etc. To get a good estimate on overall weight decrease, it's best to weigh yourself once a week.

[lovedance]

One of my problems is when I start exercising I get soooo hungry and then I overeat and gain weight.  I feel better but I start to gain weight.  It is a vicious cycle.  The only way I have found to really lose weight is to stop exercise and cut way down on my food.  I don't feel very good but it does work.  I wish I could find a way to exercise and then not eat the whole house.

[rob]

I drink chocolate milk right after an intense workout. It's one of the best post workout recovery drinks you can get. Check this out:

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news/20060224/chocolate-milk-new-sports-drink

And when I feel hungry later, but I have already eaten my set number of calories for that cycle, I drink warm tea or water, ie chrysanthemum tea with honey. Warm drinks make me feel MUCH more full than cold ones. Exercise is a huge component of weight loss, so I would hesitate to give that up. But, if you can find things to make you feel full, you should be all right.

[lovedance]

Oh No!  After all of those good intentions--I gained 5 instead of losing 10 and now I have 15 to lose.  It is so hard to just be conscious of what I eat.  I am going to start a food journal and drink lots of water.

[swazeylover]

that's okay.. don't fret!!! exercise too

[bike]

hmm...eat only fruit, all the fruit you want except banana.
drink unsweetened tea, black coffee, cranberry juice, and water...

think this help