Have you gained weight since moving to the U.S.?

[Daly 0]

So far I've been losing weight, 15 lbs since I arrived in June, which is the lightest I've been in 6 years. I've dropped my old bad habits of emotional eating, not exercising and my usual sulking of being unhappy. Plus, in the wintertime back in Canada, I usually gain weight in winter because of not being able to run or swim as much. Not so much here, which I absolutely love. I've also helped the hubby drop 30 lbs. His parents noticed it immediately and thanked me for the positive impact I've had on him. I force him to go running with me, and we've also gotten back into ballroom dancing 3 times a week. Then there's the dog, which we take to the park or go for long walks with.

Besides the change in activity, moving here's changed how I eat. We only eat out once a week, and when we do, I usually bring a bento box with me to fill up if the restaurant we go to runs out of take home boxes. I can only eat about 1/3 of the massive meals that restaurants give. I also still cook the same foods I did back home too.

My weight'll probably sink to a healthier range. I wasn't living very healthy in Canada. I rarely ever exercised, I was depressed, lazy, couldn't portion my food properly. Two of the biggest motivators for me has been the hubby being with me, and the promise of a new clothing wardrobe once I drop 3-4 more sizes. Yesiree... nothing motivates me quite like shopping. Has anyone noticed a difference in quality and brands from TJmaxx versus Winners? I'm convinced Winners gets the leftovers that TJmaxx customers don't want.

[SpiritAlight 1]

I am snacking while reading this thread.

And snif snif, those wasabi peas will kill ya if you pop too many at once.

[Krikit 1,163]

So far I've been losing weight, 15 lbs since I arrived in June, which is the lightest I've been in 6 years. I've dropped my old bad habits of emotional eating, not exercising and my usual sulking of being unhappy. Plus, in the wintertime back in Canada, I usually gain weight in winter because of not being able to run or swim as much. Not so much here, which I absolutely love. I've also helped the hubby drop 30 lbs. His parents noticed it immediately and thanked me for the positive impact I've had on him. I force him to go running with me, and we've also gotten back into ballroom dancing 3 times a week. Then there's the dog, which we take to the park or go for long walks with.

Besides the change in activity, moving here's changed how I eat. We only eat out once a week, and when we do, I usually bring a bento box with me to fill up if the restaurant we go to runs out of take home boxes. I can only eat about 1/3 of the massive meals that restaurants give. I also still cook the same foods I did back home too.

My weight'll probably sink to a healthier range. I wasn't living very healthy in Canada. I rarely ever exercised, I was depressed, lazy, couldn't portion my food properly. Two of the biggest motivators for me has been the hubby being with me, and the promise of a new clothing wardrobe once I drop 3-4 more sizes. Yesiree... nothing motivates me quite like shopping. Has anyone noticed a difference in quality and brands from TJmaxx versus Winners? I'm convinced Winners gets the leftovers that TJmaxx customers don't want.

Wow. Good for you. That's awesome!

[MrsCat 6]

Daly cheers to you for the super healthy lifestyle.

I keep telling myself I'll start exercising again. I just keep saying it'll happen tomorrow. What's the saying - tomorrow never comes?

[TheATeam 0]

I had been doing really good and was losing weight until hubby started really craving the foods that I don't do so well with. He loves all kinds of carbs, now I do too, but they don't usually agree with me and I gain wait like crazy on them. They don't agree with me and for some reason I can't resist them! Oh and everything is made with wheat. It's really hard to have a wheat free diet when the other person doesn't need to be wheat free. ~sigh~ I'm not blaming this on hubby, that's for sure. I'm blaming it on my lack of self control. I just can't control myself around those things I know I shouldn't eat.

SO....I've been on a whole bunch of diets and I've done well and then backslid. I've also lost about 80 pounds and put ten of that back on which is frustrating. I'm trying to really focus on only eating when I'm hungry and only eating UNTIL I'm full. That's tough as I don't really feel hungry or full at all right now. Anyhow, that helps with portion sizes for sure! I know that will help and that's the first step. Pretty soon I'll stop craving all the junk that I want that's terrible for me. It seems to work that way for me, I start to crave the healthy things!

Hey Cat-Hubby's grandpa says that since tomorrow never comes if there's something you don't want to do, say you'll do it tomorrow and you'll never have to do it!

[xtinab 0]

I'm bad with self control also. Ive said many times Im cutting down on carbs, but we LOOOOOOVE pizza and tater tots. And chips. Oooooh sandwhiches too...... I cant give those up! Also, this week, Im on a purge. BB and I usually have a beer or 2 with and after dinner so Im cutting those out. Ill have a glass of wine with dinner, but only one. Ive also given up a certain "spice" that I had given up but recently taken up again occasionaly. Time to cut that out again. Definitely increases the munchies so if I cut that out, I can cut the snacking out. I love snacking.

[Reba 2]

I gained over 25 pounds since I moved here, despite what I thought was an attempt at healthy eating and moderate exercise. Found out a couple of years ago that I have Graves' Disease, which is an auto-immune that knocks the thyroid into hyperdrive. Trying to lose weight while the thyroid is out of whack, your resting heart rate is about 95 all the time, you're constantly sweating for no reason, and the meds also cause weight gain...not so much fun. Its in remission now though, but I need to go for follow-up blood work sometime soon. If I can get a doctor appointment

3 weeks ago I had on a pair of jeans that had gotten so tight my legs were going numb as I sat at my desk. I even got a bruise on my thigh from them. So I started Atkins. I'm very pleased with my results so far, and the pair of pants I have on now are almost falling down I haven't tried the jeans yet though... In all, I need to lose about 40 pounds or so to get to my once comfortable weight somewhere around 125 (when I met my hubby I was waaaaaaaay too skinny, about 105 - 110 maybe, which we later discovered was the beginning of my Graves's Disease, and had caused massive and dangerous weight LOSS. I put it all, plus a lot more, back on). I have also not had any problems with my IBS since about day 2 on Atkins, which to me is a blessing, because I've been in pain and constipated with it for over 4 years! I'm tellin' ya, that alone will keep me eating the Atkins way, the weight loss is just a bonus! Last I checked I was down about 7 pounds after just 2 weeks, and have lost more since. On to the next phase for me, and maybe by Christmas time I can have a wee bite of chocolate Which is probably the only thing that I've really been missing. That, and after a rotten day at work, a nice glass of wine.

[Krikit 1,163]

Wow, Reba! Congratulations! Did you just buy the Atkins book or is there another way? I might have to try that.

[Emancipation 2]

Atkins looks complicated.. I can't figure it out..

[Cassie 8]

I gained a few pounds initially, but it kicked into overdrive when I was put on progesterone for a couple of months. Then it went up around 20 pounds and I said enough to the doctor and stopped taking it and started really working on losing weight. 27 pounds so far and counting!

[trailmix 77]

Atkins looks complicated.. I can't figure it out..

Just eat a lot of meat, little carbs (including vegetables...think like a small salad a day) - and you will have started on Atkin's.

That's all I can tell you, I think I made it 7 days before my carb cravings took over and wonnnnnnnn (oh but it really did work).

[Autumnchik 6]

Hubby gained weight when he first moved here. He has always liked his junk food and in Vancouver, used to be able to snack while not gaining weight (he did also eat a lot of healthy food). Activity level was the issue. In Vancouver, he used public transportation and walked 3-4 miles a day at least. Here, our small town has horrendous public transport so he ends up driving everywhere. When he was working as a carpenter, he dropped the weight due to the physical activity. But now that he is unemployed, the weight is creeping back on.

[Reba 2]

I've found Atkins is actually pretty easy. And you do get to eat lots and lots of veggies, just not starchy or carb loaded ones. I've had as many as 3 salads a day. Its all about balance really. And no bread or pasta. After about 3 days, my carb cravings were pretty much gone. I can even say no to ice cream when James is waving it under my nose

So far I've just been using the website for info and help, I ordered the book thru a used seller on Amazon, and it hasn't got to me yet Here's their website http://community.atkins.com/ Forums and everything.

Its a life long lifestyle change, not just a diet. As I said before, just the benefits of my IBS being gone alone is reason enough for me to keep on it. I feel great!

[Sprailenes 47]

My mom always says, you need the size of your palm in meat and your plate should have mostly veggies on it. She doesn't eat too many starches because she's a diabetic. Plus she goes on juice fasts every 6 months.

My husband tried to tell me he was going to go on a juice fast last week and started putting BOTTLED juices in the cart at the supermarket.

I stood there laughing and told him: "Uhhh you need a juicer and fresh fruits and vegetables!!"

Now I know what else to get him for Christmas.

[BermyCat 1]

I don't offcially live here yet but I've done a three month visit. I lost five pounds. I'm sure it's because I've been doing a lot of cooking and using the apartment complex gym regularly. We found a grocery store that has some really amazing and cheap produce. It has almost everything you can imagine including snake beans and Chinese brocoli. It inspires me to cook from scratch.

I really want to try weaning off my anti-depressant meds about a year after I get here for good so I've been working hard to change my lifestyle to support that. Hopefully, the healthy diet and excercise will be well entrenched habits by the end of next year. Then I'll talk to a pshychaitrist about getting off the meds.

~ Catherine