I really like your story. One thing I need to work on the most is drinking more water...I do think that is the key! Whenever I have a craving I think I will come to this forum to stay motivated. Talk to you guys tomorrow. :animal-pa

What seems like an oxymoron for me is my doctor said limit my salt to 1500 mg. or less a day, put me on a diuretic, and told me to drink a lot of water. A diuretic to get rid of excess water only to drink "a lot" more. LOL!! I understand, it just sounds funny.

I always considered myself to eat fairly healthy but I found I was not eating too healthy at all. My biggest problem area was sodas. However, when I started keeping track of my salt intake, I started to realize how much salt is in our foods. It seems like such a small thing, but it's huge! In 4 weeks I have completely overhauled my diet. I significantly cut my sodas back to just one a day (and working to get rid of that one), eat lean meat, raw vegetables, and fruits. I was addicted to carbohydrates, and cut out white potatoes, white bread, sugar, and chips! However, the one thing I struggle to give up is chips and salsa! So, I made my own salt free salsa with all raw vegetables and froze it. In the organic section of our grocery store, I found some low salt all natural corn chips which have one third the amount of salt per serving, and their serving size was twice as much as a name brand bag of chips, so it completey satisfies my cravings with just one portion.

So, in 4 weeks I have lost 6lbs. I am not significantly overweight, but I could lose 20-25 lbs to be on target. I am sure it is mostly water but I do feel a lot better eating this way. Next step however is to amp up the exercise and get moving.

Last evening I took the dogs on a walk. Mylee is on restricted exercise, so I carried her. She was my "free" weight and boy did I feel it by the time I got home. LOL.

If you drink a glass of cold water before a meal you will find that you eat less that is a fact. I just did cardio and free weights for an 1.15 minutes this morning. I'm down 2 lbs already.

I did my Turbo Jam workout this morning I did the 20min and the 43min rested for like 15mins and jumped on the treadmill for 20min fast and slow combined. Thats a hard one but hey if you want it bad enough anything is possible...

Yesterday was my weight training day, did legs, arms, shoulders, chest and abs. I am pretty sore today.

Tonight is cardio.

Remind me why I do this.

About to start my Turbo Jam and Bike and Treadmill I should be done by, oh I dont know I'll be done when I'm done...hahahahaha

Yeah I lost another pound I'm down 3.5 now. The key for me is working out before I eat. Today this is my plan
1 hour treadmill I start slow and speed up to a run and slow down again and do this over and over. It feels good to run again!
Today's meal plan
BREAKFAST
1/2 plain oatmeal with 1/2 of frozen blueberries and 1/2 cinnamon with splenda this is my favorite I do this with fresh apples to yum
4 scrambled egg whites, water
SNACK
baby carrots, almonds
LUNCH
fresh baby spinach with fresh strawberries, spray raspberry dressing , protein shake
SNACK
sliced cucumbers, apple slices
DINNER
Roast Beef lean (only 4 oz), steamed fresh green beans, half a sweat potato, 1/4 brown rice with butter spray
My supplements are Omega 3 - 2000 mg, women daily multi vit., vit D

What is the 1/2 oatmeal for breakfast? is it cooked and 1/2 cup? or dry with the apples and blueberries? And 4 egg whites? do you mix it together?
I so need your menus...this is kinda like I have to eat but I eat the same stuff everyday... over and over...and I am bored
PS working out in gym shortly then to drs. again...and my chest and abs are hurting as I did weights yesterday again...cardio today

My oatmeal is one package of instant oatmeal, it equals a half a cup. I add a half cup of frozen blueberries onto the dry oatmeal add the water then I add the half teaspoon of cinnamon (Some studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol.) and a package of splenda sweatnes. I cook it in the microwave for 2.30 sec. I stir it half way through, all microwave are different so keep checking. It is really hot so be careful when you take it out. The blueberries will have burst open and it is sweet and taste like a cobbler. I also do this with apple slices and frozen strawberries. The egg whites are scrambled and I use Pan spray, I sometimes add green pepper green onions and sprinkle a tiny bit of low fat cheddar on top when I'm done. I was on the diet a month short of 3 years so you learn to be inventive. I love fresh baby spinach so I make lots of different salad with it one of my favorite is to add fresh raspberries chopped pecans, a bit of red onion, you can add grilled chicken on it and I use fat free or spray on raspberry dressing. My key to not getting bored was to make my food spicy.

Are any of yall on Sparkpeople.com its a good motivation web site

Did 1 hour of strength training Sunday, 1 hour of Zumba tonight. I missed Tuesday's Zumba had to go furniture shopping with my dtr. My biggest problem is sugar and soda. It just seems impossible for me to give up coke and drink water. I will work on cutting back for now.

I had a hard time giving up sweets to. Do you like Splenda or any of the ot?her non sugar sweeteners? I have to have my sweets so my breakfast oatmeal taste like a cobbler, I also cook in a steam bag apples and cinnamon and splenda it is like a pie without the crust. A fresh strawberries desert I make is prepare 2 pkg of strawberry sugar free jello put in the frig until set then blend in a blender 3/4 cup plain yogurt add fresh strawberry slices and return to the frig to chill again it's really yummy. If water is hard to get a taste for over soda try add a bit of lemon juice or fresh lemon slices to the water. Also make your own ice tea it will still have less sugar then a soda will even if you use real sugar. Sugarless gum helps to.

Zumba that sound like fun, I have seen the commercials, do you sheered the pouds with that?

Ok I'm in, I have been working out for almost a month, I try to do no less that tree times a week. I try to get back in shape, I just to work out six time a week and eat healthy for so many year, before I got married my nickname was huesito ( little bones) then I got married:rolleyes: lol have to blame in some body right?? hahaha, not is just me with junk food, the love of coke, and I have a terrible sweet tooth mayor problem :rolleyes:there,anyway, I don't believe in diets, but to watch in moderation what to eat; and I also think with out any type of work out or keeping active (sport etc) you can't loose the way, you have to burn the fat and calories intakes that you eat is a most, specially if you are over 40:rolleyes: your metabolism goes in a coma hahaha..lol, I don' own a pesa so I don't weight my self at all, I goes by my clothes how they fit, today I put one pair of jeans that didn't fit me and fit me a little big now ayyy...I don't have excuse I have plenty of work out videos, and a little gym at home so here I go again, so lets keep each other motivated, WE CAN DO IT!!:cheer:SI CLARO!! (of course)

Sorry for the typos and the grammar:( I press the button to fast before I ck lol:p:rolleyes: