ive been lucky and havent gained but then i walk 3 miles 4 times a week. plus i do things with my son. going for a bike ride that kind of thing.. this way i can have alittle taste and it isnt going to go to my gut..

I've lost 90 lbs. since July 2004. I never want to gain it back. I keep a "fat" picture in the kitchen. I do "taste". The first bite of anything is always the best. So, I take one bite and that's it! I know what it tastes like and I don't feel deprived.

If I can do it, anybody can!

I asked my husband to figure out a way to hook the mixer up to my Schwinn Airdyne (exercise bike) so when I make anything, I get a few minutes of exercise in!

LittleBigMomma WOW!!! you go girl!!! That is so wonderful. As someone who has had a lifetime weight issue I have a lot of respect for you and you are an inspiration!!

You must share your weight loss story!!!

I was doing well last year and lost 50 lbs after my 3rd pregnancy... it is slowly coming back on as I am unfortuately battling thyroid issues... hopefully once we find my right dose of medication....I will start shedding again. I am just trying to maintain as much as possible right now.

I've struggled with weight issues my whole life. This is the most I've ever lost. I was on the LA Weight Loss program. I didn't cheat, not once, during the weight loss phase, 38 weeks. No, not even cake, icing -- nothing. Now that I'm on maintenance, I do the "one bite" thing. I also have a thryroid disorder - hypothyroidism, I'm on Synthroid.

I have a lot of weight i need to lose. Just started a work out prgram with DH last week. Its hard but ohi t will be worth it when i canget into a 7 again.

I don't always do this, but these are things I've done in the past to help me stay in shape.
I can do 100 jump ropes while a cake is mixing. While i make the icing I stand at an angle of the counter put both hands on counter and do "push ups" off of my counter.
Thirty minutes of exercise is recommended noone ever said you had to do it all at once break it up into 10 minutes at a time.
Do jumping jacks, squats, or just dance around with your kids.
I do taste while I'm baking. I am one of these people that just has to know if it is OK, but I, and I am sure I speak for everyone else here on cake central, do so very carefully. Clean spoon in bowl, spoon in mouth, and then spoon directly into sink. always.
I have enjoyed reading everyones posts on this and have gotten very motivated. In fact it's 10:00pm and I want to go jump on my treadmill!!! LOL! Thanks for sharing all your good ideas. This is a great topic!

Can you imagine though...
When I am in charge of my son's school cake auction and the 2 main topics is cake and my weight loss success! I FEEL SO GUILTY! I mean here I am with ladies asking me how I lost weight and talking about how much they want to lose... then I hand them A CAKE!!

I can only tell them, "It takes willpower!"

I have just finally lost all of my baby weight from my 2 year old (85 lbs.) and am getting married in April. I am going dress shopping next week for my wedding dress so hopefully it will motivate me to stay the say size/weight. I just started Wilton Course I and had my first class last night. I hope baking all of these cakes won't blow it for me. I'm allergic to chocolate so that really is a life saver in itself. Maybe I'll just bake all chocolate practice cakes so I won't be tempted to eat them. I work out vigorously everyday and stick to a strict 1200 calorie per day diet. I need all of the tips and advice before I even start to do this so that I'm not posting a topic in a few months about having 20 lbs. to lose!!!! Thanks for all of the above tips. Wish all you ladies luck. Duct tape, that's funny. LOL

This is a new quote my MIL just told me today as I was telling her about this subject. " Nothing tastes as good as thin feels" OH they obviously have never tasted BUTTERCREAM!!!

SAD!!! You sound like you have everything under control on the fitness plan!!! Go for it! And I'm with you on the Buttercream thing.......it's TOO GOOD!!!! I have to block the thought of all that Crisco tho.....UGH! Happy Wedding planning................

Thank you for your kind words and well wishes. I love this website. Everyone is so nice and very inspirational.

Stress is seeming to work for me.....I have no appetite. Seriously though the only way I seem to loose weight is to exercise.

Littlebigmomma,
You mentioned that you've been struggling with weight issues all your life and I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone.!!! I'm also on the same boat, and I'm only 24 years old. I know what it's like to see pictures of yourself and feel so bad that you have to look away. I recently lost 40 lbs and do not plan on gaining it back. I've never thought of putting pics of myself on the fridge though. Maybe I should try it. Anyways, I just wanted to say congratulations on your weight loss!!!



Daniela

WOW you CC ladies (& gents) never cease to amaze me! I had no idea there'd be so many posts on my topic...in fact for some reason it wasn't emailing me to tell me there had been more posts, so I was clueless to all the hub-bub!

Thanks for all the wonderful advice, I started on Sunday by excercising and then yesterday I did grocery shopping and got a lot of healthy foods. I always keep a bottle of water with me (AZ, what can you expect), but I'm making a consious (sp?) effort to actually drink it a lot and keep it filled.

I will definitely try out the gum/toothpaste thing, that would probably work well with me as I work the most late nights and I am a freak about clean teeth.

It is so inspiring to hear everyone's stories! I'm all revv'd up but now have to sit here at work till the end of the day

My biggest problem is eating practice cakes and leftover cakes, so I am just going to keep working on willpower, and GIVING the cakes away and keeping them out of the house!

I agree with the glass of wine theory. Of course I really haven't found anything that doesn't go well with bc

Daniela,
Thank You and CONGRATULATIONS to YOU!

SAD,
1200 calories is a bit low. On LA Weight Loss I was taught that if I didn't eat enough my metabolism would actually slow down. One thing that helps keep metabolism up is eating often. I eat "something" about every 2-3 hours.

Whatever works for one person, may not work for another -- so if you feel good and you're losing, keep up the work and good luck!

Ive had tyroid issues also so its extra hard. I had/have tyroid cancer so each year they pull me off my meds for two weeks and i gain 15 pounds...then i spend the whole year trying to lose it.
I tried windsor pilates and they have a long and a short workout the 20 mminutes is basic strectching and light work and it made a huge differnce although i didnt lose any pounds I went from a size 14 to a size 8 ...so as long as you feel healty.
i dont think that numbers matter....

I also saw a show that said if every morning before you get out of bed you do cruches starting with 10 and adding more before you get out of bed until you do 100 each morning that should help keep that tummy tight.... seems to work as well.

lastingmoments,
I'm so sorry to hear about your thyroid cancer. My thoughts and prayers go out to you as well. I just wanted to let you know that I have a friend that has a thyroid problem also. She tried losing weight without ever having any success until she tried weight watchers. And so far she lost 15 lbs!!!! Just wanted to let you know in case you were interested. Take Care


Daniela

Congratulations to all of you that have lost a lot of weight. It sure is tough. I constantly battle my weight and DH over here has hypothyroidism and STILL doesn't gain weight like I do! I can't even blame it on the baby. By the time she was 1, I weighed 10 lbs. less than I did before I was pregnant. Probably because I didn't have time to eat!!! Now I've gained back that 10, plus more. I don't eat very much cake, I even usually throw my practice cakes away when they've been around a couple days. I do usually taste the icing and the batter, but not very much of it, I don't think. I'll try the gum and brushed teeth things, though.

I highly recommend exercise, too. I have a hard time watching what I eat, though I usually make balanced meals, at least for dinner. I have a gym membership that I use at least once a week, but try to make it 3 or 4. My downfall is summer. I just can't motivate myself to get out and exercise when it's over 90 degrees outside.

Also, Winsor Pilates is great! Like SAD said, you might not lose weight, but boy oh boy it flattened out my tummy in a week!

Ali

You guys are scaring me! I just started seriously decorating and I do not want to gain weight with it, although that would be one tasty way! LOL I guess I will combat it abiding by my mother's rules. We children were not to lick our fingers, or any utensil for food prepared. To this day, I have just thrown all of my cuttings away in the trash. Maybe that would help some of you. Have a trash can near by and toss immediately! I'll have to let you know in another six months how much I gain!

alimonkey... i can't motivate myself to get out and exercise when it's over 120 degrees outside! haha...just walking from the apartment to the gym zaps my strength but i have done it a little!

I can't even imagine that kind of heat, Rainbow Moon. We spend an awful lot of time up near or over 100 though. It's finally starting to cool down here, by which I mean it doesn't hit 90 til afternoon, so it looks like exercise season is here.

I've always hated bathing suit season. I stop exercising from the heat, and of course I balloon up by 10 or 15 lbs for the barest time of the year!

Ali

Before my hypothyroidism was diagnosed, no matter what diet I followed, I would not lose. When my doctor put me on Synthroid for my condition, my weight gain slowed down and I stayed about the same weight. Then when I started going to LA Weight Loss last year the weight just melted off!! Thyroid has a lot to do with weight management. Doctors usually don't routinely check the thyroid levels. I would suggest that anyone who feels nervous, tired, foggy headed and has a hard time losing weight have their thyroid checked. It's a TSH blood profile.

my mom has thyroid problems and this is just one more reason that i need to get mine checked...i've been meaning to for years (i'm not a frequent visitor to the dr.)

To all of the ladies here looking to lose weight while doing cakes- all I have to say is good luck to you. Cake is sooo good. LOL

Also, to the members who seem to be concerned that 1200 calories per day is too low, not to worry, I've had an analysis done by my doc plus my trainer at the gym. Everyone is right, what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for others. I do the Dr. Phil diet plan. It recommends for my age, height, weight and level of physical activity, that I consume no more than 1200-1500 calories per day. 1200 if I want to lose weight, and more towards 1500 if I just simply want to maintain. I must stress though that its not 1200 calories of whatever. I actually eat perfectly healthy. 8 oz. Lean protein per day, 2 Healty Carbohydrates, 2 pieces whole fruit, at least one egg and unlimited non starchy veggies. I limit my sugar intake to practically none. I don't eat refined carbohydrates, but I do eat complex carbs. I do eat healthy fats such as olive oil, avocado, nuts, flax seed. I eat dairy and everything. I have no room in my diet for junk if I want to make the most of the calories I have to work with. I also take a multivitamin on top of it all. Its taken me 2 years to lose 85 pounds. I've been doing it this way for the entire length of time and love the results. My first priority however, is staying healthy for my family. My husband needs me, my son needs me. I would never put my health in jeopardy to lose a few vanity pounds. I've never felt better in my life. Have I been thinner before? Yes but at that point in my life I smoked cigarettes and ate whatever junk came my way. It was at that point I was at my thinnest but not my fittest and certaintly not my healthiest. I dearly appreciate those of you who were looking out for my health and well being. I really wish all of you luck in whatever endeavor you take on. I'm glad we have this forum. It allows us to know each other on a little more personal level. Its an outlet we have for advice and to share in our joys, craft, skills and life. I can't wait to make beautiful cakes worthy of posting in these galleries!!!!!