So here I am, middle-aged, have had two kids and am 15 pounds heavier than in college. I'd really like to lose some weight and get in shape, but a cake decorating hobby doesn't exactly lend itself to that ;) If I can only eat 1500 calories a day, how am I supposed to be able to continue my cake scrap and leftover frosting habit???? :) Seriously though, does anyone have any tips for resisting all the goodies while continuing to be able to enjoy cake decorating as a hobby? I've started working out too, but am getting pretty grumpy from cutting out the sweets (and not baking)!
sure -- first I need to tell you that loosing weight is a breeze compared to keeping it off 
i have myself psyched out to eat for energy and health -- I've lost nearly 15 pounds ...this time --
i very much enjoy my meals -- I eat one veggie heavy 'green' meal, a yogurt granola fruit thing for breakfast and a small protein/veggie thing for late afternoon meal --
you just have to get the right combination for you -- I have always had a very low/slow metabolism -- so I can survive on few calories -- I can eat all the veggies i want -- I even make my own potato chips -- but I watch my 'fill' line and back away --
when I was a baker I actually fasted once a week to maintain my weight and that was in my 20's --
exercise only helps wear off flab -- at a certain point in time exercise does not make you lose weight --
if I eat white sugar I cannot control my weight-- I have learned to like stevia -- sweet leaf stevia is my brand -- it is an acquired taste --
i can't drink Coca-Cola which is my 'drug of choice' but alas no es bueno -- oh and I switched from diet coke to the green stevia coke but can't drink that daily either --
i drink really sweet green tea sweetened w/stevia
the only baked goods I will have is fruit heavy items like pie or something but don't want anything right now -- if I make a peanut butter sandwich i just use one piece of bread and put blueberries on it not jelly just the fruit -- I avoid white flour -- i have my own blend of gluten light flour -- I like to go with vegetable proteins but I eat a hamburger once in a while, fish & chicken
here's a blog i haven't updated in a while it's called, "junk food junkies can lose weight"
oh I should put my pancake recipe on there...just any minute :)
I have one word for you.......PALEO.......it's not a diet.......it's a life style.
Here's a good place to start......
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-primal-blueprint-21-day-challenge-infographic/#axzz4E9aolnxS
I was going the the gym, working out, and NOT losing weight. I started eating PALEO and I stopped going to the gym, and the pounds started to melt away and my digestive issues all but disappeared. I still enjoy cake but its a treat in small portions. It may seem restrictive at first but you can enjoy eating health food that tastes good and is good for you. HTH
cakes are for celebrations not just for random continuous snacking -- so since we are/were in the baking business we have too many chances to celebrate :)
my brother got his weight in control because he got a scary bad report from his dr regarding his bp & all -- and all those things have been corrected now through diet -- so I text him my weight every morning -- I told him he doesn't have to do anything just let me text him -- I usually get a thumbs up or a smilie back -- we discuss a bit sometimes --
he's lost weight once to my knowledge -- erma bombeck said "in two decades I've lost 789 pounds, I should be hanging from a charm bracelet" me too hahahahaha
my goal here is to reduce initially and not gain the weight back for five years -- then I'll set another goal -- so once I've lost it all (again) the challenge is just beginning -- but all I have to do is continue what i've been doing -- sounds easy but it's the trickiest part for me & most of us-- that's why I have a five year plan -- I can't lose it and then 'be ok' and eat anything -- doesn't work for me -- and especially using food to self medicate -- I have chronic pain so eating something instantly makes me feel good -- it's wonderful but the side effects of that are not wonderful --
I'm gonna put my method for potato chips on my blog too -- I make 'em with olive & coconut oil and my own blend of seasoned salt -- easy peasy --
and I make my own creamy salad dressing -- Martha Stewart has a great recipe you can make six other kinds from -- this way I can control my oils -- i'm not a fan of the other vegetable oils -- I make my own mayonnaise with olive & coconut oil too -- it might sound elaborate but it's not really
http://www.marthastewart.com/1156129/creamy-salad-dressing-base
so you've only got 15 pounds to lose -- that's easy -- if you make a couple subtle changes you'd probably get there like go for half an apple, banana, handful of blueberries instead of cake -- get a glass of water instead of medicating with food if you do that -- like oh I've had a stressful day I'm gonna have a nice dessert or an indulgence -- mmmno -- eat for energy and health -- you've got kids -- you're in a fast paced world -- plan your foods out in advance --
even though exercise does not make me lose weight -- I do exercise in the pool 40 mins three times a week -- I float like a buoy not just from body fat -- fat is lighter than water -- but my bones are too light too -- it's like I'm in salt water -- so while the rest of the class is in the shallow end exercising one limb at a time I'm in the deep end exercising both limbs twice as much -- I really push it in the water as much as I can using the water as resistance -- I used to do an hour in the pool but with the extra fatigue during weight loss I just do the 40 -- helps with keeping/getting my skin smooth -- mainly I'm in there to keep my joints mobile --
also you have to get good sleep in order to lose weight -- see me up with my shoulder since about 2 am hahahaha but still I dropped just over a half pound since yesterday :)
i love to weigh myself all day long -- I've learned how to predict my weight -- what works and what doesn't -- some say just weigh once -- whatever -- I've learned a lot weighing often
you can totally drop those pounds handily with minor adjustments -- fat cells have memory though -- once you drop the 15 you can't go back to your previous eating habits because you'll gain them back faster the second time --
I've tried to focus on enjoying the things I can eat --
best to you!
My husband is eating healthy and losing weight. This is probably the 4 or 5th time in 10 years we've done the "diet" thing. He's lost 130 lbs twice and gained it back. So what we are doing this time is quite a bit different from any other time. In 10 weeks he's lost 57 lbs. we aren't dieting we aren't setting goals and he's not counting calories this time we simply want to physically feel better and the weight loss is a bonus. He's not inclined to eat sweets he likes real food meat and potatoes lol so it helps that he doesn't have much of a sweet tooth although he will have a taste of something new I make but it's seriously no more than a small taste once in a blue moon. We eat chicken 5 nights a week red meat once a week fresh veggies steamed and brown rice. We usually have pizza on Friday nights we get a Mediterranean Herb Chicken Pizza from papa murphys and then fast on Saturday nights or have a healthy smoothie instead of a full meal and then for lunch Sunday we have a free meal for then usually fast or have another smoothie for dinner. My husband has a bowl of special k cereal and a half of a banana for breakfast, an apple for a snack, salad, an orange, string cheese (mozzarella) and lots of water at lunch. He has regular salad dressing as well. We don't eat diet food we just try to eat real food lots of veggies and cut out as much processed food as possible. In addition to eating healthier we walk several times a week about 2-3 miles each time depending on how hot it is.
This is not fun or easy most often we hate it but for us the reality is he has to lose weight it's not about looks he felt like his body was doing weird things and he was scared. We remind ourselves of that anytime it gets really hard. He sleeps better, has more energy and has started doing things he couldn't do before. Whether is 15 pounds or 100 or more pounds it's hard work and keeping it off is even harder. That's why this isn't a diet for us it's a journey with no end. He will never get to eat whatever he wants bc he will gain weight that's the reality for him :(
I hope you are able to find what works for you. For some calorie counting is the key for others it's staying away from pop and junk food and others it's just exercise. Oh and we do our very best to not eat past 7 pm. And no snacks after dinner. There is a really good app called lose it that he uses to keep track of his weight loss and he has a fit bit. he did weight watcher 3 times but for him the counting points just didn't work he focused to much on what he could and couldn't have bc he didn't have enough points. But we know people who've lost lots of weight with it and kept it off. Good luck to you and if you don't mind keep us updated!!
i love papa murphy's -- we wait for the 50% off coupon and get the gluten free crust loaded with spinach, artichokes and that delicious fennel sausage all doubled -- with the white sauce, onions and roasted garlic -- comes out to about twelve bucks 
we have often had continuing weight loss threads -- if we want we could use this similar to how i text my brother and either document the amount gained or lost that day or week or whatever -- because weight loss is following the bouncing ball -- bounce down usually --y'know bounces up a little -- goes down a little, hopefully more -- over and over -- or we could post the real figure or whatever -- like mine for today is:
six tenths down since yesterday I weigh 185.8 today
when I get into the 150's I look skinny -- I'm not a little girl so I got like 30 more to go AfreakinGAIN -- I want to stay under 160 for the rest of my life so help me God please --
@newbiebaker1, thanks, you just made me stop eating napoleon cake.
First record how much calories you are eating for a couple of days, then cut intake by 500 calories a day. And you will loose 1 pound a week.
Best way ( not fast way): Eat no more than 1,200.00 a day. Replace your foods with more vegetables. One candy and piece of cake every day is a must (brains eat only sugar).
That is how I lost weight.
this is grilled cabbage cut into 'steak' shapes -- marinated in applewood smoke marinade and served with blue cheese & bacon --
i am trying this recipe today right now in fact -- the bacon is made the coals are getting hot the cabbage has been marinating -- the only change i made is i'm using sugar free maple syrup -- log cabin -- it's a wonderful thing
when it comes to weight loss -- my body loves it when i stay within my parameters but i change the foods entirely -- y'know every now & them -- so we're gonna see if this thing is any good -- seems like it would be... to be continued...
the grilled cabbage recipe results:
not surprisingly it did not look like the picture -- I'm no grill master -- but the flavor was fantastic! next time after grilling I will remove the ribs and microwave or skillet fry it -- I like my cabbage cooked more -- then add the trimmings --
but this is a recipe I would def make again -- very good -- really different
your turn...
So I have a similar situation as to the one you describe. Honestly the best tip I can give is to think about your plan to lose weight through the lens of lifestyle changes. By this I mean do not diet, if you diet you will likely not accomplish your goals as once you come off the diet you may find yourself returning to practices that were responsible for the weight in the first place.
I was overweight from the time I was 8 years old. That summer I stopped being active as a kid put on weight and never really did anything to change the practices responsible for the weight. That all changed when I decided I was tired of being 40+ pounds overweight about 15 years ago (was 29). I started being more active and I lost some weight getting from 220 to 205 over the course of a year. I sat at that point for a while and decided I was not happy at 205 but I also new that if I dieted or tried to cut everything out I was bound to fail. I realized that if I simply watched portion sizes I could make a big difference in my daily calorie intake.
To repeat I did not diet, but I did start to realize that I was eating more than I needed to. I did not count calories but rather watched how much I was eating. Couple that with upping my exercise to more than three times a week and I got down another 30 pounds--this last part all while decorating as a hobby. Part of that process was dependent here on deciding what is more important to me when faced with the scraps and left over frosting. I have cake but I let the scraps and extra go. As painful as it is to see the leveled cake tops going into the trash I know eating them will not let me stay where I want to stay not because they are sweets but because they are in excess to the sweet things I do eat (made with sugar not artificial sweeteners--although I do drink Diet Coke).
I did not lose the 40 pounds right away indeed its was over many years. There were times when I gained a few pounds back like around holidays but the over goal all has been the same: to engage in a lifestyle that enabled me to take off weight precisely by changing the practices that were responsible for me putting it on (big portion sizes and no exercise). Thus any weight I put on due to overindulging at times has been worked back off.
Long story short: be active, watch portion sizes. It is easier to throw the scraps away when you know that you are not denying yourself.
wow @gatorcake , that is absolutely inspiring! 
thank you for your post!
gatorcake, I truly admire you for being able to maintain/control your weight -- congratulations!
you are my hero 
I never lost weight from working out at the gym, but when I tried a video by one of those professionals I lost weight. I guess I wasn't getting an effective workout at the gym. When I was much younger I could shed a few pounds by just doing whatever diet fad was in: atkin etc, but since I have gotten older the bird and caveman diets wont help me loose anything I am able to eat regular, but I have to exercise effectively.
I'm down .4 of a pound from yesterday's 185.8 to 185.4 -- my brother gave me a visual of 15 pounds of butter -- that's no longer attached to me yay!
Just two more loads of butter and five years to go 
littlejewel -- that's interesting -- and congratulations for figuring out your formula and for maintaining your weight
exercise alone won't do it for me anymore -- if it did I'd be a waif -- then I'm thinking 'what is a waif' so i look it up and it's a young lady who's thin/gaunt -- so let me amend that -- if exercise alone still worked id be a vintage waif hahhahaha --
it's cool all the different approaches -- more! more!
and some recipes, please -- especially, interesting ways that you love to use veggies
Well I am excited, I finally ordered my spirializer, got a great deal yesterday, amazon prime day. My weakness is pasta, on paleo that's a no no. Plus it goes to all the wrong places on my body, if you know what I mean. With the Spirializer I will be able to make "spaghetti" out of zucchini and other vegetables. Anyone here use one???
i haven't but i can't wait to hear your review --
my son used to make butternut squash 'tubes' to fill like cannelloni -- omg they were ridiculous --
i've seen those spiralizers though and i'm very interested
and i have zucchini meatballs in the freezer -- should get some out for lunch...
My sisters and I commiserate that 'portion control' is not in our Italian American vocabulary. We don't understand it ! Here's what we understand - buy it or make it and eat it. That is a portion. Why is the family size bag of potato chips less money that the individual serving size? I'll buy the family size bag and start eating it in the car. For me - and I think you have figured out where I'm going with this - I cannot buy it! Also I am not one of those people who needs to eat breakfast to start the day. Coffee starts my day and if there is breakfast involved, my body says 'what's next' right away. Everyone's metabolism or lack thereof is different and it's clear from what everyone here and elsewhere says, you gots to know your own body. If you can eat a single square of chocolate a day you know that's good for you! If you can't stop after a square then you know you can't have even that! My days of eating a donut for breakfast and candy every day are in my rear-view mirror! Waah. I definitely find that once I stop counting 'how many days since my last piece of candy' it's a bit easier. No one wants to feel deprived! That being said I just got one of those Weight Watchers scales that weighs you to the .1 of a pound. A mixed blessing but at least you know where you're at!
And I have the spiralizer attachment for my KA. It's a great toy lol ! I don't use it as much as I think I will . You do need to cut stuff up first so it's manageable and there is a bit of waste. But you can make some delish stuff !
Some people say eat spicy food or brush your teeth before you start baking and you'll be less tempted to eat some cake leftovers. I'm less tempted if it's a cake flavor I don't love :)
T
ha -- define unloveable cake flavor -- sauerkraut? hehehehe
hey -- y'know I bet I could make a good sauerkraut cake -- nope nope nope not going there -- nice try, you raucous fat cells -- down boy down!
Kate I said a flavor I don't love - not a flavor I hate! Haha I don't love a yellow cake or even funfetti. I like them tho and it's no 'hardship' to eat it ! But it's not like a rich choco cake - no amount of tooth brushing or spicy foods will keep me away from that 
geez i love them all hahahaha
you don't love yellow? but how about a boston cream pie --
i mean all yellow cake needs is some decadent chocolate icing
omg -- i'll never lose anything today hahahaha
Yeah I looked at the one to attach to my KA, but I'm not sure how much I will like the Zucchini Spaghetti. Got the Panderno Model for under $20. figured if I don't like it, it wont hurt as much as investing in the KA attachment. Too many toys in my kitchen already. lol
CarolineCakes - storage is an issue! The KA one comes in a box that really is good storage but you still have to put it somewhere - not on the counter! And I don't eat zucchini spaghetti every day - it's easier to make spaghetti squash marinara! But I bought it for myself as a present last year and threw out that finger-slicing mandoline (I have PTSD from that experience but luckily no scarring - OWWWW)
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