[esharp79]

Hello everyone! My name is Eric and I live in West Tennessee. Tomorrow will be 1 week since I started taking Phentermine. I am walking everyday or everyother day and watching calories and portion size. So far as of this morning I have lost 6.5 lbs. My starting goal is to lose 55.5 lbs. Any tips to help me out? I am looking for motivators to help me be more successful!!

[susanpesek]

Eric, did you have a chance to choose a diet already? Have to have a plan.....
.First be sure that your diet has good amounts of vitamins, minerals and that you’re drinking plenty of water, at least 100 oz. per day. Eat every 3 hours about 200 calories each time, including a protein each time. Be CERTAIN to eat breakfast to get that metabolic timer started! You may need to eat more because you are male and probably have more density than a female would, requiring more calories.

2. To lose weight, you have to change your energy balance. Consume less energy in calories and use more energy by doing some sort of exercising every day. Cut back on the size of your meals and on the simple sugars; ie cakes, cookies, white breads, fries... You don't have to give them up, just eat less of those!
Keep a food diary and record your daily intake for at least one week. Watch what you drink and count taht, too. Water is almost always your best choice, but most no-calorie drinks can help. Lay off the sauces as they are usually high in calories. Try using lemon juice, soy sauce or salsa instead.

3. Don't reduce your intake too far or your body will respond by lowering your metabolism and slowing your weight loss. Eat at least 1,000 calories a day! Be patient with yourself and it will pay off in terms of more consistent weight loss, more energy and fewer cravings.

Add exercise to your plan. It will use more energy and can also increase your basal metabolic rate, so you’ll burn more calories even at rest. Pick exercises that you enjoy and want to incorporate into your daily routine.

4. Hunger is one of your body’s strongest urges. Try eating five or six smaller meals a day before you get hungry! It affords less chance of your experiencing intense urges AND eating more often can raise your metabolism.Make sure that your meals contain a healthy mix of nutrients. Fats and protein are much slower to digest than carbs. Carbs digest in about two hours, protein takes four hours to digest and fat takes up to six hours, which explains why people on low-carb diets experience less hunger than those on low-fat diets. People on balanced-nutrient plans (like the Zone Diet) also have better hunger control.

5. Work to develop healthy habits. Avoid mindless eating while combining it with TV or the movies. Make eating separate and you’ll eat less.There is nothing wrong with enjoying eating but do not to use food as a stress reliever. Work on stress by exercising, listening to music or drinking 8 ounces of water before eating.
No more fast foods. Find time to prepare and eat your meals slowly and without any hurry.

6. When dieting it's very easy to fall back into your old eating habits. A food diary is a great way to help. Write down everything that you eat and drink during the day. Keep it with you and make your entries often; it forces you to give conscious thought to what you eat and helps develop better eating habits. It can be a tremendous asset to remind yourself what to eat. COUNT YOUR CALORIES!
A few goals you might consider.....
1) Drink at least 100 oz of water every day
2) Have some salad at least every day
3) Eat breakfast every day
4) Avoid sugar, white flour, processed foods and excessive salt
5) Don't eat after 8 pm
6) Get at least 8 hours of sleep per night
7) 30 mins Cardio 3-4x/week and pilates/core training 3-4x/week
6) Play with the dog every day (VERY important!)
9) Pray for strength every day and thank God every day
10) Forgive myself if I mess up on any of the above goals and MOVE ON!

[jennifersampross]

Hi Eric, I too had used Phentermine is a prescription medication. I was advised to take it at the beginning of the day with lots of water , proper diet and sound exercise. Taking Phentermine over the long term of your diet, you will see the pounds coming off, your energy level increasing, and your confidence level rising as you steadily lose weight.