The sugar-free drink mix with artificial sugars is what cause the weight gain. There's studies that show the chemicals in sugar-free products mess up one's blood sugar, making one more hungry. It's WORSE than eating sugar & sweets.

I'm 4'11' female, 61 year-old. I was 127 lb. when I chewed tons of sugar-free chewing gum (with artificial sweeteners). I was constantly hungry and my neighbor noted the same with her sugarfree chewing gum habit. I cut out sugar-free products, cut out sugar and got down to 110 in 2018. I gained weight thanks to going back to chocolate,now at 120 lb.

strawchicago z5,

Thank you very much for your feedback. This is the first time I've heard this regarding sugar-free drink mixes. I use them because I don't like the taste of plain water. When I did not use them I rarely drank any water.

If I stop using these mixes I wonder what I'll drink.

Anyway, thanks!

Mint tea or Lemon balm tea both are high in magnesium and curb appetite.

strawchicago z5,

I've never had lemon balm tea. Will have to try it.

Thanks!

You have a lot of carbs in your diet and they all cause insulin spikes, even the fruit. Try eliminating most of, if not all, the bread, pie, potatoes, rice and bars, and see how you do. (It can take several weeks to see any results.) Also, try adding some strength training to your exercise routine. If you aren't sure what to do, look on YouTube - lots of free videos for strength training.

I just wanted to report back for I've been consulting a number of people since early October, when I started focussing on my weight problem.

My food portions are now smaller. I don't eat till I feel my stomach is stretched.

Just to recap from my first post, I eat lunch at around noon. It will be a "normal" meal. For example, rice with baked chicken mixed with peas, beans, potatoes and cabbage. I also alternate cabbage with kale or collard greens.

At night I'll have 2 boiled eggs (not 3 like before), or I'll have pita bread with hummus, or I'll have Greek yogurt with fruit or peanuts, or I'll slice up an apple and have it with peanut butter.

I have continued with my walking exercises (4 times a week).

Interestingly, my sleep has improved. I'm now getting like 4 hours of non-interrupted sleep. This never used to happen. Also, with the better sleep I feel more energetic so I'm able to do my walks at a faster pace.

I previously never lost weight but I've lost 5 pounds as of today.

So that's the report so far. If there are any other suggestions out there, I'm all ears. I'll of course work on incorporating the interesting suggestions I've gotten in this forum. Changing or trying new eating habits takes a bit of time.

Thanks!

By the way, I want to point out that I don't eat just any kind of pita bread.

The type I get is called Andalos Pita Bread Whole Wheat. I get the large size. A bag has 6 pitas. I normally get 10 bags. The unopened bags go in the freezer. They thaw really quickly which is convenient when I need a new bag.

This is the list of ingredients: Whole wheat flour, water, sugar, yeast, salt, calcium propionate.

It has 6 grams of fiber per 100 calories. It's whole grain.

I buy it from a Middle Eastern (or Halal) store.

Below are front and back bag photos of the pita bread bag. Please notice the list of ingredients on the second picture.

bostonoak Congratulations on your quitting alcohol, plus walking 4 times a week (40 min) for the past 3 years. What planting zone are you in? I'm in zone 5a, too cold to garden now, so I use the treadmill in the winter, and spring & summer I have a big garden to care for.

There are studies that show eating eggs for breakfast is best to lose weight. Eziekiel Bread (sprouted grains, no flour) is famous for helping folks to lose weight. It's sold in the frozen Organic freezer at Walmart.

This year at 61 & female, 4'11", I was 117 lb. for months when I had Eziekiel bread with 2 fried eggs for breakfast. I fry the eggs in 1 TBS of extra virgin olive oil, then sprinkle nutritional yeast on my Eziekiel bread for B vitamins. When I skipped my eggs for breakfast, I gained 3 lb. up to 120 lb..

I'm going back to eating protein for breakfast, it helps me to be energetic.

I'm NOT going to buy chocolates, it's addictive and UP the weight. One day at the grocery I saw a VERY SKINNY lady clutching 2 packs of low-salt Bacon. Nearby, a middle-aged man with a HUGE belly was clutching 2 HUGE bars of Hershey chocolate candies.

I always gain weight with bread (except for flourless & sprouted grains Eziekiel bread).

Brown rice never makes me gain weight, but other types of rice make me gain weight. Basmati rice has LESS fiber than brown rice. It's the fiber that helps to lose weight.

I like to add Truelemon to water for some flavor. I have had three of their flavors - lemon, lime, grapefruit. It comes in a little packet, just dump the packet into a water bottle and shake.

There is no sugar or sweetener in it.

A bit late here - how's it going?

Wanted to add that eating a good amount of protein first thing in the morning - even before coffee, can be helpful. Fresh fruit is a great addition to a meal, but not a very good meal by itself. Eggs are good - and so is unsweetened Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, since both are high in protein, so you don't need huge servings. Full fat dairy is more satisfying than lowfat, and keeps you full for longer too.

I agree that getting away from sweetened drinks is a good idea - not just for healthy weight, but health overall. I don't care for plain water either, so I drink unsweetened seltzers in various flavors. I also make non-caffeinated hot or iced tea, but rather diluted. It can take a bit of adjusting to at first, but I much prefer unsweetened drinks now.

I take a daily multivitamin too - not anything fancy, just the basics. I think it's helpful. I've managed to maintain a healthy weight and I'm over 60 now.