It sounds obvious, but someone who has done something successfully is the true expert. In the area of weight loss, you hear lectures all the time by people telling you what to do. But most of us know what to do, that is not the problem. Tackling the daily, tactical issues of getting in shape is the real battle. This piece is long, and contains a wealth of information and advice from members of the PEERtrainer community. If you find these tips helpful, you can join to get advice, motivation and support every day. It is free and anonymous.

"I was wondering if a few people could provide some WL tips that have worked for them.. I know about drinking water and not eating after 8 or so and stuff like that... I would appreciate any insight! Thanks!!"


Clean out your kitchen of any tempting foods, and only buy these foods when the craving is so bad you have to make a special trip to the store to get it, then you might think twice, drink water/teas, do a little extra exercise everyday, small steps to bigger accomplishments, think about how much better you will feel later with every smart decision you make in the present moment.

Monday, June 26, 2006, 11:01 AM


For me, my weight was tied into emotional issues. i used food to medicate myself when i felt bad or stressed out. i think there was a combination of getting older, settling down, and getting on antidepressants to help me deal with stress without eating that finally helped me. That, in addition to finding a fitness goal to focus on. If I'm just focused on eating, it's easy for me to get off track. I need a fitness goal to supplement the eating changes.


Monday, June 26, 2006, 11:38 AM


-Exercise 6 days/week. Take one day off for rest. Atleast 30 minutes everytime. Break it up in to 10 minute chunks if you have to. Walk, climb stairs, anything to be active.
-If you don't feel like exercising follow the 15 minute rule. Make yourself go for 15 minutes. If after 15 minutes you are still miserable and want to go home then go home guilt free. I've been following this plan since September and I can count on 1 hand the number of times I actually left after only 15 minutes.
-Only eat something if it's REALLY good. If I take a bite of a cookie and it doesn't instantly make me say "YUM!" I throw the rest of it out. Same thing for non-sweets like pasta or bread at a restaurant. Make sure the "bad" foods you eat are worth it.
-Experiment. Try different plans. Some people have 1 free day/week where they eat what they want, some people have 1 "cheat" meal a week, some people only eat dessert 2 times/week...find what works for you and what you can live with FOREVER...this is a lifestlye change not a diet.

Hope this helps! You can do it.

Monday, June 26, 2006, 11:55 AM


The best thing I've done is actually post everything I eat on here, and make an effort to find out how many calories are in everything. Then, limit my number of calories by time of day - i.e. 300 calories at breakfast, 500 during work including lunch, 500 after work, including dinner. If I go over in one, I have to make it up in another.

At first, I was constantly hungry, and couldn't understand how to cut more calories. Then, I learned what keeps me full and what doesn't. I'll never snack on crackers, for example, now, even though they're "low-cal," b/c I'll still be just as hungry 20 minutes later, and want to eat more. Instead, I'll snack on higher-cal foods with protein and fat, like nuts or cheese, etc. But I'll watch the portion size and keep track of the calories. It makes me much fuller!

Monday, June 26, 2006, 12:02 PM


For me it was measuring my portions, planning my food in advance and sticking to my plan. Every Sunday i planned my meals and snacks. I had not other food in the house besides what I planned to eat and knew exactly how much of it I was eating. Want to go out to dinner or have a treat? I can do that, but it needs to fit into my plan. Friday nights were 'off' by my husband's request since that's our date night and he was very happy to live with my meal planning and restricting food in the house, but he didn't want me to be sitting in a romantic restaurant counting calories or agonizing over which menu entree was healthiest. So, Friday night I order what I would like and focus on him and not food and I look forward to it.

I walk 3-4 miles most days (at a very good clip), do some stretching and love to hike on the weekends. So far I have lost ~30 pounds and am keeping it off with very little effort. I no longer measure portions or count calories but I am very aware of what I am putting in my body. I am truly amazed at how much I enjoy my new lifestyle (which I would have thought was a punishment before I discovered how much I like eating healthy and exercising), and I cannot imagine living the way I used to.

Monday, June 26, 2006, 12:20 PM


I have three things that I just recently found work for me (I lost 4 pounds this week). 1. I eat a full serving of protein at breakfast rather than toast or yogurt or fruit. I also always eat my serving of starch with my protein, so my breakfast is now looks like two hard boiled eggs, slice of wheat toast and an orange... or 5oz turkey, half a wheat bagel and tomato juice. 2. I've been eating 5 small meals rather than breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks. So, something like 1/2cup cottage cheese, 1 slice wheat bread with butter, 1cup sliced green peppers... or 3/4cup berries, yogurt, half a banana. 3. I started working out. I go to a Pilates class on Tuesday mornings, Kickboxing on Wednesday evenings, and on Mondays and Thursdays I walk on the treadmill, lift weights, and stretch. Anyway, I hope you can take something from what I've discovered and use it to help yourself in your quest for weightloss and better health.

Monday, June 26, 2006, 1:56 PM


The big change for me that's helped me lose weight (about 45 pounds now) was to stop making excuses and not say "just this one time"- in the past I'd give myself all sorts of outs and excuses for not eating healthy- "I'm sad. I need ice cream, but just this one time." followed the next day by "I'm tired. I should skip my workout, but just this one time."- all those "one times" added up to me not making any progress.

At first, it was kind of like having a drill instructor in my head- "you want ice cream? tough luck!" and at first it was really hard, but the weight started coming off and I'm now in better shape than I've ever been.

Don't be afraid to be hard on yourself- you can take it, and you can really gain strength.


Monday, June 26, 2006, 6:02 PM


I don't feel like I have any progress if I workout just once for a long time and it feels like such a daunting task. What I do is I workout at the gym in the morning then I go out and run in the evening. These 2 workouts are shorter but they are longer than only one workout, following me so far, good. The 2 workouts make me want to workout because I know it won't take me that long and I feel great afterward and the inches come right off. Also if I have something to do then I have already workout out once or I will workout later, there is no skipping workouts for a whole day. After a few weeks, take a day off. I feel like I don't have to take so many days off because I recover after each workout faster. This would be a hard task to do if you work at a job during any of those times unless you go to the gym before work and after it.

Monday, June 26, 2006, 6:31 PM


What I've learned over the past 7 months with 60+ lbs lost:

1. If it's not in the house you can't eat it. Purge your entire house and workplace of unhealthy food. If you want to "cheat" you'll have to go out to do it.

2. Vegetables are your best friends. The more vegetables I eat, the more weight I lose. If you're just starting out on your weight loss journey, just add more veggies to your diet and cut out those foods that are overtly unhealthy. If you can't maintain a change of addition to your diet you most likely won't be able to maintain a change of restriction.

3. Move. Start out with how much you are truly willing to do and commit to it. When I first started I could only walk 5 minutes at a time. I commited to doing that 3 days a week. Every month I added an additional 5 minutes and eventually added more days per week.

4. There is no short-term solution to a long-term problem. If you've been overweight for a long time expect your weight loss journey to take a long time. Just being prepared for the fact that it may take years to lose all your weight in a manner that will become your new, healthy nature will help you through those rough spots when you feel like slacking off.


Monday, June 26, 2006, 7:28 PM


I agree with the 6:02 poster. Life is full of birthdays, showers, holidays, parties, night outs.......let's face it.....excuses to eat, so watch what you eat ALWAYS. Have a bite of cake at the birthday party or if you are the type who can't do one bite, then don't do the cake at all, because right behind the cake is the 4th of July, a friends shower, a party at work, some one brings in cake at work, and life goes around and around.......always, always, always, something to splurge on. Stop the good/bad eating attitude.

Monday, June 26, 2006, 8:33 PM


1. meals are made in my own kitchen, not a restaurant or factory
2. eat nothing where the directions are "put in micro for X min"
3. don't drink soda- of any kind
4. avoid all artificial sweetners AND "glucose"
5. 3 servings fruit, 6 cups of veggies each day.
6. Limit dairy and grain consumption- focus on veggies and lean protein
7. minimum of 45 min cardio 5 times a week- with heartrate in my training zone

Monday, June 26, 2006, 9:36 PM


What works

What works for one person will not work for another. My biggest overall advice is to pay attention to yourself -
What leaves you starved?
What makes you full?
What helps you to lose weight?
W|hat drives you crazy?
What changes can you make?
What changes are impossible for now?
You are the expert in your life and you are certainly the one who cares most about how you live it.

Here is what is working for me:
1. I have cut out all added sugar as well as obviously sweet foods (like cakes, cookies, etc.) For some people, this approach just leads to intense cravings. For me, after a few days, my cravings are at a minimum and my appetite has gone way down.

2. I am NOT a morning person. I find it challenging to have any coherent thought other than "where is the coffee?" before 10:00 am. Nonetheless, I have spent THE LAST FIVE MONTHS converting myself into a morning exerciser. It has taken the full five months because there have been weeks when I only made it to the gym once before work and weeks when I have not made it at all. I have kept at it, however, and am proud to say I have gone to the gym almost every day before work this month. I forced myself to become a morning exerciser because I have just found that life gets in the way of all my best laid plans for mid-day/end-of-the-day exercise. This change has made a HUGE difference in my ability to workout consistently.

3. Exercising 5-6 days a week for 60 minutes (as opposed to 30 minutes) at a time has seriously improved my weight loss.

4. Ensuring that I get enough protein and fat in my diet has been super helpful in ensuring that I am not super hungry.

5. Logging EVERYTHING I eat and drink here on PeerTrainer.

6. And holding everything else together is getting enough sleep. Without enough sleep, I am grumpy, lazy, exhausted and absolutely unable to do anything useful for myself - like eating well and working out.

Monday, June 26, 2006, 9:48 PM


three quick things that have worked for me:

1) laying out a workout plan for the whole week in advance. i can shift my workouts around, but by the end of the week, i know i have to get them all in.
2) eat cottage cheese and wholegrains for breakfast. it's quick, easy, healthy, a great source of energy, and SO FILLING.
3) eat REAL FOOD in appropriate portions. don't eat anything fake. no high-fructose corn syrup, no partially hydrogenated soybean oil. nourish yourself.

Monday, June 26, 2006, 9:59 PM


I agree with everyone here.
I think before I eat.
Move everyday, park away from the store, take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Eat 3 meals a day no skipping cause you will grab anything.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
More fruit and veggie's in your diet works.
Plan ahead if you have to eat out a good site is www.nutritiondata.com
Talk to yourself, I'm worth more than that donut or cake
Plenty of sleep

When you lost 2 or more pounds in a week reward yourself with a good book or new outfit etc. Everyone is different but I think as long as you are aware of what goes in your mouth. Make a short term goal and take baby steps to reach it. Remember you did not gain all this weight overnight so it will take longer to lose it then gain it.

Never give up hope we are all in this together thanks to PEERtrainer. Good Luck!

Tuesday, June 27, 2006, 11:38 AM


Eat breakfast. Don't let yourself get too hungry.

Measure your portions. Always, 1 TBSP of olive oil or peanut butter is a lot less than you think, and those calories add up quickly.



Tuesday, June 27, 2006, 12:56 PM


Sweets aren't always that bad.

If you love sweets and you can control your intake-I say have a little something at night. Such as a couple chocolate kisses or something equal in calories. This may help binging on sweets. I know it has worked for me.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006, 7:41 PM


Since I often eat mindlessly at my desk I installed a larger mirror right next to myself - it seriously helps to catch a glimpse of myself and makes me much more mindful about the snacks I chose. I am a heckuva lot cuter eating apple slices than doughnuts!



Tuesday, June 27, 2006, 7:52 PM


Here's a fun one -- buy more comfortable shoes and clothes. The other day I wore a cute new dress to work, so naturally I needed to wear pumps, not my usual lace-up walking shoes. My feet hurt so bad I hardly wanted to walk down the hall to the bathroom! With my usual comfy walking shoes, it's easier to have energy to take the stairs, go for a walk, etc.
Also I want to second some previous suggestions:
-- a high-protein breakfast, and don't be afraid of a little fat. This keeps my hunger reasonable the rest of the day. Eggs eggs eggs. And my cholesterol is fine.
-- try for daily exercise (and maybe achieve 4x a week). Find fun stuff -- I like kickboxing, running, tennis. I, too, started w just walking and built up (70 lbs ago)
-- make it a game to eat as many vegetables as possible
-- eat tiny healthy meals all day long, so you never feel starved. Store a variety of healthy food at work. My coworkers think I'm nuts, but it works.
-- lots of water and tea
-- log everything
-- get lots of sleep. This has been proven to help lose weight (probably hormonal effects in your brain) and I can totally vouch for it -- when I feel low-energy I EAT
-- treat yourself in other ways! Very important
-- tell yourself it's okay to spend TIME and MONEY -- on a gym membership, healthier food, etc. People around you may not be supportive of losing your time, or hassle you about the money, but they are both necessary
Good luck!


Wednesday, June 28, 2006, 12:59 AM


also, ask yourself is life without chocolate worth it? Find a great dark chocolate and allow yourself to savor one small piece at a time. A nice treat that isn't so unhealthy

Wednesday, June 28, 2006, 1:01 AM


NO CHEESE

I got this tip from a friend in the military, and it was a key factor in the weight loss I enjoyed over my first month or so. ALL hard cheeses need to be cut because they contain large amounts of fat and are so dense that you need more to feel full. This also helps to eliminate foods like pizza, cheesy pasta, and more - which tend to be high cal trigger foods. It's also a commitment you can stick to and feel really good about.


Thursday, July 13, 2006, 9:02 PM


1. Make incremental changes, don't try to boil the ocean. Make 1 change every week or so, like, eat 2 more servings and fruit and veggies for 2 weeks. Then add on 2 more hours of exercise per week for 2 weeks, then add on another goal every other 2 weeks. You are more likely to succeed with making changes if you do it in baby steps.
2. Give yourself monthly challenges. I did no chocoalte for June and for July I am doing no baked goods. It's just for a month, but it trains me into avoiding specific problem food. Now that I've avoided chocolate in June, I can have some, but I also know I have the willpower to go without. Feel free to reward yourself with a non food item after you've successfully completed a challenge, such as a new purse, shoes, weekend trip, etc.
3. Tell everyone you know that you are making changes, and even tell them what your goals are. This will make you more accountable. If others are expecting you to meet your goals, you may challenge yourself more. Also, those people are less likely to offer you junk food.
4. Take the stairs, park further away
5. Donate your clothes once they get too big, unless you plan to alter them in the near future. This takes away your safety net of gaining weight and wearing them again. I held onto some of my clothes in case I got pregnant, but instead I just got fatter.
6. Believe in yourself!


Thursday, July 13, 2006, 9:03 PM


Make that 7 tips, I can't believe I forgot the most important tip ....log everything as soon as you eat or drink it. Don't lie to yourself about what you eat or how many calories are in it.

Thursday, July 13, 2006, 9:05 PM


weight lost tips

What seem(ed)s to work for me was:
*changing my workout routines [different setting on the treadmill, elliptical, biking and walking..] this seemed to boost my weight loos, after a long stall
*I drink a tall glass of water before meals, which makes me less likely to stick with "human" portions:-)
*fruit is the only dessert I can have. When I'm dying for something sinful, TCBY's fat-free sugar-free yogurt seems to do it for me.. I do NOT buy a carton of ice cream to eat at home, as that is a sure way to give into temptation on those late night hunger attacks..
*Keep healthy snacks in the car (nuts, protein bars--take a couple of bites AND WATER)

Monday, July 17, 2006, 11:30 AM


when i stick to 1200 calories a day, then it doesn't matter if i eat past 9pm....as long as my daily calories are within the limits.....also lots of fresh veggies is key....

Monday, July 17, 2006, 2:23 PM


i like these. especially the second one. and i agree. for the longest time i didnt eat chocolate bc it made me sick. but now i like it- but am lucky to not have any offers since people are so used to me not eating chocolate.

some other key nutrition facts are:
1. try to make your veggie selections colorful. the different colors are different nutrients, which can make you diet more balanced. oh and be careful, while romaine and other lettuces may fill you up they have NO nutrients. Maybe consider a spinach salad instead??

2. Dont forget your dairy. Clinical trials have shown that people who consume 24 oz. or more of lowfat/nonfat dairy products lose more weight- quicker.

3. get creative with food. try fruit salad dressed in yogurt, or spinach salad with a light lemon dressing. make cooking your food as fun as eating your food.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006, 12:45 AM


Okay you know the water and no late night eating.

Others... count your calories at least for a couple weeks it will really help you get an idea where you food is going.

Excercise every day. If only for 20 minutes you need to get in the habit.

Work to increase your metabolism, basic weight training, eat more smaller meals, get lots of sleep, reduce stress.



Tuesday, July 18, 2006, 8:56 AM


Anything works, usually, so long as you do it!

I think a main thing I was previously lacking was consistency. If I did any plan it worked. So long as I kept with it. So pick something that works for you, or something that could work for you and stick with it. Take everything day by day, minute by minute even.

Even if you don't think something works for you. Do it for a few days, or even one day!

Someone put something on this site somewhere about counting the number of days you stuck with something. I did this and I couldn't believe how well it worked! Even at day 2 I couldnt imagine going back! I think I'm going to start this again ( I only stopped because I got sick) because I know it works.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006, 9:23 AM


my motivator was

I just bought a pair of pants on sale just last saturday and they looked like a sail only the kind you see on a boat lol
last year I was size 12 and these suckers were size 15-16 how did that happen????


Tuesday, July 18, 2006, 7:50 PM


I heard a really good phrase that seem to have stuck with me.

"You can live with the pain of discipline or the pain of regret."

Tuesday, July 18, 2006, 9:17 PM


-Before I started trying to lose weight, I NEVER had water. I started trying to work it into my day, and found the easiest way for me. My work day is from 8am-4pm. I drink one bottle of water every two hours. Four bottles in a work day seemed like a lot at first, but one bottle in two hours is totally reasonable. I make sure I head to the fridge to get a bottle at 8, 10, 12, and 2.

-Plan, plan, plan! There are always things that come up, but you can plan to the best of your ability. You might have an evening event or a luncheon at work, but you can usually plan at least two meals in a day.

-I weigh myself daily. I know it doesn't work for everybody, but it has been a lifesaver for me. If I see that the scale is up a pound or 1/2 pound from the day before, I know to be extra careful with my food selections. Of course, it is possible that the weight is from salt or other factors, but weighing daily keeps me mindful of what I put in my body.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 8:43 AM


the best one is from one of my teams-- doing a daily water and veggie/fruit challenge has helped me more than anything I have ever done. I don't focus at all on all the psycho stuff going on with me food wise. All I focus on is water, veggies and walking. I say it like Rainman through out the day to myself.

Thursday, August 10, 2006, 10:57 AM


A couple from me.. some of mine are opposite of other's positng. which just solidifies that everyone is different and motivated by different things.

- Dress up! Wearing skirts and cute clothes and suits to work, as well as bumping my casual clothes up a bit has really made a difference. When I look good, I feel good. I feel feminine and pretty and am much less likely to sit on the sofa and eat chips. I am Much less likely to go get a philly cheesesteak for lunch at work... when you dress and feel sloppier, you're more likely to eat a bit more relaxed and let things slide. Plus, I wouldn't dream of spilling saucy, caloric stuff on my new silk skirt!! Lettuce doesn't leave a mark.

- Bring everyhting to work that you could ever want to eat. Lots of it. Every morning I bring in something light for breakfast, usualy fruit and then a lunch. But I also bring cottage cheese, extra fruit, cut veggies, low-cal options and let myself snakc during the day. with lots of options and all of them healthy I have very little motivation to go get cookies or chips. I rarely eat all that I bring in but even if I do, its only another few calories and nothing tragic.

- If you are going to cheat, then cheat. Don't half-ass it. If you're going out to dinner or to some special occasion, order what you want to eat! Don't stuff your face until you can't move though. Eat a sensible portion and leave the rest. You will be satisfied and, yes, you will have gone astray for a moment but that's easy to fix. It's better than cheating a little and getting some quasi-healthy but not really option that you never really wanted but got because you wanted to be good and are left feeling upset and cheated. This leaves you more likely to cheat again soon with the rationale "well, when I had that sandwich, it was healthy so I didn't really cheat... I have earned it to eat this..." its puts you on a dirty cycle of eating foods that are supposed to be good for you but are just as bad as almost everything else but are masked.

From working in the restaurant business for a long time I can tell you that salads, burgers, fish, veggies etc... anyhting in a restaurant has twice the calories you imagine it would and even more than it would if you made it yourself. Any restaurant with a chef (not a chain with line cooks following a pattern) is going to produce meals wiht a LOT of butter, fat, sodium and whatever else can possibly taste good. If you're going to go out, ENJOY it!!!

Thursday, August 10, 2006, 12:42 PM


I stick to app. 1200 calories a day...so here is a little trick that some people might find a bit extreme, but when ever I get the urge to eat something...anything, once my daily intake is fulfilled I go into my bedroom and I look at myself in my full lenght mirror. I really look. I think about the progress I have made, and the goals I want to attain. I do this and remind myself that those tostitos and salsa calling my name at 10:00pm can be quieted.

I also really look at myself in my bra and underwear about once a week. I try to see what changes I can see occurring and what I need to continue to work on. This motivates me in a positive way to continue my journey!!

Thursday, August 10, 2006, 4:47 PM


one day at a time

I don't know if you're this way or not, but I get easily discouraged when I think about how much weight I still need to lose and how long it is going to take to get to where I want to be... obviously, this is not the attitude that I want to have and it certainly leaves me feeling that i'll never get there...to which I respond by eating junk, because in the long run, what's a couple of doughnuts going to matter when I have at least a year before I could get to my goal weight anyway?? the problem is that if I say this to myself even a few times a week, i have made zero progress and maybe even gone backwards... SO, my new response to these thoughts is to ONLY think about today. If I focus on one day at a time, I can make sure that for that one day I eat as healthy as I possibly can. I can stick with a healthy-eating plan for ONE DAY, can't you? I try to make the most of that one day. And when that one day is over and I have eaten well, I start the next day with the same mantra to make this day a healthy one. and the days add up!
so, if you're someone who gets discouraged by looking ahead, don't do it! Stay focused on today and avoid projecting out how long it might take or how fast you could get there if you lose 2 lbs a week, 1 lb a week, etc. Trust me, I have done this too many times and I always end up having to redo my "weight loss schedule". ...one day at a time...one day at a time... one day at a time....

Sunday, August 27, 2006, 10:17 PM

a target of 400 calories per meal is working for me. I did not count calories before, and this has been a good way of getting started for me.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006, 10:03 AM

posted by: Elle, Tuesday, September 05, 2006 12:07 AM   (Comments Off)
Filed Under: calories, healthy food, Weight Watchers, night eating, emotional eating, weightloss advice

I recently went to a chiropractor who gave me an initial diagnostic exam. upon my lying down, she immediately asked how long i had been a gymnast. (for nine years). she told me that some of my lower back pain could be attributed to those years and "adjusted" my back. that was awesome!! now she asked for me to see her 3 times a week for "treatment". i told her i though that seemed a little aggressive, especially since i had never been to a chiropractor before, and that i thought twice a week would be more than enough. i've since been back twice and am feeling much better, overall, and sleeping much more soundly. but i am hesitant to commit to this "treatment" for some reason. can anyone offer some experiential advise?

Chiropractors have their uses - there are times when I could not have turned my head or walked or picked up a cup of tea without their help - but unless your pain is acute, then it's more about aggressive sales than aggressive treatment. You might want to find another chiropractor -- some actually take the attitude of "if I can't fix you in 3 visits, then chiropractic is not the right solution to your problem". These are the good ones, because they don't need to harvest endless appointments from everyone who walks into their office.

My mother has arthritis in her spine, but no symptomatic pain or reduced mobility. For the past 10 years she has had a chiropractic adjustment every 2 weeks, and that has done a great job of keeping it from progressing.

Thursday, August 17, 2006, 2:17 PM

I know many chiropractors who claim to be able to cure/treat things such as diabetes, bed wetting and so on. There is also a chiropractic school of thought that children do not need to be vaccinated as long as they have chiropractic treatments. That being said, they do have their uses. I had a hip problem that a chiropractor fixed in one treatment (of course he wanted me to come back a couple more times.)

Thursday, August 17, 2006, 2:50 PM


i once heard a great explanation of chiropractors. let's say you are a 60-something-year-old man with low back pain for a few months. the chiropractor will assume it is something involving the musculoskeletal system and do some readjustments which probably feel pretty good. a medical doctor will probably prescribe pain pills and send you to physical therapy. but the key difference is that the medical doctor will also consider things such as metastatic prostate cancer to the back and be sure to rule it out before doing the musculoskeletal treatment. the chiropractor will not.

so my advice is to go to the doctor first to rule out anything bad. after that, a chiropractor is fine IF it actually helps them. if it doesn't help, don't waste your time and money.

Thursday, August 17, 2006, 4:22 PM


thanks for the responses!

Thursday, August 17, 2006, 4:23 PM


I've never trusted chiropractors. My husband was having very bad next problems and decided he needed to see a chiropractor. They did an exam and found he had several vertabrae in his back that were out of place. They adjusted him which he said hurt very bad and sent him home. Within a few hours he was in so much pain he couldn't tolerate it so we went to the ER. Turns out his vertabrae that were out of place was actually a muscle knot in his back and the adjustments the chiropractor did actually just ripped the muscles. My husband was given muscles relaxers and prescription pain killers and couldn't sleep lying down for a month.

Thursday, August 17, 2006, 4:33 PM


Let me preface this by saying that I am NOT a chiropractor, but I do work with several different ones as part of my business and have had adjustments by many. They are just like any other type of doctor out there. Depending on how they were trained, the philosophy they support is different. From what you said, it sounds like the chiropractor that you went to does reconstructive work with the spine. That is very different from a chiropractor that does acute injury management. Were you told that any of your spinal curvatures were out of normal ranges? It is true that daily activities, including sports, repetitive strain at work etc, can alter the normal curves in your spine and reduce the nerve conduction. This type of chiropractor generally is concerned with getting you back to normal curvatures, not so much with helping your current symptoms (like a back that is "out").

For me, depending on what is going on with my body, I see different chiropractors, or my acupuncturist, or naturopath, or massage therapist. If you aren't interested in getting your curvatures fixed, see if they are willing to work with you when YOU feel the need. Most will be. A normal interval for adjustments is usually somewhere between every 2-6 weeks, depending on how active you are, if you stretch, what traumas your body has experienced and so on. Go when you feel it would help, but before you get into bad shape. It's not fun to work from square one every time. Start with a week between adjustments and space it out from there. Your body will let you know when you reach your optimum time between appointments. Work with someone you like and who listens to your needs and concerns. Don't be afraid to shop around. It's not a lifetime committment. ;)

Thursday, August 17, 2006, 5:29 PM


op here. the chiroprator that i went to was very strict on my getting spinal x-rays before adjusting any area of my neck / back that might be due to spinal abnormalities. she also stressed that at any time, if i was not at ease with the treatments, we would discuss alternative options (i do not really subscribe to the idea of taking pills-drugs- to "cure" my problems). this made me comfortable. but, her desire to see me 3 times a week seemed a bit much. turns out, after seeing her again today (with much relief after my "treatment", i might add), that she had recommended three weekly visits to nip-it-in-the-bud, so to speak. she readily agreed to the 2 visits per week, and offered alternative solutions while at home to relieve any back pain i might encounter (stretches, moist heat packs, using no pillow). the feedback i received earlier on the thread helped me out a lot! i went in with a skeptical, but open, mind. as of now, i have a bit more faith, but still appreciate further experiential comments!!!

Thursday, August 17, 2006, 10:21 PM


another interesting perspective - many chiropractors (but not all) will take pre-treatment x-rays to show you your alignment problems and why you need their services. but after you pay for a lot of work, they do not take post-treatment x-rays to show that they did anything. that makes me skeptical.

Saturday, August 19, 2006, 11:50 PM


After going to one for several weeks my feelings are mixed. Did they help - technically yes. Will I ever let one touch me again? F*ck NO!

I went in with lower back pain and by the time they were through 'adjusting' my neck (um yeah) I was nauseaus, had severe vertigo, tingling up and down my arms and indigestion (?). Thank god most of the symptoms went away within a couple weeks after I stopped going and I was able to work out the rest after a couple visits with a physical therapist.

However I did regain range of motion in the neck that I hadn't had for years. My issue was - My neck wasn't the part that was bothering me! I would have rather continued on without the full range than go through the hell I was in after a couple of weeks of having my neck adjusted. I would go into their office in tears and they would convince that 'just one more treatment' would bring everything into alignment and the symptoms would calm down - but they never did and I should have had my head examined for letting it go on so long, but they caused it so I was hoping they could fix it too. BTW, the chiropractor took x-rays (very sophisticated x-ray video that showed the patient in a range of motion) and decided that my lower back was not adjustable, but that my neck was limited in its motion and if we adjusted it my lower back problems would disappear. Well they didn't and I left disgusted with a screwed up neck and eventually ended up needing emergency back surgery. I wish I had just gone to a spine specialist in the first place since they were able to immediately pin point the problem, but by then conservative treatment didn't work.

However I have also heard from many people who say chiropractic was wonderful for them, so I guess the moral of the story is listen your inner voice and your body and remember that no one knows more about what you are feeling than you!

Sunday, August 20, 2006, 2:26 AM


they can't heal broken bones, LOL

I went to my doctor (M.D.) with back pain after a fall a few years ago and she ended up sending me to a chiropractor. The chiropractor was the kind who tells you that you need to come back twice a week for the rest of your life. Needless to say, I opted for twice a week for 5 weeks to see if it would DO anything to help me.

Chiropractic did not help me. In fact, I had two broken vertebrae!

The doctor had missed this (did not x-ray from the right angle) and the chiropractor missed it, too. I had to be very aggressive to get a referral to an orthopedist, who found the breaks right away. This experience didn't give me a whole lot of faith in the entire health care system, frankly -- I mean, broken vertebrae and you can't find the problem??


Sunday, August 20, 2006, 9:32 AM


I love my chiropractor..... He's helped me to be healthier this year and live pain free.... Sorry about your bad experiences... Dr. Nick is the best!

posted by: Elle, Monday, September 04, 2006 11:59 PM   (Comments Off)
Filed Under: back pain, chiropractors

If you are looking at combining Weight Watchers with Intuitive Eating, this is a helpful discussion, with good advice on how effectively combine the approaches.

You can participate in the discussion, adding to the thread or asking a question anonymously in the supportive PEERtrainer community.

For those of you that have done both Weight Watchers and Intuitive Eating, I'm curious what your thoughts are about each approach to weight loss. Did one work better than the other? Were you able to use Intuitive Eating and actually choose healthy choices or did you eat burgers and fries until you were back to your original weight or higher? Did you find one or the other easier to stick to?

I am NOT interested in reading WW bashing, but am looking for true, thoughtful responses from people who may have tried both approaches.

Thu. Aug 24, 7:25am

 
I started Weight Watchers online some time ago, and now am interested in intuitive eating. It seems to be the 2 are not compatible...just because it's really another way of not trusting your hunger and trusting yourself! I still struggle with that, good luck!

Friday, August 25, 2006, 7:37 PM


hello....i am doing both. on the one hand the programs compliment each other b/c IE is about "honoring your hunger" and "eating what looks good" and WW tries to include all foods by assigning a point value. the difficulty for me is that if i know something has a 21 pt value (3 scoops of icecream) i will not eat it as i'm only alloted 20 pts a day! IE says that "i shouldn't have that" mentality sets us up to binge and feel guilty (which leads to falling off the wagon...). i originally did WW 3 years ago and lost 50 lbs only to regain most of the weight a year and a half ago... the past 6 months i've been doing points to lose weight (again!) and just started reading IE last week! so the thought of throwing dieting out the window for life is quite scary...

anyway, enough about me. if you are interested in losing weight sooner rather than later, definitely try weight watchers. not all people gain it back. if you are interested in getting off the diet hamster-wheel, try IE. supposedly, you may gain or maintain in the beginning of IE but your body eventually settles into a natural weight... a much longer process. i can't say if i'd recommend beginning both at once though.


Friday, August 25, 2006, 10:40 PM


OP Here

Thank you both for your comments. I've been doing WW for about 4 months now (I've done it in the past with success as well, but stopped and gained the weight back). WW has been working for sure, but a part of me thinks that if I could learn to trust and listen to my body and eventually lose the weight that way, it would be a lot better because I'll be able to keep it off. Still need to finish the book though...

Monday, August 28, 2006, 8:09 AM


Try checking out the CORE program on WW. It is more like IE....they talk about eating to satisfaction, etc. However on CORE, you eat from a list of "good foods" and then use your flex points for ones not on the list. I found that I was making healthier choices and not worrying about portions and weights, etc. when I was doing Core...so, you might look at it as a start toward IE.

Monday, August 28, 2006, 9:23 AM


I just started on IE within the past few months; I've had a five lb gain but stopped there. I still work out and I still make healthy choice - I just don't deny myself if I really want something.

For example if I want ice cream for dinner I have ice cream for dinner. This hasn't happened yet, but nachoes have lol. Nachos is something I majorly denied myself because of how "bad" it was for me.

I had nachos for dinner the very first night I started getting into IE; it was fantastic. But just because you're on IE does not mean you can't choose healthy foods. In the past I would have had the toritilla chips, tostios cheese, olives, full fat sour cream, ground hamburger and chives. When I did it this time I decided that I could have the nachos but I could make healthy choices without sacrificing taste. So I bought fat free sour cream, turkey hamburger, baked my own tortilla chips (basically you just bake a tortilla in the oven and break it into pieces...not quite the same but still yummy), olives, and tostios cheese and added a small side salad. I ate less calories, actually ate less food because I stopped when I was hungry since I knew I could have it again any time I wanted to, and there was less fat. Plus I was completely satisfied and didn't find myself reaching for a snack in the evening time.

For me IE is the answer to many tears and prayers. I'm starting to lose weight now - slowly, but it is coming off. I don't feel deprived, I don't obsess over what I eat or what I way and I work out because it feels good.

I do like the way the core for WW sounds though, sounds very similar to IE - the only difference is with IE you don't count anything at all. You just eat what your body truly wants. I find that on a lot of days I want a big salad for lunch; which has never happened to me before.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006, 1:23 PM


I don't know what intitive eating is! But I love the new WW core. I am really learning to eat healthy. I have had pretty good weight losses but Ijust can't afford the 1$12 a week . I think i am just gonna do the core and get encouraged through PeerTrainer.

Thursday, August 31, 2006, 11:31 PM


Great job on the weight loss so far!

I joined the WW online group with their free seven day trial to see what the core is like. It looks like a good plan; but it's not the same as IE; IE is more like the flex points system without the point counting. You eat whatever you want. The only catches are you only eat when you're hungry and stop as soon as you're satisfied and you have to honor your body's hunger.

Friday, September 01, 2006, 12:01 PM


I don't do WW, but I do monitor calorie intake. When I started IE and really followed the eat when hungry deal (but no forbidden foods! what a release and a relief from jail), I found that a healthy intake (1400 - 1500 cal) felt good too in the satiety department. A recent vacation set me back (social eating seems to be something I need to work on), but I think you can (and in reality will have to) combine the two to lose weight. It's just so wonderful to get rid of the guilt with IE!

Friday, September 01, 2006, 9:22 PM

posted by: Elle, Monday, September 04, 2006 9:21 PM   1 Comments
Filed Under: calories, Weight Watchers, emotional eating, Intuitive Eating

This is a discussion on night eating, stress eating, emotional eating and the strategies to combat them and break the cycle. Solutions brought up include willpower, visualization, developing alternative routines, moving meals earlier in the day and finding very low calorie foods.

If you want to add to this discussion or add a comment, please click on the link above and you can participate anonymously in the supportive PEERtrainer community.


Hi All,

I have a horrible problem! I want to lose my final 10 lbs and have been doing really well. I eat very healthy during the day at work, exercise and play tennis regularly, but when I get home after the gym (9pm or so), I have a nice dinner but then I start eating uncontrollably even though I'm not even hungry! Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I've tried buying ice-pops and eating like 15 of them instead of pretzels or ice-cream but I always end up going to the bad foods.. How can I stop this, convince myself that one ice-cream cone is enough when i know i have 6 in the freezer? Or if I can't stop-how can I switch to some better alrernatives? Does anyone have any ides?

Thank you!!!

Thu. Jul 28, 7:28am

 
A good alternative, for me, is sugar-free meringue cookies (I buy them at Walgreens!). 14 of them is 40 calories! There are about 5 servings in the whole container. Also, they get kind of stuck in your teeth, so after a bunch, it's hard to eat anymore. And, they come in chocolate, so that's the best! If I ate an entire package, it'd only be 200 calories, and that'd take me at least an entire night to do!

Alternatively, find something to do with your hands - that's probably why you eat. Take up knitting, or dig out the old Nintendo, or give yourself a manicure - don't want to eat if it'll mess up your nails! Spend time doing things like lotioning your whole body - since it's smaller now, you want it all to be soft too! Take a long shower after the gym, or even a bath with some candles, music, and a good book. Write your checks and go through the mail. Anything to keep your hands busy.

Thursday, July 28, 2005, 8:11 AM



I have the same problem

I have the very exact same problem. I'll do excellent throughout the day but when bedtime comes, i just MUST put stuff in my mouth to feel at ease :o(

I will try picking up those sugar free meringue cookies and hopefully that will help, its so pitiful to waste a perfect day of good eating at night, its the worst feeling.

Thursday, July 28, 2005, 8:26 AM


Perhaps you could not buy the treats. I have the same problem, but now I don't have anything left to snack on:-). I bought pretzels in the lunch pack so its just one serving. If it is not around, you can't eat it! Also, brush your teeth after you eat!

Thursday, July 28, 2005, 8:41 AM


i'm struggling with the same thing. i keep busy, exercise, eat healthfully through the whole day... and then right at bedtime i start to eat again, doesn't matter what. i think i'm feeling anxious, not hungry. it's so frustrating!. i'd rather kick the habit of night eating rather than simply switching to sugar-free snacks, so maybe i'll try to add in another bedtime routine, like working on my sewing etc.

Thursday, July 28, 2005, 8:43 AM


Don't eat after a certain time

My wife and I have tried to set a rule that we don't eat past 7pm. We have not always adhered to this, but mostly we have. The result is that we eat much smaller dinners (because eating earlier in evening -- not so hungry), and that we don't snack... most snacking takes place at night.

By the way, I am big midnight-snack eat (up in the middle of the night), and I stopped doing that.

The first couple of days were a little hard -- not so easy to go to sleep feeling slightly hungry, but after that, it hasn't been bad. An interesting thing is that you are less likely to wake up feeling hungry if you DON'T eat late at night.

Try it for a week and see what you think...

Thursday, July 28, 2005, 8:56 AM


Pavlov's Dog & Classical Conditioning

Where do you sit when you eat dinner/meals? For instance, if you sit in front of the tv when you eat dinner than you are conditioning yourself to eat when you watch tv. Then, if it's late and you're watching tv it makes sense that you'll be hungry even if you're not. It's a Pavlov's dog thing (behavioral psychology). I don't know what your personal habits are, but if you can try to make the place you eat specially for eating only, than you'll be less likely to eat.

Thursday, July 28, 2005, 11:24 AM


Brush your teeth after you eat dinner. That will help because then you'd have to brush them again if you eat more.

Thursday, July 28, 2005, 11:24 AM


Snacks at home

Hi! Someone already suggested this, but I just want to reiterate: force yourself to not have these snacks laying around the house. If pretzels and delicious ice cream are in your kitchen they will be very tempting. Over the last several years I have trained myself to completely skip the cookie, chip, soda and ice cream aisles in the grocery store. Sometimes at night when I'm craving a snack, it's a big let down to have to choose between apples and almonds, but it's also a relief because I know that if I had yummy things around I would eat them up regardless of hunger level.

Thursday, July 28, 2005, 1:56 PM


For me it's a combination

I have the same problem with being "good" all day and then completely blowing it at night (ie eating more than a day's worth of calories). I attribute it to the fact that I have developed a habit of zoning out when I eat, and it's a way for me to completely mentally disengage from stress in my life. The more stressful my day at work was, the more likely I am to lose control at night. I have tried knitting (bored of it), not eating with the TV on (but we have a small apt with no kitchen table and my roommate loves TV at night) and not eating after 8pm (didn't work out so well with my crazy schedule).

I find that my biggest problem is when I am alone, as I won't eat everything in sight when someone else is around. But I can't eat out all the time. I am really at a loss, as this habit has been in place for about 6 years now (began back in college). Does anyone have any really innovative solutions to take my mind away from food when I am stressed out?

Also, there is room in my group right now, it's called New York Women Overcoming Emotional Eating---we just lost 2 members.

Thursday, July 28, 2005, 2:10 PM


In one of our groups, our weigh-in day is Friday, so on Thursdays, she says "nothing after dinner but water." (Ideally, we would have this attitude EVERY day, but...) Anyway, last night, I was still feeling "munchy" after dinner. I was going to make a bag of popcorn, but I didn't want to eat the whole thing myself, so I asked my husband if he wanted some. He said no. So I didn't make the popcorn, and did end up sticking to "just water." A few minutes later, I was sitting down and realized, "Oh my gosh! I'm full!" If I had just given myself a chance to listen to my body, I would have realized this. Sometimes, we feel that we are entitled to dessert so we'll seek out something to fulfull that craving whether we're hungry or not.
Can we all just remind ourselves: IT'S JUST FOOD!!!
Have you ever woken up in the morning and thought, "Oh, I wish I had eaten more last night." No? Me neither! But I have thought, many times, "WHY did I eat so much last night??"
Things that have worked for me:
- brushing teeth right after a meal
- DON'T buy stuff you shouldn't be eating. (I do not have the willpower to eat only a small portion of something. If I have it, I'll eat it - all of it. So I don't even buy the "no pudge" ice cream sandwiches. I'd eat the whole package in one sitting.)

Friday, July 29, 2005, 6:49 AM


First Successful Night

Well I kept myself busy last night as to avoid the nighttime munchies and it worked, well sorta. It was sooo terribly difficult though, hard to fall asleep. But one day at a time I hope to get rid of this terrible habit of mine.

Friday, July 29, 2005, 7:57 AM


I agree!

That's exactly how I am-i find myself buying the low-cal snacks but then I'll eat the whole package. If I'm doing that, I'd rather eat the full fat snacks but less of them!

Friday, July 29, 2005, 9:03 AM


I have 2 tricks that I've tried -
1) drink waterwhen you are hungry - it give your mouth something to do and, at least for a while, you might be satisfied and hopefully by the time you aren't satisfied anymore it's time for bed
2) since I've joined PeerTrainer I've tried to start moving my big meal earlier in the day. Now I eat a bigger breakfast than I did before (which was nothing...so that wasn't too hard), I eat a big lunch, and by the time dinner rolls around I'm usually not that hungry. I'm not sure how I did it, but kind of trained my body to be not as hungry at night. I am also doing no carbs for 2 weeks so the food I am able to snack on is not very appealing to me so that helps too.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005, 8:32 AM


meant to comment here...

This is great, esp. the Don't by stuff you shouldn't be eating. Late night is really scary for me, I'm alone often and I really "talk" to food then, so if I have ice cream, I find myself downing a full carton and not even looking up until I'm done. And my groups have been great to so thanks to you all. Oh, sorry, and thanks peertrainer!


Thursday, August 04, 2005, 5:05 PM


If I'm really feeling munchie, I'll pop a whole bag of light popcorn. If I eat the entire thing, it's only like 200 calories. And it'll take awhile to eat it all, and when it's gone, I'm pretty full, so I'll tend not to eat more after that. I'll pair it with water, or diet soda if I really need something sweet. For a treat, you can sprinkle a little parmesan cheese (the stuff from the green can) on top, and then it's like cheese popcorn, w/o adding too many extra calories that you have to look up in a calorie counter. (This usually makes me eat it faster though, so, it may not be good!) Even if popcorn is not what I'm craving, I tell myself it's all I'm allowed to have, and it gives my mouth something to do. Sometimes it's so unappealing that I just don't snack.



Friday, August 05, 2005, 8:39 AM


This may sound crazy but put a picture up of a body that you want whether is a celebrity or just some model from a fitness magazie in your cabinet and on your fridge it will help you fight the urge to pig out.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006, 2:07 PM


nite eating

the PT community has well established the fact that not everyone is an emotional eater... however, learning that I am an emotional eater was what stopped the nite eating for me. one evening, after eating something sweet, then salty, then looking for another sweet i realized: in the back of my mind i was repeating over& over a conversation i had with a co-worker that upset me. from there on in, if i felt the nite munchies, i stop myself and look to see if there's a little scene going on in the back of my head that i want to stuff way down with food. that usually takes the craving away.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006, 3:40 PM


i agree with all of the above!
1. don't buy junk food!
2. Brush your teeth after dinner
3. Chew gum!

Thursday, April 13, 2006, 5:56 PM


I use to be a evening muncher but not anymore. I find sugar free life savors help me alot. I think we just need something in our mouth even though we don't need it. Also I go outside if it's nice at night, the craving only last about 10 minutes (doctor told me this) so I just walk down the driveway and back then by the time I get back I forgot all about food. I find if I have ice cream in the freezer it calls my name so now I don't even buy it anymore.

Thursday, April 13, 2006, 10:24 PM


replacement activity

What about treating yourself to a fun novel -- the kind you can't put down (even if it's kindof dumb). Get in a cozy chair with a cup of herbal tea and read. The rule is: you're not allowed to eat with the book. If it's a good enough book, you will rather read. Ritualize it as much as possible -- put on a cozy robe, play some soothing music, etc.
Alternatively, I'm enoying doing free weights at night right before bed. Tires me out so I sleep great, and it feels good to get all my muscles going -- and shut off my brain!

Thursday, April 13, 2006, 10:45 PM


something that hubby and I do-- exercise while watching TV. That really keeps you busy, so that you're not eating! ;-)

Friday, April 14, 2006, 10:51 AM


To the OP.
Have you tried eating BEFORE going to the gym? Perhaps it's because you are eating at 9 p.m.?
Once you're home from the gym, you need to have a little something, but not a whole meal... eating that late at night may be the reason why the scale isn't budging! ;-)

Friday, April 14, 2006, 11:05 AM


Try exercising earlier in the day and having a decent meal afterward, then at 9 you wont feel like you need to replenish calories you burned working out.

Friday, April 14, 2006, 3:06 PM


I, like most people have this problem as well. Something that I have begun doing is not eating dinner so early that I feel as though I need to eat again before going to bed. I eat between 7 and 8pm. ( I am trying to eat several small meals thorughout the day, so I might have something at around 4pm prior to this meal)


Friday, April 14, 2006, 11:00 PM


I agree with the above poster. I also eat later in the evening around 7-8 p.m. I find this really helps me cause I'm not hungry. I also am a night hawk so my bedtimes is never before 1 a.m. Guess that comes with being retired lol.

Sunday, April 16, 2006, 11:59 AM


I know this is noted over and over again, but the easiest way to not eat multiple ice cream cones, etc., at night is to just not keep them in the house at all. After you break the habit of eating at night, and the habit of eating junk when you're not hungry, you can re-incorporate those foods into your house, but not until those habits are broken for real, and you have to watch yourself - if you un-break the habit, you need to remove the stimuli (the junk) again until you re-learn the good eating.

Monday, April 17, 2006, 10:36 AM


Eatting at night.

I can relate to most of what is said here. I would eat perfectly healthy through out the day, then at night... There have been somedays when I nonstop ate right after dinner until 30 min b4 bedtime. I bet I ate between 750 & 1500 calories alone just after dinner! I would have such a stomach ache, then I couldn't sleep.

I decided to break the cycle & it is really working well at least so far I only started this 5 days ago on Thurs. but I have honestly lost 5 /12 lbs in 5 days. (This also tells me how bad I have been eatting at night) I started planning what I could eat I would give my self a few choices so not to lock me into one thing like fruit juice bar, fat free choc.pudding or fat free popcorn(protein bars are good, they fill you up & are chewy. I would drink a large glass of water after dinner that would really make me full. Then I hold out as long as I can before having the snack, (usually around 7:30/8PM) I eat one of the snacks I have pre chosen. I also use the time after dinner to post to Peer Trainer & look around the site or play w/my kids, read, clean, anything but sit on the couch & watch TV & be bored & eat like I always do. This does take a little bit of planning & determination but I make it a game to see how long I can hold out before eatting the snack. Maybe eventually I won't even need a snack at night!!!???? Hope this helps and good luck.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006, 10:15 PM


I had the same problem and did two simple things - I stopped working out late, it always led to overeating later - and I got a DVR so I don't need to stay up to watch TV - I go to bed early!

Tuesday, May 02, 2006, 10:21 PM


3 steps

I could have been reading my story exactly! A few things have helped: Sheer willpower; visualizing backing away from the kitchen and sitting back down. Going to bed earlier with a book to read. Allowing myself one "100 cal snack pack of kettle corn" VERY satisfying, crunchy, salty, sweet, pretty filling. This has been my best week so far! Good luck.


Wednesday, May 03, 2006, 2:03 PM


Ok, here's something no one's suggested yet. Stop eating "WHITE" foods!! I am not kidding, it really works! No white flour, sugar, rice, pasta, potatoes, etc. during the day. Switch to whole grain EVERYTHING, and limit it. You can still have bread, just make sure the first ingredient is whole grain. Cereal, at LEAST 6% whole grain. Stop eating potatoes. NO SUGAR, or very very little. You will be amazed at how you can stop those cravings and you'll feel less hungry all day. And bump up those veggies.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006, 11:10 AM

posted by: Elle, Monday, September 04, 2006 8:22 PM   1 Comments
Filed Under: calories, healthy food, night eating, stress eating, emotional eating

This is an interesting new thread in our community on the value of paying for in-person weight loss services such as Weight Watchers, vs. going it alone. Some people love Weight Watchers, while others find that PEERtrainer is as good or better. One respondent on the thread said "after being on PT for about 6 months I realized the support here was waaay better than what i was paying for." My view on that is that we all need all the help we can get, and the more tools that are available the better. I see many people have success counting their Points on PEERtrainer, regardless of whether they are going to meetings or not.

 Here is part of the discussion on the thread:

"I am thinking of quiting a diet club I have to pay to go too and just make sure I login peertrainer everyday. I have been in and out of a program for the past 5 years. I can't afford it . I could use my $50 bucks on paying bills or clothes or getting my nails or hair done. I really think peer trainer is going to work for me. I am so mixed up. Everytime I quit I gain another 10 lbs. Although I was never in peer trainer. I just don't have the $12 bucks every week. What do guys think? "

"Go for it... Make sure your teams and groups know you are counting on them to keep you accoutable, I've personally had more success here than with other plans and I've paid plenty for them. But having said that, each person must know their own needs and how they can best succeed. Best of luck to you. "

"hello, i used to pay to lose weight, too. (WW) after being on PT for about 6 months i realized the support here was waaay better than what i was paying for -and- the weekly weigh-ins were humiliating and self-destructive. so, if your instincts are telling you to stop paying, you know what to do"

"maybe stop the gym and save the monthly fees (or half) and see how peertrainer works for you. if you are not retaining the success you had, you could join up again. "

Weight Watchers is self-destructive?

"i'd be curious to hear a bit more about why you think this is the case. There are pros and cons to any approach-- but I usually only hear pro-WW cheerleading. "

"I think the support you receive here is much better as you can log on anytime! I never really stuck with anything...until I found peertrainer. Now I am finally sticking to something and losing weight -- I've only lost a small amount, but I know if I continue, I will continue to lose weight. Why not take the $50 and join a gym instead! Or use it to make yourself look better as you are losing the weight - new clothes, massage, getting your hair and nails done!"


"It is not that I don't think WW meetings are great! But I don't have the money and peer trainer seems just as good! It is new to me but time will tell. I also love tier bars and shakes. I am not sure if they will let me go in just to purchase them. Oh well. It will all work out! "


"I stopped "paying" to lose weight a long time ago. If paying was a motivator, I'd be in size 26 jeans! I realized the only way is to make a commitment and stick with it and PT seems to work for me. I also have my gym "work" for me. I ask the receptionists at the desk to give me grief if I haven't shown up in a few days."


"I've joined WW several times. Here's my insight. Although it is a well-designed program, it is just that. A program, and one that is out to make money. Therefore, they can't possibly have the kind of dialogue you can have here, where you are free to explore and get advice about different approaches to weight loss! Also, I found that I never had a leader that had anything to offer me, I felt like I could jump up and lead the class myself. And most of the women in the group were much older than I was, and they didn't seem to want to change their lives at all!"

WW being self -destructive

"While the weekly weigh-ins didn't bother me because they were pretty private - I didn't find much support and during the time I was at WW, I actually gained 20 lbs! Not exactly the result I was looking for. I think it was their point system and the "it's okay to have some - just remember to log the points" Or all the recipes where they were making cakes with diet soda - I'm sorry - but it's still cake and for me - that's still more calories of the poor stuff than the good stuff. It just did not work. "


"I am a member of Weight Watchers and it works great for me. Very supportive, although I do well by myself controlling my portions and losing weight. What I like is the weekly weigh in. It keeps me thinking about everything I put in my mouth!!! It gives me a "track to run on" and really focuses on nurtition and balanced meals. And I really think the main goal of weight watchers is to learn portion control! Bottom line if you follow the plan you will lose weight."

posted by: Elle, Saturday, September 02, 2006 2:40 PM   1 Comments
Filed Under: Weight Watchers

This thread debates weekly vs daily weighing.

Should I be weighing myself every day?

I've seen that some people here do it and I'm thinking that maybe it will give me more accountability. Thoughts?

Mon. Nov 21, 8:13pm 
 
Wellllll...

I find that it drives me a bit batty, so I weigh myself weekly. I used to skip the weeks I was pre-menstrual, but then I was skipping the week after my period, before my period, and then just skipping it. So even though I may see the scale fluctuate slightly pre-period, I know if it goes up a lot that it's not bloating, it's all the chips and ice cream I've been eating! :)
But you should also measure to keep track as well. Make sure you write EXACTLY where you're measuring, so you don't "misremember."
It's all downhill from here! :)
Sophie

Monday, November 21, 2005, 8:18 PM

 
Weighing in every day

There's two schools of thought on this. I was always taught that weighing yourself every day is not productive due to hormonal weight fluctuations if you're a woman. There was recently a study done that suggests that people who weigh themselves every day have more success in keeping the weight off. I think, for me, that it would be a bit too much to jump on that scale every day. I'm going to opt for once a week at the same time, in the same clothes.

Monday, November 21, 2005, 8:50 PM

 
I believe you should weigh yourself daily but do a weekly average. Don't stress about the daily fluctuations. The weekly average is a much more "realistic" number of what your weight is. Also, be sure to weigh at the same time each day (first thing in the morning is best).

Tuesday, November 22, 2005, 12:06 AM

 
Agree with Sophie

I weigh in every week on tuesdays.. I think it doesnt make me too obsessive and keeps me in check at the same time.. I too dont bother too much abt my Pre-menstrual weigh in, but I weigh neverthless to keep on track

Tuesday, November 22, 2005, 7:18 AM

 
I believe that you should weigh once a week, and around the same time. I weigh in the morning just before breakfast, preferabbly naked or just in your undies ;) Every gramme counts! :(

barbara.j

Tuesday, November 22, 2005, 8:00 AM

 
Taking your weight every day is a good way to get discouraged. If you decide to do it, I agree with the poster who says to take your average for the week. Take the number with a grain of salt and don't beat yourself up over it! Even men's weights fluctuate from day to day. I take mine once a week.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005, 8:19 AM

 
Eat Watch (hacker's Diet)

I weigh myself everyday, but I put it into a program, Eat Watch, that gives me a moving average. I can tell pretty easily if I'm gaining weight on average. Otherwise, if you weigh yourself once a week, who knows if weight gain or weight loss is due to a temporary glitch (premenstrual water gain, dehydration, etc.).

Tuesday, November 22, 2005, 8:35 AM

 
I actually very seldom weigh myself. I find it makes me focus too much on numbers rather than on general wellness and health.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005, 11:12 AM

 
Its actually true that people who weigh every day are more successful at keeping it off and staying motivated. It makes sense, if you o see it everyday you know your either still losing or at least the same. If you weigh once a week or once every 2 weeks the weight can creep up on you and you might end up feeling disappointed and slip back into old habits. I weigh everyday after waking up but average it out weekly.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005, 1:05 AM

 
I now am thinking.. Shud I start weighing myself everyday as well????????

Wednesday, November 23, 2005, 2:00 AM

 
I agree with the "Weekly Average"

I have been using the "weekly average" method of calculating my weight for almost 5 years now.

A few qualifiers:

(1) I am male, so I do not go through a monthly hormonal fluctuations of which I am aware.

(2) I drink beer, however, which can add 2-3 pounds or more of water weight to a daily weigh-in.

(3) I also usually get in a pre-dawn workout before I weigh in, which will sweat out the water weight I might have added the night before.

Simplest solution: weight in every day, and take the weekly average. It has worked for me for several years.

Digby

Wednesday, November 23, 2005, 7:50 PM

 
Yes, I think weighing yourself every day really works for accountability. I do this, I weigh myself every other day so I know if I have to watch it some days or really need a workout. Scales are great if they don't stress you out.

Friday, November 25, 2005, 9:37 AM

 
Web MD article

Please read both pages of the article and decide what's best for you.

Link

Saturday, November 26, 2005, 11:06 PM

 
Thanks for the link

Great articles in Web MD...I think balance is important and what works for you. I'm fairly analytical and number oriented. i can also tolerate a 2 lb gain in one day without freaking out. I am looking for the TREND, but find the daily or almost daily weigh-in keeps me focused. If this is a stressor or guilt-producer, skip it and focus on how you feel, how you look in general, etc.The goal is what we set, our pathways ther are many and diverse. Go for it everyone! Debs

Friday, December 02, 2005, 12:42 AM

 
Try Graphing Your Weight

I agree with the posters who emphasize the importance of looking at trends in your weight rather than obsessing about each day's number. An easy, low tech way to do this is to tape a piece of paper above the scale and plot your weight on it each day. I find that a scale of about 5lbs to the inch makes it easy to separate random flutters from backsliding... Then again I'm the kind of nerd who has graph paper lying around the house.

Saturday, December 03, 2005, 12:55 AM

 
Hey fellow nerd :) you reminded me that graphing the weight loss is the one biggest motivator I've had in successful diets. For anyone who is a visual thinker, it really is nice to 'see' the pounds step down! Hmmmm, off to the suggesting box!

Sunday, February 12, 2006, 11:01 AM

 
fitday.com

I use www.fitday.com

Enter your weighth every day or every other day and then you can run reports every week, 2 weeks, or month and it will show you how your weight has changed over time. It's nice to see the big picture.

Also, weight at the same time (mornings really are best naked before a shower :)

Sunday, February 12, 2006, 3:36 PM

 
Click on the link to see a review of the medical literature on this topic: "To Weigh or Not to Weigh...That is the Question."

Link

Sunday, February 12, 2006, 6:22 PM

 
I am weird

I really don't weigh myself but I look at the change by how my clothing fits. I check in the weight like once 1 month. If that...

Wednesday, July 05, 2006, 8:27 AM

 
I weight myself every morning when naked but only log once a week my weight lost. I find it keeps me on track. If I'm up 2 pounds and have 3 days to log my weight lost here then I get cracking to lose the 2 pounds I gained. I find just having to log here helps me stay on track.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006, 10:43 AM

 
I weigh myself every day as soon as I wake up. Then I plot my weight on a graph in an excel document I created. My weight graph looks like a mountain range with its peaks and valleys, but the general trend is down. When my weight is up from one day to the next, it works as inspiration to get my lazy butt to the gym or drink more water that day or something. Admittedly, when my weight is down from the day before, I get complacent and may not workout, but before long, I'll see the one pound "gain" and get back on the regiment.

Sunday, August 13, 2006, 7:00 AM

 
From Prevention Magazine

"Weekly weigh-ins are a staple of many popular diet programs, but studies now show that daily weighing is the key to lasting loss. When researchers at the University of Minnesota monitored the scale habits of 1,800 dieting adults, they found that those who stepped on every day lost an average of 12 pounds over 2 years (weekly scale watchers lost only 6) and were less likely to regain lost weight. The reason: "The more often you monitor your results, the quicker you can catch the behavioral slip that causes weight gain," says Jakicic."

Link

Sunday, August 13, 2006, 9:03 AM

 
Weigh every day!

I can't tell you how much it helps! If the weight is not moving downward or is going up- that's the call to action! If you only weigh once a week or only record once a week it's not enough feedback. You could have gone 5lbs in the wrong direction if you only weigh once a week.

I agree wholeheartedly with the 7:00a and 9:03 posters! 7a poster, sounds like Hacker's diet program?

Sunday, August 13, 2006, 11:15 AM
 

posted by: Habib, Wednesday, August 16, 2006 4:34 PM   (Comments Off)

This is a new, current thread, but the information on here seems to be well received by the PEERtrainer community.

Advice - skincare

I need some advice and opinions, as I don't just want to be "sold."

I got a gift certificate to a very luxury makeup store/salon, to be used to purchase makeup for my upcoming wedding. I cannot simply get my makeup done there, b/c the wedding is in another state, and I'd rather do it myself anyway. Here's the dilemma:

I went in yesterday, and the woman just about yelled at me as she was asking me about my skincare routine - I use Neutrogena Acne Wash to wash my face in the shower, and I use a foundation with SPF most days. I'm 23. She says that I need a cleaner, a moisturizer, and a toner to use every morning, as well as some sort of moisturizing mask to do once a week. In addition, she says I should be using an eye cream every night, and a lip exfoliator once a week, followed by a tissue repair cream. She sent me home with TONS of samples, and said to come back in a week and she'll help me to find the right makeup, free of cost (normally the consultation costs $75! I was not going to pay that!)

Anyway, what do I really need? I'm 23, and have nice skin - not too oily or dry, an occasional pimple, but no real problems. The lady at the store said that if I do this preventative regimen that she told me, my skin will stay nice as I age. I'm all for prevention, but really, what's necessary?

Tue. Aug 8, 2:21pm

 
i have found that using a toner and moisturizer really maintains my facial skin well. i started using these two kinds of products in the mid-nineties (i'm 37 now) and my skin has retained its youthfulness. i use cruelty-free products w/o any alcohol-i don't know if that is a big factor. i also not used soap of any type on my face for many, many years-just wash in my daily shower with warm water. i also do not ever use foundation or any kind of "cover-up". i re-apply my facial moisturizer about 3 times a day. i get great comments all the time about my skin. i do, however wish that i included sun screen sooner in ny routine, as now i have some visible sun damage. but now, many products contain some sort of sun screen in the moisturizer. and i use a lip balm all the time.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006, 2:32 PM

 
same poster...
i use a facial clay-based mask about once or twice a month.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006, 2:36 PM

 
I have acne prone skin and I don't use a toner. I use oxy pads after I scrub my face and moisturize and thats it. Toner is alright but not required as I've heard.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006, 2:45 PM

 
I'm 36 with normal-to-dry skin but an overall great complexion (fair Irish). I've successfully avoided getting a sunburn more than once every 3 years, and my normal 'routine' is just a creamy soap like Dove and then a not-so-fancy moisturizer like Oil of Olay or, at the moment, Roc.

I did, however, really really like the Mary Kay 3-in-1 (cleanser, mild scrub and one other function I can't remember) - I just keep forgetting to get some. I also use a random Body Shop mask once or twice a month if I feel like my skin is a little lifeless.

I can't use lipstick or most lip products because they seem to bring on a cold sore (yuck).

I bought some eye stuff from Avon but I keep forgetting to use it.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006, 3:19 PM

 
At 23, you don't need all those products. Keep your skin clean and use sunscreen. An eye cream probably wouldn't hurt, as long as it's not really heavy. Sounds like your salesperson is on commission. I also wouldn't make major changes in my skincare routine right before the wedding - it could lead to major breakouts (particularly if any of the products have fragrances you're not used to, or are oil-based).

You could tell the salesperson you're not comfortable changing your skincare routine right now, but would love to try something new after the wedding, but right now you're just interested in makeup for the wedding.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006, 3:35 PM

 
I am 35. I haven't used bar soap on my face since I was a child. My skin is more on the oily side, but can get dry when I tan in the sun or tanning bed or if I over apply acne products to get rid of a zit. I use a gentle cleanser and moisturize a few days a week. I usually apply it in the shower. I also regularly use a strawberry facial mask. I think I have very nice skin for my age and people always think I am younger than I am. In fact, I was recently carded in a bar! Also, I noticed that since I started using a foundation from one of those luxury makeup counters, my skin looks amazingly better -- with or without the foundation. I think the moisturizers and SPF in the foundation have been very beneficial for my skin. I have been using Estee Lauder for about 8-10 years now.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006, 3:45 PM

 
Yeah, that saleswoman is full of sh!t, really.

Cleanse and moisturize (with at least 15 SPF) and you're good to go. #1 is to take care of your skin now (sunscreen) to prevent wrinkles for when you're older. Most dermatologists will tell you that Neutrogena products are just as good as La Mer anyway.

And this advice from above:
"You could tell the salesperson you're not comfortable changing your skincare routine right now, but would love to try something new after the wedding, but right now you're just interested in makeup for the wedding"
IS FANTASTIC! Great way to handle it.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006, 3:50 PM

 
OP here

Thanks so much for everyone's advice!

I've been using the samples for a day now, and my skin does feel somewhat softer, but maybe greasier...?? I'll give it the full week and see if it feels/looks different to me. Really, I just want the makeup, I think. Please keep the advice coming. I go back next Monday; I'll keep you updated!

Tuesday, August 08, 2006, 3:53 PM

 
cleanser vs. facial wash

Can someone tell me, what is the difference between a "cleanser" and a "facial wash"??? am i meant to use them both at the same time, or pick between the two?

Also, has anyone tried a product (washes, cleansers, moisturizers) that claims it "gradually brightens and evens skin tone"??? Does this mean they can reduce light sunspots/freckles?

As for my skincare regimen: Currently, i use a facial wash in the mornings and evenings ("clarifying facial wash" from Earth Science, or a drugstore brand Aloe facial wash). I moisturize only in the mornings, every day, using tinted SPF 30 moisturizer by Neutrogena. If i'm going out to something special, i'll add Clinique foundation (Superfit) to even out skin tone in particular areas (bridge of nose, under eyes and under brows) and/or some loose translucent powder if it's especially hot or humid, to keep my skin dry (Cover Girl). About once a week, I use a Neutrogena exfoliating wash (chemical exfoliation).

I used to use a toner in my early 20s (I'm 27 now), but never found it made a difference. I expect it's more useful if you have oily skin or visible pores. For the past few years, I only use a toner after plucking my eyebrows, to keep away bacteria (same as using astringent).

I do wish I would moisturize in the evenings too, but have never been able to get into the habit. When I do remember, I use Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizer, since I don't need an SPF moisturizer at night and this one is totally non-greasy makes skin feel softer in the morning.

As far as lips go, I use lip balms from the body shop, or lipstick from clinique, on a day to day basis, but they don't have SPF, so I should probably find a lip balm that does...

Tuesday, August 08, 2006, 4:21 PM

 
talk to a dermatologist about what type of skin care regimen you need-not to a salesperson! no matter how nice or knowledgeable she seems-ultimately she's there to sell something . . .and that is why "more" is better coming from her. In fact, I would not only ask a dermatologist what you need for your skin, but i would ask (especially if it's a woman derm.) her what products she uses/recommends personally.

then go get a makeup consultation by the woman at the spa, and be firm about what you "need" . . .the makeup part is the fun part, only buy from her what you are actually psyched about! keep in mind, not all makeup is created equal . . .but some are!!! kohl liner pencils-most pencil eye liners are made of the same ingredients and will have the same effect . . it's the application that is important. you don't need to spend a lot on pencil eye liner to look great! but for foundation as well as eye shadows i definitely recommend spending a little more. it's totally worth it!

good luck-and congrats on the wedding!

Tuesday, August 08, 2006, 11:06 PM

 
OP here

Thanks!

Actually, all my dermatologist will tell me is to make sure I wear sunblock!

Wednesday, August 09, 2006, 10:49 AM

 
Highly recommended

I have "The Skin Type Solution," a book by Dr. Leslie Baumann & I highly recommend it to determine the types of products to use. You do a questionairre, then get recommendations based on your results (everyone falls into a 4-letter category, based on the quiz). She also recommends specific products, based on price levels. I have sensitive, dry skin that was breaking out, getting red, etc. Since using products from the book for at least 6 months now, I rarely get a pimple & my skin hasn't reacted to anything else. Try looking at the book before you go, if possible. My guess is that you won't need any of the expensive products & could get away much cheaper!

Link

Wednesday, August 09, 2006, 11:56 AM

 
I think as long as you use sunscreen everyday, you're doing most of the work to prevent aging, especially since you're 23. And the person who advised you not to mess with it right before your wedding is very smart! Experiment later! I get very easily intimidated by salespeople but just remember, it'll be a little uncomfortable to turn her down, but you'll kick yourself later if you give in to the pressure. I have super acne prone skin and people are always trying to sell me miracle cures but I can only use Proactiv. I think everyone's different, and since you have something that works for you and is affordable, you might as well stick with it.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006, 2:59 PM

 
These things work for me-- drink a ton of water, wear a hat outside and sunscreen, and make sure to get the area between the boobs and the neck. Clean your house! You'd be amazed how your skin can react to allergens. Eating water rich foods helps as well, remember that your body is mostly water.

Thursday, August 10, 2006, 11:01 AM

 
Hi there! I am a skin therapist, so hopefully my comment will hold a bit of weight, lol.
Of course the lady wants you to buy everything, but I suggest the basics if you don't want to spend too much...
1. an appropriate cleanser for your skin type (the acne wash sounds too harsh for your skin. I would suggest a more gentle gel cleanser)
2. the other absolutes are moisturizer and sunscreen. Moisturizer is essential to keep your skin hydrated, and the other ingredients in a good line are also there to benefit your skin)
3. The sunscreen is critical. Every day, without fail. The one in your moisturizer or foundation is not enough. I would suggest at the very least an SPF 15 for everyday use, but higher if you are going to be in the sun. Reapply often!
4. Toner is nice to hydrate the skin, but you can skip this.
5. A masque is nice, but again, not critical.
6. An eyecream is important, even at your age. They can be pricey, so choose wisely.
7. A good exfoliant 2x per week would be a nice addition, but when all else fails, go with a good cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen!
I hope that helps. The best prevention from aging, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation (those brown sun spots) is a great sunscreen applied every day, without fail.
Oh yea, wash your face every night before going to bed!

Friday, August 11, 2006, 12:05 AM

 
Face wash vs. cleanser

These are in fact one in the same, just called different things for marketing purposes.
As far as products for lightening and brightening, there are ingredients that do just that, but in over the counter products (stuff you can buy at the grocery store, etc) there just isn't enough strength of these ingredients to lighten up hyperpigmentation. I strongly suggest going to see a skin care therapist who uses a line that you like, and get into a professional line, building one piece at a time.

Friday, August 11, 2006, 12:12 AM

 
Nutrimetics

I am actually a skincare consultant for an all natural product called Avalla by Nutrimetics. All of their products are made from fruits and veggies, milk and all natural supplements. I am not trying to make a sell, just offer honest advice. I've been using the product myself for over 7 years and have just recently become a consultant. They offer makeup also. Like I said, everything is all natural so there will be no clogging of your pores or anything like that. If you have any more questions, let me know.

Link

Friday, August 11, 2006, 9:21 AM

 
All natural does not mean hypoallergenic or safe for your skin. Olive oil is all-natural, but it would certainly clog your pores if you used it on your face.

Friday, August 11, 2006, 9:25 AM

 
actually, olive oil IS very good for one's skin and is included as a main ingredient in many effective product lines. attached is a link to "kiss my face.com" and the list of their ingredients. however, i get your point about all natural maybe doesn't mean it's the best thing to use

Friday, August 11, 2006, 9:59 AM

 
Well, olive oil is probably fine for some skin types, but I wouldn't put it directly on my oily face, even if it is all-natural!

Friday, August 11, 2006, 11:17 AM

 
Nutrimetics

Congratulations on becoming a skincare consultant for your line! Does that mean you are a licensed esthetician in your state?

Friday, August 11, 2006, 12:00 PM

 
WOW

I just offered some information about the line that I am personally associated with. It wasn't meant to offend anybody or get you guys to jump on me, I didn't mean any harm. NOR did I EVER say it was better then what you guys are using! I left the link to find more information on this actual product. It is a skin care line that uses NO CHEMICALS! I NEVER SAID GO SLAP SOME OLIVE OIL ON YOUR FACE. If you're happy with what you are doing, I'm happy for you! Didn't mean to stir up unnecessary drama here! Just offered an opinion as everybody else did.

Friday, August 11, 2006, 1:34 PM

 
Re: Nutrimetics

No I am not by far a licensed esthetician. I am just a consultant for the products. We go to different trainings and seminars, but I am not certified. Thanks for asking.

Friday, August 11, 2006, 1:37 PM

 
I like olive oil on my skin. Especially in the middle of winter when the air is cold and dry dry dry.

Friday, August 11, 2006, 1:50 PM

 
i always use all natural, no added chemicals skin/body/hair care products. it's true that some products work better for me than others, but all are worth trying in place of chemically-laden, animal by-product-laden products in my opinion.
i checked out the linked website. is there a page on the site that details the ingredients used in making the products?

Friday, August 11, 2006, 1:54 PM

 
DHC is a natural company that offers many olive oil products. Its not cheap, but I think its good quality...I like their products

Link

Friday, August 11, 2006, 2:37 PM

 
What you said was, "Like I said, everything is all natural so there will be no clogging of your pores or anything like that. " which is misinformation - natural products can easily clog your pores. Your products may be fantastic, but don't make false claims about them.

Friday, August 11, 2006, 2:46 PM

 
ooh ooh, I'm NOT the previous poster... but I totally have to vote for Nutrimetics :)

(Actually it's, Nutrimetics by Avalla- LONG story short, Nutrimetics was sold from it's creators to SaraLee- SaraLee sold it to Tupperware, however, Pam Dean,(current president of Avalla, and previous president of Nutrimetics North America while owned by SaraLee) created Avalla to purchase the North American distribution rights to Nutrimetics....)

Anyways, I'm 25, I use a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, eye cream, mud masque, moisturizing masque, and exfoliant. And I have NO wrinkles, while my best friend- a soap and water kinda girl, does. I actually got carded when I bought alcohol two days before my 25th bday- and you have to be 18 to buy where I live...

And while some natural products may clog your pores, I've never seen Nutrimetics do it. My mother has been a consultant for almost 30 years, and I've never used a product (besides perfume) on my skin that wasn't Nutrimetics- obvioulsy, I've been old enough to make my choice about that for years, and I wouldn't want anything but it on my skin.

Friday, August 11, 2006, 3:19 PM

 
Thanks for your honesty! I wasn't on here trying to making any false claims. That person is quite controversial for no given reason. I'm not going to defend myself to somebody who is so sarcastic. Nobody is asking you to switch your products or anything, soo sorry if you were offended. I didn't give any misinformation, what I said stands. I am talking about this particular product, not EVERYTHING NATURAL! Read it how you need to!

 

Friday, August 11, 2006, 5:09 PM

 
I don't need you to tell me what I said! The statement was "NOR did I EVER say it was better then what you guys are using" If you don't like it... GET OVER IT! What are going back and fourth with me about it for? You're not obligated to it?!
"It is a skin care line that uses NO CHEMICALS! I NEVER SAID GO SLAP SOME OLIVE OIL ON YOUR FACE." These were the statements. What are you getting so testy about it for??

Friday, August 11, 2006, 5:13 PM

 
Good grief...someone's awfully defensive...

Friday, August 11, 2006, 5:51 PM

 
You're absolutely right! I feel like I was offering innocent advice. I wasn't trying to "claim anything" or put anything else down. I feel like you're trying to smack me around with my own words and it's completely unneccessary. So you are right in saying I am defensive. My response to her post was not meant to get you all aroused and defensive about natural products.

Friday, August 11, 2006, 6:00 PM

 
OP here...

Thanks everyone for all of your comments! Although I'm not sure what brands to go with yet, I think I want to find a good moisturizer with a strong SPF, and also find a cleanser that I like. I haven't decided about toner. Additionally, when I find a masque that I like, I'll buy it. I also want an eye cream, b/c my heredity says that I'll have big bags there soon enough; if I can ward them off at all, I'm all for it!

Thanks again!

Saturday, August 12, 2006, 4:36 PM

 
About proactiv

I was recently given a facail by a girl who had just gone to a senimar given by a natural products company (cant remember the name, but they are associated with Aveda). She said at the seminar, there was a rep from Proativ who actually said it WILL age your skin and cause it to age FASTER. It takes layers of skin off while cleansing..............WOW. I had used it in the past (like 4 yrs ago) and it worked fine but im glad i didnt comtinue !
I am going to use this product she recc. (although its on back order, so i have to wait) but after 1 treatment from her, i felt the difference! WOOWHHOO, i LOVE facials! ;)
I just wanted to pass along what i heard! ;)

Saturday, August 12, 2006, 7:02 PM

 
I never use soap of any kind on my face since I was a kid. Now at 50 I only use oil of olay moisturizure. Never wore any kind of powders etc on my face. The only makeup I ever used was eye shadow and liner. I drink lots of water a day and wear a hat when I'm out in the awful heat. I get comments all the time about how healthy I look and how great skin I have. My sister in law wears a ton of crap on her face, she is the same age as me but you would never know it. Her face looks like she has craters in it, I tell my 26 year old daughter not to put no makeup on her face cause makeup makes you look great at the time but years down the road it will look like crap.

Sunday, August 13, 2006, 11:25 AM

 
eye creams + face moisturisers

Thanks to the person who cleared up my confusion about cleanser vs wash!!! I will just use them interchangeably then. I was confused because I had two products of the same brand, but your advice makes sense.

To the skin therapist who posted Fri 12:05am - great list of tips. What kind of eyecream do you recommend for those of us in our 20s? I've almost bought some on several occasions, but was told by a specialist (from Lancome) that I didn't need it at my age (27) and I'm confused as to what to buy and when to apply???? Sorry I feel like I'm asking for advice I should pay you for!!!

And re face moisturizers with spf: I have found the tinted range from Neutrogena at SPF 30 provides adequate coverage, especially since I work in a windowless office and am walking in daylight for 30 mins a day only. But maybe I'm wrong? But sunblock is too greasy to wear on my face everyday???

-powerfrau

Sunday, August 13, 2006, 12:25 PM

 
clinique is fantastic-moisturizer w/ spf 25 "built-in". their lip and eye treatmentsare exceptional-although a little expensive, they last a long time-i think they are pretty much in line w/ other high quality product lines-and they are cruelty-free!!

Monday, August 14, 2006, 2:52 PM

 
So what is a good choice for skin care products for those of us with acne prone skin? The majority of products I've tried break me out badly, but I feel like I am aging myself prematurely (I'm 30) using acne medications.

Monday, August 14, 2006, 3:04 PM

 
here's a link that may be helpful for those w/ acne-prone skin...

Link

Monday, August 14, 2006, 3:07 PM

 
aveda products are wonderful! here is a link to their acne products.

Link

Monday, August 14, 2006, 3:30 PM

 
OP here

For everyone who thought the sales woman was trying to rip me off (myself included) - well... I went back last night, and she did my makeup, and had me help, to figure out what colors and styles I liked. Then she took all of this time to do makeup on a piece of paper with a face drawn on it, and write down each product that she used on each part, etc. Then she gave me the piece of paper and sent me on my way. No charge. And not a question of when I was coming back, and she ddn't even ask if I wanted to buy anything today! She just told me to go home and think about it, and even suggested getting some of the items at a drugstore!

I think she's very helpful, but as a business-minded person, I'm totally confused!

Tuesday, August 15, 2006, 10:47 AM

 
well, if you do go back to her to purchase make-up, think about tipping her for her time & help.
(maybe she's a peertrainer member and read this thread, lol !!)

Tuesday, August 15, 2006, 10:57 AM

 
She may also have understood that it's a large expense to switch over to an entirely new product line all at one time. By suggesting that you get some of the items at a drugstore, she probably hopes that you'll get at least a few of the items from her and then come back for more as things run out.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006, 9:21 PM

 
I am 37 and look about 22, people are usually shocked when I tell them my age, I still get carded. I think most of it comes from good genes but I will tell you what my routine is. Since I was about 30 I have washed my face every night. First I use DHC product called Deep Cleansing Oil, it is the most awesome product, it washes away makeup, dirt and leaves your face baby smooth. Then I use their olive oil soap. After I dry I use Philosophy's Hope in a Jar, I love this moisturizer. Once a week I do Phyilosophy's Microdelivery Peel System. Since using this for 2 years now everyone tells me how great my skin looks. I know I sound like an infomercial but this is a great system and I love how my face feels and looks since using it. I DO NOT using toners, I notice they always dry out my face and I don't like the way my skin feels after. I never rub at my eyes. And I always sleep on satin pillow caes, why? Because satin doesn't make your skin crease like cotton, even fine high thread count cotton. My skin is smooth and flawless. Since using these 2 products I no longer have little white bumps on my face like I used to get and I kid you not people always want to touch my face. I don't use much makeup but I definitely use a spf 50 on my face followed by a light coverup and loose powder and bronzer.

The lady who attacked you at the place, don't go back to her. She soounds like she's trying to get you to buy expensive products. But if you take care of your skin and find a few good products that make your skin feel good that's all that matters. DHC products aren't sold in stores but if you wear makeup I highly recommend the cleansing oil. I love it so much I buy it as gifts for people and once they try it they are hooked. You can find it online and as far as Phyilosophy products go they are everywhere but sometimes they have better deals on line.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006, 6:08 AM

 
I wouldn't say that the woman attacked me - she's given me a couple hours of her time at this point, and I haven't spent a dollar!

Last night, I went to the drugstore, and bought a cleanser, toner, and SPF 15 moisturizer, all from Neutrogena. I also bought a new set of makeup brushes, and some loose powder (which I'd never had before), and some new concealer.

I plan to go back to the woman for some eye cream, and also some eye shadow and base and eyeliner that she used on me that I loved, and also the foundation that she used b/c it matched my skin really well. That should use up my gift certificate, plus some, but not totally break the bank!

Wednesday, August 16, 2006, 3:24 PM
 

posted by: Habib, Wednesday, August 16, 2006 3:48 PM   (Comments Off)
Filed Under: Skin Care

The health and diet benefits of Yogurt are a popular subject for discussion. The consenus from the PEERtrainer community is that plain lowfat yogurt is a great source of protien, is great for digestion. Greek Fage Yogurt is popular, and most people recommend that one avoid any yogurt with added sugar. In fact, many in the community went out and tried Fage yogurt for the first time after reading this thread-- and loved it.

I'm really working hard to lose the last of my weight and I am looking for ways to maximize my losing potential. I have never eaten yogurt because A) I never thought I'd like it and B) a long time ago I did Atkins for a while and the carbs in yogurt really freaked me out.

But I keep hearing that yogurt is really good for weight loss, so I need some specific information. How does yogurt help you lose weight? When and how much should you eat? Which yogurts are be