Need Diet program suggestions

Hey
I am wanting to start on a diet program and could use some input on peoples personal success on the different diet programs, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, etc.

Thanks Advance

Tue. Jun 7, 8:35pm

I do kinda my own modified weight watchers. I use it to realize what foods are good and what aren't, but I don't count points or anything. I have a lot of friends on Weight Watchers though who have had lots of success with it. You can do it online or join a group in your area.

Tuesday, June 7, 2005, 8:46 PM

diet programs

The best thing i have had work for me is Body For Life by Bill Phillps. He is really motivating and makes you BELIEVE that you have the power to change anything you want to! He has a video, book and audio tapes :) Hope this helps!

Tuesday, June 7, 2005, 9:02 PM

diet programs

If you love to eat, take a look at Suzanne Somers books. You can probably check them out at your library. (I did) The two that I have read are "Eat Great, Lose Weight" and "Get Skinny On Fabulous Food". They are really sensible it's about proper food combinations for optimal metabolism. There is no portion control, counting points and all the other stuff. Just sensible eating with lots of great recipes and sample menus in the books.

Tuesday, June 7, 2005, 11:33 PM

Weight Watchers is great. i lost 10 pounds by sticking to it and i am starting it again because really it is the only thing i found that really works for me

Wednesday, June 8, 2005, 7:32 AM

diet programs

I started weight watchers about 10 weeks ago and have learned so much from the program. I feel better about myself and I am healthier. I learned how to watch what I eat during the day and how to maintain the lose of weight. Although you still need to count points, you are more careful about the choices you make and when you make them. I paln on continuing until I reach my goal! Hope this helps.

Wednesday, June 8, 2005, 8:18 AM

points plus peertrainer

this combo works for me. I use points for portion control, and then my peertrainer group really helps me stick with it. I find myself thinking twice when I break down because I know I have to write it down.

Wednesday, June 8, 2005, 8:37 AM

I did weightwatchers to learn about portion size, calories, and lost about 10 pounds. I got a little fed up with the meetings, and I am suspicious of a company who has a financial stake in whether or not you lose weight -- I didn't like the product pushing, and the food suggestions weren't helpful for me because they weren't healthy enough. Too much processed food.

But it taught me how to be aware of what I'm eating and about portion control, so it was helpful for that.

And for a while on PeerTrainer I was counting my own calories just to get a sense of what was going on. Now I feel like I have a good sense of how I need to feel throughout the day to be losing weight. (ie I'm going to be hungry at some points and I need to get used to that.)

Wednesday, June 8, 2005, 11:18 AM

Another vote for Weight Watchers

I've been using the program off and on for 2 years and have lost - *gasp* - 90 pounds.

Counting points can be a pain but it forces you to really pay attention to what you're putting in your mouth - how much and what quality. It and also gives you incentive (more points) for exercise, so it's good if you need motivation to exercise more. Most importantly, by counting points it gives you the chance to eat pizza or have a beer or indulge in dessert if you want, you just have to budget for it. A good lesson in moderation.

Wednesday, June 8, 2005, 11:21 AM

Former Jenny Craig client

I started Jenny Craig in December of 2000 at 210 lbs. I got to my goal weight of 160 by August of 2001. I spent alot of money on their products. It's about $100 a week at the center and that doesn't account for all the other food you have to supplement their prepackaged/processed stuff with. Their food is good and it taught me portion control. I needed the preplanned menu and it helped me stay on track. I loved the one on one support with my counselor too. Going through the entire process was very beneficial but maintenance was a whole other story. I didn't feel that I got the best support with the transition from their food to doing my own meal planning. That is not their fault because I let it go and didn't persue it. I also didn't comply with the monthly weight in's and I reverted back to my old eating habits.

I'm not using JC now because I cannot afford it. I am using the materials I got to help me eat the proper foods. Exercise was really key for me with JC and I know that and have resumed the activity level that got me to my goal in the first place.

Wednesday, June 8, 2005, 2:26 PM

heard nothing but positives about Weight Watchers

At my work we get reimbursed for any weight loss program that we want to join. I've watched many co-workers go on and off different programs. The ones that have the most success of losing (not loosing) weight and keeping it off have been the ones on WW.

Best of luck with whatever you choose.

Wednesday, June 8, 2005, 4:24 PM

Weight Loss ideas

Here are my bibles:
Strong women, Stay Slim by Miriam Nelson (website: strongwomen.com) it includes simple weight training and dietary information and help

No matter what: cook yourself....especially this time of year....stif fry fresh veggies: broccoli, peppers, anything dark green and leafy with a tiny amount of olive oil and ginger and garlic. Add some protein: meat or tofu (3-4 oz). 1/2 cup of rice or pasta and a green salad with your own dressing. Light on the olive oil, heavy on the lemon juice or vinegar with Dijon mustard, garlic, ginger and lots of herbs. Again, this time of year you can get fresh oregano, fresh thyme and fresh basil. I grow basil on my window sill...it's so easy.

Fruit , fruit and fruit.......

Sites that are really, really helpful:

The best one has a menu planner (it adds up your calories for you), BMI index calculator, portion information, ethnic menues and recipes and so much more:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/control.htm
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/index.htm

http://www.mypyramid.gov/
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/foodlab.html
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/for_life.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/health/wgtloss.pdf

Try any and all of these. They're incredibly well thought out and helpful.

I need to do it myself.

Link

Wednesday, June 8, 2005, 5:16 PM

weight watchers philosophy

I use a modified food exchange program that is really similar to what weight watchers teaches. I worked with a nutritionist and a personal trainer through 24 hour fitness a couple of years ago, and came out way ahead because of what I learned. They're program took my personal needs into account, and taught me to focus less on being very precise about calories and to focus more on making sure I got what my body needed nutritionally while reasonably reducing my calories.

(I'm a guy, so my numbers may be high if you're female.) I try to eat about 12 starches, 14 proteins, 8 vegetables, 4 fruits, 4 dairies, and at least 2 fats per day. This system is much easier for me to keep track of then counting the calories in EVERYTHING I eat--I can just do a quick tally on a note pad (or on a table I made using MS Word that I keep right next to my computer), and know I'm on track. At least once a week I do count up the calories to make sure I'm staying between 1800 and 2200 calories per day (my caloric needs for maintenance are about 2800-3000, so that's a significant defecit for me--especially if I'm working out). There are a number of sites online that will help you figure out your daily caloric needs, and if you do a google search, you can easily find those as well as info on dietary exchanges.

Now for my personal opinion which you can take or leave. lol!

My golden rule is this--if it's too hard to keep track, I won't be able to do it long-term. My goal is to change my lifestyle and live a healthier life, so it's got to be simple. If I feel like I'm deprived, I will rebel. So, there's got to be some flexibility and I have to be able to enjoy my food. If I starve myself, I will damage my body, and this journey is about learning to love myself more and take better care of myself--so that's not an option. If I am hungry, it's because my body needs nourishment, and I'll chose something healthy to eat (even if it's 3am, and a diet book tells me not to eat).

I learned a great thing from an old friend who lost over 100 pounds and has kept it off for over 5 years--he gives himself one mistake/cheat a week, and gives himself one day off each week if he meets his goals minus that one mistake. So, if he only really cheats once Sunday - Friday, he can eat whatever he wants on Saturday with no guilt. He said that doing this got him through tough weeks when he wanted to quit by Thursday--he knew pizza was just another day away--but that most weeks, he only found himself eating an extra 200-300 calories on that free day, which he could easily burn off if he spent 5 minutes more each day on his cardio. I took his advice, and it worked for me, too. Sometimes I really do pig out on my free day, but most weeks I just eat the way I normally do and maybe add an extra handful of chips or a chocolate bar--I feel like I've really treated myself and I think "this isn't so bad--I could do this forever." And that, in my book, is the key to success! If I have a date or want to go out for drinks with friends during the week, I make a pact with myself that I will use that day as my free day, but if I don't keep the promise to myself to eat right the rest of the week I need to do an extra hour of cardio--and that's enough to make me keep any promise. It's tough to hold yourself accountable, but good rewards make it easier for me (and having a good group to motivate you and keep you accountable is really helpful, too!).

Wednesday, June 8, 2005, 8:48 PM

Just One Book

One book that totally changed how I looked at food was "Ultraprevention" by Hyman and Liponis. After one read of the book, I didn't touch a "white" food for about 2 months.

I've done weight watchers, Atkins, and all the rest. There's something about the rigidity of those plans I just can't get into. One tiny tiny misstep and I'm like, "that's the end of that - I just can't do it".

So, I took a different approach. I read. I read A LOT! AND I listen to my body. I was vegetarian many years ago, I've also done Atkins (yeah I know, that's strange, don't ask). Too much protein and fat, and my body just feels like sludge... Not enough protein and I feel like I'll just fade away... I know what I should eat (a little bit of protein at every meal, fruits or veggies, just a touch of fat) and what I shouldn't (Hello, my name is Amy and I'm a Cheese Doodle Addict) and how much I should work out, now I just need the motivation to do it all, laughs, and hopefully PEERTrainer can help me do that.

Above all, I live by the 80/20 principle -- If I'm good 80% of the time, its ok to be not so good 20%
Amy

Friday, June 10, 2005, 12:38 PM

OH and I forgot, a Second Book

Another book I found to be AMAZINGLY useful was "Change One: the Breakthrough 12-week Eating Plan" by Hastings, Hermann, and Jaret.

My number one problem with food is portion size. I had no idea what a real portion of pasta looked like. I mean, what you get served when you go out is 3 to 4 times what a real serving should be. Change One has a really great approach -- You change one habit every week, starting with eating a healthy breakfast. Was never a breakfast girl (unless it was pancakes after boozing at 3am) and Change One helped me to understand how important it is AND what a health breakfast should look like. From there you progress to snacks, lunch, dinner, family outings, etc.

The best part of the book? no cal counting! Its all about eating correct portions. They even show you exactly what a portion should look like - example - a portion of protein 4oz or so, the size of a deck of cards. I know EXACTLY how big that should be!

Highly Recommend this book!
Amy

Friday, June 10, 2005, 12:49 PM

Body For Life Rocks!! :)

I LOVE Bill Phillips, he is So motivating. Listening to his audio tapes really make you feel like you CAN change your life. I also love his video, too. His plan allows a cheat day when you can eat WHATEVER you want from morning to night because you allow that one day, you stay on track much better! I have reccommended his book/tapes to everone i know- it helps me when i need to stay on track! Hope this helps!

Friday, June 10, 2005, 3:55 PM

related article on the new Weight Watchers Momentum Program:

http://blog.peertrainer.com/tip_of_the_day/2008/12/weight-watchers-new-momentum-program.html

Thursday, September 16, 2010, 2:48 PM

reply

I would recommend you don’t diet. If you are concerned, though, you could try eating balanced. No one ever got into shape by just dieting along with workout. Workout requires your body to have the required nutrients, so dieting is off the table.

Link

Thursday, January 18, 2018, 10:12 AM

People can forget what you said, but what you left in their hearts never fade away. geometry dash

Friday, August 14, 2020, 12:55 AM

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