Thankfully I overhead someone mention this site on closing day of the Center I was attending. I really thought while I was making lifestyle changes as a result of what I was learning, I wouldn't be able to continue as I had been. After monitoring this site for a couple of weeks, I think I've actually learned more here and am better motivated than when I had a Center. I had the too common problem of having frequent changes in personnel and one would tell me one thing and another something contradictory. Because the site volumn is overwhelming to me (and I'm computer challenged, too), I've seen some traffic on these questions, but maybe not exact. I am 5'4", originally 196 in June, and am down to around 156 now. I'd been interested in some thoughts on the following:
-What is your recommendation on frequency of TO? I'd been told every two weeks, only when had reached a plateau, and hardly ever or your body will get use to it. I've seen frequent TO "conversations" on here, but don't know if New Year's resolutions were the flurry cause, or most do it quite frequent.
-My COD had given me the official TO printed sheet (FF,2 gr vegs, 6oz p, 2lites, water, lite salt), but the second time I did it with a different counselor recommending, an additional hand typed sheet labeled "3 Day Menu after 2 Day Take Off" which said p use only chicken, tuna; S Light Bread; V anything green; f grapefruit or pineapple; everything else same as regular plan. Do any of you do this or have an opinion if you should do both things together?
-I had heard some foods "in moderation or infrquently", but only have very few with astericks in my book. In one thread I believe I saw bananas listed? I use 1/2 as a fruit five days a week with bran cereal. Is that too much with both fruit and bran cereal in a weeks time? I have it down to a "no think, just eat" in the early morning pre-work routine but I've seen a lot of traffic to make sure there is variety. I'm trying, but I really do eat a lot of repetitive things. My favorite is roasted chickens from various places but I think I read that may not bee good because of non-home preparations.
-I get confused with the color plans (had never heard of numbered until this site) as when you need to switch. If you are currently continuing to lose without being stalled (even if it's just a teeny bit up or down one week), is there a need to switch when weight reaches certain intervals? That's another one where I was on the blue plan my whole time and the very last day, the counselor told me she didn't know why they'd marked my chart with something about no plan changes, but she personally thought I should try switching to yellow. There's not much different other than I lost a starch and 1/2 protein, which hasn't caused me angst.
-I have never been an exercise person, but DH (I'll learn the lingo, newbie thread was great!) gave me an exercise bike for birthday. I really do like the lites (was my panic part as they closed owing me 31 boxes and I didn't have much of a supply but have read about the great alternatives) and have used them as my "incentives" throughout the day. I usually have one mid afternoon and like the last one late in the evening. If I ride the bike late in the evening, do you think this timing is okay? Should I eat the lite right before or after? I've been reading that I really should be getting the fruits and starches in earlier in the day, so I've tried to readjust those instead of using as my snack late in evening.
-I read great tips on warm lemon water. Is everyday doing this too much?
-There are some of those events that we all must attend at one time or another where we know we can't be totally on plan. When that happens, I've usually just been cutting out or back on anything else for that particular day, and then "assuming" that it helps with the intake of the additional "off plan" stuff I may have to eat. Because this is truly a lifestyle change and not a diet, I'm still aware of exchanges as I'm going through what's available, but sometimes there are no good choices at all. Also, if you know you've had one of these "off plan things", should you do TO following if it wasn't catostrophic?
My husband commenting as he was having to help me carry in more bags than usual from shopping trip and commented that I must have kit a Christmas clearance sale on things like Food Saver and supplies, electronic scale, etc. Great thread on gadgets!
Way too long as I don't see how everyone has the chance to respond as much as they do. All of you that have been around (and seem like tight knit across the country and world friends) should pat yourselves on the back for being an inspiration to so many. It will probably take me a few more months to figure out screen names vs response names, but I'm getting there. Cindy everything else had been take up when I registered, so Grandma Cindy it is ... a very young 50 yo grandmother, that is! Thanks!