[kaplods]

For me, I really do need the group atmosphere. Knowing I'm going to weigh-in every week, and I'm not the only one who's going to know whether I lose or not, really helps me stay on task. On my own, I'm just more likely to procrastinate. "I'll do better tomorrow."

I like TOPS because it's so much cheaper than WW and I'm free to tweak and even overhaul my food plan. I know people who have gone to WW for the meetings, but follow their own food plan, but that hobbles them at meetings because they can't discuss their food plan openly with the group. I love that TOPS allows you to choose your own food plan.

[Smiling_Sara]

Originally Posted by lottie63

another calorie counter.

this!!

[PaulaM]

I cannot stand to count calories, it just makes me think about food 24/7. I've been cutting out the white stuff, limiting the whole grain stuff to once a day, eliminated sugar completely. I really upped my exercise, 2 1/2 hours four times a week and I swear that is making more of a physical difference than the food. Treadmill, weight machines, Zumba class and doing laps in the pool. I went to WW twice years ago and they did a poll in a class, asking who was there for the "second" or later time: it was almost 100%. That made me ask why, if their program worked so well and you changed your life permanently, why were all these people returnees? This time I have to do it my own way.

[DaughterOfVenus]

I tried WW and I hated it. All that figuring made me obsess about food and inevitably binge.

I calorie count, but I have an app on my Iphone so I just input what I'm eating and the little bar goes up letting me know when I'm done for the day/week. Not much thinking, especially now that I have a big bank of all the foods I eat on a normal basis. Just click whatever I eat and it's right there. I've lost 22 and it's working well for me.

[ChrissyBean]

Originally Posted by PaulaM

I cannot stand to count calories, it just makes me think about food 24/7. I've been cutting out the white stuff, limiting the whole grain stuff to once a day, eliminated sugar completely. I really upped my exercise, 2 1/2 hours four times a week and I swear that is making more of a physical difference than the food. Treadmill, weight machines, Zumba class and doing laps in the pool. I went to WW twice years ago and they did a poll in a class, asking who was there for the "second" or later time: it was almost 100%. That made me ask why, if their program worked so well and you changed your life permanently, why were all these people returnees? This time I have to do it my own way.

This is sort of my approach, though I haven't cut out sugar and I eat bread whenever I want. Nothing is off limits on my "plan", but I make sure to watch serving sizes of treats (except my 1 bag of chips a month).

Exercise is my best friend--I do an hour a day, either treadmill or Zumba. I swim now and then, but I'm not a good swimmer so I don't know that it's a good enough workout, you know? I hope to add weight training, but I reeeeeeallllly hate weights.

I joined WW once, way back before the Points system. I lost 70 lbs, got to 140 lbs....and got pregnant. I was losing again after baby #1, but then life happened, I stalled, got pregnant again...and weighed more than ever. By then they'd changed the program to the Points system, which I LOATHE. When I did it, it was so many servings of bread, fruits, veggies, etc. a day depending on weight. It was terrifically easy to follow and you could eat "real" food, not 100 calorie snack packs and things.

Christine

[sept15lija]

I calorie count too. I did WW a few years ago but really didn't like the meetings at all. It all depends on whether the set up of meetings and being accountable for weigh ins makes a difference for you, I think. Personally I didn't care too much when I went to WW meetings and hadn't lost, lol. Now I feel accountable to myself and it works really well for me.