What' your plan?
 

I'm feeling directionless today....I'm getting bored with the South Beach Diet after a couple of months, and am thinking of doing something different. I've been looking at Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, NutriSystem, Jorge Cruise, etc.

What plan has been successful for you?

Well, you definitely have to do something that you know you can live with for the rest of your life. Many people here count calories and try to eat healthy foods. I opted for the Weight Watcher core plan because I like the support. Any "diet" will work short term, but making a lifestyle change is what works forever.

Good luck with finding something that works well for you! I like the saying above your avatar, by the way. :)

I eat less and move more. For the sake of weight loss I just count calories and exercise as often as possible. However, for the sake of health, I do pay attention to the kinds of calories I consume. I'm not a health nut but I do make the healthiest choices as often as I can.

I'm a calorie counter, exercise mover myself. :D When I first started this final weight loss journey I went back to weight watchers (I had all the materials) because it worked for me in the past. For some reason though after a month or so I got bored with counting points and instead started counting calories. I do like to find mini-plans (two weeks, a month, two months) to try to challenge me and I will be doing at least 1 body-for-life challenge in the future as well as trying out Dr. Phil's rapid loss start plan (I can't remember the exact name right now). As I get back into eating lower calorie I will continue to make healthier choices and not just have calories. Kimberley (gardenwife) told us about her thinking of her calories as money and she wants more "bang for her buck" so to speak. That's how I tend to treat my calories and will naturally start eating the healthier, wholesome foods because I get more food for less calories.

If you are starting to get bored with your plan then you are doing the right thing by trying to find something new instead of just thinking it's the plan and you want to give up.

I kind of made it up myself, based on "healthy" foods - the main thing I try to focus on is getting all my fruit and veggies each day.

I'd say that at the moment my "plan" is about 60 - 70% exercise based and the rest diet, I'm nowhere near as structured when it comes to eating as some people on here - I've never worked out how many calories I eat, and quite frankly when I'm losing like this I don't care! I do get a LOT of exercise though - I'm talking regular 5 and 10k runs, weights sessions etc, and I do something every day, almost without fail. (I got back off holiday on 5th July and since then there's only one day when I've not gone to the gym).

I didn't really follow a plan this time. I just kinda made my own way, taking bits and pieces from what I've learned through a lifetime of dieting. You've really just got to find what works best for you, so why don't you try a few plans out or try making your own? But also keep in mind that sometimes living a healthy lifestyle is just gonna be boring, but what isn't when you do the same thing day after day?

Beverly

I'm another Weight Watchers devotee (3 years now) but at this point in time I don't really think of it as WW, but more of a sensible lifestyle change of eating less junk, eating more fruit, veggies, whole grains and lean meats and moving more. Sure, I still add up the points in my head at the end of the day and enter them in the journal buddy thread, but basically I'm eating sensibly and exercising more than when I was obese. I particularly like the WW idea of not having to buy special foods and not restricting certain food groups from your diet.

I don't go to as many meetings now because as new people join I find we're covering the same topics over and over again, but I do have my core WW friends and we get together regularly for a healthy breakfast and supportive chat. I threw away my own scale (I was enslaved to it) and rely only on the WW one, so there's times now when I only weigh myself once a month, but I can feel in my clothes if I've lost or gained and have decided I'm more than a number (I may think that way because I find it difficult to reach a certain number) ;) Following the WW plan, I lost 3-4lbs. a week for the first few weeks (because I was so big) and then it tapered down accordingly to the expected 1/2-2lbs. a week. That may not seem much, but it meant a loss of 100lbs. in 16 months. For the last two years I've pretty much maintained at 25-30lbs. from goal and know exercise, rather than food, is the key at this point.

I understand getting fed up with a plan (I took a break from WW for a couple of months during a particularly lengthy plateau and went the Atkins route. The change must have shaken something up inside because I did lose, but I went back to WW because I didn't find Atkins a plan I was comfortable enough with to follow for life).

You've made excellent progress already. Whatever you do, whether it be change of plan or sticking with what's working for you now, good luck! :)

I have actually done several of the plans, currently right now I am on SureSlim. Years ago I do Nutri System (but they went out of business in Canada) and then I did Jenny Craig (which I loved because the food was prepared for you), I have also done Weight Watchers, which is also great because it allows you to cater the plan to you lifestyle. My personality is such that I need a strict plan to really succeed which is why I am currently on SureSlim, as well with the one on one counselling that the program provides.

I think the best method (at least for me) is to not be on any kind of diet. Like I saw the others saying, it has to be a life change. That's why it has to be something you can live with. I can live with trying my best to eat at least the minimums from the food pyramid. I let myself eat pretty much anything I want as long as it's a small portion. Since it's a life change, if I tell myself "no" to something I think that eventually I'll fail. Does anyone else find that the more you exercise and the better you eat, the not so good for you food doesn't even taste as good anymore anyway? I noticed that and also that the food (junky stuff) doesn't taste as good as I picture it tasting so I find myself slipping up less and less. So, that's my tip... eat at least the minimums from the food pyramid and try to exercise at least five days a week.

I don't really follow any plan.

I tried Weight Watchers several years ago and it worked very well for me. My heart wasn't in it at that time so after 5 months I stopped going. I learned alot from WW and points values and better food choices are always in the back of my mind because of it. It's a wonderful program with lots of support and advice but it's just not for me right now.

This time I just started eating less and moving more. I was referred to Fitday and starting counting calories for a while. I found that I became a little obsessed so I've slacked on that a little as well. But I am still very aware of what I put in my mouth. I still use Fitday to log the food but I'm more interested in the nutritional reports is provides. I try to reach all of the recommended daily intakes it gives. So if I'm really short on calcium I'll try to fit in some extra yogurt or something.

A good plan is one that will work for you. You may have to try several things before you feel comfortable with it. For me exercise and water really helps. I've noticed that if I don't drink enough water (for me its around a gallon, but that's very high for alot of people) I feel sluggish and don't really want to get the exercise in and since exercise is a key element in my weight loss, that and water go hand in hand.

Good luck in finding what works for you. Keep us posted.

~Dee

In March when I started all I was did was add exercise 2 days a week, switched to some lower fat foods, started buying brown rice and whole wheat pasta/bread and started drinking a minimum of 64 oz of water. Was losing 5 lbs a month like that. From June through the end of July, I tried Jorge Cruise's 8 Minutes in the Morning plan. Didn't really follow the food plan exactly was just doing the strength training each morning, but still was loosing an average of 2 lbs a week.
Currently I do 5 days a week-running, biking and Tae Kwon Do. Plus my Core Exercises first thing in the AM. Will be adding some strenght training in the AM after my core work in September.
For my food plan, I am counting calories. I keep track of them on FitDay and aim to averages 1950 calories per day. (25-30% of calories from fat; 45-50% of calories from carbs (limiting refined carbs, focusing on whole grains, fruits and vegetables); 30-35% of calories from lean protein)

Unfortunately, I am all over the place in regards to my plan. All I know for sure is that I'm working on a total lifestyle change because I know myself well enough that if I do the rabbit food diet till I am down to my goal weight, I am going to splurge and balloon. I'm focusing on exercise, cutting portions, and finding foods I love that are less fattening and lower in calories. I used to love Doritos because I am a cheese feind, but I've found out that I love cheese rice cakes even more! I'm eating peaches and cream oatmeal in the morning and I LOVE it! I'd now take that over Count Chocula any day! :lol: It's all in finding what is right for you.

Was in the mood for chips a while back and bought a bag of "Light Doritos", they have only 1 gram of fat per serving and around 80 calories! And they taste like the real thing. Perfect for an occasional treat but have to be careful with how much of them you eat though as they are cooked in that weird veg oil that can cause tummy issues, if ya know what I mean.

I've been doing WW flex plan (points) since the beginning of this year. I find it to be very flexible and I'm rarely ever hungry - if I am, it's more mine problem, than the program (not listening to my body, not taking any snacks...).

All in all, it's a very flexible plan that I can live with.

Good luck choosing a program.

Boy do you sound like me kind of! After awhile on SBD I ended up sick! I tried WW without success. However my mom had good success with it. It depends on your metabolism to. I am currently reading the Jorge Cruise 3 Hour Diet book and trying to eat like that daily. I am not sure if I am doing it right yet or not because I just go the book, but it sure sounds like a promising plan! Mutrisystems seems very expensive to me. WW costs enough! As for Jenny Craig... I have never tried that.. but Kirsty Alley seems to be doing well on it!!!

I'm loosely following the SBD. I'm probably on phase 2.75 LOL. I like eating healthy oils, lean meats & lots of veggies, but I had to add a little more whole grain bread. And unlike all my previous failed attempts, I'm not counting ANYTHING. No carbs, no fat, no points. I'm losing slowly, but honestly, I decided at first to focus on baby steps. My first baby step is to exercise at least 5 times a week, which I've done. My next baby step is to eat healthier, which I've also done. As long as I'm losing weight, I'm just going to continue to focus on making better eating choices instead of getting caught up in counting & weighing to the point where I give up.

What's this 8 min morning stuff...... methinks it's time for research today. :lol:

Good luck on whatever plan you choose, and no matter what your plan is, sticking around here will be a great catalyst. :D

Thanks everyone.....I'm still uncertain, but will keep you updated!

I'm on the "What can every member of the family live with" diet. My 1 y.o. is allergic (hives) to wheat and my oldest daughter reacts severly to processed sugars, preservatives, and dyes. My son can eat anything. I don't feel comfortable eating foods my kids cannot eat and I don't feel comfortable giving my son foods the others can't eat. So, we are a wheat-free, sugar-free, chemical-free family. Except for wild rice cakes and dried fruits, everything we eat is homemade (even our nutrition snack bars for when we're on the go) and with as few ingredients as possible. I try to make sure everything packs a serious nutritional punch (since I am also nursing, this is extra important). We are quite health nuts because of the kids' allergies and dh's and my health issues. All 4 of my grandparents were diabetics and dh has a lot of heart disease in his family. 2.5 years ago, wanting to get off of medications for PCOS, I used this type of eating (though I ate wheat because baby was not around) and lost 30 lbs., reversed the symptoms of PCOS, and had a surprise knocking up (said allergic baby), not a possibility before (older 2 joined our family 11 months before baby through adoption). I gained those 30 lbs. back during pregnancy and then lost them again post-partum. SO, this time around is basically a continuation of the previous plan with some modifications.

I find that eliminating processed sugars is a key for me. I simply do not crave them now. I allow myself 1 tiny sweet daily (organic dark choc) and ususally forego it for some fruit instead. The other day, PMS, I craved salad. I do not worry about fat intake as long as they are healthy fats: mostly nuts, seeds, avocado, oils, wild Alaskan caught fish, and buffalo once a month. I eat a ton of fruits and veggies. I make some homemade wheat-free muffins, snack bars, "cookies", and other snacks. We eat a lot of nuts and dried fruit for snacks. We buy a lot of frozen fruits from Trader Joes to save on cost. We don't eat a lot of dairy, except fermented dairy (yogurt, homemade kefir) and the occasional cream in homemade ice cream (fermented foods, besides cream, because it puts back good bacteria so it is more bang for your nutritional buck).

I drink only water and a daily cup of coffee or tea.

I also exercise 8 times per week; 5 cardio and 3 weights. I change up the routine every 3-5 weeks.

I realize upon re-reading this how self-righteous this sounds, but let me assure you, it has taken me a long time to get here. I used to eat sweets by the bagful and, in fact, what led me back here, was the 6 week sweet binge I could not kick in June/July. I realized that just by allowing myself a few poor quality processed sweets this summer, my body attacked itself and would not give in. I had to go cold turkey. I have lived my whole life creating a very unhealthy body and yet I know what it needs to be healthy. So I am giving it my all.

I also got here because I stress fractured 2 bones in my foot just from taking a long walk with by 1 y.o. on my back. That's rediculous. For the first time in my life, I realized it was harder to be fat than it was going to be to lose the weight. I refused to break my foot while playing with my children (unless it is a really good reason like jumping off a cliff) again.

Now, this really is a plan I can live with because I have found healthy substitutes for many foods -- out of necessity. I had to find a birthday cake everyone could enjoy so I invented a wheat-free, sugar-free one sweetened with just a bit of maple syrup. Everyone loves it. I make homemade ice cream by food processing frozen fruit with a bit of cream and some nuts. Also a winner and I can give the kids ice cream for breakfast. For the most part, though, if I cannot make the food in a healthy way easily or if I can't make it low-fat by using only whole food ingredients, I just don't eat that food. For example, we just can't find a good way to make wheat-free bread and it is so expensive to buy -- so we don't eat bread.

I, of course, have the luxury of being a SAHM, so I can be in the kitchen quite a bit, albeit usually with one child on my back and another 1 or 2 on a stool next to me. We are not wealthy, but what we save on medical bills we use for whole foods. My children are NEVER sick. In fact, the only times my 1 y.o. was ever sick when she was exclusively nursing were the times when I would sneak sugar into my diet. My older 2 children came home 2 years ago with severe malnutrition, giardia, developmental delays, and rickets. They are now tall and as healthy as horses. The only times my son has ever been to the dr. except well visits were when he has hurt himself in daredevil stunts. The only times I get depressed or yell at my children or lose motivation to exercise or overeat or feel moody or get sick are when I am not eating this way. The only times my eldest daughter tantrums are when someone slips her some processed sugar. In fact, Sunday, someone gave her some teddy grahams and Tuesday she had her first cold in 2 years. When people comment that this must be hard to live like this, I respond that it is harder NOT to.

I really am not trying to preach here. I sort of started to say my plan and ended up using this as a way to almost process or remind myself of the logistics of the plan. It is helpful to write it all down.

I also realize that no one plan is right for everyone because it has to be come a lifestyle. I feel good that this will remain our lifestyle because I am actually journalling how healthy and good we all feel so that I will remember when I want to jump ship.

Oh -- one more thing -- I put this plan together when I realized that most of the people I know who are models of health eat like this. And, by that, I mean physically, sprirtually, mentally, and in terms of lack of illnesses. I have lots of thin friends who just eat much less of the standard american diet to stay thin, but they are getting hyrogenated oils and processed sugars a lot and are not really healthy. Thin does not equal healhty in all cases and I guess I want to be both when I get to goal. I started my family later in life (35) and I want to play with my grandkids, but my family history says that is not likely unless I make serious changes.

Sorry for the novel, but thanks for an opportunity to put my plan in print.

I really enjoyed reading your post, Paula.

I am a calorie counter. However I mainly follow what the american heart assc. has put out. It's really what we have been told all along. Eat your fruit, vegetables, grain, dairy and meat. Just do it in moderation. That's the real key. We need to eat like skinny people. Have you ever watched someone is a resteraunt get up and leave half there food. I used to think man how could they leave that good food. Now I know that is how the skinny stay skinny. I still don't leave it but I do get a box and put half of it in there for another day. So no big secert here just following common sense.

I would love to hear/read more on your plan and everything if you have time. I looked at your stats and dang near fell off of my chair! Your doing an awesome job!

Wow - my plan....hmmm....

Well, like Howie, I'm trying to eat and think like a THIN person! That has really helped my perspective to realize that people who are thin don't eat like me (or like I used to eat I should say ;) )! They don't KEEP eating b/c something tastes delicious. In fact, my mom and I had this huge long conversation about how thin people eat right before I went to a big party and it helped SO MUCH! The food was amazing! But, I got one small portion of each thing, ate it, realized that I was full and didn't go back for seconds (or thirds ;) ) because a thin person wouldn't do that - they don't stuff themselves just because something tastes good. ;)

It's taken me a long long time to find something that really works for me and HOPEFULLY something I can do for the rest of my life. I think it's important to really set your mind to that - this is for the rest of your life! So many times, I've started a "diet" (don't use that word anymore) and thought that once I reach my goal weight, I'd have a big sundae to celebrate...I'd eat what I want again...duh! How dumb!

I eat what I want NOW but if it's something "bad" - I just eat a little. ;) My daughter's 4th birthday was the other day and, of course, there was cake :D - after the party, I cut it all up into little half portion sized pieces and froze them - I know that if I want a peice of cake, I can have one for about 160 calories - I just have to budget it into my day. :)

I'm a calorie counter with FitDay and it has really helped me - I plan my food the night before and I tweak a bit here and there during the day if need be. I try to stay under 1800 calories, but, honestly, I'm often a bit over - which I don't worry about b/c with two small children, I'm definitely getting enough exercise. ;)

I'm really focusing on eating better - and counting calories has really made me realize where and how I can get the best nutritional bang for the buck - what things are lower in calories that will fill me up... I still eat fast food - about once a week (MUCH less than before! ;) - I still drink soda a couple of times a week - I don't deny myself - but I do figure it in - I can't have soda AND a peice of cake AND cookies all in the same day - it's all about moderation and making choices.

Also, like someone above said - sweet things don't taste as good to me now! AMAZING! :lol: When I first started, I would calculate in to have a candy bar on my grocery shopping day - my favorite candy bar :yum: - the last one I had was kind of...not as good as I remembered. I haven't had one in 5 weeks - not because I'm denying myself but because I DIDN'T WANT ONE! :faint: :lol:

Anyway, that's what works for me and I'm hoping that this is IT!

Good luck - you can do it too - try a couple of different things and modify if need be to best suit your lifestyle and needs! :)

I kinda evolved into my plan. I've done a little of just about everything before, from Protein Power to Pritikin to Cabbage Soup. This time, I really wanted to make long-term lifestyle changes, and to work at it more wholistically.

So I started by logging my food in Fitday and trying to aim for five fruits/veggies a day. After a week or so of that, I had an idea of my particular patterns, and how many calories I was actually consuming. So I started tweaking things. I focus on protein first -- making sure I got some in small increments throughout the day, then filling in around it with fruits and veggies. I have PCOS, so keeping an even blood sugar level can be particularly difficult. Protein helps satisfy my hunger early, and keeps me satisfied longer.

Next step was cutting back on sugar. Weaned myself back to diet soda by cutting real soda with diet. I don't really have a sweet tooth for candy or icecream (though unfrosted cake has a halflife of 5 seconds in my house -- so I don't make it), so some of that was easier. I started putting artificial sweetener in my coffee at home. Again, I don't use a lot of sugar to begin with, so I don't use enough artificial to note the aftertaste.

While doing that, I started focusing on moving more. Simple things, like taking the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator in the Metro and my office building. Stopping a stop early on Metro and walking the extra four blocks. It all adds up.

Once I was comfortable with these things that were "easy" for me and would help me feel successful, I started rejoining the online support groups and began journalling. This helps me explore the non-physical aspects of obesity -- why I eat what I eat when I overeat. What are the triggers? What are other options? WHat are my plans for different "difficult" scenarios, like eating out or going to parties?

Then I began limiting calories. The calorie counters say I need 2500+ calories a day to maintain this weight. So I began aiming for 1800-2000 calories a day. This gave me a loss of about a pound a week. Again, easy success to begin with. I started looking at the "value" of my food choices more closely. With limited calories a day, each bite needed to be good, and good for me. THis helped cut back on a lot of "extras" and second helpings.

This led me to really focus on portion control. You kind of have to when you count calories. I am amazed at how MUCH food is available, and so easily.

After a while of this, I kind of stalled. So I relooked at my calories, and realized I'd let them creep to the high end of my range. So now I'm focusing on 1500-1800 a day, and trying to exercise (garden, swim, walk) a couple times a week.

So, after all that explanation, what is my plan?

Eat less and exercise more.

No really, that's my plan. That's most people's plan, actually. But within that framework, there are a lot of specific guidelines that work well for me.

Food Focus

- 1500-1800 calories a day
- five servings veggie/fruit a day
- protein at each meal
- planned snacks (pre-commute and afternoon) to keep my hunger from becoming overwhelming
- choosing whole grains when available
- cutting back on sugar, over-refined foods, fatty snacks, and "treats"
- cutting back on unnecessary carbs

Lifestyle Focus

- logging every bite I eat
- no "forbidden" food -- I can eat whatever I want, in moderation, as long as I record it
- journalling and online support groups
- Drinking more water
- "official" exercise a couple times a week (a walk, swim, or gardening)
- daily exercise in the form of walking or stair climbing
- one day a week "free" where I can eat beyond my calorie limit -- but I still log it

Very interesting plan Synger. It sounds like one that will bring lots of success.

It is so true how important it is to ENJOY the foods we eat. I made a decision early on that if I don't like it, I will not eat it. Keeping my intake in a healthy range means I need to enjoy my food -- otherwise binges are too easy.

Hi TMunday,

Here is pretty mubh what I have up on my web site.

I basically count calories and watch my fat intake. 1800 calories a day and I like to try and stay around 40 grams of fat and drink at least 96 oz of water. I also go to the Y.M.C.A to swim but not as much as I should. Below you will see the guidelines set by the American Heart Association. It’s just good old fashioned common sense. No fad diets just a lot of self-control and hard work.



* Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Choose 5 or more servings per day.

* Eat a variety of grain products, including whole grains. Choose 6 or more servings per day.


* Include fat-free and low-fat milk products, fish, legumes (beans), skinless poultry and lean meats.


* Choose fats and oils with 2 grams or less saturated fat per tablespoon, such as liquid and tub margarines, canola oil and olive oil.


* Balance the number of calories you eat with the number you use each day. (To find that number, multiply the number of pounds you weigh now by 15 calories. This represents the average number of calories used in one day if you're moderately active. If you get very little exercise, multiply your weight by 13 instead of 15. Less-active people burn fewer calories.)


* Maintain a level of physical activity that keeps you fit and matches the number of calories you eat. Walk or do other activities for at least 30 minutes on most days. To lose weight, do enough activity to use up more calories than you eat every day.


* Limit your intake of foods high in calories or low in nutrition, including foods like soft drinks and candy that have a lot of sugars.


* Limit foods high in saturated fat, trans fat and/or cholesterol, such as full-fat milk products, fatty meats, tropical oils, partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and egg yolks. Instead choose foods low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol from the first four points above.


* Eat less than 6 grams of salt (sodium chloride) per day (2,400 milligrams of sodium).


* Have no more than one alcoholic drink per day if you're a woman and no more than two if you're a man. "One drink" means it has no more than 1/2 ounce of pure alcohol. Examples of one drink are 12 oz. of beer, 4 oz. of wine, 1-1/2 oz. of 80-proof spirits or 1 oz. of 100-proof spirits.

Howie,

WOW!! Thank you so much for the very informative reply! I had to print out your message to keep for my reminders. :) It appears I need to eat like 2496 calories a day!! WOAH!!! That's a lot lol. I bet I don't even eat half of that! What an eye opener. This sounds like a good plan! I am going to look into it more. Thanks again so much for all of your help! :)

Your welcome. That amount would probably be to maintain not lose. You say you bet you don't eat that much. If your not sure you should journal everything you eat and add it up you may or may not be surprised but it is a good starting point to find out how much you are eating. Then go from there.

I was shocked!! I started on the site fitday.com today and it said I ate 1191 in total calories today! That is a huge difference!! Maybe that is why I have not been feeling good and not had any energy at all!!

I did order the AHA no fad diet book tonight on amazon! So I am hoping it gets here sometime next week. I think this might help me alot! :)

Synger, what you're doing sounds a lot like what Howie and I do. When you said,

it reminded me of what I do in considering calories like cash. What is going togive me the best bargain for the buck? Is the cheeseburger and fries and impulse buy of something chintzy, or an investment in something with lasting value?

Tracy they do say you should not go below 1200 a day. I know Kimberley does well on 1500 a day. However I have seen others lose at 2000 a day. I don't think I would go over that if you want to keep losing but you just need to play around with it and find out what's a good number for you.

Ok, am I on glue or did there used to be a sticky thread with all our plans in it?


eta: I copied & pasted from the last thread:

Food: Being "good" 90% of the time

Water: 32+ oz per day, tea counts as water

Exercise: Half hour of *something* every day


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I was usually able to get my water in, no problem. That's not a challenge. So for February, I'd like to up my water intake to 96 oz. 3 liters. That *will* be a challenge. :)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2-13-2002:

According to the kidney doc, I cannot have 3 liters of water a day. 2 is where I should be.

4-15-2002:

That is when my last appt was. My dr said if I was going to have 16oz of green tea in the am, I have to skip one of the liters of water. :(

Howie,

Is that an older version of the AHA plan? I am a bit shocked that they suggest margarine. Margarine is a hydrogented fat and goes right to the heart in a bad way. Unless they are suggesting the newer ones, like Smart Balance with no HO???

As usual...some great thought-provoking responses to read and I've finally gotten caught up with them all.

I noticed my plan is similar to a few others in that we've taken what we've always known to be healthy and helpful in losing and just finally doing it. I mean, I've known the number of calories in just about every food item since I was 14...never meant that I was using that info to keep myself in check for more than 4 days though!

My plan the last half of last year was South Beach and I did well on it...better I'm sure if I would have exercised more consistently but after awhile...I got very bored by the plan and the fact that I was supposed to be limiting certain fruits and veggies...well, I hardly think that any fruit or veggie got me to where I ultimately landed! ;)

This year I got all the materials for WW on E-bay and I was cruising along nicely on that and most importantly....I started moving a minimum of 30 minutes a day whether it's WATP dvd, power walking the dogs, treadmill or when warm weather hit....lots and lots of laps in the pool....gradually increasing until I could swim a mile/190 laps.

Right now my plan seems to be to just do what I instinctly know to do in terms of eating until I'm satisfied...not stuffed, no white foods it's multi-grain bread, sweet potatoes, brown rice, etc. for me now. Three meals and 2-3 snacks per day and I'm moving...a lot! I go to the gym for upper and lower body work-outs and use the free weights, treadmill and elliptical. At home I use the treadmill and do the various dvds I've collected and it's the first time that having not missed but one day of moving (sick with cold/sinus that day)...the scale is moving and even quicker than the scale...I'm downsizing in clothes...faster than I would have ever expected. And it feels different this time as well because no matter what...I don't allow myself excuses and various things I've read boiaby write...I've really taken to heart...her: "Never trade what you want at the moment for what you want the most."....that says it all!

Combine that with the fact that I will allow myself one piece of dark Ghiradelli chocolate whenever I really want it...I thought that would mean hourly!... and it actually averages out to every 2-4 days and I find that utterly amazing! :dizzy:

This is such a great topic.

Looks like I'll be one of the few JC (Jenny Craig) clients to chime in here. (Where's Kirstie Allie when you need her).

I do JC 2/3rds of my day. But like any successful diet JC is based around a sensible balance of things. With JC it's calorie and fat watching, not much different then WW, or what Howie's doing. The one on one session with a counselor every week is good to. Because it's a system based around prepackaged foods it's a bit costly - but the food is good and at the end of the day it turns out not to be much more then you spend on average a week anyway. I chose to cook my own dinners for various reasons, one is money, it scaled back the cost for me a bit, but mainly because I have been teaching my self to cook, and really enjoy it.

Howie is completely right about being sure you take in enough calories, dropping too low can be as detrimental as going too high. I also do about 1800 calories a day. The same goes for the carb diets. Unfortunately a lot of people went way out of control with it, and didn't follow any properly structured plan. Atkins original plan (which he wrote back in like 78) made sense, cut out a huge chunk of your carb intake, cut out all your complex carbs but then start re-introducing them to your body without the complex ones. Unfortunately people thought the point of the diet was to go as low carb as possible. Which is extraordinarily dangerous and honestly not that smart. Depriving your body of the right amount of carbs causes brain damage, and it effective almost immediately. Not worth the risk of losing a couple extra pounds.

I am a firm believer that most reasonable diet plans out there can be successful, that they are equal in their potential success. People just have to find which one is right for them, and get their head in the right place to do so.

Howie copied that right off their website. They do caution in their section regarding fats that you limit your intake of hydrogenated oils. We bought Smart Balance spread containing olive oil last time and it's pretty good. We don't eat much of it, anyway. The AHA has a good eating plan on their site, too.

Hi Howie. Sorry it has taken me so long to get this message. I didn't get a message stating a post in here. :( I got the American Heart Association No Fad Diet book today! Lots of interesting info in there. I got the cookbook too. Lol. Your right though! I am trying to stay between 1500 and 1800 a day right now. My doc said 1600.... so we shall see what happens. Thanks again for your help!

Thanks for sharing your info, everyone!
 

Hi, UntilMOMMI - Welcome! :) Absolutely you can do this, and you can do it eating foods that will satisfy you not only health-wise, but taste-wise. A lot of it is finding healthier alternatives for things, and watching your habits. Jump on in, water's great!

Hi MOMMI!! :wave: There are several people here who have started the same way you are - just making little changes one at a time - and had success! You do what works for you and feels right - sounds like your head is definitely in the right place. :) GOOD LUCK!