Weight's Too Much - Working w/Low Carb
 

Hi! I've been meaning to introduce myself/where I'm at, so here goes: I'm 54 y/o and tired of being "obese." On 3/26/14, I decided I would commit to 17 days of the 17-Day Diet (a lower carb, higher protein eating plan). I happened to have the book in the house; I had bought it several years before and never actually used it. What helped push me over the edge (so to speak) to take action was my darling sister-in-law commenting to me that if she had a SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT of weight to lose, she'd choose a high protein plan. (I had not asked for advice from my SIL, mind you. However, she never comments on my weight and had herself recently lost weight on a TrimHealthyMama plan. I was not hurt, which I might have been if someone else had said that to me.) I guess her statement made me realize, I DO have a SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT of weight to lose! On 3/26/14 I weighed myself (217.5 lbs) -- yup, that's a lot of weight (I'm only 5'4")! I was happy to find this website and forum later that week. I hope to give/receive support here as I continue my getting healthy journey!

Howdy and welcome! I started a day before you and with just a little less weight. I'm also trying to eat low carb. I am prediabetic and need to eat that way to keep my blood sugar stable. How have you been doing?

Well my advice-is to-throw the book in the trash can. That's ridiculous to think that you can lose all your weight in 17 days. It took you years to get to this weight, it's going to take time to take it off. It's just another yo yo diet plan--where you lose a lot of weight at first, only to gain it back twice as fast, plus add another 15 to 20 pounds to it.

If you're really serious you will realize that this is going to take time. Recommendations for long term weight loss success are to lose no more than 2 pounds a week. That's still great because that in itself says you can lose 104 pounds in a year. 1 pound a week is 52 pounds in a year.

The solution is simple--Eat less--Move more. Our bodies require protein, and carbs to function normally. If you cut out one and bulk up on the other your messing with Mother Nature--as our genetics are protein, carbs--and even a little fat and sugar. That's why these weird diets don't work for long term success. You eat a piece of bread and balloon out. The problem stems from overeating or consuming too many calories during the day. That's 99% of the problem with anyone who is overweight. They eat too much.

A calorie is a calorie regardless if it comes from carrots or cookies or protein or carbs.

Here is a good start for you. Very simple--determines your current BMI--then calories you need to consume to make your goal weight.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/calc-bmi-plus

Also, I would recommend that you sign up for a free app called myfitnesspal. It is a great calorie counter that can upload to all smart phones and computers. It has a 3 million food database, along with restaurant menu's and of course fast food. Making it very easy for you to track your calories depending on what you enter as your goal weight. It also has a spot to add in any exercise you do, or if you can purchase a Fitbit or Jawbone UP these will sync with myfitnesspal giving you a very accurate picture of how many calories you're consuming and how many calories you burn in a day.

It's not easy--you'll get hungry. That's where people fail. Getting hungry is an uncomfortable feeling. But--there is a light at the end of the tunnel where the hunger pangs will subside, your stomach will shrink and you'll be well on your way to a healthier happier you.

Welcome and good luck to you on this permanent weight loss journey. If you have the determination, you can do it. You'll find all the support and information you need right here.

http://hasfit.com/images/weight-loss...motivation.gif

Kscott - nowhere in her post did its2much state that she expected to lose all her weight in 17 days. She only said that she COMMITTED herself to staying on this plan for 17 days.

Also if anyone is curious, WebMD often does a break down of diets, their take away on this one is fairly good
http://www.webmd.com/diet/17-day-diet

It also kind of sounds like other similar diets out there including Chris Powell's carb cycling plan (I don't know enough of either diet to verify but seems similar)

Am Committed to 17-day plan - is working so far!
 

Hi jiffypop! You are correct. I did not say I expected to lose all the weight in 17 days -- only that I committed to the plan.

It is rare for me to make a diet/eating plan commitment, so that WAS a big deal!

Thanks for pointing out my actual words to other readers!

Update: I did the first 17 days (the Cycle1)(lost 9.5 lbs.), then started the second 17 days (the Cycle2) but wasn't consistent (with Easter and all). I re-committed to Cycle2 on 5/5/14 and just ended it 5/22/14. I have lost 18.5 lbs.

Am very happy with my progress and appreciate your support!

Thanks for asking how I'm doing, Shannonsnail.

I've lost 18.5 pounds - and I wasn't consistent between Easter and 5/5/14. (I re-committed to my plan on 5/5/14.) I'm so thrilled to be below 200 lbs!! It has been a very long time since I saw 199 on my scale - but today I did!

Also, thanks for sharing about being prediabetic. While I am not, it is a good reminder to me as to why treating my body better by losing weight is important. (I mean to say, "there but for the grace of God, go I" -- I could easily be the one who is prediabetic.)

Looks like you're doing great, too, Shannonsnail! I see you've lost 20 lbs. -- congratulations!!! Keep up the good work!

Hi Nelie! I did read the review by WedMD before I even bought the book. I agree with you that the 17-Day Diet does do some carb cycling. On the second set of 17 days (Cycle2), I alternated higher carb days with lower carb days. The higher carbs were slow-releasing carbs.

I feel good with the foods I am eating -- lean proteins, low-sugar fruits, vegetables, and probiotic foods (mainly yogurt for me). These are the kinds of foods I want in my diet when I am maintaining my weight anyway.

It is working for me so far!

Am Committed to 17-day plan - is working so far!
 

Well, I appreciate the welcome but would like to ask you to please not react so vehemently without more carefully reading my post.

<<You wrote: "That's ridiculous to think that you can lose all your weight in 17 days.">>

You clearly don't know the 17-Day Diet plan or you wouldn't say that. And I never said I believed I could lose all the weight in 17 days.

I believe it's better to know a plan before criticizing it or reacting to it. I also find it hard to respect anything else you wrote when you got the plan itself so wrong!

People do actually lose weight, and keep the weight off, on a variety of plans. I know several people who maintain a healthy weight; weight they lost through a low-carb/high protein program (i.e. Dukan, 17-Day Diet, etc.). It sounds to me as if you are prejudiced against these types of plans without really knowing what they are.

Re WebMD and Fitness Pal - I already researched my plan on WebMD, and I already have Fitness Pal.

You wrote: <<"You'll find all the support and information you need right here">>. I know there areas in this Forum for low-carb/high protein -- I hope you aren't as critical of these people as you were of me! What I believe is: there is support and information here -- however, not all support/information is equally valuable. I need to 'take what I need, and leave the rest' in order to succeed.

In closing, I want to wish you well on your own weight loss plan, and journey.

Its2much,

Congratulations on your 18.5lb loss so far. I'm glad to hear a low carb diet is working out for you. The doctor recommended I go on Atkins a few years ago to help with a seizure disorder, but I could never make it more than a few days on a ketogenic diet. I always felt so tired without the carbs.