I probably shouldn't post on this thread because I'm of the belief that the word "diet" is a source of much confusion and sometimes gets a bad rap. If by "diet" you (or anyone) means a crazy, unbalanced, short-term food plan, then I'd agree the "nondiet" approach is the way to go. But if you mean "diet" as simply a structured, nutritionally balanced food plan for the purpose of losing or controlling weight, then "diet" can be a good thing.
I've lost more than 100 pounds over a number of years and kept most of it off, give or take the ups and downs. I still have a desire to go about 15 pounds lower but the fat cells don't cooperate as they once did.
But in all honesty if you desire to lose weight, IMHO, there is only one basic way to do it ... eat less and move more. That said, some people get good quick results with high protein plans (which IMO are not healthy or safe in most instances, but I'm not a doctor so I couldn't really comment).
But if you are searching for a structured food plan to get you started, there are a lot around that are nutritionally sound. It's amazing that among the media-hyped "diet" plans, there are some really sound (sound IMO) plans in many popular magazines and on the net. I like "The Cheater's Diet" in the current issue of Women's World magazine. It's sensible and nutritious, though IMO too low in calories ... but one could add in another piece of fruit or something to take care of that.
Also the Prevention Millennium Diet is a good nutrition plan. In the past there was a support group for that on 3FC's diet plan section.
Or how about the old WW exchange program or any good old-fashioned exchange plan (such as Nutri-Points) that you could get from a doctor or nutritionist or in a book at the library. Or maybe the mainstream WW with it's fiber-based quick start plan?
On the web there is Cyberdiet.com, Dietwatch.com, eDiets, etc., all of these have tools for creating a preplanned nutritious food plan and for figuring out the correct amount of calories for health and accomplishing your goal.
Also, don't discount the value of just a tiny bit of moderate extra exercise in bringing your weight where you want it. If you walk for exercise 60 minutes most days, maybe add 10 minutes more. That's 70 extra minutes if you walk daily and 280 extra calories a week (approximately). Up the intensity and you lose a bit more.
Fiber and water also help. I've been told (again, no expert here) that for every gram of fiber added to the diet, four extra calories are burned (I've never figured out if that means per hour or just four calories ... no matter, every little EXTRA bit counts when you are trying to jump start your weight loss). Water seems to me (and lots of people) to also aid weight loss for a variety of reasons.
You may not NEED to lose any weight at all. I'd like to see everyone who wants to lose weight check it out with a health professional first. After that consider whether you just need to add a bit of muscle and tone to certain areas that seem to make your clothes tight. That can be taken care of by consistent exercise, including resistance training.
So, sorry, this is a long rambling answer to your question! Good luck whatever you do. Your goal is quite realistic ... a bit over a pound a week.
Onward and downward ...
Non-Diet Approach Week 11/06/2001
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