I can't believe I gained it all back... trying something different
 

Hi!

I went on Ideal Protein in May 2010 and lost 100 pounds in 6 months. I held about 80 of it off for a few years, and then it crept back up. Now I'm only 18 pounds below where I started. I think part of the problem was that IP didn't let me think of foods in a normal manner. Either I was "on The Diet", or "Off The Diet." And while it was INCREDIBLY effective in the short term, I was unable to maintain.

Around 2002, I tried WW. I went to meetings, counted points, and went from about 290 to 225. Then I petered out. Held that for a while, but on my 42nd birthday, I weighed 313.

I'm currently 247 pounds, and looking for a way to easily judge what to eat in a real-world situation, so that I can hopefully lose weight, and keep it off this time. I'm not going to go for the maximum - that happened on IP, I lost down to 155, looked great (except for all the excess skin), but the only way to hold that was to severely limit calories & carbohydrates. I pretty much developed an eating disorder (not the first time in my life). I was obsessed, and not fun to be around. Meetings are not really an option, as I work a lot, so I'm trying to do it online.

I hope to get to know more of you soon, and wish me luck!

Wow! You've been through a lot. Welcome to 3FC.:hug:

We do wish you luck! Be sure and ask if you have questions and we'll see if we can help with them.

Sgorny, I wish you the best of luck. You can do this!
Judy
Itryharder
234.6/178./170 and thinner

You can do it!

I was just listening to the Oprah Winfrey call she had with WW members last night. It was actually very good. She was asked a question about losing and regaining. One of the points she made was that for she, in the past, she had always either been on a diet (losing weight) or not on a diet (after she lose the weight). So, she changed how she ate once she lost weight. She says that the difference now is that she has is now doing WW and will be eating that way for the rest of her life.

Well all I can say is I think you've made a good choice... I'm a big fan of WW and have done the program off and on for years... I'm at GOAL now... And finally a Lifetime Member...

I did IP also... great result in the short term... But NOT sustainable in the long term... I too was one of those people... either ON a diet... or OFF a diet... Now with WW I'm really working on not thinking like that anymore... And feel like I have a SUSTAINABLE way of maintaining my weight AND being healthy and fit... Which is what I'm really happy about... Especially, getting back to being fit again... THAT is much more important to me than any number on the scale could ever be... BUT it took A LONG time to get to get to that point... Thankfully it has finally happened for me...

Hopefully, you're taking advantage of WW Connect which is really great... Good Luck on your journey... Beyond the Scale... ;)

I think you've made the right choice too.

I have been on numerous diets, Weight Watchers included, and fell off more times then I can count. But this new program..., it just works!!

Good luck.

Hi! You're story is just like mine!!! I started IP 11/11/11! I loved 75 pounds in 5 months and kept it off nicely for 2 years (well, maybe gained 10 or 15) then year 3 and 4 the rest came back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I deleted all my history (on my signature) and am making a FRESH start with WW! I just joined and went to my first meeting last night! IP was so black and white, like you said, you're either on or off! WW takes such a healthier approach to food. I'm with you on this one!!! LETS DO IT!!! Maggie

Best of luck to you! Great job for not giving up!
I've been in the losing/regaining cycle also. I know how frustrating it can be. Let's make this one the best and last time. :)

I am back again on WW's after having years of stress eating. I was 265 when I started WW's the first time in 2007. I went down to 190 with it but I was working out 2 hours a day which worked at the time but really is unrealistic.

I went back up to 240 and oddly enough I lost weight during and after my last pregnancy and I was down to 227. I have been on it again for 2 weeks and so far down 7 lbs. This time I am making a lifestyle change not going on a diet. I use WW's to help me keep track of what I am eating and it encourages me to eat healthier. I work out 30 mins a day 3-4 times a week when I have time.

At 38 I have finally come to the understand that 1. I need to do something about being unhealthy. It isn't necessarily a diet but I need to become healthier. My dad passed away at 57, he was not heavy but not healthy either. My littlest will only be 22 if I die at the same age as my dad. How fair is that to him to loose his mom so early when he barely has started his life?? 2. There is no way I am going to maintain weight loss the rest of my life if I live on lettuce and exercise all day. I found a happy point for me and I am focusing on getting healthy and if the weight comes off great.

Good luck, you can do this!! Set small goals and find what things you can make a lifestyle change instead of a diet.

When I first got to lifetime almost 25 years ago, I was really motivated by wanting to look good. And, unfortunately, I didn't stick with it for the long term so I regained. This time around, I really was motivated by the health concerns. I knew I wasn't at what was a good healthy weight for me and as I got older I realized I needed to take better care of myself. And, yes, it really is something that I think of as a lifestyle now.

How many of us have said that and then gained it back and rejoined? If I see that commercial with her and the bread again I'll scream. She has a personal chef so she should do well if she sticks to what he prepares.

For me, and just for me, WW has been a Godsend.

It is not a diet, it is a lifestyle, it is a process. It takes time.

It has taken me from 2006, and one success, that led to neglecting myself, and regaining and rejoining, and doing it again, to realize, "I AM WORTH IT"

I have been through 3 leaders, and 2 rounds of doing it.

Now, I am a leader, because, when my last leader said she was retiring, and leaving, no one else wanted to do it.

I was like, I NEED THIS! I need all of these people. They are why I succeed.
So, fast forward, now I am helping other people.

But more important, they are still helping me!:carrot::hug::hug::hug:

LOL! I completely agree with you. I believe that Oprah has always struggled with her weight and continuously goes on and off diets, but I can't imagine she is walking around with scales and calculators to figure out how much she's eating. If I ever fall into a ton of money, the first thing I'm doing is hiring a personal chef, lol.

In response to the original post, I am starting over as well. I was almost at my goal weight when I went on vacation last year and decided I deserved a break for that week; I ate my way through the cities I visited and never went back on the diet. All the weight is back now, and then some.

What I love about WW is exactly what you said: I can easily judge what to eat in a real-world situation, even if my handy dandy scale or calculator isn't near me. I also love that I can literally eat ANYTHING I want on this plan, as long as I do it in the correct portions (one mozzerella stick is still a mozzerella stick! :love:)

Good luck on your WW journey. We're all here doing it with you :hug:

hey tripswitch!!
I joined WW and am going to meetings now since Jan. and love it!! glad to see you are still doing great :)

WW is NOT a diet.:hug: It is a lifestyle, that does recognize, that not all days will be perfect!

None of us are perfect. We will have days, totally on plan, then we will have days when we eat everything in sight. That is ok, as long as you don't guilt/shame yourself into giving up, and turning one bowl of mac and cheese into 6 months of it.

Track it, get back on board, and move on!

I was on The WW Diet too
 

Long term it failed to work for me. I find adding a daily walk after my last meal of the day the most helpful for me. Plus drinking plenty of water and having tuna sandwiches and salads alternated with some light pasta to keep carbs up every now and zen. Also a pizza every once a week :dizzy: a veggy type keeps the energy up too. Just keep walking and increase your distance. Even if you dont lose 100 lbs, 50 is a good start, even less then that, and then make a yearly goal and keep it off longer.

Best wishes! You can do it!

I have somehow managed to lose weight a bit more than 3 years ago. I was not eating nearly anything. I was in gym every day for like 2 hours a day. with a lot of trying I have managed to achieve my goal weight. then I managed to keep it for like 3-4 months and then it all started. I have not even understood how in about half an year I have been the same as prior starting all my diet plans, gym etc. etc.

Ugh, I have such a similar story! I was on IP and had amazing results, but gained everything back and more. I don't think it taught me how to actually succeed and also, I never really felt fit while doing it (which is a big deal to me).

So, I joined WW online a few days ago and am excited already. And hungry, lol!! :)

Good luck, TeagsC!

I too was on IP about 5 years ago, and flirted with it on and off for years after. I still buy some of the IP food just because I'm a Type 2 and it's easy and safe food for me to eat. But the actual IP Diet made me feel AWFUL, I was spacey, tired, depressed and while following it to the letter, lost less than a pound a week. I managed to stay on it for 3 months, and only lost 18 lbs.(the first 9 lbs in the first 2 weeks). I'm hypothyroid and have no gall-bladder and Diabetic and IP did not make me feel good. I gained all of that weight back. I have done WW before and lost weight, but was always hungry, so it's hard for me to stick with it. It used to be harder to eat proteins and stay within points, so I am liking this new program, but it takes diligence and discipline for me to stay away from the sugary things allowed on WW, and to not go over my points. Anyway, I understand the people who were on IP before, and their struggles with the strictness of the protocol.

One time I have lost the weight I wanted. I have been looking the way I dreamed about. I have had the ideal weigh. without any drugs or weight loss pills. I've done it all natural by eating right and exercising. Kept it like that for like half a year or even less, then I gained it all back in less than 2 months. 3 years have passed since then and I can't get rid of the extra weigh now...

I did ww years ago, then I found the love of my live <3 and slowly gained it all and then some. I am back on WW since December and it is going well.

Cheers to all the ladies on here that are back at again (or keeping with it the first time)!!

I did WW years ago when the original points plan was introduced and it worked fast. I have got fat again the last 3 years (100 lb weight gain) due to depression. Now I am ready to get off the side effects of depression. I re-started WW old points plan this past Tuesday from home. Will not be going to meetings. At this point I don't need them. I know what to do and have been taught to deal with the emotional issues. We eat out a lot and I have found that I will plan ahead of time what I am going to eat whether it be a grilled chicken breast or a salad with dressing. I know ahead of time how many pts are in a 6 oz piece of chicken. This past Thursday we ate out and I had a blackened chicken sandwich, ate only 1/2 the bun, had them put the mayo on the side so I would know how much I was putting on, came with a pickle, lettuce, tomato. WW is doable in the real world. It's just a matter of learning the pts. Yesterday, I took my mom to Ruby Tuesdays. I knew ahead of time I would get the salad bar. I added all the veggies I like and then added 1 egg, (chopped) 2 T shredded cheese and put the salad dressing I wanted in a cup so I could eyeball measure 3 T to stick my fork in with each bite. I also keep at home the skinny cow ice cream sandwiches as my happy treat, (3 pts.). I love being able to have 1 everyday if I want. It's just a matter of planning.