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.

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!

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! )

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