What's Your Diet Secret?

[jenniferharris1]

I'm on WW again, and I'm trying so hard to stick with it. But, I can always use suggestions. Everyone on this board seems so healthy and fitness-oriented; I bet very few of you have a weight problem. Do you have any advice for someone who would like to lose weight the healthy way, with wonderfully prepared, nutritious foods and with exercise? I know there isn't a magic bullet, but I'm sure there are things that you do to stay trim. Meanwhile, back to my water...

[Mamasue]

Jennifer...you are not alone! I am overweight and loose a few pounds and then I get weak and stop. I know my biggest problem is exercise. I need to get out there and walk faithfully but I do good for a while and then I fail. I do the WW diet unofficially and on my own. My problem is willpower. Not very disaplined (sp).

I have to say though that since I found this BB I am cooking lighter and trying some new recipes. Its very hard also when you have a DH who loves his beef, gravy and potatoes.

[Lynn B]

Jennifer,

Something that has helped me...

If it's worth eating, it's worthy of a plate, napkin, and your FULL ATTENTION AT THE TABLE!!! (i.e., no grazing on the run, or idling eating while reading or watching TV...)

Lynn

[jazzcat]

I have tried WW and like it however, I happened to see ediets.com and signed up for it. For $25 for 3 months I think it's quite a value. It has meal plans, support groups on line etc. I have paid a lot more for the WW "at home" and feel this (ediets.com)has more support if you don't go to meetings. I don't go because fortunately for me my weight loss needs are 10-15 lbs and I feel funny walking into a meeting and people looking at me as though I don't belong there. I'm not looking to be skinny, just comfortable with a weight that I feel is best for me. To be honest I don't follow the meals exactly, but use the calorie breakdowns etc, for meals as a guide. That's one of the things I love so much about CL recipes, the flavorful recipes and the nutritional info so you can make good choices. Good Luck.

P.S. Yes, drink that water!! I love water, and I even find it hard at times.

[BevP]

Jennifer, truse me, many of us have had weight problems or still do. You're on the right track though. WW is a great program from what I've seen and heard of it and you're not looking for the magic pill.

Just remember it took a while to gain weight and will take a while to lose. Aim for no more than 2 pounds a week and expect less than that. You've probably heard all this before but a pound is 3,500 calories.

Add exercise to your life and eating sensibly. If you can, toss out the word diet and think instead of lifetime eating. Think fit not skinny and think exercise because it makes you feel better and tone and healthy. To lose weight you want to aim for 4-5 workouts a week if you can. But any exercise is better than none. Find something you like and are willing to do.

If possible get your body fat done. I did and found out I was trying to be unrealistic with the scale's numbers. Once I changed my attitude and learned I was healthy it really helped.

By the way, we have a Healthy Living Support Group on the healthy living board. We gather once a week to support each other and commisserate or brag. Mostly we encourage each other. Try that.

My last bit of advise is really pay attention to portions. I was eating way more than I thought I was and I wasn't even thinking about it. I refuse to weigh everything but do occassionally to remind myself of a serving. Now I at least *know* what I'm eating. If I'm going to overeat, I plan to enjoy it.

[BethR]

I was able to lose 15 pounds and I've kept it off by changing my lifestyle and focusing on my health instead of my weight. I struggled for years with extra weight and diets and nothing ever worked long-term. I subscibed to CL and gradually began to do almost all my cooking out of it because a friend died of a heart attack at 43 -- causing me to decide it was time for my family and I to eat more healthfully. Over several months I lost the weight and I've kept it off for a year and a half. Now, we eat low-fat most of the time and splurge occasionally without guilt.

[laden]

Jennifer

Please don't feel like you're alone on this board. I've been a lifetime member of WW for years and years. Most of the time I have my act together, but there are times when I just can't seem to get with the program.

My best advice is to go to the WW meetings(they are a huge help), keeping a journal religiously, and watching your portion sizes. I use CL recipes almost exclusively and it really helps me lose the weight.

Good luck and just stick with it! You'll feel so good about yourself when you are in control and the food is not!

Lisa

[maizeyoats]

Jennifer,
Really I think the most important thing you can do is exercise to get the metabolism going. Usually if you are not in the habit it is pretty hard to get started but once you do begin you will not regret it.
Besides walking I go to a place called Curves for Women. It is a 30 minute workout and it's easy and fun. If you have one near you go in and try it out (free) to see if it's something that would interest you. Everyone I have met there has lost weight and lots of inches.

[heidibowman]

Jennifer,

I have lost 33 pounds on WW (which was 23% of my original weight!). I started last July and made lifetime by Thanksgiving. My secrets are to just stick with it until it becomes habit (which takes a few weeks), journal EVERYTHING that goes into your mouth, and ALWAYS allow yourself to have a meal where you eat whatever you want once a week. It's my opinion that this "special" meal will help you to not break down and binge eventually because you're not depriving yourself of every craving and you'll be more apt to think of the program as a lifestyle, not a diet. Also, you'd be surprised that after a few weeks you'll start to actually decide to make healthier choices for your "special" meal, either consciously or unconsciously.

Another lifesaver that helped me to lose the weight and then to keep it off (I've only fluctuated within 1 pound since Nov.) was to use Cooking Light as my primary meal planner. I don't know what I would've done if it hadn't been for CL and their wonderfully delicious, inventive, and easy recipes. I definitely consider myself a foodie (or should I say chowhound... :rolleyes:) and don't think I could've made it past a couple weeks if I'd have had to figure out healthy meals on my own. I would've ended up subsisting on Lean Cuisines and salad. That would've become boring real fast ! Not to mention I'm sure my SO would've protested after a while, too. (He, BTW, also loves all the CL recipes.)

This BB is also a great tool. I don't know how many recipes from CL that became favorites and staples I would never have tried had it not been for the raves and descriptions entered here.

You are definitely not alone when it comes to the neverending struggle with weight. I'm sure everyone here will support you if you ever have any questions or concerns. You can always feel free to send me an email, too, if you ever need support but don't want to post it to the world. :)

I'm also going to check out the Healthy Living board BevP talked about earlier. That sounds like another great resource!

Good Luck!! :D

Heidi

[kwormann]

Of course, remembering that everyone's body is different. After years of trying one thing than another, I think Ive discovered my key is starchy foods. I do real well when I stay away from potatoes, corn and carrots and eat whole grains, lean meats and green leafy veggies! The first week I tried this system, I felt very "clean", not clogged up at all, and I lost 4 lbs! The thing to keep in mind is to remember everyone's metabolism and system is different. YOu have to find what works best for you that doesnt restrict your fruits and veggies and whole grains!

Kim

[jenniferharris1]

Thank God for this Board! Everyone here is so kind and supportive. My favorite message boards are CL and Dottie's Weight Loss Zone, because of the friendliness of those who frequent them. I am still on WW; fortunately, I am an extremely routine person, and I fall into habits easily. So, I found that it's getting easier on Week 2. I'm still afraid to weigh myself, but I'll know roughly when my size 14s are loose. Like most of you, I depend on CL recipes to cook healthily. I use a lot of turkey recipes, and my DH has lost 10 ounds since we've been married! He's got higher metabolism, though! Thanks for all your advice, Folks. I truly appreciate it.

[GayeC]

Like jazzcat I also signed up for e-diets.com. I have found the weekly check-in to be very motivating. I don't follow their diet exactly but reviewing it occasionally helps me to remember that portion control is a problem for me. I was eating what I thought were reasonable portions but found that they were too large for someone who wants to lose weight.

[foodiedelite]

Jennifer,

Congratulations on making the decision to lose the weight. That's the first step.

I've lost 45 lbs. with WW and so far have been able to maintain my weight (within 2 lbs.) and size 6 since last December.

It boils down to "eat less" "exercise more."

For me, I walking, drinking at *least* 8 glasses of water per day, cutting my alcohol consumption, as I found this slowed my metabolism. Also, I found foods higher in fiber filled me up and curb my appetite. Last, as mentioned earlier, it's not a diet. Everything in moderation--so you won't find yourself bingeing.

It will take a little time, but keep visualizing the "new slimmer you" and you'll soon be there. :)

[jd]

All of the suggestions so far are great. I just lost 40 lb on WW, but did it all with food management (I started exercising the day I hit lifetime - one thing at a time, I guess). The big thing for me was to brown bag it for lunch so that I could control what I was eating, and by taking low point vegetable and lentil based soups most days. Water and journalling were also key for me. Good luck and hope to see you the healthy living board.

[funnybone]

Jennifer, you need to visit the "healthy living" board. We talk about this sort of thing over there. You'll get tremendous support from all.

[Grace]

All the advice here is wonderful. The only thing I could think of to add is find excercise you LOVE, and it will be something you look forward to, rather than something you have to force yourself to do. Keep trying new activities. Sign up for a single class of a whole bunch of different things (pilates, dance classes, spinning, tennis, WHATEVER!!), and you'll eventually hit upon something that really floats your boat. I personally also like to do several different things I like in a week, i.e., bike one day, dance class one day, Tae-Bo tapes another day, go bowling with my husband while he practices and bowl 7 or 8 games (believe me, 7 or 8 games of bowling is GOOD excercise!), and then it doesn't get boring or feel like drudgery. I keep a list of all the "possiblities", and then pick something each day.

Here's my personal list, for some ideas:

Firm tapes (these are awesome and really work)
TaeBo tapes
Go outside and run (for me it's more like jogging, though! :D)
Total Gym (typically a winter time choice)
Elliptical Machine (also more of a wintertime choice)
Bike (we have a 17 mile long bike path in our neighborhood and it's easy to do an hour/hour and a half without getting bored!)
Bowl
Dance Class
Swim
Power walk with walking tapes (they're tapes that have special music where you walk to the beat, and the beat starts out medium to warm you up, gets faster and faster, then slows down to cool you off. There are about 1000 of these kinds of tapes with every kind of music imaginable, and it keeps me from walking too slowly, and from quitting "early" - I'm motivated by the music to go the whole 45 minutes or hour or however long the tape is).
These tapes are especially helpful on the elliptical machine in the winter when it's SOOOO boring to stay on the machine for an hour at a time.

Anyway, best of luck to you, and please don't assume that just because we all are interested in Cooking Light that none of us struggle with weight. You're definitely not alone, and I wish you a lot of success in your efforts, and I know you'll do it if you want to. There are lots of people here who are happy to help you with questions, staying motivated, etc.

One last thing, for me, I find that it's easier to think about the whole thing as more of a change of lifestyle to make yourself
healthy, with bettering your health being the key focus, and the loss of weight will be a nice by-product! Rather than just losing the weight as your primary focus. Your health is MUCH more important than being thin, and you'll feel SOO much better physically (and mentally) when you're healthy, whatever weight you are. GOOD LUCK!!! :D

[heidibowman]

Originally posted by jd
(I started exercising the day I hit lifetime - one thing at a time, I guess).

JD,

I, too, didn't exercise while losing on program! Actually, I didn't start exercising until 2 months ago. (And, dang if that wasn't when I gained that extra pound! :mad: )
That was exactly my philosophy, also...one thing at a time. I don't think you should overwhelm yourself when you're trying to make such a big change as weight loss. I was afraid I'd give up if it got to be too much. I'm sure my weight loss went slower than if I'd been exercising at the time also, but I got there none the same. Now I feel more equipped to both eat healthfully AND exercise. It certainly is true - everyone's different! (Thank goodness!)


:D

Heidi

[munchies]

Hi all. Gosh, isn't it good to know we all face the same struggles and challenges?!?

I have been exercising faithfully for a little over a year now -- and I've lost about 22 pounds. I don't weigh myself too regularly b/c it can become such an obsession. Anyway, my real secret has been buying a heart rate monitor. I wear it when I work out and it calculates the calories you burn and the time of exercise. It works for me to have something objective to look at -- I shoot for a certain number of cal. or length of time each week. It's also nice because I reset the monitor every Sunday night, so each week is a fresh start. This helps keep me motivated.

I agree that eating a variety of foods (at the right portion sizes, of course!) is really important too. I don't deprive myself of things -- I'm just more attentive to what I eat.

And, like Grace said, it is so important to find an exercise you enjoy. I, too, vary what I do -- hiking, cycling, jogging, aerobics, taebo, or just dancing to the radio for awhile. It can be ANYTHING. Just be active.

Finally (am I ever going to finish?)--- on one of my taebo tapes, Billy Blanks says something about how it took you time to get out of shape, so it's going to take time to get back in shape. It won't happen overnight, but it will happen over time. Patience and diligence, I guess. :D

[browneye]

Jennifer,
I have found that exercise is the key, for me. I tend to eat at the top of my point range, and the exercise really helps keep things under control. I agree with Grace, you have to find something you really enjoy doing. If you look forward to doing the exercise, that is half the battle!

Also, here are a couple of little things that help me alot:
My worst time of the day is right before dinner, or as I cook dinner. I really want to munch and the hunger pangs get going pretty well. So, I have a new strategy- I drink a V-8 with lemon during this time. It is 0 points, and fills me up plus gives me something to sip on. Then, when dinner is ready, I can stay within reasonable portions.

Exercise in the morning- for me, it is the best time. Later in the day I can find too many excuses not to do it. It also gives your metabolism a boost for the rest of the day. Some studies have shown that you burn cals at a much higher rate when you exercise in the morning vs. later in the day.
Good luck! :)

[greysangel]

Hey there!

I am following the WW program and am 0.4 shy of losing 100 pounds!! WOO HOO! Hopefully I'll get there by Wednesday.

Things that have helped me:

1)Vary the points range. Try not to get into the rut of eating the same thing day in/day out or the same points amount everyday. Try to listen to what your body really wants and have that in moderation. Some days I'm at my minimum, other days I use several banked points plus activity points!

2)Portion control vs. low point bulk eating. In my opinion people who start WW and start eating fat free 0-1 point everything in order to keep the "stuffed" feeling are missing a large component of the program. I am happy to say that 95% of the time I eat real food in small/moderate portions. I am no longer comfortable feeling overly full. 5% of the time is PMS or emotional eating where I will do the bulk or "grazing" thing. Again, listen to both your mind and your body to decide what's best for you on a given week.

3)Weeding the garden. Pulling weeds means removing or distancing yourself from any negative influences in your life. I had to do this in the beginning and still have to "prune" every now and again to make sure I have more people who are supportive in my life than people who are naysayers, doubtful, sarcastic or overall negative.

4)Exercise!!! I used to hate it and most of the time I love it now. I certainly can feel it when I don't get it in. I am at the gym 5 days a week doing classes, eliptical, weight training etc. When I get a bit lower I want to check out martial arts because I think it would be something I would like. Figure out what you would like and start moving! It helps in so many ways! I really wish WW emphasized this part of the program more. It's so beneficial.

5) Enjoy yourself!! Experiment, journal, try different things. Make the plan work for you vs. dreading implementing "THE DIET" ...WW is so wonderful in that you can modify it to accomodate you.

I have pics at http://www.greysangel.com/wwjeanne.html if you are interested.

Best Wishes,

JeAnne

[SQ]

JeAnne, great website. How clever you were to document your weight loss so well! Congratulations to you. I loved reading the success stories from so many of you. Thanks for sharing.

My problem is definitely portion control. I workout out 3-6x/wk, but I still need to eat less. Many people I know have had great success w/WW. My mother is currently on ediets, like some of you, and she is pleased w/that too. I like working out w/others (step class, tennis or walking). That's what helped start me exercising about 4 or 5 years ago.

I liked Lynn B's comments, if it's worth eating it's worthy of a plate, napkin and table! I also might try browneye's suggestion of a V8 while preparing dinner. That's a difficult time for me, too.

[Julia1Pin]

JeAnne-

You're amazing. Congratulations on your "metamorphosis". Keep up the great work!

[Rae]

Jennifer,

Great question! I've really appreciated reading everyone else's tips and suggestions.

I've lost 26 pounds over the last year (slow but steady) and I have only a few things I would add to what I have read so far:

1) I have a morning and an afternoon snack. I used to try to get by without them when I was "dieting" but I think having them helps me make healthier choices for lunch and dinner. I usually have a low-fat granola bar, crackers or fruit. Usually around 150 calories and 2-3 grams of fat, although I'm not fanatical about it.

2) I try to have a fruit and vegetable with each meal. I find that the busier I get, the first thing to go by the wayside is the fruits and veggies. I feel better, and again, I make better choices for the rest of the day if I make sure I am getting my fruits and veggies in.

3) I don't diet. When I used to go on "diets", when I would slip up (always happened eventually!) I would binge because I wanted to make it (the slip-up) worthwhile. Now, when I want a piece of pizza or wedding cake, I have it, and don't feel guilty. I don't eat high fat pizza or cake everyday or even every week, but when I want something special, I have it and don't feel guilty. Besides, life is too short to turn down a cookie from your grandmother!

4) Eating out was always a problem for me. I've learned to make healthier choices from the menu and it doesn't necessarily mean having the "diet plate". My favorite tip (from a dietician) about eating out is to choose a cut of meat with the word "loin" in it, ie. sirloin, tenderloin, etc. Also, I always plan on taking half of my dinner home with me.

Ditto on what everyone else has said about water and exercise.

Thanks again for bringing this up. I'll have to make a trip over to "Healthy Living" myself if this is the type of information discussed there!

[LynnSC]

Another WW groupie here! :) I have lost about 17 lbs. on WW over the past year. I know that is a long time but it is my fault. I didn't get in a hurry. I have gained and lost the same 15-20 lbs. many times over the past ten years or so. Since obesity and diabetes runs in my family, I try to be very careful. I love the WW program. You do have to write down everything. I found the journal and the meetings are the key for me. I made lifetime in April and will be traning for receptionist soon to keep myself "in line". I tried ediets but it wasn't for me. I need the personal communication and contact. I need someone else to be accountable to with the scales also. Take all of their advice. There have been some good suggestions on this thread also. You definitely have to vary your foods or you will get bored. The meetings are a great source of ideas for low point foods and meal planning. Planning is another key. That can be time consuming but it's worth it.

There is a saying on some webpage that I have also heard at WW "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got!" I try to keep that in mind. The also say "Failing to plan is planning to fail." Don't be too hard on yourself if you slip, everyone does from time to time. Good luck in your efforts!!!!!

[LynnSC]

I have pics at http://www.greysangel.com/wwjeanne.html if you are interested.

Hi Jeanne,
I just looked at your pictures, they look great! Keep up the good work, you are an inspiration to us all!!!!!!!!!!!
Lynn

[SusieO]

Jennifer,
Good for you for taking a positive step towards healthy weight loss!

I am a big WW fan and devotee (and former employee). :D I've been a lifetime member for a year and a half, and find the program very easy to live with. The key is sticking with it. Lifetime means lifetime, and that's forever. I continue to journal every day, drink my water, get my calcium and eat my vegetables. It's just become second nature. Some days are easier than others, but I don't ever feel deprived. The thing is, I like wearing a smaller size than I used to, and that's worth limiting chocolate chip cookies and accounting for them in my journal.

JeAnne, you are amazing. And you provide excellent advice. Keep up the good work.

LynnSC, I am anxious to hear how you like working for WW once you start training. That's really the best way to stick with the program.