I’ve started Weight Watchers: What are you secrets to success?
I am turning 40 in April, and I just don’t want to hit that age at this weight. I have been working out (inconsistently) for the past year and while I feel more in shape (I can swim a mile in about 50 minutes and have even started running on the treadmill, instead of just walking), I’m just not losing weight.
I was almost back to my pre-pregnancy weight of baby 2 after baby 3 but then I stopped nursing and my weight shot up 5 pounds. After that my brother had his heart transplant and my weight shot up another 5 pounds. Then I moved 2,000 miles from home and I put on another 5 pounds. So now I am 15 pounds from where I should be.
I’ve somewhat justified my weight saying that a lot of it is muscle but I did my measurements the other day and there’s no way to write off those inches around my waist. I was shocked at how much those numbers have changed over the years.
So after months of thinking about it, I finally signed up for Weight Watchers over the weekend (the online version – not the show up to weigh version).
I told Michael the next day that I signed up. He thought for a second and said, “So does that mean I’m on Weight Watchers too?” (His weight hasn’t changed since college but he also didn’t put on 25 pounds three times with three pregnancies.)
I told him that meals wouldn’t change much for him and the kids. There would be more vegetables on the table and trickier recipes to make things healthier but I didn’t think they would notice a difference.
I have never done it before so I am trying to figure out the system. For example, with the new points system (apparently it’s pretty different from the old system and people are mad!) Greek yogurt is worth 4 points but the Yoplait Fiber One yogurt is only worth 1 point. So for lunch the Greek yogurt is fine but for a snack at night I need to go for the Fiber One.
Also I was reading this article on the website talking about late-night snacking and the ladies were recommending air-popped popcorn with fat-free hot chocolate mix sprinkled on it. (I think you have to spray it with Pam-type product first.)
So these are the types of tricks I am trying to figure out.
So what are you favorite Weight Watchers tricks and tips? What brands or foods have you found that are surprisingly low in points? (New system, not the old.) What were you favorite Weight Watcher recipe dinners that your family like too? (I am trying a vegetable lasagna this week that is only four points. They also had a fake fish fry that I think the kids would like – you use cornmeal and crush walnuts to give it more nutrition and crunch and bake it of course.)
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55 comments Add your comment
Margaret Meyer
October 19th, 2011
4:56 am
Great news. Thank you.
http://www.veganrawfood.net
Sk8ing Momma
October 19th, 2011
6:09 am
Best wishes! I hope that you reach your goal…You can do it!!
P.S. Be sure to work out *regularly*…Exercise is a mood regulator and you’ll definitely FEEL and look better.
independent
October 19th, 2011
6:32 am
walk.. walk.. walk.. we all sit too much.. on line TV, computer.. etc.. drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day…. don’t drink calories… coffee with cream.. cokes .. alcohol.. low fat dairy 1% milk and yo gurt etc.. chicken instead of beef .. more veggies and salads.. low fat / light dressing.. obesity is gross !
catlady
October 19th, 2011
6:51 am
I’m about the last to give advice, but—stay away from ALL processed foods!
Typical Democrat
October 19th, 2011
7:07 am
Obama is doing a great job.
All of our problems…including your struggles with weight, are caused by George Bush.
The stimulus is working.
Jul
October 19th, 2011
7:07 am
I never comment but I always read. I started weight watchers the last week of February and have lost 35 pounds and am still losing. I travel for work so those week that I’m out of town a full week, I consider it a victory when I don’t gain. I tried the on line version but I need the accountability of the meetings.
Points Plus is so much easier than the prior points programs. Be sure you use all of the resources available to you with your on line membership – there’s a recipe builder that you can type in your own recipes and it will calculate the points. Whole grains and more fruits and veggies were key. Remember that zero points fruit will end up having points if you eat too much in one day. Everything in moderation.
My favorite breakfast is a 0% Chobani yougurt (3 points) with a 1/4 cup of uncooked quick quaker oats (2 points) mixed in. I also have a banana. The protien from yougurt and the fiber from the oatmeal keep me fuller.
Buy yourself a kitchen scale, keep it on the counter, and use it. My husband even uses it if he’s making dinner now because he knows how important it is to me. Pop chips are good snacks. Costco also has veggie stix that are good. Both are three points per serving and you get a pretty decent serving.
Another great resources is Hungry Girl. I don’t know if I can post the website, but just google it and the site will come up. She has a show on the Food Network on Sunday mornings at 10:30 Eastern. All of her things are simple and most are very kid friendly. The most recently thing I made was a crock pot recipe called Cheeseburger Mac Attack. My 2 year old loved it.
Good luck with the program!
Tim
October 19th, 2011
7:08 am
You could just try exercising and not eating every f*cking thing in sight. Weight Watchers is insanely stupid. Your body’s nutritional needs are specific to your physiological and metabolic makeup. A generic point system made up by stupid fat people can’t help you there. I know this because I did weight watchers for 18 months and lost 4 pounds. Then I ditched it, read some books on nutrition and resistance training for weight loss and dropped 80 pounds in the next 9 months. By myself. No trainers, no food counselors. If you want it bad enough, make it happen.
BRC
October 19th, 2011
7:09 am
I did Weight Watchers last spring and it was so easy. I cook mostly from scratch, so I used the recipe builder feature on the website to figure out the point value of the meals I created and just adjusted my portion size accordingly. My kids never knew the difference since we were eating the same foods as always.
Jul
October 19th, 2011
7:13 am
BRC brings up a good point – portion size. In the beginning, weight and measure everything. You’ll be surprised at how much more than a serving you have been eatings. And, when it came to fish, I was surprised at how small of a portion I was eating.
And, track EVERYTHING you eat. The iPhone/iPad apps are very useful for this.
Me
October 19th, 2011
7:20 am
Well, my wife could offer much better advice than can I. She really has to watch her weight but does a great job of such. She hates the fact that I can eat absolutely anything at all at any time of the day in any quantity and never tilt the scale in either direction. I’m 6′1″ and weigh right at 180 so I’m of a pretty slim build but I swear I have the metabolism of three people. She, on the other hand, does participate in the online Weight Watchers and, since I prepare almost 90% of the meals in our household, I have really had to adjust not only my cooking methods but also the foods.
Golden girl
October 19th, 2011
7:45 am
Personally, I do not like the new Weight Watchers program. I did so much better on the old points system. I’ve ditched WW and am going to start tracking and counting calories along with walking ( my exercise of choice) as well as drinking plenty of water and measuring foods.
itpdude
October 19th, 2011
7:46 am
Men are different than women, but when I put on 20 lbs during grad school, I went on meal replacements and only meal replacements. I did it for 19 days (i wanted to do 20 but cheated on the last day). It took off 25 lbs. I had a 6 lb bounce back (which is why I did 25 lbs off) and did a combo of juice and regular foods a month after the diet. The weight is still off. I couldn’t do ww because variety makes me want to eat more. One kind of shake, 3 times a day was easy and the lbs came right off. Again, I’m a guy so this may not work for you.
Ww seems like a lot of work. 3 shakes a day is easy and the weight comes right off.
TallMom
October 19th, 2011
7:58 am
To lose weight, you need less calories in…while working out can help with overall heath fewer calories is what will really help.
I lost 85 lbs (gave birth 3 times in 2 yrs = lots of baby weight to lose) in 6 months. To the pp who said 35 lbs since February? That’s not much weight…most people could lose that just by not drinking soda.
I cut out some carbs (rice, pasta, potatoes, bread), eliminated ALL soda from my diet (only drank water and my morning coffee) and stopped snacking in the evening. It was hard at first…just like anything worthwhile is! I also upped my activity level, which was easier to do once I started losing weight.
The main problem for most overweight people is willpower. Most people are unable to stick to healthier habits because they lack willpower.
iRun
October 19th, 2011
8:07 am
They lack willpower because it seems hopeless.
When you begin a weight loss lifestyle and you have 80lbs to lose…well, you’re only going to loose a pound or two a week (or should). So, you go from 220 to 218. Heck I fluctuate that much in a week due to hormones, and it’s just water, but the scale moves +/-5 lbs through out the month.
After a month you’ve lost less than 10lbs…and you’ve been struggling with appetite and making big changes.
Doesn’t feel like much of a payoff.
So, it understandable that people lack the willpower.
But, if they can manage to stick with it for 2-3 months then they start feeling better about their progress.
But it’s hard.
I know what I am talking about becaue I lost 80+lbs nearly 4 years ago and have kept it off. But it was hard at first and it took nearly 4 months before I felt like it showed I’d lost weight.
Along the way I became a runner and since then I’ve done several marathons and ultras.
The main reason I think I succeeded was because I was so miserable the way I was before that I knew that I couldn’t continue living like that. I thought to myself that ANYTHING had to be better. That even if sticking to a good diet and minimal exercise didn’t lead to any real weight loss at least it would be better. At least I would get cardiovascularly fit. And I felt that way until 3-4 months later when I realized I’d lost 40lbs.
Anyway, this is a difficult issue. Anything anyone can do to eat healthy and move their bodies is good, no matter how small an effort. And any support those of us who have either succeeded or never had a problem to begin with can provide, we should do so.
RJ
October 19th, 2011
8:11 am
Congratulations Theresa on your weight loss journey. It’s about more than how big your waist is, it’s about your health. Girl, if all you gained was 25lbs with each pregnancy, you did dang good. I’m already nearing 40lbs, but I’m due soon:)!
Weight Watchers never worked for me. I’d get so discouraged to follow the plan, exercise like crazy and find that I gained 3lbs. I rarely got the 5lb stickers so I just quit. I eventually went to calorie counting. That worked for me. I had 1200 calories a day and exercised 4 times a week. I don’t believe in total denial. If I want cake, I eat cake. But I don’t eat cake every day, week or month. I ordered a lot of my meals and snacks from dietdirect.com. They have a great diet too. I love their high protein snacks. They really help me to stay on track. It’s more than just dieting, it’s about changing your lifestyle. I’ll never be a size 2, but heck, I never was a size 2! I love my curves, so my goal is simply to be at a healthy weight. I’ve enjoyed eating more these past 9 months, but back to reality once my bundle of joy is born.
Figment
October 19th, 2011
8:30 am
I agree iRun! Losing weight is hard, and it’s easy to get discouraged when you have a lot of weight to lose. Changing how you live and how you eat is hard. I’ve been doing it slowly, mainly so I will stick to it and it not just be a “fad”. I’ve lost 50 lbs. since 2009, mostly on Weight Watchers but I fell a bit off the wagon this year with all the personal stuff I’ve had going on.
I need to get back on track as I want to lose another 50 lbs. I’ve got to get on a regular exercise program and I think I am going to try to count calories this time as it seems easier than trying to calculate points. Weight is just a number, 150 lbs looks different on a tall person than a short person. It’s all about being healthy and being happy with yourself.
lulu
October 19th, 2011
8:39 am
As far as the snacks go – and general weight loss – the more you exercise and the healthier you eat, the better you feel and the more weight you will generally lose. One reason I have never really like the WW approach is because, for example, you’re encouraged to eat a lot of non-nutrituous food simply because it’s low in points. Popcorn with fat-free chocolate mix? Unhealthy, even if it’s low-fat. You’re much better off with some fruit or veggies in low-fat or fat-free dip, even if the point value is higher. In the end, you’ll have had something with some flavor that’s also good for you.
As for me, my number one weight loss effort is to watch what I drink. When I find myself gaining weight (usually), I switch to drinking only coffee (because I can’t live without it) and water, and the weight usually comes right back off. I also go with catlady’s suggestion of trying to avoid processed foods as much as possible because they’ve got so much hidden sugar and sodium.
JOD
October 19th, 2011
8:43 am
Some great comments this morning. One other thought is that as women age, we need to incorporate strength training to keep our bones strong and help retain/build muscle. I can do straight cardio as much as I want, but without resistance training or weights I don’t see any results.
JJ
October 19th, 2011
8:47 am
I LOVE Weight Watchers. Nothing is taboo…..therefore you are not dieting, you are changing your lifestyle.
Cut down portions. Cut all processed foods out. Stop hitting the fast foods, I don’t care what they kids say, they are not in control.
Walk, walk, walk. Park at the top of the parking lot when you go shopping. Park the furtherest away you possibly can. Be thankful you are ABLE to walk, and do it.
Get the kids up Saturday mornings and take a walk. Make a game out of it. Have a little “scavenger hunt”. Have them tell you what the see when they are walking. Ask if they see anything “blue” or white, or yellow……count their steps, see who can get to 100 first. Have little races between them….see who can run the fastest, the furthest..etc….use YOUR imagination and make it fun for them. Change your route, do go the same way every time.
Drive to the park, play the same games.
Gather neighbor kids and play kick ball, kick the can, etc…….be the “camp counselor”…..
Learn to cook healthy meals. Shop the perimeter of the stores, and stay out of the aisles. DON’T TAKE THE KIDS TO THE GROCERY STORE. Plan a weekly menu, make a list, and stick to it. Shop while they are in school. Or when Michael gets home, and do it by yourself.
Always dieting
October 19th, 2011
8:51 am
I just finished a new book called Willpower (Baumeister and Tierney) which describes willpower, why willpower is so hard to maintain, and strategies that are proven to strengthen self-control. It explains why wieght management is particularly difficult to manage. . However, they do describe strategies that seem to support willpower in general and the chapter on weight management gives weight loss tips in general. The most important tip for controlling calorie intake: track food. Second most important tip: lose wieght slowly or there will be a biological boomerang effect of weight gain that will be hard to overcome.
Dieting Momma
October 19th, 2011
9:04 am
I’m doing WW at Home as well (was attending meetings for a few months before I finally got a new job and lost free time to attend with).
One of my favorite tricks is always keeping frozen blueberries available. When I get an occasional sweet craving, those things do the job, and you get the sweet taste as well as the slight crunch when you eat them :)
One thing to keep in mind with the new WW point system is that a lot of things are now 0 pts, which can be a problem for those of us (like me) who have more points to figure out ways to eat during the day, so make sure to check the points for your snacks so that you don’t short-change yourself :)
Nobody else around me is doing WW though, but I hear it helps to have an accountability-buddy.
Linking to a list of “100 Reasons to lose 100 Pounds (Author Unknown)” that I found a few years back and still love, but on http://dietingmomma.com/blog/?page_id=5 there’s a list of “100 Reasons to lose 100 Pounds (Author Unknown)” that I found a few years back and love :) [not to advertise it (since I've been stinking at remembering to post with my schedule), but just to share since it gives something to think about :) ]
Figment
October 19th, 2011
9:04 am
One thing that makes it harder for me, most of the low-fat or fat-free food items have artificial sweetners in them. Most artificial sweetners give me migraines so I have to check the ingredients before I buy something low-fat or fat-free. Most I cannot eat because of the sweetners they use. Not an excuse for not losing weight, just another obsticle for me on my weight loss journey. :)
I gave up sodas over a year ago and I do not miss them. I’ll still have a ginger ale or root beet on occassion but not everyday or even every week. I usually drink coffee or water, sometimes juice but not often. And the weekend beer or two! LOL
JJ
October 19th, 2011
9:10 am
Another trick – keep a journal. Write down EVERYTHING you eat…..you will be amazed…..
Make a goal. When you lose 10 pounds, reward your self with something. Not necessarily food, but buy yourself something, make it a small something that YOU want. Again, go by yourself. You don’t have to take the kids with you everywhere. They are in school. Take some time for yourself.
MIC
October 19th, 2011
9:23 am
I have stayed away from DIETS and have made life changes. It appears to have worked best for me.
Chart your eating and activities for two weeks. Determine how many calories you need to eat to get to your targeted weight. Count the calories and protein of the food you eat. Also count the calories burned of the exercises that you do. Burn more calories than you take in. (There are websites that will give you the number of calories and protein for all the above.)
EATING/DRINKING. Eat every two to three hours (3 meals and 3-4 snacks), this helps you metabolism. When eating out, buy child size portions or divide large meals into two or three low calorie meals. Periodically, treat yourself to your favorite foods but regain control the next day (The holidays are the hardest for me.). Plan/Prepare food ahead of time. Take a daily supplement. Take a fat burner as needed. Drink 10-16 cups of water daily.
EXERCISE. Exercise daily. This could be done at the gym, at the office, volunteering, or by doing your daily activities.. You can park you car far away from the entrance of your office building, the grocery store, mall, etc and walk.. You can take the stairs. You can walk during your breaks around the office building or complex. Around the house activities could include doing the laundry, mopping, cleaning, cutting grass, painting, etc. Be active with the children; take them to the park, go swimming, bowling, skating, etc. Join an activity (Aerobics, Water Aerobics or Dance class, etc.. ). Volunteer on a program that allows you to be active (Walk-a-thon; Help build a house; clean a park, etc.)
Again, the goal is to BURN more calories than CONSUMED. STAY BUSY. If you overeat one day, just make certain to regain control the next. STAY FOCUSED on the prize….YOUR HEALTH!!!
bessbear
October 19th, 2011
9:28 am
Definitely get a good scale. It’s amazing how much more we eat without measuring. The scale keeps you honest. You eventually remember the grams/ounces for everyday items, like cereal.
My one gripe about WW is that they push alot of processed foods. For a while, I was eating FiberOne bars. They tasted like candy bars. But when I realized how much junky ingredients are in there, I stopped. Yet WW encourages things like that because they are lower points overall.
Sylvania
October 19th, 2011
10:27 am
To lose weight you have to burn off more calories than you take in. It’s that simple, sweetie. You can eat chocolate bars all day long and still lose weight. If, right now, you cannot state how many calories you take in every day, and how many calories you burn off every day, you’re just going through the “diet” motions.
Those who fail at WW (and most do) will probably fail at most diets. The purpose of Weight Watchers is to get one to adopt and maintain healthy eating habits. Forever. I was on it 7 years ago, and my husband just went along because it doesn’t make sense preparing two different entrees per meal. We’ve still maintain the dietary habits we learned during WW and now those habits are part of our daily life. Sticking to a healthy diet takes long-term commitment, and that’s where most people fall short.
Here’s a test for you. Give up soft drinks for a month. If you find you can’t do it, don’t waste your time with a diet because you’re not committed to it. You would probably lose your 15 lbs just by giving up ALL soft drinks and doing nothing else.
Finally, a diet is about developing healthy eating habits. You should want your family to develop these lifelong habits for reasons other than just wanting to lose weight.
HB
October 19th, 2011
10:44 am
I’d say forget the WW diet and change habits. Stick with heathy, unprocessed foods, commit to at least walking 30 minutes every day, and track your calories and portions (like others said, there are apps for that). Then, don’t step on a scale for 2-3 weeks. Reaching a specific weight matters less than healthy habits, so don’t fixate on a goal number — that’s how people end up yo-yo dieting. They reach their goal, pat themselves on the back, and go back to their pre-diet ways. Focus on changing your lifestyle rather than reaching a certain number on the scale. If after a few weeks of eating around 1,500-1,600 calories from healthy foods and exercising daily, you haven’t lost at least some weight, talk to your doctor and see if you need to check out anything else, like thyroid levels.
Denise
October 19th, 2011
10:46 am
Congrats Theresa! WW is not as painful as you think. I’m on it and I actually don’t mind it. I’m single and don’t cook as much as I should and I still do okay on it…even with fast food. Dannon Light and Fit yogurt is 2 points (the 80 calorie cup…the 45 calorie cup is 1). Fruit is 0 so I eat A LOT of it. Not sure about you but Fiber One gives me atrocious gas (TMI…sorry but I wish someone would have told me) so I don’t go that route. When I do get fast food I never get mayo. I eat sweets every day (I’m a sugar junkie) but I calculate my points for EVERYTHING before I eat it. EVERYTHING. I even went on Arby’s and Zaxby’s websites last night to see what I was going to eat before I picked because I knew I wasn’t cooking (picked Arby’s because I knew I was going to fold and eat the Zaxby’s fries in the combo and that would have busted my points…esp. since I knew I was going to eat some dessert later). Sugar free Jello is 0 points (0 taste too but it’s psychological for me). Smart Ones frozen dinners have WW points on the box if you eat those for lunch. My biggest thing is to not get so hungry that you eat whatever I see so I keep good food on hand. I also have the WW app on my iphone. Without it I couldn’t do WW because, like I said, I calculate EVERYTHING before I eat it…even in the grocery store before I buy it. Also, Progresso Light soup is 2 points per serving (but know each can is 2 servings).
Good luck! I do deprive myself SOME but no more than what I would on a regular diet or just healthy eating “diet”. Big chunks of cheesecake are not good for you on the regular EVER. :-) Neither are 1000 calorie cheeseburgers with 500 fries followed up by chocolate cake.
DB
October 19th, 2011
10:59 am
No advice — just best wishes for you. You can do it!
RAS
October 19th, 2011
11:49 am
Tim, when you lost weight, it is sad you did not lose your huge chip on your shoulder. WW has helped many people, when people lose weight, they chose many different ways, it is a different journey for everyone.
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
October 19th, 2011
12:17 pm
I think the WW system has changed a lot — My girlfriend who has done both versions said the old system used to push the more processed and frozen diet meal route but now its much more about fresh foods and cooking from scratch. The zero points for most fruits and veggies really does push you to choose fruits and veggies. I have never eaten so many fruits and veggies. They have a lot of fresh recipes on the site and I made veggie lasagna from scratch last night — 4 points per serving. I made pasta for the kids and Michael. The kids tried the lasagna and had pasta and salad and Michael just mixed the pasta in with the lasagna like regular lasagna with veggies. I did roasted chicken and butternut squash and carrots the night before and I think a cup of chicken was like 6 points. I had the veggies and then a salad with it and you’re not hungry.
I have exercised 4 out of 5 days so far this week. I am actually down two pounds as of today (it was three yesterday so not sure why the flux back up).
The egg substitute is nice mixed with one real egg so it’s like you’re getting two eggs but only charged for 1.
I think the fat free milk is 0 too and that is very filling and we need that. I did pumpkin puree in my oatmeal a couple of mornings ago and was full for like 5 hours. I guess there was a lot of fiber.
I don’t think the kids will notice much because it just more fruits and veggies and healthier cooking techniques (and smaller portions for me and less snacks for me but that doesn’t really affect them.)
I counted calories on Live Strong’s site and wrote everything down and was exercising but wasn’t dropping. I do think the WW has the right mix of protein/carb/fat/fiber where as I wasn’t getting the right combo before.
so we’ll see how it goes but I am encouraged to see the scale move a little bit. I’ll keep you guys posted — that will be my accountability!(heehee)
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
October 19th, 2011
12:21 pm
Denise — i spent three hours buying groceries on Sunday trying to figure out what I could have — I made a list before i went but then I kept checking things. I do have the app on my phone and Michael has loaded on his iPad just in case. I am looking beforehand too just be sure — I also did mark some tings in the kitchen with Sharpie so I would remember. I’m sure I’ll learn my favorites.
JJ
October 19th, 2011
12:29 pm
@Tim – 4 pounds in 18 months???? You obviousy were NOT following WW very carefully……Thtat’s not even 1/2 pound a week of weight loss. Obviously, You weren’t doing it correctly.
I lost 25 pounds with WW and I have kept it off. WW taught me how to do portion control.
JJ
October 19th, 2011
12:30 pm
Don’t buy the WW cookbooks. The recipes are very bland and boring.
K's mom
October 19th, 2011
12:43 pm
I tried WW when I started traveling for work, back in the day. I did not like it. I thought the meetings were too AA like and at that time they were very heavy on calorie counting and not to heavy on nutrition.
I found a Registered Dietician, through my physician, and took the WW money and spent 4 sessions with her and I started truly changing my habits and learning about nutrition. Our first session was an overview, our second was a check in and she gave me a customized diet plan/exercise plan with TONS of choices and recipes, our third she took me to the grocery and taught me how to read labels, our fourth session was another check in and go out into the world and conquer.
I know WW works for a lot of folks, but with a family I would at least consider the RD route as an option and see what how the costs compare.
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
October 19th, 2011
12:43 pm
just found out fat-free milk is actually 2 – bummer
jmb
October 19th, 2011
1:13 pm
I think WW can be good for some and not for others. My boss’s wife took off over 100lbs in less than a year on WW combined with running 4-5 days a week. She looked great when all the weight came off but unfortunately, it only stayed off for about 9 mths and she’s back where she started. She said the constant counting was beginning to fell like an OCD disorder and got burnt out on it. Now she’s been just watching her portions and basically eating what everyone else eats but only half as much. She’s down 60lbs in just 5 months now and she said it’s became natural since her stomach has shrunk so much. I think she may actually be able to keep it off this time without the diet stigma attached to her so much.
Momof2
October 19th, 2011
1:29 pm
A couple of things for me is not to eat what the kids don’t finish on their plate. It is really hard because I hate to throw food away. Also after lunch and dinner I chew a piece of gum because often times I think I want more food but what is actually is the chewing sensation that I want. Also when watching TV keep your hands busy with something like folding laundry because my idle hands always seem to want to put food in my mouth.
Razz
October 19th, 2011
2:02 pm
I recently joined a website called MyFitnessPal. It’s free and you can keep a food journal and log exercise. When you sign up you fill in all your information about how much you weight and what your goals are. It is so easy to keep a food diary, they have the nutritional information for everything, even most restaurants. The also have the function where you can input a recipe and it will tell you the nutritional info. I love it and I love the forums where you can ask other members questions, share recipes and advice. I have about twenty pounds to loose and have lost five in four weeks…not a lot but it is harder when you don’t have as much to loose. Good luck on your journey!
Figment
October 19th, 2011
2:02 pm
@Theresa – only weigh yourself once a week. I find weighing daily can make it seem a little hopeless.
@jmb – I agree, I got burned out with the counting. Been just trying to watch my portions and make better choices. I might look in to the Dietician though. Just need to get back to exercising regularly and staying away from sugar (my weakness!).
K's mom
October 19th, 2011
2:19 pm
Momof2, I caught myself beginning to do that when my little one started eating table food. Had to nip that in the bud fast. Now that I am pregnant again, I am eating what I can get down and it seems to be a lot of carbs. I got the weight off the first time, so I hope I can do it a second time!
Figment, the RD I hired was the best money I have ever spent. Another thing she told me. Eat well 90% of the time and eat what you want 10% of the time. WW made me feel guilty for a splurge and I hated that!
Gtmom
October 19th, 2011
2:30 pm
I am down to my weight I was as a Freshman in HS (that was 24 years ago!). I think exercise is the biggest way to lose weight and just feel happy. I do weight training twice a week now.. I run 3 times a week. I do very long runs on Saturday morning before most everyone else I know has even gotten out of bed. I work a lot..and am very busy.. but have found time to exercise. I just haven’t sat down in my living room in several months. The family on the whole is happier when I do exercise. I am less stressed and have tons more energy.
About food, I don’t buy processed food. I try not to eat anything that doesn’t have nutrional value. I use honey in coffee. I drink mostly water though. I went down from a size 14/16 after my last child to a current size 2, size 0. I eat out only once a week. I am afraid of what is in the food if I don’t personally make it. I have never been on a diet. I can’t count calories.. I just don’t have it in me. Also, I can’t deny myself a homemade treat either (cookie). But I feel like the exercise and eating healthy most of the time.. I can allow myself treats. I also don’t eat after 7 pm. Mid day snacks for me are plain lowfat greek yogurt (no sugar.. no sweetner.. no flavor) and peanuts with a honey glazed (I make them).
So my secret.. Run Like a Mother (it is a book).. running is the biggest bang for you buck.. more calories burned in the least amount of time. Never take a day off.. you will keep giving excuses for the following days to not exercise. Once you get in the mode, you will find it hard to not go and exercise. Eat only food you make.. as close to the source as possible.
We all have 24 hours in a day so don’t use time as an excuse. I worked 12 hours on Monday and still worked out. I choose to work out over watching TV. If TV is more important, then realize that is your choice (not a wrong choice but a choice) and you chose to watch whatever came on over 20-30 minutes of bringing your heartrate up. I used to freak if I had anything in the house that was messy and would spend hours cleaning. I now have decided working out and cooking healthy meals for my family is more important to me. So my house is a little messy.. but I am investing in myself and I do feel good about that choice.
Been There, Done That
October 19th, 2011
2:36 pm
Look at the Clean Eating diet – google it, pick up the magazine, or buy the book.. Very good program. Sensible portions, good food. It’s basically eating food that has not been processed. In every issue of the magazine it gives an eating plan so you can get started, and then a program for maintaining your weight. Very straightforward and very good. Of course, you have to exercise too.
JATL
October 19th, 2011
4:22 pm
First of all, I think WW can really help people who are starting at square one with weight loss. If you’re not used to eating healthy, watching portions, etc., it’s a fantastic program. However, what will really do it and keep it off is a) finding an exercise (or two) you really enjoy and can grow in -you like to walk or jog? -go for it and build sprint training and distance into your routine. The treadmill is better than nothing, but you’ll notice more results faster actually getting outside and running (and it’s FAR more stimulating); b) in the exercise vein -build up lean muscle mass. It took me years to truly buy into this, but OMG what a difference it makes! I weigh 20 lbs more than I did when I married, but I can wear the same clothes, and they actually fit me better! I burn calories far more efficiently and have a lot more stamina. It also really helps as you age to have muscle mass built up.C) Eat fresh food! Yes, most of us have some processed stuff, but really stick to fresh lean meats and fresh fruits, veggies, grains and dairy. STAY AWAY FROM WHITE FLOUR AND SUGAR! People hate to hear it, but if you will force yourself to stay away from heavy carbs and processed flours and sugars, you will stop wanting them most of the time. When you do eat them, you will find that you can only eat about half of what you used to and that it doesn’t taste nearly as good. You basically have to take in less and move more -but it’s a good thing, and whether or not Michael needs to lose weight doesn’t matter. He needs to eat a healthy diet and so do your kids. My husband dropped 30 lbs without meaning to or trying. I was surprised he even needed to lose that much weight, but when asked he replies, “My wife quit eating. She doesn’t buy butter any more and we eat a lot of natural foods and very few carbs.” I didn’t quit eating, but I did decide to start eating FAR healthier and quit the junk. It’s a win-win for everyone!
*** If you have a kettle bell class anywhere near you -I highly advise it! No impact, quick and you will build lean muscle and completely reshape your body. I’ve done every kind of workout imaginable, and I’ve never seen results like I’ve gotten from kettle bells. Make sure the instructor is RKC certified and not some infomercial airhead who doesn’t really know what he or she is doing.
Denise
October 19th, 2011
6:06 pm
I agree about the exercise. I’ve been lazy but when I was working out regularly I FELT better, not to mention looked better. I LOVE to weight train but I’ve been in PT for my rickety knees and have an “excuse” (not a valid reason) for not going to the gym.
Also, Splenda is not too bad. I thought I was going to miss real sugar but I don’t. I haven’t used it to cook, just in tea and on strawberries, but it is good.
Man…all this talk about food is making me hungry…what can I get for under 10 points? :-)
Gtmom
October 19th, 2011
8:09 pm
Ha Denise, I did PT last year for my rickety knees and I totally count PT as exercise!
Denise
October 19th, 2011
9:07 pm
Gtmom – you’re right. The leg exercises and walking backwards on the treadmill do burn a bit. :-)
Fred
October 20th, 2011
7:15 am
Congrats Theresa and good luck. Ignore all the negativity and the “my diet is best yours sucks” comments. Different things work for different people.
Huckabee wrote a good book on dieting several years ago, “Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork: A 12-Stop Program to End Bad Habits and Begin a Healthy Lifestyle.” It’s not a diet, nor does it push any particular diet. It just some good advise on HOW to follow a diet, any diet or program.
I don’t find WW appealing: My neighbor has lost 75 pounds or so and is ragging me to go lol. I teased her that she has lost so much weight that she’s going to have to go out and buy a butt so she can wear jeans.
Good luck and here’s a link to the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Quit-Digging-Your-Grave-Knife/dp/0446578061
Mrs. G
October 20th, 2011
8:41 am
Good luck, Theresa! I know that you will do well. :) And you have all of us here for support!
I’ve never done Weight Watchers, but I have a friend who did and lost 65 pounds (without even exercising).
I’m trying hard to eat healthier right now – not to lose weight, but because Hubby and I are TTC. I’m finding that it’s so much more expensive to eat healthy. For example, we bought Pom Light juice last night for $4.99; like I told my husband, we could have bought store brand juice for $1.99, but it’s full of sugar and doesn’t have the nutritional benefits that a pomegranate juice does. Another example is meat – in order to buy leaner cuts of meat, it’s really not cheap! The leanest ground beef is at least twice the price of the fattiest one. And fresh fruits and vegetables are pricey, too. I wanted to buy a bag of green, yellow, and red peppers the other night and it was $5.99 for 3 peppers! (To be fair, I could have spent $1.99 for just one pepper – not a better deal as far as price per pepper goes, but I really only wanted one and I would have spent less buying the one, if that makes sense – but the $1.99 ones didn’t look fresh at all. I am majorly picky when it comes to choosing produce!). We spent ~$4 on berries last night and the dried fruit I bought on Tuesday (which contains 2 servings) is $3.99 per bag, also. And so on and so forth. The only relatively cheap healthy snacks I’ve been able to find are fat-free string cheese and non-fat yogurt. Does anyone have any tips for healthy eating (minimizing processed foods) on a budget? I really appreciate it! :)
Fred
October 20th, 2011
10:05 am
LOL Mrs. G, I finished reading your post, especially the last part and clicked to the home page and saw this article: http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-bargain-hunter/2011/10/19/eat-healthier-on-a-budget/
Start there.