Diet plans

[Christy Carol]

We have talked alot about dieting but we havent all said how we plan on taking it off. Reduced fat, carbs? Are you going to follow a program?

I am joining Weight Watchers. In fact I went today to join but it was so crowded I couldnt even get a parking spot! So I came back to work and looked online and talk about luck, there is a new meeting right across the street from where I work! They meet on either Thursdays or Fridays and I wont even have to drive. I can just walk right on over and get some exercise to boot!

So tomorrow I will be joining but I am still following the program today.

[Christy Carol]

Ok, so I guess it will be next Thursday before I get to join. I cant make it to tomorrow's meeting because we had already scheduled a birthday party/baby shower at work tomorrow.

And to be honest I am a little peeved at Weight Watchers. They have been advertising free join up fee for a month now but when I called about it Wednesday they said the offer was not available here. How can that be? Not that its a lot of money but why run the ads on local tv if its not true?

[number4son]

Here is what their website says about the free registration: ** Free Registration available in meeting rooms only through 3/08/08. First and subsequent weekly fees apply. Offer available to new registrants in participating areas only. Not available in the following areas: Southern AL; Greater AR; FL Panhandle; Southern ID; Western & Southern KS; Greater MS; Northeastern and Southern NV; Franklin, Hamilton, Herkimer, Oneida, Otsego and St. Lawrence Counties in NY; Kay, Noble, Osage and Pawnee Counties in OK; Southwestern OR; Northeastern PA; PR; Middle & East TN except the northeastern counties; UT; and Southwestern WY.
Offer not valid for At Work meetings or online subscription products.

So, what's the point?

[Christy Carol]

That is what I am wondering. That 'Greater' Arkansas part is why I called.

The only part of Arkansas that is not 'Greater' is at some tiny town close to Memphis, per the woman named Lucy at the 1-800 number.

[number4son]

They only have free registration in towns where people are anorexic.

[Christy Carol]

I think so. Why don't they just go ahead and say "fat towns with good restaurants excluded. If you want to lose weight you gotta pay, pay, pay."

[Twinkle]

Christy...Just do the on-line WW. When Sonny and I did this back in '02, there were no discounts...we just signed up because we were determined to loose the weight. Forget the lying ads...if you believe you can receive the needed help with WW, just go for it. We signed up for 3 months at a time...and went from there.
I cannot remember what I paid for 3 months but I wanna say it was something like $69.00 but the on-line perks are fantastic with so many helps, menu plans, recipes, message boards,etc.

[ElfSpirit]

I guess my plan would be:
*cutting back on fats and sugar in my foods (only using 'good' fats)
*eating more raw fruits and veg
*reducing alcohol intake (wine and beer, I don't drink the hard stuff!hehe)
*exercising more
*juicing
*reduced portions when eating meals
*drinking at least a liter of water a day
*no junk foods

[Christy Carol]

Christy...Just do the on-line WW. When Sonny and I did this back in '02, there were no discounts...we just signed up because we were determined to loose the weight. Forget the lying ads...if you believe you can receive the needed help with WW, just go for it. We signed up for 3 months at a time...and went from there.
I cannot remember what I paid for 3 months but I wanna say it was something like $69.00 but the on-line perks are fantastic with so many helps, menu plans, recipes, message boards,etc.


I would but I need the accountability that going in and facing someone gives me. If I depend on myself losing it, I wont. But knowing I have to go in and weigh in front of somebody will keep me on track and I will do alot better.

If I only have to answer to myself I am more likely to overlook eating something bad or having an extra drink and saying to myself, "I'll make it up later" or "I will wait and weigh tomorrow".

But getting on the scale with a fellow peer on the other side will keep me in check!

[Twinkle]

Yeah Christy...The very first time my girlfriend and I did WW..we went to meetings. There is something about the accountability thing. And when you go with a friend, there's big accountability going on there...Lol..Of course, back in the late 70's there was no WW on-line. Sonny and I usually go on the plan together, so we do the accountability thing with each other..Sometimes this is good....sometimes...NOT:c39:
Elfspirit..That's a big one for me...keeping those food portions smaller. I can get so out of hand with this.
I need tons of discipline to get out there and do my walk everyday. Still putting this off right now.

[Christy Carol]

Yup, I wish I had a friend to join with me. Last year me and a buddy had a competition to see who could lose 25 pounds the quickest. She gave up after 3 weeks so I was bound and determined to show her up! Nothing wrong with friendly competition either I say!

[Rennabelle]

I am going to do the Sugar Busters diet. It goes along well with the diabetic diet and has lots of pointers in their books. I got my first books at the library but have gotten one since at a yard sale.
A few friends and I are going to meet at our house, and weigh in. I will lead the first meeting with facts from the Sugar busters book and hand out a few easy exercises as most of us are over the hill. lol 50+
Each week someone new will bring diet help tips, exercise, recipes etc to share with the rest of us. We will pay $5 a week and put in a kitty, the highest winner or should I say loser of the month gets the kitty.
I also suggest that everyone keeps a journal, putting in the journal everything that you put in your mouth each day. Add also little pointers to help you get through the day and little notes to yourself. Put what ever you want in your journal and refer back to your notes as time goes on. I usually post a couple times a day.
We did this in the past and it work great.

[Twinkle]

Renna...fantastic idea! I like the kitty idea. Good for ya'll doing this. The best thing is ya'll have a plan going on...I need to keep my plan going and journal daily what I eat. It really does keep me on target. I follow sparkpeople daily and journal there with diet and exercise and this helps me enormously. Coming in here to post and converse is a great help also. Good luck to us all. I am on a roll with this..Lol..:c2:

[Christy Carol]

I am glad someone is. So far my diet has been a joke. Not that I am eating bad, I'm just not eating. I had a Subway for lunch yesterday and that was about it. Ok, I am sick of being sick! I know it will pass but come on already!

Can ya tell I didnt sleep well last night?

[Twinkle]

Christy...You'll probably loose weight by being sick...not a great way to do it but you will be on target.
BTW..I did post that WW meatloaf recipe in the recipe section if interested.
Christy, Please don't be discouraged...this too shall pass. Next week, you should be good to go or whenever you are ready. Dieting and following a plan has to be such a mind-set for me...Sometime, it takes me an entire year to be ready to tackle it. Lol..:c12:

[Christy Carol]

Thanks for the encouraging words Twinkle. As you can tell I am not a good sick person, hehehehe! I am too busy to be sick.

I am the same way, I prepare myself for it and get all physced up and then something like this happens and knocks me off track. But you are right, next week I will be good to go (I hope!!) and ready to try again!

(and I got the recipe, thank you!)

[primchristmas]

I love coming in here for encouragement ......I am following along with the WW and I love it because its a livestyle change and thats what I have to learn to do ......I have set mini goals to loose 5 pounds in January and 5 in February....and then go from there!

[Meandmyboys1111]

starting ladies gym monday...wohoo...3 times a week

[ElfSpirit]

It's so nice to read everyone's posts here...gives one a lot of ideas!

Christy, I hear ya on the not eating thing while being sick...that's how I lost the 10 pounds last year. Not that I recommend getting a severe throat infection that keeps you from swallowing...lol...I know how frustrating it is to not be able to just do what you want due to being sick. I hope you're feeling better now.

[Christy Carol]

I wish I could say I was Elf but I'm not. Symptom wise I am somewhat better, the sore throat is gone and the congestion has lessened but I am so run down and yucky feeling I think that is worse. Oh well, we will see what tomorrow brings.

[Twinkle]

Prim and Elfspirit...I'm so happy you both are in on this too...the more the merrier. Meandmyboys..Congrats on joinging the gym..Tonight is my strength training for 15 minutes but I just do this at home.:c12:

[ElfSpirit]

Christy, it sounds like your body is just tired from working so hard to get you well again...maybe you should just be gentle with yourself and rest for a bit longer, then you can start when your energy levels are back up.

Twinkle, yes, the reduced portions is something I'm taking very seriously. It's amazing how much you can eat if you're not paying attention. Eating slowly is a big thing for me, too.
I'm still having cravings for all those holiday goodies, though...hopefully that will pass soon. Just say "no", right? lol

[Christy Carol]

I have the energy today! I slept last night like a baby! The first time since before New Years Eve and it really made a huge difference in my day. Around 2 this afternoon I started feeling run down again but that is to be expected. I will get back up there soon.

Tomorrow is the big day!! Barring anything blowing up at work preventing me from getting to the meeting at 12:30, I will be a member of Weight Watchers again.

[Twinkle]

Christy...Yea for energy! I know what you mean by sleeping so well. The same with me. Whoo hoo!!!!:c53:

[Christy Carol]

The sleep only lasted one nite! LOL! Oh well, ya can't have everything!

I am sure I will get back on track soon. Between being sick, hormones and the weather sleep has been scarce. But its bound to straighten itself out soon.

[Rennabelle]

Christy, please don't rush things. Take it slow and easy so that you don't have a relapse. When I was sick the meds they gave me through me in a depression and I finally licked that. Now I can give dieting my all and get serious. I am setting my target at one pound a week, take it off slow so it won't come back fast. I am walking every day and trying to get stairs in when I can or hills.
I am reducing my portions, getting rid of anything that is refined, enriched or with lots of fat. My carbs are complex carbs getting rid of most simple carbs. I do let myself have one cheat a week, that gets rid of my cravings. I love pastas and ice cream and if I don't get them occasionally I will binge on them and that makes it hard to go back to eating good, so a small cheat keeps me honest the rest of the week. I only take one week at a time cause if I look at it like I will never get pasta, ice cream or whatever then I cant make it. I know all in my head but it happens.
I keep containers of prepared raw veggies handy in the refer that I can grab to snack on, also big bags of salad makings and containers of shredded chicken, shrimp, crab, baked fish. That way I can grab a salad and put on it what I want for protein. I try to use salsa or lemon for my salad dressing but sometimes I just have to have some ranch. I also have that in serving size containers in the refer. :c2:

[Twinkle]

Renna...sounds like you have a real plan going on there. You go girl! Your plan sounds like the lbs can't go anywere but down.
Congratulations!:c12: