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Weight Watchers
So I have been thinking about trying this, but I have zero clue how it works. I know that you get "points" to use during the day, but how do you calculate points? How do you know how much points your food has if it's not something pre packaged?
I really want to lose some weight, and I was on a diet a couple of weeks ago. I did really well, starved the ever loving hell out of myself for a week and a half, lost 6lbs, and then something snapped. I was so.damn.hungry. I would eat my sad little dinner and then fantasize about a bowl of cereal for 5 hours straight before I went to bed.
I seem to have no clue how to do things in moderation. I can't just try to eat healthy and exercise. I want to see results right the eff now, so I go all extreme on the diet, but it's just not sustainable long term.
Re: Weight Watchers
My Wedding Bio
I've seen myself and others lose weight quickly on WW and South Beach. The problems as you said are that you find yourself damn hungry at some point (and for me irritable) and then when you are done with the diet it all comes back. But if you need to lose weight for an event or vacation then I think either of those would work. If you are looking to become healthier for the long run then I would see a nutritionist and make slower changes.
On a side note, my friends that started running dropped poundage really fast. However, it isn't working for me but then again I'm not really on a diet.
Adventures of A Girl and Her Apron
Head over to H&F. We'll tell ya that there is no quick fix, but WW is one of the best programs out there.
You can also look at "eating clean." DIETS fail, lifestyle changes don't.
Southeastern Cycling
My Nest Bio and Cycling Advice
My Wedding Bio
WW makes it really easy because they have point calculators and even include chain restaurants. If you have a newer phone (droid, BB, Iphone), you can get an AP that will be able to calculate most of what you eat when you log it. WW has a website that does it too.
I did WW and South Beach. I'm good when I'm paying attention to what I'm eating so I have been able to maintain my weight for the most part even though I rarely work out. I'm in school too so I can relate to being too busy. I think WW will help you. Once you get used to eating smaller portions and your body gets used to it, it will be easy. My friend lost weight on WW by eating at Chick-fil-a 90% of the time. Anyone can do it. Good luck!
~~~MARRIED BIO~~~
You are allotted so many points in a day depending on your age, height, and current weight. Points are calculated using the calories, fiber, fat, and carbohydrates in a serving. They have a little slide thing, or there is an online (or phone app) calculator where you just pop those values in and it determines the amount of points. They also have a database of information online that you can search on to find point values (or you can look on calorieking.com to get the nutritional information and then plug it in to the calculator to determine the point value). You also start to learn the point values for certain things you eat a lot, and you can add them up in your head. Certain things do not have a point value. I believe in the new program (I only know the old program) fruit is free (no points) and a lot of vegetables are also point free (not sure what it is like on the new program). You also can earn extra points by doing exercise... called Activity Points. There is also a calculator for that.. depending on your current weight, the amount of exertion in your activity, and how long you do the activity for. For example, if I play tennis for an hour, I might earn 3-4 extra points I can use on food for the day.
I think WW is a great program and its realistic. You really can live with it for the rest of your life. Nothing is off limits, you just learn about moderation. I made lifetime years ago.. I think I lost 30 something pounds to get to lifetime?
Hopefully my explanation makes sense to you?
I've done WW several times and still remember a lot of what I learned - which foods to choose, moderation, etc. I had a hard time getting to the meetings (I was going w/ a friend until she stopped...). I tried it here and hated the group that fit with my schedule. All they did was sit around and talk about how to "cheat" the system. "Oh, I can freeze a tub of Cool Whip and pretend it's ice cream. It's 0 pts, so I can eat the whole thing!" I kid you not. I stopped going when I had foot surgery and was on crutches for 4 weeks. I tried it online, but didn't care for it. I've found that I need the personal check-ins and that's part of why seeing a doctor has worked so well for me.
WW really is a great program and like I said, it does teach you a lot. If you need the check-ins, it's important that you are in a good group. I lost 40 lbs on it the first time around, but don't recall how much on my other attempts. It isn't cheap. I'm not sure what it is now, but it was $10/week or so + non-required supplies (notebooks, foods, etc.).
I'm sure it's a lot easier now to find out your food points than it used to be, pre-smartphones. I hated carrying around that little slider! There were also books that you could carry around that listed restaurants and food items.
Good to know! I was actually looking into WW this morning! Aerorea, if you know mind sharing, how did you do it? Just visit a nutritionist or actual doctor visits? I have been struggling with my weight ever since I had my thyroid removed.
I was on WW until I got pg and loved it. I had the exercise part down, and it helped me get rid of the candy and eat healthier. I think it incentivizes you in the right way to eat healthy and view unhealthy stuff as treats - you can have them, of course, but in moderation. But there are no forbidden foods - you just pay the price by having fewer points for the rest of your day.
JulesDiane explained the points system really well - I don't know how it's changed with pointsplus, but the concept is the same I'm sure. you also get extra points to spread out over the week, so if you have an event/special occasion coming up, you can save those up and indulge.
I'm definitely going back on WW after the baby's born to lose the baby weight.
Baby K ~ born July 1
I see an actual doctor that specializes in bariatric weight loss. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend that approach to most people. Unless you have a lot to lose, seeing a doctor for it is a bit extreme. I would recommend finding a good nutritionist or doing WW.