i'm thinking about going on a diet. any suggestions? or advice?

[orleans]

i should probably weigh in so i know if i'm making any progress.

actually i might have started the "diet" today because i actually began reading the labels on stuff (grams of fat, sodium, calories, etc) and when i looked at the fat content from these jewel cookies i've been buying and eating i thought: no wonder i need to go on a damn diet! and i set the bag back on the counter. of course, i keep looking at that bag of peanut butter cookies each time i pass it. but i'm staying strong. maybe tomorrow i'll take what's left and give it away (i know two people who would be happy to have those cookies)

i took a vitamin today--haven't taken one in a couple years--so i must be gearing up.

[Tace]

1. Wow Orleans -- Check This Out

My wife decided about 3 years ago to lose some extra weight.

Over about six months she lost at least 50 pounds.

Here's what she did:

She stopped all solid carbs: basically all bread and pastas.

This will work. Good luck.

--Tace

[mackerel]

2. I decided to seriously lose wait about 4 1/2 years ago and I've lost 40lbs.

I'd still like to lose another 20lbs. I first started by walking 20 minutes every night, I decreased my carbs and increased my fruit and veggies. Then I started doing fruit and veggie smoothies and juicing. I feel great and now I actually crave veggies. I'm predominantly plant based now with occasional fish.

[easychoice]

3. Diabetic diet.fish,boled chicken,fruits and veggies...Exercise.

And what Tace said.
No flour no sugar and no vegetable oil or red meat.
And get off your butt and walk 3 miles a day.Walk!
My brother told me to do that and I lost 50 pounds in 6 weeks.He calls flour and oil poison.

[demmiblue]

4. “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

Last edited Tue Aug 5, 2014, 09:35 AM - Edit history (1)

Do not go on some restrictive fad diet, you want a healthy way of eating that you can maintain for life.

Everything in moderation. You can indulge in a sweet treat every once in a while, just don't over do it.

Drink a glass of water before each meal.

Start a food journal (I use Sparkpeople.com).

Buy a kitchen scale to measure food... people tend to overestimate portion sizes.

Become more active!

[doxydad]

5. I Lost 127 pounds...in 2003, AND KEPT IT OFF!

YOU can do this! I went to see a doc in 2003, at a chubby 303, and found out ...surprise!!...I had diabetes. I started walking the NEXT day, I keep my carbohydrates to 100 per day ...spread out thru the day, and I currently....11 years later weigh 186. DIETS...do not work! If you're serious, and I think you are, then there's a great way to get rid of that weigh...and do it in a health conscious way! Inbox me if you want a couple filling and nutritious recipies that will 1.) Stave hunger, and 2.) not fill you up on carbs, sugars and unnecessary fats.

BOTTOM LINE: It worked for me, and I'm 62...just think what you can accomplish at an earlier age! Let's get crackin'!!

[noamnety]

6. Another voice in the chorus

I lost weight a few years back and kept off most (2/3) of it. Same as the others - low carb, especially flour/potato/sugar.

I didn't worry about fat content at all, if I don't combine the fats with the carbs it's not a problem. When you look at that package of cookies, don't be freaked out by the fat, instead be freaked out by the sugar/carb content. Buying food labeled "low fat" often means they've added sugar to compensate.

Even at the hard core height of my low carbing, I did a weekly cheat day so I could do holidays, family gatherings and such without it being a problem for everyone - including myself. I bloated up as much as 5 pounds after the cheat days, but it always dropped off again within a couple days. Cheat days also kept me away from the overwhelming sadness of feeling like I could never have chocolate or cheesecake again.

After a while though, after breaking the serious carb addiction, my cravings morphed from candy bars to old fashioned oatmeal, no sugar added, or yogurt with granola.

edit to add: some people will tell you low carb is bunk, that a calorie is a calorie. And on some level that's true. But some calories (fats) keep you satiated, while other calories (carbs) spike your insulin levels which in turn increases your appetite. If I have to pick between dieting and feeling hungry all the time, or dieting and feeling full and satisfied, that's an easy choice. Also - read up on sugar alternatives, because some of them, even though they are no calorie, have the same effect on insulin and appetite, so they will help derail your efforts.

[Neoma]

7. This one is pretty straight forward and not complex, but hard to manage.

View sugar that doesn't come from fruit as poison. Do not eat processed sugar.

That cuts a lot of crud out of your diet. (Cookies, hot chocolate, high fructose corn syrup in weird places.) Then you have to tackle fried foods next, but I'd start with the sugar intake. After 2-3 months without processed sugars, try something very sugary. I'm betting you wouldn't be too keen on sugar after that experience because I just about gaurentee that you'll get sick. I mention this type of diet because it might make you feel less sluggish in the long run because sugar makes people tired. Maybe too tired to even start thinking about heavy exercise, but this might help with that.

[Paulie]

11. Yep! Fructose in refined form is not healthy

Sugar -- the elephant in the kitchen: Robert Lust…:

[PasadenaTrudy]

8. Diets don't work

They screw up your metabolism and you gain it back + extra.

[rurallib]

9. FWIW - our kids showed us "Forks Over Knives"

8 weeks ago. Mrs. Lib has lost 20 pounds and the things she has been tested for are for the first time in a long long time are in check.

Eat vegetables and fruits as raw as possible. Believe it or not we still eat very well - just finished some fresh sweet corn, tomato and yam dinner.

I dropped 40 points on my blood pressure in 5 weeks.

No meat, no dairy.

lots of raw veggies dipped in real peanut butter, picante sauce or hummus. Feeling great here.

http://www.forksoverknives.com/

[Generic Brad]

10. Try the DASH diet

It is heart healthy and well balanced. I've lost 25 pounds in the past 5 weeks (of course the diuretic I have been prescribed has probably made the biggest difference).