Anyone on a diet?

[Chilly_Willy]

Anyone on a diet? Just wondering since all these new diets are out now. I wrote in a few months ago on the same topic and said I was trying the atkins....well I tried it and I am still on it, it's great and I lost 12 pounds in a month so far....(to be cont)

[Semi_subversive]

1. Like Garfield says

Diet is just "die" with a "t" on the end.

[Blue_Chill]

5. lol I remember that!

Garfield was great. :D

[Chilly_Willy]

8. mmmm when I think of Garfield

I think of lasagna, mmmmmmm....

[vi5]

2. I"m currently more or less still on Atkins.....lost 40 lbs since March....

I'm currently just on maintenance Atkins. I've lost 40 lbs. since March but that's also a combination of low/no carbs, going to the gym every day for a half hour of weights and a half hour of cardio training, and also keeping myself to 2000 calories a day for the past 2 months.

If you haven't checked out any of the great no/low carb substitute brands out there, I highly recommend them. They've been crucual to my being able to maintain it without feeling like I was starving myself.

[Chilly_Willy]

3. Damn

40 pounds that is really great! What kind of suggestions do you have for me, b/c I really haven't been that creative on the diet. The only time I feel like I am starving is Sunday night when there's not much to do except relax, then it happens and I start eating tuna fish can after can to try to stop the hunger. Sounds so corny, huh!

[TreasonousBastard]

6. 2000 calories...

and working out out for an hour a day?

Carbs or no carbs, that'll lose you some weight.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

7. I've lost 24 on Atkins

That's great, vi5!

I generally feel great on Atkins. I was seriously addicted to carbs (we lived on pizza, pasta, and bread). I have tried the Atkins brands (some are good, some are gross)-it's hit or miss. I have made some desserts with Splenda and they taste fine.

I am starting back to a workout regimen. Honestly, since I've been unemployed, I haven't had a lot of motivation (depression, I think)...

Congrats again on your weight loss!

[FloridaJudy]

40. Atkins

I *never* would have believed this would work - common sense says a calorie is just a calorie - but after watching several colleagues loose weight on this, I decided to give it try.

Holy cow! I lost ten pounds in three weeks, including one night in which I totally lost it and Pigged Out to the max. It was a catered dinner, and I ate:
2 Caesar salads
3 servings of marinated scallops
6 jumbo prawns
2 servings of asparagus in garlic butter
a mound of smoked salmon six inches high
2 slabs of broiled tuna
a fillet steak with Portabella mushrooms
2 cups of coffee with heavy cream

A conservative estimate would be that I'd consumed something like 3000+ calories at a sitting -- I absolutely did NOT want to weigh myself that week. To my surprise, I'd actually *lost* a pound!

I don't recommend this sort of binge to others (for one thing it would be really, *really* expensive - that night a drug company was picking up the cost), it's proved to me that Atkins works.

Of course, I'm ready to kill for a matzoh ball or a plate of mashed potatoes...

[Wednesdays]

4. If you want to call it a "diet"

I've been doing low carb/Atkins for two months now, lost 15 pounds, and I have never felt more energetic.

It's the easiest thing in the world to follow--just eliminate sugar and starches (bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, etc.). I had a little bit of sugar cravings for the first few days, but after that it was easy sledding. I still enjoy a beer or piece of cake every few weeks, but the trick is to restrict carbs as a matter of course. I have no other restrictions! Imagine pigging out while losing weight!

I really, really recommend everybody try this for two weeks, and see what you think!

[Chilly_Willy]

9. I agree...

Try it for 2 weeks and then decide if you want to continue,and by that time you will have already lost at least 5 pounds. The diet really gets people to get away from boxed foods precooked, premixed, presertive filled foods and junky snacks which I think is really important not to get addicted to in the first place.

[VelmaD]

10. I have lost 100 pounds

since January 2002. And I did not do it on an official "diet".

What I did was make gradual lifestyle changes one at a time so I didn't shock myself. I gave up cokes. I stopped going to fast food places. I replaced all the high fat meats in my diet with turkey and occasionally chicken. I replaced mayo with mustard. I started taking my lunch to work instead of eating in the cafeteria (I control the calories and fat now). I cut out all the snack foods - don't even have them in my house. If I want a snack I have a low-fat, low-cal ice cream bar (Skinny Cow is really good and only 120 calories) or sometimes I have reduced fat peanut butter and low-fat crackers. I eat a lot of fruit instead - have some around 3 in the afternoon at work every day. I started exercising at least an hour a day - usually more. Sometimes swimming, sometimes weights, sometimes cardio. Really boosted my metabolism.

Here's the kicker, I almost never make it even to 1500 calories a day. Most days are just under 1000. I can do that because my body is burning the fat accumulated over the last decade and a half. I'm not sure I would recommend it for everyone. I take a really good multivitamin. I don't pay any attention to carbs - I figure I'm burning the carbs from a 1000 calorie a day diet off when I exercise. What I do watch are calories and fat.

Anyway, it has worked for me. I started out at 270 pounds and was just about to have to go into a size 24. I went shopping for new size 12 work pants yesterday and have lost alomst exactly 100 pounds. So, there ya go.

Darth Velma

[Cheswick2.0]

12. velma, wonderful for you

I think that is fantastic.

[VelmaD]

13. Thanks

*beaming smile*

Yesterday was the first time I've really had fun shopping in a really long time. It was so neat to be able to go into almost any store in the mall and know they would have clothes my size. :-)

[DemExpat]

16. Or to go a Lane Bryant and need Extra Small......

:D

DemEx

[VelmaD]

20. I tried that yesterday...

I don't even fit in the smallest size they carry at Lane Bryant anymore. :-)

It was actually a little weird (but neat) to have to find all new places to shop for clothes.

[DemExpat]

14. Way to go, Velma!

That is just fantastic!

Keep healthy,

DemEx

[VelmaD]

21. Thanks

*smooches*

Healthy has been the whole point for me. Changing my appearance was just an added extra bonus. I was really scared to get into my mid-30s still eating like a teenager and not taking care of myself. I figure my warranty is just about expired. :-)

[Mandate My Ass]

38. Congrats

Healthy has been the whole point for me. Changing my appearance was just an added extra bonus.

I hear ya. I reluctantly started a weight and exercise program several years ago to ward of osteo. The benefits have been too many to name including getting myself off SSRIs. The best quote I heard recently was "I exercise for my sanity, not my vanity."

[TEXASYANKEE]

36. Outstanding!!

Your weight loss plan is common sense, health-conscious, and obviously working for you. Congrats!

I work out at the gym 5 nights a week (cardio mostly) and am trying to take off 10 more pounds. My one vice is a daily helping of chocolate M&Ms ... but otherwise I only eat healthy food. I don't pay much attention to calories, but have cut my carbs back significantly.

Like VelmaD, I highly recommend a good multivitamin.

[Chilly_Willy]

37. that is great

Size 24 to size 12, that is great. Doing all that exercise you must have alot more energy.

[VelmaD]

41. Thanks

And you're right. I do find that I have a lot more energy now.

I'm a big proponent of exercise now. I get such a rush from it. I have found that if I'm having a bad day or I'm dragging a little bit that going to the gym picks me right up.

DV

[Hubert Flottz]

11. My heart doctor put me on the Atkins diet!

I started yesterday and I'm HUNGRY!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

15. Make sure you eat enough!

That's the ticket. Protein tends to be filling, so if you're humgry it's best to have several small meals with protein than three big meals.

I had muscle aches and felt tired for the first week. Then I felt great-so much energy!

Stay with it-it really does work!

[Hubert Flottz]

17. My Heart Doc Lost 50 pounds since new year!

He says he don't get hungry! I think it will be easier than the low fat diet!

[supernova]

18. I used Atkins all last year

and lost 23 lbs. The first few days of carb witdrawal are hard. Just be sure to keep up with your drinking... water, silly!

I'm keeping it off in the maintainence phase. Though I do eat sushi rice, I still largely stay away from the "white" foods - potatoes, bread, pasta, most corn.

[Wednesdays]

25. Hunger is probably carb/sugar withdrawal

I only had mild withdrawal symptoms the first couple of days, and if you can make it thru that first period, your cravings will subside. In fact, whenever I try to eat regular ice cream now, it tastes TOO sweet!

As I posted above, I'm not on a stringent "diet" so to speak (I don't even count calories!), I just avoid sugar/starches.

Just got my blood work results today...I have knocked 100 points off my lipid level since June! :)

[supernova]

27. I noticed that too

most regular sweet things like ice cream, fruit juices, jellies, etc are too sweet for me now so I rarely eat them. I prefer the non-sugar versions.

[chadm]

31. Eat more

Eat ridiculous amounts of the stuff you're allowed to.

[gyopsy]

19. I am

One of my own invention. I am making an effort to go the gym four times a week as well as eating four small meals a day that usually consist of rice cakes and melba toast.

Hopefully, I'll be down to 140 by Christmas. Only ten pounds to go but the last ten pounds are the hardest to lose.

[chadm]

32. Badly misguided

The rice cakes and melba toast give you no nutrition. This is the kind of diet that leads to muscle loss, fat gain, and even cancer. Your body needs protein and fat but it does not need simple carbs (which is all you're eating).

[Chilly_Willy]

34. Scary food..rice cakes

Do you take supplements for the vitamins you aren't eating? And what about vegtables? Maybe if you added fish you will loose weight faster, I don't know what it is about fish, but it's not fattening so it's great to eat. Good luck on those last 10!!

[Serial Mom]

22. Just started on "The Formula 40-30-30"

Tried Atkins and developed blood pressure problems. I did lose weight (5 lb. in 10 days) but didn't want to mess with health.

The Formula is a life style change to low glycemic carbs and each meal has 40% carbs, 30% fat (mostly good fat) and 30% protein. So far so good, hope it works for me.

[kodi]

23. i'm on the dylan thomas scotch and cigarette diet.

sure it has some carbs, but usually i pass out before i drink enough to put on weight.

<cough>

actually, using the adkins methodology, and use an exercise bike 2 hours a day...bad ankle from too much b-ball.. burns about 3-400 cals per hour and i do it while watching morning c-span and one hour at night watching west wing on bravo... i put a mirror in front of me and one behind and try to pass myself.

a pound of weight loss is about equivalent to 3,500 cals burned, i'm losing 2 pounds a week just from the bike...dropped 20 this summer.

[SPICYHOT]

24. Do you have one diet to gain weight?

you might think that it is stupid, but that's my problem, i can gain any weight, eat everything sweet to help, a lot of meat, eat a lot of everything, but nothing helps me.

[radwriter0555]

39. Thyroid?

Could be an issue??

[Xithras]

26. I'm on the 1300 a day diet

I eat anything I want, but limit myself to 1300 calories a day. I also have a salad with every meal...the salad doesn't count towards the calorie total, but the dressing does. To tone myself a bit, I also bought a new bike and ride 30-45 minutes a day.

I was at 265lbs when I started the diet in May, I just weighed in on Sunday at 204, and I'm aiming for 185.

[Spoonman]

28. Check out Sams Club

for the best prices on the Atkins shakes and candy bars.
Strawberry tastes the best.

I'm down 18 pounds in two weeks.

DAMIT SOMEBODY GIVE ME A FRENCH FRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kathee]

29. hope this isnt a dupe

i think i lost my connection for a sec...


I started in Jan, lost 25, hit a plateau, quit from June to Sept 1, gained 10 back, now back to the grind.

I think I figured out some of what I did wrong. I kept increasing my walking speed...I got hungrier and ate bigger portions. That was mistake #1.

I ate more and more white stuff(potatoes, rice bread) and less protein, and even though I kept my cals at 1200-1500, apparently it does matter what those cals are made of. I didnt lose a single pound for several months..

Im beginning to think sugar addicts like myself are like alcoholics...even one drink can start a binge. If I wean myself from the sweets, I crave them less.

If I drink a couple of beers, I would get hungry as well, especially for sweets.

SOO, I have sworn off all sugar(except an occasional teaspoon of honey for really bad cravings..it works!) all alcoholic beverages, and walk in the morning for about an hour at a lesser speed than I was.

I have a moderate goal for myself to lose twenty pounds in the next two and a half months, and not beat myself up if I give in once in a while.

Good luck to you!!

[Chilly_Willy]

35. wooh

That's great. On the atkins, the ongoing weight loss part of the diet you can drink vodka, gin, whiskey, but you can't really drink juice so I drink vodka and diet tonic which tastes great, or a glass of wine. But you are very right, once I taste chocolate I want more too.

[chadm]

30. Low carb for 5 years

After losing 40 lbs. within 6 months, I've stayed at my ideal weight and never felt better.

[CBGLuthier]

33. Yes I am on the

eat less, exercise more plan.

I make sure I get protein and carbs and fats. I eat between 1000 and 1500 calories a day.

I ride an exercise bike for 20-25 minutes a day except Saturday when i walk the golf course.

I work with dumbbell weights a few times a week and do some simple yoga.

I have lost about 25 pounds or so in two months and feel very good. I have eaten out about four times during that period.

I need to lose another 40 altogether but will take a break after another 20 to stabilize a bit.