weight, surgery, diets, exercise

I have done Weight Watchers on and off for about 5 years. I lost 35 pounds over the course of about 6 months and have kept off 25 of it for the past 4 years. I'm now on it again because I want to lose another 20 pounds. I have tried dieting on my own. I've tried Jenny Craig. I can't handle the low/no carb thing. I find WW to be the easiest and most effective way of losing weight for me. I too have a sweet tooth, but they teach you what things you can have to satisfy the cravings without sabotaging your weight loss. WW makes some very good ice cream products. You are assigned a certain number of points per day based on your weight, height, age and activity level. I am allowed 22 points per day and I usually use all of them. I have a friend who gets 33 points per day and usually has 10 or more left over. You can save those points to use later in the week if you want, but if you don't you will obviously use more weight. It's really worth checking out. Good luck to you!

i am in the same boat right now, i am trying to loose all my "baby fat" from when i was pregnant. i do small simple exercises like a 5-10 min. walk. if its to cold or rainy i walk in place in my house. i also try to keep my mind off of the food. if i sit and just watch TV then i get up and get something to eat. but if i keep busy cleaning or playing with my son, then i dont think about eating till im really hungery. instead of drinking soda i get flavored water, so it tastes better than regular water. being a stay at home mom, i dont get much exercise but now im going back to work and i have to walk, which will be good for me. i also walk to stores around where i live instead of having my husband drive me, yes i dont have a license yet, sad uh? lol! anyway, i LOVE cookies lol, but i get those 100 calorie ones that come in little packages and eat one package a day. i also love cinommmon flavored cereal, and i eat the Smart Start cinommon cereal instead of the other kinds. if you go onto discoveryhealth.com they have tons of recipes that you can make thats real healthy. i am going to go there to get a few. hope this helps some, yes its hard, but anyone can overcome anything if they really put there mind to it.

If you haven't got the self control then no diet is going to work for you. You would be better however, doing fora diet that rewards you with treats. So like say, every friday you can took into one of your favorite unhealthy snacks but you have to be good the rest of the week. Cutting out completely would just overwhelm you and will be hard to contol. I would also suggest eating foods that are more likely to make you feel full than others. Such as wholemeal bread, oats, fish, popcorn.. etc.. That way you wont be as inclined to reach for the munchies. Exercise.. what job to you do? Try to fidgit as much as you can, all movement burns cals, even the little ones. Twist about on your seat, bounce your legs, twiddle your thumbs. Also try to tense your bum cheaks for 10 seconds, 3 times a day. It will help to improve the muscles in your butt making to a nicer shape. Just try to stay active as much as possible, anything is better than nothing at all. (In space on 3 hours at my computer i have moved potition over 30 times, i constantly bounce my legs and such. It soon becomes a habit) Anyway easy stuff to do there.. I no having the self control is hard.. i have little self control two, just start of small and try to make habits rather than a totally new plan.

I have been going through the same thing for several years now. I don't eat much, but I drink a lot of soda, and it made me really heavy. For some time, I ignored my increasing weight and additional inches in my waistline. My main thought then was "as long as I get my soda fix, I'm happy". But I started feeling unhealthy and my clothes won't fit. Even when I go shopping, I find a hard time looking for clothes because they don't carry my size anymore. That's when I decided to lose the weight. I stopped drinking soda, and it wasn't easy. Once in a while, I get tempted, and more than once did I succumb to temptation. But I still tried. Now, I've lost several pounds, and aim to lose some more. I also walk as much as I can since I don't have time to hit the gym. It's not expensive, and right now, I'm starting to anticipate the result of my efforts.

I am right there with you! I am trying to count my calories instead of denying myself everything that is bad for me. Usually, I try to restrict my diet, and it just makes me fall off the wagon...Good luck to you. It's a hard and long road.

I think you should add more fibre to your diet. You can eat more fruits and vegetables to give you more fibre. Fibre creates bulk in your stomach thereby making you feel full. subsequently. this lessens your appetite. Fruits and vege are not fattening and so you wont have to worry. I also recommend that you try to do more walking even at work. instead of using the elevator take the stairs. A few simple stretches in the morning and night can also help to burn a few calories. Remember not to eat late at nights as this will contribute to your wight problem. Good luck!

Hi, I too am overweight, obese really....Yuk. Anyway, I tried Weight Watchers online, and I did loose 20 pounds but I can't afford the measly monthly payment now. So..I am trying to watch what I eat, I have the problem of eating all the time whether I am hungry or not. If I could get passed that I would be home free. Good luck and if you find anything, please let me know. Thanks

Start changing little things first. Forget dieting, work to building a healthier you. If you can't give up soda completely switch to diet. Replace white breads and pastas with whole wheat. Try buy everything you buy now in a lower fat option. Example peanut butter, Skippys makes low fat now, same with milk buy the lower fat. You can pretty much eat the same way just in a lower fat higher wheat way. Instead of eating ice cream all the time Yoplait makes a pretty good tasting chocolate mousse Yogurt. Or eat a scoop of icecream with strawberrys or a banana. Adjust what you do eat to a healthier option, buy turkey hot dogs verses regular.

After having my son last year I was in the same boat as you are describing and it was impossible to stay away from the soda for me. My doctor prescribed me Phentramine and I lost sixty pounds so far. It completely curves your appetite without making you feel sick. It was increadible for me and I think if you are having such a hard time you should bring it up to your doctor and see if he/she can put you on something. Good luck!

When to Start Dieting? This one is for women: Never start a diet one week before your period. The hormonal imbalances will drive you nuts, will make you frustrated, and the water retained in your body will make appear as if you haven't shed a pound. Actually, you will look as if you took pounds. So spare yourself! The best moment to start a diet is two days after your period has started, when your cravings subdue and your body starts eliminating the retained water. It's better not only from a psychological point of view, but also from a physiological one. So, girls, did you know that the body retains up to 1 liter of water before and during your period? Keep that in mind next time you are complaining that you cannot lose weight. Personally, I retain even more sometimes. Anyway, I started this new way of eating. My friend lost 20 pounds almost following it in the US, and if she could do it there, I can do it here! The basic principles are the ones I have mentioned already. 5-6 meals a day and two or three more substantial. Never eat until you are full, just until you are not hungry anymore. Take out sugar so your insulin is not high and stopping you from losing weight. My daily intake varies from 1,200 calories to 1,500 calories. I don't think that going under this is helpful or healthy. In the morning I'm having a Diet Cereal Bar and half a glass of yogurt. Two-three hours later I have lunch (for example today I had three small pieces of chicken nuggets and 3 large spoons of eggplants and yogurt salad). Then I had one Diet (with fructose instead of sugar) fruit cheesy yogurt. Then I had dinner - other 3 pieces of nuggets, one egg, and lots of lettuce - and then one more fruity cheesy yogurt. I could have added more, but I feel ok. I am not hungry. I could use some fruits though.

You mention that you do control portions that is good. I hope also with the ice cream and pop? But I do suggest you start to slowly get yourself off soda pop, those are wasted calories. Drink only one pop a day and then fill yourself up with water. You said you have no self-control so you will have to plan ahead or have alternatives. Meaning don't buy a case of pop or a 2-liter pop. if you can't resist not doing it, don't walk down the soda pop aisle or have someone else go grocery shopping with you, who knows you are trying to conquer this. Also, try substitutes instead of ice cream buy low-fat or yogurt. Eat a lot of fruit and vegeatbles, they will fill you up. Since you don't have time to exercise, or if you don't want to make time, do little things. Walk instead of drive, walk up a flight of stairs, do some weight training every other day for 20 minutes. Just small steps, and if you fail, it does not mean you have to quit, just start over again tomorrow.

I am not really overweight but I have been trying to lose a few pounds and get in better shape. This past week when I went to the grocery store I didn't buy any junk food (except my soda's-that is one thing I probably won't ever be able to give up), I got fresh fruits and veggies. So that is all I have to eat in the house, not too much crap. So for snacks we just eat fruit..yummy yummy. They are really good but I do still miss chips and stuff. So I will induldge every now and then, just not too often. When I am outside playing with my kids I run around our yard. It is really big so I don't get around too many times, but it is fun and the kids usually join me. Try to fit in any little workout you can!

There is a great guy called Paul Mckenna and he is a famous hypnotist who cures people of their addictions and phobias. Lots of famous people use him, sport stars and everyone. He does some great tapes that will help you so much. I have recently started using them and they are fantastic. His site is here and well worth getting if you can. http://www.mckenna-direct.com

prettypunk, It is hard to lose weight when one is consuming so much sugar. I have the same problem and am overweight also. First stop drinking soda. I know it is very hard but it can be done. Try carrying a bottle of water with you at all times. I quit drinking soda over a month ago and have already lost 7 lbs. It is mostly sugar honey. OK so the weight I have lost is probably water weight but that is ok. The hardest was the first week. As you seem to be very busy that will help. You will get a headache. It is a caffeine headache. Take some Tylenol and drink lots of water. It will go away. After about 2 weeks the headaches stopped happening. For me the worse was eating out. I now order water or tea and I weaken the tea by adding water to it. Another thing to try is lemon in water, I hate it but my mom loves it. Stop buying ice cream. If my husband wants an ice cream he can get it somewhere else but not at home. We are sugar addicts dear. An addict can not have what they are addicted too, not even in moderation at first. Go cold turkey, it's the best way. You will feel sluggish in the afternoons but that will go away eventually too. Drink water, it helps even with the sluggish feeling. Good luck honey and keep us posted.

I feel you must follow strict regimen of proper diet and regular exercise . There's no escaping that. Avoid eating junk food be it eating ice cream or soda as they add lot of caloures and provide zero nutrition. By doing simple exericsses like taking long walks, doing household chores like sweeping, washing will also help. Or taking stairs instead of lifts, or walking to local shops instead of driving to it. Then doing yoga and meditation regulary is also very helpful. good luck.

Like so many others, I've tried lots of things over the years. I had some success with Weight Watchers and I do like their program. However, I reached a plateau (which IS normal) where nothing was working. I followed everything my leaders recommended, to the LETTER, and the scale wouldn't budge. Unfortunately, I got fed up paying for weekly meetings where I wasn't losing weight... you inevitably feel like a failure :( But I would never discourage anyone from trying WW -- their plan is healthy! I am currently on the South Beach Diet. I was discussing weight loss with a work colleague on the phone one day... she firmly believes in SB. I was inclined to want to try it because the plan was developed by a cardiologist. I suffer from high blood pressure that is currently VERY resistent to being controlled. I'm on meds but that's not my ideal solution, you know? I really believe if I can lose more weight, it'll help the blood pressure. My colleague was amazingly gracious -- she bought me the book from Amazon.com and had it sent right to my mailbox!! It's an easy plan to understand and follow. The first two weeks (Phase I) are the toughest because you can't have starch of any kind (i.e., no bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, not even starchy veggies like carrots or corn). The hardest part for me is that I can't have any fruit for these two weeks either. Oh and you really do have to like eggs! lol It's all about how your body digests and breaks down food into sugars. The concept is very much about slowing that process down so that you feel more satisfied for longer periods of time and therefore don't crave things -- like the carbs that do some many of us in while we're trying to lose weight. The plan also says you start to "lose belly fat first". I'm learning a lot about how the body handles what we eat. Some things I thought I understood were wrong. Example -- I thought watermelon was a good fruit choice for me. It's not. It has one of the highest glycemic indexes so it would be a poor choice. I never knew that. I'm enjoying what I'm getting from the book and I see this as something I could really stick to. After the initial two weeks, you slowly start adding back certain foods (like the fruit LOL) and you're given a list in every phase of "foods to enjoy" and "foods to avoid." You can follow the day by day plan, with recipes and all, or if you don't have those things on hand, you certainly know what you are and are not "allowed" to have. Don't know if I'll really succeed but it's not hurting me to try... I actually feel really good at this point. I've noticed a decrease in the swelling I was having around my ankles and my midday energy level is better (I was getting that feeling around 3PM where I just wanted to lay down and sleep.... I really don't like that at all. Like everyone, I just have too much to do to run out of steam in the afternoon!! LOL) Good luck on your weight loss goals!! :)

i am an exstreamly overweight man who has tryed everything over the past 4 years and i cannot lose weight so i bought an exercise machine and i was losing weight by the stones a month so i reccomend that hope this helped was in the same boat hope ye get ya way, have a do!

So am I!!! don't worry you are not the only one out there, I found taking a walk really helped me a lot and I really had to push myself as I suffer from agoraphobia but needs must as I now have a health condition that I must control (diabetes) and it takes discipline, also we have a communal gardens which I work on with my partner, but if you don't like gardening then honestly a little walk will do you good, even around the block to just get you out of breath a little bit is just enough, obviously not now when you are ill, but try it it helps, I used to be quite slim and excercise a lot in the home with all this equipment which is now mainly used to hang the laundry on!!!believe me I wish I had found walking then I would have saved a lot of money and it is really good for you. Yes it takes discipline and motivation and I understand that can be difficult- but if you keep it up the weight will slowly come off, if you are looking for fast weight loss that is a 'no no' I am afraid it just leads to rapid weight re-gain which I found out myself before now. Be kind to yourself and little steps each time, and you don't have to give up your favourite food I still eat pizza and ice cream!! only less often, I try to eat more veg and fruit and you could also try drinking a bit more water, sometimes the body mistakes hunger for thirst, I know when I haven't gone out I really feel it, just the sluggishness and my daughter is special needs and part of her condition is hyperactivity so I need to keep up with her, if I don't feel like walking, I will do some digging as the communal patch is only at the bottom of our street, but I am trying to take a little more exercise each day it doesn't have to be extreme. I understand, you are not alone- and I wish you every success!

Well, losing weight is not that easy alright, but you could actually lose significant weight if you just observe and maintain a healthy diet and regular excersice. I know it's easier said than done but gradual changing of habits or routine can actually help shave some pounds. You won't really be able to radically change your diet that's why you need gradual changing of amount and type of food you take in. Doing this will result to a firmer and helthier body.

Beleive me I know exactly how you are feeling. I have been overweight all of my life. Right now I work nights and I am at a desk so the temptations for soda and fast food are all around me all the time. I think that if you can not afford anything like WW then maybe you should have a group people that are all going through the same thing that can talk to each other and check in. Give that extra support when they need it. It is hard and people that are not truly overweight do not understand what we are going through