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-   -   Diets that Work for You (https://www.menewsha.com/forum/showthread.php?t=156747)

Urbeth 03-17-2010 09:06 PM

Diets that Work for You
 
I haven't seen a thread around here offering advice for people who want to become healthier or to lose weight by eating healthier. "Diet" isn't of course the only thing that needs to change when you want to live healthier, but I think that it is a word that people most identify when wanting to lose weight.

So please, offer your suggestions/comments/questions/etc to this discussion!

About me:
I have had weight issues since I was in middle school. My family thought that I was too fat so at puberty they put me on every diet they found which in the end did nothing except make me hate diets. In college, my weight fluctuated and now I need to lose weight to be healthy. I know how to eat healthy and that I need to exercise more, but I don't have the time. (And please, don't tell me that I shouldn't be on Menewsha anymore to make time for exercise--I am barely on the site as it is.)

Things that have worked for others but not for me:
Food Journal - I have had 2. The first was a book, which was annoying to keep updating. The second is electronic but not as flexible. My main issue with this is that even if I stay within my allotted 1400 calories a day, I don't know if I am getting the proper nutrition. I don't know if I am getting too many carbohydrates or not enough protein.
Weight Watchers - I tried this when I was 15 and it was very awkward for me. I couldn't drop more than 5lbs that I gained back every other week.
NEAT - I have the book and I want to give it another try this year, but it is one of those things that I want to do with someone else--but there isn't anyone to do it with.

Curious about:
6 Week Body Makeover - Does it really work? What kind of time commitment does it require?
5 Factor Diet - seems to be more flexible that 6WBM and would actually fit in my schedule but they aren't accepting anyone right now. ):

JasperVonViktor 03-17-2010 09:17 PM

For me, if I want to lose weight, I simply don't eat, but that's not considered healthy I guess :sweat:
I mean, I was 8 stone 3, and I had a period where I didn't eat, or ate very little, and now I'm about 7 stone 3.
I don't think starvation is a good way to help, but I just get scared of eating too much, and so I don't.

Guivre 03-17-2010 09:38 PM

Food Journals really do help with me making my nutrition more dense. I think the best thing you can do when it comes to nutrition is just making yourself aware of what nutrients are in what foods you like and eat them as much as possible. For me, just taking out starches helped a lot. (Not necessarily low carb.) I hate bread, but not eating rice, pasta, etc. It's just that those starches take the place of things that usually have more nutrients in them and at the end of the day, you're like hmm, what did I eat today, and it all looks so blah if you have too much starch.

It really does help to target what healthy food you LIKE. If you eat stuff that's healthy just cause it's healthy, you won't eat enough.

I was my most lean when I was a vegan. I ate a lot of healthy oils at the time too, like flax supplements, etc. Sadly, that was really the only thing I could do, was be super vigilant.

pojke 03-17-2010 09:47 PM

people need to stop thinking about things as diets and consciously understand that if they want to make a lasting impact they need to consciously decide they are going to change their eating habits. if you decide to be healthier rather than deciding to start a diet, you're going to be a lot more successful.

sephy 03-18-2010 02:07 AM

I do whatever JasperVonViktor does, but I really cut down on my potions by a lot. Even though my weight is average, but sometimes little bit of fat, such as love handles and my thighs, I simply dislike. But I also work out and stretch to get rid of them easily.

Sometimes I do eat regularly, and sometimes unhealthy, but I still lose the weight if I just simply exercise.

Maybe you can just have a diet of fruits and veggies, with some meat occasionally. Of course with lots of exercise, maybe a walk every morning and night, with other activities as well?

Aninaj 03-18-2010 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pojke (Post 1766823878)
people need to stop thinking about things as diets and consciously understand that if they want to make a lasting impact they need to consciously decide they are going to change their eating habits. if you decide to be healthier rather than deciding to start a diet, you're going to be a lot more successful.

That is absolutely right, the reasons going on a "diet" doesn't work is because once ppl lose the weight, often they go right back to the way they ate before, causing a yo-yo effect. this is really unhealthy. what I did when i decided to lose weight for health reasons is i threw out all the unhealthy food in my kitchen and didnt let myself buy any more. being healthy is a lot easier without temptation. Also, finding someone else who wants to start a healthier life style with you can help, because you can support each other. One last thing is i try to avoid the scale. I am curvier, so i weigh a bit more than other girls my height, but this doesn't mean I'm over weight. being skinny is nice, but not if your sickly and tired all the time from lack of nutrition.

amam2217 03-18-2010 04:24 AM

Weight Watchers works extremely well. I've already lost eight pounds and I feel so proud of myself. You only gained it back because you weren't eating healthy and constantly went above your points. I'd seriously give it another shot, especially since you're older now. It isn't even diet, but you do have to get more food servings in. Not really a sacrifice...

Wynna 03-18-2010 04:27 AM

I find that I have never been able to lose weight, but I am able to maintain my wieght by eating correctly and exercisely moderately.

Requiem0fEternity 03-19-2010 10:29 AM

Honestly you need to see a nutritionist, or at least see your family doctor to find the right eating habit for your body. I have problems with gluten and sugars myself, so I went on the South Beach Diet and lost pounds at a mediocre but steady rate. Honestly, everyone should go with the SBD. The cardiologist who developed it created it not to help his patients lose weight but to clean their blood and have healthier hearts and bodies. You lose weight if you're overweight, but if you're at a healthy weight you simply stay healthy. However if you are going to go on it, it's a MUST that you read the book first, and not just go on what you might hear about it. I highly, HIGHLY recommend it!

XIntoxicated PenguinX 03-19-2010 02:54 PM

(Ill get back to this, my librarian is peepin over my shoulder. I should be doing my work but instead on on mene xD)

LadyKai 03-19-2010 03:01 PM



I gained 40pounds due to my pregnancy, but if I want to lose weight I don't eat after 7pm and drink alot of water, and im serious 5-10 pounds come off, but that's water weight, actual body fat weight loss is 2-3pounds a week if you keep at it.


Urbeth 03-22-2010 03:13 PM

Requiem0fEternity: I would like to see a nutritionist--especially to find out what I need to eat more/less of. I can only guess at this point and hope that it works. For example, I discovered that the reason I was always feeling sick after eating cereal for breakfast wasn't because of the cereal--but because I am semi-lactose intolerant. So I am eating cereal again with soy milk! Another change is that on mornings that I have time (and a clean pan) I make myself eggs with the liquid egg whites--that are a little bland, but since its the only part of the egg I eat anyway (I don't like the yolks) I don't mind--and its good for my heart. But these are things that have taken me a long time to realize. I would think that a nutritionist would take one look at my food journal and be able to point out the problems right away. The problem is that I don't have the insurance to see one or a family doctor. I have insurance through my university and it just covers the bare minimum to be called insurance. My university doesn't have a nutritionist on their staff either, which I find disappointing.

Last Friday I finally decided to try just doing something, so I went for a walk with my ipod and ended up walking 2.5 miles. When I got back I did some weight lifting with some weights. Since I still had a lot of energy after the walk, I ended up belly-dancing for a while. I still had tons of energy for the rest of the day. I walked again on Saturday even though my legs were incredibly sore! I found that again I had more energy that day (even though I was still sore after the walk). Yesterday, I took a break and rested, but felt tired all day. Today I got up early and walked again and lifted weights and am finding that I have more energy on the days that I am walking.

So I am hoping this little change will make a difference in my weight problems.

The Real Nikki 03-22-2010 04:00 PM

Because my family of seven has only one small car to truck around in, my whole family learned to bike. x.x
My dad jokes that he taught us to ride a bike before he taught us to walk, which I bet is true. I ride my bike to school, to work, and even to the mall. It saves a bunch on gas, and I work out by riding up to 40 miles every day. Without that, I'd be a little on the chubby side, trust me.

Edit: Oh, my legs are nothing but muscle. It's a little gross as times, but better than having no legs. :o
I'd show a picture, but nuh xd

As for eating, I know I should eat three meals a day, but I'm bad with remembering to get breakfast. It's easier when I was in school, because I'd buy food with my friends. But not so much now.

My goal is to get cute abs or something, but doing sit-ups wears me out. x.x Any tips on tummy problems?

PrincessBane 03-23-2010 09:25 PM

I find that labeling a certain way of eating with the word diet makes it so much harder for me to actually do it. If I just think, "oh, I'm going to try to avoid this and this and this," then I don't feel I have the constraints of having to be so rigid with myself. So I guess I have a diet that's not a diet. I just try to limit the amount of "junk food" that I eat, while counting the calories and making sure that I balance it out with some light exercise. My body's metabolism isn't slow and I don't need hours of exercise in order to slim down, so as long as I eliminate what I eat or balance it out, I can maintain a level weight. I'm not interested in having a muscular body, I just want to be toned and fit neatly into my size 1 clothes. <3

Mystic 03-24-2010 03:27 AM

I really watch what I eat because I am trying to gain weight and be healthier. I eat at least 70 grams of protein, no pop, eat proper servings of grains, fruits, veggies daily. I do not eat meat. Since I stopped eating meat I gained 18lbs but I am still too skinny for my height. I also started to be more active and walk at least an hour a day. I plan to weight train to build muscle up.

Basically the key to a healthy diet is balance. I have a very high metabolism so I try to eat a high protein and low fat/sugar diet. I also eat organic foods and try to avoid foods that have too many processed ingredients in them. I eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies and nuts. I also found that it makes me feel better if I eat a little bit at a time rather than eating huge meals.

Personally, I believe that the body digests food better if you eat several small meals through the day rather than eating a few large meals. It's proven that eating smaller meals through the day evens out blood sugar more which in turn helps keep energy levels up.

In short what works for me is eating healthy and being active.

metal_angel89 03-24-2010 03:38 AM

I dont need to lose any weight but i help those that do from time to time. i would recommend eating fruits and veggies and drinking water. then on top of that exercise moderately and increase intensity as you get stronger. then after a few months. wallah.


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