how's everybody doing so far?

LarryD...

Sorry it took so long to answer your question about how I'm shedding the pounds...

First, my wife and I order the kit from Weight-Watchers that contains the guidebook, scales for measuring portions, cups for measuring portions and a couple of books that detail the 'points' for many common (and some uncommon) foods, and the points for items you can get at many chain restaurants.

We decided to do this on our own, partly because I'm just too damn stubborn and figured we could do this ourselves, and by going to the meetings it would make things too regimented or structured. Plus, I didn't want any part of a diet that completely ruled out any kind of food, no matter what quantity. So Adkins (sp?) was out! I'm from upstate NY, we love our chicken wings too much!! Besides, if you totally deprive yourself of some things, eventually those are the things that you are going to give in to and ruin the whole plan with.

I have a bit of a character flaw where I like to do things myself, my way. Can you tell?

As an example, the guide said someone in my weight bracket should use 22-27 points a day. I had kept track of my points for a couple of days just out of curiosity, and racked up an average of 58 points per day. I really had no idea that I was eating that much (I was!) and the fat and calorie count of what I was eating.
So I set my own goal of 35 points a day, thinking that that was already a lot lower than what I was currently doing anyway. I eventually whittled that down to 33 as I got used to things, then 31, now I aim for 30. If I'm a couple over, no problem.

Secondly, I made sure that I set aside some time to exercise faithfully. I started running more than I had been (3 days/wk became about 6 days/wk) and I gradually increased to about 2 to 2.5 miles a day, which I can do in about 16-21 minutes, depending on the terrain. Throw in about 100-150 sit-ups right after running, mowing the lawn, chasing around a 4 and 7-year old and an 8-week-old beagle puppy, and walking 18 holes of golf about once a week, preferably in the afternoon when it's hottest, and VIOLA!!!

I lost 4 pounds the first week, 9 pounds the first month, and 16 pounds in the first 60 days. During that time, my diet also changed, with smaller portions of foods high in points and more fruits and vegetables to fill in the space. Plus, I was able to go visit relatives in NY, eat chicken wings, go out to dinner and to cookouts, but increase the golf and exercise somewhat, and only gain 1 pound in the 10 days I was there.

I've lost nearly 4 inches in my waist, so my 36 waist pants that were snug have a lot more room in them. But the best bonus was when I saw my doctor last week.

My cholesterol has dropped from 240 to 138 in a year, my LDL (bad stuff) went from near 150 to 80, and my HDL (good stuff) went from 18 to 47, and my triglycerides from 800 on one test to 53!!!!

Sorry this is so long, but you asked. As you can also tell, I'm ecstatic about this because I'm lower than I ever thought I would be again (180 seemed like a pipe dream, now I'm around 175, which is 23 pounds toward your total), and I have enough energy to walk 18 holes in 95 degree heat and then still go run a couple of miles and not feel totally worn out. Plus, if I have a stretch where I have a weekend chock full of barbecues and parties, I know how to knock those couple of pounds back off fast.

 

Sooner - do you think the points system from Weight Watchers was helpful directly, or did it just get you to start paying attention to what you were eating, and what those foods are made of?

From what I've seen of the program, when you don't buy their food (that's how people used to get jacked), it does a great service to the dieter by forcing them to get food-educated, which leaves you armed to live a more healthy lifestyle over the long-run. Other than that, not much point to it, but that's really the whole secret, so I guess it's good!

 

Excellent - good luck! Just stick with it for a few weeks, and it becomes a habit, just like the old bad habits...

 

I started out around 228 and am down 3-4 lbs in week one. Basically water weight dropped as usual. My job is somewhat physical (climbing and walking) that and wife and I are always out in the yard mowing, shovelling mulch, etc) so additional exercise hasn't started. I eat several small meals a day and try to keep it very low fat. I have done Adkins and have been successful but it's hard to eat all protein/low carb some times. Basically I eat a no fat yougart and toast for breakfast (Food Lion 10/ 4.00) and a piece of fruit for breakfast. ANother piece of fruit sometime in the morning. Lunch is 2 sandwiches low fat Dukes mayo and ham or roast beef and another piece of fruit. Mid day snack is another yougart. Dinner I eat a big salad and a grilled chicken breast. Have severely dropped my alcohol consumption and replaced it with lots of water with crushed ice. I gave up sugar last fall and that helped alot

 

Bootay...
I think the points system finally gave me a concrete way to gauge
how much and what type of food I was eating. Before, it was just too abstract...I mean we don't really know how much something weighs in ounces, too small of a unit to make a good guess.

If you wanted to feel satisified after a meal, you had to make some adjustments or trade-offs to keep at or below the number. In the process, you learned what foods were 'free' (no points), and found ways to enjoy other dishes in a more healthy manner. It might cost a bit more (not much really), but we buy a certain brand of hot dogs now because they taste good and are very low in fat. Same with the hot dogs rolls, mustard and sweet relish add nothing to the total, and you feel full like you did before!

Today's menu to show how I do it....
Breakfast --> 2 cups of cereal (4 points), 1 cup of milk (2 points), 1.5 cups of orange juice (3 points) = 9 points

Lunch --> A sandwich of a hoagie roll (3 points), chicken spiedie (2 points...it's Yankee food! made of 2 ounces (the 2 points)boneless chicken mixed with green peppers (0 points), 10 baby carrots (0 points), 16 Tostitos chips (2 points) and 1 cup of red seedless grapes (1 point) = 8 points

Dinner --> 4 ounces of ham (6 points), .5 cups of mashed potatoes (2 points), over a half of a cup of green beans (0 points), 1 Little Debbie chocolate-covered brownie (not the two that come in the package, but just one, that was the hard part, 2 points), .5 cup of milk (1 point) = 11 points

After running or riding the exercise bike --> 1 popsicle (they are great in the summer, 1 point)

Day's total --> 29 points, under my goal of 30!!!! And you might be surprised just how much you get for a cup of grapes, or a half-cup of green beans, etc.... So I really don't feel all that hungry except the last 30-60 minutes before a meal, which is when you have to be careful.

 

sooner dave than what?

 

I guess I'll "weigh in" on this thread. I'm doing low carb, and started 5 weeks ago. I'm down 22 lbs, and my wife is down 11. I did this back in the early 80's, on the advice of a weight lifter friend of mine, and lost 50 lbs back then. I kept it off until 1995, when my first son was born and I quit smoking. I was at around 212 lbs back in Dec. 2001, when back problems forced me too stop working permanantly. I ballooned up to 272 lbs after that, as I cannot even walk fast enough to burn a calorie. I am now at 250. As for all the folks talking about the long term effects of Atkins, use me as an example. Over 20 years since the first round with it, although I never heard of Atkins back then, and "ZERO" problems.

 

Atkins obviously caused your back problems

 

that's what I've been reading to. With calcium, you want to take it seperately from your vitamins and other supplement because it will block the absorbsoption of a lot of nutrients.

 

well, if we could ever get our scale to be accurate, i'd know how well i was really doing. First, it was 10lbs off and then it was 5lbs off, so i'm not sure. I think i have lost 6 pounds, though. It's been slow going. Curious as to why men drop the weight so much faster. It's been tough this week since it's that time for strong unbearable cravings of chocolate. Made chocolate chip cookies last night and ate a few. Other than that, i'm still sticking to the diet.