Has anyone used the Wendie plan?

[catherine]

I've been stuck at the same weight for the whole of Oct. so i'm thinking of following the Wendie plan to shake up my metabolism. So I am curious if anyone else has used it and if it helped your weight loss.

TIA for any help!

 

[catherine]

I guess that no-one has followed this plan. I'm going to try it this week, so I'll let you all know if it works! Here's hoping!

 

[Desiree]

Hey Catherine, can you tell me what the Wendie plan is?

 

[catherine]

Desiree here's a link that explains exactly what it is!

http://www.stormpc.com/ww/wendie_plan.htm

 

[crzy4pooh]

When DH and I started WW (April 2002), we did our own version of the Wendie plan. That was back when we had point ranges, and we always averaged the week within the range. However, we would spike it one day and go low one day. It definitely helped us!!! It keeps your body from getting too efficient, expecting the same number of points per day. Also, mentally, I needed to know I could have that one day to eat more. Let us know how it works for you!

 

[WeirdEyes]

I've been thinking about following the Wendie Plan. I just need to figure out which day is my BIG day.

 

[geetey]

Hi Catherine!

Sorry I just saw your post, but, yep - I have tried the Wendie plan. It works really well to jump your body into moving. I always try to keep the numbers different now, so my body doesn't expect a certain number each day. I hope it works for you. I was stuck on a plateau foreeeeeeeeever. Okay - so it was more like 6 weeks.

Good luck!

 

[MOMOFMNM]

I was stuck for like 2 months and did Wendie and made goal in a weeks time!


plus it is very freeing...and you really get to eat quite a bit

just goes to show starving yourself is not the way to loose or maintain a healthy lifestyle

I would try it if I were you

 

[JMD]

There is no need to "keep your body guessing", or keep it from "getting too efficient". I don't even know that means. "too efficient"?? Don't you want your body to be efficient, so it can process the food you eat and still burn the fat you have stored?


Diet plans like this just over-complicate things. Keep your caloric intake lower than your caloric expenditure and you will lose weight. If your weight loss stalls, decrease your calories slightly or slowly start to increase time you spend exercising. There is no need to bump your calories up and down everyday.

 

[pearlieq]

I have to disagree. While usually weight loss is a case of simple math, our bodies strive toward stasis. If we give them the same inputs day in and day out they begin to adapt to them and begin to conserve energy. Mixing up foods and caloric intake is a great way to keep your metabolism from slowing down while you're losing weight.

Anecdotally, I've always had my best losses in a week where I had a big day. I firmly believe in mixing it up, and I think the Wendi plan (or your own variation) could definitely be worth trying.

 

[JMD]

our bodies strive toward stasis. If we give them the same inputs day in and day out they begin to adapt to them and begin to conserve energy.

Of course our bodies work to balance everything out. Thats why everyone's weight loss starts to stall out after a while. You can't lose weight forever.


Everyone on every kind of diet will eventual stop losing weight if food intake and activity level remains constant. When this happens you need to either decrease your caloric intake or increase activity level. Thats all you need to do. Spiking your calorie level everyday is completely unnecessary. I've never seen any scientific evidence or clinical study that supports this.

If you have any references, I would love to read them.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

There is no need to "keep your body guessing", or keep it from "getting too efficient". I don't even know that means. "too efficient"?? Don't you want your body to be efficient, so it can process the food you eat and still burn the fat you have stored?


Diet plans like this just over-complicate things. Keep your caloric intake lower than your caloric expenditure and you will lose weight. If your weight loss stalls, decrease your calories slightly or slowly start to increase time you spend exercising. There is no need to bump your calories up and down everyday.

this is not the case in plans like weight watchers where your calories are already decreased...decreasing them more will not work...longer workouts might work but as far as eating you need a minimum of 1200 cal a day for daily bodily functions (some people need a bit more or less) some find that they are not eating ENOUGH cals and then the body starts to "hang on" to those calories.

Weight Watchers is not a silly diet plan or gimmick...it helps those who need structure and guidance with thier weight goals and issues in a very healthy and effective manner. It helps educate people on nutrition, seving sizes, etc

anyway if you have been a WW member for awhile and are in a rut, try the Wendie...but also do lots of AP's and do not eat those!! Also remember your waters and oils!! The Wendie basically just allots your extra 35 pts on certain days...that is all...worth a try

 

[tinagirl]

I've lost quite a few pounds (see below), and eating like this does help.

I always remain static if I eat the same calories week in and out. (I'm very regimented, so I hardly cheat). Now, I have one special cheat food of 200 calories that I use to bump up 2 days a week, plus a 300 calorie energy bar, for long run days, as I am now in such good shape, I'm training for the Disney World Half Marathon.

I don't do weight watchers, but I do count calories. I don't want to flame JMD, but there are beginning to be scientific studies on this. As well as studies pointing to the benefits of "slow behaviors." Nutrition is not just a matter of the equation [eat X <burn X=results] simply because the algorithm for "burning" hasn't really been deciphered yet. Reports have always been inconsistent, and the science is always changing.

An example is this current research telling us that eating little meals througout the day stokes your metabolism, and makes it work faster and harder, as opposed to 3 large meals, resulting in greater weight loss in an extended period of time: http://www.prevention.com/article/0,5778,s1-4-88-279-3838-1,00.html?

Another example is the slow walking news: http://walking.about.com/od/weightloss/a/slowwalk0605.htm
Which is a series of new findings that walking at a snails pace can work just as many calories as walking briskly. The point is that your body has to work harder if things are abnormal. Walking slowly causes that change, with minimal change to your joints.

To say that one thing or another "works" or "doesn't work" is simply to do a disservice to yourself and others.

In the field of human nutrition, the bars and standards will always be changing.

I can say that alternating caloric intake, as well as alternating exercise days has helped my overall weight loss.

Although it is true that X calories must be used to lose a pound, it is all an expenditure of energy. To say how fast or slow any one human being's metabolism is moving is simply not feasable at this point in time.

-Tina.

 

[catherine]

Diet plans like this just over-complicate things. Keep your caloric intake lower than your caloric expenditure and you will lose weight. If your weight loss stalls, decrease your calories slightly or slowly start to increase time you spend exercising. There is no need to bump your calories up and down everyday.

JMD I tried doing as you suggest. I dropped my points and upped my exercsise and I lost no weight for the whole of Oct. So now I am trying the Wendie plan and I'll see if that helps to shake my metabolism up.

 

[JMD]

An example is this current research telling us that eating little meals througout the day stokes your metabolism, and makes it work faster and harder, as opposed to 3 large meals, resulting in greater weight loss in an extended period of time: http://www.prevention.com/article/0,5778,s1-4-88-279-3838-1,00.html?

I agree with everything in the article, but none of that applies to what we are talking about.

Another example is the slow walking news: http://walking.about.com/od/weightloss/a/slowwalk0605.htm
Which is a series of new findings that walking at a snails pace can work just as many calories as walking briskly. The point is that your body has to work harder if things are abnormal. Walking slowly causes that change, with minimal change to your joints.

This issue is debated constantly. High intensity vs low intenisty, short vs long duration. Everyone has a different opinion. But again, this isn't really relevent to the Wendie Plan.

To say that one thing or another "works" or "doesn't work" is simply to do a disservice to yourself and others.

Every aspect of nutrition and exercise is very specific to the individual. Certain methods work better for some and not for others. Everyones body responds differently. There is no cookie-cutter diet and exercise program and will work on everyone. Its critical to understand your body and how it reacts to different foods and different exercise.

In the field of human nutrition, the bars and standards will always be changing.

I can say that alternating caloric intake, as well as alternating exercise days has helped my overall weight loss.

Although it is true that X calories must be used to lose a pound, it is all an expenditure of energy. To say how fast or slow any one human being's metabolism is moving is simply not feasable at this point in time.

-Tina.

As I said earlier, bumping your calories up and down on a daily basis, is unnecessary. There is no evidence to prove otherwise. But again, whatever floats your boat, right?

 

[JMD]

JMD I tried doing as you suggest. I dropped my points and upped my exercsise and I lost no weight for the whole of Oct. So now I am trying the Wendie plan and I'll see if that helps to shake my metabolism up.

If you did that and still lost no weight, then there is a problem with your food choices and/or your meal timing. But try the Wendie Plan and see what happens. At the very least, you will find whether or not it works for you.

Its almost impossible to give any significant nutritional help over the internet without knowing all the background info. If you have time to pm me or post an example of a typical days diet, I will be happy to help. I normally charge for my services, but you'll get the DIS Board discount.

 

[Kristi1357]

Catherine - please let us know how it goes!

I have been meaning to try the Wendi plan for awhile now. I have been stuck at the same weight for months now! I have about 8-10 lbs. to goal and this is driving me crazy. Your thread may have finally motivated me to try this for a week. Thanks!

Kristi

 

[Kristi1357]

I am starting the wendie plan too, today!

I was up .4 last night and need to shake things up!

 

[catherine]

Catherine - please let us know how it goes!

I have been meaning to try the Wendi plan for awhile now. I have been stuck at the same weight for months now! I have about 8-10 lbs. to goal and this is driving me crazy. Your thread may have finally motivated me to try this for a week. Thanks!

Kristi

When I weighed myself Sunday morning I had lost 4lbs, however it's TOM, so I've now put on a few pounds due to water retention. I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[lisaviolet]

Edit.

I wrote a big long essay. I guess that I just wanted say, after reading the back and forth, best of luck to you all. I just think that most people have had an overload of studies, articles and often conflicting opinions. Some people could get an honorary PhD.

Whatever works for you day and day out for life....go for it. Great to hear about your success!!