Help my family choose a diet. Is WWs for us?

[MerryPoppins]

My DH and I have both decided we want to do something together to lose weight. DD 17 wants to join us, as well. Then my mom and her boyfriend decided to jump on the bandwagon. DS 21 will be with us for the next few weeks, but he'll go along with whatever I'm serving without much complaint as long as it's a free meal.

So I'm looking for something that we could all do together and form a support team, so to speak. I'd like to promote healthier eating and exercise. I was thinking WW, but what do you think?

I'd like to find something that will allow us a chance to easily eat out once in a while and I don't want to have to buy expensive meals. I know there are a lot of WWs lists and recipes. Is it pretty easy to follow? But I'd rather not have to go to meetings. I don't really want to have to pay a monthly fee for all of us, nor do I really feel the need to go if I have a support group at home. If I just buy the info (I've seen it on Ebay before), can we follow this and do our own weigh in each week? I mean, we'll all be here to support each other.

What do you think would be best for all of us and what do we need to get to get started? If it matters, DH, Mom's boyfriend and I need to lose a lot, DD and my mom need to loose maybe 20 pounds. DS could stand to lose a few pounds, but he's not really overweight.

Also, what do you suggest for exercise? I have a bad hip and knee so many exercises are hard for me. We do have a treadmill and so does my mom.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I meant to ask...do I need a points calculator if I do WW? Is there a formula you can use and just figure it yourself? Or does this make it much easier?

 

[windwalker]

You don't need a "Diet" princess you and your family need a lifestyle change.

To start with you need to walk and support each other with group walks when ever possible. At a bare minium 3 times a week for 30 min, every day for 30 min is better.

Start eating better, it's not hard at all.

Do not eat deep fried anything, period.

Eat food without sauces, unless it's like a salsa or a glaze.

Eat a good breakfast of like oat meal or a good whole grain cereal with a banana on it and skim milk. Juice or coffee.

Eat more fish and grilled or baked chicken/turkey, instead of fatty meats.

Eat lots of veggies and salads.

Drink lots of water.

Forget deserts except for once a week.

Eat 4 or 5 small meals about 600 calories instead of big meals 3 times a day.

Sign up for a pilates class once or twice a week and learn the moves so you can do them more often.

Do more manual things, push mow the yard, walk the dog, wash your car instead of using the car wash ect....

These are the kinds of changes that will make your lifestyle healthier and more active.

Those are some of my thoughts for you.

What ever you decide good luck and hope you have great success.

Walking Panda

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

What a fortunate group you've got going there. Whatever it is you decide that will get you started, make it something that you can find many small ways to be successful.

It is a lifestyle change you seek. Don't focus on the "D" word, rather healthy choices and better fuel for your body.

If you can break your meals from 3X/day into more like 6X/day with the portions you have determined will work for your daily calorie needs you will all discover you will not be hungry. Try picking a time at night where no more food will be consumed. At least 3 hours before your bed time if not more.

With your team in place you should all see success and fun! Make it fun! As already said, find a way to move, have fun with it!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I didn't mean to use an evil word. Okay. I'm not looking for a diet, but a lifestyle change. Got it.

But we've tried changing our lifestyle before and didn't stick with it. I'm looking for a little structure. For example, telling my 17 year old DD to eat more fruit and veggies isn't going to cut it. She loves starches. She doesn't eat too much, just too much of the wrong things. I think she needs more of a system to help stick with the plan.

And we like to eat out once in a while. We can avoid fried foods. We do that most of the time anyway. I'd like a plan to help us plan the other meals of the day so that we don't go completely off the deep end when we do eat out.

Isn't it a good idea to find a plan...something our whole group is doing together besides exercising? Thanks for all the good advice. Anyone out there who can tell me about WW and if it might work for us?

 

[deekaypee]

I'm afraid I can't answer you about WW specifically, as I've not done it. I know of a lot of people who love the points-counting system as a means to focus on eating healthier, with more balanced meals and better proportions.

That doesn't precisely help you get started, though, and I'm hoping bumping your thread will get you some attention.

This link MIGHT help you with WW points, though, if you decide to follow it in the future: http://www.dwlz.com/

It comes from another thread here on WISH, so you might want to browse the various threads and ask your question in some of them. Sometimes people go straight to their threads without reading what new questions have been posted.

Good luck with getting the information you need and on your weight-loss journey!

 

[wezee]

I have been with WW for 2-3 yrs. and have successfully maintained a loss of over 50 lbs. Right now I am tweeking my diet on WW and adding lots of exercise to lose a few extra pounds and tone up for our Sept WDW trip. I love the stucture of WW and I have counted pts. for a long time.

When I started WW, I went to a few weeks of weigh in and mtgs to learn the plan. Then I joined WW online! I must say...weighing in online does not have the same impact as weighin at the mtgs.....but it is more cost effective. Here on the Dis there are several groups, like "peeps" and "biggest loser", where you weigh in every week. There are alot of great people on those threads that will give you great advice and support.

The question asked....do I need a pts. counter........yes...at least for the WW I do. I know there is a core program, but I'm not familiar with that! There is a WW weighin thread on the Dis...maybe you will be able to find aswers there. Good luck and feel free to PM me if I can be of any help! Terri

 

[believe]

If you don't want WW or points counters go with counting calories. Go to sparkspeople.com and input your information to know what calories range you need to be in to reach your goal. The site also has places to input your exercise, meals, etc. I haven't done WW, although my nutritionist did say that was the only 'formalized' plan she would recommend for individuals besides seeing a nutritionist. I currently count calories and exercise. That is what works for me.

 

[Rpsemont]

I second all that Walking Panda said. We try to follow the Pritikin plan and follow these rules from there:
Label reading 101:
NEVER BELIEVE ANYTHING ON THE FRONT OF THE PACKAGE
Read the label on the back
Fat Calories should be just 10% of Total calories
If you must, you can allow 20%
NEVER more than 30% (Note - this will knock out all oil, butter and cheese)
Sodium mg on that label should be a number less than the calories - If you're on blood pressure medication and pay attention to this one - look out! If you cut back your sodium intake your medication will need to be adjusted.
And read the ingredients. If you don't know what something is or it's a word you can't pronounce, try to stay away from it.

So now that you're eliminated most processed, fake, fattening foods from the cupboard
Eat only Whole grains (again, don't believe the front of the package - the word "whole" must be in the ingredient list for it to truly be a whole grain)
For every serving of whole grains, have at least one serving of fruits or vegetables. So if DD wants a big bowl of pasta - tell her she has to have a big bowl of salad first!
Limit protein to one serving a day - preferably fish or chicken or beans
Limit red meat to once a month.

Don't drink calories - the more "bulk" a food has, the more it will fill you up.
While there are many healthy smoothy recipes out there, the fact is, by pulverizing and liquifying it, your diminishing the the ability to make those same ingredients fill you up.

I went on and off weight watchers for many years. I do think it is pretty easy to follow, but since going to pritikin, have found it's easier to change "what you eat" than how much you eat.

I think getting the whole family committed will be great!

Good luck