I Need Help And Advice

[MOMO2DK]

Just committed to WISH and I need all of your help, advice and support, as I am at the end of my tether.

Here's my story: I've always struggled w/ my weight, and as an adult I've been my best weight while actively horseback riding. But circumstances have changed, I'm now a full-time working mother of 2 (age 5 and 3), and for half the year in 2 week intervals I'm a single mother as my husband is out to sea for 2 weeks at a time. For these reasons exercise is very hard for me, and dieting is hard because my father lives with us and he does alot of cooking, at times not so healthy.

I realize Im a better dieter using a qualitative diet rather than quantitative one, therefore WW is out for me. Knowing this, I want to know if SB or Atkins would be a better diet. I cannot afford to gain another pound, and everytime I lose a pound or 2 or 5, I feel like I can loosen my committment, so here I am, resolved to stick with my WISH.

So tell me all how you've done things and what you feel is better SB, or the DrA diet. Please also tell me your breakfast advice on these diets as I feel the American breakfast is a Carbo overload, so what do you eat for breakfast???

HELP!!!!!!!

Also if any one has advice for kids w/ weight issues, I'd love to hear from you. My DS is skinny and can eat anything, yet DD has been cursed w/ my metabolism- I want to help her now, yet I don't want to single her out or use the word "diet". Would love to hear your thoughts.

 

[thotfulspot]

You're in the right place, MOMO2DK! The WISH board is a fantastic place for help, advice, and support. We all know where you're coming from!

Myself, I've been on both Atkins and South Beach, and I think highly of both diets. I lost 25 pounds with Atkins over about 5 months, and then another 7 pounds so far with South Beach over the past 2 months.

I found that the book on Atkins was more detailed and clearly explained what happens in your body when you eat too many carbs, particularly processed, nutrition-free carbs such as white sugar and white flour. I was blown away by how quickly the pounds melted away and how good I felt. Atkins gets a black eye in the media by people who have only heard 'Oh, you can eat as much butter and steak and bacon as you want,' without researching what the diet itself calls for (that makes me nuts). I never ate so many vegetables in my life until I started Atkins.

I changed plans for a couple of reasons. First, I had had issues with my potassium level getting too low, and I had an uneasy feeling that the way I was eating wasn't balanced enough for the long term. Second, my aunt kept nagging me about going onto South Beach, saying it offered more variety and that all of the doctors that she knows were doing South Beach. I looked into it, and liked what I saw. Atkins is about controlling your carbs and eating real (not processed) food packed with nutrition. South Beach is about eliminating bad carbs and bad fats, and eating good carbs and good fats, also with an emphasis on real food, not products.

As far as breakfast, eggs are the item of choice on both plans, as they are high in protein and fat and have no carbs. Once you get past the first phase of either plan, which are very similar in both cases, there are more options. (Even in the first phase, you can eat leftovers, or whatever else gets your day off to a good start.)

Getting rid of or at least cutting down on processed, high-carb foods can only do your kids good (and your dad too!). Both plans have super recipes, and are surprisingly flexible.

Good luck! Let us know how you decide!

 

[DoeWDW]

Welcome to the WISH board!!

I eat low-carb also. I think the best way to improve your diet is to eat real unprocessed food and skip the stuff with white flour and white sugar.

I'm not a fan of eggs. Breakfast this morning was an apple smeared with plenty of peanut butter. It's relatively low carb, pretty high in fat and has a decent amount of protein. I can eat egg custard made with Splenda. I also love low-carb cheesecake for breakfast. I've also been known to eat leftover beef roast or pork roast from last night's dinner, cold out of the fridge! Another good idea is a smoothie made with whey protein powder (I use Designer Protein vanilla) that you can get at GNC or even Wal-Mart, water, ice, Splenda and frozen strawberries.

For the kids, you may want to add in a few more carbs. For example, make the smoothie above, but use plain yogurt as part of the base and add more fruit. Don't tell them it's healthy - just tell them it's a special breakfast milkshake!!

Exercise is hard and it sounds like you've got your hands full with the kids. You can wear a pedometer all day and try to add in extra steps. You could get the Walk Away The Pounds workouts which allow you to walk in the privacy of your own home, while the kids are sleeping or playing, maybe??

One really easy change is to drink lots of water - at least 80 oz a day! You'd be amazed at how doing just this one thing can help!

Just make sure you take the changes a little at a time. Find ways to incorporate them into your routines so they become part of your day. When you've got one change down, try another.

Best wishes and keep posting!!

 

[ZerasPride]

I'm a low carber too. You've already been given great advice by Doe and thotfulspot. I chose SBD over Atkins simply because I thought it would be a slightly easier program for me to stick with over the long haul. I have absolutely no regrets!

I'm a big egg fan and eat them most days for breakfast with a slice of cheese melted on top and breakfast meat (usually 3 strips of bacon or 2 small sausage patties). I will also have 1/2 bowl of whole wheat cereal or a couple of slices of whole wheat toast. This week I'm back to Phase 1 so I'm having either bacon or sausage, 2 scrambled eggs and a cup of hot tea each day.

 

[DVCTiff]

Hi and welcome! You might not want to write off WW so fast. With their new Core plan you'd be eating quality and enough to make you feel satiated without counting points. You can read more about it on SnackyStacky's "Finally! The New Weight Watchers Program!!!" thread. You can do WW online or go to meetings. Some people (myself included) find the group support very helpful. Don't get me wrong, I get sooooo much from the WISH boards but have never lost as much weight as when I was going to WW meetings. I'm sure whatever program you choose, you'll find a way to lose the pounds. Good luck!

 

[nativetxn]

Welcome to WISH, <b>MOMO2DK</b>. I'm so glad you decided to join us. We'll help you along your path to wait loss.

Katholyn