need a GOOD diet!!

[cheermom1]

My dh needs to lose 75 lbs b/c of his health..I need a good diet for him..I am going to do it with him to help him, plus I could lose about 20 lbs myself...this is what I'm thinking so far..cut out all candy, cookies and pop and junk food..baking all foods..

anything would help thanks ..

 

[PeterPan09]

the only "diet" I've ever known to work is to eat less and move more. As far as programs, Weight Watchers gave me the best results-but when you boil that whole program down it's still Eat Less, Move More.

As someone who still has about 40 pounds to lose, I wish I could say there's an easier way, but there just isn't.

 

[wdwmom2]

I'm a carb cutter. It works very well for me!!!! Basically I eat lean meat and veggies.

For a treat, I have an icecream float, Breyers CarbSmart icecream with diet rootbeer. Delish!!!

Not the most nutritionally balanced way to do it, but it works for me and I can stick with it

 

[cheermom1]

the only "diet" I've ever known to work is to eat less and move more. As far as programs, Weight Watchers gave me the best results-but when you boil that whole program down it's still Eat Less, Move More.

As someone who still has about 40 pounds to lose, I wish I could say there's an easier way, but there just isn't.

Getting dh to eat less is going to the biggest challenge I will ever have to do..LOL

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I am doing Weight Watchers for the second time. I had really good results my first time, but I gave up on it too quickly. For this round, I am just starting week 4 and doing great so far!

WW is good for me because it is much easier to count points than it is to count calories, fat, etc... and I can track things easier than any other "plan" I've been on before.

I also love that I do NOT have to deprive myself of my favorite foods, I just have to be accountable for them. If I run out of points and I'm still hungry, I know I didn't do something right. I am re-learning how to eat foods that keep me full for the least amount of points possible, so that I still have my extra weekly points available for snacks. Also, you can earn extra points when you exercise, which is great.

For me it was just way too easy to tell myself this little 100 calorie snack can't possibly hurt me, right? It's just 100 calories... but once you start tracking your points, you would be amazed at how quickly those little snacks add up!

Good luck to both of you in whatever you decide. It's not going to be easy, but just keep remembering it WILL be worth it!

 

[Colleen27]

My advice would be to get really, really serious about reading labels. You'd be surprised at all the things that have completely unnecessary added crap that damages our health. Every single member of my family has lost weight since I completely purged high fructose corn syrup from our diet, even though our overall eating habits haven't changed (I've just switched to natural/organic and no-additive brands of the same foods). I promise you'll be surprised at all the things that use high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener, even foods we don't think of as sweet like bread, crackers, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, chili sauce, etc. Cutting out sweets is a good start, but not enough if there are empty sweetener calories in the non-sweet foods you eat every day.

 

[cheermom1]

My advice would be to get really, really serious about reading labels. You'd be surprised at all the things that have completely unnecessary added crap that damages our health. Every single member of my family has lost weight since I completely purged high fructose corn syrup from our diet, even though our overall eating habits haven't changed (I've just switched to natural/organic and no-additive brands of the same foods). I promise you'll be surprised at all the things that use high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener, even foods we don't think of as sweet like bread, crackers, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, chili sauce, etc. Cutting out sweets is a good start, but not enough if there are empty sweetener calories in the non-sweet foods you eat every day.

how many points are you allowed per person per day? thanks

 

[MarilIncredible]

Eat more fruit, vegetables, and lean meats/beans. Eat less fat & sugar. And get some exercise - even just walking around the block a few times is excellent.

 

[brerrabbit]

The first step is to not go on a diet but rather alter your lifestyle, permanently. Diets suggest that it lasts for a while till you meet your goal and then quit. If it is being done for health reasons you have to stay with it forever. I know, I had a heart attack at 50 years old and prior to that had gained and lost 50 pounds more times than I can remember over the years on various diets. For instance if you cut carbs (a la Atkins, Sugar Busters et al) you ignore fat content and that can make you loose a lot of weight but really jack up cholesteral. What I have done is basically cut out a lot of fat from my diet and really became a label reader. It is hard to say cut out candy, or soda's or specific items but rather make healthier choices. I have eaten no red meat in two months. I eat lean chicken and fish. Since December 28, 2009 I have lost 37 pounds and feel much better. I probably eat more a day now than I did before I altered my intake. I never used to eat breakfast and now eat breakfast every day. I eat a lot of fresh vegitables and my treats are sugar free pudding (low fat) and sugar free cookies (low fat). I really strongly recommend these changes as soon as possible to avoid having them forced upon you by something as life changing as a heart attack.

 

[FireDancer]

I would recommend not going on a diet. We have these threads on the WISH boards often and instead of trying a diet with a beginning and ending date the best way to loose weight is a life style change because it is permanent (or can be).

The first thing I always recommend is changing the way you look at food. It isn't something you do for comfort or to make you feel better, it is fuel you put into your body to get energy out. Eat food as close to its natural form as possible. The less processing the better. It is much better to take ingredients and make a meal then to open a box and warm one up.

If you are looking for specifics I would try to consume as many vegetables, especially leafy green ones, as possible. There are so many vegetables out there that many people haven't even heard of let alone tried.

Eat boneless, skinless chicken breasts and fish instead of beef. If you are going to have red meat try bison instead of beef. I do eat beef from time to time but it is maybe once a month and always grass fed organic.

How you prepare the food is almost as important as what you eat. Smothering a healthy salad in a cup of ranch is counter productive. The same goes with sauces for entrees and covering vegetables in butter or sour cream. I try to cook vegetables as little as possible. Most of them I eat raw or lightly steamed vegetables.

I try to stay away from sugar as much as possible (I don't even have any in the house) and don't eat a single molecule of artificial sweeteners. I drink primarily water, black coffee, and unsweetened tea. I don't drink often but when I do it is usually red wine. I haven't had any pop (or soda) in years.

Going along with the lifestyle change as opposed to diet, add physical activity. Don't try to go from nothing to 5 hours in the gym in a day, all that will do is cause an injury and set you back.

If you are looking for a program to help you stay on track the one I hear the most positive feedback on is Weight Watchers. You may want to head over to the W.I.S.H. boards and ask any pertinent questions there.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

the only "diet" I've ever known to work is to eat less and move more.

yup....I've never known anyone to lose weight and keep it off by by cutting certain things completely out...eating less and moving a lot more are the most effective ways I know of to lose weight and actually keep it off. Paying attention to labels and just making sure you are eating healthier but not completely denying yourself an indulgence every once in a while is good. More fruits/veggies. Less red meat, more lean chicken and fish is good.

 

[PeterPan09]

My advice would be to get really, really serious about reading labels. You'd be surprised at all the things that have completely unnecessary added crap that damages our health. Every single member of my family has lost weight since I completely purged high fructose corn syrup from our diet, even though our overall eating habits haven't changed (I've just switched to natural/organic and no-additive brands of the same foods). I promise you'll be surprised at all the things that use high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener, even foods we don't think of as sweet like bread, crackers, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, chili sauce, etc. Cutting out sweets is a good start, but not enough if there are empty sweetener calories in the non-sweet foods you eat every day.

How do you purge something out of your diet that is in nearly everything?? Organic=more expensive so that isn't always an option.

 

[cheermom1]

How do you purge something out of your diet that is in nearly everything?? Organic=more expensive so that isn't always an option.

I agree I can't spend more money not an option..

 

[FireDancer]

How do you purge something out of your diet that is in nearly everything?? Organic=more expensive so that isn't always an option.

While I'm sure I miss some things from time to time I haven't knowingly bought anything with HFCS in it in years. If you buy fresh, unprocessed ingredients you don't have to worry as much. I also buy a lot from Trader Joe's or local farmer's markets when they are in season and while I don't buy everything organic I do by almost everything all natural. For example, I buy almond butter that has only one ingredient, almonds, as opposed to Skippy PB that has hydrogenated fat in it.

It costs a bit more from time to time but it is an investment I am willing to make. Once you find a good local store it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg to eat healthy.

If you have to pick and choose which foods you buy organic there are some that provide more of an advantage then others. Check out this site for some suggestions.

 

[Golf4food]

Look up the Alton Brown "diet" and go from there. Very easy to follow, no crazy rules that are nutrionally bad like some of them (you should never cut out all of one food group from your diet, like the no bread, no red meat, etc. diets out there - your body needs certain nutrients to function at its peak).

And exercise. @#$%

Another great resource are the Eat This, Not That books (there are four or five out there - Cook This, Restaurants Guide, Drink This, Eat This, For Kids, etc.) and their website (on womenshealth and menshealth magazine's websites). Some real eye openers in there, especially about restaurant foods that seem like they should be healthy but are really very, very bad for you.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dh needs to lose 75 lbs b/c of his health..I need a good diet for him..I am going to do it with him to help him, plus I could lose about 20 lbs myself...this is what I'm thinking so far..cut out all candy, cookies and pop and junk food..baking all foods..

anything would help thanks ..

You can't go "on a diet" as all the PP's are saying. You have to change your lifestyle which includes changing your diet.

You don't need to "cut out" things but you do need to balance your daily caloric intake.

Easiest way to start is to begin a food journal and write down everything you eat and drink for 2 weeks. Add up the calories you are taking in and notice the patterns. You incorporate the changes based upon the food journal.

You have to eat breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, light dinner, snack.

In other words smaller meals throughout the day to keep your body burning consistently.

On top of that you include exercise. The more muscle you build the more efficiently your body is going to burn calories along with the healthier foods you are eating.

 

[mill4023]

My advice would be to get really, really serious about reading labels. You'd be surprised at all the things that have completely unnecessary added crap that damages our health. Every single member of my family has lost weight since I completely purged high fructose corn syrup from our diet, even though our overall eating habits haven't changed (I've just switched to natural/organic and no-additive brands of the same foods). I promise you'll be surprised at all the things that use high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener, even foods we don't think of as sweet like bread, crackers, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, chili sauce, etc. Cutting out sweets is a good start, but not enough if there are empty sweetener calories in the non-sweet foods you eat every day.

There's very little real scientific evidence that HFCS is any worse for you than sugar.
My guess is that by eliminating HFCS, you've also lowered the total amount of calories and sugars that your family is eating and that's why you've all lost weight.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Seconding (thirding???) the "eat less, move more" philosophy.

As I've mentioned on a couple other "diet" threads, my DW and I lost 35lbs each (and have now successfully kept it off for 5 months and counting) by simply keeping track of our daily calories and following guidelines.

My DW uses an awesome little free App for her iPhone called LoseIt ... which is a calorie counter and food calorie database all in one little app with neat graphs and information.

I made my own spreadsheets in MSExcel and kept track of calories on my PC and my Palm Tungsten handheld.

Here's a great site for calculating your daily calorie requirements:
Free Dieting's Calorie Calculator

And, here's three great sites for finding food calories:
The Calorie Counter
The Daily Plate
Calorie King

When you start tracking and counting your calories in and calories out, you'll really learn good eating habits, portion management, etc. It's essentially the same as WeightWatchers, except you have to do the calculation in real calories instead of pre-calculated "points" and there are no fees!

We eat better. We exercise more. We feel MUCH better. And, at 41, we're in the best shape of our lives!!!

 

[FireDancer]

When you start tracking and counting your calories in and calories out, you'll really learn good eating habits, portion management, etc. It's essentially the same as WeightWatchers, except you have to do the calculation in real calories instead of pre-calculated "points" and there are no fees!

I forgot to mention this. Definitely start to track what you eat and keep a paper or online journal. Not only will it give you an accurate accounting of what you are taking in but it makes you read the label. Many people are very surprised that that bowl of cereal they are eating is actually 4 servings and not one.

 

[cheermom1]

thanks to everyone ..we do ride bikes when the weather is nice..I would like to know how many points per person per day that would help a lot thanks...