need a GOOD diet!!

[FireDancer]

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...

I have never done WW but I believe that the point allowance is customized for the person. It depends on their current weight, their goals, and their activity level.

 

[PeterPan09]

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...

If I remember correctly-the points depended on your height and weight at the time you started and they changed as you lost weight.

 

[LisaR]

I highly recommend you read two books. You should be able to check them out from the library. These books are about lifestyle changes. They are not a quick fix. They are meant to keep you healthy from things like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, etc. The books contain 30 + years of research and data by renowned doctors.

Dr. Esselstyn:

http://www.amazon.com/Prevent-Rever...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267029735&sr=8-1

The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health:

http://www.amazon.com/China-Study-Comprehensive-Nutrition-Implications/dp/1932100660/ref=pd_sim_b_1

 

[cheermom1]

If I remember correctly-the points depended on your height and weight at the time you started and they changed as you lost weight.

CRAP!! i can't afford to pay for it...darn!! thanks though

 

[MizTink]

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.

first, sorry for steering this a little off topic......
one of the foods i can't eat is peanut butter. i never realized how much i liked it until i had to give it up!! i get soooo hungry for a pb&j sandwich every once in a while.
so what i'm wondering is if you have tried any of the other "butters"? i haven't tried almond butter. i did try cashew butter and it was ok. but just ok....it was really oily and so hard to stir (it separates). then it had to be refrigerated, which makes it even harder to stir, or spread on bread!
so anyways, is there another "butter" that is a good replacement for peanut butter????

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

CRAP!! i can't afford to pay for it...darn!! thanks though

If WW is too expensive, counting calories "manually" is free!

Just like WW points, your daily calories will decrease as you lose weight....

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I try to keep my calorie intake around 1,300-1,400 calories a day (sometimes more depending on how hard of a workout I'm doing; I do at least run every day). I try to stay away from processed foods and artificial sweeteners as much as possible so with that being said it does take preparation and planning. I pretty much have the same food for 2-3 days as I'm just cooking for me and I always have leftovers. When I'm looking for new ideas I google "1,300 calorie meal plans" and lots of websites come up with different ways to incorporate those calories. I also portion everything when I get it home. I have a food scale so if I buy a bag of Trader Joe's Olive Oil air popped popcorn I read what the serving size is (or what I'm allowed to have calorie wise) and open the bag and divide it all into ziploc sandwich bags. That makes it not only easy to grab and go but also prevents me from sitting there and eating the whole bag. Good luck!

 

[FireDancer]

first, sorry for steering this a little off topic......
one of the foods i can't eat is peanut butter. i never realized how much i liked it until i had to give it up!! i get soooo hungry for a pb&j sandwich every once in a while.
so what i'm wondering is if you have tried any of the other "butters"? i haven't tried almond butter. i did try cashew butter and it was ok. but just ok....it was really oily and so hard to stir (it separates). then it had to be refrigerated, which makes it even harder to stir, or spread on bread!
so anyways, is there another "butter" that is a good replacement for peanut butter????

The only ones I have tried are almond butter and pumpkin butter. They were both from Trader Joe's. The almond butter is actually Trader Joe's brand and I get the raw chunky one. I love it. If you like almonds you will too, it has nothing in it to alter the taste.

The pumpkin butter does have a little sugar added and while it was not bad I haven't purchased it again.

I pretty much have the same food for 2-3 days as I'm just cooking for me and I always have leftovers.

That happens to me a lot too. I either cook something that is a single serving or something I can eat for a week. In the summer when the grill is out I do more of the former.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

My endocrinologist recommends both WEight Watchers and the South Beach Diet. south Beach starts out as a carb restrictive diet - with the emphasis on lean meats/proteins instead of high fat items, and then adds in healthy carbs.

One thing is that your DH will have to buy into the changes you are trying to make. Otherwise he will sabotage your efforts to change the family diet.

Unfortunately, you are in the same boat I am - the nearest Trader Joe's is several hours away - so all of the yummy things people recommend from there are not an option.

You won't have to spend any more money at the grocery store, but you will have to change your buying habits. Buying a lot of fresh fruits and veggies and lean meats seems expensive, but if you are cutting out all the junk food that frees up money.

 

[Luv2Scrap]

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...

This can help you calculate your points:

http://www.peertrainer.com/LoungeCommunityThread.aspx?ForumID=1&ThreadID=47011

You also get 35 extra points each week to use as you would like.

(Don't forget to recalculate your points as you lose weight!)



This site has been a great resource fo rme. It gives you a lot of tips, and food points lists, including many restaurant lists.

http://www.dwlz.com/

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I do not believe in diets, it is a life style change, and once you get that set...it just comes natural. and yes, they may be empty calories, but you can have cookies. it is all done in moderation.
I suggest you talk to your hubby's doctor, have him see a nutrionist , do it the right way. I hate these fad diet things, the weight will come back on. do it together and make it fun!
IF you try to make a diet work, it will fall apart, at some point.
a life style change, for the healthier!

eat fresh or frozen ( veggies) not canned, they are processed.
do not eat processed, the nutrients are taken out then replaced, but never with the same amounts
eat unrefined, not refined..

 

[anniemae]

For me, I had to figure out what my weakness was and tackle it. For instance, I love to eat salty snacks between meals. I would reach for chips, doritos, cheese-its etc. So I stopped buying them. Now when I want a snack I don't deny myself, but I reach for a healthier snack, I eat baked chips, almonds, string cheese or pretzels with hummus.

For some folks, dessert is a problem. If that is the case, look for healthier alternatives, like a bit of dark chocolate, angle food cake with strawberries, a small cookie etc. For me it helps because I don't believe in denying yourself, or else you will gorge out. I try to find healthy alternatives.

I also started to cut down on sugar and HFCS and trans fats.

 

[MizTink]

i lost almost 40lbs very quickly by just cutting out soda and fast food. i really didn't change ANYTHING else.
good luck with weight loss, it really sucks. i gained those 40lbs back, plus more. i'm just getting geared up to get my whole family on the right track again.... basically cutting out soda, junk food, fast food, and reducing processed foods. plus we'll start taking walks together in the evening.
one other thing i did is eliminate margarine/spread. only real butter, if any.

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I do not believe in diets, it is a life style change, and once you get that set...it just comes natural. and yes, they may be empty calories, but you can have cookies. it is all done in moderation.
I suggest you talk to your hubby's doctor, have him see a nutrionist , do it the right way. I hate these fad diet things, the weight will come back on. do it together and make it fun!
IF you try to make a diet work, it will fall apart, at some point.
a life style change, for the healthier!

I am in complete agreement with this, but I don't look at Weight Watchers as a "diet". For me it is learning how to control the amounts of food I eat, and learning what my limits should be. This is NOT something I have ever been taught by any of my family. They all have very bad eating habits.

So I do consider this to be a lifestyle change for me. I have NEVER believed in "diets".

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

From what you said, I really think you need to educate your husband on a serving size. Many people do not understand truly how much less a serving size it compared to what they are used to. I believe FireDancer alluded to it, and it was my example for my family.

Cereal. Most cereal's nutrition from the box are based on 3/4 to a cup of cereal. An average american bowl will hold anywhere from 2-4 cups of cereal, before the milk is added.

If your husband is used to a large diet, you will need to slowly turn it around or he really will be hungry all the time and that can screw up your weight loss also. Make sure to bulk up on fiber and veggies. Don't over add on fruits, it really does have a lot of calories.

 

[cheermom1]

thanks everyone and yes dh is all for this we want to help each other b/c we can't do it on our own and I think I have a plan that we can do...I can't wait to start it..

 

[PeterPan09]

thanks everyone and yes dh is all for this we want to help each other b/c we can't do it on our own and I think I have a plan that we can do...I can't wait to start it..

Do join us over on the WISH boards! You'll get great support and advice there. I've lost 10 pounds so far with them and gained a new commitment to exercise and healthy living.

 

[pumba]

I am a type two diabetic. My life style change was sooo dramatic that it made me cry. My diet is try to stay in the 30 carb per meal and 15 carbs per snack. It lowers my blood sugars and also my cholesterol count. If you lose weight it does wonders for all of your issues. be it high bp, high cholestrol or high sugars. Do not think that if something says sugar free that it is low in carbs cause it isnt always the case. I first started off with 45 carbs per meal....but a man may be more carbs.

See if your insurance will allow an educator to teach how to eat right and what he needs for his size and build......each person is different...

But the previous posters are correct...eat less and move more.....

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

i lost almost 40lbs very quickly by just cutting out soda and fast food. i really didn't change ANYTHING else.
good luck with weight loss, it really sucks. i gained those 40lbs back, plus more. i'm just getting geared up to get my whole family on the right track again.... basically cutting out soda, junk food, fast food, and reducing processed foods. plus we'll start taking walks together in the evening.
one other thing i did is eliminate margarine/spread. only real butter, if any.

The problem with dieting by simply cutting out snacks or soda or fast food is one that you've already experienced. Without getting a handle on how many calories you body needs each day, it's very hard to maintain weight and even easier to gain it back.

The amount of calories you need for maintenance after losing 40lbs are significantly less than when you start out. When/if you return to eating the snacks and sodas you were eating before, you gain the weight right back (and, more, usually).

Rather than *completely* cutting all tasty snacks and sodas from your diet, learning how you can fit them into a calorie budget will allow you to still eat just about anything you want and still lose/maintain-lost weight; you just need to make choices....

 

[CathrynRose]

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

Me too.

Another treat - 2 ice cubes, some heavy cream, a scoop of cottage cheese and a sprinkle of S/F Jello Pudding Mix (any flavor) - blend, and you got yourself a (whatever flavor you chose) soft serve. Tastes like ice cream. Top with some nuts.....even better.