Weight Loss

[myhappiestplconearth]

Ok, this really isn't entirely a budget question. Anyways, I'm in desperate need of dropping some lbs, I currently have a friend doing the HCG diet and a friend doing the medifast diet. The friend on the HCG is losing but struggling. The friend on the medifast loves it and has lost 26.3 lbs in 8 weeks, but I think it's expensive. A couple of years ago I did Weight Watchers and lost, but I gained it ALL back. I need to get some diet feedback....has anyone done the HCG or Medifast diet?? Or should I go back to WW?? Does anyone have any money saving tips on dieting?? Has anyone ever talked to their doctor about weight loss...what was their recommendations? I wonder if insurance pays for anything......

 

[Dismom+two]

First of all...visit this part of the boards....

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=59

As far as loosing weight, it's not all about what diet, it's about changing the way you eat...FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE! Grrr I know...blah blah blah..but it's so true.

I find cutting carbs and sugar is when I have the best success. Cut out white bread, rice, potato and sweets.

What ever you chose to do...good luck!! I know it hard but you can do it!!

 

[karice2]

I have a coworker who is on medi-fast. The doctor recommended it and called a "food avoidance" plan. That doesn't sound super healthy to me. Sounds kind of weird.

I used to do a company called diet to go that was really helpful. It was real food, fresh and delicious. Around here, we could pick it up but they also did home delivery.

 

[dizzydrop]

Honestly IMO the hcg diet is way too harmful because you can only eat 500 calories a day, that is WAY too few calories to feel good everyday. The medifast diet is just another diet that provides you the food to lose weight for a huge price when you could just go to the grocery store buy fruits, veges, whole grains and lean meats and do it yourself. I would suggest start a slow work out program each day or every other day (I know most women don't want to work out to lose weight but if you want to keep the weight off it's the healthiest way to do it), and then sign up for sparkpeople.com or my fitness pal and count your calories, carbs, fats, and proteins.
I have been doing this for about a year and a half now and I've lost 52lbs, not the biggest weight loss but I've gained alot more muscle and really boosted my energy levels. Calorie counting is consuming but I never knew what was into foods until I started reading the labels.
I'd love to try one of those lose weight fast plans too if I thought I would lose weight faster but I've never found one that works for life. Sorry I couldn't be more help about the products and I hope you find something that works for you.

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

I have a coworker who is on medi-fast. The doctor recommended it and called a "food avoidance" plan. That doesn't sound super healthy to me. Sounds kind of weird.

I used to do a company called diet to go that was really helpful. It was real food, fresh and delicious. Around here, we could pick it up but they also did home delivery.

My husband and I are on Medifast, but it's definitely not a "food avoidance" thing. That's odd that the doctor would describe it like that.

And from personal experience, it's healthy This is the FIRST diet my husband has ever done that he has stuck to 100%. He's down 85 pounds since starting it May 1st. These pics were from -79.4:

I lost almost 40 pounds with it (a grand total of 110 between Medifast and calorie counting).

Personally, I think if you find a diet plan/lifestyle change that YOU like and are comfortable with, do it. This plan was the best thing for us. I've been maintaining my weight loss since April and I definitely do not go without desserts, "bad food", etc. It's really just learning your limits and leading a healthy lifestyle once you get used to it (says the girl waiting to strap a feedbag of chicken fingers to my face once I get on my next cruise in 2 weeks).

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

Okay, I take it back.

Honestly, I feel out of ALL of the diets/plans out there...the HCG one is a bad idea. 500 calories a day is so incredibly low, and you will just pile the weight back on once you have gotten to goal weight (IF you get there) because your body won't know what to do with the extra calories that you consume.

 

[ChimneysweepGeorge]

As someone who's lost 170 lbs, trust me when I tell you that the actual diet plan you follow is largely irrelevant. The only thing that matters is your motivation and program compliance.

That said, the HCG diet sounds like a stunningly bad idea on many levels.

 

[cseca]

Would you be interested in counting calories?
If you would then go over to sparkpeople website. You basically do a food diary to see what you're eating and how much. From there you can be aware of what goes in your mouth.

Unfortunately this type of "diet" is really difficult in the beginning since you'll have to really hunker down and figure out each and every component of your meal.
Especially if you're an eating out type of people, sometimes finding calorie contents from a certain restaurant is impossible. Forget the local restaurants, you'll be flying blind.

Anyways, I guess what I'm trying to say is you can do "dieting" on the cheap. Figure out your body's Basal Metabolic Rate (find a calculator online) and then figure out how much you'll need to eat in order to lose your weight (1lb/week or 2lb/wk).

But if you're looking for convenience unfortunately that's when you have to pay. I've done Jenny, Medical Weight Loss, and other diets. The only one that sticks to me is calorie counting. Because I don't have to rely on packaged foods and I can eat all types of food. Nothing is "bad".
Yes, it's a PITA to measure all the foods you eat but at some point (after a long while) you'll be able to eyeball each item and know their calories.

But the best advice I can give you is just to try to find something you can live with for a long long time. Being on packaged food diet is ok as a starting point but could get quite limiting for the rest of your lives. Also, make sure there's nothing medically preventing you to lose weight first. Thyroid problem, etc.

Good luck on your journey.

 

[MaggieBailey]

Ok, this really isn't entirely a budget question. Anyways, I'm in desperate need of dropping some lbs, I currently have a friend doing the HCG diet and a friend doing the medifast diet. The friend on the HCG is losing but struggling. The friend on the medifast loves it and has lost 26.3 lbs in 8 weeks, but I think it's expensive. A couple of years ago I did Weight Watchers and lost, but I gained it ALL back. I need to get some diet feedback....has anyone done the HCG or Medifast diet?? Or should I go back to WW?? Does anyone have any money saving tips on dieting?? Has anyone ever talked to their doctor about weight loss...what was their recommendations? I wonder if insurance pays for anything......

Check out the Abs Diet Book (they even have one for women specifically) and it's great... The author is often seen on the Today show (his name is David something, lol starts with a Z) and is the editor of Mens Health. There are so many great recipes, tips, and exercises. I also have the DVD of exercises... He teaches you not just about losing weight but being healthy and keeping it off. Plus, you get to "cheat" once a week, which makes me happy, lol! My husband and I both follow it... I HATE to exercise, haha, he loves it.... In the beginning my husband lost about 28 pounds in the first month, and I lost 11. Now, I didn't exercise as ferociously as he did - but it's still coming off slowly but surely. Good luck to you - I know it's hard!

 

[Suz D]

A friend of mine and I were just having this discussion last night. I've recently had the strong impression that I MUST do something to get healthy. That's the first thing that's different for me "this time". Usually I want to lose weight. This time, I'm focusing on being healthier. Eating better, exercising, working on my mental serenity.

My friend started using products from Advocare (I don't know a lot about it, just heard about it last night but she did a 24 day plan and then continued with another one of their plans). She lost a lot the first 4 weeks and then a bit more the next 4. Since January she's lost 55 pounds, 34 inches and 12.8% body fat. She does exercise quite a bit (she lost 70 pounds over the course of the previous 3 years through changing her eating and exercise habits) so she's down 125 pounds.

I'm interested in finding out more about it but it does involve nutritional supplements (vitamins etc.) which is a challenge for me because I hate taking big vitamin horse pills. I did a litte research on it last night and found their website. I also found another website that is very critical of it so I'm definately not endorsing it since I'm not familiar enough with it to do that, but my friend absolutely LOVES it.

She said a typical day would be a meal replacement shake for breakfast, lean proteins, veggies, healthy carbs for lunch and dinner. Morning snack of nuts and fruit, afternoon snack the same or natural peanut butter/rice cake etc. Then a meal replacement shake in the evening. She says she's not hungry and is eating really healthy. Her blood work was amazing according to her doctor.

Anyway, just throwing out there as "food for thought".

 

[DawnM]

I have an opinion about Medifast. I have tried it. I did lose some weight, however if you are sensitive to soy products and particularly soy isolated protein (i.e.: heavily processed soy) it will be hard for you.

Let's just say that many of the products produced some bodily functions that made it impossible for me to go out and about in public

I had to stop. The gastrointestinal issues were too severe for me.

Dawn

 

[MaleficentRN]

I lost 45 pounds in 9 months and it didn't cost me a thing. I downloaded an app called Lose It! and it helped me track the calories I was consuming each day. That's what it boiled down to for me. Being aware of what I was eating.
I tried miracle shakes and crazy diets, they went nowhere. As others have mentioned it takes commitment to changing your lifestyle, and that is free.
Good luck!

 

[LoriNSC]

Okay, I take it back.

Honestly, I feel out of ALL of the diets/plans out there...the HCG one is a bad idea. 500 calories a day is so incredibly low, and you will just pile the weight back on once you have gotten to goal weight (IF you get there) because your body won't know what to do with the extra calories that you consume.

I'm a nursing student and we just had this discussion in my nutrition class yesterday. Anyone on a 500 calorie diet is going to lose weight (no need for the HCG). 500 calorie diet is not healthy anyway though. My instructor read us several medical articles about how the HCG hormone hasn't actually been proven to cause weight lose. It's all about the $$$.

 

[horseshowmom]

I've recently had the strong impression that I MUST do something to get healthy. That's the first thing that's different for me "this time". Usually I want to lose weight. This time, I'm focusing on being healthier. Eating better, exercising, working on my mental serenity.

I started Weight Watchers' new Points Plus plan the first of June. As of yesterday, I've lost 25 lbs. I did WW years ago and didn't particularly like it. I LOVE the new PP system. I find it easy to follow, and I'm not hungry.

I also got a Leslie Sansone Walk at Home (one mile/two mile) video and do it M-Th.

I can definitely tell that I'm losing weight, and I'm doing it in a healthy way. As another poster commented, I see this as a lifestyle change and intend to stick with it!

 

[crisi]

I'd go back to WW, and then I'd keep going to WW to do a weekly weigh in once you reach your lifetime goal. WW has two great benefits - you learn the lifestyle, and you gain accountability to someone other than you (and someone who isn't interested in getting $$$ from you month after month as you loose weight - and the slower you loose the more you pay them - granted WW isn't free, but it its only $ instead of $$$.)

 

[JDUCKY]

Okay, I take it back.

Honestly, I feel out of ALL of the diets/plans out there...the HCG one is a bad idea. 500 calories a day is so incredibly low, and you will just pile the weight back on once you have gotten to goal weight (IF you get there) because your body won't know what to do with the extra calories that you consume.

Wholly untrue.

Having the hcg in one's system feeds off the fat stored. If one was only eating 500 calories a day, they'd be STARVING and losing muscle mass while the body continued to store fat. Returning to a normal diet would then likely return all the weight, too.

Speaking from first-hand experience, hcg works and works VERY well.

 

[disfan07]

A doctor from cedars just actually talked about the HCG diet the other day. He said what millions of others have said....it is junk science.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glenn-d-braunstein-md/hcg-diet-junk-science-tha_b_940537.html

there is no way on earth that any credible doctor would think that its a good idea. You are starving yourself. Any doctor who would think this is a good idea is a quack.

I never really "dieted", I just changed the way I ate and started going to the gym. At my highest I weighed 195lbs (I'm 5'2). This was after 3 years of prednisone and being sick. 3 years later, I weigh 124lbs and I still enjoy all foods that I like. I just do it in moderation. I haven't cut out anything entirely from my diet (except for what I am allergic to). I just started to focus more of whole foods. Fresh meats, veggies, fruits. Greek yogurt, hummus, etc.

It sounds cliche but it IS a way of life. And I have just gotten so used to eating this way. I don't deprive myself of anything If I want chocolate, I have a littel bit. If I want pizza, I have a slice. Fishsticks are my weakness and I do have them once in a while.

 

[Graciesmom77]

I have been using the Sparkpeople web site and following their meal plans. In 4 weeks I have lost 18 pounds. Its free and its supportive, lots if forums and teams you can join. I love it. Check it out, but whatever you try, Good luck. Its a hard road but it is possible.

 

[Cooky]

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[Mom2JPL]

I personally love myfitnesspal.com. It has an app (that's free!) and you count and track calories right from your phone or computer! It's awesome!! I was thinking of rejoining weight watchers but didn't want to spend the money and found this free app and am loving it so far! Simple to use, tracks calories, exercise and even has a recipe builder...so awesome! Can you tell I'm excited about it, lol!?!