Weight Loss

[horseshowmom]

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 $$$ from you month after month as you loose weight - and the slower you loose the more you pay them - granted WW isn't free, but it its only $ instead of $$$.)

I think that in many cases you're probably right. In my case though, I LOVE the online version. The meeting would be one more thing that I HAVE to do (hated having to go the last time I did it many years ago). Grrr...

I've liked it so well that 4 of my friends and relatives have started it as well and all have done very well with it.

 

[OhdahLolly]

I think to get the answer that is best for you, the question has to be asked first, what are you doing this for?

To get into a certain size? To do a certain event? To feel better in general? To be fit? To jump start your weight loss journey if what you are doing has been stagnant?

The thing is, most of these diets work in the short term. But many are not maintainable in the long term, which is why they are diets to begin with. Not lifestyle changes. Ultimately to keep off the weight (no matter how it comes off to start with), the lifestyle you have now has to change. If it is not going to or you don't want it to, what is happening is going to likely be temporary. If you want this to be a permanent change, then look for things that will give you the tools to live the rest of your life.

There are a few cautions with HGC or VLCD (very low calorie diets) that I want to throw out. One is that you risk really messing with your metabolism, and you are very likely to drop muscle first instead of fat. This also makes it harder to drop inches. The best thing you can do is tighten up that muscle and make it work for you.

There are many programs now on-line like myfitnesspal, sparkpeople, livestrong..etc that are free that will help you track your calories and activity. I'd advise before you decide which path you want to take to check these out, and track for a week to see where you are. Look at your goals. See why you want to make a change to start with, and what is going to motivate you to do so. Then you'll have your answer.

 

[Greenepona]

I did optiFast (800 cal/day in shakes/soups/bars)... and lost a bit of weight... something like 30 lbs.... but my then hubby was eating normal food all the time around me... and I couldnt take it anymore.

Now, I dont eat enough. I dont know what has caused this but I am simply not hungry most of the day, I have to force myself to eat. It really sucks.

I tried WW, even the new PP program, and couldn't do it because i wasn't eating enough.

 

[nunzia]

I have several relatives who have used this diet..over and over..it does work and you do lose weight quickly..those that did it and lost gained most if not all back in a short time after stopping the drug. My neice has lost the most..and sticks to it most of the time, then starts over with the drug. This is a hormone, I believe, and it cannot be a good thing to flood in your system. It really sounds like it must have some dangers associated. I'd think the best way is lifestyle cdhange and slow loss..every 'magic' thing backfires, no matter how much we'd love to have it.

 

[JDUCKY]

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.

it's worked and it's worked for decades. It's not really used the way it was originally devised long ago but it does work.

I've long had low blood sugar issues and tried Atkins and South Beach and couldn't last on those. I'd weak and shaky. Haven't had one problem on this.

My gf's done it and several of her friends. My mom and younger sister are on it and doing well.

It's not a crash diet that's just 500 cal/day. That's a huge misperception.

If I was "starving" myself, I'd be crazy hungry. My stomach would be turning knots like mad. This is not a starvation diet. It forces the body to feed off of its fat stores. I rarely feel hungry but when I do, it's close to the regular meal time.

 

[TaleasoldasTime]

I'm on medifast & live it!! I lost 10lbs in 3 wks. I also go to the gym 4-5 times a week. I am struggling with medifast this wk, but I just had eye surgery & I'm not on track with the diet.

 

[satorifound]

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......

The HcG diet is a scam. You lose weight because you stick to VERY low calories. I believe you do that on medifast too. My recommendation is to control how much goes into your body and your caloric output. Diet and exercise. I do 1200 calories a day. I don't go lower because I read somewhere going under 1200 calories can damage your heart.

 

[aladams2]

My husband is a Take Shape For Life Health Coach (medifast) and highly recommends it. It's not as expensive as you think. If you sign up for 5 weeks it's $299 and they throw in an extra week of food, plus free shipping. The average daily amount that you are spending is $16 normally, which is a recent gov't. statistic. On this plan it's $11 or less. So, it's actually cheaper to eat on this program. PM me if you want more info.

 

[Reddy]

I tried the HCG diet - but my body fat % was very close to cut off amount but I did Aktins to get it that low. Then the HCG basicly reset my body so I didn't gain all of the weight back. Now I just weigh myself daily (write it down in a notebook) & I keep my wieght about 130 to 135 without really trying to hard - still execrise & watch what I eat now

 

[brekin67]

I started the new WW points plus program on August 2nd. I have lost 11.8 pounds in 4 weeks. I am never hungry and feel really good about my progress. It costs $40 per month for the monthly pass, which includes all the tools I can use online and my iphone. I can count points with the WW ap on my iphone.

 

[cndij]

OK, I'm seeing lots of comments about HCG and only one person who has actually tried it. It feels like a lot of heresay from people that don't have the facts. There is a Dr Oz episode several months back where they talked about it, both Pros and Cons and I feel like it was a very fair presentation.


I have tried the HCG diet, and did it on my own through help from the yahoo support group, that has over 10,000 members. It doesn't have to be expensive. I have spent less than $50 on my 2 rounds. I lost 40 pounds in 2 rounds and was NEVER hungry. Try eating 500 calories a day without HCG and you will be ravenous.

It's not for everyone, but it worked for me and my aunt when nothing else we had tried would work. I thought my metabolism was totally screwed up forever and now I have hope. Please don't bash something unless you have tried it and have first hand knowledge.

 

[cndij]

If anyone is really interested in learning more about the HCG way, here is a blog from a guy who is on my yahoo group and has lost over 200 pounds and kept it off. Pictures documenting all along the way.

http://onetongorilla.com/

On the Yahoo group, there are 3 different ways people take the HCG, first is Simeon's original which is injection of the Rx product. Then there is a sublingual (under your tongue) method using an oral mix of the Rx product and finally a homeopathic type using drops under your tongue. There are people on there who have been successful using all 3 types. The gentleman with the blog above used the homeopathic version. I personally used the injections.

 

[Tomader]

I have been battling weight since I had my daughter nine years ago. This May I started Weight Watchers. I have lost 20 pounds. I am 45 so I struggle but I know that if I keep going I will get the next 30 off also. I walk every night and I just eat healthy. When your pants start getting loose and you start feeling good about yourself that becomes your motivation. It has to be what you want not what someone tells you. Weight is a personal matter. It has to be the right time mentally otherwise you won't succeed.

 

[rumrunnergirl]

..

 

[AugustDisney]

I cannot say enough good things about the weight watchers points plus program. My fiancee and I are down 45lbs (him) and 40lbs (me) since 2/21/11. We don't feel deprived and we feel like we eat enough and we eat what we want. I am very happy with my progress.

We are hoping to be married next fall and I want to lose another 35lbs. That will put me below my weight when I graduated high school (I think I was 160-170lbs going into college, which was about 10-20lbs overweight for my height). My fiancee needs to lose quite a bit more than I do, probably close to 90lbs more, but has always had a weight problem. It would help if he was a little taller because he's only 5'5'' and therefore doesn't have the height to spread the weight over!!

 

[ilovefh]

DH tried medifast last summer and it was not for him. It is a very low calorie diet made up of shakes, drinks and some not so tasty snacks. His problem is that he eats to much at one sitting so for him, this was too drastic too quick. He was fine if we didn't leave the house, but if we left the house he was like a drug addict looking for a fix. He was ALWAYS very hungry.

His doctor recommended that he start to eat less slowly and not do anything drastic right off. Her theory was that if he slowly made his portions smaller he would have time to get used to it and he would be able to stick with it.

 

[buzz5985]

When you find the program you would like to follow - jump over to the WISH board and join the new challenge that is about to start.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2792335

I have lost close to 25 pounds this year joining the BL challenges. I have a Bodybugg, and have made very small changes in my life. I still have a long way to go - but it's not a race.

 

[averill94]

I tried Medifast and while it worked, lost 55 lbs in a few months, I never did maintenance and gained it ALL back! (Still glad I did it- brother was getting married and I didnt want to look like a cow-sorry that is how I feel!)

Started WW last October andhave been sticking to it! Love it. I have been messing around and have stayed the same for about five months. I have lost 30lbs and it has stayed off though. Key word STAYED off!
I feel like I am just about to push right through this plateau and get to goal.

Pretty sure I will be doing WW for the rest of my like if I want to maintain the loss. Definitely worth $10 a week.

Good luck to you! The battle is so hard!

 

[nunzia]

OK, I'm seeing lots of comments about HCG and only one person who has actually tried it. It feels like a lot of heresay from people that don't have the facts. There is a Dr Oz episode several months back where they talked about it, both Pros and Cons and I feel like it was a very fair presentation.


I have tried the HCG diet, and did it on my own through help from the yahoo support group, that has over 10,000 members. It doesn't have to be expensive. I have spent less than $50 on my 2 rounds. I lost 40 pounds in 2 rounds and was NEVER hungry. Try eating 500 calories a day without HCG and you will be ravenous.

It's not for everyone, but it worked for me and my aunt when nothing else we had tried would work. I thought my metabolism was totally screwed up forever and now I have hope. Please don't bash something unless you have tried it and have first hand knowledge.

I'm glad it's worked for you, and yes, I haven't tried it, but I have 5 family members who go on and off this diet repeatedlyand I watch it all. ..and my main concern is that putting a hormone into your body and then crash dieting (500 calories is flat out dangerous) sounds like long term risk to a body.

 

[OhdahLolly]

OK, I'm seeing lots of comments about HCG and only one person who has actually tried it. It feels like a lot of heresay from people that don't have the facts. There is a Dr Oz episode several months back where they talked about it, both Pros and Cons and I feel like it was a very fair presentation.


I have tried the HCG diet, and did it on my own through help from the yahoo support group, that has over 10,000 members. It doesn't have to be expensive. I have spent less than $50 on my 2 rounds. I lost 40 pounds in 2 rounds and was NEVER hungry. Try eating 500 calories a day without HCG and you will be ravenous.

It's not for everyone, but it worked for me and my aunt when nothing else we had tried would work. I thought my metabolism was totally screwed up forever and now I have hope. Please don't bash something unless you have tried it and have first hand knowledge.

I think the thing many of us are looking at here is the science. The general accepted number for calories before your body hits starvation mode is somewhere around 1200. What you are talking about on VLCD's like HGC is cutting that more than in half. And when that happens even when the weight is coming off, your metabolism will slow down sometimes to epic proportions. As well, some of the weight lost is muscle as on such restricted diets you are not recommended to exercise as much if at all. Having less muscle generally means you burn less calories.

The other big danger with low calorie diets is not eating enough after it is over with. It is really difficult for many people to be okay with eating even 1200 after eating 500, because of the fear of putting back on the weight. As well, if your metabolism does slow down, when you finally get back to your range you might even notice a gain. Which will cause the cycle to start all over again.

There are real cons to this diet. It is not for everyone. For someone whos tried everything with a super slow metabolism, this might be a good tool for them to jump start their weight loss in something healthy. Or for a week for someone whos hit a plateau to transition into a healthy lifestyle.

This is why I asked her reasons, as there are different programs out there that will fit better depending on what you are trying to do.

And yes, I've tried it.