Which diet actually works?

[Evil Princess]

Hi everyone. I know in posting this everyone will probably think I'm crazy, but I'm only 5'1 and was about 103 pounds all through high school. I never had to diet in my life.

Then the lifestyle change happened: College. I gained over twenty pounds at school and came home with none of my pants fitting me except my "fat" jeans. I'm so depressed, I don't even want to go shopping (one of my favorite pastimes) to buy new clothes because I'm "punishing" myself and want to lose weight. I figure if I don't buy clothes I'll be inspired to lose weight so I can go shopping again.

I've been home for over a month and lost about five pounds. I greatly cut down my portions but it's kinda hard for someone who has never dieted in her life to just start. I'm not used to depriving myself of junk food. I've been trying to go to the gym, I went twice so far this week and I do 30-40 minuts glute program on the elliptical with weights after, alternating between legs, arms, and abs depending on the day.

It's bathing suit season and I cry whenever I stand in front of the mirror. I'm not HUGE, but I'm not tiny anymore. I used to have abs, and while my tummy isn't huge you can no longer see the definition. My butt was always big, and now it seems to be monsterous. I mainly gained in my butt and thighs, not my face and arms or anywhere else. My body is very bottom heavy.

I guess what I'm asking is what diet is effective. Weight watchers? South Beach? Atkins? I need to lose like 15 pounds and be fit...I can't stand looking like this anymore. I thought I'd lose more in a month, and call me crazy but i never realized that losing 15 pounds was so hard.

 

[dizneegirl]

Honestly, the only effective diet is the one you can stick to.

For someone who wants to lose 15 pounds, and then go back to eating the way they usually eat, I'd suggest something like SlimFast, if cutting back portions aren't doing it fast enough.

If you're looking to change the way you eat, either Weight Watcher or a low-carb diet will work. But you have to realize, you WILL have to change the way you eat. Forever.

If you're looking for something that will help create and keep lean muscle mass, and help keep weight under control, I'd highly recommend a low-carb diet - whether it be structured, like Atkins or South Beach, or whether it just be cutting out the white stuff (bread, pasta, sugar, rice) and high-glycemic fruits & veggies.

I would NOT recommend using low carb to lose 15 pounds, and then go back to "regular" eating.

Almost any diet will work, if you work it. But really... only a lifestyle change will keep it in check.

 

[ZerasPride]

Wow! I think dizneegirl said it perfectly. I feel like printing out her response and making copies for people who ask me about South Beach. I was just talking with a coworker earlier this afternoon and we both agreed the only "diet" that will work for you is the one you believe in.

I wish you the best in taking off those 15 pounds!

 

[clarabelle]

I used to be just like you! I was 105 for years! Then when I hit about-22 the pounds slowly starting coming on....
I got up to 140 now I am back down to 114. I don't ever expect to see 105 again and I am OK with that.
Anyway- Have you considered adding some walking on some of the days you don't make it to the gym?
Measuring portions?
I got a calorie counter - www.calorieking.com
it really helps- especially with going out to eat. Also maybe keeping a food diary. Many people on this board do that at www.fitday.com
I think it would be great if you could adapt a healthly lifestyle now while you are young and before you get "really" heavy or unhealthy.

 

[beachbunny]

OMG your post sounds like you're talking about me. That first year of college was a killer weight wise. All that dorm food, fried and full of carbs! That summer, I went on a diet and changed my lifestyle. In the fall, I watched what I ate and found time to work out in the gym. If you want to lose 15 pounds, anything you stick to will do it. Just find something you like - whether it be low carb, no carb, low calorie, high fat, low fat, no sugar, cabbage soup, pineapple (am I missing anything?). Anyone who has succeeded on a diet will tell you their diet works - but the truth is that their diet worked for them. But to be fit for life, you need to eat less and exercise more - nothing else works in the long run. And congratulations on losing five pounds in a month.

 

[Rhonda]

beachbunny - don't forget my personal favorite - the Snickers Diet! Eat a Snickers bar in place of breakfast, another in place of lunch, then eat a sensible dinner and get enough exercise! You'll be guaranteed to lose 10 pounds in a month! LOL!!

Just kidding - I'm actually making fun of the Special-K diet

 

[beachbunny]

You know Rhonda, I bet you could make a ton of money if you wrote a book and did an infomercial promoting the snickers diet...

 

[DVCTiff]

Hi Princess - I agree with what everyone else has said, and, as someone who's been on EVERY diet, the only one that has consistently worked for me is Weight Watchers. Whenever I didn't keep the weight off, it was my own fault, not that of the program. I think you can do it without feeling deprived and you will get the results in a supportive setting. I'm back to the "last ten pounds" again and these just don't seem to want to go away with Atkins.

And losing definitely does get harder as you get older so it's best to tackle it now. Good luck!

 

[Zoesmama03]

The one you can do for life!! Its different for everyone. Just make small changes each week.

 

[kennancat]

I agree with the posters who suggested that you pick the diet that best suits you.

However, I would also advocate not thinking of this as a temporary diet. At your stage in life, you're setting the habits that you'll end up following for most of your life. Make sure that you're not just losing weight so that you'll feel better about how you look, but so that you'll feel better, period. Don't just focus on your portion sizes, but also on making sure that you're getting a well-balanced, nutritional supply of food, like fresh fruits and vegetables and lean meats. Add finding a way to make exercise a regular part of your life so that it doesn't feel like a chore, and I bet you'll find that keeping at a healthy weight becomes a nice side effect.