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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 18 October 2007 03:43 pm |
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Hi Lisa. I´m not sure if you´re still around but I would be really interested to hear if you´re still doing this, or did you loose all you needed or did you give up? I´m just about to finish my 1st cycle, I´ve stuck to it really well but don´t think I´ve lost very much at all.
Oh and I never have a problem with the water. LOL
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Mirthon
New Member
| Joined: | 24 October 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1 |
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Posted: 24 October 2007 06:44 pm |
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Hi.
I'm new to all this posting stuff, but this is my 3rd time around on the 11day.
What I have done, consciously or not, was to NOT use a scale. I actually don't even know how much weight I lost, but I do know is that when I run in to Family and friend that I had not seen when I started this, they are wondering what has changed in me.
Maybe it's weight loss, or maybe just that I look slimmer, by I like it.
Just try to concentrate on HOW SIMPLE IT REALLY IS, use the 3 days off as a target CONGRATULATORY time off.
Good luck.
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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 25 October 2007 09:52 am |
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Hi Mirthon,
Guess what I really needed that post of yours. Thanks. Not feeling very enthusiastic at the moment. I´m on my second day of the second cycle. You´ve just made me want to stick at it.
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ShesTheOneinLA
New Member
| Joined: | 2 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 2 |
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Posted: 2 November 2007 11:20 pm |
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Hello everyone,
I am new to this diet. I am excited about the prospects of losing weight and feeling good about myself. I had one question - in the 11-day diet, it lists 4 meals that you eat. It also says that you should eat at least every 2 - 2.5 hours. If that is true, and I eat my breakfast before work (6:00AM) I would be done eating by 3:00 in the afternoon. Are the meals supposed to be spaced out evenly in order to boost your metablism? Thanks for having such a wonderful blog to use.
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 3 November 2007 01:48 am |
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| that would be the closest the meals could be together but if you only have 4 meals you should probably have them 4 hours apart so you don't go too many waking hours without food. With 4 hours between meals, that would make 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm - surely that would make more sense
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ShesTheOneinLA
New Member
| Joined: | 2 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 2 |
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Posted: 3 November 2007 05:46 am |
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| Thanks for your input, and continued support of this forum.
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sethsdad
New Member
| Joined: | 9 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 4 |
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Posted: 9 November 2007 11:39 pm |
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Just wanted to tell you all to "hang in there!!". I have been thru several cycles of the diet and it will work. To date (3 months into it) I have lost 80 lbs. When I started I was 38 year old, father of four, 6'5" tall and weighed 420 lbs. Today I weighed in at 340 (that's over 19% of my bodyweight gone). 80 down and a bunch to go. I have lost about 12 inches on my waist and things like my watch, wedding ring and shoes no longer fit correctly. WHAT A CHANGE.
This is the only diet that I have found that works for me.
I would suggest everyone set small goals and when you reach them, move onto new goals. Thats how I did it.
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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 12 November 2007 11:30 am |
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sethsdad - I´m so glad to see this post.
I started this plan a month or so ago. Did one cycle and lost about 5lbs. Then decided to do something else together with my husband. Haven´t done well at all. Anyway. After a "sod it all" mood this weekend I of course felt fed up this morning and decided to give this another go. This time I´ll stick with it till I get where I want to be.
Anyway your post has given me the encouragement I needed. You have done great and must be really chuffed with yourself. WELL DONE YOU.
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Deb04
New Member
| Joined: | 17 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 9 |
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Posted: 18 November 2007 01:53 am |
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I am 55 and have found myself suddenly 20 pounds overweight. I am desperate to lose it. In the past I was pretty successfull with weight watchers so I naturally tried it again this time but in fact gained weight - almost seven pounds in the first month that I dieted.
I went to the doctor because this is extremely unusual for me. I have always weighed - my entire life - about 120 - going up and down about 10 throughout my life. It has always been easy for me to lose until now. Now I have ballooned to 145 pounds and am having difficulties getting the weight loss to start.
I did visit a doctor to rule out any physical problem. They have done dozens of tests and found me to be perfectly healthy - no thyroid problems, nothing.
So, I decided that maybe my metabolism had changed and it needed a jolt - a plan that would get my body losing; then I could go back to the weight watchers program for a balance way of eating the rest of the time.
So, I bought into the weight loss 4 idiots deal - I have followed this diet religiously. Four meals a day - eating only til I'm satisfied not full, nothing but water in between, no snacks and no cheating. I have also walked every day at least 45 minutes - sometimes running 1 mile of my walk but most of the time my husband and I hike through the woods near our home. This usually is about a 3 hour hike up and down gullys and hills.
I have just completed my fifth day on the program and I have to say I am so disappointed and discouraged.
I have not lost 1 single solitary ounce of weight. NOTHING, NADA - NO WEIGHT LOSS - idiot or not.
So, does anyone have any ideas here for me? Will the loss begin soon? I can't imagine losing 9 pounds in the next six days. But, I hope someone out there is going to tell me it can happen.
Thanks so much - blessings to those who might be able to help.
Deb
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 18 November 2007 08:52 am |
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| Hi, can I ask whether you have used the RMR calculator to work out how many calories you should eat to lose weight, and whether you've had a chance to read the weight loss tutorial (by the way, I don't think that someone who only has 20lb to lose will be losing 9lb of anything, fat muscle or water, in 11 days)
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Deb04
New Member
| Joined: | 17 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 9 |
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Posted: 18 November 2007 03:38 pm |
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Hi Nir,
Thank you for your post.
I have had an extensive discussion with my Dr. He says that 1100 calories or less is what I would need to consume to lose weight. I have been tracking every carb and calorie since I started this and I'm really below the 1100 consistantly.
And, I understand your concern about losing a huge 9 lbs in 11 days - but as you can see that's not what is happening.
Just to enhance your information on this - I have actually been dieting since May of this year. In May, June, July, August and September I couldn't even maintain the weight I was at and ended up gaining almost 7 pounds on the weight watcher plan. I had used this plan when I was in my 30's and needed to lose 20 lbs then. It worked fine so I assumed it would work again. But, it didn't. This is what prompted my trip to the Dr. as this is extremely unusual for me not to be able to lose weight.
As I mentioned in my first post - the Dr. found nothing wrong with me. I'm not hypoglycemic, diabetic or have any thyroid problems; yet I don't seem to be able to lose a single ounce of weight - in fact I end up gaining.
And, as far as losing the 9lbs? Well, I really hadn't intended to continue this diet once I began losing. I am trying to do anything I can to "jolt" my metablism into losing weight, then I would prefer to go back to my regular regimine of weight watchers to lose the remainder of my 20 lbs whatever that would have been.
But, my question is when will I see results on this diet? I've not lost a single ounce so right now the concern of losing 9lbs in 11 days doesn't exist - yet.
Do you believe that I still have a chance for this diet to speed up my metabolism enough in the next 6 days to lose anything?
Thanks bunches for the help.
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Ohm
Senior Member
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Posted: 18 November 2007 04:07 pm |
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There is only one way to gain fat, and that is to eat more calories than you burn. I'm not being sympathetic, but if you are really eating only 1100 calories per day, consistently, have you considered looking at your life style. There are a few things that can mask weight loss, like a high salt intake, which can cause you to temporarily hold or retain fluids (as your body seeks to dilute the temporarily high salt content of the body), but I am wondering, in consideration of your age, if perhaps you are leading a very sedentary life style?
If you are not exercising as much as you could, you may well be burning only a minimal level of calories, in which case even a small slip up in calculating the calories you consume could completely negate the weeks calorie calculations, leaving you without any weight loss at all.
Isn't life a bummer, sometimes? I would heartily recommend that you borrow your neighbours dog, or walk your own, until he whines and complains about his sore feet, and then walk a bit further for good measure. Of course, I am joking, but walking is one of the best exercises for everyone. It is free, it requires no special equipment and it burns calories like there is no tomorrow. The heavier you are the more calories you will burn, and the further you go the stronger you will become, so you will be able to walk furhter next time and will burn even more calories.
Failing that, there is the gym, swimming, cycling, exercise videos - the choice is nearly endless. It is very easy to reduce your exercise levels as we get older (I'm no spring chicken myself) but once you step it up a bit you will find that your metabolism speeds up again and you will be burning calories like billy-ho!
Good luck with the weight loss.
Becci
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Deb04
New Member
| Joined: | 17 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 9 |
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Posted: 18 November 2007 05:02 pm |
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Hi Becci,
Thanks so much for the advice - I'm glad I already do that.
My husband and I have always been extremely active - we mountain bike when the weather permits on 100's of miles of trails that are just 5 minutes from our home; we've done that for 20 years and I love doing it. Recently though we've decided to hike the trails and take out usually everyday for a 2-3 hour hike in the early afternoon - we are self employed and can go whenever we like. These are not just regular trails; if you know anything about mountain biking, you know the more up and down they are the better the bikers like them. So these hikes are up and down gullys and canyons for anywhere from an hour to three hours.
If the weather is too hot or too cold or rainy which this year I will admit, kept us from doing our biking as often as we liked, then I walk/run two miles on those days in my basement. Which is a sight and a half to see since we have a really, really tiny house and it takes 120 revolutions of my basement to get in 2 miles because it's only 90 feet around the whole basement! You would laugh your shorts off at this if you saw it!
All of these things are the elements that seemed so weird and that is why I went to the doctor in the first place. I'm sure you know that most people know their bodies pretty well and when something is wrong you can usually feel it. None of this makes any sense to me and goes beyond the normal behavior of my body.
As far as the calories that I am eating? I know exactly how many I put into my system every day. It is less than 1100 and I keep a journal of what I eat, portion size calories and carb intake. I also keep track of the exercise I do and the water I drink each day. I'm drinking more than 48 ounces each day. I am very in tune to this as it's the only way you can be sure you're not doing something that will negate your efforts. Thanks for advising this - it's certainly an excellent point that everone needs to be aware of. Keep track of calories - everything you eat! Otherwise you'll lose track and you'll probably end up eating more than you realize.
Oh, maybe this will help - I know I said I was 55. But, I am also less than 5 foot tall and have a large frame according to the doctor. So, going from 120 pounds to 140 pounds for me is like a normal sized individual going from 140 pounds to 200 within 6 months. It would scare you and you'd probably do exactly what I'm doing - desperately try to lose weight back to where you feel normal again.
To get back to my original question regarding the WL4I diet- when can I expect this diet to begin to work? I am now starting my 6th day and have not lost one single ounce of weight. Even though it does not call for exercise I am doing it anyway as explained above. Could I still see some possible results within the next 5 days?
You guys have all be super! I certainly appreciate the help, advice and options. Anything at this point is food for thought and ammunition for future work on getting my weight back to it's normal scale.
Blessings everyone - and thank you. Even if I'm not losing weight I'm certainly gaining mental strength to continue from all of your support and help!
Deb
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Ohm
Senior Member
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Posted: 18 November 2007 08:18 pm |
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Hi again Deb. Well, you certainly seem to have all the bases covered - I guess what happens now is that you have to give it time to work. In the great scheme of things I suppose you need to give yourself as much time to lose the weight as you took to gain it in the first place. If it went on at a rate of a couple of ounces a week, then I guess tht is probably the rateat which you will lose it. I know we all want nice quick results - but usually the big results come for those who have the most to lose.
However much that extra 10 lbs upsets you, ten lbs isn't much in the scheme of things. This isn't to belittle your angst and despair and dismay at the gain, 10 lbs isn't a huge amount and will probably take longer to come off than you would like. I guess you should just keep on pegging away at it. Keep on doing the right things (create a calorie deficit and take plenty of exercise) and inthe end, it has to work. If you are creating a calorie deficit there is no way you can gain fat - so just keep on keeping on.
THe only other thing I have to say is that you certainly seem to know your body really well - you know tht this isn't "normal" for your body to be as it currently is. If you really cannot lose this weight and are absolutely, definitely and definitively exercising and creating a calorie deficit - please go back to your doctor. There are certain diseases and disorders which can cause you to gain weight by various routes and methods - I will say noe more because I am probably (I hope wrong) but if one of these conditions is responsible your doctor is the man/woman to diagnose and organise treatment.
Of course, there is always type 2 diabetes - very common in the post 45 age group - usually it comes on when you are very overweight, but some people develop it in their late middle age just because they carry the genes which cause it to happen. I would strongly recommend getting these checked out with your local physican.
And then, well, it might not happen in 6 days, but if you keep sticking to the diet and take plenty of exercise you will lose the weight. remember, you are a smaller person than many of us. Even at 10 lbs overweight, you won't burn quite so many calories with your running/walking/cycling as someone taller and heavier, but every little helps. Stay as active as you can and the weight will come off.
Hope all goes well.
Becci
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 18 November 2007 09:04 pm |
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I've made the assumption that you're 4'11" and used the other info you supplied (female, 55, 140lb) to calculate RMR:
Your RMR is 1136, your maintenance calories are probably around 1562 (if not higher - depends on length/vigour of your daily exercise). [and with a BMI of 28 I can see why you want to reverse the trend as soon as possible]
Based on this I'll agree with your doctor to aim to keep calories around or a bit below 1100 - and I'm glad you've already got that angle well-covered.
I guess I need to make it clear that neither myself nor Becci are affiliated with FL4I, nor have either of us even tried it, so we can only offer general advice. Mind you I don't think there is anything magical about FL4I - it just tells you what to eat, which some people seem to like.
I am curious, during the time you did Weight Watchers and gained 7lb, were you also keeping calories to 1100?
Beyond the common-sense advice to keep calories down, keep activity up and get yourself checked out (again, seeing as you've said you've already been checked!) I don't really know what to suggest. If it was me, I might take a chance and reduce calories a little bit further and see what happens. I agree with you that this is a baffling situation.
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Deb04
New Member
| Joined: | 17 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 9 |
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Posted: 18 November 2007 11:32 pm |
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Hi Nir,
Thank you. I can't say that enough. I am so glad that, knowing the information, you think this whole thing a bit "odd" too that I'm not losing weight. I'm so glad I'm not going crazy or being a bit too paranoid.
Weight Watchers as you know doesn't really count calories; they count points. But, if you do your research you find that a point is roughly 50 calories. A person my size and number of pounds overweight usually receives a diet of about 20 to 23 points. That works out to be between 1,000 and 1,150 calories per day. Naturally, there's a lot to the diet - a certain number of dairy portions, a certain number of proteins, a certain portion of breads, etc. And, if you exercise then there is also an exchange of points for extra work. You can bank those that you don't use through the week to use for "special occasions" at the end of a week. Also, you are given a handbook which has every food from every fast food place and how many points it represents so you can actually eat regular food as long as you stay within your point range through out the day. Along with that you are also given a card or sliding calculator of how to figure out how many points is in any given foot according to the dietary fiber content, fat grams and calories. So, theres a great deal of amunition and it's a wonderful diet. I had hoped to get back to it eventually after I began losing a few pounds.
My dilemma was that I had been following it religiously from May through October and gained weight.
I believe that I was following it as closely as possible but again - they work by points not by the type of foods you eat or calories so it is possible during that time that I become somewhat glucose intolerant. Foods that are low in points are things like pasta, rice potatoes, or high in fiber foods, etc. Naturally, if you're hungry you're going to snack on things that are low in points so you can save the majority of your points for when you eat your meals. Veggies are basically 0 points so if I was hungry I might have a baked potato - no topping, just salt, pepper and broccoli on top of it. It would rate just 3 points and I would be sufficiently full until supper.
Or I might have a 1 cup of pasta with teaspoon of parmasian - 3 points and again full till it's time to eat. In my 30's I lost 15 lbs using the Weight watchers diet.
So, long story short - yes I was sticking within my 23 points which is all that is required - however if I was eating foods high in simple carbs and somewhat glucose intolerant then most of that was being converted to fat instead of energy. Right?
So, that was my first thought on why I gained weight on a diet I had lost weight on previously. Something had to be different. But, after the Dr's appointment - they indicated they found nothing to support my hunch.
The WL4I I hoped would jolt my system into going back to it's normal routine of converting the simple carbs to energy instead of fat and begin to lose weight.
Again that hasn't worked out the way I had hoped either so I am at a point where I don't know exactly what to do. If I drop more calories then I risk going into "starvation" mode where I won't lose anything - wait - I'm not losing anything now anyway!  What a crack up!
I am writing all of these things down; all your suggestions thoughts etc. and am thinking that I will just continue to ride this diet out for the 11 days. Shame - Thanksgiving is in there which means I won't be able to partake - but that's ok - I'm willing to sacrifice to get back to being healthy. Once that's over - I guess I just have to find another avenue somehow.
Oh, one last question. I don't beleive this has anything at all to do with things but I stopped smoking after 35 years in May. I know that many changes have taken place in order for my body to repair itself. But, is it possible that a metabolic change has affected my weight loss in some way?
Thanks again Nir, you've been a blessing in disguise - you have no idea.
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 19 November 2007 06:48 am |
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The only well-known thing about smoking is those quitting tend to eat more and thus gain - I've not heard about anything more complicated related to smoking.
Incidentally, this whole concept of paying for a weight-loss scheme (be it weight-watchers of FL4I) feels somewhat odd and uncomfortable to me... but if you were going to spend money, it is a shame that you have not invested instead in BFFM, the one paid-for product which actually has a system for measuring and recording your results [your weight and your body fat %] and adjusting variables accordingly [increasing or decreasing calories, increasing or decreasing exercise]. It also has calorie zig-zag schemes and a carbohydrate cycling scheme. [but even if you don't have BFFM, nothing stopping you from buying a device to measure body fat, and using Google to research zig-zag and carb-cycling...
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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 21 November 2007 10:02 am |
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Hi Deb. Well I really admire how much you work at this and wish I had the same sort of will power. I´d love to be able to go on a long hikes in woods near us but certainly not the mountain bike! LOL. i don´t even like the static bikes. At the moment I´m working on a stepper and some pilates at home in the morning before leaving for work.
I can´t really advise you on this one as I have only done one cycle of 11 days. Didn´t find it hard and lost around 4lbs (2 kilos) but then I decided to do something else with my hubby. whos got less staying power than I have hence here I am again.
I have just read a post from Icon saying it took the 2nd time round to start seeing a body change. Everybody is different.
I´d love to hear how you are doing.
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Deb04
New Member
| Joined: | 17 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 9 |
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Posted: 21 November 2007 10:52 pm |
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Hi Chati,
Well, I am now on day 9; yesterday was nothing but veggies. I have lost nothing, not one ounce of weight.
I guess I'm just completely bummed out by this entire thing. I even thought maybe I was going a little nuts and deluding myself into thinking that I was stopping when I should for my portions.
Even though it says you don't need to measure or anything like that, just stop when you feel full - which I did. I started keeping track of the number of calories by measuring what I was eating before meals. In 4 days I ate no more than 900 calories so I'm pretty sure that the other 4 days it was pretty much the same. So, this is why I am so depressed.
I've been on a diet either weight watchers eating about 1100 calories a day or on WL4I eating 900 calories a day for 22 days doing all the things I can think of that are right - walking, hiking, running, drinking a lot of water, no processed foods, no sugar, no fat, no fried foods, no simple carbs - and nothing - nada. I still weight the same as I did 22 days ago.
I don't know what else to do. If I go back to eating normally, then I'm sure I will gain even more weight. Sooooo.....
Basically, I give up.
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Blue Angel
New Member
| Joined: | 21 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 7 |
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Posted: 22 November 2007 12:08 am |
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| I haven't downloaded yet and have been reading posts from you all...... this seems to have a great success rate. Question though........ can you have coffee? I really want to do this as I have about 70 - 75 lbs to lose but I REALLY love my coffee too, lol! Thanks!
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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 22 November 2007 10:43 am |
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Oh Deb, I understand it must be very frustrating. I´d still say the same as Nir in a previous post "give it time" to work.
My sister lost 20 kilos way back at the begining of the year. I remember her being very strict and sticking to her plan. The first week or two she had a decent drop in weight but then she stayed where she was for about 3 weeks to a month. She still stuck at it and as she says "all of a sudden it just started dropping off" ( i wish I had her will power too!!!). I´m just telling you this to hopefully give you a bit of hope.
In your first post you said you found yourself "suddenly 20 pounds overweight" how sudden was it? What was you doing different if anything?
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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 22 November 2007 10:45 am |
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Hi there.
I´d say it depends on how you drink your coffee. It says you can have it but it must have less than 10 calories per glass
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Blue Angel
New Member
| Joined: | 21 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 7 |
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Posted: 22 November 2007 11:04 am |
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| Thanks! I'll just have to make sure it does then!
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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 22 November 2007 11:06 am |
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So you going to go for it then?
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Blue Angel
New Member
| Joined: | 21 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 7 |
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Posted: 22 November 2007 11:17 am |
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| I'm desperate to get this weight off and I want to do this just from reading about your results........ I don't really see much in the way of specifics about what you eat ....... I also gather there are 2 ways of going about it but I see people talk about fruit day .... do you eat only fruit on that day? Do they tell you specifically what to eat or just (like I've seen) 1 carb/1 protein...... I'm just going on blind faith here because of your results. I'd love to see a "results list" with how much lost in how many cycles....... the cycles I think is going to be the key for me ..... you can do anything for 11 days, right? Anyway, I'd like to get this today and start tomorrow as Day 1..... Thanks for any input about it.
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Blue Angel
New Member
| Joined: | 21 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 7 |
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Posted: 22 November 2007 11:23 am |
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Yes, I am........ starting tomorrow, lol....... convenient, huh? Most are not hungry on this plan from what I gather, I hope it works out that way for me. However, the biggest motivator for me will definately be the pounds dropping away and clothes fitting better. I'm going on a cruise to Alaska next June and I want to take pictures....... as it is right now I cant stand to have my picture taken..... pics don't lie and the truth just plain hurts!
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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 22 November 2007 11:27 am |
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Well, hi and welcome. Look forward to sharing your progress.
No I don´t really get hungry I must say. Bit of a wierd combination of foods but you get used to it.
I¨ve only done the full 11 days one time and for some strange reason the only day I really got cravings was on the veggie day. Don´t know why as I love them. I´m curious to see if the same will happen again. I´m on day 3 at the mo.
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mathrocks
New Member
| Joined: | 22 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 3 |
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Posted: 22 November 2007 01:21 pm |
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For the past 20 years I have been a vegetarian. I have also maintained a healthy weight and exercise frequently. My husband and I hike every weekend and take walks nearly every night. I am a teacher and I am on my feet and walking all day long. Last year, we decided to quit smoking as it did not fit into our healthy lifestyle. We did not smoke a lot (4 cigs per day each) so we did not think that it would be a big deal. Was I wrong!
Though my activity level did not change and the amount that I was eating did not change (I am very conscious as to what I put in my mouth), I gained nearly 20 pounds. On top of that, I am now experiencing difficulty with my digestive track (chronic diarrhea – I have been seeing a specialist and they cannot figure out what is wrong). I eat very healthy – a bowl of oatmeal in the morning, a sandwich (hummus, tomatoes on a wrap) with juice for lunch, and a small meal at night. I usually have a snack of pretzels (or something) when I get home for work. We live on the side of a mountain and do a vigorous hike nearly every day.
My left over vice is that I will usually have a glass of wine or a Tom Collins at night (not always but usually). I don’t eat sweets, chips, or any of that garbage. We also do not eat a lot of processed foods. I am really frustrated that I cannot fit into any of my cloths. I have looked for reviews on this weight loss programs but have found mostly sites that advertisement and no true reviews. So I ask you, is this a sound weight loss program? Does it sound like it would be right for me? I have never been on a diet before (just ate healthy and never had to) but now it seems as though things are different. I am 38 years old and not willing to be overweight or to starve myself. I need a sensible program that will rejuvenate my metabolism.
I welcome your thoughts. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Blue Angel
New Member
| Joined: | 21 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 7 |
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Posted: 22 November 2007 03:05 pm |
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| Hi and welcome! I'm not really trying to answer from experience as I won't even start until tomorrow. You sound like you're doing everything right but the older you get the harder you have to work at keeping it off. I would suggest trying it just to shake things up and give your body something it's not used to........ sometimes that will make a difference. Good luck and good for you that you're tackling it now before you end up with more to lose...... as I did, lol!
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Deb04
New Member
| Joined: | 17 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 9 |
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Posted: 22 November 2007 03:17 pm |
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Hi Chati,
Maybe others wouldn't think so, but for me it was a sudden weight gain. The reason for that is that I have only been what I consider to be "overweight" two times in my life. Once right after my son was born back in the 80's, that was a given and I understood that gain, and once in my early 40's when my conventional job changed. I say conventional meaning when I was working for someone. Usually, I worked outdoors, or at least for 10 years anyway which always helped to keep the weight off. Once that changed to an indoor job, I naturally didn't compensate as well as I'd hoped and gained weight.
Both times it was only about 10 pounds so I cut back on portions, watched the types of foods I ate, increased exercise and it fell off pretty quickly. I say quickly but I mean about a pound a week. To me, that is a reasonable weight loss.
Two years ago I weighed 118. I was layed off from my job. My husband who has always worked with me at the same place was also layed off and so began a very stressfull saga for the both of us.
At our ages, as you can imagine it is nearly impossible to secure a job.
We finally re-invented ourselves and over the past two years have finally started to become successfull in our new business venture.
But, the weight gain did not begin happening until this past year. I noticed I had gained about 10 pounds this past May. So, that is when I began trying to lose it. When things didn't happen, I decided to visit the doctor in October. My first visit to him was October 20th and I had gained 7 more pounds since starting my diet in May. The doctor weighed me at 137. I went back again for a follow up visit two weeks later and had gained more weight and now weighed 143.00. This is the visit where they told me that nothing was wrong with me. But, no matter what I said, no matter how I said it or how desperate I sounded - no one was listening. Doctors don't listen - if they can't run a test or refer to test results then you must be fine.
So, that's how I got here. I have been trying to lose weight to get back to 120 pounds since this past May using some kind of diet plan through the course of all of this. And, I have been rigid about following the diets. Yet, I now weight 140 pounds. No matter what I do, no matter what I try, I can't lose weight.
So, if you consider when I started in June up until now; that has been practically six months. Six months equals roughly 24 weeks give or a take. 24 weeks, if done correctly should equal approximately 24 pounds if I was losing at a decent rate (1 pound a weeks is a weight watchers expected rate of loss too).
But instead, here I am at 140 pounds - still.
The sad part is that I have no support or help or encouragment. My husband thinks I shouldn't worry about it. Naturally since the doctors said nothing was wrong I shouldn't watch what I eat according to him. He likes me the way I am - but he's a man. And, men will NEVER understand the psyche of women when it comes to weight. NEVER.
And since the doctor is a man - well, you guessed it - he's done with things, did his job, ran 100's of dollars worth of blood tests that all came out negative - or should I say some came out negative.
He told me originally with the first set of tests that my thyroid test of the T3's and T4's was off. This is what prompted the second set of tests. But, he said they were off opposite of what they should be. We did the second set of tests and everything was normal he said.
So, I'm confused and can't afford to go to two or three doctors to second guess this guy. I am stuck with myself and dealing with it on my own.
So, that's my story - in a nutshell anyway hitting the hight points.
Thanks for the words of encouragement though. I'm still too depressed about it to make any decisions today.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Deb
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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 22 November 2007 03:38 pm |
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Happy Thanksgiving to you and anyone else celebrating.
Maybe you should try and relax about it for a while. I dont mean let yourself go and just say "sod it" by the way.
Maybe you should up your calories. Its worth a try. I haven´t counted calories for a long long time and my sister didn´t when she lost her 20 kilos. Nor does now. She did/ does the Montignac diet ( GI diet) Concentrates on keeping your blood sugar down.
I do understand you. Its not what your husband thinks its about you and how you feel. ( I had my inlaws nagging me last night for being on a diet and got "your husband loves you as you are etc".)
Anytime you want a chat I´m usualy around day time during the week.
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Blue Angel
New Member
| Joined: | 21 November 2007 |
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| Posts: | 7 |
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Posted: 23 November 2007 03:06 am |
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| OMG! Ok, This scares me.......... I don't want to embark on something that's just going to be another "moneymaker" for somebody who "claims:" to have all the answers for us desperate people............. and, yes, I AM DESPERATE!!!!
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Blue Angel
New Member
| Joined: | 21 November 2007 |
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| Posts: | 7 |
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Posted: 23 November 2007 03:16 am |
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| I won't download the actual diet until tomorrow................... so, does this "really" work or AM i PUTTING ALL MY FAITH INTO YET ANOTHOTHER QUICKIE WEIGHT LOSS THINGY??????????????
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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 23 November 2007 09:10 am |
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I too started this cause I was "desperate" and because I wanted quick results, I have to admit.
I know Deb seems to be having problems and I really do feel for her cuase I know what us women are like with this but I´d say that under normal circumstances any sensible diet done properly, works.
LOL, I´ve got a bookself of "diet books" and still needed to download this one.
If you haven´t downloaded it already I´d say think about it. Only do it if your commited other wise it will be a waste of money. I lost 2 kilos in my first 11 days but wasn´t commited enough to follow through to get my goal at last. So here I am again giving it another go. I must say that I find it pretty easy and dont really get hungry and having a strict plan that someone has given me seems to help.
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nevd
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 23 November 2007 11:16 pm |
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I haven't checked this diet out for a while, so I may not be up to date with what it entails, but...
Any sensible eating plan will work - for a while. What always worried me about this particular approach was the 'tell me what to do today' factor. Not a good basis for the rest of your life and keeping the pounds off (unless you keep paying them for detailed instructions).
Whereas, the approaches described in the Tutorials on this website can be followed forever - they're a lifestyle choice, not a fad 'diet'.
Good luck with whatever choices you make.
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mathrocks
New Member
| Joined: | 22 November 2007 |
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| Posts: | 3 |
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Posted: 24 November 2007 12:34 pm |
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| I just purchased the program. The diet generator was easy to use, I am grateful for a vegetarian option. I am wondering a bit about portion size. My daughter also has 15 pounds that she would like to shed but she is in college - the four meals a day are going to be difficult for her. Thank you for your reply!
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Tinker
New Member
| Joined: | 23 November 2007 |
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| Posts: | 2 |
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Posted: 24 November 2007 01:02 pm |
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| Hi! Yesterday was my first day and I'm using the diet generator. The only vege shown for the day was a garden salad. We were out and stopped for dinner and I had grilled shrimp and steamed brocholi, cabbage, and yellow squash. Shrimp was on my list but not the others........ should I start over at Day 1 or continue on to Day 2?
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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 24 November 2007 08:07 pm |
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Hi, I´m not an expert but I´d say just go on to day 2.
Welcome to the fourm by the way.
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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 24 November 2007 08:15 pm |
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Hi there mathrocks.
Welcome and I look forward to getting to know you and sharing your weight loss.
At the moment I´m pretty pleased I went ahead and purchased the program.
As to the 4 meals a day. In the plan I have at the moment I´ve got quite a few options that are just two fruits or two nuts so I have them as the awkward meal.
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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 24 November 2007 08:27 pm |
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Hi Nevd and Blue Angel,
At the moment I´m finding the fact that it is a set plan is just what is helping me. I must say that I am using it only untill I get down to what I want to be then for maintinance I plan to go back to the GI plan.
I do find this one is along the same principles of the sort of food combining that I have been doing for a while. Only stricter. At the moment it suits me fine because although I haven´t got a great deal to loose I just never get there with my other plans. mainly because of all the socialising we do. Somehow with this one I find it easier to stick with and I don´t really think its unhealthy. Of course it depends on the choices you make.I make sure to choose as much fruit and veg and fish as possible.
I suppose I did just want a "quick fix" though. Well! I actually found it whilst looking for that silly cabbage diet. Thats how desperate I was!
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Deb04
New Member
| Joined: | 17 November 2007 |
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| Posts: | 9 |
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Posted: 26 November 2007 09:50 pm |
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Hi Everyone,
Well, it's been since the 22nd that I have posted so I thought I would bring you up to speed on my saga.
I decided to take Nir's suggestion and reduce my calorie intake more. Since I was only consuming approximately 900-1000 calories anyway I reduced to to 500.
I continue to exercise every day; some days even more than I was before however the weather here has turned cold so I am only walking in my basement either 2 or 3 miles rather than hiking. I am eating only vegetables, fresh fruit and very little protein which usually consists of either canned chicken 98% fat free or home made soup in the amount of 1 cup or less. The soups usually are chicken broth based with some pasta, rice and mostly veggies. I am drinking about 32-48 ounces of water per day - no soda, no candy, no bread, potatos, pasta or deserts of any kind. No fat, no butter no salad dressings, no crackers, no cheeses or snacks. The only condiments I use are salt and pepper.
It has been six days now on 500 calories or less and guess what - I still have NOT lost 1 SINGLE, SOLITARY OUNCE OF WEIGHT.
Nothing - no weight loss.
I am beginning to get EXTREMELY depressed about this. I have been dieting for more than seven months now and have lost nothing. Granted, for the first 5 months I wasn't keeping a journal of my consumption; that has only been since October. But, I can tell you that comparing what I was eating then to what I am eating now - it wasn't much more nor was it that different in food types.
Now what? I'm open to all kinds of suggestions. I am also beginning to think that my doctor is wrong and that my blood tests - even though they say they are normal - are hiding something. My first thyroid tests came back with abnormal readingd of T3 and T4 so I am beginning to think that those were correct and not the second ones that supposedly came back normal.
I don't know what to do
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 26 November 2007 10:37 pm |
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| Arghh did I imply anyone should go this low, I'm going to have to re-read to see where I did that
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 26 November 2007 10:41 pm |
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I see I did say "reduce calories a little bit further"
I also hinted you might want to try zig-zagging or carb-cycling. To recap how these might work: 3 'diet' days (say 1000 calories) followed by a maintenance day (say 1500) and repeat.
It shocks me to hear of anyone going as low as 500 calories, more so to be told they're following my advice 
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Deb04
New Member
| Joined: | 17 November 2007 |
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| Posts: | 9 |
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Posted: 26 November 2007 11:26 pm |
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Hi Nir,
Not to worry; if you read my post I said I was going to take your "suggestion" of reducing calories - You did not advise me to reduce my calories to 500 and I am not holding you responsible in any way for my decision to cut the calories to 500 per day. That is my decision alone.
I understand that your are wanting to give advice based upon what is "healthy" but can't you step back 1 second from that stance and admit that after all this time and exercise and dieting; this is a bit strange?
And, I also understand the zig-zag thing but if I go back to consuming 1,000 or 1,500 calories then I will gain weight - and to be honest as hard as it seems to be losing 1 darned pound - I can't afford to take that chance of gaining 1 ounce let alone another pound or two. So, you see I can't go up - I must go down in calories until my body decides to "let go".
That is where I am. After everything I have been through just to try to lose 1 stinking pound, I am now more committed than ever to see just how far I must go to do that. Where is the "point" that my system must begin to dip into something - be it muscle, fat or whatever. Right now - I'm obviously not hurting anything because I'm not losing anything - so I can't be losing muscle or water or what have you - right?
So, at the end of this seven days I will cut the calories again to 400. I'll stick to my diet for seven days and then - if I have not lost anything, I will reduce it again to 300, etc., until I guess I reach 0. Surely, I can begin to lose weight on 0 calories don't you think?
Don't be alarmed - I also plan on calling my Doctor tomorrow and ask to be referred to a Dietition. Since I have kept a journal of the weight, and amounts and calories of everything I have eaten every day since my first visit to the Doctor - I would think there should be some good information in that data that might shed some light on something else I might be able to try.
Thanks again for all your help - and Nir - thanks to you too; you're the best for caring.
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Tinker
New Member
| Joined: | 23 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 2 |
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Posted: 27 November 2007 02:58 am |
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Wow girlfriend! You do NOT need to cut your calorie intake ANY further! You need to INCREASE your intake! Your body thinks it's starving and that's why it's holding onto everything it can........ it's your body's survival instinct! The way you exercise you need to eat....... I wish I had your drive! Honestly though..... I'd be willing to bet if you increased your calories up to 1500 - 1800 with vege's, whole grains, fruit and protein for at least a week then cut back to 1000 - 1200 for a week you'd lose at least 1 pound........ I'm no expert by any means but I know you need to eat to lose weight or your body will just stop and hold onto everything....... not to mention 400 calories per day is anorexic....... please don't go there! Honestly, you need at least 1000 to maintain health.... you are starving your organs! I don't know how you are even doing it on 500.... I get nausous if I don't eat..... eat, sweetie!
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chati
New Member
| Joined: | 10 October 2007 |
| Location: | Spain |
| Posts: | 71 |
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Posted: 27 November 2007 11:43 am |
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Deb
I certainly go along with Nir and Tinker on this. You´re going to make yourself ill girl!
As for the thyroid thing maybe you should try another doctor and another set of tests just to make sure.
You take care of yourself and I really feel that making yourself ill in the attempt to loose a few pounds is NOT the way to go. You know your body so listen to it and get a doctor to help.
xx
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mathrocks
New Member
| Joined: | 22 November 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 3 |
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Posted: 27 November 2007 09:35 pm |
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Hello!
I am into my second day and it is an all fruit day - yippee~!!!! I love fruit so I have been having so much fun with this one. I even brought an apple into class while I was teaching! I am having no problem with the water either (I drink like a fish - which I am thankful that I am not a fish or else I would be swimming in an empty tank!).
My question though is how much food is enough? Remember you are talking to someone who is doing this for the first time (dieting). For example, on my plan (the vegetarian 11 day) I had peanuts for supper (and "beef strips" vegit style)~ how many should I have? I can't imagine getting full on peanuts. There do not seem to be an guidelines.
How are you all doing so far?
~Terry
Last edited on 27 November 2007 09:36 pm by mathrocks
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scorasgoo
New Member
| Joined: | 28 November 2007 |
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| Posts: | 1 |
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Posted: 29 November 2007 12:24 am |
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thinking abt joining but hate most veggies.. concerned if this will work if i dont like most veggies.. i dont like sea food either..
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Nir
Senior Administrator
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Posted: 29 November 2007 07:47 am |
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| It is a shame you feel this way about vegetables. Why Healthy Food Makes You Slim. If I did not like vegetables I would probably end up overweight again.
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nevd
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 29 November 2007 10:51 am |
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There are more ways than one to skin a cat. Horrible image, but it's meant to be allegorical.
I used to think that I didn't like most vegetables. That's because I'd eaten them at school and at home when they were prepared somewhat unsympathetically. There are ways to make vegetables more interesting.
I've been vegetarian for a long time now, but it wouldn't have happened if my wife hadn't been up to discovering how to prepare veggie meals properly. This was pre-Internet. Nowadays, it's even easier to find out about delicious ways to cook vegetables.
One of the drawbacks of the 'Idiots' diet (and I'm guessing here, as I don't know the details) might be the prescriptive manner in which the veggies must be prepared.
Rather than miss out on what is probably a very healthy part of the approach, you might be able to discover more toothsome ways to have the stuff they prescribe.
Of course, if the whole idea is to be told exactly what to eat, and when, then that tactic might not appeal...
Last edited on 29 November 2007 10:53 am by nevd
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