How many of us can really stick to a diet? I know that there are a lot of success stories out there, but it seems that many more people simply have a terrible time taking off unwanted weight. Anyone ever try one of those "fad" diets? Like maybe lose 25 pounds and eat only cheesecake?

If all there was to eat was cheesecake, I would definitely lose 25 pounds - even though I only need to lose 15 - YUCK!!!! I cannot diet, must simply cut back. I don't own a scale, either. If I like the way I look, my weight is good.

Puleeze make sure you don't lose it around me...I don't want to pick it up ! LOL <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Fad diets don't work....period. In fact, they do more harm to the body than good. Rapid weight loss is not something the human body was designed to handle very well.

I agree with Puleeze...no scale. I've always lived by the motto, "Don't use the scale, use the mirror." I wish my wife would live by that credo also. I mean, I've gained weight since I started eating right and going to the gym, because of the age-old time proven fact that muscle weighs more than fat. My clothes fit better, but I'm a few pounds heavier.

Eating right is the key. Small meals throughout the day instead of three big ones. For breakfast I have a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of decaf coffee. At 10 a.m. I have a piece of fruit or a cup of rice. For lunch I have another piece of fruit and a protein bar. At three p.m. I have another piece of fruit or a cup of rice. For dinner, a normal one consisting of either lean beef, ostrich, or chicken and lots of veggies. Works like a charm for me.

Then again...everyone's metabolism is different!

oooo, good idea...unfortunatly it's hard for me to eat healthy....I ask my mom to not buy me fattening snacks (if there are bad foods in the house, i can't help but to give in), just to buy me fruit....so she buys me the fruit...and the fattening snacks...grrrr. I guess i need more willpower. One thing is for sure...I've pretty much lost my appetite for cheese...brought some when i went camping earlier in the week...it was hot outside, so it got soft and squishy (no biggie)...but you should see all the OIL that leaked out...it was gross! I had no idea that cheese could hold that much stuff! So, no cheese for me...unless i leave it out in the sun, soak up all the oil, and then refridgerate it...
-Sarah &gt;^._.^&lt;

Most diets have the little writing on them that results not typical for the average person.
I lost 30 lbs. a few years ago, by eating right. Small amounts of fat. (You need some in your diet, and it helps you to feel full.)
Fruits and vegetables, and maintaining portion sizes.
Then I had a baby. I have been trying to do that again, but for some reason, this time around is harder.
<img src="eek.gif" border="0">

screw diets, I'm trying to gain weight not lose it <img src="tongue.gif" border="0"> My body loses it on it's own <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

I agree diets are bad. I was eating really bad for a while and gained a bunch of weight. I started eating right again and knocked off 20lbs. It's been about 1 1/2 years now. That's the best way to do it. Lifestyle change, not dieting!

I eat a lot more fruits and vegetables and less red meat to help keep my cholesterol at a safe level. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by Not Man:
<STRONG>I eat a lot more fruits and vegetables and less red meat to help keep my cholesterol at a safe level. <img src="smile.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

I hear ya on that Not! Runs in my family...no matter how good I eat I'm always hovering near 200.

The last time I had mine checked was just over a year ago and it was I think my total cholesterol was 156 not to bad really <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> My doctor was impressed. I just went back to have another test last thursday, but I haven't gotten the results yet. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

I have never been on a diet and never will. As you said there Pagan, most diets do more damage than good. I couldn't stick to one anyway!!! <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> I use both the mirror and scales! It's not so much the weight as the amount of fat....
I love red meat....I don't eat as much as I used to, more chicken and a little lamb and fish included now. I do tend to become Iron-deficiency anemic though, so red meat is good for me. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

I would like to shoot the person who first made pizza and Eat 'n Park Honey Buns <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
LOL!!!
http://www.plauder-smilies.de/yellows/sad.gif

Acutally, I haven't had any pizza for over 3wks!!!

I have tried every diet. And the only thing that works for me is eating once a day and jogging 4 miles every day. That is the only way i can loose weight. I check my weight all the time and i don't seem to be loosing anything. It is very upsetting. So for the past week i have stopped jogging and just eating healthy i will see what happens. The people in my office are going to start that Slim Fast diet. I drank one this morning and it sucked. I will rather not have anything. A friend of mine lost 20 pounds on it in two months. I guess it is easier for men to loose it.
<img src="mad.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by topcat1970:
<STRONG>
Acutally, I haven't had any pizza for over 3wks!!!</STRONG>

Give me your address and I will bring a pizza over tonight.....screw the cholesterol! <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

Milani-
eating one meal a day will just slow down the metabolism...eat small meals every 2-3 hours (ex..half a sandwich...2 hours later, the other half). Start from when you get up till around 6 pm...after 6pm your body needs to rest and digest that food. Also...DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!! Try to drink the most you can...8 glasses is what's recommended...I usually drink around 15 or more a day. But, start up the jogging thing again, and also do some crunches. I don't know, i just thought i'd give some advice for what works for me.
-Sarah &gt;^._.^&lt;

Good advice Sarah, that sounds very healthy.

THank you Sarah i will rejoin the gym today. I have been doing 400 crunches a day the more i do the better i feel.

Okay I have myself lost a considerable amount of fat. The only things that worked were:
1. Walking for 8 miles a day.
2. Instead of walking that damn much I turned to 4 miles of jogging and running a day (it is hell when you start but keep it up for 3 months and it's pie)

And I am able to maintain an average of 125-140 (hell I'm short so...).
For EATING, well if you jog all your excess energy off this way (I suggest a lake or any place you can run around where there are rarely or never people around to make you self-concious!)
you can eat pretty much as you please! I have 4 pieces of Dominoes pizza for dinner often and all the icecream I like and chocolate and so long as I have my oatmeal and tuna-fish I'm fine.
I suggest fish especially- there is mercy and oils like Omega 3 that your body NEEDS that cant be found elsewhere. Six tunafish/mayonesse (spelling?) sandwhiches a day should be enough. I like to toast the bread and I get my nutrients.
Also it's important to eat a lot of bran, this will keep your metabolism going and flush out your insides so you can absorb nutrients and not be too heavy to run/jog. You have to try jogging it's a great habit to get into.
Daily! Daily!

Oh yeah and the only thing thats bad to drink is fruit juice in my experience! (Vitamin-C tablets seem to be adequete) And fruit for some reason can be bad. I drink coffee with sugar and a dousing of milk (this seems to get the digestives to break up and move along). Beer isn't bad with coffee because they DON'T mix. It makes your guts "wake up" and get working.
Also Artificial Sweetener makes many people, including me, hungry if you don't eat with it especially.
You can take Bran tablets instead of cereal but not sure how good it works that way.
Holding your stomach in for short periods of time and clenching the buttocks for long periods of times with 1. strengthen your stomach muscles (good results for all kinds of things) and 2. Make fitting into your pants something you dont' have to fret over <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

<FONT COLOR="#6699cc" SIZE="1">[ July 03, 2001 06:09 PM: Message edited by: ReagansRenegade ]</font>

OK, I know if topcat and puleeze read this... they willl be groaning.

At the end of July of last year, I joined the gym. I wasn't told to change my diet, so I didn't. After of 3 mos of cardio and weight training... I was getting frustrated cuz I didn't think I was losing ANYTHING!!

Finally, I put on these pair of pants that were a little tight on me and they fit perfect!! So now I was all gung-ho.
Well, I was only able to finish out 1 more month cuz my membership was up, it was after Thanksgiving, hubby's schedule changed and Christmas was coming. I ended up not going back for 5 mos.

In Mid-May I joined again, started taking Diet Fuel (but I take less than the recommended dosage... can't handle it!) and cut WAAAAAy back on my carbs and sugar!! LOTSA PROTEIN!! Also, I still do my cardio, BUT instead of doing a different area of the body each day I do total body weight training.

I do 6-6.5 miles in 15 minutes on the bike, 15 minutes on random on the stairmaster, then 4 leg exercises, 2 arm, 2 shoulder and abs.

From last year, even though I took that 5 mos off... I have only lost 5 lbs, BUT I went from a size 10/11 jeans, elastic waistbands and baggy shirts to a size 7-9. Depends on the pants. I even have one pair that is tagged 5-6.... go figure.

I am still going just to see what I can accomplish down the line...

and according to topcat and puleeze... they claim my shorts are my "underwear"!!
They aren't THAT small!! No daisy dukes and my butt cheeks aren't showing!! So nyah!!

Whats A diet??

OK, many people to reply to: First Roem. You want to gain weight? Bite me! LOL Second, treehugger, that sounds like something I can stick to. I don't do the gym or anything, but I take my kid on a bike ride two or three times a week that covers about 6 to 8 miles, I haven't driven it to find out (LOL). I may try that, thanks!! And, Buff, I am not groaning (<img src="tongue.gif" border="0">), I am glad for you that you are getting the body you've always wanted, and the confidence you've been needing. I couldn't stick to a regular diet, mainly because I have never had to. And I have had more people tell me I look good at this weight (not Buff, tho', 'cuz she's mean <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">) than people telling me I need to go back to where I was. I was 12 pounds underweight. I can handle a goal of, say, 15 pounds, but I will never make a 30 pound goal....or 35, the way my butt's going....LOL

When i was in my early 20's i could loose weight with out really trying, now that i am 30 it seems harder to loose weight.

I have a goal of 20 pounds, that is more realistic then 30 pounds. My friends say i don't need to but 20 pounds will make me feel better about myself, and that is all that matters.
<img src="cool.gif" border="0">

When I met my husband in 1990, I weighed about 108 lbs. Two yrs later when we were married I weighed 110 lbs. Well, after 11 yrs and two kids, i now weigh between 125-130 lbs. I use to worry about how much weight I had gained after having kids, but now that I look back on the old pics, I realise how much better I actually look. I dont look like a "teenager" anymore....I now have "curves" that I always wanted back then! I DO watch what I eat, as it is harder to loose the weight at an older age, but I DONT deprive myself of the good stuff every now & again. You only live once so...ENJOY and dont worry what others think or say! As long as you are happy with yourself, thats all that matters!! <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by Milani:
<STRONG>THank you Sarah i will rejoin the gym today. I have been doing 400 crunches a day the more i do the better i feel.</STRONG>

400!?!?! Wow! *bows to Milani* My abs hurt just thinking about that. Whew.

I really need to start exercising again. I was all set in a nice little routine about a month ago, but then I got sick (just a cold but it almost went to bronchitis, No Fun) and got out of the habit.

I like aerobics, but I'm too cheap and too lazy to join a gym. I have a bunch of workout DVDs gathering dust on my shelf-- my favorite is kickboxing <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Now, if they made an all-80s dance music workout video, I'd be so there. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

125-130 lbs? *pulls out a calculater to convert into kilos and starts crying* Aaggghhhh! I haven't weighed that since I was a teenager! *lol*

I think we've established that dieting is a waste of time and that lifestyle changes kick a**! <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Little changes at a time are best as you won't be able to stick to it if you try to change everything at once. And everbody should be allowed to have pizza, chocolate and whatever every now and then - just don't overdo it *S*

When I'm stressed I usually don't eat properly so I know that's when I have to be careful. Otherwise lots of veggies, fruit and fish and very little meat plus my daily 12-mile bike ride take care of business for me, but 130 lbs...?? Dream on....at 5'11 I'm lucky if I'm at 150 lbs (I wish <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">)

Kristina

Kristina, for 5'11", 150 pounds is just fine! You have nothing to worry about!

Puleeze...YOU need a diet? C'mon now...I saw those pictures! I ate more than you for lunch the other day!

Moderation is the key boys & girls. You have to eat correctly and above all, exercise. You think it's hard at 30 to lose weight Milani? Try when you're pushing 40! I fight every day to maintain my weight. I don't think anyone wants to see Meatloaf playing bass for Livesay!

Ok, I'm ready for my weight gaining regime puleeze....whenever you're ready <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"><img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"><img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Puleeze...
I'm not mean to you...
I'll admit it...
I'm jealous cuz you gain weight and get "kaboobers"....
I just seem to collect junk in the trunk!!
LOL!!!!

Seriously, I think you look healthier than you did before.

Originally posted by Pagan:
<STRONG>Kristina, for 5'11", 150 pounds is just fine! You have nothing to worry about!
</STRONG>

Hehe....if I weighed 150 lbs I definitely wouldn't worry....but I'm not anywhere near that weight. I doubt I ever will get to 150 lbs because I have more muscles now than I had when I was 150 lbs. Anyway I'm not worried about my weight as long as my clothes fit and I feel healthy <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

Kristina

OK, Pagan, you are bad and I love you for it! Want me to get that drool off your shoe? LOL Roem, you are such a baddie!!!! Start now, maybe I can eat all of tree's sandwich at one time!! LMAO!

This sucks big time for me at least.....I had gone to my doctor for a routine physical and I found out that I am borderline diabetic. <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> My fasting blood sugar was 135 normal is 80 - 120. He said not to worry because I am still young (35) and a better diet and to lose some weight can control this before it gets any worse. It hit me like a ton of bricks to hear him tell me this. It runs in my family on both sides, but I never thought that something like this would happen to me. Any other people on the message board in the same boat as me?? I sure could use some advice. Thanks <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Not Man, my dad was a diabetic and my father-in-law is also. He just had surgery to remove his leg from the midcalf down. Diabetes is a serious thing, and if all it takes to take care of yourself right now is lose a few pounds and watch your diet, I say do it. You could help hold off the effects of this for years with a few little adjustments. And you are certainly worth a few more years!!!! <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> Just ask the kitty......

It will be hard at first to watch what you eat, but eventually you will get accustomed to it.
I dated a guy who had diabetes, and he was fine as long as he stayed away from certain things. His weakness was alcohol. The day after a heavy drinking he would be blind, i would have to take care of him. But if he would have just listened to his doctor he would be fine.
Listen to your doctor and i am sure he will give you a list of things to eat and not to eat. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

*hugs* for Val and Milani <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

I know just how serious this is my Dad was a diabetic too and it scares the hell out of me to think this is what I have to look forward to. I always thought I was a strong willed person, but this harder than I thought to deal with. <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

I am on a diet right now to take some weight off it is hard, but I know that I have to do this to keep myself in better health. <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Thanks again for your words of wisdom you two. <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Not a problem, Nottie!!! I hope you get on track all right! Take care of yourself!!! <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Well since I have been on this diet I have lost 12 pounds. <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> I am starting to feel good about myself. As for my blood sugar I go back to see my doctor in a week and he will do another blood test to see if I can control this with diet or if I need to be put on a diabetes medication. I am hoping diet alone can control this. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Great, Nottie!!! I am so glad for you!! I will keep my fingers crossed for you! I know everyone wants you to be happy and healthy!! {{HUGS}} just for you!! <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by Not Man:
<STRONG>Well since I have been on this diet I have lost 12 pounds. <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0"> I am starting to feel good about myself. As for my blood sugar I go back to see my doctor in a week and he will do another blood test to see if I can control this with diet or if I need to be put on a diabetes medication. I am hoping diet alone can control this. <img src="smile.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

notman, i haven't been really reading this thread, so i'm not sure what you've said about blood sugar. but i just ordered this natural subsitute for sugar. I've been hearing from doctors, etc. all the harmful effects from the chemical in nutrasweet, and i don't like using so much sugar in my coffee and teas, etc. I have a sweet tooth enough as it is! lol.
Anyway, this herb is becoming popular. It actually helps balance out the sugar highs/lows for people with levels that aren't in sync. I just use it because I'm tired of the chemicals and crap that we're given. It's not as sweet as sugar, but it tastes better and is healthier than the sacchrin or aspartame. It's called Stevia.
i cant find the website right now, but the phone # is
1-800-753-9199.
i ordered the smallest package they have, and it's only a fourth lower than it was a month ago. I use it every day.

<img src="smile.gif" border="0">

<FONT COLOR="#6699cc" SIZE="1">[ July 17, 2001 03:59 PM: Message edited by: Vilji ]</font>

Thanks Val <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> I am trying...it's not easy, but I can do this. Thanks for the hug. It meant alot <img src="smile.gif" border="0">


Thanks for the information Vilji <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> I will look into that.

Hey Not Man...I keep my thumbs pressed for you, you will make it! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Talking of dieting...yep, since I´ve started that business training 2 years ago, I´ve gained some weight due to the mainly stationary work in front of the PC and my depressive mood swings (I suffer from manic depressions) which made me regulary raiding the fridge (used to drink, but I think I wrote this in another topic earlier).
As I´m generally inclined to develop overweight, I´ve tried any diet. From the smooth type to the Full Metal Jacket-version...nothing really helped.

After 18 years of feeling like a worthless piece of white trash I finally found a doc which doesn´t treated me to standard witticisms but was (and still is) of really help.
He suggested me to a 3-month stay in a special clinic to regain absolute control over my body and my mind, I hope I can go there within this year.

If you tend to quench your sorrows with food, drinking or even worser things, search for a reliable doc which doesn´t only talk blah-blah. Might be sometimes a quest, but it´s worth, really.

My general good wishes goes out to everyone who has to deal with over-/underweight...it´s no fun, I know.

Thanks wave <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Sorry to hear about your problems. Keep your chin up if nothing more we are all friends here. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

12 Pounds Notman, that is great. It is always hard to loose the first ten pounds. You are doing great *milani gives Notman a hug*
Proud of you Notman.
<img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Thanks Milani <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> *hugs her back* <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> It is hard, but this is something that I have to do.

I remember loosing 10 pounds it was the hardest thing i ever had to do.. well close to it.
Maintaining it is even harder...

I remember way back when....when I used to way 115.....then, I quit smoking 2 years ago, and added about another.....well....I'm not saying..<img src="wink.gif" border="0"> to my frame......I feel healthier than I ever have....now I just need to exercise to firm up!!!

I did alot of jogging but now i am going to try and firm up with weights. I just started today so i will see how well i will look in two weeks. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">