diet plans fattening my mailbox
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| Tue, 12-30-2003 - 7:54pm |
Yesterday, Weight Watchers was in my mailbox offering me a chance to join without paying initial fee. Today, South Beach was sitting in there with a pamphlet offering me the book free for 21 days. It even included a mail back label for free shipping if I return the book. Adkins apparently doesn't know where I live ... yet. There are a few days left before the first of the year after all. :-)
So, I have a tricky question which I hope doesn't errupt into flames ...
For those of you doing Adkins, WW, or South Beach, what are the positives and negatives you have experienced on your journey?
I DO NOT want reactions from people who are not actually doing the various plans to argue for one diet over another.
I DO want to read what REAL dieters on these plans have experienced. Are you able to stick to it? Are you hungry? Are you healthy? Is your hair falling out or your period confused? Is it possible to do your plan on a very tight budget? Can you do your plan without restocking the kitchen entirely with food you wouldn't normally eat if you weren't doing this plan? These are the kind of questions I'm seeking answers to.
OK -- let's see if we can do this calmly. :-)
TIA and Blessings,
S_C
P.S. I may send off for the South Beach book. I know I can get it read in 21 days. BTW, from the mailout, it looks as though Prevention Magazine is approving of this plan. Any thoughts?

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I'm doing WW at Home (no meetings, Winning Points mode), and it's been good for me. The flexibility lets me stay on plan through pretty much anything (except maybe Christmas!), and even at the very beginning, I wasn't hungry or feeling deprived-- thanks to all the "free" veggies. As my weight goes down, and the number of points allowed goes down, it'll become more of a challenge. The flexibility also works well for low-budget meals, and dinners at home with a non-dieting SO. Meals out require a bit more thought.
The downside is that I'm not losing weight as quickly as I would like, and the flexibility can sometimes sabotage the scale. (Pepsi has a point value, low enough to lull me into a false sense that it's okay... but I see the bloat and scale-hike every time I succumb.) And with a fairly high points allowance at my current weight, I'm not as faithful about exercising as I need to be... don't NEED those extra points, but do NEED to tone up. But on the whole, it seems to be an excellent program.
I know lots of people who've lost significant weight on the Atkins diet, but since I want to lose a grown person's worth of weight, I didn't think I'd be able to stay on it long enough to reach goal. (To say the least- three days would probably be my max, LOL!) I have been thinking of defecting to another plan for a week or two to jump-start 2004, maybe something Atkins-ish. Does South Beach lend itself to that sort of thing? I'm not familiar with the plan...
Mickie
262.5/230/135
I'm not familiar with South Beach either, other than to say that it is a low carb-type diet. It advertises itself as not being as restrictive on carbs as Adkins, and the pamphlet I got talked a bit about food combinations for increased metabolism.
I probably am a carb addict. (Hell, if there's ever been anything to get addicted to in life, it seems to find me at one time or another.) But, I have already changed from white rice to brown for everything, including gumbo, and from white bread to a wonderful 9-grain type. I'm also trying to change to whole wheat pasta, even though it tastes like poop. At any rate I KNOW I could never do Adkins because of my love for these things.
I think I'll get the book just for a free read. If you are interested, the same deal may be available at the Prevention Magazine website. Don't know for sure. Haven't checked it out.
Blessings,
S_C
P.S. We have had a lot of flaming here -- I think before you joined -- regarding different diet plans. People may be wary of posting on this topic. You may not get to read much.
Mickie
262.5/230/135
Wheat pasta -- I don't remember which brand. It all tastes awful until you get used to it. :-)
Brown rice -- Look at a health food or Indian store for Brown "Basmati" rice -- MAJOR YUM!!!! Has a sweeter flavor to it than regular brown rice. It won't be cheap either b/c it's imported, unless you can find it in an Ethnic store. It's also good to buy regular brown rice at an Ethnic store -- Man! I hate saying that living here in rice country. But the American brands have too much "trash" in them. The imported ones are cleaner and cheaper, the latter b/c of import/export trade agreements. (I'm hearing my local farmers from my days in the news business scream in my ears.)
Back to corn tortillas, I LOVE Mexican food. Here is my latest experiment, inspired by divinetrash (I think):
1 pkg. Boca burger crumbles
1 can of black beans drained and rinsed
spices as you please -- mine are garlic, red pepper, could use chili powder
salsa as you please
cover and zap in microwave to warm
toast corn toritllas in toaster oven or regular oven until crisp. Top with boca burger mix, fat free or reduced fat cheese, more salsa, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, etc. and enjoy very low fat and healthy tostados.
This has kept me from making my Taco Bell late night run MANY a time. Of course it's better with real hamburger, but the Boca is better for me. Aside1: Sometimes I mix the Boca with real hamburger just to get that meat tecture and taste. I keep already cooked, seasoned, drained hamburger in ziplocks in my freezer. Just break off a chunk and throw it in the bowl. It's always handy for those days you haven't planned a meal. Aside2: toasting corn tortillas like this is much more healthy than buying tostidos or doritos and cheaper. If you want salt, spray the tortillas with cooking spray so the salt will stick. Toasted lard-free flour tortillas can substitute for pizza crust for veggie pizzas.
Also, I've found Sargentos brand of reduced fat cheeses to be the best, especially the Mexican mix. Haven't found a fat free cheese I can stomach unless I disguise it in a casserole.
Blessings, happy new year, and healthy eating,
S_C
Edited 1/1/2004 1:58:04 PM ET by sphere_collector
Edited 1/1/2004 2:05:06 PM ET by sphere_collector
Hi S_C and Happy New Year!
Hi there ladies =)
AHHHHH--Catch yourself now! I hope you can get yourself back on tack! I too, am having a HELL of a time! Weird how once you slip up for a few days it is so hard
Deb 270/228/145ish (updated 4/19/04. Next weigh-in: 6/1/04)
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