diet plans fattening my mailbox

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2003
diet plans fattening my mailbox
21
Tue, 12-30-2003 - 7:54pm
My mailbox has been gaining weight this week.

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?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-1999
Sat, 01-03-2004 - 4:23pm
I tried the SouthBeach Diet. It was really good. I felt like I had tons of energy. My carb cravings did subside. Phase I was hard to do but I did it. I slacked off on the exercising so I didn't lose as much weight as I could have.

But I did find it very time consuming. You had to plan and you had to be creative. I wasn't a big cheese fan so I found it easier to not eat than to eat what I was allowed to have on the plan. Their rule of thumb is you can only eat something that flies, walks, comes from the ground or is plucked. Meaning it can get very expensive.

It wasn't right for me. What is right for me is a cleanse from the health food store called Re-Cleanse. It's a 7-10 day cleanse and it comes with a meal plan. I found it to be very easy to follow, I lost lots of weight, I was never hungry and it was something I could grab in the morning rather than planning. When I hit a plateau then I buy the kit again (about $20) and cleanse my body. They recommend you do it every month but I don't like that idea so I do it every 2-3 months.

I don't like counting or journalling (although I do this when I feel like it, not because I have to). Yes, I did fail at the FitDay.com thing too. I find that the less I think about a diet plan then the less I cheat and depression stays at bay.

I did not find what plan suits me best by researching ONLY. You do have to research and talk to people but it's also about trial and error. I always ask myself, "Could I stay on this for the rest of my life?" if the answer is no...I wouldn't go for it.

Good Luck and let us all know what works best for you!! ~Dana

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-06-2003
Sat, 01-03-2004 - 4:47pm

Shawna ,


As you know my SO

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 01-03-2004 - 7:46pm
Well the good news is Im home and the house is stocked with healthier things.

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 01-03-2004 - 7:57pm

Welp...let me look here for some sites that might be useful...I have recipes sites and points sites.

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-06-2003
Sun, 01-04-2004 - 2:23am
Thanks a billion Shawna !!! I will favorite this post so I can make my way through the pages...I sooo appreciate that I even posted on the WW.com board but didn't get too much of a response...::keeping my fingers crossed:: And thanks for the well wishing with SO..things will be back to normal and ew will love each other again (LOL) when he goes back to work Monday morning..I CANNOT WAIT!!!! lmoa again ty mucho grande ~hugs~April
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 01-04-2004 - 9:40am

I tried posting on the WW.com boards and they are just....I dont know.

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2003
Sun, 01-04-2004 - 3:43pm
Shawna-

I'm new here, but I appreciate the links to WW info so much! I've been contemplating joining (I have a friend who has been very successful with it) but didn't wan't to shell out the money. :) How do I know how many points I should consume each day? Is there a chart or equation or something?

Thanks again for your help!!

-Tina

"TeachG8r"

Image hosted by Photobucket.com Abby Lane is

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 01-04-2004 - 4:32pm

Your welcome =)

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2003
Sun, 01-04-2004 - 11:30pm
Thanks SO much!! Again, I really appreciate all the information. I've set my goals, and have a general plan, but I think that by following the WW plan I can be much more successful. :)

I'll let you know when I have another question! ;)

-Tina

"TeachG8r"

Image hosted by Photobucket.com Abby Lane is

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 01-05-2004 - 9:33am
Great Tina!

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go