Program Advice/Suggestions
Find a Conversation
| Fri, 10-01-2004 - 6:48pm |
This is my first post here at iVillage and I'm hoping some other people 40 and over can give me some suggestions about weight loss.
I'm ready to tackle the weight that I have gained over the last 20 years (geesh!) and the additional weight I gained when pregnant with my son (who will be 4 this month) and never lost. I've been checking the various sites around the great wide web and have come across South Beach, eDiets, iShape, SparkPeople and some others and am trying to get a general feel/opinion from some actual people who have tried these programs, or other programs I didn't mention above. By going to each site it sure seems that every site "Is the ONE!", but that's a lot of hype, in my opinion, because what works for some doesn't always work for someone else.
So, if anyone here has tried these programs, let me know what your experiences were, good and bad.
Thank you for your time!
Macuser64 :)

Diet programs? Call them eating programs - "diet" talk is all about restriction and denying yourself. Diets don't work, because they're temporary actions that don't really address the need for making lifestyle changes that so many of us have to make after age 40. Lots of people on this board are doing Weight Watchers and most are succeeding with it. Ladyirish is having incredible success and is inspired (and inspiring) by her weekly progress. I did it and hated it - always felt hungry, and I lost and regained the same 6 pounds for the 9 months or so I was on it. I did the SBD last year around this time and stuck pretty faithfully to it through this past spring and part of summer. I lost 18 lbs - found it easy to follow because I never felt hungry and was able to deal with the early 2-week restrictive phase easily because it didn't last long and I saw results on the scale quickly. I've slipped, but still am within 2 pounds of my lowest weight on the program - I've started eating more of the wrong kinds of carbs when I should - and do - know better. I also know I can go back to it when I choose and not feel deprived.
Bottom line - you won't lose unless you eat less and move more; as long as you've picked a healthy eating and consistent exercise program, you'll progress. Jazzerdeb is the board's most vociferous fan of Jazzercise. Several people use Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds tapes. Some do Pilates, some do yoga. Some run. I'm a walker (treadmill and outdoor), as is Susan/bnl and Shar/i've got five. Most include weight training in their programs; I used to laugh at the idea, but now I love it.
So take your pick. And stay with us. We've got several newbies who joined the board lately and there's room for as many more as want to join! Plenty of encouragement and support to go around.
Donna
Debbie
Debbie
(((((Macuser))))), welcome!
Hey Macuser-
Welcome to Fit Over 40.
Miss P
One more thing: have realistic expectations! We're no longer in our 20s. The weight I was when I got married is not the weight my body wants to be, and it'd be downright unhealthy for my new lifestyle of running and weights. Also, you can't expect to lose a pound a day like we did back then. While there are exceptions, especially when you have a lot of weight to lose, for most people a healthy weight loss pace is 1-2 pounds a week. I found that when I've gained a few from improper eating, I'm likely to lose a pound a week by resuming healtheir eating and keeping up exercise. Slower going, but the benefit is learning how to eat properly.
Hope you decide to stick around! This is a great board.
Cussette
Visit the href="http://pages.ivillage.com/familyfinances/">Family Finances Website for links, tips, discussions and answers to your
financial questions
href="http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppplaynov98n">November 1998 Playgroup and href="http://pages.ivillage.com/nov98_whoswho/">Website
size=+0>Li'l Al's Place!
C
Susan
Hi and welcome to the board!
You've been given some wonderful advice so far.
Lori
"Remember, I'm pullin' for ya. We're all in this together." --Red Green
cl for Ask the
The problem I'm having is eating. I don't eat a lot, but what I do eat isn't good. My husband is an executive chef, but he NEVER cooks for me. He says it's because he does it all day, which I can understand. He also is very supportive of my desire to get rid of my "wide-load" butt and get into shape again. I am lucky that he's on my side and supportive of my endeavors!
I'm hoping that by getting a meal plan going I'll be able to provide nutrious meals for my husband and our son, Ian...as well as for myself.
Thanks again for the ideas, suggestions and the welcome. I appreciate it and will keep you all updated on what's going on with me and iShape.
Mary
I'll add my welcome to the others...lots of great advice above!
"Make Choices that bring you joy" cl-Patty