What "Diet/Food" plan are you on?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-06-2003
What "Diet/Food" plan are you on?
15
Thu, 01-13-2005 - 8:09pm
I'm curious to know what some of you are doing as far as food goes. I did Atkins last year and lost 40 lbs. Of course as soon as the "regular" food came back so did the weight. I'm wondering if any of you find that the same way of eating doesn't work the same now as it did as it did in your 20's. I know that I need to approach this with a lifelong attitude, and I am. I just have to find a balanced blend. Trying to figure it out.
Mommado

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2004
Thu, 01-13-2005 - 8:33pm

I am doing Weight Watchers, it has worked for me in the past so I am at it yet again after baby #3--so far so good :) Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is doing or not doing.

steph

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-27-2004
Thu, 01-13-2005 - 9:45pm
I'm just going at it on my own. I lost 60 pounds 3 yrs ago and then when I had my son 2 yrs ago managed to gain it back. I have just reduced my calories to 1200 and my fat to about 20 gr. Elle
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2003
Thu, 01-13-2005 - 10:31pm
I eat 4-6 times a day, and try to keep the calorie count between 200-300 calories. It can be as simple as a bowl of oatmeal in the morning. I then have a banana about 2 hours later and for lunch, a lean turkey breast sandwich and a small bowl of soup. I walk the stairs at work and have some peanut butter crackers afterwards, and for dinner, grilled chicken and steamed veggies. Since I work out late at night, dinner is my biggest meal, but I keep everything light on calories, fat and carbs. I also work out on an exercise ball and free weights for 1-1 1/2 hours a night, and during the work week, I walk the stairs. Up 3 flights, down 12, then back up 9 flights. So far, 5 lbs gone, 75 to go.......
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Thu, 01-13-2005 - 10:46pm

Hey mommado, I'm not on any particular diet.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 01-14-2005 - 6:35am

Hi, I'm one of the ones doing it on her own aswell. I'm not following any specific plan, but like some others around here I'm trying to cut down on carbs (especially 'bad' ones) ..... I've also made changes along the way to staple items; 2% milk in exchange for whole milk, low fat butter, low fat calorie dressing....and I also find myself reading A LOT more labels on foods that I buy.


Good Luck!

~IslandGirl


:~:~: Moderation is Key :~:~:

Getting Fit In Your 30's
cl-vi_islandgirl

_____________________________________________________

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 01-14-2005 - 7:22am

i'm much leaner now than i was in college. i was starting to need a size 14 at my heaviest, and now i'm a size 6. i eat much differently and i work out regularly, which i didn't then. so while, you might have to change your habits as you age, there's no reason why someone in her 30s can't be in the best shape of her life.

that's good that you see it as a lifelong attitude, you are definitely right. and because it is a lifelong attitude, "diet plans" and fad diets are not the way to go. they are at best short term fixes. and as you found out, they often lead to gaining the weight back.

i don't do diet plans. i focus on eating as much whole foods as possible - veggies, fruits, nuts (in moderation), legumes, whole grains. i minimize whole grain flours and very very severly restrict more highly processed flour like "white" flour. i very severely restrict sugar. (i'm vegan, so i don't eat meat, eggs and dairy.) i watch my portion sizes. i avoid trans fats and eat moderate amounts of good fats like olive oil, nuts, and avocado.

of course, you have to strike a balance. if you restrict yourself too severely and feel deprived it will be difficult to maintain for the long term. it's best to start slowly and improve your diet, or improve your portion sizes if your diet is already pretty good, and not try to do too much at once.

one way to get started is to use a calorie counting/nutrition analyzing program like www.fitday.com. it will help you learn appropriate portion sizes, learn what foods provide more nutrition and satiety (feeling full) per calorie. this helped me a lot. fitday is free, but i used a piece of software that i purchased called dietpower. i highly recommend dietpower, but it's not necessary.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2005
Fri, 01-14-2005 - 9:55am
I lost 75 lbs. three years ago by cutting way back on my food consumption. I didn't cut out any specific foods. I just ate much less. I decided the day after Thanksgiving to make the push to lose the last 40 lbs. I want to lose. I've been counting calories and eating Lean Cuisine meals because they taste great and I find them very satisfying. I allow myself a weekly splurge meal such as going out to dinner and having whatever I like including 1/2 a dessert, but no bread. This way I never feel deprived. I've lost 18 lbs. in the past month and a half so I guess it is working quite well. I'm trying to eat a somewhat balanced diet, but very low calorie. 22 more lbs. to go and I'll be happy. I also plan to join Curves this week because I need to get off my lazy butt.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2004
Fri, 01-14-2005 - 10:09am
I've been on the Zone diet for a few months and lost 20 pounds.

I'm not weighing again until end of Phase 1!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2003
Fri, 01-14-2005 - 11:35am

Hi mommado.

~~ Steffy ~~
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2004
Fri, 01-14-2005 - 2:56pm
Hey, Mammado! I've tried several different plans but quit all but one. I've been on Jorge Cruise's "8 Minutes in the Morning" for about 5 weeks now. I've been on and off the first 3 1/2 weeks of it and serious the last 1 1/2 weeks. I've lost 1 1/2 pounds this last week! I'm so excited about it. I like the program because it's simple, not easy, but simple to follow. I don't have to count calories, write down pages of foods and every ingredient listed, every pound of weight lifted and every repition, etc. It only takes me 8 minutes in the morning to do which fits in well with my busy schedule of working full time and having 3 kids. Before I bought the book, I checked it out from the library to make sure I liked it. Maybe your library can get it for you, too. Just to mention, my good friend, Gina, bought the book yesterday and is joining me. I went over last night and showed her some of the exercise moves. She's so "literal" and wanted a live visual so she wouldn't get it wrong (the darling is also a perfectionist!) I'm so excited to have her work out with me because she's so much fun. Fun in exercise is important too. Hope this helps!
Best wishes,
Ginger

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