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Post by fullmahina on Jul 26, 2019 23:32:52 GMT
After reading the Keto Diet article posted by Deb today I got to wondering about how so many of us have taken different paths to weight loss. One size definitely does not fit all, not in pantyhose, not in the world of diets. Curious---what works for you and why do you think it works for you? If it's one of the many incarnations of a Weight Watchers plan, what do you think makes it work better for you than other Weight Watchers plans? I find that a lower carb calorie-controlled diet works best for me. I have also had success with prepared meal programs like Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem and sometimes resort to them when I've gone completely off the rails. The old psych method of "if there are no internal controls then external controls need to be applied." Haven't done that for years, except for the occasional 5-day Nutrisystem box from Walmart that gives me a good kick-start. Then I switch over to my usual 1200 calorie MFP regimen. Counting calories and nutrients makes good solid sense to me but YMMV. Just curious on this steamy summer evening.
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Post by borntexan on Jul 26, 2019 23:48:51 GMT
I track both on MFP and itrackbites.I find the old points plus known on itb as carb conscious to be good for maintaining for me and keeping my carbs on the lower but not low side since it takes carbs into the equation.I find tracking calories keeps me more focused on the macros.
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Post by bbbearsmom on Jul 26, 2019 23:49:34 GMT
WW use to always work for me, lost weight in 1992,1992, 1996. This time I started in 2006 and every plan worked through Points Plus. Things started to get shaky with Smart Points and then with Free Style I couldn't handle not tracking some type of number for the zero-point foods so I went over to MFP and count calories now. I also somewhat follow Dr. Judith Beck's book "The Beck Diet Solution," which is a big help for my mental game because it is my mental game that determines my success or failure.
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Post by doordie50 on Jul 27, 2019 0:20:40 GMT
I got to goal doing PP and currently use the iTrackbites app for tracking etc. At this point it feels more like a lifestyle than a diet but, if I don't track I'm doomed. I also think Beck is very worthwhile for that mental edge, as Judy said.
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Kitty
Transcendent Member
Posts: 1,450
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Post by Kitty on Jul 27, 2019 0:36:58 GMT
Well, different things have worked at different times.
1990 - Got to goal with WW doing exchange plan. Now - I would find that too rigid. Then - it was much more flexible than most diet plans. Back then, most diet plans didn't allow any treats (well, none that anyone would want to eat). With the exchange program I could have the occasional piece of cake or candy (very occasional).
2015 - Got back to goal using PP. By then, though, I was calorie counting. I did calorie counting and recording somewhat inconsistently for awhile. But, since early August 2013, I have not missed a day. Still I was able to both calorie count and follow PP. I found PP helped me structure eating. I generally do best with a lowish carb diet -- really low moderate I would guess.
At that time I found that WW meetings were really helpful to me. The weigh in itself kept me on the straight and narrow during the week and the meetings kept me focused on weight loss.
Also for a few years there I was doing a blog and the public accountability helped.
Now - MFP and Half Size Me, IF 5:2 - I basically calorie count. I try to especially pay attention to getting enough protein and that tends to keep me on the lower side on carbs but not really low carb. I do the 5:2 version of IF. Eat normally 5 days a week and then have 2 days that I eat in the 700 to 900 calorie range. Half Size Me (a paid group) has really replaced a lot of the support I got from WW meetings. I did do private coaching with Heather Robertson for 3 months mostly to see if I was on track and decide my priorities. That was helpful. I find that IF just makes the whole thing easier each week. Right now I am sort of in a maintenance break while we are doing remodeling. I will probably next week go back to a mild deficit but may go back to maintenance during stressful periods. I am about 5 pounds above goal right now. I basically think I have outgrown WW and want more flexibility for what works for me. Once I am back to free lifetime, though, I may go to a meeting once a month.
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Post by Jennifer on Jul 27, 2019 1:07:29 GMT
Fad/extreme diets do not work for me, I think they set me up for bingeing.
WW exchange plan worked but I have to agree, too rigid for me today.
I did not like Simply Filling.
All of the WW plans worked for me but I despised Beyond the scale smartpoints.
So far Freestyle is my favorite, and for reasons already explained Freestyle plus intermittent fasting are a good combo for me.
I'm a little nervous about changes coming.
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Post by fullmahina on Jul 27, 2019 1:25:32 GMT
I'm a little nervous about changes coming. There is nothing that says you have to go with those changes. If you have found what works for you, take it as your own and run with it.
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Post by Jennifer on Jul 27, 2019 1:49:31 GMT
I'm a little nervous about changes coming. There is nothing that says you have to go with those changes. If you have found what works for you, take it as your own and run with it. I really like using the app, I'd hate having to go back to paper tracking.. and what about the scanner? How would I calculate foods that include 0p ingredients? The scanner backs them out now. Ugh...
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Post by linda72 on Jul 27, 2019 2:30:00 GMT
Things started to get shaky with Smart Points and then with Free Style I couldn't handle not tracking some type of number for the zero-point foods so I went over to MFP and count calories now. I also somewhat follow Dr. Judith Beck's book "The Beck Diet Solution," which is a big help for my mental game because it is my mental game that determines my success or failure. This is me exactly. I am less than ONE POUND above the 2# limit for WW and I've been stuck there for over 2 months. I haven't weighed in at WW since May but I have enough vouchers to last until 2025. I use the tracker to record what I eat but I double track with MFP to compare. I have been using IF also. Basically, I'm skipping breakfast and my eating window is noon-6 pm. I like the flexibility of IF but it hasn't resulted in weight loss for me. I too am interested in what WW is planning for later this year but doubt that it will really be much of change in the program. I suspect they will finally account for added sugars in their formulas. Time will tell.
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Kitty
Transcendent Member
Posts: 1,450
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Post by Kitty on Jul 27, 2019 4:12:46 GMT
Basically there are two types of IF, one of which directly controls calories and the other which does so more indirectly. Eating window versions like 16:8 basically allow eating only during a specified eating window but don't restrict how much you can eat per se. So, for example, I could theoretically eat 1500 calories over my normal 12 hour period or if I had an 8 hour eating window I could eat the same 1500 calories over 8 hours. If I did that, then I wouldn't lose weight (although I might get other benefits from the eating window approach). Of course, the hope is that during the 8 hour eating window (or whatever it is) that I would eat fewer calories than I would in a longer eating window. For me -- I don't think that would be true. I would eat the same calories just in a more compressed period of time. However, many people find this type works for them.
The other type restricts calories directly. I do 5:2 so I eat normally on 5 days and then have 2 days that I eat 700 to 900 calories. That brings down my average calories per day for the week. Another version is one where you have one day a week where you fast for 24 hours. Of course, with both of these the risk is that for some people they may overcompensate the next day and overeat. Or it may lead to deprivation feelings and result in a binge. For me, that hasn't been a problem.
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Post by Jennifer on Jul 27, 2019 12:11:11 GMT
....and that's why IF plus WW Freestyle work for me. ššŖš
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irisinnia
Transcendent Member
233/211/160
Posts: 1,222
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Post by irisinnia on Jul 27, 2019 13:16:07 GMT
The only thing that has ever worked for me is PointsPlus + The Beck Diet Solution + These Boards!
It has to be PointsPlus because it's mostly calories-based (40 to 1 point) which is critical because I need my sweets fix without the penalties of SmartPoints/Freestyle. I don't have to quit sweets to lose weight and I don't want to. The other critical element is the free fruits and vegetables. I need those free fruits and vegetables, otherwise I won't touch them, I know this from trying straight calories during the SmartPoints switch.
The Beck Diet Solution is the mental tool that keeps my motivation going. Weight Watchers meetings have those weekly topics, most of which are helpful, but Beck is great in lieu of that. It's even better for my purposes because it's more targeted at the mindset than the meetings that dabble in nutrition and "feeling good".
And last but not least, these boards! If I'm not checking in here, I'm not doing well on program. And I lost the first 15 lbs on WW online with the help of the boards. I do miss the newbies boards though. Those posts were the best because some newbie would post everyday whining about things that I was whining about, and then I'd get a talking to by proxy. Those were the days! But I will always be grateful to have all of you!
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Post by DebDoesWW on Jul 27, 2019 15:13:33 GMT
Momentum for the win! As a carb enthusiast my 1 point snacks got me to goal. (I still eat the fiber1 brownies I discovered on that plan that were all the rage.) 1 point bags of popcorn? Yes please. And then the dreaded PP came out I really think this is where the "food shaming" (for lack of a better term with only 1 cup of coffee in me) started. It was to "encourage" better choices but the whole thing with Momentum (and 1,2,3) had been "you can eat anything you want just track it" and you were treated like an adult that could make intelligent choices based on the good health guidelines (AKA ghg's). Now they have gotten so anal about "encouraging" and "nudging" and whatever the staff spoken word of the day is that the whole thing is in fact a diet, with diet foods. I will say that when I first went to WW it was the selection plan which obviously, for those of you that remember, was in fact "diety". Also it wasn't sustainable, for me. 1,2,3/ Momentum got me to goal and kept me there for over a decade. Now I am sorry I ever complained about PP coming out because in actuality it was just a minor tweak compared to this latest incarnation SP (lumping all versions together here because it is the same plan with same points except they made 200 foods free *twirls finger*.) They took food shaming to a whole new level and put people right back into that "diet mentality" that they got away from when POINTS first came out. As I have said many times, it is a great plan for a certain subset of people and yay for them!! BUT, for others that may eat in a different way, this plan can easily put you in the red on a daily basis (nuts, milk, avocado blah blah blah not talking about junk food here folks.) And that right there is where they are losing folks, people don't want to be penalized, they don't want to go "in the red." We all know you have to have your head in the game and it is hard to do that when you spend every day in the penalty box. irisinnia you had me totally laughing.
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Post by zazzles on Jul 27, 2019 15:18:16 GMT
Summary:
1969 - Drinking Manās Diet - lost 40 pounds 1975 - Weight Watchers 1st plan revision - lost 66 pounds 1999 - Weight Watchers POINTS plan - over 6 weeks, lost 6, gained 6, quit 2008 - Weight Watcers POINTS plan - lost 31
PointsPlus: didnāt really lose but maintained more easily, felt better both physically due to the guidance from the GHGS and psychologically because I was able to follow the plan and feel successful in terms of healthier eating.
SmartPoints: didnāt work for me. I felt huge resentment at the penalty imposed on foods containing sugarsāeven natural sugars: foods like milk, potatoes, brown rice, whole grain breads, etc. Seeing my points allowance evaporate every time I enjoyed basic foods like milk and bread, or occasional treats like candy or dessert, made me feel bad psychologically because in reinforced that old negative sentiment of ābeing a bad personā by choosing those foodsāespecially after 5 years of PointsPlus that touted you could enjoy all those foods and it was okay to eat them.
Think about this: 100g of skim milk contains 5g of natural sugar; 100g of sweet potato contains 6.5g of natural sugar; 100g of banana contains 12.2g of sugar. So why should bananas be a food that is declared zero points while the others are penalized for the natural sugar they contain.
FreeStyle: ditto SmartPoints comments PLUS the reduced points allowances to pre-allocate points for the 200+ zero-point foods list which may or may not be to a memberās liking.
Bottom line: since Iām diabetic and take insulin, and since insulin dosage must be modulated to account for blood sugar level at mealtime plus the amount of carbs (adjusted for fiber) in the meal, any tracking system which doesnāt easily give me a tally of the carbs and fiber in a meal is useless to me.
It will be interesting to see if changes occur at the end of the year: the first year no changes were made was the turning point where WW membership dropped significantly; who knows if that taught WW a lesson. But with WW claiming so many people are having success with FreeStyle I donāt look for WW to make any significant change.
IF WW were smart, theyād figure out a way to make the majority of current and past members happy by supporting POINTS, PointsPlus and both versions of SmartPointsāPLUS including macro nutrient totals in the meal and daily totals. That would provide something for most everybody; add in sodium totals and 99% of people should be covered.
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Post by zazzles on Jul 27, 2019 15:22:15 GMT
Oh, Deb, you had me ROFLOLā¦complete with sound effect! DebDoesWW
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