Commercial Diet Programs

I was just wondering what experiences people out there have had with commercial diet programs (e.g, Jenny Craig, Weight Watcher's, Nutri System, LA Weight Loss) as well as things like Atkins.

I have only tried Weight Watcher's, and I always loved it. Even back in the day when you were only given two "breads" a day! I like the new program with the "point" system, but I think I like the old programs better since with the points, there is less learning involved, I think. It's good for ease but not so good for learning.

I have never tried pre-packaged programs like Jenny Craig, but my close friend is on that one and it's working well for her. It makes putting menus together pretty easy and you don't have to stand in front of the fridge thinking about what you might eat.

I look forward to hearing about others' experiences!

Hi,

I had a lot of success with Weight Watchers in the past because of the prepackaged concept. I did not have luck with the meetings because of the time committment. I have heard lots of good things about Jenny Craig but never got there.

I think for the most part Weight Watchers provides a good balanced program and it is definitely a big help that the food is laid out for easy understanding and the point system.

For me, I have had the best overall success with The Fat Flush plan. I have tried it at various times in my life and when I make the time to shop, cook and eat on the plan, I feel great, my hair looks great and I float down to my best body weights. Again though...the biggest issue with the plan...formulated by Louise Gittleman...is having access to the right foods. The Fat Flush program definitely requires you to eat a lot of eggs. The best I can do is boil them the night before but I get sick of eating eggs.

A lot of my issues is not making my food plan my biggest priority over other things. When I do that and take the time, it works for me.

Hey Elissa!!!

I'm impressed by your weight loss achievement - that's really amazing. Well done.
And congratulations on getting a board of your own for your specialist subject.
I look forward to hearing more about your and other posters experiences about diets and dieting.

BTW - it may be an idea to get Karen to announce the arrival of yourself and this board on the moving message panel at the top of the Hair Talk place.
I think Monica's anniversary is well past.....

Personally, my weight-control is not a major issue.
I weight 60kg on a 5 foot 3 inch frame. That's about 9 stone 3 pounds ish.

I have come to know what my weight-gain triggers are: sugar, wheat, caffeine, dehydration, carb-overload and (wouldn't you just know it) chocolate.

So when I want to knock a few pounds off I slide into mild ketosis by upping my protein intake. I get the best quality Scottish bone-matured beef rump steak and gorge on it. With a hunk of English mustard. Add a few meals of calves liver and .....whoa...where did that fat go??
Takes 5 days to lose 5 pounds.
Works every time.
I also find that I forget about food when I go into red meat mode which is great because I can then focus on more productive activities.
Red meat recharges me and I feel more energized than on any other food substance. I am of course careful to get a full compliment of nutrients while I do this.
So I eat plenty of fruit, salad, eggs and nuts.

Commercial diets helped me in experimenting with foods to discover how I can fine-tune and optimize my energy level.
Here's the ones I tried that actually worked:

1. NeanderThin
2. Montignac method
3. Stone Age diet
4. Blood Type diet

There is a fair amount of diabetes in my family (though I am blessedly free of it thus far) so the ketogenic diets control any such tendency.

I can digestively relate to those ancient peoples that remained hunter-gatherers when the majority of humanity had embraced agriculture.

I would rather, hunt, catch, kill, cook and eat a hare, fish, deer or bird than eat bread or grain-foods of any sort.
I just don't feel well on stodge. I feel heavy, sluggish and slow.


We are all (to a certain degree) metabolic and physiological individuals. A diet that has a positive effect on one person can be disasterous for another.
I firmly believe that each person has to find their own way and commercial diets can help us do this, in the short-term.
In the longer term, however, a more intuitive (and informed) approach to food will always take precedence over what is written in a book.
For me anyway.

Sorry for the long post. I get carried away with words.

Best wishes for this board and in all your journies, Elissa.


Uzma

Uzma,

Thanks for your kind words. It's great to see you in this forum and to learn a bit about what works for you, and what doesn't.

I would like to learn more about the meat-loading concept. Carboyhydrates have always been a trigger for me, but I am unwilling to give them up completely. I do enjoy red meat a great deal, but tend to favor chicken since it's lower in fat. But to hear you report having rid yourself of fat through the use of meat--sounds like a dream.

Sugar is also a big trigger for me. I try to avoid it, because once I wake up that beast, I'm in trouble! So I rarely indulge.

I look forward to hearing more about this way of eating.

Elissa

Karen,

I had forgotten about WW pre-packaged meal plans. I was unable to get much from the meetings also. I usually just weighed in and left.

The Fat Flush program sounds like a good one. I know it would work for me because I hate eggs--I would probably starve!

I can totally relate about the priority thing. With me as well, it was all about making this project come first in my life. Knowing what to eat was only half the battle.

A close friend of mine is currently doing Jenny Craig, hopefully she will come here and talk to us about her experiences. It sounds like that might be a good one for you because of your difficult schedule.

May we all find success together!

Take care,
Elissa


[QUOTE=Karen Shelton] Hi,

I had a lot of success with Weight Watchers in the past because of the prepackaged concept. I did not have luck with the meetings because of the time committment. I have heard lots of good things about Jenny Craig but never got there.

I think for the most part Weight Watchers provides a good balanced program and it is definitely a big help that the food is laid out for easy understanding and the point system.

For me, I have had the best overall success with The Fat Flush plan. I have tried it at various times in my life and when I make the time to shop, cook and eat on the plan, I feel great, my hair looks great and I float down to my best body weights. Again though...the biggest issue with the plan...formulated by Louise Gittleman...is having access to the right foods. The Fat Flush program definitely requires you to eat a lot of eggs. The best I can do is boil them the night before but I get sick of eating eggs.

A lot of my issues is not making my food plan my biggest priority over other things. When I do that and take the time, it works for me.
[/QUOTE]

Hi Elissa

With regard to the meat-based diet, I could write reams about it.
But others, far more qualified than I have done so.

Basically, you are replacing the grain/starch component of your diet (which is energy rich and nutrient low

Thanks Uzma, I look forward to reading and learning more about this!

Elissa
Definitely carnivore

ConGrats Elissa...I love this topic!!

Uzma, I read some of the info on the Neanderdiet thing how interesting!

I'm definitely a Red Meat girl. My hubby and I have been on the path to better health. Our basic plan has been lifestyle changes.

REAL food.
Whole Grains.
Lean meats
lot's more veggies and fruits.
No/less processed foods
Plus we both had to start eating earlier in the day, and all day long, making sure to include protein earlier, and through out the day.

Anyway it has gone really well, but my whole point is there are days when I say to my hubby NEED red meat! I swear I could live on sirloin steak and salad.

I'm reading the info you posted, it's very interesting. Thanks

Thanks, Sophie :)

It sounds like you know what works for you. It also sounds very reasonable and balanced. I'm so glad you found your way "up" to this section.

I too plan on investigating the diabetes-diet link (there's plenty of it in my family). It seems the more I read, the more I'm learning about the harmfulness of overdoing sugars. It's so hard to avoid them, though.

Elissa

I was reading something today having to do with protein deficiency...Hmmm, Very interesting.

Especially women, this guy was saying women should get 40 to 60 grams of protein per day, and of course it was even higher for men.

It seems we (the girls at the salon and my family) had really been cutting back on the protein in favor of low fat and carbs...this was for the most part during the mid 90's until about 2 years ago. Mann! I don't think it was beneficial at all!!! In fact now that i am on the more protein thing per day, and earlier in the day has been much better.

Hi Sophie

I can survive on 70 grams of protein a day, but I thrive on 100 grams a day!!

Also, proportionally increasing protein intake (and withdrawing carbs) will reduce/knock out your sugar-craving.

This, I understand, is because the body starts using fat as fuel if carbs aren't present in the digestive tract &/or blood system.

There is a whole heap of science behind this, so please forgive me for putting it so simplistically here.

Best way is to test it for yourself for a 2-week period and see how your organism (on energetic, adiposal, emotional levels) responds.

Best wishes

Uzma

Thank's Uzma, Wow 100g? I haven't tried the protein thing to that degree, But I'm going to.

Maybe you could start a thread on this topic or Elissa is investagating the blood sugar/fat, thing, maybe the two topics are complimentary...??

I,m still reading the sites you posted.

I would love it if we could post ideas for basic meal ideas...especially breakfast and easy healthy protein rich lunches.?

Plus I would love better ideas or pictures in my mind about what a gram is...ect.

Thank's Guy's.

The Doctor Atkin's diet works very well. Within two weeks I have lost 15 lbs. The food is great and you eat very well without the feeling of hunger nor the need to cheat.
Before going on this life style change I used to get very dizzy around meal times to the point that I would become very pale in colour and often dizzy.
Now I feel great and would never go back to the old way of life!!

Diane,

Congratulations on your success with Atkins!

I have several friends who did well on Atkins, though I understand it takes a lot of discipline and planning. One thing I noticed is that Atkins dieters all reported feeling satisfied and not hungry. That is a good thing!

Personally, if I had to limit all of the things one has to limit on Atkins, I'd starve to death. I am a very picky eater and don't eat cheese, eggs, or seafood/fish at all. And I would be lost without my fruits.

Elissa

Hi all,

What Uzma and others here say about Atkins style diets, I can say about diets like those of Dean Ornish, or Joel Fuhrman. Both these M.D.'s say just about the opposite of Dr. Atkins, and most of the diet is raw grees, fruits and beans with small amounts of grains, and NO animal products AT ALL.
(They claim their is good evidence about cancer and heart problems being related to animal protein and fat.)

This is a good example of how extremely different the advice we can get about diets is. What is interesting is that on either of these diets, I feel full after eating, have no urge to snack and lose weight easily. Aside from any health issues pro and con between the diets, one advantage of the raw veggies is ease of preparation. While I am typing this, I am eating a head of Romaine lettuce. The only prepartation was rincing it off and tearing off the leaves as I eat them.

I have never tried the Atkins or "Caveman" diets but I have friends that have done very well on them.

It seems the key is:

Find something you can stick to which is reasonably healthy.

Giles