Diet can be a negative word. If you ask an average woman how many diets she's been on, I'm guessing she'll say at least three. Many probably say that diets just don't work or that they only worked for a short period of time.I myself have been on, hmmm ... maybe at least two diets that I can think of. One when I was in high school and I lost so much weight in two weeks that it scared me, so I stopped (OK, that wasn't a diet, that was starving myself by eating carrots for lunch and dinner). And the other one was about two years ago. I haven't been on a diet since then, although the way I've been downing ice cream sundaes lately, I think I'll need to!
The last one that I did was the South Beach Diet and I'm pleased to say that it worked for me. I lost 15 pounds in 2 months. Woohoo! Plus my grocery bill was lower since I stopped buying cookies and desserts. I thought Phase I was the easiest phase, contrary to what others may say. It was easier for me because I knew exactly what I could and could not eat. I did get sick of having boiled eggs and skim milk everyday for breakfast, though, instead of my usual cereal with skim milk and orange juice.
When Phase II came around, I thought I was about to fail my new regime. I found that it was hard to control the portion of carbs and sugar that I could introduce back into my diet. Somehow I stuck with it -- I think logging in my information on the South Beach Diet Web site really helped me since I can track my food intake and my progress. Also, I did have a cheat day once a week where I allowed myself to eat anything as much as I want, so I didn't feel as deprived.
So now, I'm thinking about going back on the South Beach Diet. Although I just heard about the 3-hour diet, where you eat every three hours, and the cookie diet ... no joke! With the cookie diet, you eat one dinner and six hunger-suppressing cookies a day. That one is definitely interesting, but I don't think that will work for me since I need variety in my food.
I decided to use summer as an excuse to not go on a diet. What 's a girl to do when it's 95 degrees outside and you just need to have an ice cream cone? So maybe in the fall, I'll revisit this whole dieting thing again. Until then, you can share some dieting tips with me. Which diet plan has worked for you?
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
21. There is a reason diet is a four letter word. My waistline is the only thing I have spent money on that is still here 40 years later, if only my savings account could grow as steadily and fast.
If you eat the diet, that they require of gastric bi pass patients you will lose same amountwith out the surgery
Posted at 11:29PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Tim Orris
22. I have tried nearly every diet there is. I lost weight, but always after about a year I have gained the weight back plus a few pounds. I recently discovered the Insulin Resistance Diet. I purchased the book and have been following this plan for 3 weeks. I have lost about 8 lbs but the big difference that I see is the loss of inches around my waist, hips, thighs, and bottom. This diet does not restrict any foods, just stick to proper serving sizes and eat every 2-3 hours. It is all about linking and balancing. For every serving of carbohydrates, you balance it with a serving of protein. This actually works and I want for nothing. I am very please thus far, and very satisfied with the food I eat (which is what ever I want).
Posted at 11:35PM on Aug 20th 2007 by amy
23. I have been on the South Beach Diet for approximately 1 year. In the time I have been on the diet I have lost 125 lbs. As well as following the diet I also cut out fast food and primarily drink water. I may ocassionally have a glass of milk or a mocha, but for the most part I drink water only. I have about 30 to 50 lbs to hit my ultimate goal. The South Beach Diet has worked amazingly well for me.
Posted at 11:40PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Jonathan
24. Like Chris I'm with Isgenix and after 6 wks I've lost 12 lbs and over 20 inches. I've have never been hungry on this program. I feel better than I have in years. All without excercising up to this point but I've just started with curves to get toned and help speed up the loss in wt & inches. Go to cheryl.isagenix.com and check it out. By the way I'm 60 and if I can do it, you can too!
Posted at 11:45PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Cheryl Kochis
25. i want to know more about sacred heart diet. is it healthy for you? does it really work? is there any hidden kicker they don't mention up front?
Posted at 12:06AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Ella
26. I am currently on Weight Watchers and in 13 weeks I have lost 25 lbs. This is a healty weight loss (ave. 0.5-2 lbs a week). Not only has the program taught me how to portion my foods more wisley it has also taught me what foods to eat as well as what your intake of food should be daily. You are not required to buy their foods but can eat everyday foods as well. I highly recommend this program!!!
Posted at 12:11AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Carly
27. I am also on the Isagenix Nutritional Cleansing plan. I have lost 26 lbs and 25 inches in 10 weeks. If you stick to the program and drink a lot of wather it can work for you. I am planning to loose another 20 lbs in the next 12 weeks. If I can do you can do it.
Posted at 12:18AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Susan Robinette
28. SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK OUT PRITIKIN'S DIET....THE BEST AND HEALTHIEST THAT EXISTS. YOU DON'T NEED TO STICK TO ALL HE SAYS AND DO NOT NEED TO USE HIS RECIPES. JUST FOLLOW HIS RULES AND MAKE UP YOUR OWN MENUS AND RECIPES. THE BASICS ARE "DO NOT TOUCH OIL OF ANY KIND (NO, NOT EVEN OLIVE OIL); ENJOY YOUR POTATOES AND VEGGIES AND FRUIT...JUST NO GRAVY. BETTER TO USE NO MORE THAN 1 TLB OF BUTTER THAN ANY OTHER JUNK OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY OLEO. NO SWEETS WHATSOEVER...PLENTY OF SALADS WITH RAW VEGGIES BUT USE WATER WITH YOUR VINEGAR AND SPICES, ETC. GUESS WHAT, THE WEIGHT LITERALLY FALLS OFF SO FAST AND YOUR ARTERIES WILL BE BEAUTIFUL JUST LIKE MINE ARE. I JUST HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY, NEEDED A NEW VALVE, BUT MY ARTERIES ARE "BEAUTIFULLY CLEAR"....THANKS TO MY PRITIKIN DIET AND I HAVE GONE OFF OF IT AT TIMES BUT HAD TO GO BACK BECAUSE BEING OFF OF IT MADE ME FEEL BAD MOST OF THE TIME. JUST GO TO KEYWORD "PRITIKIN" AND LEARN THE BASICS BUT DON'T LET THOSE RECIPES SCARE YOU. WHEN I FIRST STARTED IT, I STOPPED SMOKING THAT MONTH, ATE ALL DAY LONG ON PRITIKIN BASICS AND I LOST 11 LBS IN TWO WEEKS, BROUGHT MY BAD CHOLESTEROL DOWN TO PERFECT; GOOD CHOLESTEROL UP TO PERFECT, TRIGLICERIDES TO PERFECT...BLEW MY INTERNIST'S MIND....HA. MY BLOOD SUGAR AND BLOOD PRESSURE ARE ALWAYS EXCELLENT. BY THE WAY, I AM 75 YEARS OLD AND LOOK AT LEAST 10 YRS YOUNGER, I HAVE BEEN TOLD.
Posted at 12:18AM on Aug 21st 2007 by MARILYN
29. One of the ways I've discovered to lose weight is eat your three meals a day chewing your food at a regular pace. Then, drink water all day cutting out the soda's, coffee's, and etc. You don't have to cut them out totally, but only have like one 12 fl oz of soda a day and a glass of 2% or less milk at supper. A great way to help this process move along faster and lose more weight, (great for stay-at-home mother's), clean, clean, and clean. While you're cleaning your house, suck your tummy in. This helps to tighten it. The bending, twisting, reaching, and such is the same as exercising. And this is doing it for at least 2 hrs per day. Even if you have a clean house, find something to do as in dust, sweep, mop, fold clothes, etc. Within one month of just doing this--and I discovered it by accident and I've had 5 kids--I lost 21 lbs. and 4" from my waist. I feel doing this not only benefits one in losing weight, but also benefits in your house being cleanned. Good luck!
Posted at 12:49AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Chelle F.
30. I have tried and now sell Medifast Foods from Take Shape for Life. I love it and I am going to be on the cover of a magazine.
Check it out..
lauriebrown.tsfl.com
Posted at 12:55AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Laurie
31. i went on the lemonade cleansing diet and i lost 2 pounds a day
Posted at 1:04AM on Aug 21st 2007 by amcosy123
32. Anyone remember The Cambridge Diet. Now that works.
Posted at 1:35AM on Aug 21st 2007 by AddamBeast1
33. It's all true, burn more then you take in. I went from 283 to 240 in 4 Months. I jst eat smaller meals and ride my 10 speed a couple of times a week for a couple of miles, no heavy work outs as I'm 61 years old and have Blood clots in my Deep veins in my left leg.( By the way I'm 6' 2........)
Posted at 1:52AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Jim
34. I used the Atkins Diet about 4 years ago. It worked great, I lost 70 lbs. I some how have managed to keep most of it off. I think this is due in part to exercise and learning a new way of eating. Yes lower carbs but also making healthier choices. I tell everyone to try it, but most people think they can lose wieght then revert back to their old eating habits. It definetly is a lifestyle change. However I look better and feel better.
Posted at 4:01AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Harli Momier
35. Kelly
you are sadly mistaken, a day to eat anything you want is the best way to trick your body, i was on fastins a couple of years ago, and i counted carbs, i lost 60 lbs in 3 months, but one day a week actually friday i would eat as many carbs as i possibly could, my dr told me to do this, because it makes your body think it is going to start getting those carbs again, then boom you take it away and it still burns them, thinking its going to get more!
Posted at 4:21AM on Aug 21st 2007 by latasha
36. Try this diet it worked for me. i lost 35 lbs and it WAS EASY . http://www.cinchplan.com/elyse/home
Posted at 5:28AM on Aug 21st 2007 by DAVID
37. Nice article. The information on dieting is very good. Dieting doesn't mean you have stop eating. Having a healthy meal will give better results. For some tips on weight loss I suggest you visit this site on dieting.
Posted at 6:35AM on Aug 21st 2007 by peter
38. With the use of Active 8, a natural potassium and magnesium supplement and B-Active, a natural a B12, B6 and Folic Acid supplement. Which helps with increasing metabolism, cardiovascular, immune system, blood sugar levels, nerve and blood cells healthy. I use active8products.com/kjm1146. Doctor developed for his patients.
Posted at 9:08AM on Aug 21st 2007 by Kimberly
39. I have done it all excetp shots and surgery. I have done weight watchers, weight wizards(through local hospital),pills, GDRA health unit,ect. and with all of these things, I lost weight but could never keep it off. Overeaters Anonymous generally known as OA has been the answer.
I didn't do well in regular OA but I have do very well in H.O.W. OA. It is more structured group. We have a food plan, it is not a diet, it is a life changing comittment. It is a 12 step program and food is to me as alcohol is to the alcoholic. I am addicted to sugar (a taste is too much and all the sugar in the would would not be enough,) This program is not for those who need it, it is for those who really want it. Look in your phone book for the number.
Posted at 1:46PM on Aug 21st 2007 by Mildred
40. It IS simple. Eat less calories than you burn.
I use a FREE website (http://caloriecount.about.com) to log all my food and activities.
It keeps a running meter of the two so you can see if you are eating too much.
The forum boards are AWESOME and the community support is very helpful in keeping you motivated.
It has tools to show you how many calories you burn naturally; how many you burn with different activities, and how many calories are in thousands of foods.
It's free to create an account and use all this wonderful information.
This site is the only reason I was able to lose weight and keep it off.
It's not about a fad diet. It's about making healthy choices, becoming more active (in ANY capacity; not strictly by joining a gym) and realizing that it's a journey, not a quick fix.
Posted at 2:27PM on Aug 21st 2007 by mcderin