a little messed in the head...

TheRaven2011

Ah, the insanity. So, I have been doing Weight Watchers on and off for many many years. I always get sick of it, binge, then move on for a few days to something else. Then I end up back at Weight Watchers.

So, now I find this site, and think it is great, but for some reason I have this mental block that only Weight Watchers will work. I get overwhelmed with how much weight I have to lose and wonder how I can possibly do this without Weight Watchers.

A little history...I first started WW many many years back at about 180lbs. I am not 296. Hmmm...I need to find something and stick with it.

I am just looking for encouragement. I certainly feel like a failure and am sick of having Weight Watchers as a crutch. I believe that is my biggest issue.

minadeathclutch

weight watchers is just another money scheme like every other diet program.


the thing is you KNOW what to eat. you KNOW donuts are bad for you and you KNOW spinach is good for you.

you dont need some big money maker to tell you what you can and can not eat. track your food if you need to, workout everyday if you can if you cant make it 3-4 times a week. it's all good. you can do this. it's easy. don't make it seems so hard. good luck!!!!

Teri1998

I thought the same thing about Jenny Craig because a lady I work with lost a bunch of weight on that program. I can't afford to spend $120+/week on food for just myself when I have a family to feed as well. I have been doing this since Memorial Day, and have lost 14 pounds so far. Slow and steady seems to be the way to go. I go to the gym or walk during lunch 3-4 times per week and I follow my plan here religiously. Hang in there and give a whole-hearted shot and see what happens!

sharoniballoni

Doing anything to the point of hating it so much that you do the exact opposite is bad. Most programs will work if you actually do them correctly. The beauty of simply tracking calories and being conscious of what you consume is that you can scale up or down as you wish. So, if being on a "diet" to lose weight is not sustainable for you, maybe you do one week diet levels and the next week sustaining levels and just go back and forth. Just don't go to binge levels. Your loss will be slower, but it may be something you can stick with and will work in the long run.

Good luck. You can do it!!!

stephaniezoundi

Welcome!
This is a great tool. There is lots of support, especially on the boards where you will find groups with different targets (I'm in one with 100+ to lose). I know the feeling of finding what you need to lose overwhelming. Try looking at it (and even setting your ticker) for 10lbs at a time and make sure you reward yourself for reaching mini goals. Feel free to add as a friend if you want.

crazymama2two

weight watchers is just another money scheme like every other diet program.


the thing is you KNOW what to eat. you KNOW donuts are bad for you and you KNOW spinach is good for you.

you dont need some big money maker to tell you what you can and can not eat. track your food if you need to, workout everyday if you can if you cant make it 3-4 times a week. it's all good. you can do this. it's easy. don't make it seems so hard. good luck!!!!

THIS THIS THIS!!! i was a WW lifetimer - and i refuse to pay them money to read the effin scale! you got this!

dorisholaway

Welcome aboard. Feel free to add me for support if you would like.

Qarol

I did WW years ago. The biggest thing I remember is their push to write everything down that you eat. That's what MFP can do for you! And it adds it up for you. It's awesome. I'm not knocking WW. But I don't think you NEED it to lose weight.

salimehisthebest

I also did WW. But, I always hit this point where I stopped losing weight. I have only been on this site since Saturday, and already lost 2 pounds. I absolutely love this site! The calorie counter is very helpful, and the people on this site are so nice. They are very supportive, and really help you to stay on track. :-)

I am currently huge. I am tracking my meals, eating veggies instead of potatoes, or rice, and swimming for an hour a day. You can do this!! :-)

QuestForFitness

The ONLY thing that will EVER work is you. Not weight watchers, not atkins, not 17-day, hell not even MFP. All of these things are support, motivation, encouragement. Not only CAN you do this, but you've done it before! I'm here if you need me!

TheRaven2011

Thanks guys...it all makes so much sense. This community is great!

fab50G

I did WW for quite a while and lost some weight, but was not nearly as successful as I have been on this site (27 lbs since 01/31/11). The principles on this site are not all that much different than WW except that MFP is FREE, FREE, FREE. You track your food and exercise on MFP just like you do with WW. Your MFP friends are essentially like one ginormous WW meeting, offering encoragement, inspiration, ideas and feedback. I find this site to be much more user friendly than WW online. Oh, and did I mention...it's FREE!!!

Best of luck on your weight loss journey. YOU CAN DO THIS!

fine4now

We all are a little messed up in the head. lol. You need to find what will work for you. The good thing about this is you can use it with any diet you go on. But I dont like thinking of being on a diet. I have dieted all my life and it never worked. Now my goal is to be healthy. I am working on changing the way I think about food. It isnt easy. I am starting to relize that a candybar is not my friend and isnt going to fix wait ever crisis I am in at the moment. Now if I can convince myself the same about Dr Peppers! lol I am here if you need some support.

pa_jorg

The only way to conquer this is to find out what works for you both mentally and physically and then stick with it for the long haul! It may mean some trial and error with food or exercise, but you'll figure it out and it will work because it won't be a one-size-fits-all plan, it will be YOUR plan and you will own it! Good luck!

vsetter

Use the skills that you have already learned from WW. You've learned what foods are better for your body. You've learned about portion control and everything in moderation. You've learned to drink your water. You've learned that exercise is good for your body. Bring those skills here and you will be fine...AND you will lose weight!!! There is a huge support system here --- they will keep you on track when you need the extra push. Pick a day of the week where you weigh in (and take measurements too) -- this website will keep you accountable for your actions that way! Best of luck!

Kimmer2011

I lost 80 pounds with WW in '96, right before my wedding. Then I stopped doing it and gained it all back and more.

I lost 90 pounds with WW online in '04, getting back down to my wedding weight. Then I stopped doing and gained it all back and more.

I've been tracking my own calories since February of this year, and using MFP since May or so. I've lost 75 pounds, and am NOT STOPPING THIS TIME.

MFP works. Let it. You can be healthier. Do it.

carolinedb

I also did WW on and off for a few years. I liked it, but I like that here I get the same things FREE! The support is fabulous.

Hodar

Here's my 2 cents on the Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Dr. Atkins, and other diets.

Sure, they work - they work great while you are on them; generally for the short term.

Then, you either quit, or you are off them because you hit your goal - or you are just sick of eating the 'limited food' they allowed; and before you know it, you have gained everything you lost; plus an additional 10-20 lbs. Been there, done that.

Why do they fail? Well, IMHO (I won't speak for you, your opinion may differ) - it's because that in the case of some (Hello, Dr. Atkins) you are encouraged to eat a Water Buffalo, maybe half a Caribou if you want to. Heck, eat as much as you can stuff down your thoat - while in Ketosis, you WILL lose weight.

But, what have you taught yourself? You have learned that there is no such thing as Portion Control, and that Calories mean nothing.

Eat Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or others; learn to love those deserts. But, when you go off the diet, and buy 'real' food for your family - that cake is suddenly containing REAL calories. That lasagnia is not made from sawdust and indigestable vegetable matter (that does taste good, by the way).

Whereas, the MFP protocol simply says "Eat whatever you want, whenever you want - just keep your portion/calories within your budget". No 'magical' food to buy, no limited menu, no unnatural body mechanics to work within - just follow the simple idea of limiting your calories - and the weight HAS to come off.

At the end of the day - it's Calories that determine whether we gain, lose or maintain our weight.

misadele

Hodar makes so much sense! Learning to eat within your budget! I love it! You know my mom had gastric bypass surgery a few years ago and slowly packed back on the pounds. WHY? Because she never learned to eat right and have the right mentality about food. MFP has been such an eye opener for me, my family even my coworkers. We gawk at the calories of stuff that we would normally have picked for our food choices. We just look up the calories sometimes for fun. Geeze NO wonder my fat pants dont fit anymore! Anyway I too have tried all the diets, currently doing a certain one now (shhhh) but I know what works for me and my mentality toward food and lack of patience. So I think you have to do what is comfortable for you and what gets you in the right mindset about food. If you want to eat a whole chocolate cake or buffalo and nothing else for the day, then maybe WW or Atkins is the thing that works best for you. I thinks its a personal preference.
Good luck to you! I'm your friend already on here, hope you'll stay!

PrairieRoseNE

All I'd like to add is to be sure to chose the best calories you can by picking out healthy food to eat. Sure it's calories in vs calories out - but the types of calories you eat make alot of difference. The calories in a candy bar are not as beneficial as the same amount of calories as from a whole plate of veggies & fruit. The veggies & fruit will give you energy, help your fiber needs, fight radicals, etc.... whereas the candy bar calories just give you a sugar rush and then a big let down.
Now, please don't think I'm preaching just fruits & veggies, because proteins & good fats are important too, I just used that as an example
Not all calories are equal in the context of health!