WHAT HAVE YOU TRIED? or haven't

I've tried Weight Watchers with the support group and it worked for me a long time ago. Since then have tried to eat as healthy as possible, but always had trouble losing weight even with being able to do 15 miles on the elliptical and 5 miles on the bike. Just working back up to that again, as took some time off and lost all the benefits. Still I was working out at the gym, using a lot of heavy free weights and having a ton of enjoyment out of feeling strong - so I ate 6 times a day with a lot of chicken and protein drinks. Didn't lose anything (still was over 200) but my waist line shrunk like from a size 22 down to a size 16/18 in a few months and I had mega-energy.
This time, I'm giving it the go easy at every thing and just watch my calories on this site with about 250 calories burned a day, sometimes more. It's also working and I'm not as strong, but the weight is dropping, so it all works - it's just what works best for you, and what you can keep at for the rest of your life to stay trim. I guess that's the key for me - if I can't follow it all the time, then it's not worth it.

I do love the support on this site. It helps to talk it out when you blow it, or need a pat on the back.

I haven't tried any pills but there is this diet that Dr. Oz (from Oprah) recommends to where you don't eat any partially hydrogenated oils, and things like that and I didn't see a difference and its so strict that its definitely not something I could commit to for life. I've also tried the special k diet :happy: which I lost a few pounds on and it was really good for a while but, now I can't stand special k cereal!! I've also tried using Bob Green (Oprah's trainer) and I didn't have any luck really, I just wasted 50 bucks. Also, I tried the Slim Fast diet and for a while I liked it because the food is good but I didn't have any weightloss sucess. I've lost 15 pounds and I'm trying to lose another 15 pounds but its so difficult to lose!! I'm now a vegetarian (because I'm an animal lover) and that helps me in terms of limiting what I can eat. So I can't go binge on a big mac although I can eat the fries but I'm trying not to. Really now I just use my knowledge on whats good for me and I watch calories, the ingredients, portion sizes, drink lots of water, etc--so far its going all right.. And starting January I'm going to be a vegan which will be very hard but I'm sure it will help my eating habits and hopefully help me lose weight.

I'm on the YOU! diet (Dr. Oz mentioned above) and I'm a vegetarian. For me, it's really easy, but I must count calories or I will overeat. It's really one of the best diets out there for being healthy, but you may not get down to a size 6 without counting calories.
I did weight watchers, but it's not a lifetime diet, so the weight came back.
I think making small, life-time, changes works best. If you can't do it for the rest of your life, it's probably not a good diet. That said, that doesn't mean you should never eat french fries again, just not every week.

I also do interval cardio exercise. It really seems to help me.

This site is really good.

BTW the YOU diet is completely free at www.realage.com - there are even free workout videos.

I like the idea that doctors want you to be healthier without making you spend money. Any pills, special workout equipment, endorsement foods, etc turn me off.

I have been doing the master cleanse, but not for the purpose of losing weight. I have been doing it for the purpose of cleaning myself completely out and ridding my body of possible parasites. I have done a huge amount of research on this diet and did not even realize that Beyonce was doing this... or that it was a new fad diet. I honestly did not even know that it was for weight loss... each drink is 110 calories... so if you have 6-12 a day... that could add up to 1200 a day... and you may not lose weight. I also know that people can gain weight... my friend did.... and she is an extremely naturalist... owns a health store.

This diet is extremely hard. I am extremely pleased with what is happening... and believe that all of us have parasites! Books I have read said that 95% of us have them... and also... that it can plug you up. When I realized that we were suppose to have BM's three times a day!

I had surgery in December and my whole body changed. I have started to have problems in the above area. I eat tons of fresh fruit and veggies and have lost 68 pounds. I am so happy with my weight loss.. but distressed over seeing what was happening and how i felt after this surgery. The more I read... the more I knew I wanted to get totally and completely cleaned out. I went to a doctor and went to a few other people telling them my theories. It took me three weeks to get ready to do this diet.

Here is what I want to tell you... I have lost 9 pounds in 6 day, but it possibly may be a lot of water weight and yukko (above explained) weight. (sorry to be so dog on graphic in all of this !)... my skin is changing and the smells that are coming off of my body, and breath are amazing. They say that if you smoked 15 years ago... that as your organs are releasing the toxins and impurities... that you may be able to smell or taste things that you did in your past.

I am 48 and have NEVER gone through a cleanse. I am listening to my body and deciding as I go when to lose. You stay on this diet a minimum of 10 days and you can go on it for a great deal of time. It takes three days to come back off it...

It made a great deal of sense to me. I am really into alternative medicine and living a natural life. Clean water... air... food... it is all very important to me.

So.. for people like me... I think it is a good thing. My friend (that owns the health food store) does this every year! And has since the 1980's!!!

If any of you want to keep track of my experience... become my friend... tamratowersbutler
I will keep you up to date on this.

Tamra

P.S. I work out 5-10 hours a week... and that has slowed down... but I feel the strength and stamina to do it... I just have not been working out as long as I usually do cuz of the friendship with "john" my house potty. flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou flowerforyou

I have tried many many things. Weight Watchers (which IS a great program but I would tend to cheat a bit too much....with "Well, that SEEMS to be 3 points, etc.".

I took Xenadrine a few years ago. That did help. But part of it was because it made me feel so sick I didn't want to eat much! I would go to bed and would be shaking and my heart beat would be SO fast. It scared the crap out of me!

I have tried eating a carrot a day (starving myself) and of course that brings weight off......muscle mass! And leaves the fat! And once I started eating again, the weight piled on, and even more than before!!

After all of this I have FINALLY realized that there is no magic fix! You have to take the weight off simply by doing the opposite of what you did to put it on in the first place. You need to watch your caloric intake (journal)...and eat smaller portions and exercise! It's as simple as that. BUT, where the calories come from has to be an important part of the journey as well. Lean protein, fiber, complex carbs, etc etc! More water, lower sodium. All these things are better for your body and your body WILL respond favorably, no matter who you are.

Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to weight loss!