Re: WHATT?????
 

So it's healthier to eat loads of sugar and refined carbs as long as you go run? I highly doubt that. And not everyone is a runner. By changing your LIFEstyle (NOT a fad diet), you increase your health. I know I'm much healthier eating lean meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains while cutting out the excess sugar.

I agree with everyone that said its about a lifestyle change - not a diet

no pill, program, or even surgery in extreme cases can change someone's will power to eat crappy food and sit their asses on a couch.

You have to learn how to eat well and actually move around once in a while to lose your flab.

I am on Weight Watchers and I love it. It fits with my lifestyle and it so easy to follow! The meetings provide support and feedback They recently have a new program called Flex Points that has been around for a few weeks. I am getting used to that, but I am enjoying it.

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I agree krazy...our country has an alarming rate of obesity. If you look at other countries, you will see people consuming much smaller portions and walking much more. People wonder how these women can indulge and stay so thin...but it's not magic, it's portion control and exercise that is part of their daily life. There is no need to obsess about carbs, sugar, etc. Just be aware of what a healthy diet should be ( whole grains, lean protein, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, lowfat dairy) and know that if you are consuming a healthy diet overall, then it's OK to have a slice of cake, just not 5 slices of cake! So many people have that all-or-nothing mindset which makes sticking to an Atkins-type diet difficult in the long term. When they "give in" and eat a cookie, they feel bad because sugar is "forbidden". They feel they have failed and give up trying to be healthy alltogether. I think it comes down to the individual- Atkins is great for some people, but not for everyone. It's all about finding what works for YOU! Just my 2 cents...

JUst curious, what exactly is the South Beach diet?

I've never tried any "fad diets" (mainly because I like bread, pasta, and meat entirely too much to give it up!), but my mom has tried a couple of those, and like many people said, some people can't do fad diets forever.

Recently she's just started eating healthier (no matter if it is bread, pasta or whatever some fad diets forbid) and started going to this place called "Curves" (which I think is an exercise place for women) and she's been doing amazing. She doesn't have to count calories, or anything, just exercise consistantly, eat healthy, and she said she's felt more energetic and lively now that she doesn't limit what types of food she can/can not eat.

Re: Re: WHATT?????
 

Okay, you need to re-read what I wrote. Did I tell you to eat loads of sugar? No I didn't. As a matter of fact, I try not to eat refined sugar at all.
What do you mean not everyone is a runner? Who is born a runner? No one, Americans need to get out there and stop making excuses. WHY aren't you a runner? Bad knees, fine, most likely b/c you never run, go walk then. It is just nuts that 70% of our country is considered fat. What a bunch of crap. We most definately are NOT the most powerful country in the world when our people can't find the energy to get out of their chairs and exercise.
Fruits, Vegetables and whole grains are not a part of Atkins. So, if you want to go edit your post, feel free. Atkins restricts those foods. Atkins diet was made for heart patients that had to lose weight very rapidly for surgery. In this scenario, the risk of death from obesity out-weighs the risk of screwing up your metabolic rate. I wish all of you on Atkins the best of luck. Sure, you will lose weight now, I just hope you keep it off. WW on the other hand is a great way to lose weight. Go that route. It teaches you to eat in a sensible manner. I am not mad at Atkins people, I just cannot believe what you people are saying.

By the way, Atkins has been around for 40 years huh? Well, sure has worked on us Americans, hasn't it.

BOOM, right there... She has it down. It is that easy. Eat healthy foods, have a SMALL snack food item if you crave it, and work out. not hard.

Hi krazy. It's nice to finally see someone else who thinks what I do about the Atkins diet.

Okay, I'm going to the gym now. :)

Re: Re: Re: WHATT?????
 

Well first of all you're wrong.

People on Atkins restrict bad carbs (simple sugars) and carbs that are high in the Glycemic Index. The don't eat a lot of carbs, but they DO indeed eat some fruit and most vegetables.

The problem is that Atkins and lo-carb diets have been given a bad name by people who don't do it properly. Atkins is NOT cutting out all fruits and vegetables. If people did that they would die of malnutrition, and many people live on this diet, maintaining it as a lifestyle.

You should really know what something is before you bash it.

Now, this may have been said already, but I think the key is to find something that works for you and stick to it. Everyone is different. One of my best friends swears by Atkins, but I can't do Atkins because I have "bread issues" and could not last more than about a day without bread. Weight Watchers works best for me because I can pretty much have what I want, as long as I am diligent about counting the points!!!

That, and get some exercise, any exercise, no matter how small. Find something that you like. I like to walk..

I started to follow Atkins last January after doing a lot of research on dieting. I had struggled with the same 12 pounds for two years. I would lose it, gain it back, and lose it again. I religiously followed Atkins and lost the weight. After two weeks on Induction, I slowly incorporated fruit back into my diet. I ate a cup of strawberries every other day for a week. I added more low carb foods and continued to lose weight. After six weeks, I added a small amount of brown rice and whole wheat bread. Now I have maintained my weight. I limit my carb intake. I have learned how to better eat for my body. I can eat pizza for example, but not everyday.

As tinydancer said, "find something that works for you and stick to it." Many people have great success on Weight Watchers and many have success on Atkins. Some people just eliminate the 'bad foods' like candy, alcohol, or soda and increase exercise, and they lose weight. If you are looking for a diet, do you research. Plus, prepare yourself with groceries and recipes. Good luck!

I don't think this is a smart lifestyle choice. What is wrong with eating foods you enjoy while getting enough exercise to maintain a healthy weight?

THe problem is that some people simply can not eat certain foods and feel good. I am not diabetic, but when I eat foods that are mainly simple sugars I feel like crap about an hour later, when my blood sugar crashes. When I set out to lose weight two years ago I started out with a plan similar to Weight Watchers- just eating smaller portions of things, and making healthier choices. It helped, but I did not REALLY start to see changes in my body and feel better about the things I ate until I moved towards a low-carb lifestyle that limited simple sugars.

I am not on Atkins, but follow a similar plan that limits simple sugars and fatty forms of protein. I give in and eat bread or french fries- but in very small/moderate quantities, and RARELY. My carb choices come mainly from veggies, fruits and whole grains. The bulk of my diet is protein and high-fiber foods. I have made incredible gains in strength (at my peak when I was very strict about eating this way I had a 6-pack. It was a beautiful thing)and just felt better than I ever did when I tried lo-fat, lo-protein dieting.

We each do what makes us feel good- I am glad that weight watchers makes you feel good, but I don't understand why you feel so free to judge something that is working for so many people- especially when you apparently haven't done a great deal of research into how it works.

There's no need to pronounce judgement, just don't do it.

I don't need to go on a diet, but I'm pretty well-schooled in the Atkins deal. I've seen people who have abused it (bacon 3 times a day, no fruits and veggies, etc) and their blood pressure has skyrocketed. These people give the diet the bad name. If you're responsible, then it can work for you. On the other hand, there's really nothing wrong with cutting down on carbs--for a relatively inactive society, we still eat as if we're doing serious work in the factory or on the farm. I'm sure we can all cut down on our carbohydrate intake.