LOOKING FOR A SAFE DIET PROGRAM......SUGGESTIONS...SORORS
 

I AM LOOKING FOR A SAFE DIET PROGRAM. I AM UP TO A SIZE 12. NEED HELP!

DEJA

Soror Deja, I have no suggestions, but I just wanted to pipe in and say I need help too. Back in high school okay maybe that is too far back. Back in college I was a 9-10...these thighs won't fit into anything but a size 13-14. I need a program, I hate exercising, I used to run and that kept my metabolism high, maybe I should start that again.

There is a new book out called "Slim Down, Sister" that is geared towards us. I read about it in a magazine. It was either Heart and Soul or Essence. I can't remember. But that might be a good start.

Sorors, here is a diet that I use whenever I want immediate results. However, I believe that if you really want to change your weight, you must change your lifestyle. This diet really does work, however, it is not a permanent or very healthy solution.

New Mayo Clinic Diet

Breakfast:

½ grapefruit (or) ¼ cup unsweetened grapefruit juice
2 eggs - any style
2 slices of bacon

Lunch:

½ grapefruit (or) ¼ cup unsweetened grapefruit juice
Salad with any dressing
Meat - any style/any amount

Dinner:

½ grapefruit (or) ¼ cup unsweetened grapefruit juice
Meat - any style/any amount (fish may be substituted)
Vegetable - any green or red (cooked in butter or any seasoning)

Bedtime Snack:

Glass of tomato juice or skim milk

Instructions

1. At any meal, you may eat until you are full.
2. Don't skip bacon at breakfast or omit salads. It is the combination of
foods that burn fat.
3. The grapefruit is important because it acts as a catalyst that starts the
burning process.
4. Cut down on coffee, it affects the insulin balance that hinders the
burning process (limit 3 cups per day).
5. Don't eat between meals. If you eat the combination of foods suggested,
you will not get hungry.
6. Do not eat desserts, breads, or white vegetables. You may double or
triple helpings of meat, salad or vegetables. Eat as much as you want. The
more you eat of the proper combinations of foods, the more you lose.

Notes

1. This diet completely eliminates sugars and starches, which are lipids and
form fat. Fat does not form fat. It helps burn it so you can fry foods in
butter and use butter generously on vegetables.
2. You can lose 10 pounds on 10 days. There will be no loss the first 4
days, but you will lose 5 pounds on the 5th day. There after, you will lose
1½ pounds every 2 days until you are at your desired weight.
3. All soft drinks need to be diet and caffeine-free.
4. You may not have: white onions, potatoes, or celery.
5. You may have: red onions, broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers, green
onions, cabbage, radishes, spinach, and carrots.

Important
Stay on the diet for 12 days and stop dieting for 2 days.
**This diet is given to heart patients needing to lose weight quickly for
by-pass surgery**


[This message has been edited by Skeeopatra (edited March 31, 2000).]

When I was looking to drop down from a size 10, I actually ordered Susan Powter's (yes, the blonde crazy lady) "Stop the Insanity" program. I started watching the quality of food that I ate and started burning fat in aerobic activity 5-6 times a week. I'm now comfortable at a size 8.

Even though I am with child now, I still watch what I eat and do a lot of walking around campus. I stopped eating red meat about 3 years ago, and that helped as well--but that was a personal choice I made.

Sadly, I've found there are only three ways to lose weight...
1. get sick and lose your appetite
2. cut down on high-fat foods
3. get physical and burn the fat off

I recommended to you what I'm imposing on the hubby--ways 2 and 3 should help you reach your goal http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

My nickel and three cents,
APR

------------------
"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it turned into a butterfly."

Now yall done said a mouthful, I have to print this page and try and live by it at least till I see my own doctor http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

P.S. Thanks sorors, what a wonderful sorority we have !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[This message has been edited by LadyAKA (edited March 31, 2000).]

Please remember that low-carbohydrate diets followed for long periods of time are shunned by most medical professionals (except the ones making money promoting them).

I think all women are beautiful, regardless of size, and we ourselves perpetuate the vicious cycle of this cult of thinness our society dwells on. Even sisters are in on this. I've noticed that previous posts speak of sizes 10, 12, and 14 as too large. Each person has to find what weight and fitness level works for them, but please sisters, let's keep a healthy perspective.

I myself am uncomfortable in my own skin because of weight, and decided that for me, the only way to get fit was to pay a personal trainer to help me. It's only been a month, but so far, so good. I justified the expense to myself and my husband by figuring out that it was more expensive emotionally to beat myself up because of the weight than to pay someone to help me lose it. However, gaining weight made me realize that true beauty (and even physical beauty) comes from within, and no dress size can really ever make a person beautiful.

Black and Latina women have some of the highest and most deadly rates of almost every cancer, heart disease, etc. We need to focus on fitness, not just food or dieting. You can be rail thin and in serious danger of disease. Get active, eat fruits, veggies, and lean meat, and "ease back from the table" on fatty, sugary, and salty foods. Pray without ceasing. Be a joy in someone else's life. These are the best "diet" tips I can think of.

Take care and be HEALTHY! Sorry for the long post.

DG

Hello ladies,
I too am struggling with the battle of the bulge. However, I am 5'9", and my weight doesn't look bad on me. I agree with everyone, changing your lifestyle is the only way to get stable results. I work in a pharmacy, and I see these people who come in and get Xenical and Meridia to lose weight, besided the money factor (aprx $123.00 @ month), these drugs also have bad side effects (i.e., you may lose the weight, but no one will want to be around you b/c you are passing gas all the time!!!).

Anyway, I have cut back on my high-fat foods, and started walking 3 times a week, doing my leg lifts and scruches, and in 1 month, I have lost like 12 pounds. Anyway, whatever you do, you must do it with consistency, Good Luck to Everyone.

Oh and by the way,
Since we are on the subject of beauty, what can anyone recommend for dry skin. My face is like doing it's own thing and it seems like my pores around my nose are so noticeable. There are soo many products who make their claims, but has anyone tried anything and had good results???

Thanks

Onesavvydiva,

I have not had your particular skin problem, but believe me, I have had others. I have found that Lancome products have worked wonders for me. I'm sure that they have products to address your concerns. It is definitely worth checking out.

If you can find a beauty supply store in your area that carries Edgar Morris products, they're worth the investment, even if you just pick up the moisturizer. If not, Black Opal is becoming more commercially available, and the Oil-Free Moisturizer from that line proved helpful for my dry t-zone area in the winter. I've also found that if you use one of those moisturizer/sunscreen deals, your skin is less likely to dry out during any season.

APR

------------------
"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it turned into a butterfly."

Thank you so much Skeeopatra!

This sounds like something I can handle. I will have some difficulty with eating meat but I will do my best!

I am a whooping size 12......

Nevertheless, I am still----

BLESSED!

THANK YOU1

PINK & GREEN LOVE

DEJA

I know this is old but...
 

Just curious, I just received a copy of the Mayo Clinic diet and I am going to start it on Monday with a few co-workers..has anyone had any success with this diet? It says you can basically eat all the meat and vegetables you want, which is good for me because that's all I like to eat anyway. Just wondering if there are any current success stories with this diet. :)

Thanks!

There is a program called "healthy heart plus' here in the Richmond area and I'm sure in other areas, where you modify your eating habits, take a herbal supplement or drink herbal tea as well and it really knocks off the weight.

I'll get the information and post it.

word to the wise...
 

Just a quick note of caution, the so-called Mayo Clinic Diet, is not endorsed by or created by the Mayo Clinic at all. The following excerpt is from the Mayo Clinic website:

Just FYI, I am about to start the Body for Life program on Monday. After the 12 week program is over, I'll let you all know how it goes. :)

A few months back, the Heart & Soul / Tampax tour stopped by here. And, I was talking to Dr. Ro about the best way to lose weight. She told me that most diets really don't work because it's very hard to stick to a prescribed eating plan or to eat the same foods every day. She said the best way to lose weight is through portion control and light exercise.

She told me that eating the correct portions of food will dramatically help you lose weight because it cuts down the number of calories you eat. I didn't realize it, but I had been eating two to three times the proper portions of my food. For example, one portion of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. A T-bone steak is about two or three times that size.

I have scaled down my portions of food and begun to eat a lot more fruits and vegetables. With 20-30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise at least three times a week, I have already begun to see results. The hardest thing is trying to get the soft and squishy are around my middle to flat and hard, but I'm working on it.

My guess is that you're already beautiful as you are. However, as someone with a very strong interest in diet and exercise, I wanted to offer the following caveat:

When you lose weight through dieting alone, and do not include aerobic and weight-training exercise, one-third of what you lose will be muscle, and diets don't discriminate which muscle you lose. An extreme example of this are anorexics: They do not die of starvation but rather of heart attacks. Their bodies feed off muscles, and the heart is included. On a diet that doesn't include enough of the right foods, your body thinks a famine is coming and starts storing fat to keep you warm and alive. If you should gain this weight back, what you gain will be 100 percent fat. Eat lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean meats, and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day (think 2 1-liter bottles). AND LIFT WEIGHTS!!

Please please please see your doctor, too!! Be healthy!! Get rid of your scale and measure your health by the way your clothes fit. I'm 5'4" and weigh 135 pounds, technically heavy for my bone structure, but I'm a size 4 because I pump iron and have a lot of muscle mass.

PM me if you want to know anything more about weight training, diets, etc., I'm always happy to talk to you. Oh, and remember that weight is usually lost from the top down, and spot reduction is a myth!!

To lose weight, you must really analyze your eating habits. For example, I ate alot of breads, cornflakes, pasta and other processed foods. I changed my eating habits to reduce my intake of processed foods and increase my intake of vegetables. I also included weight training (I already did aerobics) and I went from a size 14 to a size 8.

I still exercise and weight train 4 to 5 days a week. Majority of the foods I eat are healthy. I still have "treats" like chocolate and ice cream but I can't eat them everyday.

IMHO, most people select a "diet" to go on for a couple of weeks, lose weight and then return to their eating habits. They do not make a lifestyle change. Also, exercise should be included in any weight loss program. It doesn't have to going to the gym. It could be 30 minutes of dancing. It should be something that you will stick with.

Water is the key...
 

Also drink LOTS of water...cut out soda (esp. caffeinated sodas), teas, fruit juices, etc. and drink [color=dark-blue]water[/color]. If you don't get enough water your body thinks you are experiencing a drought situation and stores water and fat to get itself through the lean times. Your body needs water to burn fat. If you don't drink anything until you are thirsty, you are dehydrating yourself and sabotaging your weight-loss plans.

Start each morning with two full glasses of water and drink a full glass once every 90 minutes or so. Not only will you help your body burn fat during exercise, you will have clearer skin, nicer hair and more energy.

I've been changing my water habits over the last month and I noticed a HUGE difference in energy, etc. since I started drinking more water.

I've also lost 6 pounds...and I'm not fully back into my exercise routine (recovering from a knee injury).

Pilates can work wonders for that "soft and squishy " middle area. I've been doing if for about 2 months and I can see my middle area slimming and becoming firmer. Pilates is a series of stretches that will give you the same effect as low-impact aerobics, but you are on the floor the whole entire time. Think of it as high impact yoga!

Be very careful with the quick fix fad diets. I have done many in the past but the results are always temporary and usually are just water weight loss not loss of fat. Some of them are even dangerous to your health. The best advice I ever got is that it is not about being on a diet, it is about changing your eating habits for life.

I know some people attach all kinds of stigma to the name but I really like their current program- Weight Watchers. There points program has been working for me. My spec recommended it. After she had my goddaughter she held on to the baby weight for almost two years. She finally had enough and joined weight watchers. She looks fantastic! She lost all the baby weight and then some. Also, one of my ls's has been on it since just before Christmas and I have NEVER seen her look so slim and alive! She looks wonderful and swears by the program. Like with anything you have to make up your mind to stick to it, but if you do it does work.

The point of the program is teach you to eat healthier not to be on a diet. You learn how to better control your portion sizes and to make healthier food choices by letting the points make you aware of the ramifications of what you are choosing. You can eat anything you just have to realize that the Whopper has half of our calories for the day in it and you could have eaten a field of carrots instead. Also, you can either join and attend the weekly meetings or you can be an online member. To be an online member just requires a but more discipline because you do not have the pressure of weighing in in front of another person every week. I am an online member and I have my boyfriend weigh me in every week to keep the pressure on! Visit www.weightwatchers.com for more information on the program. And anyone who is interested can PM me about it as well.

Any new tips/suggestions/success stories?

Very simple way to lose weight...mathematically proven.

First, understand that 1 lb of fat is equivalent to 3500 calories.

So, to lose 1 # of fat a week, reduce diet/expend 3500 calories.

To start, track what you eat and record calories for 3 days. Do NOT change what you eat. Eat as you normally would. Calculate on average how many calories you eat a day. Then to begin your weight loss plan cut your caloric intake by 300 calories a day.

Now, add in cardio so that you expend 200 calories a day. You can do this generally by running a mile or two or taking an aerobics class.

By cutting your diet by 300 calories and adding working out to expend 200 calories you have now eliminated 500 calories each day. Wtih 7 days in a week you will burn 3500 calories a week, or one pound of fat!

So simple! If you add in weigh training you will up your metabolism and burn weight all day and you can slip into 1.5-2 lbs per week. It works, it really does!

Weight loss
 

My roommate just got a new book titled The Zone its supposed to be a guide to long term weight loos and prevention of deadly weight related diseases. You are suppose to be able to completely change your genetic code!!! You create your own plan based on you weight , body fat , and measurements.
The author is Barry Sears Ph.D I'm going to start it Monday and will keep you posted on the results. Ohh there is also a list they provide you on the bad carbohydrates, and fats. It is compiled of alot of the advice my doctor has given me in the past. Good luck ladies!!!

May I suggest Weight watchers to anyone wanting to lose weight. Three and a half years ago I lost 78 pounds on my own. I just changed my eating habits and exercised regularly ( cardio & resistance training). I later gained 43 pounds with my pregnancy. After splurging during pregnancy, I felt like I needed a little more structure/guidance. My doctor recommended WW and it was great! I lost all of the weight that I had gained.

:D

Ditto on Weight Watchers. I hit the century club as of this morning (-100 pounds) and I did it in nine and a half months. Although it's not important how fast the weight is coming off, it's still pretty cool. :)

WW teaches you to change your life - not to diet. That's been the key for me.

I tried Weight Watchers I think it works better when you cook. Since I am still in school and eat in the cafeteria it is hard to count the points for three weeks I did lose six pounds!!:)

I lost weight!!
 

Hello ladies,

I had to come say a little about the diet thing. I decided this year I was going to try to lose some weight. So, I joined a gym and started paying attention to what I ate. There were so many times I was snacking for no good reason. I cooked more and didn't eat out as much. However, I could still grab some fast food when I was on the run. My job keeps me on the go, so that was still about once a week. Other days, I'd pack a lunch or some apples and grapes and nibble on those all day. I drank A LOT of water and I am happy to say that I've lost 2 dress sizes, 20 puonds, and LOTS of inches all over. I work out all the time. Either aerobic class, kickboxing, or just lifting weights and walking on the treadmill. You don't have to diet girlfriends, just get active and cut back on the things you don't really need. Find something that fills you up but isn't high in fat and calories and make that your best friend. Mine was apples. Diets can be hard to stick to because they are often very restrictive. but just managing what you eat and how active you are is so much easier. I can still have ice cream, brownies, french fries, and anything else I want. As long as I don't have it everyday and I still work out, I'm fine. You can do it. Good luck to you all.

Ladies check out this web site.

If you try any of these diets, let us know how they worked for you.


http://www.ivillage.com/diet/features/dietsaz

WHOA! You've lost 100 POUNDS? :eek:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
:D :cool: :D :)

48 hour
 

My husband recently tried the Hollywood 48 Hour Miracle diet. It is a liquid diet that you can purchase at Walgreens or any local drugstore. He said that it didn't taste that bad. But he lost 12 lbs. He said that he recommends it to people to jumpstart their diet. You know, do that first, then go on whatever kind of diet. You will at least get to see immediate results and that will give you a little encouragement to keep going. I wish you luck on your diet.