What plan do you follow? Why?
September 30, 2008
It’s no secret I’m a Weight Watchers girl. I mean, about 80% of the question I get and answer are Weight Watchers related. However, I have always stressed that Weight Watchers isn’t the only plan that has merit. It just happens to be the one that I chose.
Besides Weight Watchers there are a host of other reputable, healthy diet plans out there. None of them actually work unless you do but you have to find the one that fits your lifestyle, personality, and (here’s my background peaking in) learning style. Just like a visual learner stuck in a classroom with no computers and a teacher who likes to hear himself talk, if you don’t find the plan thats right for you, you’re either going to fall asleep or drop the class altogether.
For me, Weight Watchers was the first diet that didn’t feel like a diet. It may have been my mindset going in but from day one I looked at WW as strategy and not a quick fix. That’s why I followed/follow it. I know others have different experiences with it and with other plans. So I’m curious…
What plan do you follow and why?
On September 30th, 2008 at 4:45 pm Shannan said:
I’m on WW, doing the flex plan. Hubby and I always come back to WW because it’s the one that fits with the way we eat, what we like to eat and just works better for us. We tend to stick with it longer, too, probably because of those reasons. We have tried the South Beach diet a few times, and each time we’ve lost weight, but after a while it gets old and we end up going off it. We have found some really good whole grain foods because of it, but WW lets us cook the things we want without worrying about what phase we’re in. There’s just more variety.
Check out Shannans last blog post..Week 5 is underway! Also, dress picture posted…
On September 30th, 2008 at 5:03 pm Christine said:
I do a mix of WW and Intuitive Eating.
On September 30th, 2008 at 5:13 pm Bonnie said:
I’m a Weight Watchers meeting member….for 60 weeks tomorrow. I’ve lost 85.4 pounds and have 7 pounds to go, to get to my WW goal…and another 5 pounds to get to my personal goal. I love it! It’s worked well for me, but I have to say, that I’m not positive I would have done so well, if it weren’t for your blog. I come to your websites several times a day and there are days that go by, that I don’t go to the WW website. So for me, it’s been a combination WW/Roni weight loss/get healthy plan!
On September 30th, 2008 at 5:35 pm Stacey said:
After trying “a million” other diets, I always go back to ww. It just makes so much sense, and it allows me to eat the foods that I love and crave, just in moderation. WW keeps my REAL with portions, and that is why it works.
On September 30th, 2008 at 6:27 pm Kate said:
I do Core, and absolutely love it! It’s taught me how to eat healthfully and changed the way I look at food. The best way I can describe my attitude towards food when I was on Flex was an en enemy because it made me fat. On Core, I see food as an ally to get me where I want to be.
It’s also helped changed my tastes. I no longer crave the artificial sweeteners of diet soda, or all the extra sugar of pre-packaged foods. I’m eating healthy, whole foods, and loving it!
Check out Kates last blog post..Monday Thoughts
On September 30th, 2008 at 6:30 pm LeeAnn said:
I have always followed my own. I started with cereal in the morning and afternoon, and then whatever I wanted for supper. After that, I started adding fruits during the day. Now, I have just learned to eat better as every meal. I have never been able to keep with a diet”.
Check out LeeAnns last blog post..Starbucks!
On September 30th, 2008 at 7:00 pm Maggie said:
I went vegan! It helped cut out all that stuff I don’t need/want in my body and really increased my fruit/veggie intake. I eat so much better now, nuts and seeds, air popped popcorn, all whole grains. Things I’ve added that I never used to eat include sweet potatoes, agave, molasses, dried plums, sunflower seeds, pumpkin, pinto beans. I moved away from packaged, processed things like granola bars and make my own. No more white sugar, white flour, white rice! It’s worked very well for me as I’m trying to lower my cholesterol. Since I like to cook it has not been difficult at all. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a change. http://www.mypyramid.gov helped a lot in the beginning.
On September 30th, 2008 at 7:01 pm Marília said:
Roni, Roni…
I follow Flex Online ( never been to a meeting) and so far I’ve lost 10 pounds, which is great, my goal is just 3 pounds away. I haven’t yet tried the Core, which I think is a great way to be healthy/maintenance. But in Brazil (where I am from) I tried many times something very similar to Core (with the help of a nutritionist) and sometimes was happy, and sometimes was not. The reason? I am 5′1” and my portions (even of healthy food) were the same as my brother who is 6′0”… so I think the difference now is that, for the first time, I eat as much as someone of my size should eat. (only 18 points!!)
I’m 34 and have been yoyoing since I was about 16 yrs. Since then… even loving to exercise(and to eat, obvious). Sorry, i’m talking too much, but it is because I listen to you and feel like I know you…Ok, now you know a bit of me also.
Thank you and enjoy…
Marilia
On September 30th, 2008 at 7:03 pm Pubsgal said:
Hmmm…I started typing a comment and realized it was becoming a blog post! :-) I’ve got a sort of cobbled-together approach, tailored for managing my type 2 diabetes. “Cleaner” eating; portions are dietary “exchanges” (folks familiar with late 1980s WW would find it familiar); moderate, healthy carbs that don’t cause a “spike”; meals optimized to balance blood glucose through the day (can’t just eat whatever, whenever on a regular basis); and regular activity (30 minutes x 5 days, light strength training 2x/week). I’m enjoying great success with it, and I could kick myself for not having done this years ago; sure, it’s not easy, but nor is it as difficult as I’d always thought it would be. When I think of all the excuses I made…*sigh*….
Check out Pubsgals last blog post..Weekly weigh-in: -47!
On September 30th, 2008 at 7:06 pm MizFit said:
intuitive eating.
FINALLY.
as for too many years my intuition screamed beer & pizza!
Check out MizFits last blog post..Tuesday Tips, TestDrive & a Twirl (at your request a twirl).
On September 30th, 2008 at 8:01 pm Inny said:
I roughly follow WW, but it developed into intuitive eating overtime. Someday I’ll ditch the points whatsoever, but I still find them easier than counting calories.
Check out Innys last blog post..I gained…So what?!
On September 30th, 2008 at 9:14 pm Leigh Anne said:
Right now I’m a weight watchers girl. But before I got pregnant I followed the Curves diet and lost 34 pounds and maintained it for close to a year. I do really believe that I would have kept the weight off if not for getting slack during my pregnancy.
On September 30th, 2008 at 9:34 pm Alexia said:
I’ve lost almost 30 pounds doing intuitive eating — sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly — but for me, exercise actually comes first and the food follows. Without exercise, I’m lost! I enjoy lots of vegan foods, whole foods, homemade stuff from scratch.
Check out Alexias last blog post..Twitter Updates for 2008-09-29
On September 30th, 2008 at 9:40 pm Alexia said:
Oh, and as for why — I have yoyo’d too much and was really neurotic about diets. I needed to learn and really believe that I could trust myself. I needed to take back that power.
Check out Alexias last blog post..Twitter Updates for 2008-09-29
On September 30th, 2008 at 9:57 pm Lori said:
I have done several things to get the weight off, from WW to Nutrisystem. I am now calorie counting, and close to goal. I have found a way to eat that satisfies me, and I can keep up for life. I try to do moderate carbs, protein and fat (40/30/30) and it really works for me.
Check out Loris last blog post..28 Day Body Shapeover Comparison shots
On September 30th, 2008 at 10:17 pm vickie said:
portions, eating evenly from the food groups, meal time only - Very much low glycemic index type approach so it is like a formula and then I don’t count or track anything. My exercise was daily up until this year. Now I am working at a high level and working out every other day. this is my second year of maintenance.
Check out vickies last blog post..If 99% of my day is great - how should I feel about the 1%?
On September 30th, 2008 at 11:03 pm Lori said:
Hey Roni,
WW is definately the thing that worked for me. It really became a lifestyle instead of a diet. I love how you explain that on your video blogs. It just makes so much sense. I always follow flex. I have never had the guts to go to Core. It’s all about portion control for me. I love to eat (who doesn’t right?). Anyway, most of the time when I go off program, I “really” go off.
So, I try and stay focused on living healthy. I try and exercise everyday. I’m working on the running thing, but I can’t do it long term. I can’t seem to get the breathing down. Somedays are better than others, but for me it’s all about just moving.
Thanks, for the comments on my blog. I appreciate you taking the time to look. It’s a very time consuming task, especially for a new blogger, but fun and rewarding as well.
So many things to learn!
On September 30th, 2008 at 11:25 pm Charlie Hills said:
Hey Miz. Beer and pizza sounds awesome. I’ll be over in a half hour.
I do have one question for the WW folks. I don’t want to sound negative, but I have a real, honest-to-goodness question. For so many people I know who’ve done WW, anyone from close friends and relatives, to anonymous bloggers, I seem to see the same general comment repeated a bit too frequently. Paraphrasing, it goes something like this, “WW is the only plan that’s ever worked for me! In fact it’s worked every time I’ve ever done it. First time, second time, … 8th time, 9th time, … 23rd time …”
I mean, isn’t this a red flag that something’s not working? I already have my own answer to this, at my own blog. I won’t get into it here. But from a data-gathering point of view, I wonder what everyone’s take is on this.
(Of course, just substitute “any diet” for “WW” above and it’s the same, sad, familiar story!)
Check out Charlie Hillss last blog post..Low Cal Honey
On September 30th, 2008 at 11:29 pm gottahavefaith said:
Nowadays, I’m mostly an intuitive eater with a strong focus on lots of healthy whole foods. In active weight-loss mode, I used a low-glycemic index plan of my own devising based heavily on South Beach, and I also kept food journal religiously. Low-GI foods were really key for me to feeling satsified with fewer calories and the food journal kept me from slipping into mindless eating. Exercise-wise, I committed to walking at least 10,000 steps every day.
Check out gottahavefaiths last blog post..Add More Butter: An Interview with Blueberry Sis
On September 30th, 2008 at 11:37 pm roni said:
Charlie - I hear (or read that) SO MANY TIMES! For me it’s not true, as the first time worked time a charm! ;~P But I know what you mean. Using your own words (or something close to them) In my opinion those people have not yet flipped “the switch”. It’s all about mindset and although Weight Watchers will “work” they aren’t ready to follow it, just like they wouldn’t be ready to follow some other plan. However, I think what makes WW a little different is the community and meeting aspect (*knowing not all attend meetings) For me the support meetings give you start to work on “the switch” as do blogs, online forums and other forms of community. WW is just good at this paired with 2 plans that meet a lot of personalty types. Just my 2 cents on you great question!
On September 30th, 2008 at 11:44 pm Just_Kelly said:
South Beach Living/ Low GI is what I am currently doing (just started incorporating into my diet a week ago). I chose low GI because I found I had trouble doing WW responsibly and to help control my PCOS.
You can read about my trials with SBL/LGI at choosinglosing.blogspot.com!
Check out Just_Kellys last blog post..Ovarian Cancer Month
On October 1st, 2008 at 12:12 am Charlie Hills said:
Good reply, Roni. Do others support this? Have different thoughts or theories?
Hey, Miz. I stopped by for the pizza but you weren’t there. You’ll just have to fax me one tomorrow. I’m going to bed.
Check out Charlie Hillss last blog post..Low Cal Honey
On October 1st, 2008 at 12:16 am Annette said:
I would say I tend to follow the You on a Diet plan in general. It just makes sense to limit sugars, whites, certain oils etc. And including at least a 30 min walk each day is so doable. I also like that it focuses more on waist size than weight.
On October 1st, 2008 at 1:45 am Catheroo said:
I’m on the Weight Watchers Core plan. I’ve done the Points program before, and I think Core works better for me. It teaches me more about portion control and when to stop eating. And I find that I don’t really crave those things I no longer eat. Dropping numbers on the scale definitely helps!
On October 1st, 2008 at 3:18 am Christy said:
I am a WW’s girl. I agree with your other commentors that it is easy to follow the flex plan because it does not feel like you are on a diet.
Check out Christys last blog post..I want more sleep…
On October 1st, 2008 at 7:07 am roni said:
Charlie - What do you think about starting this discussion in the blog to lose forums? We may be able to get more of a dialogue going. Just a thought!
On October 1st, 2008 at 7:36 am Patti said:
I love your blog and am going to link it on mine! :)
Check out Pattis last blog post..Breakfast
On October 1st, 2008 at 10:38 am deanna said:
I do my own plan, exercise 4-5 times a week intense cardio, and try to stay between 1200-1400 calories a day, on Saturdays I indulge in one meal so I stay “sane”! It works for me!!
On October 2nd, 2008 at 3:12 pm Brandie said:
Roni-
This is the first time I felt the need to comment. I love your blog and all the work you. I am totally a WW flex girl. It fits me and my lifestyle. As soon as I went to my first meeting I was hooked. I have never looked at this as a diet. I am committed to this being a lifestyle. I am working at teaching my children healthy eating habits. I have researched many diets before finding Weight Watchers and new I could do this the rest of my life.