Ayup,..and my skin isn't so splotchy...and I wake up with a clearer head.

I agree Star..it seems that this board has almost been abandoned. I keep looking every day tho. I don't really have a good hint as I have hit a stand still in my diet efforts. Maybe I am just not trying hard enough!!!

Ok...here's a page with lots of Helpfull Hints...

And when you drink, it doesn't just have to be H²O Because of This article I have added alot more juices, some that I even juice myself, and re-introduced yougurt back into my life (eating some now)...A really good way to stave off hunger pains at night is Tomato juice... or even chocolate milk.

And instead of grousing about the lack of hints..
Why don't you get busy and pass along a few your self?

And here's another Helpfull site I liked.

thats a nice link.. thanks Cole!
i was (note was!! i fell off the wagon, need to get back on!) on the Atkin's diet and lost 42 lbs. the best part of the diet, when im on it, you arent hungry. when i choose to eat low fat low calorie, i am always hungry, and i cant succeed. so, as soon as i get in the right frame of mind, im going to start with it again!

here's a link:
Atkins: Food and Recipes

I see that you have lost a lot of weight. How long did it take you to get the pounds off? I have tried nearly every diet plan there is with no success. Of course, I need to get off a few more pounds then that. I have failed at the diets and gained everything back plus more. I need to have something that will help me keep it off. Of course I have a husband that likes to cook so I think I may be in a little bit of trouble there! LOL Any advise would be appreciated. I exercise and I gain instead of take off! Even my doctors don't understand what is going on!

thats always a tough one, myway, everyone is different. its so much easier to put the weight on than it is to take the weight off.. Obviously you need to burn more calories than you consume to lose weight. with Atkins, (or any high protein-low carb diet) the benefit is you dont feel hungry, the high protein and high fiber content provide a satiety that you cant accomplish on a low fat, low calorie diet. if i am hungry, i wont be successful, if i dont feel hungry, i can avoid the temptations. thats what works for me, and everyone is different, not everyone can do the Atkins.

one piece of advice i found useful was to write down everything you eat, sometimes you arent aware of how much youre eating because you arent paying attention, and when you do see what you are actually consuming, it helps to avoid grabbing some snacks on the go. and the other helpful hint is to cut down on portion sizes. if there is something you want to eat, go ahead, just make the piece you would normally eat smaller, and over time, you will consume less calories.

i hope that helped a little, i am by far an expert, but ive tried quite a few things, some work, and alot doesnt work :(

ooops, i didnt answer your original question--it took me about 6 months to lose 42 pounds.

Great job Antje! I have only lost about 20 lbs. and 4 inches off the waist. Have managed to keep it off but I too have sorta fell off the wagon. Have been on the South Beach Diet and walking a mile a day. Need to get serious again!!
That is very good advice from both Antje and Cole.
Thanks for the helpful hints!
Hang in there myway..you can do it!!

Dolittle--thats great! feels great when you see the results like that. im sure you need new clothes already!
Someone i work with is doing the Dr. Phil diet, and thats a spin-off of the Atkins and South Beach, low carb with some fruit and dairy options that you cant do on the Atkins, she looks great, she lost 27 lbs in 14 weeks. As of today, (i weighed myself this morning :( ...) im back on the diet... i hope!, hopefully nothing will tempt me to blow it again, ill just keep repeating the number the scale told me this morning! LOL

I think all those diets are good. The results depends on how dedicated we are to sticking with it. Sometimes I cheat a little but it is permitted as long as I don't over do it. I did have to get new pants and that felt wonderful to buy a 12 instead of 14.
Thanks for your kind words Antje!!

congrats to both Antje and Dolittle! many years ago i use to be in a size 3, got married, had children, got sick and then the weight started comming on. i watch what i eat and i don't eat a lot. everyone tells me to eat about 6 meals a day. how do you do that? if i'm not hungry i don't want to eat. that is my hardest part of dieting. if i told you that i am 5'6 1/2" and am in a size 20-22, looking at me you wouldn't believe it. i do hide my weight well but i can't stand to look at myself in the mirror. when i started back excerising and saw the weight cmming on me i got scared. now, my daughter's wedding is at the end of July and i want to get off at least 20 pounds. does anyone think i would be able to do it and if so, where can i find a menu that i can start using? please let me know! thanks for all of your help. it is nice to know that you can talk to someone about things like this! :)

Myway-- how did you want to lose the weight? i prefer the Atkins way, and you can lose 20 pounds/month on it, especially the first month, then it slows a bit.. i would recommend that far above any other diet plans. go to the link i posted below on Atkins-food plan, lots of ideas there, and if you want anymore help, i have the book i can sort some more ideas for you

thanks for you help Antje. i'll look at it now! :)

I agree that low-carb counting really works! I am not on Atkins but the Curves low carb plan. I have dropped 53 lbs and counting! I tried slim fat, Weight watchers, thurmans 6 week body make over and a slew of other diets or weight loss gimmicks. THE only one that has been a success for me is Low carb. I read all I can on low carb eating to make sure I cut out the bad carbs but keep the good carbs. YOU gotta eat some good carbs to keep balance!

Congratulations Rose! How long did it take you to lose 53 lbs.? I agree with you totally about the carbs. I am on the South Beach Diet and it does teach about good carbs as well as the bad ones.

Thanks Dolittle. I started Last Nov, mid month on the diet. But I joined Curves last May (which I gotta say is THE best place in the world for women to go - no men allowed and women of all shapes an sizes go to get in shape so you dont feel self conscious about your self at all) I didnt take the weight loss thing serious enough until I had been at curves for 6 months, working out alone wont lose all the weight, you still have to change your eating habits! I sound like an Ad for them but 30 minutes a day really works! gets you in shape and wow you feel so good with in only a month! Their staff are super helpful, they have a few books on weight management that are amazing.

Glad to know that info about Curves. They have them near me and I have considered going there instead of the gym that I went to. I would be more comfortable with only women there. I will check them out!

You can get more info @ Curves website

Has anyone tried the South Beach diet? I have read the book, and it seems to be a fairly easy diet to follow. Not only will I be losing weight, but I will get all of my cardiovascular system healthy, again! I haven't started it yet, though. Have to go frocery shopping, before I can start. lol Any tips or advice/success stories would be a welcome response! Thanks.

On 5/10/04, I made a few changes in the way I eat...

1) I gave up eating anything made with flour...from bread to noodles..if it had flour...I gave it up...ps...there are some really good noodles made with veges)

2) I stoped eating at 7 PM...and would break fast after 7 AM..giveing me 12 hours of zero food consumed...

I refuse to weigh my self (can sometimes lead to depression) and I can still tell I have made progress..

A) Either someone is NOW sneaking into my home and exchanging my pants and shorts for bigger ones....or the inches are starting to melt away.

B) I can now wear rings that had become too tight.

C) My daughter thinks I need to buy some clothes that fit....this part was very satisfying....

I doooooo miss bread and cakes....but I have started to crave different things..
apples....grapes...any kind of fresh fruit really.

These decissions are not cut into stone, I did have cake at my granddaughters birthday party, 1 slice, I didn't go back for seconds or even thirds.

Tomorrow is July 1st...and my next thing to give up will be anything that has been fried....so fried chicken will now be baked or grilled....no more potato chips...but these are little things...I can still have potatos...but cooked differently...So I don't feel deprived.

Yikes.... 7 PM will be here soon and I stil want to have some fresh watermellon with grapes for dessert.

Yes scoobydoo2, I have been on the South Beach diet since Jan.1 and think it's a great diet. Even my doctor is on it. Have lost about 25 lbs, and 5 in. around the waistline. I walk a mile a day weather permitting and that helps a lot also.
Am losing slowly but more importantly I feel great. I also agree with everything that Cole said. It's a matter of changing your way of eating for a healthier and hopefully slimmer you!

thats great cole and Dolittle!! thats good inspiration. Im trying very hard to be good, but i cant get there just yet, still giving in to cravings and junk food :(

Ive heard lots of good things about the South Beach Diet. its a modified version of the Atkins, allowing for some good carbs like yogurt and fruit!

Dolittle, how long did you stay on the phase 1 part of the diet? It says 2 weeks, but you can do it longer, if you want to lose more weight. If I can, I'm gonna try to do phase 1 for a month, if I can get used to it after two weeks. I was just wondering if anyone else has done it longer than the two weeks it gives you. I am really excited about doing this diet!! I am already drinking water like it's goin out of style! lol

Scoobydoo, I stayed strictly on the phase 1 for the 2 weeks. Have continued to leave anything white out of my diet. You can have wheat bread and things like that. SaraLee makes a very good bread now that only has 9 grams per slice..even came out with a white bread recently that is the same. When I want a glass of iced tea, I use Splenda to sweeten...NO SUGAR! After the phase 1, as you know, you can add different things to your diet. I indulge myself to a good meal out with my husband now and then..that don't hurt a thing. I haven't gained back any of the weight by doing that!! Good luck to you and let me know anytime I can help!!

Hello everyone, I did not know this board was here! I though only the fellowship teams had a weight lost board LOL. guess this is what I get for not looking about a site that i come to every day!

glad you found it!! this board is here for everyone, pawns included!!

and Scooby--(besides wishing you a Happy B-day!) how is the diet going? are you still doing the South Beahc?

Thanks, Antje! Yes, I am still doing the south beach diet. Surprisingly, i am not missing the carbs like i thought I would. If i can hang in there, i might do the first phase a little longer. I can have sugar free stuff, but Splenda is a great alternative to sugar, so it hasn't been all that bad. I have never been on a diet before in my life, and I can truly say, that this isn't as painful as I thought it was gonna be. I can't tell if I have lost any weight, yet, but I definitely can tell a diiference. I don't feel as bloated, as I used to. lol Oh, by the way, Antje, that picture of you two is so adorable. I love seeing posts by you, so I can see that cute little baby!

hello scooby, how is the south beach different from akins? i have heard some about it,

thats great Scooby!! I did the Atkins fr 6 months, lost 42 pounds, felt really good, then i went off the diet in April, and cant seem to get back on again. i tried twice and didnt make it through the first day!! im definately a carb-addict!!

Thanks about my cute baby :o)

Hi Antje, I know it is very hard to restart atkins after being off! I have restarted this last week and am still in the rundown and headache mood! good luck getting back on the wagon:-)

sissie, to answer your question about the difference in diets. On the South Beach diet, you only cut carbs and sugar the first two weeks of the diet. Then you slowly start adding friuts, yogurt, and carbs back in the diet and still lose weight. Your body needs carbs, but not the bad ones, ie the "white foods", so being on the Atkins, you are actually damaging your health. With the South Beach diet, you level out your blood sugar and improve your cardiovascular system. The diet was founded by a cardiologist in South Beach, FL(hence the name). My husband's nutritionist told him that out of all the diets, that the South Beach diet was actually the healthiest one to be on. I'm not trying to sway anyone to go from one diet or another, I'm just sharing the info i have gathered from reading the book. I hope this helped answer your quwestion, sissie!

I can't really diet at the moment but watching a food program i found this very interesting.
Use lettuce as your bread for a tuna sanwhich just use the big leaves.Same for a BLT or a Cheeseburger.Works for me and fills me up.lol Not for long tho.

thanks that helps I will look into the book and see what I think about it.
I have been doing it this way with the lettuce and it is differnt:) but it works

Sara Lee has come out with bread that is only 9 carbs per slice so I do indulge in that. As long as I stay away from regular white bread, I do ok.
I agree with you sissie, the South Beath Diet is a bit more lenient than Atkins and I believe a healthier plan as well. My doctor approves that one 100% and is very pleased with counts on my blood work. I will stay with it because I sure feel good as well!

I'm a big carb eater i crave the carbs.Just got to have the pasta and bread.Any suggestions anyone?

Foxy Lady - Eat whole grain breads and not any with white flour. Eat pasta made from spinach, tomato etc. These are available at most supermarkets or go to a health food store; the kind that has fresh produce. Happy Eating. BTW, you look very thin if the pic posted is you so you do not have to worry about carbs that much anyhow. What would you do if you weighed what I started with last week before I went on my diet. There is a reason I only show my head in most photos. LOL

hello music I agree with you:) I just restarted my diet and I would NOT put my pic up here LOL I did find a face shop but have not figured out yet how to load it!
what diet are you following? I am working with atkins but have though about going over to south beach, have not had a chance to read up on it yet.

musiclover no thats pic is me eating ice cream.lol
but is before i got pregnant,i'm pretty lucky with my weight and i'm trying to keep it under control.
i heard of wheat and etc pasta i'll have to try them.:( being italian and raised on white flour it's going to be hard.i can just picture my granmothers face now lol.

Foxy Lady and sissie44; I have medical problems that prevent me from using any certain type diet. I am following a limited calorie intake of 1200 to 1500 calories and cutting out white flour products, sugar, too many white potatoes, white rice and fats except for olive oil which I cook with, add to salads and fry with. I am eating most foods in moderation and thru experience know what works for me and what does not. Consequently, I cannot give the type as it varies so much. Foxy, I too was raised with foods that were very Italian; like white flour breads and pastas. Both sets of my grandparents came from Compabello in Sicily. I think I spelled it right. Most members of my family are big boned and on the heavy side. Not much to be said about inheriting genes. My boyfriend and I made an agreement to "weigh in" on Sunday mornings and so far he has lost 6 lbs and I lost 4 lbs. It is a known factor that most men lose faster than women. Not so when we started but last Sunday, we were the same weight so it should be very interesting from this point on we are neck and neck so far. I am enjoying the games I play here and enjoy the discussion boards and chatting but find it hard to keep up as there are so many of them and if I miss reading only one day, cannot catch up because there are too many to read. I am sure you are finding the same problem. Well, time to get back to my games. I prefer to only play Five in line. I like the games to be relaxing, requiring the least amount of brain power. LOL Not that I have an abundance of brain power anymore in my golden years. I just turned 64 May 24th. See you again/chat with you soon, I am sure.

Well i blew it not only did i have my pasta but the Canolli to.I hate scales and never use them.Now of course i get weighed in at the Drs.
I'd be worried about the Atkins alot of ppl gain the weight back.As in any diet you'll lose fast first than hit a slow rate.It's your body adjusting.

Well, guys, I haven't been doing so great on my diet. I have cut out all sugar, where I can, and replaced it with Splenda. That is a wonderful invention, let me tell ya. I still don't eat white carbs, but I haven't been eating breakfast like I should. I have been under alot of stress lately, and instead of stuffing everything and everything in my mouth, I have avioded food all together. So, I guess I went from one extreme to the other. I am feeling better, and am trying to get back in the swing of things, though. I really want to lose this weight, so I need to just hang in there. I know it will pay off. Oh, and I am back to my cokes, but they are diet, and I limit one a day, not 6 or 7, like I used to. Just thought I'd let everyone know what has been going on. Foxy Lady, don't be too hard on yourself, or you will fail. I started out beating myself up, but it was stressing me out, and now, I am just making small changes, and doing alot better. I am planning on making this a lifestyle change, too, and not just a diet. So, just hang in there, and make small changes, and the weight will eventually come off. I have faith!!

sounds like great advice scoobydoo!! glad everything is back on keel for you!!

Thanks, Antje. How is everything going for you?

I'm just trying to keep my weight down for now.A comment on Splenda it has alot of side effects,one is headaches.I'll have to post the site where i got the info from.Did find a sugar-free wheat bread that i like,but the price almost knocked me over $2.99 for a small loaf.It's the white flour and sugar that i need to keep away from.
Pasta is my biggest problem i just got to have it,anyway i can get it.lol.....

http://www.mercola.com/2003/aug/23/splenda.html
........................................
I found this article very interesting,so i now get the newsletter.This is a Dr.who has this site.

hmm, i couldnt find that link.
i didnt think Splenda had side effects.. thats too bad that it does :o(
the other artificial sweeteners arent good either, so what to do???

scooby--im not doing well at all, im finding any and every excuse not to get back to my good eating plan!!

Try Mercola.com or Dr Mercola.com

thanks Foxy.. i found it now, read it, and it sure is interesting isnt it??

I have been using splenda and have not had any side affacts. sometimes I think that no matter what you use you will find something written about how bad it is:(