I agree with one posters comment about a processed food diet. I find personally that cravings in particular are much better controlled on a whole foods diet compared to a processed foods diet. Cooking skills and time tend to be the biggest killers to that approach, but the end result is so worth it when you learn just a few techniques and take the time to take care of yourself. You can make big meals and freeze them in individual portions too for those nights when time is short.

I’ve found a couple of other tricks that help too…

For sugar cravings, the best thing to do is just avoid it. The first couple of days are hard, but after that your body adjusts and within a week fruit is a whole new experience. Grapes become candy. Trust me.

To compliment this, start phasing out refined grains. Look for 100% whole grain on pastas, breads, bagels, etc. Eat brown rice instead of white. Avoid cakes, cookies, etc-at least for a while. You have to reset your internal works so to speak. Do a cleanse and then you can have those treats once in a while. Besides, refined grains are absorbed so quickly by your body that you are hungry again very quickly, and usually ravenous at that. Whole grains are digested more slowly and keep your energy level. Another great aspect-they help knock out belly fat.

The other trick I have is to cut out meat. Not completely, but start replacing some of your meats with beans, peas, nuts, seeds, etc. Our meats-all of them-as animals are given feed, hormones, antibiotics, etc to keep them well and make them get fat/grow fast. Well marbeled meat is “better” than lean meat. Those chemicals don’t go away when meat is cooked. If it makes the animal fat, doesn’t it make sense it would tend to make us fatter too? No science behind it, but I have noticed some subtle differences when I cut back on meat. Could just be placebo effect, but I feel better anyway. Plus the fiber from the beans is a great way to fill up and not out (at least until the gas goes away.)

And don’t forget the exercise. Most people mentioned exercising, but plateaus are very common. Your body likes to adapt and conserve. When you stop losing, that’s when it’s time to change up your exercise routine to make a different set of muscles work together. This can make a HUGE difference in how much weight you lose. And weights are key-even women need to do some strength training. The vast majority of women will not end up looking like Arnold if they lift weights a few times a week. Get some help at your gym to do this correctly or you could hurt yourself.

The last thing I will say is to eat more fruits and vegetables in general. There is nothing wrong with a salad a day and there are plenty of ways to cook veggies and add lots of flavor (spices/herbs) to shake things up. You can eat a limitless amount of most veggies in particular (except the starchy veggies) and still not touch the calorie level in a couple of soft drinks.

Good luck!

After joining WeightWatchers, I gradually adopted the core/flex plan, which means I was eating more and more core foods but also counting points. After several weeks of using WeightWatchers desserts and whatnot, I gave it up in favor of fruit, whole grains, vegetables, yogurt, organic meat. I feel that whole foods and exercise are the key to healthy and sustained weight loss. Now I am also eating more and more organic because there are over 50% more antioxidants in organic foods and because it’s so much better for the environment.

It took me exactly one year to lose the 25 pounds I gained and I have kept it off for 6 months, in addition to maintaining my exercise and healthy eating habits. Sweets are definately an instant weight fluctuation for me, but I do usually eat one or two a week.

I question whether sustained weight loss can be had with a large percentage of processed food in one’s diet – it just seems that those kinds of foods beget cravings whereas whole food is more satisfying (on a non-comfort-food level). Eating whole foods requires less will power in the long run because of the reduced cravings, and you can eat larger portions.

PS my cholesterol went way down as well.

So, good luck to all!!

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I cried when I read it, because I understand what you say & what you feel. I have had friends that joined ww & have had success. I have always said “God, I don’t want to pay to join a group of people to tell me how to lose weight!” But I am thinking that maybe this is just what I need. I need the structure. I need the support.

Thank you again for sharing & for the insight. I might just have to give it a try.

Thanks for sharing your story with me

Lisa