looking for a sensible diet program (and a diet buddy)

**savvy_sniper** · 03-22-2011, 07:57 AM

Keeping a food diary (spark, MFP, etc.) and weighing and measuring your food makes you aware of everything you put in your mouth and teaches you portion control. You also can pinpoint items that aren't so good for you and you can then find healthier alternatives. I have been altering favorite recipes to make them healthier.

I am not doing without the things I love. I am eating smaller portions of them and eating them less often. You cannot totally deny yourself. When you do that, you are sure to fall off the wagon and fall off big time.

Drink lots of water (everybody should drink at least eight 8 oz. glasses a day) and get moving with some kind of exercise.

**pat in east texas** · 03-22-2011, 08:52 AM

I'm following Michael Pollan's advice - Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. And exercising more.

**nodmicks** · 03-22-2011, 09:19 AM

I find the easiest way to lose is to cut simple starches out. I can't have wheat anyway so it is fairly easy besides missing white rice a bit.. I figure all real unprocessed food is fair game. Extra protein really helps also

I eat some odd combos though! Dh wanted tuna salad with noodles for his lunch today. I took a batch of the tuna, onion, mayo and peas and set it aside without the noodles for me. I ate it over broccoli slaw this morning. YUMMY and very filing.

**ShadowMom** · 03-22-2011, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Contrary Housewife

Thanks. I started with Spark today, just listing calories. Ok, now I see how I gained weight. Yeesh. My plan is to track it for the rest of the week and begin serious changes when I do the next round of grocery shopping.

Wish me luck. My goal is to drop 5 pounds (before it turns into 15) within the next 60 days. And then get back on track with my regular meal plans. I think we've been eating too much ... of everything lately.

Spark also has a sister site where you can figure out the nutritional information of your own recipes. It is Spark recipes dot com

**frugrrl** · 03-23-2011, 04:37 PM

I use fitday dot com for my calorie counting. I like the message boards on spark people though. I used fitday before I learned of spark people and I don't have the time or desire to transfer all my custom foods over. So, I'm staying with fitday.

I use nutritiondata.com to find out the nutritional info of my recipes.

**serenity72** · 03-23-2011, 05:32 PM

I got to overeaters anymous. It has helped me alot. Its a very spiritual program. That focuses on abstinance from complusive overeating.

**gmarie** · 03-24-2011, 07:21 PM

I LOVE spark! I have been using it on and off for years, and it helped me lose 20 lbs a few years ago. I am back on the site this week, and am trying to lose 5 lbs. Good luck!

**ShadowMom** · 03-24-2011, 11:47 PM

It's taken me three years, but so far I have lost 45 lbs with Spark. You know the saying....slow and steady wins the race, I set my goal for .5 lb a week. I have 25 lbs more to go to make goal.

**Rhiamon** · 04-08-2011, 12:18 PM

I am in this boat as well. I am always hungry all the time. I have yo yoed for years. I have started slowly to figure out that I just need to change my whole lifestyle to a healthier one. I crave carbs and loads of them. So I know this will be one of the first things that I have to change. With the nicer weather now I am hoping to get out more and do more walking.

**xtena** · 04-08-2011, 12:40 PM

I've been eating a low fat, plant based diet (vegan, but without the animal rights connotation/obsession) for over a month. I was a vegetarian for ten years when I was younger, but I've never gone this long without dairy. For once in my life I'm not craving it. I haven't lost much weight yet; a few pounds of water is all but that's because I haven't added the exercise element yet. I do feel better overall.

**itsahumanzoo** · 04-08-2011, 12:44 PM

I just started using MyFitnessPal.com and I love it.

**Contrary Housewife** · 04-08-2011, 03:33 PM

Well.... the battery on the scale went so I have no idea how I am doing weight-wise. However, using Spark really helped me see WHAT I was eating, and make a couple of smarter choices snack-wise. It also said I wasn't eating enough protein, and when I started adding more in during the day I found a lot of my desire to snack went away.

**gmarie** · 04-08-2011, 04:40 PM

Isn't it great using spark and knowing that you are eating the right things?

If are interested in tracking vitamins, be careful when using other people's food - many of them don't input vitamin %'s.