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

**Contrary Housewife** · 03-21-2011, 10:19 AM

So I stepped on the scale for the first time since last fall. Ooops! I thought my jeans were getting tight, but no I never gain weight. Guess again.

I'm looking for a good, sensible, at-home weight loss program. No special meals, no meetings, no supplements. I normally eat right, veggies, whole grains, no junk food or soda, but I guess I've been getting too much of something this winter. I need something to get me back on track for spring and drop some of this burrito belly.

Does anyone want to be my diet buddy for the next 30-60 days?

**savvy_sniper** · 03-21-2011, 12:01 PM

I started my journey to CHANGE MY LIFESTYLE (not a diet) on December 8. I use myfitnesspal.com to keep track of my food and exercise. I am trying to make healthier choices and makes changes to favorite recipes to make them fit my lifestyle.

You will lose weight on a diet, but as soon as you stop the diet you will start gaining weight. You MUST change the way you eat for the rest of your life.

Without exercise I am only allowed 1200 calories a day IF I want to continue losing approximately 1 lb. a week. BUT on the days that I exercise and burn approximately 500 calories, I can eat 1700 calories and continue to lose approximately 1 lb. a week.

Cut back on the fat and fried foods. Eat more fruit and vegetables.

Good luck!

**krbshappy71** · 03-21-2011, 12:04 PM

A great source for setting new goals: whoops it wouldn't let me linky it. I'll spell it out. spark people dot com with no spaces between the words.

Totally free, very easy, even has menu plans that you can print out, ingredients list for your menus, and lots of nice people. I met up with a group of Colorado ladies one time for lunch, it was nice and everything we brought had to be healthy.

You wont believe all the tools they have on there! My favorite is the calorie tracker for every day. You can put in any food and probably find it on the list with nutritional info.

**FrabjousDay** · 03-21-2011, 12:36 PM

I'm not dieting, but I really like MyFitnessPal. It's a great way to track food and exercise.

**ShadowMom** · 03-21-2011, 01:08 PM

I also use spark people dot com, it is a great resource!

**madkat2618** · 03-21-2011, 01:12 PM

I'm with krbshappy and Shadowmom. I also use the spark website, and it's been wonderful!

**akolb** · 03-21-2011, 01:27 PM

i just found dailyburn.com and LOVE IT! It's simple, personalizable and I set it as my homepage to make it easy to remember to do it. I've lost 4 pounds in a week!

**shoiji** · 03-21-2011, 01:34 PM

Well, I have been trying to avoid eating any gluten and dairy. Which is not easy. For some reason it just bloats me and my ears ring.

Right now I am trying to lose about 10 pounds. Getting enough sleep also seems to help. To little sleep and I just crave carbs.

Hope you can figure out a diet that will work for you.

**mauimagic** · 03-21-2011, 01:38 PM

What has been working for me is to be conscious of what I am eating, drinking and exercising. I have decreased the amount of what I am eating and that is a good thing. Have lost my first five pounds since I changed to this life style - shall be checking in to see how everyone's doing. Love all the suggestions - and find what works for you and stick to it!!

**lisaflex** · 03-21-2011, 07:22 PM

water, and lots of it! start your day w/ hot water and lemon...and end the day the same way..helps rid the body of toxins.

try green tea instead of an afternoon snack.

walking is great exercise...and best of all, FREE! yeah for spring!

good luck to you!

**EmilyD** · 03-21-2011, 08:32 PM

spark people dot com also has a really good book written by the founder.

I have been there for over 2 years and find it very helpful.

**Palooka** · 03-21-2011, 09:10 PM

Agree with the sites that are listed. The only thing that works for me is counting calories and 4-6 days on the treadmill. I gain when I don't do this and taking a few pounds off myself.

Of course any exercise that you love and gets your heart pumping would help.

**Contrary Housewife** · 03-22-2011, 12:00 AM

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.

**mauimagic** · 03-22-2011, 12:07 AM

CH - am looking forward to reading about and sharing your journey - I know that you can do it!!

**Palooka** · 03-22-2011, 12:25 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.

It's crazy how fast those calories add up and you don't even realize it! So easy to consume an extra 3500 but hard to burn off. If you cut back just 500 hundred calories a day, that's a loss of a pound a week.

Good luck and that's a very doable goal.