How did you lose over 75+lbs?

In My Humble Opinion
21

Another WW fan checking in. I’ve lost 87+ pounds over the last 10 months.

A lot of what I say is going to be similar to the points that susan_foster made.

Through WW, I’ve learned two important lessons:

(1) Portion control Before WW, I wouldn’t think twice to sitting down and eating a whole two pounds of fried chicken cutlets, or two slices of pizza plus french fries, or three or four bowls of cereal. Even when I thought I was eating “healthy” (such as whole grain cereals and the like), I was undermining myself by just the sheer volume of food I was eating. Since I started WW, I now know what a normal portion of food is. I now know that a chicken breast and a side dish is a good size portion, not three breasts and two side dishes.

(2) Finding healthier alternatives - I love potato chips and other salty snacks. Sweets were OK by me, but salt was (and still is) my weakness. However, at four points for a one ounce bag of Wise potato chips, I quickly learned that there were better alternatives out there. Glenny’s makes Soy Crisps, which are just as good, but much, much healthier. A company called The Skinny Cow makes delicious ice cream treats (including Ice Cream Sandwiches) which are extremely tasty. I learned to bake (instead of fry) chicken cutlets (my favorite food). I learned that salad is not a creation of the devil and can actually taste good.

The point of all this is that I learned to change my eating habits and I’m now at the point where I naturally look for better alternatives. It’s something that WW has helped me to train myself to do.

(3) Make a plan – and stick to it. – Part of my failing (before WW) is that I never planned any meals. For example, I was always rushing out the door in the morning without breakfast. As a result, I would pick up two bags of potato chips and a Snapple for breakfast. That was 10 points! Since then (because I have to budget my points throughout the day), I’ve learned to do better. Now, I have an English Muffin (Thomas’ has some flavors that are very good) with either some lite butter or jelly in the morning. Instead of just rushing out and grabbing pizza or a hamburger for lunch, I now have a tuna sandwhich (with light mayo and light bread) and a salad or vegetable soup, or a veggie burger. I plan for snacks by getting some low-cal alternative beforehand, or keeping some sucking candies on hand.

In short, WW is about learning to change your eating habits. And so far, it’s proving to be a success for me.

Zev Steinhardt

22

I lost approximately 70 lbs. in a manner that can only be described as “freakishly unusual”. At my heaviest, I was 225 lbs. (at only 5’9") and was way out of shape. I started going to P.E. class (yeah, I’m 16) where they had us run about a mile every day (in Nevada heat). That was all. Nothing else. I don’t know how it happened. In about a year, I dropped 50 lbs. and have since (about 6 months) dropped abother 20.

My route of running doesn’t seem to really apply in your case, but if anyone else cares…

23

I’ve lost about 80 pounds over the last 6 years—I changed my habits. First, year 1, I cut back on fats, becoming aware of what was high-fat and what was not. I drink very little alcohol and no non-diet sodas and very little fruit juice. Didn’t buy junk food–chips, Twinkies, etc, I started a dance class and went 3 times a week. Lost 40 pounds. Now this is year 3. I go back to college, give up TV but eat junk food—little time for preparing meals, so I again cut out the junk foods and eat a little more fats—nuts and tacos got me through school. Year 5, graduated, new job, able to make/eat healthier meals, still dancing once a week, walking more and remebering not to eat while I drive—no fast food in the car! Now in year 6 and I don’t go to dance class but the weight stays off. I eat well, toss in the occasional Krispie Kreme and I’m looking for a dance class in my new city, I’ll have the odd margarita but couldn’t drink a Pepsi—sugary, icky sweet.

24

That eating in the car thing really hit home. In the past I’ve probably eaten 2/3 of my calories (when not dieting) in the car! When I went back to school after I got married I used to eat at MacDonalds in the car on the way home; and THEN eat dinner. That was hard.

Quack, of course we care. Did you get taller as well? Maybe those hormones kicked in and the fat turned into muscle, plus all that running! I’m happy for you because I was a fat teenager and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.

winterhawk11, I agree about not giving up what you love; the funny thing is I didn’t even like MacDee’s french fries before, but when you are hungry they are heavenly. I usually eat a fajita and 4 chicken Macnuggets with them.

Zev, I know what you mean about the chicken cutlets. I went to visit a friend of my mom’s who is in this really nice assisted living place and had lunch with her. They served chicken cutlets, which I hadn’t had in years, and I oohed and ahhed over them with every bite. Forgot how good they are.

Cyn, I used to do folk dancing and I absolutely loved it. It was fun, fun, fun. But now I’m too fat. I did notice all those years ago that the dancers were always agile, lean, and looked healthier than others their age. When a 60 year old man can do that Russian thing where kick their knees out you know they’re in good shape.

One more thing I have noticed about eating habits of groups of people: I have gone twice to Seventh Day Adventists health retreats, once for a month and once for two+ months, and those people, who are vegans and walk EVERYwhere, are the healthiest and youngest looking bunch of people I’ve ever seen. At the one in Australia, La Mancha, I lost 3.5lbs a week for 9 weeks. If I was rich, I’d go live there for a year!

You all are an inspiration I have to say. Wish us all good luck.

25

suezeekay - I’m not really following a diet right now, unfortunately. However I have lost 30 pounds basically cutting out my carbs until supper time. It wasn’t too bad doing it that way to be honest, however, like I said, I haven’t been on a diet recently. I have an absolutely hellish time sticking to one.

voguevixen - I am very proud of you and don’t even know you. :slight_smile: Like I said, I was on that diet for a week and I found it very hard to stick too. However, my best friend followed it and lost about 40 pounds on it. So it definitely works. She did find that she started to gain her weight back as soon as she went back to her old habits though, so when she starts to gain again, she goes back on the MT diet for a week or so and loses it all again.

From reading this thread it appears to me that most people have lost weight on Weight Watcher’s. Tell me, if you can, why do I have such a hard time sticking to WW. I have been on the plan on and off throughout so many of their programs. I’ve been on the exchange programs, the fat and fibre, the point system, the new point system and the newer point system - if there is one :D. I find it hard to stick to eating the right amount of points. I am either way under and not eating enough or wwwaaaayyyyy over, which is usually the case. I must say though, you guys are really starting to make me wonder about going back on it again. You all seem to be doing so well on it, for those of you who are on it right now.

Good luck to every single one of you in your weight loss. I will be sure to check in in the next few days and let you know what I decide to do. I still have about 70 pounds to go, so I truly know all about the struggle

26

Hey, didn’t you say you were losing 4.5 lbs/month on 1400cal/day? That’s 1 lb/week, and you are doing just fine doing what you’re doing!

I’ve lost 15lbs in several months, eating less and exercise biking. 1400/day is about what I try to do. It’s slow, and I’m still in the same size, but it’s working and I don’t have hunger pangs too often.

Good Luck!