What are fad diets anyway? How can you tell you're looking at one.
I think I've posted about this before actually, complaining of the countless ads I have seen littered all over myspace and various websites I frequent, showing before and after pictures and proclaiming fast weight loss of amazing amounts, like 20 lbs in two weeks or 30 lbs in a month.
But ya know what, there are other fad diets out there, excluding "magic pills" that show great weight loss and make us say "heck yeah I wanna lose weight on that plan".
Before I start my opinionate bashing and execising my freedom of speech on how I feel these diet plan sales people are exploiting those of us who really want to get our weight off via our pocket books, I am going to relist my check list of things to look for in spotting a fad diet. I do this to remind myself periodically not to fall for the hog wash I see floating around that makes it seem easier.
1. general rule of thumb, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
2. If it promises weight loss with out changing your eating and exercise habbits....
3. if it promises large amounts and fast weight loss in a short time period ( 20 lbs in two weeks etc..)
4. buying meal plans or prepackaged foods....
5. Focuses on just a certian amounts of foods, excluding certian foods or groups and doesn't focus on a healthy balanced diet.
Ok, so, I've voiced my opinion on the magic pills and annoying fake diet blogs floating around advertising free samples of acai berry and green tea. Those really piss me off!
But this is what is urking me lately. It's the beginning of the year, everyone has done their new years resolutions. I'm laying back for the evening, relaxing with my family and watching television and guess what commercial I see? Jenny Craig....
I saw this commercial this evening, and of course with me wanting to get my weight off real bad, any diet plan or weight loss commercial is going to grab my attention. I see these people sporting their new look with before and after pictures and I did it with Jenny! It bothered me because I thought " what are these people going to do AFTER they lose their weight and they aren't eating their preplanned meals anymore? Their whole menu is set out for them. They eat what is on the plan, and it's all pre portioned and through the months they are eating this and losing weight, are they learning how to cook better, portion better and continue on a healthy eating lifestyle?
Like many other diets, slim fast, dexatrim, cabbage soup etc. If you aren't learning to cook leaner, make healthier choices and better portions, you're going to gain it back eventually. from my personal experience, you don't keep weight off if you don't make perminant changes in lifestyle, and I just don't see how these prepackaged meal plan diets are teaching anyone how to change their life style and eating habbits PERMINANTLY! It seems to me, it's another scam to dip into our pockets, by weighing on our emotional desires to lose weight, knowing full well that most of us would do damned near anything to get it off!!
It upsets me!!
I am not saying Jenny Craig is bad, or some of the other prepacked food diets. But I think it should fall into the catagory of fad diets and should be done with caution. Not so much because they are unsafe like magic pills, but because it doesn't seem to be a perminant fix to a life long problem. what happens when the weight is lost and you go back to eating your own prepared foods and the weight comes back? You go back to the prepacked meals to do it all over again?
Why would I want to do that? I want to get my weight off once and keep it off. I don't want to struggle like this over and over, or every few years. I want to learn how to exercise and eat properly and change my habbits so I never get here again!!!
And I certianly don't want diet scammers to feed on my emotional desire to look and feel better about myself to the point that they are getting richer by the day.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
What I want
I vision myself in my old clothes. Back about five years ago I worea size 4 jeans, and a size XS in everything else. I loved the way I felt and looked. I was truly happy with myself. I had more energy, I enjoyed shopping for clothes and dolling up.
after I gained my weight, all of the things I loved and enjoyed became feelings of dread and disappointment.
I have been following Chalene Johnson's blog, and I love looking at the before and after pictures of real people who decide to take their weight and health under control and take the turbo jam challenge. They look so great and they are so lean.
The before pictures you can tell they aren't real thrilled with how they look or feel but the after photos they are all smiles and happy with their success. I can do that too! I want that too!
So far, I'm doing well with it. I wish I hadn't gotten ill and got knocked off of my work out schedule, but it doesn't matter now..... I can keep going now that I am feeling better.
I want to wear thos camo jeans I have never worn! I want to buy a whole new wardrobe and love getting dressed in the morning rather than feeling depressed and settling for loose pajamas or sweats and saving that new pair of jeans for visits to town.
I've done well with my eating this week and have worked out every other day , I will do more next week once my strength is up again. This week I have had a four pound loss. Yep, I lost another pound. I know I was retaining some fluid, so I know I've lost some water weight, but that's great too!
I am just so excited to be starting again and continue working towards my goal.
I think, therefore I am, if I believe I Will achieve!!
after I gained my weight, all of the things I loved and enjoyed became feelings of dread and disappointment.
I have been following Chalene Johnson's blog, and I love looking at the before and after pictures of real people who decide to take their weight and health under control and take the turbo jam challenge. They look so great and they are so lean.
The before pictures you can tell they aren't real thrilled with how they look or feel but the after photos they are all smiles and happy with their success. I can do that too! I want that too!
So far, I'm doing well with it. I wish I hadn't gotten ill and got knocked off of my work out schedule, but it doesn't matter now..... I can keep going now that I am feeling better.
I want to wear thos camo jeans I have never worn! I want to buy a whole new wardrobe and love getting dressed in the morning rather than feeling depressed and settling for loose pajamas or sweats and saving that new pair of jeans for visits to town.
I've done well with my eating this week and have worked out every other day , I will do more next week once my strength is up again. This week I have had a four pound loss. Yep, I lost another pound. I know I was retaining some fluid, so I know I've lost some water weight, but that's great too!
I am just so excited to be starting again and continue working towards my goal.
I think, therefore I am, if I believe I Will achieve!!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Another Review
Periodically I like to review differant work out videos and diet plans, see how they work for me, and what my over all opinion is. Note it's my opinion only.
Here is a list of what I currently do and support:
Healthy eating choices and exercise.
Turbo Jam work out by Chalene Johnson - Really pumps it up and makes it fun with cool music and a fun work out full of kicks, punches and pumps, and completely targets your core, butt, legs, arms....well you're whole body! Love this work out over all I've tried! I also love the eating plan and menu ideas including with Turbo Jam, because it's real food, and healthy suggestions. Real sound advice, the best I have seen yet.
Denise Austins Belly Blasting workout - 10 - 10 minute works out to focus on your core, using crunches, yoga moves, resistance and more. I love this one over the crunchless abs because it has it all on one video and to me seems to be more effective.
Yoga for Weight Loss - Fantastic and easy to follow, has various alterations according to your current fitness level and flexability. Very calming and easy to follow. I love this work out for a quiet easy going day. Believe it or not, it did get my heart rate up without areobics, just enough to break a little sweat but so easy to breath and talk through.
Sweaten to the oldies by Richard Simmons - an old school work out that I watched my mom do and I started doing as a teenager, but totally love because it's fun, effective and low impact for those who are very over weight and need a start but high impact is still to much and for those with health issues who need a slower start to build up strength. Love Richard Simmons.
Weight Watchers - You can't lose weight by exercise alone, you also have to count your calories and watch what you eat. The easiest way to count your calories while cutting back on fat and carbs is Weight Watchers. The easy point system and point counter helps you easily determine the value of each food and make healthier choices. According to your height, weight and age determines how many points you need a day to safely lose weight. Most effective with proper exercise.
I do not support:
Crunchless abs souper slim- I do love the work out, but the quick slimming menu I felt left me hungry and snooping for a snack. it is based off of a soup based diet for about a week or two, where you can virtually eat however much you want of it due to it being based off of vegetables, but we need protien to fill full and satisfied. Not to mention it caused gas. lol
The Cabbage soup Diet - Alone, it sucks. You can lose some weight, but alot of it's water, and what fat you burn can be gained back so easily once you start eating solid foods because you're not learning to portion your meals out and it's just way to few calories in a day. Now, adding the cabbage soup and veggie soups to your meal is great for a filler.
Dexatrim - Like many other over the counter appetite suppresants and energy boosters, they are loaded with caffine, ginseng, green tea, all of which are stimulants and can cause tacticardia. They should be used in moderation and after consultation with your doctor, but if you're a heart patient like me, they should be avoided. If you're very over weight or a health risk and need help, speak to your doctor and see he if recommends a temporary perscription.
Even perscription medications for weight loss should be used with caution and under the supervision of your doctor, not used for vanity pounds or a perminant method of keeping weight off, should be used in conjunction with proper eating habbits and exercise and only if you're a health risk and it's suggested by your doctor.
Here is a list of what I currently do and support:
Healthy eating choices and exercise.
Turbo Jam work out by Chalene Johnson - Really pumps it up and makes it fun with cool music and a fun work out full of kicks, punches and pumps, and completely targets your core, butt, legs, arms....well you're whole body! Love this work out over all I've tried! I also love the eating plan and menu ideas including with Turbo Jam, because it's real food, and healthy suggestions. Real sound advice, the best I have seen yet.
Denise Austins Belly Blasting workout - 10 - 10 minute works out to focus on your core, using crunches, yoga moves, resistance and more. I love this one over the crunchless abs because it has it all on one video and to me seems to be more effective.
Yoga for Weight Loss - Fantastic and easy to follow, has various alterations according to your current fitness level and flexability. Very calming and easy to follow. I love this work out for a quiet easy going day. Believe it or not, it did get my heart rate up without areobics, just enough to break a little sweat but so easy to breath and talk through.
Sweaten to the oldies by Richard Simmons - an old school work out that I watched my mom do and I started doing as a teenager, but totally love because it's fun, effective and low impact for those who are very over weight and need a start but high impact is still to much and for those with health issues who need a slower start to build up strength. Love Richard Simmons.
Weight Watchers - You can't lose weight by exercise alone, you also have to count your calories and watch what you eat. The easiest way to count your calories while cutting back on fat and carbs is Weight Watchers. The easy point system and point counter helps you easily determine the value of each food and make healthier choices. According to your height, weight and age determines how many points you need a day to safely lose weight. Most effective with proper exercise.
I do not support:
Crunchless abs souper slim- I do love the work out, but the quick slimming menu I felt left me hungry and snooping for a snack. it is based off of a soup based diet for about a week or two, where you can virtually eat however much you want of it due to it being based off of vegetables, but we need protien to fill full and satisfied. Not to mention it caused gas. lol
The Cabbage soup Diet - Alone, it sucks. You can lose some weight, but alot of it's water, and what fat you burn can be gained back so easily once you start eating solid foods because you're not learning to portion your meals out and it's just way to few calories in a day. Now, adding the cabbage soup and veggie soups to your meal is great for a filler.
Dexatrim - Like many other over the counter appetite suppresants and energy boosters, they are loaded with caffine, ginseng, green tea, all of which are stimulants and can cause tacticardia. They should be used in moderation and after consultation with your doctor, but if you're a heart patient like me, they should be avoided. If you're very over weight or a health risk and need help, speak to your doctor and see he if recommends a temporary perscription.
Even perscription medications for weight loss should be used with caution and under the supervision of your doctor, not used for vanity pounds or a perminant method of keeping weight off, should be used in conjunction with proper eating habbits and exercise and only if you're a health risk and it's suggested by your doctor.
Eat well and prosper!
Often times people think ( including me ), that in order to lose weight you have to practically starve yourself. Depriving yourself of the foods you enjoy will make you thin.
i can't stress the importance of moderation in all things we consume.
I have said it before but will repeat it, because it's soooo important to remember, if you cut back to much you will force yourself into starvation mode. That slows your metabolism down, and you can even gain weight. So it may seem like you barely eat, but you're still getting thicker.
Cut your calories to a healthy amount according to what your doc. suggests but exercise.
At first it may seem like it's not working, and you may even gain ( muscle, water etc.) but if you stick with your exercising and healthy eating you will see an improvment. WONT ALL HAPPEN IN ONE WEEK FOLKS!
It can take your body a month, two or three to adjust, but stick with it.
1. Eat a high protien breakfast!
2. Snacks r good. small healthy snacks, low calorie.
3. Eat a good healthy lunch.
4. small dinner before 6 pm.
Drink lots of water. Watch your diet soda in take.
exercise!! Your body will not change or look better unless you move it, work it and build it. Like it or not, it must be done and you'll feel better and look better so it will be worth it!
Never stop eating!
i can't stress the importance of moderation in all things we consume.
I have said it before but will repeat it, because it's soooo important to remember, if you cut back to much you will force yourself into starvation mode. That slows your metabolism down, and you can even gain weight. So it may seem like you barely eat, but you're still getting thicker.
Cut your calories to a healthy amount according to what your doc. suggests but exercise.
At first it may seem like it's not working, and you may even gain ( muscle, water etc.) but if you stick with your exercising and healthy eating you will see an improvment. WONT ALL HAPPEN IN ONE WEEK FOLKS!
It can take your body a month, two or three to adjust, but stick with it.
1. Eat a high protien breakfast!
2. Snacks r good. small healthy snacks, low calorie.
3. Eat a good healthy lunch.
4. small dinner before 6 pm.
Drink lots of water. Watch your diet soda in take.
exercise!! Your body will not change or look better unless you move it, work it and build it. Like it or not, it must be done and you'll feel better and look better so it will be worth it!
Never stop eating!
Talking to your doctor
Before starting any weight loss regimen and diet change you should talk to your doctor.
Together your doctor can tell you what is best for you by examining your health issues, risks, BMI, height, age and what would be more beneficial to you individually.
I am a heart patient, so for the last three years I've been real concerned about my weight, wanting to get it off but scared of causing damage to my heart with the wrong kind of exercise.
I went to see my doctor for a semi annual check up. I was on beta blockers to regulate my heart rate and my blood pressure and everything was normal. It was a decent visit except he noted that the "snap" my heart makes was louder that time. Most likely from the stress of me being sick and..... me being overweight.
So, I sat and talked with him for about 45 minutes on what my plans are for losing the weight and getting it under control and keeping it off perminantly. My concerns were the Turbo Jam,Tae bo and just exercise levels in general being to much for my conidtion.
The answer was, the more you exercise starting at a lower level and working your way up as you gain strength, the healthier and stronger your heart will be. Do the turbo jam, do tae bo, walk , walk , walk and later when you can jog and run.
I also asked him about my green tea suppliments and the gallon green tea I was consuming a day. remember I thought I was doing so well with it and had found a very healthy antioxidant... blah blah blah.... He said, NO, that has WAYYYY to much caffine. UGH. So, green tea is out for me, because caffine is restricted from my diet due to my heart condition.
And about meal times and breakfast....
He said, " always eat breakfast, it gets your metabolism going, and have your heavier meals for breakfast or lunch and a light dinner before 6 pm.
So I've been doing good by him.
he informed me 30 minutes of walking on my treadmill a day is what he wanted, at least 4 times a week. five minutes of warm up, 20 minutes fast walking or jogging and 5 minutes cool down. Lots of water, and the turbo jam, yoga, and dance are all fine, as long as I keep my heart rate between 130 - 140!
As for what he said about over the counter diet aides..... most are not FDA approved with means they most likely are bogus or unsafe. Many of them like dexatrim cause tacticaria ( something I already have)..... and you really should talk to your doctor before you ever take anything over the counter.
I have kept his advice in mind the last couple of years and taken to use towards my advantage since I began my weight loss and healthy eating endeavors.
Together your doctor can tell you what is best for you by examining your health issues, risks, BMI, height, age and what would be more beneficial to you individually.
I am a heart patient, so for the last three years I've been real concerned about my weight, wanting to get it off but scared of causing damage to my heart with the wrong kind of exercise.
I went to see my doctor for a semi annual check up. I was on beta blockers to regulate my heart rate and my blood pressure and everything was normal. It was a decent visit except he noted that the "snap" my heart makes was louder that time. Most likely from the stress of me being sick and..... me being overweight.
So, I sat and talked with him for about 45 minutes on what my plans are for losing the weight and getting it under control and keeping it off perminantly. My concerns were the Turbo Jam,Tae bo and just exercise levels in general being to much for my conidtion.
The answer was, the more you exercise starting at a lower level and working your way up as you gain strength, the healthier and stronger your heart will be. Do the turbo jam, do tae bo, walk , walk , walk and later when you can jog and run.
I also asked him about my green tea suppliments and the gallon green tea I was consuming a day. remember I thought I was doing so well with it and had found a very healthy antioxidant... blah blah blah.... He said, NO, that has WAYYYY to much caffine. UGH. So, green tea is out for me, because caffine is restricted from my diet due to my heart condition.
And about meal times and breakfast....
He said, " always eat breakfast, it gets your metabolism going, and have your heavier meals for breakfast or lunch and a light dinner before 6 pm.
So I've been doing good by him.
he informed me 30 minutes of walking on my treadmill a day is what he wanted, at least 4 times a week. five minutes of warm up, 20 minutes fast walking or jogging and 5 minutes cool down. Lots of water, and the turbo jam, yoga, and dance are all fine, as long as I keep my heart rate between 130 - 140!
As for what he said about over the counter diet aides..... most are not FDA approved with means they most likely are bogus or unsafe. Many of them like dexatrim cause tacticaria ( something I already have)..... and you really should talk to your doctor before you ever take anything over the counter.
I have kept his advice in mind the last couple of years and taken to use towards my advantage since I began my weight loss and healthy eating endeavors.
REALLY COOL NEWS!!
It has been five years since I bought myself any new clothes. Since my divorce, I spend any extra money I have on my kids and making sure they are pimped out in good clothes and shoes, and well, I manage. My favorite around the house attire is comfy pajamas, and when I am working out hardcore, I sport around the house in my gym clothes. lol
I have this pair of Camo Jeans I bought 5 years ago and I couldn't fit in them. I hadn't realized that I had gained enough weight that I had gone up a size or two. I had just gotten out of the hospital and spent alot of time in baggie pj's. I have those jeans, the tag still attached hanging in my closet. I want to wear them so bad!
I know it's going to be a little bit before I can get into them because I still have some weight to lose. about 32 lbs left to go before I can wear them.
However, the other day I went shopping for Monkey. She is two now and really growing fast and it was time to get her a new size in clothing. while I was at the store I noticed they had Jeans on sale.
I pondered for a moment... " should I?".... I know I had lost about ten pounds and I wondered how much it made a differance in my clothing size. I am still in a size medium, but my old jeans were lose and getting baggy and my jammies are getting baggy to. So I knew I had to have at least dropped half a size.
I grabbed a pair of jeans and ran to the dressing room. I crossed my fingers and tried them and OMG! They fit perfectly.
I went from a size 12 to a size 9/10!!!
SO, I am excited to say I have dropped about 10 lbs, dropped 2.5 jeans sizes and bought my first NEW pair of jeans in five years!
What's cooler than that, is that was three weeks ago. I started exercising again this week, and I have lost 3 more pounds. I tried the jeans on this morning and they are lose!! YES!!!!!
I have this pair of Camo Jeans I bought 5 years ago and I couldn't fit in them. I hadn't realized that I had gained enough weight that I had gone up a size or two. I had just gotten out of the hospital and spent alot of time in baggie pj's. I have those jeans, the tag still attached hanging in my closet. I want to wear them so bad!
I know it's going to be a little bit before I can get into them because I still have some weight to lose. about 32 lbs left to go before I can wear them.
However, the other day I went shopping for Monkey. She is two now and really growing fast and it was time to get her a new size in clothing. while I was at the store I noticed they had Jeans on sale.
I pondered for a moment... " should I?".... I know I had lost about ten pounds and I wondered how much it made a differance in my clothing size. I am still in a size medium, but my old jeans were lose and getting baggy and my jammies are getting baggy to. So I knew I had to have at least dropped half a size.
I grabbed a pair of jeans and ran to the dressing room. I crossed my fingers and tried them and OMG! They fit perfectly.
I went from a size 12 to a size 9/10!!!
SO, I am excited to say I have dropped about 10 lbs, dropped 2.5 jeans sizes and bought my first NEW pair of jeans in five years!
What's cooler than that, is that was three weeks ago. I started exercising again this week, and I have lost 3 more pounds. I tried the jeans on this morning and they are lose!! YES!!!!!
Yes! Rachel is still kickin'!
Wow! It's been well over a month since I updated. Let me start off with where I have been. SICK! I hate the winter months, there is every kind of cold and flu floating around and since december I have been fighting one thing after another.
In just a month of not getting my exercise in I am having to start over rebuilding my strength levels. It's irritating and I am frustrated. Good thing is, I continued to consider my diet and eating habbits and didn't gain anything I had lost, so I maintained.
Point being is in order to lose weight successfully we need a combination of healthy eating and plenty of movement. Let's face it, sitting around and not moving isn't burning calories!
I am hoping my health will take an improvment soon. I am eating grape fruit, oranges, taking vitamin C, but also drinking LOTS of water.
I feel like I have a month lost on my weight loss efforts, but no one can control what illness they catch right? lol
Thank you to my followers and comments left. I apologize for being a stranger this last month.
Now on to the good news. I lost three pounds this week!! YAY!
Since I have spent alot of time resting and laying around, my muscles have gotten tight again and I have fallen out of shape. So I began this week with a modified yoga session. WOW! That felt so good. I was able to relax and destress while I stretched and focused on breathing and inner peace. It was nice and a good way to get me ready to start kicking butt with my favorite Turbo Jam. I wish they had live classes here, I would totally be there!!!
The next day, I rested cause guess what, I caught ANOTHER COLD! But I got on the treadmill the day after. I walked 30 minutes and have done that all week. I am strengthening my body and getting ready to kick it full throatle. I feel alot better than I did , and drinking all of the water has made me pee like sea biscut, but it's flushing my system, helping me stay feeling satisfied.
This afternoon, I plan to get back on my Turbo Jam plan. I got the calander and diet menu and I am going to give it a work out, see if I can do the ten lbs and ten days. YEAH! I just love doing the videos, because they are fun, never boring, I can feel it working my muscles...Good stuff.
I'd say it's almost time for a new picture to compare the differance... I hope to take some in the next week.
In just a month of not getting my exercise in I am having to start over rebuilding my strength levels. It's irritating and I am frustrated. Good thing is, I continued to consider my diet and eating habbits and didn't gain anything I had lost, so I maintained.
Point being is in order to lose weight successfully we need a combination of healthy eating and plenty of movement. Let's face it, sitting around and not moving isn't burning calories!
I am hoping my health will take an improvment soon. I am eating grape fruit, oranges, taking vitamin C, but also drinking LOTS of water.
I feel like I have a month lost on my weight loss efforts, but no one can control what illness they catch right? lol
Thank you to my followers and comments left. I apologize for being a stranger this last month.
Now on to the good news. I lost three pounds this week!! YAY!
Since I have spent alot of time resting and laying around, my muscles have gotten tight again and I have fallen out of shape. So I began this week with a modified yoga session. WOW! That felt so good. I was able to relax and destress while I stretched and focused on breathing and inner peace. It was nice and a good way to get me ready to start kicking butt with my favorite Turbo Jam. I wish they had live classes here, I would totally be there!!!
The next day, I rested cause guess what, I caught ANOTHER COLD! But I got on the treadmill the day after. I walked 30 minutes and have done that all week. I am strengthening my body and getting ready to kick it full throatle. I feel alot better than I did , and drinking all of the water has made me pee like sea biscut, but it's flushing my system, helping me stay feeling satisfied.
This afternoon, I plan to get back on my Turbo Jam plan. I got the calander and diet menu and I am going to give it a work out, see if I can do the ten lbs and ten days. YEAH! I just love doing the videos, because they are fun, never boring, I can feel it working my muscles...Good stuff.
I'd say it's almost time for a new picture to compare the differance... I hope to take some in the next week.
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