STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

ShanKel · Kenneth Cole

Want to lose 20lbs. PLEASE HELP!

Escrime · Kate Spade

Small steps at a time helped me not to be so overwhelmed when I first started losing weight (I used to weigh 200 lbs about 5 years ago), and I have lost close to 80 lbs.

Increase your physical activity and lower your caloric intake, that is what worked for me.

Start writing down what you are eating everyday. It helped me realize that I was seriously overeating and not realizing it (a handful of stuff here and there add up).

Are you a member of a gym or have access to one? It's easy to get discouraged and quit, but if you stick with it, you will see results. I started out just walking on a treadmill and then when I was able to do that without too much effort, I moved on to the elliprical, and after that, I hired a trainer to help me change up my workout. I try to workout 5 days a week now, and I don't deprive myself, but try to keep everything in moderation. Sometimes I falter and make mistakes, but I don't beat myself up too much, and I just get back on track.

Weight watchers has been successful for a lot of people I know because it helps you with portion size and to eat better. It's a good starting point, and you can even do it online.

Good luck! and you can do it.

lsubatgirl · Gucci

Hi, I've been doing weight watchers off and on for the past year and I've managed to lose 20-23 pounds and keep it off (I fluctuate some with the 3 pounds). It is a good program and you can eat pretty much anything (well you have to know how to spread out your points and stuff). I have about 10-13 left to lose but if I lose 5-8 more I'll be happy. I've kinda been lax about it lately though and enjoying myself and it hasn't hurt me all that badly.

My point being, it's a good program if you want to do a "diet" type program. Its not as restrictive as atkins or south beach but you won't lose 10 pounds in a month either but you could lose your 20 pounds by june. I did it religiously from Jan-May last year and lost 20. There are many versions of the program out there: Winning Points, Flex Points, and Core are the 3 main ones. You have to pick the one that works the best for you. It is also not hard to do it on your own if you want to join for a month or two to get introduced to the program and then quit because the $$ does add up. Dot is doing it that way. She's lost 10 pounds since Jan I think last she told me. I've lost 7 since this Jan.

Check out www.dwlz.com (the message boards) for detailed info on the program, recipe ideas, etc. Its a good resource. Also search some of our past posts and you will see some details on it.

If you have any specific questions private message me. I'll be glad to help you out and email you stuff to use on your computer if you want to do it.

tara t · Marc Jacobs

you can also buy the weight watchers plan from ebay... it's like 40.00 and you get all the books and stuff.

lsubatgirl · Gucci

quote:
Originally posted by: tara t
"you can also buy the weight watchers plan from ebay... it's like 40.00 and you get all the books and stuff. "

Once you pick the plan you want to follow just log on to dotties and it has everything in the books and more so you can skip the $40 if you want. Ebay does have the point calculators so you probably will want to get one of those so you can bring it to the grocery store when you shop. (I label all my food with their WW Point value once I get home so I'll know when I go to grab for it later)

ILoveChoo · Hermes

my fiance and I have also been doing weight watchers for almost a year now and we love it (I've lost 25 and he's lost 75)... they have free registration now too so you can go and just pay the weekly fee (usually between $10-14) and get all the info on the plan. dwlz.com is a really great site as well for info on restaurants and for recipes and stuff lik that. If you have anyspecific questions about it, pm me and I'll try to answer.

ShanKel · Kenneth Cole

Thanks for all the tips ladies. I just checked out www.dwlz.com and you're right there is tons of info on there. I am going to go and check out a meeting this week since the registration is free and get started. Will I have to purchase anything (besides the weekly fee) when i go because i would rather just get everything off of dwlz.com? Does everyone workout 5 days per week like Escrime? Do you walk, go to the gym or what?

ILoveChoo · Hermes

when you go to the meeting they'll give you a booklet with a whole bunch of info in it as well as a slider to figure out points. you don't *need* anything else, but I found the complete food companion (I think it was like $8?) helpful when I started- it has the points for a whole bunch of foods by brand and type. I don't work out as much as I should because I can never find the time (and well, cause I hate it), but I usually try for at least 3 times a week- usually yoga, pilates or swimming.

lsubatgirl · Gucci

I try to walk 5 days a week but that's not always possible. At the minimum I do exercise every tuesday and thursday after classes.

dot · Marc Jacobs

i want to lose weight too! like lsubatgirl said i joined ww online because i wanted to have structure to help me with my diet. the online version helped me the most because i'm usually in front of a computer, so it's easy for me to look up how many points things are right away. i really like ww but i feel like it's more common sense than anything. it just gives you a means to give value to things you eat, thus making you more conscious of your intake.

definitely don't buy those ww books on ebay!!!! SUCH A RIP! the are only $8 each at the meetings. i've seen the $22 starter sets go for like $70 on ebay! i was thinking of actually buying a bunch of them and selling them on ebay. you would seriously make a killing!

i go to the gym 3x a week, but i usually try to walk alot. it's very easy to take very long walks in nyc. i think by scheduling extra time for me to walk places instead of taking public transport has really helped!

i still have alot to lose before my caribbean vacation!

JackieO527 · Dooney & Bourke

I have done ww before and I am now doing it again. last time I started weight watchers I lost 18.5 lbs in the first month. However, I was told that this is very very unusual, especially b/c I wasn't working out at all.

sfcaligirl · Dooney & Bourke

you don't necessarily need weight watchers or any "program." i gained about 20 lbs (eek!) when i studied abroad for a year and was absolutely distraught when i came home chunky. my mom suggested that i go to a nutritionist (she had been wanting me to go anyway b/c i'm a vegetarian and she wanted to make sure i was getting enough protein, etc). it was WONDERFUL. it totally changed my eating habits and i learned a lot about portion control. i ended up losing the 20 that i had gained and then some. this was over 3 years ago and the weight is still off.

if you're going to spend money to try to lose weight, i would go to a nutritionist rather than something like weight watchers. i personally would rather give my money to somebody with professional medical training rather than a huge company trying to make money off you.

if you want to do it on your own- and it IS possible, just do a little research- portion control and regular exercise are key. stick to that and you'll lose 20 lbs no problem. good luck!

oh, p.s.- i'm not sure if this is even relevant for you, but cutting down on alcohol makes a HUGE difference. i was going out almost every night when i studied abroad and that contributed to a lot of my weight gain. i've also noticed that since graduating college, i drink less and don't gain weight as easily.

-- Edited by sfcaligirl at 13:58, 2005-02-23

bex · Chanel

i lost 15-20 pounds since last july and have managed to keep it off... i flucuate between 120-125 now. i basically went to the gym 3-4 times per week did lots of cardio, worked with a trainer and changed up my routine every 4-6 weeks to make sure i didn't get bored. i also went to a nutrionalist that had me keep a journal of my eating habits and i learned that i LOVE the bread and pastas! i was eating between 5-6 servings a day and really should only be having 2. after i learned that i dropped the last 5 lbs pretty quickly... i would recommend enlisting professionals to help (i.e. a trainer at the gym and a nutrionalist) to make sure you lose the weight the right way.

good luck!