Anyone else trying to lose weight?

[Cameraman Jenn]

Perhaps the United Kingdom should change to United Snobdom.

[Brother Charn]

I think we'll all belong to the UMC at some point...

[Cail]

And learn to drive with automatic transmission?

Believe me, I think your license ought to be revoked if you can't handle three pedals.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Hey, I could operate a manual car years before I was even legal to drive. I even taught my OLDER sister how to drive a stick. I think everyone should learn to drive one but there are many people who have simply not even come across the opportunity.

[MsMary]

Maybe I need a plan like that weight watcher's plan that lets you eat what you want, as long as it's certain foods (or types of foods).

It does work, tho I've gone back to counting points (for awhile, anyhow -- until I get tired of doing it again ).

Basically the list is:
* Lean meats
* Nonfat dairy
* Whole grains -- so, brown rice, whole wheat pasta (or the whole wheat blends -- basically I look for that gold-and-brown Grain Council (or whatever it is) stamp on the box), whole grain cereals -- and btw, bread of any sort is *not* included, even if it's whole grain bread
* Legumes (but not nuts)
* Meat substitutes like Boca burgers, etc., and tofu (of course)
* Any fruit
* Any vegetables
* 2 tsp of healthy oil per day

If you're cooking your veggies in butter, of course, then you've got to count the butter. And so on.

Let me know if you want any other info.

Thanks for the info. So you are allowed to eat as much as you want of these things, paying attention to your hunger signs? I might be able to do it. I already eat a lot of that stuff, I would just have to substitute something for the pretzels (and sometimes crackers) that I eat as snacks.

[aliantha]

Basically the list is:
* Lean meats
* Nonfat dairy
* Whole grains -- so, brown rice, whole wheat pasta (or the whole wheat blends -- basically I look for that gold-and-brown Grain Council (or whatever it is) stamp on the box), whole grain cereals -- and btw, bread of any sort is *not* included, even if it's whole grain bread
* Legumes (but not nuts)
* Meat substitutes like Boca burgers, etc., and tofu (of course)
* Any fruit
* Any vegetables
* 2 tsp of healthy oil per day

If you're cooking your veggies in butter, of course, then you've got to count the butter. And so on.

Let me know if you want any other info.

Thanks for the info. So you are allowed to eat as much as you want of these things, paying attention to your hunger signs? I might be able to do it. I already eat a lot of that stuff, I would just have to substitute something for the pretzels (and sometimes crackers) that I eat as snacks.

Yup, eat as much as you want, paying attention to hunger signs. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being ravenous and 10 being "roll me off the chair and over to the couch for a nap", you want to stay between, y'know 3 and 7 or so.

You get 35 points for non-core foods per week. One point is about 50 calories, more or less, so about 1,750 calories per week (or 250 calories per day). If you can fit your pretzel habit into those parameters, you'd be good to go. Or snack on veggies instead. (My new obsession: grape tomatoes and/or sugar snap peas. Yum.)

[MsMary]

Thanks for the info, ali. With the points for non-core food, I may be able to do that plan.

And I totally hear you about snacking on veggies. For years my friends have laughed at me for snacking on frozen peas and corn. (It prompted one friend to say to me, "You're so healthy!")

Just one more question: Is oatmeal considered a whole grain? Cause that's what I have for breakfast almost every morning.

[MsMary]

Hey, ali, I just thought of another question: Where does fish fit into this WW plan?

[aliantha]

Fish and shellfish are fine. If the fish is canned, it can't be packed in oil.

And yes, oatmeal is a core food. Oh yeah, fake sweeteners are core foods, too. And did I mention fat-free salad dressings, and pretty much every other condiment, are included?

[MsMary]

Yay.

[aliantha]

Let me know how it goes for you, MsMary!

I'm still kind of trying to do Core while I'm counting points -- sticking to fat-free dairy and whole grains and so on. Eventually I'd like to get to the point where I don't have to write down every freakin' thing I eat, all the time.

Good news: I went clothes shopping last night. Didn't even have to walk into the plus-size department, *and* I didn't have to get the biggest size in misses, either! Yay!

[Cameraman Jenn]

Congrats Ali! That's wonderful!!!

[aliantha]

Thanks! I was pretty pumped. It'll be a year next month that I started WW. Since then, I've dropped 4 slacks sizes.

[Brother Charn]

Thanks! I was pretty pumped. It'll be a year next month that I started WW. Since then, I've dropped 4 slacks sizes.

That's awesome, ali! Congratulations!
Does this mean you will soon be updating your Av with a live-action version?

[aliantha]

Not 'til I'm a lot closer to goal....

Thanks!

[Cameraman Jenn]

HAHAHAHAHA! Ali, you should put up an assatar when you reach your goal!

[aliantha]

Heh. Maybe I will.

[MsMary]

Yay, ali!

I'm not doing too well. Giving up bread may be too hard for me. (Does it count if I eat Weight Watcher's Whole Wheat Bread? )

On the plus side, I am trying to go with snacking on permissible choices.

[CovenantJr]

I knew a bloke a couple of years ago who dropped a stone (14 lbs, Aliantha ) just by cutting bread out of his diet. I'd try that too, but bread is the only thing I can count on having in my kitchen.

[MsMary]

I don't eat a great deal of bread, but I do tend to have sandwiches for lunch when I go to work. Generally, I eat whole wheat bread.

I guess I'll keep trying with various ways of watching my food intake.

I need some motivation for doing some weight training exercise, too. I already do folk dancing two to three times a week, which is generally good for 1 1/2 to 2 hours of pretty intense exercise, but I think I need some toning/weight training, too.