Question:
Hi,
I have a freind who is 3 stone overweight and says she wants lose some weightbefore her holiday, she has tried losing it on her own but with no luck.
Can anyone suggest anywhere she could go to lose weight? what would be best for her,as she hasnt got alot ofwill power.
Weight Watchers
Rosemary Connerly
Slimming World
Dietician
other
Appreciate any suggestions for my desperate freind![sm=sad2.gif][sm=sad2.gif]
I've done them all (except the dietician - there was a nine month wait to see one at the local hospital, and someone who has seen her says I could do a better job!). Finally had to do it myself. I have also done Scottish Slimmers, but hated the 'sessions' where everyone had to read through the list of 'processed foods' that were acceptable to the regime. I hate processed foods, and could see no point in the recommending that anyone ate them. Also, I objected to the £3.50 I had to pay every week to be patronised. Rosemary Conley classes were OK up to a point. The exercise class was not as well managed as it should have been. There were many older ladies in the class, who simply should not have been doing some of the exercises they were instructed to do. I lasted 7 months, but gave up (had lost 6 lbs).
I have nowlost 2 stone (since Nov 05) by eating healthy food (we all know what NOT to eat). However, I now exercise more. I walk whenever I can, whether I want to or not - even the dog mutters now!I also bounce up and down on my mini-trampoline for about 10 minutes everyday, and(since I bought a croptop) skipwhenever I can (rope skip, not"toma loo")No one elseis going to do it for me. I am still 14 stone, but feel better than when I was 15st 12lb. I am aiming to be size 16 by January next year, which for me will be about 11 stone. As long as I continue to eat the right things, and exercise I think I should do it.
Is there anyone your friend can 'buddy up' with to help her? Money saved by not going into the diet industry coffers could be spent towards a day in a spa for a therapy of her choice - or colonic irrigation!
hi jdholistic,
sorry to be negative about this kind of money making weight loss enviroment, of those you mention I would have to choose the R Conley as it at least uses exercise. But to be told by others that you can eat what you like from their range of highly processed foods containing high levels of salt/sodium/sugar/transfat/ MSG and cost a fortune ready meals. By others saying that certain treats count as points, is not IMO giving you the information you need. I subscribe to the school of thought that these "clubs" are for those who are not in fact that worried about losing their weight.
In my advice as a former sports nutritionalist I would give these 3 pearls of wisdom, none of which I claim to be my own.
1/ there are no bad foods, just bad diets.
2/remember the 80/20 rule, 80% healthy eating.
2/ for each single pound of weight loss(bodyfat)you require, your energy expenditure must be 3500kcals greater than your energy consumption.
If your friend is serious about her weight loss and has no medical condition that would prevent her exercising she would be far better served by enrolling on a course with a suitably qualified personal trainer, who will fully assess his/her fitness level and develop a programme that will take into account the client goals or aspirations.
this would entail your friend keeping a food and exercise diary which would highlight any concerning eating patterns.
This is an extremely common situation and again IMO requires expert advice and guidance and not that given by sales reps who tend to operate the kind of weight loss classes/ clubs that you mentioned.
most personal trainers are qualified to at least level 3, many have specialist development in areas such as GP Referrals, low risk/ med risk clients, nutrition etc.
THis is not to be taken as a stereotyping of all diet based clubs, or those who attend themjust as a reflection of personal experience of my wide ranging previous training and development, in catering, nutrition preparation ofathletes diets, exercise prescription and a working relationship with many health professionals.
Hope you find your friend the answers she/he desires, but more importantly the results that are required.
regards
GAZ
Hi I have twice tried to reply to this at length, but posting keeps failing so please email me and I will reply in confidence.
Gaz
There do seem to have a few incidents of double postings because of a glitch just recently, and Admin have been advised. Your longer one above seems to be OK, though? PM me if not.
I'm going to move the thread from General Discussions to Diet now. Hold tight! :D
Holistic
I think it is a personal thing - which route you choose - and I think that the classes (and class leaders) vary quite a lot. Jabba the Hut didn't like Scottish Slimmers, however, I did very much - and lost 3 stone. The class I went to didn't name and shame, nor did we have to eat plastic food. However, between you and I - I didn't follow their plan. I just did my own thing (lots of fruit and vegetables, and no carbs in evening meal) and just went to the class to be weighed, and for moral support.I liked being weighed because it kept me focused, and it appealed to my competitive streak. I also liked being around other people who were equally struggling with weight issues, and who also knew that it was hard to lose weight. I'd tried Weight Watchers, but hated it. But the Scottish Slimmers group appealed to me a lot more.
My advice to your pal is to join a class - find the one that suits her personality, and team up with one or two of the women there. Weight loss isn't easy, but I found it easier when I knew other folk also struggled with it. If that makes sense!
I wish her luck.
N x
p.s. I also exercised daily - even if it was just a walk.
:D Thankyou all for your replies.
I think you are right about it being a personal thing, what suits one may not suit another.
I have mentioned to my freind that scottish slimmers might be worth a try or something simular ,as she would prefer being around others in the same boat. As for exercising she is the worlds worst for jumping in the car just to go 5 minutes down the road, never walks anywhere, which might explain why she is overweight! Still, I will try to encourage her to walk instead of drive.
seeya! :D
I gave up with classes but mainly because I couldn't afford themand I never stuck to their menus anyway lol. I used to pay a fortune for gym membership and never go to that either.
The onlything that works for me now is an oldie from the 70's. The Scarsdale Medical Diet. Its 2 weeks on 2 weeks off (keep trim) and you canlose up to 20lbs in 14 days, depending on how much you have to lose to start with obviously.
Its easy to follow, you don't have to count calories and you can stuff your face with as much as you want of what is listed. (I cheat a little bit and munch chocolate and still lose weight, it seems to be ok aslong as you stick to what you are supposed to for the meals). You have to stay off alcohol for 2 weeks (apart from the odd sneaky glass of wine).
Ok, I cheat like mad on this diet and still lose weight on it.
You weigh yourself every day and keep a record of your weight. It psyches you up because you see you are losing about 1lb a day on average.
If everything else has failed for you there's no harm in trying this, it might be the answer you are looking for.
Like all diets if you have a lot of weight to lose you are supposed to check with your doctor beforehand etc. etc.
I have to wear my sensible and hat and say the following.
For long term weight loss, the best possible thing is to eat real, unprocessed and natural food. Plenty of fruit and veg, cut down on the meat and dairy (or better yet cut out completely and go vegan).
I prefer 3 meals a day but many now advocate 6 very small meals a day as great for the metabolism and losing weight.
Exercise - I see this as essential if you want to lose weight and keep it off and even more essenial for your long term health and well being. Start small and build up.
Giving up booze, chocolate and other addictive substances will also help.
That Scarsdale diet maybe what she is looking for, if it is one week on, one week off. And you cheated too! and still lost weight? WoW sounds right up her street.
Is there a book stillavailable on that diet?
I came across a gym as I was driving out somewhere today, so I popped in to have a nose round, an instructer approached me and gave me some info, and showed me around I was very impressed and booked my freind and myself in for an induction on Friday. They are not that expensive either. Well, got to start somewhere i suppose.
Anyway thanks for all your replies, some good advice, cheers!!
That's the beauty of the Scarsdale diet, its all about lean meat, fish etc.and plenty of fresh fruit and veg. You still get to eat a little bit of dairy and some carbs so its not as strict and much more sensible and healthy than the Atkins Diet. There are also variations to suit just about everyone, even a vegetarian menu.
As its 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off you only have to stay off alcohol for 2 weeks. You still eat sensibly on the 2 weeks keep trim part but you get more treats.
To be honest if you do it properly for 4 or 5 days and see how the weight drops off even though you are eating plenty and its all healthy stuff you don't want to cheat. You are adjusting your attitude to food without even realising it.
The reason most people give up on diets is because they don't get the weight loss reward fast enough. If you've got 3 stone or more to lose and you join a slimming club where you only lose 5lb or 6lb a month you'll soon get fed up. If you follow a healthy diet and can lose that in a week, what are you going to stick with???
In most of the case studies in the book I think people lost between 10-20lb in the first 2 weeks depending on their starting weightand then 4lb or 5lb in the second 2 weeks. Two Weeks On, Two Weeks Off, its much easier to keep that going long term.
A while back someone wrote a book on it making it more suitable for the UK as at the time we didn't have low fat sprays etc for cooking and instead of protein bread you use wholemeal bread. Its called The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet Plus Dr Tarnowers Lifetime Keep Slim Programme.
Try this link but I think they are all in US$, haven't found a UK site with the book yet.
I'd really advise reading the book, it has lots of case histories, shows you how to track your weight in a table and has lots of variations like the budget diet, vegetarian etc.
Good Luck.
:D:DThankyou Mystewood,
Very glad for that info, I am going to look into buying it, seems like a good one!!
Best Wishes
Jill.
Not heard of that diet. I would recommend the GI Diet anyway. Eat as much as you can... but you won't eat as much as you do by the nature of the food you choose.
http://www.glycaemicindex.com/
Personally, I'm not keen on cutting out or dramatically reducing a food group, especially one that supplies you with energy.
As for veganism, if you do choose this route, do your research - make sure you know how to get stuff like omega 3 and iron. There are other things that are easier to find when eating animals and their produce, but harder to find if you go the vegan route.
Hi Jill
You're Welcome!
I'm back on it myself this week and have lost 1lb since Monday but I've also just eaten half a bar of Cadbury's Whole Nut. I would do a lot better if I could stop cheating lol.
I have a freind who is 3 stone overweight and says she wants lose some weightbefore her holiday, she has tried losing it on her own but with no luck.
Can anyone suggest anywhere she could go to lose weight? what would be best for her,as she hasnt got alot ofwill power.
Weight Watchers
Rosemary Connerly
Slimming World
Dietician
other
Appreciate any suggestions for my desperate freind![sm=sad2.gif][sm=sad2.gif]
Answers:
I've done them all (except the dietician - there was a nine month wait to see one at the local hospital, and someone who has seen her says I could do a better job!). Finally had to do it myself. I have also done Scottish Slimmers, but hated the 'sessions' where everyone had to read through the list of 'processed foods' that were acceptable to the regime. I hate processed foods, and could see no point in the recommending that anyone ate them. Also, I objected to the £3.50 I had to pay every week to be patronised. Rosemary Conley classes were OK up to a point. The exercise class was not as well managed as it should have been. There were many older ladies in the class, who simply should not have been doing some of the exercises they were instructed to do. I lasted 7 months, but gave up (had lost 6 lbs).
I have nowlost 2 stone (since Nov 05) by eating healthy food (we all know what NOT to eat). However, I now exercise more. I walk whenever I can, whether I want to or not - even the dog mutters now!I also bounce up and down on my mini-trampoline for about 10 minutes everyday, and(since I bought a croptop) skipwhenever I can (rope skip, not"toma loo")No one elseis going to do it for me. I am still 14 stone, but feel better than when I was 15st 12lb. I am aiming to be size 16 by January next year, which for me will be about 11 stone. As long as I continue to eat the right things, and exercise I think I should do it.
Is there anyone your friend can 'buddy up' with to help her? Money saved by not going into the diet industry coffers could be spent towards a day in a spa for a therapy of her choice - or colonic irrigation!
Answers:
hi jdholistic,
sorry to be negative about this kind of money making weight loss enviroment, of those you mention I would have to choose the R Conley as it at least uses exercise. But to be told by others that you can eat what you like from their range of highly processed foods containing high levels of salt/sodium/sugar/transfat/ MSG and cost a fortune ready meals. By others saying that certain treats count as points, is not IMO giving you the information you need. I subscribe to the school of thought that these "clubs" are for those who are not in fact that worried about losing their weight.
In my advice as a former sports nutritionalist I would give these 3 pearls of wisdom, none of which I claim to be my own.
1/ there are no bad foods, just bad diets.
2/remember the 80/20 rule, 80% healthy eating.
2/ for each single pound of weight loss(bodyfat)you require, your energy expenditure must be 3500kcals greater than your energy consumption.
If your friend is serious about her weight loss and has no medical condition that would prevent her exercising she would be far better served by enrolling on a course with a suitably qualified personal trainer, who will fully assess his/her fitness level and develop a programme that will take into account the client goals or aspirations.
this would entail your friend keeping a food and exercise diary which would highlight any concerning eating patterns.
This is an extremely common situation and again IMO requires expert advice and guidance and not that given by sales reps who tend to operate the kind of weight loss classes/ clubs that you mentioned.
most personal trainers are qualified to at least level 3, many have specialist development in areas such as GP Referrals, low risk/ med risk clients, nutrition etc.
THis is not to be taken as a stereotyping of all diet based clubs, or those who attend themjust as a reflection of personal experience of my wide ranging previous training and development, in catering, nutrition preparation ofathletes diets, exercise prescription and a working relationship with many health professionals.
Hope you find your friend the answers she/he desires, but more importantly the results that are required.
regards
GAZ
Answers:
Hi I have twice tried to reply to this at length, but posting keeps failing so please email me and I will reply in confidence.
Gaz
Answers:
There do seem to have a few incidents of double postings because of a glitch just recently, and Admin have been advised. Your longer one above seems to be OK, though? PM me if not.
I'm going to move the thread from General Discussions to Diet now. Hold tight! :D
Holistic
Answers:
I think it is a personal thing - which route you choose - and I think that the classes (and class leaders) vary quite a lot. Jabba the Hut didn't like Scottish Slimmers, however, I did very much - and lost 3 stone. The class I went to didn't name and shame, nor did we have to eat plastic food. However, between you and I - I didn't follow their plan. I just did my own thing (lots of fruit and vegetables, and no carbs in evening meal) and just went to the class to be weighed, and for moral support.I liked being weighed because it kept me focused, and it appealed to my competitive streak. I also liked being around other people who were equally struggling with weight issues, and who also knew that it was hard to lose weight. I'd tried Weight Watchers, but hated it. But the Scottish Slimmers group appealed to me a lot more.
My advice to your pal is to join a class - find the one that suits her personality, and team up with one or two of the women there. Weight loss isn't easy, but I found it easier when I knew other folk also struggled with it. If that makes sense!
I wish her luck.
N x
p.s. I also exercised daily - even if it was just a walk.
Answers:
:D Thankyou all for your replies.
I think you are right about it being a personal thing, what suits one may not suit another.
I have mentioned to my freind that scottish slimmers might be worth a try or something simular ,as she would prefer being around others in the same boat. As for exercising she is the worlds worst for jumping in the car just to go 5 minutes down the road, never walks anywhere, which might explain why she is overweight! Still, I will try to encourage her to walk instead of drive.
seeya! :D
Answers:
I gave up with classes but mainly because I couldn't afford themand I never stuck to their menus anyway lol. I used to pay a fortune for gym membership and never go to that either.
The onlything that works for me now is an oldie from the 70's. The Scarsdale Medical Diet. Its 2 weeks on 2 weeks off (keep trim) and you canlose up to 20lbs in 14 days, depending on how much you have to lose to start with obviously.
Its easy to follow, you don't have to count calories and you can stuff your face with as much as you want of what is listed. (I cheat a little bit and munch chocolate and still lose weight, it seems to be ok aslong as you stick to what you are supposed to for the meals). You have to stay off alcohol for 2 weeks (apart from the odd sneaky glass of wine).
Ok, I cheat like mad on this diet and still lose weight on it.
You weigh yourself every day and keep a record of your weight. It psyches you up because you see you are losing about 1lb a day on average.
If everything else has failed for you there's no harm in trying this, it might be the answer you are looking for.
Like all diets if you have a lot of weight to lose you are supposed to check with your doctor beforehand etc. etc.
Answers:
I have to wear my sensible and hat and say the following.
For long term weight loss, the best possible thing is to eat real, unprocessed and natural food. Plenty of fruit and veg, cut down on the meat and dairy (or better yet cut out completely and go vegan).
I prefer 3 meals a day but many now advocate 6 very small meals a day as great for the metabolism and losing weight.
Exercise - I see this as essential if you want to lose weight and keep it off and even more essenial for your long term health and well being. Start small and build up.
Giving up booze, chocolate and other addictive substances will also help.
Answers:
That Scarsdale diet maybe what she is looking for, if it is one week on, one week off. And you cheated too! and still lost weight? WoW sounds right up her street.
Is there a book stillavailable on that diet?
I came across a gym as I was driving out somewhere today, so I popped in to have a nose round, an instructer approached me and gave me some info, and showed me around I was very impressed and booked my freind and myself in for an induction on Friday. They are not that expensive either. Well, got to start somewhere i suppose.
Anyway thanks for all your replies, some good advice, cheers!!
Answers:
That's the beauty of the Scarsdale diet, its all about lean meat, fish etc.and plenty of fresh fruit and veg. You still get to eat a little bit of dairy and some carbs so its not as strict and much more sensible and healthy than the Atkins Diet. There are also variations to suit just about everyone, even a vegetarian menu.
As its 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off you only have to stay off alcohol for 2 weeks. You still eat sensibly on the 2 weeks keep trim part but you get more treats.
To be honest if you do it properly for 4 or 5 days and see how the weight drops off even though you are eating plenty and its all healthy stuff you don't want to cheat. You are adjusting your attitude to food without even realising it.
The reason most people give up on diets is because they don't get the weight loss reward fast enough. If you've got 3 stone or more to lose and you join a slimming club where you only lose 5lb or 6lb a month you'll soon get fed up. If you follow a healthy diet and can lose that in a week, what are you going to stick with???
In most of the case studies in the book I think people lost between 10-20lb in the first 2 weeks depending on their starting weightand then 4lb or 5lb in the second 2 weeks. Two Weeks On, Two Weeks Off, its much easier to keep that going long term.
A while back someone wrote a book on it making it more suitable for the UK as at the time we didn't have low fat sprays etc for cooking and instead of protein bread you use wholemeal bread. Its called The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet Plus Dr Tarnowers Lifetime Keep Slim Programme.
Try this link but I think they are all in US$, haven't found a UK site with the book yet.
I'd really advise reading the book, it has lots of case histories, shows you how to track your weight in a table and has lots of variations like the budget diet, vegetarian etc.
Good Luck.
Answers:
:D:DThankyou Mystewood,
Very glad for that info, I am going to look into buying it, seems like a good one!!
Best Wishes
Jill.
Answers:
Not heard of that diet. I would recommend the GI Diet anyway. Eat as much as you can... but you won't eat as much as you do by the nature of the food you choose.
http://www.glycaemicindex.com/
Personally, I'm not keen on cutting out or dramatically reducing a food group, especially one that supplies you with energy.
As for veganism, if you do choose this route, do your research - make sure you know how to get stuff like omega 3 and iron. There are other things that are easier to find when eating animals and their produce, but harder to find if you go the vegan route.
Answers:
Hi Jill
You're Welcome!
I'm back on it myself this week and have lost 1lb since Monday but I've also just eaten half a bar of Cadbury's Whole Nut. I would do a lot better if I could stop cheating lol.
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