Dieting. Meh. We both knew we had been putting way too many treats into our pie holes so we decided the first of the year was the best time to take a good run at losing some weight. Derek has joined Herbal One as a “spokesperson” and as the resident vegetable-slicer, I’m along for the ride.
He’s writing a blog about the challenge he calls FLAB OFF – Finally Losing A Bunch – Otherwise Feeling Fine! You can find it here: http://981freefm.ca/dereks-herbal-one-challenge/ He is doing really well, down more than 7 lbs. in two weeks which is a little bit faster than they would like to see him reduce but it’s always like that at first. There’s a whoosh of water loss and then it levels off.
I am not a spokesperson for the plan and frankly I think Weight Watchers is still the best and most sensible plan I’ve ever been on. This one is so restrictive I feel like I should be putting hospital corners on the bed and sleeping in a barracks. They are extremely biased against canned foods and I understand the concern is salt but I’m sorry, I don’t care how much I get lectured I am not going to soak and boil chick peas! This is supposed to be a lifestyle change, not the only thing in my life.
It is working, no question. But do I like it? Not so much. I always feel hungry and on Weight Watchers I didn’t feel that way. I should note that I’m only following (or leading) the eating plan and I’m not downing the handfuls of herbs they assign to their clients. They keep saying it’s not about deprivation. So why do I feel so deprived?
Diets always fail, especially if you are already feeling deprived. As soon as you come off the diet, the pounds will start piling back on again, plus their friends.
I couldn’t agree more about the chickpeas, but I have a suggestion. It’s not perfect, but it helps! Several stores now have a ‘healthy line’ of products which I’m sure you know about — the products reduce sodium, and sometimes calories/fat. I have found that Metro offers the best nutritional-wise when it comes to chickpeas in their Life Smart brand. In an effort to further reduce the sodium intake, I also pour the can into a strainer & then rinse them off for a couple of minutes. Not as good as soaking & boiling but it’s something!!
Amen to WW, Lisa. Someone close to me is on it and has lost over 22 lb in two months. They’re eating “normal” foods, but doing it sensibly. Of course the best diets are accompanied by exercise, but the point is, the points (of WW) work! Congrats to you both.
Hi Lisa!
I’ve been a member of WW since I was 18 and I’m now 55. I have been on a rollercoaster of weight gain/loss for all of those 37 years. Right now I’m about 30 lbs. heavier than I would like to be. My current Weight Watcher Leader told us that there is no such word as diet. What it really means is “Did I Eat Today”? A diet is where you are deprived of certain foods. On WW, you get to choose what you want to eat and then work it in with your points. It’s a lifestyle change not deprivation. Good luck!