General Discussion: Diet Support Group

I am also in need of loosing weight. For a year I belonged to TOPS (Taking of Pounds Sensibly). I found that to be a wonderful support group. The only problem I have was that we are raising our grandchildreen and no one is allowed to take their children to meetings (distraction). We had walking contests (goal's), food exchange quizes, weigh in's & never a put down if you gained or turtled. Only water was available as a beverage, no food even fruit. I found the structure was too rigided, after all it is a corporation. Corporate politics even got to some of the members heads. I hated the bickering. I find even now, I try to stick to the 8 glasses of water a day, I feel better and think less about food. Every time I want to reach for that snack, a glass overrides my need 9 times out of 10.
A online support group will need to be on the honor system, fun, and a lively chat form. It can be done. I support the idea 10 fold. Especially since I would not need to drive anywhere. I think children can be a great support for us as well. They are natural energy uncorked. Great watchers if that snack is snuck. They also need to learn to eat right, to be able to avoid poor health battles in their future. We have a food pyramid on our refrigerator, that came on a cereal box. When the kids want something I don't have, or just want don't need, I ask them If they have had that food group for the day. Visual reinforcement does not hurt.
Find a neighbor's kid to take that walk with you. Friendship does not have age barriers. Talking and observing nature's changes daily, can be educational as well. Even taking your or your neighbors dog for a walk is companionship. Keep a daily journal of your routine. You might find your hidden crave time, and be able to readjust a fun substitute, distractive, activity, instead of bending the elbow.
Let me know if a chat form is allocated. I would love to belong. We will need to take into account time changes, so when a time is set, mention which time zone it is so we can all adjust. janeth@aci.net

I'm another yo-yo dieter. Over the past twenty years I have lost, then regained that excess weight over and over. At the age of 58, it's too easy to get comfortable with these extra 25 pounds, but I know it's bad for all kinds of health reasons. I will offer one healthy breakfast, high in fiber, calcium, protein, and fat-free. I eat it every other day. In a covered contain put 1/2 c. regular uncooked oats, 1/2 cup non-fat plain yogurt (I like Dannon), and a packet of Equal. Stir and refrigerate overnight. Good, quick, and nutritious. It's also good with frozen blueberries added.

Super idea! I am another who put on the pounds after
quitting smoking and could never get them off (although it's been 10 lbs since I quit. Food has become my drug of choice. I eat when I'm happy, when I'm unhappy, when I'm stressed, whenever. HELP!!!

great idea. I am a 67 yr old great grandma, 70 lbs overweight, bad back and knees(wonder why?) I would love to read all about other successes. I lost 30 pounds with Herbalife and then quit selling it and quit taking it. Tried all kinds of other stuff. Some of that stuff out there is dangerous!! I will add this page to my favorites and return to see what good advice all you nice people have.

It could be helpful to have an online support group for weight loss. I hope it works out well. I have never been happy with my self image since I first started gaining at the age of 30. ( I am 55 now.) I quit smoking cold turkey and have never smoked again. I had ,also, just had my second child. The pounds came after that. I have reduced and maintained several times for a year or so,on average. I have a muscle disorder that complicates the exercise. Motivation is a problem now. I look forward to seeing this group grow and help each other. Best wishes to all of you.

I am an overweight female, have been on and off diets all my life. I have Diabetes and am insulin dependent. I just started on Natural Trim and have lost a few pounds, but I need to lose a lot more. Any suggestions? emoore@wirefire.com

Great Idea! I have lost 40 lbs over the last year but I am starting to back slide from reaching a plateau. I lost the initial 20 with Herbalife but developed a kidneystone from the overload of phospherous they have in their product. I changed to Natural Trim and lost another 20 but have hit a stone wall. Help!

Hi,

I, too, need to lose weight, and have lost some, but my motivation seems lost. I need to lose more, and can't seem to get going. I have never joined a support group and can't see how it will help...but I am willing to try anything. I have gained and lost over a period of years ever since I gave up smoking. I am sure others have had that problem. I was never overweight until I quit, but boy, oh boy, did that ever change! Any suggestions?

This sounds like a great idea--I think I have tried just about everything out there to lose, and when I do try I do lose, but when I stop, it all comes back [ and then some. ]
The only thing that I have not tried yet is a support group.
Sounds like it might be just what I need to take it off and hopefully keep it off.

Obviously, we have a real need here for support. A chat for those wishing to lose weight should be coming soon as well as weigh ins and member support. Keep posted and keep losing. It's hard in one way, but summer can be a help in that lighter fares are more readily available. The psyche, too, is prepared to lose weight, since more of us is visible in the summer.

Good Idea!! I need to lose too, can't seem to get off the ground. A support group may be just what I need!

I would love an online support group for healther eating and hopefuly weight loss. My blood pressure last week was up to 170 over 110 and I decided I have to start taking better care of myself or I'm going to die too soon. I work and I hate it when a 110 pound 25 year old at work makes suggestions about dieting. I've tried most of them, and I've lost weight occasionally, but when boredom sets in, I go back to my old eating style and gain weight back. I find that I lose weight when I count my calories and my fat grams but it is so hard to give up the food I've loved forever - like lots of ice cream. What is your food weakness and how do you overcome it?

I live in the mountains, quite a ways from any town and so am on Weight Watchers home program but could use the support of a group as well. I would be interested in this idea.

This message is for kabjv
Where do you find the two supplements you mentioned,
chitoRich and liquiPrime?
Thanks, snj

I am also very interested in a diet support group. Support of any kind makes almost anything easier. I have not looked at the 3fatchicks page but I will do that. I believe that most thinking adults know the proper and healthy way in which to eat but it just isn't always fun. And after a while it gets so boring. Have a friend that just lost 35 pounds with no problem whatsoever after having a heart attack. It is amazing what one can do when their priorities change. I want to lose weight before not after a heart attack, thank you very much. I do believe a support group would help.

It sure does take willpower! It is best not to go to the grocery store when your are hungry, go just after a meal. Make a list, and buy only what is on the list. Do not allow yourself to impulse buy. There are a couple herbal formulations that will reduce fat formation in the body, and used along with an exercise program, are very helpful. ChitoRich binds with fat and eliminates absorbtion, and LiquiPrime reduces fat formation in the body. If the fat that you eat passes on through you, it will not accumulate around your middle. Also, eating alone is not much fun, so skip eating by yourself in restaurants and in front of the TV and substitute a little supplement for a meal now and then. I am within 12 lbs. of my goal. kabjv@ktis.net

As a member for many years on the "yo-yo" diet, I have found that it doesn't work. No big surprise. What I need to help me lose weight is the support of others. Being on my own makes it extremely difficult to stay true to weight loss. Having weigh-ins or whatever will help many of us. Count me in.

This diet support group sounds great! Good way to get some new ideas and find out what really works. I come up with lots of plans but thus far have not stuck with them long enough to gain much success. I think when you hear of others actually losing weight it is an encouragment to stay on track.

Hi fellow dieters. Some interesting things should be coming soon. Third Age will support a Chat for those of us who want to talk their way away from snacking. Will even have weekly goals and weigh ins. The particulars should be forthcoming.
Stan

Has anyone heard of the Univ. of Alabama cadiac unit diet? They supposedly use it for fast weight loss in patients awaiting surgery. You are on it 3 days then off 4 days.

I think that "involvement" is part of the psychology that creates success in dieting. Getting the note (distractor), making the iced tea (distractor), getting a phone call (distractor), and the mere getting involved in some kind of activity focused on dieting...all contribute to our success. I sound like a psychologist, which I'm not. But I've found involvement to be the trigger of my success in dieting. The Web searches for CyberDiet, learning how it works, evaluating its content; the Web searches for 3FatChicks, learning how IT works, evaluating its content: all of these activities kept me away from the refrigerator several hours. Have a good Monday!

Just getting a note helps. For some reason I am starved even though I had a great breakfast. It would be terrific if I could make it through to lunch. I love coffee. I will go and make a wonderful, tall glass of iced coffee and look for some sun. Meanwhile, I spent time writing this and my son called for a brief chat, so more time has gone by without eating. Have a good Sunday.

Are you there, graymare? Are you at that "certain age" also? Isn't it a mess?

Hipsister:
Great web page for the 3fatchicks. They literally took the bull by the horns to lose weight: being veerryy upfront. I think that's what makes Weight Watchers and the others successful. People have to tell all and be honest with themselves. Sneaking that extra snack fools everyone except the snacker. I wasn't aware of a chat line under 3fatchicks. If there is, then all we have to do is set up times. Otherwise, we could use the Third Age Health Chat and open a private room called Diet Support Group at 12noon and 5 of each day. The times can be as varied as you want. I'll look a little closer at the 3fat format. You seem to have all the good ideas. Any others? But you're right! We don't have to reinvent the wheel. Stan

Stan: Take a look at http://www.3fatchicks.route66.net
These sisters have done a fabulous job. Especially look at their buddy system, chats, etc.. Why reinvent the wheel? How do I get onto your chat line?

Hi to Hipsister and Graymare. Thanks for the input on CyberDiet. I did a search, found it, checked it out and think that it's a wonderful program for us Third Agers to use. We then can use the Chat function to keep in touch: cry in our whipped cream, sob in our gravies, and laugh at our bulges. In any case, I took the liberty of starting a Chat titled: Third Agers. Let's meet here and there. We can meet here for organizational discussions: change of strategy and that sort of thing. We can meet in CyberDiet to vent our woes. What do you think? I need feedback. Remember, we're all in this together!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stan

Hi I am for a support group on weight loss. IT is a battle allright...let me hear more.

That 20lbs. at our age is miserable, isn't it. I have that much to lose, also. In spite of hypertension, I can't seem to find the willpower to stay away from binge food. Those suggested meal diets, etc. are a waste for me. I cook healthily and eat properly at meals. It's the closet eating that's my problem. How do you propose to organize this? Will you use Cyberdiet or any other on-line tool?