Question:

Definitely give it a try.  I quit smoking 2 1/2 years ago, with the expected weight gain.  I am now back down to my high school weight (I’m 51).  I am never hungry because if I am I eat.  You can do a high protein version of WW that will help with the cravings for chocolate. You hate veggies?  All veggies.  Steamed, raw, broiled?  My advice is to find veggies you like and eat those. — SuzyQ Weight 124 WW Lifetime Membership Feb 03

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well – i’ve been reading the board (lurking!) but couldn’t resist the boiled egg question. Here’s my question: I stopped smoking a few years ago and it killed my metabolism. I’ve gained 30 lbs that are stuck like glue. I have been basically doing low carbs and nothing is happening. i’m considering WW but worried that i’ll be hungry. We mostly eat out and i don’t cook much. Also i have strong cravings for chocolate late at night. What do you think? Should i give WW a try? PS: I hate veggies :-)

Response:

please give it a try, i love the weightwatchers program, and i know you will also, hope you start following it, Sara.

thanks for the encouraging comments, Sara!

Response:

Hi, I definitely think WW is worth a try, but only if you’re at that place in your life where you’re ready to do this. A couple of things that concern me are that in order to lose weight and learn to eat healthily, you are going to have to change your habits. Your current eating habits got you into the situation you find yourself in. You cannot achieve your goal (healthy, slim, fit body) and keep doing what you’re doing. What is more, if you go on a diet, lose the weight and then return to your current lifestyle/way of eating, you will end up exactly where you are now, and possibly even heavier :o (

I really blame the smoking, not the eating habits! It’s not just the usual lame excuse because my weight was practically perfect right before i quit. I eat less now than I did then and keep thinking, ‘This isn’t fair!’ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It’s very, very difficult to do WWs, not get hungry and eat out because the filling, low-points stuff is generally not easily available from restaurants. Learning to cook is a major part of learning new ways of eating (and believe me, if I can learn to cook, anyone can – I have an Occupational Therapist to help me, I’m so bad at it!). WW is a lifestyle, not just a diet so in order to make it work, you have to be prepared for a fairly radical change in lifestyle. That includes eating vegetables – you can’t do the program properly without eating vegetables and in fact vegetables are absolutely *essential* for good health. Without vegetables not only will you be unable to fill up on low points stuff, your immune system will be seriously compromised. Vegetables contain anti-oxidants and other nutrients that you simply cannot get from a vitamin pill; these anti-oxidants and nutrients help the body fight cancer and disease and having been a smoker, your immune system is already below par. So, you have to make the decision: learn to like vegetables and enjoy the good health that provides, or carry on as you are.

I was exaggerating a little – i do eat salads, some vegs and a lot of fruit. I know the fruit has a lot of the positive nutrients that you get in veg, but the fruit of course is high sugar. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yes, you can eat chocolate on WWs. A little bit of chocolate and not so often (although one square a day would be fine). However, be aware that often cravings for things like chocolate are often the way your body communicates cravings for certain nutrients – chocolate contains various nutrients including iron and calcium. Chocolate also contains a lot of sugar and sugar is the body’s "quick fix" carbohydrate. Unfortunately, a sugar hit is often followed by a sugar low, which reduces your energy levels and compromises your immune system. Sadly, orange juice, which you mentioned as your main "breakfast" has the same effect – it’s basically natural sugar-water. In order to boost your metabolism and to keep hunger at bay you need some complex carbs (wholewheat toast, wholegrain cereals etc.) which will act as "slow release" carbs throughout the day. Personally, I think your current diet sounds like a ticking time-bomb, as mine was until recently. I don’t know how much weight you have to lose but you know that it’s not healthy (or happy) for you. You’ve given up smoking – congratulations, that’s a huge achievement. Now you need to make the next step. Personally, I feel that WWs is a great system to enable people to take that step but I’m also aware that what I’ve written might seem too daunting. But remember that many of us have done it or are doing it, so it is do-able and if you’ve succeeded in kicking the Evil Weed, this should be a doddle if you put your mind to it! ;o) If you decide to do WWs we’re behind you all the way. If it’s not quite the right time for you, that’s fine too, but please think about what we’re saying. Maybe lurk on the group for a while until you are ready? I know it took me 3 months to get my head around it after a friend confronted me with much the same stuff. Good luck!

You make it sound tough, Anna, but thanks for a very complete and thoughtful response. The eating out thing is a problem for me because DH wants to go out. And, the main thing I do with friends is eat – let’s have lunch, let’s have dinner, and dinner on the weekends. I’m thinking!

Response:

 I am never hungry because if I am I eat.  You can do a high protein version of WW that will help with the cravings for chocolate. You hate veggies?  All veggies.  Steamed, raw, broiled?  My advice is to find veggies you like and eat those. — SuzyQ

Good advice on both counts, Suzy. Thanks!

Response:

Well – i’ve been reading the board (lurking!) but couldn’t resist the boiled egg question. Here’s my question: I stopped smoking a few years ago and it killed my metabolism. I’ve gained 30 lbs that are stuck like glue. I have been basically doing low carbs and nothing is happening. i’m considering WW but worried that i’ll be hungry. We mostly eat out and i don’t cook much. Also i have strong cravings for chocolate late at night. What do you think? Should i give WW a try? PS: I hate veggies :-)

Response:

PS: just read the metabolism article. wanted to address these issues: 1. i do exercise – 30 minute walk minimum 6 days a week 2. drink oj first thing in morning and trying to eat less, but more often 3. thyroid is checked and is ok

Response:

please give it a try, i love the weightwatchers program, and i know you will also, hope you start following it, Sara.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well – i’ve been reading the board (lurking!) but couldn’t resist the boiled egg question. Here’s my question: I stopped smoking a few years ago and it killed my metabolism. I’ve gained 30 lbs that are stuck like glue. I have been basically doing low carbs and nothing is happening. i’m considering WW but worried that i’ll be hungry. We mostly eat out and i don’t cook much. Also i have strong cravings for chocolate late at night. What do you think? Should i give WW a try? PS: I hate veggies :-)

Response:

Hi, I definitely think WW is worth a try, but only if you’re at that place in your life where you’re ready to do this. A couple of things that concern me are that in order to lose weight and learn to eat healthily, you are going to have to change your habits. Your current eating habits got you into the situation you find yourself in. You cannot achieve your goal (healthy, slim, fit body) and keep doing what you’re doing. What is more, if you go on a diet, lose the weight and then return to your current lifestyle/way of eating, you will end up exactly where you are now, and possibly even heavier :o ( It’s very, very difficult to do WWs, not get hungry and eat out because the filling, low-points stuff is generally not easily available from restaurants. Learning to cook is a major part of learning new ways of eating (and believe me, if I can learn to cook, anyone can – I have an Occupational Therapist to help me, I’m so bad at it!). WW is a lifestyle, not just a diet so in order to make it work, you have to be prepared for a fairly radical change in lifestyle. That includes eating vegetables – you can’t do the program properly without eating vegetables and in fact vegetables are absolutely *essential* for good health. Without vegetables not only will you be unable to fill up on low points stuff, your immune system will be seriously compromised. Vegetables contain anti-oxidants and other nutrients that you simply cannot get from a vitamin pill; these anti-oxidants and nutrients help the body fight cancer and disease and having been a smoker, your immune system is already below par. So, you have to make the decision: learn to like vegetables and enjoy the good health that provides, or carry on as you are. Yes, you can eat chocolate on WWs. A little bit of chocolate and not so often (although one square a day would be fine). However, be aware that often cravings for things like chocolate are often the way your body communicates cravings for certain nutrients – chocolate contains various nutrients including iron and calcium. Chocolate also contains a lot of sugar and sugar is the body’s "quick fix" carbohydrate. Unfortunately, a sugar hit is often followed by a sugar low, which reduces your energy levels and compromises your immune system. Sadly, orange juice, which you mentioned as your main "breakfast" has the same effect – it’s basically natural sugar-water. In order to boost your metabolism and to keep hunger at bay you need some complex carbs (wholewheat toast, wholegrain cereals etc.) which will act as "slow release" carbs throughout the day. Personally, I think your current diet sounds like a ticking time-bomb, as mine was until recently. I don’t know how much weight you have to lose but you know that it’s not healthy (or happy) for you. You’ve given up smoking – congratulations, that’s a huge achievement. Now you need to make the next step. Personally, I feel that WWs is a great system to enable people to take that step but I’m also aware that what I’ve written might seem too daunting. But remember that many of us have done it or are doing it, so it is do-able and if you’ve succeeded in kicking the Evil Weed, this should be a doddle if you put your mind to it! ;o) If you decide to do WWs we’re behind you all the way. If it’s not quite the right time for you, that’s fine too, but please think about what we’re saying. Maybe lurk on the group for a while until you are ready? I know it took me 3 months to get my head around it after a friend confronted me with much the same stuff. Good luck! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well – i’ve been reading the board (lurking!) but couldn’t resist the boiled egg question. Here’s my question: I stopped smoking a few years ago and it killed my metabolism. I’ve gained 30 lbs that are stuck like glue. I have been basically doing low carbs and nothing is happening. i’m considering WW but worried that i’ll be hungry. We mostly eat out and i don’t cook much. Also i have strong cravings for chocolate late at night. What do you think? Should i give WW a try? PS: I hate veggies :-)

– Anna Hayward, Email: alienvisitorATratbagDOTdemonDOTcoDOTuk (184)176/now 148/goal 142 Started WW (online) 21/03/03 at 176 lbs SWWC goal: 146 lbs Second-Wind Weight-loss Challenge (SWWC) is at: http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna/SWWC/secondwind.htm "A life lived in fear is a life half lived" – from the movie Strictly Ballroom

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sadly, orange juice, which you mentioned as your main "breakfast" has the same effect – it’s basically natural sugar-water. In order to boost your metabolism and to keep hunger at bay you need some complex carbs (wholewheat toast, wholegrain cereals etc.) which will act as "slow release" carbs throughout the day. forgot to address this part at doctor recently, he said my potassium was low and recommended orange juice. i thought i was doing a good thing in 2 ways – drinking oj and not ordinarily a breakfast eater – was trying to get metabolism going earlier in the day with the drink. oy. Your thinking is heading in the right direction but I don’t think OJ is the best choice. A banana, however, is also high in potassium *and* contains the complex carbs you need. A lot of breakfast cereals are fortified with minerals like potassium, as are some brands of bread so there are lots of choices. For other meals, tomatoes are very rich sources of potassium and if you like orange juice, why not go the whole hog and eat oranges? That way you get the fibre which helps even out the blood sugar spikes.

Good suggestions! I love bananas but have been avoiding them because they are a super high carb food. I can eat tomatoes :-) why not go the whole hog and eat oranges?

LOL

Response:

Hi Schmoopie! Welcome aboard. You might find the first week or two a bit dicey, but after that I doubt that you will have any hunger problems. With me, it was only the first week and the hunger was for all the sugar I used to eat. Lots of luck. Elaine K 331.4/185.6/179 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well – i’ve been reading the board (lurking!) but couldn’t resist the boiled egg question. Here’s my question: I stopped smoking a few years ago and it killed my metabolism. I’ve gained 30 lbs that are stuck like glue. I have been basically doing low carbs and nothing is happening. i’m considering WW but worried that i’ll be hungry. We mostly eat out and i don’t cook much. Also i have strong cravings for chocolate late at night. What do you think? Should i give WW a try? PS: I hate veggies :-)

Response:

<snipped a lot of good stuff Good suggestions! I love bananas but have been avoiding them because they are a super high carb food. I can eat tomatoes :-)

Bananas are the *good carbs*  that will increase your metabolism.  Also they are full of so many vitamins, minerals and other things scientists are just now discovering are good for health benefits.  Don’t put them in the same class as donuts (bad carbs). — SuzyQ Weight 124 WW Lifetime Membership Feb 03

Response:

Bananas are the *good carbs*  that will increase your metabolism.  Also they are full of so many vitamins, minerals and other things scientists are just now discovering are good for health benefits.  Don’t put them in the same class as donuts (bad carbs). — SuzyQ

LOL Ok. Like I said, I’m coming off Atkins :-)

Response:

Hi Schmoopie! Welcome aboard. You might find the first week or two a bit dicey, but after that I doubt that you will have any hunger problems. With me, it was only the first week and the hunger was for all the sugar I used to eat. Lots of luck. Elaine K 331.4/185.6/179

Hi, Elaine. Thanks for the welcome. You seem to understand me! :-) I think i am having a sugar problem. I hope you’re right that it will pass. PS: Your stats are great! congrats!!

Response:

Good choice. I think you’ll find that WW is a lot easier to follow than Atkins too. I tried Atkins for a while last year but found with eating out there are just too many hidden carbs that distroy the diet very quickly. Because there are no forbidden foods on WW, it is also easier stick with. —

I dunno. We eat out a lot and it’s very easy for me to have a glass of wine, salad, steak, and veg no potato. I like the Atkins food, but it’s just not working for me. I hope you’re right!

Response:

I’m not a Schmoopie, YOU’re a Schmoopie! I love Seinfeld, too.

Response:

Many people have commented in our meeting that they automatically cut their portion in half and ask for a "doggie bag" at the beginning of the meal. This removes the tempation to eat the whole steak. — ~~LJ~~

That is a great idea and I have been thinking of it! It seems like it would replace a diet: just eat a variety of healthy foods and only eat half. Seems like you could eat any reasonable meal that way.

Response:

I’m not a Schmoopie, YOU’re a Schmoopie! I love Seinfeld, too.

LOL

Response:

Many people have commented in our meeting that they automatically cut their portion in half and ask for a "doggie bag" at the beginning of the meal. This removes the tempation to eat the whole steak.

My chicken teriaki (no sauce, so just broiled chicken) came that way at lunch today (G).  I go to this place at least once or twice a week and they know that I take half home.  So they’ve started just bringing lunch and the "doggie" bag with my meal.    Can anybody beat two meals for $5.40?

Response:

Many people have commented in our meeting that they automatically cut their portion in half and ask for a "doggie bag" at the beginning of the meal. This removes the tempation to eat the whole steak. My chicken teriaki (no sauce, so just broiled chicken) came that way at lunch today (G).  I go to this place at least once or twice a week and they know that I take half home.  So they’ve started just bringing lunch and the "doggie" bag with my meal.    Can anybody beat two meals for $5.40?

yeah, i think my problem is portion control.

Response:

We went to a seafood resaurant last night and the seafood cassarole was served in a medium size fancy dish. Probably 8 oz of fish (3 scallops, 3 shrimp and a small peice of cod in bread crumbs). The dish came with rice or potatoes. I asked if they had any green veggies and the waitress said that she would ask them to stir fry some up for me. I forgot to ask for no butter (next time). But I got a great combo of asparagas, summer squash, red peppers, mushrooms and onions. very yummy. — ~~LJ~~

so did you eat all that? it doesn’t sound like too much to me! i was out last night and ordered grilled chicken breast with broccoli and roast potato. The chicken was thin but large in area – very thin! but, like 2 decks of cards side by side. i ate the whole chicken portion. my friend ate 1/2 of hers. i hate her :-) kidding!!

Response:

Sadly, orange juice, which you mentioned as your main "breakfast" has the same effect – it’s basically natural sugar-water. In order to boost your metabolism and to keep hunger at bay you need some complex carbs (wholewheat toast, wholegrain cereals etc.) which will act as "slow release" carbs throughout the day. forgot to address this part :-) at doctor recently, he said my potassium was low and recommended orange juice. i thought i was doing a good thing in 2 ways – drinking oj and not ordinarily a breakfast eater – was trying to get metabolism going earlier in the day with the drink. oy.

Your thinking is heading in the right direction but I don’t think OJ is the best choice. A banana, however, is also high in potassium *and* contains the complex carbs you need. A lot of breakfast cereals are fortified with minerals like potassium, as are some brands of bread so there are lots of choices. For other meals, tomatoes are very rich sources of potassium and if you like orange juice, why not go the whole hog and eat oranges? That way you get the fibre which helps even out the blood sugar spikes. — Anna Hayward, Email: alienvisitorATratbagDOTdemonDOTcoDOTuk (184)176/now 148/goal 142 Started WW (online) 21/03/03 at 176 lbs SWWC goal: 146 lbs Second-Wind Weight-loss Challenge (SWWC) is at: http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna/SWWC/secondwind.htm "A life lived in fear is a life half lived" – from the movie Strictly Ballroom

Response:

If you have to eat at a resaurant you will learn tricks to control the number of points. Dressings on the side, for example. Extra green veggie instead of rice or potatoe.

Thanks, LJ. Good suggestion – I do this already. :-)

Response:

As to whether WW is for you: Only you can know that for sure. Sometimes you have to give things a try before you know for sure whether or not it’s a good fit. I do know that it’s working for me. Like many of the regulars on this ng, I’ve tried several programs over the years, including Atkins, including WW. But the people who have been here a while are people who decided to give WW another shot and this time are being successful.

Thanks, Prairie. Your comments make sense. In that sense, it’s like quitting smoking. You keep trying to quit until something finally clicks and you’re finally able to stick it out.

ain’t that the truth! Give WW a try.

Response:

Sadly, orange juice, which you mentioned as your main "breakfast" has the same effect – it’s basically natural sugar-water. In order to boost your metabolism and to keep hunger at bay you need some complex carbs (wholewheat toast, wholegrain cereals etc.) which will act as "slow release" carbs throughout the day.

forgot to address this part :-) at doctor recently, he said my potassium was low and recommended orange juice. i thought i was doing a good thing in 2 ways – drinking oj and not ordinarily a breakfast eater – was trying to get metabolism going earlier in the day with the drink. oy.

Response:

Welcome to this great newsgroup where you’ll receive lots of support, advice, and encouragement. Once a week on Thursdays, I post a list of links that newcomers to asdww might find useful. You may want to look for that later in the week, or do a backwards search for last Thursday’s post. In the meantime, here’s our FAQ: http://www.didian.com/asdww/ our welcome notice: http://www.geocities.com/welcomenotice/index.html Frequently seen acronyms on this NG: NSV = Non-Scale Victory SWWC = Second-Wind Weight-loss Challenge This is the current weight loss challenged hosted by Anna Hayward. It’s not too late to join! http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna/SWWC/secondwind.htm SSEC = Slim by September Exercise Challenge (aka SBSC and SBSEC) This is the current exercise challenge hosted by Brynda. Currently in progress, new signups are welcome. http://home.austin.rr.com/slimbyseptember/ IFFC = Independence from Food Challenge This weight loss challenge just expired. http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna/IFFC/ Other acronyms: http://www.wwlissa.com/dwlz100+/100+acronyms.htm As to whether WW is for you: Only you can know that for sure. Sometimes you have to give things a try before you know for sure whether or not it’s a good fit. I do know that it’s working for me. Like many of the regulars on this ng, I’ve tried several programs over the years, including Atkins, including WW. But the people who have been here a while are people who decided to give WW another shot and this time are being successful. In that sense, it’s like quitting smoking. You keep trying to quit until something finally clicks and you’re finally able to stick it out. Give WW a try. Disclaimer: As an unmoderated Usenet newsgroup, asdww is unusual in that most of the people who participate are respectful, considerate folks who freely share their experience with and knowledge of WW, weight loss, and maintenance. Yet occasionally, spammers, trolls, and flamers show up to post advertising, false information, insults, and the like. Nearly all of the time, people like this are just trying to yank someone’s chain. Most of the regulars on this newsgroup offer their experience as a suggestion to try if you’re stuck, but are quick to advise that each person has to find what works for him/herself. If someone posts something that doesn’t sound right to you, ask the newsgroup, ask your WW leader, or ask your health professional. Much success on your weight loss journey! WW works. — Prairie Roots starting wt: 232 lbs/current wt: 194.4/WW goal wt: 145 joined WW Online 22-Feb-2003 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Well – i’ve been reading the board (lurking!) but couldn’t resist the boiled egg question. Here’s my question: I stopped smoking a few years ago and it killed my metabolism. I’ve gained 30 lbs that are stuck like glue. I have been basically doing low carbs and nothing is happening. i’m considering WW but worried that i’ll be hungry. We mostly eat out and i don’t cook much. Also i have strong cravings for chocolate late at night. What do you think? Should i give WW a try? PS: I hate veggies :-)

Response: