After much review of past programs, I have come to the conclusion that I already had one that fits all of what I want in a plan and the need to customize one is not as needed as I had originally thought. I have been reminded as to how great a program Weight Watchers is and will be basically following that now. I will however still focus my intake around high fiber so as to get the best results.
For those who are not familiar with WW, you are basically calculating caloric intake of everything that you put in your mouth and placing a point value on it. You are given a daily point allotment for you to budget your intake with. So then you have total control of what you eat, as long as you only use your allotted points for the day. The points used are less with the healthier the choices made, so if you want to eat more food and still fit with in your allotment, you need to eat healthier. And with my focus on fiber, (you get points back from high fiber), I can actually gain quantity by sticking to a high fiber diet. You also gain points back from exercise, so again I can gain food intake quantity by working out, or just save those extra points up. The main idea is to learn what is healthy and what is not, along with portion size, through a point budget. This point budget allows for any food to be included in your diet, (ANY food), this is great for cravings and addictions because all you need to do is deduct the points from your budget. As you lose more weight the allotted points decrease as well so you eventually are weened off the bad stuff as well, but it is in a more natural reduction than what I was attempting.
I believe that this will be a great way to stay on track and still integrate the Dr. Gerson healing super-foods that I have been studying. I believe in WW from past successes I have had, but I had to stop using this plan before due to a combination of finances (expensive required weekly payments to be a member) and my wife having to follow a special diet for her pregnancies (also costly). I had actually forgotten how great this plan was. Fortunately, I have been working on a website that would make it easier to follow my story and part of that was researching the past plans I have used. I am happy to find that the Flex Plan from WW will fit my needs well, but I will use this blog as my weigh-in and accountability, instead of going in and paying to do the same thing.
As for my website, I am still designing it and I will keep you posted as to when, or even if at this point, it will be out. I say 'if' because I was designing it in order to describe a plan that I was attempting to design and now that I will be following this, I no longer see a need for that part of it. However, the organization I have on that page through a Bio and other pages would allow for people to jump right in to my blog, without having to go back and re-read all my previous posts. So I ask you...should I continue with creating my own site, or do you think this blog will be enough? Please let me know, as always your feedback is incredibly important to me and is highly valued. Thank you, love you all. James.
I'm fine with the blog or a web site, either way works. James I'm amazed that you only gained 8 pounds while on steroids AND with holiday food all around. Now that all that is over, you will have an easier time of sticking to your plan. Very hard to keep to it with Tday and Cmas treats, feasts abound. It's like an alcoholic who is 25 days sober going to the family reunion at the local bar. But now is the perfect time to turn the page, a fresh start. No one expected this journey of yours to not have a hiccup or two, esecially those of us who have tried to lose weight before. I've never known anyone who didn't struggle and falter, but like your friend wrote with your last post, success comes to those who get back up and keep going. There is no success without failure, success comes when our failures do not stop us from continuing our pursuit.
ReplyDeleteToday I am also starting a weight loss program. I have to thank you because it was reading your blog that motivated me to get back on my program to finish what I had started. However I did chose to wait til after the holidays to start.
Let's do this!
Good for you James! I believe that if you stay with it and keep a food journal daily (which helps keep us honest) that your going to do well. Just don't make the mistake not writing down everything that goes into your mouth. I suspect you could join WW near you and do your first 10 lb goal and get things that you need to be on your way then stop and do it on your own. I don't pay the fees and go monthly either. I just count, and try to stay active. I use good common sense and try to make good choices. I get a blood panel once yearly so I know when I'm making good choices and when I'm not. Keep up the fiber intake 5 fruits and veggies. Stay well and do well. :)
ReplyDeleteOne day at a time....Pray James, the Lord will guide you also and He desires you to be successful in this. Our Pastor Kirk (the one who leads worship) has lost a whole person in weight and is on WW...I will send him your way in this blog....T
ReplyDeleteJames,
ReplyDeleteGREAT!Feel free to reach out to me any time. I will be praying for you. We need the Lord to give us the strength to overcome these things that we cannot ourselves. WW has been great for me! Pastor Martin, who is our children's minsitry pastor is a lifetime member, so he is a graet resource. Hope you are doing well today. Remember, each new day brings opportunity to make right choices!
Hang in there!
Kirk