How I Lost Fourteen Pounds So Easily (and counting)
Despite the many different types of diets, there is only one way to lose weight: burn more calories than you consume. The main way to approach dieting with this in mind is to count calories. I've written about this before in relation to the various iPhone apps available for counting calories. But counting calories can be a lot of work. I lost 15 pounds at one point with calorie counting, but I've never been able to get back into it since. So I decided to look into WeightWatchers instead. I figured that it might be a little easier to count points instead of specifically counting calories. WeightWatchers points are based on calories, fat, and fiber. Something with high fiber and low fat may be fewer points than something with low fiber and high fat, even though it's the same number of calories. The general idea seems to be that they're pushing you towards foods that will fill you up more so that you'll be less hungry and get fewer snacking urges. Essentially, this diet is counting calories with a little bit extra thrown in to help you eat healthier. It seems that it might be a little less work than counting calories because it might require a little less precision to do it right. But while I was looking into WeightWatchers, I discovered their "Simply Filling" plan. WeightWatchers Simply Filling gives you a list of what they call "filling foods" from which you're allowed to eat "however much you want." You then get a number of points to use throughout the week for going beyond the list. It's important to keep in mind that you are supposed to watch your hunger levels. The "however much you want" should only be in relation to your hunger levels. The general idea is you shouldn't let yourself get either too hungry or too full, which is good advice for any diet. The beauty of this plan is that it takes significantly less work to stick with the diet. As long as you stick with foods on the filling foods list, you don't need to be constantly measuring and weighing everything you eat. This is still based on the one diet principle that works: burn more calories than you consume. The filling foods list focuses on foods that are low in fat and high in fiber. Fat is a significant calorie source, and fiber helps keep you filled up longer so you're less likely to snack. But the list is much broader than I expected it to be. It includes, of course, wide varieties of vegetables, but also dairy (fat free, of course) and lean meats. It's a broad enough list that it can easily keep you satisfied, and if you need something a little extra you can dip into your weekly points. I find that I can usually satisfy any snacking urges with an orange or other piece of fruit, and these are also included in the filling foods list. I've actually found that it's so successful for me, that I'm usually in danger of losing too much weight each week. I don't even usually pay much attention to sticking to the diet on weekends, although I try not to go overboard and overeat. One thing that is missing from the list that I really miss is breads. I occasionally use some of my points for toast or English muffins, but I generally haven't had too much trouble. I am allowed some whole wheat pasta and brown rice, which helps out with this carb craving. The WeightWatchers plan has other advantages in addition to their tracking system: 1. A great iPhone app. This rivals the best of the iPhone calorie tracking apps. I've been very impressed with it, although it doesn't allow entry of my weight each week. For that I have to use the website, which is nice enough even though it's Flash based.
2. A great selection of recipes. They even mark ones that work for the Simply Filling plan so you don't have to figure it all out. I can access these either on the computer or in the iPhone app. The iPhone method comes in quite handy when actually making the recipes.
3. A variety of helpful articles about diet and fitness, including tips about how to keep your hunger in check, diet myths, how to eat out without killing your diet, how to reduce your cholesterol, etc. WeightWatchers has also recently lowered the barrier to entry for their online program. When I lost some weight a few years ago, I didn't sign up for weight watchers because the signup fee was as much as buying Calorie King software, and then you had to pay a monthly fee. Now, they give you the option of paying for the first three months in advance and waiving the signup fee. So for about the same amount as it used to take to get into the program, you're paid up for three months instead of one. This should also help provide a little extra incentive to stick with it if you've already paid for three months. Based on my experience of the last 5 weeks, I highly recommend the WeightWatchers Simply Filling plan for the slackers like me who just can't be bothered to measure everything they eat.
2. A great selection of recipes. They even mark ones that work for the Simply Filling plan so you don't have to figure it all out. I can access these either on the computer or in the iPhone app. The iPhone method comes in quite handy when actually making the recipes.
3. A variety of helpful articles about diet and fitness, including tips about how to keep your hunger in check, diet myths, how to eat out without killing your diet, how to reduce your cholesterol, etc. WeightWatchers has also recently lowered the barrier to entry for their online program. When I lost some weight a few years ago, I didn't sign up for weight watchers because the signup fee was as much as buying Calorie King software, and then you had to pay a monthly fee. Now, they give you the option of paying for the first three months in advance and waiving the signup fee. So for about the same amount as it used to take to get into the program, you're paid up for three months instead of one. This should also help provide a little extra incentive to stick with it if you've already paid for three months. Based on my experience of the last 5 weeks, I highly recommend the WeightWatchers Simply Filling plan for the slackers like me who just can't be bothered to measure everything they eat.
