Has anyone belonged to a (successful) weight loss program?

Yep… going vegan was more successful in helping me lose weight than I’d imagined! It cuts out some of the most fatty food groups, that’s why. It’s also so healthy for you and the environment, and also animal-friendly!

No, I’ve never tried any. I work better alone. I generally understand what needs to be done for weight loss, for me – it’s just a matter of doing it.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir , I generally know too, but usually joining something or paying some amount gives me motivation to reach the goal.

@ridicawu I am interested in these kinds of things – I think a support group of like minded individuals can be good, for some.

Weight watchers really does work but you have to be the kind of person who can take the time to be concious about everything you eat. It really did help me to drop weight and I’ve known several people who were very successful with it for years but I hate feeling like I have to control every minute of what I eat. Sometimes I just like eating something because I just wanted too. Everytime you eat something bad, you have to decide what you are going to do to make it up. I just don’t have that kind of time. However it did make me more concious about eating better in the long run.

@Pandora that doesn’t sound too bad. LA Weight Loss was kind of like that too. You had a certain amount of starches, veg, protein, fat, etc you had to meet each day. Sometimes, it was difficult. But it seems super manageable with support and a journal.

Weight Watchers has been very helpful to me (12 lbs so far). The cost plus weigh ins and meetings keep me motivated, and I think the points system is totally do-able. The great thing is that no food is off-limits, it’s just about deciding if it’s worth it.
Like with any other diet plan though, you actually have to do it. Just signing up won’t burn calories or make you loose weight.

Yeah, I just suck at having to write everything down. It started to feel my whole day was about food and what I was going to eat or not eat. I especially hated it when I would have to make something low in calories for me and something else for other people in my family. My husband loves his red meat and heavy starches. He doesn’t have a problem losing weight ever. All he has to do is take sandwiches to work for lunch for a month and he’s lost 10 lbs. He also has no cholesterol problems ever. If he went on weight watchers he would look like he just came from a death camp in no time. He needs the calories where I do not. So for now I just try my best to maintain.

I’ve done them all! The only one that “stuck” was HMR. They are based in Boston but have clinics all over. They also have an HMR at home program.

I don’t actually think there are successful and unsuccessful programs. I think there are just successful and unsuccessful weight losers. And you can have both on any program.

Weight Watchers worked really well for me. It gives you structure and accountability while teaching you how to eat better in the real world.

Weight Watchers. I dropped 60 pounds with them and was able to maintain for about three years. Now, three years later, I decided that it was time to keep losing and get to my high school weight. The most important thing is sustainability. How long will you be able to sustain doing what you are doing and maintain your weight loss. Any program that limits what you can eat may not be as successful as one that allows you to eat anything, but in moderation. I don’t feel like I am limited in my choices, and therefore I can maintain what I am doing for prolonged periods of time and still experience constant weight loss. It’s not fast (about 2 pounds per week), but it’s steady! Good luck to you, no matter which plan you decide to use. You’ve already taken a very important step of identifying the problem and looking for a solution.

On a radio sstation here in alberta they are still advertising LA weightloss programs. I’ll have to get on Google.

@Pandora My boyfriend is the same way, and I tried to eat along with him. So I gained 17 pounds. Everyone’s metabolism is different. If I want to look and feel a certain way, I have to make myself different foods or smaller portions and spend a good deal of my day thinking about food. I’m not sure how anyone can expect to change without changing.

@faye , they still are around, but I don’t think there are any left here in MN. You can call over the phone for counseling, but I don’t like that at all. Too impersonal.
@Likeradar @Pandora , my boyfriend too! I hate it! He stops eating fast food and he just drops weight like crazy. I stop eating fast food and I just feel less bloated. He can drink soda all he wants and it doesn’t seem to effect him, I drink water all the time and if I have one soda I feel gross. It’s so annoying. I think I’ll stop at Weight Watchers on Monday. Thanks for all the input and help, everyone!
If anyone has any weight loss tips and tricks too, I’d love to see it!

I advise people in this, and am quite interested, but that doesn’t mean I’m particularly successful myself.

Weight watchers – the old exchange system is what I used first and it worked as long as I followed it. Turns out that is a 1500 consistent carb, low fat diet dietitians routinely use.

The new point system is well thought out, but I like the simplicity of the exchange system for diabetics and lipid disorders.

I like behavioral systems – like the LEARN program by dr Brownell. It’s as effective as a weight loss med if followed.

Optifast is interesting, but it makes you damn hungry for salt. It’s expensive so I didn’t stick to it.

www.naaso.org is an organization of weight loss researchers. If you are in the field, it’s well worth going.

Meds and surgery are options for some (medically supervised) situations.

Good luck