Couch 167 1/2; Tennis Anyone?

Thank you for this information.

I lost 15 lb on weight watchers, but you have to stick with it for the rest of your life. If you go off, like I did, you gain all the weight back. I should probably go back on it.

I lose about 20 lbs on ww and then go off and gain it back. Probably 5-6 times in the last 15 years. Haven't tried the newest ww program. Probably should... You said something about cake?

Lunatic dog's latest escapade was locating a hole started by another dog at the park, which he then commenced digging in himself. This would have been fine except it had been raining and the hole was full of mud AND I live in an apartment without access to a hose. He didn't appreciate my efforts to splash the dirt off of his legs and paws with a bucket when we got home.

Texted his owner an update. Owner's reply described lunatic dog as "just plain crazy" (I did not include "lunatic" in my text...). Here's to hoping said owner really is on vacation in Canada and has not abandoned lunatic dog.

And so day three of ten with lunatic dog draws to a close...

Yikes, that's a lot for three days!

I've lost 44 lbs now since early January. I have done different programs in the past (Nutrisystem, weight watchers, e-diets) and lost weight on those, but as soon as I went off them and tried to do it on my own, I gained the weight back and then some. This time I am hoping is different. This time around I'm not doing any program per se, just whatever it was that healed inside me during that pivotal t session in January, I stopped emotional-eating and started eating healthier foods. I'm pretty much just paying attention to calories and eating stuff that's good for me (still slowly working toward vegetarian, but as of now I've quit red meat but still eat chicken/fish). I quit drinking soda and pretty much just drink water and iced tea now. and i do a lot of walking. I have a long way to go, but 44 lbs has made a huge difference in how I feel. I have a goal to lose 6 more lbs by my birthday 7/4.

I'm not a nutritionist, but I have read the professional literature extensively for years, both for my own interest and for academic purposes. I won't debate the starvation myth because it's too complicated. But the notion that weight gain/loss is "simply" about calories in and out is very out-dated. The research WW is relying on for that brief article is 20+ yrs old. Metabolism is far more complex and variable than a simple energy in and out equation. And implying that those who gain weight are simply in denial about food quantity--sorry, that's offensive.

Even many in the medical profession are finally admitting that they just don't have any long-term solutions to offer--which is at least more honest than the endless blame/shame nonsense they used to hide behind--and are focusing more on educating people to eat for health, rather than to eat for weight loss explicitly. The current trend of med schools incorporating food science into their curricula is a good step forward.


Very large longitudinal studies have shown that all standard measures of health (bp, bs, lipids, etc) improve markedly when people move to a whole foods, non-processed foods diet: eliminate empty white carbs (white flour and sugar based items), increase veg and fruit, moderate/higher lean proteins, and mineral rich foods. And most people as they age, unless physical activity is very high, can't metabolize high levels of carbs, even whole grain ones. Measured health improves irrespective of weight loss (though most do lose some amount). The research has shown that after one year, rates of weight loss between those following low carb, vs low fat diets have evened out, but health markers show higher improvements on the low carb plan.


Research shows that not all body fat is the same, nor is it inert: fat is metabolically active. Some people's functional metabolism naturally assimilates foods to nourish "brown " fat which is metabolically protective; for others, this process is impaired, and the same foods assimilate as unhealthy fat. There are a lot of theories, probably some mixture of genetic and environmental factors beyond individual food choices, is at play. It's very complex to isolate such factors.


Personally, I think WW is good for people whose diets have been largely processed foods and who have little knowledge of nutrition. It's a small step in the right direction. But WW is very market driven and changes their approach every couple of years in response not to nutritional research, but to market forces. They swing from "good" foods v "bad" foods, to "unlimited" foods, to systems where nearly all foods are equalized on a point basis whether they contribute to health or not. The underlying thinking is, imo, still very shame and blame based, despite the surface rhetoric of positivity.


Jersey, just as an aside, if you like eggs, mixing extra egg whites with 1-2 whole eggs (or alone, if you like the taste) is a quick way to increase protein and fullness with no downside. If you don't eat for 12 hrs, you're basically putting your body into a fast. Overnight fasting of 12 hrs is correlated with increased weight loss, but during an active day, it can result in blood sugar instability that may or may not produce symptoms for you. (Common uncomfortable symptoms are headache, low energy, fogginess, irritability, muscle weakness, etc--some can be addressed by drinking an electrolyte drink, but they all seem to have sugar or artificial sweeteners) And there may be some impact with any medication you take.

Thank you for all of that info FKM. The professional research you have done seems very interesting.

FKM, I would like to read more about what you had wrote. I plan to look and see if I could similar information.

Also, Jersey--a single serving of yogurt, a piece of fruit, and a slice of bread w/ peanut butter isn't a "big" breakfast: it's a pretty nutritionally balanced average meal. Can't remember if you said Greek yogurt, but plain non-fat Greek yogurt would be @18 gr protein under 100 calories. So even doubling the serving, and substituting a Romaine lettuce leaf for the toast, would keep the calories @ the same, but increase protein and lower carb and be more filling. Or, if you like plain hummus, 4 TBL (enough to fill 2 big Romaine leaves) instead of the peanut butter would be @ the same calories, and lower fat (except for Sabra brand!)

I do like hummus in moderation. Thanks for the suggestion. I always forget about hummus.

Jersey--a really good source, even if you don't follow the plan, for a condensed version of much of the same findings from multiple studies (with references should you want to follow up and read the studies in Chap 13) is The DASH Diet Weight Loss Solution by Marla Heller, MS RD. There's also a web-site which might have the research references. The original DASH diet was for hypertension (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), but in the course of that research, they found certain correlations to weight loss, so did additional research and developed a "tweaked" plan that would more closely target weight loss.

She does a really nice job of distilling and explaining what longitudinal studies have shown and their relationship to what we don't yet know. I don't like her reliance in the plan on artificial sweeteners, and the recipes are horrible imo--she doesn't know anything about food science and cooking. The suggested menus assume the "typical" American diet, so I ignored them. But the research portion is very easy to understand and adapt to your own preferences. By focusing on whole foods, there's no need to count much of anything.


When I saw my NP for a check-up 2 yrs ago she noted that I'd lost weight. So I told her I was broadly following the approach, and she looked up from her laptop and said, "Oh! THAT'S a good one!"

Thank you. I will look that up and read more about it. Thank you for all the information you provided. It was very insighful.
Thank you to all couch members who gave input on this. I appreciate all the suggestions, tips and experience.

I dont know where to put this ****

It is s hit my T wont see me weekly i have to wade through this for 2 weeks.
Sorry for fouling the couch.

There is now an OASIS brand zero fat hummus. No tahini. Tastes like the same carp to me!

I haven't seen this^ near me. But I'm not concerned about the fat, as long as it's good fat. Not a fan of the ceci?

Me again. Pain is terrible! Emailed T though she's probably asleep. Told her my life is finished though I'm not suicidal. I wrote that she tried her best with me. I also told her I printed the photo of us together and it's a whole page, and that it's comforting to me. I don't care what I tell her anymore. I wrote that maybe she was with her boyfriend this weekend and I'm not jealous. I don't care about anything.

I think this sciatica WILL kill me. Sorry to be so negative. Thanks again, una, for finding me in the Chronic Pain forum. I can't take more Tylenol for 2 hours. I will try to lie down again now.

Sister is sleeping with her drunk boyfriend tonight with the restraining order still on her... We'll probably find out Thursday her fate. Part of me thinks she should go to jail, but she has a baby and one on the way. That's not right. So maybe they'll give her community service and mandatory counseling?

And then I'm dealing with my jealousy. I'm about to start month 11... It's not fair.

(((Scarlet))) no, its not fair. And its sad on so many levels. Its like, why doesnt life take the straight path, its right there!

Love the ceci! Its the serving size. Wtf is 2 tablespoons? I cant think of anything that i eat only two T of. So oprah / weight watchers "lets" you eat MUCH more of the nonfat hummus.

I'm secretly swooning on the inside.



I didn't even know there was a prize for that category..

What reason have they given you? Is it just this week or are your sessions normally so spaced out?

Are you allowed out of session contact?

I'm sorry to hear your struggling so much right now. I wish there was something I could do to help you feel better.

They are normally every 2 weeks because I cant afford any thing more but recently things have changed but we havent spoke about that. I can ask to go on his cancllationlist but hardly anyone cancels as he is always booked out. I will ring and ask to go on his caancellation list i think.

(((rainbow8)))