I just got back from my doctor and of course I'm still too heavy.
I have done ALL different diets through the years (I know what they say....diets don't work) and sometimes I lose and sometimes I don't. (I'm over 60 so that doesn't help, my metabolism died long ago).
Anyway I stopped by to see a friend on the way home from the doctor and she said her SIL started eating ONLY unprocessed foods and easily lost weight and felt better too.
So I'm going to try it. I have to grocery shop this afternoon anyway.
Has anyone else tried this?

I'm over 65, still overweight, but started using all non-processed foods about 9 months ago and lost 25 lbs. I changed to whole wheat bread, I bake my own, all fresh fruits and veggies and NO boxed or processed foods.

It definitely works! You will also feel better and have more energy. :)

That's pretty much all we eat. What meat we use is purchased from an organic cattleman (no hormones injected), same with our milk. Fresh veggies. Very little of anything made w/flour, sugar, or rice and no products with High Fructose Corn Syrup. We don't use canned foods and very few frozen. It is not a diet, it is a lifestyle. We eat like this 90% of the time..would love it to be 95%. We eat out with friends or just us, we get what we want. A week without wine is a whiny one.

I watch my carbs. I have fought a weight problem all my life it seems. I also have tried many diets and never have kept if off very long. Now I have lost 60 plus and have kept it off for over 2 years and I am 52. Marilyn

Thanks for the responses. That's encouraging. I still eat like I did when I was growing up. BAD stuff. No wonder my figure looks like a bag of doorknobs.

I have not completely stopped eating processed foods yet but cut way back. I've come to enjoy eating salads, greens & fresh fruits. Smoothies are good too and good for you! I have at least 1 every day. You can add healthy things like wheat germ, etc. for extra health benefits.

One thing that helps me is to think of food differently. I look at food as helping me to be healthy. If you google veggies individually and read about all the great things they do for your body they definitely have a lot more appeal!! I don’t deprive myself of treats or I wouldn’t be able to stay on track. I just don’t eat them every day.

Exercise helps too. Walking is my favorite but I need to do more of it. If you have a dog or friend to walk with it makes it fun. Drinking water is said to help us feel full. I don’t know about that but it is healthy. I add fresh lemon juice or sometimes fresh lime for flavor. It’s good for you too.

I’ve been gradually losing weight and have lost 22 lbs. since October.

This is what we do. we buy a half of beef from a friend who raises hormone free cattle.We use stevia to sweeten our green tea,eat lots of vegetables and fruit ,plus I am a really active person. Fell better now than when I was in my forties.

DH and I are foodies. DH became one kicking and screaming but I didn't give in. No processed foods goes in my shopping cart. We are both in our 50's. Before we switched to all whole foods and dairy we were like slugs. Just make it through the day type people. We stated exercising regularly after we felt better eating good foods. I had a high cholesterol problem and DH was borderline diabetic. Not now. Food can heal you or can kill you.

I want to cry when I see overweight kids.

Thats how we cook and eat, my husband has been able to stop his BP meds too. We have alot of diabetes in the family which makes me even more aware of what we eat. We do have things once in awhile on special occasions and holidays.
Its easy once you get used to it. I also follow weight watchers.
Portion control is also key...

I am not obese but the weight has been creeping up over the last few years (20 lbs.) . I eat very healthy, very little meat, don't drink milk, no sodas, no fast food, lots of whole grains, fruits, vegs, and I exercise, it's still creeping up. What else do I have to do. Very discouraging.
Oh, and I don't even eat dinner. Last meal is tea and toast at 4pm.

Back in the 70's when living in southern CA I worked for a very wealthy family while going to school. This is where I learned about processed foods. I did clean up for the cook (dishwasher) Fresh produce and fruit was delivered every morning. One of the dairy farmers brought dairy twice a week. The lady of the house was perfection in my young eyes and I hung on her every word about foods to be prepared and what her kids were allowed to eat. I never got out of the kitchen area and that's all she talked about when she came to the kitchen. She was serious about her food. I never saw a box of mac and cheese, deli meats, chips, white bread, sweetened cereals, or packaged snacks like cookies. She said she'd pick dandelion leaves before spending money buying poison for her family's health. I grew up on a farm and I thought I was unlucky to have nothing but garden stuff and raised meats to eat and here these people ate nothing else and less of it.

I can remember when Hamburger Helper first came out. I bought a box and thought this was going to be great! I made it and it was horrible tasting. Nothing like the hamburger casserole I learned to make at home. My grandmother ate some and told me if you cook this for your kids they will never know how good real food is or how bad this stuff is. She said cook real food and leave food like this on the shelves. She said children need real food for their brain to grow sound. I think she was right.

Ha! you can do what my DD did. The Dr. told her she needed to lose some weight around her hips before it got harder for her as she got older. She went and had lipo. Instant thin hips. She is braver then I am about surgery. That's been about ten year ago and she still has thin hips. I'm not for vanity surgery at my age but..... maybe a neck lift. LOL

Started in on weight watchers - that's what is basically working for me. :)

I find eating a lot of fruits and veggies, whole grains, cut back on the meat, 8 ozs total (include eggs, peanut butter, etc.. in this amount) is usually enough each day (unless you are very, very active) and fats in general has helped me to maintain my weight over the years.

A little protein with each meal helps fill me up, instead of having the biggest portion, usually at dinner time.

Have your biggest meal of the day at noon, not in the evening.

Breakfast is important, and eating every 3-4 hours does help keep your metabolism going. Just watch how many calories you consume at each sitting.

Brown basmatti rice is a great substitute for white rice, home made noodles last a week in a brown paper bag if you thoroughly dry them first.

I do use 98% fat free chicken and beef broth for sauces/gravies. Smash boiled potatoes or bake potatoes and leave out the milk/butter and use the fat free gravy made out of canned broth instead.

George Foreman type grills are wonderful kitchen accessories :D

Fried is NOT my friend...

A cup of chicken or beef broth with veggies will help fill you up before you start eating a meal. This can have as little as 30-40 calories total, just add a couple Tbls of finely chopped veggies to add flavor and variety. A great way to use up those little bits of leftovers.

Make it a bowl full for a meal. Frozen mixed veggies work well, add an ounce or two of lean, chopped meat. I freeze leftover meat/veggies in these small amounts, chopped and ready to go.
Add a sliced whole wheat roll to dip in the soup broth :D

Rinse, peel and bag up raw veggies so that you can reach in the bag and they are ready to eat. If I have to stop and do this serving by serving, I end up not eating them as often. YES I am lazy :lol:

Small changes do add up, and when you get used to them, add a few more.

If you are able, add just a little more physical activity. Rocking in a rocking chair burns more calories than sitting in a recliner. Tap your feet, swing your legs, move your arms around during commercial breaks to their music, or try a few sit down exercises. You would be surprised at how much these will help :D

If it tastes really, really, really good? Check the fat and/or sugar content :roll: :lol: :lol:
Try to eat only 1/3 as much as normal and then fill up on raw veggies.


Save your milk servings for a snack along with a little something healthy or with a smaller meal to help fill you up.

Some peoples bodies will process sugar substitutes the same as regular sugar. I have been reading more and more about this lately. So if you are using them, counting calories and still not losing weight, this could be you.

Never have foods I crave? :shock: about twice a month I eat a meal without any care to the calorie/fat counts. I only cook enough for that meal, no leftovers.
I do try and keep the rest of my foods that day reasonble to help compensate.
Once or twice a month I do buy sweets, but only enough for a couple of servings. If they are in the house, I WILL eat them LOL
The 5 minute mug cakes are a good way to make a single serving and not have leftovers to tempt yourself.

Teaching myself that food is fuel.. not a reward, or thinking it has to be cooked a certain way to be tasty or I won't eat it.
I love the saying, "Eat to live, not live to eat." Sometimes it is a struggle to follow this saying, but I try hard to live it.



What did not work over the last 40+ years?

Starvation/skipping meals... it tricks the body into converting everything you eat during this time into fat, and it will continue to do so for a while after you start eating regularly again.
For most people, anything under 2000 calories is a starvation diet.

Fad diets do not work in the long run, nor are most of them a healthy diet. Most of these Fads make nutritionists shudder.... They can also lead to unnecessary health issues in the future.

Fad diet pills/supplements... some may not be harmful and others? Check with your doctor/pharmacist about what these ingredients really are. Natural isn't always not harmful, toxic chemicals can/are made out of natural plants.
My DB's Mom died of liver problems due to fad diet pills...

Unfortunately the only ones who gain anything from these Fads are the authors or manufacturers :(

Ignoring serving portions can pack the pounds on quickly. Keep smaller glasses, plates and bowls handy.
I quickly found out the milk I was drinking that should have been around 90 calories a serving had jumped to 180 in the glass I normally used. That extra 90 X 3 meals is almost a meal in itself :shock: Still thirsty? drink water :wink:

Low calorie snacks? Check the portion size, usually that amount wouldn't hardly satisfy a 2 yr old LOL I would eat several of them, if not the whole box :roll:

Fast Food places? Wow!! I went through a drive through last week... Hamburger, fries (small) and a regular strawberry milk shake, almost 1900 calories :shock: It was a nice, tasty treat, but I really didn't enjoy the carrot sticks and plain, dry rice cakes the rest of the day ROFLMBO Wait... if only ROFLMBO would really do just that!! Then I would only have to diet to get rid of the rest :D:D:D

Super sizing? That is the fastest way to super size the butt, waist, hips..... LOL

Remember when:
The largest soft drink offered was the same size as the smallest one now?
When cup holders were made to fit these and the little 8-10 oz coffee cups?
Single serving bottles of soft drinks were 8ozs or less?
No one HAD to have drinks/snacks all of the time in the car with them?
Snacks were far and few between.
Life before meals in a box or pouch?
Fast Food was a rare treat?
People in general were more active?
AND there were not as many over weight people? :wink:

I don't mean to sound like I am preaching, just giving some food for thought, and what does and didn't work for me :D:D:D

When SIL became a diabetic DD started watching her cooking. Kept us down to 45 (good) carbs per meal healty snacks and we all lost good weight. The body needs most all foods, no not processed lol... and we can be choosey re: meats... well, DD went back to old way of cooking and we gained our weight back :( :( I wish you the best on your diet. :)

unsalted almonds are a great snack source... beef jerky in moderation because of SALT... your diet suger treats are a real farce... still sugar. different form. Also they say for a diabetic, pop corn is another good source, oatmeal, just some good foods. I am sure pop corn in moderation, without all the butter... Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top instead of butter & salt?

I'm still on the avoiding diet..no wheat or corn. Lots in my family have allergies to many different foods, pollens and insect stings. And I am strongly avoiding Aspartame and artificial sweeteners. I've read all over the Internet (WANT TO GAIN WEIGHT? DRINK DIET SODAS)!!

Food is pretty easy now to fix since I'm widowed and eat what I want. I even dig up weeds from the front yard and plant them in back for my salads (and the turtle loves them too). Weeds have far more nutrition than plants that have been genetically altered, or grown in worn out soil.

I've just returned from the grocery store I've shopped in for years, the rise in prices shocked me. ONE BELL PEPPER is $1.49. That is ONE pepper, not one pound. And other prices are also rising. I'm now going to grow far more than I had planned to in the back yard. Gonna spend the spring and summer collecting canning jars at Estate sales/yard sales, etc. And maybe get a bigger freezer, a floor model. They're pretty cheap nowadays. Then later today I'm going out to plant the roots of the two bunches of green onions that I got today. The rest I've planted are almost ready to harvest, and then THEIR roots will be replanted. Soon I won't have to buy them any more, or any of the onion family. Chives, leeks, garlic, etc. And at CostCo, I bought a big container of fresh, peeled garlic last year, and in a moment of wanting to see what would happen, I planted a couple of them. They sprouted!!! So soon I'm going to get another big container, plant part and freeze part of them. They last forever frozen.

I have been trying to lose some weight to. I found that if I limit my calorie intake to 300 cal. per meal, and have a healthy snack in between meals (apple, yogurt, almonds, etc.) that I can make it through the day just fine. My last meal is usually a large green salad with lots of fresh veggies and a very small piece of protein. I have lost 11 pounds, which is not much, but it is a start. I also exercise a little every day ( you can also do some dancing to your favorite music kind of like Richard Simmons used to do) and go to a gym twice a week to use the bicycle and the treadmill. I have learned that you have to change your style of eating and don't call it a diet. It is a food lifestyle change. Also, on the food channel there is a program called "Hungry Girl" and she has some great tips for preparing food with a lot less calories. I signed up for her daily newsletter to. Good luck in your efforts, it is not an easy journey.

I have been trying to lose some weight to. I found that if I limit my calorie intake to 300 cal. per meal, and have a healthy snack in between meals (apple, yogurt, almonds, etc.) that I can make it through the day just fine. My last meal is usually a large green salad with lots of fresh veggies and a very small piece of protein. I have lost 11 pounds, which is not much, but it is a start. I also exercise a little every day ( you can also do some dancing to your favorite music kind of like Richard Simmons used to do) and go to a gym twice a week to use the bicycle and the treadmill. I have learned that you have to change your style of eating and don't call it a diet. It is a food lifestyle change. Also, on the food channel there is a program called "Hungry Girl" and she has some great tips for preparing food with a lot less calories. I signed up for her daily newsletter to. Good luck in your efforts, it is not an easy journey.

Sorry for the double post but response was slow so I clicked again. Should not have.

I am not obese but the weight has been creeping up over the last few years (20 lbs.) . I eat very healthy, very little meat, don't drink milk, no sodas, no fast food, lots of whole grains, fruits, vegs, and I exercise, it's still creeping up. What else do I have to do. Very discouraging.
Oh, and I don't even eat dinner. Last meal is tea and toast at 4pm.
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Skip the toast and have a nice, big salad. Use rich dressing, but have it on the side and dunk your fork in it and THEN gather up the veggies in the salad. That way you can still taste the dressing and not have many extra calories. I make a Blu Cheese dressing a local restaurant her has specialized in for a long time. The recipe was given to me over 45 years ago by the chef!! Everyone in the family loves it so the kids ate salads at home most of the time, especially in summer. I thin it a little more with buttermilk and put the salad in a huge plastic Tupperware container with lid and shake it all up. Gets a thin layer of dressing on every part of the salad.

I'm going to watch this thread. Now that I've stopped smoking for a year, it's time to move on to my diet and lack of exercise :D

Well,don't know what this diet is.But 3 1/2 yrs ago,my hubby who is 84 now,had a psycotic episode where he ended up in a nursing home for over a month.To make a long story short,we started eating TV dinners with a salad after he got out.I've lost 90 lbs and went from 250 to 160 lbs now.Both of our blood work for 3 1/2 yrs have been spot on,where before we had to eat rocks practically for sodium,colorestrol,you name it.Now mine is perfect,and his is so low,they cut the pill in half.So,I think it's portion control,and NO left overs!But obviously very nutritional.Plus it's CHEAP!!!!We split one hungry man dinner and get a bag of salad out and there's dinner.That's $2.00 a plate.Breakfast the same.Walmart breakfasts ,with a bag (3) of pancakes and coffe.Low calories and filling,costs $2.00 for breakfasts.So we eat on $4.00 a day each for groceries!.That's $8.00 a day total.About $240.00 a month.I can't heat the stove or cook it for that.Let alone buy groceries,man their high!.Takes less than 10 min in the microwave.So does leave more time for scooter riding,and quilting!My grandma always said our stomach is the size of your fist or 2 cups maybe.And to "listen" to your body.It tells you when your sleepy,go to bed!It tells you when your full or have had enough to eat,"after the 1st big breath after about 3 to 4 bites or what ever it is for you.Mine is a lot less than it was,but I was taught to clean my plate up.Not no more,I "listen" to my body now,and quit eating when I reach that spot.The rest goes (if there is any) in the trash.If you do get hungry,eat a bowl of salad,or a cup of cup a soup with some crackers.Just keep the total Daily calories to under 1000.Easy on these dinners,with room to spare for salad,or cup o soup's.But no more than a 1000. pr day.An I eat no bread.My hubby tho,does.And I use PAM {walmats brand}butter flavored pam for toast and pancakes and everything.No butter!Good luck.It's worked for me,and I haven't starved which is the beauty part.Oh,and 1 more thing.I do buy snack puddings,as they are filling too.Just limit to no more than 4 a day.And if you like ice cream,put the puddings in a cone with some cool whip on top.And pretend it's ice cream,freeze them {pudding pops}!Maybe in between meals.I've lost 90 lbs doing this.Good luck

You have to remember to exercise also. I do the Leslie Sansone one mile walk in the house twice a day - and then I walk outside with the dog - one or two miles a day. Weather permitting, of course - it snowed here last night!!!!! And it is only +29* out!

I eat good, no bread, no butter (well, not much), no desserts (well, maybe on a special occasion) and I have lost 30 lbs since January 1. I have dropped from a size 18 to a size 12 and my underpants are falling off!!!!!!!!!!! I got some new Bermudas, some new slacks and some new pedal pushers, now to head to Target and get me some undies!!!!! And I am 72-1/2!

You all can do it. It's fun, actually! It is ten times more fun when someone you haven't seen for a long time says "Hey, you look great." It's all worth it!

And please do the Weight Loss Challenge right here on the Quilting Board. It was a total lifesaver for me. And that was more fun and more encouraging and more rewarding than anything I could have ever dreamed of.

Make it a good day. Edie

Watch for hidden sugar in food. If the label says diet/low calories I don't eat it. Artif sugars are diet busters. I had to become a label reader. Go to you local bookstore and look for the book BELLY FAT CURE by jorge cruise. Common sense food plan. Notice I did NOT say diet. PM me if you want.

Yes, although eating unprocessed foods wasn't the means as much as the ends. I do the South Beach diet which for me means I have to make everything myself. I eat a lot of salads (all different kinds), egg dishes, and grilled meats. I snack on pickles, olives, cheeses (real cheese not "processed cheese food"), and various nuts. I know SB wants me to eat low fat cheese but I draw the line there - I like cheese too much to make sacrifices with it :)

When I go into Phase II of SB I add fruit only.

I'm on SB now in fact and 10 lbs in 2 weeks. I start Phase II Monday. I'll do Phase II for a 2-3 weeks then depending on how much more weight I want to lose, I may go back to Phase I, or if I'm happy with my weight I'll slooooly add the starches back to my diet.

Great recipe BTW and one of the few low fat cheeses I will eat (well ... one of the cheeses is low fat). Mix 2 parts Neufchatel cheese with 1 part Bule. Add finely chopped cilantro. Cream it all together. Spread onto celery stick and dash with a few drops of Tabasco.

I also make homemade cinamon crusted almonds. Mix egg whites with Splenda, toss in cinnamon. Toss raw almonds in the mix coating them well. Bake at 400 for ... I think about 20 minutes to toast. Tastes *almost* as good as the cinnamon almonds you get at the fair. Please don't ask me quantities - I cook by look/feel/taste - I rarely measure stuff.

I started Take Shape for Life with Medifast the 2nd week of January of this year. I am now down 40 pounds and feel absolutely great. No processed food, no dairy, I eat their soy foods 5 times daily and then I make one meal a day myself. I have 45 more to go, but this is the easier thing I've ever done. No points, I only weigh once per week. My husband started after me and has lost almost 30. When I am down to my goal weight, i know that i shall not being goin back to any processed foods. it is too hard on the digestive system, and simple is better and healthier. Good luck on the program you choose to lose weight on.

If you are taking medicine like synthroid for thyroid problems you have to be careful about eating soy products.
I cannot eat any soy,but I don't have a thyroid anymore.Check with your doctor

I gained 45+ lbs when I was taking Chemo because of the steroids that I had to take. It took me 18 months to even start being able to cut back. (steroids give you an appetite like a lumberjack) Right after Christmas, I started on Weight Watchers that had been the only plan that ever worked for me and I've lost 23 pounds so far. It's harder sometimes when we go out to eat, but you can do it. Keeping a food journal is a key element in success. Plus lots of water. Good luck. You can do it, just keep on trying.

Yes a food journal helped me before. Losing weight is just so boring! :)

We eat mostly what we grow. Still an unprocessed food will jump on my plate. My biggest down fall is eating at night. I'll start snacking about an hour after dinner and I'm not even hungry. Trying very hard to break that bad habit. Can't get in my summer clothes so no more snacking. :roll:

I started Weight Watchers 38 yrs. ago when I weighed 159 lbs. I lost 29 lbs in 4 months and have kept it off for all these years. I still go once a month to weigh in to keep me on track. I think WW is the best diet around, it was for me anyway.

My mom lost alot of weight with WW too. I'm going to join online soon. I live to far to go into a place. I broke my knee and have been on crutches since Jan 30th. I think I have 2 or 3 more weeks to go. Needless to say being so inactive I put on a few pounds. Not good for my leg. I was to heavy to begin with. Thanks for the inspiration.

Like your 301...have been looking for 1 at a reasonable price.
I started WW on Jan 2nd..the new points plus plan lets you eat anything you want, just count points. I also am over 60 and would lose and regain the same 10 lbs..have lost 20 lbs and am finding it easier to be satisfied.
Exercise helps too..you might want to go to a meeting or try it for free online.
Good luck
Dottie

Years ago I joined WW and lost 42 lbs. Over time, I gained it all back and some more to boot. WW is a great program but if you don't stick to the maintenace plan, you will slowly gain it back. I tried the online program, didn't work for me. I weighed this morning and have lost a total of 12 lbs. in about a month using my own program. I'm sticking to no more than 1200 cal. a day and most days I don't even reach that. 300 cal. per meal, with 300 cal. for snacks in between if I need it. So far its working for me. I do keep a food journal which helps in keeping track of the daily calories. Losing is not easy, but can be done with a lot of will power. Exercise some every day also helps.

I too have fought weight a long time...try to eat only non-processed foods, but dinner out is a killer...you don't know if MSG, or other bad stuff has been added...I recently started water aerobics...and I have always hated exercising...but I am in love with water aerobics...I now exercise in the water 2-3 hours a day...five days a week...haven't lost weight yet...but am definitely getting toning back in my legs...and I am 60 this year!!!

My hubby is suffering from obiesity, and has lost 76 lbs. since Nov. just by counting calories and protiens; and watching sugar intake. I have learned alot about how fattening and non nutritional alot of foods are since helping him. As our metabolism slows down, we are supposed to lower our total calorie intake per day and try to make sure we get a little exercise every day. Not always easy, and I myself have recently been told I need to lose between 15 - 20 lbs. by my doc. Good luck and hope this information helps. Bought him the Biggest Loser calorie guide and it is very helpful for him or anyone.

Lots of good weight loss tips on this site.