Paying the price for good health?

[Android-18]

I don't want any bashing or discouraging comments in here, please.

These last few days, after knowing I got the job, I was thinking of joining a weight loss program. Some of you may know it, some of you may not, it's called Jenny Craig. I have read many of the posts on their forum, women and men alike sharing success stories and saying you can't put a price on your health, that it may be expensive but getting in better health is worth it.

Is it?

Some of you have seen my picture, and some of you (well more like one person) has made me feel very ugly. I'm sick of being out of breath, over weight, made fun of, self critical. I want my confidence back. I guess I'm just looking for some support.

If I join Jenny Craig I'll be on a 8 month program to lose 70lbs, that being my goal, I am not at a healthy weight. Some may argue, but I have to get in shape, heart attacks and strokes run in my family. The problem I'm facing is that Jenny Craig doesn't have a center here in my province, so I'd have to get food delivered every week. The cost would be about $20.00 a day (canadian), and with shipping around $200.00 a week, a little more. For 8 months that would be $6,400 but I'd be joining a Reward program that will eventualy give me %10-35 off, it goes up after a while. So eventually I wouldn't have to spend too much.

Do you think it's the right choice? Is it worth spending money on to get healthier? A lot of people have posted on the forum saying the price might be high, but it is worth it, and many people have gone back after a few years because it's a good program.

Dispite any differences any of us have had, I've known a lot of you for a long time. You guys are my friends, and this is why I want to talk about this, even if it makes me look pitiful, I need support...even if you all are far away. I've never felt this motivated to change my eating habits, and get things on the right track. I feel if I don't do something now it'll be ever harder later on in life. I know I could do this without Jenny Craig, but I've always felt guidence always made things work well for me. I won't have to count calories or portion sizes, they do it for me, and eventually I'll learn it along the way.

Well any advice of nice comments are welcome, if I had any real life friends I'd talk to them instead, but I don't.

[Hellfighter 17]

Jogging's probably one of the best ways, as you don't really gain much muscle mass while you lose fat mass. I'd suggest researching into other programs along with the free type excercising/jogging thing. From the pictures I've seen on the boards, you don't look fat, but I'm sure anyone here will support you in whatever choice you make. =)

[Android-18]

I plan on exersizing, but I need to learn to eat less, I eat more than I should and at different times and all day. I need help is eating right, that's why I want to join.

[Old Captain Silver]

Try the south beach diet book. Multiple people in my family have used that and lost a lot of wait. It'll help teach you how to eat right.

[Orion]

Everyone thinks its so hard to lose weight. It's not. If you eat too much, just replace the food you'd eat with something healthier, something with fibre. And then just exercise. Gyms and weight loss centres don't want you to know that though.

[Ruhiel]

I'll throw out a few suggestions on how you could go about doing this. You don't have to follow them up or anything, but these are just my suggestions for how you should try this.

Don't go for a health program that costs money right away. See if your own self-motivation and perseverance can do it. You don't need to pay people to have them tell you what and what not to do. Instead, here's an activity that is PROVEN to be one of the best exercises for losing weight: Swimming. Yes, I'm f'ing biased, I know, because I'm a competitive swimmer, but I will tell you that it will really get you in shape. If you go just three times a week whenever you feel like it, I promise you that you will notice a huge difference so long as you keep swimming while you're there. If you want me to, I can pm you a few practices suited to different types of workouts: anabolic, aerobic, plyrometrics(sp?), breath control, etc.

Now about eating habits, just exercise personal restraint. If you feel a little bit hungry, or have a craving for something and know that lunch or dinner is coming soon, just wait it out. Avoid snacks as much as possible, and eat lighter dinners. You can still eat fairly large lunches and breakfasts, as you will need that energy to get through the day, but after dinner you pretty much just go to sleep and all that food is broken down into sugars and then converted into fat. If you eat less before going to bed, that could help.
Also, avoid soft drinks. Having one every now and then won't kill you, but if you drink one every meal every day of the week, it makes a HUGE difference. Stick with water if at all possible, and I suggest drinking as much as possible all day. The more water you drink, the better. But if you don't like having only water, tea, lemonade, sports drinks and juices are good alternatives.

Now if you feel like you need to have someone outline what to do for you, and give you a personalized plan for weightloss and all, then go ahead. It's what you need to do, and if it works, then all the better. I'd just suggest trying to see if your own motivation could do it first before having to pay for a weightloss program.

[Raditzu]

Just something I thought I would throw out there: only two forms of exercise actually burn fat. Aerobic and Anerobic exercise. So push ups and sit ups aren't gonna do you any good if your goal is weight loss.

To address the topic at hand, I think that's way too much money to be spending on the program. I'm sure there's something in your area that would provide a similar service without the ridiculous shipping fees.

[Tobias]

Eat at regular times too. Don't eat sparatically, because your body will store more fat that way. Other than that exercise and eat healthy before spending money on a program. Its about self control is all.


By the way, this is totaly hypocritical as I'm a fatty fat fat, and have far more chubb than joo do from the pic I've seen.

[Broli]

There's some great advice that's already been said, but I want to emphasize what Majin Buu said. Jenny Craig doesn't hold some widespread secret to losing weight. The trick to losing weight is having someone push you to do the exercises. If you do it by yourself, and say, for example, "I'm going to do 10 laps." You may want to give up after the 5th, but with someone pushing you, you'll do all 10. In other words, just get a trainer at a gym. It works wonders. If you want to lose weight and you are serious about putting forth the effort, I'm sure you can do it.

Also, on a side note, stress plays a role in weight gain. So, if you're usually stressed and want to lose weight, try to relieve some of that stress.

All in all, I hope everything goes your way. I know you can do it, so keep us updated.

[Android-18]

Hah I know how to make myself look good for the picture.

I might try changing my sleep schduel and eat 3 times a day at the same times and only eat good things. I'm also going to try using a treadmil or bike (at a gym that is a block away) for at least half an hour to an hour every day, maybe that'll just get me started, the first step.

I'm going to wait until I've worked for a while, see how my money is. I'll also look around for dietitions, thats what I need.

Now if you feel like you need to have someone outline what to do for you, and give you a personalized plan for weightloss and all, then go ahead. It's what you need to do, and if it works, then all the better.

I need that, I'm hopeless when it comes to knowing what to eat, how much to eat, all that stuff. If I could have someone write up a weekly plan for me saying what to eat each day, I could eventually catch on.

I know, it's pathetic.

[Broli]

It's not pathetic. Over a third of Americans are overweight.

Pathetic is choosing to not do anything about it.

[Android-18]

Lol I mean my lack of being able to do the work involved in figuring out what to eat and how much.

[Violet]

I know how you are feeling, 18. I myself am quite a plump chicka, but I've lost quite a bit of weight (and coming from a family that spans back generations of obesity its hard for me, not to mention I have a thyroid dysfunction, which cuts out weightloss drugs. I used to pop stacker 2's alot...) But, you'd be surprised at what you can do if you cut out unneccessary calories. I've lost 11 pounds since november (and that is freakin amazing for me.) being on a 1200 calorie diet. I've cut out pop and started drinking propel waters (which I reccommend the Tropical Citrus and Berry. Not the lemon, that stuff just isn't...well, its bleh.) but considering that in the whole 23 oz. bottle, there are only 30 calories, 6 grams of sugar, and compared to a dinky 12 oz can of pop (which Mountain Dew has like 170cal. and 44 grams of sugar or something like that) its a better investment. Also, try cutting out the extra junk food. Trade it in for celery and dip, it has less calories than a little debbie, and alot less sugar.

But, that is my input. I hope you find it useful. It's worked for me so far, and I've been doing that since november, coming off my chicken nugget and frenchfry diet.


Peace, Luck in your endeavor, and Happiness, 18!


Vi.

[Android-18]

I actually don't eat that much junk food, my mom cooks for us, but I eat a lot, like getting seconds. I'm thinking if I just stop eating when I feel I need to, I'll start getting used to smaller portions.

I also don't mind water, if it's even better than something like Crystal Light (I drink this a lot) then I'll definetly switch.

I'm going to make a new DeadJournal just for losing weight, I can keep track of everything there, it might help.

[Violet]

Don't forget, before anything else, you need to have self confidence. Do something that makes you happy about yourself, whether that is drawing, writing, etc... this works too.

[Burter Jr]

stfu, you arn't fat. You look like one of the healthiest people I've ever seen. And I'm not just saying that.

You don't look like you need to waste your money on that. Since this whole thing seems to be about how you look, you are a beautiful person.

My mom is about as big as you as she's one of the healthiest women I've ever seen

[Android-18]

I don't think it's healthy when I'm short of breath after going up the stairs, not to mention just last night I had a very sharp pain in the right side of my chest.

If this was about looks I'd have done it while I had been with my ex, to keep him with me.

I'm tired of being over weight =/ I am.

[Burter Jr]

Well in the case of your pain, go see a doctor. A weight loss program isn't going to fix that.

[Android-18]

You really aren't helping Reb. I intend on seeing a docter before I do anything, but she'll say I'll need to lose weight to. I weigh more than I should at 5'8".

[Burter Jr]

I just think you're overreacting, is all. Maybe you're right on the health thing since I can't actually weight that over the internet. But looks wise, you don't give yourself enough credit