Totally obsessed with HungryGirl

[Zen]

I have not read The End of Overeating but it sure does look interesting.

[uforgot]

I have not read The End of Overeating but it sure does look interesting.

Zen, I had not heard of this book, but after your link I thought it looked interesting too. I bought it yesterday and it IS good. I'm about a third of the way through it. So far it talks about how major restaurant chains fix certain popular entrees. I had no idea. I'll admit, I didn't know anything about chemicals, processing and foods but have been fighting the weight loss battle my entire life. This is an entirely new approach. Maybe I just need to get smart and eat correctly instead of conveniently.

That's the thing that has been bothering me about weight watchers lately. We sit around and talk about how to get the most food for the fewest points. I looked at all of their offerings. 1 and 2 point snacks, rice etc, all in boxes and bags. How can this be right? You can eat an entire bag of 94% fat free popcorn for 3 points. An entire bag? Should that be the norm for a snack? Shouldn't I be concerned with portion control? And the correct nutrition for a 50 mile ride? My leader is no help. They are not trained all that well for healthy eating, just point eating, and cute sayings. They encourage you to get 7 fitness points per week. Last week I had 45 and gained 2 pounds.

I also saw a copy of HungryGirl at Schnucks yesterday, right after my Overeating book purchase. The recipe I turned to? Carmelized onion and even I was horrified at the ingredients. Marketing all recipes as under 200 calories will make those on the diet yo-yo buy it. Along with those snacks (Hostess ding dongs, oreo chips, etc) that have the "100 calorie bags". How many people are going to think that these are good choices based on calorie counts? How is eating these snacks (along with those 2 point calorie bars) conducive to healthy eating?

Anyway, sorry for the ramblings. It's what has been in my head since I rejoined Weight Watchers. This book is shedding lots of light so far, answering lots of questions I had, and thanks so much for the link Zen!
Maybe I can get off of the diet roller coaster.

[Zen]

I guess I should read that book now

[Running Mommy]

hmmm. Now I'm intrigued, and I must buy the book. Not the hungry girl book, the other one.
I have been eating clean for a solid week, and I have no need for the crap. I'm eating as much food in it's whole unprocessed state as possible, And it seems to be working. Lastnight I was up 5+ times "flushing" it out. The weight is flushing out- literally. And it's not just water.
I feel soo much better already! My poor body needed it so bad.

[ny biker]

uforgot, you might want to have a look at Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guide Book. She addresses eating to lose weight in addition to fueling for athletic activities.

http://www.nancyclarkrd.com/books/sportsnutrition.asp

(It's available in bookstores and at Amazon, too.)

[tulip]

uforgot, that is a great post. I'm not struggling with weight, and I hardly eat convenience foods (just not the way I was raised, I guess), but I see people every day who are struggling. I've never done weight watchers, but it seems to work for alot of people. However, your observations about points and nutrition seem spot-on to me. I really like that you are *thinking* about your choices--that seems to be missing from the discussion too often. Thanks.

[uforgot]

Thanks for the recommendation NY biker! I'm about finished with the Overeating book and I think your book would be a good companion to it. The OE book addresses why we overeat and why we should avoid convenience food, but just goes into the psychology of it and how to stop the urges. It's apparently not willpower, but more of an addiction that we have to learn to control. No recipes or food plans, but a terrific book. I was raised on convenience food, am known as the microwave queen, and if that's the jist of the problem, some serious education needs to be enacted. Just look at a school lunch menu. Chicken nuggets, corn dogs...

Tulip seems to be an example of what is wrong with diets. She doesn't eat convenience food, doesn't worry about weight and is probably not obsessing about food 24-7. Weight Watchers has you weigh your food, count points, count activity...holy cow! You HAVE to think about it all the time. I cancelled my membership.

Running Mommy - I'd like to know what you are doing differently. What have you cut out? What have you added? Any certain plan or just your own?

Thanks for the help everyone!