The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

(Editor’s Note: The follow is the opinion of Ann Denning and should not be considered an endorsement. Please see a doctor before any dieting.)

A quote by Lord Tennyson says,” In spring a young man’s

fancy lightly turns to love.” I can’t say this is so. I would’ve guessed a new car or truck. I can say with some authority that the coming of spring prompts many a woman to decide to diet. A lot of us are horrified to discover that being sequestered in the winter, not to mention being in during the pandemic, has caused our assets to bloom, as it were. Consternation surges when bulges show through our spring and summer clothes. I’m sure some women don’t have such crass thoughts. They are either thin by nature, above such vanities, or have given up the good fight long ago. This article is not for them unless it’s to shake their heads at the rest of us. This article is for those still plumb-filled with vanity.

I have been fortunate through most of my life that the need to diet only reared its ugly head after five children and the age of fifty plus. I learned that dieting is not easy, demanding time, discipline, and sometimes money. I have dieted three times, now being in the midst of my fourth time. I have used Weight Watchers and Nutrisystem. I have also haphazardly done portion control, which is naturally what we should be doing all along, but don’t. I am not advertising for any company. I’m hoping to point out the pluses and negatives I have found with the two popular systems I have used.

I first tried Weight Watchers back when it was the original plan. I had great success with it. Weight Watchers, as does Nutrisystem, advises a slow, steady weight loss. They suggest exercise but don’t insist. Both offer online support. When I first dieted, I went to Weight Watcher meetings to weigh in and get advice and discuss failures and achievements with fellow dieters. I did not find the weekly meetings added much to my diet journey, but I know several people who find the meetings keep them on track and encouraged. On Weight Watchers, you make your food and keep on a point system that has been given to you based on your weight and height. You consume a certain amount of points per day. You are given recipes and suggestions for workouts. I admit I never tried any of the recipes, but I have friends who have and found them to be very good! One big plus is that particular food is considered “ free,” such as non-starchy veggies. You can eat these with great abandon. There are different plans, but the average price appears to be $55.00 per month. The second time I tried Weight Watchers, they had changed their program, and it wasn’t very reassuring for me. I was very discouraged when I lost weight the way a snail walks, which is to say, slowly or not at all. Curses!! When you see no progress, you tend to lose heart and either stop or not try with as much effort.

As a result of my second dismal dieting experience, my third dieting session saw me trying Nutrisystem. Women are started in the first week with a spartan diet of 1200 calories. You see the numbers fall on the scale and say to yourself, “ I’ve got this!” After the first burst of speed, you lose about what you do on Weight Watchers, which is approximately two pounds. Per week. The first week of Nutrisystem, I lost eight pounds which was a huge encouragement for me to dig in and continue. Nutrisystem sends you frozen and non-frozen pre-portioned meals, snacks, and probiotic shakes. I ordered the mid-cost program. It’s not as expensive as the top-priced plan but offers more choices than the lowest plan. I paid about $282.00 per month. You eat four non-starchy veggies a day in the first week, and then in the following weeks, you add two fruits per day. The first time ordering, I had no idea what I would prefer, but I ordered accordingly this time. Not significant portions, obviously, but quite tasty.

If you find this too boring, you could try Elvis’s favorite method of dieting. He had a so-called doctor who would put him on the “SLEEP DIET.” This person would chemically induce sleep for three weeks giving a sugary liquid nutrient by IV. Not for you? Back to the two tried and accurate plans.

I know the $282.00 can seem prohibitive. However, keep in mind you aren’t purchasing any food other than fruit and veggies. I also pay the price, so I don’t have to weigh and measure at every meal. It’s already portioned. I don’t have to dream up things to cook and maybe decide poorly Z aq calorie-wise. It’s ready for me to heat up. I found with Weight Watchers; it was hard counting points when you had something like a casserole, not just meat and potatoes. A lot of guessing went on. So, I guess I’m lazy, but I think it protects me from bad choices. You do have flex meals every week when you do cook your own food, getting you ready to be on your lonesome.

I have retained all kinds of tools from Weight watchers. I choose meat the size of a stack of playing cards, use a small plate and drink water before a meal. So, I am not discounting what Weight Watchers has given me on the diet journey. It’s certainly helped.

Exercise is always encouraged. It’s, of course, something you should be doing whether you are dieting or not. However, you cannot lose weight just by exercise alone. Diet plays a much more significant role in weight loss. Examples to back this up are based on your weight and minutes spent exercising a particular way. Supposing you are 175 pounds. To burn 500 calories, you would need to run nonstop for 32 minutes or jump rope nonstop for 36 minutes. All that exercise, and guess what can wipe it out? A plain small bagel; with cream cheese or four slices of bacon! The quiet killer of goals is condiments. Ranch dressing is 80 calories for just one tablespoon, and butter is 102 calories per tbsp--Damn. So, what I’m saying is you must combine diet knowledge and sense with exercise.

Now you are truly depressed; I will brighten your horizon with two diets you will not have to do. In 1727, Thomas Short observed a lot of overweight people lived around swamps. The conclusion was easy--move from the swamps! There was also the Slimming Soap diet introduced in the 1930s. Soap products were “FAT-OH-NO “and “ FAT-OFF.” You didn’t eat them; you scrubbed with them. They were hand soaps, so it boggles the mind that people actually thought it would work! Diet desperation for sure!

A cheering section while dieting is a huge help. You will have moments of despair and sliding back, but hopefully, you can find a buddy, either friend or spouse, who can encourage you. You need cheers, not jeers! I hope this article helps you in some small way to find your path to weight control.