Every time I post my weight loss triumphs or pitfalls on Facebook, my Aunt and Uncle will invariably tout the South Beach Diet.

Not to besmirch it, but I myself think Weight Watchers is a bit of a fad diet.  I've found, as have many people I know, that once you stop using it, you put the weight right back on.  I think it's because it's too frustrating for most people to have to bother calculating what "points" are in foods according to what percentage fat/fibre/protein they are, and how many calories they hold.  True, we do basically the same thing here, but here it's just raw scores...and eventually you start to realize which scores matter in helping you feel great while still losing weight.

SlimFast is another I've seen numerous friends and relatives try, without success.  Or, with limited success that eventually gives out when they put the weight back on again.

The only way I've found to lose weight is making sure my input doesn't exceed my output; that I don't eat too little and make myself feel like crap, thus inviting a binge-attack; exercising when possible; having enough willpower not to cave in to temptation, but enough sense to know that I can treat myself sometimes, too; and above all, having a good outlook on my weight-loss goal and maintaining positive, even if I gain a pound or two back on occasion.

I would never buy into one of those fad diets, I've seen too many people come and go, and I'm in for the long haul.  But they certainly are tempting.  Losing weight and keeping it off is hard work, so these fads that promise the world for little or no effort provide temptation that I am sure that some people just cannot overcome.   Again, thanks to this website for the wonderful insight and knowledge to help us with this 'battle'.   Without the help of people like this, I would never know what's hype and what's not.

I have tried almost every fad diet there is.  I always lost lots of weight quickly.  Then gained it back plus some when I dropped the diet.  Most fad diets made me eat in a way that was difficult to keep up especially with a hectic schedule.  I have beat the bulge by good old diet and exercise.  Diet meaning healthy eating.  Nothing crazy just basics.  My entire family is now fit and healthy.  I look and feel better than  have in 20 years!  If I can do it ANYONE can!

I tried the South Beach Diet, for like two weeks.  It was just way too hard!  What you can eat is so limiting in the beginning, I felt like I would have given my right arm just to eat something with substance, like a piece of bread! Sure I lost weight, but I felt hungry all the time, and I stopped after two weeks because I just couldn't handle feeling hungry 24/7.

I definitely agree you can spot a fad diet by how limiting they are and how you don't have to exercise. I would love to lose weight by not working out, but I'd rather stay fit as well than just look good.

I agree with everything in your article - making longterm changes in habits and lifestyle is the only real way to attain lasting weight loss.  I do have to wonder why you have so many FAD Diet links on your website though!!!!

Exercise and eating healthy are necessities, and actually enjoyable once they become a part of your daily routine.  No doubt, this does not come easy for many, but congratulate yourself on small successes and let the occasional "fall" go - even thin people eat cookies or candy or desserts - they just feel no guilt!  You are NOT bad because you like them! ^^  I watch my boyfriend, and he will have a "no-bake" cookie for breakfast and feel no guilt, then later have a well balanced lunch and dinner.  If he eats a cookie or piece of candy later in the day, he just does not eat as much at his next meal because he is not as hungry.  I know many of us are emotional eaters and being full has next to nothing to do with when or what we eat - but keep on trying - eventually you will change your habits - just be patient with yourself.   

South Beach is about lasting change. If you read the whole book, you learn about the physiology behind that change. Trouble is, we're bombarded with messages that remind us of what we're "missing out on" every day we choose healthy fruit and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. So we think we're sacrificing when we're actually treating our bodies better.

Yes, the Phase1 part of South Beach is restrictive, but if you're borderline diabetic and need to learn how to live without processed carbs, getting to Phase 2 and sustaining the behavior can save your life.

Just don't eat that Splenda crap instead of sugar!

NO diet will ever work for the long term.  I've tried just about all of them, and as soon as I get my weight down and go off the diet....boom...back to where I was, or higher.  I don't diet anymore.  I eat vegetables, whole grains, only olive oil (in small portions), drink fresh juices from vegetables like celery and carrots, and eat much less cooked food.  I'm at about 160, (down from over 183) and at 5' 11"..that's about where I want to be.  I've dropped two pants sizes since June, feel like I'm 30 years younger (I'm 62), have started exercising, and have actually lost my appetite for pizza and french fries.  They're just now worth it.  Take the processed foods, sugar, white flour, and potato chips away from your mouth, forget the dieting, and don't worry about your weight.  Eat a huge amount of raw vegetables every day, and you won't need to worry about any kind of "diet".

I want a cookie.

I've lost 23 lbs with P90X. It has changed my life. I now know how to cook ,what to eat, when to eat and how much to eat.

 Stick with the program (exercise and meal plans) and you will see results you've never seen. P90X is no joke!!!!!

I tried South Beach once, and by the end of the first day, I thought that I could have killed for a piece of bread.  Or an apple.

LATELY WE HEAR "DIETS DON'T WORK" AND THAT IS TRUE. LIFE STYLE CHANGES DO WORK. WEIGHT WATCHERS, IS IN MY OPINION, NOT IN THE FAD DIET CATAGORY. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE POINT SYSTEM, COUNT SOME CALORIES UNTIL YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOOD AND LOW CAL AND WHAT IS NOT. THEY WILL NEVER KNOW. THERE IS SUPPORT FROM THE GROUP, IF THAT HELPS YOU. THEY HAVE A GOOD PLAN AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY ANY WW PRODUCTS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO OR CAN'T AFFORD THEM. I FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT WORKS FOR YOU AND IS HEALTHY. DESIGN YOUR OWN PLAN FOR LIFE. THAT IS WHAT WORKS. REALIZE THERE IS NOTHING OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN DO FOR AWHILE AND THEN GO BACK TO OLD HABITS. ALSO REALIZE THAT IT TAKES WORK AND ENDURANCE TO KEEP WEIGHT OFF.

SOME THINGS I DID TO LOSE AND MAINTAIN A LOSS OF 109LBS:

EAT 3 MEALS AND 3 TO 4 HEALTHY SNACKS

NEVER LET YOURSELF BECOME HUNGRY

TRY DRINKING SOMETHING BEFORE YOU EAT EXTRA CALORIES

REWARD YOURSELF (NOT WITH FOOD) EVERY TIME YOU LOSE 5LBS

TOSS OUT THE FAT CLOTHES ASAP (BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL NEVER NEED THEM AGAIN.)

BEFORE YOU EAT SOMETHING "BAD", ASK YOURSELF "DO I WANT TO WEAR THIS?)

DO SOME POSITIVE SELF TALK. OUT LOUD IF POSSIBLE. "I CAN DO THIS",

DON'T WAIT TO DO THINGS UNTIL YOU ARE AT GOAL. ENJOY LIFE RIGHT NOW.

IF POSSIBLE, DON'T BRING THINGS INTO THE HOUSE YOU SHOULDN'T EAT.

STOP THE EXCUSES. YOU CAN OVERCOME EVERY ONE OF THEM. EVEN MEDICATIONS. SOME SAY I AM ON MEDS SO I AM HUNGRY. SO, EAT HEALTHY YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE SWEETS AND FATTENING FOODS.

BELIEVE! AND NEVER GIVE UP!

I'm ashamed to admit it but in my crazy 20's I tried a "medically supervised anorexia" diet.  I was limited to less than 600 calories a day and their vitamins.  I lost over 30 pounds and kept it off for a few years but it crept back on because the other result of the plan, which they didn't tell you about, was that your metabolism was so slowed down that you couldn't eat like a normal person any more.  I also tried Slim Fast, WW, and Cortislim, and like everyone else put the weight back on and sometimes added more.  On WW I was so hungry all the time that even the goldfish in the tank was starting to look tasty.  It wasn't until I started using sites like CC to figure my info for myself and saw the actual cause and effect of my eating and exercise plan that I was able to drop some weight without feeling dangerously deprived.  I think I will always struggle with this issue but at least now I can do it without feeling like my own victim!

The Volumetrics Diet is unbelievable and really makes sense.  If you follow the general philosophy then you will lose weight and maintain your weight loss.  It's not terribly limiting.  You can still eat pasta, bread, and so forth but like when you eat pasta you put more veggies in your pasta sauce so you eat less pasta but still feel full.  Another example is to eat grapes instead of raisins because you have to eat more raisins to feel full but since grapes have a lot of water you'll feel fuller quicker.  It's great.  I totally recommend it!

mmm....yes - I, too, want a cookie :)  and I love South Beach.  I use their Crispy Meal Bars as my mid-morning snack.  I consider their items mostly nutritionally balanced and better than a candy bar since I can't seem to make myself eat a big breakfast.  I have something small like frut or cereal, but that doesn't hold me to lunch, so I have a meal bar.  Then I can eat a normal lunch and not feel like I need to eat everything in sight the rest of the day.

I sometimes feel there are far too many conflicting "expert" opinions on how or why approximately 67% of our nation is either overweight or obese.  I feel there is always a new theory or reason right around the corner that attempts to explain the situation.

I think setting up a healthy eating and fitness pattern comes down to educating yourself in the proper areas of healthy food choices and fitness.

On a personal level I enjoy hearing from people who have walked in my shoes and who have reached success on a personal level.

I don't feel they have dubious credentials and I can greatly relate to their experiences.

I agree with rufus_k.  I want a cookie.

I lost a lot of weight on the cookie diet in a relatively short period of time. I did have to initially eat more food than what they recommended as I was getting dizzy. The problem I saw from the use was that it was quite expensive, especially if one were to continue on maintenance for the rest of their life; (2) there was no developement of self discipline; and (3) there was no process of learning how to make good choices with "regular" food.

I am more satisfied losing weight here and learning how to comfortably maintain my weight once I reach my goal - which is several months away.

Ummm...forgive me for bringing this up, but isn't this a little...hypocritical?  I love Calorie Count.  Since I've been tracking my eating, I've lost 28 pounds so far.  But while I sit here reading about how silly fad diets are, I'm also staring at a banner ad for a fad diet.

I realize you have to pay the bills to keep the site free, but come on.  What's that expression about glass houses?

I have to say, I've tried several of these fad diets - those infomercials have the same affect on my husband that toy ads do on children! I will say that about 6 years ago I went on Weight Watchers with my mom (well, she went on it, I just followed along), and we both lost 45lbs. The thing I liked about Weight Watchers is that it teaches you portion control/size, tricks and substitutes, and that you can in fact eat what you like, just in moderation. (I would never be able to cut carbs, meat or chocolate!) This is the basic rule for weight management.

I do agree with natalina85 that calculating the points was very time consuming, but after spending nearly a year doing it, I'd gotten to the point where I could fairly accurately gage point value without calculating. Unfortunately, practice doesn't always make permanent... While both my mom and I have crept up a little in weight since then, we're still within 10-15lbs of our ultimate goals. The one thing I've learned in the last 6 years is that I really have to pay attention to what I eat and when. I'm notorious for snacking and having a snack-addict husband doesn't help. If its in front of me, I will bite, lick or taste!

I think I really like this website because most of the foods available to consumers are already entered here and you just search, find, adjust size and add. Much easier! I also love the recipe section and the recipe entry! I did prevention.com last year and, while it has some great benefits and reports, most of the things I usually ate had to be manually entered, including nutrients - major time consumer! I still use the site, but more for the workout programs.

Bottom line, the only diet that seems to work, as was said before, is making sure you consume less calories than you burn, eat a balanced diet and include at least 30 minutes of cardio as often as you can. Best of luck to all of us! Now let's all go have a cookie! ;)

The most horrifying thing I've ever seen is a diet pill (advertised in walmart!) that proclaimed in bold letters: "No need to eat less or change your lifestyle!"

I don't know how those people live with themselves.

i did a diet called Lighter Life, which basically was shakes and bars supplied by them, plus 8 - 10 pints of water a day, plus weekly "therapy" meetings, I lost 5 stone (70 lbs) in 100 days for my wedding, my 1st wedding dress was a size 22 and i married in a size 12 (uk sizes)....then i got ill, oh boy Gall Stones, classic side effect of rapid weight loss, when i got booked in for operation the doctors found I was pregnant...when previously I had been told I was no longer fertile (when I was a larger lady), my miricle Grace was born and I then went in and had my gall bladder removed, i have since gained 3 stone...not quite back to square one but back on dieting, watching what i eat, counting calories etc etc, suffice to say the only successful way is to change your life style and EAT PROPERLY AND SENSIBLEY, and lose weight slowly.  Good luck to you all out there

Original Post by: gclumpkin

Ummm...forgive me for bringing this up, but isn't this a little...hypocritical?  I love Calorie Count.  Since I've been tracking my eating, I've lost 28 pounds so far.  But while I sit here reading about how silly fad diets are, I'm also staring at a banner ad for a fad diet.

I realize you have to pay the bills to keep the site free, but come on.  What's that expression about glass houses?

Indeed.

I don't want to do the cookie diet, but I do love healthy cookies! Does anyone have the recipe for the cookie diet cookies?

Bookworm

I LOVE WEIGHT WATCHERS. I DONT GO 2 THE MEETINGS I JUST HAVE THE BOOK I LOST 30LBS ON IT. I USE CALORIE COUNTER 2 TRACK MY WEIGHT LOSE AND THE GROUPS 2 HELP ME STAY ON TRACK. THIS IS A LIVE CHANGE NOT A DIET

WEIGHT WATCHER IS NOT A FADE DIET

From the professional dieter.  I've lost hundreds of pounds over the years using one fad diet or another.  After the last failure 20 years ago, I swore that I would never do that violence to my body again.  Unfortunately, I continued to gain weight as well. 

I am a newcomer to this site and only recently have begun a sensible eating and exercisise program.  Whether it is from my previous weight loss practices or my age, I am having a difficult time losing this time, but I am committed and have a good support system.

I find the articles and comments from others very helpful and encouraging.  Perhaps some day I too will be able to share my success at reaching a healthy weight and maintaining it.

Made me laugh.....I want a cookie too....

No matter what we do to lose weight (fads, WW, calorie counting for that matter) if we go back to business as usual, the weight will come back.

It does make a lot more sense to me to practice good healthy eating habits, lose the weight slowly and slowly develop new habits. Those new habits are all that will save us from the pounds returning.

BIG WARNING - I tried the acai berry thing and ordered online - do NOT do this (Seems stupid i know...). Apparently they have you agree that they can share your "information" with other similar sites - what they do not say is they can share your credit card information too - resulting for my in over $500.00 in fraudulant charges that I am having to fight my credit card company on - and they don't send you any product either!!!  I tried to change my card information and was informed that they could still charge using the old information - needless to say i am paying that card off asap and completely cancelling the account.  Now to send several nastily worded emails!!!

It would be great if any of these "fad" diets really could work.  It's just so hard sometimes.  I will go on long stretches of eating well, excercising and doing everything right and then I will just have a week or two of slipping and eating fast food and junk.  I am not sure how to stop it, it's like it's out of my control! 

Weight Watchers is the worst of them all!  I was 115 lbs (5'5) when I tried to sign up for Weight Watchers- not to lose weight, but to gain a constant support system and have accountability to someone other than myself.  I was turned down for being underweight according to their system, which does not take in age, bone structure or ethnic background.  I am now 100 lbs and I still know Asian girls who weight almost 15 lbs less than me and are naturally that small, and perfectly healthy!  What kind of a system turns people down like that?  The fact that they count points, which are not comprised of all the necessary factors to take into consideration while dieting (sugar, sodium, carbs, etc etc)- it's an imperfect balance.  It can teach people severely lacking in information about food, but the teachings are misguided and incomplete.

The BEST "diet" I have ever found it Tosca Reno's "Clean Eating" which is less a "diet" and more a way of life.  Something that teaches you about food, from the farm to your stomach and the benefits of a clean lifestyle overall- it's perfect :)  I have been following it for months and feel like a million bucks!

oh my god... i just ate like three bags of cookies couple days ago. >.<

Original Post by: nboren1983

I LOVE WEIGHT WATCHERS. I DONT GO 2 THE MEETINGS I JUST HAVE THE BOOK I LOST 30LBS ON IT. I USE CALORIE COUNTER 2 TRACK MY WEIGHT LOSE AND THE GROUPS 2 HELP ME STAY ON TRACK. THIS IS A LIVE CHANGE NOT A DIET

WEIGHT WATCHER IS NOT A FADE DIET

 

Actually Weight Watchers is a FADE diet when followed properly LOL.

The number of people I know, and have heard of that  have 'boasted' about losing 3 stone in 3 months on Lighter lIfe, well if I had a Euro for every one (and then consequently regained it) I would be much richer(financially) than I am now.

I have also lost 3 stone with CC making life style changes and consciencous decisions about what and when i do, or do not, eat or drink. Only in five months, I'm happy with this and will stick with this plan until I make my target.

A wise person once told me that if they were to write  abook about weight loss it would be the shortest book in the world allit would say is 'Eat less, move more.' Frankly what more do we need to know or do?

Original Post by: gclumpkin

Ummm...forgive me for bringing this up, but isn't this a little...hypocritical?  I love Calorie Count.  Since I've been tracking my eating, I've lost 28 pounds so far.  But while I sit here reading about how silly fad diets are, I'm also staring at a banner ad for a fad diet.

I realize you have to pay the bills to keep the site free, but come on.  What's that expression about glass houses?

I totally agree!  I know, as you do, that unless they put those kinds of things on here that we'd have to pay membership.  Really though, do people who are restricting their calories and trying to lose anywhere from 5-100+ pounds really need to stare at an ad that tells them that they needn't put themselves through such misery; a flat stomach is achievable in JUST TEN DAYS!!!!

I think the worst time to have those banners staring at you is in your second and third weeks of dieting, when you really have to watch your willpower and not give way to old habits.

After that, you know in your head and in your stomach that it's just hype, and that you have to put in the effort to get the results you want.

Weight Watchers is not a diet, but a healthy way of living.  One of the most important things we learn at WW is "portion control", as many people think that the servings presented in a restaurant are the right size.  

The poster that complained that WW would not allow her to become a member at 5'5" and 115 lb. should talk to her doctor about anorexia.  WW has one purpose: to help people who are over-weight lose their weight safely, and keep it off.

Speaking of fad diets, Has anyone heard about this one??? I heard of a woman who gets a "pregnancy hormone" from China and I think she injects herself. Calorie count is kept to 500 calories a day. she has "already lost 30 pounds" at some point she gets to go up to 1000 calories. so yeah-what is she headed for?

I agree that Weight watchers is also a fad diet. The constant counting and keeping track is very restrictive. Also, it fails the not being tailor made criteria to some degree. For example, my mother in law who is 72, is more physically active than I am! But weight watchers has her on a points plan that basically is 900 calories a day. That is too little for good nutrition!

Original Post by: frumstress

Speaking of fad diets, Has anyone heard about this one??? I heard of a woman who gets a "pregnancy hormone" from China and I think she injects herself. Calorie count is kept to 500 calories a day. she has "already lost 30 pounds" at some point she gets to go up to 1000 calories. so yeah-what is she headed for?

just because someone is 5'5 and 115, does not mean their body is where they would like it to be, I am 5'5 and 125lbs and somehow have love handles and a belly, but really slender legs, i dont eat right and programs like this one helps you understand what u r eating, some people who are built very small, can have too much fat % in their body and that would be why someone at that weight might be interested in a diet/lifestyle change program, not anerexia.

I am 61 years old and a newbie. I expect that I have been on more diets than the rest of you put together. Rosl, for a few people eat less and move more may work for some. For others like myself who were 'super morbidity obese') try
565 lbs) something more is in play here. If you check out the medical journal "Obesity" you will find that people like myself who had or have in excess of 100 lbs to lose 80 per cent of the problem is genetic. This is one of the great advantages of mapping our genes. We know what causes the problem but how to fix it? The rest by the way is put under headings like overeating, lack of exercise, emotional eating etc. The gene factor is that you have a certain gene that makes it almost impossible for you to lose weight. every diet becomes a tightrope that you are walking. One day you fall off and the weight piles back on again. I have been on weight watchers I don't know how many times. TOPS, Diet Centre, Jenny Craig, Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution, Metracal, the grapefruit diet, the cabbage soup diet, the drinking mans diet, Optifast, low calorie(500 calories a day) the prisoner of war diet, two of my own making consisting of eating nothing but watermelon and lean steak and the last one which I lost 110 lbs on...cigarettes, ice tea and one meal a day of half a cup of vegetables and a small piece of protein. By the time I reached 53 my knees were totally destroyed and I walked with two canes. However throughout all of this I held down a very responsible full time job and caring for two sick parents. I finally had weight loss surgery and loss 290 lbs. that was five years ago and I gained back about 20 lbs from 'grazing' and was told by the surgeon that people have a 'setpoint' weight and that I will never 'be thin' I will never regret the surgery. It was that or die. I just wish I had back all the money I spent on fad diets, foods, books, weight watchers etc. Oh yes another one I had was being injected with the urine of pregnant mares.

my boyfriend and I did the Atkins diet for about a year - maybe 3 years ago.  we both lost a lot of weight, but it was so restrictive that it was very hard to stay with and impossible to follow long-term as a 'lifestyle' change.  so i started at 180, got down to 145, then back up to 190. 

now I'm trying a basic calorie restriction.  I can eat what i want, but in moderate quantity.  Drinking 8 glasses of liquid a day (water, herb tea, diet soda, protein shakes).  I have found if I'm feeling hungry, vegetables make me feel full with less calories.  I'm also adding protein shakes twice a day to increase lean protein and working out 1/2 hour - 1 hour every day to build muscle & increase metabolism. 

Geez, Louise.  How did I miss the cookie diet?  Darn!

i agree. i would also like a cookie. please? =]

I like the South Beach Diet for some of its basic guidelines -- eat healthy fats, eat a wide variety of vegetables every day, and ditch all the refined carbs. although it's title suggests it's a fad diet, really it just reinforces the good eating practices that we've all been told to follow: moderation, exercise, and more fresh, unprocessed foods. I own the book, refer back to it, and just the simple change of eating more vegetables has helped me fine-tune my body once more.

Take a look at this site

www.perfectioncarpetcleaningcorp.com 

I think with man of the diets there is something to be learned. Not everything is for everyone. What I learned from WW is that its about choices. If I really want a slice of pizza I can have it, but I should be very mindful of the rest of my choices that day. To me it was about having what you want in moderation.

I never tried to follow South Beach but I really like some of their food in stores. The wraps are the best, and a healthy protien full lunch for me!

I like to follow the principal with weight loss that if it sounds too good to be true... it is!

I reiterate that for people who are just learning about food, weight watchers is great.  The support system it builds is probably almost more important and has more of an impact than the weight loss concepts themselves.  I wish I had been given the opportunity to be surrounded by people (IRL) that encouraged me to make better food decisions and have better eating / life habits overall.

I am not anorexic, and after a 50 lb weight loss (even at 23 years old!) your body does not bounce back where you would like it to be.  Not to mention that one does not get fat by eating healthy and doing all the right things.  If anything, anorexic deserve a support group as well as anyone with an eating disorder.  OVEREATING, which leads to copious examples of obesity today IS an eating disorder itself.  Weight Watchers HAS been a support group for many who struggle with eating in general, and should not rule out people (even anorexic/ bullemics) who want to make healthier lifestyle changes.  Last time I checked, WW does not encourage not eating altogether, or purging what you eat, so even if one was underweight, for WW to turn them down seems MOST hypocritical if their mission is a healthier life surrounding food.

Ultimately, like the initial article noted, if it doesnt pass the "goofy test" and seems to good to be true, it probably is.  Something that takes work and commitment and mindfulness, and involves a healthy overhaul of your life in general is more centered and balanced and will yield the greatest results over time.  I think as most of us understand, our issues around eating can be more mental than physical and it involves a change of mind to change your life.

<3

I appreciated the article and am a little aggrieved that that cookie diet made the morning news. I agree that fad diets are a waste of time and very detrimental to your health. Having said that, I was surprised when I signed up for CalorieCount that so many companies promoting horrible weight-loss products are allowed to advertise on the CalorieCount website. I would love to open up the webpage and not be faced with someone’s digitally enhanced belly growing and shrinking before my eyes. I know you need revenues, but I’m hoping there is a better way.

Just for those complaining about the ads on CC - they don't get to choose what ads are on the site. The advertisers post ads that would attract the attention of the users of the site. On FB, there are always ads coming up on my browser about horses and other horse-related items, and I believe its because I have the horsebook application. I used to play an online game as well which had ads, and some of them were really racy, and it was a game geared towards pre-teens (though there was, and probably still is a large teen/adult population on the game as well). There would be ads for lingerie and even a couple of times ads for 'anime-porn' (whatever the HELL that is :S).
So its not CC's fault that those ads come up.
Maybe CC can create "premium" accounts that you pay for annually that hide all the ads. Would those complaining like to have to pay for this service to avoid the ads? I doubt most of you would.

Weight Watchers is not a fad diet.  It is well respected and there have been many variations.  It teaches discipline, portion control, and encourages members to try new foods and eat a variety of foods every day.  That is well balanced, good eating.  Anything can be abused even WW. 

I did try a low carb diet once years ago and within a few days felt very sick.  Never went that route again.  I basically plan and track my food on the "SparkPeople.com" site and share ideas with the others on there plus info I get from sites like this one.  My plan includes eating 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks a day, always having at least a little protein each time I eat - to stabilze my blood sugar and keep my energy level constant - drinking lots of water, and getting enough relaxation in along with exercise.  I also make most of my dinners at night using a simple formula - divide the plate into thirds - 1 part pure protein, 1 part complex carb (vegetable) and 1/3 part starch (potato, brown rice, noodles.)  I limit the combo foods like casseroles, burgers on bun, and enchiladas, etc to lunch time.  Doing so has allowed my body to rebalance itself.  I crave fewer desserts.

I believe stress is contributing to the obesity epidemic in this country.  We try to do too much, worry about everything, & exercise because we have to, not just because we are already moving around amd doing fun things.  So deep breathing, sitting quietly with a cup of herb tea, and doing yoga are just as important as taking walks, lifting weights, dancing, and getting the old hula hoop going! 

Original Post by: buckcherry

Just for those complaining about the ads on CC - they don't get to choose what ads are on the site. The advertisers post ads that would attract the attention of the users of the site. On FB, there are always ads coming up on my browser about horses and other horse-related items, and I believe its because I have the horsebook application. I used to play an online game as well which had ads, and some of them were really racy, and it was a game geared towards pre-teens (though there was, and probably still is a large teen/adult population on the game as well). There would be ads for lingerie and even a couple of times ads for 'anime-porn' (whatever the HELL that is :S).
So its not CC's fault that those ads come up.
Maybe CC can create "premium" accounts that you pay for annually that hide all the ads. Would those complaining like to have to pay for this service to avoid the ads? I doubt most of you would.

Someone is selling that space. No one can advertise on your site unless you allow them to do so.

Original Post by: karmakrash

Original Post by: buckcherry

Just for those complaining about the ads on CC - they don't get to choose what ads are on the site. The advertisers post ads that would attract the attention of the users of the site. On FB, there are always ads coming up on my browser about horses and other horse-related items, and I believe its because I have the horsebook application. I used to play an online game as well which had ads, and some of them were really racy, and it was a game geared towards pre-teens (though there was, and probably still is a large teen/adult population on the game as well). There would be ads for lingerie and even a couple of times ads for 'anime-porn' (whatever the HELL that is :S).
So its not CC's fault that those ads come up.
Maybe CC can create "premium" accounts that you pay for annually that hide all the ads. Would those complaining like to have to pay for this service to avoid the ads? I doubt most of you would.

Someone is selling that space. No one can advertise on your site unless you allow them to do so.

Yes, CC is selling the space, but they do NOT get to choose what ads the person who buys the space posts there. The advertiser probably gets tons of hits from people browsing this site too. Only the core group of users on this site who have successfully used it to lose weight are ignoring those ads. People who son't "know better" likely click and even order the products regularly as a result of the ads being on a site like this one. Its unfortunate but "live and learn".