For the last week, I have been unfaithful to WeightWatchers; I am embarrassed to admit that I have had a fling with the Every Other Day Diet (to be referred to hereinafter as simply EODD).
WeightWatchers, I’m sorry to say, felt just too unexcitingly slow and steady; and I was seduced by the heady thrill of EODD, which held the promise of more exciting weight-loss. Okay, enough now, of that silly analogy… except to say: I am back in the arms of WeightWatchers.
Why did I stray? Because I found the rate of weight-loss with WeightWatchers (on average 1lb per week) frustratingly slow.
I am very keen to return to the weight I was for the previous 45 years (the only times when I was this overweight during the entire four-and-a-half decades was during pregnancy – and that was 38 and 40 years ago) and as I have said previously, I’m not happy (actually deeply miserable) carrying this excess weight; I don’t feel like me and I want to lose it NOW… so I found the rate of weight-loss frustrating.
So, I thought I would give the EODD a whirl. On this diet you alternate normal eating days with fast days when you are allowed to eat just 500 calories.
After one week, it lost its appeal for me for two reasons: firstly, I loathe counting calories; it is a very tedious and a very inexact science unless it relates to, say, a chocolate bar with the precise number of calories printed on the wrapper. And, secondly, because 500 calories really is fasting – it may be a “modified” fast as the authors claim – but it is a fast, nevertheless. My generous bowl of no-fat green soup that is “no points” with WeightWatchers is a BIG chunk out of the daily calorie allowance on the EODD; ditto the fruit at breakfast and the plate of salad leaves dressed in lemon juice for lunch; so, for me, there was a permanent desire to gnaw off my own arm on fast days.
The EODD is clever and soundly based in science, including proper peer-reviewed clinical trials. And I feel sure it works if you are not in recovery from brain surgery. But, for me, eating under 500 calories every other day was simply too rigorous. On fast (or diet) days, I felt light-headed and faint. And on non-diet days, I resolutely refused to stoke up because over the past 45 years of being the correct weight, I have always eaten healthily, cleanly and had a very small appetite. So it went against all my instincts and training to binge on those non-diet days. I imagine, this is the kind of diet that suits those who really love their food as they would happilytake full advantage of non-diet days, and still lose weight.
When it comes to how I ended up at this weight, I do realise it sounds like denial, but I cannot believe my 2.5 stone weight gain is solely down to steroids, a few desserts and inactivity due to loss of motor-function. My 45 years of careful eating means that I know my body well, and how to control my weight. I could not believe that, even in combination, those three factors could cause such dramatic weight-gain. I was convinced there were bio-chemical factors involved as well.
I have previously mentioned the role of cortisol, the stress hormone which has a role in weight-gain particularly round the stomach. More recently, I have done some research into Leptin. It seems both of them may have played a role in my rapid weight-gain. I see Leptin, in particular, as a culprit as the doctor who originally suggested its role in weight-gain did so after being presented with a patient who had a brain tumour.
But as both of my clever and caring daughters pointed out, whatever the reason for the weight-gain, the result is blubber (my word, not theirs) which has to be lost.
Both of them counselled against the EODD and they were right, so I am returning to WeightWatchers. I am writing this on my final EODD Fast Day and am so ravenous I could eat my own arm. I plan to start the new week back on WeightWatchers, eating my daily 26 Pro-Points and being a little more patient with myself.
If you’ve had failure or success with diets, please tell us about it by leaving your comments below…
[su_button url=”http://www.sosensational.co.uk/losing-winning-a-dieters-diary-with-weight-watchers/” target=”blank” background=”#6c20b1″ size=”7″ center=”yes” icon=”icon: arrow-right”]Read more on Jan’s journey here[/su_button]
2 Comments
I have tried all the diets including WW S world etc.The saving grace for me is Jason Vales Juicing. Go on to his FB page and see the results.I love his five day detox and keep coming back to that one. I am nearly at the weight I want to be and it is so healthy.
Hi Pauline, Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and to tell everyone again about the juice fast. As I said, fasting doesn’t work for me while I am in recovery. For me, slow and steady seems a safer more sustainable regime, but if it works for you, go for it!