Anonymous wrote:

Hi everyone. Has anyone seen the latest posting from Weightwatches. I tried amongst other diets, Weightwatches and am still getting their emails, haven't got around to cancelling, and this came throught today. None of the various diets worked for me including Weightwatches and while loss has been slow on David's new way of eating I am not worried as I feel so much better and for the first time have lost that awful craving of always feeling unsatisfied and continually picking and nibling. I don't feel deprived at all and get the feel full feeling, particularly at lunchtime. So intend staying with it despite cynicism from some I know who are trying to diet on other lowcarb/package diets etc. I started on this new regime in May and had a few ups & downs to start with but now am more organised. I am 68 and was told once that it is harder to lose weight when in senior years, so is that some of the cause for some of us going slow on this regime or maybe that is just a myth too. The Weigthwatchers diet did little for me and was a lot of work getting meals organised and was expensive. This way of eating has been very cost effective. Below is what they have posted.

Lyn

Diet myths debunked

Despite all we know about sound nutrition, myths lurk everywhere - get the facts right

 

MYTH: Sugar is fattening.
FACT: There's little scientific evidence that a high-sugar diet leads to obesity. Not that you'd want to (since sugar doesn't provide any of the vitamins and minerals needed for good health), but you could consume 8400 kilojoules worth of sugar a day and not gain weight - if your body requires 8400 kilojoules a day to maintain your current weight, says Columbia University nutrition professor Dr Audrey Cross. Sugar is pure carbohydrate. Your body processes it the same way it does any carb, including bread and fruit. Of course, many sugary favourites, such as doughnuts, are not the best choice not just because of all the sugar, but also the fat. Fresh fruit, at just 1 to 2 POINTS® values per serving, is your best bet if you have a sweet tooth.

 

http://www.weightwatchers.com.au/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=32841&sc=3046#sugar 

 

 

Hi Lyn

Like you I did weightwatcher and I was successful but couldn't maintain the work and yes it is expensive.  They use the mental guilt of weighting in each week and you don't want to be bad in front of others to achieve your goal.  But as you said it is $13 of week to sit at listen to things we already know. 

I love their use of the Professor from Columbia's comment - you could consume 8400 kilojoules worth of sugar a day and not gain wieght - if your body requires 8400 kilojoules a day to maintain you current weight.  Isn't that true for any food.  If what goes in is the same as what goes out you maintain your current weight.  I would love to see what the whole articly he wrote was and what it really meant.  Also they forget that we live for more than one day. 

We are changing our lives long term and winning.  Best $30 I ever spent.

its interesting that the US version of this mythbusting campaign had four myths rather than the three in the Australian version ... http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=17931

The one that Australians didn't need to know about was "MYTH: Eating at night leads to weight gain.  " ... I wonder why that is?

The "Professor" quoted in the email is Dr Audrey Cross http://www.draudreycross.com/ ... she has long since retired from Columbia University and now does advertisements for Subway (among other things).

The only other public statement I can find from her about sugar seems a little misguided http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Food/Is-Sugar-Really-Addictive.html but certainly doesn't seem to have quite the spin that WW gives her comments (that sugar doesn't make you fat).

Its interesting that WW feel its necessary to put out an email like this ...

Cheers

David.

Oh, Margaret. I wish I could help you somehow. You sound so down about your weight!

I noticed you mentioned having trouble recognizing when you're full.  Just last Monday I did a presentation on exactly that subject. Here are the main points.

The "I'm satisfied" signal is not the same as the "I'm full" signal. The first is a chemical signal from your gut to your brain that signals that you've eaten enough to meet your needs. The second is a physical signal that your stomach is filled to capacity. If your stomach is full then you've already eaten too much.

The "I'm satisfied" signal is very subtle - a quiet voice in a storm. It takes a bit of practice to hear it. The best way I can describe it is this. Imagine eating your absolute favourite food. When you start eating it you are in heaven. It's divine, luscious, delicious. This lasts about 4 or 5 mouthfuls. Then its really yummy. A few more mouthfuls and it's just OK but you're going to finish it anyway because, after all, this IS your favourite food and you're not quite full yet.

The VERY FIRST mouthful thats not really yummy is your "I'm satisfied" signal.  STOP NOW!

I hope I've explained this adequately.

Regards, Donna

Great to hear that yout tide may be turning, Margaret.

Stay positive :-)

Donna