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Conference rocks::weight_control

Title: Weight Loss and Maintenance
Notice:**PLEASE** enter notes in mixed case (CAPS ARE SHOUTING)!
Moderator:ASICS::LESLIE
Created:Mon Jul 09 1990
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:933
Total number of notes:9931

57.0. "I want to lose - he wants to gain" by LEZAH::BOBBITT (Festina Lente - Hasten Slowly) Wed Jun 10 1987 12:12

    I have a problem.  My SO/roommate is underweight.  He has a high
    metabolism and tends to forget to eat (he's not neurotic - heck
    he likes a good meal as much as the next person).  But I just joined
    weight watchers and now I have to cope with trying to lose weight
    while he struggles to gain it.
    
    Anyone have any suggestions on how to make life easier?  I figure
    a good start would be to have a "his shelf" and "my shelf" in the
    fridge, and the same "his & hers" with a cupboard each for food.
     I'd appreciate any input.  We're both going to start working out
    soon, so hopefully that will tone/firm me, and build him.  I'm
    encouraging him to buy high-cal things in flavors I don't like,
    or am allergic to.  Also, I suggested he take some sweets he buys
    into work so I won't have to resist them. 
    
    thanx for the input,
    
    Jody  

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57.1Same food - Different amountsTALLIS::SLEWISWed Jun 10 1987 12:487
    When I was on Weight Watchers a few years ago, I collected many
    of their cookbooks. I made meals from those cookbooks, and always
    made enough for 4. I ate one serving, my husband ate 3. He gained
    a small amount of weight. I would definitely push cooking the same
    meals for both of you - just more for him. Also, my husband would
    eat a much bigger, and different lunch than I did. 

57.2yeah, I know exactly what you mean!ARGUS::CORWINI don't care if I AM a lemmingWed Jun 10 1987 13:1553
re .0

I've just been through what you're asking about.  I've managed to lose
35 pounds, and Bill's gained a net of 10 pounds.  (he lost about 10, then
gained 20 actually.)

Your idea of getting hi-calorie stuff in flavors you don't like is a good
idea.  We've done that.

Also, getting "real" stuff for the gainer, and "diet" stuff for the loser, like
ice cream sandwiches and the Weight Watchers version worked wonderfully
for me (same with their other desserts).

We never had his and hers cabinets.  It wasn't necessary for us, but it might
work if you both have radically different food needs.

We eat a lot of the same food, but there are also differences.  For breakfast,
Bill eats his Quaker instant oatmeal (2-3 pkgs) with raisins/dates and maybe
even extra sugar thrown in.  I eat 3/4 oz cereal (or 3/8 oz if it's hi-volume
like Rice Krispies, with 1 oz. of raisins and dates thrown in, plus my milk.
We share the water glass, but I usually hog it. :-)  When I was more
adventuresome, maybe I had WW yogurt and crackers, or cottage cheese.  No
problem with breakfast differences (Even though I used to eat the oatmeal
with him before the diet started in smaller quantities)  For lunch, we both
eat at our respective facilities.  Bill eats a lot at lunch, maybe you should
encourage your SO to do the same.  Bill ate their hot lunch (before they started
re-constructing the caf), a large fruit salad, and a sweet dessert.  On weekends
he usually eats peanut butter and jelly, which I HATE!!! and I have maybe an
omelet (carefully measured ingredients) or canned salmon, or leftovers or
whatever.  Still no real conflicts.  Dinner tends to get confusing at times.
We usually eat the same food, microwaved BBQ chicken, grilled steak, BBQ ribs,
that kind of stuff, but in very different quantities.  Or, he'll have steak
or sloppy joes or something else, and I'll have fish or veal cutlet (low cal
if prepared right, but hi cost so it makes you feel good eating it :-))  We'll
split a box of frozen veggies (no sauce), or he'll have hi-cal corn and I'll
have lo-cal green stuff (like expensive asparagus :-)).  And for dessert,
he'll have regular stuff and I'll have the diet version.  I lived on water,
and I still do.  He drinks ginger ale usually, which I'm not too crazy about
anyway, or we'll both drink Poland Springs lemon-flavored water (no cal).

Fortunately, even though Bill wanted to gain weight he wasn't into eating, and
therefore didn't make a fuss over not having mega-junkfood, etc. around the
house.  Sounds like your SO feels the same way, so you have that on your side.
Encourage him to eat what he can while he's away from you, so at least you don't
feel as deprived.

I'll add more if and when I think of more ideas.

good luck!

Jill


57.3Me too!SQM::AITELHelllllllp Mr. Wizard!Thu Jun 11 1987 00:2726
    I put the Hydrox cookies in a well sealed cookie jar, dark glass,
    and they go downstairs by the TV (which he watches and I usually
    don't).  I buy potato chips (which I don't go wild over) and
    NEVER buy Cool Ranch Doritos (which I lose control over).  The
    Cheetos go into his room, onto his desk, out of my sight, once
    they're opened.  He has his ice-cream, premium high fat vanilla;
    I have mine, calorie counter chocolate fudge nonfat icemilk.
    I make 3-4 servings of whatever's for dinner, measure out mine,
    then put the dishes on HIS side of the table out of reach.
    (except for the veggie and salad dishes).  HE eats 2-3 servings
    of noodles, I eat one.  He drinks Classic Coke; I drink all sorts
    of diet sodas.  He has the PBJ sandwiches on regular bread; I
    have Less (tm) bread with a low calorie meat.  He has Total with
    about 2 heaping spoons of added sugar; I have a measured amount
    of oatmeal.  We both drink 2% milk - I can't tolerate skim.
    I make two dishes of jello in two different colors; one regular
    and one with nutrasweet jello.  I munch on hot-air popped popcorn
    while he eats an entire box (well, half!) of Cheez-its, and I don't
    buy wheat thins because I drool just thinking about them.
    
    So, on my diet, I've lost about 35 lbs so far, and he's gained
    a little, maybe 5.  The special products and portion control
    on my part have helped a lot.
    
    --Louise

57.4BALANCED MEALSFXADM::COOPERThu Jun 11 1987 11:2122
    I have been going to a Nutrition Clinic at the Southwood Hospital
    in Norfolk, MA, for 2 months now.  A Dietian teaches the class and
    many are there to lose weight and to learn what foods are best for
    their husbands who need to watch their cholesterol and stodium intake.  
    
    I agree with .1, you should make one meal for both of you and have 
    your husband eat more than you do.  It can get rather expensive
    to buy separate foods for each of you.  But please be careful that he 
    doesn't eat the wrong foods to gain weight.  Too much cheeses, beef,
    or animal fat type of foods can cause high cholestrol.  For sweets,
    all they contain are fats and sugar.  It's ok to have sweet now and then.
    But even though sugar is a natural product, it is high in calories and
    does not have any nutrients.
    
    Did you husband's doctor say that he was under weight?  If so, did
    he give him a regular diet to follow?  Maybe your husband needs
    to relax a little more, be a little less active? 
    
    Good Luck,
    
    Nancy