Want the food more than the weight loss?
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omsmom12
Posts: 31 Member
I want to get healthy. I'm overweight. I've got high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I'm not that happy with my appearance. But... I'm not that UNhappy with my appearance either. My husband adores me. I don't care that much about what other people think of my appearance anyway these days. In the past, vanity was always a strong motivation. But I've lost that. I just want to do this to be healthy but, when presented with a bowl of ice cream or cookies, I seem to think that my healthy lifestyle can wait one more day. And, as they say, tomorrow never comes. How did anyone with a similar struggle get past this?
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Replies
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You just have to decide which you want more. The big bowl of ice cream and cookies every day or smaller portions (or the big bowl less often) and weight loss. It's not something someone else can do for you. It's a decision you have to make.3
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Do you have kids?1
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Your high BP and high cholesterol has not waited for you to finish the ice cream. You are going to feel worse not better the longer you wait.Why don't you set up your stats in mfp and start weighing and logging everything. Don't make changes, just log. Do that for 2 weeks then decide where you might want to start making small changes. You don't have to change everything at once and you don't have to skip ice cream.8
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For me, it was realizing that I could have ice cream and cookies, sometimes, if I wanted. A healthy lifestyle doesn't have to exclude those things. Once I realized that, it got much easier.9
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You can have treats and still lose weight. I eat about a quarter of my calories as snacks - it stops me binging. I have crackers, jam, blue cheese, mini bags of jellybeans, salted sunflower seeds, crisps, single frozen choc chip cookies, smoked nuts, apricots, flavored rice cakes. Sometimes i go for a walk so i have the calories for an extra snack! I make sure I supplement with a multi vitamin. I intend to review once I hit goal weight but this strategy will get me there!6
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I eat a pretty healthy diet...I also have ice cream from time to time...same with cookies. These things do not make up the bulk of my diet and in the context of my diet on the whole, they're pretty immaterial.
I'm having a Kit-Kat right now...I don't think it's going to undo the nutrition my veggie omelette from this morning or my grilled chicken salad I had for lunch.6 -
Do it now whilst you can. If you have high cholesterol and blood pressure then you're at risk of illness later in life. And whilst you may not be massively overweight now, there may be a day when you wake up and you realise you have become truly overweight and you'll find things like walking to the shops or a simple bike ride really difficult (I've seen it happen, it's horrible seeing the effect it has).
I think it's great that your husband adores you and that you're comfy in your body but health is about so much more than aesthetics. In my opinion I'd say carry on enjoying those treats (life's too short not to!) and maybe find activities you and your husband can do together like walks or bike riding or whatever you think you'd both enjoy. Being active doesn't mean hitting the gym, just moving more. I reckon if you get a bit more exercise in the you're in a great position to find that balance between enjoying the things you love and looking after yourself at the same time. And those endorphins are real! The buzz is amazing6 -
Your topic instantly related to me. I really want to lose the weight but somehow, in that moment, (always at night), it is as though a different voice says, you look fine! Even if you don't lose, you are still fine you besides you eat healthy 90% of the time! And.... I overindulge or eat off my plan. Then feel bad, then the whole thing starts again the next day. Maybe you are on here because you are a happy person overall but like me, just want the roller coaster to stop. Happy, satisfied, eat well, cheat-- insert self happiness excuse here--- and repeat. Doh!!5
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A lot of us are here more to get healthy than to get a cute figure. I agree with log a couple of weeks faithfully without any changes to what you eat. Then sit down and see what foods are likely affecting your blood pressure and cholesterol the most, see what changes you can make. I am also a big believer in crowding out the foods that aren't as good for your situation with foods you like that are good. Beets are good for blood pressure. Do you like them? Add them once in a while, or add them to a smoothie. And just keep on. Good luck!3
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I can relate. Vanity has never motivated me very much, and I have never had any health problems related to my weight, so I've never felt any real sense of urgency to lose weight or get fit. However, as my parents and their siblings and cousins have aged, I have noticed a vast difference in how mobile, active, healthy, and youthful/old they seem, even though they are all around the same age (they are now mostly in their 60s). It hit me that the huge differences in their health and well-being today are just the result of years (decades) of small, cumulative decisions. The big things are just the sum of all the little things. Recently, I've been trying to remind myself that the little decisions I make every day are important -- those are the only decisions we make, really. So, when I am considering whether to work out, or what to eat, I literally say to myself (not out loud
) "This is urgent." Surprisingly enough, just telling myself to treat the day-to-day decisions with urgency has been working out better for me than any of my previous mental approaches to weight loss. 9 -
I want to get healthy. I'm overweight. I've got high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I'm not that happy with my appearance. But... I'm not that UNhappy with my appearance either. My husband adores me. I don't care that much about what other people think of my appearance anyway these days. In the past, vanity was always a strong motivation. But I've lost that. I just want to do this to be healthy but, when presented with a bowl of ice cream or cookies, I seem to think that my healthy lifestyle can wait one more day. And, as they say, tomorrow never comes. How did anyone with a similar struggle get past this?
Normally a health scare focuses the mind. In my opinion, don't be a statistic and take responsibility for your health but ultimately its your call. Whatever your approach best of luck. Oh for reference I was one of those that had a health scare before I got my *kitten* together. Enjoy your ice cream and good luck.3 -
This actually made me think. Why have I set out for weightloss in the past? I have never felt pretty, so vanity wasn't the motivation. I have had health scares, but never enough to set forth a change. Being overweight was physically uncomfortable, but eating whatever in whatever amounts, could offset a lot of that discomfort. Mobility was impaired, but I didn't need much mobility for sitting on the couch and occasional grocery (junk food) hauls. I did it because I felt that it was expected of me. I also dreaded losing weight because I assumed it automatically implied deprivation. Losing weight was easy enough, because I just had to do it for a few months, maybe a year. Regaining was very easy, I felt like I didn't have to do anything! Maintaining weight has been the real challenge. Three years of maintenance has taught me some things. It wasn't until I realized this, that I could stay this way:Need2Exerc1se wrote: »You just have to decide which you want more. The big bowl of ice cream and cookies every day or smaller portions (or the big bowl less often) and weight loss. It's not something someone else can do for you. It's a decision you have to make.For me, it was realizing that I could have ice cream and cookies, sometimes, if I wanted. A healthy lifestyle doesn't have to exclude those things. Once I realized that, it got much easier.
I really can't say it better.cwolfman13 wrote: »I eat a pretty healthy diet...I also have ice cream from time to time...same with cookies. These things do not make up the bulk of my diet and in the context of my diet on the whole, they're pretty immaterial.
I'm having a Kit-Kat right now...I don't think it's going to undo the nutrition my veggie omelette from this morning or my grilled chicken salad I had for lunch.5 -
I've been at goal 11 years. Until about 2 months ago, I ate ice cream almost every day. I think I finally got tired of it. I've had my go at nearly every modified frozen treat. Last fave was Breyers No Sugar added.
On the other hand, I rarely touch a cookie. Hard to fit in. And to me they're like potato chips, no such thing as just 1.
And how do these things get presented where you live? I almost always have to present them to myself.3 -
Do it for your health. I'd say high blood pressure and high cholestrol are BIG reasons to make a change.
And like everyone has said, treats in moderation are still allowed. Losing weight isn't a punishment or a "all in" kinda thing. That is what I wish more people would realize. I still drink alcohol, eat cake/cookies, and all the other things I like but only once in a while. And I leave room for the calories. Or I plan for it at the weekend by eating less on the weekdays.2 -
Thank you all for your insightful advice. I appreciate you taking the time. I had a call from a health coach today and we'll talk again in four weeks. I think the accountability, along with your good advice, will help a lot. Thanks again!3
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Look to halo top for your big bowl of ice cream then you can have both!1
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