I want to lose weight in a non-obsessive way for once

joewalkerfan

I joined mfp quite a while ago to help me track my calorie intake and exercise to lose weight, and used it for a good couple of months, but then unfortunately I fell off the wagon. I've gained like 15lbs since then, probably even more since I've also lost some muscle mass. Anyways, I recently decided to get healthy again after a very unhealthy year, and thought I should start using my account here again!
I hope I'll stay motivated this time and change my lifestyle permanently. Part of the reason why I've failed before, I think is because I haven't had a healthy approach, I've simply been too obsessive and it's been impossible to stick to for more than a few weeks. So I want to stop jojodieting and just find a happy medium!

meeper123

Most people fail because they do to much to soon, yoyo diet, or set unrealistic goals. Its much better to add healthy food in than stress about taking things out make small changes they add up

retiree2006

Half the battle is the mindset. If you realize it takes time and you'll bounce around with your weight at times, yet if you're consistent (most of the time) you'll eventually reach your goal. Obsessing usually makes you panic at "normal" challenges and end up with a defeatist attitude. Better to relax and realize it takes time.

SanteMulberry

Well, you've started in the right direction by concentrating on building your health. I had many years of yo-yo dieting (and some extremely unhealthy crash diets) that did terrible things to my body. Now I am rebuilding my health. I am sending you a friend request so that you can see what I eat. You will need to do some form of cardio a couple of times a week and for sure weight-lifting as it will do amazing things to keep you from yo-yoing. My husband told me that I should lift weights (he's done it since he was a teenager and can still fit into clothes that he wore in high school). He says that he would be fat if he didn't lift. You CAN lose weight and build your health at the same time!

Runhard13

You need to change how you think and do things ...all about the lifestyle ..if you don't do that..changing how you look in a mirror never sticks

Fairlieboy

Diets fail. 60 studies. 60,000 people wind up heavier 2 years after they stop dieting. Because diets require commitment and mind focus, and none of us have that day in day out. (There are a few exceptions, but they are rare). So eating has to change to healthy eating and lifestyle. So when does healthy eating become a lifestyle?
Exercise is also an ineffective way to take off weight. Move more, you will eat more! You get hungrier! Exercise is good for your health, so do it for health and lifestyle, but not weight loss.
It is pretty clear right now that added fructose in our food has 2 impacts. It does nothing for hunger. It gives you chronic kidney disease. Americans eat 15% of their calories from ADDED SUGAR. If you are average, and if all you did was cut out added sugar, and ate food without sugar, your appetite will change. You eat less, because your appetite comes back to "normal". Sugar is everywhere in almost everything that has a food label; in 12 months without "dieting" you would have very slowly lost weight, and have a healthier lifestyle. Aim for less than 3% added sugar. (3 gms per 100gm).
MFP is really good as it helps you become educated about what is good food, and food which is dangerous for long term health.

SanteMulberry

Diets fail. 60 studies. 60,000 people wind up heavier 2 years after they stop dieting. Because diets require commitment and mind focus, and none of us have that day in day out. (There are a few exceptions, but they are rare). So eating has to change to healthy eating and lifestyle. So when does healthy eating become a lifestyle?
Exercise is also an ineffective way to take off weight. Move more, you will eat more! You get hungrier! Exercise is good for your health, so do it for health and lifestyle, but not weight loss.
It is pretty clear right now that added fructose in our food has 2 impacts. It does nothing for hunger. It gives you chronic kidney disease. Americans eat 15% of their calories from ADDED SUGAR. If you are average, and if all you did was cut out added sugar, and ate food without sugar, your appetite will change. You eat less, because your appetite comes back to "normal". Sugar is everywhere in almost everything that has a food label; in 12 months without "dieting" you would have very slowly lost weight, and have a healthier lifestyle. Aim for less than 3% added sugar. (3 gms per 100gm).
MFP is really good as it helps you become educated about what is good food, and food which is dangerous for long term health.

^^^THIS^^^ I have been on this health journey for three years and my weight has slowly declined during that time (I lose about a half-pound per week). I don't actually want to lose any faster than that as I start feeling tired and dragged out. In those three years, I have not gained an ounce---certainly a first for me, as before I would have been unable to avoid regain. I have changed my way of eating. Exercise has been something new for me (even though I was pretty athletic in high school and college--a swimmer) and it is just part of the healthier lifestyle that will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. Find something that you love (for me it is swimming, so I could never live anywhere that was far from a public pool now that I am back into it.)

joewalkerfan

Yes, I agree with you 100%. Limiting my sugar intake is the first thing I've done now, and even if I for some reason wind up not losing weight, at least the risk of getting diabetes and chronic heart disease as you mentioned, will be diminished, so it's a win-win!

bonelessskinless

just stay under calories everyday and you'll be cool. it's really easy to log everything you eat in the long run.

joewalkerfan

Well, you've started in the right direction by concentrating on building your health. I had many years of yo-yo dieting (and some extremely unhealthy crash diets) that did terrible things to my body. Now I am rebuilding my health. I am sending you a friend request so that you can see what I eat. You will need to do some form of cardio a couple of times a week and for sure weight-lifting as it will do amazing things to keep you from yo-yoing. My husband told me that I should lift weights (he's done it since he was a teenager and can still fit into clothes that he wore in high school). He says that he would be fat if he didn't lift. You CAN lose weight and build your health at the same time!

I want to work out for the health benefits rather than to erase calories (and often end up netto-ing too low as a result) this time, and I've heard many good things about weight lifting. I guess it's really effective in the long run and I shouldn't neglect strength training (nor cardio). Right now all I do as far as exercise is concerned is jogging. Thanks for the friend request!

joewalkerfan

Diets fail. 60 studies. 60,000 people wind up heavier 2 years after they stop dieting. Because diets require commitment and mind focus, and none of us have that day in day out. (There are a few exceptions, but they are rare). So eating has to change to healthy eating and lifestyle. So when does healthy eating become a lifestyle?
Exercise is also an ineffective way to take off weight. Move more, you will eat more! You get hungrier! Exercise is good for your health, so do it for health and lifestyle, but not weight loss.
It is pretty clear right now that added fructose in our food has 2 impacts. It does nothing for hunger. It gives you chronic kidney disease. Americans eat 15% of their calories from ADDED SUGAR. If you are average, and if all you did was cut out added sugar, and ate food without sugar, your appetite will change. You eat less, because your appetite comes back to "normal". Sugar is everywhere in almost everything that has a food label; in 12 months without "dieting" you would have very slowly lost weight, and have a healthier lifestyle. Aim for less than 3% added sugar. (3 gms per 100gm).
MFP is really good as it helps you become educated about what is good food, and food which is dangerous for long term health.

^^^THIS^^^ I have been on this health journey for three years and my weight has slowly declined during that time (I lose about a half-pound per week). I don't actually want to lose any faster than that as I start feeling tired and dragged out. In those three years, I have not gained an ounce---certainly a first for me, as before I would have been unable to avoid regain. I have changed my way of eating. Exercise has been something new for me (even though I was pretty athletic in high school and college--a swimmer) and it is just part of the healthier lifestyle that will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. Find something that you love (for me it is swimming, so I could never live anywhere that was far from a public pool now that I am back into it.)

Congrats! That's where I want to be, like focusing on lifestyle changes rather than obsessing over losing weight as fast as possible. I haven't really found an activity I love yet, but I think running and walking are sort of OK-ish, since I live in a pretty rural area.

SanteMulberry

Diets fail. 60 studies. 60,000 people wind up heavier 2 years after they stop dieting. Because diets require commitment and mind focus, and none of us have that day in day out. (There are a few exceptions, but they are rare). So eating has to change to healthy eating and lifestyle. So when does healthy eating become a lifestyle?
Exercise is also an ineffective way to take off weight. Move more, you will eat more! You get hungrier! Exercise is good for your health, so do it for health and lifestyle, but not weight loss.
It is pretty clear right now that added fructose in our food has 2 impacts. It does nothing for hunger. It gives you chronic kidney disease. Americans eat 15% of their calories from ADDED SUGAR. If you are average, and if all you did was cut out added sugar, and ate food without sugar, your appetite will change. You eat less, because your appetite comes back to "normal". Sugar is everywhere in almost everything that has a food label; in 12 months without "dieting" you would have very slowly lost weight, and have a healthier lifestyle. Aim for less than 3% added sugar. (3 gms per 100gm).
MFP is really good as it helps you become educated about what is good food, and food which is dangerous for long term health.

^^^THIS^^^ I have been on this health journey for three years and my weight has slowly declined during that time (I lose about a half-pound per week). I don't actually want to lose any faster than that as I start feeling tired and dragged out. In those three years, I have not gained an ounce---certainly a first for me, as before I would have been unable to avoid regain. I have changed my way of eating. Exercise has been something new for me (even though I was pretty athletic in high school and college--a swimmer) and it is just part of the healthier lifestyle that will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. Find something that you love (for me it is swimming, so I could never live anywhere that was far from a public pool now that I am back into it.)

Congrats! That's where I want to be, like focusing on lifestyle changes rather than obsessing over losing weight as fast as possible. I haven't really found an activity I love yet, but I think running and walking are sort of OK-ish, since I live in a pretty rural area.

You've got it. And if you try the weight lifting, you will love it. It does amazing things to preserve/build lean body mass and sculpt away body fat. You can start small--free weights are cheap (just buy one dumbbell if that is all you can afford. There is a book that they recommend here that is GREAT. It is called "The New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women" and it will tell you what you need to know. Good luck!

joewalkerfan

Diets fail. 60 studies. 60,000 people wind up heavier 2 years after they stop dieting. Because diets require commitment and mind focus, and none of us have that day in day out. (There are a few exceptions, but they are rare). So eating has to change to healthy eating and lifestyle. So when does healthy eating become a lifestyle?
Exercise is also an ineffective way to take off weight. Move more, you will eat more! You get hungrier! Exercise is good for your health, so do it for health and lifestyle, but not weight loss.
It is pretty clear right now that added fructose in our food has 2 impacts. It does nothing for hunger. It gives you chronic kidney disease. Americans eat 15% of their calories from ADDED SUGAR. If you are average, and if all you did was cut out added sugar, and ate food without sugar, your appetite will change. You eat less, because your appetite comes back to "normal". Sugar is everywhere in almost everything that has a food label; in 12 months without "dieting" you would have very slowly lost weight, and have a healthier lifestyle. Aim for less than 3% added sugar. (3 gms per 100gm).
MFP is really good as it helps you become educated about what is good food, and food which is dangerous for long term health.

^^^THIS^^^ I have been on this health journey for three years and my weight has slowly declined during that time (I lose about a half-pound per week). I don't actually want to lose any faster than that as I start feeling tired and dragged out. In those three years, I have not gained an ounce---certainly a first for me, as before I would have been unable to avoid regain. I have changed my way of eating. Exercise has been something new for me (even though I was pretty athletic in high school and college--a swimmer) and it is just part of the healthier lifestyle that will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. Find something that you love (for me it is swimming, so I could never live anywhere that was far from a public pool now that I am back into it.)

Congrats! That's where I want to be, like focusing on lifestyle changes rather than obsessing over losing weight as fast as possible. I haven't really found an activity I love yet, but I think running and walking are sort of OK-ish, since I live in a pretty rural area.

You've got it. And if you try the weight lifting, you will love it. It does amazing things to preserve/build lean body mass and sculpt away body fat. You can start small--free weights are cheap (just buy one dumbbell if that is all you can afford. There is a book that they recommend here that is GREAT. It is called "The New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women" and it will tell you what you need to know. Good luck!

Thank you! I'll check it out.