reality check

Trish1c

When I stared this on July 1 my ultimate goal was a beach body by my big birthday next March. I was secretly hoping to be under 150 lbs by the time we go to California in 2 weeks. So far in 3+ weeks I have lost 3 pounds.

I have tried to adopt "lifestyle" changes . . . I have bad days. I have had a few alcoholic drinks along the way but overall the calories have been down, nutrition has been vastly improved, and I'm exercising. All good things but the reality I have to accept is that it's unlikely I will weigh 149 when I step on that plane in two weeks. It's also probable that I will come back from that party a few pounds heavier so I have to remember to move / exercise .

I saw a commercial this morning for some fad diet that promised 5-7.5 pounds lost in the 1st week. Part of me was like "that's what I need" even though intellectually I know that is not sustainable. Do those ads do more harm then good?

How do you all deal with the conflicting media messages?

berolcolour

I started two years ago with the goal of the "perfect" 140lb body (note: I have no idea what my body will look like at 140lbs) anyway, here we are with 4 weeks to go to my big birthday deadline and sure enough I'm not going to be 140lb.

BUT! I'm getting there. The body I have now is better than the body I had before. Sure I'm going to go on holiday and have a hell of a time and a few drinks and a few cakes and come back and work really hard. You can do this too. If you work your *kitten* off for two weeks and lose 4lb you'll be happier going on holiday I promise. When you get back, just get back on it.

The media lies. You know it. You'll lose it that weight too quick and it will probably still require a load of effort. If like me you want to shift fat and not just weight - I think fat is just too stubborn for any of those fad diets or magic pills.

(Sorry that was long!)

grannynot

You are looking at this all wrong, IMO? 3 lbs in 3 weeks is a good, sensible weigh loss. 5 to 7 lbs in one week is just water, unless you do nothing but exercise. So you're headed to California, the "land of the lean" where healthy food is everywhere - use this opportunity to get MORE exercise and eat all sorts of fresh fruits and veggies. Stay away from drinking your calories as much as possible (don't forget that alcohol probably "dissolves your resolve", too) - and see if you don't come home a few pounds LIGHTER??

Trish1c

grannynot -- I love your optimism & your faith. I have never struggled much with food. I've made bad nutrition choices & recently learned a lot about portion size but food is not my issue. I have ALWAYS had a problem drinking my calories whether it's alcohol. soda or even fruit juice. In past years on this California trip there has been a lot of sitting around. There was some walking. I'm hoping to get in more this time & maybe even manage to go swimming; problem is nobody else ever wants to do much more then sit & drink.

TR0berts

Trish1c wrote: »

I saw a commercial this morning for some fad diet that promised 5-7.5 pounds lost in the 1st week. Part of me was like "that's what I need" even though intellectually I know that is not sustainable. Do those ads do more harm then good?

I would bet a month's salary that that fad diet is a low-carb diet and the 5-7.5 lb is almost all water weight.

As far as doing more harm than good? Indirectly, maybe. As with nearly all of the diet and fitness industry, there isn't much money to be made by making things effective, simple, and sustainable. I mean - if they teach you how to lose weight, get in shape, and stay that way - how can they get more money from you later?

caroldavison332

Those diets are TV are designed to make you lean in the pockets.