I'm finding CICO to be...

jnananamaste

Empowering

I've always heard that I'd feel so great if I was in control of my relationship with food. For some reason, that always brought visions of white knuckling it through cravings and going to bed hungry but "victorious" every night lol.

Now I'm feeling in control because I am eating what I want, in appropriate amounts for my body and goals, I'm not constantly thinking about "cheating" or "taking a break" & I feel like maintanence could be possible when I get to that point (with commitment).

I'm really grateful to everyone in the MFP community who are so consistent with the CICO advice/POV.

Alyssa_Is_LosingIt

It is a great feeling isn't it?

I agree, it is so empowering to get to that point. When you have the knowledge to laugh at Dr. Oz, roll your eyes at the blood-type diet, and firmly tell those pesky MLM-peddlers "NO, go away!"

Walking right past the diet pill section at the drugstore.

Staying out of the diet books section at the bookstore.

Not putting the frozen pizza back in the freezer out of guilt and shame before checking out.

It's so nice to have all of the knowledge that you need to finally change your life and your body for the better and turn your nose up at the industry that tried to dupe you before you knew.

Rock on, girl! Eat all the things! (In moderation, of course... )

StaciMarie1974

Similar for me. It was years ago, I think watching a show like the 600 pound life where I first heard the detail that 3500 calories = 1 pound. It was like an aha! moment, where something vague and mysterious changed into something factual, logical and scientific.

TR0berts

Knowledge = Power

snowflake954

Exactly the way I felt when I started 4 yrs ago. It was an enlightening moment.

RandiNoelle

Love this! Once it clicks, it's a life-changing moment!

success313

I have to say, it has been nice to hear everyone emphasize that nothing is off limits. Even when we try our best to drown out the outside "noise" (unsolicited, incorrect advice), it can be difficult not to start questioning if you are doing something wrong. Thanks to MFP, I decided to break away from the all-or-nothing mentality and rigid timelines. If we are truly in this for life, then we have to take the good and the bad.

price0909

What is CICO?

deannalfisher

CICO - calories in, calories out...to lose weight you need to consume less calories than you burn

crzycatlady1

Love posts like this! Sounds like you're definitely on the right track OP

xbowhunter

I was on the treadmill @ the Gym yesterday. The new "South Beach Diet" info-mercial was on & I can see how that would dupe a lot of people in to buying in to it. I love the models they show on South Beach with wash board abs & yep that can be you in just 60 days...lol

annaskiski

I love how they're advertising the South Beach diet as 'new'

amusedmonkey

Empowering is the right word. Saying no to cookie because I don't want to have it (would rather have a larger lunch for example) is much more satisfying than saying no to a cookie because I'm not allowed. Saying yes is equally grand, because I'm choosing to have it fully aware of the caloric cost, not because I've lost control and broke the diet rules.

NoNameJustMe

I've never understood the all or nothing way of thinking i.e. you have to eat this and you can't have that. CICO works. Portion control works. If I'd followed a restrictive diet I never would have accomplished any of my goals.