How to make a diet last?
x1v16
Posts: 66
I found out a month ago that I have moderate sleep apnea, with all the medical consequences that brings, and it is the first time my weight has had a glaring negative impact on my health. I'm only 29 so that's not surprising that high blood pressure hasn't become a problem yet.
The thought of buying a CPAP machine for 1500 dollars(or 400-500 used) just because I can't control my eating habits annoys me as I don't have a lot of money and try not to waste money. I imagine that a cpap machine would be the first of many things I'd have to buy or pay for because of health issues. If I lost 50 pounds there is a real possibility i wouldn't need a CPAP machine.
I've been reading online that being 80-100 pounds overweight shortens lifespan by 3-15 years and this annoys me because I'm one of those people that believes in no afterlife, only the life we have here on earth. I wish that the inevitability of an early death before it's necessary would drive me to make a lifelong change to my eating habits, but I wonder if in a month or two I'll give up on my diet and just buy the damn CPAP machine and deal with the negative consequences in the decades to come for staying overweight.
I wish that failure was not an option, that I could find a way to make staying overweight less comfortable and attractive than losing 50 pounds. What do you folks think? How can you make a change lasting?
The thought of buying a CPAP machine for 1500 dollars(or 400-500 used) just because I can't control my eating habits annoys me as I don't have a lot of money and try not to waste money. I imagine that a cpap machine would be the first of many things I'd have to buy or pay for because of health issues. If I lost 50 pounds there is a real possibility i wouldn't need a CPAP machine.
I've been reading online that being 80-100 pounds overweight shortens lifespan by 3-15 years and this annoys me because I'm one of those people that believes in no afterlife, only the life we have here on earth. I wish that the inevitability of an early death before it's necessary would drive me to make a lifelong change to my eating habits, but I wonder if in a month or two I'll give up on my diet and just buy the damn CPAP machine and deal with the negative consequences in the decades to come for staying overweight.
I wish that failure was not an option, that I could find a way to make staying overweight less comfortable and attractive than losing 50 pounds. What do you folks think? How can you make a change lasting?
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Replies
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Are you nuts? Failure is NOT an option! So you would rather PAY for the privilege of an earlier death than make changes now? That machine is a crutch that will lead you to an early grave. It's putting a finger in the dike... Next it will be high BP meds, then high Cholesterol meds, then maybe diabetes meds - all so you can continue to lead the same lifestyle because "what if I'm not motivated to keep losing weight after a month or two?" Really?? Staring now, this is day one to a new and healthier life - come on, snap out of it! What are you waiting for? Just keep making better choices, do a little exercise, take baby steps towards a longer life. Why would you NOT do this? You got an early wake-up call, so get up & start living your life! No one is going to be there holding your hand - you have to want to do this for yourself, the choice is yours...0
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You don't have to diet. Make small changes to your food and go for a walk most days. Be sure to weigh/measure and log your food ALL the time! This makes me sad because my son uses a CPAP machine.. when he can be bothered and he's only 25. The doctor isn't sure if him losing the weight will help but I wish he'd give it a try! Husband is next on the list to buy one I think.
Please stay around on here. It will rub off on you trust me and every time that you feel you failed it's ok, pick yourself back up again and head in the right direction.
I'm sending you a friends request. Get lots of friends on here especially people who seem to know what they are doing. Never give up.0 -
Diets dont last. Making life-style changes...do. You have to be realistic with yourself when it comes to your eating plan and exercise.0
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Diets dont last. Making life-style changes...do.
This is it.
MFP has made me realize just how poor my choices were in the past and how much better I need to be, going forward. On the way home today, I passed a Taco Bell and thought, "Hmmm... what if?" Looked up a regular crunchy taco and found it to be 170 calories. I would have scarfed down four or five of those without a thought in the past. Not today. 170 calories is too much to give up when I could allot that portion for much better food.0 -
She's right you have to get a grip, stop feeling sorry for yourself and get your A in to G. take a look at what your family would think how would they feel if you stopped living, Ive seen alot of docos about people that have passed on because they dont want to help themselves, you are the only one who can do this, no one else so now is the time to start NO EXCUSES have you watched the biggest loser??? NO EXCUSES0
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You're in the right place to get the help you need. If you have just started you'll be amazed when you log your food by how much extra you are taking in and in what nutrients - generally fat, sugar and carbs. Don't set your deficit unrealistically high to start with - maybe a pound a week for the first week or two whilst you get used to less food and then go for it. You won't regret it!0
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Diets dont last. Making life-style changes...do.
This is it.
MFP has made me realize just how poor my choices were in the past and how much better I need to be, going forward. On the way home today, I passed a Taco Bell and thought, "Hmmm... what if?" Looked up a regular crunchy taco and found it to be 170 calories. I would have scarfed down four or five of those without a thought in the past. Not today. 170 calories is too much to give up when I could allot that portion for much better food.
But once a month as a treat isn't a problem. As a larger man he may well get enough calories with exercise to earn this as a treat. I'd go mad if I never let myself have things I used to love.0 -
I started losing weight once I stopped thinking about "going on a diet". I don't "diet" I make good choices. I log all of my food and weigh it. I let myself have a few things like tortilla chips or whatever but I ALWAYS weigh them. If you can't do really strenuous exercises right now, then walk, and the next day walk a little further. I don't beat myself up when I have an off day, because that's when I want to quit and eat a sleeve of oreos. I don't even think of days I go over as "cheat days" really, just days where I had more calories than I needed and that I need to make up for it on another day. Once I wrapped my head around the fact that I was going to have to make lifestyle changes and not "go on a diet" the rest just sort of started falling into place.0
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Diets dont last. Making life-style changes...do.
This, do it sensibly, educate yourself, so you understand the 'whys' behind healthier choices, and the also the less healthy. You don't always have to go for the better version, but be aware of exactly what you're deciding. Health problems make things difficult, but as someone who has battled many of my own for my entire life; dwelling on things that are, and will be, regardless of how we 'feel' about it is a waste of time. You just have to buck up, and fight for life and health; the best motivation there is. I do so when I am well, and I do so during the weeks and months I am restricted to my bed.0 -
I wish that failure was not an option, that I could find a way to make staying overweight less comfortable and attractive than losing 50 pounds. What do you folks think? How can you make a change lasting?
from your post you dont sound too comfortable....
if you tell yourself failure is not an option, then its not an option... simple as that.0 -
Well done on trying to face up to the prospects. At the start of making even small changes everything will feel daunting. Believe me, simply breathing better both night and day will help you in ways beyond what you can expect from this low point, where you are now. I had similar problems a few of years ago and believe me freeing up the airways has vastly beneficial effects, living gets easier. I am down something like 6 stone.
It takes a long time to develop problems and it will take time to resolve them properly. Even if you are only thinking about it today you have started getting well again. Read all you can about what the different food groups do in the body, and portion size, how they contribute to making a health person and while you are doing this holding a cup of tea or coffee ask yourself, do I "need" this extra biscuit? Then take yourself out for a breath of fresh air. When you get far enough to Look back you will know it was worth the change of heart.
None of this has to be expensive. The machine you mentioned is expensive, how about you try to save that kind of money for a really good holiday or other treat. Most of what you want to achieve can be done by portion size, which is more economical. At any age life is what you make it. Make it good. All the very best from a very much older person.0 -
My way: stop thinking and whining about it and just go for it. :-)0
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Voice of experience here!!! I have sleep apnoea and HAVE to use a CPAP machine. Get the machine. Sleeping properly will mean that you have more energy to exercise. Not treating this condition can be dangerous, especially if you are a driver. there are also a lot of complications that can arise.
I don't know about the US but, in the UK, Sleep Apnoea, if diagnosed, has to be reported to the DVLA (Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority) by law. You can then lose your license if it is not confirmed by a hospital that your sleep apnoea is under control (ie: with a CPAP machine).
However, you do NOT want to have to use a CPAP machine for the rest of your life. Do you have any idea what those machines are like? It's hell trying to sleep in one of those masks! I hate it!!!
Look on the bright side. The CPAP machine (or wanting to be rid of it) will definitely give you an incentive to lose weight. It certainly worked that way with me!!!
Get the CPAP (you can always sell it on later but for health reasons it is necessary) and then work hard on losing that weight.
Good luck and, if I can help at all, send me a PM.0 -
I am 65 You are 24. Noone on the NcDougall programme needs a cpap MACHINE AND YOU DO NOT EITHER. Now get yourself together and look up Dr McDougall MD. You have a long way to go in life and might as well spend it healthy and trim. You will read and find out all about the truth and believe me you need to in the USA.
Noone is going to help you but people like this. The more you understand about what you are putting into your body - the more you will improve yourself. It is all about the food. By the way do not be afraid to call yourself by your real name - it is so much more real to people
elsdon0 -
X1v16,
Set up a diary and log what you eat everyday. Every bite. No matter how many calories it is, don't quit logging. That one habit keeps many of us on track for the long haul. I'm not sure why. Maybe because it is a daily reality check. Maybe because it is a daily chance to start over. Maybe because it takes away negative self judging and replaces it w simple facts. Anyway, research shows that using a food diary is one key to sustaining healthy eating for the long term.
Good luck! Let us know how it goes.0 -
I got on and off the bandwagon over the past 4 years.
Someone called me fat, realisation, i didnt know.
So it cut meals in half, cut out majority bad food and lost 17 kilos in 6 months.
I walked 60 mins 4 -5 times a week and that was it. Got down to losing 21 kilos. I was stuck so i stopped, thought it would be easier to lose again if i had it all back. I didn't mean it but my mind rolled with it.
If i had stuck with it I would be my goal weight of what ever i aimed at 4 years ago lol.
New motivation, is that of my old motivation, it just doesnt appeal to me some days....
You have to figure out what works for you and talk yourself into it every day!
FOR EXAMPLE, MY DAILY STRUGGLE:
I am tired! NO YOUR NOT UR LAZY
I am sore! AND YOU LOVE THE THE BURN, GET AND DO IT!
They think they are better then me! THATS WHY U PRESS PLAY! PROVE THEM WRONG!
They are getting results! THEY ARE COMMITTED! GET AND DO IT!
Since losing the 21 kilos i stopped taking my cholesterol tablets, stopped getting acid and heart burn and stopped having nanna naps. Since i gained most of it back, dr hasnt checked my cholesterol, ive been getting acid and i was tired at 3pm
Losing weight= healthier!
The journey is up to you!0 -
....I'm one of those people that believes in no afterlife, only the life we have here on earth. I wish that the inevitability of an early death before its necessary would drive me to make a lifelong change to my eating habits....I'm only 29 ...."
WOAH!!! ! If I believed this was the only life we have to live, only the here and now, I would be SCRAMBLING to change my eating habits, get fit, enjoy life to the utmost fullest, because, after all, it's all there is and ever will be!!!
All you have to do is, indeed, as everyone is saying, make SMALL changes. Cut out ONE food item that's truly bad, say, white foods: white bread, rice, potatoes, etc. Exchange those foods for healthy choices: whole grain bread, brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, etc. Get used to those foods. I did. Then, over the next few MONTHS not days, take a little time to get used to it, cut out bad sweets, replace them with really REALLY nice fruit. Then allow yourself to get used to THAT. Then, cut bad snacks. this is hardest for many. i created healthy snacks for myself that I can live with. Next thing you know, you've made a HUGE change, and you will very likely lose weight with out even trying to just by your food choice changes.0 -
Noone on the NcDougall programme needs a cpap MACHINE AND YOU DO NOT EITHER. Now get yourself together and look up Dr McDougall MD. ... You will read and find out all about the truth and believe me you need to in the USA.
Noone is going to help you but people like this. ... By the way do not be afraid to call yourself by your real name - it is so much more real to people
elsdon
This guy's plain dangerous - DO NOT IGNORE A MEDICAL CONDITION - GET IT TREATED!
I looked up Dr McDougall. It looks like another jump-on-the-diet-bandwagon-and-hope-to-get-rich-quick fad to me. Although I do agree with checking out what you are putting in your body - but you can do it a lot cheaper!You have a long way to go in life and might as well spend it healthy and trim. ...
The more you understand about what you are putting into your body - the more you will improve yourself. It is all about the food.
elsdon
He does get some things right though.
Use MFP to log what you are eating - everything. As you see what you are eating, you'll also see the patterns to your eating and be able to cut some things out, work around issues, etc. Just start looking at it - no need to think of it as a diet.
Hope it all works out for you.0 -
You can easily lose 50 pounds or more, if you want to! These forums are full of people who have successfully done so! There are as many programs, plans, ways to lose weight and get healthier as there are people here!
There is tons of really great information here and within a few days, you can easily decide on a program you want to follow.
Find friends who can encourage you, help you learn about a successful new lifestyle and you can enjoy talking to!
You can do this!!!0 -
If you think you're going to fail you will. Take one day at a time and just do it. You can talk about it until the cows come home but the only thing that matters is action. Lose weight or die early your choice I'm afraid.0
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I don't know about the US but, in the UK, Sleep Apnoea, if diagnosed, has to be reported to the DVLA (Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority) by law. You can then lose your license if it is not confirmed by a hospital that your sleep apnoea is under control (ie: with a CPAP machine).
Only if you have symptoms that affect your ability to drive safely. A subjective point i realise, but there you go.
Anyway to the OP, hey buddy
, January this year i was at my heaviest and that coupled with my suspected sleep apnoea meant i could sleep 7-8hours but i actually only got a couple a night. By the end of the second week i was dead on my feet, i had stopped driving, i couldn't think straight...it sucked. This was my breaking point, the kick in the pants where i decided something had to change. 20lbs lighter and sleep was fine again but i was going to see how far i could go. Down 60 odd pounds and an end in sight and i sleep really really well, my blood presure which was 180/99 is now 136/81 and i'm getting to the stage where i'm almost as fit as when i was in my 20's.
DO THIS, DO THIS NOW!!!!!! No thoughts of failure, you are stronger than this. Get your determination on, get it under control and get your life back.0 -
1st off... throw the word "DIET" out of the window!!
It is a lifestyle change. When I view it as a diet, I never succeed.0
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