Are you on a diet or change of lifestyle?

awesomedjmcvey

I see a lot of people on here and they are on this diet or doing this to lose weight. I wonder though. Are you willing to do this for the rest of your life? When you are done with the diet or you hit your weight, will you go back to what you did before? You say no now but.....

I was one of you, I did atkins and lost 100 pounds and gained back 180 after ending the diet. Bread is good. When I started this time I decided to think about things I can and would like to eat every day for the rest of my life. Sure I will be able to endulge once in a while but it is just that an endulgance. I started running, swimming and biking. I love all of these things and these are going to be the things I do to maintain my soon to be sexy self for the future. I have changed the way I think about food and the way I eat.

I have to ask the question, Are you here to change your life or get the pounds off (for now)?

oarngesi

I like to think im doing both, losing weight while improving habits.

hoovified

I am going to be doing this for life. Days I do poorly, sure they're going to happen. But this is a definitely a lifestyle change for me. I'm only 24 and have been obese as long as I can remember (I can not remember being under 230). I have way too many health problems relating to my weight. If I keep going like this, I probably won't reach 50. So, I need to make this change, for life. I'm not going to eat all carrot sticks and never eat any bread. I am going to do better at eating things in moderation though, and I am going to have an occasional treat.

I know what you mean. I see a lot of talks about diet. Although when I say "diet," I mean my literal diet. What I eat. I don't mean I'm doing temporary changes to lose weight quickly... I think the two different meanings can get confusing.

My best friend goes on a diet. She'll give up muffins and donuts for a week or two and lose 5 pounds or so, and then she'll bounce right back up as soon as she starts eating them again. That's not the kind of result I'm after, but then again, I have a lot more weight to lose.

snowflake930

Changed lifestyle.
For me, logging everyday is the only way.
I have learned a lot in the 31 months on MFP. Lost the equivalent of a good sized person 160+ pounds gone.
I have extended my life at the very least by becoming healthier.
My new way of life.
Moving more and trying to refrain from over eating.
A lesson that took me a long time to learn.

blossomingbutterfly

I think right now with where I am, I am trying to make healthier choices that I can live with the rest of my life.

hortensehildegarde

to be honest I am here to get the pounds off (for now) and likely intend to going back to how I "used" to do things for the most part. I like my life, I don't see any real need to change it but for health reasons and my own laziness (carrying more weight around is so much more work in so many ways).

My weight gain was not anything rocket fast. If you average it out it was not even10 lbs a year. My "mistake" was letting years and years and years go by and not taking intermediate steps to keep things in check. It's kind of easier to lose 5-10 lbs than it is 100. Whoops.

The only thing I intend to change is to set a range that when I get to the top end of I need to watch things a little more closely until it goes back down. I have been essentially doing the same thing this year except my range has to go down even farther before I go through a lax period. (so like lose 10, gain 5, lose 10, gain 5 will eventually get my weight down over time. Eventually it can just be lose 5 gain 5).

And that's probably a crappy way to go about it, but I really don't care. It's better than being 250 lbs, I'm at least pretty sure of that.

rlwilson1967

I have a long way to go and I just got started, but this is a lifestyle change for me. I quit smoking and gained even more weight. Now I want to lose that and much more. Not on any "diet", but just making better food choices, doing some walking, getting more active and just watching what and how much I eat. If I want that donut... I eat that donut. But I count that donut and try to work it into my daily allotted calories.

So for me.. this has to be a lifestyle change, not just a "diet".

Fred77

Lifestyle change. If there was a single diet that actually worked and kept you at your desired weight, everyone would be on it. For me it's a lifestyle change. I've changed how I eat. I think more about what I eat. And I go to a gym 6 days a week. And that's how it's going to be forever.

LeslieTSUK

Lifestyle for me, will always be diabetic so will always have to be low carb.

so actually reaching my weight goal just be a bonus to help it.

999tigger

For me its both. I will welcome my deficit calories back, keep an eye on the scales, eat a healthier diet as I am doing and hopefully continue with the exercise. When I get to target next year id also like to continue with strength training.

I dont wnat to eb dramatic with grand change of lifestyle statements, but have learned a lot about nutrution and fitness already.
I have said I dont wnat to do this all over again as its so boring, in wich case it will be yp to me to make sure i continue ood habits and dont switch off or back into the habits that caysed the problem in the first place.

Kalikel

Both.

The more I lose, the harder it gets. Things keep changing and not just my size! I take it as it comes.

I think I'll continue dieting until I decide it is too hard to keep losing and then just stay wherever that is. I hope to get to 125 pounds, but if I don't, that's cool.

When I've reached the point where I don't want to sacrifice to be smaller, I'll know I need to stick with where I am at that time.

That's the plan.

There is no way in hell I'm counting calories - weighing and measuring every bite - for the rest of my life! So, some lifestyle changes are required.

BlueBombers

I don't diet. It's a lifestyle.

lorib642

I am trying to make changes I can maintain long term. I have a long way to go before I think about maintaining. One thing I know I will do differently is watch the scale and if it starts moving up do something.

mikeyrs

I invite anyone who wishes to view my profile and determine my answer to your question on their own.

JustAnotherGirlSuzanne

Both.

Diet - I'm restricting calories to lose weight. Don't plan on losing weight when I reach goal.

Lifestyle change - I'm going to keep tracking what I'm eating so I don't gain it all back.

Hornsby

I didn't really do much other than become more active so I would guess it's a lifestyle change for me. I don't restrict food or log what I eat. I just keep mental notes in my head on how much I have had for the day.

zyxst

This is my diet.

krmsotherhalf68

I am changing the way I think about food and logging everyday on MFP plus the support from my MFP friends keeps me inspired and on track to being a healthier me. I too have done the "diet" thing before. I lost over 130 pounds only to gain the 130 plus more back. I don't want that anymore. I want to look healthier and most importantly feel healthier. For me it's a one day at a time approach. I pray, "Lord, with your help, just for today I will not make poor food choices." And so far, He's held up his end of the bargain and so have I.

Feeling better, noticing clothes fit loser and liking the foods I choose to eat. I pray the Lord will continue with me in my journey to a healthier me. Just for today. Amen.

Best of luck to you with your new "live it".

dlaplume2

I guess both. I started this almost 4 years ago. It is the only thing that has worked for me. I did take a hiatus for a bit and gained back a bit, but not all, so I am not as bad off. I have recently started over and reset my ticker.
It did work as a lifestyle change, as I did not immediately gain it all plus some back, but sometimes you fall off and need to kick the dust off and start over.

cookmtn

I saw a post in the forums today that got me thinking. It was asking what kept people motivated. At that point I realized I didn't really feel all that motivated. Why haven't I quit? And then I realized...this isn't a struggle!

Weighing my food is a habit now, for one thing. I'm not eating at a huge deficit, for another. I go about my life, weigh out my food, track my weight and measurements, lose about 5 pounds a month, play badminton, drive my daughter to what seems like hell and back, all normal stuff. No magic, no fireworks, no tears in my rice cakes (if I ever ate any). Maybe it's because I see this as how my life is now, this is what I do. There is no "end". Therefore there is no motivation needed. Anyway, works for me!

seltzermint555

I tend to shy away from terms like diet, lifestyle change, and weight loss journey...mainly because I have extremely vivid and negative images in my head for each one.

Diet = 80's aerobics instructor eats rice cakes in a teal & white outfit with matching high top Reeboks.
Weight Loss Journey = nomads with robes and sticks crossing a mountain/desert area look for a magical weight loss plant.
Lifestyle Change = 60-ish widow from suburban Texas moves to NYC, starts wearing day glo spandex and becomes a lesbian.

But in all seriousness, I feel that I changed my life back in 2008 when I hit my all-time highest weight of 307. I made the decision to truly take better care of my body to avoid future problems, to stop eating seriously ANYTHING I want whenever I want just because it tastes good, and to generally strive for health.

That change I made starting 6 years ago truly did help me a lot. I felt better, looked better, and lost over 40 lb.

But when I joined MFP in March of 2013 nothing further truly changed for me, EXCEPT counting calories and by doing so, learning a lot more about what I was consuming and its nutritional and caloric content. I've lost 89 lb so far on this site and it's just been kind of like "bonus". it's made it way easier to see results doing what I was already doing anyway.

EmmaFitzwilliam

Lifestyle change. Knowledge is power.

I *know* I need to work out more, but so far changing my eating habits has helped me lose over 30 pounds in less than 4 months.

I need to be aware of what I am eating, and how much of it I eat, and that isn't going to change.

I've made some modifications and choices along the way - I like to have breads (and, frankly, need a certain amount of fiber!). Wasa crackers are as low as 40 calories each.

Small flour tortillas are 110 calories - but I like them. Since I can (likely) spread them with 1 T of peanut butter (rather than 2), I can have a tortilla with peanut butter as a 200 calorie treat. Or I can have a junior chocolate frosty. Or one of a bunch of other things.

I know what my "blowouts" are, too. The Elvis Style waffle at Cheesecake Factory; French Toast, etc. High calorie, but a good satiety index. And it *is* possible to make super-low calorie choices the rest of the day on the days (about one weekend in 3-5) when I choose something like that.

I've done well enough in modifying my habits that while I didn't log my food for four days, I seem to have chosen well enough that my 2 pound gain was probably a water gain only (I take diuretics twice a day, and had trouble with the timing of the second pill over the entirety of the four days).

Except for special circumstances, I'm still logging daily until I hit my goal, and then I'll see how I ease into maintenance. Since that's at least six months away (and probably 12 months), I'm not worried about that part yet.

TheSatinPumpkin

for me its a WOE/WOL.

Charoni

I am here to change the life I live... I have been on a roller coaster ride of loss and gain for my entire life. I have quit smoking, started walking, swimming and lifting light weights. I don't want to put my health at risk any longer. I have given up all wheat products. I found that I feel better not eating any wheat. My skin is better and I lost a great deal of inches from around my waist. Got rid of all that yucky fat that the GMO wheat gives you.

One day at a time. One lesson at a time.

gothchiq

Perma-diet for ever and ever, amen.

RobynMWilson

This has been a way of life for me since the mid-90s. And I allow "indulgences" or "cheats" or whatever you wanna call them about 15% of the time and "behave" the other 85%. I have a fitness routine that fits easily into my schedule no matter what b/c I've made it convenient for myself and it's a priority for me.

The word "die" is in "diet". Once I stopped "dieting", I lost the weight and maintained it! Great job making the changes!

becky10rp

I'm in this for the long-haul.

I've had a 'food issues' since my early 20's - I was anorexic for about 10 years - then I got better- and started to over-indulge.

It's amazing I haven't done permanent damage to my body through all the abuse I've put it through.

No more.

One body - one life.

Now - I exercise - but I don't over-do.

I'm careful with what I eat - but no restrictions.

If I want chocolate - or cheese - I have it.

I just regret that it took me 48 years to learn how to be 'kind' to myself

A_Dabauer

I'm in this for the long-haul.

I've had a 'food issues' since my early 20's - I was anorexic for about 10 years - then I got better- and started to over-indulge.

It's amazing I haven't done permanent damage to my body through all the abuse I've put it through.

No more.

One body - one life.

Now - I exercise - but I don't over-do.

I'm careful with what I eat - but no restrictions.

If I want chocolate - or cheese - I have it.

I just regret that it took me 48 years to learn how to be 'kind' to myself

Exactly what she said except, with the added caveat that if I'm putting on weight without reason I'll go to the Doctor much sooner! lol

seltzermint555

I know I already wrote a lengthy response here but I wanted to add that I do plan on weighing daily and counting calories in some form or another for probably the rest of my life. I'll do whatever it takes to maintain my weight in a healthy range. I look at it kind of like flossing or wearing my seatbelt in the car...a necessary thing, not really an option. I also have issues (before and currently) with not truly knowing when I'm hungry, full, etc, and as crazy it may sound I am not just concerned w/ overeating, but undereating...I'm afraid if I stopped calorie counting I would overestimate my calories during the day (mentally) and not eat enough food in general, or not enough protein, fiber, etc.

lemurcat12

It's a lifestyle for me, although I know life throws curves.

Mostly what I'm doing is something I did back in 2003 when I decided to figure out why I'd gained weight in my late 20s, early 30s, and took action to change those things by putting together a balanced nutritious diet based primarily around homecooked foods (and plenty of room for dinners out and so on, since I am aware of the lifestyle I want to live) and, especially, getting more active. That wasn't at all a hardship, and I felt better and enjoyed my food and exercise and maintained for several years until I didn't, for various reasons I know and some that I still don't quite understand.

Although I am tracking calories now, which I didn't before, and find it motivating and something I will likely continue in some form, mostly what I did this time was just to get back into my old habits and work up to my former level of activity. And once again I am much happier living this way, even apart from the added (and wonderful) perk of weight loss. So yes, I plan to continue after I lose the weight and plan to continue setting goals not related to weight loss, whether related to body composition or simply fitness goals. But might things happen again? Unfortunately, I can't say no, but I do plan to institute various methods to try and catch myself before it goes too far this time.

paulawatkins1974

Lifestyle change for sure. One benefit (for me anyway) About having so much to lose (Benefit? sounds ridiculous right?) But it gives me a longer time to learn new habits. In the past when I'd only need to lose 20-30 lbs, I'd go on a starvation diet just to lose it quick and then go back to normal always gaining back more than I'd lose. This time around, after 3 months or so I was whining about having to log everyday and wondering "Will I have to do this forever?" (even made a forum post about it) But now it's been 7 months and I'm totally used to it like brushing my teeth. So yes, if necessary, I will do it forever (We shall see). One thing I've also learned, is if I have a day where I go over on my calories, doesn't mean the "diet" is ruined. Just start again tomorrow. Even people who have never had a weight problem eat a little more than usual once in a blue moon but then it evens out after eating properly again.