When does it start feeling normal??

eoney

Just curious as to when the healthy choices in eating and exercise began to feel like "the norm" for everyone? I remember when I quit smoking, there were milestones like the 1st day of hell, the 3rd day when the nicotine and other junk were clearing out, and so on. With each milestone, I'd feel a little stronger and a little more normal. I also remember being convinced that I'd never be able to go to a party or sit on my patio and enjoy myself EVER again...of course, nothing could be further from reality, but that's kind of what this new lifestyle feels like. When did you stop feeling like you were "dieting" and start feeling like this was a regular part of your day-to-day? I just can't seem to get to that first milestone that renews my determination...

lilRicki

I'm not there yet...it's been 4 months

TheNewJessieMae

I've been at it since August. Your tastebuds know what tastes sugary and chocolatey. They just do. BUT your brain knows what is healthy. It is a constant struggle.

ajbeans

I think it depends on how drastic your changes are. For me, this already feels pretty normal and I've only been at it for about 3 weeks. But I'm not needing to make huge changes, and the ones I am making are already showing me huge results in my energy level and mood. So it's not been hard for me. If you're drastically changing your habits though, it might take longer. I think it really depends.

jennk221

I wish I knew...I think it's different for everyone! I am not there yet either

ProTFitness

30-90 days if your consistant with eating healthy and exercising

Amandac6772

I was thinking about this today. I started May 31. I will always have to log my food...there is no doubt as I have Serving Size Distortion (SSD in the clinical world...lol!) but I think if I stopped today the habits I've formed since May would carry me somewhat.

BecciL

I felt it as soon as I accepted this as a way of life, it is all mental , CHOOSE to know you are creating a good healthy enviroment for your life and your body,
It is all in your mind body and soul ..
BE YOUR CHANGE
Good luck !

SamWTFx3

It's been almost a month for me, and I haven't reached it yet either. I guess when I hit my goal weight, and want to keep my weight the same, then it'll probably seem more "normal" then. But what is normal? ;]

hpsnickers1

I don't call it a diet. I call it a new lifestyle - something I needed to do to get healthy so I can enjoy my 40's, 50's, 60's and so on (hopefully!) I don't know if I will ever get used to it.

Janell33years

oh i so relate to u today... i eat all the right things... drink the water ... but I never fill full... i miss that aaaaaaawwwwww now i am full feeling... instead i watch the clock so i can eat again..

SaraEWrig

I imagine it's a choice EVERY DAY for a lot of people, that's why so many people fall off the wagon. They are tired of choosing what may not come naturally.

mandijo

I started this site in January of 2010. That whole year was hard for me to change. I found myself doing one or the other. I'd eat right for a week but not exercise, then I'd exercise for a week but eat like crap. Once this year started, my thought processes kind of did a 180. I had this feeling that I'd never had before like I was worth it. In order for me to get to my goal and become healthier, I had to do things I loved. I live in a teeny tiny town that has nothing to offer, but the town I work in has a zumba class 3 days a week. I get to go 1 maybe 2x a week, and I'm in heaven. Now, I know that exercise is also an acquired love. I set my mind to running a 5K in May. I'm NOT.A. RUNNER. But I'm becoming one. I have this motivation to accomplish something I never saw possible. Completely reframe your thinking. What have you never tried but always wanted to. See once if the motivation solves itself!! Good luck to you. It will come!

Eyvette1

I am starting to get there. I now look at foods I used to eat and cringe at them. I think that is when you know you are getting there.

colochel

Took me about 2 months (so a couple of weeks ago). It definitely was more gradual, than overnight. I think you just have to find things that not only work for you - but genuinely make you happy. If you feel like you're dieting, you might not stick to it. Just make smarter choices, swap junk foods for less junky foods and work your way up to healthy super-foods. Once your body starts feeling the difference from getting adequate nutrition and burning fat, your new lifestyle will itself become a healthy addiction. At least that's what I'm feeling right now.

Good luck, hang in there!

live2smyle

I felt it as soon as I accepted this as a way of life, it is all mental , CHOOSE to know you are creating a good healthy enviroment for your life and your body,
It is all in your mind body and soul ..
BE YOUR CHANGE
Good luck !

LIKE! :happy:

BrentGetsFit

I actually felt my first "milestone" a couple of weeks in. I was following the meal planner that came with Power 90 and I remember being surprised that I wasn't starving or feeling deprived. I then took it a step further and began preparing foods that fit into the top three tiers of Michi's Ladder. I was again surprised that I could make "normal" food in a much healthier way. Lastly I realized that I couldn't always live in my "food bubble" so I began cautiously eating out with co-workers and found that choosing the healthier option got easier each time. I've been doing this 5 months now and have considered this my new normal for at least the last 3. Good luck

LFern

I've started noticing that I make concious choices more often already and I've only been here 3 weeks. Honestly we all KNOW what is a better choice over a poor choice - when I went to Curves they had a speaker come in. I believe he said that it takes a full 3 months before something becomes a "habit".

Making a concious effort is hard - I am a grab n gobble type of person.

OceanAddict

I'm working hard on trying to live 'normally' while losing weight this time around. I don't want to fall back into the deprivation / binge cycle.
Some things are working - after a month - it no longer feels 'normal' to go do the deli for a snack of chips and banana bread, because I have fruit and/or yogurt from home.

Baby steps. :happy:

jeanine89

I think when you go to the grocery store and for the first time without thinking you have no junk food when you get to the check out

lculian

I think it will always need to be a focus otherwise I tend to sneak back to my unhealthier choices. What i have noticed is this is a lifestyle change. Eatting healthy is a challenge because I love junk. But exercising has become a way of life and the benefits are invaluable. When I am logging consistently I eat healthier, exercise more and make better choices. Because over time one thing that I noticed is that when I put healthier items in my body, I get more out of my workouts and my body is not as soar later. MFP has taught me a lot about the choices I make and how they affect me.
That being said, I don't know that it will ever be natural to pass up treats all the time. Give yourself a break, try to find some of the positive changes that you've made and how they are improving your life. That makes it easier to committ to this kind of a lifestyle change:flowerforyou:

LisaFayD

I don't think it will ever be "automatic" or "normal." I know that I will always have to be careful and choose. After all, if making good food choices were easy, I would already be doing it. You can't change the habits of an entire life in 30-90 days - at least I can't. I've fallen "off the wagon" every time I got on so far.

cakeyrach

After about the third week I started to feel like it wasn't too much of a struggle any more and I stopped feeling so hungry. I think my hunger pangs are genuine now. Still have PMS cravings to deal with but I hope change in diet and extra water might help there too. Good luck it will get easier.

Pinoy_Pal

For me it took about a month for normalcy. I know that I've truly made a lifestyle change when I see those fast food commercials on television and they're just not as appealing as they once were. Some of those mutant-mega-bargain-basement burgers they advertise now-a-days just makes me want to throw up.

pegesam

When my mom died from a massive coronary and her only risk factor was obesity.
I realize it sounds harsh, but that was when I made the 12 inch move from my head to my heart. I realized at 42 that if always looked as this as "dieting" that I could always begin again on "Monday" then I too would be dead at 67 years of age.
I had lost 112 pounds up to that point, but I still had about 45 to go when she passed. I had it in my head that I was skinny (compared to where I came) and since I was active (I got to where I justified everything I ate by how much I could jog, bike or swim in the coming days), I would be okay.
I am far from perfect, don't misunderstand. I still have the margarita- I still eat Mexican food. I still have dessert. But I don't do all that in one day like before, just to wake the next day and repeat the same bad habits.
Mom had MS. She passed in February. In October of that year, I rode on a bicycle from San Antonio Texas to Corpus Christi, my first MS 150 ride. She and I rode every hellacious hill to Corpus together. It may help you to find something this isn't a "pound" related goal. Maybe you have a cause -- breast cancer, diabetes, MS, Lupus- that you can set an "activity goal" that will help to see day to day. And if you have kids, maybe they can participate with you so you know that you are helping this obtain a lifestyle of good habits and good choices.
Hang in there. Now smoking... that was the hardest thing for me to quit. If you an stop and STAY stopped-- Kiddo, this is a walk in the park.
peg

heathersmilez

NEVER.

People will pester you the rest of your life to "eat something" or "just try it, you're skinny" when you either A: don't really want it B: don't want it enough to be worth the calories or C: know that it will put you over your daily limit b/c of all the nutritional information you’ve gathered overtime.

There will always be 5-10 lbs of vanity weight to lose whatever you end up with at the end so you will always watch what you eat the rest of your life. Get to love it or get back to getting fat.