What is the best approaching to starting my diet tomorrow?

mischa_12

I joined MFP earlier this month hoping to change my eating habits, I tend to go on massive binges when I'm stressed or bored. Right now I'm planning on moving to another country in 3 weeks and I guess this is making me feel a bit overwhelmed and not knowing what to do with myself in the meantime - which leads to my binges.

Tomorrow HAS to be the day I start my diet, I have been really overweight in my life and if I don't make these changes now then I will end back up there, I know it.

I just don't know the approach I should be taking when starting fresh?

Jacwhite22

Don't start tomorrow.....start right now......just do it....and hold yourself accountable

Good friends help....feel free to add me if you want someone to help hold you accountable......I will call you out though if you go crazy....

dg09

I agree, start as soon as possible and get a good support team around you.

ALSO, even though you're not doing it now, don't say "oh, I'll just wait 3 weeks till I get to [new country] to start". Not only could you be losing during that time, but now you're gaining too. Getting started it hard, just do it as soon as possible!

Just try to visit this site everyday and collect some friends, you can do it. Good luck.

Pebble321

In my opinion, the best approach is NOT to start a diet and NOT to do it tomorrow.

Now I've told you what NOT to do, here is what you could do:

- start today. Right now. Waiting til tomorrow is not necessary.
- log everything you've already eaten today. Healthy or not healthy, it doesn't matter.
- log everything you plan to eat tomorrow. Healthy or not, just write it down.
- work to that plan tomorrow but if it changes, that's ok, just change your food diary if your food plans.
- if it's dark out, just log and plan, that's enough for today. If it's still light where you live, go for a 10 minute walk. Enter that in your diary too.
- keep logging what you eat without making too many changes. After 4 or 5 days have a look to see where all the calories are coming from.
- choose one meal at a time and find a healthier option/s. Try that for a few days then work on another meal.
- fit in a bit of exercise - walking, running, or anything else you like or can do. It doesn't matter what it is, just get moving.

If you do this for a few weeks you will be well on your way to being much healthier!!
Most importantly - don't make it too complicated for yourself - eat a bit less, make healthier food choices and do some exercise. It really is that simple.

Weighinginwithmy02

as somebody who moved abroad over 8 years ago I first wanted to wish you LUCK! I'm open for answering some questions if you have any, just pm me!

As far as making some changes, start small and make a TON of little goals that you can break down each day such as:
drinking 3 glasses of water (if you usually drink none)
eating two pieces of fresh fruit
eating at least 3 servings of veggies (again this is a small goal if you usually don't eat many
taking the stairs

just make tons of small daily goals. Then, at the end of the day, check off the ones you accomplished. That way, even if you didn't have a perfect day, you can still see "hey, I did do these 2 or 3 things on my list, so well done me".

Also, don't strive for perfection. Strive for 80% (for example). So if you plan on working out 10 times in the next month and at the end of the month you see that you worked out 8 of the 10 then you've reached your goal! Do this with everything. If you try to hold yourself to 100% perfect standards then you're likely to be too hard on youself on your not-so-perfect days and that can be so discouraging.

These are two things that have really helped me out in the beginning.

HelloDan

Tomorrow HAS to be the day I start my diet, I have been really overweight in my life and if I don't make these changes now then I will end back up there, I know it.

According to your ticker, you're 119lbs, are you 2' tall or something, I don't see how 119lbs can possibly be overweight!

chelso0o

I started small. What I did was... for 3 months I concentrated on changing up my diet. I didn't work out at ALL during those initial three months. I started eliminating most soda, then fast food, then adding more fruits, then adding more veggies. Once I got a handle on my food (and helped to control the binges) then I started working out. I went ONE day a week. I really had to hold myself back. I only allowed myself to go to one class the first week, then the second, third and fourth weeks I went to two classes per week. Well, fast forward a year... I'm now down 50 pounds and can workout for 3-5 hours at a time (if I want to). You will be SO happy that you didn't rush yourself, and it will be much more of a lifestyle change if you can just put on the breaks. Everyone now knows me as "the cyclist" or "the triathlete" something I never would have thought was possible before.

zoodalia

Tomorrow HAS to be the day I start my diet, I have been really overweight in my life and if I don't make these changes now then I will end back up there, I know it.

According to your ticker, you're 119lbs, are you 2' tall or something, I don't see how 119lbs can possibly be overweight!

This.

ShrinkRapt451

So you're not overweight now, but you foresee stress eating being a problem that will lead you back to the extra pounds. Good insight.

Two things:

First, LOG IT ALL. Be accountable to yourself first. The only way to do that is to enter exactly what you eat. Avoid the "Quick added calories" tool. You want to see it all in writing, healthy or unhealthy. The caloric value is less important here than the actual logging.

Second: figure out three things you can do to manage stress. At least one must be something that requires little or no extra things that you have to carry with you, so you can use it anywhere. Suggestions: deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, journaling, singing/music, fidgeting with something, exercise (something you enjoy that makes you work hard), reading, crafting, listening to comedy routines, whatever.

Then, when you get the urge to binge, use AT LEAST ONE of your alternatives. Maybe drink a tall glass of water. Do your stress relieving activity until you feel calmer and the craving passes.

And if you do binge, LOG AS YOU EAT. Force yourself to slow down and be mindful of what you're putting in your mouth, and suddenly that binge isn't going to seem like such a great idea anymore.

AZKristi

My goal is gradual, sustainable improvements in the overall nutritional value of what goes into my mouth.

Musikelektronik

And if you do binge, LOG AS YOU EAT. Force yourself to slow down and be mindful of what you're putting in your mouth, and suddenly that binge isn't going to seem like such a great idea anymore.

I've never been a "binge" eater, yet I still find this to be true. Just the act of writing it down and seeing the calories add up will make you change your mind about the next thing you're thinking about eating. I've experienced this quite a few times.

Logging works. Just do it!

kathym59

I am in the same situation as you, overweight, up and down all my life, with disgusting binges which I feel very sorry for the next day.
Don't make it a diet, make it a lifestyle change. Log everything, just keep trying, you'll have bad days and days when you feel really proud. Don't cut down too much, eat your exercise calories and you won't feel hungry, or guilty about the odd glass of wine or chocolate bar. Gradually the weight comes off, and you feel so much better for it. Keep positive. If,you need any support, add me as a friend. I'm a foreigner in France so know you need the support of your friends

orchidsand

My sister says the same thing....she has to have the moon & the stars in the right alignment to start dieting and that never happens. I will tell you what I tell her. Start right now. Log in your food & exercise as that makes you accountable for everything going in and out......even if you go over your net calories for the day, you will soon see how the numbers add up and where you need to make changes. They do not have to be big changes, just changes to head you down the right road.
Use your move as a way to increase your exercise, packing & hauling boxes is a good way to get moving. Good luck with your move and your weight loss journey. Each of us is on that journey, so do not hesitate to reach out to anyone for cudos on a job well done, or a kick in the butt if that will help.