How do you stick to a new diet?

mayyamap
mayyamap Posts: 1
edited February 13 in Food and Nutrition
HI!
I am new here and have just started my diet plan. But after one week I just totally gave up and had a big meal :sad:
I am now not so sure about weight loss cuz eating makes me so happy! I am not motivated to do that anymore...
So I wonder if I can gain some suggestions from you.
What motivates you most? How come that it even stops you from eating all the amazing but fatty food in the world.....
Thanks!
BTW, besides temptation from food itself, is there any reason why you also give up dieting just like me? I don't wanna meet another challenge:cry:
Thanks!!!!!!!!

Replies

  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    If you "don't want to meet another challenge" then maybe you aren't ready to make a change? Weight loss and fitness is a constant, everyday challenge.

    Having said that...the way you go about it can make it easier or more difficult. Are you cutting out major food groups or everything you love? If so, you will probably struggle. Are you restricting your calories too much? Well, being actually hungry makes things harder.
    Maybe open up your food log for people to take a look at. You may get suggestions for changes to your diet that will make it easier to stick with.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,210 Member
    You're either not really COMMITTED to doing it or the plan you're doing is too extreme. Re examine you plan. If it's too restricting, you'll end up quitting somewhere along the way.
    Weight loss comes down to calorie deficit. It doesn't matter what you're eating to do it, although it's recommended that you should apply an eating strategy that is more nutrient dense.
    Personally I eat 80/20. 80% of the time I eat whole foods. If there are calorie left over (and there usually is) the other 20% I eat whatever I want to fulfill the calories. And I mean whatever I want.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    I don't restrict anything. I can have anything I want, I just fit it into my calorie goal. Problem solved.
  • lucylousmummy
    lucylousmummy Posts: 348 Member
    I don't restrict anything. I can have anything I want, I just fit it into my calorie goal. Problem solved.

    ^this^
    plus making sure i'm eating enough calories
  • LanaeCarol
    LanaeCarol Posts: 158 Member
    The main way I have found is to not consider it a diet. That implies an ending point to your eating plan and then you will probably gain back everything you lost (plus some if it works for you like it has for me in the past). Instead, view it as a lifestyle change that will last your lifetime. Make small changes, giving them time to become habits and then adding more. I started with getting rid of all sodas and fruit juices. Then I found MFP and started logging daily - good or bad. Gradually the good days began becoming more frequent than the bad days. Then I upped my water and discovered that sometimes when I wanted to eat I actually needed to drink water. It took some of the cravings away. Now I am trying to add more fruits and vegetables to my food plan. Not very successful at it yet, but working on it.

    The other thing is to view each time you eat as another chance to get it right. Don't beat yourself up if you mess up, but try to improve each time.
  • missbp
    missbp Posts: 601 Member
    Well... my secret is, I don't do diets. They fail. So I don't bother with them at all.

    But, I did make a commitment to myself about 4 years ago, to change my life. So I changed my eating habits and vowed to exercise consistently. I kept those promises to myself, and you know what? I lost about 50 lbs AND I've managed to keep it off.

    So, if you hope to lose some weight and you hope to keep it off forever, I suggest you stop looking at it as if it's a diet. If you think about it as a lifestyle change and honestly and truly commit yourself to it... for life... I think you will be really happy that you did.

    Good luck!
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    I set a reasonable calorie target ( spoiler... 1200 isn't reasonable), and I don't follow fad diets. I eat foods I like, just in more reasonable quantities.
  • tjsoccermom
    tjsoccermom Posts: 500 Member
    Like a few other posters have said, for me, this isn't a diet. I have done diets, even lost weight a few times on them, but started here at my highest weight ever, so obviously diets don't work. This is a life style change. Even when I'm back to maintaining, I will continue how I am now, just allowing a few more calories.

    Also, don't be completely restrictive. Work the things you want in moderation into your day. For me, exercise is the key because I'm allowed more calories (plus I feel good and my body will look great for it). Make sure you have a plan. I make food on the weekend to plan my lunches for the week. I make sure I have healthy things on hand when I need a snack ( Greek yogurt, fruits, veggies, etc). Only you can decide to commit to changing. Make a list of reasons why you want to change and refer to it when you're feeling weak. Make smaller goals within your overall goal and reward yourself she you make those. You can do this, I failed many times before but feel like this's is my time to succeed. I even ate at Steak n Shake last night because I saved my calories for later in the day.

    Maybe start out with small changes each week instead of trying to change yourself all at once. I started out by logging first to see how much I was eating and to get into the habit. Then started to exercise then really focused on my actual diet changes.

    You can do this I promise! Read the success stories for some motivation.
  • fushigi1988
    fushigi1988 Posts: 519 Member
    Make it sustainable, and start small. Improve your breakfast first, week after, eat more fruit, week after that drink more water etc.
    Small changes, they add up and it's easier.
    And make sure it is not too strict, keep the deficit small.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    I don't restrict anything. I can have anything I want, I just fit it into my calorie goal. Problem solved.
    Bing. I don't get rid of any foods.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    as others have said, I carried on eating the amazing foods I ate before, but in the appropriate portion sizes to fit into my calorie goal. Over time (and I'm talking 2+ years), the foods I eat have changed a little bit as I've paid more attention to nutrition. I have to stress though, that this has happened gradually over time. I started with just hitting my calorie goal. At some point later, I tried getting more protein, and more fibre, adjusting foods to help me meet those goals. If anything, it's more that I eat a wider variety of food now. I eat a lot more vegetables than I used to, and I've incorporated a lot of new food into my diet (quinoa, Greek yoghurt, celery, sweet peppers, anchovies etc). Not because they're "healthy" and I'm "being good" but because I genuinely enjoy them.

    There is no food that is off limits to me if I feel like it on any given day. I eat chocolate every day. I eat real butter, cheese, burgers, chips (fries), pizza, ice cream, white bread, white pasta, pringles, cookies, doughnuts, cheesecake etc etc. I just don't eat all of those things every day (because they're calorie dense), and I eat them in quantities that fit in with the rest of what I'm eating. I've also learned what keeps me full and satisfied (protein, fibre, fats) and make sure I have plenty of those foods. Nutrition is my priority, and once that's taken care of, I eat whatever I feel like.

    Start by making small changes that you feel you could live with forever. That's how to be successful. Eat food you enjoy, get active in a way you enjoy and meet your calorie goal. (Preferably with a small calorie deficit - don't go crazy and cut too low). It really is that simple. Oh yeah, and accept that it's going to take a long time.
  • LindaLou1397
    LindaLou1397 Posts: 69 Member
    Day by day and before you know it it's a year and you have either reached your goal or are getting close.:smile:
  • wannakimmy
    wannakimmy Posts: 488 Member
    You have to be ready to make the change, do not look at it as a diet, but a lifestyle change. Part of what has helped me is really thinking about a food, how much do I want it. Do I want to have a bag of chips for 500 calories, or an entire healthy meal? It was about better choices for me. I still will have those chips on occasion, but only one servings worth, and I fit them into my caloric goal for the day. Don't deprive yourself of the things you love, use moderation.
    Good luck to ya!
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