Who eats a structued diet plan vs just choosing to eat healt

I worked on changing what I eat. I have a shelf in the fridge that has all my healthy choices. So I don't exactly plan, but i have choices I planned on I can eat from without guilt.

I do the eat healthy. For me, eating some diet plan with strict rules just causes me more harm. I want things that aren't always on the plan, and I'll get them, then feel guilty, then free fall into gaining more weight...horrible cycle.

Plus, I think we've gotten away from eating real foods. Too many diet plans rely on fake foods or limit healthy things for silly reasons. Like coconut oil, that's been a diet no-no, but really it's full of good fats. Or butter being replaced by fake buttery spreads. I think that's really the biggest issue is the replacement of real food for not real food. So, I'd rather eat natural nutritious foods that may be high in fat or carbs, instead of fake things.

I Plan out meals for the week so I don't have to think about, just eat it. Breakfast and lunches are the same all week and dinners change. Weekends I don't plan so its more of a challenge but ive been making it work too.

I think to start eating healthier, planning ahead decreases the chances of any mistakes.. But once you've made habits and learned your triggers and foods to avoid, then I think there's less of a need to structure your meals..

Ive done a few diets and wasnt keen on them.

I am now on this site watching my calories, sat fat and a few other things. I am trying not to go over (but if its only by a few then I cant see it that bad as long as its not every day).

I love planning my meals the night before as im finding I stick to it more. Otherwise I find myself over eating because I havent remembered everything thats passed my lips or I conveniantly forget to add them.
I dont know im just finding it so much better to plan and control at the moment.....

I also think everyone is different and what works for some people might not work for others. I tried 3 diets end of last year and only 1 worked for me and thats the one ive gone back to. Yet my friend is on the new weight watchers and loosing LOADS!!! I couldnt get on with their new system unfortunatly, it gave me too many points to indulge in the naughty foods!! lol

What ever you choose I wish you good luck :-) (and sorry for rambling im not the best person at writing)

I make a 'meal plan' every weekend and then go shopping. Otherwise I either overbuy or don't have the right ingredients to make things. And by meal plan I mean this: we figure out what we want to eat for breakfast and lunch for the week (usually we're happy to eat the same thing day and day out for a week, so it works out). And then we pick 3-4 dinners that we want to make and shop for that. It's more then enough food for 7 days but it has flexibility - make what you want, when you want it.

I tried pretty much every "diet" plan under the sun, and had dismal results. I would get frustrated with whomever it was telling me I HAD to eat such and such even if I didn't care for it. I got tired of others telling me that I wasn't trying hard enough and that if it worked for them it would work for me. Yada yada yada. Some of the plans just were not realistic in my world. And some of them cost an arm and a leg! Forget that! I have had better results on MFP where I can pick and choose what I want, when ever I want it. I just have to make it work within the calorie goal, or work my @ss off for it.

I keep healthy foods in the fridge that I can choose from. I always have cooked chicken breast available as well as multiple choices of proteins in the freezer. When I make stuff like soup, stew, or other multi portion meal items I always make 4-6 portions and put the extra in the freezer. Then I have my own "tv dinners" ready to go if I don't feel like cooking.

Pretty much just eat healthier. Like most people, we have a very busy life (3-kids, hobby farm, run my own business, etc). While we are both good planners and time managers, there just isnt time to get to fancy with structured diet plans. But we are concious and do quite well overall. Seems to work for us

I've tried a list of diets and "diet plans" as long as my arm!!

At the moment, I've found that creating a menu for the week ahead helps me make good food choices and there's an added bonus of knowing exactly what I need to get from the grocery store so it cuts down on costs too!

I think to start eating healthier, planning ahead decreases the chances of any mistakes.. But once you've made habits and learned your triggers and foods to avoid, then I think there's less of a need to structure your meals..

I agree with this statement.

Personally - I am following the Primal Blue Print Plan. It is not as structured as Atkins was when I was on it, but with Atkins I learned a LOT about my body and how different foods make my body react when I eat them. I had lost 100 pounds and kept that weight off for years............until the onset of Thyroid issues and a car accident - then a stroke happened. I am just getting back to feeling 100%.

By the time I had reached Atkins Maintenance I knew what I could and how much to maintain my weight. That is the most important piece of keeping the weight off.

I found that it is much easier to lose weight than it is to maintain the weight loss. This is where a total mental shift has to take place or the weight will not stay off.