Are you on a diet or change of lifestyle?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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".

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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.