Info for the New and Returning Dieters.

OK,
Most of this info been plastered around the MFP forum for a long time, normally in responses to other people's posts either to credit something the OP has said or to try ridicule what the OP has said, and I know i'm going to get both, but I'm cool with that, I've got a broad back I can take it

And, this is purely about weight loss, it is not about being healthy, that is a totally different subject altogether.

There is no such thing as a good diet, diets don't work full stop.
Fad diets will never work.
Pills and potions will never work.
Just because someone that has lost 200+ pounds doing something doesn't mean it going to work long term for anyone else that tries it.
There are no quick fixes.
There are no super foods

All foods are both good and bad for you, that's everything from fruit, salad, veg... to kebabs, fatty meat, fish, turkey, cakes, cheese, processed foods etc etc.

Unless you have a medical condition that makes a food bad for you, all foods are open season to munch on in moderation.

Makes no difference, a sugar is a sugar, both create glucose in your bloodstream.
Though, the nutrients in say a banana or an apple will do you far more good than the chemicals in a glass of sugared coke.

There is nothing wrong with either, if you have no medical problems, and are leading a very active lifestyle, then munch all the sugars you like, just as long as your consuming less calories than your burning up, you should be fine with your weight.

This is just my opinion, and as a diabetic who has to have blood tests every 3 months, and all my bloods come back perfect every time for almost 4 years now, there is nothing wrong at all with having all fats, even saturated fat, the key is to try have twice as much good fat as you do bad fat.

But like sugar above, consume less than your body burns and you will loose weight.

Again this just my opinion, a diet to me is what a Doctor or a Surgeon tells you to go on either to drastically loose weight for an op, or if your weight is life threatening and it is paramount you have to lose that weight fast.

Or if say you have a wedding coming up or a special event and someone bought a dress that doesn't fit you and you need to loose a few pounds just for that occasion, then yeah for those kind of situations Diets are fine.

They serve a quick fix purpose, once it over with then weight goes back on as you go back to eating normal.

If like many of us here on MFP you have struggled over the years, tried and failed, lost and put back on, then you need a Lifestyle change.

And as I put at top of this thread post, this is about weight loss not about being healthy.

When you think about changing your lifestyle, take serious notice of the first 4 letters.... LIFE.

First you have to have 1 solid reason for doing it.
Doing it for your health, or for your kids or for a partner or anything like that is pointless, and i say that because if it was so important to you, you would already be doing it, not just starting out.

It has to be a reason or something that burns so deeply inside of you that no matter what life throws in your way to try stop you, and you know it will, nothing will ever keep you down, you will fight and claw and scratch to reach your goals.

Then you have to go through everything you eat honestly, everything from milk in your coffee, the quick spoon fulls of PB you munch before it even reaches your sandwich, yes I'm guilty as charged for that in past, the secret cookie snack you had and conveniently forgot about on way to work or home from work, or while sat at desk with your coffee.

It is the one time in your life you have to be brutally honest with yourself, if not, then walk away now and don't even bother trying, as you're just setting yourself up to fail.

If you are brutally honest with yourself, then pick out your favorite foods, the things you love to eat every day, or every other day, use the MFP calculator, put them in your list of foods, and make sure you fit them into your regime.

Then you will never need to have cheat days, as you'll be enjoying what your eating each day.

Never ever have regrets for your actions while on a lifestyle change, if ya mess up and ya know we all do, every last one of us, then ya mess up, it no big deal, just means it going to take a little longer than planned to reach your final goal.

If you fancy that big juicy steak at a party your invited to, then go have it, just make a note to yourself that you have had it, then when scales next morning say 3 pound on, you can think back and go mmmm, yep, but was so worth it.

Same over xmas, and holiday periods, enjoy yourself, don't miss out, just be honest, and know with each luxury it going to add time onto your goal being reached.

Life style changes is like using a debit card or a credit card for a Luxury.
If you use debit card then you have to save up first to get the luxury, hence reaching your goals first.
If you use a credit card then yes you have your luxury early, but it going to cost you more in the long run because of all that extra interest.

I have seen this come up a lot lately, and gave it a lot of thought.
I don't believe we can be addicted to food like we would be to say a drug or alcohol or smoking, but, and this a very very BIG BUT, I do believe we can become addicted to certain components of the foods.

Like for me was kebabs, scotch eggs (Boiled eggs in sausage meat & breadcrumbs), Bacon, Peanut Butter. Before that was ice cream, Milk, Apples, Smoothies, Milkshakes.

As long as they not there I don't crave them, but once I tasted them, I'll have to eat them all, even to the point of making myself sick with them.

Yet put a big box of sweets in front of me and I might eat 1 or 2, same with chocolate, and end up giving rest away.

So I think we all have an addiction to something, just some have a lot better control over it.

Anyway, sorry for such a long post, all replies welcome, good and bad, one great thing about the internet, we still have a freedom of speech even if we may or may not like what is put.

Blessed be

Merry xmas and a fantastic new year to everyone.