It's NOT a Diet rather a Lifestyle Change
ScaledArtistHair
Posts: 10 Member
It always cracks me up when people ask why I eat the way I do. Often times I'm told "you should enjoy life a little bit more and Splurge the calories". I often smirk & say, " I do but I'd rather have a healthy eating lifestyle then spend my time in the doctor's office to be put on medications to fix condition(s) that can easily be controlled with a proper diet.
I know throughout the years I have gone through many fad yo-yo diets only to find myself not well. And even now I fall off the proverbial wagon now and then. Believe me I feel it in so many ways. But it's about getting back on that wagon and pushing forward and accepting that we're human while finding a strong support group that makes it all worthwhile
I know throughout the years I have gone through many fad yo-yo diets only to find myself not well. And even now I fall off the proverbial wagon now and then. Believe me I feel it in so many ways. But it's about getting back on that wagon and pushing forward and accepting that we're human while finding a strong support group that makes it all worthwhile
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The term 'lifestyle change' actually makes my eye twitch
I went into this whole thing trying to stick as close to what I was already doing because that was a more realistic approach and hopefully more sustainable, than making a bunch of drastic changes, (currently 4 years into maintenance so things are progressing as planned).
I liked my life/lifestyle when I was overweight and now 50lbs lighter it's no different. I'm still me, just with different sized clothes.15 -
Your co-pay co-paid for your doctor's vacation home and your doctor doesn't invite you to join your doctor for vacations. Therefore, co-paying sucks. Get healthy and quit co-paying. Buy your own vacation home.3
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A diet is either the word I use to describe all of my food OR it's when I'm cutting calories to lose a few lbs. lifestyle change makes me cringe. You learned the energy balance, that's it. Your life didn't change, you became aware of something and are using that information. I don't lifestyle change every time I learn and practice something at work. People take themselves far too seriously sometimes6
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I just can't remember the last time anyone asked me why I eat the way I do.7
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mrsnattybulking wrote: »A diet is either the word I use to describe all of my food OR it's when I'm cutting calories to lose a few lbs. lifestyle change makes me cringe. You learned the energy balance, that's it. Your life didn't change, you became aware of something and are using that information. I don't lifestyle change every time I learn and practice something at work. People take themselves far too seriously sometimes
Hmmm I kind of disagree with this, but maybe because I'm coming from an eating disorder background. Yes we learn the energy transfer and that can seem like no big deal. But for many people it's also about having a healthier relationship with food as well.
I gained a lot of weight because I swung so far away from bulimia that I ended up more of a binge eater, and then when I tried to control it I had to learn not to slip back into bulemia mentality. So it's taken a few years to not just get a handle on calorie counting but also my struggles with food in general. Along with that I also found a love of weightlifting.
So yeah, I would wrap all of that up in a package labeled "lifestyle change". I can see how that label may seem a bit much if someone is just learning to get rid of 10-15 vanity pounds and aren't overly worried about it. But it seems to me that for a LOT of people on here, losing weight is about much more than that.10 -
ScaledArtistHair wrote: »It always cracks me up when people ask why I eat the way I do. Often times I'm told "you should enjoy life a little bit more and Splurge the calories". I often smirk & say, " I do but I'd rather have a healthy eating lifestyle then spend my time in the doctor's office to be put on medications to fix condition(s) that can easily be controlled with a proper diet.
I know throughout the years I have gone through many fad yo-yo diets only to find myself not well. And even now I fall off the proverbial wagon now and then. Believe me I feel it in so many ways. But it's about getting back on that wagon and pushing forward and accepting that we're human while finding a strong support group that makes it all worthwhile
That's a mouthful, isn't it
When people ask why I eat a whole chicken at one sitting, I usually smirk and say:
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I usually can't respond due to the peanut butter oreo ice cream cookie in my mouth.
(Obvs whilst sat in the doctors waiting room waiting for medications because of the peanut butter oreo ice cream cookie)8 -
I don't care for the term "lifestyle change," and would say at this point it's just PC for diet.
More to the point, I don't consider how I eat to be the main aspect of my lifestyle, and I have dieted without changing my lifestyle. Years ago, in my early 30s, I realized that I was not making time for exercise or prioritizing it and that I hadn't really learned to cook regularly at home using whole foods, and I changed that then. I lost weight at the time and gained it again (because stuff happens in life and I didn't deal with it as well as some do), but my general ideas about how I liked to eat (pretty healthy, whole foods, but for the main issue with overeating and snacking too much at work when stressed). When losing this time I got back to old habits which had worked for years and cut out snacking, but that wasn't a lifestyle change. Getting active again was closer to one, but I just saw it as getting back to how I liked to live.
Now I've decided to try to lose the last few after maintaining for a while and I'm eating at a deficit (dieting) and also trying something new with my diet (as I do occasionally, playing with macros or meal-timing/size), but I wouldn't consider that a lifestyle change at all. Similarly, I switch up my exercise, sometimes training for things and doing tons of cardio, sometimes doing less cardio, more weights, but that change is not a lifestyle change either, it's just variation and how I stay interested.7 -
Depends if you needed a lifestyle change or not.
I just needed to diet (calorie restrict) for a while. My lifestyle is the same.
My next real lifestyle change will be retirement.11 -
I love everyone's input.
When I refer to the phrase "lifestyle change", it was geared more towards those who have chronic illness, auto-immune disease, diabetes, (type I & II), cancer, heart disease, etc. Where making an overhaul in their eating habits & exercise regime is key to improving/surviving life rather than turn to medication to manage everything.
From a personal perspective... I found that I had to make a "lifestyle change". Would I love to throw my face into a pile of pizza, takeaway, and sweets every day? You bet your a** I would! Lol. However the direct consequences would be crucial to my health. So this is why I say "It's not a Diet rather a Lifestyle change. "8 -
ScaledArtistHair wrote: »I love everyone's input.
When I refer to the phrase "lifestyle change", it was geared more towards those who have chronic illness, auto-immune disease, diabetes, (type I & II), cancer, heart disease, etc. Where making an overhaul in their eating habits & exercise regime is key to improving/surviving life rather than turn to medication to manage everything.
From a personal perspective... I found that I had to make a "lifestyle change". Would I love to throw my face into a pile of pizza, takeaway, and sweets every day? You bet your a** I would! Lol. However the direct consequences would be crucial to my health. So this is why I say "It's not a Diet rather a Lifestyle change. "
I lost the extra weight after finding out I was a prediabetic, but I didn't make any big changes to my lifestyle. I just started eating the appropriate amount of calories for my weight management goals. I still eat all the foods I like though and haven't cut anything out.
Curious how a lifestyle change or change of diet relates to cancer, (besides someone quitting smoking )?3 -
crazyycatladyy1 wrote: »
Curious how a lifestyle change or change of diet relates to cancer, (besides someone quitting smoking )?
Perhaps this is more of a personal perspective... as a survivor I began to take better care of myself as a result & with other medical issues playing a factor. I have 2 small children & I want to be around as long as I can to enjoy them.
One can debate which foods have cancer causing agents.... However that's a whole different can of worms that coincide with several opinions. Lol
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I agree it's a lifestyle to live healthy. But it's not a one time change and that's it you're set for life. I find myself adapting/changing my lifestyle as I get older to stay healthy. I'm not twenty any more so cannot do the same activities or to same level. I also can afford to eat better than I did when twenty!!2
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I'm going to go against the grain here and say that I truly did have a lifestyle change. It started with cutting calories, but it so much more than that. I'm not the same person that I was when I started 3 years ago.
Before I would come home from work and plop myself on the couch and not move. If anyone suggested we do something physical, I would get grumpy. Now, I exercise everyday, not because I think I should, but because I love it. I actually like to eat healthy food. I still like ice cream and pizza, but I've learned to moderate them and stopped bingeing. I look for active things to do instead of shying away from them.
I lost 70lbs and kept it off for 2 years because I changed my entire outlook on life, as cheesy as it sounds. Simply saying that I cut calories doesn't do it justice.
I just had a baby 6 weeks ago and now have to lose the baby weight. But because my lifestyle is so different than it was before, it's just going to happen. It's not going to take a ton of effort because I've built strong habits over the last few years. So excited for my doctors appt today because I should be cleared to exercise again and can start running for the first time since I was told to stop in October.
This wasn't an overnight overhaul, but small gradual changes. I built new habits that have resulted in a new lifestyle.16 -
My approach has been to make smaller sustainable changes not a grand lifestyle change so much. No one has commented.
Finding out how many calories I need and eating that amount.
Mostly eating the same foods but paying attention to protein and getting more vegetables and fruits. Putting thought into what I consume every day by logging in advance.
Gradually increasing my activity level.
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"Lifestyle change" has become a marketing tool, it's meaningless now. SlimFast Lifestyle, 1200 calorie lifestyle....yeah right.
I haven't lost sight of what it is supposed to mean. Some people DO need a lifestyle change. I have yo-yo dieted for years. Sure I can lose weight doing low carb, or exercise only when I'm trying to lose weight but that doesn't keep the weight off (for me). My lifestyle change is not huge - it's to stop snacking whenever I feel like it and pick my butt up off the couch on a regular basis.4 -
I do have a diet, I'm just not on a Diet. That bugs me.
However, I have actually changed my lifestyle. I am paying attention to what I eat, and (especially) how much of it I eat. I'm much, much more active than I have been in decades. I have been doing it for much, much longer than I've ever stuck with any Diet or fitness plan. And I have no intention of stopping. I might give MFP a rest after I've hit and maintained my goal weight for an extended period, but my awareness of my body's needs isn't going anywhere.
Yep, for me it's a lifestyle change. There are perhaps people who use that phrase to sell things (marketers have always been diabolical geniuses, that's nothing new), and there are perhaps people who use the phrase to describe yet another short-term obsession (folks who either overestimate their commitment or fundamentally misunderstand the word lifestyle). But those people don't have any effect on what I have done with my own life.4 -
Meh, for me it was a diet. I made very little change to my lifestyle.4
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Well I am still in the lowering body weight stage so due to calorie deficit I consider it a diet however it is a lifestyle change as even when I am in maintenance I have to keep in mind what got me here and I have to stay focused for the rest of my life so I am never overweight again . If I don't change forever I will become overweight again but I wouldn't think I was dieting so to speak once I am maintaining.2
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crazyycatladyy1 wrote: »ScaledArtistHair wrote: »I love everyone's input.
When I refer to the phrase "lifestyle change", it was geared more towards those who have chronic illness, auto-immune disease, diabetes, (type I & II), cancer, heart disease, etc. Where making an overhaul in their eating habits & exercise regime is key to improving/surviving life rather than turn to medication to manage everything.
From a personal perspective... I found that I had to make a "lifestyle change". Would I love to throw my face into a pile of pizza, takeaway, and sweets every day? You bet your a** I would! Lol. However the direct consequences would be crucial to my health. So this is why I say "It's not a Diet rather a Lifestyle change. "
I lost the extra weight after finding out I was a prediabetic, but I didn't make any big changes to my lifestyle. I just started eating the appropriate amount of calories for my weight management goals. I still eat all the foods I like though and haven't cut anything out.
Curious how a lifestyle change or change of diet relates to cancer, (besides someone quitting smoking )?
There's decent research evidence now suggesting that regular exercise materially reduces risk for metastatic recurrence of breast cancer. It wouldn't surprise me if there were a similar effect for at least the types of cancer that are more common in the same people (colorectal, ovarian, etc.), though I know of no research to support that.
For me, exercise was also part of what was required to regain my strength, vitality and happiness after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Others' mileage may vary.5 -
I actually had an arguement with someone today about this. A guy, I barely know sent me some meme about falling off the diet. I kindly insisted I was not on a diet but a lifestyle change and he argued changing what I eat is a diet and diets don't last. A guy, mind you, who wanted to date me but I insisted drinking wasn't included and if we went out to eat it had to be at a place that offered healthy vegetarian options. I go out for ice cream, or drink on occassion. But it is about moderation. I feel so much better when I make healthier choices and I'm falling in love with good for you, healthy and nutrious meals. That is a lifestyle change we all should make and appreciate those who stick to it. And the guy, he got blocked today7
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SingRunTing wrote: »I'm going to go against the grain here and say that I truly did have a lifestyle change. It started with cutting calories, but it so much more than that. I'm not the same person that I was when I started 3 years ago.
Before I would come home from work and plop myself on the couch and not move. If anyone suggested we do something physical, I would get grumpy. Now, I exercise everyday, not because I think I should, but because I love it. I actually like to eat healthy food. I still like ice cream and pizza, but I've learned to moderate them and stopped bingeing. I look for active things to do instead of shying away from them.
I lost 70lbs and kept it off for 2 years because I changed my entire outlook on life, as cheesy as it sounds. Simply saying that I cut calories doesn't do it justice.
I just had a baby 6 weeks ago and now have to lose the baby weight. But because my lifestyle is so different than it was before, it's just going to happen. It's not going to take a ton of effort because I've built strong habits over the last few years. So excited for my doctors appt today because I should be cleared to exercise again and can start running for the first time since I was told to stop in October.
This wasn't an overnight overhaul, but small gradual changes. I built new habits that have resulted in a new lifestyle.
Exactly what I was going to say. For me it was a lifestyle change, and no...I don't have any health issues. My life needed a total overhaul. The way I view myself...deciding that I loved myself enough to do better. Changing how I grocery shop and actually prepping meals rather than eating endless convenience crap. Counting calories and macros. Working out or at least getting some movement in daily. Finally...making the commitment to all of this and keeping the weight off. If that isn't changing my lifestyle then I don't know what is.
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There's decent research evidence now suggesting that regular exercise materially reduces risk for metastatic recurrence of breast cancer. It wouldn't surprise me if there were a similar effect for at least the types of cancer that are more common in the same people (colorectal, ovarian, etc.), though I know of no research to support that.
For me, exercise was also part of what was required to regain my strength, vitality and happiness after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Others' mileage may vary.
That fits with the idea that most cancers cannot metabolize fat. By exercising, one depletes their body's supply of glycogen, which cancers prefer to eat.1 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »
There's decent research evidence now suggesting that regular exercise materially reduces risk for metastatic recurrence of breast cancer. It wouldn't surprise me if th ere were a similar effect for at least the types of cancer that are more common in the same people (colorectal, ovarian, etc.), though I know of no research to support that.
For me, exercise was also part of what was required to regain my strength, vitality and happiness after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Others' mileage may vary.
That fits with the idea that most cancers cannot metabolize fat. By exercising, one depletes their body's supply of glycogen, which cancers prefer to eat.
In the case of breast cancer, some of the researchers believe it has to do with estrogen levels, which are also affected by exercise. Some breast cancer tumors require estrogen to grow, some don't. The exercise effect is independent of obesity, though obesity can also play a role in metastasis (also believed to be estrogen-related). Lots of unknowns, though, as of my last in-depth reading on the subject.
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ScaledArtistHair wrote: »It always cracks me up when people ask why I eat the way I do. Often times I'm told "you should enjoy life a little bit more and Splurge the calories". I often smirk & say, " I do but I'd rather have a healthy eating lifestyle then spend my time in the doctor's office to be put on medications to fix condition(s) that can easily be controlled with a proper diet.
I know throughout the years I have gone through many fad yo-yo diets only to find myself not well. And even now I fall off the proverbial wagon now and then. Believe me I feel it in so many ways. But it's about getting back on that wagon and pushing forward and accepting that we're human while finding a strong support group that makes it all worthwhile
@ScaledArtistHair you nailed it with that term. It was not until 2014 that I stopped dieting forever to lose weight after 40 years yo-yoing back to 100%+ regains every time that lower weight and better health came my way. No more cravings makes my WOE (Way Of Eating) since Oct 2014 successful and easy to do at the age of 66. I still had a pity party at first but when I realized my old way of eating was leading to my premature death in my case but eating for better health was not only was giving me better health and weight management but that my new WOE also tasted better.
Best of continued success and welcome to the MFP forums.1 -
there will almost be negative people. I normally smile and say thanks for the advice.2
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Exactly what I was going to say. For me it was a lifestyle change, and no...I don't have any health issues. My life needed a total overhaul. The way I view myself...deciding that I loved myself enough to do better. Changing how I grocery shop and actually prepping meals rather than eating endless convenience crap. Counting calories and macros. Working out or at least getting some movement in daily. Finally...making the commitment to all of this and keeping the weight off. If that isn't changing my lifestyle then I don't know what is.
This is how I feel about it- a lifestyle change. I am changing my way of thinking from the ground, up. And it affects more to me than just food or weight, but how I approach life, being confident to try new things or stand up for myself, taking more risks, and just enjoying life more. Sure, the term has been taken to mean different things (as have many buzzwords) through marketing ploys, but it still feels accurate to me.
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Penthesilea514 wrote: »
Exactly what I was going to say. For me it was a lifestyle change, and no...I don't have any health issues. My life needed a total overhaul. The way I view myself...deciding that I loved myself enough to do better. Changing how I grocery shop and actually prepping meals rather than eating endless convenience crap. Counting calories and macros. Working out or at least getting some movement in daily. Finally...making the commitment to all of this and keeping the weight off. If that isn't changing my lifestyle then I don't know what is.
This is how I feel about it- a lifestyle change. I am changing my way of thinking from the ground, up. And it affects more to me than just food or weight, but how I approach life, being confident to try new things or stand up for myself, taking more risks, and just enjoying life more. Sure, the term has been taken to mean different things (as have many buzzwords) through marketing ploys, but it still feels accurate to me.
I actually like all the thoughts here but agree with the above the most... If it involves the way we see things (including food) in the way we live, it is a lifestyle change. Yes it might sound too much sometimes, but it does fit into many ppl's cases. Food choice and exercise plan is a big chunk in my daily routine now, and without the acknowledgement of the importance of those, I probably wouldn't achieve my weight-loss goal nor any fitness goal (I used to have an imbalanced, >80% carb intake and hate exercising so much that I'd have breathing problems).
Do I like the "lifestyle" I have now (following my macro goals and still get to eat something I really like EVERYDAY plus enjoying my workouts and get to see some results)? Yes I like it more than any period of time in my life so far!
If that is not a lifestyle change, I don't know what to call it...7 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »
There's decent research evidence now suggesting that regular exercise materially reduces risk for metastatic recurrence of breast cancer. It wouldn't surprise me if there were a similar effect for at least the types of cancer that are more common in the same people (colorectal, ovarian, etc.), though I know of no research to support that.
For me, exercise was also part of what was required to regain my strength, vitality and happiness after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Others' mileage may vary.
That fits with the idea that most cancers cannot metabolize fat. By exercising, one depletes their body's supply of glycogen, which cancers prefer to eat.
Cancers can and do metabolize fat. They are highly dependent on it. In a glucose rich environment, most preferentially use glucose for energy to spare the available fatty acids for anabolic purposes (exceptions for prostate cancer and leukemia - they utilize fat preferentially). In a glucose poor environment, they will use fatty acids as primary fuel. This is something rarely seen in cell culture because the predominant media used is glucose rich and very fat poor in comparison to human blood and most tissues.
Cancer cells also significantly upregulate lipogenesis and some also upregulate lipid scavenging because they utilize more fat than is typically available for membrane biosynthesis and other functions. Limiting fatty acid availability has an inhibitory effect on cancer proliferation*.
*Lipid metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, Oncogenesis (2016)
nature.com/oncsis/journal/v5/n1/full/oncsis201549a.html9 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »
There's decent research evidence now suggesting that regular exercise materially reduces risk for metastatic recurrence of breast cancer. It wouldn't surprise me if there were a similar effect for at least the types of cancer that are more common in the same people (colorectal, ovarian, etc.), though I know of no research to support that.
For me, exercise was also part of what was required to regain my strength, vitality and happiness after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Others' mileage may vary.
That fits with the idea that most cancers cannot metabolize fat. By exercising, one depletes their body's supply of glycogen, which cancers prefer to eat.
Cancers can and do metabolize fat. They are highly dependent on it. In a glucose rich environment, most preferentially use glucose for energy to spare the available fatty acids for anabolic purposes (exceptions for prostate cancer and leukemia - they utilize fat preferentially). In a glucose poor environment, they will use fatty acids as primary fuel. This is something rarely seen in cell culture because the predominant media used is glucose rich and very fat poor in comparison to human blood and most tissues.
Cancer cells also significantly upregulate lipogenesis and some also upregulate lipid scavenging because they utilize more fat than is typically available for membrane biosynthesis and other functions. Limiting fatty acid availability has an inhibitory effect on cancer proliferation*.
*Lipid metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, Oncogenesis (2016)
nature.com/oncsis/journal/v5/n1/full/oncsis201549a.html
One eye opener from studying cancer and its behaviour for the past 2-3 years is how cancer can and will adapt to just about any environment change we can make. I do think reversing cancer is a possibility. Key to prevention is to develop a high number of Mitochondria and keep them health along with not overing loading the immune system as I see it today. Working to lower my CRP test results is a current goal of mine to lighten the burden on my immune system.0
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