This is not a diet
Eskisnow
Posts: 4 Member
Weight watchers. Slimming World. LighterLife. Cabbage Soup. Blood Type. Fasting. Atkins. Lo Carb. No carb. Vegan. Acid-Alkaline. Ultra Low Fat. Dukan. South Beach. 5:2. Mediterranean. SlimFast. GI. Raw Food.
I have a hundred diet books and have been on every diet I can think of.
And I'm overweight.
No, I'm obese.
But I'm losing weight. And for the first time in my life, I'm not on a diet (or spectacularly falling off one). This is a lifestyle change, not a short-term goal.
Most of my friends are slim. I always thought how unfair it was that we had the same lifestyles and yet I was the one who put on weight after the age of 30. But if you look closely at the way they eat and the way I do, the differences are clear.
They moderate their intake. One biscuit, not four. Do some exercise. Have a salad for lunch if you're going to go out for dinner. Don't clear the canapé plate. It's not brain surgery, but it's taken me a long time to start to adopt their habits.
My mistake has always been to kid myself. You're not as heavy as … you look quite good in … it doesn't matter. But my weight does matter – to me. It affects me every day and although I'm a pretty happy and content person, my life can only be better if I don't have the extra weight.
So I signed up for MFP, got myself some wifi scales, which sync to the app so I can't lie any more, and in my first month I've lost 1st5lb. And I've still gone out with friends, still had the food and drink I enjoy and still lived life – just with moderation and assiduously logging my intake, even when I've eaten something I 'shouldn't' have.
And I'm really, really looking forward to wearing all those lovely clothes I've bought myself in previously slim incarnations!
I have a hundred diet books and have been on every diet I can think of.
And I'm overweight.
No, I'm obese.
But I'm losing weight. And for the first time in my life, I'm not on a diet (or spectacularly falling off one). This is a lifestyle change, not a short-term goal.
Most of my friends are slim. I always thought how unfair it was that we had the same lifestyles and yet I was the one who put on weight after the age of 30. But if you look closely at the way they eat and the way I do, the differences are clear.
They moderate their intake. One biscuit, not four. Do some exercise. Have a salad for lunch if you're going to go out for dinner. Don't clear the canapé plate. It's not brain surgery, but it's taken me a long time to start to adopt their habits.
My mistake has always been to kid myself. You're not as heavy as … you look quite good in … it doesn't matter. But my weight does matter – to me. It affects me every day and although I'm a pretty happy and content person, my life can only be better if I don't have the extra weight.
So I signed up for MFP, got myself some wifi scales, which sync to the app so I can't lie any more, and in my first month I've lost 1st5lb. And I've still gone out with friends, still had the food and drink I enjoy and still lived life – just with moderation and assiduously logging my intake, even when I've eaten something I 'shouldn't' have.
And I'm really, really looking forward to wearing all those lovely clothes I've bought myself in previously slim incarnations!
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Replies
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Wishing you all the very best - it sounds like you now have the right mindset. Go for it
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very true....the only diet that is needed is CI/CO and staying at a calorie deficit consistently...It's stupid to pay money for WW and all the rest. Good luck with your journey!9
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Congrats!
And I agree. A 'diet' based on our culture tells you what you can or can't eat. I don't need any guidelines for telling me what to eat other than general nutrition common sense.
I think of nutrition as a budget - not that different from a financial budget. If you have $1800 per month available, then you have to figure out how to handle the needs (rent, utilities, necessary spending) and naturally cannot afford all the things you 'want'. Because lets face it - we are capable of wanting ALOT. For nutrition, its similar. We need to figure out what # of calories we have to work with - then figure out how to handle the needs (protein, healthy fats, food to keep us feeling satiated and energetic to make it thru the day) and then can figure out how to incorporate 'wants'.5 -
Absolutely to all of the above - and thanks for your responses. The mindset change has been about taking AWAY the restrictions. I allow myself anything I want - just not all of it all at the same time.
The financial simile is exactly right. Mr Micawber's "Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery." Just substitute calories for money.2 -
I don't even know you, and yet I'm so proud of you.
It took me a while to realize as well, that it wasn't a 'diet' I needed, it was a lifestyle change
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Thank you - that means a huge amount. It's scary but also enormously exciting to think that this is sustainable.5
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And the ones who will continue to struggle: are those who have not yet learned or are not willing to accept that a change in habits is what needs to happen. My sister has multiple health issues, and losing weight would help in many ways. She has tried calorie counting - but gets frustrated when she runs out of calories midway thru the day. And gives up.
I've heard it said: the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same things yet expect different results. Something must change in order to get different results!5 -
That is what happened to me too. I had a lifestyle change and that has help me lose the weight finally. Good luck in your journey!
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Insightful and inspiring!
The fool looks at a problem and attempts to place blame away from themselves. The wise look at a problem and hope they are responsible - if they are they can resolve it or at least make it better.
You may have read these, but here's a link to some of the most helpful posts on the site:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10300331/most-helpful-posts-getting-started-must-reads#latest5 -
Congrats and good for you!! I have also done the endless diet route, gain and lose thing. Last fall I opted to change my lifestyle instead, experienced success and have not looked back. You've picked the best plan, so go for it. Don't let small setbacks trip you up, keep your eyes on the end goal and live your life to the fullest.2
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Very nice!1
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I'll bet you don't have the diet book called "The Martini Diet": you start with your first double Martini (one olive only!) around mid - morning and from 5 p.m. you get really sozzled, 2 olives allowed per glass. Guaranteed, 100 % weight loss after about 6 months - liver cirrhosis. No joke, I had that book - but didn't try that diet. Nowadays I stick with MFP and I am grateful for the good advise I get from all those supportive members.1
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Echoing the posts above about the great mindset and progress so far.
Adding one little bit of caution. With a caveat about context (I don't know how overweight/obese you are).
1st5lb in 1 month is a lot. Be careful not to rush this too much. In no way do I want to sound negative about what you're doing, so.....congratulations again on your progress and even moreso on your mindset.
There can be negative consequences to doing this too quickly. Just be aware.2 -
I agree - having done LighterLife twice, I know quick loss doesn’t work for me.
I lost 8lb in the first 10 days, which was largely water. Since then I’ve slowed down a lot and am now losing about a pound a week. I want to lose another 4 stones and don’t mind if it takes me 2 years to do so, given that this is a sustainable, maintainable way of living, not of dieting.
And thanks to everyone for your replies to my first post!2 -
I agree - having done LighterLife twice, I know quick loss doesn’t work for me.
I lost 8lb in the first 10 days, which was largely water. Since then I’ve slowed down a lot and am now losing about a pound a week. I want to lose another 4 stones and don’t mind if it takes me 2 years to do so, given that this is a sustainable, maintainable way of living, not of dieting.
And thanks to everyone for your replies to my first post!
Perfect. Believe it or not, you are way ahead of where many posters are. Cliche, but knowledge is power, especially in this arena.1
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