No More CRASH diets! Help! Need Encouragment.

vancouverislandgirl
vancouverislandgirl Posts: 3
edited October 4 in Health and Weight Loss
Once again I've slowly managed to pack on 25 pounds while I was preoccupied with life's little drama's over the summer. MAN ... I'm
tired of being HERE. Anyway - in the past I've always just jumped on the latest and greatest crash diet craze and dropped my excess weight with very little effort ... then I turned 40 - and nothing was ever the same again ... crash diet after crash diet after crash diet, yo-yo-yo-yo-yo ... ENOUGH already. I've decided to brighten up and get serious about adopting a more healthy approach to weight loss -by getting back to regular exercise and watching what I eat by counting calories. I know the drill,
calories in vs. calories out ... create a deficit ... slow and steady win's the race! But just the thought of only ONE or TWO pounds a week makes me cringe and crave donuts! How do I change my mind-set ... how do I convince myself that slow and stead and smart
dieting is the real answer - when my subconscious is SCREAMING CRASH DIET. :sad:

Replies

  • ashnm88
    ashnm88 Posts: 748
    You have to tell yourself that its a lifestyle change.
  • bigprettygirl69
    bigprettygirl69 Posts: 19 Member
    Don't do more damage to yourself with the crash dieting. We all want the quit fix, but this game is about LONGEVITY and slow and steady always wins the race. I hope that helps and stop by sometime and we can motivate each other. Good Luck
  • A_New_Horizon
    A_New_Horizon Posts: 1,555 Member
    Crash diets only work for so long then the weight comes back. It takes hard work - any of us will tell you. This is a process and a slow one at that. It seems so easy ot put weight on but takes forever to take it off. Slow and steady DOES win the race - I am living proof of that. I thought the same thing a year ago, and here I am 55 lbs lighter. Still around - you will meet alot of amazing people who will encourage/support you along the way. Just take baby steps - don't try changing everything at once. For the first 4 or 5 months of my life style change, I didn't workout only watched what I ate then I added exercising. Then, a few months later, I started incorporating more water and less diet sodas - it made things easier on me (just a suggestion). Like I tell everyone, there is no magic pill or potion - it is all about portion control and exercising.
  • Chunky_As_Charged
    Chunky_As_Charged Posts: 64
    You should try to not make it about a "diet" in any sense - whether a crash diet or a slow and steady one. It's a change to the way you live your life - a change for the better - a change for YOU. A long-lasting change is going to be slow. It means taking baby steps to re-train your habits. We all get discouraged at times when we're doing this.

    When I get frustrated with this, I look at myself in the mirror and say out loud that I'm going to keep that one or two pounds off this time because it was a slow loss, because I had to work for that loss.

    If you need some additional encouragement, feel free to add me as a friend.
  • quiksandy
    quiksandy Posts: 246 Member
    Do you have family and friends you can picture in your head as you diet? I mean, loved ones that you want to be around for for a long time. It sounds like you do know that a healthy diet is better than a fad diet. So change your internal dialog. Tell yourself, "I'm not trying to just get skinny but I'm trying to get healthy and be around for the people I love".
  • graysmom2005
    graysmom2005 Posts: 1,882 Member
    Welcome, and I hear you! Remind yourself, especially now that we are heading towards the pre-menopausal stage...that yo-yo dieting is KILLING your metabolism and ability to lose the weight. You will come to find the next time you try...you can't. We don't want that! :-) Feed your body, and exercise to get that furnace BURNING. Opt for strong...not skinny.....fit....not bony. The benefits of doing this the right way is not only a hot lookin' bod, but one that will keep you healthy and lower your chance of heart disease, cancer, diabetes...you name it! Find an exercise you LOVE! Mine was spinning...it was my one hour departure from reality....and the cleaner you eat the better you will feel. Welcome aboard!
  • Rachaelluvszipped
    Rachaelluvszipped Posts: 768 Member
    Well, what works for me...is...just knowing its coming close to my mini goal...have you set mini goals before? I have set mine for every 2-3 months...and every little success..whether it be pounds, inches, sizes...it all helps me go further...plus the extra bonuses of my friends and family seeing my results...and supporting me...I encourage you to add people with a positive attitude, that have advice to give..be flexible and being able to take some advice..or just letting the advice slide..if its not for you...If your not overly sensitive to advice given..you can add me...I don't mind having tons of friends...you can ask me anything..and I will try and get the answer for you if I don't have it..

    You can check out my food diary..and see that I don't really deny myself anything...I just try and keep under my net calories..Which I will suggest you eat your exercise calories back..lol
  • GibsonDarlin
    GibsonDarlin Posts: 202 Member
    i have a goal of 80lbs - I have lost 14 in about 7 weeks. As the time goes on, I find it easier to do. I like feeling better, moving faster, sleeping better. I gave up my beloved Dr. Peppers for the past 2 months and I don't miss them. It takes awhile to learn your calories and try new foods, but you can do it!!! I never deny myself anything, I only like 3 McDs french fries (from my kids plate). I PLAN PLAN PLAN. IF we are going out to eat I search the website ahead of time. I do better if I pack breakafst/lunch/snacks the night before and log it so you SEE how much you are eating, if you can plan dinner in advance that works wonder!!!

    Life will always give you a bump in the road the trick is to get back on track fast!!!
  • ruststar
    ruststar Posts: 489 Member
    What's helped me is seeing where yo-yo dieting gets you. Let's see...if you'd been working on losing 1 lb per week over the course of the summer you would have lost 12 pounds. If crash dieting, as you've seen, you probably lost a bit, quickly, then slowly gained it all back, plus some and you're up 25. Now which was the better deal? Down 12, or up 25?
  • vancouverislandgirl
    vancouverislandgirl Posts: 3
    Thank you to everyone so, so, so much for taking the time out of your day to give me these words of encouragement. They were so badly needed and they are now so gratefully appreciated :) Made my day. I can do this!
  • psych101
    psych101 Posts: 1,842 Member
    How about instead of a 'healthy approach to weight loss' you look at it as a healthy approach to Life?

    Eating better and shaking your booty (exercising) are the things that make you feel good! Focus on that when you're struggling with the dreaded scale - after all, a number on a scale can't tell you how awesome you are, how healthy you are, or that you can run and jump and play...nope, its just a number :)

    Its a good life.

    xx
  • 40Rennie
    40Rennie Posts: 28
    I am so with you. I been there done that wrote the book. You're so not alone, I just realize that if I keep crash dieting I will surely gain it back because its a temporary fix. When you do it the right way which is usually slower than desired, that way of eating and exercising will become a new good habit (a way of life). I just notice that my friends and family members who have successfully lost weight and kept it off made it a way of life.
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