Weigh-loss, Diet or entire lifestyle change which are you do

I consider it both. I've been on a healthy eating diet for the past 25 (or so) years. I plan to continue the diet, since for me that is the easy part.

I have changed my lifestyle (again) to include regular exercise. My goal is to continue this new lifestyle for rest of my life. But I've had that goal before and let work, family and other obligations siderail it for months at a time. Hopefully that will not be the case this time.

Is this weight loss you are seeking, is it a diet or whole new lifestyle change? If so, what's the difference to you and why do you think so (if you say lifestyle change or diet)?

A little from each. My motivation went like this: I was starting to go back to school after a 4-year hiatus and I took a look at the photo on my student ID. I did NOT like what I saw. I was also eating fast food A LOT. I had a bunch of excuses for this (I'm rushed, I just don't have time to eat properly, who really cares what I eat, etc). This was a) costing a lot of money and b) doing VERY bad things to my GI tract. So I resolved to be more healthy to stop the gut pain, to save money, and to be able to not have to spend any more money on new pants

If you say lifestyle change, what are you doing differently--that distinguishes this weigh loss effort from a diet?

Well I'm eating out less frequently and cooking more. I've found a few new activities I like and am actively pursuing them (I took a kickboxing class, and it is FUN!). I don't forbid myself any foods, I still eat chocolate and I still drink soda (albeit much more infrequently) and they taste BETTER when they are an occasional treat instead of an everyday occurrence. The only real thing I've 100% eliminated is trans fats, since they are HORRID for you. I've been eating more local and natural foods, which means changing the way I shop.

Lastly, what is a lifestyle change to you--what's your definition of a lifestyle change and why or why isn't it important to you on your weight loss mission?

A lifestyle change is the acknowledgment that you have not been doing things the way you want to, and making a conscious effort to change that.

I want to be able to take longer walks with my German Shepherd without him laughing at me huffing and puffing. I'd like to be eating meat that is treated humanely and is grain fed and free to roam about. I'd like to treat things like beer, ice cream, chocolate cake, and soda as something to treat myself instead of a staple of my diet. I'd like to take up spelunking again, there are some beautiful caves around here formed into the shale. I'd like to not have my GI tract try to kill me after a meal.

Also having my husband looking at me more is a plus.

This is a lifestyle change for me. That means that I am changing my relationship with food and reducing it's hold on me. I was treating food like an idol or god......use it to celebrate with, turn to it to ease my pain, use it to deal with stress, etc. I was not using food to sustain me and nourish me or make me stronger. It was an unhealthy relationship with unhealthy side effects, ie weight gain!!!

So....Yes I'm counting my calories but that is only to make sure that I am using food to fuel me and in a way that is healthy. This is NOT a diet because I'm not eating diet food, I'm not cutting foods out of my life, I'm not cutting fat/carbs/protein/etc that would be unhealthy. I'm learning to find the healthy balance and the best way for food to get me where I need to be.

I'm also exercising and learning to make that a priority and part of my lifestyle change. My ultimate goal is health with the byproduct of that being weight loss. Already my resting heart rate has dropped from the mid 80's to the low 70's. My heart is working more efficiently. I want to run with my kids, see them graduate, get married and grow up. I want to look good doing it and if changing my lifestyle will get me there it's worth it.

And I still eat out, I still drink alcohol, I still have dessert.....when I want it and have the calories for it. And if I don't have the calories for it...then I get my butt up and earn it!!!

This is very complex for me. I do want to lose a significant amount of weight. I need to lose it, I'm middle age and can no longer count on genetics to keep my relatively healthy. Two years ago at my work, we had to participate in a health screening for insurance. I was eating crap and was thrilled at the results--LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HA1C all in a very healthy range. The only thing that was off was my BMI/weight/waist. So I skated by knowing that I got lucky, and knowing that likely I wouldn't be lucky forever.

Still, I had trouble breaking bad habits. What's worse is that I am a registered nurse and I know better. I see pts. all the time on a long list of meds that could be significantly reduced by better health.

I've also done the diet thing, and was unwilling to start a diet again, knowing that I'd be miserable. I'm not a pleasant person to be around when I'm dieting. Therefore, I decided to attack it from the exercise POV. I was shocked to learn how much fitness I had lost when I regained the weight I'd lost on Weight Watchers. After a month on the treadmill, I was having a lot of pain in my right foot, which I knew was going to be an obstacle. I have posterior tibial tendonopathy in my right foot, and have dealt with this issue since childhood. I took a good chunk of December off recovering and discouraged.

Once I was feeling better pain wise, I started up again in January. I knew exercise would be easier if I lost weight. Someone suggested this website to me, and I set up an account almost a month ago now. When I realized how much I actually could eat, that the site was free, and that there was an app for my phone--I decided to "test" myself. I began playing with food intake, determined *NOT* to eat "diet" food aka foods that I already didn't eat. During the past 25 days, I have made some adjustments to both food and diet, but again it's crucial for me that this be lifestyle oriented, something that didn't drive my husband nuts, and something that was sustainable over the long haul.

To that end, although I am watching the numbers on the scale, my mantra has been "lifestyle and health, not a number on the scale". Yes and push/pull because I *WANT* to be smaller, I'm well over 200 pounds and only 5' tall. How can I encourage my pts. to be healthier when I look like this?

In the past 25 days, I have found I have improved energy and endurance. I'm exploring different exercise options. I'm eating a wide variety of foods, and eat a lot more fruits and veggies. I'm working 4-5 days a week for an hour. It' a process, ever evolving.

Sorry for the long response.

I am having so much fun losing the weight I might put it back on again so I can lose it again.

Lifestyle change. I know that I have a medical disorder now and if I don't take control and do what I need to do to keep my weight under control it will kill me. I have been almost 400 lbs before and even on an 800 calorie a day inpatient diet I gained weight, back then surgery was my only option. I lost it all got down to 118 (which by the way is WAY to small for 5'9" large frame me) but then it started coming right back on. It was only after my diagnosis that we knew what was really causing my gain and it took me a while to accept it since so many people (like the ones here) says it's all about calories in and calories burned, well that may work for the other 99% of the population but not for me. This HAS to be a LIFESTYLE change.

Is this weight loss you are seeking, is it a diet or whole new lifestyle change? If so, what's the difference to you and why do you think so (if you say lifestyle change or diet)?

Definitely a lifestyle change. To me, a diet was a certain type of meal or food you had to eat everyday, it gets boring. Counting calories is a lifestyle change because you can almost eat whatever you want with proper portion control.

If you say lifestyle change, what are you doing differently--that distinguishes this weigh loss effort from a diet?

I don't feel a disconnect with other people around me. I'm eating what they're eating just not at the rate that got me there before. On a diet, you look of it as a chore and it is mentally tough because there are so many rules. As for what I'm doing different or how I feel compared to a predetermined diet; I'm sticking to it, losing, and am happy about the entire process.

Lastly, what is a lifestyle change to you--what's your definition of a lifestyle change and why or why isn't it important to you on your weight loss mission?

A lifestyle change is just the right mindset I believe. It's a commitment to the entire process; eating healthier, exercising, and just really giving a crap about your health. It's important because it's the right process, to get the results (weight loss), you need the right process.

THIS!

Is this weight loss you are seeking, is it a diet or whole new lifestyle change? If so, what's the difference to you and why do you think so (if you say lifestyle change or diet)?

If you say lifestyle change, what are you doing differently--that distinguishes this weigh loss effort from a diet?

Lastly, what is a lifestyle change to you--what's your definition of a lifestyle change and why or why isn't it important to you on your weight loss mission?

Thanks so much in advance for your reply. I think our answers will really inspire someone or at least give us something to "chew on" pun intended:happy:

Primarily weight-loss, rather than a whole new way of living (at this point at least). I've always eaten "healthy" food, but over the past few years I've been eating a bit too much of it and the weight has slowly crept on, and I want it OFF! I'm loving MFP because it makes me keep a close eye on how much I'm eating - I'm not so tempted to reach for second helpings when I know I have to record it and it's going to put me in the red! It also reminds me to exercise, which I can be a bit lazy about normally.

I'm not considering it a "diet" though, because I associate that word with unhealthy, restrictive, horrible eating plans involving cabbage soup/grapefruits/whatever. Been there, done that, doesn't work for me AT ALL!

Mine definitely started off as a need/desire to lose weight, but yesterday I had a personal NSV that made me know for sure that what I've managed to acheive is a life-style change with the added benefit of losing weight & getting healthier...

I've been down with the flu for the past week and had not worked out since last Monday. I felt fat, gross and lazy all week, though I was in no shape to work-out while running a 102 fever & sweating away in my bed. Needless to say, I was super jazzed to finally get back to it yesterday. That in & of itself is a small victory since daily work-outs were not even a part of my life 3 short months ago. The bigger victory came after the work-out, though, when I realized how GREAT it felt to complete that work-out, to know that I had done it, pushed myself beyond what I'd thought myself capable of so soon and not given in to any excuses of 'maybe I'm not ready yet, maybe my body needs more time, etc etc etc'...it was a natural high akin to great sex!!! It felt so fabulous to know that I have now conditioned my body to not only expect and respond to regular work-outs, but to WANT them. :happy:

lifestyle change, meaning I plan to do this for the rest of my life and keep it off.

Mine journey is weight loss but through a lifestyle change. I have learned from the past that diets are just a huge waist of time. I want to live longer and be around to see my great grandkids! I want to be with my family as long as possible and enjoy life instead of being restriced by this weight!

at first - diet. weight loss. have to fit into a wedding dress by summer 2012.

now - lifestyle change, completely. i learned very quickly if i stop "dieting" i'm just going to fall back into my old bad habits and gain the weight right back. so i decided to stop dieting. instead, i live a healthy lifestyle. i exercise, eat healthy foods, but also enjoy the bad foods - in moderation. life is too short not to enjoy the cake (in my opinion). do i need to have a slice of cake everyday or a HUGE slice of cake? no. but a piece of cake once in a while? at a party? for a holiday? sure, why not? if it fits into my day, then I can be all over it.
so now its not JUST about the wedding dress. it's about ALL clothes, bikinis, being comfortable in my own skin, and hearing "your cholesterol is normal" and "you are healthy" when I go to the doctor and hearing one of my friends ask me for food and exercise advice.

this whole counting cals thing works for me. i get it, it gets me. even maintaining i think it is helpful. i do not EVER plan on slipping back in my old ways. i am too happy right now to ever want to be in that dark place again.

changing my lifestyle. Eating healthier & more exercise. Strength training is a completely foreign concept to me but I'm getting into it.
I realized after a few weeks here that tho I don't like 'working out' I DO like exercise - bicycling, swimming - stuff like that.
For me- I guess I kind of lost myself in my last (bad) marriage and pretty much adopted my ex's unhealthy lifestyle/menu.
So while I'm getting back to healthy habits I know, I'm learning all kinds of new things here.
why? I'm getting older and I want to be the healthiest senior I can be for a better quality of life in my 'golden years'. My friend's mother-in-law lived to be over 80 but her last 10-15 years she was pretty much blind (from diabetes) and confined to the house due to multiple medical condtions & overweight. Pretty much a slow death. *shudder*
God willing, I don't want that to happen to me
I want to LIVE TILL I DIE

At first I just wanted to get rid of this weight, but after two months and reaping all the many benefits (more energy, losing weight, less digestive problems, less stress, less headaches-literally), it is something that feels so good that it will be easy to do the rest of my life.

^^^this.

mine is very definetly a lifestyle change.
to me a diet is a temporary calorie lowering to lose weight, then when you get to your goal and 'come off' the diet, you put it all back on plus more.
Ive done that repeatedly for the last 15 years, this time I want to be healthy, fit and maintain my loss long term so its all about going for healthier choices, everything in moderation and working out rather than resorting to stupidly low 'diet' calories.