My dislike of the word diet

MotivatedMom2012
MotivatedMom2012 Posts: 44
in Health and Weight Loss
I hear this word "diet" thrown all over the place. It USED to mean, your diet - as in, what you eat...but nowadays when you say "my diet" people assume you are "on a diet" limiting yourself to certain foods, or cutting out carbs, etc...

DIETS don't work. Lifestyle change WORKS. I've done diets. I've done the cutting out carbs, yup lost a ton of weight super quick and guess what happened when I started eating carbs again?

I've done the...don't eat this, don't eat that, have a cheat day...Didn't work for me. It's just too super strict right off the bat so it's hard to keep going.

I am a true believer that any changes you make to your eating habits and exercise habits should be small, so they can be continuous - FOR LIFE. Otherwise your weight loss will not last for life. Many Doctors and researchers have said that going up and down up and down up and down in weight is WORSE than just keeping the weight on all the time. It stresses the body.

So, this time around. I'm making small changes that I know I can get used to and stick with forever.

I just joined Myfitnesspal about 5 days ago, and been tracking everything - EVERYTHING that I have eaten. I was interested to see where do I stand? I can see I'm not eating enough calories, I was eating WAY too much sugar and sodium. So my goals each day is to try and eat more calories, less sugar and less sodium and drink more water.

I'm using a pedometer to keep track of my walking during the day. With two kids and running around, cleaning, laundry, cooking to do every day I'm surprised at how much I burn on a regular day without even "exercising" for now I'm not throwing in crazy workouts...just focused on getting the nutrition balanced first.

SMALL CHANGES! Don't cut ANYTHING out of your diet unless you feel it's something you can do most of the time for the rest of your life :)

Replies

  • tpittsley77
    tpittsley77 Posts: 607 Member
    I completely agree with everything you said. Welcome to mfp! This is the best resource I have ever found for getting healthy. After having two kids myself, I understand the struggles to lose the weight. I am currently down 28 pounds, just about half way to my goal weight! I am doing this for myself and for my kids. I want to be a good role model for them. I grew up with fat parents and became fat myself. I don't want that for my girls. This is a lifestyle change that I need to make. Practice what I preach.... Anyways, best of luck on your journey. You will hit bumps in the road. Don't give up! Keep on keepin on!
  • cari4jc1
    cari4jc1 Posts: 233
    I agree! I HATE diets. I think they are stupid and they don't work...not in the long run anyways. Changing your way of life is what works. Actually educating yourself and learning a new way of eating and living is what works. I am constantly surrounded by people that do this diet or that diet. I have had so many friends and relatives do the hcg diet. They lose a bunch of weight and are so excited and then they start eating again like a normal person...because a normal person can't survive on 500 calories a day...and they gain it all back plus some. My sister in law and mother in law have been on the weight watchers diet several times and lost weight so they stop, but then gain it all back and then some. Oh and the current rage that I keep hearing about is Body by Vi shakes. Seriously, so many of my friends are doing the shakes and that's alllll I ever hear about. Really, are you going to just replace your meals with shakes the rest of your life??? Why not actually learn to eat real food and DISCIPLINE yourself and be healthy for LIFE??
  • graciemom828
    graciemom828 Posts: 70
    You are so very right - I am almost 60 - have gained/lost several people in this life time plus having multiple belly surgeries, etc. One needs to eat right, exercise and keep portion control in mind. That word "diet" is a 4-letter word that has become so misused as you said. I find it horrible to think if one is being so strict that you never again can eat a dish of mac & cheese or a decadent ice cream treat. That seems counter to my nature and I suspect the nature of a lot of us humans!! I too think this web site is great as it is very hard for me to "journal food on paper" - just is not going to happen.

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