Doing one thing different
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| Sun, 04-25-2004 - 1:25pm |
Anyway, I've been counting calories and it is NOT working. I do well and get obsessive, then I get bingey and in the end (as with every diet) I end up gaining weight. So, I know I need to take a more behavioral strategy. So, I am hereby vowing to do only one thing different. From now on I am vowing to only eat when I am truly rumbly-tummy hungry. I know that making this one change will make a big difference to me. Even when I count calories or do ww or atkins I find myself eating when I'm not hungry because I have the calories or points or whatever. This behavior needs to end. So, I'm coming out here and stating that this is my new goal. Y'all can feel free to ask me how it's going because I probably need it.
Anyone else have one thing they really need to focus on?
Erin


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You know, I have to agree with you. Counting calories is key to weight loss and journaling is probably the best tool there ever was. You talk about Daelamans and she lost 75-100 pounds around 15 years ago and kept it off all this time, and she says repeatedly that at any given point in her day, even today after all these years, she knows were she stands calorie-wise for the rest of her day. And it's really a freeing thing too. But if Erin doesn't want to count calories, then she won't count calories so whatever. I also agree that this comparison she makes with alcoholism or smoking is absurd, but it's something obese people frequently bring up, whether on the news or elsewhere. Being overweight can lead to diseases, but it's not a disease and it's not an addiction and the way to "cure it" is counting calories and exercising normally, so I can't see as how she thinks it's stupid advice when a thin person she meets on the street or whereever suggests that she could track calories. I also think, or I know from personal experience, that it's generally not a really good idea to wait until you're famished and then try to figure out what unplanned meal your going to eat. It's a sure recipe for diseaster because, well that makes it easy to overeat or eat badly out of starvation and then really hate yourself in the morning. I think it's too easy to blame the thin person who offers a helpful suggestion, like she said in the first post, or to use addiction as an excuse for lack of planning and not exercising self control. But I hope she finds a way to resolve her issues with this and reach whatever goal she's set.
Someday you'll have to pass on some recipes! I could use the inspiration, anytime.
Hippolytes
Everybody knows that calorie reduction is the key to weight loss (whether that reduction is through eating less, exercising more, or some combination of the two). But for calorie counting to work as a weight loss method, the person counting the calories has to actually STOP when she's reached her daily limit. And that act of STOPPING is the single most difficult part of changing one's lifestyle.
I started counting calories in June, but did so just to see how much I was eating. I didn't expect to magically lose weight because I was counting calories. What the journaling experience did was open my eyes as to how much I was eating, and when I was READY, I started controlling my intake. (Somewhat.) But the journaling didn't give me the motivation to want to lose weight--the motivation came from somewhere else, and even now, when that motivation wanes, I can count calories, and can easily go over the limits I've established for myself.
You speak of motivation to lose weight like it's easily attained and maintained, and the reality is that it's not for many people. What the OP is seeking here is a way to get really motivated, because she's found that the motivation for weight loss doesn't come simply through counting calories. Just remember that not all overweight people are self-loathing; I've ALWAYS felt glad to be alive, so I have to find some other reason to WANT to lose weight. If you were miserable and hated yourself before you lost 150 pounds, that's really unfortunate for you, but that may not be what it takes for the OP to want to lose weight.
I have read a bit about the counting calorie "thingy" on here. Of course minus the ones that are ignored.
You know that is an issue my dietian and I discussed. She was adament about not counting calories, fat, carbs, etc. She wanted me to learn how my body was talking to me. She basically said that my body will let me know when it was time to eat and when it was time to stop eating. I had the hard part of listening. Of course, my body has naturally started to count calories on it's own. I just have to listen to it. Guess what it may have taken me a bit longer but I am losing weight.
You can make your body conform or you can listen to it and understand what it is telling you.
I also agree with you about it becoming an addiction. Anything can become an addiction especially if you are predisposed to that behavior.
Well, you're certainly right about that. The counting and stopping though can be helped by the journaling, if a person reaches the mindset of looking at that journal almost like a bank account, ie you stop spending for the day when it's empty for the day. And yes, that idea Kathleen Daelemans talks about in her book so I'm stealing her idea here.
>>What the journaling experience did was open my eyes as to how much I was eating, and when I was READY, I started controlling my intake.<<
Exactly! Motivation is one of those things which has to come from within, and I don't think anyone can do that for someone else. But talking with others, journaling, reading about how to start....and when READY doing that. That's the path all right.
Motivation is easier for some than for others. Wanting to live longer was my motivation, and it sure beats the alternative!
Forte
Simple calorie counting alone DOES NOT WORK for every person, or every person would be thin. If it were truly *simple*, it wouldn't be hard for some people.
At one point in time I was taking in 1000-1500 cals a day, balanced meals, more than reasonable exercise, and STILL not losing weight. Why? Because I am insulin resistant and it wasn't the calories causing the problem- it was the insulin the food created. I KNOW I'm not the only one who can attribute at least part of their weight gain to medical conditions. An underactive thyroid will screw you over in spite of your calorie intake, and that's just how it is. If your metabolism isn't moving, neither are the numbers on the scale.
I know I'm also not the only person who never *learned* about healthy eating at home. We ate the same 10 or so meals ALL THE TIME. And they weren't especially healthy or balanced. Food was reward, food was affection, because it was the form that it came in. When I got older I taught myself what I needed to know (the basic burning more cals than you eat), but it still doesn't work with the thyroid and insulin resistance. CALORIES are NOT the key for everyone. I am glad for you if they've been your saving grace, but it's not the same for all people.
Some people turn to drugs and alcohol when stress or other triggers are present. Some people turn to food. How is it that drugs and alcohol are acceptable as "addictions" and yet food is not? It is serving the same purpose, albeit in a different way. It's NOT an "easy excuse" as you suggest. It's often harder to say "I'm fat" than it is to say "I'm a substance abuser" because there are people who look at those with food issues as somehow less than an *actual* person. Every single person with ANY addiction can change it for themselves if they really want to, but that doesn't invalidate the addiction in the first place.
Planning a meal would take away from it's enjoyment for me if I had to spend too much time doing it. I have made healthy meals served on a clean tablecloth with or without a pretty centerpiece in an hour or less, and I don't think it's any less "special" to my family than a fancy meal. In fact, it's probably more special because I have time to spend with them rather than all my time in the kitchen beforehand preparing and afterwards cleaning up. I enjoy my life more fully when I don't have to spend a lot of it in the kitchen where I am not with my family. When I am in the mood to cook, great. When I am not, I don't want to be tied to the stove. And to be honest, between my husband's work schedule, church, my kids' soccer schedules and school things, and my obligations to other relatives, I don't have the time to do any "gourmet" cooking. I'm barely able to fit it all in and still have some time to myself to post online and check my mails, etc.
I am glad that what you've done seems to have worked for you. But it doesn't work for everyone.
You've omitted the key component to all of this: how does a person reach that mindset of looking at food like money? For you it was wanting to live longer. For me, it was a number of factors. But for the OP, the solution isn't so simple. Why do you tell her that all she has to do is count calories when she's ALREADY said that doesn't work? Are you just trying to be argumentative?
You can't have it both ways, Forte--you can't say that motivation comes from within and then disparage someone for not being motivated by the same things that motivate you. If you really want to help the OP, why don't you admit that her struggle is real, and suggest things that might motivate her to lose weight? Better yet, why don't you just say, "I think your idea of changing one thing at a time is a great approach to weight loss, and I hope it works for you" and leave it at that.
Edited 4/27/2004 4:27 pm ET ET by jess9802
u know... I am trying (for the hundreth time in my life) to do one thing different.
And, in fact, I can't tell you exactly what it is I am doing. And I can tell you there's no straight answer for that. It's not just about food, and, unfortunately , not just about health. It's about life... and that's what I 'm trying to change, my approach to life...and to join this board has been a step I took. Eating natural food is something else I'm trying, massage will be something else. I told my doctor the old medicine wasn't working, so now I'm taking another one (wellbutrin I guess).
One thing I can tell you, at least, is that: whatever you decide to change, do it, enjoy it, and weight if it has helped or not. And, we must not forget things don't just happen overnight, so... try to settle a time limit ... for example: I ordered some books and they're arriving on may 14. So, whenever I think things maybe taking long, I think that they are happening before may 14, which means soon. Don't know if u get my point... but anyway... I hope it helps someway.
Naia
<>--Forte10
Your statement that there is no genetic basis for being overweight is patently false. I can assure you that there is ample scientific evidence that body weight, BMI and even binge eating behavior are to a large extent influenced by genes. Is there an "obesity gene"? Absolutely not. Complex behaviors are with very few exceptions polygenic and we will never, ever discover an "obesity gene" or a "smoking gene" or an "alcoholic gene."
A recent study published in the International Journal of Eating disorders (Bulk, Sullivan & Kendler, 2003) found that the heritability of obesity was .86, and the heritability of binge eating was .49. Heritability is the proportion of variance in the expression of a trait that is due to genetics. These results are very consistent with the overall research literature. And since you assert some knowledge about the state of the scientific literature in genetics, I am certain that you are aware that Ken Kendler is a pioneer in the field of behavior genetics and is widely revered for his science. Mike Neale and colleagues have found similarly high heritabilities for obesity, and further found that there was an additive genetic effect.
My main complaint, Forte, is that you are making bold statements about a scientific literature that you clearly have not taken the time to understand. Most research is not featured in the popular media (such as the Today Show) and you can't rely on what is presented in the media to inform you about such important issues.
Now, that being said, the finding that body weight and specific eating behaviors are heritable in no way relieves anyone (myself included) from responsibility for their own eating behavior, and if you (especially Hippolytes) re-read my original post you will see that I never made such an assertion. However, I would argue that such predispositions do make it more difficult for some people to lose weight in general. Yes, calorie counting, when adhered to strictly produces weight loss. No one has argued this point with you.
In response to your other comments, Forte many were valid. I do enjoy "Cooking Thin" when I have the opportunity to watch television. But as you have pointed out many times, a refreshing nature walk is a healthy recreational pursuit and I much prefer that to watching television.
<< I also agree that this comparison she makes with alcoholism or smoking is absurd, but it's something obese people frequently bring up, whether on the news or elsewhere.>> --Hippolytes
Hippolytes, a similar comment for you. The comparison is not absurd. I'd like to recommend some of the recent and fascinating research on polymorphisms of the dopamine D2 receptor. Eating, smoking, and drinking activate very similar responses in the dopaminergic system, and certain variants in the genes that code for dopamine receptors predispose individuals to addictive behaviors including compulsive overeating.
Best wishes to each of us as we pursue weight loss using the techniques that work best for us as unique individuals.
Erin
Mom
Erin
Mom
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