Lifestyle change or Diet?
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| Thu, 04-27-2006 - 3:52pm |
I’m curious on your outlook about what you are doing… In the past whenever I tried to lose weight, I would try to think about it as a lifestyle change, but it was really a diet. I counted calories, and cried if I cheated, I obsessed about what my next meal would be and if I had enough carrots and stuff to get me thru a craving for chocolate or chips.
Today what I am doing is not a diet… Now I really really believe I have a lifestyle change. And this may not work for everyone, but I wanted to share how I changed my outlook on life and my food intake.
first – I have been on the same change since September – the longest I have ever really stuck with anything – so to me it’s a change not a diet – cause this is easy. Why is it easy?
I don’t count calories, I have McDonalds, I eat Pizza and I’ve lost 47 pounds since September.
I faced the fact that if I really wanted to change, I knew I wasn’t going to count calories forever – so I wasn’t going to put myself thru the stress of it now. I knew I would have McDonalds and Pizza in my future – so why deny it now? What I did was learn how to order the Happy Meal – or if I’m really hungry the Medium Meal. I have only two slices of pizza – and my diet coke with splenda.
Three things which are dramatic changes that will change forever: cut sugar from my diet. (I do have the occasional candy or piece of cake – but the lethargic feeling I get afterward makes it not worth it)- Thank god for Splenda ;)
I will incorporate exercise in my life for good. (I REALLY still need to get motivated for that) And I will be increasing my water intake for life as well – Three permament changes. The rest are just re-learning to be happy with what I am eating and enjoy the flavor of every bite.
I like Slimfast, and I like apples – so I have that for lunch during the weekdays at work, and when I say apple, I mean a huge apple – lol. So I am actually full by the time lunch is done. Sometimes I get hungry later in the afternoon and I have bullion cubes that I make a quick broth out of and drink it up J Sometimes with one hard pretzel. and a diet coke. I don’t like to be hungry as you can tell – lol.
I don’t know what you think of my mind set or if you think I am a recipe for disaster. All I know is for the first time in 20 years (since I was 16) this is easy…

obviously what you are doing is working for you and that is all that matters isn't it? Especially if you are still having your fave foods which means you know that you will keep it off in the end due to you won't go off a diet. That is me, I am trying to retrain myself not to eat due to boredom or emotions and not to OVEREAT!! I grew up poor and well we didn't like to waste so now I don't like to waste. I am getting better with that though. Now if I can just train myself to eat the happy meal instead of the super size meal..LOL! Pizza I do good with most of the time, I don't eat but a couple slices but that comes from the fear of heartburn. LOL I can eat it without that now but I still feel like if I eat it I will get heartburn. I personally like your outlook, and If I thought I could do it I would be right there with you, and in a way I am, only I do count calories and fat. This is my way of retraining myself not to overeat. If I can stay within a certain calorie range for a while maybe it will make my body automatically cut off after that much once I am over the weight loss.
I wish you the best of luck. Obviously you are well on your way.
Good for you
Angela
Angela
Life style change is the way I look at it. Since once I get to where I want to be, it's not like I am going to go back to eating crap all the time.
It's all in the attitude.
Karen
Hi!
I too look to the lifestyle change. I recently started attending OA meetings, reading, writing and praying for help from God has helped loads. I have a sponsor and eat on what is called a 3-0-1 plan (3 meals a day nothing in between 1 day at a time) If I short myself on a meal (which brings between meal hunger) I allow myself coffee, tea, water, diet soft drinks or fruit juice. (Juice keeps me from letting my sugar get too low between meals IF that is a problem) I no longer count calories (for now that may need to change in the future) as I was obsessing about what I could fit in with my calories. I weigh myself once every 2 weeks to replace the daily (sometimes several times a day) weigh-in I used to do.
For exercise I park farther from things to purposefully add some walking to my day, sometimes I also do walking in the house. I have a YMCA membership but have not been there lately I want to start back. I guess I need to make that a standing appointment just like OA meetings.
I do have a couple of 'binge' foods (foods that can bring on a binge) and I don't eat those at all. Other than that I eat whatever I want at each meal.
My weight loss so far (tomorrow I weigh) but have lost 8 pounds the first 3 weeks. The weight loss has felt easy.
The hardest part has been that I have come to realize that I eat to keep from feeling emotions that trouble me. I ate to remove anger, depression, stress, (basically you name an emotion I can eat for it.) So now I am FEELING all these things so much more -- like exaggerated, I cry at the drop of a hat and yell at everyone (which I was yelling before) so that is what I need to work on -- letting my feelings come and just accepting them -- not tossing them like BOMBS at those around me. I also found that I volunteer to do things I don't really want to do and I am no longer going to do that- I feel used up but it is my own fault.
Sorry to ramble but this is how I deal with things now by writing.
Valerie
328/313/145
Well you might think I'm crazy but I actually like to count calories. I am on 1400 calories a day. I can eat anything I want as long as it fits into my calories so I get to eat pizza or McDonald's or whatever else I feel like. The best way for me to do that is to make up my menu in advance. I sit down and figure out everything I'm going to eat for the next week. This is what works for me. Apparently you've found something that works for you too. Congratulations on getting sugar out of your diet, I'm still struggling with that one. I don't think you're heading for disaster at all you have obviously been succeeding (47 pounds!!!!) Good luck in the future!
~Adria
Congratulations on finding your way. And congratulations on the 47lbs you lost so far!! This is awesome! Keep going!!
I do agree with you that trying to lose weight in a 'diet' frame of mind will not be very helpful in keeping the weight off. Because once someone gets off the diet and back to the old eating habits, then the weight will eventually come back on. It's like you're not learning anything. On the other hands, IMO establishing healthy new habits is a key for permanent weight loss.
I am going on a lifestyle change. My whole attitude towards eating has changed and that I consider a big victory. I do like counting calories and I will be doing this for the rest of my life. That's the way it goes for me. Counting calories, saying no when I'm not hungry, together with many more habits I am picking up is all part of MY lifestyle change.
Good luck to us all :)