are we really on diets?

[Kallygirlie]

So before I took a shower tonight I got to thinking. Looking at myself in the mirror just simply makes me sick. one of my close friends weighted 260lbs back when she was dating my current boyfriend. I used to wonder how anyone let themselves get that big and yet here I am 35lbs away from that. and now the questions are directed to me. How did I get here? It feels like I was 135lbs a yr ago but lord dont we know I'm not. As I was actually showering I got to wondering. How many of us are guilty of saying we are dieting but really its in our heads. There's been times i'm "on a diet". Yes, I'll eat a little better and I'll even work out a few days I know its not enough then I get upset because I dont lose. Although over the past few months I've worked hard and have been more dedicated I've been able to maintain my weight. I cut out soda's, I drink ALOT more water and eat alot more heathy. My normal snacks at work consist of carrots, celery, grapes, apples and other various fruits and veggies, just depends on my mood. Here's my problem tho. I have a wierd thing with bacon. Its like sooo flippin horrible for me but I've always loved bacon. I find myself givin in on running to get lunch from fast food places which I know is sooo horrible and is not gonna get me anywhere. Take today for example. Last night I packed my lunch. I had a little over 500 calories in my bag for the entire day at work, anoter 300 for dinner. I was coming in as a little over 800 calories for the day. giving myself a little room if I want my tea with dinner. That is completely do able when it comes to burning calories working out. Then I had my craving today for fast food for breakfast and messed it all up. Then I come home and have to rush to get dinner ready before my boyfriend has to be at work. before I know it, its dark out and my diea of bikin is thrown out the window.. Its really no fault but my own.

So how many people will honestly admit that they are as dedicated to there diet as they say they are? I know I cant be the only one. Its a proven fact that if you lower your intake of fattening foods and exercise more then you will drop weight yet there's so many people who say no matter what they do, it they can't lose. I know the little change i've made has made a different because at least I stopped the gain and I'm just maintaining. That should make losing that much easier because i've ended the rise. I was just curious who is in my shoes

[LanaBear]

Hmmm - let me tell you my opinion/theory.

After two kids, I felt I struggled with my weight, but it was mommy weight and nothing I would regret but I think mentally it bothered me more than I let on. I was so active in HS and for a few years after that, so it was hard for me to digest the extra poundage.

I tried everything known to man to get rid of the weight I wanted to. A couple of years ago I had my aha moment. I can't even reference the D (diet) word in my vocabulary. It is the most evil word known to man! To me, being on a diet means I'm doing without something. And when I'm doing without something, I want it more than anything! Instead of dieting, I simply watch what I eat.

I was more successful "watching" what I ate and limiting what I ate than any diet program, this, that or the other combined. Trust me, I indulge! I'm addicted to Skittles, I eat a half a bag every day. But if those 3 bags of Skittles a week help me watch what I eat, so be it. I don't deny myself anything, I can't, it don't work that way with me. It's a complete mental game in my opinion.

About two months ago I started tracking everything on livestrong (daily plate) just out of curiosity to see what I was eating. I'm still tracking, which is amazing with me (I get bored very easily and have a short attention span ). I was exercising 2 days on, 1 day off, about two weeks ago I started exercising everyday, I was getting bored NOT doing it.

So, yeah, long story short, I don't (insert D word here), I watch what I eat. My AHA moment has been my most successful plan to date.

[happy ending]

i would have to agree with lanabear, all the "diets" i went on just made me fatter, now i exercise everyday, with a brisk walk in the evening, have just started yoga, also do belly dancing, eat what i like and amazingly have lost weight. bacon alone will not make you fat. you need to really think about things and avoid diets.

[Kallygirlie]

see I think thats the problem. I'm soooo tired of hearing the D word. You are so right, Dieting means you are depriving yourself of something and it makes youw ant it that much more. When i lost 40lbs a few yrs ago, i didn't change anything with my eating, and just up my exercise and just dropped. I'm just having a huge issue getting back into that workout.

[happy ending]

what do you think the problem is? is it because you get tired, or too busy??

[Kallygirlie]

I honestly think the word diet puts to much pressure on everything. It should be a diet. Diets are temp. it should be a way of life. My problem boils down to a few things. 1 eating right is so expensive. America wonders why there are so many over weight people in the country, look at the grocery stores. Its much cheaper to go by boxed meals over fresh produce. This is one lump I've been able to deal with lately. I have to buy enough for 2 because my boyfriend is like a bottomless pit sometimes and if he sees fresh fruits and veggies he's all over them (which doesn't upset me as long as he replenish what he takes. Then comes exercising. After my commute home, its after 6pm. I gotta get dinner fixed and send my man off to work by 6:30. by the time I actually sit down, the suns going down so my wanting to get back on my bike keeps getting pushed aside. every 4 days, my boyfriend is off. He works 4 days and off 4 days. when he's off i can put dinner aside a few hrs and he'll come biking with me which i will start tomorrow (his first day off) but what about those other days when I cant. I'm lost at what I should do in the house. I honestly think it comes down to the wor diets killing my motivation and trying to find a way to fit exercise in my days. First thing in the moring is out of the question because I HATE mornings. I alreay have to wake up by 6, theres no way I can get up earlier than that.

[LanaBear]

I honestly think the word diet puts to much pressure on everything. It should be a diet. Diets are temp. it should be a way of life.

Bingo!!!

Regarding exercising, same way here. I won't do it in the morning, I'd rather do other things. I won't do it at night, too busy. Only option left, during the day, lunchtime. Not sure what you do for work, but can you go for a walk, walk flights of stairs, etc...

My meals are rather predictable too. We'll usually go to lunch once a week and dinner once a week. But I don't change a lot of stuff up.

Breakfast - Yoplait Light Banana n Strawberries yogurt and apple or banana. Sometimes I'll switch it up and have a granola bar and fruit.
Lunch - I'll make a turkey wrap and have Toasted Wheat Thins.
Dinner - Varies, usually we'll BBQ something, with other stuff.

[WildChild]

Don't diet to lose weight. Change your lifestyle (inc eating habits) to get healthy.

[Kallygirlie]

Lanabear, I work in a law firm so I'm in heels everyday. I bring extra shoes to work just to walk. I dont usually walk at lunch tho because I get a 30min lunch and well I know its better to take your time eating you you register being full then shoving it in and end up bloated. I normally walk tho on both of my 15min breaks. 15 at 10am and 15 at 2:30 pm. I guess I dont see that as exercising, it's more of a "krystal, WAKE UP!!!!" To me its so not enough. Like I said, tonight I am so going to get back on my bike with my man. Well that is, if the weather allows it. Didn't realize it was going to rain today. I will find a way tho.

[OhThereYouAre]

I was hitting it hard before I went on holiday - until yesterday I hadn't worked out for 3 weeks. Oh - and I ate like sh!t.

Started back yesterday. Feel better already.