So... I'm happy to report that I've been doing well with my eating since last Wednesday. And I've been doing a lot of thinking about how I need to eat for the rest of my life. I can't just look at this as a "diet." I need to learn how to eat.
Maybe I should focus on what I SHOULD eat instead of what I SHOULDN'T eat. Maybe if I commit to only eating healthy, natural, highly nutritious foods the pounds will just start to drop off. I won't starve myself or count calories... I'll just eat healthy foods. (I won't binge, either. I'll still monitor portion sizes.)
Hmmm... have any of you lost weight with this simple approach? Or do you swear by counting calories?
(PS: I'll be weighing in tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me!)
31 comments:
I think eating healthier and less processed foods is a great idea! My one suggestion would be to at least weigh/measure everything and keep a food journal, whether or not you actually count calories though. This way if you find yourself getting "stuck" at a plateau later you can at least work on changing portion sizes around to see if it helps! Good luck!
I just started reading a book after struggling with the same issues you've been dealing with. My therapist recommended it. I'm about half way through it and I think it's fantastic. A great alternative to counting EVERYTHING - instead it's teaching me to harness my OWN wise self with what I'm hungry for. I eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm no longer hungry.
So far it's been a lifesaver.
The book's title is "Breaking Free From Compulsive Eating." I don't remember the author, but I can get it to you later...
I think your approach is a good one. I don't diet because that's too restrictive, but now, like you, I'm on the course to learn which foods I need to eat more of and which foods I should nix.
Fingers crossed that you will have an awesome weigh in tomorrow.
Since I am currently living in Russia, I can't count anything! Everything is by sight and estimation, and portion size...all eye-balled.
In many ways it has proved to be quite freeing. Although I'm a WW Lifetime member and have had many years of counting calories, fat grams, and fibre grams, protein, etc., I am no longer a slave to going over or under a certain allotment.
So far I have lost about 60 lbs...and counting using this free-form method.
Nothing complicated or fancy, just clean-eating, using that guideline of not eating anything your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize.
Someone who inspired me with her huge weight loss told me her entire eating plan was to focus on eating the 'superfoods' listed in the book Superfoods Rx. I bought the book when I was in the beginning of my journey and lost a good chunk of weight NOT counting calories, just looking at the list I put on my fridge of what I needed to eat that day. Love that book. Check it out!
I'm trying to do that...so I'm not so obssessed with points/how many calories/what is bad about food. I have enough food issues.
I lost weight a couple of summers ago using weight watchers core plan. I made myself meet requirements for fruits veggies and water. After that there wasn't much room for anything else. This was just me and WW has moved away from this program so maybe it's not great for everyone. But still focusing on the fruits and veggies servings helps a lot. I've heard of wearing bracelets and switching arms when you eat a serving.
Last Thrusday I had the same revelation. I made a concious decison to STOP obsessing about what I was going to eat, how much I was going to eat, when I was going to eat it. It was exausting. I am just focusing on eating healthy and only when I'm hungry. I'm stil tracking but I do most of it on the weeknd and just make changes as needed throughout the week.
I am also not going to drive myself crazy getting hours and hours of exercise in. As long as I get at least 30 minutes in 3 days a week.
I've lost 3 1/2 pounds since then. I feel so free and so healthy.
I need to count calories even when I avoid processed foods and eat vegan. It is very easy to overeat even healthy food. I don't mind feeling like I'm on a diet because I am reversing a medical condition (obesity). Once the obesity is gone, I can go ahead and have a lifestyle that will maintain a healthy weight. Learning to do that will be a process as well.
That's what works for me....I know everyone is different. So glad you are back!!
I've always counted points and it works for me, but I think that eating "clean" is a good option for lots of people. As you said, as long as you still are mindful of your portions, you will most likely lose weight. And I think it's great that you're thinking how you should eat for the rest of your life. That's really the key for me and why I love Weight Watchers so much. I know I can continue to eat this way for the rest of my life since it's centered on healthy food.
Different times in my life have called for different ways of eating. When I was in my twenties, I could simply focus on eating healthy foods. Later, I seemed to become more sensitive to the effect of carbs and I have had better success by eliminating high glycemic foods. I don't think there is one best way of eating that applies throughout your life, especially if a person (me, for instance) has a history of obesity. Good luck in finding an approach that works for you!
When my husband was diagnosed with diabetes, we went to a nutritionist, and she told us that she has a "3-bite" rule for herself. That when she wants something that isn't doesn't have a nutritional benefit for her body, she allows herself "3 bites for taste". This way she still gets a taste of whatever it is that she wanted, but anything above and beyond those 3 bites is just wasted calories. I think that's a good approach! I feel like changing your lifestyle doesn't mean cutting out certain things completely, it just means using good judgement & restricting our urge to overdo it... so, 3 bites it is!
Clean eating is a good approach for many people. It definitely works for me. I find taking the focus off food by not having to count calories or points makes me less likely to think about food constantly.
Let us know what you decide. Good luck!
I had to establish a new relationship with food and learn how to eat "normal" My issue was really portion sizes. I was eating 2-3 portions at meals.
I do try to stay away from processed foods for the most part but I am not finatical about it. If I am in a pinch, I will have a Lean Cuisine if need be...
Glad to have you back and looking forward to seeing how this new apporach works for you.
Hello friend! I have heard many success stories of not counting calories, just eating good food. I myself, need the structure. I think you should try it for a while and see if it works for you. I LOVE the idea of finding what you CAN eat, instead of only thinking about what you can't. I'm glad you're back, I'm glad that you're re-committing and that you're sharing with us. I can't wait to hear how you're coming along.
I don't count calories but I do have a general idea of what is in most of what I eat. For the first few weeks after I started changing my eating habits I looked up nutrition information on EVERYTHING I ate so now I have the general info still in my head and can plan and decide accordingly.
The two things that I would swear by are eating whole foods, almost nothing processed, and eating low sugar foods. I think that sugar effects us much more than we realize.
Your attitude is worthy of applause, most people don't seem to get to the point of realizing that permanent life changes are really necessary. It took me about a decade (I started "dieting" waaaay too young).
Although I don't follow it to a T, I highly reccomend the South Beach Diet because it discusses the principles off of which I base most of my food choices. It's nutritionally sound.
I'm definitely focusing on what TO eat. I do a general calorie count/guess on most things. After reading the Flat Belly Diet book, I have a pretty good idea of what a 400 calorie meal looks like. The harder challenge was going dairy, wheat and corn free! Keep making healthy choices!
Path to Health
Love the advice from Debbie and Teale! I have successfully lost weight in the past by making the best food choices possible - I get too obsessed with the numbers to count calories, etc. myself.
'Hmmm... have any of you lost weight with this simple approach? Or do you swear by counting calories?'
Yes, Chubby Chick - this is exactly what I am doing. It is the only way I seem to be able to get my head around the need to lose weight. I give up on diets and scream with frustration if I have to follow a 'plan'. I just can't do it - well I can, but for a very short time only, before I throw in the towel and eat everything in sight! I have just posted about it on my blog. I've just started the weight loss journey. (Two weeks, properly, with determination.)
I lost 4lbs last week, and I cheated! I was so pleased! I did up my exercise though, and on the days I 'cheated' I probably ate less than I would do normally. On wards and upwards - or downwards on the scale! Good luck!
'Hmmm... have any of you lost weight with this simple approach? Or do you swear by counting calories?'
This is how I am tackling my weight problem. I just loathe diets and eating schemes. They bring out the worst in me. I blogged about exactly that yesterday! I have stocked the kitchen with 'healthy' foods and when I am hungry (or when I get that fat person's need to eat) I do...and I can always find something that is nutritious. 'Fat people like to eat' is my philosophy...and I am trying to eat only healthy things. So far, without trying too hard, I have lost weight. I even gave in to temptation a couple of times, yet I STILL managed to lose 4lbs last week.
I am trying to exercise more and I drink more water during the day. I don't feel deprived or guilty this way. My head is thanking me! Even if I over-eat I am eating good stuff instead of cakes and biscuits, which is what I used to do before.
Good luck! I hope it works for you.
Love reading about your progress, it is good to have a blog and community to help keep you focused!
so glad to hear you are back on track. this journey is not easy..i know! ive been struggling too!
That all sounds great!!! Good job!
After trying everything, and seeing others try everything, I say: whatever works for you.
I came to the conclusion that for myself, cutting out treat foods that I like, counting calories, journalling, apportioning food, etc. were all disordered behaviours.
I am not a weight loss warrior. I have lost a small amount of weight and keeping it off is difficult since I am somewhat handicapped and cannot do any serious exercise. Yoga is great, but the way I can do it doesn't burn off any significant calories.
My philosophy is to eat consciously, try to slow down your eating, do not deprive yourself of anything, but don't eat it just because it's there. In other words, eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full.
I do believe in eating mostly nutritious, unprocessed foods, but I don't think life's worth living if you can't have a piece of chocolate from time to time!
Good luck tomorrow. I had fun reading your "Why to lose weight list".
http://tracitreasures.blogspot.com/
I do need to eliminate or drastically reduce all foods based around starchy grains, especially wheat.
Having established that I then decided to I would focus on foods that I like and that are compatible with sensible weight loss. That has given me a good foundation to base my food choices on and this makes it easier to sustain as a permanent lifestyle.
I am discovering I can occasionally eat foods on my 'no no' list but my focus is on what is good for me and what I enjoy eating. I have decided fish is no go unless cooked by an expert who is not me. There are probably a few other things that are on someone else's list of great food for weight loss that I choose not to eat and I'm sure many weight watchers would not eat as many eggs as I do.
It has taken a while, like a very long time, to come to this place and my menus and choices are still evolving and so they should or we'd be pretty boring around food.
I rarely measure food unless it is something completely new so experience does count.
I'm sure you are coming to a good place as you think things through.
I think if you can do it go for it! Whatever works! I, personally, can't do it that way. I'm a food addict, so saying that I won't binge isn't going to work. I have to be accountable to someone, which is why I love weight watchers.
Hi CC,
My husband has lost 105 pounds since February 2009 by simply eating less than 10 times his body weight. So for example, if you start at around 300 pounds, as he did, just eat a little less than 3000 calories. As your pounds decrease, your calorie allotment gradually decreases as well. I've watched him eat basically whatever he wants on this journey, but just in moderation. It's taught him how to eat, and he says it's the easiest time he's ever had losing weight. I truly think he will keep it off for good.
He's an inspiraion to me and I wish I'd been as consistent as he's been and I'd probably be 100 pounds lighter right now too.
I'm currently doing low-carb. I love how it kills my appetite and cravings, but honestly don't feel it's the key to long-term success, it's just that right now I'm kind of in a hurry because I want to have another baby and I'm OLD!
God bless!
Love your blog, it's really inspirational reading about other people in the same boat. I've added you to my blogroll, hope that's OK :-)
i really really think this is the way to go...for ME at least.
I have lost weight by this :) I cut back on soda & juices loaded but with sugar. Now I mostly do water & green water and when I gotta have something juice then I do cranberry juice or naked juice :)
I went from piling up my plate doing portion control and eating more and more vegetables (3/4 of my plate gotta be veggiez) and a lot of fruit :)
This post reeks of such positivity and motivation and just such a positive outlook that will definitely get you flying sooner than soon :)
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