Diets & Dieting
Before I start today, I just have to thank Cat for sharing yesterday! If you missed my Tuesday post, give it a read.. amazing weight loss story!
ALSO, I have an intro coming up in tomorrow's post that you will not want to miss. IF THIS DOES NOT GET YOU MOTIVATED TO LOSE WEIGHT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL!!! Check back tomorrow!
I was reading a good post about strategies for weight loss & it was discussing "the most effective way of preventing weight gain after a diet is to tackle the problems that caused it."
When I read this sentence, this is what came to my mind & was my comment:
"The best way to not have probs going from the "diet" back to real life is to never go on a diet. It is a lifestyle change & a way of eating for life. I think along with all of the above, that is where people get caught up. You have to stop defining it as a diet. It is a change in your lifestyle."
To me, anyone that says they are going on a "diet" is basically saying to themselves that I am going "on something to lose weight" and then at some point I will go off it - like I am done & now I can just go like before. And people do. They start eating a little of this or that without accountability for how much it is or even how many extra "things" they are putting in their mouth each day. They tell themselves it is OK ease up a bit.. and it is... as long as you are AWARE of what is going in that mouth each day vs. how much energy you expend physically each day. People are really good at fooling themselves OR lying to themselves OR just hiding from the reality of the facts.
PEOPLE NEED TO SEE THIS AS A LIFESTYLE CHANGE - A WAY TO CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIORS FOR LIFE. Even if like me, things change along the way, it is all about figuring out what works long term.
The article also talked about sabotage from loved ones, friends, co-workers & more. This is what I had to say about that:
"And for that sabotage, I hate to say it but if they are outside the house, you may just have to tell them the way it is & if they don't like it, not see them for a while. In the house, lay it on them.. support me or else!"
Sabotage is hard stuff but you are what is important right now so make your stand even if it means not seeing a good friend that will not support your weight loss efforts.
When I am out, I see heavier people together many times, eating together. I don't say this to be mean because I have lived this before.... it is easier to be with someone that wants to eat like you & is not a threat.
Avoid or banish the sabotage. Change the focus on dieting to lifestyle changes. Both of these will help you move forward & closer to your goals.
Let me know what you think... either way!
Categories: Motivation/Support, Tips, Dieting, Weight Loss
Tags: Weight Loss perception diet sabatoge Tips lifestyle Diets
As Jim Rome often says, "you are who you roll with."
Most of this video is not applicable Jody, to your post. But the first 6 or 7 minutes of it really is.
It says a great deal about like-minded people eating together...
http://www.ted.com/talks/nicholas_christakis_the_hidden_influence_of_social_networks.html
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I will check that out later Roy. Thx!!!! I also posted a while back on a study I saw on TV with groups of people that did not even know each other but put them together & put food out there & they ate it. I think it was a Dr. Oz show.
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Sabotage happens only when we let it happen. Same as any other failure in our lives. We fail, because we acted as necessary to succeed.
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Good point Patrick but we all know how the guilt of family members & societal pressure takes over... For people that continually try to sabotage you, time to say "bye bye" for now till that person can trust themselves not to be drawn into it.
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You are SO right! It is a lifestyle change. and change takes time and patience. As far as sabotage, when we sabotage ourselves then it appears that others sabotage us. No more No less
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OMG - you are right! How funny that we both wrote similar things with that same cartoon today! And, yes, I also had it written a while back.
In college I had a Garfield poster that said "I'm not overweight; I'm undertall!"
Another post that I will someday write has to do with this same concept and stems from my realization, finally, that if I eat what I used to eat I will weigh what I used to weigh.
This past year has been a big one for me with a lot of aha moments and learning. I have not yet gotten to where I need to go, but I am at least figuring out what it might take to get and stay there. And the biggest piece is exactly your point - it has to be a lifestyle change.
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Karen.. so funny that we were so on the same wavelength! The point you made: if I eat what I used to eat I will weigh what I used to weigh.... this is so true. Looking forward to your post on that! Should we do it the same day??
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I can't agree with this post more Jody! I never understood this before until now.
Diets do not work! Its a life long journey we have to be willing to be on and make daily decisions about what we are going to eat.
Some days aren't too good, but most days are and that out weighs my bad ones...usually.
Thanks again for a terrific post!
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Hi Sheri! Great to hear from you & hope you are doing well! Your points are good ones & make perfect sense!
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My family and I eat pizza together every Friday evening. I am sabotaging myself, because my pizza habits fluctuate from 2 slices, to 5 slices. I can't get a grip on it, so this self-sabotage ends now. No ordering pizza for a long while. Ugh.
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Josie, I do remember your love of pizza. My first times reading you, you were talking about that pizza.
For me, if I really can't handle it, I do not bring it in the house & do try to stay away from it. I have a hold on most things but not everything!!!
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Right on target, Jody!!
It can be a challenge not to enable others, but it's a worthy goal.
The world is filled with people who have figured it out, and make no change what so ever. Changing your lifestyle for the better is everything.
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Dr. J, you are right... that enabling stuff.... co-dependency & all that crap.... have to get past it!
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Your advice about sabotage is so true. It's had to tactfully tell someone that you can't be part of their bad habits anymore, but those who truly care will understand, even if they don't want to change too.
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Definitely agree with your point, Jody, about weight loss being a lifestyle change. I just finished and posted a blog on a similar subject about failed approaches to dieting: http://blog.itriagehealth.com/growing-fat/
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Marcia, thx for visiting. Will check that link out.
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Thanks! While you are there, don't forget to check out the iTriage Facebook page tomorrow. We start a contest tomorrow that hopefully will be fun. I'll post my latest marathon journey photo and everyone will be guessing my weight for one week to see who wins a $50 iTunes gift card.
Yes, I'm bold and gutsy!
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Oh yes, when I started this whole weight loss thing, I thought about how I wanted to eat for life...and then I worked toward that. Beginning at the end, is what I call it.
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