All my life I have struggled with my weight --- I have had an eating disorder for most of my adult life. But basically I couldn't seem to grasp the workings of losing weight.
I always thought one had to diet. I remember exercising with Richard Simmons -- do any of you remember him??
And I remember him saying something along the lines of the reason no one can diet is because the word D I E is what makes up the word diet -- and everyone feels like they are dying when they diet.
I always believed the only way to get the weight down was to live on boring foods -- and in my humble opinion 'starve' myself.
It only took 40 years or so for my brain to understand that I could eat anything I wanted as long as the calorie intake was smaller then the calorie burn off. DUH! I know -- everyone always knew that right?! But when I fully embraced that theory -- and realized that I could eat what everyone else was eating JUST keeping it under 1200 calories a day -- the weight would come off.
No more crash diets -- no more binging when the diet depressed me. Now I could eat any damn thing I wanted.... though it might mean I had to get off my ass and put in more 'steps'
It really isn't a diet -- it IS a life style. Just like everyone preached all those years when I wasn't listening.
So this week has been a good week of steps and sweating off the calories because I have been busy packing boxes and unpacking boxes ........ AND it paid off -- I am down one more pound this week -- YAY me!!
Oh yes, I definitely remember Richard Simmons, though I never followed him. Good on you for finding that healthy balance. You are right, it is a lifestyle. Congratulations on losing another pound!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Roz
Omg, I remember Richard Simmons! I had the video! Used to practice with a group of neighborhood moms way back in the day. Wow. We'd do Sweating to the Oldies... some of those songs still give me flashbacks!
ReplyDeleteGlad you're not dieting - i'm in the same boat - lifestyle change, less intake than output - AND unpacking boxes!! Good times...
You can try eating all the colours of vegs , beans and meat only. Cut down on carbs. Try different yummy recipes and it will become a new lifestyle for you :)
ReplyDeleteI remember Richard Simmons and exercising with him. so you've had a light bulb moment now realising its a life style change not a diet. Well done! You're doing really well.
ReplyDeleteHugs Lindy xx
OOh yes i remember Richard simmons. And yay on the lifestyle acceptance. I realised that 3 years ago when I decided I would change my eating habits too. All my life I struggled with being overweight as well, and this has been the longest that I've been consistently losing (at first) and maintaining my current weight. It's been 3 years and 3 months for me, and I'm really glad that my brain has accepted this "NEW" way of thinking - calories in vs calories out. This is why I still eat chips and chocolate cake. IT just means on some days I eat less of other stuff. While other days I binge on as much lean meat and veggies as I want. And STILL manage to keep under the 1200calories :)
ReplyDeleteI wish you every success. If you want to read more about what I ate / didn't eat, have a look at THIS POST, and feel free to drop me an email too, if you ever want more support!
I was lucky in that my first real foray into this, I fell into MFP and got the calories in/out thing. But I still overeat my calories on the regular. That's my struggle. Some days, 1400 (my current goal) is NOT enough for me!
ReplyDelete