I get so frustrated when I see people on health sites asking 'how much should I eat?" or "What portion size should I eat?" Really? You need me or anyone else to tell you how much to eat? If I tell you 4oz chicken breast will that make you happy? Actually, if you did ask me, I'm going to say "How much do you ned to eat to feel satisfied?"
I've found that when told you can have a 4 oz chicken breast you're going to feel like that is a limit not be exceeded, therefore your "I'm still hungry" rebellious mode is going to kick on, even if you aren't really hungry, and you're going to eat more. Afterwards, you'll feel like a failure, blame the diet for being too strict, gain your weight back, and the viscious yo yo loop will continue.
Let's face it folks, none of us like limits because we feel like we're being denied something; so forget the limit/how much can I eat okay? It doesn't work.
Eat until you're satisfied not until you're full because your 'full' sensor doesn't kick on until it's too late, you've already over indulged.
I 'm also concerned with your obsession over 'how much food' ? Are you worried you'll starve? Is the food limitations a bellweather as to whether or not you'll even attempt the 'diet'? If it is , don't bother with losing weight, you've already set yourself up for failure.
Maybe the question should be "How do I go about dieting?" Actually if you're just dieting and you need portion control/limits placed on you so you can have permission to rebel against the limits, fine, diet. There are literally thousands of diet plans out there. Go find one to fail at and quit asking questions like "How much am I allowed to eat?" Food Junkie.....eeeesh!
When you're ready to commit, let me know. But be warned, the second you ask "How much food...." You're probably going to be smacked upside the head if I can reach you fast enough.
If you are serious about a committed lifestyle CHANGE to become a much thinner healthier person then do the work yourself. Find what fits you and your lifestyle, your needs, wants, desires for your body and do it.
We all know what is and isn't good for us. We all pretty much know what is a calorie and fat laden food and what isn't. You don't need anyone to tell you how or what to eat, you need to exercise common sense and maybe do a little research, make some trial and error on your own to find what fits you and your lifestyle.
Lifestyle change is a serious no holds barred commitment to doing what it takes to get there. You take the successes with the hard knocks. Get up, wipe the crumbs off your mouth, wipe off your knees or butt, depending on which way you fell, and get going again.
Melisa,
ReplyDeleteI want to congratulate you on you weight loss. Changing your lifestyle can be difficult, but if you are driven by desire, you can make it.
Help, I am fat and I can't bring my head around to a total lifestyle change. I have no excuse... I have never lived a healthy lifestyle but I was always thin. Now I am 48 and 30-40 pounds overweight and I want to change my bad habits... you story was an inspiration and I hope I can do what it takes
ReplyDeleteI can totally realate to what you are saying. It is all about changing your mind about how you want to live! You need to pay attention to what you put in your mouth and decide each time whether or not you really want to put it in. Eventually you will gain a greater awareness of what you eat. It won't seem like such a chore to eat right when you start to feel better, have more energy and realize that your clothes are getting loser. I have been blogging about my experiecnces for a little while in hopes that I can post information that others will relate to. I am trying to get back into shape and increase my energy so I can keep up with my 2yr old and 4yr old boys.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thenoexcuseszone.blogspot.com/
love your story and the fact that you were able to start getting healthy at your age. i'm 36 and have been on steroids for lupus for 5 years now. i'm 100 pounds overweight and now that i'm coming off the steroids, i'm hoping this will be a turning point for me. i desperately want to lose weight, and you are such an inspiration. gonna keep reading your blog and doing my best! thanks for the encouragement!
ReplyDeleteI saw your BLOG on AOL and I came over to check it out. I think what you are doing is fantastic and I wish you luck on your upcoming 5k! You are inspiring a lot of people to lose weight and I like the title of your journal, it's very too the point. Thank you for being so open and honest with your story!
ReplyDelete^_\
Reading your story on AOL really hit home. I have been struggling with my weight and a few months ago really starting taking my health more seriously. I have had a set back over the last couple of weeks and have been beating myself up about it and that has caused me to eat even more. I realize that it is because of some real stress right now in my life but the eating only stresses me out more in the end. Your no excuse approach and you attitude is really refreshing and an inspiration as I find my way back to eating healthy
ReplyDeleteInspiring! Love that you take each thing on one at a time. A challenge to focus on! Perfect!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Melissa. You are an inspiration, you look wonderful. Every day I tell myself that I need to lose weight, especially since my doctor told me that I am a borderline diabetic. I weighted 168 lbs. I started losing 1lb a week, after about two months I started craving carbs and sweets. I know that I have to keep trying to lose weight.
ReplyDeleteKudos to you Melissa. You're a real person and I can relate to that, and certainly your struggle. I don't need a mean comment to know I need to lose weight, I say enough to myself every day when I look in the mirror. I finally got on a scale the other day. Not happy! I am trying to get my head around doing the healthy things, and have my water in front of me. Thanks for the tips, I will keep checking back to see how you're doing, and hopefully it will keep me inspired. Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteI am inspired this morning from your achievements and is elated to have happened upon this blog. I would like to say that I am at your current position in age, height, and weight. Seeing this has motivated to to take the step to better health. I have been gripping about it for far too long. So I am going to join you on this quest for better health and better life.
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm loving this...I need more motivation! I went from 204 to 160 and am back up to 169... :( Part of it is stress, but I know that's an excuse...good luck to you!!! I agree with the "how much food" thing--I hate those "diets" that tell you exactly how much and what to eat...not gonna work!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to have discovered your blog via AOL. This is just what I need to help me keep motivated. I spent several hours reading your archives and I appreciate your recipes and exercise and pilates video recommendations (found several of them on You Tube). I have been trying to lose weight seriously for the past four months. I need to lose 60 pounds at least. So far I have lost ten pounds but at my age (63) it seems to have gotten harder and harder. I appreciate hearing about your hard work and struggles. I do wish you success to meet your goal weight and I hope I can stay encouraged by your success, even when you have days when you feel less that successful. I feel your information is equal to some of the expert advice but it definitely feels more real.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to have discovered your blog via AOL. This is just what I need to help me keep motivated. I spent several hours reading your archives and I appreciate your recipes and exercise and pilates video recommendations (found several of them on You Tube). I have been trying to lose weight seriously for the past four months. I need to lose 60 pounds at least. So far I have lost ten pounds but at my age (63) it seems to have gotten harder and harder. I appreciate hearing about your hard work and struggles. I do wish you success to meet your goal weight and I hope I can stay encouraged by your success, even when you have days when you feel less that successful. I feel your information is equal to some of the expert advice but it definitely feels more real.
ReplyDeleteI lost a lot of weight about 8 years ago and have been able to keep a lot of the lifestyle changes that I had to make then. Sometimes I STILL start to fall back into what seem like ancient patterns, though. It's tough. but even with slips, you just have to forgive yourself and move on with the new ways.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your weight loss and goal to get -and stay- healthy!!