Approaching things with a different attitude

[dae_tona]

I can't believe how different my attitude is now-now that I've decided to live scale-free and diet-free. I knew something had to be done once I started having to replace my size 4's with size 6's. I realized I didn't want to be a slave to the scale nor a slave to food but I did figure out the kind of foods I love & enjoy more than anything...so I just started eating those...you know...the meat, eggs (even the DH started eating these again after not eating them for almost 4 years!!), veggies, oils, nuts, berries & high percentage dark chocolate. But I wasn't on a strict regimen. That's what I eat the majority of the time. And once in awhile, I'll have a hamburger & fries. If I did that before, I'd think I really screwed up & beat myself up over it for going off-plan. And then I'd be on the scale the next day to see how much I had gained, etc. But you know what? I haven't done that at all. I started eating the foods I love-still eating only when hungry (which equals three times a day for the most part but sometimes, it can be as much as 5-7 times a day) and stopping when satisfied. Taking this approach with the new attitude helped me get back into my size 4's within a week's time. (hamburger & fries included in this) I wasn't stressing over anything & I think that is one thing that helped me as well. Usually, I'd be stressing & on the scale 4 or 5 times a day. But not this time around. I'm back in my size 4's and that was my goal-just to get back in those. So now I'm back maintaining. I have found-even after eating a hamburger & fries-that I am not bloated-not the next day, nor the next, nor the next. This was quite a surprise but I also realized that I shouldn't eat a hamburger & fries every day, either. I think choosing to live scale-free & diet-free was probably the best thing I could have ever done for my body. Once I made this decision, the desire for certain foods (cookies, cakes, ice cream, doughnuts, etc) just goes away. I know I can have whatever I want whenever I want. I just choose not to have those things. Not because they're bad. But because I have no desire for them now. I'm still amazed at my attitude shift while typing this. This is a change that is taking me by surprise but it's a good change from my obsessive diet behavior from days past.

Dyan

[steady]

I am so happy to hear this is working for you. It sounds like you made peace with your body--I am a big believe in listening to our bodies. When I followed external advice too closely and evaluated progress by a scale my body rebel with weight gain. So for me that means not being a slave to the scale and trying to eat intuitively and simply.

[BellaHMB]

Thanks for posting Dyan and Steady

I am making progress towards not obsessing, but Im not there yet! I do weigh once a week but an interesting thing is occurring: when I eat a little too much one day, the next day I naturally eat less. This was never the case before when I was heavy as my eating was attached to how I was feeling, not what my body wanted. Now I try to listen to hear what it wants- more veggies, more salad, less red meat etc. Or maybe just less food for a day or so, or even more food! I still stick to my plan and don't veer off
but don't count calories or portions and I have been maintaining for a year!

Bella

[homestretch]

I think this is very interesting! Thanks for sharing because I would like to be in the same place some day. I too have noticed the more I obsess that I MUST lose more weight the more I want to overeat. When I take the approach that weight loss is not a race and just enjoy myself the weight generally comes off again.

[LoraJR72]

Originally Posted by dae_tona

I can't believe how different my attitude is now-now that I've decided to live scale-free and diet-free. I knew something had to be done once I started having to replace my size 4's with size 6's. I realized I didn't want to be a slave to the scale nor a slave to food but I did figure out the kind of foods I love & enjoy more than anything...so I just started eating those...you know...the meat, eggs (even the DH started eating these again after not eating them for almost 4 years!!), veggies, oils, nuts, berries & high percentage dark chocolate. But I wasn't on a strict regimen. That's what I eat the majority of the time. And once in awhile, I'll have a hamburger & fries. If I did that before, I'd think I really screwed up & beat myself up over it for going off-plan. And then I'd be on the scale the next day to see how much I had gained, etc. But you know what? I haven't done that at all. I started eating the foods I love-still eating only when hungry (which equals three times a day for the most part but sometimes, it can be as much as 5-7 times a day) and stopping when satisfied. Taking this approach with the new attitude helped me get back into my size 4's within a week's time. (hamburger & fries included in this) I wasn't stressing over anything & I think that is one thing that helped me as well. Usually, I'd be stressing & on the scale 4 or 5 times a day. But not this time around. I'm back in my size 4's and that was my goal-just to get back in those. So now I'm back maintaining. I have found-even after eating a hamburger & fries-that I am not bloated-not the next day, nor the next, nor the next. This was quite a surprise but I also realized that I shouldn't eat a hamburger & fries every day, either. I think choosing to live scale-free & diet-free was probably the best thing I could have ever done for my body. Once I made this decision, the desire for certain foods (cookies, cakes, ice cream, doughnuts, etc) just goes away. I know I can have whatever I want whenever I want. I just choose not to have those things. Not because they're bad. But because I have no desire for them now. I'm still amazed at my attitude shift while typing this. This is a change that is taking me by surprise but it's a good change from my obsessive diet behavior from days past.

Dyan

I think Intuitive Eating is what you are doing now. I obsess about the littlest thing when it comes to my eating and get angry at myself for eating off plan. My doc told me to remove all the junk food from my house, but my DB still wants me to buy it for him. It is a constant battle and I deal with it every day.