Do you view the way you eat now as just a "diet"?

[zeraspride]

I was giving this some thought the other day when someone (once again) tried to tempt me to eat something off my program. I think it was brownies or something like that. I have been eating this way for almost 2 years and it's such a no brainer now that saying no is automatic.

I was wondering exactly when we cross the line from an eating plan being just another diet where we constantly cheat and feel deprived, cheat some more and then feel guilty and it truly being the way you'll for the rest of your life where you don't even give it a second thought.

I know there have been items I have added back occasionally to my eating plan. In fairness I won't list them here. Some have been okay to add back and somethings I just know I won't ever be able to eat again either because they cause cravings or I have problems with controling my portions. But for the most part, I feel like I eat healthier than I ever have in my life. I'm happy with my weight loss results and look forward to eating this way for life.

I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on how you view South Beach. Is it "just another diet" you'll try and then move on to something else or have you really found "the one" program for you and the way you'll eat the majority of the time?

Thanks in advance for sharing!

[Mel78]

First, I want to say what a true inspiration you are to me and I thank you for being on this board to guide those of us just starting out!

As for me, the reason I chose SBD this time around was because I view it more as a way of life, not a diet. I successfully lost on Atkins in 2000-2001, but "LIFE" overcame my eating decisions and I fell back into my old way of eating and when life finally evened out, I weighed 35 pounds heavier... then, already being overweight, I gained 70 pounds during my pregnancy. For the last two years I have mentally struggled with how and what I was going to do to get my weight under control, and every time I considered doing Atkins again, I didn't see that as an option that would work because I need/needed something that will work for the WHOLE FAMILY!!! And with Atkins, it's too strict for my daughter (and husband sometimes) so it didn't leave that flexability to make them pasta or rice or for her to have a pj sandwich - without the temptation for me. With SBD, it allows me to choose healthier whole grain options for pasta, rice, bread that we can all incorporate into our daily way of living/eating.

While I'm sure I'll be in Phase I longer than my DH, I'm sure that I'll have the right tools to succeed and to make this our new way of living. Hopefully it will also allow us to teach our daughter a healthy way of living!

[cleardevil]

Lisa,

I have been on South Beach now for 2 years and the last 6 months I have just held steady. I want to lose another 20-30 pounds, but for the first time in 10 years I am at a comfortable weight, and I feel great.

I no longer look at the way I eat as a diet, but as a balance. I let temptation in and then I will be good again, but I find alot of things I use to like, have too much sugar now and upset my stomach and give me heartburn again, so it reinforces in me why I shouldn't eat them. I find now I try to think more about what I am eating and preparing, and I have found a new interest iin foods I never liked.

My problem now is bucklling down and losing the last of the weight, but I think more exercise would help, along with the inspiration I have gotten from this board. Thanks,

Karen

[RockyMountainHigh]

This is a WOL for me from now on. In the past I've looked at it as a diet and cheat days were okay. Sometimes I would even "designate" days I could cheat...special days, a weekend day, etc. I will NEVER do that again. I don't even feel tempted to eat that other garbage because of how good I feel and because of how excited I am that my body is shrinking. Food has been an addiction for me for so long. I've always used it as an escape. With everything going on here, lately, I'm getting to learn other methods of dealing. Usually a walk with DH makes me feel better emotionally! Imagine that! LOL And it is a MUCH longer lasting feel-good than eating a bunch of garbage for a quick sugar fix. I'm on board for life!

Oh, I also wanted to add that we have some friends that are on this diet as well and if we happened to be visiting them and they'd have a cheat day, I'd take that as my cue that I could cheat, too, because how could anybody judge me when they were eating that junk, too? I won't look for ways to get people's "permission" anymore to eat junk food. I won't look for excuses and reasons to eat poorly. My body deserves better.

[justmarvi]

I'm so glad it's actually becoming a way of life for me rather than the diet thing, thinking, well, when I get to this weight goal, I can have ____ again. I also know now there are somethings that are red light foods for me as far as appetite is concerned but they also aren't good for my health.

I think more in treats rather than cheats now. An occasional potato is just that, occasional, and not a selection I build daily menus around anymore. I now know sugar or refined foods can't be part of my eating plan so it's on very special occasions that I have it and in a controlled amount and with family and friends, not alone.

These are some of the things that make me believe I'm choosing to make it a way of life instead of a diet. I doubt I'll ever get to the point that some things don't sound or look good, I just know I have to make better choices or....I gain my weight back and my health suffers.

I'll even give a for instance.....this morning I fixed breakfast for me and my husband. We had scrambled eggs, 1/2 of an avocada each and 1/2 of a tomato each. I fixed him 2 slices of whole wheat toast and some bacon (his choice). He asked if I wanted bacon, I said "yes, I want it...I could eat half of it.., but I don't think I'll eat it today". It's like Karen, Mel, Stephanie and you, Lisa, have said, it's about finding a balance for me too but it's a choice not a can't have mental thing.

Thanks for the post Lisa, everytime we do a self-examination, it makes us stronger! I'm so thankful for you and everyone in this forum, it's a the best support anyone could ever hope for.

[PIR8LUVR]

It is more of a way of life for me. When I first started I thought, "I could never do this forever. I am just doing it long enough to lose the weight." Well, I probably could but I don't want to. Even when I am in "cheat mode" there are things I won't eat, like white sugars & starches, on a regular basis. I don't miss them.

[Shalbrihil]

Thank you Lisa for your thoughts and starting this thread.

I started taking my eating choices serious back in 2003 and haven't looked back. I was the type of dieter that wanted the weight off but not learn the hard knocks to keep it off. I call it a quick fix. During that time I tried every diet in the book with temperary results. I lived by the scale and tortured myself with the stress when it showed what I didn't want to see. I was losing huge amounts of weight only to regain it back again and again and again. Finally I just gave up and tried to accept my obesity and the medical problems that it had caused. South Beach has been my godsend as it has taught me how to treat food in general. I now choose what will make me get as close to optimum health as I can to make my aging journey as comfortable as possible. Now that I'm 60 I plan on growing older as gracefully as possible. We don't know what our future will bring but we can change somethings in our food choices to make it better.