[rockinrobin]

I've posted this before. I hope I don't bore you all to tears. I just will copy and paste it:


Hmmm. Well let's see. I knew the only way this weight loss thing would *work*, permanently that is, would be if I could find something that I could stick with LONGTERM, forever in fact, because not only do I want to lose the weight, but I want to keep it off - forever. It simply won't *work* if you dont' stick with it. Consistiency, consistiency, consistiency. STICKING with it is of course the key. Lifestyle change. Creating a new normal. No going back to the old ways. Permanent, sustainable lifetime changes.

So of course finding something that I could stick with was essential.

Things I needed/still need to be on my plan:

- I could never, ever be hungry. Just not for me. I despise that feeling and need to AVOID it all costs. It would only set me up for failure.
- I need LOTS of food, volume that is.
- I love food, always will and need to get enjoyment from it. So eating delicious, very tasty, satisfying foods was a MUST.
- I am terrible with portion control. I have no boundaries. My intuitive eating button is totally broken or just missing completely. So I need to fake it. I need something that forces me to set limits.
- I want not only to be thin at this point, I want to be healthy. Strong bones & muscles, good vision, healthy hair and nails, low cholesterol, normal sugar levels, high vitamin count, lower my risk of cancers.

So therefore, let's see if I can do this with one breath - I eat frequently, every 2 hours or so, choosing low calorie/high volume items (veggies), lots of protein and fiber (to keep me full longer), I count calories (forced portion control/accountability), I eat foods with high nutritional values, I've found foods that I LOVE, not *diet* foods per se, food that any one and every one can eat.

I also set myself up for success. By ridding my home of the junk (very crucial in the beginning, and still is). I got rid of the sugar, the rice, pasta, bread, cookies, cakes, ice cream, etc... Sure I love the stuff, but I have no control with it. I figured I can not have it both ways. I simply can not have those foods in my life (very strict with it especially in the beginning, cold turkey in fact) and be that healthy, fit person I so longed to be. I have no control over them and realized I was just better off without them.

I keep my home fully stocked with tons and tons of veggies. I discovered fabulous ways to prepare them and now enjoy them more then the other garbage I was eating prior. Amazing how ones tastes change when you stop feeding it junk. Fruits and low fat proteins are my other main foods. I cook fabulous meals that my whole family enjoys. So finding yummy recipes that you like is essential. No reason to go off plan, when on plan is so good.

I also prepare ahead, as it is the ONLY way to succeed, IMO. Eating healthy does not happen by chance in our society. Therefore it MUST, MUST be planned out in advance. I know what I'm having for my meals and snacks days in advance. I pack food with me, taking it with me wherever I go, leaving nothing to chance. It's just THAT important.

I drink lots of water. It's something to do with my mouth, a delaying tactic and it keeps my tummy full.

And of course, there is the calorie counting. Would be no where without it. No where. Fitday.com can get you started on that. Since I don't know how to set limits for myself, counting calories is my answer. Counting and tracking my calories keeps me honest and keeps my food in check. Period.

Exercise has now become part of my life and is a big part of "my plan". I started out slowly and built up. Cardio & strength training. I make sure there is some kind of daily movement going on, 7 days a week.

Probably the biggest part of my plan though, was making a commitment. Deciding once and for all that I was going to "do this". I told myself enough is enough. I realized, once and for all that I didn't have to be fat if I didn't want to be. That it was something that I did indeed have total and complete control over. No reason on earth for me to waste another second of my life being miserable, worrying about my health and not living up to my full potential. Not being the very best ME that I could be. So I made a commitment to good eating and good health.

And that, in a nutshell (albiet, a VERY large one) is *my plan*.

With some *shopping around*, experimenting, tweaking and adjusting you too can and will find what "works for you". Good luck to you. And please, don't hesitate to ask questions. This is a terrific site, filled with loads of successful, smart people very willing to help.

[FB]

I often think of RockinRobin when referring to my 'plan'. I too need lots and LOTS of volume. I'm not skerred to say I eat 6-8 servings of veggies all at once. I want the most bang for my buck in terms of volume. I don't want to be hungry.

Besides volume, I concentrate on protein. Lean proteins. Seafood, turkey and chicken.

I log every single bite of food I eat, staying within a set calorie range.

I don't eat empty calories - or white food as I refer to it. I typically avoid sugar. Rather than eat 100 calorie packs that wouldn't fill me up as a snack - I turn to vegetables, steam them up and eat those for a snack. The microwave is my friend.

I don't have any formal understanding of low carb diets, but would guess that mine closely resembles one. Protein is always higher than carbs, carbs mostly come from fiber. My carbohydrates come from veggies, that's all. I don't eat 'white food'.

I'd say this is a lifestyle change. I don't follow a formal diet, have never read a diet book. I make my own rules, figure out what works for me. I'm a rebel - and don't know if I could follow someone else's rules - it's easier for me to experiment. Once I found out what works I decided to follow it perfectly, without deviation. The results are so worth it. This is sustainable, I enjoy what I eat and I love how I feel.

I don't make daily meal plans, but do plan when I grocery shop. I make one trip to shop for my family, one for myself.

I often make dinner for my guys (when hubby has had a rough day - otherwise he takes care of it) but do my own thing for myself. That's important- to realize I can do my own thing. Often they'll be eating BBQ while I'm having a huge spinach salad. The important thing is that we all sit down to eat together. It doesn't matter if we don't eat the same things.

You can do it, whatever it is that you choose!

[Skinny4baby]

Read up on Intuitive Eating...eating when you feel TRUE hunger and learning to stop before you get to full. Although I am VERY stuck right now...I have NOT reagained any weight I lost. Intuitive Eating..for me..stopped the see-saw diet merry-go-round I was on for years. It was very freeing.

Good Luck...and come here often....there is some very amazing STRONG folks here.

[SnowboundChick]

thank you all for your responses. I've come to realize that I crave sugary things, the last few days have shown me that as i've been watching what I eat and felt terrible when not having refined sugar so this is probably something I have to eliminate from my diet. I get caught up in or overwhelmed by the thought of changing it all. I've also started reading a book called Overcoming Overeating and it's pretty enlightening but i've only just begun.
I know this is a lifetime committment and I'm at that place again to start this. I was a couple of years ago before I got pregnant with my third son and have had a hard time getting back to that place- the just do it attitude as I call it.
I feel like now is the time to make the changes. I will start by monitoring my food and work on portion control, getting my daily requirements, my dietician has said to just follow the Canada Food guide and watch my portions and I'll lose weight, if only it was as simple as that, I have a lifetime of food habits to overcome, 'empty-plate club'.
I do use Sparkpeople to track my intake and exercise as well. I've been checking in here everyday and I know that helps me not feel so alone in this 'struggle', now journey.
Thanks for all the support and information. I will continue working on it and coming here for advice and support and give it in return.

[Glory87]

Oh yeah, the "empty plate" club. Another great book is Mindless Eating. This book really opened my eyes to why I sometimes ate like I did. The author found that most people are "full" when their plate is empty, that's how they know they are done. I'm sure it would be much better for me to become more of an intuitive eater and be more attuned to my body and stuff, but I know for ME, what works is figuring whatever I put on my plate, I'm going to eat and measuring/portioning appropriately.