Quote:
Originally Posted by mel67
I know what I have to do to get back on track. I know what I have to do to loose the weight. Problem is, I'm sick and tired of it. I'm sick and tired of watching what I eat. I'm sick and tired of counting calories and fat grams. I'm sick and tired of being ever mindful of what goes in my mouth. But I'm also sick and tired of being over weight, and having a closet full of kickin clothes that I can't wear. I have been on a "diet" for the better part of 17 years, and I'm ready to just say I don't care any more. I sooooo badly just don't want to care any more. But there's that small little voice in the back of my head, that says "you do care, and you always will", that small part of me that won't let me give up for good. and it is a constant war on the inside of me.
I used to feel this way too. And you know what finally got me to the point of not having a constant war going on in my head? Realizing and admitting to myself that this CAN'T be a diet, but rather a lifestyle change. Something I can live with the rest of my life.
Yes, I count calories. Will I be counting calories until the day I die? Probably. I have to in order to keep from putting the weight back on. I didn't lose over 85 pounds to sabotage myself and gain it all back. I'd rather not eat at all than be fat. No food is worth that. Not to me. At least not anymore.
I perfectly understand that 'war' inside your head. And I know how exhausting it can be. But I learned to relax a little bit and just say, "Look, you're in this for life. You're still young. Do you want to go the rest of your life driving yourself crazy? Of course not. Find a comfy resting place and stay there."
So, like many others here, counting calories is what keeps me in check, it keeps me accountable. Do I still have favorite little 'sinful' treats now and then? Sure I do. Deprivation doesn't work. And I'm surely not going the rest of my life without pizza, fried chicken and ice cream cones! lol
But when I have them, I work them into my daily calories. Some days I'm a little over my calories, some days I'm a little under. It's never an exact science. I don't stress myself out trying to stay at an exact number. That's crazy. I don't try to stay at an exact number on the scale, either, because I perfectly understand that weight fluctuates from day to day. I know a girl who pulls her hair out if she's not EXACTLY 119 pounds. Not 118, not 120, but 119. Why I don't know. She simply picked that number because it sounded good, I guess, and she drives herself NUTS trying to stay there. I said to her, "Girl, you need to relax on yourself or you're going to be in a straight jacket soon."
I'd try calorie counting for a while if you haven't yet. It's the only thing that ever worked for me. Because if I don't stay accountable, I'll lose track of what I'm doing and I'll start gaining again. Counting calories allows me to eat what I want (although I eat healthy and lowfat 90% of the time) and still stay at a certain weight. I'm not exactly at goal yet, but I'm comfortable. Again, I'm not going to focus on just one number. Although it would be kinda neat to see if I can get under 130!
But I'm not stressing over it. I'll get there eventually.