I thought this was an exceptional article & I just wanted to share. Enjoy!


http://walking.about.com/library/walk/blex1130.htm

I read it--it's an OK article, and some of the tips, like making low-fat choices, are helpful. And I agree that guilt is not helpful if it leads to giving up!

My hesitation about the article is that many obese people have many other issues besides which dressing to use on their salads. So, the article seems to me to be geared to those who have "some" weight to lose, but perhaps are not already in the obese category.

As someone who was obese and am now "only" overweight, I can say that for me it has taken more of a commitment to following a plan than the author of the article makes it seem. Yes, I do sometimes choose to eat foods that are high in calories, but I try to plan for them in advance. Yes, some days I do go over what I'm supposed to be eating for the day. Usually I pay for those days by stalling my weight loss, so I have to keep that in mind when I have the urge to splurge.

As general articles go, though, it's not bad.

Jay

I skimmed it and I totally agree. as a woman who was beyond Morbidly obese at 286 when I started (higher before that) I know that the mindset that NOTHING is off limits for me was emensely helpful. that the sense of "oh well I ate a muffin i might as well have the candy bar" was pervasive an damaging. Now for example I eat the pizza and I know that "oh well it was a blip in my lifetime of healthy eating" and I get right back on track...

I think THAT was the point of the article. At least that's what I got out of it.

I totally agree! "Cheat" isn't even in my vocabulary. If I eat pizza, I don't look at it as cheating. If I eat a piece of fried chicken, I don't look at it as cheating. I simply look at it as part of my lifestyle, count it in with my calories for the day, and move on. I mean, I'm in this for life, right? I don't want go around saying, "Oh no! I totally messed up! I may as well just forget the whole thing."

I used to do that myself. I don't want to do that anymore.

Some people will ask, "What's your cheat meal? or, "What is your favorite thing to cheat on your diet with?"

Firstly, I'm not on a diet. And secondly, I don't believe in "cheat treats". If I want that candy bar badly enough, I'm going to eat it.

Thanks for the article

Did you notice how "diet" and "cheat" usually go together . . . as has been mentioned, we have to get over the idea of "dieting" and the idea of "cheating" . . . we have to concentrate on a new lifestyle - one that we will follow FOREVER. . .

Hear hear!

I agree that was the point of the article IMO. i too think thia was an excellent article

Also, for me what I am realizing is even a binge is not what made me fat. I have had a lot of not perfect days on this journey and it is ok. Because it isnt even the half pie or the sleeve of cookies that made me fat. Its EVERY DAY eating just a little more than I should. I have ALWAYS eaten primarily healthy foods, just in too large a portion. Except when I am down on myself and self sabotage. I used to blame those self sabotage days for "why I am fat."

Do you know, I think on average I had no more, or even fewer calories on some of my self sabotage days than on the days I ate large portions of healthy foods or on the days I just ate mindlessly. I just NOTICED the half-pie-in-one-sitting day more.

Now that I just get right back in the saddle and dont even try to compensate for the binges I am much better off. I dont eat less at the next meal or next day or next week than I would have if the blip had not occurred.

This has been very top of mind for me right now beach...thanks for the article

Unless you've been eating high calorie foods at every meal, though, license to cut back for the rest of the day after a splurge is just as likely to result in bulimia or fatness as weight loss.

I think the message that an occasional less healthy choice isn't a problem is good, but I wasn't getting the OCCASIONAL part of the message in that article.

Thanks, BeachPatrol! The article came at just about the right time for me. I've been having a few bad days here and there, but for the most part staying on course. I guess I ought to re-read the quote on my signature!

OMG allinell...shoot I've been meaning to say I saw an ad for a cheesy movie or tv show or something and they USE THAT QUOTE (not crediting it or anything). In an inspirational speech to the troops (futuristic sci-fi I think) or something. I have been telling dh - "someone on my board has that quote in their signature." but I forgot to look at sigs after that.

Honestly, if you view your eating habits as a lifestyle you have to live with then there is no cheating. You may go towards a low carb eating plan and then one day eat a bunch of carbs, so what? I have days where I eat more than I should but I know if I just continue a general trend of eating how I should, then I'll lose weight. I do get discouraged sometimes because if I eat poorly too many days in a row, my weight loss will stall. I want to keep a downward trend but the overall goal is to go down or maintain but never up.

Things happen in our lives that may derail us temporarily but we just need to make sure its temporary and not a major trend.

Thanks for the article! It definitely helped confirm what has been on my mind. In the past, if I had slipped on my "plan," I'd give in to the "all or nothing" approach. So, I finally figured it out and omitted any "specific" plan. I have a general plan to make healthy choices and so far I've been successful. It's all about perspective, and this is a good one!
~33Zen

P.S. I don't think this article is saying, "Hey, eat snickers bars and be normal." Rather, I believe it's implying that if you slip, keep on truckin' because a cookie won't ruin your success. If you're going out to eat with a group of friends, you're not obligated to a salad with vinegar and a glass of water. Every day doesn't have to be "perfect," or you may be doomed! Breathe a little and don't be so hard on yourself.

Sort of like the "middle way"--or rather, the path that is free from extremes.


Jay