It's really interesting that you posted that quote, Kira.

We DO all have self-imposed limits and habits, and we DO all need to let some of them go in order to lose weight.

But the speed with which we let them go, or how many we let go at once, isn't addressed in the quote above. And while for certain personalities it definitely IS better to make all sorts of changes at once and let go of all limits simultaneously, for ME, and for others here, just as much success (and often, more) can be found by letting go of those limits one at a time. It has worked for many, and continues to work for many.

Actually Ms Nelie, time DOES play a role -- based on your age, weight loss is associated with increased mortality as one ages, believe it or not. I don't have the luxury of being 25 years old! I NEED and I emphasize the word NEED to get this weight off in a timely fashion. I don't have 10 years in which to experiment with moderation -- I choose to get healthy in a timely fashion because I NEED to get healthy. And time's a tickin'!

And to do this, I have to really examine WHO I am, WHO I want to be, and redefining myself so that I DON"T have to suffer with the threat of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer as a result of continued obesity.

But to each his/her own...one can choose moderation and perhaps get there, or one can really break through their own self-limits and biases and break through to a new life...and I'm not sure WHY there is such resistance to this concept! It seems acceptable to recommend that "slow and sure" and 10 years of moderation is just fine, but God FORBID you recommend that someone really goes through the hard work to fundamentally change their diet, exercise and most importantly, thought patterns and behaviours to get healthy! Which is bizarre, given the kudos given to those who chose to do this...

Ah well, to each his/her own, I suppose...

Kira

We all want to work on whatever issues we have, whether they are weight loss or fitness related. Of course time and time again, those that look for the 'quick' fix are often the ones losing and regaining while those that are working on permanent habits are the ones that keep the habits.

I've lost 150 lbs and I'm in my 6th year of losing/maintaining. I think for me, the path I have chosen is the best one. I had many years prior to losing where I lost and regained the same 30 lbs over and over. It wasn't until working on the actual changes and making small steps that turned into bigger ones that it actually worked.

And getting healthy isn't purely about weight, it is about how we eat and what activity is in our lives. Also, I think studies have shown that losing as much as 10% of your body weight can show a big improvement in health.

For me, the goal isn't a number on the scale but what changes have taken place to get there and maintaining those changes.

Kira - no one is resisting that some people can succeed when making lots of changes at once. On the contrary - lots of folks here have done so! But lots of folks have ALSO made smaller, more incremental changes, and had just as much success.

The resistance is to the idea that big transformations all at once are the ONLY path that will lead to weight loss and maintenance, which disregards the experiences of many, many posters on this board.

I never said it was the only way! I said that it was as valid a path as the one recommended earlier of gradual gradual change...but can you honestly say that your definition of yourself and how you view food and exercise HASN'T radically changed??? If it hasn't, I fear maintenance will be a struggle. If it has, then why not recognize that this needs to happen right from the get go?

What I'm sensing is exactly what I put in my earlier quote...people look to their self-definitions and create scenarios that confirm their deeply-held beliefs. If you believe that you are only capable of tiny baby steps, that's exactly what you'll do. And you'll achieve tiny baby steps. And justify why this was done. All I'm suggesting is that perhaps, if one challenges these deep-rooted definitions, one can break through to become more than they ever thought possible. Perhaps one DOESN'T need baby steps. Maybe one can ACTUALLY break through these boundaries...

But, ya, you're probably right. After all, those who argue for their limitations generally get to keep them...


Kira

What have you tried??

Oh no, it definitely has! Absolutely! But not all at once, at all.

First I was a person who didn't drink sugared soda.
Then I was a person who didn't drink sugared soda, and avoided fast food.
Then I was a person who ate at home most days and counted calories.

Fast forward to NOW, when I'm a local-foodist who cans her own food, makes her own cheese, and pretty much only eats fruit from the farmers market. But that's stuff I'm STILL adding and refining. I did not go from where I was to where I am all at once, by any means, and I STILL believe in moderation in all things. I eat cupcakes, sometimes, and I don't consider it to be "off plan". I eat heavier meals some days. It's all moderate.

I am sure you didn't mean to imply that big changes all at once were the only way. But your posts did imply that, to me.

Ya, well, you're probably right...

Kira

OP, you've gotten a lot of great answers, but we're veering off topic. I'm going to go ahead and close this thread now.