because I have to say I am!

Things just feel very different this time. Im enjoying what Im eating and dont feel like Im missing out on foods I used to eat. Sometimes Im tempted but it helps that we just arent buying junk anymore. Once Ive been desperate for some chocolate so I bought a small bar of high cocoa dark chocolate and ate it over 2 days, I enjoyed it and was satisfied.

The only person 'in real life' that knows Im on a diet is my husband and he is also. Its nice not to have the pressure of being asked how Im getting on. Im going back to the UK for New Year and Im looking forward to surprising everyone!

I do think Im just making the change to a healthy lifestyle rather than a diet!

You sound like you're going to do well. It's getting your head in the right place that makes you able to stick with it.

I am enjoying my "diet" as well. I think the key is to view it as a healthy lifestyle change and not a diet. Well, actually, I don't really think of it as a change anymore. It's just the way I do things now. I still have cravings for junk food, but they are getting better. When I have given into the cravings I just didn't enjoy the food the way I thought I would. All that fast food just tastes heavy and bland now. Instead of chili cheese dogs I prefer foods with a fresher, crisper taste. It's pretty cool!

I am loving my new healthier way of life, it is not a chore to eat like this and I don't really miss anything at all (besides steak but I don't eat it for different reasons not related to weight loss) I use to eat like this in my early 20's and felt great, who wouldda thunk thats all it would take to feel 10 years younger again? I don't even hold back on treats for the most part, I just eat them in moderation, just last month I had Italian Rum cake and this month was Tiramisu (both birthday cakes) but thats it! I often find myself wondering how I ate the way I did.

As Ever
Me

I thought I answered this last night, but maybe I just thought about it.

I love the way I'm eating at the moment. I continue to work on recipes I enjoy, making them lighter and healthier. I took a chocolate cake recipe that I made in years past and recently took it from ~180 cals to 106 cals (less if you leave off the frosting. Although I didn't test them side by side I really do believe there was little difference. I think that's probably the thing I enjoy doing most.

More important though, I feel healthy and strong. I'm also eating maybe 1000 cals a day more than I did the last time I was losing weight. And the last time I eventually made myself sick with that. It may not work for everyone, however, eating less was not the way for me to lose weight. I lost a lot at the start and eventually got to a point where I had to struggle for perhaps a pound a week. Although I've had low loss weeks I don't get two of them in a row (which for me is amazing).

There's little I eat now that I wouldn't continuing eating at goal, and I think that's a big plus.

Its really so good to hear!

It really does seem the key is a change in lifestyle but to also view it as something permanent. I think that will also make it much easier to maintane once at goal as I doubt any of us are willing to go back again!

Keep up the good work!

I am really enjoying the changes I have made. In two months I have dropped from daily constant heart burn to nothing, I feel better and I actually want to do things. And I genually like what I'm eating and the choices I'm making.
Kinda nice to be on the other side, hopefully I will stay here.