"I did it by counting my calories and exercising."
Sure, of course that makes sense. BUT it sounds SO EASY!
"Eat less and move more."
That makes sense too, but again, it sounds too easy to be true...
People can not believe how simple weight loss can be until they try it for themself. Yes of course it takes lots of hard work, but it is not rocket science to do it and people can't believe that with out trying.
Speaking from expierence; in the past anytime someone I knew lots weight I always assume they stop eating, got some disorder, took some pills - after all, in my mind - there was no other way to lose weight. I tried all those crash diets and yo-yo dieted from the age of 15... but who would thought all I had to do was "Eat less and move more". I NEVER believed that statment (I always followed the example of eating more and moving less...) until I stuck with it long enough to see results and you can't stick with it long enough if you aren't willing to try.
Eating is the same as any other addiction. You can't stop drugs, drinking, smoking until YOU ARE READY! No one can you make and you can't make anyone. The same goes for losing weight - if you are not ready to lose weight you wont. Even if you know how to lose weight you won't lose it if you are not ready. But once you are ready, it is easy. The weight doesn't fall off over night - after all you didn't gain it over night; did you? It takes work, hard work at times but overall it is realativly easy.
And this is why I believe people have such a hard time believing that you lost weight by simpling counting your calories and exercising. They know it makes sense, but they can't believe it was that simple.
People are in denial that they can lose weight that easily as well and not have to spend money. How much money did all of you spend on special foods? diet pills? special drinks? weight watchers? etc.... and really - I don't need to spend tons of money to lose weight? How can they sell all this stuff if you don't need it? These are the types of things that people ask themself and I know it, because I did it.
When I was in high a girl in our group of friend lots of bunch of weight.... we all acused her of sticking her fingers down her throat and not eating. Needless to say she stoped being friends with us. Maybe it was true but maybe it wasn't. But I see now what it is like to be in her place.
It is SO easy that it is hard to believe. All it takes is some hard work, no money, and no rocket science.
Losing weight is as simple as eating less and moving more. Don't believe me? Try it.
(sorry if this is a bit baisit, but I am writing from my expierences and I am doing calorie counting - and I know that losing weight is harder for people with medication conditions, so I am going by my own expierences only!)
That makes so much sense. Yes, the method is simple and easy, but applying it demands not willpower, but a commitment and a long-term way of thinking that, well, isn't easy at all to find out we have in us.
I think there is will power involved. For me, at least, I have to have the determination to decide not to make that trip to the vending machine at work when I am hungry for immediate gratification, because I want to fit into a size medium top a year from now.
Simple does not equal easy. In this case, the simple, effective way is also difficult. People keep hoping that complications will bring ease into the process.
If losing weight were easy, there would be very few fat people in this society.
Once I actually set my mind to it and became committed to losing the weight, there was no stopping me. It was easier than I ever imagined. I had yo-yo dieted for years, only to get fatter. This time, there was no special diet pill, no pre-made foods, only hard work, exercise and determination. I exercise even when I don't particularly feel like it, I eat right because that is what I need to do. It doesn't cost me any money, I would have had to buy groceries anyway and healthy food doesn't cost that much more when you buy what's in season. I come here for the support that I need and it's a great place and FREE.
It really is amazing that if you eat less and move more the weight will start to dissapear over night. i have been overweight my whole life, and i always told my self that i would lose weight and i never did i just keep gaining, then i one day i told myself i would join weight watchers and since then ive lost like 65 lbs! i stopped doing weight watchers and got off track for a few months, i maintained my weight but now im back on track and ready to lose my last 15 lbs before November 11th when i go on a cruise the bahamas! keep up the good work girls!
Yes, I agree with you Courtnie. I now feel ready for the first time to lose weight, and it is coming off! And yet part of me still doesn't believe it. I see the scale, it's down 16 pounds now.. 16, that's a lot too. And logically I know that I have lost a bit of weight but I still don't feel it. I'm still adjusting to the idea that all I have to do is exercise and eat healthy on a regular and consistent basis and the weight will come off... I mean, it is that simple. And some days it is even easy, some days it is actually difficult... but it is not an overwhelming and difficult challenge as I thought it would be before I started. For me, I think the hardest thing is to get back on track after falling off.
Thanks for your post, it is reminding me of how possible losing all of this weight is
... If losing weight were easy, there would be very few fat people in this society.
My sentiments exactly!
Losing weight IS simple. Less calories + more exercise = weight loss. See? Simple! But easy to do???? NOPE!
I also don't think that food addiction of any kind is comparable to any other addiction on the planet. After all, you don't need cigarettes or alcohol or gambling or shopping or drugs(bad ones) or whatever in order to live. BUT YOU DO HAVE TO EAT TO LIVE. You cannot give up FOOD. Certain foods, maybe, sure, why not. But food in general... NOPE, can't be done!
Right now I am focusing on just trying to lose 1 or 2 pounds per week. I'm not even thinking about my goal. I'll let you know how this week goes next week.
I also don't think that food addiction of any kind is comparable to any other addiction on the planet. After all, you don't need cigarettes or alcohol or gambling or shopping or drugs(bad ones) or whatever in order to live. BUT YOU DO HAVE TO EAT TO LIVE.
An addiction is 90% mental and 10% drug of choice.
I feel it is comparable you are ruining your life either way, every addiction is hard to break - in fact wouldnt it be harder to break a food addiction because you HAVE TO EAT?... or course you get worse side effects from breaking off herion. What about bulimia? anorexia? you can die for those just like herion.
With any addiction you are filling a void and you break one addiction and start another (in most case with a person with addictive behaviour). My mom is an alcoholic (I went thru a week program at the treament center she attended) - they were people there for drugs, drinking, sex, shopping, caught syrup, and yes even eating. It is an addiction like any other (in my opinion) and I feel it is just as harmful as any other addiction. My mom stoped drinking and start smoking and eating chocolate - maybe you think that is not as bad, but what happens when she gets lunch cancer or weighs 600 pounds? is her addiction then as bad as drinking? (worst case, she is not nearly that bad).
The food gives you a high just a like a drug or a drink would. It gives you the same high. It all happens in your brain.
It is a two edge sword, you need to drink to live? so does that mean drinking is not a real addiction? you need to take pain medication when you get sick? someone gets addiction to those, is that not a real addicted because they needed them?
When a person stops drinking, drugs, gambling whatever they just never have a drug again, never go to the casino, never have a alochic drink. If they feel the tempation too strong they dont go to the bar or whatever - they removed themself from the situation - they stop hanging around the same people... but how do you remove yourself from the situation of eating? again, YOU HAVE TO EAT TO LIVE.
An addict is an addict, it doesn't matter what drug of choice is.
Anyway, this is my opnion and my opnion only. No harsh feeling please
You are right on the money Courtnie. I am an emotional eater and that was my biggest obstacle when I joined WW in 1/05. I needed to address those demons as to why it was that I would reach for food when I was bored or stressed or, etc, etc, etc. Food is my addiction just like alcohol is for my oldest son. I firmly believe that there is a correlation in the family history for addiction and why we need certain things to "numb" the pain that we are experiencing whether it's food, drugs or alchol.
Once I figured it out and realized that I was only hurting myself, I was able to lose 30 plus pounds and keep it off for over a year.
Then I started a new job which I love, but I'm not running around like I did with the previous job and I have not been strict with my point counting so I gained 5 pounds back. Well that put me into an emotional tailspun and I've been emotionally eating again. Well, guess what, I have gained 2 more bringing the total pounds to 7 in less than 2 months. Not good! I'm having issues sleeping, my back and neck hurt again and I am barely fitting into the clothes that I have. I know that people may think that 7 pounds isn't that much but my body was comfortable at a certain weight for the past year and now I have added onto it and it's telling me that it's not happy.
So I'm back on the wagon so to speak and working on the emotional eating issues as well as I'm going to utilize the free gym and trainers at my new company and get back on track with counting my points because I know that is what works for me.
You are right on the money Courtnie. I am an emotional eater and that was my biggest obstacle when I joined WW in 1/05. I needed to address those demons as to why it was that I would reach for food when I was bored or stressed or, etc, etc, etc. Food is my addiction just like alcohol is for my oldest son. I firmly believe that there is a correlation in the family history for addiction and why we need certain things to "numb" the pain that we are experiencing whether it's food, drugs or alchol.
I fully believe that addictions are partly genetic. I believe they run in the family. I know with myself I am very careful around alcohol and don't do any drugs. But I see myself have problems with shopping and eating. My little sister has a lot of addictive personalities they say to watch out for. She too has weight problem.
It really is a hard one to break and I know you can do it. If you ever need anyone to talk to feel free to PM me. I know when my I was going thru the stress of everything going on with my mom it would of been great to have someone to talk to (outside of the family) that understood what I was going thru.
so true, it absolutely is an addiction. there was a point several years ago where i lost well over 65lbs and i had traded my food addiction for an exercise addiction - neither were terribly healthy!!
its all about finding a balance.
am i able to say NO candy EVER? nope. can i say no candy today but a bite next week. sure! can i say no working out? absolutely not, but i cant let myself work out 5,6,7 hours a day like i was.
there is a balance to everything in life and it is unfortunately one of the hardest things to find.
Hmmmm... maybe I have been misunderstood? I said that I didn't think that food addiction is comparable to any other addiction. Because with other addictions - a person CAN quit, they CAN stop. Not easy, I know! - Nothing worthwhile ever is! - But with food addiction - you can't just STOP EATING. Some people have to learn HOW to eat & WHAT to eat & WHEN to eat. But unlike cigarettes or alcohol or drugs (by drugs I mean "drugs" NOT medications that some people CAN become addicted to) that people can quit - you cannot "quit" food.
That's why I said that it's an addiction that is uncomparable to any other addiction on the planet. I'm not saying that other addictions aren't harmful or difficult or whatever. I'm saying that YES, we can live without smoking or drinking or gambling... and sure, we can live without chocolate or Doritos, but you STILL have to EAT something!
Beach Patrol - I am sorry I did mis-understand you. In your first post I thought you were saying that it is uncomparable in the sense that it doesn't even come close to being an addiction and that all the other addictions were worse.
All this talk of jealous friends...
