Quilter that is awesome!!! How many cals did that translate too while you were losing? Do you have a "How I did it" up?

Originally Posted by QuilterInVA:
You need to keep a journal and record every bite, taste and lick as well as how you were feeling emotionally when you ate and how hungry you were.

what a terrifying thing to tell someone.

and not true.

I beat binge eating. In fact the June 2007 Health Magazine article on Binge Eating has my picture and quotes me.

I've lost over 50 pounds in a year. and i continue to lose
I don't journal every bite taste and lick and i don't journal my feelings or emotions about it.

I come from a family of dysfunctional eaters. we used to actually binge together as a family. I always felt inferior in my family as I could not purge like my brother and cousin could.

food is my best friend, my lover and my worst enemy all rolled up into one.

sometimes thinking about food too much just shifts your obsession...

but what happened for me was one day i just got tired of being tired......

i got tired of being out of breath just from turning over in bed

I got tired of not being able to <insert all the things I did not do>

and i got patient. slowly i learned what I liked to eat that worked for me and kept me healthy.... my blood numbers (sugar and cholesterol) are down to normal levels because although i'm not thin YET, I eat like a thin person... and slowly the numbers go down. I'm not in a rush to lose this weight... i have the rest of my life but now that i'm eating well, it will be a long life.

Susan, you are 100% correct.

Let's try for some middle ground here...

I agree with QuilterInVa (Susan) that it really is helpful to keep careful track of all foods eaten, especially at first! It is very crucial to find out exactly what you are eating. I'm not a journal writer, but I can see that writing down feelings about food would be very useful in finding out the why's of eating.

I also agree with ladybugnessa that there isn't only one way to succeed. After you get into the swing of it, tracking foods and portions becomes second nature--it's just what you always do, and it doesn't have to be scary or hard! Just a change.

The many opinions you'll find on 3FC show that everyone can work out their own way, and the best way is the one that WORKS for you! Both Quilter and Ladybug have found a way to succeed, and you can, too! :cheer2:

Jay

I think taking some time to observe how you are feeling and what you are eating is helpful, but I also think you should look at the "who" is involved too. I know I have yo-yo'd a bit over the years and recently stepped back to really look at why. In my case, I recognize a combination of emotional eating but also the influence of others who I feel have contributed to my weight problem. People don't always like change, and sometimes even those who say and believe they are supporting us are actually contributing to our difficulties without meaning to.

I don't bother with "journaling" because I KNOW why I am fat; why I can't seem to "lose it & keep it off".... simple answer? I LOVE FOOD! - Love it! Even the super-healthy-good-for-you-foods... if you EAT TOO MUCH, no matter WHAT it is, you will gain weight. I tend to "inhale" my meals. It's hard for me to slow down, but it's something I've been working on for YEARS now. And I STILL have to remind myself to SLOW DOWN! - chew! - TASTE! repeat...

It works for some; but not for others. It's a waste of time FOR ME. Portion control & exercise has been the best for me. I have to be able to eat the foods I sincerely love the most because if I tell myself I can't have them, then I want them even more & eventually I'll break down & have what I'm "not supposed to have"... and then I'll have WAY too much. I believe it's called BINGE EATING. And lordy, does it take it's toll... (OMG... "toll"... toll house cookies... OK, shut up Beach Patrol!!!!! :D )

I hate to spam my own blog, but I have given my advice for a successful diet..I will recommend this "blog" (I now call it a ebook) to anybody. I have lost 232lbs since the 1st of last year the old fashioned way.

Originally Posted by Beach Patrol:
I don't bother with "journaling" because I KNOW why I am fat; why I can't seem to "lose it & keep it off".... simple answer? I LOVE FOOD! - Love it! Even the super-healthy-good-for-you-foods... if you EAT TOO MUCH, no matter WHAT it is, you will gain weight. I tend to "inhale" my meals. It's hard for me to slow down, but it's something I've been working on for YEARS now. And I STILL have to remind myself to SLOW DOWN! - chew! - TASTE! repeat...

It works for some; but not for others. It's a waste of time FOR ME. Portion control & exercise has been the best for me. I have to be able to eat the foods I sincerely love the most because if I tell myself I can't have them, then I want them even more & eventually I'll break down & have what I'm "not supposed to have"... and then I'll have WAY too much. I believe it's called BINGE EATING. And lordy, does it take it's toll... (OMG... "toll"... toll house cookies... OK, shut up Beach Patrol!!!!! :D )

I could have written your post. I do think journaling works for some, but like Nessa, journaling tends to make me more obsessed with food. I would love to live life not having to think about food so much.