Originally Posted by wyllenn:

It's funny, you know, I am very careful with money. Always have been. Rarely do I have the same sense of frustration. If I want something I can't afford, I don't have much trouble prioritizing and saving up for it. A lot of what I'm learning to be with food is similar, but why do I feel so restricted? habit? Will it get better?

Okay, I kind of hijacked this thread in a different direction... sorry!

No, no, that's OK because this is something I need to learn. Even when I have a diet plan that gives me plenty of food, I feel directed, I guess, and kind of resent it. I really need to get over that.

All my grandparents died young - cancer, diabetes, complications of alzheimers. For 20 years, I struggled to lose weight and THAT was my goal - just, losing weight.

About 2 years ago I changed my focus to eating foods that would keep me healthy and would help prevent long term degenerative diseases. I eat spinach for my eyes, blueberries for my brain, nuts for my heart, tomatoes to ward off the long term effects of aging, yogurt for my gut. I concentrate on the foods I should be eating and that really helps me from being feeling deprived.

Changing the focus from losing weight to health made all the difference for me. Losing weight was a happy byproduct of the change, along with increased energy and generally feeling wonderful all the time. Along the way, I lost my cravings for junk food and began to love the taste of whole foods - salmon, natural peanut butter, berries, baked sweet potatoes, etc.

I also took a very long term approach, I am not on a diet plan, this is just how I eat now. Takes a little more planning and a few more trips to the grocery store every week and some tough decisions about going with friends to certain restaurants, but it has been so worth it to me.

Good luck to you.

Originally Posted by shanonbug:
DO you know why u gain weight on machines? I am doing the machines now and not seing the results as well so I was just curious if you knew why that is.:?:

I think that I just use more energy working against gravity than being helped by machines, which I know I am using correctly. It's just a better workout for me to go bike riding instead of using an exercise bike, or walking/running outside or on an indoor track, instead of on a treadmill. I also found that I don't feel hungry as often as I do when I am using machines. Obviously diet does have something to do with it, but it is definately helped by the quality of exercise - for me anyways.

Glory87 - I totallly agree. I eat all of the foods you mention for the same reasons. Who doesn't love a bowl full of fresh sliced strawberries, raspberries and blueberries topped with natural vanilla yogurt and sliced almonds??? Not only does that look delicious, sound delicious and taste delicious, it's soooo good for you! By focusing my eating on what's good for my body, I am able to eat a balanced diet that leads to a normal weight and good health.

For a while I was tracking very closely on www.fitday.com to make sure I wasn't going over calories. Now, I just check in once in a while to make sure I'm still on track. Yesterday, I ate a lot and I even ate haagen-daz mint chip ice cream... a full cup! So at the end of the day I logged all of my food for the day, and I mean all of it...from the honey in my tea to the tablespoon of maple syrup on my kashi waffles....and I was at 1,950 cals for the day. Not bad for a day that I let myself "go wild." Normally, my calories are between 1,300 and 1,800.

Anyway, try focusing on your health and not your weight. It has worked for me! :)