Quote:
Originally Posted by FallingAwake
I know it's not meant to seem like a 'diet' but it is. Just like eating healthy is a 'diet'. Just because the word 'diet' is often associated with one people starving themselves to lose a few kilo's or denying themselves certain foods for the rest of their lives, doesn't mean the word diet isn't still applicable here.
I just wanted to throw in some clarification about "diet" and what it means to most people at 3FC. (Because, yes, even on different forums will you find different ideas.) You will not find as many people saying they are on a diet here at 3FC (despite the full name of the site), because it is implied that there will be a time when we will be OFF the diet.
Most people like to say they're changing their life, their habits or their food choices, because it gives a more solid sense of
permanent change.
Now, I agree that the word diet actually simply means what we eat. We are all on this site in the first place, because we're changing our diets for the better. But, we are not "on a diet". And there's the distinction.
I believe we like to emphasize that distinction, because there's not really a difference between losing weight and maintaining the weight lost. It's the same thing in the end. We've made permanent, healthy changes to our lives. That's what is helping us lose weight, and those same permanent healthy changes are going to help us keep it off in the end.
I know you've said you don't plan to just skip out and eat whatever you want after goal, that you want healthy changes to stick with you. Counting points (calories or even noting the amount you're eating), tracking the healthy guidelines (making sure you're getting enough vegetables, water and healthy fats from things like olive oil), moving more (getting in daily activity). These are all things that are ALREADY built into the plan. It's not anything magical. It's just the way that we here at the WW area have found is best for us to keep track.
Ignoring the meetings part, sure we could calorie count, and do it without paying, but the whole of it together is what keeps us going and on plan.
I'm not weening myself off of WW when I lose the weight. WW
is maintenance from the very moment I lost my first pound.
I am not saying that it works that way for everyone. Maybe you use WW until you lose everything and then calorie count or are able to keep an eye on things without either, but I do not recommend it.
If you take a look down at the Maintainers area you'd see. Most of those ladies and gents still plan their meals, mark their workouts, calorie count, note their fruits and veggies. They are doing the exact same things we are doing to lose the weight. Their benefit isn't seeing the scale go down, it's seeing the scale stay the same.
I know this seems like a long blab over a simple word such as "diet", but the subtle distinction is very important to enough people that you'll see "It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle" on MANY of the forum areas and replies. That's not to say you can't tell yourself or others that you're on a diet. Different strokes for different folks. But, usually you won't see others referring to it that way, or you'll see some members throwing out the ol' phrase mentioned.
We're reminding ourselves as much as others that there is no going back.