Wasting you money dieting?

AvadaKedavra

lazer wrote: »

I put on weight because i was in a car accident and was generally incative for a while after that, and didn't change what I ate to compensate for burning less calories.


I have now lost weight simply by eating less and exercising more. I do not follow any particular diet, nor subscribe to any plans such as weightwatchers etc, personally i don't agree with these, as although they are essentailly teaching healthy living, they ignore factors such as makig sure you gettign the right vitamins, minerals etc, it is all about how many points you eat.

Also nearly everyone i know that has followed these plans eventually gets fed up of it and puts at least some of the weight back on after they stop going to the classes.

Losing weight is basic - eat less calories than you use and you will lose weight.

The mechanics of it may differ depending on various factors such as metabolism, storage of fat if you dont eat enough etc.

Glad you got back on your feet, so to speak.

I agree I think it varies for everyone, My diet does incorporate vitamins as these are very important, some people get too involved in counting calories and forget about what is actually in them, example small mars bar vs large banana, Similar calories but one is far more enriched nutritionally.

pinkteapot

SandC wrote: »

pinkteapot but do you get where I'm coming from in that the roots of getting big are pyschological not because of a trauma or that you are hiding behind a size (although these situations do occur a lot too) but there is always going to be something in the head of someone we would 'perhaps' refer to as 'naturally slim' that makes them do something about it once they've put a certain amount of weight on.

I wish I could get to the bottom of it, but it always stuns me to hear people who have only ever varied in weight by a couple of lbs all their adult lives - once we admit this is down to something which is in our heads rather than making excuses or telling ourselves they have fast metabolisms etc. (fat people have faster metabolisms than thin, generally) we can really start to deal with it and permanently.

Honestly? Most of the time I don't buy psychological excuses. Rarely I think there are genuine cases of mental problems causing over-eating (in a similar way to mental problems being the cause of anorexia, bulimia, etc). Most of the time though, it's just about the level of willpower someone has and whether they really and truly want to lose weight.

I put on a couple of stone because I liked good food. It's yummy. I wanted to eat it more than I wanted to be slim. Simple maths. After losing weight though I loved how I looked and how much fitter I was. I'd rather stay that way than eat more.

AvadaKedavra

pinkteapot wrote: »

Honestly? Most of the time I don't buy psychological excuses. Rarely I think there are genuine cases of mental problems causing over-eating (in a similar way to mental problems being the cause of anorexia, bulimia, etc). Most of the time though, it's just about the level of willpower someone has and whether they really and truly want to lose weight.

I put on a couple of stone because I liked good food. It's yummy. I wanted to eat it more than I wanted to be slim. Simple maths. After losing weight though I loved how I looked and how much fitter I was. I'd rather stay that way than eat more.

:beer:

It is so true, I had that phase a few years ago because I love my food!

But you have to limit your intake in order to stay lean. It is that simple. I ate for boredom at times and also enjoyment.

SandC

pinkteapot wrote: »

Honestly? Most of the time I don't buy psychological excuses. Rarely I think there are genuine cases of mental problems causing over-eating (in a similar way to mental problems being the cause of anorexia, bulimia, etc). Most of the time though, it's just about the level of willpower someone has and whether they really and truly want to lose weight.

I put on a couple of stone because I liked good food. It's yummy. I wanted to eat it more than I wanted to be slim. Simple maths. After losing weight though I loved how I looked and how much fitter I was. I'd rather stay that way than eat more.

I know what you're saying, bringing pysche into it again turns into excuses half the time. As in 'I'm fat cos my mother hated me'.

But it is a mentality and I purely think the OP is going along the lines of if you are 'on' a diet then you'll come off it (the number of weight loss threads I've seen in forums where people are saying they are in it for life but then come off the plan for Xmas, holidays, family occasions etc. shows it to be the case that it is a 'diet' for most and not a lifestyle change).

AvadaKedavra

SandC wrote: »

I know what you're saying, bringing pysche into it again turns into excuses half the time. As in 'I'm fat cos my mother hated me'.

But it is a mentality and I purely think the OP is going along the lines of if you are 'on' a diet then you'll come off it (the number of weight loss threads I've seen in forums where people are saying they are in it for life but then come off the plan for Xmas, holidays, family occasions etc. shows it to be the case that it is a 'diet' for most and not a lifestyle change).

I have failed so many times to be consistent on any type of diet, except the IF diet I am on now, just because it allows me to eat some of the 'junk' I otherwise did not eat on other diets. Some times if you do not satisfy your cravings now and again you will end up having a mad binge :eek: and scrapping the diet all together.

pinkteapot

Do agree with that point. I like Weight Watchers because I can eat whatever I want. No prescribed foods/meals. I eat what I like, in lower quantities. Except for Dominos - that had to stop. That's what makes it work in the long-term.

Let's distinguish between "diet" - meaning restrict your food intake in order to lose weight (it is necessary - the only way to lose weight is to eat less calories than you burn) - and the more recent definition which refers to particular fad diets (eat cabbage soup twice a day). The word diet doesn't have to have such negative connotations.

whatmichaelsays

absolutebounder wrote: »

as soon as you stop dieting back on the weight goes.

And here lies the problem.

There is a huge difference between "having a healthy diet" and "dieting".

If you genuinely want to lose weight, going "on a diet" is not, and never has been, the way to do it. Instead, you need to adopt a healthier diet full stop.

SmallL

To me a 'diet' is about trying to eat healthier and cut out junk/have a more balanced diet.
if i can make that 'diet' my normal fare than i count that as a success to becoming healthier.

Idiophreak

whatmichaelsays wrote: »

If you genuinely want to lose weight, going "on a diet" is not, and never has been, the way to do it. Instead, you need to adopt a healthier diet full stop.

Indeed, there's quite a common misconception that you only get to "eat normally" once you get down to your target weight - and that you need to eat less until that point. This simply isn't the case.

Your body needs X calories per day to maintain your ideal weight. Above that weight, your body will burn more calories anyway.

So if, for example, you weight 17 stone, your ideal weight is 15 stone and to keep that weight you need to eat 2500 calories per day, there's no need to diet below 2500 calories. At 17 stone, your body may burn, say, 3000 calories anyway, so eating "normally" your body will be running at -500 calories per day. When you've lost a stone, maybe you'll be down to -250 and by the time you reach 15 stone you'll be eating the right amount to maintain that weight.

This may be slower than crash dieting, but it's much more sustainable.

absolutebounder

pinkteapot wrote: »

What a ridiculous post OP. I lost two stone with Weight Watchers. I had gained weight because I ate too much. Dinner portions too large (though the meals weren't unhealthy food), .

You gained weight because you over ruled your body when it had had enough. Also I note the meals were healthy which rather makes my point about healthy diets not being a cause of weight loss even though the industry tells you they are.

pinkteapot wrote: »

Honestly? Most of the time I don't buy psychological excuses. R.

I put on a couple of stone because I liked good food. It's yummy. I wanted to eat it more than I wanted to be slim. .

Once again your body has a natural fuel gauge but it seems there was a psychological reason for it being over ruled. This fuel gauge is often boogered up by the so called healthy diets because fruit often contains quite a bit of fructose which interferes with Leptin which is vital in the process of knowing when you have had enough. (a small but vital point slimming world and weight watchers never seem to point out)