Has Anyone Lost Weight Without Dieting?!

cherryblossomzel

That sounds great! Don't worry about the "naughty" dish. In fact, try to get out of the habit of classifying food as either good or bad. It's just food, and in this case, it's just one meal, which it sounds like you managed very well. What matters is what you do most of the time.

I'm gonna use this thread as inspiration. I've gained a bit of weight recently and need to make a few changes to shift it.

Credit-Crunched

cherryblossomzel wrote: »

That sounds great! Don't worry about the "naughty" dish. In fact, try to get out of the habit of classifying food as either good or bad. It's just food, and in this case, it's just one meal, which it sounds like you managed very well. What matters is what you do most of the time.

I'm gonna use this thread as inspiration. I've gained a bit of weight recently and need to make a few changes to shift it.

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you there. Yes, its is all food, but there are good and bad meals.

Chips with Burger is a bad meal, it carries next to no sustenance, lots of saturated fat, sodium, calories, but near zero nutrition.

Whereas fish, with broccoli, carrots and quinoa is the complete opposite.

I am not being argumentative, however, I feel that people do put on weight due to thinking of all food, as just food, and not thinking of the bigger picture and content of said food.

Try Myfitness pal for a week and input everything you eat, and I think it will surprise. you.

Anoneemoose

Credit-Crunched wrote: »

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you there. Yes, its is all food, but there are good and bad meals.

Chips with Burger is a bad meal, it carries next to no sustenance, lots of saturated fat, sodium, calories, but near zero nutrition.

Whereas fish, with broccoli, carrots and quinoa is the complete opposite.

I am not being argumentative, however, I feel that people do put on weight due to thinking of all food, as just food, and not thinking of the bigger picture and content of said food.

Try Myfitness pal for a week and input everything you eat, and I think it will surprise. you.

I think what cherryblossom meant is that I should not beat myself up for having something less than healthy. Most of us know that a burger and chips is not very good nutritionally but that is not something I plan on having all of the time (I didn't have a burger by the way)!

Cherry also meant to stop labelling things as good and bad because bad is negative and makes it seem wrong. Everyone should be allowed to eat rubbish some of the time. In addition, she also said it is about what you do most of the time.

The point of this thread was for me to make small changes, gradually that will eventually become habit and the norm. Like today. I have had a good amount of water. Wholemeal cheese on toast with tomatoes for breakfast which has filled me up and satisfied me.

Credit-Crunched

Anoneemoose wrote: »

I think what cherryblossom meant is that I should not beat myself up for having something less than healthy. Most of us know that a burger and chips is not very good nutritionally but that is not something I plan on having all of the time (I didn't have a burger by the way)!

Cherry also meant to stop labelling things as good and bad because bad is negative and makes it seem wrong. Everyone should be allowed to eat rubbish some of the time. In addition, she also said it is about what you do most of the time.

The point of this thread was for me to make small changes, gradually that will eventually become habit and the norm. Like today. I have had a good amount of water. Wholemeal cheese on toast with tomatoes for breakfast which has filled me up and satisfied me.

I do agree, small steps over time turn into large ones.

Bit I do feel that food should be labelled, good and bad, even it is labelled negative, as these foods are not good for you. Sadly, its not what people eat some of the time, it is their permanent food source, hence the huge obesity and diabetes epidemic that is facing this country.

Smoking, and Alcohol are labelled as negative as they actively damage a persons health and well being, for me a diet high in fats and salts is equally as damaging and should be labelled as negative.

This thread seems to have a lot of justification for the persons cheat days, its cold, i'm unwell etc. But ultimately it is down to will power and consciously deciding to eat healthily and stay away from junk food, especially if one is overweight.

Pre competition when I need to make weight I can shift 15 pounds in 5 days, so I do find it hard to see how people that are 15 stone plus struggle to lose 1 pound in a week. This can only be down to eating the wrong things.

Please dont take this as a slight on peoples efforts, I just feel that sometime people need to take a hard view on their diets, and start to seperate between good and bad.

Just my view, and imagine one of the minority!

hollycupcake

Your opening post rang so many bells with me!

I have managed to lose just over a stone in the last couple of months by making small changes. My biggest weakness is bread. I could easily sit and eat a white loaf, toasted with butter, all to myself. It's quick and yummy. All my past attempts at dieting have been ELIMINATE THE BREAD!!! But when I do that, yes I lose weight, but then bread becomes the "thing that I can't have." So of course I crave it. For the past couple of months I've allowed myself bread but only a granary or wholemeal type of loaf. Burgen's Soya & Linseed one is great. It's lower GI, a lot more filling and really tasty. So I can have a sandwich without beating myself up, but I've chosen a healthier version. I think I've had a couple of slices of white bread in all that time, but only when nothing else was available.

Friday night for us is chippy tea night. Before I changed my thinking about food I would have a big fish and chips with two slices of white bread and butter, because everyone else was and I didn't want to miss out. Now I order a "pensioner's" fish and chips, which is about half the size and I just don't bother with the bread (somehow I've managed to stick to this part; I suspect it's because the fish and chips feels "naughty" enough on its own!)

Drink plenty of water. I know everyone says it, but it really does help.

I can't manage exercise at the moment either (I'm currently undergoing tests for symptoms like fatigue and joint pain etc and, like you, I get post-exertional malaise. A couple of hours shopping practically knocks me out). However, I'm wondering if Yoga might me possible? I've looked into it online and I think there are varying levels of intensity so it might be that there's a something gentle to start off with.

I don't know if this is an issue for you, but for years I have had the same size portions as my (6ft2) husband. If he cooked he would dish up the same amount for us both, too. Now I make sure I always dish up my own. I still have a decent amount but it's waaaay less than it was.

Do you have good days and bad days in relation to your Fibromyalgia? Would it be possible on your good days to cook a batch of something that you could lob portions of into the freezer and use as an emergency dinner on a bad day?

Good luck!

Anoneemoose

Credit-Crunched wrote: »

I do agree, small steps over time turn into large ones.

Bit I do feel that food should be labelled, good and bad, even it is labelled negative, as these foods are not good for you. Sadly, its not what people eat some of the time, it is their permanent food source, hence the huge obesity and diabetes epidemic that is facing this country.

Smoking, and Alcohol are labelled as negative as they actively damage a persons health and well being, for me a diet high in fats and salts is equally as damaging and should be labelled as negative.

This thread seems to have a lot of justification for the persons cheat days, its cold, i'm unwell etc. But ultimately it is down to will power and consciously deciding to eat healthily and stay away from junk food, especially if one is overweight.

Pre competition when I need to make weight I can shift 15 pounds in 5 days, so I do find it hard to see how people that are 15 stone plus struggle to lose 1 pound in a week. This can only be down to eating the wrong things.

Please dont take this as a slight on peoples efforts, I just feel that sometime people need to take a hard view on their diets, and start to seperate between good and bad.

Just my view, and imagine one of the minority!

I don't disagree with what you're saying but it isn't always easy for people to make changes as you describe. I am the OP and I have 4 conditons that make it difficult for me to lose weight whether directly or indirectly.

I have PCOS which is known to hinder weight loss. I have OCD which means that when I have to think too much about diets, points, calories, carbs, fat etc etc, my head virtually explodes. I also have IBS which restricts some of the healthy things I can eat. I struggle with a lot of fruit and veg because it gives me diarrhoea so I have to choose wisely. Also, lentils, pulses etc which although I love, cripple me with painful wind. In addition, my fibro means I spend a lot of time in pain, I get no quality sleep and am so weak it's unreal.

This lot may seem like excuses and I have admitted sometimes I have used them as such in the past to excuse binges. However, they are real in the ways I have described, which means I can't just ignore them and I do have to work round them. I would love nothing more to wake up feeling refreshed, free of pain and fatigue, and being able to go for a run or go to the gym (like I used to).

I don't intend eating rubbish all of the time but I have to think about the whole picture within my limitations and work on that to find something that is best for me.

cherryblossomzel

Anoneemoose wrote: »

I think what cherryblossom meant is that I should not beat myself up for having something less than healthy. Most of us know that a burger and chips is not very good nutritionally but that is not something I plan on having all of the time (I didn't have a burger by the way)!

Cherry also meant to stop labelling things as good and bad because bad is negative and makes it seem wrong. Everyone should be allowed to eat rubbish some of the time. In addition, she also said it is about what you do most of the time.

The point of this thread was for me to make small changes, gradually that will eventually become habit and the norm. Like today. I have had a good amount of water. Wholemeal cheese on toast with tomatoes for breakfast which has filled me up and satisfied me.

That is what I meant. Some people have a very black and white view on these things, and if it works for them, then that's great. But I stand by what I said: if you make the right decisions MOST of the time, then a slice of cake is not going to do any damage.

Anoneemoose

hollycupcake wrote: »

Your opening post rang so many bells with me!

I have managed to lose just over a stone in the last couple of months by making small changes. My biggest weakness is bread. I could easily sit and eat a white loaf, toasted with butter, all to myself. It's quick and yummy. All my past attempts at dieting have been ELIMINATE THE BREAD!!! But when I do that, yes I lose weight, but then bread becomes the "thing that I can't have." So of course I crave it. For the past couple of months I've allowed myself bread but only a granary or wholemeal type of loaf. Burgen's Soya & Linseed one is great. It's lower GI, a lot more filling and really tasty. So I can have a sandwich without beating myself up, but I've chosen a healthier version. I think I've had a couple of slices of white bread in all that time, but only when nothing else was available.

Friday night for us is chippy tea night. Before I changed my thinking about food I would have a big fish and chips with two slices of white bread and butter, because everyone else was and I didn't want to miss out. Now I order a "pensioner's" fish and chips, which is about half the size and I just don't bother with the bread (somehow I've managed to stick to this part; I suspect it's because the fish and chips feels "naughty" enough on its own!)

Drink plenty of water. I know everyone says it, but it really does help.

I can't manage exercise at the moment either (I'm currently undergoing tests for symptoms like fatigue and joint pain etc and, like you, I get post-exertional malaise. A couple of hours shopping practically knocks me out). However, I'm wondering if Yoga might me possible? I've looked into it online and I think there are varying levels of intensity so it might be that there's a something gentle to start off with.

I don't know if this is an issue for you, but for years I have had the same size portions as my (6ft2) husband. If he cooked he would dish up the same amount for us both, too. Now I make sure I always dish up my own. I still have a decent amount but it's waaaay less than it was.

Do you have good days and bad days in relation to your Fibromyalgia? Would it be possible on your good days to cook a batch of something that you could lob portions of into the freezer and use as an emergency dinner on a bad day?

Good luck!

Thank you for replying. Your symptoms sound very similar to mine. The PEM can be terrible although a lot of time with me, it seems to hit me a day or 2 after the event. Not always of course, sometimes the hit by a train feeling can be straightaway!! I have tried pilates before but had to lay on my back for a while and it made me sick. Not sure if yoga is the same. Having said that, that was at a time when I was going to the gym regularly but just before I was diagnosed with the fibro. I would feel fine in the actual gym and then hours later, I would crash both physically and mentally to the point I have been in tears!!

Swimming is good and I do enjoy it and I should try and go at least when I can.

I have just had some pea and ham soup (hope it doesn't make my tummy poorly!) and I made some cheese savoury muffins which were yum. Very filling and a tasty alternative to bread. I may use wholemeal or a grainy flour next time and probably a stronger cheese.

I do have good days and bad days but I also make cakes for a hobby for friends and family so sometimes I make sure my energy is reserved for this.

I am drinking water a plenty although I am craving pepsi max. Might allow myself a small glass later.

phoebebutton

I just wouldn't put to much pressure on yourself, I am losing weight simply from changing my job and not eating the food I got discount on there. I don't eat particularly healthy now but it's so surprising what a small change in lifestyle can do for you. This may not be an option for you but small changes make a big difference, the advice you have already been given is fab,best of luck to you.

trailingspouse

As well as portion control, it might help to have regular mealtimes and snack times. Then simply don't eat at other times of the day.

For example -
7:30 am - breakfast
10:00am - mid-morning snack
12:30pm - lunch
3:00pm - mid-afternoon snack
6:00pm - dinner
9:00pm - supper

You're eating every 2 1/2 to 3 hours, so you're not going to starve, but you can keep control of what you're eating and know that if you can manage to wait until 3 (for example) you can have a bikkie with a clear conscience.

Also - eat slowly. Put small amounts of food into your mouth at a time, and savour them. Take your time. As well as allowing you to enjoy the food you're eating, it also allows time for the 'I'm full' message to get from your stomach to your brain.