I thought this was really a great article about the way to look at what you are doing with your eating and losing weight. I know for me my program had to be something that I could sustain for a lifetime without getting sick or going broke! Eating healthy, (making daily healthy choices) and exercizing in some form, drinking lots of water is what I call "my program", but actually it's a way of life for me now and will continue to be, so I can lose all my weight, GET healthy and STAY healthy!
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THINK LONG TERM

Losing weight starts in the head (mentally) and attitude means everything. You should never think short term. Most people fail to lose weight because they think short term. They believe that they must get on a painful diet and lose weight quickly. This is not the way to lose weight and keep it off!!

Concentrate on enjoying the foods you eat by careful planning. This includes knowing the total calorie intake and choosing healthy foods to fuel your body. Your car doesn’t run on water and your body doesn’t run on junk food and/or empty calories.

Enjoy your food and think long term. It’s much more reasonable to have a goal to lose 20 pounds in the next 4 months without worrying about the amount of weight you lost last week. This way you take the focus off the scale and place it more on healthy eating. Be sure you make time to exercise regularly. If you make time for a daily 30 minute walk or walk at least 4 times a week combined with a “livable diet” that’s enjoyable but limits your overall calorie intake each day, you will lose 20 pounds or more at the end of 4 months.

Unfortunately, most of us WANT IT NOW! We live in an immediate gratification society. I challenge you to change your thinking and make your weight loss goal 4 months at a time.
Many people get discouraged that their diet isn’t showing any results in the last week or two! We sympathize very much but encourage you to think long term by focusing on daily exercise and good eating habits instead of the bathroom scale.

Once you understand that losing weight is a long term endeavor and not an overnight process, you won’t get easily discouraged and you can focus your energy on the repetitive “day to day” habits that are so important to losing weight and keeping it off.

-Author unknown

dj, this is one of the most important articles ever posted at dt..so so much truth!! :up:

It's been a real revelation to me, sooz, and finally I've gotten to the point where "hurry" doens't come into it. I still have my moments where I wish I could have this weight off yesterday, but when I think of how I'd feel physically by eating the wrong things or by cutting out too much just for the "big numbers" of what I'd lose, it's simply not worth it. It's never stayed off that way and I'm sure now is going to be no exception.

Thanks......

You're welcome emilyrose...... and I sure know what you mean about the all or nothing routine. I've been doing that to myself for a long time, too. I guess I've been pretty fortunate that I didn't start to gain until about 1996/97, but the "all" way of living was how I managed to maintain my low weight most of my adult life of having kids and it wasn't healthy to say the least! I'm lucky none of my kids ever developed eating disorders as a result of seeing their whacko mom's way of eating.... or not eating... lol

It's very freeing to be able to eat what I want and to make choices based on being healthy coupled with having a "taste" for something. That is the way to keep me true to myself and keep me going for the long haul!

You'll get there for sure.... I just know you will!!!

I think this article is great--I like to think of my own
'pivotal" point being when I was ready to commit to the long-term (as in life-long!!) as opposed to just wanting to lose weight so bad I was willing to starve myself...I see effective weight loss being a bit like a successful marriage/relationship to that end--both take lots of long-term work and commitment (but the results are worth it)

I agree, Jessica..... I think also as we learn what works for us a long the way, we can always tweak our way of eating to suit our likes and busy life styles, too. And comparing it to a marriage or a long term relationship is really good! I like that! Thanks for the input!

Great article, Dj!

Corinna

Thanks, Cori..... glad you liked it.

As everyone else has said... excellent article!! I've been talking to other people who are trying to lose weight and many of them don't realize that losing weight is a life change, not just a temporary change :P

hey, buttercup--someone's gotta keep the diet industry afloat, and it sounds like your weight loss compatriots just may help with that in a few months, after they've hit their goal, and then gained again:c(

Thanks, Buttercup! Unfortunately, though, unless some of those other people are the "exception" to the results we've all seen, the weight will come back on until they just get real and get healthy. I think most of us have tried all the diets out there and most of us can't keep it off until we made up our minds that we had to change our way of dieting to a way of life..... if that makes sense.

I guess we don't gain the weight over night so why think we can lose it overnight!

Great article, sometimes I get aggrevated with myself especially if I am over calories or fat percentage for the day. However, what I sometimes fail to realize is that at least I am doing more now than I was before.

Exactly, May....... patience is one of the biggest things I've had to really work on! Sometimes it's hard not to be impatient, but I know that when I am patient, my stress levels are better and I don't tend to want to munch on everything in site either. So I win both ways!

I really like the article, too. I agree with all of it -- positive attitude is so important, and so is patience. They are the key ingredients to success at this! I decided not to be in any hurry to lose my weight, yet I have 100% confidence that I will eventually reach my goal. It's something I am working toward. The gap is closing, slowly, slowly... and I WILL get there.

Lisrey :up:

You are doing so awesomly, Lizrey!! You are an inspiration for sure and it shows in your consistency...... I have no doubts you'll get there, too!

I would have to agree with the statement that "your going to make it"! 65lbs way to go! Nice work! Your success motivates me! Great job!