♥ Here's how I lost 167lbs ♥: My Dieting Mindset

You gotta be DETERMINED. Bottom line. You have to recognize that it is a life time change and that you are the only person that feeds yourself. Here are a few mindsets that I have come up with myself to help me get past wanting to eat certain foods.

1. Unhealthy Food Outlook: Look at the food; you've eaten it before. Do you remember how it tastes? Of course you do! Has it changed? Of course it hasn't. Is it nutritious for your body? If not, why bother eating (edit: especially an unhealthy portion) again?

2. You can have your cake and eat it too: Take a bite, put down the fork, or the bag of m&m's or whatever your weakness may be. Chew, swallow. Okay now have the flavor in your mouth and you did not go over board on your calories. So after you swallow your food, it is gone, in your tummy, and you are only left with the stale taste off your tongue. So if you put another bite in your mouth, you double it. Then triple, etc. So in essence, calorie consumption is only about how many bites you put into your mouth. So CHILL after a few. (portion control)

3. Waste is Waste: If you are satisfied and have that "I really don't want to waste the rest of this" attitude, think about it! If you consume the food, you will digest it and it will still end up turning into WASTE. Or you can throw it away in the waste basket (or pack it for later) where your body does not have a chance to soak up those calories. Deal? All in all, its waste, so make the right wasteful choice.

4. Time is of the essence: Think about the non nutritious food that you are consuming. Are you going to remember that you consumed it after you have eaten it a week from now? Probably not. What did you eat last Monday? Don't know? Well then... my point is made.

5. Be the Spunky European Car: We only have 1 body, treat it with respect, the right nutrition, and it will treat you that way back. If you give a gasoline powered car diesel, it wont run right. So be a spunky European car and your engine will purr.

6. Give smell a chance! We have 5 senses which are nearly equally strong. Sight, smell, taste, and touch all play a role in how good the food is that we consume. Instead of always receiving joy from food, enjoy the smells of nature (flowers, grass, air) or light some candles to enjoy. This is not good for everyone, but I LOVE my berry candle because it reminds me of starbursts, and my vanilla one reminds me of cake. Mentally I am satisfied. Some cannot cope with these tho, so this is not for everyone.

7. Don't feel obligated to eat: You don't HAVE to eat that birthday cake, or celebration food. SO many people are wrapped up in celebration food and feel guilty if they do not eat the birthday cake. Let this go! Stand out from the crowd by putting your foot down. Bring your own healthy variations and suggest fruits and lean meats for parties you are attending. A healthy alternative for cake and ice cream is to bring sorbet instead. In this case, food is all about socializing.

8. Newly Added - Coping with a Binge: If you feel the want to binge, or eat a late night snack because you just WANT it, remind yourself that you can have it tomorrow. Tomorrow is ALWAYS an option. Keep it in your mind that you can fit it in the next day's calories.

9. Newly Added - Calories = Your Budget: Think of your calories as a bank account. Calories are your money, so you must budget them to fit your needs. If it's not in your budget, then don't eat em. We all hate those over draft charges.

If you have anything else to add, be my guest. If it's a good suggestion, I'll add it to the list.

WOW!  I am loving you!  I think you are a say-it-like-it-is-girl and I dig that.  I am printing out your thread to keep in my little inspiration book.  I am just getting started on my 100 lbs to-go journey, so thanks for being there to inspire a new girl!

Hey Star! 

I was so excited to hear that you reached your goal!!!!  Yeah!!!  That's AWESOME! 

I had a question for you.  How did you decide how many calories a day you would eat??

You are so cool! I love #1 and #4..........I have done this so many times eaten a piece of cake then afterwards was like if I had only had 2 bites I would have been satisified and what the heck i'm not going to remember what I ate a week from now anyways so why eat it if it's not healthy.

OH and #8........that's right. What a great outlook. I CAN have it tomorrow and give myself permission to fit it into my calories. I like that one.

Thanks for sharing

i'm so happy for your success and now i will try to go by these rules to help me with my binge eating.  you truly are an inspiration and you've done it with no drugs, pills, or any ridiculous diets.  applauding* i wish you nothing but the best with you future and all.

:)

To date i've lost my 160th pound. Yes pills and surgery free. It feels really good to be able to say something like that. Not that pills or surgery are a bad thing, but the fact that I buckled down and gave no excuses to my ways.

Now it's off to maintenance land. Maintaining you stick to the same rules pretty much, with more snacks. As always this is a lifestyle change. 

This is my FAVORITE thread on CC. I read it all the time when I feel a binge coming on. It's helped me take a few bites of cake and then PUT IT AWAY too many times to count... thank you! and congrats on losing 160 pounds, that is wonderful! :)

Happy Valentine's Day Star

It's been a while since I viewed your update and I now see your new total of 160lbs gone.  EXCITING
       &nb sp;            ..
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       &nb sp;         (  )
       &nb sp;         /  \
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I LOVE the picture of you standing inside your old pants.  You look so cute.

I enjoy reading your truths. 

♥forks

Aw thanks everyone

{{hugs}} danceswithforks. You're awesome.

PS: I've lost 167 ;) Can't forget that last 7 pounds. It was a doozy to lose :) 

wow, congratulations on your weightloss! i can totally relate to your dieting mindsets, especially on "waste is waste", "unhealthy food outlook" and "coping with binge"...i usually cook from scratch and i can't bear seeing leftovers! i should really change my outlook on that...last night i was so tempted to gobble the chocs hubby gave me for valentine's. i just told myself (after eating one, of course hehe): "tomorrow"...i suppose this is one thing it's ok to procrastinate with!

WOW WOW WOW.....I read your post and then went on to look at your profile etc. WOW...what a wonderful motivation you are to everyone who has pounds to shed. Incredible determination!!. Thanks so much for sharing your story.

Tina

Thank You so much!

You hit all the right points.  Especially feeling guilty about wasting food!  You are such an inspiration and a great motivator!  I am just starting my journey. I have to remember that this is a life change and not a quick fix!  You have truly gotten my mind in the right place!  Thank you sooooo much again.

Glaze Gyrl 

 

{{hugs}} Ah this journey. It's amazing isn't it? :)

I've been slipping up myself, so we are NOT perfect by any means. Last night I was full and shrugged it off and continued eating because I felt like "why not, its right here infront of me".. Even I need to revisit my own advice :) 

Very good point Star.  I noted that one.

Great advice!!! I also figure out what I am making that day for all my meals.  I put them into the computer and go from there.  I find I eat the right stuff and a lot less this way!  If I were to eat then add it I would go way over board.  This way I know if I can have an oreo or some other treat that day and be below my calories!!!  Everyone keep up the great work!

Angie

you are my hero

its so great to see that you motivate sooooooooo many ppl, and how far youve come, and how cutie u are looking these days...lol

like the new updates especially the bank/calorie one....

I absolutely love this. Its incredible to see where you were, and how far youve come. and in a strange way, i feel proud of you... and i dont know you. But from reading your struggle i feel closer to you than i do to the people i spend every thanksgiving. You cut through the crap (am i allowed to use that word) and i like that. I dont have as much to lose as you did or do or had... i dont know what tense (or verb) you want to use. Those "commandments" -and i use that term loosely, so no one jumps down my throat for it- are going on my fridge... something to think about every time i grab icecream.... 

I love the European car comment ;]

Post #100. Sorry, I had to do it ;)