Dieting. A lifestyle change.
Three weeks into the “program”, and I really must say, that this sucks – a lot.
I’m miserable because I’m denying myself the simple pleasures I’m used to. What’s that old saying? “My stomach thinks my throat is cut.” I think I’m going through withdrawals, not unlike a drug addict going cold turkey. I really miss the way I used to eat. It was pleasurable.
Is it any wonder that most diets are short-lived, or fail completely? It really is a lifestyle change. You must think long-term lifestyle change.
I’ve been sticking to my self-imposed misery, though. As I mentioned before, it’s just common sense; I simply stay away from fat, sugar, salt and white bread. I try to eat lots of vegetables, fruit, grains, and drink tons of water.
Exercise still consists of walking. I’m increasing the distance every day (up to about one mile on some days). The key here is routine. I don’t miss a day.
To keep on the positive side, I constantly remind myself that it’s for the best in the long run. Adding extra years to your life is always a good thing.
I have a confession. I walked by an outdoor patio the other day and I happened to glance over towards the bar. Sitting on the end, was this full pint of Boddingtons (cold, with just a bit of foam spilling over the rim of the glass). It had been freshly poured, and I guess the bartender was just waiting for the beer to settle.
As I was walking by, I had this uncontrollable urge to grab the beer and just down it, non-stop. Nothing, at that point in time, would have been more refreshing. *mental note: must treat self to ONE beer after work today, to maintain sanity.* I haven’t consumed any alcohol in three weeks, so this should be interesting.
The only ray of hope is that I might be losing a bit of weight, although it’s such a small amount, I can’t be sure. I could have sworn, however, that my belt is a little looser than it used to be. Could there be hope?
Filed under: Diet and exercise
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Weight loss is a gradual process. The weight you were before you started dieting didn’t arrive overnight, so it’s not going to disappear overnight.
I too have embarked on a weight-loss plan (although I won’t call it a diet) What I do is go for a half-hour walk immediately after getting up, six days a week. I drink as much water as I can (avoid filtered water, it’s deficient in essential minerals – mineral water is much better). I drink only decaffeinated coffee (regularly caffeinated beverages screw with blood sugar levels, thyroid hormones and adenosine levels).
I avoid foods high in natural or refined sugars (although if you must, it’s better to consume natural sugars). I have reduced, but not totally eliminated carbohydrates from my diet – what I now try to eat are carbs with a low glycemic index. Examples are cooked oat bran, rye bread. Whenever possible I eat high-fibre foods like crispbreads and big salads and vegetables.
I still enjoy the odd steak, but balance things off by eating only a small amount of potatoes with it.
I eat my oat bran with fruit (strawberries and blueberries) and add stevia, a natural sweetener.
Wherever possible, I avoid processed, pre-packaged or refined foods. I try to eat foods as close as possible to their original or natural state. Fast food I avoid entirely. The closest I get to fast food is pizza or Swiss Chalet.
I don’t worry a lot about saturated fat. What many food processors will not tell you is that nobody ever got diabetes from a high saturated fat intake. Look at our primitive ancestors and you’ll find that most had diets that were fairly high in saturated fat (do nuts and seeds ring a bell here?).
Since starting to eat this way and exercise regularly, I’ve lost 17 pounds since June. I hope to lose more in the coming months. So keep it up, you’re on the right track.