No Fads, No Gimmicks, Just A Different Way

I have had it with diets. I have had it with "programs". You might say that I am "FED UP" but not in a good way!  Yes, I want to reach a healthy weight and fitness level, but I no longer believe that the key to that is finding the "right" program or diet. Like so many others who trudge forward in the battle of the bulge, I have tried a number of them -- Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, L.A. Weight Loss, Overeaters Anonymous, etc. I've done the Atkins diet, the Mayo Clinic diet, and others. Admittedly, I've lost weight on all of them, but as is all too common, I've gained it back. I finally understand that what I need is really a very simple formula: Eating moderate portions of healthy food + Physical activity = Weight loss and Physical fitness.

I am sick of packaged meals, processed food, counting calories and carbs, weighing and measuring, and all the other gimmicks that go along with the typical "diet program." One thing I'm grateful for is that the experience of trying all these different things has taught me some things. I understand that portion size is important and calorie intake versus output is the key to weight loss. The regimented style may work for some people, but I have found that when I spend so much time planning menus, weighing and measuring every portion, and tallying every calorie, it puts way too much of my time and attention on the one thing I want to keep off my mind -- FOOD. I know that I need to be careful because even though, over time, I have learned what a "legal" portions of food are, old habits can easily enlarge those portions on the plate, almost without realizing it. Careful is good. Normal eating involves being careful. Many people have to be careful in order to keep their weight under control. To me, the count-every-calorie, measure-every-portion method crosses the line from careful into obsessive and the last thing I need is to be obsessive about food.

So, how to do it? Well, there are some things I'm doing that I think will make it easier to use my careful-versus-obsessive approach. I am NOT talking about eating smaller cheeseburgers and fewer french fries. I'm talking about eating healthy food -- lean fish and poultry and other good protein sources, fresh vegetables and fruits, and whole grains. I'm in the process of weaning myself off of diet sodas. This is something I had already been considering, just because I don't think they're good for my kidneys. An article I just read about the effect of artificial sweeteners on the palate fully convinced me to kick the diet soda habit. The main attraction that soda has for me is the carbonation, more than the taste. I've found that I really like seltzer water that is naturally flavored, but not sweetened. Lime is my favorite. I also prefer unsweetened iced tea over sweet, despite my southern roots. : )  I think unsweetened carbonated iced tea would be awesome! Anyway.... back to the point... my plan is to make wise food choices and be more active -- starting slow and working my way up to fitness. This just seems more sensible and sustainable than any of the other ways I've tried. One other difference -- this isn't something I'm trying. This is a change I'm making.

Okay, there's a voice whispering to me (no, not a real one -- I'm not psychotic yet): "If it were that simple, everyone would do it." You know what? I don't believe that. I haven't always wanted to lose weight, even though if anyone had asked me if I did, I would have said I did. The only other thing, I believe, that is needed besides that simple formula above is plain old motivation. We all have to find that for ourselves and it comes from many places and in many forms. I'm not even sure if I can fully explain my own motivation. I'm not sure I can explain why I have it now when I haven't had it in the past. I can only say that it's here and I believe that as long as I hang on to it -- commitment --  and practice the simple formula, achieving my goal is just a matter of time.