does everybody here follow a diet?

Atkins for me. I started it almost 4 years ago, lost 30 lbs in 8 weeks. Now I'm on a modified Atkins where I stay >100 carbs per day during the week & eat whatever I want during the weekends.

One of the added benefits that have started becoming really obvious is all that protein is making my hair & nails grow unbelievably fast! I swear, I have to trim my nails every 2 weeks or so just so I can type.......

In any case, Atkins isn't right for everyone & it does take a great deal of research before you find something you can live with. Bottom line is if you start a diet you don't really like you pretty much set yourself up for failure.
 
No, I don't follow a diet at all. I eat what I feel like eating and what's easy to cook. I just don't eat a lot of it.
 
Sara one thing I find when I go away from being examining my choices is my portion sizes get way too big. I don't think there is anything wrong with occasionally having a treat. But what happens with me, is the norm starts to be portions that are really 2 or 3 sizes larger than what a portion should be. Then a month later I look back(at my fat arse), and realize I have not been as careful as I need to be. So it is a lifetime for me, if I get away from portion size watching, then I gain. If I start making more bad food choices than good, then I gain. It is a fact, and it has been a fact for 35 years, so I don't think it is going to change for me.
 
No, I believe that thinking of "diet" as a verb, something you do, is not a good thing because it will never be a permanent thing. If you think of "diet" as a noun, something you have, you can approach it differently.

What I do is try to make the healthiest choices I can. I use my self control at the store and I don't buy junk for the house or else I'll eat it. What I do is make it a goal to eat well 90% of the time, and the other 10% of the time I allow myself indulgences. I eat to be satisfied, but the food choices I make allow me to be healthy and maintain my weight.
 
That's funny--my ex wouldn't use the word "diet" either. He called his diet a "food intake modification program." :7

As far as I'm concerned, diet is just easier to say.
 
Sara- "was just wondering how many people here follow very strict diets or do you eat what you want".

DIET is another four letter word.

Don't follow a diet but try to eat clean. Before I was on the Zone diet and I did lose weight but developed a eating disorder. I had a fear of all carbohydrates and was tired all the time.

I now eat 5 to 6 times a day (fruits, veggies, meats, good carbs, 60-80oz fluids).

For more tips go to the main forum menu and click on search. Type in clean diet and you will get plently of information.

Or you can join the Check-Ins and Challenges "Clean & Tiday" to get some ideas on how to stay on a clean eating program.

Good Luck:)
 
Don't follow a diet per se. Just try to eat lots of fruits and veggies. I also cook low-fat for the whole family, so that's never a problem. Just watch how much I eat, pretty much count calories, but after YEARS of that it's nt hard.
 
I would probably guess that everyone here follows some sort of diet. But that's going by my definition of diet, which doesn't mean just a quick weight loss plan, it just means this is the way you eat. Ya know.
Anyway, as for a "diet" I don't follow anything specific myself. I try to eat what God provided me with though. I'm taking a nutrition course right now and it's been so insanely informative I think it's my absolute favorite class that I've probably ever taken. All the clean eaters out there are right on the money. I think the most healthy way of eating is to eat fruits vegetables, whole grains and lean meat. Throw some olive oil in there to provide a mono-saturated fat and vitamin E just to round it out.
There is no need then to take vitamin suppliments as you will be getting all your protein, and vitamins from your food. Eat a colorful diet. Make sure you include reds, oranges, yellows and dark greens to provide all the vitamins and minerals that you need.
BTW, the human body only needs .8 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day. We eat way too much protein, even those of us that are working out and some that are professional athletes. Too much protein is actually bad for your body, and will be altered in your body to a carb and if that isn't needed it will be stored as fat. Protein does not give you energy, it's a building agent to help repair cells. To get energy one needs to eat carbs. I'm not saying go out and grab white rice and white bread. But all your carb needs come from fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
There is your lesson on nutrition. If you have any other questions let me know!

Kathy
Edited to add that we are ment to be grazers. Eat 5-6 small meals a day. It's been proven that in 2 groups of people one group was told to eat 5-6 small meals a day, the other 3 larger meals a day. Each ate the same amount of calories. The 5-6 small meals a day group lost or maintained their weight. The 3 larger meals gained weight.
 
I follow weight watchers. It has really helped me with portion control. To break out of my plateau, I used aTKINS for about a month. Once I broke that I went back to WW. My main problem has always been portions. That is the reason I stay away from the 6 meals a day. As for cooking for the family.... I am the cook so they eat what I fix. I love the WW's cookbooks because the receipes are simple and nutricious. I don't believe in fixing my family 3 different meals. If they don't like what I fix they can either fix their own or go hungry!
LD
 
Thanks for all of the replies. I do feel better about my decision to not follow specific diets and guidelines. I like to eat fresh fruits and veggies, but sometimes I want a cookie or some salty chips...you know what I mean? If I am following a diet and I eat a cookie (or 3), I feel like a failure and I am down on myself. But, if I eat what I want (with mostly healthy choices, but not worrying about fat, calorie and carbs), I am full. It seems that as soon as I start eating based on a "diet" guideline, I am starving (maybe it is all in my head ;)

Last night, I made veggie soup...very healthy (full of fresh cabbage, garlic, onion, and veggies). However, if I were trying to reduce my calorie intake, the meat (which was a bit fatty) would have thrown me off. Plus, I like to add crackers (too many carbs). But, I added crackers, ate 2 bowls, and was full!!! I had a ton of energy and was able to happily clean the kitchen (always a disaster after my children are done eating), go outside and move some creek rock, pick-up the house, give kids a bath, put kids to bed, and paint my toenails!!!

I did not feel overwhelmed or hungry. Anyway, thought I would share that with you all!

Have a great day! (btw, I am eating some soup for breakfast...sounds gross, but it is really good!)

Sara
 

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