The "non-diet diet"

[LauraMax]

OK, so I've been kicking around an idea w/another forum member. Both of us have been dieting for what seems like a lifetime in an effort to either stay at or be 15% BF. After 20 years of it I feel like it's catching up to me--like, if I'd been more moderate w/dieting I wouldn't be so hungry all the time like I am now.

I also have an issue in that good food is kind of a hobby. I love nothing more than a tasty dinner made w/fresh foods & seasoned just right. Which makes my weekends bad either way. I can eat what I want & feel guilty about it Mondays, or I can stick w/the diet & ruin my weekends.

So, we decided we're gonna go at least 2 weeks without dieting. Just eating healthy food, not counting cals, not counting carbs, just living like normal people.

I think this might be just as tough as a week off from exercise. Anyone care to join us? Maybe a check in or some other support group?

OMG we're gonna have a support group for NOT dieting. I wonder what the rest of the world would think of us?

ETA: I hope I didn't get anyone all excited w/my subject line thinking there was really a way to lose weight without restricting your food intake.

 

[mabdoo]

I say go for it. I eat what I want in moderation and I am only 3 pounds away from my goal. But in reality I have been at this weight for about 10 years now. I hope I don't sound like a bitch as I say this because I don't mean to. All I am saying is that you have to enjoy everything that is out there. Of course you have to eat well-balanced foods but you can't count every calorie, macro, etc and not go crazy. It becomes an obsession that may not be worth the time. When you stop focusing on food and all the guilt that comes with it you end up really eating only what you need anyway. Keep us posted with how it works.

 

[Fitnessfreakk366]

I'm the other forum member who has been kicking this around with Laura. I am sick to death of counting calories, macros, etc. I've been doing my diet STRICT for four years now and my body is at it's wits end. I can't do it anymore. So like Laura said, for the next 2 weeks, maybe 3 in my case because dh and I are going on vacation, I will eat intuitively and not count calories, etc. I have Cooking Light magazines and I plan on making some recipes from that for dinner instead of bland boring chicken. I'm so sick of chicken I could scream.

I'm hoping to not gain weight doing this, and hopefully my weekends won't become binge time since I'll be eating the foods I want during the week. I'm not going to go crazy - and sweets, etc. are still out for the most part. But I will have that whole wheat bun with my turkey burger instead of just one slice of Ezekiel bread. I'll have cereal here and there if I want. I'm just tired of being so strict. I'm not competing, so what is the point?

Like Laura and I discussed, we have to decide if we want to be cut and defined which requires strictness in diet and workouts, or if we want to be normal for a while. I think I want to be normal and happy for a while...

 

[LauraMax]

I think I'll gain. I KNOW I'll gain! My metabolism has gotten to a point where if I don't eat super clean I pack on the pounds no matter what.

But I think the question is, can we be normal AND happy at the same time?

 

[pugw]

I think normal is a good thing. Good luck girls.

 

[upnorthchick]

But I think the question is, can we be normal AND happy at the same time?

I look forward to hearing the results of this "experiment"! I like the theory! I wish I could join in (cuz I'm tired of always thinking about food/what to eat/what not to eat), BUT I have a few(ok, several) pounds to lose before I'm "normal" I'm working on it!!

Speaking of normal, there is a book titled: "Normal is Just a Setting on your Dryer" I just love that title!!

 

[GMonkey]

Well, that's what I did last year, for the entire year and I lost 15 lbs. I ramped up my workouts and just ate relatively healthy. It's funny how much more delicious healthy food is when you aren't fretting over it. I did a couple of months on myfitnesspal just to see how much my normal cravings were in line with the prescribed caloric intake to lose 1/2 lb per week, and it was pretty spot-on.

The cool thing about letting go for awhile is that you get the opportunity to have a gigantic dinner or dessert and relish the flavor, but also remember that overeating feels pretty gross.

I recommend some stilton, brie, champagne grapes, and fig preserves along with a crusty batard!

 

[LauraMax]

I recommend some stilton, brie, champagne grapes, and fig preserves along with a crusty batard!

Now why on earth would I want to eat gourmet sitting next to my ex husband?

OK, I can tell this is gonna be tough. I already cheated on my nondiet with a salad at lunch. What the heck is wrong w/me? Will I ever be able to realize "how much more delicious healthy food is when you aren't fretting over it?"

I cannot believe I'm having this cyber discussion. LOL!

 

[sparrow13]

I think this is a great experiment and I think in the long term y'all will be happy with the result. I eat clean (mostly) but define clean as whole foods, not "diet" foods, and so my clean includes whole milk, cheese, chocolate, butter etc. along with whole grains and plenty of fruit and veg. I'm at 109 right now and have been maintaining that most of the spring and all of the summer, without too much effort. I don't care about percentages either and just try to have carbs/protein/fat at every meal. It can be done!

That said, don't be discouraged if you find it difficult to make the adjustment! It can take a while to create those new neural pathways...

Good luck!

 

[Fitnessfreakk366]

Now why on earth would I want to eat gourmet sitting next to my ex husband?

OK, I can tell this is gonna be tough. I already cheated on my nondiet with a salad at lunch. What the heck is wrong w/me? Will I ever be able to realize "how much more delicious healthy food is when you aren't fretting over it?"

I cannot believe I'm having this cyber discussion. LOL!

Laura, what do you mean you already cheated on your nondiet with a salad? Salads are good for you and I intend on having them whenever I can. I'm just trying not to force myself into figuring out every little morsal that goes into my mouth every day. I need to learn how to eat to stay sane. LOL! I think salad's are fine.

 

[syzygy314]

Hi Laura and Debbie!

I'm in! I was planning on dropping the calorie counting now anyway! I have been doing it since I started getting serious about working out back in February and am 1 pound from goal, too! If I hit it, great, if I don't, that's okay too because I feel great, I'm in between size 4 and 6 now and looking good. So, count me in! PM when you set up a check in! Today was actually the first day I didn't plug all my foods into my program!

OK, so I've been kicking around an idea w/another forum member. Both of us have been dieting for what seems like a lifetime in an effort to either stay at or be 15% BF. After 20 years of it I feel like it's catching up to me--like, if I'd been more moderate w/dieting I wouldn't be so hungry all the time like I am now.

I also have an issue in that good food is kind of a hobby. I love nothing more than a tasty dinner made w/fresh foods & seasoned just right. Which makes my weekends bad either way. I can eat what I want & feel guilty about it Mondays, or I can stick w/the diet & ruin my weekends.

So, we decided we're gonna go at least 2 weeks without dieting. Just eating healthy food, not counting cals, not counting carbs, just living like normal people.

I think this might be just as tough as a week off from exercise. Anyone care to join us? Maybe a check in or some other support group?

OMG we're gonna have a support group for NOT dieting. I wonder what the rest of the world would think of us?

ETA: I hope I didn't get anyone all excited w/my subject line thinking there was really a way to lose weight without restricting your food intake.

 

[Fitnessfreakk366]

Laura, are we doing a checkin??? Let me know.

Today was my first day of not logging too. I have to say, I feel so relieved.

 

[LauraMax]

Tricia! You've lost 26 lbs!!!!!!!! Way to go girl!

Deb, I consider my salad a cheat b/c if I was just eating healthy, I'd have had some kind of sandwich on whole grain. I'm so paranoid about carbs. 10 carbs equals like one lb on my butt.

OK we'll try the checkin tomorrow. I will surely need the support to get off this diet merry go round.

Sparrow, 109? OMG! Are you like 4 feet tall?

 

[Fitnessfreakk366]

Tricia! You've lost 26 lbs!!!!!!!! Way to go girl!

Deb, I consider my salad a cheat b/c if I was just eating healthy, I'd have had some kind of sandwich on whole grain. I'm so paranoid about carbs. 10 carbs equals like one lb on my butt.

OK we'll try the checkin tomorrow. I will surely need the support to get off this diet merry go round.

Sparrow, 109? OMG! Are you like 4 feet tall?

I still think we need to keep incorporating our good eating habits, just not obsess over them. I had my normal turkey burger for lunch but instead of having it on one slice of ezekiel bread, I had it on a real whole wheat bun. That's huge for me.

Small baby steps.....

 

[LauraMax]

Great. Now I'm gonna obsess over not obsessing. Thanks alot Deb.

BTW, that bun sounds YUMMY!

 

[hriacobacci]

I have to say that I am enjoying reading this thread. I have a tendency to overdo things in a huge way so I have been very reluctant to count calories, fats, proteins, etc. ever. I would do nothing but obsess. I love food, and I think life is too short to not be able to enjoy the things you love. What I have taken away from everyone on this forum that does count calories and eats 90%+ clean is better eating habits as a whole.

I do not diet. I am not trying to lose weight. But with STS and the weight lifting since, I felt I was doing myself an injustice by not cleaning up my eating and paying more attention to proper nutrition to fuel my body correctly. Thus, I have seen major gains in my physique. At the same time, I am not obsessing about calories. I simply try to pay attention to what I put in my mouth. Yes, I will have a glass of wine or a slice (or 2) of pizza. But I rarely eat out, and I try to eat healthy otherwise.

I think it is completely possible to enjoy food and not "diet" when you are armed with all the information that you all are obviously armed with.

Good luck to everyone! I hope you don't mind if I sneak a peak at your check ins.

Heather

 

[SheWolf]

Debbie - I know how huge this is for you! And want to say, you go girl! I read BFFM and tried the macro thing, but all that counting and calculating drove me insane. I even have a tough time with tracking calories, I just find it so tedious. If you do have a check in I'd like to join just to try and have a healthy relationship with food and not be obsessed and feel so darn guilty all the time.

 

[caseysmomgo]

Now why on earth would I want to eat gourmet sitting next to my ex husband?

Laura, you crack me up! I just love your posts... Are you going to write down what you eat, but not count the calories, etc, or are you not going to track your food at all?

In December I just started writing down what I ate, but didn't count cals, etc, and I ate pretty healthy most of the time. Combined with Cathe's workouts, I lost about 10+ lbs by May/June. Then I finished STS, and although I'm still writing down what I'm eating, I'm eating more junk for some reason and I'm not as motivated about exercising as I was, and I gained 5 lbs in the last 2 months... grrrr

So I'd love to join in just to try to be normal, if that's possible! I started STS again today, and doing some normal healthy eating would sure be a good thing!

 

[ldy_solana]

i tried counting calories and it drove me nuts and i gave up. constantly obsessing "did i right this down or that down OMG i had a few hundred to many" etc. i am more working on portions as opposed to calories. making sure i am not overdoing things and enjoying fruit or veggies as a snack(my fav is cucumber slices with sea salt-calms the craving for a potato chip b/c its salty and crunchy but healthier). lots of water almost every meal and in between i drink water except breakfast when i have coffee and skim milk. its been hard but baby steps i am making better choices in the food and trying hard to watch the portions over the calories but still enjoy food and eat when i feel hungry.

kassia

 

[syzygy314]

I must say, it does make me nervous! But, I had to count calories to force myself to think about what was healthy/clean and what wasn't. I feel comfortable with that now and am really getting kind of tired of counting! I had most of my main foods in my program so all I had to do was click on them to add them to my meals for the day, but even that is getting old.

I'm looking forward to trying this and with all of you at my side, I know I'll be okay! I can almost feel the sigh of relief coming already that I can enjoy my food (good clean food) and not have to worry about whether I put everything in or not!

Here we go!