Diets Hmmmmm...

As time has gone by and diets have succeeded and failed, I've become a cynic.  That whole notion that once I've gone down a couple of sizes, I should toss out my "fat clothes" on the theory that I'll never gain the weight back has proved really stupid.  

About 9 years ago, I broke my life-long diet. In high school I weighed a horrendous 185 pounds. On one food plan or another I'd lose 15 pounds then gain back 22, then lose 40 and gain back 60.  Diet by diet, I was gradually zig zagging up to 322 pounds.

One day, I just stopped.  I started eating whatever I wanted.  I thought I'd start packing on pounds like a prize hog.  But I didn't.  My weight stayed the same. It finally occurred to me that back when I weighed 185, I wasn't gaining weight until after I dieted down to 160 (then shot up to 221.)  Would I still be 185 pounds if I'd never gone on that first diet?

For me, at least, the diets have been a disaster.

Since I realized that, I've focused on what foods I feel better with or without.  For instance, wheat (yes, I DO mean anything made with flour, even whole wheat flour!) makes me sleepy and kind of depressed. 
Milk makes me gassy.  I guess I must be lactose intolerant.
I'm diabetic (apparently not because of diet, since my entire family is diabetic.) But that means that I can't have large amounts of sugar without burning out nerve cells (including ones in my brain!) 
Having no extra brain cells to spare, I'm not risking that. 

I don't give anything up.  I substitute healthy foods that I like for things (including those listed above) that I'm not willing to put up with.

For instance, I love fruit, and I like beans, so I sub fruit and beans for bread and most cereals...   MOST of the time.  If I really want something, or if it's ceremonial (like wedding cake or birthday cake) I'll make exceptions. 

I refuse to let myself feel deprived.  I found out that if I have a serious craving and I don't immediately give in to it, I end up spending thousands more calories on "healthier substitutes"  that don't stop the craving and only lead to even more "healthy substitues"  For instance, if I want See's Candy and I go and buy it and eat it, 'll have consumed 5000 calories.  And be craving free for about three months.

If, on the other hand, I tell mysel "See's Candy is BAD!"  and the craving doesn't go away, I'm likely to come home with a bag of Snack Wells, fried foods and heaven knows what else.  The craving can go on indefinitely, and turn into LOTS more calories than the original See's would have been.

So now I give any craving five days.  If it's still there, I give in.  

The pounds aren't peeling off.  They're very slowly crawling away, a few at a time.  But before, between whatever diets I was pinning my hopes on at the time, I was consistently gaining weight.  Now, over a period of YEARS, not weeks, just giving up things that I don't miss, I'm down to 272, (as of this morning.) 

My blood sugars are well enough under control that my doctor has cut my medication.

My point here is to pay attention to what YOUR body needs. 
Make sure you have your protein and healthy fats to fuel and heal and your fruits and veg of choice for fiber and carbs plus LOTS of water to keep your intestinal tract clean and moving swiftly.

After that, do whatever keeps you happiest and healthiest, because that's what will make you free to enjoy your body and your life!

Be beautiful!

Knuti