OT: Diets

Ya, ya, I'm on the subject of diets again. No I'm not doing this whole 30 day weight loss thing again, but I am trying to get back on the wagon I fell off of, with the support and help of my mother.

I've also been reading a lot of blogs lately, so bear with me with many posts...they're where I get many of my subjects lately.

I read a blog post on someone who was venting about diets. Not necessarily for weight loss, but for maintaining health. As I read it, I began thinking:

I think the problem with diets are that they deny the "little things in life". Too many people go on diets, then crash because they can't handle the single leaf of lettuce and scad amounts of water with no flavor on a daily basis. 

I've always been an advocate of saying it's not what you eat, it's how much. Once in a while, it's ok to have that cheeseburger...just don't eat it for every meal, every day; eat that chocolate bar, but once in a while; and for GOD'S SAKE'S...EAT THE DAMNED CAKE!!! You'll never be happy losing weight if you have to deny yourself the little pleasures now and then (and I mean the REAL little pleasures...not these wannabe "90 calorie brownies" and "cookie chips"...I mean REAL pleasures, like an Oh Henry bar, or small baggie of chips).

I know when I was on my diet that denied me everything except chalky "snacks" and "protein shakes"...I almost went batty. My emotions went from energetic highs, to depressive lows that led to tears (and if my readers remember, I shared it all with you with my weight loss blogging). Once off though, I tried to maintain a healthy eating habit, that also included a little treat now and then. Ya, the "healthy" eating went out the window about 3 weeks later (sorry, but I can only handle so much 12 grain this and whole wheat that), but...I'm still maintaining what I lost (even though I have lost my motivation to continue exercising...lack of visual results can do that). Luckily I have supportive family members to encourage me to get back doing what I did before...even if I'm not seeing anything outwardly...exercise is still good for you. 

Good food (not just taste good), exercising and good support (and a treat now and then) are all a person really needs. (*Oh yes...AVOID CALORIE LABELS LIKE THE PLAGUE...they only lead to discouragement. I realized this when I had to maintain 400-600 calorie meals). Just avoid labels altogether. There's really no need for someone to focus and waste their life time trying to calculate how many calories are going to be in their meals. Again, that'll hinder proper eating habits and lead to frustration and disappointment.





Ma’iingan
(***please note, I am not a nutritionist, my opinions are just opinions and are not meant as professional advice***)