To think that people who say diets don’t work aren’t really trying

What do you mean? You lose 1 or 2, or half a pound or kilo? Sorry, just couldn't make that out.

That’s a lot of people

I’m on MJ and lost 4 stone, it’s taken well over a year. I’ve also started SW to try and kick start me. I stick to it and eat below my calories and I still only lose 1/2 or so a week. Yes if I went on a starvation diet I’d lose more but who can live like that

Wow what a nasty bunch on here. I lost just over 2 stone by using Nutracheck. It was the first time ever I needed to diet and found my portions were on the same scale as a male manual worker.

Look up Insulin Resistance. Dieting is not always that straightforward.

Actually I think this is true, ive heard it on lots of weightloss/self help articles/books? Its the animal (survival) instinct in our human make up.

I lost 5 stone through diet and exercise and have kept it off for 2 years now. It’s really difficult and takes alot of willpower every day.

I didn't say we were supposed to make ourselves ill by overeating. I said that we are 'programmed' to seek out high calorie food because our forebears needed to survive food scarcity. Of course that urge is stronger in some people than others. Just like the drive to have babies is stronger in some than others. That's why not everyone is fat.

I was very overweight 20 years ago and had a light bulb moment. I realised that me being fat or thin was in my own hands and nobody else's. A lot of mental things started shifting and I lost 4.5 stone. I developed lots of habits and learned to endure hunger and put boundaries around when I could have treats.

At the same time, I also developed a taste for fruit, veg and water and learned how to make healthy swaps. I started treating myself as someone I really wanted to invest in and used a lot visualisation and psychological warfare against my food addiction. That's what it is. For a long time it was a constant battle between my cravings, my feelings and my control over what I was putting in my mouth.

Was it a simple case of calories in/calories out? Very much, except it was like I had to complete an assault course several times a day to keep the calories out. It was a very complex, challenging and at times overpowering battle but after a while, everything became normal and the sense of the fight gradually became peaceful. I didn't eat treats during the week and that was that. I stopped eating when I felt full and that was that. I enjoyed salads and chopped fruit and generally started living like a thin person, because that's what I was.

I was a size 8 and spent my twenties living for the weekend, going clubbing in little dresses and loving fashion and beauty. It brought me a lot of shallow, superficial joy and I'm so glad I pushed through.

I kept the weight off for ten years, then got pregnant 3 times over the next decade, getting back down to a size 8 between each baby. I'm now finished my family and am back down to my size 8s.

In theory, yes, it absolutely IS as simple as calories in/calories out. However, the brain is a very powerful machine, deeply tied to the emotions, and food carries huge psychological capital for people who can't stop eating.

You need to know what you are consuming in order to know you are in a calorie deficit if that’s what you are aiming for. I do track what I eat, but I don’t advocate restricting calories to dangerously low levels. I used to eat 1200 calories a day. I now eat 2500 and yes I do track my food because I’m eating for a specific goal.

My point is that lots of people have no idea what they are eating and vastly underestimate. This is why they aren’t losing weight when they think they should and give up saying that they have tried every diet under the sun but nothing has worked.

I think if you have to recommend women count every single calorie and never have so much as a cup of tea without measuring the milk, you aren't recommending a diet - you are recommending obsessive behaviour that restricts and takes over a person's life. I know on MN, loads of people think it's normal to track every mouthful day in day out and to cut calories to dangerously low levels as a matter of course but it's not a healthy, sustainable, normal way to eat.

Diets slow the metabolism and do a lot of mental and emotional damage. Yo-yo dieting has adverse health outcomes. Diet culture is harmful to all of us. And living a life where you fear a glug of olive oil on your salad and catastrophise about the hundreds of hidden calories you worry about eating if you stray from your rigid tracking is a terrible example to set to children, especially girls.

A selfish little hobby? Christ, now I’ve heard it all. It’s simply taking care of your health and taking responsibility for yourself. Considering how much obesity related diseases cost the NHS, I wouldn’t call it selfish.

Well done to you @amijumping what a talented and wonderful person you are. And how generous to share that you’ve lost a stone. We’re all riveted. Watch out for that extra piece of toast sweetie.

But everyone has limited amounts of willpower, energy and time. Some people choose to put theirs to giving to others, helping the world, running groups or working shifts in a hospital. Some people prefer to (waste) theirs on calorie counting and dieting

which people are good people? And which people do we want on the planet?
I think it’s obvious.

of course if you are able to do both, then great for you but we all choose how to direct our energy and directing it to dieting is just a personal choice not a moral one.
the real truth is nobody cares or thinks you’re marvellous by staying/becoming thinner, it’s a selfish little hobby of yours which may give you personal satisfaction like any hobby but it shouldn’t mystify you why others choose not to participate. Have these conversations with your fellow hobbyists.

if it was true, everyone would be fat.

Many people are not fat, and don't feel like they deprive themselves. You can have a healthy lifestyle long term.

I know on MN people laugh at the idea of "a salad" (hilarious concept...)
but in real life, not everyone can or want to eat an entire XL pizza in one setting. Some people are perfectly happy and feel better with a couple of slices.

We are not "supposed" to make ourselves ill by over-eating! What a lot of nonsense.

"Diet" as in temporary restriction of your food intake don't work, because people think it's a temporary magical fix. Obviously the minute you start stuffing yourself, you put the weight back on. If you were overweight before, going back to over-eat can only bring one thing.. extra weight

"Diet" as in your food in general, of course work.
If you change your habits for healthy ones, stop over-eating, and stop seeing food as "treat" and oversized portion, you stay slim

it's not difficult but people are lazy and want a magical cure.

I don't know what percentage of the world population is actually starving, but over-eating being a problem is actually a mind-blowing concept.

No it doesn't just mean fad diets. It means any diets, because almost nobody sticks to them long term. And no it's not really how you're supposed to eat. Humans have a huge drive to eat highly calorific foods because for most of human history it was a struggle to keep weight on rather than keep it off. We are 'supposed' to eat lots to ensure survival and passing on our genes. That's why it's so hard to lose weight!

The thing is everyone is different. I know small women who can lose weight on 1800 cals, and 6ft men who have to go to 1200. Factor in stress, mental health, hormones etc and people may be trying very hard and not getting far.

Are you this judgmental in other areas, too?

Agree with you OP. I’ve completely transformed my body in my 50s through diet and exercise, it’s been 3 years now and I’m a size 10. It’s hard to exercise every single day and I’ve always been a keen cook and a food obsessive with a huge appetite. I am hungry a lot of the time but have developed various coping strategies which help. Largely cutting out sugar and focusing on protein really helped me turn the corner.

I agree, it is pretty amazing! It took me 14 years to lose my baby weight. I don’t know how new mums do it. I just couldn’t get it together enough with a young baby,
work etc.

Yay!!! That's so great for you!! Whoop whoop go you amazing! 🎉🏅

It's lose not loose, @amijumping .

No you don't, you're just not good at tracking. 3500 cals equates to 1lb of body fat give or take 100 calories, not give or take 1750.

A strict 500 calorie deficit per day will yield a pound of weight loss in a week. Your daily fluctuations in week will mask your progress and make you believe you're not losing what you are, but average it out long term and you will see that it is not possible to defy the laws of thermodynamics, no matter your age, height and weight.

Well done OP.

You've also exposed all of the green eyed monsters who are too lazy to commit to changing their lifestyles/diets to lose weight. They can all fuck off and remain miserable whereas you can bask knowing you look better and are healthier as a result.

People will hate you for it on here, but most people don’t reduce calories enough. If I eat just 500 less I don’t lose 1lb a week, I need to consume at least 700-800 less than I burn daily to lose. Yes I do regain it, then lose again. As being 5ft 1 and 9 stone, I don’t have many calories to eat per day before I gain, so any meals out, I easily gain weight. It’s hard work losing weight, and does require a lot of willpower. Some people do give up very easily. It takes time and willpower as you will he hungry.