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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not spend a penny more on ANY book/plan/facebook personality who is offering the one true way to weight loss?

13 replies

HermittaHobbe · 28/08/2019 17:02

I was so sick of it all.

Sick of counting, measuring, starving, bingeing, colouring in fucking boxes, slogging my guts out on exercise I hated and clapping like a seal.

I've done them all. And I've lost many stones, over and over again.

And once the unsustainability of them becomes unbearable it's all gone back on, with interest.

Slimming World, Weight Watchers, RC, the feckin 800 calories bollocks, Atkins, LCHF etc.

None of them are a life choice. They are a miserable choice and are all bizarrely restrictive in their own ways.

I've even done the RH Fitness, Rebelfit, James Smith Academy type ones.

They are just as unsustainable.

Rebelfit told me to ignore the guilt of the slimming companies and took my money, then asked me to colour code my 'meal blocks' based on how processed they were. Any chopping or mixing food moved it along the 'scale'. Purple 'bad', orange 'middling', green 'good' (though he insisted that it wasn't good/bad it clearly is, why say aim for green blocks then?)

The JSA and RH Fitness types are just as unsustainable too. They want you to eat a ridiculous amount of protein every day (that seemed to leave me spotty, ill and dreading food). And weigh literally every morsel of food/liquid that enters your mouth. I am NEVER weighing bloody coffee granules again.

That Richie bloke lays into slimming world 'bollocks' foods then waxes lyrical about how great cottage cheese oats are. 🤢 And weighing every day was terrible for my mental health.

I've come to the conclusion they are all the same, just in the business of making money from my misery.

I'm stopping the cycle (and the drain on my bank account).

I haven't dieted for the last two weeks.

Instead of fretting over how many steps I'd done (used to jog around the living room like a twat) I threw that blasted fitbit away. I played with my dc, I walked around our local parks, danced to Siri and I actually even had fun lifting some weights when I felt like it.

I didn't eat breakfast, because it turns out I personally don't really like it. I'd been eating it for years because it's 'good for your metabolism.

I ate what I liked, just sensibly. I'd binged before and thought I just didn't know my 'hunger cues'. Turns out I do know one sandwich is better than a mile high plate of 'free food'. All that food that seemed so irresistible when I was starving just seemed to have lose their pull.

I'm under no illusions, this is a long road. But I popped on the scales this morning for the first time since stopping the stress.

I'd lost ten pounds. In two weeks.

And despite being pleased that my new relaxed way of being healthy seems to be working I am also furious.

All those years wasted. All those vultures.

I don't know what the point of this rather rambling post is. I just wanted to vent I guess.

TLDR - All diets, even those ones that pretend not to be diets, are money making machines that churn the vast majority of overweight people up and spit them out, heavier and more mentally damaged than before. Which leaves them vulnerable to the next predator that comes along to take some cash.

Source - My life.

OP posts:
NotTonightJosepheen · 28/08/2019 17:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

littlepaddypaws · 28/08/2019 17:07

i was diagnosed as diabetic 2 years ago and lost 6 stone as a result of giving up sugar and cutting down carbs, and exercising 1/2 a day, i feel healthier but i don't want the condition. Sad.
you don't need faddy diets and spend shed loads of money, think about reducing junk food, sugar, carbs and rethink portion sizes. exercise is key though esp for mh and well being.

littlepaddypaws · 28/08/2019 17:09

1/2 hour a day Blush

nevermorelenore · 28/08/2019 17:11

Yanbu. It’s exhausting and demoralising. I’ve decided to no longer ‘diet’. I got the Paul McKenna app on my phone and it’s been good at helping me listen to my body and learn to stop when I’m full! Although the hypnosis stuff is a bit cheesy it seems to be working for me.

MashedSpud · 28/08/2019 17:14

It’s a big money spinner. If everyone was successful long term their businesses would crumble.

Asta19 · 28/08/2019 17:16

I have never been on a diet in my life. Most of my life I was slim, granted. But lately i’ve Been on a few menopause threads, as I’m currently going through it, and all anyone can talk about is “how can I shift this extra weight”. I find it a bit depressing. Women are meant to put on a bit of weight during menopause. I’ve put on 2 stone myself but you know what? As I’m coming out the other side it’s dropping off anyway. No drastic diets or life changes needed. I’m not advocating anyone being morbidly obese but likewise the pressure to be slim is ridiculous too.

Sweetbabycheezits · 28/08/2019 17:54

I haven't dieted in two years after 30+ of every bloody diet under the sun. I read Intuitive Eating, and loads of HAES research, and it changed my life. When I gained weight in the first few months, I worried I would balloon, but I went up one dress size, and haven't budged (I don't weigh myself). I eat when I'm hungry, food is food ( no good, no bad food), and once I got over the joy of being to eat everything I wanted, the novelty wore off and I don't have intense cravings anymore. I haven't had a binge episode in 2 years, and exercise is a pleasure now, rather than a tool to change my body. Good luck...I can honestly say it's the best thing I've ever done in my life!

Apolloanddaphne · 28/08/2019 18:09

I am the same as you OP. I have tried every diet and have all the book but I am still fat. This week I have decided to take control and just eat what I want but a lot less of it to see if my appetite can be reset. Will let you know if it works. May write a book about it and make a shedload if cash!

BirthdayCakes · 28/08/2019 18:20

I feel the same periodically and then I realise I've gained another 10 kg and in utter desperation I hop back on the treadmill

gotmychocolateimgood · 28/08/2019 19:34

Well done OP. Don't regret the past- you learned from your experience with diet plans etc. The promises they make are tempting and it can seem compelling. I know an ex colleague who is on the Cambridge diet plan (shakes etc). She says she is motivated to stick to it as it's so expensive. Yes she has lost weight but there is a well known danger period when real food is introduced again. Also a lot of shakes are full of thickeners, gums, colours, sweeteners etc which can't be healthy.

Food should be enjoyed. A little of what you fancy is good for you.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 28/08/2019 19:48

There are very few of the weight loss celebs who don't pile it back on again 6 months after their DVD or book has been out.

HermittaHobbe · 29/08/2019 08:04

Thank you!

I will not let myself be pulled back into that cycle.

OP posts:
IAmALazyArse · 29/08/2019 08:31

There was a tweet "If your dog was overweight would you put him on a cambridge/atkins/keto or similar diet? No. You would lower his normal food portions a bit and take him for an extra walk".
So, so simple.

Ever since I am keeping with it and completely reject any suggestions of "You should try x" I am happy, I have absolutely no ridiculous cravings, and I once cried about how much I wanted a kebab just because I couldn't have it, actually fancy the bit of exercise and all that makes me feel so much better!

I never paid for any diet plans anyway, because I am stingy AFGrin

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