If you have given up dieting, what happened?

[3LittleMonkeyz]

I'm sick of the yo-yo dieting cycle. I want to trust that my weight will level out and that I won't gain like crazy if I just eat when I'm hungry. Have any of you given up dieting? What happened? Did you lose, gain or maintain? Was it liberating to not be counting carbs/syns/points/calories?

Thanks

I lost 2 stone eating very heartily on Slimming World (no daft abuse of muller lights here), but when I decided to just go it alone I very slowly crept back up the scales.

I didn't pile it all back as there was always something for me to want to reign it in for, a holiday, an event that I needed to fit into a dress for.

But unfortunately for me, when I not actively thinking about the food I consume I make poor choices as they are easy. Pizza is easy to stick in the oven, chocolate is easy to consume, and that's what I'm drawn to.

So personally, when left to my own devices, as a 38 year old woman, I have a tendency to creep the weight back on.

I re-started SW 5.5 weeks ago and it's the fact I'm paying good money out that keeps me motivated week on week.

Sorry.

I haven’t dieted in 2 years and have pretty much stayed the same but really need to lose 2 stone

'just eating when hungry' was my COMPLETE undoing. I am unreasonably hungry unreasonably often

I don't diet but I always, always have to accurately and honestly calorie track what I'm eating. I have a 2231 day streak on my tracking app

I do need to lose weight health wise but I have been on a diet (again!) for 4 months now and stayed the same weight. It's miserable and demoralising, and I have found myself researching the next diet to do. I just feel done though. I don't want to count anything or cut anything out, but I also can't afford to gain weight health wise.

Yep, I tried it - put on a shedload of weight. Back to calorie counting now.

But my relationship with food isn't the best so maybe not the best person to comment.

I swore I'd nailed it lost 4 stone and maintained for 2 years (with work).
Relaxed it and found a slow creep resulting in 3 stone gain over 2 years

I've had weight issues since I was 6 and have just accepted it's my life and something i will have to always be actively managing

I ate what I wanted and ended up a stone overweight. Now lost 2 stone with intermittent fasting which is good for me as can still eat what I want only in a window and not loads of crisps and chocolate just at weekends

Since I've hit about 25 if I don't watch what I eat then my weight slowly creeps up, I treat myself to much while I'm out and about, way to many snacks or wildly to big portions of 'healthy' food like veggie spag bol

I really want to be a good example to my kids and not continue the multigenerational body image issues and yo-yo dieting. The women in my family seem to be very prone to weight gain though.

I need to lose about 3/4 stone I’m good at maintaining this weight, I’ve not put anything on for about 2 years. I feel it’s going to be different once I shift the timber I think I’ll have to be more mindful. They key for me is learning to eat better, I’ve read James Smith Not A Diet Book and it’s been a eye opener, I’ve started following him on social media, joined his academy and then started following like minded people. I fee I’m learning so much and undoing the poor knowledge I’ve gained from slimming groups. I was listening to a podcast by Paul Dermody - don’t hit the fuck it button - and that has been my biggest lesson and feel this will help me maintain a lower weight without having to count every morsel that passes my lips until my dying day

I lost 4 stone with WW. Stopped and gradually put 3 back on.

I now either fast or calorie count. Not a diet per se but a habit and a way of like. I also exercise a lot more, mostly for my mental health but it does give me a bit of wriggle room. I don't ever ever eat back exercise calories.

Fasting controls my appetite to an extent so I can eat when I'm hungry otherwise I just eat too much.

Should have said I lost the 3 stone again almost three years ago.

I grew up in an environment of before and after photos and diet books everywhere. My eldest has Already started talking about which foods are good/bad and which foods are low calorie.

I became fat.

I put on 2.5 stone and now feel crap.

Out of interest, what diet have you been following for four months? If you haven't seen any results in that time, you must be getting really fed up!

I've found intermittent fasting has really helped me in the past as it's easy to maintain. For me personally, I really have to avoid sugar and refined carbs. They have an almost instant effect on my weight, skin, etc. That's much harder to keep up but my mindset now is that I do my best, allow the occasional fall off the wagon and just get back on the next day.

I stopped dieting years ago. My weight is pretty steady. I'm around 2 stone over weight and have been since I put on from losing the last time 10 years ago

@Varenne

WW I was really excited initially and had initial weight gain the first 2 weeks, which I have now put all back on and back to my start weight. The same happened with slimming world. I have lost some weight doing intermittent fasting or using meal replacements but plateaued at around the same weight every time. Which would be ok if it was a stone heavier than I'd like to be, but I am 5 stone overweight and my waist is in the high 90s cm. So not something I can just accept really.

I just put on more weight. I will have to watch my weight for ever, especially now I'm getting older. My body really doesn't need many calories to function. MFP is keeping me steady during lockdown, but it's set to 1000 and I allow myself to go up to 1200. It works! Anything more and I just maintain. Not very active at the moment though.

Have alook at rebelfit on facebook. They're quite anti dieting.

Im in some eating disorder groups and growing up in an environment where theres an emphasis on dieting really isnt a good thing.

Intuitive eating is fantastic for children (learning to stop when full rather than keep eating, choosing how much of food they fancy rather than "portions." Etc. It really is good for a child to develop a healthg relstionship with food and we've spent a lot of time fostering that (no talk of bad food, encourage them to listen to their hunger etc) Beyond Chocolate is also good on this.

However if already obese Im not convinced moving to intuituve eating always works. I think tis great for those obsessed by diets who are normalidh weight and need to regain a healthy relationship with food.

Those that already have a v unhealthy relationshop with food need something else.

I also follow Rhitrition - a registered dietition. Her podcasta and fscebook page is anti diet but v much pro healthy eating.

Rebelfit looks really good on eating well and exercising without diets too.

I lost 2 stone easily with I can make you thin by Paul McKenna to 9st. I then had another baby and quickly got back to 9 with breast feeding, but when she stopped I continued over eating and over a year or so went up to just over 10. I lost that again last year and was at 8.10 for a while. But resting around 9. In lockdown it went up to 9.4 with snacking and drinking when not hungry so I’m losing it again now, currently 9.1.
My main point in all this is get to the weight you really like and weigh everyday to keep an eye on it. I like you can easily fall into a cycle of eating too much and I don’t whack the weight on but it does creep up. I’m best when I eat mindfully and get properly hungry sometimes at the same time enjoying whatever I like in terms of variety but don’t eat when I’m not hungry. So instead of having a slice of cake at 4 and then tea with the family at 6 because I’m making it, just have a light tea because I’m still full after the cake.
I simply can’t tolerate feeling even a bit bigger or tighter clothes so it’s just weighing everyday for me and take action straight away. These few pounds are proving quite difficult but I keep visualising how I want to look and have a pair of tight shorts that will be more comfortable!

I can't blame WW or slimming world really though! I am the muller light binge type. I've been eating A LOT of fat free quark and Greek yoghurt, too many eggs and mountains of fruit, lots of low fat cheese and maximising my carbs. Which would all be wonderful if the scale was shifting. Which of course it isn't.

Pre lockdown and I was doing ww green plan and the weight fell off me. I'm only 1.3 stone off healthy bmi. I'll go back to it when I can nip in the shops for fresh fruit daily etc.

The diets do work but it's sticking to them!!!

Not dieting is a great idea! But- it all depends on your habits, food choices a d portion control. If you are mindful about what you eat and drink, when you eat, and have a balanced plate, then go for it. If these have been challenging for you, perhaps work oit what your daily calorie intake should be, then spend a week tracking your food and intake against it. You may find that some adjustments are needed (eg eating more fruit and veg and less processed food) to keep within your recommended calorie intake. Good luck!

My family is full of eating disorders too. I can see some behaviours starting to develop in me the longer I diet but of course I keep thinking "once I'm down to a healthy weight then I can work on my other issues"

Also, with the kids, we talk about food being healthy in terms of vitamins, protein etc. and bodies being strong and healthy. We don't talk about weight or fat. That s how I was brought up, copying my mum's diets at 10 even though I wasn't fat. We really try and change the language.