Has anyone lost weight (but more importantly kept it off !) by simply stopping all the diets !?

[ilikebigbutts]

I've just finished reading "Beyond Chocolate" - seen it mentioned a couple of times over the years on MN - and it's really struck a chord with me. In places it is a bit fluffy and not really "me" but so much of what they said had me screaming "yes, yes, that's me".

I'm simply f*cking fed up of counting calories, cutting out carbs/sugar/fat (delete as appropriate), fasting, having green days or red days.....it no longer computes for my wee brain. I want off the diet roundabout....

So my question is this, has anyone maintained a weight loss by giving up all the diets/healthy eating programmes, call them what you will, and simply eating what they actually wanted when they were actually hungry ?

I've been trying it for the last week and it's been a revelation for me. They only thing I'm actively avoiding is the urge to jump on the scales every morning. I'm starting to feel better so don't want to make it all about the weight. Any thoughts ?

Following this with interest. I am trying to do the same but it's hard to listen to your body when you have several decades worth of conflicting "healthy eating" advice rattling around in your head. I'm determined to stop dieting.

I have been a yo-yo dieter for years. I was overweight as a child and am now 38. For as long as I can remember I have had a bad relationship with food and would binge when upset/tired/bored.

About a year ago a good friend introduced me to zumba. I plucked up the courage to attend a class. It was hard work and yes I felt very self concious. But I loved it and stuck at it.

Since August last year I have lost 6 stones. I have gone from a size 24 to a size 16. I weighed 22 stone and am now 16 stone. I did lose the first few stones attending a Slimming World group but then decided that I would rather spend my evening doing an exercise class than sitting at a SW group.

I kept the weight off and have continued to lose at a steady pace. I do not calorie count and I very much enjoy what I eat. I have treats if I fancy them. But I do a lot of exercise (7 to 8 hours a week - zumba/kettlebells).

I would like to lose another 2 stones which would take me to a healthy BMI. I am happier with my weight/size/fitness than I have ever been and it has had such a positive impact on my life. I enjoy my children more and have so much more energy to do fun things with them. I sleep better. And I have an active social life with my friends from zumba. I have even been on a couple of fitness weekend. :-)

I am no longer obsessed with food but I do try and eat lots of fresh fruit and veg, lean meats and don't drink a great deal of alcohol. I still love a good curry and a burger but I make my own now.

What an inspiring story, Churmy. Sounds like you have found a good balance. I eat relatively healthily, but incorporate treaty stuff too (like you, curries - not made by my own hand!- and I do have a weakness for crisps). It also sounds like exercise has been an important part of the changes you have made. I am a firm believer with exercise that 'the whole is greater than the sum of the parts' - a positive influence beyond a means to burn calories.

Tansie
I also refuse to use the words 'good and bad' either about myself ("I've been good today, I only ate...") and food ("chocolate is a bad food...").

I so agree with you. (Years ago, the 'is your baby good?' question used to irritate me for similar reasons). My favourite quote is Hamlet's 'there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so'.

Neeko
I am trying to do the same but it's hard to listen to your body when you have several decades worth of conflicting "healthy eating" advice rattling around in your head.

It is hard at first and takes a while to change habits. Regarding conflicting advice - I think it's difficult to go wrong with aiming for a broadly healthy and varied diet, with some indulgences in there too.

Crisps are my weakness too. Not fussed about chocolate or cakes at all!

Churmy what an inspiring story. Well done.

Fascicle thanks for the advice. I think it will be a slow process but I'll get there. Have found myself eating some stolen from the kids Easter egg this week and have been satisfied with a taste because I'm no longer telling myself I shouldn't be having it. Previously I'd have eaten half an eat quite furtively. It's an eye-opener.

After my weight loss about, 2stones, I just excluded coke and snacks and ate 3-4 meals a day, never been happyer or hungry. It is important to exercise 3 times per week minimum, I have personal trainer on insha.pe, so she is keeping me motivated for workout, because I am super lazy

Well done neeko- I too found it liberating to think "You know what? I am allowed to eat this entire Easter Egg if I choose to do so. It is entirely up to me"- and funnily enough, having that right also helped me take charge of the responsibility of choosing only to have a small piece of the Easter Egg, then stop.

It certainly is an eye-opener!

Great story about your weight loss, churmy. I fast walk on a treadmill watching telly 6 days a week for half an hour a time which is 12 miles. I recall that Doctor who's been championing 5:2 doing a programme a couple of years ago about the truths and myths about weight loss (something like '10 things you didn't know..'?) and one thing he discovered was how the benefits of exercise go on delivering long after you finish that session. They'll make you burn your next meal more efficiently and so forth, as well.

Anyway, am being particularly mindful of today's food intake as I have DH's birthday meal tonight! But I have fast-walked 6 miles with the family this morning as DS is breaking in hiking books! But I am increasingly finding that a bowl of soup and a slice of pumpernickel bread does it for me for lunch, anyway.

Onwards and downwards!