Regiments that work

: Hello,
:
: Like most people here, I have about a decade of diet experience,
: and it shocks me to realize how long it takes to find a regiment that
: works.

The word you are looking for is "regimen".

: "Eat less, exercise more" has always been an impossible ideal for
: me. When I tried to eat less, starved myself. When I tried to
: exercise more, I overdid it. It's so difficult to find the levels at
: which it both works, AND becomes a lifestyle.

Nothing is that simple, that's why you've had problems. Nothing is simple or
black/white. There are shades of difficulties and hidden problems (including
genetics, metabolism, etc.).

: Probably "have patience" should be added to JC's slogan.

He doesn't have a slogan. He just exists to berate people. That's all. You
need to understand that it is a hobby for him.

: "Butch up" doesn't work for me, because it is usally followed by a
: binge. If I forsee a temptation, I use the concept of banking
: calories to minimize the damage. I could never "butch up" as a
: lifestyle.

"Butch up" just means for you to regain your composure. It means for you to
stiffen your spine, get your resolve back on track. It's the equivalent of a
slap in the face to bring someone back to reality when they start to lose
focus. It means for you to get in control of yourself.

:
: I am interested in other concepts that people have found to work or
: not work. Please, share.
:
: Thank you, and happy holidays!
: Elana

I think most people who stick with the Atkins diet do so because it enables
us to lose weight without suffering so darned much. And, it makes sense.
And, keep your eye on the goal and not live for just the moment.

Pat in TX

(Elana) said:

I am interested in other concepts that people have found to work or
not work. Please, share.

To increase exercise, I bought a very small bicycle-type exerciser
that is made to be used while you sit in another chair. It can be
used at my computer desk while I type and also works watching TV.
YMMV.

I lose perfectly fine at about 1400-1600 calories a day,no cheating or
alcohol, good sweaty exercise at least 4 times, if not every day, a
week. For me there is no getting around it. Just something you have
to do.

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Elana) said:

I am interested in other concepts that people have found to work or
not work. Please, share.

Thank you, and happy holidays!
Elana

Well, what helps me on the eating front is just to make it as easy as
possible to eat low-carb, tasty, nutritious foods. I boil eggs the night
before so I have a quick and ready breakfast, for instance, even if I
oversleep. Heck, I can even eat them in the car while driving. It takes
away the temptation to stop and buy fast food. And eating a filling
breakfast like that takes away the temptation to eat the carby stuff at my
job. Bagged salads are another staple for me. They're even easier than my
pre-LC staple, kraft mac and cheese. So, my concept for food is, make it
as easy as possible to eat healthy.

On the exercise front, first off I'm lucky that I work for the YMCA.
Unfortunately, my job doesn't require me to be at the Y every day, because
I work at an after school program at another location. So to get myself
motivated to get up early enough to go work out, I concentrate on how good
I feel after I've done it. If you tend to overdo exercise, it can make you
feel like [censored], so either get a heart rate monitor or use the simple rule
of thumb that you should have enough air to be able to easily talk. If you
work out hard enough, but not too hard, you should feel that endorphin high
afterwards. I also stretch after every workout, and that feels good too.
I leave feeling all warm and floaty, kind of like being a little bit drunk,
and all I have to do is remember that feeling to get me motivated.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

If you really overdid it, you would be skinny now.

In any case, "regiments" is not the word you're looking for.

--
Now [censored]. You cannot possibly be this stupid and remember to
breathe. You must be trolling. -- Carmen

"Elana" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

Like most people here, I have about a decade of diet experience,
and it shocks me to realize how long it takes to find a regiment that
works. I mean, JC puts it quite simply - eat less, and exercise more.
And everyone knows that that's the foundation of successful weight
loss. But how much less should you eat? How much more should you
exercise? It takes years to figure out.
"Eat less, exercise more" has always been an impossible ideal for
me. When I tried to eat less, starved myself. When I tried to
exercise more, I overdid it. It's so difficult to find the levels at
which it both works, AND becomes a lifestyle.
Probably "have patience" should be added to JC's slogan. And
"enjoy the journey" should be there too. In my case, a regiment that
works would go like "Eat less, exercise more, have patience, and enjoy
the journey". If either one of these components is lacking, I will
fail.
"Butch up" doesn't work for me, because it is usally followed by a
binge. If I forsee a temptation, I use the concept of banking
calories to minimize the damage. I could never "butch up" as a
lifestyle.

I am interested in other concepts that people have found to work or
not work. Please, share.

Thank you, and happy holidays!
Elana

Just you, Patty.

--
Now [censored]. You cannot possibly be this stupid and remember to
breathe. You must be trolling. -- Carmen

"Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

He doesn't have a slogan. He just exists to berate people. That's all. You
need to understand that it is a hobby for him.

Well, at the time that I did overdo it, I was skinny. I reached my
goal of size 2, but maintenance didn't work, so I gained some back. I
know very well that if I go to extreme measures again, I will lose.
But I know that I will gain just as fast. So looking for that balance
now.

Elana

"JC Der Koenig" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

If you really overdid it, you would be skinny now.

In any case, "regiments" is not the word you're looking for.

Whether you maintain the weightloss or not is mostly up to mentality. If
you see a "diet" as something you do until you lose the weight, then you
will probably gain it back. If you see a "diet" as the way you eat for
life, as in "The diet of wolves consists of deer, beavers, etc" then you
will have more success at maintaining.

Exercise is also a big part of maintenance for a lot of successful people.
Finding something you enjoy doing for its own sake is key here. I used to
think of "working out" as mind-numbingly boring time on a treadmill or
something similar, but it can also include things I think are more fun,
like yoga, dancing, and playing sports. Try to remember what it was like
as a kid, to just go "play" because it was fun, with no thought of losing
weight, just enjoying a chance to burn off steam and revel in what your
body can do.

Another mental trick I use to get myself moving is to remind myself that
I'm lucky enough that I _can_ move. There are people without the use of
their legs who would be thrilled at the chance of being able to walk and
run, so it's a tragedy if I just sit on my ass all the time, wasting my
capabilities.

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Elana) said:

Well, at the time that I did overdo it, I was skinny. I reached my
goal of size 2, but maintenance didn't work, so I gained some back. I
know very well that if I go to extreme measures again, I will lose.
But I know that I will gain just as fast. So looking for that balance
now.

Elana

"JC Der Koenig" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

If you really overdid it, you would be skinny now.

In any case, "regiments" is not the word you're looking for.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

: Well, at the time that I did overdo it, I was skinny. I reached my
: goal of size 2, but maintenance didn't work, so I gained some back. I
: know very well that if I go to extreme measures again, I will lose.
: But I know that I will gain just as fast. So looking for that balance
: now.
:
: Elana

Perhaps your goal was too small to be realistic. It's just a number, after
all. You need to see how you look in front of the mirror, not just go on
some number.

Pat in TX

Luna said:

Exercise is also a big part of maintenance for a lot of successful people.

It may be but the majority of successful weight maintainers don't exercise
in the sense you mean.

In article <[email hidden]>,

MU said:

Luna said:

Exercise is also a big part of maintenance for a lot of successful people.

It may be but the majority of successful weight maintainers don't exercise
in the sense you mean.

How do you know what sense I mean it in? I mean getting regular physical
activity, not necessarily working out at a gym every day.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Exercise is also a big part of maintenance for a lot of successful people.

It may be but the majority of successful weight maintainers don't exercise
in the sense you mean.

Luna said:

How do you know what sense I mean it in? I mean getting regular physical
activity, not necessarily working out at a gym every day.

That's the sense you meant it and that the sense I understood it.
"Exercise" does not have to be "gym bound" and for the life of me, Luna,
you should know that I have never been, nor ever will be, "gym bound" when
it comes to exercise.

I train athletes. Do you think they are always "gym bound" for training?

Now, settle back into your chair and take a deep breath and go dislike
someone else for the evening.

In article <[email hidden]>,

MU said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Exercise is also a big part of maintenance for a lot of successful people.

It may be but the majority of successful weight maintainers don't exercise
in the sense you mean.

Luna said:

How do you know what sense I mean it in? I mean getting regular physical
activity, not necessarily working out at a gym every day.

That's the sense you meant it and that the sense I understood it.
"Exercise" does not have to be "gym bound" and for the life of me, Luna,
you should know that I have never been, nor ever will be, "gym bound" when
it comes to exercise.

I train athletes. Do you think they are always "gym bound" for training?

Now, settle back into your chair and take a deep breath and go dislike
someone else for the evening.

Why are you getting all defensive? I didn't attack you. We're just
talking here.

Anyway, I'm curious about the statistics for people who have successfully
maintained a significant weight loss for a significant period of time. You
said most of them don't exercise. Can you point me to a study that
confirms that?

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

So you didn't overdo the exercise and dieting thing, you overdid the backing
away from the exercise and dieting thing. Now just get skinny again, and
then ask for help on maintaining it.

--

Eat less, exercise more. -- MFW

--
"Elana" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, at the time that I did overdo it, I was skinny. I reached my
goal of size 2, but maintenance didn't work, so I gained some back. I
know very well that if I go to extreme measures again, I will lose.
But I know that I will gain just as fast. So looking for that balance
now.

Elana

"JC Der Koenig" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

If you really overdid it, you would be skinny now.

In any case, "regiments" is not the word you're looking for.

"Luna" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

MU said:

Quoted message said:

>> Exercise is also a big part of maintenance for a lot of successful

people.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>
> It may be but the majority of successful weight maintainers don't

exercise

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> in the sense you mean.

Luna said:

How do you know what sense I mean it in? I mean getting regular

physical

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

activity, not necessarily working out at a gym every day.

That's the sense you meant it and that the sense I understood it.
"Exercise" does not have to be "gym bound" and for the life of me, Luna,
you should know that I have never been, nor ever will be, "gym bound"

when

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it comes to exercise.

I train athletes. Do you think they are always "gym bound" for training?

Now, settle back into your chair and take a deep breath and go dislike
someone else for the evening.

Why are you getting all defensive? I didn't attack you. We're just
talking here.

Anyway, I'm curious about the statistics for people who have successfully
maintained a significant weight loss for a significant period of time.

You

Quoted message said:

said most of them don't exercise. Can you point me to a study that
confirms that?

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

You know, I think you're right. Never thought of it this way, though.
I always considered *not* watching what I eat "the normal", because
that's the way I perceived normal people to be. Now I'm going to
perceive "normal" as measuring portions. Lets see if this will make
it easier in the long term. Thanks for the idea!

Elana

"JC Der Koenig" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

So you didn't overdo the exercise and dieting thing, you overdid the backing
away from the exercise and dieting thing.

Luna <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Whether you maintain the weightloss or not is mostly up to mentality. If
you see a "diet" as something you do until you lose the weight, then you
will probably gain it back. If you see a "diet" as the way you eat for
life, as in "The diet of wolves consists of deer, beavers, etc" then you
will have more success at maintaining.

You're right, but that's exactly the aspect of weightloss that takes
the longest to develop. Crash diets are easy, just as is the weight
gain after one. However, tuning the diet to make it a lifestyle is
tough. I think the most difficult part about the "lifestyle diet" is
having enough patientce. In my experience, most people realize they
need to lose weight when there is some target date - wedding, HS
reunion, some other event. And then there is a race against time,
followed by disappointing results, frustration, hopelessness, and
weight gain again. That's my history, anyway. So my goal this time
around is to ignore the upcoming holiday parties (and the outfits I
want to fit into), and to just take it easy for once.

Quoted message said:

Exercise is also a big part of maintenance for a lot of successful people.
Finding something you enjoy doing for its own sake is key here. I used to
think of "working out" as mind-numbingly boring time on a treadmill or
something similar, but it can also include things I think are more fun,
like yoga, dancing, and playing sports. Try to remember what it was like
as a kid, to just go "play" because it was fun, with no thought of losing
weight, just enjoying a chance to burn off steam and revel in what your
body can do.

You're right again. I haven't found a fun activity yet that fits my
schedule or budget. So at this time it IS mind-numbingly boring time
on a treadmill. I do it because it works, but every minute of it I
wish I didn't have to. Not surprisingly, with such attitude towards
exercise, I periodically quit. Maybe, once it snows up here, I'll go
out for a snowball fight. Sure loved those when I was a kid.

Quoted message said:

Another mental trick I use to get myself moving is to remind myself that
I'm lucky enough that I _can_ move. There are people without the use of
their legs who would be thrilled at the chance of being able to walk and
run, so it's a tragedy if I just sit on my ass all the time, wasting my
capabilities.

You're right... But pitying the misfortunate doesn't motivate me to
exercise, unfortunately.

Sorry this post has led to whining on my part... Just frustraded a
bit.

P.S. Luna, how are you doing? You haven't posted your progress in a
while. I'm just curious.

Elana.

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Elana) said:

Quoted message said:

Exercise is also a big part of maintenance for a lot of successful people.
Finding something you enjoy doing for its own sake is key here. I used to
think of "working out" as mind-numbingly boring time on a treadmill or
something similar, but it can also include things I think are more fun,
like yoga, dancing, and playing sports. Try to remember what it was like
as a kid, to just go "play" because it was fun, with no thought of losing
weight, just enjoying a chance to burn off steam and revel in what your
body can do.

You're right again. I haven't found a fun activity yet that fits my
schedule or budget. So at this time it IS mind-numbingly boring time
on a treadmill. I do it because it works, but every minute of it I
wish I didn't have to. Not surprisingly, with such attitude towards
exercise, I periodically quit. Maybe, once it snows up here, I'll go
out for a snowball fight. Sure loved those when I was a kid.

Do you like to dance? Sometimes I put on some music and dance in the
privacy of my own home. To be more efficient, I often combine cleaning the
house with dancing. I look like a total idiot standing at the sink washing
dishes while my lower body is getting its groove on, or shaking my ass
while I'm folding laundry, or doing spins with the vaccuum, but who cares?
No one's watching.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Another mental trick I use to get myself moving is to remind myself that
I'm lucky enough that I _can_ move. There are people without the use of
their legs who would be thrilled at the chance of being able to walk and
run, so it's a tragedy if I just sit on my ass all the time, wasting my
capabilities.

You're right... But pitying the misfortunate doesn't motivate me to
exercise, unfortunately.

Sorry this post has led to whining on my part... Just frustraded a
bit.

P.S. Luna, how are you doing? You haven't posted your progress in a
while. I'm just curious.

Elana.

Because I haven't been progressing. I was hovering between 154 and 158,
and this past week, after binging at Thanksgiving, I got stricter with
low-carb and exercise. I haven't weighed yet this week, but I don't think
it's been long enough to make any changes. I'll weigh again when I feel
smaller or when my clothes get loose.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

I used to feel that way too. I hated that my friends could eat whatever
they wanted and still be thin, and I felt like it just wasn't fair, and a
lot of that anger was used as an excuse to stay fat.

But the truth is, hey, yeah, it isn't fair, but you have to play the hand
you're dealt. If I want to be healthy, I have to watch what I eat, no
matter what anyone else does. Maybe my thin friends have a higher
metabolism, or maybe they have a signal in their bodies that says "You're
full, don't eat any more" and maybe I don't have that signal. That just
means I have to work harder at it.

I'm also not math-intuitive, so I have to count on my fingers sometimes, I
have bad eyesight so I have to wear contacts or glasses, and I have a
horrible sense of direction so I have to use maps. None of that is "fair"
either, but I deal with it. I just look at having to watch what I eat the
same way as those other "disabilities" that I have. And, I remind myself
that I also have abilities and blessings that not everyone else has, so it
all evens out.

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Elana) said:

You know, I think you're right. Never thought of it this way, though.
I always considered *not* watching what I eat "the normal", because
that's the way I perceived normal people to be. Now I'm going to
perceive "normal" as measuring portions. Lets see if this will make
it easier in the long term. Thanks for the idea!

Elana

"JC Der Koenig" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

So you didn't overdo the exercise and dieting thing, you overdid the
backing
away from the exercise and dieting thing.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.