To Diet Or To Lifestyle

Step one to a new lifestyle.
It seems there is always the latest frenzy of diets.
Brand name diets come and go as quickly as Octomom
is having babies.  Then there are the “Extreme” diets.

I would say over 95% of diets out there work.  I do
question ones health on extreme diets that
advertise losing 7-10 pounds per week; when a
healthy weight loss should be no more than
2-3 pounds a week.
The problem with the word “DIET” is that you can’t
stay on them forever.  One could end up with serious
health issues staying on an “Extreme” diet over the
recommended length of time. 

Forget the diets, forget the calorie counting unless
you’re a professional athlete.  How about a lifestyle
change.  Make a decision, a promise to change the
way you’re eating, to excersie consistently, to have
a new LIFESTYLE on your own health. 

Start by a decision.  Write your goals down on a
3 x 5 card and place it on your bathroom mirror.
The goals should be:
How much do you want to weigh.
When do you want to achieve the new weight.

Be realistic on the time issue.  You shouldn’t be
losing anymore than 2-3 pounds a week after your
first 2 weeks of your new lifestyle.

Take a head to toe photo.  Take measurements of
arms, chest, waist, hips (if female) and thighs.  Get
serious, take your lifestyle by the horns.

Hi Erick,

We actually have a place here on the forum called the 21 Day Challenge where members can share their goals and support one another. We do this for 21 days out of each month. Today was the first day of the July challenge. If you’d like to join us, please do! We’d love to have you. One of the fellows just broke the 300 pound mark. He now weights 290 and started out at 425.

Donna

Great tips! I like the lifestyle approach. A diet sounds as if you go on it, then off it.  Going off a diet means for most people that they will gain the weight back.

Another tip like the index card with goals is to use pictures to help inspire you. I use a free tool that lets you make a ‘virtual model’.  I put in my current measurements, then my desired ones.  The picture showing me at my goal weight is very inspirational!

Jeanne Grunert - 20 July 2009 05:30 AM

Great tips! I like the lifestyle approach. A diet sounds as if you go on it, then off it.  Going off a diet means for most people that they will gain the weight back.

Another tip like the index card with goals is to use pictures to help inspire you. I use a free tool that lets you make a ‘virtual model’.  I put in my current measurements, then my desired ones.  The picture showing me at my goal weight is very inspirational!

Hi Jeanne,

Is that virtual model software you buy, or is it available online? I think that’s a much better approach than finding someone else that looks great to motivate me. On a bad day, looking at some other girl wearing a bikini on my refrigerator can tend to send me into the refrigerator rather than away from it.

Donna

Hi Donna,

It’s a free software called My Virtual Model (I don’t have the URL - a search should turn it up).  You can customize it with face shape, hair color and measurements. Mine actually looks a lot like me! It’s there to try on outfits by major retailers, but I gave mine a few spiffy looks, copied the pictures and printed them out. I keep one on my desk alongside my weight loss affirmations so I have both a visual and verbal cue to reinforce my goals. Enjoy!

Jeanne

Jeanne Grunert - 14 August 2009 11:47 AM

Hi Donna,

It’s a free software called My Virtual Model (I don’t have the URL - a search should turn it up).  You can customize it with face shape, hair color and measurements. Mine actually looks a lot like me! It’s there to try on outfits by major retailers, but I gave mine a few spiffy looks, copied the pictures and printed them out. I keep one on my desk alongside my weight loss affirmations so I have both a visual and verbal cue to reinforce my goals. Enjoy!

Jeanne

Putting it on your desktop is really a good idea. I could use it to try different hair styles, too. LOL

Truthfully, though having a visual does help motivate me, but it has to be the right visual. I’ve tried putting a girl wearing a bikini on the fridge, but truth be told is that some days the picture discouraged me instead of prodding me on toward success. Your way may be the answer to that dilemma.

Donna