I woke up at 6am today, not sure why. It’s a lovely day, but since it’s been raining heavily on and off for the past couple of weeks, I’m still wearing jeans to work! Might wear my new sandals like I did yesterday though.
One of my new year’s resolutions was to lose weight. I’ve lost some, but I’ve maintained that since the early part of the year. I’m about 14 pounds heavier than I usually am, and that’s annoying me. One of my uni friends started a diet, gave up, and is now on the ‘fat acceptance’ bandwagon. Whilst I agree on many principles, such as looks not being important, why should you try to change because society thinks you should, etc., I can’t see myself ever subscribing to that point of view. Moderation is the key, and lifestyle change the only way to accomplish that. When I was a kid I was extremely overweight (at 11 years old I weighed more than I do now). I couldn’t buy clothes from high street shops, and all the clothes I could buy were extremely ugly compared to what my friends were wearing. Between about 16 and 18, I lost a lot of weight, and because it was over a gradual period of time, it’s had no negative effects on my body. As well as being so happy that I could go into a shop and buy something I liked from the front/middle of the rail rather than the back, I loved having more energy, not having people stare at me, and feeling more confident. For many years after, I still thought of myself as a fat person, and that’s what I’d see when I looked in the mirror, despite everything else.
I’m much happier with my body than I used to be, and whilst I could still do with losing some pounds because of my height, my size is pretty average and has stayed that way for the past 5 or so years. The answer is a lifestyle change you can maintain. It’s not a crazy diet, it’s not depriving yourself, it’s not becoming obsessive. It’s eating lots of fresh, healthy food, eating for your body and not your brain, and being active. Many of the things we crave or want to eat, like sugary and processed foods, are something our brain is telling us to eat and will have very little nutritional value for the body. Most (fat) people eat because they enjoy eating. They don’t eat to fuel their body with what it needs. And that was the single most important lesson I learned. When I get into the mindset of, ‘What’s the point in eating that? It’s just a waste of time’, then I’m eating all the right things and I crave ‘bad’ foods less and less. When I went on my detox in 2007, anything processed that I ate would give me horrendous stomach cramps. Whilst my brain ‘enjoyed’ eating less, I was eating all the right things for my body and the weight just flew off, to the extent that I was worried about how I’d stop losing weight. All my friends commented – without prompting! – that I looked great and really glowing.
The only problem is that detoxing is extremely strict, and extremely anti-social. Forget about eating out or going for a drink unless you’ve comfortable with going to a bar or pub and ordering water (which I’m not, if that’s the only thing I’m drinking). Still, I’m going to make a meal plan today and try to start another detox either today or tomorrow.
What’s your approach to eating, dieting and weight loss? Have you ever had problems with your weight?
*waves* Hi, I'm 
Real quickly I just want to say that I enjoy your blog posts! I can always related to them.
Anyway. I hope that you blog some more about how the detox thing works. I live with grandparents that pretty much fry everything. They are pretty good about fresh vegetables (my grandpa has a garden), but terrible with keeping fruit in the house. I am hoping that I can get some fresher options once I move to college. I have gained fifteen pounds since moving in with them three years ago. At first I just accepted it, but it is getting a little out of control and I think it’s about time I did something about it. I am hoping that less fried food and walking up four flights of stairs to get to my dorm every day will help =]
Oh wow, I never knew you had a weight problem, especially when I’ve seen pictures of you on Facebook!
Oh wow, detoxing again? Good luck!!! I mainly eat food that’s good for you, but it’s not always the case. I’m not too extreme on it, yet, I’m not that laid-back about it either. I’ve never had a problem with my weight… Unless you consider being underweight by a few pounds a problem…
I’m fat, I admit it, the living situation right now makes things difficult to lose weight, when I have more money though, I plan on joining a gym and working out much more than I do now, which is almost never.
I’m glad to see someone who shares the same opinion I have – I’ve always had trouble with weight. I think my main issue is that I stress-eat, and I live in a very stressful household. Another thing is that I get most of my genes from my dad, and his family have a history of being overweight. So unfortunately I could diet all I want but due to genes I will never be a size ten. Which is what I want.
I’ve been through the “don’t eat a thing” routine, it lasted three days. And it didn’t work. If I’d kept it up I would’ve gotten extremely sick so it definitely isn’t advised. I agree, it’s lifestyle that will make someone happy with themselves. Just by doing regular exercise and eating right, and maybe a bit of what you like, you should have a healthy body. Because you’re exercising a lot you don’t need to feel guilty about having a treat every now and then.
When I moved away to university I wasn’t nearly as stressed and I was in a city so I walked everywhere, so weight dropped off me and I was down to a healthy weight. Then I dropped out of Uni and ended up moving home for eight months and now I’m preparing to go back. So within a couple of weeks I’ll be back up to Uni doing a course I actually enjoy. So the weight should come off again
Good luck with your detoxing!
I agree that weight loss is about moderation and continually doing the same thing, rather than trying something fast and failing. Good luck! It takes a lot of motivation to make a permanent change.
WOW! I recently wrote a blog about my weight issues and eating disorder, you should read it to understand more. I know all about weight, the ups and downs, ins and outs. Weight loss is about moderation, and moderation is the key, which is something I still have to learn. I’m starting a weight loss journey type of blog and if you’re interested in helping out, let me know.
Today my husband said to me, people worry to much about self image, and he’s right. Now I’m a fat person, not to the extream but for my height, my weight needs to be lower, and I don’t eat because I love to eat, I have a lot of issues to deal with, not all fat people eat because they love food. They eat because they may have a problem with losing or stress or they just don’t know how else to deal with things.
I found your blog interesting, yes we all gain and lose and sometimes it’s hard to lose. Detox will only work for a short time, diets NEVER WORK, I learned that the hard way. The only thing that does work is to move around, walk, excercise and eat in moderation.
I don’t eat as healthy as I should. I was heavy as a child but lost it all when I was about 12 years old. Since then I’ve pretty much stayed at the same weight. I generally try to eat well but also eat junk food if I feel like it. I know that as I get older I won’t be able to eat as much junk though. I think you just have to be aware of what you are putting into your body.