I'm through with dieting

**elphie** · 08-09-2008, 12:48 AM

There are tons of kiths on the board for those trying to drop a few pounds... and good for them if that's what works for them; I don't begrudge anyone their life w/o fat, carbs, flavor, whatever plan their on...

I am sick to death of thinking about my weight and about what foods are "good" and what foods are "bad". I'm done with it.

I am reading When Women Stop Hating Their Bodies and Overcoming Overeating. (Coming to grips with an eating disorder but it isn't just for those in the extreme end of the camp). I can't believe how much time, energy, and money I've wasted in the name of some arbitrary number on the scale. I figured out a long time ago that my value and self worth had nothing to do with the things I own or how much money is in my bank account. How come it took me so long to realize the same thing about my weight and the size of my pants?

I'm freeeee...

anyone else out there with me on this one?

**Jamauk** · 08-09-2008, 02:11 AM

I'm right here with you! I'm currently reading Intuitive Eating and I've had several lightbulb moments already.

**elphie** · 08-09-2008, 02:28 AM

glad to hear I'm not the only one!

**Pemberleyan** · 08-09-2008, 05:04 PM

Well, in a way I wish I was with you. When I was in college, I fluctuated from 98-103. Now I am almost double that and not a happy camper about it, but I find dieting so incredibly difficult! Being slim and youthful is very important to my husband's family, so that doesn't help relieve the pressure. In some ways I don't care anymore, but it does affect my daily life in a lot of ways.

Good for you, though!

**cab54** · 08-09-2008, 05:31 PM

Jessica---Intuitive Eating has helped me SO many ways! I've been dieting for 30 years and am working my way off the roller coaster.

**yankeegal** · 08-09-2008, 10:10 PM

I love this thread...I am going to have to get that book. I refuse to diet any longer..Bye bye WW, Jenny, Susan, Biggest Loser, Supermarket Diet, Sugar busters, Dr. Atkins, South Beach, Lean Cuisine, Slimfast, Tops, Overeaters Anonymous, Nutra-system, Cabbage soup-what others have I missed?
Sad, just sad...

**elphie** · 08-09-2008, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by yankeegal

I love this thread...I am going to have to get that book. I refuse to diet any longer..Bye bye WW, Jenny, Susan, Biggest Loser, Supermarket Diet, Sugar busters, Dr. Atkins, South Beach, Lean Cuisine, Slimfast, Tops, Overeaters Anonymous, Nutra-system, Cabbage soup-what others have I missed?
Sad, just sad...

Yep, I've done all of these PLUS Atkins, Carbohydrate Addicts, SouthBeach, grapefruit, raw, Meridia, and that one prescription, I can't remember the name of that had umm, unfortunate gastric side effects.

NO MORE!

I went to my 15 year class reunion tonight, heavier than I have ever been. I mad a concious decision before hand that I would not let my weight be a factor. I would eat, drink, and have a good time. And you know what, I did! My weight crossed my mind only once and even then it was fleeting. I ordered what I wanted from the menu, didn't give a second thought to eating in front of others (a big issue for me in the past) and then, when I was full, I left extra food on my plate and didn't obsess about it. Normally I wouldn't eat the food but the thought of the waste would haunt me. Tonight was the first time I have put my new attitude to the test and I am SO happy with how it turned out.

I honestly didn't even think it was possible for me to come this far.

I'm so glad some of you are at the same place I am when it comes to dieting; it is great to be able to come home and share this with all of you since no one in RL would really get it... Pemberleyan, it is scary at first to think of giving up dieting but if you read Overcoming Overeating they do such a good job of explaining how diets are actually PREVENTING many of us from losing weight. And if you are not there yet, that's okay too. We can still be here for you.

**Jamauk** · 08-10-2008, 12:21 AM

Hope,
It sounds like you had a wonderful evening! Good for you...I'm not quite as far as you are yet. I'm trying to break the habit of labeling food as "good" or "bad" and I still have to catch myself once in a while.

I'm trying to focus on becoming a healthy person. And not obsessing over a number on a scale. I have come a long way, but I still have a long way to go...

**mhope** · 08-10-2008, 08:54 AM

I decided long time ago to give on dieting. JMOP but think dieting cause a lot of people health problems.

I eat whatever I want when I want.

**elphie** · 08-10-2008, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by Jamauk

Hope,
It sounds like you had a wonderful evening! Good for you...I'm not quite as far as you are yet. I'm trying to break the habit of labeling food as "good" or "bad" and I still have to catch myself once in a while.

I'm trying to focus on becoming a healthy person. And not obsessing over a number on a scale. I have come a long way, but I still have a long way to go...

Thanks, I did have a wonderful eveninig! I also still have my moments; labeling foods, beating myself up, etc. I have come a long way but unfortunately this is a kind of two steps forward one step back journey... at least for me. This one night was a concious effort on my part to put all this stuff I am learning to the test. I figured if I could go to my reunion and have a good time, I could make it through anything.

Originally Posted by mhope

I decided long time ago to give on dieting. JMOP but think dieting cause a lot of people health problems.

I eat whatever I want when I want.

Good for you! And I agree, diets are unhealthy mentally, physically, and emotionally for a lot of people, myself included.

**Sonnenwende** · 08-10-2008, 09:15 AM

I just give up with diets to lose weight. Apparently, my body is a very efficient user of calories in the bad sense. Since 11 years old, I have never been below 160 pounds. I just give up. I only look now to eat healthy, exercise, and be at peace with my weight.

**Missourimom** · 08-10-2008, 09:50 AM

I'm glad you had a good time at the Reunion Hope.

**Mamaof2rugrats** · 08-10-2008, 10:46 AM

Count me in. I don't diet. I'm pretty average in size (12 or so) but I could lose a few, just don't feel the need to diet to do that. Plus with the way I cook it will never happen!

**Dancing Lotus** · 08-10-2008, 12:21 PM

I struggle with body image and I struggle with the word diet. For the most part I gave up but I still call myself fat once in a while and say that ugly word "diet". my current goal is just to prevent any more weight gain. It's also not healthy for me to ignore the health risk of being over weight,but it's not health mentally for me to continue to think I am suppose to be thin.

**Jamauk** · 08-10-2008, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by AnnK

I struggle with body image and I struggle with the word diet. For the most part I gave up but I still call myself fat once in a while and say that ugly word "diet". my current goal is just to prevent any more weight gain. It's also not healthy for me to ignore the health risk of being over weight,but it's not health mentally for me to continue to think I am suppose to be thin.

Ann,
I know just how you feel. I'm definately over weight and I'm not healthy. But dieting has done nothing for me in the past except make me become more obsessed with food. The book Intuitive Eating has really opened my eyes to some patterns in my life that I really didn't even recognize. With the methods and ideas in this book, my body will eventually reach its natural weight that it is supposed to be. I'm learning there are no such things as "good" food or "bad" food. But I'm also learning that there are certain foods that just don't make me feel good and there are certain foods that give me more energy and make me feel healthy & alive.

I've decided that life is too short to feel like crap all of the time. And when I eat crap, I feel like crap. Strangly, I'm now starting to crave salads and fruits and veggies. Processed "junk" food doesn't even sound good anymore. Eventually my body will find the weight that it wants to be and I'll be happy with that ~ as long as I'm healthy.