I'm not sure why but I am very easily swayed ...... if it's almost lunch and I'm undecided what I'm going to eat...... and the next commercial is pizza..... I want that! it the one following that is burger king.......hmmmmmmm well maybe that?
I agree with the idea that when one thinks of "diet" it is usually something someone does for a short time and then quits. However, diet should really be thought of as what one eats. If I choose to eat according to the SAD way of eating, but only do so in moderation, will that free me from the health consequence of eating food-like substances?
To say that refined sugar is not bad, causes me to wonder who is in Spark People's back pocket. It would be my guess that we will start seeing ads for Crystal sugar soon. I think too much emphasis is placed on the macronutrients and not enough on the micronutrients.
According to this article I an eat: Breakfast: 1 donut instead of 3 Lunch: 12 ounces of soda instead of 24 regular-size chicken nuggets and french fries instead of the upgrade Dinner: 2 slices of Pizza instead of the whole pie
As long as I eat in moderation, everything (my weight and health) should be fine. Hmmmmmph!
I haven't read all the comments, but I've seen some, and I already agree with people like GRACEMCDOG, ALYSSADANNIELE, and HAZYSKIES. Some foods, particularly things with added sugars and wheat, are incredibly addicting for me and detrimental to my health as well. Cutting them out COMPLETELY is the best thing I can do for my health.
'Moderation - a commitment to balance and wholeness'. My partner stresses to me frequently that my plan for better health should be moderation....so I will make it a lifetime process not a means to an end...like dieting,etc. This article was really good. I am an 'all or nothing' type of person who needs to change my thinking.
I didn't read all the comments so I don't know if I am repeating someone else's post but I want to give a shout out to my mentor, the king of moderation, Reinhard Engels, the author of the No S Diet. He tried to get the publisher to allow him to call it the No S Lifestyle because it is REALLY not a diet. I know lots of plans claim that but his is the closest, I''d say. But the publisher said no, there's just too much money in diet books. His never became a bestseller and he didn't expect it because he did not promise fast weight loss, nor ease, nor lack of hunger, etc. No introductory phases. Just guidelines tested by whole cultures, thin cultures, guidelines for consistent moderate eating year in and year out. And moderate goals, too, not stick thin skinniness. I'm still working on implementing the fitness part but the eating part is still going strong.
I find it easy to talk the talk but not walk the walk on this one. It's a daily effort to learn this. If I want to control my weight for the rest of my life I need to learn to live a healthy lifestyle, which does not mean dieting 100% of the time.
Moderation is great, but so is recognizing your weaknesses and addictions. Some of us cannot have just one cookie (or whatever). So the best choice is not to have any EVER. Part of the journey to good health for me has been recognizing that there are some foods that I love that I am better off avoiding.
My sweet tooth is just too strong to allow me to indulge in candies. With all of the hard work I've put into losing weight I cannot and will not sabotage myself by having "just one" candy bar because I know that I'll end up polishing off a package of them. It just isn't worth it.
MAKLEE777
5/28/2012 5:48:18 AM
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I enjoyed this article. I especially liked the "progress, not perfection." It gets right to the heart of the process! Thanks for the additional insight.
I wish people really grasped how detrimental refined sugars are to your mental and physical well-being :/ ...I get the overall message but refined sugars ARE bad -in any diet, nutrition plan or life.
I really appreciate this article. I think one thing that we need to keep in mind is that, as each of us are individual, the advice that we receive and how we implement is has to be individual as well. If there are certain foods that you, as an individual KNOW that you cannot have in any amount, then I'm sure this article is NOT advising you to have some anyway. As an intelligent adult, I know that "addictive drugs" are dangerous, so I would not construe this advice as saying that a little bit won't hurt.
I agree that I need to find balance in this healthy journey. As I am learning to eat more healthfully, I am also learning to include some of my favorite foods. Whether I attempt to make old favorites healthier by substituting ingredients (like skim milk for whole milk, or egg whites for whole eggs) or I simply eat smaller portions of full-fat foods or sweet treats, it's about how I am going to be able to live the rest of my life. Going through the rest of my life without ever having another slice of cake or another piece of fried fish is not feasible FOR ME. On the other hand, there are other foods that, as I learn to eat better (and incorporate exercise--an important part of my new balanced lifestyle), they simply fall out of favor with me and they are not missed.
Again, the important thing is to tailor this information to YOUR specific lifestyle and needs. Just because your individual needs require you to do something differently does not mean that this advice is wrong.
I really liked the concepts in this article. I had become frustrated with feeling labeled as an emotional eater because I enjoy food and socializing, and with feeling like there was some deadline for losing weight at a rate of 1-2 pounds a week, which wasn't working for me. I felt like this article gave me permission to feel good about the strides I had made--about the 9 pounds I have lost, and the fact that I am maintaining that and exercising. Even the Spark Diet can be counterproductive if it produces feelings of guilt and frustration. Losing slowly, improving health and exercise habits, and maintaining weight lose are all marks of success that should be celebrated.
If people only ate when they felt true hunger, few of us would struggle with our weight. So why (and where) are we eating so much, and what can we do about it? Start here.
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