Destination 210: Don’t Diet

I’m not dieting,  but I’m losing weight. Yes, you heard me right. In fact, most people who lose weight and keep it off don’t diet. What I am doing is changing my diet. It’s a subtle difference in wording with a substantive difference in meaning. When you diet, you’re making a commitment no longer than crossing a specific goalpost. When you change your diet, you’re committing to change your behavior on a on-going basis. That kind of long-term change is vital to well-being.

I had to start count calories, at least at first. I had to understand both how much I was eating and how much I should be eating. I can’t do that without keeping tabs on what I’m eating. After a while, I found that I got full much easier than I used to and learned what is a reasonable portion size. I stopped looking for best diet pills here and there,  I also stopped drinking most calories.

Once you look at something as a calorie sinkhole, you’ll start changing your choices long-term. If I’m feeling snacky, I’ll grab an orange. I keep prepped vegetables in the fridge for quick salads and omelettes. If I know I’m going to be eating out later that day, I eat lighter meals and take home leftovers instead of clearing the plate. I’m sure some natural extracts like Dr Oz recommended garcinia cambogia might actually work, but if you have the motivation you can get any result you want with many different strategies.

It’s a lot of work to keep on top of it, but I had more than a few positive long-term changes from it:

• I get fuller faster and stay fuller longer.
• I recognize what a reasonable portion is.
• I know what foods are filling but not loaded with calories.

I’m taking the view that this needs to be a long-term change for me, not something that I complete. I’ve set a goal to get to 210 (which is on-track for March-ish right now), but maybe I’ll go further than that once I get there, but one thing at a time, right? ) . Whatever happens, it’s a goal for a new maximum weight. The changes I make now have to reflect that.