New year, new me!

[John B]

Well 2017 has rolled into town and along with it came an increase in weight, despite my best intentions, Christmas proved a very tasty disaster.:doh

I have vowed to make 2017 my rebirth, not just a Weightloss year, but whole new me. A year when I regain my health, and stop fighting my demons. Is anyone with me?

[Louise]

Happy New Year John B, I'm sorry to hear your healthy eating plan came unstuck over Christmas, I get the feeling you are not alone:encouragement:
a focus on getting healthy will inevitably result in Weightloss. Eat clean, and eat a wide variety of foods, we are all behind you in your mission and look forward to regular updates on your progress.

As for me, I too have committed to a greater focus on health and fitness for 2017.

[Teri23]

I think everyone is thinking the same, does anyone go into a new year and think...yep, I'm going to stay exactly the same!
I think peoples goals vary, but there is usually a get healthier, lose weight theme.

I intend to get healthier and hope that the weight will fall naturally away:angel:
Like most, I over indulged at christmas and I felt sluggish and fairly rotten for it. This year I'm aiming to have a whole food approach to my eating and gain some lost vitality. I think this approach is the right one and is healthier than the diet food, processed trap.

[John B]

Hi Teri23, I think you have hit the nail on the head, that's exactly how I feel. The whole food route, is a slower form of weight loss, but it makes you feel so much more healthier.
I feel quite angry with myself for allowing christmas to get the better of me, and feel I have undone some of my work so far.

But in lots of ways this anger has spurned me on and made me realise how much I want it for myself, this itself is motivating enough.

[Daisy82]

How is your new you coming along John B? I think variety is really important to keep you focused, find loads of recipes, good ones, healthy ones and healthy naughty ones. That way if you do feel like having a binge, it ends up being one that doesn't ruin all your good work!

[Daisy82]

I've added this recipe, it may offer some healthy options

http://www.organicallypure.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?237-Lentil-soup&p=731#post731

[Kellyjames]

I didn't declare myself with you John B in case I failed miserably, but I have been chipping away at the weight and starting to feel better for it. The hardest thing this January has been coming off the sugar and retraining my palate to eat a natural sweet diet. Which is getting easier.

I noticed that when I ate refined sugar and processed foods, I was hungrier and craved sweet, processed foods far more...in fact constantly. I feel more under control since stopping that food.

How are you getting on John B?

[John B]

Sorry, I've not been on here for a while, I've been up and down a bit with the mental battle of fighting the bulge. I've found quitting sugar far harder than first thought.
I have days when it is easier and other days when it seems a constant internal battle. I know all the right things to do, but it seems I fall at the putting it into practice and planning.
In fact I would say the planning is the hardest bit. I tend to wait until I'm hungry before I plan a meal, by which time I'm really hungry and want quick food. This is dangerous for me, because quick food either means sugarary, fat, processed food inside, or takeout food which is probably worse.
Anyway, I like the recipes in the food section on her and feel they are foods that can be easily made in advance and store in the fridge. I'm not one for cooking, so simple, nutritious foods are high on my agenda right now.
I think it is fair to say I'm a 'work-in-progress'.

[sophie]

I think the key to managing a lifestyle change is recognising that it IS a lifestyle change and not a fad. Therefore with this in mind, you have to accept that sometimes in life you want some alcohol, chocolate or processed food.

The skill is about finding the healthiest version of those and choosing to eat that, or having them, limit it to one or two and just move on, make it an occasional choice and not the norm. I have posted up some great chocolate brownies (food section), which are healthier than others you may wish to eat. These offer you a healthier version, so are less damaging on your health and your waist. But they are to be shared, enjoy sharing the healthy options you have chosen in your life....just do not eat them all. If it is too tempting, ask someone else to make them at your cost, and just have a few. let them keep the rest. Take them to work, or a group you attend, or give some to your neighbours.....share the love!:cheerful:

[John B]

Thanks guys, as I said earlier, I am a work in progress, but I know I'm not alone. It seems a lot of people struggle on this initial journey, as it is about un-learning learned practices that at times are so second nature to us, we don't even realise we do them.

I think diet is a hard one to crack, as we have to eat and it seems it is everywhere around you and everyone wants to talk about food!
But, I've also found that many people, even the less obvious ones struggle with their diets in some form. So, I don't feel so alone knowing that, it is an affliction on so many.

I think the psychology of eating has to dealt with to be truly successful.... that is what I am working on right now.

[Dale42]

I think too many people are quick to over look the importance of the weightloss journey, or any journey for that matter. It is the journey that shapes us, not the goal. The journey makes the goal worth having and more likely to keep.

Enjoy the difficulties of the weightloss, they are like mini tests to overcome and change the person you were to the person you want to be.

[love2shop]

Starting a new diet is the worst thing anyone can do. Does anyone start a processed, junk food diet? No!

When choosing to change your diet to a more healthier version, should be considered just that, a change in diet. Along with any change in life there is always a transition period. During this time there will be testing and easy times, just as there are in everyday of life, the transition allows you to kick old habits and learn new ones.
when poor decisions are made, don't consider it 'falling off' or 'failing' think of them as opportunities to learn why you made the choices you made and how can you prevent yourself making those same mistakes again.

If, when you make a poor choice and then go on to use it to make poor food choices for the rest of the day/week/month, then in reality you are not ready to change or committed enough to yourself to make a positive impact.
If this is the case, wait until you are ready, when you really want to change, otherwise you will keep considering yourself as a failure and relate dieting as a bad experience.

As far as motivation goes, when you really want something and have put in place the right mindset, your change in body, weight and energy will offer you all the motivation you need. It's all in the mind.

[John B]

Well, 2017 has been a slow re-birth for me, honestly not the one I intended and the journey has been hit by many set backs of my own making. I think what it has shown me is that I am an addict.

Food addiction is a real tough cookie to crack, I find myself craving food and unable to maintain changes for the long term. Transitioning from junk food to an all whole food diet has been a difficult one. My body craves the rubbish when I'm tired, hungry, feeling stressed, low in mood, cold, happy and just about everything in between.

What I have learnt about myself is how I have emphasised food and it's relation to my moods and experiences in life. For example, if I am happy, 'let's celebrate with food' if I'm sad l'll comfort myself with food, the more I have analysed my reaction to the things in my life I have realised food takes centre stage. NOT GOOD.

So this is where I start from....again.

[Dale42]

This is a very honest account John B, and something I'm sure most of us can relate to in our own lives. Food is the center of most of what we do, and sadly that food is often the bad type, the type that makes us feel better, whilst doing the exact opposite.

I think by the simple fact you have recognised that about yourself means you have come far in your journey, it means that you can start to make the changes needed and prepare for those times you have identified. Half the battle of weightloss is understanding ourselves and how we got to where we are....this means you are half way there...keep going:applouse:

[Esme]

It sounds like you have made a massive shift in your conscious John B, this is all part of your transistion, it happens in the right way for each one of us, the journey is unique to us all.

[lifesaball]

It sounds like you have made a massive shift in your conscious John B, this is all part of your transistion, it happens in the right way for each one of us, the journey is unique to us all.

I agree with Esme, you're not trying to go on a diet, you are trying to change your fundamental beliefs on your food and how you cope with your emotions. That doesn't happen overnight and there will be setbacks along the way, but keep sticking to it, imagine yourself at the end of the journey, who is that person? what does he look like? :encouragement:

[John B]

I recognise my ways, but usually after the event, rarely at the time. I seem to struggle to assess my actions at the time and make the necessary changes.

I'm guessing that is something I need to work on.