Do you often wonder how “normal” your eating habits are, or how they compare to what experts consider to be a “healthy” approach?
If you know my philosophy it is that you have to have a "lifestyle” approach to weight loss and wellness, and know that a crash diet—or any other temporary diet—isn’t a good idea. But what does “normal” eating look like, especially when you have quite a bit of weight to lose? Do you sometimes wonder where to draw the line between doing what’s necessary to lose weight, and becoming too focused on what you eat? Are you confused about whether normal eating is something you start doing after you’ve lost the weight, or something you should aim for now as part of your weight loss program?
If you feel a little confused about all this, you’re not alone. There are a lot of confusing and contradictory claims floating around about what’s “normal” when it comes to food. Based on my experience, there really is no normal, there is only what works for you and by ‘works’ I mean something that keeps you healthy, happy and it is something you can maintain.
When dealing with weight loss clients my ‘M.O.’ is to kick start them with a detox and then slowly start to reintroduce foods back in until we get to what we feel is a healthy diet that they enjoy eating, that gets them results and that they can maintain for the long term. It may not be the fastest way to lose weight but I can guarantee you that it is the most dependable and clients get to keep the weight off.
Quick fixes are just that, quick…the quicker it comes off, the quicker it will come back on.
If you still aren’t sure if what you are doing is right, then visit a reputable nutritionist and have them review your food journal. Let them know your goals and see if together you can come up with a plan that, as I said above, keeps you happy, healthy and you can maintain for the long term.
Happy eating!
Christine
Hi Amreen,
There are a thousand and one ways to lose weight and many of them are actually quite effective…if you follow through… If you have been doing Weight Watchers for a while and are getting tired of it perhaps it is time to start weaning yourself off it. You are probably better at keeping track without counting than you think you are. The key to it is to be MINDFUL of what you are eating, and how much.
Anytime you are about to change something that is working for you you should start slowly, perhaps keeping track of just a few meals, and then gradually none of them. BUT, what you do need to keep track of is that you are still getting the progress that you want. Check your weight regularly (without obsessing) and if you are still losing then you are ready to just practise “The 80/20 Rule of Mindful and Healthy Eating “.
What this means is you should choose health promoting foods 80% of the time, eat them slowly and stop eating when you are about 80% full (this is where the slow and mindful part comes in as you have to be mindful when you reach this stage). 20% of the time you can have a little fun (this does not mean binging of course!).
Make sense? Give it a try and let me know what you think.
Best,
Christine
eating well and maintaining a healhty weight has been a lifelong struggle. in my experience, weight watchers has been really effective, but sometimes the point counting gets tiring. any suggestions for another strategy?
My lesson from losing 50 pounds (and keeping 40 of them off for 2+ years) is that there are no quick fixes, but eating well is actually self-fulfilling…the better you eat, the better you feel…this motivates you to eat better and be more active. As hokey as it sounds, it really, truly is a “lifestyle change”.
Thanks Christine. I lost 17 pounds over April and May on a month of isagenix, a 6 week cross training challenge and marathon training. In the last 4 weeks,since all of that has ended, I have put 10 back on and am so sad at having to start all over again. I was looking and feeling sooo good for such a short time and I celebrated by going back to all my old habits and now I look and feel lousy again!
Hi Sonia,
I totally agree. I used to weigh 40 pounds more than I do now and could never have taken it off with dieting. Once I gave myself a good heavy dose of self love I was ready and willing to start eating right and doing it consistently. I go off track everyonce in a while but for the most part I eat well and I enjoy what I eat. Everything in balance, everything in moderation…
keep it up!
Christine
I think we obsess way too much on food in North America. If we just ate healthy, not junk food until we felt satisfied and got a good dose of physical activity, dieting would not be an issue. I have found that dieting never works for me. I am constantly thinking about food and whatever weight I may lose by dieting, comes right back when I’m finished my diet. Eating in moderation has kept my weight more steady and though I am not at my ideal weight, by my standards, I would be considered at a perfectly normal weight in most parts of the world.
I think we obsess way too much on food in North America. If we just ate healthy, not junk food until we felt satisfied and got a good dose of physical activity, dieting would not be an issue. I have found that dieting never works for me. I am constantly thinking about food and whatever weight I may lose by dieting, comes right back when I’m finished my diet. Eating in moderation has kept my weight more steady and though I am not at my ideal weight, by my standards, I would be considered at a perfectly normal weight in most parts of the world.