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General Category => Grab Bag => Topic started by: luise.volta on August 09, 2011, 11:45:54 AM

Title: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: luise.volta on August 09, 2011, 11:45:54 AM
      I'm looking at my "fitness plan" to see why it feels different than anything I have ever done before. What comes up for me is that it DOES NOT feel like a diet.
      I find freedom in it and that's a first. I also think that may be the answer for me. Being retired, I have no rigid structure to my days. Sometimes, I sleep late and have breakfast at noon and supper at 7:00 PM and sometimes I don't exercise at all. I also go to parties and family gatherings where the "I can't eat that" kind of deprivation is something I don't manage well. And the "I have to exercise now," doesn't work, either. Too controlling.
      No "diet" has ever been sustainable for me. I can be a Nazi and force myself through the hoops to lose the weight but I can't hold-that-line after I get there. They all talk about "maintenance" but for me that means being a Nazi permanently. It's just not my thing.
I have never been on a plan before that can be adapted to me, not me having to adapt to it. That never works in the long run because I always end up being me again.
      What feels so right to me and so unique is that it is all about exercise. I have always known how important it is but have also always been in the dark trying to follow vague, generic formats. Never before have I ever gotten it regarding the correlation between exercise and caloric intake as it applies to me day by day, as each day evolves in it's own way. No two being alike. I find very clear data on this plan. Every exercise I do is calibrated so I know exactly where I stand to the minute in doing different kinds of workouts, both fast-paced dog walks and Curves. Then everything I eat is documented and the exercise number has to be bigger than the food one for the day. Voila! www.myfitnesspal.com

Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: Rose799 on August 09, 2011, 12:08:47 PM
Charting calories from fast food menus got my attention, i.e. a turkey sandwich with 800+ calories?! 

Good for you, Luise.  I hope to follow your lead~

Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: luise.volta on August 09, 2011, 01:19:21 PM
I have a lot of calorie counts down spat since I did Nutrisystem (but not well) for a year. It didn't fail...I just didn't get the calories in/calories out thing.

What I do now is look it up on the Internet and then make a note of it, if it's something I don't know. I buy very high-end frozen meals (with no preservatives) that show the count and control the size of the serving and I know what my fresh veggies and fruits are.

A Snickers Bar is 271. I just love the freedom!
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: luise.volta on August 09, 2011, 01:28:51 PM
P.S. I hope you all remember that Pooh found this Website and plan!  I'm just sharing my experience. ;D
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: elsieshaye on August 09, 2011, 03:14:02 PM
Luise, I think finding something that allows you to be free and mindful, without having to turn your life into a rigid, obsessive-compulsive nightmare is key to being able to sustain it.  I'm really glad you found something that works that way for you!!
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: Rose799 on August 09, 2011, 08:06:09 PM
Quote from: Rose799 on August 09, 2011, 12:08:47 PM
Good for you, Luise.  I hope to follow your lead~

I meant that you're off to a great start, Luise.   Thanks, Pooh, I haven't started yet, but you've got me thinking about that 4-letter word.   :D
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: luise.volta on August 09, 2011, 08:09:12 PM
Seven letter word: f-i-t-n-e-s-s~  ;)
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: Pooh on August 10, 2011, 08:39:17 AM
Isn't it great!  Rose, if you are really thinking about it, you should try it for a couple of weeks.  It's free and there's no catch.  If you don't like it, you simply delete your account.

I started this with the dreaded DIET word, but Luise is right.  It is no longer a DIET for me.  It truly doesn't feel like a diet, because if I want that snickers, I can have it.  It made me understand that I either need to walk an extra mile, do 20 more minutes of Zumba or that I needed to eat a very low calorie dinner if I wanted it.  Not that I couldn't have dinner, but more vegetables and something low calorie instead.

I'm not hungry, I'm feeling 110% better as in energy, stamina and more focused and the side benefit is that I'm losing weight.  Didn't start out that way.  The first thing was to lose weight, now it's the last thing....weird...weird...weird....

Here's my best suggestion for anyone thinking about trying it.  Go ahead and sign up, and for the rest of the week, log everything you eat.  Don't change anything about what you're eating...just eat like you normally are now.   You will be shocked at the type of things that you are putting in your body and it made me want to try it for a couple of weeks to see if I could improve my eating habits.  Luise is so right, it doesn't feel like I am dieting because I can eat and I don't feel deprived.  I feel great!

Luise, I am very glad that you are having such success.  We tell ourselves on here, and others to "Do something for yourself.  What are you going to do for yourself today?"  Well today.  I am going to eat healthier and exercise.  Just 20 minutes of Zumba.  A big ole tuna fish sandwich on multrigrain bread with sunchips, instead of the cheeseburger and fries I would have eaten 3 weeks ago.  I think I will make some baked tilapia tonight with broccoli, pinto beans and low calorie cornbread.  That's it.  Oh, and I may do 10 extra minutes of Zumba so I can have an entire bowl of Sugar Free Neopolitan ice cream instead of 1/2 cup.  That simple and it's something that no one can give me, except me!  Time to be selfish ladies!!!!
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: luise.volta on August 10, 2011, 09:30:01 AM
Toast: Hear! Hear! To Selfishness! Yes!
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: Pen on August 10, 2011, 07:13:51 PM
I'm a diet rebel as well. In the past just saying I was starting a diet was enough to send me to the pantry. Logging my food and exercise (& water) has been a real eye-opener! The support from my friends is right up there in importance. I don't feel like I'm dieting, but I'm losing even though I'm only slowly getting back into exercising regularly. I feel wonderful! Feeling great leads to taking care of myself in other ways...taking my supplements, putting lotion on my feet (I know, I know, most people just do it), getting enough sleep, thinking more positively....which leads to more motivation to work out, eat right, etc. and so on.

A casual aquaintance said I looked nice today. Since I haven't lost enough to make a visible difference and I wasn't dressed to the nines, I can only assume that my happy and contented attitude was shining through. Hey, I'll take it!
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: luise.volta on August 10, 2011, 09:14:05 PM
I think we are all feeling better and have more energy and sparkle, don't you? (And my watch and ring are getting loose...not anything anyone could see, but it's still a sign of progress!)
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: Pooh on August 11, 2011, 06:37:16 AM
My skin is also looking better.  Not so dry looking and smoother!  Probably not noticable to others, but I can tell.
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: Rose799 on August 11, 2011, 06:52:34 AM
Quote from: luise.volta on August 10, 2011, 09:14:05 PM
I think we are all feeling better and have more energy and sparkle, don't you?

Energy?  Sparkle?  You bet ya'!  You all have persuaded me to take the plunge!   :D
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: Pooh on August 11, 2011, 07:39:55 AM
I noticed that butterfly moved on down!  Great job Luise!
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: Pooh on August 11, 2011, 07:40:38 AM
Quote from: Rose799 on August 11, 2011, 06:52:34 AM
Quote from: luise.volta on August 10, 2011, 09:14:05 PM
I think we are all feeling better and have more energy and sparkle, don't you?

Energy?  Sparkle?  You bet ya'!  You all have persuaded me to take the plunge!   :D

Give it a whirl Rose!  What have you got to lose?  Oh yeah......    ;D
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: luise.volta on August 11, 2011, 08:15:09 AM
Rose...we are having fun! Come play with us and see if it is fun for you or not. It's OK, either way.

Pooh, I didn't notice the butterfly...again.  ;) Thanks!
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: elizabeth on September 22, 2011, 09:48:21 AM


I signed up at Fitness Pal and I have to say I like it better than Calorie Count, which I kinda, off and on,
used for about a year.

FP is simpler to find foods and enter them on the meals and the excersize/calorie tracker is really good.

Thank you for the idea.
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: luise.volta on September 22, 2011, 10:11:08 AM
Wonderful! :-)

Pooh - Would you show Elizabeth how to friend us on MFP?
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: Pooh on September 22, 2011, 11:13:06 AM
Sure.  Elizabeth, if you want to friend us to have a support group (your choice) from the home page, at the top on the tabs, click on "Community".  When it changes pages, it will now show some tabs under those.  Chose "Find Members".  When that page comes up, there will be search boxes.  If you use the one that says "Username or Email" and type in my username "VelcroPooh" it should bring me up so that you can send a friend request.

Once you find me and I accept, you can click on my profile and see all my friends and see our motley crew!  If you choose to do this, they can all tell you their user names, as I do have about 4-5 others on there that are not WWU people.  Like Luise is Weegi....hee hee.  (ratted her out).

You don't have to find us if you want to play for awhile, but it does help to have a support group on there that gives you "atta girls or kicks you back into place sometimes (that would be me!)"  Lol.  We have alot of fun on there with each other.

Either way....welcome and keep at it!  You can do it!
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: sesamejane on September 22, 2011, 10:44:17 PM
My fitness pal has been a wonderful experience for me.  I told my physician about it, and he looked it up to refer patients to.  I wonder if I would love it half as much if you all were not my pals there.  REally you all are helping me change my life.  Thank you. :-*
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: luise.volta on September 22, 2011, 11:15:15 PM
That's my experience, too. What a bunch of cheerleaders! I'm so grateful!
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: Pooh on September 23, 2011, 06:10:33 AM
Give us a few more months and we will fit in those cheerleader outfits!  RRROOOOOOAAAARRRRRR
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: luise.volta on September 23, 2011, 10:54:03 AM
Elizabeth...if you want to "friend" me on MFP, my user name there is: Weegi. :-)
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: Pooh on September 23, 2011, 11:31:05 AM
She found me!  So she should be on my friend's list now if you guys want to make it easier on her and go send her a request, telling her who you are.
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: luise.volta on September 23, 2011, 12:04:18 PM
What's her User Name?
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: Pooh on September 23, 2011, 12:15:09 PM
elizahbeth
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: luise.volta on September 23, 2011, 12:20:12 PM
Oh, that was a tough one!
Title: Re: Why Diets Don't Work For Me But A "Fitness Plan" Does
Post by: Pooh on September 23, 2011, 12:59:00 PM
Ha ha ha