Sayre Kulp 

I understand where you're coming from. I get that a lot too. But you know what? In order to have a healthy relationship with food, I had to realize that it wasn't the food's fault. It didn't pry open my mouth and climb down there. And a little indulgence now and then isn't the end of the world. I mean, let's face it - one slice of cake didn't make me fat. THREE slices of cake made me fat. One slice of pizza didn't make me fat. EIGHT slices of pizza made me fat. If it really is an addiction for you, then it will take time to learn self control. But it CAN be done. Patience and perseverance will get you there.

goldfinch

Sometimes it is best not to test one's self control. If I stay away from certain foods entirely I do much better than if I try moderation with those foods. Sweet treats like chocolates or brownies and starches like breads are difficult for me and I do best if I just don't have them around. Knowing yourself and your triggers may lead to different ways of eating for different people. I guess that is self control. All about problem solving.

I have had treats since I've lost weight. I enjoyed them but just wanted more so whatever was there I ate. Like Sayre having eight slices of pizza instead of one. For example, I had 370 calories worth of brownie one day. That is a huge chuck of my day's calorie allotment. Another time I bought a warm loaf of fresh bread and ate half the loaf. I ended up throwing the other half away so that I wouldn't eat it. Food's fault, my fault, or perfect storm, I don't care (people here know by now that I am not into fault). What matters is that I see that I have an issue with certain types of food and I find the way that is best for me to deal with it. I also seem to have an issue with appetite--I am almost always hungry and after eating at best I might feel "less full." So, I have to carefully watch not only what I eat but how much I eat and for more than a year I have counted my calories. Maybe that won't be forever, or maybe it will. My goal is to keep the weight off. I've met that goal so far. If that means that my relationship with food is strained, well, okay, it's strained. But can I live with that and be happy.

tony_merlino

Right - fault is irrelevant. To beat the "relationship with food" analogy to death, sometimes the best thing you can do with a relationship is end it. I know I can't have a drink, or smoke a cigarette. I also know, for the same reasons Goldfinch gave, that I can't have "a cookie". (What's "a cookie", anyway? I thought a serving of cookies was however many there were left in the box ).

It's not the cookie's fault. But so what? At my age, I'm not expecting any major personality changes anymore. I have to find a way to be successful with what I have to work with. I'll let you know if this system works for me in a year or two...

GettinMyLanceOn

In my experience, avoiding foods that are void of nutritional value is the best way to go about it. Eventually, you will not desire such foods any more, at least until you are have a few drinks in you. Research what is in the foods you put into your body, and you'll be less inclined to want to consume them. I get a little sick to my stomach when I see people eating cake. Butter, sugar, bleached flour, and salt? Yum!... The worst thing is sugary snacks since they consist of basically just sugar and fat, aren't filling, and are very addictive. If you want to have a brownie, I don't recommend it, but at least do it before/after a workout so you can replenish your glycogen stores. Better yet, don't even keep junk food around and you won't ever have to think about it. Every once in awhile you've gotta say "F*** it," and treat yourself, but everything in moderation.

Axiom

I LOVE the gym, weight lifting, cycling, racket ball, and excersize/sports in general. I am also in good shape, and
I get my nutrients and plenty of water. The only problem is that I find it almost impossible to eat the right foods, which
sucks.

GettinMyLanceOn

What's hard about eating the right foods? If you're in good shape, then whatever you are doing is fine.

Axiom

I am down to 1lb of weight loss a week because I am slowing falling off the band wagon.

GettinMyLanceOn

Oh, I thought you meant by good shape as in not needing to lose weight and relatively fit.

Neil_B

It's an interesting idea. However, I think I'll just add to rather than replace those photos. My legs were never what I hid behind. My obesity was. That I got so fat bothers me, but not that I have a valgus deformity. The latter is part of me, the former what I used to keep myself from learning who I am.

It's much like the question you and I in happier days used to toss around - "Who is Sayre Kulp?" You got fat to keep him hidden. By losing weight you got to know him.

BTW, again I don't mean to threadjack, but you might find a posting on Whiteblaze.net amusing. Some newbie named The Historian is asking about hiking the Appalachian Trail on replacement knees.... I'd link but the site is down for a software upgrade.

recumbenttoad

I heard someone on the radio yesterday talking about how smoking was the most difficult addiction to quit. I had to laugh. I have never smoked, but I watched almost everyone in my family stop smoking without complaining about it too much. I know that it is a difficult addiction to get control of, but being an over eater is a truly life altering addiction. Everything revolves around food.

I have been overweight more than half of my life (I'm 51 and thank God the high school years were at a normal weight) and the older I get, the more difficult it is to get control. Unlike a lot of you folks, I'm never that hungry but I eat like I'll be denied food from the current meal forward. I love good food, but I'm addicted to fast food and ice cream and eat them all of the time. Plus, I drink more beer than I should out of habit more than anything.

I've never blamed anyone for my addiction. Nobody shoved those cheeseburgers down my throat. I have to learn how to look at eating as a way to get fuel instead of the euphoric experience that it is now. I've done it before (21 years ago) and hopefully I can do it again.

jethro56 

This is a good rate. I kept on losing 2 1/2 lbs/week for too long. I lost a lot of strength doing that. I wish I'd slowed down to that rate for the last 50 lbs.

Neil_B

https://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...09#post1251109

tony_merlino

One pound a week isn't bad at all. If anything, losing at 1 lb a week is training you to eat the way you should eat for the rest of your life. If you were GAINING one pound a week, that would be different.

Most of us are too impatient, and want a quick fix. (I'm no different. But I've learned that way of thinking is a trap, and makes it almost certain that you'll gain the weight back.)

I started this program saying that I would aim for about 1.5 lbs per week until I was out of the obese range of BMI, then allow it to naturally slow down as I moved toward normal - without changing what or how much I ate, simply because the calorie deficit would be more in line with slower weight loss.

Neil_B

Has this improved?

Neil_B

Signing off for now. I'm traveling to a wedding in the Poconos - two friends are having a Jewish ceremony. Lots of single women there. With any luck I'll wind up some woman's goy-toy. Then again if she's Gentile you could say I have shiksappeal. (I got a million of 'em, folks!)

BTW, a couple of years ago, even after the weight loss, I'd never have been so confident. Am I breaking out of the Fat Person Mentality?

Sayre Kulp 

Actually, it has. And you'll never believe why.

During the summer of 2011, I got down to an all-time low for myself - 260 lbs. In the months that followed, I had to modify my routine due to "life complications." I had much less time for long hours of cardio, so I began lifting again to get what activity I could in the time available. The result was gaining about 30 pounds over the next four months. For a little while I got quite upset about seeing the number on the scale going back up. Once I took a look in the mirror, I realized that the gain was from muscle and that my body fat had actually continued to go down. Not only that, but my excess skin is continuing to catch up with the rest of me.

It's frustrating sometimes, when I know that it's going to take a while for my previously stretched out skin to come back to where it belongs, but certain places (legs, arms, shoulders, & neck) look like they belong on someone much skinnier than I. It at least gives a hint of things to come, which makes the waiting game a little easier to deal with sometimes.

Neil_B

No, I do believe it. I was best looking and less 'loose' not at my low of 240 but when I put some weight back on through lifting. However I added a lot less than you did.

Neil_B

There turned out to be NO single women at the wedding. Oh well.

However, I had the confidence to do something I'm not known for doing - dancing. (A limited amount, since I didn't want to hurt my knees.) Damage assessments ranged from "Neil, you have moves!" to someone describing me as looking "like a walrus trying to climb a tree." Anyway, five years ago I'd have been afraid to do this for fear of looking foolish.

BTW, there might be video posted soon. :-)

Neil_B

Bumped because someone might need to read it. Including me.

chefisaac

thats why i think I needed a three person tent.

youcoming

Like a lot of people with weight issues I have an addictive personality, I have overcome many other addictions but food is my herion to speak. Top that off with no matter what I weigh I always think I'm fat, at 6'1" and 218 I'm not really that big there is 100lbs less of me than in 2006 but I still get called big guy. I'm once again on a I'm too fat phase so I'm doing something about it. I need to get to the point with food as I did with tobacco, I don't need that fritter just like I don't need that smoke.