Why 1PD works for me:

[macresco]

This thread was inspired by the lovely Shasha, our fearless leader...good to have it all in one place, I think.

MsPeel, I hope you don't mind, but I cut and pasted your post in the ReFeed thread here...


What motivates me?
Vanity, vanity, health, & vanity.

How do I stay on plan?
I consider that I have no alternative. I consider that securing my health as best I can for the second half of my life is more important than any temporary and forgettable temptation. How many meals have any of us had in our lives that were truly memorable? I can think of a few - really special meals in other countries or with family & friends or in fine restaurants. But the vast majority of things I've eaten have been sustenance. And your body doesn't care what form the sustenance takes - it's the mind that has cravings for treats and fat, salt and sugar.

Why am I not tempted by others' food choices/free food/desserts/alcohol?
Again, I can't imagine any of those things holding a candle to a slender, healthy vibrant old MrsPeel. I want to travel the world and be able to walk where I want, ride a bike, stay in modest accommodations; be medication-free; stay strong & active; live as long as I can and love every minute of it.

Why do some succeed easily and some struggle constantly and even fail?
It's sort of unknowable, really, but in general, I believe most people are too easy on themselves. Even 100 years ago, life was more difficult and more physically demanding than today. Most of us have been easily seduced into a cushier consumer-based lifestyle. I work every day with all sorts of people of all ages, and almost everyone wants to get the most for the least. That doesn't work, but it really doesn't work for this plan.

Hope some of that makes some sense - I am so delighted with 1PD and the future it is helping to create for me!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As for me, well...I haven't been on the eating plan long (tomorrow will only be my 4-week weigh in), but I have been 100% since day one. Go me!! :party1: :party1: :party1:

What motivates me?
Vanity is a beautiful thing when applied to improving your health...and I certainly have a healthy dose. Also, (these are in the present tense on purpose even though some of them haven't manifested yet...you are what you think about!) I am not the biggest girl in the room anymore, don't feel like others are judging me constantly, have more vitality, am EXCITED to go to the pool/beach, I can walk into most any store and fit into the clothes, I am a healthy, energetic and fit woman, I can exercise without feeling self-conscious, I am sexually attractive, and have oodles of confidence.

How do I stay on plan?
Every day I have the same goal: 100% on-plan eating. To me, either you're On Plan, or you're not. There is no "I'm 100% except..." We are all grown-ups here. If we deviate we should know it hurts no one but ourselves, we take responsibility and get back on the horse. In order to increase my odds of staying 100% OP, I plan my meals in advance, make breakfast and lunch at the same time and pack my lunch, and make sure food is/will be thawed/available for dinner. I pre-package my crackers into snack bags with the allotted number in them and put them in a big bag...every day I pull out 3 and those are the crackers for the day. I set out my fruit separate from the rest and when they're gone I know I'm done. I set a timer to remind me when I can eat crackers and fruit.


Why am I not tempted by others' food choices/free food/desserts/alcohol?
Oh, I am tempted...I just never cave. It's just not worth it to me. This is something everyone must evaluate for themselves. What's more important...and the answer is not always the same! A whole week set back for a glass of wine at a lunch with friends? No thanks. A week set back for a glass of champagne at my sister's wedding? Perhaps. I'll cross those bridges when they come.

Why do some succeed easily and some struggle constantly and even fail?
It's all in being ready - really really ready. Why do battered women stay with their husbands? Because it's easier to stay - for now. Until it's not...then it doesn't matter if they leave with the clothes on their backs and three dollars in their pockets - they just do it. Same deal. It's easier to stay unbalanced and unhealthy than to lose your fat, easier to remain in denial than to face your demons, easier to stay the same than to change for good. Until it's not...one day you just realize that it's easier to lose weight than it is to __________ (die of heart disease, have diabetes, be a fat mom or wife or single person, etc). Then it's easy to commit 100%, because the alternative is continued emotional pain, physical deterioration, mental defeat. It's easy after that!

[MrsPeel]

Thanks for putting my reply in a better thread - and bravo to you for your solid, sensible answers to those questions! I agree with you wholeheartedly, and am eager to see you reach your goal.

[Bronwyn]

Hi Mrs. Peel and Macresco! I loved reading both of your threads and I feel my answers would be very, very similar to both of yours. Like you ladies, I have not allowed myself deviations or cheats. Just not an option. I really admire anyone who has deviated and been able to get back on plan afterwards. For me, with past diets, any time I have cheated that just led to more cheats. With this diet, after paying the money, and knowing how it works and how WELL it works, I decided that I was going to be committed 100% to the end and now here I am.

Macresco - your words about why some people struggle and some do not (or do not seem to) are right spot on. I have likened this weight loss journey to quitting smoking. I smoked for 10 years - sometimes a pack a day - and of course had several attempts at quitting during those 10 years and it never worked. Until I was done... Once I knew in my head that I truly wanted to quit I did. It wasn't easy, but there just was no going back and I know I can never, ever have another cigarette as long as I live. The weight loss is the same. I am done. I am done being overweight. Done with not feeling good about my health and my appearance. Just done and so ready for my new life.

Thanks to both of you for putting all of my thoughts into words. You're both such an inspiration and I'll look enjoy watching you finish your journeys.

[bitten]

this is wonderful and i admire you so much.

well done to the 100% crew.

[Shasha]

{hi} there Everyone

Macresco: 10 out of 10 and a BIG THANK YOU for this wonderful initiative {goodjob} and for sharing everything you did! I just so admire the bit where you say:

'Oh, I am tempted...I just never cave. It's just not worth it to me.'

Also the bit about “It's all in being ready - really really ready. ”

I’m wondering WHAT you would say to a Diet Buddie who is wondering: ‘AM I READY??? As in really, really ready??’

Mrs Peel, thank you for reminding us that there is NO substitute for GOOD OLD FASHIONED HARD WORK! Putting shoulder to the wheel and getting the job done!!! Then there is weighing things up and seeing what is really important and not losing focus of that…

I am reminded of a farmer, sowing and reaping – what you do today effects your tomorrow and so you have a much healthier tomorrow to look forward too!!! It may be difficult, but it is going to be worth it!

Bronwyn: ‘I have likened this weight loss journey to quitting smoking. I smoked for 10 years - sometimes a pack a day - and of course had several attempts at quitting during those 10 years and it never worked. Until I was done... Once I knew in my head that I truly wanted to quit I did. It wasn't easy, but there just was no going back and I know I can never, ever have another cigarette as long as I live. The weight loss is the same. I am done. I am done being overweight. Done with not feeling good about my health and my appearance. Just done and so ready for my new life.’ Well done!!! Giving up smoking is not easy ~ but you’ve just proven that where there is a will, there is a way!!

Bitten: What keeps you motivated? How do you successfully stay focused despite your surroundings? Please share your ideas with us too!!!

{grouphug1}

[macresco]

I’m wondering WHAT you would say to a Diet Buddie who is wondering: ‘AM I READY??? As in really, really ready??


I'd say to ask themselves if they are ready to change their entire lives? Are they ready to examine the reasons why they are overweight - no matter how painful - and fix whatever is broken...whatever it takes? Are they ready to stop treating food like a friend and start treating it like fuel? Are they ready to break their emotional ties to eating? If so, I say go for it. Even if you're not 100% sure you're ready, I still say go for it, because the tiny amount of time it takes you to see results will MAKE you want to be ready.

[SurferGirl]

Thank you Shasha always being there for us. You Rock! Sorry it has taken me sooo long to return the favor and finally answer all your questions after you answered so many of mine.

What motivates me?
I just simply can not stand to fail at this any longer. For years and years I have had a flawed relationship with food. It has never been something that is just there. It has always been an obsession, whether while dieting or not dieting(i.e. binging). Great days of my life were marked by delicious meals, not delicious experiences. I am ready to live my life, to use food as fuel, and occassionally enjoy a treat(after refeed of course) but I will NOT be obsessed with when that next treat is coming. I'm not sure how to get to this point, but for now I just stick to the plan.


How do I stay on plan? One day at a time. Literally, I feel like an alcholic or something. But honestly, I just take this journey each and every day. I try not to think about how long it will be, or when I can have this or that again. I feel like the biggest battle is in my head, not my body. Losing the fat (with this diet) is easy, you just follow the plan, it doesn't get much easier than that BUT changing the way I think about food, that is the biggest battle. I hope and believe that every day I stay 100% OP is a day I get closer to having the mindset I need to have to keep the weight off.


Why am I not tempted by others' food choices/free food/desserts/alcohol? Ummm... ha ha ha. Ya I am tempted, all the time. Junk food is everywhere and a lot of the time it calls out to me. But... I will not cheat. My mind is set, so the answer is ALWAYS NO. Actually more like NOOOOO!! Cheating is simply not an option. At first this was hard, but I'm so used to it now it's becoming habit, something I don't even have to think about.


Why do some succeed easily and some struggle constantly and even fail?
I agree with macresco, those of us who "succeed easily" (although I would argue with your adverb) have simply decided that this is it. We will not go off plan. When my mom started this diet, I kept commenting on how difficult it must be, "no cheating, wow" I thought. And she said, "No, it's just a decision. Once you make that decision, that's it, you just do it." After almost finishing my first 12 weeks I know that it's not always that simple, sometimes you have to whine and complain and even cry, but you can't get off the bus. You already decided you wouldn't.

Maybe that's more honesty than my shy self would normally share, but there it is. I hope that it can help some of you out there.

Oh ya, and whenever I feel frustrated/down/hungry/tempted I go on the forum and read. It really truely helps, probably more than any of us realize.

[Shasha]

{hi} there :surf: Girl

WOOOW, thank you for sharing your heart with all of us and thank you for your openness and honesty :bighug: I really appreciate this and I know that many of our Diet Buddies do / will appreciate your post too!

Your struggles with food are never yours alone and I think it really helps all of us when we read someone else saying that they ‘feel like an alcoholic or something…’

The best way to do your diet is always to take it one day at a time, little by little, like building a new home, one brick at a time… This approach will get you far!

I really believe the reason why so many of us have struggled with food in the past is the hormonal imbalance… if your body produces too much insulin too fast, your blood sugar ends up dropping too low, too quickly and then serotonin is not released to tell you that you are feeling full and satisfied – so, basically the I’M FULL SWITCH doesn’t work and that can lead to always feeling hungry or nibbley or in the mood for food, I believe this can lead to all sorts of pre-occupations with food etc.

Thankfully we can walk this road together, you’ve got all your Diet Buddies here to encourage you and everyone here to to STAY STRONG!!

The power of making a good decision is truly incredible – then there is the power of following through on that decision mixed with a little bit of faith in what you are doing, hope in your slimmer healthier future and a lot of patience to carry you through day by day... {cheerleader}

[SurferGirl]

Thanks Shasha for the kind words and encouragement:). From reading Bronwyn and Maya's posts it sounds as though the hormones will change once the weight is lost too. Although I've been on plan and my hormones are changing, they will probably continue to change and help with the constant food infatuation. :praying:
Lately, I've been struggling with all the temptations around me. Don't get me wrong, I have been OP 100% but the food has been bothering me more. I had family in town and all the eating out(I took along my prepared food) and having sweets in the house again have tested my commitment. I am committed and I know I have to go all the way to goal but food it still annoying me right now!!! Ugggh!!

[bitten]

hey miss SG-

it's hard, hard, hard. the longer you are OP, the easier it does get, BUT sometimes the initial honeymoon period ends. life changes (like visitors or vacations) and it gets harder & harder.
i know for me i went off plan.
please do your best. do not do as i did. do as i KNOW is best and be that 100% girl.

there are triggers all around and i know for me with 2 little girls and being on the run and traveling and visiting...it's been a struggle.

so....HURRAY FOR YOU!
HANG IN THERE- YOU HAVE LOST SOOOOOO MUCH!

[SurferGirl]

Thanks Bitten. That really helps, just knowing someone out there has felt the same way. You hang in there too! We will get there!!!!

[Bronwyn]

Hi SurferGirl and Bitten,

You ladies are so not alone! I had several durations during the 6 months I was on plan where I was tempted to deviate because I was so tired of the same old foods, tired of going out with friends/family/travelling and not being able to order food, or only being able to order plain salad with plain chicken and no dressing. These difficult weeks will come and go throughout your process but if you stay on plan 100% the hard times will only be on and off again and the smaller you get and the more the diet works the easier it gets. You're both doing so well and I love watching your posts and progress. Hang in there!! It is so worth it!!

[Shasha]

{hi} there Everyone

Thanks for sharing {grouphug2}

Yes, sometimes are going to call for a bit more extra of that special: NO determination… especially during holidays… etc, but also during your TOM.

I really recommend that you take a second multivitamin at lunchtime if you get that thinking about food too much feeling… I believe this will help.

Remember, there is no magic FIX… it’s a daily walk, on the diet to keep your hormones balanced (which happens after about 1 week of following your eating plan 100%) and then afterwards to keep your hormones balanced…

Good advise would be to try to keep busy… start to do something that distracts you when you do get tempted… even if it’s taking a Bubble bath… {shower} I guess this means that some of us are going to be SUPER CLEAN :D AND THIN!!!

[bitten]

i am always clean while on 1st personal....

either in the shower, tub or pool....

i find water VERY therapeutic.

so now i just need to be THIN!!!!!

[Shasha]

{hi} there Bitten

:flirt: If you keep cleaning everything… and following your eating plan 100%, the day is going to come when you will be THIN again!!! {wave}