Motivation

You gotta be DETERMINED. Bottom line. You have to recognize that it is a life time change and that you are the only person that feeds yourself. Here are a few mindsets that I have come up with myself to help me get past wanting to eat certain foods.

1. Unhealthy Food Outlook: Look at the food; you've eaten it before. Do you remember how it tastes? Of course you do! Has it changed? Of course it hasn't. Is it nutritious for your body? If not, why bother eating (edit: especially an unhealthy portion) again?

2. You can have your cake and eat it too: Take a bite, put down the fork, or the bag of m&m's or whatever your weakness may be. Chew, swallow. Okay now have the flavor in your mouth and you did not go over board on your calories. So after you swallow your food, it is gone, in your tummy, and you are only left with the stale taste off your tongue. So if you put another bite in your mouth, you double it. Then triple, etc. So in essence, calorie consumption is only about how many bites you put into your mouth. So CHILL after a few. (portion control)

3. Waste is Waste: If you are satisfied and have that "I really don't want to waste the rest of this" attitude, think about it! If you consume the food, you will digest it and it will still end up turning into WASTE. Or you can throw it away in the waste basket (or pack it for later) where your body does not have a chance to soak up those calories. Deal? All in all, its waste, so make the right wasteful choice.

4. Time is of the essence: Think about the non nutritious food that you are consuming. Are you going to remember that you consumed it after you have eaten it a week from now? Probably not. What did you eat last Monday? Don't know? Well then... my point is made.

5. Be the Spunky European Car: We only have 1 body, treat it with respect, the right nutrition, and it will treat you that way back. If you give a gasoline powered car diesel, it wont run right. So be a spunky European car and your engine will purr.

6. Give smell a chance! We have 5 senses which are nearly equally strong. Sight, smell, taste, and touch all play a role in how good the food is that we consume. Instead of always receiving joy from food, enjoy the smells of nature (flowers, grass, air) or light some candles to enjoy. This is not good for everyone, but I LOVE my berry candle because it reminds me of starbursts, and my vanilla one reminds me of cake. Mentally I am satisfied. Some cannot cope with these tho, so this is not for everyone.

7. Don't feel obligated to eat: You don't HAVE to eat that birthday cake, or celebration food. SO many people are wrapped up in celebration food and feel guilty if they do not eat the birthday cake. Let this go! Stand out from the crowd by putting your foot down. Bring your own healthy variations and suggest fruits and lean meats for parties you are attending. A healthy alternative for cake and ice cream is to bring sorbet instead. In this case, food is all about socializing.

8. Newly Added - Coping with a Binge: If you feel the want to binge, or eat a late night snack because you just WANT it, remind yourself that you can have it tomorrow. Tomorrow is ALWAYS an option. Keep it in your mind that you can fit it in the next day's calories.

9. Newly Added - Calories = Your Budget: Think of your calories as a bank account. Calories are your money, so you must budget them to fit your needs. If it's not in your budget, then don't eat em. We all hate those over draft charges.

If you have anything else to add, be my guest. If it's a good suggestion, I'll add it to the list.

I was just trying to clarify what an ED is, as it seems people have very specific ideas about what it is and what it isn't, and given the insidious nature of EDs, sometimes (in fact, most of the time) people can't tell they have one.

It's interesting you told me all that about your history and swear you don't have an ed, and erica, it's interesting even more that you tell me its an addiction, not an ed, as if there were some sort of difference where brain chemistry is concerned.

Folks, you don't have to vomit your food or be super skinny to have an ed. It just has to occupy your mind more often than it doesn't. Tha's all.

And I'm not even saying it to say 'hey, star has an ED! Don't listen to her!' Personally, I don't even know if we CAN recover from EDs because it's just in our damn culture. So, if you've got to be preoccupied with your size, it might as well be a preoccupation with keeping yourself healthy, right?

Don't misunderstand. I'm not pointing fingers and yelling out 'ED! ED!' I'm just trying to raise awareness where I can about what it is and what it isn't.

x17star17x I am very impressed by your achievements!!! WAY TO GO!! Checked out ur profile and pictures and looks mighty fine, like the bangs by the way (was thinking of getting a Nelly Furtado coupe myself I must admit, little bit older than u r thats true but hey what is in a number right?)

Also would like to know how u got the nice pics and tickers in ur profile? Everytime I try 2 I get the little box with the red x in the middle... Thanks and keep it up, I tagged this one for the great tips by the way!

Ciao, Jacky from Amsterdam, The Netherlands

x17star17x -  You have been my biggest inspiration since joining this site.  I'd been at it maybe 6 weeks when I found CC and I was determined.  But even more so when I read your posts and seen your pics.  I started out about 25lbs heavier than you did so I had a little farther to go but watching you do it proved to me it could be done!!  I'm down 72lbs. now with a long way yet to go but I have faith that I can do it.  :) 

Shakti - And I'm not even saying it to say 'hey, star has an ED! Don't listen to her!' Personally, I don't even know if we CAN recover from EDs because it's just in our damn culture. So, if you've got to be preoccupied with your size, it might as well be a preoccupation with keeping yourself healthy, right?

I am FAR from preoccupied with my size.  If I went to the doctor and they simply told me "you know what? even if you continue to diet by being more nutritious and eating healthier, you will not lose more weight.  But you will become more healthy, your heart will beat easier, your body will function better, and your whole mental being will be happier"  Would I stop dieting because of this?  Heck no.  It's not about my size, it's about my HEALTH.

I don't have an eating disorder.  Not by any means, I really dont get where that is coming from.

Shakti - you don't have to vomit your food or be super skinny to have an ed. It just has to occupy your mind more often than it doesn't. Tha's all.

So in order to not have a disorder, you must ignore your health more than you think about it?  I still don't get it.  Where are you coming up with these eating disorder definitions anyway?

star,

Hey you were one of my original insparations on this diet as well.   It's great to see how far you have come and that you have a healthy view of food and how to lose weight.   No gimmicks, no bs... just a good positive outlook on the process and a realization that even if you miss your goal it doesn't change the path you are on.


shakti,

At one time in her life you might say star had an ED.  If you consider overeating an ED then I had one too... you probably have had one as well.   IF you consider though talking about and being on top of what you are doing to lose weight as some kind of ED... then we all on this site, including you, are suffering from an ED because we are participating in an online forum about nothing more than Diet & Health.   I wouldn't consider that an ED at all... I would consider it just being a Health Conscience.   Or HC as I'll call it.   There's nothing bad or negative about that.   Sure in our pasts we all must have had some kind of ED to get overweight ... even if that ED was ignorance.   I was ignorant about food.   I used it at times to deal with situations and I can even say that I had no clue about portion sizes.   I thought I could just work out and cut out softdrinks and I'd lose weight... and hey I did lose 15 pounds the gained it all back after moving... then lost it again and kept it off after joining a gym.   Counting calories though got me off my plateau... it educated me... it got me thinking about what I put in my mouth.   It gave me a goal... an idea of what to do to reach it each day... and there is no way on earth that's an ED.

Oh and being obsessed with your body shape (notes the pics in your profile) is not an ED either since ED's have to do with eating.

nightc1, I never said *you* had an ED. I never said anyone on here had an ED; in fact, I was simply 'defending' a point another poster brought up near the beginning of the thread about some of the tactics star has used as sounding a little EDish. I'm not even saying star has an ED. Everyone's defense over what that one girl's response said was simply that 'oh, those tactics are in no way shape or form ED because ED means this and this and this.' EDs are very misunderstood and I was simply trying to clarify. Personally, I think our whole damn society has an ED. But that's just me.

and night, how can you say that body image problems are not ED because ED only relates to eating? That's like saying it's all about the food, which it most certainly isn't and never is.

Star, where do I pull all of these definitions out of my ass? I've been hospitalized twice for EDs and have met tons of people with them, AND am currently on a certification program with EDs being one of my main courses of study.

So, as the person whose point I was originally defending said, there's no reason for anyone to get defensive. I'm not saying anyone on here has an ED or that they don't. I'm just saying be cautious because it's an insidious problem that doesn't always present itself in an obvious way, and it's not always what people think it is. The end.

This is great 17 star. One of the best msgs I've ever read on here.

Thanks!

Melinda, I'm so proud of you for changing your lifestyle and sticking to it to the point where it is a lifesyle change.

I agree that waste is waste.  I'm going to think of that next time I don't want to throw the rest of something away.

I know that I would be satisfied with a few bites of ice cream or a few fries if I would just take the time to realize that.  One bite is better than none. :)

You are amazing. Such an inspiration!!

I've found myself replaying your tips in my head whenever I feel the desire to binge or eat that extra cookie that I shouldn't. I'm in maintenance mode, but I still need to watch so I don't gain anything back, and you're a great help!

Thank you and best of luck with your continuing journey!!

Melinda, I can't believe I never saw this post of yours!  You already know how much of an inspiration you are to me.  We started around the same place/sizes and I keep your achievements in mind as possible ones for me always.  Thanks again for staying strong and brave for being so open with all of it.  If copying is a form of compliment, consider me at striver to be your copycat! 

I'm always keeping up with your progress girl!!!

*raises glass of ice water* Cheers to all the HC'ers out there!!!  I truly aim to be an HC'er!

Protesting 'cake' was probably my toughest one of all! That is why I added it to the list.  I went to someones house and they had 'left over' cake from a party and offered me some.  ICE CREAM CAKE at that (my fave).  I was the only one there who didn't have a piece. I felt really left out, but really good about myself for making a choice.

It's not like I wanted the cake anyway. I was annoyed people were trying to push it on me.

YAY ME! lol.

x17star17x

Finally someone who gets it!  You have to change your entire attitude about food.  You're right, you don't have to eat the cake. 

I'm glad I stumbled upon this post.  It is very inspirational, as I am just starting my own weight loss.  I will be tagging this to come back when I need it!  Congratulations on doing so well and keeping up with it!

hey star,
  i joined cc recently and i happend to come across ur story..ur tips r really cool esp abt waste and the last one..i have noticed that it becomes really diff to avoid unhealthy stuff at parties and celebrations..but i guess like u said one has to put their foot down..i m learning to too..i m glad i read ur story..how long did it take to lose all those pounds?

aw thanks :) So far the 117 pounds has taken me 11 months, going on 12. A full year! That deserves celebration in itself.

Last night I actually went out to dinner and didn't partake in the "bread ritual".  Once you start putting your foot down and taking food into your own hands, you start to laugh when you see what traditions do to people.

I love to observe people and their attitudes.  I think it's time for a career change :)

WOW, I saw your pictures, you look great! You really are an inspiration.  I agree with what you wrote, you really do need to change the way you think about food. Like you said, we only get one body. Good job and good luck with further weight loss!

You look wonderful and obviously feel good too!!  Thanks for posting your story to inspire the rest of us who have over 100 lbs to lose.

Brenda

GOOD advice!  I'm really impressed with what you're doing, and your success is motivating.  You look GREAT!! :) I'm mostly doing the same things--and have lost 77 pounds since last year down from 284 to 207. 

I'd add three other "tips" that are working (so far!) for me. 

1) Drink a lot of water and eat a lot of fiber.  I drink half my body weight in ounces per day, at least, and eat 25+ g of fiber and I'm rarely hungry even though I eat 1300-1500 cals a day.  If you do this, you'll likely even burn off a few more calories running for the bathroom all day!  LOL. :)

2) Never eat on impulse.  If I planned it, I eat it.  If not, think about it for a while and ask those questions x17star asked.  If it is healthy and an acceptable portion size, I'll go for it.  If not, I stop and make myself think about it for 15 minutes.  Sometimes, that's all it will take to keep me on track.  Also, I personally tell myself if I'm feeling like binge eating that I should wait a week.  If, one week from that day, I still feel like eating that food or foods, I can do it, but it should be built into my "plan".  95% of the time, the craving is gone by then.  That's sort of like star's #1 above.

3) Imagine yourself thin (look at x17s pics and those of others who are closer to your goal weight and have gone through the kind of weight loss you're hoping to achieve), praise yourself for where you are, and remember how you felt at your highest weight.  The latter may be a negative motivator, but if I now tried to carry a 77-pound 4th grader (or mary kate!) around with me every day, I'd feel terrible all day.  I remember not being able to walk a block and being always out of breath and having dangerously high cholesterol and triglycerides and finding NO cute clothes and not fitting into seats and booths, and I don't want to be there again.  I LIKE being able to walk 3 miles a day and 6 without falling over.  I LIKE having only 1 chin and room between me an the table.  I LIKE having clothing choices.  I LIKE that my cholesterol went from 249 (on lipitor) to 146 (no need for lipitor) and my triglycerides are great now.  I LIKE being less like that first car and more like an efficient sedan, and I HOPE to be that snappy little Euro car some day.  :)

To all who are trying, GOOD LUCK!  To x17star17x, THANKS for sharing this!  :D

xx17Star17xx-- You literally look like a completely different person!!  I envy your motivation and self-control.  You must feel absolutely fabulous.  I know how great it is to lose weight and then do all the stuff you couldn't/didn't want to do before.

Congratulations!  Keep it up.

*BUMP* love, love, love this post! Tagged!