Share Your Tips to "Help" - Anything That Might Work For Others on the Program

[katiefrank70]

Great bump Koh

I didn't even know this thread existed. IT'S FANTASTIC!!!

Ok I have a tip (ok make that 3 lol)

Don't let the scales get you down. It's not plateauing, it's intergrating (shanara's thoughts). Your body is NEVER idle, it is doing what it has to do to continue the weight loss.

If you get tired of the same food day in day out, then save something special on your list that you really enjoy, and have a once a week or month treat with it. I save calamari and peaches for my special occasions. It works.

Oh last one, if you suddenly develop cravings, experiment with your food ie crackers, yoghurt etc and find out which one could be triggering the craving. Make sure you keep up with the Chromium also (vy important)

Katie

[Chikita]

Hi Everyone
This hit me 2 days ago, and since then I have accepted that being healthy is the way to go for the rest of my life, even if it means I might have to turn down "high sugary edibles"..
My MOTIVATIONAL statement is simply this: "I can either stuff myself with "junk" some of the time and feel depressed and disgusted myself all the time because I an overweight overeater OR I can eat healthy, feel depressed about NOT eating "junk" some of the time but instead feel good all of the time "
That has made me feel so much better , especially when I see my thin friends eating slabs of chocolate

Hope it helps u as much as it's helped me
**Chikita

[louise41]

Mine is "nothing tastes as good as being thin feels" and notice some others using this as well

[Mette]

Love this thread! I can't believe I never knew about it! I do the same thing as Shell with the apples, cutting them into small wedges so it feels like you're eating more! And my honey dew melon I cut in to small cubes and eat them slowly one at a time so it feels like a real treat.

My advice would be this: Get support. Talk things out with friends, family or even a professional. Once you get the mind sorted out, sticking to the diet is easy. It's also about coming to an acceptance that you cannot return to the lifestyle you used to lead without consequences. Fatty and sugary foods will still be bad for you! Accept and embrace the change in lifestyle and then you'll be able to have the 'bad' stuff occasionally and in moderation

[Jamanoha]

Make a list of things that are important to you. Like a list of affirmations.
I have one on my fridge telling me that "I can do this" & "I want this more than anything" & "I will walk away from cravings"
I have found that stopping in my tracks and reading the things that I wrote whilst being 100% honest with myself, has helped me reassess the things I really want when close to a deviation.

Stop & consider what you really want. Do you really want that slice of cake/pizza whatever, or do you really want to wear those amazing jeans or that dress, or that shirt?
I know what I choose

[Shanara]

This is a great thread - excellent idea to "bump it"

This is a link to a post from the American website that Shell has put in this forum. For me it explains very well what happens to my body if I have a deviation. From reading this I really have no wish to have a deviation and am not tempted at all to put anything else in my mouth.

http://www.1pdforum.com/showthread.php?t=40

Being conscious around how I am feeling and identifying when a wish to do something is just an old pattern has really helped. For instance I was going through some pain a few days ago and found myself wanting to go to a cafe and have a cappaccino and cake. When I really checked in with how my body was, I realised that impulse was coming from my head because that's what my head has done in the past to alleviate pain. I didn't really want the coffe and cake - I really wanted to alleviate the pain. So then I could find another way to support me through the pain - not just follow past pattern.

For me this is about living consciously with my food as well.

Shanara

[Kohinoor]

Hey Shanara,

That is a GREAT link (Shell, take a bow !! ) It's always good when good words (or links) are re-propagated for all to see. I do recall clicking on that a month or so back - it's always good to revisit though, and SO well-written,

Koh

[Shanara]

Hi Koh

You are so right - good that important things are in a few places so more people can stumble over them. That link is my committment to staying DF. It really explains it clearly and simply. Once I understood what was happening if I deviated it now has real meaning - not just an ideal.

Shanara

[louise41]

I must admit I too am a devotee of the finely sliced apple to make it last. I also cut my oranges into slices and I make sure that I take the skin off thinly ensuring that I leave the pith which contains a lot fibre and give me a bit more to chew on.

[shell]

*bump*

[carrieanne_c]

what is this bumping thing? I like to go window shopping alot-easier on the purse, than reall shopping-its non strenuous exercise, and you get to look at your skinniness in the reflections of the windows with out anyone thinking that your vain.(If you worry about that kind of thing)

[Kohinoor]

Hi Carrieanne,

what is this bumping thing?

All seriousness aside, here is a definition of "bump" as used on a forum

bump (v) forum shorthand for...... This is such a damn good thread, but it has disappeared off page 1, as no-one has posted in it for ages - thus it's heading for pages 3, 4 or 5..... I can't be bothered typing all of that when posting a reply, so I'll just say "bump" - that gets it onto page 1 again, and saves me a bunch of typing - they'll know what I mean.

If you check back to the post above Shell's, and check the date, you'll see it fitted the above parameters.

Usually used by Mods/Admins - but not restricted as such (don't go CRAZY now )

Koh

[shuki]

my hint would be eat your meals very very slowly. Before I would gulp down huge quantities in about 10 minutes. Now a cohen's meal which is a lot smaller can last me half an hour

[Determined28]

Make yourself the priority instead of putting others first - its only for a short time. The benefits of having a happy person during and after the program rather than a grumpy, tired and anti-social person totally outweigh a few months of putting yourself first in order to give the program 100%.

My motto is never never never give up and I have a shirt that says so - which is a S from Lorna Jane - yeah thats right! i'm talkin about that activewear shop for skinny women!!

[Shanara]

Be kind to yourself. Be aware, and beware of the negative self talk. Speak kindly to yourself, as you would to a sensitive child.
If we don't love ourselves how can anyone else?
And
enjoy the journey!
Shanara

[firefox]

Take time to plan your meals. That way you don't find yourself getting depressed at meal time when you are grabbing the same ingredients over and over just because they are the only things you can think of at the point when you are hungry. Planning helps even when you are going out. If someone invited me over, I would let them know that I was bringing my own meal but was very happy to enjoy other aspects of their hospitality. If I was eating out I would phone ahead to check what the menu options were. Even now that I am on maintenance I plan my meals four or five days in advance so that I have time to amass ingredients, visualize what I am going to eat and look forward to it. I even plan the little treats along the way.

Also, buy new clothes along the way. I have said this in many posts here on the forum. I looked for cheaper options and bought just one or two pieces at a time to tide me over till the next dress-size drop. It is VERY motivating.

[Shanara]

Would agree with you Firefox - both those strategies help to keep the journey fresh.

It is really false economy to not buy clothes, particularly if you have a lot of weight to loose. One of the parts to weight loss that many on here struggle with is seeing themselves thin - their head and inner talk still are those of a fat person, particularly around issues of self worth. Buying just a few well fitting clothes along the way helps the head adjust.

Shanara

[Laura77]

I just keep thinking...

Okay I weigh myself on Monday, if i eat this biscuit when i get on the scales Im not going to have lost any weight. Do I really want to put myself through all this to get on the scales and not see any change all because I had a lapse in self control? The answer is always no!

[shell]

*bump*

[Nessie]

I read some where that if you ever feel like cheating make sure you eat what you want in front of a full length mirror NAKED LOL