On every "diet" I've ever been on prior to this one (low carb or otherwise) I never lost the feeling of being "deprived" of foods that I really wanted to eat but couldn't. Those diets were a struggle, even when I was having success losing weight. This time really is different. I don't feel deprived and I enjoy what I'm eating. Now, I rarely even think about the foods that I was desperately longing for not too many months ago. What is the difference? For me, it is a combination of a couple of things...
1) Framing how I eat as a lifestyle change and not a temporary "diet" has really helped. I learned to accept that certain foods are off my plate FOREVER. There are no days off, no "carby Rewards" for good behavior, no "holiday" or "celebration" excuses, and reaching goal weight will not end anything. LC is the new way I have chosen to eat. I don't try to work small portions of high carb foods into my diet, either. No small piece of candy, no 1/2 slice of whole wheat toast. I stick to foods that are low carb with normal portion sizes as much as possible.
2) No Cheating! Getting my head around point 1 could never have happened without me willfully deciding not to cheat, ever. For months into my new WOE, I still missed the old carb-loaded favorites (pizza, bread, candy bars ,etc.). I was not having intense cravings anymore, but I still had fond memories of these foods and still felt deprived to some extent. It was really hard to accept that I would never have regular pizza or bread again. But I did not cheat. I did not even have a taste or a bit. After a few months, the magic started to happen. My attachment to those carby favorites started to fade away. I stopped longing for them. I stopped feeling deprived. I then started seeing these things for what they really are: food that will make me lose control of my appetite and make me fat and unhealthy. The sight and smell of these things don't affect me as they once did. Carby junk is everywhere. It is unavoidable. But it has lost its power over me. This only happened because, for the first time ever, I refused to cheat and stuck with my program.
3) To some extent, being 'scared straight' has helped me do points 1 and 2 above. I started this WOE in February and the following month I was first diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic. That explained a lot. Weight was not my only problem. High blood sugar was doing a number on my body and my health was gradually deteriorating. Within 2 months of starting this diet, I began to feel a lot better. So at the same time I was still fighting off the feelings of deprivation, I started to feel healthy again. I was still as fat as a cow, but I could really tell that my body liked the new way I was eating. I had a second A1C test done about 4 months into my diet and my new score was barely "pre-diabetic" and the doctor told me I was healing myself. It is too bad that I let things get so out of hand. I wish I'd learned these lessons earlier. But that is not how it worked out. I'd have to say that experiencing the rapid and dramatic improvements to my health has been a motivating factor as I've learned to accept and appreciate my new way of eating.
4) Education. I'm actually doing some reading on the topic and not following a 1 page diet plan that I got from a friend. Learning what is happening to me under the hood helps me make good eating decisions. I've definitely learned that we are not all the same and what works for some may not be applicable to me. I've also learned a lot from other members at this website. Some lead by example, and some (unfortunately) show us what not to do.
In the end, I think I'm with MamaSebo. I'm not really a "food is fuel" person. I do like to enjoy what I eat. But I do feel that I used to get far too much pleasure from the food I used to eat. Processed food is engineered make me want it and I was one who wanted it a lot and in huge quantities. I want my food to be good, but I don't need it to send fireworks off in my brain with every bite. So I am mindful of eating this way for my health and daily energy, but I'm going to do what I can to make what I eat taste good. LC food does not need to be exciting, but I doesn't need to be boring, either.
Last edited by khrussva : Mon, Oct-06-14 at 11:15.
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