I know many people included losing weight as a part of their resolution... and I admit, my friend lost a total of 30 pounds since the summer time and
mannnnn,
I am a bit
envious.But with dieting, it may come with sacrifice. I don't want to let my life diminish [besides, I'm only 21 once!] and though I may feel more confident and beautiful and wear pretty clothes, etc... I think I would prefer to just eat healthy and lose weight at a slow slow rate.
I think overall of last year I lost anywhere from 5-10 pounds and kept it off. My arms are just naturally slimmer without me having to do any exercise and I've become more toned in my body. And this lifestyle versus all the other ones I've done in the past is just so much less stressful and more happier. I enjoy it a lot more and I think that it is more idealistic and less of a sacrifice.
What do you think? Is a long term diet better than a short term?
Image Source
Recommend
Comments (18)
Very healthy way of thinking! I applaud you. Not everyone can do it!
Good for you! Long term dieting is definitely better. Most individuals who go on the short term dieting route will eventually gain the weight they lost back or perhaps even more. It's never too late for anyone to make lifestyle modifications. People should think more like you
I think a long-term diet is the only truly effective diet, because it is healthy and maintainable.
Often girls anxious to lose weight will plan out restrictive diets with a certain amount of calories, calorie counting, and excessive exercise to boot. These behaviors may be sustainable for a week or two, but it is a set-up for failure. If a woman weighs herself a few times a day for two weeks and sees no progress, she'll likely give up and return to her old diet and exercise habits.
Or worse, in her frustration she may binge eat - the opposite effect of her intents. And, worse of all, she may begin to purge out of disgust for her failed diet, or restrict endlessly and develop severe disordered eating or anorexia.
In either case, weight loss is unobtainable or dangerous.
Long term diets win because they are something you can see yourself following comfortably for extended periods of time - and you likely want to keep your weight off for years, so it all works out. Maybe losing a pound or two a month seems insufficient as opposed to a pound or two a week, but just making a few simple switches of conscious decisions a day can really make a difference over time.
Plus, with a long term diet you don't need to weigh yourself every day. You can focus more on your life and less on your diet. You stay sane and safe. Long-term wins.
It isn't a diet, it's a lifestyle change. Be healthy. Don't "diet".
I'd agree that a long-term lifestyle change is best. But then it isn't a diet anyway. However; since this post is in January - and if your friend lost 30 lbs from the beginning or middle of summer until now - that isn't too quickly. So unless she's truly crash dieting and pushing weird boundaries - I"m not too sure that comparing you two is the best to prove your point. Your point (long term healthy lifestyle versus short term extreme diets) is a good one. But from the limited details about your friend; she doesn't seem to be extreme or unhealthy either. Especially if she lost it at a slow steady pace the entire time and is eating a healthy well-rounded daily diet. (yes there are two uses for the word diet). Anyway; yes, a long-term healthy lifestyle is better.
yeah, usually people who do short-term diets end up losing, gaining, losing, gaining, on and on, which is really unhealthy. a lifestyle change like what you're describing is not just about LOOKING skinny but more about BEING healthy, which is much more important.
Long term "diets" are obviously better! They say that it shouldn't be a diet, they said that you should really change your lifestyle if you want to be healthy. Hehe, anyway, good thing that you're thinking about the healthy way! Unlike those other people who starve themselves to be really thin and then binge eat after. Good on you! :)
Only long term one is a lifestyle chance
-limit your fast food, frozen foods, and sugary foods.
-Substitute water for all other drinks (unless it's fruit juice made by hand).
-Optimize your "healthy foods". (Ex. Eat spinach over cabbage.)
-Utilize the healthier option (Ex. Vinaigrette over Ranch dressing)
-Save your unhealthy eating to when you're out with friends.
-Don't be fooled by phony health foods (yogurt cups as a health food is a lie)
-Exercise at least every other day to the point where you sweat. (cardio is important for burning calories before they get stored as fats)
-Above all else: You need to be mentally ready to change
Diets don't work. Lifestyle changes do, if you eat healthier and exercise your body will get to it's natural set point. The problem with "diets' is that people lose the weight and then go back to living an unhealthy lifestyle, thus undoing all the work.
I prefer no set "diet" at all or seasonal diets. Seasonal diets are where you eat the foods that the earth produces during that time. I think it's better to just listen to your body. What does it want? what does it ask you for? What does each food do to you?
I recommend reading up on fasting. Plan and take a long fast and then go to a mono diet where you can learn how each food treats your body. Does milk give you a stuffy nose? Do beans stop you up? It's different for every person. Learn what your body likes and feed it that and you won't want to go back to eating crap. Note that I say what your body likes, what your taste buds like might be totally different. ;)
If you want to lose weight slower that's fine too, but your friend may not have been doing anything unreasonable to attain her goals.
@hollowhopes@xanga - I weigh myself every day and I focus on eating healthy and exercising. I'm not obsessing over it, but if I don't weigh myself every day I tend to let myself indulge more. Some people get weird about weighing themselves every day, some people weigh every day to stay motivated and on track.
@thisiswhereItellyoueverything@xanga - that's good that it works for you. It's just not for everyone. From 13-19 I weighed myself virtually every day but I still went from 109 to 143. Wish it had worked for me, too :(
@hollowhopes@xanga - hey i definitely agree with your last comment "Plus, with a long term diet you don't need to
weigh yourself every day. You can focus more on your life and less on
your diet. You stay sane and safe. Long-term wins." thats EXACTLY what i mean... you dont even need to weigh yourself. its not like you dont have any goal at all, but your goal is to feel good about yourself by just changing your lifestyle to feel 'good' about yourself every moment of the day by choosing healthier intakes and exercising.
@thisiswhereItellyoueverything@xanga - oh yeah, i def did not say it isnt a good thing. perhaps shes just fixing up her portions and not eating so much junkfood or whatever it may be. but i remember back then when i became obsessed with my weight. its def not something to smile about when youre constantly fearing about how many more exercises you have to do to burn off that breakfast.
@monkie_dance@xanga - thanks for the list. i should def focus more on water and work on eliminating all soda and sugary juices.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Regards,
College Essay Help
Regards,Makita Repair Parts