It's a Lifestyle Not a Diet

Posted on April 26, 2015

My weight loss journey is a lifestyle not a diet. My approach to my diet is a simple approach. I track my food on MFP and I do my best to stay within my calorie budget for the day. I average about 1,500 calories a day, but on weekends I do allow myself up to 1,800 calories if I did okay for the week.

I do not eliminate any food groups and I do not force myself to eat salads at every meal. I recognize that because this is a journey and not a quick fix, my approach to eating is to modify the things I eat all ready. I focus more on adding fresh fruits & veggies and more whole grains. If I want to cook something considered high in calories or a less healthy option, I try to add more veggies with the meal so I can eat a smaller portion of the high-calorie entree or I look at it as a splurge meal and account for it into that day. So far, I think this approach has been working for me, as I don't have to give up foods that I love, but I find healthier ways to cook it or scale back and eat more veggies. I think this is easier for me to maintain in the long run.

Also, I LOVE to cook. I collect cookbooks and I am always cooking new recipes. You know what they say," Never trust a skinny cook." LOL. I find it's even harder for me to lose the weight because of all the cooking & baking I like to do. That being said, I usually do try to cook at least 2-3 low-calorie meals per week, since I am trying to lose weight. I bought a few healthy cookbooks, one of which being a Comfort Food Makeover cookbook. So far I have found a few keepers!

For the most part, I have cut out most of the junk & fast food. I used to go in phases of picking up fast food for lunch everyday, but I cut that out. Luckily, I've never been a big soda drinker, so I don't have to worry about that. What I do have a problem with is coffee. Now coffee by itself isn't such a bad thing, it's what I put in it that makes it bad. I don't like the taste of coffee. I like coffee with sugary creamer. Yep, I have a sweet tooth. I've managed to cut back quite a bit on the amount of creamer I use in my coffee, but I still struggle with it. I've been sick all week, so I haven't wanted to drink any coffee. I've been drinking green tea with honey. I am hoping that since I went a week without coffee that I won't want any come Monday morning, but I know the odds of that are slim to none. I don't usually like the taste of tea, except for when I am sick.

How do you approach weight loss? Is it easier for you to cut out all the bad stuff in the begining and then slowly reintroduce those food groups later? I know we all have our own approach to weight loss & I am curious to hear them!

Comment Now!

GeminiWitch83 Amanda

05/08/2015 9:44AM

It sounds like you have a really great approach to your lifestyle changes you've made. You are doing what is realistic for you in your current life and it's working for you. Great job!!! The journey is different for everybody. The key is to find what works for you personally, and it sounds like you've done that.

Brit likes this comment.

Thanks! !

You're welcome!

Have you tried replacing your creamer with whole milk? That's how I eventually became able to drink my coffee black! So first you start off with basically half milk and half coffee and gradually start decreasing the amount of milk you put in. I love black coffee now! I obviously put in milk from time to time (I love almond milk) but drinking it black is no longer a problem.

Brit

Yeah, I've been trying to switching to milk instead of crram, but I still find that I prefer the cream. Sometimes I'll do a cup with milk and another cup later with cream, but it's still a struggle to reach for the milk instead. Lol. It's a work in progress.

Cali

04/26/2015 11:40AM

Brit! Here's something to bake that you will love and be able to eat instead of regular cake: (When I bake this, I have 4 squares for breakfast - under 200 cals!)Carrot Cake Protein BarsCalories: 94Fats: 1.25 gramsCarbs: 10 gramsProtein: 10 gramsIngredients:• 1 cup oat flour• 2 scoops vanilla whey protein• 2 tsp cinnamon• 1/2 tsp baking soda• 1/4 tsp salt• 1/8 tsp allspice• 1/8 tsp nutmeg• 4 egg whites• 3/4 cup Splenda, Truvia, or Ideal• 8 oz baby food carrots• 4 oz waterDirections:1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.2. Mix flour, whey protein, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, baking soda and salt together in abowl.3. Mix egg whites, Splenda, Truvia, or Ideal, baby food carrots and water (optional) in abowl.4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix together.5. Spray glass pyrex dish with non-stick butter spray.6. Pour ingredients into dish.7. Bake 20-30 minutes.Makes 16 squares, 2 squares per serving.

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Brit

Thank you so much! That sounds relish! I will definitely be making those soon!

Brit

delish** lol

Drew R

04/26/2015 9:24AM

I agree with Cali too that daily exercise is the only other major factor. Stay on your feet and portion control will allow you to maintain and enjoy forever. Hope you always continue to grow and improve and find ways to live and enjoy a healthy life! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

M C., Leah and Brit like this comment.

Drew R

04/26/2015 9:22AM

I think you are on a great path! I love to cook as well. 150 cals of creamer a day doesn't necessarily need to be thrown out the window either. Be flexible. If you love it keep it and lose the 150 somewhere else. The wife and I joke about being "food snobs" and love eating quality healthy foods but we also love quality high calorie foods too. We love Masterchef, Hells Kitchen, and she really loves Pioneer woman. I collect sciencey cook books too! Like fine dining it's ok to eat quality high cal stuff you just have to portion control and enjoy the quality not the quantity. Avoiding the massive feed 10 people pasta dishes and the like is really what we try to avoid. So don't feel you can't cook and enjoy anything you want. Preparing your own food is winning half the battle anyway. Mind you baking daily is probably a bad idea but giving away most of it to work or friends works for us when she has the itch to make scones or whatever.

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Brit

Lol. You sound like me. Everyone calls me the food snob based on the quality of foods and recipes I like. I cook almost everything I make, so I do not eat or buy anything that comes from a box. I love watching all the shows you mentioned too. If by the sciencey cookbooks, you mean America's Test Kitchen, I love those too since they explain the science behind the instructions. That's a good idea though to maybe cut the recipe in half so we are not stuck with too many leftovers of the unhealthier recipes. I haven't been baking lately because I haven't really found a way to fit in baking with losing weight yet. I bake maybe once a month now and try to eat one and give the rest away or freeze the leftover treats. Freezing sweets has turned out to be a lifesaver for me. Out of sight, out of mind! Also, I agree that exercise is a huge part of it too. I like to change up my exercise program every month or so, as I get bored easily. Hope you have a great rest of the weekend too!

Drew R

Yep we are similar. Instead of halving, just Tupperware immediately before you sit to eat for the large quantity type dishes then you can't have seconds and work lunches are already ready for a day or two! Leaving stuff out its too easy to rationalize another helping. Keep up the good work and I'm sure a lot of people will love your post. Off to the gym, take care.

Cali

04/26/2015 8:51AM

I'm with you on your approach, too, Brit, although once in a while something triggers a binge. Might be my inner foodie panicking, but I've managed to stop after one day instead of the usual month(s) that lead to huge weight gains. Dietbets have kept me accountable and given me goals so I can learn new habits, like adding more veggies and fruit to my diet and counting calories on MFP. Realizing that I make more progress when I add exercise to the mix has been a huge step forward, too. I'm still learning how to manage my weight. I've heard it's 80% nutrition, so coming up with recipes for a new lifestyle is very important to me. Maybe we should start a DB Cookbook. I've gotten some great ideas here! Great blog, Brit. :)

Leah and Brit like this comment.

Brit

Yes, a DB Cookbook would be a great idea! I wonder how we would do that?

Leah

Yes i love the cookbook idea!!

Leah

04/26/2015 7:05AM

I agree 100% with ur approach. Its really similar to mine actually. I aim for 1200cals-1400cals a day. There are no "off limit" foods to my weight loss... to say ill never have a piece of cheese cake again in my life would make my inner fat girl panic and she wud fight her way out and stay for a week or a month lol... but u have to learn when u have them to have a small portion to taste it and to satisfy you. Im not much of a coffee drinker so i cant really add much to that discussion. Im more of a tea and diet pop (i know terrible lol) drinker... i figure ill focus on that when i get to goal weight. One bad habit at a time.. if u take on too much at once it can get too overwhelming. And side note...I just hit my winning weight for Teresa's diet bet this morning! Good luck to u Brit! I'm in your corner rooting for ya!

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Brit

Congrats on your winning weight for your Diet Bet! That is great!! I know what you mean about cheesecake. You just have to have it every now and then. Lol. You are right though, if we focus on every bad habit, that would be very overwhelming. Glad to see what you are doing is working for you. I am rooting for you too Leah. Let's keep up the good work!

Cali

Cheesecake... my kryptonite!