I just can't seem to get going on losing weight. I have a good 60 lbs to lose and I am now over 50. Time is running out. I get stalled every time I read about another type of diet plan I start to modify my plan then I toss in the towel. Atkins,... SOuth Beach, ...Lindora....The Zone....Weight Watchers...My head is spinning.
Aggggggghhhhhh. Whats to think about ???!!!
I just need to get started and do it.

Spice Girl,
Seems like you are getting a better understaning of what works for you as well as what is getting to you. When I was working full time (not 12 hours per day) I had a rough time keeping on course. I always find that fatigue is tough for me. I want to eat carbs for energy. It never works, but I still go there at times. Old habits and comforts die hard for me. I am working toward finding ways to comfort myself when I am tired- no food involved.

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The Eating Thin Episode I could relate most to was the doctor who had crazy long hours and ate the same stuff every day and was really tired.
Lots to think about....

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I often think of that episode when I'm tempted to get fast food and I remember that it is often faster to make it at home.

We all have to do a lot of experimenting, and introspection and figure out what ISN'T working in order to figure out what WILL work. Hang in there... I can "hear" you figuring it out in your posts!

Thanks for all of the responses.
I am so tired of losing the same 20 lbs over and over again.

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approximately a month ago i had one of those ah ha! moments. i decided to eat the way i did when i was thin
Chick I have been thinking in a similar vein.
The time in my life that was most sane eating wise was when I was in high school.

I wonder what would happen if I tried to mimic that eating style?

I find work is such a challenge. I have a stressful job and I work 12 hour shifts with short breaks so I totally wolf down my food quickly because I never know if I will be called out of my break or if or when I will get another.
It is so tempting to fuel up on what ever junk is laying out on the breakroom table because frankly I often feel too tired to open and heat up the lunch I have brought in.
I can usually avoid the junk but give in about once every several weeks.
(LoL am I whining?)

I notice I eat really fast when I am at home now too. I am going to work on that as well.
I also have learned that cutting out on the "white stuff" is the thing that gets my weight moving downward.
The Eating Thin Episode I could relate most to was the doctor who had crazy long hours and ate the same stuff every day and was really tired.
Lots to think about....

thanks RobinBeBe and GoingSkiing,
i had picked up some really bad habits over the last few years, one being eating out a lot and as you know the portion sizes served in resturaunts these days are enormous, much more than we need. the more i ate, the bigger my appetite got and that translated to sweets and junk food too! i have to add that there is great advice on this website that has also helped and the FitDay website (i think GoingSkiing had suggested to me) has been a great help.

Chick

You are so right!! I find that my thin friends pretty much eat what they want. I think the key is that they don't gorge, their minds are not always on food (I know many that skip meals and don't even realize they have!! ) and, as you said, they eat to satisfy their hunger. They don't eat out as much, they eat at home about 90% of the time. They are the ones who will eat one half of a muffin at the office, while I could easily put down 2 or 3!! There is a lot to learn from our thin friends

I am going to read my book that I have again, called Thin Within, by Anne Fletcher. She interviews a lot of folks who have lost weight and kept it off for years. Lots of great ideas!

Robin

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Originally posted by chick:
approximately a month ago i had one of those ah ha! moments. i decided to eat the way i did when i was thin. one month later i am down 13 pounds.

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Hey Chick! That is awesome news!! Congrats!

I've realized that most of my "naturally" thin women friends eat the way I do now... they eat breakfast at home. They don't eat a lot of fast food and cook at home. They know when they are full... and don't have seconds and thirds just because the food is cooked. They eat fruits and vegs. They don't eat a pint of ice cream at a time. They don't indulge their weakness everyday (I like doughnuts, too. ). They get some exercise...

I don't know any females who can eat all they want and not gain wait.

Actually, my friends kind of reflect the national average... half are over weight and half are not.

My guy friends are either young and don't have metabolism issues yet. Or are older and battling the bulge.

i have tried south beach and gained weight on it, i've also tried weight watchers with little success, michael thurmond's diet (way too restrictive.

approximately a month ago i had one of those ah ha! moments. i decided to eat the way i did when i was thin. one month later i am down 13 pounds. you'd think it makes perfect sense but i know it is so hard to stay away from all the popular diets out there when you hear about all of the weight loss people have on them. basically i do now as others on the boards have suggested, i watch what i eat, i watch my portion sizes and i stay away from the bad stuff (doughnuts and cakey things are my weakness)

YOU CAN DO IT!

I have been there, done that!! I currently am in a similar situation, having lost 30 lbs, and finding that the scale does not want to move!! So, for a while I am going to step back, and just try to cut the bad foods out of my diet, and eat the good foods, and not try to stress over the holidays.

Robin

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Originally posted by spice girl:
I get stalled every time I read about another type of diet plan

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My advice would be "Throw out the 'diets' and bring on the lifestyle change." A "diet" is never going to work long-term...it's a Band-Aid...a temporary fix. The only way for lasting weight loss and maintenance is to change the way you eat and move...forever.

I understand that you want it NOW...most of us would love that if it could be done safely. The truth is, it probably won't be easy OR fast, but it can be done. I'm over 50 as well (just turned 52), and I've lost 35 pounds. It's come off VERY slowly and I am frustrated a LOT, but my health has improved and that was my #1 goal.

Think about the reasons why you want to lose weight (health, cholesterol, diabetes, etc.)...and ask yourself how much it means to you. For me, focusing on my health helped me take the emphasis off of pounds lost and put the emphasis on positive changes in my body and my health (lower cholesterol, less blood pressure medication, better bone scan, etc.).

We're happy to give as much help as you want or need. Just ask. Good luck. I know it's confusing and frustrating.

I like am really fond of the 11/29/03 essay at The Skinny Daily Post (type "clicked" in the search box - it is the essay titled, "Take a Load Off")

She writes:

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Ask 100 successful losers how they finally lost weight for good, and you’ll often hear something like this, “I don’t know, something just clicked.”

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I think that every person needs to hear that "click" before they can lose weight for good.

I know at one point, I heard the "click" and I just didn't CARE what the newest, hottest diet book out there was... I just wanted to be healthier and thinner and I didn't want to overeat and I didn't want to be deprived. I didn't want to eat every meal from one food group and I didn't want to elliminate any food groups. I wanted balance.

Have you had an "a-ha!" moment? Or an "I GOTTA change moment?" or "THIS is the year"? Have you heard the click?

Once your brain goes click... you won't care about the hottest fad diet...

Don't be side tracked by the fad diets. Just gradually cut down on your portion sizes and your fat intake. Start exercising more and the combination of the two things will start the scale moving in the right direction!

Hang in there. The first step is always the hardest.