Lessons learned: Moderation not Denial
I thought I would share some of the lessons that I have learned in my weight loss and fitness journey. I’ve lost over 100 pounds now so I guess I must have learned one or two things.
The first major lesson I learnt that I would like to share is that is that a life without chocolate cake is a life not worth living.
In the past I would go on diets etc. where you had to be perfect with your eating and never have anything that was not allowed.
I don’t know about you folks but for me as soon as a food is forbidden then it becomes very desirable and I become miserable when I can’t have it.
For example, I followed a plan where you ate very strictly for 6 days a week and then had a cheat day where you could eat what you like. Oh boy, I lived for that cheat day and I fantasised about it all week long. Then on the cheat day I would eat like there was no tomorrow. That doesn’t work. It doesn’t promote healthy habits that you can keep up in the long term. Did I lose weight? Yes. Was I healthier. No. What eventually happened was that one of the cheat days never ended and I ate nonstop for about two months resulting in a regain of most of the weight I lost.
So now I don’t follow a diet. I have a healthy lifestyle where I eat mainly fresh fruit and vegetables with the odd piece of chocolate cake thrown in. The key for me is moderation. I have one piece of cake rather than the whole cake (I kid you not) and I factor that into how much I’ve eaten for the day. So if I do have a piece of cake then I run a bit more or I have a smaller dinner.
The amazing thing for me now is that it took me so long to realise that moderation is the key to healthy eating.
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June 19th, 2008 10:27
I utterly agree. Moderation is the key. Very good advice.
j
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June 19th, 2008 11:00
Andrew, first off, Congratulations on your weight loss thus far! It is truly a great accomplishment. Moderation is definitely key. In my experience, depriving myself leads to failure.
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June 19th, 2008 12:56
Great post! You are so very right that moderation is the key, I’ve always followed WW and that is one thing I like about it, it teaches you the moderation aspect of things. It’s ok to eat the ice cream I used to love to eat, but just eat a half cup, or a cup…not half the carton, lol.
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June 19th, 2008 13:06
Don’t forget the strawberry cake! It’s important, too! And curly fries.
Well said, Andrew! I agree with every word of this post (except the cake schism). For some of us, diets just don’t work. I never thought I would be one of the non-dieters, but focusing on healthier foods (mostly) in moderate amounts (always) has worked wonders.
Twitter: tippytoediet
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AndrewE
reply on June 19th, 2008 7:32 pm:
I forgot about curly fries.
Twitter: AndrewENZ
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June 19th, 2008 13:17
I did that 6-days-strict-1-cheat-day thing too. While I always have been an overeater, I credit that diet with pushing me over the edge into disordered eating. I have never truly binged before then but I do now and it is a horrible thing to try to stop. Now I am trying to avoid any sort of “diet” mentality. I guess I am trying to eat intuitively.
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AndrewE
reply on June 19th, 2008 7:32 pm:
Yep, that was a bit of a disaster for me too.
Twitter: AndrewENZ
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June 19th, 2008 13:20
Yep, right on Andrew. I was talking with a colleague just yesterday who is on a weight watchers diet and we agreed that we do not want to eat lettuce for the rest of our lives. So the diet has to be real and do-able. Sure there can be times when we cut back to deal with a splurge but I want to live life and eat well – not be worried aboiut what goes into my mouth at every sitting.
And “A life without chocolate cake is a life not worth living” should be indelibly imprinted into everyone’s mind at birth!!
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AndrewE
reply on June 19th, 2008 7:33 pm:
Thanks Bill.
Twitter: AndrewENZ
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June 19th, 2008 14:16
I would go a step further and say its not necessary to “run a bit more or I have a smaller dinner.” That might equate in some people’s minds as “punishing themselves” for having that cake.
Otherwise, I agree!
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AndrewE
reply on June 19th, 2008 3:32 pm:
But I like running!
I see where you are coming from and it’s a good point. It’s not about punishment it’s about balance.
I can either choose to slow down the weight loss a bit and not do anything – which I sometimes choose or I can choose to indulge and take immediate action to keep things on track.
Twitter: AndrewENZ
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June 19th, 2008 16:12
Hey there Andrew – As you might imagine, I could not agree more, with “real food in moderation” being the theme of my blog and all.
Great post, and beautiful photo!
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AndrewE
reply on June 19th, 2008 7:33 pm:
Err…the photo is not mine and the link doesn’t seem to be working. I’ll try and fix it.
Twitter: AndrewENZ
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June 19th, 2008 16:20
“But I like running!
”
Stop being so selfish, it’s not all about you. Some people *actually* don’t like running!
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AndrewE
reply on June 19th, 2008 7:26 pm:
Surely not!
Twitter: AndrewENZ
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June 19th, 2008 18:22
Great entry and can so relate to what you said……
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June 19th, 2008 21:40
Too true!
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June 19th, 2008 22:21
it is the key…in this and ALL FACETS OF LIFE.
yet I take to heart your comment yesterday about ditching the diet sodas.
even one a day.
sometimes we need to cut something out entirely huh?
M.
MizFits last blog post..Guest Chef Time.
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AndrewE
reply on June 20th, 2008 7:51 am:
Aah yes. I have certain “trigger” foods which I try to avoid entirely as I’ve realised that for me they are just not worth it. Sodas (diet or otherwise) just don’t work well with my physiology. And I can’t do peanuts in moderation so I’ve pretty much banned them from my house.
AndrewEs last blog post..Lessons learned: Moderation not Denial
Twitter: AndrewENZ
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June 22nd, 2008 05:09
I fully agree with your post. I’ve completely thrown away the cheat days myself because i didn’t like being restricted to eating something I enjoyed only once a week. Now, I’m all about moderation and just having a slice of cake when I really need it.
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June 23rd, 2008 01:47
[...] is Getting Fit presents Lessons learned: Moderation not Denial. I have posted on this subject as well, but it’s always good to read another [...]
June 27th, 2008 15:17
Wise words indeed. It just goes to prove that sometimes you have to live it to know it.
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July 4th, 2008 06:37
Great advice, Andrew.
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April 24th, 2009 07:51
[...] is Getting Fit presents Lessons learned: Moderation not Denial. I have posted on this subject as well, but it’s always good to read another [...]
August 23rd, 2009 21:13
[...] is Getting Fit presents Lessons learned: Moderation not Denial. I have posted on this subject as well, but it’s always good to read another [...]
January 3rd, 2010 03:01
[...] is Getting Fit presents Lessons learned: Moderation not Denial. I have posted on this subject as well, but it’s always good to read another [...]