Maintenance Weekly 24th April 2006 - The First Decision

[Mitra]

The first decision you need to make is not that you need to lose weight or lower your cholesterol or reduce your high blood pressure or any or all of these. Your first decision must be to make these changes a permanent part of your life. ... Assuming you've made that decision, you've got to realize and accept the fact that the responsibility for this change is yours and yours alone.

Protein Power

It's a nice idea, but most of us don't make that permanent commitment before we start. The ideas in Protein Power are so different from the mainstream low-fat story that many of us start out with the idea that we'll give it a try and see if it works, or even that we'll try it and prove it wrong.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not convinced I fully accepted this as a permanent way to eat until I reached maintenance. But then, I really couldn't put it off any longer. It took me about a year to get to where I wanted to be. At 43-ish, I'm hoping to stay there for several decades. Maybe another 43 years. But even having made my decision, it still helps me to reconfirm it from time to time - not in a major "renewal of the vow" sort of way, but just frequent small reinforcements.

A number of things helped me finally to make that "first decision."

the frightening statistic that 95% of people who succesfully lose weight regain it - I don't want to be one of them;
continuing to read books and articles reminding me of the health benefits of eating well;
feeling yucky if I don't eat well (tired, bloated, less clear eyesight);
finding a way to cook and eat that satisfies meAt what point did you make the decision that this change was permanent? What are the things that support your decision?

[mcsblues]

I'd say I really believed it was permanent within weeks, or certainly 2 or 3 months - just through the health benefits alone (plus I could see it was working for weight loss as well). On top of that my reading had confirmed some of the science that I initially wondered about (I amazed myself being a pretty skeptical person in that I never had a 'head shaking' moment while reading PP - but there were quite a few things I wanted to check!).

But with respect, I think the Staying Power quote has it backwards - no one starts anything permanent or not, without a specific goal in mind - so clearly the goal comes first. And I guess while some people only intend to use a diet for quick weight loss, the vast majority would start out at least with the intention of making a permanent change - after that only time will tell if they succeed. Of course probably the number one advantage of low carb is that it gives you a much greater chance of making this way of eating a way of life.

[Missy]

I love this forum...it's so thought provoking!:D

I virtually "circled" around this PPLP woe for more then a year. (Year and a half actually)..as it was my new (to me) Dr's advise to follow it. I raced out, but up PP and PPLP...read through it, and although it certainly made sense...I wasn't "ready" emotionally.

We even had a speciality store in town that sold specificly only "low carb" food....(it ended up going out of business):rolleyes: with a very smart store owner willing to share information. I checked it out several times...but I was hesistant to begin. I was affraid to jump in, I was affraid of failure...and I was affraid to give up my comfort because I wasn't convienced. I was convienced that I could defy odds and NOT label myself as a "low carber" and therefore I'd be able to have "just a little"...but...bottom line is...just a little can get sooooo far out of hand quickly.

People as a rule just can't handle the thought of the aspect of low carb lifestyle...we are too bombarded...and we are addicts....there's no two ways about it. I was one of those head shakers....I was one of those people trying to apply "logic" to the thought that well "if you go back to eating regular carbs...you'll just gain it all back" mentality thinkers. (DUH the "now ME" can rationalise in thinking "no kidding stupid!" LOL :rolleyes: How do you think you GOT THERE TO BEGIN WITH!!!!!!!! :cool: lol

I was constantly trying to bargin with myself in how I could do this (and have success) without going to those DRASTIC measures!!!! Low carb...good heavens!!!!!! :eek:

You have to OVERRIDE EVERYTHING to begin. That is the stage I'm in. You have to be someone really committed and determined to ease over this bump that feels more like a moutain. You have to REROUTE the river if necessary. A sugar addict is what I am.

Starting a plan for me, if I don't find 'quick" success in losing (like I USED to find when I was younger) I grow frustrated REAL FAST. What I didn't know was that because of my past wrongs that as I age, it's harder for a bunch of reasons. BUT, what I've learned lately from the Mastering Leptin book and the Eades's plan is that it can be overcome. And now I know how!

Weight loss is been MY determining factor. Quite frankly, at 370lbs it oughta be. :rolleyes: However, since belonging to this board, bracing myself for the change, learning that it's not entirely JUST about weight, informing myself more. I can't go wrong. To be honest with you....even though there are a whole host of benefits of following this woe...weightloss will remain "top" of my list...I'm not yet anywhere NEAR being a comfortable "fat" woman, lol....so the ultimate reward for me right now I to see those numbers falling.

My poor little brain right now is in OVERDRIVE trying to take this all in...but I truely believe that I have it down now (I mean, well on my way). Knowledge is power. Rerouting the river seems an unimaginial task...but it's not. Sometimes it's ONE meal at a time, ONE more minute on the eliptical (I'm up to 6 mins :D), reading ONE more intelligent response from others on this board that going to carry me forward...and it's all worth it because THIS is the way.

Lynn

[ShayKNJ]

Two and a half years ago I made a promise to myself. First to stop smoking, then to lose the weight. I finally successed in quitting the smoking after smoking for 25+ years. Not only for my health but because my daughters were getting older and to try to teach them not to smoke because it is so bad for you. Why would it be okay if I did this then? Do as I say not as I do? I do not like that theory.

I then decided to lose the weight and did so. During the process I regulated my high blood pressure. I was being monitored for a year and had high blood pressure. I would have been put on medication if it wasn't for this WOL and exercise. During this WOL I am much happier and healthier and this is why I do not stray.

[Shadow]

I don't believe I ever consciously made the decision :p. Like what is probably most of us, I just thought I'd "try" it to begin with. But before I knew it, it simply became the way I ate - no pondering, no decisions. It just became my WOL :).

[realruth]

I decided to give it a 6 week trial after hvaing read the PP book...purist style cold turkey etc. I knew within weeks that this was going to be my WOE for life..... The health benefits have been tremendous and the weight loss was a side benefit ( not that anyone likes being fat) that really has kept things ticking along for me.

[Mitra]

It's really interesting to read all your replies.

I don't think there was a single moment when I made the big decision. Like several of you, after a few weeks I felt so many things had improved that I could never go back, but over time you sometimes forget how bad it was before, or think that because you feel fine now, you always will. I never thought I could go back to my bread and pasta diet and thrive, but I read Weston Price's book, which describes many different diets that allowed the people who ate them to be healthy. They all had adequate protein, lots of vitamins and minerals, but there were huge variations in the carb levels. But even being careful about nutrition, taking the carbs too high has me feeling sleepy immediately after lunch and cranky and depressed before dinner. Maybe if you're born healthy and eat well all your life you can get your energy from either fat or carbs. I don't know, but it became clear to me that I can't. The carb level that works for me is somewhere around what the Eades suggest is likely for maintenance, and in line with what other low-carb authors recommend - around 60-70g per day.