Maria's Last Diet

For a Dieting Alternative, Hear This

by Maria's Last Diet

Some psychologist researchers in the field of weight loss have proposed an alternative to dieting, and it's this: eliminating overeating. 

The researchers found that on many diets people actually under-eat. That is, people restrict their eating to fewer calories than they really need. Such restricted dieting often makes it too difficult to stick with the diet. And, in fact, one consequence of such restrictive dieting practices is overeating itself.

Perhaps you'd like to add something to your next healthy (not restrictive) diet. Why don't you diet right and add ways to reduce your overeating at the same time. 

Some Weight Loss Help for the Feelings of Loss Dieting Causes You

by Maria's Last Diet

No one wants to lose something close to them.

So what are you in danger of losing when you start dieting - besides the weight?

There is something you will surely lose if you are successful with your dieting and successful in maintaining the weight you lose. What you will lose is living life in the way you have been used to.

Leaving behind your problematic eating, and your state of being overweight will, besides bringing you joy, probably cause you some discomfort. It's human nature. This is why self-change is not so easy.

Changing anything important about yourself can alter your sense of security because you are "losing" your old ways, part of your old self, and you become uncomfortable. But...change is very definitely possible despite the discomfort and despite the loss you feel. People get through this in order to change themselves for the better.

You can change yourself too in matters as significant to you as overeating and losing weight. Remember, though, to be aware of the likely discomfort you will experience along with changing. The discomfort may come in the form of anxious thoughts and feelings, or in the form of conflicting thoughts and feelings, or in moodiness, etc.

If you feel that you can't face your discomfort alone, it's understandable. There are support groups, counselors, and therapists who are very knowledgeable about these matters. You can always get help if and when you need it.

Is Your Dieting Motivation all Wrong

by Maria's Last Diet

Here's what Cassie told us:

In my opinion, I'm hooked on diets. Totally devoted. Obsessed, even.

I am either on a diet about to go on a diet, obsessing that I should go on a diet, or feeling terrible because I just failed on another diet.

Everyone I know is on South Beach, or some other form of low carb. If I'm not on a diet, or planning to do it, I'm an outcast.

I have 20 lbs to lose, and they are very visible, since I'm only 5'3". But this addiction to dieting is a merry-go-round! I want to get off, but I also want to lose the 20.

There must be a way to diet successfully, and stop obsessing about it.

For Weight Loss Help, Think Just the Opposite

by Maria's Last Diet

Do you feel that if only you could lose weight your life would change dramatically? The underlying concept lodged in your mind might be that being thinner would fix everything.

The truth is, it works in just the opposite way. You begin fixing things in your life, the things that send you flying to food - habits, feelings, thoughts, attitudes, life - and then you can lose the weight and maintain your weight loss. Only then.

Less Weight Loss Motivation, More Weight, from Feeling Deprived

by Maria's Last Diet

Dear Maria...

Continuous dieting has been a cycle of destruction and upheaval for me. It's like a roller coaster, up and down. I got to the point where I am now, which is that I can't take it anymore.

So I've quit trying to lose weight. But the point is - when I quit (about a month ago), I started to lose weight. It's like the miracle I've been waiting for.

It reminds me of the saying from Alcoholic Anonymous - Let go and let God. It's like I stopped trying to control my eating, and then came the miracle. My eating slowed down.

I'm not exactly sure what happened, but one thing I said to myself when I got so fed up with trying to diet was that I had this big problem. And what's more, it had gotten worse. The problem was, each time I went on a diet and tried to reign in my eating impulses, I had an equal and opposite reaction, which was to then eat a lot to make up for what I deprived myself of.

I answered this problem by taking away the diet completely, and that got rid of the stuffing reaction.

It's not the whole answer, but it's so interesting to me. I just lost 13 lbs by NOT TRYING to do it. I hope this continues - it makes so much sense!

"Aren't Sure" Weight Loss Help

by Maria's Last Diet

If you don't believe that your life will be a lot better if you lose weight, then you probably won't be able to do it.

Why?

Because you'll be hanging onto what you'll be doing without. That's a hard road to take. Think of it like this: You are trying to go down the weight loss track, but you are dragging along with you the feeling that your life is too diminished by cutting down on your eating. That is an extra burden to carry. It will slow you down, and it will probably cut your weight loss journey short.

So, a warning: Before you start, see what you can do to emphasize the pro's of changing your eating and losing weight.

An exercise we often recommend along these lines is to make a "pro's" and "cons" chart. List all the good things you foresee in your life as a result of losing weight in the pro's column. List all the negatives you anticipate about losing weight in the "cons" column. This should really point up any ambivalence you may have.

You'll need to find a way to deal with the cons, and really look toward pro's. If you work on this as preparation for losing weight, you'll find your weight loss road will be much less of an uphill climb.