Thanks Helen. This is all 100% true (as someone who has qualifications in nutrition and who has struggled with weight all my life- the ol’ Journey of the Wounded Healer archetype!). In WEIRD countries where our eating-activity systems are soooooo far removed from the “natural state”, we’ve basically got to experiment on ourselves until we figure it out.
Meanwhile, that’s about the only valid advice: go and figure it out! And only make comments if they are asked of you.
What a very thoughtful and inspiring piece about both putting on weight and taking it off. You are so right about three healthy meals a day and more exercise. And also the effects of living drug induced ravenous hunger- and other kinds- which so many people don’t understand. Wishing you everything good for the next year.
I love the tone of this. I think this sane and honest approach to weight can be applied to other areas of life. It is so tough to change things that have become habitual. My takeaway is the enjoyment aspect - if you don't enjoy your new routine, it is very hard to sustain it.
A very inspiring story Helen. I'm sorry to ready about the complex & chronic health challenges you've faced, which makes yours an even more heroic journey. The key take-away for me is "It seems clear that no single method of sustainably burning more calories than one consumes until one is a healthy weight and then sustaining a balance will work for everyone....Both food and exercise have to be enjoyable for any healthy lifestyle to be sustainable for the rest of an individual’s life, and I am bewildered that this seems not to be obvious to so many people."
Without wishing to sound patronizing, I think it's very brave of you to share so openly about your journey and struggles with your weight. It's not something I've ever had to contend with myself, but some of what you said will give me pause for thought the next time I find myself being privately judgemental towards an overweight person.
Keto is nasty imo. I ordered these Keto meal boxes - not over priced. They were awful - I won’t say the company’s name. Faddish stuff about food is awful - mainly happiness will get you to your ideal weight. I heard on the radio today BMI is a ‘blunt instrument’. That’s putting it kindly - the weapon of choice for b*tches would be slightly more accurate!
You are doing the hardest thing in the world when losing weight because it goes against our
biological needs (and emotional ones too). I congratulate you on making the choice to lose weight. The same solution doesnt work for everyone because it depends on age, metabolism and mental state. The older you are, the harder it is because your metabolism works differently. I fervently hope you can stay the course. I once had to lose some weight, only about thirty or forty pounds. It was TOUGH. Passing a bread or pizza store and smelling the
smells was torture. But I stuck to a diet that essentially eliminated all carbs; it allowed one
potato and one serving of rice per week. I learned how to make soups that had meat and vegetables. No desserts. It is a hospital based diet. I suffered!!! But I lost the weight!!! It took a while but I got back to my more or less normal weight. No great philosophy was needed:
eliminate essentially all carbs! Your body craves carbs because that's what gives you energy!
You cant stop this craving. So fill up with all the other stuff. And dont think about food!
You deserve a lot of credit for making this choice. I really admire your for it. Keep it up!
For most of us, we slowly gain weight as we age because our metabolism slows down and we don't cut back our intake to match lower caloric needs. I am pondering if our metabolism slows down because we lose muscle mass.
It's a chicken and egg question, but I do think that doing things to increase muscle mass is a good strategy. I'm really enjoying BodyPump classes, which is basically a group exercise class where you lift weights to pounding music. I've still got a ways to go - some day I hope to be able to do a proper pushup (from plank position to the ground and back, no cheating) - but I can already feel the difference. My weight is pretty much the same, but my pants are looser, so I'll take it.
Well done, I'm glad you're feeling better. I think for most of us who have struggled, we're all an N=1 experiment. I don't care what other people do if they are achieving their goals and are happy while they're doing it. For me, after trying many other ways, it took going close to zero carb. At 60 I'm eating a fair bit more than you and losing at about the same rate; the best thing has been that I am never hungry (which I think is key to success, as Jason Fung says, "hunger always wins") and don't think about food much any more, and since it's "working" there's no more of that judgmental inner self-talk anymore when I look in the mirror. Speaking of looking in the mirror, hair which has been white for ten years is growing in brown! I don't really care about it, the white was fine, but it's interesting. Anyway, you are feeling better and resolving some serious issues, and that's what matters.
You’re a gem.
Thanks Helen. This is all 100% true (as someone who has qualifications in nutrition and who has struggled with weight all my life- the ol’ Journey of the Wounded Healer archetype!). In WEIRD countries where our eating-activity systems are soooooo far removed from the “natural state”, we’ve basically got to experiment on ourselves until we figure it out.
Meanwhile, that’s about the only valid advice: go and figure it out! And only make comments if they are asked of you.
Sending hugs 🤗
What a very thoughtful and inspiring piece about both putting on weight and taking it off. You are so right about three healthy meals a day and more exercise. And also the effects of living drug induced ravenous hunger- and other kinds- which so many people don’t understand. Wishing you everything good for the next year.
I love the tone of this. I think this sane and honest approach to weight can be applied to other areas of life. It is so tough to change things that have become habitual. My takeaway is the enjoyment aspect - if you don't enjoy your new routine, it is very hard to sustain it.
A very inspiring story Helen. I'm sorry to ready about the complex & chronic health challenges you've faced, which makes yours an even more heroic journey. The key take-away for me is "It seems clear that no single method of sustainably burning more calories than one consumes until one is a healthy weight and then sustaining a balance will work for everyone....Both food and exercise have to be enjoyable for any healthy lifestyle to be sustainable for the rest of an individual’s life, and I am bewildered that this seems not to be obvious to so many people."
Well done Helen!! 💪
Everything you said is so true. Three meals a day and exercise is the correct way to go. You are strong and have given me inspiration. Thank you 🥰
Without wishing to sound patronizing, I think it's very brave of you to share so openly about your journey and struggles with your weight. It's not something I've ever had to contend with myself, but some of what you said will give me pause for thought the next time I find myself being privately judgemental towards an overweight person.
Best of luck with your continued journey! :)
38kg of weight loss in one year is truly a heroic effort, Helen. Well done!
Keto is nasty imo. I ordered these Keto meal boxes - not over priced. They were awful - I won’t say the company’s name. Faddish stuff about food is awful - mainly happiness will get you to your ideal weight. I heard on the radio today BMI is a ‘blunt instrument’. That’s putting it kindly - the weapon of choice for b*tches would be slightly more accurate!
Well done and doing Helen. Best wishes for your continuing recovery.
You are doing the hardest thing in the world when losing weight because it goes against our
biological needs (and emotional ones too). I congratulate you on making the choice to lose weight. The same solution doesnt work for everyone because it depends on age, metabolism and mental state. The older you are, the harder it is because your metabolism works differently. I fervently hope you can stay the course. I once had to lose some weight, only about thirty or forty pounds. It was TOUGH. Passing a bread or pizza store and smelling the
smells was torture. But I stuck to a diet that essentially eliminated all carbs; it allowed one
potato and one serving of rice per week. I learned how to make soups that had meat and vegetables. No desserts. It is a hospital based diet. I suffered!!! But I lost the weight!!! It took a while but I got back to my more or less normal weight. No great philosophy was needed:
eliminate essentially all carbs! Your body craves carbs because that's what gives you energy!
You cant stop this craving. So fill up with all the other stuff. And dont think about food!
You deserve a lot of credit for making this choice. I really admire your for it. Keep it up!
For most of us, we slowly gain weight as we age because our metabolism slows down and we don't cut back our intake to match lower caloric needs. I am pondering if our metabolism slows down because we lose muscle mass.
It's a chicken and egg question, but I do think that doing things to increase muscle mass is a good strategy. I'm really enjoying BodyPump classes, which is basically a group exercise class where you lift weights to pounding music. I've still got a ways to go - some day I hope to be able to do a proper pushup (from plank position to the ground and back, no cheating) - but I can already feel the difference. My weight is pretty much the same, but my pants are looser, so I'll take it.
Well done, I'm glad you're feeling better. I think for most of us who have struggled, we're all an N=1 experiment. I don't care what other people do if they are achieving their goals and are happy while they're doing it. For me, after trying many other ways, it took going close to zero carb. At 60 I'm eating a fair bit more than you and losing at about the same rate; the best thing has been that I am never hungry (which I think is key to success, as Jason Fung says, "hunger always wins") and don't think about food much any more, and since it's "working" there's no more of that judgmental inner self-talk anymore when I look in the mirror. Speaking of looking in the mirror, hair which has been white for ten years is growing in brown! I don't really care about it, the white was fine, but it's interesting. Anyway, you are feeling better and resolving some serious issues, and that's what matters.
F the haters. Bravo on your achievement.
I am happy for you that you found something that works for you. Being healthy is the best way to love ourselves.