In her book Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir, Jennette Fulda makes a point to not tell us what diet she followed as she lost two hundred pounds. The reason? Simple. At the time, soylent green was still illegal.
Actually, the real reason is she didn’t want people to fixate on the diet, which is brilliant. Thank you, Jennette.
All too often, we seem to willfully ignore our higher order brain functions and still believe some magic pill exists that will do all the work for us. Had her book been titled, “How Dr. Billy Fatson’s Miracle Potato and Passion Fruit Diet Made Me Skinny,” how many people do you think would have actually read the book? Very few, I bet. In fact, most of us would have simply used the book to knock out all the other equally desperate people in our way in the produce department.
So if the Potato and Passion Fruit diet isn’t the best one, which one is? Well, according to an article I came across last month the answer is: it don’t matter. To quote:
“We have a really simple and practical message for people – it’s not so much the type of diet you eat,” says Sacks. “It’s how much you put in your mouth.”
And if that doesn’t splain it all, there’s one more:
As for the secret to losing weight? There is none. “It’s basic physiology,” Loria says. “Eat fewer calories than you expend.”
Imagine that! I had no idea! The gist of the story is that over 800 participants were put on several different diets and their progress was tracked. They all lost about the same amount of weight, at the same rate, and kept about the same amount off for the same amount of time. They all got hungry the same and they all fell off the wagon the same.
You can take this information and apply it to your life in one of two ways: 1) throw your hands in the air, sigh loudly, roll your eyes, and give up; or 2) just go straight to “give up.”
Or, do what I do: realize that what’s happening to you isn’t some sort of unique occurrence. It isn’t your lack of willpower or your emotions. Oh, it’s fun to blame things like that. But whatever trouble you’re experiencing seems to be a common, human, physiological response.
You can take this information and apply it to your life in one of two ways: 1) surrender to fate and say, “Oh, there’s nothing I can do about it!” or 2) say, yes! there is something I can do about it. If you’re about to fall off the wagon, recognize what’s happening.
At that point one of two things will happen: 1) you’ll fall off the wagon anyway; or 2) you’ll turn this self-awareness to your advantage and resist. Don’t look at either one of these as success or failure because the very next time it might be just the opposite.
The key is to stay aware. Watch yourself and learn from yourself. You may just come out ahead. And if that doesn’t work, sign up for my free trial of Rachael Ray’s Miracle Acai Berry Diet, only $179.95 while supplies last.
on March 26, 2009 at 7:53 am
LOL!
I think I read the same thing in YOUR book, Charlie… it don’t matter!
on March 26, 2009 at 8:00 am
Your absolutely right – it doesn’t matter. If you stick with something, eat less, exercise more, you’ll get the results you are looking for!
on March 26, 2009 at 8:38 am
LOL!
I just Rachel Ray on TV yesterday – really ironic because it was while I was at the gym.
She was making some chicken recipe with chicken thighs. She said something along the lines of how chicken thighs were higher cal/fat but go ahead eat it anyway. That way we have to buy her diet I’m sure.
on March 26, 2009 at 10:31 am
Less in will make you lose weight? “This is a concept that needs extensive study and please don’t jump to conclusions”. Brought to you by Acai berry growers inc.
on March 26, 2009 at 3:07 pm
There’s a different type of conversation going on about this exact topic at Traineo. http://www.traineo.com/topics/7282?pg=1
I’ll paste here what I said:
I see the point that they are trying to make. They are just evaluating weight basically. Technically, you can lose weight eating cheesecake and lard. Like Brian said though, that doesn’t make you healthy.
Anyways, the point that I found interesting was this:
“Dieters who got regular counseling saw better results. Those who attended most meetings shed more pounds than those who did not.”
I think this is a very important thing to realize. You are much more likely to do well with the weight loss and healthy living if you have a group of people you can talk to about it, either in real life or online.
on March 26, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I always know I can come and read your posts when I want to a) laugh and b) nod along happily at the down-to-earth perspective you’ve got.
Really need to read Half-Assed! And it is ALL about the awareness 🙂
on March 27, 2009 at 5:41 pm
fab post thank you – so so true
I’ve come to realise I can be good at losing weight but I’ve got a history of being darn successful at gaining weight n’all. The thing I don’t control very well is how to switch from the one that’s bad for me to the one that’s good – I’ve come to realise this whole thang is about self awareness and little else. The rest all falls into place when you know what you’re doing and why so you’re the one in control.
on March 29, 2009 at 9:00 pm
But, but, resistance is futile, isn’t it?
Seriously, I need to learn to resist more. A little hunger here and there is not so bad.
on March 30, 2009 at 7:40 am
It’s a Zen kind of thing, mindful eating – one must be aware of what one is dining upon and do so with intent, without blame, and without guilt. I think swallowing all that guilt is what makes us fat. Guilt and doughnut glaze. Yeah.
Shade and Sweetwater,
K