Diet Day #1

cek8

Hello Fellow Knotties. Today marks day 1 of my diet. I know the first few days are the absolute worst =[ any tricks for adjusting?

JW28

I started my diet a month ago and I actually found that week 3 was the worst - that was when I started subbing in different foods but tried to keep the calorie count the same.

The main thing I've struggled with is making sure when I go get a snack that I'm really hungry, not just bored, so that was the biggest change for me. Well, and the making a conscious effort to eat more fruits and vegetables, which actually helped me feel fuller.

Also, if you feel like you want to eat but you're not supposed to according to whatever plan you have, drink more water - sometimes it's hard to distinguish between hunger and thirst.

What method are you using for your diet? Counting calories, following a specific plan (from a book, website, etc), or just winging it?

sarahlm619

stock up on yummy fruits and veggies that you enjoy and don't even have the candy/cookies/etc IN the house -- don't have time means you can't eat them!

cek8

Thanks for the suggestions ladies!! I am trying the Dukan diet. It is a low carb, high protein diet. So we will have to see how that goes. I do tend to eat when I am bored so this is going to be tough.

mbody

What kind of diet are you doing that you're having such a hard time adjusting to? What were your old eating habits?

anna.oskar

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_diet-day-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:d916fdb9-cf0c-4fb6-9904-1f4d0d6647b1Post:ac6c3ccb-fa54-4f77-956b-528f8d71fe85">Re: Diet Day #1</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks for the suggestions ladies!! I am trying the Dukan diet. It is a low carb, high protein diet. So we will have to see how that goes. I do tend to eat when I am bored so this is going to be tough.
Posted by cek8[/QUOTE]

Be careful with that diet.  I've heard some not too favorable things about safety and that some people have gotten ill or suffered from lethargy.

Typically, I'm wary of ANY diet that isn't a full lifestyle change and contains days where you are not allowed to eat fruit or vegetable.  I find it way too restrictive and think most people would just benefit from a well-balanced diet that includes a little from every food group.  Including some good fats.

cek8

Definitely! It does alternate between days without veggies and days with veggies. I will keep an eye on it though =]

aloisk57

Eat Fiber 1 when you're jonesin for a snack!  It's pretty good and 1/2 cup fills you up for 60 calories

J&K10910

So, you can only eat veggies every other day?  I don't even understand that.  Veggies are GOOD FOR YOU.  CARBS are good for you.  Seriously.

Tandra&Devin

I agree, be careful with restrictive diets.  Not only can the lifestyle change be hard, but you should never be told to avoid fruits and vegetables.  Fruits have a lot of carbs, but they're smart carbs and contain the kind of sugar your brain and body need to function properly.

JenniferKuhl1

just a word on the high protein, low carb diet...

I am about to graduate nursing school, so I have spent a lot of time the last two years studying health and nutrition.  And I can tell you, any restrictive diet isn't recommended for a long period of time - as soon as the diet is over, you will gain the weight.  As the others have said, the best way to lose weight is to control portions and eat a healthy balanced diet. 

But I know everyone will make their own decision - so here are some facts from a very reputable source, the Mayo Clinic:

"For most healthy people, a high-protein diet generally isn't harmful if followed for a short time, such as three to four months, and may help with weight loss. However, the risks of using a high-protein diet — usually with carbohydrate restriction — for the long term are still being studied. Several health problems may result if a high-protein diet is followed for an extended time:

• Some high-protein diets restrict carbohydrate intake so much that they can result in nutritional deficiencies or insufficient fiber, which can cause such health problems as constipation and diverticulitis, and may increase your risk for certain types of cancer.
• High-protein diets often promote foods such as red meat and full-fat dairy products. Some experts believe a diet rich in these foods can increase your risk of heart disease.
• A high-protein diet may cause or worsen liver or kidney problems because your body may already have trouble eliminating all the waste products of protein metabolism.

If you want to follow a high-protein diet, do so only as a short-term weight-loss aid. Also, choose your protein wisely. Good choices include fish, skinless chicken, lean beef, pork and low-fat dairy products. Choose carbs that are high in fiber, such as whole grains and nutrient-dense vegetables and fruit. And if you have kidney disease, liver disease or diabetes, if you're taking medication for a chronic health condition, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before starting a high-protein diet."