The Secret to Weight Loss
OK, I won’t keep you in suspense any longer, here’s the secret:
We are blessed with a wonderful salad bar, with decent mixed greens and all kinds of accompaniments. My favorites are olives, mushrooms, celery, and cucumbers. But there’s lots of other stuff, too, like broccoli (ugh!) and beets (ugh again) for people who like that kind of stuff. And a wide choice of dressings.
So here’s the secret. It’s an issue of attitude. I started thinking of salad as the main course, and small portions of anything else as side dishes. And I eat the salad first.
That’s the big tip, right there. The salad is the main course.
Smaller Tips
I didn’t cut out desserts. It doesn’t help to feel deprived. But I only have the ones that are especially appealing, maybe one a week. And I take a very small portion, which usually satisfies me. And after a desertless meal, I often eat one square of very dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is an exception to the rule that anything you like is bad for you. It’s one of the few things where I can eat just one and be satisfied. Of course, I don’t really eat it. I let it dissolve in my mouth, so it lasts a long time.
I cut down on alcohol. And I switched from Scotch to red wine. I thought it had fewer calories, but researched it just now, for your edification, and it’s actually about the same.
I changed my exercise routine to include high intensity training. This is supposed to be more effective while taking a less time. I love saving time.
I’m drinking lots of glasses of ice water.
I don’t know if any of these smaller tips have made any difference, but the overall program is working, so I’m sticking to it.
The Other Big Secret
The other secret is that it’s not really so much about losing weight. That’s the easy part. It’s about keeping it off after it’s lost. That means I’ll need to stick with this program forever. It’s a program, not a diet. Have I mentioned that diets do not work?
And the secret within this secret is that I enjoy the program. I do not feel deprived or burdened or unsatisfied. I enjoy the food and the exercise. And as I’ve noticed before, once I’ve lost weight, I rarely feel hungry.
doug
Note O the Day:
Michael is still in ICU but much better. Off the ventilator. Needs lung treatments. Hoping to go home next Wednesday. Thank you for your prayers and kind thoughts.
Joke O the Day (especially for Scott): (this may be a repeat?)
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Control freak. Now you say, “Control freak who?”
Strategy
Did I mention that with my ADD ADHD I don’t have much willpower?
So I’m using the strategy of “locked in.” By telling you all about this, I’ll have to confess if I mess up or it doesn’t work. That fact helps lock me into the program.
It shouldn’t be so hard to lose weight.
@addstrategies #adhd #add @dougmkpdp
ADDadultstrategies 
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It’s basically about a healthy lifestyle, isn’t it? See food as nutrition primarily!
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busy – yes, it’s about lifestyle, not diet. but also attitude. i see the salad as the main course now. but i can’t see food as nutrition – enjoy food and eating too much.
thank you for contributing
doug
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Well the two don’t need to be exclusive. Nutrition can be yummy. It’s just about making sure you get what you need first, like you are doing with the salad.
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Doug, so glad to hear about your grandson’s improvement. It will be nice for him to get to go home.
Overweight has been a lifelong issue for me. My latest favorite book is “State of Slim” by James Hill, Holly Wyatt, Christie Aschwanden, based on research on what works for folks who’ve lost weight and kept it off. #1 exercise and decreasing food intake is essential initially to reset your metabolism, and then exercise as part of your lifestyle to keep the weight off. Another major thing is to link weight loss to your purpose in life. So if you want to write another book, or play guitar, how will losing weight and getting healthier help you do that? And maybe with ADD, losing weight and being healthier helps us to function better in general. And yes, I’m a fan of kale and most veggies. Helps offset the cookies.
Merry Holidays, everyone.
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vicki – very good point. if we’re going to try to do something, it helps to know why, especially if it’s difficult.
liking kale and veggies is a gift. i i don’t have it.
thank you for your contributions
doug
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Hi Doug,
Great strategies! It is really similar to something I read somewhere else that basically said “Eat a crapton of veggies first.” to every situation. “Want dessert? Eat a crapton of veggies first.”…
I’m glad to hear Michael is recovering. I hope he has a full recovery and then some. Still praying.
I happen to love kale and broccoli and beats, also ice cream, cheese, whole milk, sweets, bread,…That seems to be the problem. Enjoying lots of veggies first really makes sense. I need to find more ways to have them easily available. Be thankful for that salad bar!
My wife and I have found ways to work together to keep each other out of temptation. I get hooked on T.V. when she is watching and I should be doing something else. Now that she knows, she’ll pause what she is watching so I can get unhooked and out to the shop, then she’ll start it again when I’ve left. That has been very helpful for me. Right now we’re trying to work together to eat healthy food and exercise. It really helps to have the support.
Merry Christmas!
All the best,
Scott
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scott – you are blessed by liking the kale and stuff – i guess. but i like all the other stuff too. forgot to mention that part of my program is rarely eat any bread.
the cram vegetables first is a good strategy and part of what i’m doing with the salad, but a key part is the change of attitude strategy – the salad is the main course.
with life in general, and especially with ADD ADHD, it is very helpful to have a partner who will work with us on the problems. an extra brain involved. that is a great strategy about the tv.
thank you for the prayers. michael is much better, still in icu but hopefully home on O2 early next week.
and thank you for the contributions to the blog
doug
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jodi- well, they’re not really out in front, but occasionally out of love she makes me a pumpkin pie or bananna nut bread. she’s a great cook. oh, my. but its ok if its occasional and i manage to pace myself. I am capable of eating a whole pie at one sitting – everybody has to be good at something.
glad you enjoy the blog and thank you for contributing
doug
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doug, those sound like great strategies. i’m very happy to hear that your grandson is doing better.
i think what helps me keep the weight off is to not being home any junk food. if it’s at home and I’m hungry, I’ll eat it. I can’t delude myself into thinking otherwise that’s just not how it works. however if i’m at the grocery store, I can muster up enough willpower to pass
-d
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hold – not having it in the house is a great strategy. unfortunately, my wife doesnt have a weight problem, so she will have candy and deserts here, tho not much junk food. dont want to ask her to go without because of my problems.
you have will power! wow!
thank you for contributing
doug
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Doug,
Can you ask your wife to hide the treats that you have a problem with? I have to do that with my husband. He doesn’t have a fat bone in his body, but I just have to think about it and I gain 10 lbs…so unfair! He doesn’t get deprived of his sweets and I am not tempted. I keep my healthy snacks front and center and really accessable.
I enjoy reading your blog. I found out about it through Homey.
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bakpak i fear i skipped over your comment somehow. there’s not really that many treats about usually, i can usually handle the dark chocolate. its the deserts in our dining room. i try to stay away from that table and am doing fairly well – the salad first helps i used to eat desert first!
thank you for commenting.
doug
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