"Nothing tastes as good as thin feels" - is this true?

[gollygee]

I can't help thinking that it isn't true.

I have about 20 pounds I'd like to lose. I was doing Weight Watchers and lost 15, so I had 35 total.

But then someone said that at a Weight Watchers meeting, and I honestly feel in my heart that it isn't true. Nothing tastes as good as being HEALTHY feels, I agree with that. But I am healthy. But how much is being *thin* worth. I don't care whether being a size 10 or 12 is plus size by anyone's defintion. I am perfectly happy being a 10 or 12.

And, frankly, I like rich foods. I'm not willing to give them up to be skinny again.

[Union Thug]

1. Thin feels good because of the social reinforcement...

But enjoying rich foods (as you describe) is something I won't give up either!

[Left Is Write]

2. I like your modification.

"Nothing tastes as good as being HEALTHY feels."

Everything in moderation, I say. If a person is starving herself to be a size 6,4,2 or what-have-you, and is gaining no pleasure from life, what's the point?

I watch what I eat. I exercise daily. I enjoy my workouts. I choose healthy foods for the most part, but I also enjoy things like desserts and pizza. You have to live a little. You have to find that balance that works for you.

Size is ultimately just a number. It doesn't take into account fitness level, health level, bone structure size, or anything like that. If you are happy and you are healthy, that's what matters.

[meegbear]

3. BINGO!!

I couldn't have said it better.

[SlackJawedYokel]

4. So eat rich foods

Just don't eat *too much* of them.

That's the point in a society catering to our every whim, isn't it?
Resisting the temptation.
Have you read Fast Food Nation, yet?
If not, it is a must read.

What I do is give myself a treat every once in a while, just to reacquaint myself with the flavor of some of the foods I'm not supposed to eat.

Being healthy and comfortable with how you look is what is important.
Sounds like you know this and this is good.

And, frankly, I like rich foods. I'm not willing to give them up to be skinny again.
We're such an odd society.
Our ideals tell us we should be thin no matter how much advertising is crammed down out throats and our instincts tell us we should be fat while we can because famine might happen at any time.

Good luck.

Cletus

[gollygee]

5. It's the concept of "the foods I'm not supposed to eat" I don't like

Why can't it be "the foods I shouldn't have too much" or something?

The foods aren't bad. They're not foods we shouldn't eat. We just should mainly be eating other foods. If that makes any sense.

No I haven't read Fast Food Nation but I'll have to check it out :)

[SlackJawedYokel]

21. Ah, well, that all depends on the type of diet yer on, right?

I'm doing Atkins, so I'm pretty limited.
The optimum diet would be one that is solely calorie based, right?
(which in the end is what Atkins ends up being)
And optimally we wouldn't be eating 1200 McShakes(more calories than 2 Big Macs!) but balanced diets with very little refined white sugar(that and high fructose corn syrup are pure evil... completely empty calories).

Why can't it be "the foods I shouldn't have too much" or something?
No real difference as far as I'm concerned.
The only foods I *don't* want to eat are the ones I know are bad for my health.

The foods aren't bad. They're not foods we shouldn't eat. We just should mainly be eating other foods. If that makes any sense.
Yeppers.
One problem with finding stuff to eat in this country is the *crap* sold in the processed food.
I love soup but can't hardly eat anything in a can because they all have MSG(which gives me headaches) or over 1800mg of sodium in each can.
WTF?
How bad does that shit taste that it has to have that much salt to cover the taste?

And we've all heard about the hydrogenated oil/poly-unsaturated fat thing, right?

I'm not asking for 100% organic, mind you, just food without all the added crap to cover up that it tastes like shit.
lol

This reminds me of the breakfast cereal tv ads when I was a kid... combine with a balanced breakfast it is gives you all of your daily nutritional needs... showing a plate of breakfast food and juice to go with your bowl of ceral!
Hunh? If ate all that other stuff there'd be no room for the damn cereal!
What part of the food group was the cereal filling, exactly?
Sugar and starch?
lol

The older I get the more I realize just how much crap we were compelled to consume... from Sugar Bomb cereal and Pop Tarts to syrupy sweet Cracka-Cola I must have *lived* on a sugar high through my entire childhood.

No I haven't read Fast Food Nation but I'll have to check it out :)
You'll love it.
You may never eat in a fast food joint again.

Cletus

[HEAVYHEART]

9. "Just don't eat *too much* of them."

Bingo. I lost 30 pounds and I whatever the hell I want now. I just don't eat too much in one sitting.

[SlackJawedYokel]

22. Exactly.

Being on this diet has made me realize my primary problem.
Growing up being admonished not to waste food, to eat until I was full and to clean my plate.
I've gotten into the habit of *not* piling my plate and of *not* going back for seconds and of *not* eating until I feel like I'm gonna pop.

And thankfully modern chemistry has given me Splenda as a non-lethal sugar substitute!
Hooray!

Cause this diet would *REALLY* such without the Splenda lemonade and chocolate candy I eat.
lol

Cletus

[readmylips]

6. Da Thin thing is a social demand...

we don't like it but social demands pay our bills. We must look perfect; thin, white and christian. The bar of christian perfection has been raised. Sooner or later those white christians will cave in into accepting perfect baby factories before birth.

Look, just eat the calories your body demands. If your car only takes 20 gallons of gas, do you try to squeeze in 40 gallons? No. You'll have an over flow. That's how we are as human beings. We have an over flow of gut that kills us.

[Orsino]

7. Can't tell...

I'd have to taste everything to be sure, and then I'd never be thin.

[Skittles]

8. no

I've been thin and miserable - I much prefer normal and indulge myself in the foods I love

[Kber]

10. No it's not true

and I lost 55 lbs in weight watchers (before my lastest, current pregnancy). But I think that it's true that there aren't many things that taste as good as being thin feels, and those things are usually OK in moderation.

Put another way, I'm not giving up martinis (except while pregnant of course), chocolate cake, or a few other things that I just love, but I can easily cut down on the Cheetos.

[Left Is Write]

13. I feel the same way about Cheetos.

I have no problem going without Cheetos, potato chips, store bought cookies, and things like that. But a good piece of cake or slice of pie, or some homemade spaghetti sauce with meatballs, or a holiday eggnog latte - those are things to look forward to and savor.

[kimchi]

11. Hell no.

Well, I guess it depends how you feel about yourself. If you are miserable being plump, then perhaps you (dieters in general) need to tell yourself that in order to train yourself. I'm all about self affirmations.

Me, I'm plump, (size 14 since the baby) and much happier than I ever was in HS and college when I *thought* I was fat because I wasn't model thin. I know who I am, which gives me more self confidence than how I look. However, I have recently begun eating more salad and less junk. If I lose weight, great; if I don't no big deal. I want to be able to keep up with my daughter, and see her graduate, period. My husband and I both love to cook and eat good food. It is the one thing we don't mind spending money on. Life's too short to drink bad wine or eat at McDonald's.

[fudge stripe cookays]

12. Yes.

I'm miserable when I have gained a lot (like I have the last 4 years).

And mine is not just the societal thing-- I hate the way I feel. My back hurts CONSTANTLY. I have arthritis in my feet, so the extra weight is not good for that. I have a streak of diabetes in my family that could decide to show up at any moment.

I love looking good in my clothes, and I haven't in several years. I did WW for awhile, but got really tired of having to write everything down constantly. I lost about 20 or 30 pounds, but then just lost my momentum and didn't feel like writing anymore.

I'm doing Jenny Craig right now. And while it seems to be going a little slower, the food and servings are thought out for me, so I just eat what I know I'm supposed to and I'm fine. I haven't been overly hungry or anything.

And yes-- you can have rich foods, just don't overindulge. Everything in moderation. My mindset is finally changing. Even on WW, it still wasn't quite clicking for me. Since they told me I could eat ice cream, I would. And then I'd eat too much. I've gotten to a point where I don't crave them as much since I've been eating healthier. I've broken myself of Coke, which is difficult to do, but it's water or tea now. I feel much better. I've lost about 9 pounds since November 1, but plan on losing much more.

FSC

[amazona]

14. that's a pro-ana slogan

I didn't know anyone would use it at Weight Watchers. It's common among pro-ana and pro-mia. Your instinct to question that slogan was correct. SOme of these women starve themselves to the point of literal death from heart failure. Don't allow yourself to lose your pleasure in food, we were given appetite for a reason that should be respected.

[Ernesto]

15. Switch to a "lite" beer

That's my recommendation.

[flygal]

16. I agree - I can't do the no-carb thing

bread is life man! And since I'm really cutting back on meat I would basically starve if not for my carbs.

[forgethell]

17. Wrong!!!

Wrong, wrong, wrong,wrong. Nothing tastes as good as RIBS from Archibald's in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

[Coventina]

18. If it were true, obesity would not be a problem.

We are genetically programmed to eat to excess if the food is available.

[SlackJawedYokel]

23. Times change.

During lean times, wealthy people tend to be heavier.
Look at the 1940s in the US... right after the Depression.
Female movie stars were "fat" by today's standards.

Cletus

[ProfessorGAC]

19. Been Thin My Whole Life - Love Good Food

So, i'd say no. I know what thin feels like, and i'd rather eat good food any time.
The Professor

[freeplessinseattle]

20. "A waist is a terrible thing to mind" being thin isn't all that, trust me

[GingerSnaps]

24. Who told you that a 10 or a 12 is a plus size?

Because if it is than i am also a plus size. That's a load of BS.

[gollygee]

26. It was in an earlier thread

Someone said that size 6 and 8 were the high end of average or something.

[Cadence]

25. Well I think it's a matter of personal

preference and the way being in your body feels is going to vary person to person. For me I'm thin and I don't think about the social acceptance aspect. That never enters my mind. I like the way my body feels, the way I move, it feels right to me. When I get extra weight and start feeling weighed down or heavy, I hate it.
But I don't diet. I eat rich foods, I eat whatever I crave...which is usually a lot of mexican food. I'm not a huge sugar craver and I only eat when I'm hungry and then only until I'm full. I have one of those very sensitive systems like I can feel when I've ingested caffeine, cold medicines are a bit much etc.
I also would have to have the crappiest genes on the planet because everyone on both my dad and mom's side of the family is at least 100 pounds overweight. So I don't think it's due to genetics that I've stayed thin. Honestly I think one of the key points is to never get into that mental cycle of deprivation. Like telling yourself no or rewarding yourself with food. I find that when I do that I start craving the high sugar things that make me feel like crap but taste really good. But if I always let myself have whatever I want but only when hungry then stop when I'm full it breaks that deprivation cycle.

For me it gets me back into listening to what my body really wants and makes my internal drives more attuned to the hunger/full cycle rather than controlling the type of food cycle.

I hope that made sense. I didn't get much sleep last night. Sorry if it didn't.

So in summary...just be you. Get really good at being you.