interesting weight loss plan from AARP

OK, laugh at me now, I'm 51 and belong to AARP. I think the best thing about the organization is the magazine. This month they had an article on losing weight. I think the most interesting and relevant thing that they said was that most diets fail because people try to change too much at once. Their suggestion was to change 2 to 3 simple things at a time, give those changes some time, and then reassess. You won't lose weight in a rush, but you won't go crazy and feel deprived, either.

I really like that idea. I'm going to *try* 3 things: (1) no extra butter. I'm a butter-holic. I can eat bread slathered in butter all day. Maybe I can cut out some of the extra calories if I pay attention and don't just automatically put butter on stuff. (2) No more than 1 packet of Ritz crackers/shift at work. They give us a big basket of saltines and Ritz crackers in the lounge at work. I can make 4-5 2-cracker packets vanish without a problem. (3) Limit portions. 'Nuff said right there.

I'm going to give this 2 weeks and see which ones work for me and which don't. If one thing doesn't work, I'll try something else.

I would add eat slowly and don't do anything else when you eat. Don't read, don't watch TV...just eat and focus on eating whatever it is you are eating.

And eat an apple. Every day.

I think it's a great idea not to try to change too much at once.

The only thing I might suggest doing differently is to substitute something satisfying for the crackers, rather than trying to limit your consumption. Those crackers are loaded with sugar and salt and pretty much guaranteed to make you ravenous. How about a handful of nuts or something else high protein/low sugar for your snacks, INSTEAD of the crackers? I'm getting the feeling that your craving for butter is your body trying to balance all the sugary carbs that you put the butter onto.

I second OakLeaf - the problem seems to be too many carbs. I have been trying to reduce them and am teaching myself new recipes. Bring the snack you want to eat to work - it could be fruit, cheese stick, yogurt. Snacks really add on the calories as does soda and juice. Bread is the hardest for me to avoid, too. I have some high carb, low fiber tortillas in the house when I need to bring lunch. I find that I cannot buy/keep food in the house that I don't think I should eat because it is too tempting.

A bunch of my friends are on this "21 day" thing. It's based on some study about it takes 21 days to form or break a habit. Some of them are trying to break a habit, like biting their nails. Others are trying to form good habits, like exercise or eating healthier. So every 21 days they add a new goal. Or, if they failed the last one, they try again.

I haven't exactly jumped on board, although I have adapted my no-sugar diet into their 21 day thing by allowing myself something with sugar once every 21 days.

My opinion is, it's all about managing yourself. Some people might do better making many drastic changes all at once, and some people might do best making small changes one at a time. And some of us are conflicted, and sometimes make small changes and sometimes huge changes!

Good luck with your goals! They sound like a great start!

Small changes can have big impacts.

3 years ago I decided to read the small ingredient-texts on food packages and to not buy anything that contained flavor enhancer, sugar, or stuff I wouldn't normally eat (such as Aroma or Color or other fancy stuff).

You wouldn't believe in how many ways that changed my eating habits and my life ;)



I think a lot of people want to start over and change their lifestyle and are very very (over)motivated at first. They change everything and after some days notice that they haven't left themselves any alternatives if they have a bad day or just can't keep up with their high ideals all the time. So they "fail" and think "now that I failed it doesn't matter anymore anyways, I'll start all over tomorrow/Monday/next month". They don't realize that there is no need to do "everything right all the time". Doing some things right 80% of the time is far better and more realistic.