Fundamentally changing how you look at food and exercise?

[Anonymous]

There is no doubt that losing weight takes more than just a diet but a change in your fundamental thoughts and habits. If you have it instilled in your mind that you love fatty junk foods and you don't like exercise, then any diet will eventually reverse itself.

Myself I want to lose weight but I have to be honest that I do like fatty junk foods much more than healthy foods.

How did you make that transition of fundamentally changing how you look at food and exercise.

[tammymac]

Take a healthy cooking class, just to see what options there are besides fast food. Don't go to crazy like a vegan class right off the bat as that would be very hard to maintain and you would return to the fast food drive through quickly. It will also give you the tools to feed yourself in a healthy way, which is an amazing life skill to have. Besides women dig guys that can cook a meal for them ;p. The class will get you out and socializing with other people searching to improve their cooking style/food intake, and who knows you might even enjoy it.

As for the exercise, don't think of it as exercise (that's the first step) find something you can enjoy hiking with friends, going rollerblading, walk your dog (if you have one) or take a neighbours dog for a walk to the park, play foot ball with the guys. If it's something you enjoy you are way more likely to sustain the habit.

All things in moderation, this means every once in a while you can indulge and have a burger and fries. Or you could cook it yourself with your new cooking skills ;) then you would know what goes into your burger and it would be a lot healthier. There's this thing called an actifry if fries or deep fried things are your guilty pleasure. It uses one tablespoon of oil to make 4 or 5 servings of fries.

link

good luck in the never ending battle (it's not important to win the battle EVERY day as we are only human after all, but it is important to equip ourselves with the right tools for the job)

[tammymac]

Thank you for your vote for best answer :) I wish you the best

[xzinax2]

society makes us believe that good food=bad. everyone thinks fast food is the only tasty food in existance,but healthy food can taste better than it,it's just not addictive (it's not so much about taste,as it is about what the stuff in fast food does to our brain)

my goal was never to lose weight,but to eat healthier food-so I'm learning how to cook,and well let me tell you-tofu can taste f***ing amazing if you do it right. so I don't even crave ''bad'' food anymore,i replaced it with tastier food. and as for exercise-just be persistant,and it will turn into a habit,i don't even think about it anymore,i work out everyday,because it's a part of my routine

[Anonymous]

I was told by my doctor that I might need heart surgery. I said f*** that, changed my diet, and so far have shown improvement and no need for surgery.

I listened to a lot of podcasts by Underground wellness.

I watched a few documetaries on food:

Food inc.

Food matters

Hungry For Change

Fast Food Nation

Processed People

Fat sick and nearly dead

If those don't change your views, I don't know what will.

[prophecy]

you can still eat junk food. you can still go to McDonald's. just not that often.

and healthy food can be good as well. the key is that you find what suits you. I'm sure everyone can find healthy stuff that they like.

so experiment, don't just go for basic stuff.

[walalalaa333]

Trust me, you don't like fatty junk food!

1) it costs more than just making a healthy meal.

2) deep fried stuff will clog your arteries.

3) you won't live as long.

4) ...sh*t I just forgot my point because the people next to me is so damn loud...

but trust me, add a bit of workout to your daily life along with cutting back on fast food. use that money to buy stuff that makes you happy, maybe save for a new laptop of camera? whatever interests you. and refrain from eating past 8pm ! it really helps. best of luck!

[Anonymous]

One good thing is knowing that once you get past 8 weeks or so, your tastes kinda change. For instance, this year I mostly gave up soda after drinking over a liter of Diet Mt. Dew a day. I might have 12 oz of cola now and then for a bad headache, but mainly, diet soda tastes gross to me, despite being thoroughly addicted to it.

The same goes for junk food -- it starts to taste greasy, oily, too rich or even just plain weird (processed foods taste bizarre sometimes), if you manage to get past that point.

I was reading that if you inject foods that trigger GABA production ("reward" chemical) in your brain, it helps too. link

[KiaLuv]

Hi. I used to absolutely love junk food too. I guess I owe my bestie for helping me get out of it. She sent me all the horror stories of obesity and all the gross stuff. I used exercise as a way to get rid of depression. Like, I wld jump rope until I was exhausted, then I wldnt be able to cry anymore because I was just too tired. Eventually I lost the few kg I had and exercising made me feel good. Especially if I've beaten a personal record. I hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Start practicing intuitive eating. Pay close attention to what your body actually wants. YOU may want potato chips, but your body may really want protein or fiber. When you have a craving for junk food, start thinking about some healthier foods and see what ELSE sounds good.

[justjumpit4]

Willpower man. That's about it. It also helps to look at pictures of what you want to look like as well. Haha it's a crazy driving force.

[Anonymous]

It takes 10 weeks for the brain to adapt to a new habit or a new style of thinking.

Get through those 10 weeks, and you're on your way.