How I lost 100 pounds by avoiding diet for weight loss (truth!)

Okay, so that probably sounds like a strange title, right? I've been blogging about how I lost 100 pounds and I've realized that sometimes it's what I don't do, or rather avoid, that has been most effective in beating obesity. For the most part, I steer clear of "diet" foods and following certain diets. 

In this weight loss learning curve, the word diet as applied to low calorie foods and eating plans is problematic. Manufacturers use buzzwords like "diet" to make you think you're getting healthier food. Very simply, a lot of foods that claim to be "diet" aren't. They're often full of junk and higher calorie that regular versions. I'll blog more later about the Atkins meal plan. 

The word diet as in a meal plan for weight loss causes problems too. I have been told so many times that if I followed this or that "diet" (Weight Watchers, keto, etc) I'd lose weight. And that's true as far as it goes. But some implied I couldn't lose weight without whatever program they were shilling. Some even insisted that bariatric weight loss surgery was the only way!

Whelp, I didn't have to follow theirs or any "commercial" diet to lose weight. There is no "one size fits all" diet plan. I can and did do it my way (you can too). Top is me in 2010 and below is a few days ago.

So big deal, "diet" is just a word. But words shout loud subliminal messages. A few days ago I wrote about how the word obesity triggered me to seek weight loss. Hearing the word obese applied to me, woke me up to my need to get healthier. 

Psychology played a big part in how I lost 100 pounds. I had to change my "stinkin thinkin" as Al-Anon calls it. I also had to practice what I call "mind over platter" by which I mean adjusting how I think about foods. I had to workout my willpower, self-discipline and self-control (three muscles I've not always exercised very well in the past). So yup, beating obesity was about a whole lot more than just diet.