I was thinking that we could get a thread started with input from those who have been there, done that with regards to dieting.

What are mistakes you've made and learned from that you can share with people who are in the initial stages of this process?

I have a bunch I've seen/learned throughout the years..... but I'd like to hear from you all first.

Great Topic

Biggest Mistake i made was actually dieting and not looking at it as a lifestyle change.

Second biggest was eyeballing portions - my eyeballs were a lot bigger than a standard portion size.

Third biggest - Depriving myself of the stuff I loved -like cheese, breads, etc. That relates to Mistake 1

Fourth biggest - and still struggle wiht - frustration with myself at not getting immediate results -I know It's a long term lifestyle committment and I didn't get to 383lbs overnight but it's tough to still have so far to go...

Thanks Mal, for sharing.

My biggest mistake was to stop exercising so fiercely, now I just don't seem to have the "strength" to keep up the pace.

I think Mal covered the main mistakes, but I would like to reemphisize one in particular. Depriving myself of the stuff I loved. This is relevent in some cases, have that cookie, have a small bowl of ice cream, have a few chips. The trick is to be aware of how much you have, don't eat 10 cookies, eat 1 and so on. I would deprive myself of foods I loved and then bam, here came a binge. Not good for the diet, but worst of all not good for the self esteam. I borderlined quit because of it.

Another mistake, don't beat yourself up if you do make a mistake, just make sure to get back on track right away and remember that even if you took a step back, you probably took 10 steps forward first, time for another 10 steps forward.

The biggest mistake I make is when I think of food as anything other than fuel.
When I get into the habit of seeing food as "entertainment" ... That is when pounds creep up on me.
When I'm busy and have lots of interests and plans I often "forget to eat" and those are the times when I'm usually at my best and my most fit.

Another one I was guilty of is the substitute trap... that fat free was supposed to be better than full fat -but in order to get the same satisfaction level - I'd have to have twice as much thereby negating any calorie savings... especially when it came to cheeses - my passion... fat free cheeses don't have near the flavor, texture, or anything that a full fat cheese does... it requires much less to satisfy...

since I'm totally mistake prone - and god I'm so perfect now - I'm just a legend inmy own mind...

Another big one I made - it's healthy - portions don't matter... For the past 5 years or so _ i travelled A LOT for work - probably 48 weeks out of the year and ate in a lot of restaurants - I never ate fried foods, have never liked gravy, cheese smothered, cream sauces, or marinated in butter or anythig that sounded remotely unhealthy - but restaurant portions are huge and even a grilled chicken breast -baked potato and some form of vegetable can pack in the calories - not to mention 4 skim milk lattes minimum per day -just because it sounded healthy - didn't make it calorie friendly...

That's some great advice right there man.

Easier said than done, but once you create the mindset conducive to fast rebounds from 'falls' things become a lot easier.

Well, over the past 40 years, I've made every mistake there is to make -- I think I would exceed the message length limit just outlining them.

So I guess that's the biggest lesson of all -- you're going to goof up. Over and over again. Get back in the saddle. That's all you can do . . . beating yourself up won't help.

What Mal said -- this is not a "diet" -- the earlier in life you adopt that, the better. Believe me, losing weight at age 59 is MUCH harder than at 49, or 39, or 29.

All good replies. Some that I can think of off the top of my head......

Short term thinking

Thinking weight lifting will automatically tighten things up regardless of body fat levels.

Contradictory goals.

Misunderstanding of difference between losing fat and losing weight.

Paralysis by analsysis -- worrying about the details while the big picture (which gives you a vast majority of your success) floated right out the window.

Consistency- Realizing that it is an everyday thing and not just a Monday through Friday lifestyle. One day off plan on the weekend can cause a halt to progress.

Putting too much emphasis on the number displayed on the scale.... assuming no loss on the scale meant no loss of body fat .

The entire "the less the better" in terms of caloric intake.

Falling victim to the next fad diet when a more balanced, sustainable, and satiating approach would have worked just as well, if not better.

Totally cutting out an entire macronutrient from your intake, think fat and/or carbs.

All or nothing mentality.

Confusing the effects associated with resistance training vs. aerobic exercise.... many people seem to think if it doesn't get your heart beating fast then it's not helping me improve my physique....WRONG!

Not taking breaks with diet and exercise.

Doing too much on too little fuel.

Being a lazy shit and not preparing meals/food ahead of tiem.... one of the primary reasons people don't succeed in my opinion.

Comparing yourself to someone/something besides your previous self.

Mismanagement of expectations.

Not putting time to improve the mind along with the body.

great list... and while some are painful to read as I'm way too guilty of them - they are accurate...

Guilty but even comparing to your previous self can be a little dangerous -I'm 40something - occassionally I hear myself say -well cripes mal when you were 19 you... I'm not 19 anymore i'll never be 19 again (thank god) all i can strive for is to be the best I can where I am - Ill make myself more crazy than I do if I start comparing me to myself at 19...

I've lost count how many times I've read -from both men and women who want to relive their glory days -t hey want to be that high school cheerleader or football player again - I am not sure it's gonna happen...

One more..

NOt having realistic expectations...

My biggest mistake was using the excuse "I will start tomorrow" because I'm too busy or tired, tomorrow ended up being 5 years later.

Yea, you are right. It must be reasonable.

That was on my list.... towards the bottom. I wrote mismanagement of expectations..... same thing in my book.

ok so i can't read today - sorry