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This post is intended to help those members of the Beyond Diet community who are simply overwhelmed at all the information, metabolism types, allowable servings, Success Journal, etc. etc. etc. For those who found this and aren’t members of Beyond Diet, this info is based on the healthy eating lifestyle and weight loss program called “Beyond Diet,” also called “The Diet Solution Program” or also “The Flat Belly Solution.”
Folks come to these websites pretty much for the same reason. We’re looking for help to either lose weight or simply improve our health. For many, the changes, choices and programs can be overwhelming. It’s also important to know that we are all different. Some folks can take one concept and run with it; adapting to their own life and circumstances and improve their health and lose weight. Yet others need rigid guidelines and steps to follow in order to be successful. And many others still that fit somewhere in between.
For me personally, I’m a mix of both. From the beginning my success in losing weight really came from simply making the decision to change the way I eat, what I ate and the desire to correct and improve my health. But I’m also pretty detail oriented and so I’m also pretty diligent about tracking my progress both online in the BeyondDiet Success Journal as well as my own Excel spreadsheet.
I want to share these guiding principles in hopes of helping those who may be a little frustrated or overwhelmed about some or all aspects of this new way of life. I hope you find this helpful.
Commitment
If you’re reading this, it means you have made some sort of decision to either lose weight, improve your health, whatever. A decision you made brought you here. I’ll be up front right out of the gate. If you made the decision because: “you need to fit in to that dress for the High School Reunion,” or “I have to lose 20lbs and look good for my son’s wedding!” then you have yet to actually, really make a commitment to change. Yes, this program or any diet or program will allow you to lose weight, fit in to that dress or let you not be ashamed to show a little skin at the beach – and guys, beer guts are NOT attractive – I know. 😉 But what happens after you’ve lost that 20 lbs, but didn’t change the way you live?
Most folks however, made a decision, clicked a link because they want to change the way they live, how and what they eat. Making a commitment to actually change, and change permanently is the single most important thing you can do to get started. Simply knowing that you’re eating as healthy as you possibly can should be cause enough – any weight loss or time tables, wedding dresses reunions or whatever will come in due time.
Lastly, making a commitment when it comes to your health is serious. When you’re pre-diabetic, on blood pressure meds and cholesterol medication or can’t walk to your mailbox… something is telling you it’s time to change. Make a commitment to do that.
The Big Picture
This may sound overly simple, but really this is key to whether or not you might be successful with this program. This information is covered in good length on the website and in the manual, but I’ll try and summarize it here. At the very core of a healthy eating lifestyle is eating whole and natural foods and eliminating processed foods and sugar.
It doesn’t get any more basic than this. Avoid and eliminate processed foods, sugars and simple carbs like white flours, rice, pastas and breads from enriched flours. Don’t drink soda or add chemical sweeteners to your teas and coffee. Eat, whole, natural and raw foods.
READ
Read, read and read some more. Educate yourself and learn why processed foods and sugar are the real enemies, not bacon and eggs or milk, or steak or butter. The more you understand the basic principles behind the BeyondDiet solution and program, the easier it will be to implement and integrate in to your daily life. Knowledge is power, as they say.
Oh yeah, also learn to become an avid label and ingredients reader. Do NOT rely on the front of the box, bottle or package that says “all natural,” “healthy,” or even “organic.” Learn to read the ingredient list. Unfortunately there are NO laws regulating the use of “natural” or “healthy” and labels are very deceiving. READ the ingredients list and decide whether or not that’s something you would want to put in your body.
Change One Thing
You can do this one thing even before you read anything else, or heck, even before making a serious commitment. CHOOSE to change something. The first thing I chose to do, even before finding this program, was to quit drinking soda. Not just Diet Coke, but all and any kind of soda. Just told myself I don’t drink that stuff anymore.
Maybe for you it’s taking a brisk walk after dinner – if that’s something you’ve never done before. Drop the remote in favor of some exercise 3 times a week. Change sometime, start a new path.
These are big things, but taking a major step like quitting smoking or quitting drinking would be a major step and set you on your way to a new and healthy eating and living lifestyle.
If it’s only leaving the sugar out of your coffee, then that is still a change that starts you in the right direction. Change one thing to start.
Keep it Simple
Easier said than done, I understand. But if you can concentrate and understand the Big Picture above and understand the simple, common sense underlying principles, then it shouldn’t be too hard.
Keep it simple, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff means:
- If you have 5.75 oz of chicken just count it as 6 oz. Count it as 5 oz if you’re not sure. It just doesn’t matter.
- If you have an apple, banana, or nectarine, don’t worry if it’s a “medium” piece of fruit. It just doesn’t matter.
- If you have 2 slices of bacon for breakfast, and sneak an extra piece from your spouse, don’t worry about it.
- Did you have 80oz of water or 108? It doesn’t matter, just drink a lot of water, keep it simple.
- Did you miss a snack? Don’t sweat it, don’t freak out. It’s ok.
- When you only had 12g of protein when the program calls for 17… don’t worry about it. It doesn’t really matter.
What matters then? You chose ALL or ANY of the above over Mac-n-Cheese, strawberry cheesecake, Diet Coke, frozen boxed pizza, pasta from enriched flour, etc. etc.
Don’t be overwhelmed. Keep it simple and make good, sensible choices. That’s ALL there is to this.
“Piece of Cake!” Ha! 😉
Violet Stegall said:
This should be very helpful. Thanks, Lon.
lonbeyond said:
Thanks Violet!
Kim (the white shepherd pic on BD) said:
WOW Lon, I’m speechless and need to take a breath after reading…..That couldn’t be written any more PERFECT! It is so refreshing, humbling, and pure joy to know that people as knowledgeable, kind, and intelligent as you exist in this world. I am so happy and grateful to have crossed paths with you 🙂
lonbeyond said:
Wow is right – thanks Kim for that comment! Hey, I’ve been wondering what kind of pooch that gorgeous animal was! Great avatar! Thanks so much for your comment, I appreciate it very much.
Maureen said:
Lon, the lifestyle is simple “whole foods, not processed, no sugar, nothing white” but I think all of us who have been a BD for a while know it’s not always easy. Thank you for some common sense and simple talk.
lonbeyond said:
Thanks Maureen, “not always easy,” as in, “easier said than done…” and I completely agree. But certainly easy to agree that that it’s simple and common sense – doing is a whole different story – I know.
Janet said:
Lon, as always, your blog is interesting, informative and helpful! I subscribe to your blog, so I received this in an email account that my hubby & I both use. He doesn’t exactly do Beyond Diet, but has been successful (has lost about 90 pounds) with his version eating the foods I prepare, etc. While we were walking this evening he told me that I got an email from somebody from BD that he thought made a ton of sense talking about if you want to steal your husband’s bacon, go ahead and don’t worry about it. I hadn’t yet read your blog entry, so I was a little confused at first, but after reading it, I agree…. Don’t Sweat It! I know I’ll get there! See…. you’ve got a far-extending fan base! Thanks for posting.
lonbeyond said:
Thanks Janet! Ya see, I have great experience from cleaning up from my wife’s plate! 😉 The lesson is though, that I’m not eating her left over McDonald’s fries, ice cream or frozen waffles… bacon I can help with. 😉
Linda Meister said:
Lon…How incredibly well put…I LOVE this! Just minutes after joining, I felt like I’d been “suckered” into yet another diet. Thanks to the support of the site (and people like you) I have recruited my daughter to join with me. Since we’re both eating this way, my husband is too and loves it. You worded it so well and really put things in perspective…thanks for posting!
lonbeyond said:
Hi Linda, thanks so much for the comment and taking the time, I appreciate it. I’ve said and written before that I give kudos for Isabel for bottling common sense. Just the knowledge alone was worth the $47! But I do understand why some would have a hard time seeing through the multi-level-marketing tactics – which is large part is why I wrote this. Glad to know it’s helping others. Thanks again.
Laurie said:
Lon… Thanks so much for putting it so SIMPLE if it is something we choose to do for the rest of our lives it needs to be stress free and second nature and we have to realize that none of us are perfect and if we slip up its not the end of the world and we just need to get past it and move on.
lonbeyond said:
Thanks Laurie! Great truth in your comment.
Sharon said:
Enjoying the blogs, Lon … love your sensible, common-sense approach. You’ve helped to keep many of us grounded and to focus on the bigger picture, which is a healthy lifestyle. Thanks 🙂
lonbeyond said:
Thanks Sharon!
sarah said:
Hi Lon! I love your Keep It Simple section – especially after spending nearly 10 minutes like a crazy person trying to decide between two different apples muttering to myself in the middle of the grocery store:) I think I’ll be bookmarking this page for future reference!
lonbeyond said:
Hi Sarah, thanks for leaving a comment and I’m glad you found this helpful. I know it’s easy to get caught up in details, but the quicker folks can break things down in to simple, common sense stuff, the rest does become easier!
ANDREW AND APRIL LACOSSE said:
THANK YOU LON,
HEART TAKING SO TRUE! VERY GOOD BLOG FOR STARTERS AND NOT ONLY FOR THEM A REFRESHER FOR EVERYBODY WHO NEEDS A BOAST. YOU MADE MY DAY! HOPE U DONT MIND I BEEN LINKING TO MY FACEBOOK TO SPREAD THE WORD!
lonbeyond said:
Thanks April! Yes, please spread the word! I’m not on FB myself, but you’re more than welcome to post it there.
joanne said:
Lon,thanks for your helpful reply..that’s about the size of it..as long as it’s an apple,and not a piece of cheesecake..who cares what size the apple is.did me good reading it cause I am to paticular and think it has to be just so or it ain’t gonna work..
lonbeyond said:
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment Joanne. Yep, just try and keep things simple and concentrate on the bigger picture. Another example is eating out at a restaurant. If you order grilled chicken and you don’t know how many ounces, make a good guess. Does it matter if it’s 4, 5, 6 or 8 oz? Not really, what matters is that you didn’t have garlic bread from enriched flour, deep fried whatever in canola oil and a diet coke for dinner. Don’t sweat the small stuff as they say… thanks!
beachgirltooSandra said:
Hi Lon,
Very well said, your explanations are simple and easy to understand. I like what you said, it’s about choices, making changes, and a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. I will remember that, “the three C’s!” I am also a fellow BD member, and loving it! The part I like best is that the concepts of the eating plan are completely different than anything I have ever done before, and it’s working!
lonbeyond said:
Hi Sandra,
Thanks again for taking the time to leave a note.
The “3 C’s”! Hey, that’s great! I may just have to use that! You touched on something that I think is very important. It’s not the “meal plans,” but it is the concepts that are key. Great comment!
Lon