Janelle Brown: Don't Diet, Live It

01/09/2013

Janelle Brown of Sister Wives is Kody's second wife. Follow along on her journey forward to weight loss and a healthier lifestyle.

An acquaintance of mine, Curtis Aguiar, is fond of saying “people need to live it, not diet.” I think he may be onto something. With the New Year, I (like everyone else) am committing to cleaning up my diet after the indiscretions of the holiday season. But this year there is a different thought in my mind: What if I trusted myself to adapt to each meal as it is presented -- to make good choices regardless of what is being served, to take half the bun off the burger, but still eat the burger. That type of thing.

I have to admit I am tired of pouring over diet book after diet book. My usual cycle goes something like this: I hear of a diet that is getting great success, I download the book, skip the part that talks about the science, because honestly I’ve already learned this from so many other diet books, and just go right to the eating plan and grocery list. Then, finally, depending on how much of a departure from my normal eating the menu plan is, I make a big stock-up trip to the grocery store. The problem comes when the next part of this cycle has a menu that is too foreign from my normal habits and kid-approved dinners. So, kid-approved dinners win out and much of the unusual food either spoils (if it’s produce, especially), or sits abandoned in my cupboard.

I want to declare my independence from the time-sucking job of planning my every meal. In a way, it is easy to sabotage myself as I am tracking my calories every day. Being accountable on a whole day basis versus a meal-by-meal basis allows me a lot of wiggle room to let my sugar and other addictions go to work. After all, I can allow myself the indiscretion of a donut from the gas station on the way to a morning appointment if I plan to adjust my calories in the evening. The thing is, I am hungry at night and never really do make that adjustment.

What if I held myself accountable at every meal and every snack? What if I had to opt each time for the best nutrition, passing up the things that I knew did not work for my body, and regulate my portion size? What if I fundamentally had to start with “am I really hungry?” Would I free myself from the constant obsession, time drain and budget hit that a diet usually means for me? Could I begin to “live-it”?

Get updates from Janelle on Twitter @JanelleBrown117 and @TLC!

Related Links

• 5 Ego-Boosting Exercises
• How to Find Your Healthy Weight
• Control Cravings with Breakfast
• Weight Loss Quiz

Comments

[melinda]

I have to say that you're an amazing woman. I can relate when it comes to the whole diet thing because I have to keep track of my serving size and calories. I'd say throw out the books because everybody's different when it comes to body types and how our bodies process what we eat. The key is to not put yourself on a diet and just eat smaller portions. Eat what you like and even have a treat here and there. Like during your time of the month (sorry to talk about that) your body will process the sweets better during that time. Put a calorie tracker on your phone I'll tweet you the one I use ,it's great. I think the mistake that's always made is that we try so hard to do what books tell us and it just never works so I say eat what you want. but only in small portions and make sure you eat 6 times a day . Breakfast, a snack, lunch (have this your biggest meal of the day) a snack dinner and a snack 2-3 hours before bed. Have 1 treat a day as one of your snacks and the other 2 healthy . Good luck, I know you can do it because you are such a motivated,strong woman. I will be here cheering you on !

[Tiffany Dow]

Hey Janelle! I used to do the same. I gained 10 pounds per year doing that same routine you've been on.

I started seeing a local nutritionist named Jennifer (her website is at http://www.healthylifestylebalance.com/) and she made me get rid of my food guilt.

You talk like I used to - "clean up" your diet, etc. One morning I ate cake and was so ashamed that I'd messed up and she jokingly said she was going to make me eat cake every morning for a week.

What she did (and she had free stuff on her website you should check out) was free me from food obsession completely. Once everything is NOT offlimits - you quit NEEDING or craving. You leave food on the plate because you can have another meal later if you want to.

It's been freeing. I instantly lost 20 pounds and now it's slowly coming off more - but there will never be another diet I go on or a food I avoid. And I have awesome health stats. Good luck!

[Ross Presser]

Who is jriley?

On the RSS feed for this blog it says "by jriley" right above "by Janelle Brown".

Screenshot here: http://screencast.com/t/W3huzYZUE

[Katinka]

Keep up the good work Janelle, you can do this!

[Katinka]

Keep up the good work Janelle, you can do this!

[connie krozel]

I don't "diet" anymore. I have decided that I love food and don't want to feel like I'm giving it up. My worst thing is that I LOVE to cook and I don't use recipes so I taste as I go. I might eat a full portion just while I cook. Then I eat a plate when I'm done cooking, with the family. I have been curving my intake and exercising since the first if the year and am down 5.4 lbs. I don't limit myself from the things I want though. If I did that, I would set myself up for failure. I knowmyself too well. So...if I want something, I eat a small enough amount to fix the craving but not go crazy. Also, with my regular meals, I eat until um not hungry, NOT until I'm full. This has worked for me in the past. Now, after my last child it seems to be working again. My first child is 19. I went down in weight about 14 years after he was born and then gained it all back after I had my last child who is a year old now. I'm 42 and the weight seems harder to drop now, but It's going slowly. Good luck!

[Chris]

I lost 50 lb using WW principles last year and ready to get the next 50 off this year by being mindful of everything I eat. I haven't gone without one single thing I wanted and never once felt deprived. Kudos to you for staying in the fight!

[MARTHA WOOD]

my sister and i love sister wives, when will a new season start. this one was too short.

[Pati]

I love your show! you are all wonderful. i have been wondering, was it a group decision to bring in a 4th wife or Meri's choice? it seems that the decision was made first then the rest of the wives were brought in on it. wasn't Kody and Meri at a gathering and met Robyn?

[Audra]

Great blog, Janelle! I find what works me me lately is going bigger than being accountable for a whole day. I take say 5 days, and am very strict with my nutrition for every meal and snack. Then on the 6th day I go on "vacation" and eat anything I wanted. Then the next day start being strict again. It helps me because when I have a craving I write it down as something I can have on my "vacation" day. Sometimes, I don't even want it then, I want something else. But it never seems like too far away that I can allow myself to have it, plus it keeps me regimented from slipping up too many days in a row. I can even schedule the "vacation" day for a time I am going out to eat or to a party, so I can just enjoy myself without any anxiety. Going over on you calories only every 6th or 7th day is fine. It's doing it multiple days over and over that starts to add up!

[Patty]

Great going, I believe you on the right path. I have decided to eat healthy this year and move. I feel if I don't obsess it may work. My goal is to feel good.

[Vicki]

Best wishes

[Patricia]

You are a beautiful women and you can do it..I have joined W.W. on line and have lost 21 pounds and its so easy..still can have something good in the evening too..Good Luck I love your show..

[Chris]

Janelle, you look as though things are working for you with your weightloss and everything you said in this post is true. Thanks for the inspiration to get things going for my goals.

[Dava Hudgins]

Janelle, try the Fluidity Workout system! It reshapes your body using your own body, not alot of equipment! Google it, because it works!!

[debby leach]

I want to know how you lost so much?I have physical problems so I cant exersize and I have emotional problems to so I eat to forget them. Im tired of that word diet so sick of people looking down at me because I weigh 243. I wasnt to tell you that even though u dont know me Im proud of you and your weight loss.

[Tracey]

I think that's a great plan! I also find myself hungry in the evening so I've satisfied that with an evening smoothie so that I don't have to go to bed hungry, and it's working! The smoothies are simple: frozen fruit with some fat free milk in the blender for about thirty seconds or so. They're actually more of a shake consistency, so even better! You can use any fruit combo you like. My fav is mango, peach, & cherry. Good luck ;)

[Debbie Bomar]

I have used two free apps with great success. Calorific which uses the principal of volumetrics. Very easy and quick way to log your food. Also cardio trainer to log activity. Lost 35 lbs in 6 months. Good luck! Find what works for you and do it! Also, I love the show!

[Tracy Smith]

Janelle, I am so proud that you have started this new healthy journey, and are sticking to it. I want to pass on some info about an awesome way to eat...it is called paleo. It is based off of the "caveman diet", where you are eating only natural foods. None of the nasty processed or preservative laden foods that you find in the store. Just check it out. Also check out Whole 30. Another great lifestyle eating change. Because I have been diagnosed with food allergies and sensitivities, I have had to turn to this lifestyle, and I have lost 25 lbs already. I am praying for you girl!

[Stephanie]

I lost 115 pounds doing weight watchers! I feel better than I have ever felt. You can do it if you set your mind and heart to it. I did and I changed!!!

[Angel]

Janelle,
You should try weight watchers. It seriously works and you don't count calories or have to buy bizarre foods the kids won't eat. You get an a certain number of point per day and you pick what you want to eat without going over. And if you do go over the plan a lots for that too and gives you cheater points and you earn points for exercise.
Good luck with your journey. You're an amazing person.

[Jessica Tomlinson]

Hey I was reading your blog about losing weight and how you amongst others can't keep up with your diet! Well I sell Saba/Ace and its an all natural diet pill that you don't have to exercise (but you would lose more weight faster obviously if u did exercise) it gives you an energy boost, helps you focus more and gets rid of all the cravings you may have throughout the day! I have so many customers that love this product and its very affordable!! Here is my website if you are interested in looking into it. Www.jtomlinson.aceforlife.com or you can find my Facebook page Jessica's Saba/Ace Group for pics and real life stories!! Hope this can help you all!! Thanks!!

[Anna]

I really like your idea. A few years ago, I had really good success with that same idea. No matter where I ate, I chose the best I could. At McD's, I would pick a side salad and a McChicken Sandwhich. BUT I wouldn't eat the bun! Little things like that would impact the day as a whole.

Keep up the great work! Great Blog!

[DLBR]

I have found that I make the most success when I fool my mind into thinking it's getting exactly what everyone else is. Example: I substitute a Boca type burger for a regular beef burger. I use Low Cal, High Fiber, Low Carb bread (Nature's Own) toasted, in the place of the bun. Laughing cow cheese (lite) is a good cheese choice. I put on the lettuce, tomato, onion and my body thinks it's getting what everyone else is! :) There are so many ways you can have what everyone else is having, just by making smart substitutions. You would be surprised at how much you can eat, if you're making wiser choices. Keep it up Janelle, you ARE on the right track.

[Esther]

Janelle; you are MY FAV! You are real, considerate, giving, unselfish, level headed. luv ya girl!