Diet Naked

A few months ago, "Primetime Live" featured a show, as described in this article, "Lose the Weight, or Wear the Bikini on TV."  The question was, "Will the Threat of Public Humiliation Motivate Volunteers to Lose 15 Pounds in Two Months?"  Volunteers agreed to be photographed in skimpy, humiliating swimsuits.  If they did not lose fifteen pounds in two months, they agreed to let the photographs be shown on national television.

How's that for motivation?  As you can imagine, all but one of the dieters succeeded since they put themselves in a precarious position.  They had no choice but to rescue themselves from total humiliation, thus proving the point.  The immediate threat of humiliation has more power than the long-term threat of health problems, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and strokes.

I think of that intense motivation as Dieting Naked.  Dieting Naked means that instead of unspoken promises to be "good" tomorrow and then eating a Snickers bar at right before bed, you announce your intentions.  You unveil yourself, diet in plain sight without shame.  Now, you are accountable to someone--your co-workers, your husband, your mother or best friend.  Or me.  (When you Diet Naked, office snacks have no power over you--everyone knows you don't eat birthday cake anymore.)

Some of you have already experienced a Naked Diet because you were facing a high-school reunion or a vacation requiring bikinis and toned abs.  You had no choice--lose some weight or face mortification.  (I panicked about my twenty-year high school reunion, decided not to go, changed my mind at the last minute and only had enough time to lose twelve pounds.  And yes, I was mortified to attend wearing size 16 pants.) 

Obesity puts us at higher risk of assorted health problems, but the truth of human behavior is that unless we have immediate gratification--or immediate threat--we lack motivation to act.

That's why this blog--or, Dieting Naked--has been an effective part of my weight-loss success.  I knew when I agreed to write a diet blog for ClubMom that you would be watching.  No more secret deals with myself (I will not eat a french fry this year!) that I'd break when the greasy scent of salty potatoes coated my nasal passages.  No more promises in the dark that I'd forsake in the daylight when confronted with an Oreo package.  No more large Dairy Queen blizzards that I'd slurp up on the drive home from the grocery store.

(Newsflash:  Food eaten in secret still has calories.) 

I had some success with Weight Watchers, primarily due to the accountability of weekly weigh-ins.  But then, I'd skip a weigh-in if I knew I'd been "bad."  And then the next week would be a disaster.  Soon, I quit going altogether.

Here, I cannot skip a week.  I promised an Official Thursday Weigh-In and that's what I'm providing.  I'm Dieting Naked while you watch.  And it's working!

So, really, it's only fair that you strip, too, and join me.  Don't be shy.  No one will laugh.  We are all Naked, too, on the same journey to better health--and smaller pants. 

Comments

[siouxjoe]

Hey just wanted to let you know I went "naked" with my husband the other day. Um that sounded bad...or good, anyway I finally told him my actual real weight. It almost made me throw up, thereby contributing to my weight goals! But in all seriousness, you are absolutely right about being honest with yourself and someone else to back that up. It felt good to get it off my chest and also...I have finally lost 10 pounds! I am halfway to 10% Yeah!!! Keep up the good blogging!

[natalie]

I am no naked. This post did it. Thanks for your uninhibitied honesty. So, world...Natalie is naked (okay, actually, I'm not naked, but you know what I mean) and I'm going public. Fellow teachers and future students, YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME. I will not give in and eat whatever goodies you bring to share. I'm going to pour out the rest of the Coca-Cola right now. Thank you, Shrinking Mom.

[Alicia]

Hey Mel-
Great going so far. Your blog is inciteful and encouraging - so much so that I reached for a carrot stick instead of one of my husband's snickers bars earlier. You said it best about the instant gratification though. It's tough but nothing good is gained easily, right? Thank you for putting your naked self out there before us - you're an encouragement for all. Congratulations and keep up the GREAT work!
P.S. Any tips about working out?

[Zaire]

In 1998 I injured my back, ruptured 2 discs. At the time I weighed 350 lbs.
It took the doctors a year (to the day) to diagnose the bad discs. The doctors put me on heavy pain killers, the 12 hour kind. Both Oxy and MS contins made me extremely ill. I couldn't hold down even diet sprite. It started a trend. Since then my appetite has disappeared. I have to force my self to eat most of the time. And I eat like a bird, if that much. It is very strange as all my life I was a piggy eater. Parents made me eat everything on my plate, even though my eyes were bigger than my tummy. I have lost 175 lbs., half my weight and am still in shock. I weigh 175 lbs. now, and haven't weighed that little since I was a sopomore I weighed more than that. I am in shock, but very happy about it.- I don't suggest this method for anyone else, as it is miserable. I'm 51 yo and I know that my eating habits have changed forever. I hope this gives others hope, but don't go this route, it is miserable

[Missie]

If you wanted to get me naked, couldn't you at least buy me dinner first?

[Adventures In Babywearing]

You are so on with this one, I am sure all can relate. You have been a good motivation for me- so not only are you doing this blog for your own accountability, but you are helping others like me along the way- thanks, Mel!

[Tertia]

So, I need to promise to pose on blog in bikini? I think I will frighten my readers away ;-)

[Kelly]

I am also going naked with you. I had taken off a ton of weight to get pregnant and then gained it all back with my son and never lost it again. He is two now, I think it is time. At 206.6 lbs this morning, I am naked world. I am starting a new life for myself and my family.

[Allie]

6.4 pounds from 200 (193.6) I have owned it and it is time to get it off. The baby weight is turning 5 in Sept. You have inspired me.

[Julie]

How very inspirational! I want to join you too!!!... Only I'll have to wait until I have my baby... No dieting while pregnant... But I so need to go "naked" as soon as the wee one makes an appearance!

[Angelique Tatum]

Hello,

I cannot get the scale to budge...I exercise about 3 to 5 times a week, that is a good week. Then the next week, I will probably do it twice a week, then the next week I will have my cycle and skip the entire week because of it. I need motivation, some mornings I cannot get out of bed. I eat pretty healthy, and I have no problem drinking water. I probably drink too much in a day. I currently weigh 185l...HELP Will someone email me back with pointers. Oh problem areas, jiggly thighs, too much inner thigh, stomach, upper lower, feels like a fanny pack, love handles, my daughter pinches them, jiggly arms, those are my problem areas, practically my entire body.
:-) Can someone please email me back: angelique.tatum@dhs.gov

[Tony]

I had some success with Weight Watchers, primarily due to the accountability of weighing in every week. But then, I'd skip a weigh-in if I knew I'd been "bad." And then the next week would be a disaster.

I am a member of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly). Each week we weigh in, and during "roll call", we tell how much weight we've lost. If you've gained waight you can say "I temporarily gained". I don't take advantage of that out, and each week, I admit my gains if I have them. I take ownership of my gains.

Confession is good for the soul. :)

[Tony]

Whoops. The first paragraph should have been "quoted".

[Tropicrain]

What the heck-I'll get nekkid with you..This is the second time I have to lose a large amount of weight. When I was 26 I ended up gaining 100 lbs in 6 months from a benign Cushing's Syndrome Tumor. I lost 80 lbs in 7 months-40 of it in crisis post surgery and the rest as managing the city pool. We all had to swim 40 laps a day and believe me it came off. Talk about a nekkid experience. Unfortunately I gained 30 lbs nursing my baby (now 13) a few years later. Four years ago, I fell in a boating accident and displaced a vertebrae and was subsequently diagnosed wth spondolysthesis. I gained another 40 lbs thanks to my gourmet now-ex husband and lots of mobility issues. This month it will be a year since I had back surgery. My back is great though I am still finding out my limitations. It has been a bad year what with my ex filing for divorce 10 days post op, and having to plan a career change out of large animal research into something that will not set me back (along with a teen entering puberty, several pets dying and the stress of job hunting-yikes).

So all this free time (which I do not do well with) does allow a lot of workout time (or TV time which has been the case lately). I have been working out with pilates and trying to ride my bike around the heat spikes (102 yesterday).

so for the record-I am at 219 and 5'8" on July 11, 2006. Goal 170 by Christmas 2006.

[Noelle]

I needed this post today. I'll get naked right along with you.

This morning the scale said 167 lbs. Yet again. This plateau ends now.

Better health, smaller pants - here I come!

[Monika]

Sure what the heck I’ll get naked…. when I was diagnosed with diabetes on 4/11/06 I weighted 190. This morning I weighted in at 160…. 20 more to go. I would have NEVER lost weight without that dreaded “D” word hanging over my head; fear like humiliation is a great motivator.

[Heather]

Hey, I'm so excited about winning a ClubMom water bottle -- woohoo! Blogging about my health has made the hugest difference to me as well. No more sneaking. My kids are disappointed that my secret stashes of chocolate are depleted. I'm drinking chocolate protein shakes instead of eating M&Ms. I gotta tell somebody this news! YEAH!

[Sara]

I tried this approach before and I failed. I failed in just about every way possible to lose weight and I’m not talking about 10 or 20 pounds. I’m talking about 60 pounds at lease. I reached a point of giving up on myself.

[Allie]

I posted earlier and should probably add I am 5'4". Once i was at the md's he looked at my weight on the chart and asked "how tall are you", I responeded. "how tall should I be?"

[judy]

Okay. But I won't get naked.

Althouhg if I were to, the pants I would take off would be size 22's. 22 with elastic.

There. I did it.

Is that naked enough?

[Jyl]

Okay, I am 5'5", 250lbs, and 32. Now how is that for a visual, whoa, I know it gives me the willies too. I sometimes dream that I'm in an auto accident and loose my leg and I get so excited because I know it will be deducted from the scale. But reality is I am tired of being treated different. I've gained 100lbs over the last five years. I need to get serious and be held accountable. CAUTION: you may need to close your eyes...So here I am, Naked!

[Tonya]

Perish the thought, naked!!! No, I could never be one of those that would be willing to photographed. I am a photographer for that very reason. Your writing is so funny. Keep up the weight loss! Your doing a great job!

[Ruth]

I too have recently started the same type of diet through my doctor. I put on 50 lbs in 2 years due to meds and lack of excercise. Sitting my rear in a school bus 4-7 hours a day didn't help. I have lost 6 and 1/2 lbs in my first 3 weeks. One main help-no more caffiene or soda! Eating the right amount of veggies, fruit and protein has actually given me more energy w/o all the excess sugar and "insulin" highs which were just turning to fat! Keep up the good work, I'm glad we're all doing this together! When anyone feels like they can't do it anymore-remember you are not on this track alone, we're there supporting you!!

[amy]

Mel, just want to give you kudos for what you are doing. I ran across your blog two days ago and read through all three months to catch up. Even us younger women suffer from weight problems. I am also trying to lose weight, so I am going on the record with everything. I weighed 250 at 5'4" as of Jan 2005, then found I was pregnant. When I gave birth, I was still 261, and with nursing and dieting, I went down to 225 by the time my son was four months old (March 06). Three weeks ago, I went to my doc, and she said we needed to work on my weight and sent me to a nutritionist. I started dieting and exercising 2.5 weeks ago and have lost 13 lbs and am down to 212. I am going to follow your journey and hope to get down to 140, which I haven't been since 8th grade when I was 13. Thanks for writing, u r an inspiration to those who need it!

[Tropicrain]

Mel and everybody-

thanks for the support!

Yep, things have been a bit rough but its all going to be fine. One day at a time.

Here is a poem that I wrote back in the Cush days -its a take-off on Langston Hughes..

Recovery

So now I still feel the wind
rushing through the crack in my wing
broken bone slowly mends

Time passing
heals wounds
to heart and otherwise

I flutter and fall
Yet
I rise a little further tonight
than last night

And tomorrow
if it is given
I will rise again
and on
Until I once again soar.

Raina 2/4/89

Now I must plan for my midlife crisis July edition-a short blond haircut-something I said I would never do ;) I will be traveling on Thursday but will check back in ASAP. Have a powerful day!

[Tina]

I am new to this blog thing and want to join the Diet Naked. How do I join. Do I just post to the blog? Tina in FL

[Tina]

Mel would you please email me?
cali_mom_68@yahoo.com

[jo-less]

Hello, can I play too? :-)

I'm struggling with losing weight rather like Angelique up there /\. Plenty of exercise, I don't eat (too) badly and I drink lots of water. Anyway, I started at 78kg at the start of this year, and I'm down to 74kg now. I'd like to make 65kg by November if possible - not sure that'll work at this level of progress though! I'm 27 and you don't have to send a waterbottle over to the UK :-)
Thanks, Jo

[Jennifer M.]

Ok..here goes- Original weight (Pre-pregnancy this time) 150
Current weight: 145
Goal weight: 129
DL weight: 115 (They asked when I was 16 and that was my weight then- before college and pizza every Thursday and Saturday night!)
Well, I am hoping posting to all of you will help me get motivated!
Jennifer M

[Michelle]

I need help and support also. How do I join?
Thanks,
Michelle

[Debi]

Starting weight: 255
Current weight: 253
Goal: 140

[Dawn]

I would love to get a club mom water bottle.
My starting weight ( 1 month ago) 157.6lbs.
weight now:140.3lbs.
goal: 125lbs.

[Gina]

Hello
Im new to this whole thing. I would like to join this site and also the Diet team. Im not sure how to do this though. Please help.

[stephanie nelson]

STARTING WEIGHT: 150
CURRENT WEIGHT: 143
GOAL WEIGHT:135

[Tracy]

I think I'll go naked today. My current weight is 208 and my goal weight is 135 same as my DL.

Whoa, I can't believe I'm putting this out there.

[Cindi]

I want to join the get naked club. Is this how I do it? I weighed in at 197 last friday. Although I lie to anyone that asks and say I weigh 195. Amazing how two pounds sound like so much. I am 42 years old. the baby fat excuse doesn't cut it anymore since my youngest is 11. I am 5feet 4 something. Five or six years ago I weighed 228 and had a contest with a couple of my friends to lose weight. I won the contest and got down to 183 and kept it off for a couple of years but as you can see, it is rapidly going back up. I can't bring myself to diet. I know what to do but I hate the weak hungry feeling I get when I don't fill my face. Maybe by writing the truth in here I will be motivated. I know you all can relate and it is so frustrating that this has to be a life time thing. I can be good for a week and lose a couple of pounds and then I eat and gain back three. arggh. good luck to the rest of you.

[trish]

Starting weight: 230
Goal Weight: 150
Drivers License Weight: 175

IT'S DEFINITELY TIME TO MAKE A
CHANGE...

[Katie]

Current Weight: 210 Pounds
Goal Weight: 150 Pounds

[Kimberly]

Im only 20 and Im fat. I weighed 190 lbs when I found out I was pregnant at 19. The day before I had my daughter I weighed 269. A year later, Im still fat. Right now I weigh 240. I have a membership at a gym but I get too discouraged to even get up and go. I dont eat much, but I am stressed out at least 6 days a week. Im miserable and I need help! Id like to get back to my before baby weight!

[Ceci]

Hi. This is the first time I've stumbled across your blog, and I have to say, YOU GO, GIRL!

I am currently going through the LA Weight Loss program, mostly because I truly needed the accountability to get going and stick with it. In the last 15 weeks, I have lost almost 30 pounds and I feel so much better. . . .!

My initial decision was based on eliminating future health risks (my mom, her sisters, and her mom were all heavy and all had major joint problems that left them with mobility issues before they were 50 years old--I'm only 30, but why do the damage???), but I have to say that the change in my appearance has been wonderful for me too.

How do I join the "Diet Naked" team?

[Christy]

hello there Mel,

no progress this week but with an extra 6 people in my house this week, family from the U.S. ( I'm Canadian ), no gain is good. I kept going to the gym, I like to go at 6am, so that must of helped. Back to normal this week so I will check in again nxt week.

[Christy]

hello there Mel,

no progress this week but with an extra 6 people in my house this week, family from the U.S. ( I'm Canadian ), no gain is good. I kept going to the gym, I like to go at 6am, so that must of helped. Back to normal this week so I will check in again nxt week.

[Christy]

down 1 pound, to 188lbs, not very significant, but haven't been writing down my intake this week, and my husband away so I have eaten more than my share of points this week. Tomorrow's another day and the beginning to a new week. Back to the gym next week, and back to counting today.

[Sarah]

Okay let's get naked! I've never done the diet thing before. I weighed around 130 when I graduated highschool (2000). Got out of a 3 yr relationship, dropped to 117 quickly and unintentionally. Went up to 145 two years later b/c of anti anxiety meds. Back down to 123 a year and a half later due to the end of another 3 yr relationship. Got pregnant in Jan 2005, weighed around 150 after delivery. Currently around 150-155. Don't plan on ending my relationship anytime soon (hopefully) so it looks like I'm gonna have to work for it this time. I had the Mirena (IUD) put in after delivery and really think it is making me gain/keeping me heavy so it's getting pulled next week. I have no self-discipline and no real support (as much as my BF wants it to come off he's not any help) My crime-late night eating. I'm too busy all day, I work in the evening, come home, dinner around 8:30-9:00, bed around 10. I'm working on cutting the nonsense out of my diet right now, though I eat pretty healthy for the most part. No exercise routine but I have an active job, life, and son. No money for a gym/class, no money for a weight loss program. So here I am, naked, hopeful, and in need of serious guidance! BTW, my DL says 127, I'm shooting for closer to 120. (I'm 5'3") Sorry to take up so much space!

[Shannon C]

I want to join Diet naked

Current weight 265
Goal weight:150

[crazymomof06]

Hi all. Well scale still sits at 192. I know it's friday, sorry. I've been so sick i lost a day some where. You would think i'de lose something since i've hardly been able to eat all week. Well doctor has me on meds and hopefully next week will be better.

[Tess]

Tess (in Australia)
(I'd like to join the team please!)
Starting Weight 100.7 kg
Weight Watchers Goal Weight 76kg
Personal Goal Weight 73kg
Current Weight 82.5kg

[Margaret]

Starting/Current Weight 185
ID Weight 175
Goal Weight 145

[Lisa]

I would like to join this team for accountability reasons.
Starting weight: 178
goal weight: 155
Do I need to put anything else?
thanks

[MJ]

Alrighty then. Here we go
Height 5'2" with a 2" heel on. :)
Weight on Driver's License - 108lbs, was I EVER that thin? Oh yeah, in high school and that was a looong time ago.
Current weight - 130lbs.
Goal weight - 120lbs.
Updated 11-14-06

[Tish]

Tish
Starting weight: 213.5 (1-11-7)
Current weight: 212
Goal weight: 140
Drivers License weight: 145
Pounds lost: 1.5

[Kelli]

Starting weight: 213 (1-15-07)
Current weight: 207
No drivers license weight.
Goal: 160

[Jasmine]

Starting Weight: 170
Short term Goal weight: 140
Driver's License and dream weight: 130

[Carla]

Height: 5'3
Starting weight: 216 on 2-7-2007
Current weight: 214
Short-term goal: 174
Long-term goal: 137
Driver's license weight:185

[Carla]

I want to diet naked! :-) I am 41..5'3 at 215 lbs..I want to get down to 137 (pre child bearing) weight.

[Carla]

Just putting it all out there makes you feel"naked"..5'3 at 216 lbs...Not a pretty sight naked!!

[Christina]

Starting weight: 190 (2-12-07)
Current weight: 186
No drivers license weight.
Goal: 140

[jenny senart]

I'm a mom of a 7 year old girl 3 year old boy and a 3 month old girl. after I had my baby I can't loose the extra weight.

[Linda in Indiana]

I'd love to join all of you- In Nov. 06- The dr told me I was borderline diabetic. I weighed 256 - I had been complaining I had trouble losing weight- I really eat very little- I do like chocolate. Since then I have lost down to 240- my weight will go up and down lb or 2 here and there. I wear size 20. Count carb is hard for me. I am allowed 3 at each meal and 1 at a snack- drives me crazy. My goal is 150. If I get to 170 I will be thrilled. When I got married 32 yrs ago I only weighed 140 and thought I was fat. I'd been 130- when I joined the military, was active so I kept my weight down. My dh liked to eat. Not good for me- I smell food and gain weight. I've changed eating habits- no more fast food. No red meat. Only health fats.

[Barb]

SO glad I found your site. I need this desperately. Squeamishly I add my stats, and hope (against the hope I lack) it will kick my butt.
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 220
Driver's Lic weight:170
Goal Weight: 150
How do you stick with it when you relapse?

[Jen V.]

Just signed up for the group at Cafe Mom and I thought I'd add my stats here too.

Starting Weight: 240
Current Weight: 235.2
Short Term Goal: 200
Long Term Goal: 150

[Patti Justice]

Well I hope I can do this.
Starting weight: 227
Ideal weight: 150

Here's to dieting naked.

[Christiana]

I just found your website...for years, I've carried extra weight from my second child (who is 11!) I managed to lose about 10 pounds a couple of years ago, but since starting a stressful job as a nursing assistant & going back to school (too much sitting), I've gained it back & then some! So...I'll get naked & hope it helps me get motivated. My height is 5'5", and my weight is currently 160. My goal weight is 135. Dream weight would be 120, my weight before my second baby.

[Marianne D]

I was searching for inspirational blogs and yours grabbed me like no other. I feel like I could have written so many parts to your blog, especially "how to get fat" - which has been like a lightbulb going on in my head.

I feel new motivation to make changes to my life because of your blog, and am so happy to see others in the same boat as me. I'm going to follow a South Beach/WW Core/Low GI/Zone-ish plan of my own creation, with a goal range of 1300-1600 calories a day, to start. Here are my stats, if you want to add them.

Starting Weight: 224.5
Current Weight: 224.5
Highest Weight 267 (the day I delivered my first child)
Lowest Adult Weight (since age 18 - I'm now 42): 140
Interim Goal Weight: 175
Ultimate Goal Weight: 135-140 or Size 10, whichever comes first!

[jan]

i am 50 yrs young and two-hundred and fifty pounds. I don't think that I over eat, I was working out five days a week and still did not lose weight. Goal weight one-eighty by January 13th.

[Jennifer G]

I am a proud mommy of 3 boys! I am still working on losing the baby fat from baby #3, approximately 15lbs.

Height: 5'8"
Current Weight: 150lbs
Goal Weight: 135 lbs

[Anne]

current weight 187 Goal 115 Drivers License 115

[Anne]

I would like to lose about 70lbs I bet through the years I have lost a million lbs. and gained a million lbs. as you may have guessed I am a yo yo dieter. Please help me lose and not gain it back there has got to be a method to this maddness! Anne

[Jenks]

Just found your blog today, and I love it. I've been blogging about losing weight and getting healthy since August (I think), and I've lost around 30 lbs, but more importanatly my cholestorol is down by more then 35 points in 6 months.

Good Luck

[my3monthchallenge]

Hi there! Thanks for an encouraging post on self challenges (when faced with risk of humiliation) and the motivation factor! I'm here with you blogging about my naked diet!

[Kari]

Late on the scene, but I need the accountability as motivation:

5'6.5", 24
Current weight: 182
Goal: 135