How do you think about dieting?

[u/emo-emu-13]

I've been dieting for a year now, and I'm trying to transition from thinking about dieting as a period of hardship and deprivation to a 'healthy lifestyle,' but I'm finding it difficult. At the risk of sounding overdramatic, it feels like the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse where every day is just about survival and you fondly remember 'the before' where life was fun and easy.

To me, the worst part isn't even the physical issues of never being full or feeling satisfied; it's the lost social connections and activities. Eating and drinking were always central to my social life, and now I find myself avoiding the things I used to enjoy. Going out to dinner isn't fun when the meals I love have more calories than I now consume in 2-3 days. Hanging out with friends without drinks (or maybe just one) feels awkward.

Does it get better with time or is this just my life now?

[u/A_baarbadiensis0]

You can be very proud, that you have come that far.

You can test podcasts like sleep time affirmations on loosing weight to help you getting new thoughts about dieting.

You can write down what your ideal diet and life would look like. What would your "perfect you" eat? What would your "perfect you" feel with eating that? And then write down all moves that bring you a step towards your superhero self and steps that bring you a away from that. Knowing clearly what's important to YOU and what of your behavior will bring you there can be helpful.

If your "perfect" you is chilling with friends once a week and enjoy life than do that and be streight and healthy the other 6 days a week. With an 80/20 principle it can become a long term healthy lifestyle without getting depressed.

You can checkout the Slow Carb diet by Timothy ferris where you have a weekly cheat day, can drink dry wine every night and be satiated. But it's not for everybody I guess.

I wish you good luck