I'm not on a "diet"

I've been thinking a lot about the definition of a "diet" and the fads, the pills, the extreme measures that go along with them. That's not what I'm about. My sister, actually, just did this diet that was a little nutso. You eat 500 calories a day, take this serum stuff... anyway you're supposed to drop weight like nobody's business. I've tried basically every single diet out there. That's not an exaggeration - I've been battling with my weight since the 5th grade. There isn't anything I haven't tried. And do you know why none of those fad diets work? Because the bottom line is, you don't LEARN anything about how you are eating. You don't create a better relationship with food. You put a bandaid over the problem. One of those flimsy, non-water proof, not really worth much because you bought them at the dollar store kind of a bandaid. Nothing heals, nothing's protected, and nothing's gained. Which is why after allll these years of trying and failing, I've found the 1 thing to be worthwhile is good 'ol burning more than you take in. For example, I burn about 800-1,000 more calories a day than I take in. I'm obviously not perfect, but it's gotten me down 50 pounds so far so I must be doing something right. Yesterday I had a bag of hot funyuns with my lunch. I counted it and added it to my food diary. No big. I burned that and more at Yoga. It's all about finding a healthy balance between want and need. Asking, "Do I need to eat because I am hungry?" vs. "Do I want to eat because that looks delicious?" You'd be surprised at the answer you give yourself when you provide your mind the opportunity to be fair to your body. I keep saying over and over again that obesity is very much an addiction as powerful as alcoholism or drug abuse. The difference is that with alcohol or drugs, you can stop use altogether and live the rest of your life free and clear of your addiction. With food, you need it to survive. So cutting it out is not really an option. I am forced to face my addiction every single day. To choose eating healthy over not. To choose to have a cup of tea late at night instead of a late-night snack - or, when I really am hungry, to choose a healthier option than cakes and cookies. It's exhausting. Which is why I'm really sticking to this. I've decided that starting a  new year without this weight thing weighing over my head is more important than eating an entire package of cookies in just one sitting. I still have them, but they don't have me. Know what I mean? Anyway... that's what's been in my head today. :)