Eating what you like vs. clean eating vs. following weight watchers or low carb or other method
Tatarataa
Posts: 178 Member
What has helped you most to stick to your calories? How are you losing? Especially: people with binge problems-what has helped you most?
I am currently trying to eat whatever I like and especially to include my binge foods in my normal daily life. We will see how this will go, I just started to put focus on this...
I am currently trying to eat whatever I like and especially to include my binge foods in my normal daily life. We will see how this will go, I just started to put focus on this...
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Replies
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I eat what I want, when I want. My only rule is that it has to fit my calorie and protein goal. Doing great so far.0
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Great to hear that this works for others!!0
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I would much rather have no ice cream than the one tablespoon of ice cream that actually fits in my goals - so no, I don't eat what I want because quantity is a big part of what I want, for some foods.
You however may be different - not everybody is the same.
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When I was trying to lose weight, for most things I ate what I wanted, just less of it. Cutting things out just made me want them more. The only exceptions were drinks, where I switched to diet/sugar free from regular.0
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I tend to want large quantities of binge foods, it is very difficult for me to eat just one slice of cake or piece of chocolate, I obsess over the next bite!
I tend to eat healthy-ish and within my calories for an average day. During celebrations (like this past weekend I'll have some sweets, but I have to physically walk away once I get my piece.0 -
In the past I've tried the Cambridge Diet, Nutri System, Paleo, Atkins, Raw Vegan.
I can say what works best for me is eating food I already like in moderate portions. I'm okay with small servings of "treat" foods. The thing is, for me? My goal weight TDEE isn't too far off my current calorie consumption. I'm going to have to deal with food in small quantities for the rest of my life.
I'm glad to have learned better habits while enjoying things I love. I've developed an appreciation for higher quality food. I don't mind spending more money on the good stuff now. It lasts longer since I eat less of it and I feel like I get more bang for my buck that way.0 -
I make sure to get up to my minimum protein macro (100 grams) and then I can eat what I want. But most of what I want is good home cooked food. But I also drink beers once in a while, have a pizza takeout once in a while, etc.0
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Mycophilia wrote: »I eat what I want, when I want. My only rule is that it has to fit my calorie goal. Doing great so far.
2nd, but also needs to meet my macro (mostly protein) goals because I am also very much focused on body composition. I don't generally bother to meet fat or carbs because my average is usually either over on fat or right where it should be, and carbs are just the filler so they use up whatever is left.0 -
I would much rather have no ice cream than the one tablespoon of ice cream that actually fits in my goals - so no, I don't eat what I want because quantity is a big part of what I want, for some foods.
You however may be different - not everybody is the same.
66-100g of ice cream isn't a tablespoon, but I guess if you're only allotting like 30 calories for a treat instead of ~120-150 calories then it's much harder to eat the actual serving size.0 -
Mycophilia wrote: »I eat what I want, when I want. My only rule is that it has to fit my calorie goal. Doing great so far.
2nd, but also needs to meet my macro (mostly protein) goals because I am also very much focused on body composition. I don't generally bother to meet fat or carbs because my average is usually either over on fat or right where it should be, and carbs are just the filler so they use up whatever is left.
You're right, I also care about how much protein I get. Somehow forgot to add that part lol.0 -
I do tend to have binge problems, but find that they're much worse if I cut my calories too low or try to exclude foods that I like. Everyone is different, obviously, so you may need to play around. For me, I felt much more in control when I set my weight loss to one pound a week, but gave myself permission to go up to maintenance if I felt like I needed to. I almost never used that option, but it took the pressure off if I ate a little over my goal. I no longer had the "well I've blown it, might as well eat everything" mindset that I got stuck in during the early days of my dieting. I watch my calories and my macros, but fit sweets and treats in where I can.
Also, with binging I always think that a big component of it is figuring out why you binge. For me, restricting made it worse. But I'm also an emotional eater, so I have to pay attention to my emotions and try to direct my stress into something other than eating. If I get too sad, too angry, too stressed, I'll reach for food to try and eat until I'm numb. Picking up a hobby that keeps my hands busy, keeping a journal, exercising, or anything that helps work off stress can be helpful if you're an emotional eater. Maybe you are and maybe you aren't, but I wanted to point out that it can help to pay attention to why you're eating and try to get in front of those sorts of things before you reach for the food. It's not a perfect solution, but it might help take some of the pressure off.0 -
I cut a lot out when I was losing. Mainly because the calorie hits were too high with some things. Now that I am maintaining, I basically eat what I want. That being said, "what I want" is a bit different these days than before I started as I am more knowledgeable on calorie counts/macros/etc.0
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I'm using the "Eat what you like" (as long as it fits my goals) approach.
Previously when I dieted I cut alot out, - No Beer, No Chocolate, No Sweets etc. Then when I struggled I binged on beer, sweets and chocolate.
Now I am thinking more around the calories and fat of items.
The other night I laid in bed and ate 12 Milky Bar Buttons as that is what fit into my goals, once I had 12 I stopped.
a) The pack lasted alot longer.
b) I continued to lose weight.
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I would much rather have no ice cream than the one tablespoon of ice cream that actually fits in my goals - so no, I don't eat what I want because quantity is a big part of what I want, for some foods.
You however may be different - not everybody is the same.
Im like him, i try to find food that i can eat the biggest quantity of. So a tablespoon of ice cream will not suffice or i will end up eatin the entire tub.
I also have binge eating problems but it is not daily, its maybe once a week. So after that day passes and ive eaten mindlessly 7000+ calories i up my cardio and drop calorie intake for the next 5 days to offset the binge day. Im still able to maintain the body fat level i desire with this method.
How often do you have the binge cravings? This makes a difference. If you can limit your binge day from turning into days and your calories deficit the following days exceed the binge(till the next binge day) day overage you will still lose weight.0 -
Eat the way you want to eat the rest of your life. If you are happy "eating clean" (however you define that) for the rest of you life then go for it.
If not, then don't. Same goes for low carb.
If it is not something you want to do forever then no use starting. Temporary changes are the base of yo-yo dieting.
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I'm in the 'eat what you like - sorta kinda' camp. ex: I like ice cream and chocolate but I have problems with gallons and bars, so I get fudgesicles. Finding the little substitutions that aren't "low fat" or "sugar free" but which focus more on the portion control. I also try to make my meals balanced with protein, carbs and fat since I have found that to be really satisfying.0
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I find it to be about my mindset. I haven't told myself that I can't have anything. I just tend to not eat certain things because of the calories. But somehow knowing that I haven't "forbidden" them makes that okay. And if I do get a real hankering for something, I either have a bit or decide to make it a maintenance day or make it fit somehow.0
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Mycophilia wrote: »I eat what I want, when I want. My only rule is that it has to fit my calorie goal. Doing great so far.
2nd, but also needs to meet my macro (mostly protein) goals because I am also very much focused on body composition. I don't generally bother to meet fat or carbs because my average is usually either over on fat or right where it should be, and carbs are just the filler so they use up whatever is left.
This too. I feel best when I hit my protein goal. I also try to meet a fat goal for satiety.
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I'm in the 'eat what you like - sorta kinda' camp. ex: I like ice cream and chocolate but I have problems with gallons and bars, so I get fudgesicles. Finding the little substitutions that aren't "low fat" or "sugar free" but which focus more on the portion control. I also try to make my meals balanced with protein, carbs and fat since I have found that to be really satisfying.
^This is definitely something that I do. Like right now, I'm having a hard time not eating a whole pint of ice cream if I buy one (usually it will last me 3-4 days). So I bought the 40-calorie fudgesicles instead. Where I can moderate, I do, but sometimes moderation means knowing what I can't be trusted around at the moment.
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I am a fan of eating what I want as long as it fits my goals. However due to medical issues I cannot do that anymore. Now I am struggling big time with a low carb/keto lifestyle. It seems to be the only woe where my symptoms are gone. I go back to my normal carb loaded lifestyle and get super sick. I hate it, but rather not be sick.0
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Eat what I like within my goals. If I 'kind of' want something but it would put me over I will wait until the next day. If I'm really super-crazy-craving it I'll eat a serving anyway and not really sweat it. Otherwise I always have something sweet budgeted for the beginning and end of every day. Usually a chocolately coffee in the morning and ice cream at night, but tonight it's a corndog dipped in funnel cake batter. Woke up craving that. I don't even like corndogs. But Imma have it. Spent all morning thinking about it and would have made it part of lunch but forgot to grab one on my way out the door. XD
It's the same calories, sugar, carbs, and protein as my two servings of ice cream so it rounds out my day in exactly the same way, too (other than salt... but I did a LOT of sweating in the 90ish degree heat yesterday, so figure my body is needing the salt).
I do like being simplistic and having lots and lots of veggies because it just works out better nutrient-wise as well as calorie-wise without having to think too hard about it, but really: anything goes. Trying to put any food on a 'no' list just doesn't work for me.
I've lost lots and lots with this attitude (at my goal weight now: just gunna try to drop a bit lower and then move to maintenance experimenting along with exercise for fitness). Never feel guilty about any food, and even feel said foods are even more enjoyable since I can account for them and not wonder what it might do to my thighs.0 -
I do best following a mostly whole foods based diet, with very little processed foods. I will indulge myself on occasion, but the whole moderation thing is difficult for me. Having just a just a little bit of ice cream or whatever doesn't work for me. I've also found that i don't seem to crave it much or feel deprived either. If I'm in the mood for ice cream I'll go out for some as a treat. But those moods are typically few and far between. What i have also found is that there are so many foods and flavors out there to be tried and enjoyed, I don't miss eating junk at all.0
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It was "key" for me to eat whatever I wanted. Depriving myself of yummy tasty foods always did me in. That being said I do stay away from certain foods "potato chips, cheez-its, doritos" because they are seriously difficult for me to stop at an appropriate serving.0
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As far as binge eating goes, I keep triggers out of my house. As much as I would LOVE to have them around I just can't. I only have a few triggers, so it isn't that bad and I don't feel deprived.0
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4legsRbetterthan2 wrote: »If it is not something you want to do forever then no use starting.
That gets said around here all the time, and it makes no sense whatsoever. Life is full of things we only do for a while - there is no reason eating patterns need to be any different.
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"Eat what you like" - I don't like shrimp or most fish. Even though they're "good" for me and most recommended meal plans for any WOE include them, I'm not going to eat them, because life is too short. I like tomatoes. Some people in LC have this bizarre phobia about tomatoes being higher carb than they actually are (I think partly due to a bad MFP entry that's floating around). I'll keep eating them every day, even if it's going to cause some LC people to wring their hands and tell me I'm doing it wrong.
"Clean" eating - if you asked someone who insists on a low fat or vegetarian diet, they would declare that most of my food is "bad" food, whole cream, bacon, butter, chocolate, cheese, cheese, cheese, and more cheese. OTOH, if you talked to someone doing the typical American diet of fast food 5-10 times a week, supplemented with frozen meals and chased with Monster or Mt. Dew at every meal, my cooking 99% of my meals from scratch at home sounds like fanaticism.
Low carb I don't really have a choice in the matter, it's about food that I either can't digest or that worsens my symptoms. I can say that there's really not anything I miss, so it's not like I'm depriving myself, or staring longingly at the Costco bakery section as I walk by.
All told, I'm low carb, "clean" eating whatever I like...depending whose definitions you want to use this week. I think the only thing that has any influence one way or the other is the LC part, and that's based entirely on whether or not I'm in keto - in keto, I don't get hungry ever. I'll get shaky and dizzy if I go way too long without eating, but no actual hunger feelings. Out of keto, I get hungry like any other person. OTOH, if I was an emotional eater, that wouldn't matter, and I'd still eat thousands of calories, because for them, hunger is irrelevant.
I do think when it comes to weight loss programs you have to pay for, people should remember the end goal is not to help you lose weight, it's to make money. If you take the weight off and keep it off, you stop paying them money. It's in their best interest to help you get a little success, then sabotage you just enough that you think it's your own fault, and will keep coming back. If they actually worked, they'd have no repeat customers.
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Do whatever makes you not hate the diet. Whatever doesn't leave you feeling deprived. That way, your chances of sticking with it are much better.
I do clean eating because that's what I prefer; it's the way I was brought up. I love scratch cooking, love lots of vegetables and fruits, rarely have processed foods. When I feel like having something else, I do, and in small amounts. I also make sure it fits in with my calorie goals, and my sugar which needs to be watched. MFP makes this all so easy that is't second nature to me now after just 11 weeks.0 -
The only eating rule I have is that I never eat after dinner, whether dinner is at 6, 8 or 10 PM. I used to, and that was always a mistake. With that one change it has been really easy to keep my calories in line.
I don't rule out any foods, but my diet is focused on whole, unprocessed foods. I try to make sure to always have healthy options for meals in the house, and I almost never snack (not now anyway, thanks to the no eating after dinner rule). The only snacks I have in the house are healthy snacks- KIND bars, nuts, fruits, etc. Actually I lie, I do keep one unhealthy snack in the house for the kiddos- gummy bears. I love them too, and if I have 5 gummy bears after cardio I just count them in my diary and don't feel too guilty about it.
This is not to say I never indulge, but if I'm going to really indulge it's by eating out, which I sometimes miss, and I find a way to fit it into my calorie counts by planning other meals around it. I find that as long as I'm full I don't miss things like fries or chips, and if I can have something healthy and sweet like a smoothie then I don't really crave sweets. I still eat those things once in a while if I'm out and they look good, but it's pretty rare these days.0 -
For the most part, I eat what I want when I want. I pay attention to my protein, fat, carb, and fiber counts, but don't give myself any drama if I go over the calorie goal on any given day. I pay attention to my portions (my biggest challenge), and make informed decisions about what I want, but if I really want the donut 200 calories worth, or if I want the pudding 120 calories worth, I have it. I've lost nearly 65 pounds in about 10 months, and I'm not feeling deprived or like food is the enemy. I make informed choices about nutrient content and portion size.0
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I eat "whatever" I want as long as it fits in my calories. But this means I have also cut out or greatly reduced amounts of high calorie foods. Like, I COULD fit a 680-calorie giant chocolate muffin from Costco into my day, and it's not that I don't enjoy those muffins anymore... but I'd much rather use those calories for other things. And I guess that makes me eat "healthier" (which is a subjective term) because I'll eat things like chicken breast and fruit instead of a muffin.0
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