Do you cut out certain foods for weight loss?

jangus9416

I was thinking about changing up my diet a bit since my weight loss has been slowing down. One day I might not eat meat, and the next no processed foods (I only eat whole wheat anyways). Thoughts? Ideas? Do you do something similar?

rosnigetsfit

I have completely cut out sodas. It's been 5 months since I had them. I still eat processed foods tho I know too much of it is bad. It is important to know your limitations/ when to stop.

It's really up to you. Do anything that works for you. Good luck!

pinkiezoom

I havent cut anything out, as i know i would only end up craving them, and going nuts lol!. I just keep it all within my cals per day.

ChrisM8971

I only cut right back on things that I don't find fulfilling for the calories but haven't really cut anything out completely. I eat processed/pre packaged foods when I need convenience, I just choose the ones that fit my macro requirements

mazdauk

I don't cut anything out. But if I don't have the calories available I'll choose between things - like do I want one chocolate biscuit, or two small plain ones. Or neither, and have one square of dark chocolate instead. Its about making the good choices, not cutting out anything. Unless its something you know you can't limit yourself on.
If your weight loss has slowed - as it often does when you are near your target - try different exercise, or exercise at a different time to "surprise" your body.

rybo

Some people cut things some don't. Both can be successful.

bigd66218

Ice Cream and Potato Chips

isulo_kura

Just Kale

ArkMom35

I've not cut anything completely out of my diet. I have definitely reduced my consumption of a lot of unhealthy things, but I allow myself anything as long as it fits in my goals.

malibu927

Only drinking my calories (full sugared sodas/juices...I have alcohol about twice a year so that's not an issue). Everything else is what I've always eaten, just less of it.

kristen6350

Nope, just reduce them to fit into my day. Lost 17lbs since December, 1lb less than goal weight currently. Don't make it harder than it has to be. Just hit your calorie goal and move a bit more. And be patient and consistent.

joshuapowell1989

I've reduced them, for example eating the recommended serving of 12 Giant Milky Bar Buttons instead of the whole bag which is what I was doing before! I have kinda cut out Salami, as I find it very hard to limit myself with Salami, and for the amount of calories etc I'd rather not risk it

lemurcat12

jangus9416 wrote: »

I was thinking about changing up my diet a bit since my weight loss has been slowing down. One day I might not eat meat, and the next no processed foods (I only eat whole wheat anyways). Thoughts? Ideas? Do you do something similar?

I change up my diet from time to time if I think I'm not being varied enough. I gave up meat during Lent (well, not fish) because I wanted to try to force myself to think more about non meat protein sources, like beans (ended up not doing the best job at this, though--ate lots of fish and tofu), as well as because it's a traditional Lenten thing. I give up added sugar (or sweets) from time to time to try and expand my ideas of how to use extra calories. I've given up buying lunch for a period of time to force myself to pre-cook stuff and not fall into a pattern of buying it multiple times per week. I don't particularly think it helps weight loss but it can help my motivation sometimes or just help me make my diet better or more interesting going forward.

SezxyStef

isulo_kura wrote: »

Just Kale

agreed..that stuff is nasty..ick

maasha81

No I do not but I do eat smaller portions and ensure it fits within my calorie allotment

Sabine_Stroehm

I recently read an article that suggested it was easier to be "true" to a diet when you change things up because old, ingrained habits are hard to tweak. So you may make a plan, but are less likely to stick to it. According to the article you're more successful if you create NEW habits. No idea if it's true, but it's an interesting idea. When I lost I made some huge new habits and eliminated several life long old ones.
As for "cutting" foods: I do try to limit some hyper palatable foods that I find challenging to eat in true moderation. So I don't generally keep tortilla chips in the house. Nachos are a restaurant only food, and only once in a while.
And, I limit the added sugars in foods because I find compliance easier with less extra sugar, and my grains are always 100% whole grain and higher in fiber because I find that for me that helps as well. Basically, I try to eat more nutrient dense whole foods and less of the heavily refined (usually carb dense) convenience foods.

lemurcat12

Sabine's post reminds me that I do substitute foods for ones that I think have more positives if there's no real cost to me of doing so. For example, I haven't given up refined grains and will eat really good bread that happens to be white in a restaurant or order pasta (which is generally white) on occasion, but on the whole I like the whole grain version just as well, so that's what I have at home (and I never have bread at home since I like almost everything I'd eat with it as well or better without it--like burgers without buns or almost anything on its own rather than in a sandwich). I don't consider this cutting things out, since I never want the things I am not eating and I eat them on occasion outside of my house, but it's an easy way to save calories.

Similarly, there's no juice I prefer to the whole fruit and I prefer whole fruits for the fiber, so I don't drink juice.

Maldives3319

Yep - Pasta, bread, cakes etc....

Just stuff I am happy to do without.

I wouldn't want to cut anything I'm too fond of, or crave, as this would probably not be sustainable.

999tigger

I can eat what I want, but I choose not to eat certain foods on any given day because it doesnt give me the nutrutional hit or value for calories I might want. For other foods, then I just eat less of them. Bread these days is more of a treat becayse its not really filling for the calories.

SezxyStef

Maldives3319 wrote: »

Yep - Pasta, bread, cakes etc....

Just stuff I am happy to do without.

I wouldn't want to cut anything I'm too fond of, or crave, as this would probably not be sustainable.

Off topic but your name caught my attention as my husband and I are looking at taking a vacation in Maldives...over the water bungalows....

baodom10

I have cut down on breads, fried foods, and sugars. I do not drink soda. I do have 1 to 2 cheat meals a week (not day but meal) and if I want a soda or pizza I will have it. Its easier to stay on the no sugar and grains when you can have a cheat meal. I have lost weight and feel so much better cutting out these things. But I am having to learn to be creative in what I make.

Francl27

Sodas and juice. That's it. The rest I eat in moderation (I don't have chips or fried food much often at all though).

Afura

I changed my food because I was diagnosed as diabetic, but otherwise I stay within my calorie goal. I have mostly cut out sugary drinks, part diabetes, but part empty calories and sugar consumption I'd rather use for other things. For me, I found if I don't fit in a way to have a craving (ie eat some chocolate), I'll end up binging (ie eat the whole bar and regret it).

RoxieDawn

Kale and oatmeal is "outlawed" in my house.. tried to introduce it but it was huge failure.. LOL

Still eat my favorite things just the portions are a lot smaller.. Before I came to MFP I never knew I was eating up to triple what a portion size really was...

No more sweet tea or soda. Hate to drink my calories..

ndj1979

OP - no, I just reduce certain foods that are calorie dense, but I still eat them.

do you use a food scale and weigh all your solids?

if your progress is slowing down it is not due to food type, but over consumption of foods….

lauracups

For reasons other than weight loss I cut alcohol. Weight loss was the bi-product though, 30lbs before doing mfp.

leggup

What would be the benefit in cutting a food for 1 day? Your body's calories don't reset when the clock strikes midnight. Your progress is slowing down due to how many calories in vs calories out you're working with. Some people cut entire food groups, but I don't find that sustainable.

sardelsa

My diet is very sustainable and changes very little whether I am cutting, maintaining or gaining... just the proportions change. Other than that, no I don't cut out things and make it more complicated than it has to be. Do whatever puts you into a deficit and is sustainable for you.

Azexas

I've cut nothing out of my diet. I just figured out what a proper serving size is and if it will fit into my goals for the day. Food scale comes in mighty handy.

earlnabby

jangus9416 wrote: »

I was thinking about changing up my diet a bit since my weight loss has been slowing down. One day I might not eat meat, and the next no processed foods (I only eat whole wheat anyways). Thoughts? Ideas? Do you do something similar?

I cut out nothing, but did cut down severely on desserts, alcohol, and takeout or delivery pizza. Actually, I guess you could say I cut out the pizza since I haven't had any in over a year, but that is mostly because it would be a waste of food and money for me to order a pizza and only have one serving (I live alone so nobody here to eat the leftovers before they got stale).

dieselbyte

baodom10 wrote: »

I have cut down on breads, fried foods, and sugars. I do not drink soda. I do have 1 to 2 cheat meals a week (not day but meal) and if I want a soda or pizza I will have it. Its easier to stay on the no sugar and grains when you can have a cheat meal. I have lost weight and feel so much better cutting out these things. But I am having to learn to be creative in what I make.

Why not just make those foods fit your macros or calories, instead of having "cheat meals"?