Why Can You Eat Fattening Food? What's Your Secret

corgicake

When I go after the cheese it's a single ounce block and done away from home, aka where the rest of the cheese is. Same goes for a few other things, though if I'm having a no appetite evening I can start waving the potatoes in front of myself without risk. Really, I think my crazy lifestyle with so many meals away from home with this heat are why I can realistically get away with portioning down tasty rubbish.

grimendale

Moderation is a learned activity. I grew up as the family garbage disposal. I was expected to clean my plate and anyone else's leftovers. It's hardly surprising that I had a lot of difficulty with portion control as an adult. Portion control is important no matter what you eat, but it is particularly pertinent in the calorie bombs you get from restaurants. It took me a lot of time working with a dietician to adjust my idea of what a "normal" amount of food was so that it was in line with what my body actually needed. Now, I log my calories before I eat and measure out portions according to that rather than trying to eat what my eyes tell me is right and hope it fits my macros. It works for me, but may not work for everyone.

conniemaxwell5

I work out every day and burn enough calories to eat pretty much whatever I want. I'm reasonable but I eat ice cream 3-4 times a week. Today I had an extra busy day at work and combined with my workout this morning burned almost 1000 calories, so I had room for a treat. On days when I don't burn as much, I eat less or at least make healthier choices to stay within my limits.

Ejourneys

Here's what's been working for me:

1. My everyday eating focuses on healthy foods, especially fresh produce. Over time I've gotten used to the natural sweetness of fruits, in a way that makes richer, processed sweets like chocolate and baked goods almost TOO sweet. The same goes for foods like pizza, which now can taste almost too rich to me.

2. Nothing is forbidden. I don't feel deprived. For me the trick was finding good substitutions, so that I don't miss those more fattening foods. Once in a great while I'll have a treat, and then it feels absolutely decadent -- and rich enough so that I am sated very quickly and actually look forward to returning to my regular way of eating.

In other words, eating sustainably trumps everything else. It very rarely feels like work.

El_Cunado

Portion control and shrugging my shoulders.

Had White Castles tonight w/McDonald's Coke.

ninerbuff

2 reasons:

I don't eat that much of it.

I BUST my *kitten* working out so I burn more than I consume.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

danasings

OP, many of my friends have given you really great answers in this thread. My short answer is, sometimes I can't. But I have had to learn how to control myself in order to be able to eat certain foods in moderation.

It is sort of off-topic, but you inspired my blog post tonight, so I thought I'd share the link with you.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/danasings

Lyadeia

2 reasons:

I don't eat that much of it.

I BUST my *kitten* working out so I burn more than I consume.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

This is pretty much my answer, too.

After working out my TDEE-15% (which is perfect for me to lose fat comfortably) I discovered that I can budget around 1800 calories for the day. I can have a burger from Jack in the Box for about 700 calories EASILY since I have 1100 more calories to use. I can just make those other calories low calorie, nutrient dense things like veggies and lean meats like turkey for the rest of the food throughout the day. An "ultimate cheeseburger" is enough to fill me up, so there's no need for me to get more than that afterwards.

I think some people have more difficulty with this because their calorie target goal for the day is set much lower than mine (which is probably much lower than they coul feasibly use, they just don't realize it!). If you have a 700 calorie burger when your goal is 1200 calories, that doesn't leave much else for the rest of the day.

Also, this goes to the second point listed. I bust my *kitten* at the gym. I lift weights 4 days a week, do intense cardio twice a week, and walk a minimum of 12,000 steps daily. So, I earn more calories for the day anyway. Without that exercise, I'd be stuck trying to live off of 1300 calories, which would suck. When you lift weights especially, you can eat more because you burn more, and because lifting weights will raise your RMR causing your TDEE to go up (meaning again, you can eat more even when not exercising).

Now, if the problem is "I can't force myself to stop eating," such as I can't just have 1 cheeseburger...well, I can't help you there. That's a personal issue that you are going to have to deal with. I used to be that way. I used to have this *need* to eat the whole bag of Cheetos or the whole pint of Ben and Jerry's, but I worked diligently on myself to control my portions and control my thought process about them, and eventually, it just sunk in. Also, I never eat those things when I am needing a lot of calories. If I am already hungry, of course I will overeat those calories. But, I have them as a treat, or a dessert, after my meal, so I am less hungry anyway.

Good luck in your journey!

koing

MUSCLE MASS

Once a person has built up enough muscle over years of training they can get away with eating a lot more due to increased muscle mass and the fact that they do heavy weights weekly.

I've trained competitively for years and still do and my day to day calories is probably about 3000 or so. Maybe a bit more? I can pretty much eat whatever I want and maintain a good physique at 91-93kg. But to be in phenomenal shape I cant' do that. I have to carefully monitor what I eat and eat 2400-2600cal. Pizza, pasta is off the menu but I refeed on rice once a week.

Koing

TheVimFuego

I could tell you that I eat chocolate, ice cream and all manner of 'unhealthy' things daily but in moderation.

But I'd also have to tell you that 'just one glass' of anything alcoholic is a foreign concept to me

We all have our triggers and means of relaxation.

I used to crave carbs for instance (3 heaped sugars in my tea, etc) but since I did a low carb stint I don't have anything like the problem I had with constant hunger, maybe you have an underlying metabolic issue like insulin resistance?

pluckabee

I look at it this way.

What is that pie really giving me?

I just eat it for the taste, and each bite of it is the same. So 1 bite of pie is really exactly the same as 20 bites in terms of the benefit im getting.

Its not giving me as much nutrition as something else would, so I just have enough for a taste and make sure to fill the rest of my day with nutritious food that I really need.

jetlag

At 560 lbs. and trapped in my own home and finally having that get busy living or get busy dying moment, I knew even then nothing would ever change if I didn't figure out how to change my relationship with food.. It was my addition and no matter what I did if I could not get a handle on it I would continue down the road I was already on.. So I needed someone to help me change my mindset so for me it was therapy...and slowly I learned to accept food for what it is (a means to life) food would eventual not control me and that I would control it... It took alot of hard work and I am still going to therapy once a month but I can say there is no going back now... I have a firm grip on things now but I still am ever diligent to know where I came from and to work everyday to appreciate what I have been able to do... So from my perspective that is where I would start..... Best of Luck

Hold the phone, 312lbs lost!??!!?! I want a statue of you in my garden, dude, seriously!


Edit: I was so mouth-agape-stunned by that number that I forgot to post what I was going to say lol Now, my husband can eat "whatever he wants" and not put on weight because he "wants" one slice of pizza and I want ALL the slices. He wants a curry and a rice. I want a 2 starters, a curry, two sides and a rice (and some poppadoms and that lovely mint sauce.).

So, I have to tell myself, "is this the last curry I am ever going to have on this earth? If the gods are willing and the creeks don't rise, no, so I don't have to eat absolutely everything on the menu that I love today.

I do think we're wired differently, though. He's just as much a foodie as I am, he can just eat a little of what he loves and be happy. Sometimes I have to eat something until I physically can't stand the taste of it anymore. I'd love to know why.

Francl27

I have no problem doing it. I just log it first and stick to one piece (or two when pizza, usually). And stick to my calories/macros as much as possible. I had to 'detox' for a couple months first though, after that, no problem. I'm just hoping it lasts!

pinkraynedropjacki

I eat a full pizza. I eat anything I want.


how?


I work my *kitten* off all damn day (not intentional) and so I can eat it.

I have a back injury that means if I'm sitting down for more than about 5 mins at a time I am in some pain.... actually a lot of pain. So I walk all damn friggen day. I do my normal workout, then I walk...walk & walk. I burn off enough that the pizza is nothing.... that whole pepperoni loaded pizza....large size...is nothing.

Secret is my back.... I refuse to take painkillers anymore & walking is the ONLY thing that helps.

neandermagnon

I used to have certain foods that I couldn't just leave alone, i *had to* have them, and i couldn't just stop at one bite, I had to eat it all.... those were foods that I'd always considered to be "bad" foods that I should refrain from and even felt somewhat guilty about eating them.

I have since changed my attitude towards food. firstly, I see food as primarily for nutrition, so rather than focusing on what i *shouldn't* eat, which is what nearly everyone who tries to eat healthy or lose weight does... instead I focus on what I *should* eat, i.e. plenty of protein, healthy fat, healthy carbs, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water. (yes, within a calorie goal when losing fat, but for the past few months I've been maintaining or eating for strength gains and not tracking). I've also stopped considering any food to be forbidden. If I've eaten enough nutritious food then I'll eat whatever I want that fits in my calorie goal if I'm cutting (or if I'm not tracking then i have a sensible sized portion of it) - I remind myself that I can have these foods whenever I want and there's nothing wrong with enjoying them, or any food. Since I've been doing that, and changing how I think about food, I've no longer had a problem with cravings or with being unable to stop eating any particular kind of food. I literally used to think of any forbidden food, that if I don't eat as much as I can of it now, that I won't get to eat this food again, so make the most of it. I didn't really realise this was how i was thinking, until after I stopped thinking like that. Now I think of nothing as being forbidden, I can eat any food whenever I want, so that urgency simply isn't there any more, I eat some, I leave the rest for another time.

Also, if you are not eating enough, the desire to eat high calorie food, or food containing the nutrients you're not getting enough of in your diet, is actually a normal physiological response. it's not a psychological problem, it's something that evolved to enable our evolutionary ancestors, who had no idea what a balanced diet is or how many calories they should eat, to not die of starvation or nutritional deficiencies. So anyone who's suffering from any kind of binge eating should first rule out the possibility that their diet is deficient in any nutrient, and also ensure that they're getting sufficient calories. Aiming for slower, steadier weight loss is better, because it's less likely to trigger bingeing or constant snacking... i.e. it's a lot more sustainable and the goal is long term maintenance of a healthy weight, not how much you can lose in x amount of time. So it is vitally important to ensure that you're eating properly before you decide that any binge eating or inability to eat treat foods in moderation is a psychological issue. For many it's a normal physiological survival response to not eating enough.

Claire_x90

I'm only successful BECAUSE I allow myself to eat that kind of food sometimes... previously when I've avoided it or felt guilty because of it I've failed.

You have to be looking at a healthy balance , 80% health food and 20% down right enjoyment of food.

seltzermint555

I've never been one to overeat at one sitting or have trouble stopping. But my problem's always been the every day habits of bad food. Having either pie, a candy bar, or ice cream every night with dinner and often a cookie or something as my "dessert" even with lunch. It has been a major challenge to break that lifelong habit. For several years my weight was going up even though I was eating healthier foods, less fried stuff, more veggies...I think it's because I would always eat a healthy meal followed by a decadent dessert.

Good luck!

WendyTerry420

It's all about portion size. :smokin:

LorinaLynn

Hi - this is my question based on another topic here. How come YOU can eat pizza, donuts, fried chicken, a big candy bar, a big pie, etc.. etc. and I need to NOT eat that? I mean this is for the people that admit they eat this but yet in the big picture, it doesn't seem to hurt their weight loss. So what is it that you have that I dont?

Because, aside from certain medical conditions and food intolerances, there are no fattening foods, only fattening AMOUNTS of food. It's all about making it fit into your goals.

Pizza fits my calorie and macro goals. I normally eat about 2000 calories (total, which would be about 1500-1600 plus exercise calories if I was still following MFP's way, to lose ~ half pound a week) a day to lose weight, and budget about half of that for dinner. Half of a DiGiorno or homemade pizza usually comes in between 800-1100 calories, so it fits. Ditto for cheeseburgers, breaded chicken, etc. It fits within my calories and macros.

Same goes for candy, cake, donuts, cookies, ice cream. I don't often eat it, but when I do, it's because it fits in my goals. I've already planned out my day on my food diary, have lots of fruits and veg, reached my protein and fat goals, and have wiggle room for fun, so I'll have some fun.

I do pretty much always have bags of fun sized candy bars in the house. Sometimes I just mentally NEED chocolate. Similarly, I tend to buy ice cream sandwiches instead of ice cream, because it helps me control the portion.

anniegail1961

Hi There: " Because One Is Too Many And A Thousand Is Never Enough"
A.A. philosophy-It's not the 5th rye/coke that get's me drunk-it's the first-it starts the compulsion for more.
The same for cigarettes.
The same for codeine.
The same for sugar.
The same for orgasms.
All we can keep doing is our best!

MFPRat

I also have trouble stopping at "just a bite" or "only one" of something that is a trigger food for me. I have to do a lot of self talk to convince myself to just stay away.
Part of this self talk is telling myself that the pizza, cinnamon rolls, ice cream, whatever, is not going away. It will always be there and I can have it at any time. But for now, that food is "on the back burner" until I can handle it. Sometimes it actually works!!

laserturkey

It helps not to categorize foods as "good" or "bad" but just to think of food as food. Then you can make choices without guilt and emotional stuff getting into the mix. If you are in the habit of measuring your food and logging the calories from it, then that habit carries over to chocolate and butter and pizza as well as carrots and avocados and tofu. It's all just FOOD. Eating too much FOOD puts us over calories and makes us gain weight. Demonizing certain foods makes them more tempting and encourages us to want them more. If we see all foods as neutral and make our decisions based more on the actual food rather than the emotional aspect of it, it's easier to enjoy something tasty that fits within our macros with no guilt whatsoever.

cherryd69

Iv just had Kfc for lunch, although its taken me over my calories and left me with about 140 for the day (still not had evening meal yet) iv shrugged my shoulders and planned exercise for once iv got changed.

If i was in a super lazy mood then id just have to deal with it... after all its only one day. Tomorrow is a new day for me to not have kfc for lunch. It will teach me not to let hubby chose what were having for lunch... i knew i should have chosen.

bcattoes

So how do you do this and are still successful with your weight loss plan. I'm not as strong as you I suppose. I do have food cravings, and food addictions, and by saying that with one caveat, I do not believe I'm a victim of my food choices, however, I am realistic about myself and I know that I need to choose to not eat certain things because it does lead to bad things. All my hard work for 2 days just goes down the drain and that is maybe the worst thing, so I dont want to undo all my hard work.

This last sentence answers your question, OP. Psychology is the answer. People often focus on only the physiology of weight loss. But for many, psychology plays a much bigger role.

It comes down to changing your relationship with food.

holothuroidea

Everyone has different regulatory styles. Some people are better at moderation, and some people are better at abstaining.

So when it comes to your top pleasure foods, for you it is easier to avoid them all together to avoid overeating them. For me it is easier to have just a little bit every once in a while. If I try to avoid it all together, I'll end up going crazy eventually and eating more than I should.

Don't think your way is inferior just because other people still need to eat some of that stuff to regulate their food habits. Everyone is just different, that's all.

beckyinma

portion control, exercise, and deciding if taking that risk, and eating a binge trigger food is REALLY worth all those extra calories, or if you can control yourself enough to have one piece and leave it alone after. 'trigger foods' are bad. If you don't have enough control to keep the binges at bay, then no, you can't have those foods. Not everyone has the same trigger foods, not everyone has the same emotional triggers. Figure out what is causing you to want that extra slice in the first place, is there something underlying that is causing you to say 'the hell with it' and go for another helping? It's not always about the food, but sometimes it's about your life, or the circumstances around you.

geekette411

There's no magic to being able to eat fast food and still lose weight. You just have to make room for it in your calorie goal. You can do that by eating a smaller portion of it, by cutting back the calories in your other meals that day, and/or by exercising away some of the calories. It's simple, but it's not easy. I've been doing it for three months and I'm still learning. It works for me. It's not for everyone. Good luck to you!

This.
Very sensible and very true. There is no secret, it's all about choices.

elyelyse

there are some things I can't just have a little of... 1 slice of pizza? no way! so, I don't have pizza often, and when I REALLY REALLY want it, I plan to have it, I get a whole small cheese pie for myself, and a small bottle of coke, and I eat it. All in one day. and I don't eat many more calories of anything else that day, ill probably have a huge salad with some lean protein, and snacks of carrots or cucumbers. I may go a bit past my maintenance calories for the day, but none of us got fat in a day... and I got to gorge myself on delicious, cheesy pizza and coke. The benefit of doing it this way for me: If I know that I can occasionally do this, it is MUCH easier for me to resist on a day to day basis. I no longer crave multiple slices of pizza multiple times a week.

I do something like this every 2 weeks or so. Sometimes I do the pizza, sometimes it's a pint of ice cream, some times its a ridiculous portion of mashed potatoes oozing with butter. I (try to) never do this on a whim, either. I wait until I have had a few days of craving something very specific, and then plan to have it.

everyone has their own tricks and mind games they play with themselves... this one works for me.

lporter229

Why is it that most people can have a cocktail or two and be done, while others cannot stop?

I mean that seriously!

I think we all have unique bodies and minds... and we all have different biochemical responses to different foods. I think for some people, food lights up their reward centers in their brain JUST a bit more than others (for example: "food orgasm").... while others are not as affected.

I tend to think, across the whole- we all have our vices... all have our weak spots. The unfair thing is that obesity can be seen where other issues cannot. So that sucks!

But I really believe that some people can lose weight with the motto of "moderation"... while other people have to create black and white rules for quite a while before they can EVER (if ever) go back to trying moderation. Reminds me of any other recovery program honestly.

For me, sweets do nothing. I enjoy dark chocolate- but not for the sweetness of it. I shrug at a bowl of ice cream. It means nothing- this is a mystery to my husband.
SALT however.... gimme gimme gimme! I could eat a whole bag of chips without thinking.

So again, we're made differently.

Great response!

ShellK71

I tried restricting what I ate before and failed. I have cut out almost all soda. And really don't miss it. So now if my family has pizza I do too. One small slice and then a huge salad. At a BBQ. Yep I will have a small helping of potato salad and a hot dog then fill up on fruit. Why not? One step in weight loss is learning portion control. Besides I am now taking zoloft and it kills my appitite and has controlled my stress and anxiety so I don't snack all day. Huge stress eater here. Not pushing this on any body and not saying take meds it helps. Besides I also now realize that if I'm going to have a bad eating day such as work meeting lunches or birthday parties I take into consideration that this meal is going to be so bad. And plan the rest of the day so I can have what is being served. Why can't i have cake and ice cream? Just smaller portions.