What's YOUR biggest obstacle to eating healthy?
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Mine is the VERY occasional buffet.... I (now) eat healthy 90 percent of the time and am very controlled on what I eat, even when going out to dinner at restaurants most of the time I make pretty smart choices, but put me in a Chinese buffet or a buffet like Golden Corral... And I end up with something like a 4,000 calorie meal minimum that destroys all the progress I've worked for for weeks... I tell myself I'm only going to have 1-2 plates and end up eating until I can't lift my fork. Luckily I do my best to stay away for this reason but when friends or coworkers want to go it's always hard to say no.0
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I would find weight loss a lot easier if it wasn't for chocolate and feeling a requirement to eat something sweet after a meal (particularly lunch and dinner). Yes most of the time I just fit them into my CICO deficit but I almost always want to eat more than I should be and persuading myself out of eating more is quite a battle. I also find it near impossible to resist sweet treats at work, though I have learned to at least limit myself quantity-wise, "yes I will have one doughnut thank you, I would love to have two but I am choosing not to"! I'm less likely to binge at work than at home because the people in my team know that I am counting calories so there's the shame of overeating (the same people are more than happy to shove the doughnuts in your face though and tell you to eat them but that's a whole other discussion!) so to counteract that I just try very hard not to buy too many sweet treats for in the house. If only 250 calories of doughnut was as filling or anywhere near as nutritious as 250 calories of chicken+veg, one would suffice!0
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brightresolve wrote: »However YOU define "eating healthy" - what stops or trips you?
Me, I mess up when I am stressed and tired, and think I need a "treat" to reward me for prior good behavior. And, when I mess up my day, I tend to eat outside my normal limits because "I'm already over."
Ditto. Stress does it for me, then I realize, "uh-oh," I just messed up.0 -
Chocolate. I struggle to moderate it, because I find it so moreish. I now only buy 90% dark chocolate and have a handful of nuts with a square of that, and it does take the craving away. I could easily incorporate some of my favourite chocolate into my calories allowance, but I always want more!
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Healthy to me is staying within calories. The biggest obstacle is when I have too much time on my hands when work is slow. At home all day, doing nothing, with a strategically placed fridge staring at me. I could go for a walk to distract myself, but then I'm back, with the same fridge staring at me. I try to keep busy with other things, but it's just too easy to grab something when I'm passing by.
I'm currently doing well on that front, but it's important not to get complacent and lose sight of my challenges.1 -
Chocolate. I struggle to moderate it, because I find it so moreish. I now only buy 90% dark chocolate and have a handful of nuts with a square of that, and it does take the craving away. I could easily incorporate some of my favourite chocolate into my calories allowance, but I always want more!
So glad it's not just me!0 -
I am so glad it's not just me with sweets and chocolate type things either. I try to work my day so I can have a 100 cal yogurt or 120 cals of froyo after dinner ... but sometimes sticking to the correct quantity is tough!0
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Emotional eating, sugar exposure, eating out socially.0
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Being hungry.... I eat too large of portions when that happens. OR if I have foods I really love in the house, but are not good for me, I binge eat them. Prime example: My daughter's fruit snacks. I ate six packs the other day as a "snack." Sheesh!
Shannon1 -
The two teenaged boys in my house!
There is food in my house that wouldn't be here if they weren't. They love chips and bagels and cheese and crackers and bread with lots of butter. They really like steak and buttery noodles and pancakes and bacon. They like garlic bread and ice cream and beef jerky. They like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Chex Mix and microwave popcorn. I love to cook, and they love when I make hot wings or waffles or burgers or homemade bread. And I love to cook those things for them.
They are both at healthy weights -- even on the skinny side -- so I'm not going to make them eat like a menopausal woman.1 -
healthy is subjective.. we eat pretty healthy. My obstacle is not being able to eat as much as my husband. I have a bigger appetite then him with about 1/3 of the calories.1
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brightresolve wrote: »However YOU define "eating healthy" - what stops or trips you?
Me, I mess up when I am stressed and tired, and think I need a "treat" to reward me for prior good behavior. And, when I mess up my day, I tend to eat outside my normal limits because "I'm already over."
My issue is weekend drinking and social eating out. We go out at least once a weekend with friends, and typically end up drinking, eating, etc. I do watch what I'm eating (opt for a salad, no croutons/cheese and dressing on the side - or a simple protein and veggie) and lately have been working on opting for lower cal alcohol options. It's not like this once weekly treat is detrimental to my success, but it does make me feel like a failure for a day or two after.
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I snack when I'm bored. I really am trying to drink more water and eat healthier snacks. I love sweet drinks so I am trying hard to stick with water, hot unsweetened tea and True Lemon drink mix if I want a sweet drink.. I hate the taste of crystal light and other artificial sweeteners. At work I have access to a full pantry of junk food. I need to use a lot of Self control. I also never make my lunch since I work out of a youth shelter and they make meals for us, generally I have healthyish meals available but I overeat at lunch and leave myself with 300 calories for dinner
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... My obstacle is not being able to eat as much as my husband...... They are both at healthy weights -- even on the skinny side -- so I'm not going to make them eat like a menopausal woman.
I so relate to this!! My SO is one of those guys that drops weight like a hot rock and works outside, and me at almost 60 yrs old, with the desk job, who eats for stress/emo reasons - it can be challenging. We eat a lean dinner together, he piles on the Caesar dressing and eats a side of bread, then has his ice cream ... it all works out
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This is a great topic. My biggest obstacles are:
1) letting myself get too hungry - if I'm starving, I crave junk food a LOT more and will be more likely to give in
2) hating to cook and prepare food - I have tried so many things over the years to get into a pattern of cooking or even just preparing healthy food the night before to take to work, but I still struggle with it
And here's one that isn't really an obstacle to eating healthy, but more of an obstacle to losing weight in general: menopause! I am in early menopause thanks to surgery for cancer, and there is a quite noticeable difference in how fast I lose weight. It's probably twice as slow for me now, which is kinda depressing. I know every woman experiences menopause differently, but just know that that is a possibility!0 -
... an obstacle to losing weight in general: menopause! I am in early menopause thanks to surgery for cancer, and there is a quite noticeable difference in how fast I lose weight. It's probably twice as slow for me now, which is kinda depressing. I know every woman experiences menopause differently, but just know that that is a possibility!
Sorry to hear about your cancer and surgery, and hope all goes super well in the future; and I totally understand about the menopause thing, it altered my metabolism too. Menopause sharped my attention and focus, as in: if I don't plan to just give up, it's time to make positive choices most of the time, and stop feeling sorry for myself about it. The price of admission to fitness & health...0 -
Date night dinners. I always cave in a restaurant and it takes the fun out of going.0
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sometimes stressful days either make me eat unhealthy or do not eat enough.. wonder how many other people have this issue0
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Wine - every night. Any pointers welcome.0
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Poor meal planning. I plan dinners for the week but my lunches are on the fly usually. I can do better, it's finding time. I don't take time to prepare vegetables etc like I should.0
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Portion control and being picky! I like very few fruits and veggies so I have slim pickings on healthy snacks and recipies!0
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Portion control is a big one (pardon the pun lol). Also, I'm not a great cook, so I tend to cook the same few things over and over and so I get bored....and I eat all the pre made stuff instead of homemade.0
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Poor meal planning. I plan dinners for the week but my lunches are on the fly usually. I can do better, it's finding time. I don't take time to prepare vegetables etc like I should.
Just a couple of ideas that work for me and are super quick. Plan your dinner to cook an extra portion or two, then box it up for lunches - lean protein + veg or whatever you eat. Or, get a bag of pre-cut broccoli & cauliflower or a frozen vegetable you like, microwave a portion and top it with a serving of something you like (amy's vegan chili does it for me) -- of course this assumes access to a microwave at lunchtime.
I go out the door with a really motley assortment of stuff sometimes - I was hoping nobody saw my lunch yesterday! - but it's cheap and healthy
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calmandpeaceful wrote: »Wine - every night. Any pointers welcome.
Weigh in people, what works? I have friends that plan in the cals on Saturday or special occasions and limit alcohol consumption to then, and it seems to work for them ... (oh, and I LOVE your profile pic)0 -
TorontoDiane wrote: »sometimes stressful days either make me eat unhealthy or do not eat enough.. wonder how many other people have this issue
Moderate stress, I eat unhealthy. Extreme horrible wrenching life-altering stress, I stop eating.0 -
feltlikesound wrote: »Taste - all of my meals until I left home were eaten with my mother who is notoriously fussy. I was not exposed to much food, and her negative feelings towards vegetables, ethnic foods, etc. were passed on to me habitually. I grew up eating meat and potatoes or spaghetti, almost exclusively rotating between the two, and then fast food/take out whenever possible. In adulthood I now gag at the taste/texture of many foods, and it has been a struggle to overcome. I have made slow, steady progress, but it is frustrating to feel like a fussy eater who doesn't want to be!
my mom was and is the same way,it took me years to learn to like different food. All my sisters still eat the same way she does as well. In fact I'm visiting her for a few days and she will talk endlessly about all my gross "diet" food (whole grains, lean meat, Greek yogurt haha.)0 -
Bread trips me up. Gives me cravings for more simple carbs, which leads to simple carbs and high fat ingredients combined. I do much better without pizza and subs.0
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Burgers. Delicious juicy burgers 1
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I thought there was one more thing, but for me it's mainly laziness and boredom.0
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I actually do eat pretty healthy. Lots of fruit and veggies, little meat and never fast food. My downfall is wine. I use too many calories on having 2-3 glasses of wine each evening.0
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