Confession

AZI1983

So I don't know about all of you, but I do know that for me as a single parent without a partner it's really easy for me to fudge here and there and only feel bad for myself. It's quite silly, but I still find myself lying or hiding things because I don't want to see the whole truth.
So my first confession is that I found myself recently hiding the whole amount or putting the least amount of food that I can compared to the reality of what I have eaten, so that I don't have to see how many calories are really in my food choices. I know, it's silly. The only person I'm really hurting is myself!
My second confession is about sweets, I've done really well not eating as many recently, and this isn't something that just started. But I am terrible about wanting to wake up in the morning and eat sweets and drink soda for breakfast. Or when I want a snack, reach for my sons candy jar! I know, we need to keep these things Out Of Reach, Out of Sight, or even out of the house! But I have trouble doing this since he's such a good kid and he he's very good about candy and boundaries. Obviously, I am not! My favorite guilty-pleasure has been the Tootsie Roll midgees, because 6 of them I can justify it being only 140 calories... And then I eat it!
I'm not confessing this to feel bad, but I do need to get it out so that someone out there knows the truth. This is all about accountability, right!? I hoped that by confessing this it can kind of take the power out of it. What do you ladies think, is there anything you'very done in order to feel little better about and being on this fitness journey and creating a new life? I don't think it helps me by lying at all, but I do notice that I've done it in the past. And I need to stop! The buck stops here

Kerryatoon

Congratulations!! Being honest with yourself is empowering! Just try reporting exactly what you take in.. Don't worry about your count bring over. It will help you to know where you are willing to make those cuts to get you below your goal for the day. I still indulge in a sweet once in a while but I can make a cut here or there to still reach my goal. I quit keeping soda in my house and have taken a serious liking to unsweetened tea instead.
The best thing I can do is to tell on myself, like you've done here, it seems to take the power out of the "secret". So you're doing great at taking stock here!
To thine own self be true

Allie6011012

I used to have a serious sweet tooth (and i guess I still do). I think its ok to eat treats (every once in a while), but if you track it all, then you'll see that it does take up a big chunk of your daily calories. Unless that is, you end up working out a lot and burning a lot of calories- but thats a different story.
Its good that you are tracking it all, I think that you'll really see the 'cost' of the calories and it really won't be as appealing. Also, fruit! if you are craving sweets, maybe a banana or clementine.
In my case- i just cannot have sweets in the house. I know that I will eat them, its such an annoying cycle. So i need to be strong in the grocery store...and man its hard sometimes.
Good luck .

AZI1983

Yeah, the sweets are hard to kick! I feel like it's every where and even when I'm good for a while, mother nature kicks in and the next thing I know, I'm making a b-line for the plaid pantry on the way home for a 3 musketeers and an almond snickers!!
It's not even the calories that bug me as much as the lack of quality. If my dilema was that I had a smoothie obsession or avacado fetish, at least I'd know I was getting something out of the nutrients of it all. And believe me, I eat a banana a day at least, mostly because I've found the magnesium helps me sleep better and fights off any post workout muscle cramps. But I'm lactose intolerant, and not treating my body well nutrition-wise.
I'll admit, we did easter today and I had a few pieces of crappy chocolate. But at least I did myself a favor and logged it all. Le sigh... one craving at a time I guess. Thanks for the support it definitely feels good to tell someone!

AZLisaLou

I know what you mean about telling someone your dirty little food secrets. I have a bad sweet tooth, and I'm addicted to soda in a bad way. I know it would be best to not even bring it in the house because when I do I'm right there getting at it as soon as it hits the pantry shelves, however, I feel like it's a constant battle with my kids. They don't abuse food like I do. (Well, my daughter would have chocolate in some form every day if I let her but I don't.) My family wants snacks. Oh, I've tried "healthy snacks" but they just end up going bad and getting thrown away. When I'm really on track I weigh and measure everything and log it all. Except the soda. I estimate that so I don't really see how much I'm drinking. That's my confession.

AZI1983

AZLisaLou wrote: »

I know what you mean about telling someone your dirty little food secrets. I have a bad sweet tooth, and I'm addicted to soda in a bad way. I know it would be best to not even bring it in the house because when I do I'm right there getting at it as soon as it hits the pantry shelves, however, I feel like it's a constant battle with my kids. They don't abuse food like I do. (Well, my daughter would have chocolate in some form every day if I let her but I don't.) My family wants snacks. Oh, I've tried "healthy snacks" but they just end up going bad and getting thrown away. When I'm really on track I weigh and measure everything and log it all. Except the soda. I estimate that so I don't really see how much I'm drinking. That's my confession.

Something that's really helped me with soda is buying the LeCroix fizzy water. I keep it in my car and in my fridge at all times. And if I'm really craving extra flavor I use squirt of Mio or the other no cal/low cal/ low sugar substitutes. I leave one of those in my car too! It really helps me get past my initial craving to stop for a coke.

heatherc369

I too used to do the same thing, but there does come a time where you truly realize that hiding, lying or sneaking food only hurts you..nobody else. I have found if I try to totally ban something from my diet i do horrible and end up binge eating eat which is far worse. I split my eating up 2 diff ways. Weekends are heard for so me so at the worst, I eat perfectly all week (only sugar I have comes from fruit or grapefruit juice, only carbs come from veggies and protein) then I allow myself to not be so strict on the weekends. But What I really try to do is 12 days perfect eating and 2 days not so perfect, which works great because If I start on a Monday then I work through 1 weekend of being strict and after 12 days i get 2 days to be lax

heatherc369

Kerryatoon

@heatherc369 I am exactly the same way.. if I deny myself occasional indulgences I end up bingeing (because I feel so deprived). That's why I think MFP has been so good for me.. I can make informed choices. I can sacrifice one thing to have that small treat, but I can be honest about it.
Definitely log your soda intake!!! I think that's when I turned the corner on my soda addiction, when I realized I could have an extra six inches of sub sandwich or a 32 oz Coke something in me clicked like duh!! I'll go for the sandwich!

heatherc369

Drinking calories is the worst! My old addiction was 7-11 Iced coffee, everyday for years! I was amazed at how much more I could eat when I finally gave it up!

Kerryatoon

heatherc369 wrote: »

Drinking calories is the worst! My old addiction was 7-11 Iced coffee, everyday for years! I was amazed at how much more I could eat when I finally gave it up!

Yes! You don't even realize how many calories are in those things until you start actually logging in MFP! Congrats on kicking that one!

heatherc369

thanks, it was a tough one!

AZI1983

So I have a question for all of you, when you start getting really into your new life styles and are confronted with choices that are unhealthy (like driving around and getting hungry or being at a party when there's no great food options) staring Temptations right in the face... What kind of things do you do to help you get past that point and make better choices. I keep browsing the junk food while I get my gas, looking at the back of packages, and I've got to admit I've been getting a little irritated and hungry not being able to find healthy alternatives while im.out and about.

Allie6011012

I think that is one of the hardest things to get used to. You can't really depend on being able to find healthy -choice things when you are out an about. It does get easier, Ive been trying to make 'healthy' choices for about a year. Ive also past the stage of, 'i need to eat something right now' and can delay hunger better. I like LUNA bars. I used to always take a piece of fruit with me and that helped too. Sometimes I go for the junk, but its like 2/10 times, vs 9/10 times.
good luck!

heatherc369

I always have a quest bar or two in my purse just in case, but I constantly have to talk myself down from making wrong choices, but from my experience if I do not give in every once in awhile I will end up binge eating one day and make myself sick

heatherc369

Oh and mint/spearmint gum is good to have to chew and take hunger pains away until you can find healthy choices

Kerryatoon

What they said ^^! Also, I live in the desert so its ALWAYS a good idea to take a beverage with me when I go out. I am that chic with a huge icy cold cup of unsweetened tea or water with me ALL THE TIME. I find that having something refreshing already with me helps. I also try to eat a healthy snack before I go out for any extended period so that I won't be hangry.. I tend toward hypoglycemia so I have to make sure I have eaten or I will end up making bad decisions out there in fast food/snack land.
I have also found as I have gone through this journey my obsessive thinking about food has decreased. I remember at the beginning just constantly thinking about what I could eat, what I would eat next, what I would eat tomorrow.. etc. It seems that the more often I pass up the temptations, and focus my mind on something else the less obsessive thinking I have. I think at the beginning I took up Candy Crush and Words with Friends.. that would give me a 10-15 minute distraction while I waited for the cravings to pass. Because they do pass!
You're doing great @AZI1983! Keep it up!

NadiaMayl

It takes time for new habits to become automatic. And even then, there will still be times when we give into temptation. I try to grab a banana befor I leave the house, just in case. I also carry my bottle of water. Or a granola bar (I like the more natural ingredients ones).

AZI1983

So confession time again, After working my usual 12hr shift 2 days in a row, I was exhausted. Not only had I been way under my calorie goal all week, but I'd felt pretty good about passing up all the fast food places I drive by all night. Not to mention, no energy drinks or milk heavy coffee. Just a few Nuun tabs and LOTS of water over the weekend to keep me going all night.
So today when my son came home I was beat and there wasn't much in the house... eventually I broke and while we played card games, we ended up ordering pizza and bread sticks... I ate 5 and a half bread sticks and one piece of pizza!! I will say that I got light cheese and light sauce and skipped the usual soda. But I went about 400 calories over my daily goal
Over all we had a pretty good weekend. And I will say I'm proud that I stopped at 1 piece of pizza where I used to easily polish off half a pie and 2 glasses of coke along with at least 3 breadsticks. So in that, I feel a little better. Still I needed to start preparing easy meals and freezing them again so I can skip the costly temptation that usually strike on Sundays and Mondays after my work week!

Kerryatoon

@AZI1983 it happens.. I would say good job avoiding the coke and extra pizza! Here's to progress!!!

heatherc369

Baby steps girly, baby steps!

Allie6011012

im in the same boat @AZI ...I really was off track once dinner hit on both saturday and sunday. But I'm back on track today and I'm feeling good about the day plans for tomorrow. I have ordered pizza once in the last 6 months I think, but before, (especially when working a lot and being really tired) I would order it, and the dessert and the bread sticks and the soda...omg. its crazy ! but habits change and stopping at one piece of pizza is serious willpower, honestly thats really good.
Heres to a good day tomorrow, and the 80 /20 rule !! heheh.
night ya'll

NadiaMayl

Confession: my husband is grumpy today! He is making me grumpy! My kids are getting grumpy!! And I realize, we're too intense in our parenting style!!!! Aaaaahhhhhhh!!!! I got annoyed with us just listening to our constant lecturing and correcting!!!! --ok ok, my confession had nothing to do with nutrition and weight loss but I needed to vent!!!