Abstain from problem foods or indulge for weight loss?
ebtaylor137
Posts: 32 Member
It seems like there are in general two schools of thought on problem foods, either avoid problem foods completely, or eat whatever you want but stay within your weight loss calorie goals. What has worked for others?
I feel like I've tried both and had issues with either. When I abstain I crumple catastrophically or when I indulge I get a taste and can't stop. What has worked for others?
I feel like I've tried both and had issues with either. When I abstain I crumple catastrophically or when I indulge I get a taste and can't stop. What has worked for others?
0
Replies
-
I don't do well when I tell myself I'm never going to eat something again.0
-
It totally depends on your personality in my opinion. For the "all or nothing" folks, it seems to be better to totally avoid problem foods until you're at your goal weight and then gradually add back in. For some people this seems like torture. It sounds like maybe you haven't decided yet what works for you. Maybe give it another shot?0
-
I have a structure that governs what I eat (mostly foods I like that also serve nutrition goals, minimum protein, vegetables with all meals, 3 balanced meals and maybe one pre-planned snack depending on my workout schedule). Then, as it fits, I will allow myself something extra either after dinner (high quality cheese or ice cream, usually) or fit in some extras into my meals (some higher calorie choices vs. the usual).
For me this IS eating what I want within my calorie goals, but I get the feeling some don't think "what I want" includes "what I want due to nutrition and workout goals" or that it means no plan at all.0 -
I do a little of both. I work in some treats that I know I will enjoy and that will keep me satisfied.
I also avoid "trigger foods" - the ones that I know I tend to go overboard with.
For example, every night I have a small serving of ice cream. I measure it. I look forward to it. It ends my day and I don't tend to go looking for other things to eat. I don't ever want seconds, even though I enjoy every bite.
Trigger example - I can't eat gluten any more, but when I could, sugar cookies were a trigger for me. Something about a hot sugar cookie made me want to eat 100 hot sugar cookies. Or cold sugar cookies. Or doritos. Let's just say, one taste and I threw all caution to the wind. No sugar cookies for this girl.
Hope this helps.0 -
I generally eat whatever I want with just a very few exceptions. Pizza being one of those, I never have pizza on the spur of the moment. I still have it occasionally, I just plan it ahead of time what, and how much I am going to eat.0
-
I fit a treat into my calories every day. It's usually 200 or so calories that I have left after dinner.
I can still eat what I want, but I can't eat the quantity that I want.0 -
There are times when I have no self-control and others when I am very disciplined. I bought a pint of Talenti over a week ago and I still haven't finished it. I just eat a couple spoons everyday when I get a craving. But a few weeks ago I finished a pint in two days (most of it the first night).0
-
I do a little of both. I work in some treats that I know I will enjoy and that will keep me satisfied.
I also avoid "trigger foods" - the ones that I know I tend to go overboard with.
For example, every night I have a small serving of ice cream. I measure it. I look forward to it. It ends my day and I don't tend to go looking for other things to eat. I don't ever want seconds, even though I enjoy every bite.
Trigger example - I can't eat gluten any more, but when I could, sugar cookies were a trigger for me. Something about a hot sugar cookie made me want to eat 100 hot sugar cookies. Or cold sugar cookies. Or doritos. Let's just say, one taste and I threw all caution to the wind. No sugar cookies for this girl.
Hope this helps.
I avoid trigger foods as well. For example, attempts to moderately consume a pint of Ben & Jerry's S'Mores fail, but I can moderate the 4 ounce mini cups, which are good, but do not come in my favorite flavors.
I have plenty of treats - there's no need for me to struggle with trigger foods like Oreos or M & Ms.
0 -
-
Terpnista84 wrote: »There are times when I have no self-control and others when I am very disciplined. I bought a pint of Talenti over a week ago and I still haven't finished it. I just eat a couple spoons everyday when I get a craving. But a few weeks ago I finished a pint in two days (most of it the first night).
I quote this only to point out how different we all respond to different foods. I have a small serving of Ice cream every night, no problems at all. But pizza?????fuggetaboutit........0 -
I eat what I want all the time, but my #1 "want" is to stay in a macro range that keeps me full. So, there are lots and lots of lean meats, veggies, fruits...with a lot of "problem" foods as you put it in there as well.
I have a TDEE that is higher than most though so it's pretty easy to fit things in for me, even when cutting.0 -
I do a little of both. I work in some treats that I know I will enjoy and that will keep me satisfied.
I also avoid "trigger foods" - the ones that I know I tend to go overboard with.
For example, every night I have a small serving of ice cream. I measure it. I look forward to it. It ends my day and I don't tend to go looking for other things to eat. I don't ever want seconds, even though I enjoy every bite.
Trigger example - I can't eat gluten any more, but when I could, sugar cookies were a trigger for me. Something about a hot sugar cookie made me want to eat 100 hot sugar cookies. Or cold sugar cookies. Or doritos. Let's just say, one taste and I threw all caution to the wind. No sugar cookies for this girl.
Hope this helps.
I have the same experience with "trigger foods". I am mostly eating what I like, but, at least for now, have decided to abstain from the foods that trigger binges for me: chocolate, cookies, and ice cream. I do hope to be able to eat these foods again on special occasions, but right now I have way too much weight to lose to afford the extra 1000 calories in one sitting.0 -
I do have to say that there are some foods that just aren't worth the calories to me anymore. I would still eat them if it was a feast day (Christmas, Easter, etc) when I wasn't counting calories, but so not worth it more frequently.0
-
If I can't lose weight while still enjoying foods I like I can't lose weight. The second I decide to be restrictive or cut out certain foods or food groups I start to obsess about and crave those foods. Better to learn how to keep them in their proper place and still enjoy them.
Running away from or avoiding the problem will never truly solve it.0 -
This took me several tries to FINALLY figure out.....why should I measure and log portions of foods I am allowed to eat on while a diet, and ignore those other "bad" foods or "trigger" foods until I am at goal.
Am I not going to have a problem with those foods when I get to goal? Do I not need to worry about portion sizes for chocolate, and ice cream? Is self-control going to magically appear because I'm a size 8?
I've been a size 8......a few times. No magic self-control (for me). So now I allow myself treats here and there. I'm not perfect, but then I realize perfection isn't required for weight loss (this realization didn't happen overnight either).0 -
janejellyroll wrote: »I don't do well when I tell myself I'm never going to eat something again.
^^^^^THIS
I could not have managed with food restrictions. Over time I cleaned up my diet, and as my goals went higher and higher, I lost my desire to eat certain foods.
All that would change if somebody told me I could no longer eat KFC ever again.
I have not eaten that in years, but just knowing I can't have it would make me want it.
I am insane that way...
0 -
shadowfax_c11 wrote: »If I can't lose weight while still enjoying foods I like I can't lose weight. The second I decide to be restrictive or cut out certain foods or food groups I start to obsess about and crave those foods. Better to learn how to keep them in their proper place and still enjoy them.
Running away from or avoiding the problem will never truly solve it.
This is spot on and I don't think a number of people grasp this or they don't believe it. That is exactly what I mean about pizza, if I tried to cut it out completely, I would obsess. Instead, I plan for pizza.0 -
I have to completely stop any trigger foods. That would be Milk(not really a food but one of my main triggers, peanut butter and chocolate( yes together), chocolate and caramel (again..together), and chips. I cannot have any of these otherwise it snowballs...terribly. I eat on little tiny peanut butter cup and suddenly I have 20 gone. Milk is my #1 trigger, I will drink an entire GALLON, yes GALLON, a day. I have been known to drink even two gallons every once in a while in one day. That sounds horrible but so so true. I can't even sip milk otherwise I have no self-control. Other then my trigger foods I eat what I want.0
-
I do a little of both. I work in some treats that I know I will enjoy and that will keep me satisfied.
I also avoid "trigger foods" - the ones that I know I tend to go overboard with.
For example, every night I have a small serving of ice cream. I measure it. I look forward to it. It ends my day and I don't tend to go looking for other things to eat. I don't ever want seconds, even though I enjoy every bite.
Trigger example - I can't eat gluten any more, but when I could, sugar cookies were a trigger for me. Something about a hot sugar cookie made me want to eat 100 hot sugar cookies. Or cold sugar cookies. Or doritos. Let's just say, one taste and I threw all caution to the wind. No sugar cookies for this girl.
Hope this helps.
Me too -- a little of both. I make room to have plenty of treats, but two foods I must stay away from at this point in my journey are Doritos and donuts.0 -
RobertWorthenClary wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »I don't do well when I tell myself I'm never going to eat something again.
^^^^^THIS
I could not have managed with food restrictions. Over time I cleaned up my diet, and as my goals went higher and higher, I lost my desire to eat certain foods.
All that would change if somebody told me I could no longer eat KFC ever again.
I have not eaten that in years, but just knowing I can't have it would make me want it.
I am insane that way...
Yep, knowing I can have cookies (or whatever) whenever I want makes it much easier for me to decide *not* to have cookies most of the time. They're always there when I really want them. It takes away the obsession that I would feel before.0 -
I occasionally eat trigger foods. Cake or dessert at birthdays, celebrations, that kind of thing. Sometimes I am feeling especially "fierce" and have a treat when I'm alone (dangerous territory). But mostly I get my sweetness in forms that are highly unlikely to trigger a binge: fibre one bar, Clif builder bar, sugar in my tea, square of dark chocolate etc. I've also "abused" sweet treats on occasion still. The big difference being that I pick myself up and dust myself off MUCH faster than I ever did before. You'd think feeling guilty about it helps. It doesn't.0
-
I've had to do both. One part finding an alternative food to satisfy my craving, and then still occasionally allowing myself to have that one food that I really want but only at a "cheat" meal.
For example, going out with the guys - I'll have a vodka and tonic, scotch (neat) or wine. On the rare occasion of a cheat meal, I'll have that really tasty craft beer (or two.)
Craving something sweet? I'll drink some water with Mio, or make sure to add something strongly flavored like lemon juice to my next meal.
Finding alternatives to my cravings are the only things that have helped. As you said, everyone is different though.0 -
ebtaylor137 wrote: »It seems like there are in general two schools of thought on problem foods, either avoid problem foods completely, or eat whatever you want but stay within your weight loss calorie goals. What has worked for others?
I feel like I've tried both and had issues with either. When I abstain I crumple catastrophically or when I indulge I get a taste and can't stop. What has worked for others?
I think the "eat whatever you want" often gets misinterpreted to mean that there's really no structure or plan in place and that people aren't paying attention to their nutrition and that they're just going around eating "junk" but staying within their targets.
In most cases, this simply is not true...in many, if not most cases, the people who are doing this are eating pretty well for the most part and have overall pretty nutritious diets...but they might have a little ice cream for desert or a cookie after lunch or some pizza because it's Friday night, etc.
That said, I think there can be some benefit to abstaining from something for a time if you really are having issues moderating that particular food item. For me, that was soda. I stopped drinking it altogether for awhile as I was a 3-5x per day soda drinker back in the day. I might have 5 or 6 sodas a year now.
I also think "abstain" or "indulge" is probably not the best way of looking at things as you are using two different extremes on the spectrum when there's this whole middle area to consider.0 -
I have learned that this is not a respected opinion here; but I think we all need to find plans that work for us.
There ARE some foods that I enjoy so much that life would be very grey if I had to live without them. A really good pizza, pasta, and Cajun food are three such examples. I have done well in integrating these into a successful program.
Then there is a category that includes simple carb/salty snacks. I actually don't think they taste all that great; but when I eat them my food cravings seem to increase and I desire to overeat them. Life is fine without these items; so I decide to put them aside. When I did that I stopped even wanting them.
Doing this helped me a great deal; but according to the MFP gospel, it's not an approach I should ever suggest to someone else.
Anyways, my honest answer is that people succeed using a variety of approaches. I do think that anyone who thinks they have to succeed by switching to a bland diet is making things unnecessarily tough.
Now time to start making my porterhouse steaks with roasted red pepper salsa.....0 -
Most things, I can do a little of and it's ok.
But there were 3 things I had to cut out for a while. Nachos, chips, and pasta. Because of the mental game - I couldn't control myself.
But at some point I had to learn how to incorporate those back in. Nothing is "out of bounds" forever. It's a process. Out of bounds for now is different than out of bounds forever. But I still made sure to add them back in while I was at a deficit. Don't want to go back to my original diet and gain it all back. Need to learn it now.0 -
I have learned that this is not a respected opinion here; but I think we all need to find plans that work for us.
There ARE some foods that I enjoy so much that life would be very grey if I had to live without them. A really good pizza, pasta, and Cajun food are three such examples. I have done well in integrating these into a successful program.
Then there is a category that includes simple carb/salty snacks. I actually don't think they taste all that great; but when I eat them my food cravings seem to increase and I desire to overeat them. Life is fine without these items; so I decide to put them aside. When I did that I stopped even wanting them.
Doing this helped me a great deal; but according to the MFP gospel, it's not an approach I should ever suggest to someone else.
Anyways, my honest answer is that people succeed using a variety of approaches. I do think that anyone who thinks they have to succeed by switching to a bland diet is making things unnecessarily tough.
Now time to start making my porterhouse steaks with roasted red pepper salsa.....
Avoiding calorie-dense foods that don't taste that great to you and don't add any real enjoyment to your life is actually a pretty common approach here. I'm not sure why you think that isn't respected. I think you would find that most people here who have been successful have adopted that plan.0 -
janejellyroll wrote: »I have learned that this is not a respected opinion here; but I think we all need to find plans that work for us.
There ARE some foods that I enjoy so much that life would be very grey if I had to live without them. A really good pizza, pasta, and Cajun food are three such examples. I have done well in integrating these into a successful program.
Then there is a category that includes simple carb/salty snacks. I actually don't think they taste all that great; but when I eat them my food cravings seem to increase and I desire to overeat them. Life is fine without these items; so I decide to put them aside. When I did that I stopped even wanting them.
Doing this helped me a great deal; but according to the MFP gospel, it's not an approach I should ever suggest to someone else.
Anyways, my honest answer is that people succeed using a variety of approaches. I do think that anyone who thinks they have to succeed by switching to a bland diet is making things unnecessarily tough.
Now time to start making my porterhouse steaks with roasted red pepper salsa.....
Avoiding calorie-dense foods that don't taste that great to you and don't add any real enjoyment to your life is actually a pretty common approach here. I'm not sure why you think that isn't respected. I think you would find that most people here who have been successful have adopted that plan.
Yep. Not sure who would suggest otherwise.
0 -
For me personally, I have to stay focused on not giving in to splurges or treats. That way of thinking is what got me here. Oh the sun came up! SPLURGE! Oh I did Zumba! REWARD! It just does not work for me to have it. I am just starting on cutting out but I know I will still eat certain things as long as they fit into my calories. Just no more seconds or splurges and rewarding myself with food.0
-
Maybe try to substitute your trigger food with something else? At this point, moderation works for me. But a couple of years ago it didn't, and what worked for me then was to only buy a tiny amount of that particular food at a time. That way, once I'd eaten a reasonable amount, there would be no more left in the house.
0 -
Personally I'm still working on this question. I've gone back and forth. I tend to overindulge when I have pre-packaged snacks in my house (chips, cookies, ice cream, etc). I'd really like to reach a point where I can just measure out a portion, and leave it at that, and I have, at times, been able to do that, but I'm not consistent with it yet. I'm a strong believer in moderation, but for now I'm going to be not buying any of those snacky items for my house. It's much easier to eat them in moderation if I can only get them at work or a family member's house. I figure it will help me find my personal golden ratio of satiating macros too if I have to focus more on whole foods and eating more fruit/veg.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 423 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions