Diet or Smaller food portions?

LAWoman72

I like to eat in quantity, so rather than cut back portions, usually I like to eat way more of (by volume) lower-calorie foods.

Mixed in with there I will have my higher-calorie treats; for those, definitely, significant portion control is involved.

I eat all sorts of different foods. But I just can't go over my calorie goals...I can't, or I gain (or don't lose), period. I have to have the max calorie goal in place, and I have to stick to it, and I have to carefully count everything. This is how I, personally, lose.

cerise_noir

Diet/low calorie versions/low calorie foods: if you're a volume eater. You can fit in more for the same amount of calories as those who eat

Non diet foods/smaller portions: for those who like to eat smaller amounts of food to reach their calorie goal.

WinoGelato

OP I am in the "eat a variety of foods at a reasonable calorie deficit in order to lose weight" camp.

My approach was to focus on adding things to my overall habits, not cut anything out (other than excess calories). More protein, more vegetables, more whole grains, more exercise, more sleep. I found that by doing that, and having a solid understanding of my maintenance calorie needs and as such, setting a reasonable calorie deficit; I was able to fill my day with a variety of appropriate sized portions of different foods and still have room for things like a glass of wine, a serving of ice cream, a couple of Oreos, etc.

I agree with the suggestions above of just logging your normal foods for a while to see where you think you might be able to make changes that won't leave you hungry, deficient on nutrients, or miserable.

WinoGelato

Need2Exerc1se wrote: »

I don't understand the question. If you are reducing calories in order to lose weight then you are on a diet. The food content of the diet does not change that. It's basic vocabulary.

While it is a bit of a semantics discussion, I assume that what the OP meant was whether people focus exclusively on calories by reducing portion sizes only, or embarking on a specific named diet/way of eating - Low Carb or Atkins or Paleo, etc in order to create that calorie deficit.

neldabg

+1 for mixing it up with substitutions and smaller portions. Here's what I do now in maintenance:

neldabg wrote: »

I use substitutes/alternatives when I don't think taste will be compromised and then just exercise portion control for everything else.
For example, I don't hate Shirataki noodles, but they just don't do it for me. Instead, I just use regular noodles and portion out around 3/4 of the recommended serving size and add a lot of veggies and some meat.
Generally, in stores, I take the time to compare nutrition labels and opt for the product that offers the lowest calories PER GRAM/PORTION (labels can be tricky) and the best protein and fat ratio per serving. To break a tie, I examine vitamins and minerals provided, and the winning product is the one that's the cheapest.
For ice cream, I *did* like Halo Top as a substitution, so much that after reading reviews here on MFP and trying them out myself, I went through nearly a pint a day for a few consecutive days. Well, as the saying goes, too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing, and after those fews days, I got sick of Halo Top. I get a little nauseous whenever I think of the ice cream. Haha. Now I stick to regular ice cream.
I second the bagel thins, however I sometimes just buy regular bagels if there's a good sale and just eat half a bagel.
I love sweets and still do eat them, but I also love protein bars just as much, so I'll often eat a protein bar as my sweet treat. I get the sweetness of candy bars while also hitting protein goals.
As for cookies, I've been spoiled by Lenny & Larry's Complete Cookies. They're very dense and provide slightly more protein per serving than bakery/packaged cookies. Even though I have to eat only half a cookie at a time, I honestly find them much more tasty and satisfying than regular cookies.
I don't miss regular milk at all. I use coconut/soy milk in place of regular milk, and recently, I've been using protein powder for my cereal.
Protein pancakes in place of regular pancakes.
Burrito/tortilla wraps, flat breads, and/or mushroom caps instead of regular prepackaged crust for homemade pizza.
Turkey/chicken versions of sausages, bacon, pepperoni, and hamburgers.
Jennie O's ground turkey.

For weight loss, I did the same thing, but cut back on calories.

the_new_mark_2017

grmckenzie wrote: »

I figure that I need to learn how to eat as if I was skinny, so that's what I'm trying to do now. Not purposefully cutting anything out, but overall eating less and eating better. Once I am thin, I will be used to eating like this and won't need to change how I eat. Dropped 35 lbs so far.

I like this... a lot!