What has your diet taught you about yourself?

glennagael

This is my third week officially logging and dieting; I've spent the past several months adjusting my diet to include more whole and home cooked things, trying to cut out or cut back on various things.

I've found out that I don't really need meat. I never set out to be a vegetarian (wouldn't call myself one now) but I rarely cook with meat. Now if I do eat out the meatless options seem so much more appetizing...

I do, however, live for cheese, which is a real shame because I've noticed a trend of dairy making me feel ill. Haven't seen a doctor yet, but I don't eat an abundance of dairy any more (cut cream out of my coffee, cut out my 2 weekly pints of Halo Top, stopped eating yogurt for breakfast in favor of smoothies or savory dishes, have stayed away from pizza, cheese fries, etc. for obvious reasons...) and the past two times I've consumed something milk based my stomach turned in on itself within 20 minutes. Conferred with my lactose intolerant friend and she very sadly recommended I get confirmation, but it sounds like lactose isn't my friend, either.

Besides teaching me things about my digestive system, I've learned by cooking and trying new recipes that I like things to be colorful, small-portioned, varied, and potent. I also start with a vision in mind of how I want something to be, do a bit of research, but rely mostly on my own problem solving skills to bring it to fruition. I like goals that require a high number of small steps, rather than things that require long-haul single-mindedness. Now I'm thinking of ways to apply this to career, productivity, and organization! Even a simple as my wardrobe... I always seem to purchase tailored, single-color pieces, trying to opt for flattering, timeless, classic, or elegant, when I really love bright, bold colors, different prints, versatile pieces, layers, and textures. That's what makes me happy, but my wardrobe is full of black dresses!

I think it's interesting when you try to take control of one part of your life (like health) you realize how you've been self-defeating in other areas, too. Has your diet taught you anything about yourself?

Gallowmere1984

That my expectations of others are too high, and they will almost always disappoint.

marieamethyst

That I'm still a picky toddler, trapped in a 30 year old's body.

zyxst

That I do have self-control, but I don't like it.

kommodevaran

I thought I was a "sugar addict", but it turned out I just need my food to taste good and get in some structure and boundaries and predictability. I balked at the idea of regular meals, and planning my meals, because I believed that would be "rigid" - but it isn't, it's freeing, and it's still me who decides when and what to eat.

I thought I loved to eat enormous portions of whatever, but I really prefer smaller meals, composed with care and attention. I also (used to think I) was a picky eater, but I enjoy variety now, and love to try new foods. I learnt that I am adaptable and can be happy and content with a lot of different ways of eating.

I believed I was a lousy cook (mostly because I never had the patience to follow a recipe, and I was afraid of fat, sugar and salt), now I think that I'm a good cook (I can cook, not just follow recipes, and I add enough fat, sugar and salt to make the meal "just right", not too much).

I believed I was destined to be fat, but I just have to eat normal sized portions, and now I too am normal weight.

I have learnt that fear is a powerful tool to stop people from educating themselves and asking questions.

LiftandSkate

What true hunger is, that its not an emergency, and i shouldnt be afraid of it.

That i have the appetite of an NFL linebacker trapped in a 5'2 woman, but I already knew that. Losing weight has largely been the process of accepting this, and just learning to live with it.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

Francl27

That I'm happier when I'm active.
That I actually like cooking.
That I'll probably always be a bit chubby because there's just no way I'll stop eating dessert. I'm still working on accepting that.
That having to restrict what I eat doesn't always make me pleasant to be around, unfortunately. I will always love food and I feel like I'm missing a part of me when I have to watch what I eat all the time.
That apparently my maintenance is higher now than when I was 75 lbs heavier, but I'm also so much hungrier that I could never go back to that diet either.

crzycatlady1

I still eat pretty similar to what I ate back when I was 50lbs heavier, I've just learned how CICO works and now eat all the foods I like in the correct calorie amounts. Otherwise things are same old, same old, which goes a long way to making this whole thing sustainable for the next 45 or so years

glennagael

Look_Its_Kriss wrote: »

My diet has taught me that no matter what i look like on the outside... fat... skinny... that i was always the same person on the inside, I have to let go of how horrible i was treated as a fat person and build up that person who was trapped inside a scared shy and shamed shell for 29 years. I have to remind myself that just because people told me i was a waste of life and that i should commit suicide because of my weight that those comments are not a definition of who i am. I am young and i need to let the loving, caring, good person i always was shine now and make that who i am all the time and not just because of my body size.

Those people were so wrong! You are the same person and worth treating kindly, both the food you put in your body and the thoughts, words, etc. Your goals are beautiful, and fitness has so little to do with them! Go girl.

quiksylver296

That if I cut out a food, (I'm looking at you, Chocolate and Ice Cream) I will eventually freak out and binge on it. I am much more successful by allowing all foods in moderation.

tallen3687

That I actually like food that is good for me (most times) and that controlling what I eat isn't as hard as I thought. And that being active alone will not help me get to my goal. I also agree with someone earlier that I will never be a thin person, but that as long as I am healthier I should be happy.

jemhh

1. I like bread/pasta/etc but have no problem cutting back on them to reduce calories.
2. I love fresh vegetables and fruit but could never give up meat.
3. There are many foods I love that I'd rather not have at all than have in small quantities.

apullum

This is a great idea for a thread.

I think that my entire weight loss process has taught me that I have a lot of willpower--both the power to resist doing something that doesn't fit into my plan, like eating an entire package of cookies, and the power to make myself do the routines I want.

I've learned that I do not need as much food as I used to eat.

I've also learned that I'm uninterested in giving up foods that make me happy. I'm still going to have my chocolate every day, but now I fit it into my calorie budget.

I never expected that I would completely change both my hair and clothing style after I lost weight, but that definitely happened.

I've learned that I really can't go out to eat on a regular basis and expect to stay within my calories or macros. If you don't cook it yourself, you don't know what's in it.

I've learned that I have to prioritize working out. It will not happen if I don't make time for it, put it on the schedule, and plan for it.

I've learned that being really short means even my maintenance calorie budget won't be very high

serenityfrye

That sugar and starchy carbs throw my blood sugar way out of whack and make me feel sick. I thought it was normal to shake all the time till I switched up my macros and suddenly felt human again. Not to say I never have them anymore, but I'm starting to learn how to manage their timing and quantity.

glennagael

apullum wrote: »

This is a great idea for a thread.

I think that my entire weight loss process has taught me that I have a lot of willpower--both the power to resist doing something that doesn't fit into my plan, like eating an entire package of cookies, and the power to make myself do the routines I want.

I've learned that I do not need as much food as I used to eat.

I've also learned that I'm uninterested in giving up foods that make me happy. I'm still going to have my chocolate every day, but now I fit it into my calorie budget.

I never expected that I would completely change both my hair and clothing style after I lost weight, but that definitely happened.

I've learned that I really can't go out to eat on a regular basis and expect to stay within my calories or macros. If you don't cook it yourself, you don't know what's in it.

I've learned that I have to prioritize working out. It will not happen if I don't make time for it, put it on the schedule, and plan for it.

I've learned that being really short means even my maintenance calorie budget won't be very high

Thanks! It's so interesting to hear what people derive from journeys like this. It really does affect every area of your life, but instead of feeling like just changing, you feel like you're meeting yourself for the first time.

I love that you use the word prioritize. Yes, you gotta prioritize exercise, but you can also prioritize chocolate, and in the end, you're just prioritizing happiness! (:

ds41980

That I can live without sweets. That the more components there are to a meal, for me the better, example if breakfast is a blueberry muffin with nuts baked in its boring....but blueberry muffin with a baggie of nuts and some milk and fruit...Awesome! It is satisfying to me to pull out all the components and eat it all even though it does not add up to much.

Machka9

Eating normally just feels better.

I've spent most of my life eating moderate quantities of veggies, fruit, whole grains, lean meats, and a bit of dairy ... and that just feels right.

Go off my diet, and that's when my digestive system gets all messed up and my gallbladder starts acting up.

DietPrada

That the 20 years I spent yoyo dieting and failing and getting bigger and bigger and more and more depressed were not my fault. What I was eating was literally setting me up to fail.

Ploofs

I've realised that I'm a huge social eater. I'm fine by myself but when I bring a friend I tend to eat a -lot- more

AlyssaPetsDogs

I learned that I have more self control than I think I do, but that if I don't treat myself occasionally, I will binge for several days and it's not pretty. Honestly I just need to maintain a healthy balance and I have been so much happier.

I also learned that I LOVE to cook. Seriously a new passion for me. So far nothing crazy yet, but it is so fun picking out a new recipe and trying it out! It brings me joy finding a recipe swap for something that I love, but lower calories (my biggest successes have been a skinny cheeseburger casserole and a skinny pumpkin spice latte).

richardgavel

glennagael wrote: »

This is my third week officially logging and dieting; I've spent the past several months adjusting my diet to include more whole and home cooked things, trying to cut out or cut back on various things.

I've found out that I don't really need meat. I never set out to be a vegetarian (wouldn't call myself one now) but I rarely cook with meat. Now if I do eat out the meatless options seem so much more appetizing...

I do, however, live for cheese, which is a real shame because I've noticed a trend of dairy making me feel ill. Haven't seen a doctor yet, but I don't eat an abundance of dairy any more (cut cream out of my coffee, cut out my 2 weekly pints of Halo Top, stopped eating yogurt for breakfast in favor of smoothies or savory dishes, have stayed away from pizza, cheese fries, etc. for obvious reasons...) and the past two times I've consumed something milk based my stomach turned in on itself within 20 minutes. Conferred with my lactose intolerant friend and she very sadly recommended I get confirmation, but it sounds like lactose isn't my friend, either.

Besides teaching me things about my digestive system, I've learned by cooking and trying new recipes that I like things to be colorful, small-portioned, varied, and potent. I also start with a vision in mind of how I want something to be, do a bit of research, but rely mostly on my own problem solving skills to bring it to fruition. I like goals that require a high number of small steps, rather than things that require long-haul single-mindedness. Now I'm thinking of ways to apply this to career, productivity, and organization! Even a simple as my wardrobe... I always seem to purchase tailored, single-color pieces, trying to opt for flattering, timeless, classic, or elegant, when I really love bright, bold colors, different prints, versatile pieces, layers, and textures. That's what makes me happy, but my wardrobe is full of black dresses!

I think it's interesting when you try to take control of one part of your life (like health) you realize how you've been self-defeating in other areas, too. Has your diet taught you anything about yourself?

Unless I'm misreading, the only time you directly connected dairy with issues is milk. I had a similar issue, didn't happen with cheese or ice cream. What helped me is switching to organic milk and I've seen this has helped other people.

JessicaMcB

I've learned through diet and running how to finally fuel my body for performance rather than shoveling as much food in as possible to muffle all my feelings. I've learned Oreos are the devil's cookie (damn you delicious SOBs). The control and discipline I've gleaned from this journey have helped me to stop a 25 year old habit and I finally can say I don't bite my nails anymore!

Lots of win on the street down to fitness town

NorthCascades

This is doable, and not just for other people.

amusedmonkey

That, like you, I don't need meat, but I've always known that.

The thing that I wasn't aware of is that carbs are essential for my satiety. I never knew that before dieting. I thought I just liked them out of preference.

That I don't eat "junk food" often. The main contributors to my excess calories were not things people commonly associate with morbid obesity. I remember when I first started losing weight I would get advice like "just replace soda with water" and would think "but I always drink water and only have a 240ml can/cup of soda maybe once a month?" or something like "cut out sugar and cream from your coffee and don't eat candy" and would think "but I already drink my coffee black and can go weeks before candy even crosses my mind" or "don't eat out or order in often, cook at home" and I would think "the last time I ate out or ordered in was 4 months ago?"...etc. Many "weight loss tips" just did not apply to me, so I had to figure out my own.

That I used to eat foods I didn't even care for ALL THE TIME just because they're there. I'm still baffled how often it happened.

That dieting changing someone's tastes, preferences, and ability to eat large portions does not hold true for me like it does for some people. Yes, I don't need as much food as I used to eat to stop feeling hungry but I'm still capable of polishing the same kinds/volumes of food given the chance and no, the discomfort of being overfull still hasn't crossed into the "hate" category like it does for some. That's after nearly 4 years of dieting, so it's not a case of not giving it enough time to change me. I will always have to be in control of what/how much I eat if I want to avoid regain.

That it's okay to be hungry sometimes, but not all the time.

That rigid or structured diets don't work for me unless I structure them myself. AT ALL. Tell me I can't eat something and it will be the only thing I think about. Tell me today's plan involves eating X and I will want to eat Y even if X is something I really like. I can plan my meals if I want to, but knowing I have the option to deviate if needed makes me okay with it. I'm basically a diet rebel.

That I like running. Who knew!

pamfgil

Serenityfrye if sugar and starch have that strong an effect you may want to check out hypoglycemia. I've found sugar is not my friend, too much makes me sluggish and depressed

glennagael

richardgavel wrote: »

Unless I'm misreading, the only time you directly connected dairy with issues is milk. I had a similar issue, didn't happen with cheese or ice cream. What helped me is switching to organic milk and I've seen this has helped other people.

Huh, thanks for the consideration! Milk, yes, ice cream, yes, cheese, no. For yogurt and sour cream I already use Green Valley Organics lactose free, and those pose no threats. By organic milk do you mean raw milk or pasteurized organic milk at the grocery store? Thanks again!

crzycatlady1

glennagael wrote: »

richardgavel wrote: »

Unless I'm misreading, the only time you directly connected dairy with issues is milk. I had a similar issue, didn't happen with cheese or ice cream. What helped me is switching to organic milk and I've seen this has helped other people.

Huh, thanks for the consideration! Milk, yes, ice cream, yes, cheese, no. For yogurt and sour cream I already use Green Valley Organics lactose free, and those pose no threats. By organic milk do you mean raw milk or pasteurized organic milk at the grocery store? Thanks again!

My daughter is lactose intolerant and she can't handle dairy milk at all, regardless of what kind, can tolerate ice cream with an enzyme pill and has no problem with cheese in moderation. She uses almond milk now and that's working well for her

__TMac__

IIRC, the process of aging hard cheeses eliminates the lactose. It's the food for the bacteria.

I've learned that my key to success is to self-identify as an athletic person. My athletic goals lead to adherence to my eating plan, which leads to weight loss. It's not that I didnt have motivation or willpower. I just didn't have a compelling reason.

jcraig10

Sometimes, I just have to eat the Red Baron frozen pizza.
Also, I learned that I like sweet potatoes.

Need2Exerc1se

Not much really. I already knew I like to eat and drink too much.

In the few weeks that I was weighing and logging food it was fairly surprising to see how much I overestimated pasta servings. Especially with spaghetti!

Edited to change under to over - I was eating less than I thought.