What is one permanent change you've made to create a life-long calorie deficit?

Prayforya

What is one permanent change you've made to create a life-long calorie deficit? For example I've switched to sugar-free syrup vs. regular and it saves me about 100 calories (reg syrup is calorie RICH!). Reduced fat cheese vs regular saves me about 30-45 calories per ounce. These are food changes I can live with. What about you?

janejellyroll

A lifelong calorie deficit would eventually result in death.

If you're asking about ways that I keep my calories in balance, I make sure to weigh foods like rice, oats, potatoes, and pasta to make sure I'm not eating more than I think I am. I rarely have fatty salad dressings (I eat lots of fat, but I like lots of dressing on my salad and the calories add up too quickly for me with dressing). I rarely snack on candy that people bring to work. I rarely drink cocktails that have mixers with calories.

whatlunasaid

Nixing added sugar from foods that aren't dessert, with very few exceptions. That means if a food lists any kind of concentrated sugar source as an ingredient, and I don't consider it a treat food, I don't buy it. It's just not worth the blood sugar crash.

crazyycatlady1

One of the few long term changes I've made, that I've carried over into maintenance, is that I've switched from regular soda, to diet soda.

amusedmonkey

I stopped eating foods I do not like. Believe it or not, that was a problem for me, and it was a surprisingly hard habit to kick. Sometimes family members would bring home certain foods and set them on the counter, and I would have this irresistible urge to eat them even if it's a "meh" food that provides me with nothing more than a chewing action. Too many calories wasted on "meh" foods that often stole the slot of something I actually did like and want. Never again.

MelanieCN77

I don't think I've really cut anything 100% (never a big soda drinker anyway) but my ratios of certain foods are permanently different. I have way more vegetables than before and make it a point to include large servings at both lunch and dinner, and try for fruit with breakfast. I make low fat choices where it doesn't impact my enjoyment of the food, like non fat milk is fine but I can't deal with low or non-fat cottage cheese, it's gross, yoghurt too with some exceptions, so full fat there.

Lounmoun

I don't want a life long calorie deficit. I plan to go to maintenance calories at goal weight.

I eat less crackers. I log and see what foods fit my goals best. I use a food scale instead of guessing at portion sizes.

Tacklewasher

Pop. Definatley pop. I'd have a large drink every lunch. Now it's water. Not a big fan of diet pop but I do have them occasionally.

pinuplove

It's too soon to say, honestly. Hopefully kicked the daily soda habit for good. I've quit before, but eventually it always sneaks it's way back into my life. Too many wasted calories there. I still have one occasionally. Had a can of Dr. Pepper Saturday night, matter of fact! I didn't even finish it...

cozytimes

typically juices and caloric beverages. i eat more fruits, vegetables, and "real" or satisfying foods.

i also used to eat a lot of processed and empty calorie snacks, so that was cut down.

KristyDonovan

I went from vegetarian to 99% vegan. I did this for ethical reasons and not for calories but it did end up really affecting me. I still eat dairy and eggs on special occasions with my family or when it is absolutely necessary at work. I weigh everything and do not taste anything at work (I'm a pastry Chef).

fitmom4lifemfp

Prayforya wrote: »

What is one permanent change you've made to create a life-long calorie deficit? For example I've switched to sugar-free syrup vs. regular and it saves me about 100 calories (reg syrup is calorie RICH!). Reduced fat cheese vs regular saves me about 30-45 calories per ounce. These are food changes I can live with. What about you?

I don't want a life-long calorie deficit. I would die way too soon!

inertiastrength

I have switched from regular sodas to diet... splenda and milk in my coffee rather than cream and sugar... other than that I just cut calories where I can either by portion control or taking advantage of the low-carb fad that seems to have new products pop up weekly. Bless them for that lol

Prayforya

KristyDonovan wrote: »

I went from vegetarian to 99% vegan. I did this for ethical reasons and not for calories but it did end up really affecting me. I still eat dairy and eggs on special occasions with my family or when it is absolutely necessary at work. I weigh everything and do not taste anything at work (I'm a pastry Chef).

Oh wow! Kudos to you for discipline in such a tempting work environment!

happysherri

Years and years ago I switched from drinking soda all day ***and I mean all day, to drinking mainly water. I do drink coffee in the morning.

Francl27

Quit drinking calories (I get *maybe* skim milk in my coffee or a sweetened drink once a month, if that)
Try for 15k steps a day (that one was much a bigger deal than quitting soda)

cross2bear

I eat far fewer simple carbs (bread, pasta, baked goods) than previously. They were core components to my previous diet and I really really liked them, so I over consumed and my weight ballooned. My permanent change is I have to keep these items under control.

Mycophilia

Educated myself about nutrition. By that I mean reading text books, research papers, studies, etc and finding credible experts to follow(not some paleo guru). It's a lot of work, but it's knowledge I'll benefit from for the rest of my life.

Evamutt

Make a healthy fruit/veggie shake for breakfast(never used to eat breakfast) I never drank soda & rarely ate fast food so no change there but I love Lays chips so I don't eat them out of the bag any more & will always weigh them out. I cut down on rice & replaced it with more veggies. I buy low cal coffee creamer, low cal yogurt & cut way down on nuts. I plan to keep doing these things always

EmbeeKay

Drinking my coffee black!

nowine4me

Way more water and way less wine.