How do I find balance?

kimny72

I eat fast food a couple of times a week. As long as I'm getting plenty of nutritious food, I don't really think it's a big deal.

I skip workouts if I don't feel like doing them, I just have to eat a little less to make up the difference. But it really helped to find exercise that made me feel great, so I could think about how awesome I feel when the workout is done.

You need to take guilt out of the equation. A lot of people who find they continually give up and have to start over is because they expect too much of themselves and feel so guilty when they can't pull it off they feel sorry for themselves and undo all their progress. Try planning in one or two fast food meals (still calorie appropriate though) and one or two rest days every week. Give yourself permission as they are part of your plan. And make sure you like what you are eating. There is no reason to eat food you don't like in an effort to be "healthy". You don't need every morsel of food that passes your lips to be perfect in order to be healthy, as long as you are giving your body all the stuff it needs there's lots of room for food that's nothing but fun.

TheImperfectMomma

nowine4me wrote: »

Perhaps you’d do better with structure or an actual program to follow. There are lots out there.

Also, I find a little planning goes a long way. Plan your menu, shop and cook on Sundays. If you have food ready and waiting, maybe you’d be less likely to hit the drive/thru.

I LOVE the idea of meal prep and I want to do it when I get my own place. But with a house of 5 (my parents, myself and, two kids), I don't have the space. We have 2 fridges. One is so poorly made we hardly have ANY room for the basics and dinner left overs. And the basement fridge is filled with pop and juice and any extra eggs, cheese, etc that dont fit in the main fridge. It drives me nuts. I even tried just prepping snack containers for myself to grab and go and there was no room.

TheImperfectMomma

1houndgal wrote: »

I agree with those that say make a one or two changes at a time when you start out.

I would choose just logging your food intake after you get your mfp set up. And this is important, learn from your food logging.

As you go along, you may discover as I did that a small fries at Wendy's is aprox 310 kcals. When that 310kcal is around half of your meal, you can see that fries are a calorie bomb. Logging can really open up your eyes and help make better food choices if you want to..

Now some folks can fit in those fries and dont mind that the small fries has little nutritional benefit. But for me, I switch from the small fries to the baked potato (watching the toppings) or to a serving of Wendy's chili.

For my self, I love the chili at Wendy's in that it is packed with good nutrition.

Most fast food places do have healthier options so seek them out, unless you choose to eat your junk food that day.

A big help is to look at the menu boards, as nowadays most have calorie counts next to the food items, to help steer you away from the calorie bombs offered.

Becoming aware of the high calorie foods can help you stay within your daily calorie goal, if that is what you are trying to do.

A second change to start would be excercise if you don't excercise. Consult your dr first. Then If you are out of shape, break up your excercise can help.

Basically you could do 15 mins of excercise 3 times a day. That would be 45 mins a day. Walking, water activities, recumbent cardio machines, stationary bicycle are just some ideas.

As you get more fit, you can move up to 20 mins three times a day, that is an hour a day of excercise total. From there adjust your excercise as needed (when what you are doing has become to easy).

This is just some ideas to help get you started. Hope they help.

I definitely could look at the menu boards. I have a habit of ordering my usual. Working out is something I do minimum 3 days per week and I'll be at the gym for about 2 hours(2.5 if you include socializing) one hour cardio, and an hour strength training.

kimny72

TheImperfectMomma wrote: »

1houndgal wrote: »

I agree with those that say make a one or two changes at a time when you start out.

I would choose just logging your food intake after you get your mfp set up. And this is important, learn from your food logging.

As you go along, you may discover as I did that a small fries at Wendy's is aprox 310 kcals. When that 310kcal is around half of your meal, you can see that fries are a calorie bomb. Logging can really open up your eyes and help make better food choices if you want to..

Now some folks can fit in those fries and dont mind that the small fries has little nutritional benefit. But for me, I switch from the small fries to the baked potato (watching the toppings) or to a serving of Wendy's chili.

For my self, I love the chili at Wendy's in that it is packed with good nutrition.

Most fast food places do have healthier options so seek them out, unless you choose to eat your junk food that day.

A big help is to look at the menu boards, as nowadays most have calorie counts next to the food items, to help steer you away from the calorie bombs offered.

Becoming aware of the high calorie foods can help you stay within your daily calorie goal, if that is what you are trying to do.

A second change to start would be excercise if you don't excercise. Consult your dr first. Then If you are out of shape, break up your excercise can help.

Basically you could do 15 mins of excercise 3 times a day. That would be 45 mins a day. Walking, water activities, recumbent cardio machines, stationary bicycle are just some ideas.

As you get more fit, you can move up to 20 mins three times a day, that is an hour a day of excercise total. From there adjust your excercise as needed (when what you are doing has become to easy).

This is just some ideas to help get you started. Hope they help.

I definitely could look at the menu boards. I have a habit of ordering my usual. Working out is something I do minimum 3 days per week and I'll be at the gym for about 2 hours(2.5 if you include socializing) one hour cardio, and an hour strength training.

2 hours is a lot. Do you look forward to going? If not, cut that time down a bit. On the days you just don't want to go, take a brisk walk. Have a family dance party in the living room. Do 15 minutes of calisthenics. It's not all or nothing, there is a lot of "in between" that maybe you're not considering?

StevefromMichigan

TheImperfectMomma wrote: »

I WANT to change my lifestyle. I WANT to be healthy and eat healthy but I can't seem to go more than a month before I'm back to eating fast food, which makes me feel sick and gross and then I have NO interest in working and it takes weeks to get back on track. how do I stick to eating healthy? or at least find a balance.

For me personally, I found that the longer I was able to stay away from fast food, the less I craved it. Try to find replacements that you like: Extra lean beef if you like burgers, chicken breasts, salmon, turkey.

Redordeadhead

TheImperfectMomma wrote: »

nowine4me wrote: »

Perhaps you’d do better with structure or an actual program to follow. There are lots out there.

Also, I find a little planning goes a long way. Plan your menu, shop and cook on Sundays. If you have food ready and waiting, maybe you’d be less likely to hit the drive/thru.

I LOVE the idea of meal prep and I want to do it when I get my own place. But with a house of 5 (my parents, myself and, two kids), I don't have the space. We have 2 fridges. One is so poorly made we hardly have ANY room for the basics and dinner left overs. And the basement fridge is filled with pop and juice and any extra eggs, cheese, etc that dont fit in the main fridge. It drives me nuts. I even tried just prepping snack containers for myself to grab and go and there was no room.

Can't you talk to your parents about leaving a small space in the fridge for some things you want? It doesn't need to be a lot: one or two tupperware containers, a couple of boiled eggs, some lettuce to mix with tuna, whatever you like.

I think a lot of families of 4 or 5 live with one fridge so having 2 shouldn't really be something that stops you from controlling your diet.

TheImperfectMomma

kimny72 wrote: »

TheImperfectMomma wrote: »

1houndgal wrote: »

I agree with those that say make a one or two changes at a time when you start out.

I would choose just logging your food intake after you get your mfp set up. And this is important, learn from your food logging.

As you go along, you may discover as I did that a small fries at Wendy's is aprox 310 kcals. When that 310kcal is around half of your meal, you can see that fries are a calorie bomb. Logging can really open up your eyes and help make better food choices if you want to..

Now some folks can fit in those fries and dont mind that the small fries has little nutritional benefit. But for me, I switch from the small fries to the baked potato (watching the toppings) or to a serving of Wendy's chili.

For my self, I love the chili at Wendy's in that it is packed with good nutrition.

Most fast food places do have healthier options so seek them out, unless you choose to eat your junk food that day.

A big help is to look at the menu boards, as nowadays most have calorie counts next to the food items, to help steer you away from the calorie bombs offered.

Becoming aware of the high calorie foods can help you stay within your daily calorie goal, if that is what you are trying to do.

A second change to start would be excercise if you don't excercise. Consult your dr first. Then If you are out of shape, break up your excercise can help.

Basically you could do 15 mins of excercise 3 times a day. That would be 45 mins a day. Walking, water activities, recumbent cardio machines, stationary bicycle are just some ideas.

As you get more fit, you can move up to 20 mins three times a day, that is an hour a day of excercise total. From there adjust your excercise as needed (when what you are doing has become to easy).

This is just some ideas to help get you started. Hope they help.

I definitely could look at the menu boards. I have a habit of ordering my usual. Working out is something I do minimum 3 days per week and I'll be at the gym for about 2 hours(2.5 if you include socializing) one hour cardio, and an hour strength training.

2 hours is a lot. Do you look forward to going? If not, cut that time down a bit. On the days you just don't want to go, take a brisk walk. Have a family dance party in the living room. Do 15 minutes of calisthenics. It's not all or nothing, there is a lot of "in between" that maybe you're not considering?

I actually love going. And I'm not even super tired after. I used to watch the clock and make sure I didn't go past an hour and one day I just *kitten* it and kept going until I felt like I was done. Working out is like...my therapy when I go.

TheImperfectMomma

StevefromMichigan wrote: »

TheImperfectMomma wrote: »

I WANT to change my lifestyle. I WANT to be healthy and eat healthy but I can't seem to go more than a month before I'm back to eating fast food, which makes me feel sick and gross and then I have NO interest in working and it takes weeks to get back on track. how do I stick to eating healthy? or at least find a balance.

For me personally, I found that the longer I was able to stay away from fast food, the less I craved it. Try to find replacements that you like: Extra lean beef if you like burgers, chicken breasts, salmon, turkey.

I REALLY want to start eating more salmon! I used to hate it but I love it now.

TheImperfectMomma

Redordeadhead wrote: »

TheImperfectMomma wrote: »

nowine4me wrote: »

Perhaps you’d do better with structure or an actual program to follow. There are lots out there.

Also, I find a little planning goes a long way. Plan your menu, shop and cook on Sundays. If you have food ready and waiting, maybe you’d be less likely to hit the drive/thru.

I LOVE the idea of meal prep and I want to do it when I get my own place. But with a house of 5 (my parents, myself and, two kids), I don't have the space. We have 2 fridges. One is so poorly made we hardly have ANY room for the basics and dinner left overs. And the basement fridge is filled with pop and juice and any extra eggs, cheese, etc that dont fit in the main fridge. It drives me nuts. I even tried just prepping snack containers for myself to grab and go and there was no room.

Can't you talk to your parents about leaving a small space in the fridge for some things you want? It doesn't need to be a lot: one or two tupperware containers, a couple of boiled eggs, some lettuce to mix with tuna, whatever you like.

I think a lot of families of 4 or 5 live with one fridge so having 2 shouldn't really be something that stops you from controlling your diet.

I do try to buy things I like. But, everything turns into a free for all. I was actually just thinking about stashing snack containers in the downstairs fridge drawers.