What diet tips work for you? Let's share
Replies
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* PROTEIN
* ... carbs are not your enemy, however. Just make them more complex and full of fiber when possible.
* Water. Tea. Coffee. Diet Soda. Avoid the fruit juice.
* Fat can actually be your friend!!! (It keeps me not hungry in addition to being delicious. Just pick your fat smartly)
* If you watch what you eat you don't actually have to exercise really hard in order to lose weight.4 -
Detailed planning keeps me eating right - a Google doc spreadsheet with the contents of my kitchen basically, then a tab with days of the week and meals on it. I know what I have and can make, and plan meals out a couple of days in advance. I can add stuff to my phone Reminders app for a shopping list. Just keeps rolling along. I also have a tab where I put quantities and cook times and stuff of things I eat often, and a tab for ideas I see around that I want to try, so I can dip in there if I am not able to think of what I want.1
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Hunger isn't pain and it doesn't hurt so no need for a quick fix.
Takeaways are a waste of money, get off your backside and cook woman.
NEAT, clean the house and walk the dog.
Eat beans, lots of beans.
(me talking to myself)3 -
I think meal prepping is my biggest "tip."
It saves you so many calories, money and time spent! I take an hour (or less) out of my Sunday to prep my weekday breakfasts & lunches, then I'm able to just grab a container and am out the door in the morning without putting any thought into it. I also meal plan ahead of time, so I know what I'll be having (usually plan our whole month for dinner and plan my breakfast & lunches a few weeks at a time) how many calories each meal will be. It sounds tedious, but has become second nature and I enjoy being organized and prepared.7 -
My M-F pre-dinner eating is very regimented & planned.Since I'm at work during that time, I only eat what I bring. I do keep some of the healthy option cookies around in case I get a craving or there is some sort of social eating thing that happens at work.
I have a list of 5 breakfasts that I always eat. I also keep a list of snack foods that I use at home to help me dial in my needs when I need something.
Totally agree on the need for water while eating.1 -
I think meal prepping is my biggest "tip."
It saves you so many calories, money and time spent! I take an hour (or less) out of my Sunday to prep my weekday breakfasts & lunches, then I'm able to just grab a container and am out the door in the morning without putting any thought into it. I also meal plan ahead of time, so I know what I'll be having (usually plan our whole month for dinner and plan my breakfast & lunches a few weeks at a time) how many calories each meal will be. It sounds tedious, but has become second nature and I enjoy being organized and prepared.
I started meal planning to deal with the brain fog and fatigue of fibromyalgia. It made life easier if I knew what I was cooking, because I could defrost something or put something in marinade, etc. and that way it was on the way to being done. Now it's a habit that soothes my anxiety, and makes it easy to prelog. I prelog every night just before going to bed, and that way I know what I can and can't have.
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A friend talked me into doing meal prep on Sundays. It takes an hour or two, but it makes it easier for me to stay on track when most of the food is portioned and ready to eat.3
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I think meal prepping is my biggest "tip."
It saves you so many calories, money and time spent! I take an hour (or less) out of my Sunday to prep my weekday breakfasts & lunches, then I'm able to just grab a container and am out the door in the morning without putting any thought into it. I also meal plan ahead of time, so I know what I'll be having (usually plan our whole month for dinner and plan my breakfast & lunches a few weeks at a time) how many calories each meal will be. It sounds tedious, but has become second nature and I enjoy being organized and prepared.
I agree! Meal prepping is a must for me. If not, I get home exhausted,realize I have nothing ready to eat and either nuke a few of the kids Hot Pockets, or order a couple pizzas. Prepping was tedious for a few week, but now it's bing, bang, boom... done.5 -
sammidelvecchio wrote: »Basana0909 wrote: »Kbk what is Acv ?! I need an appetite suppressant
Acv is apple cider vinegar! Mix a tbspn of it with a tall glass of water.
ACV and water. Not only will it make the water you drink taste awful it's an awesome way to strip the enamel from your teeth.
I guess drinking something so disgusting would kill the appetite but then again so would licking the sole of your shoes, and I suppose long term, once your teeth rot out of your head, it'll be more difficult to eat food that hasn't been pureed.
well aren't you a ray of sunshine on this gloomy day.
That may have come across a little bit more harsh than I intended... but only a little.
It's true I have a very low tolerance for garbage like ACV and other miracles and fads. They're nothing but scams that feed on the wallets and hopes of desperate people and I find it utterly despicable.10 -
I only eat when actually hungry. People complain about how my eating patterns make no sense and about me often not eating my main meal with my family but this is basically what stops me from overeating later in the day. Their lunch is always way too early in the day for me so then I'm basically ravenous by dinner time. I also go to bed late compared to other family members.
I also don't 100% cut out "junk" or stuff like store bought meals - it's maybe not ideal (in terms of nutrition) but. Look. If I want a slice of pizza or something I can have it, in moderation. That's how I avoid overdoing it. I also don't expect to avoid these types of food my entire life.6 -
Cramming nonstarchy vegetables into everything.4
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Don’t eat low fat products, it’s full of sugar2
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emeraldeyes2020 wrote: »Don’t eat low fat products, it’s full of sugar
Low fat dairy has no added sugar unless it's flavored in some way (and its not like flavored full fat would lack added sugar).
Lean ground beef also lacks added sugar.
Normal pasta is certainly low fat, but lacks added sugar also.5 -
emeraldeyes2020 wrote: »Don’t eat low fat products, it’s full of sugar
Or maybe just read the label, see if it has added sugar in the ingredients?12 -
I learned that fat, intelligently used, is not my enemy. The whipped cream on my cocoa in the evening gives me the satiety to get through the evening and to go to bed without hunger pangs. The butter on my dinner roll makes me able to eat my sensible dinner and refuse dessert and snacks later, because I'm full, and not hungry. It works for me.
What I try to take out is the fat that isn't doing anything except bulking up the calorie count.5 -
Basana0909 wrote: »Kbk what is Acv ?! I need an appetite suppressant
Acv is apple cider vinegar! Mix a tbspn of it with a tall glass of water.
ACV and water. Not only will it make the water you drink taste awful it's an awesome way to strip the enamel from your teeth.
I guess drinking something so disgusting would kill the appetite but then again so would licking the sole of your shoes, and I suppose long term, once your teeth rot out of your head, it'll be more difficult to eat food that hasn't been pureed.
1. ACV at the standard commercial 5% acidity has a pH of 3.3 to 3.5, which is very acidic. Nonetheless, even undiluted, it's less acidic than many common beverages**, such as Gatorade Lemon-Lime (pH 2.97), Kool-Aid Grape (pH 2.83) or Dr. Pepper (pH 2.88), among many, many others. Diluted, ACV's pH is higher (more neutral). All of these things are bad for teeth, but ACV is far from uniquely so.
2. Personally, I think ACV tastes good, even as a drink ingredient: No one else has to think that.
3. I 100% agree that ACV has no proven benefit for weight loss, nor did I personally find it made the slightest difference in my weight loss or appetite when I was drinking it (for unrelated reasons), vs. when I was not.
@DanP, I think you give great advice here on MFP, and I see that you backed off the tone of this post. :flowerforyou:
** Cite for relevant American Dental Association research:
https://www.ada.org/en/~/media/ADA/Public Programs/Files/JADA_The pH of beverages in the United States
(NOTE: Unfortunately, the URL may not appear correctly as a link for all viewers because of the embedded blanks. You may need to cut'n'paste it into your browser if you want to read the ADA article about acidity of common beverages.).4 -
netitheyeti wrote: »I only eat when actually hungry.
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Same for me. My eating pattern is the complete opposite to what is considered by many as set meal times. It took me a long time to adjust to what my body wants, when it needs food and how much food.
Mostly (but not rigidly) I eat a small meal late morning, a massive meal early to mid afternoon and only if I’m properly hungry some fruit or maybe porridge late at night.
I never snack, I’ve learnt it makes me overeat. It took me a verrrry long time to get in sync to hunger ........rather than a just craving or eating cos I felt I should to prevent hunger.
Unless I’m riding outside, then I eat even when I’m not hungry to prevent a bonk.
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If I get a real case of munchies (not hungry but wanting any kind of food badly), I will either walk around or brush my teeth. In a strange way, both will alleviate the want for food.
Furthermore, I will eat anything that I like, if reasonably within my cal goals. I will eat a piece of chocolate almost every day.
But most importantly: tailor your diet to your needs and your body ! You alone will know what works for you on the long run. For example: some people will avoid carbs, I love and eat mainly carbs. Some will fast, others will graze all the time. Try it out and find YOUR way.3 -
I eat mostly plants with a bit of meat and throw in some rice or quinoa on occasion. I make sure I have a plan for food for the next day so I'm not as tempted to stop and buy some crap. lol
I have not cut any foods out specifically. When I do, I end up bingeing on those foods. I just work them in, smaller amounts and less often.
I do get dressing on the side but just so I can see how much it is, then I dump it on my salad.
I mostly stopped buying shakes, protein bars or anything processed that screams about protein or GF or low carb because it's still overly processed crap.
I cook extra big dinners so I have easy, healthy leftover lunches.1 -
teresadannar wrote: »sweetsal64 wrote: »I drink a large glass of water before each meal and also before a snack. It really helps fill my stomach and I usually tend to eat less. Then again, some people eat when they really are actually thirsty. Same goes if you plan to have a cocktail. Order a tall water (no ice) with your cocktail. Then, make sure you drink the water first. Best of all is that the water is so good for you!
Speaking of cocktail, I sampled a new drink, Crook & Marker Hard Selzer, I had the Blackberry Lime. All flavors are 80 calories, 3 carbs, zero sugar, and pretty tasty!
Okay but how much alcohol? lmao.0 -
sammidelvecchio wrote: »Basana0909 wrote: »Kbk what is Acv ?! I need an appetite suppressant
Acv is apple cider vinegar! Mix a tbspn of it with a tall glass of water.
ACV and water. Not only will it make the water you drink taste awful it's an awesome way to strip the enamel from your teeth.
I guess drinking something so disgusting would kill the appetite but then again so would licking the sole of your shoes, and I suppose long term, once your teeth rot out of your head, it'll be more difficult to eat food that hasn't been pureed.
well aren't you a ray of sunshine on this gloomy day.
That may have come across a little bit more harsh than I intended... but only a little.
It's true I have a very low tolerance for garbage like ACV and other miracles and fads. They're nothing but scams that feed on the wallets and hopes of desperate people and I find it utterly despicable.
fair enough!2 -
I use a smaller bowl or plate at dinner times.
I always have fruit on my desk so if I get hungry it's the first thing I reach for rather than heading for the sugary snacks in the staffroom.
Remove temptations from the house. If it isn't there, you can't eat it!2 -
emeraldeyes2020 wrote: »Don’t eat low fat products, it’s full of sugar
This is why I don’t “diet”. For me, starting on MFP was for weight loss and it’s Calorie in calories out that contribute to losing weight. If low fat products have less calories than the full fat options that’s what I’ll eat2 -
What helps for me is before I eat something, especially 'treat' kind of foods, I stop and consider wether I really want it or not, if it's worth the calories or not. Before I found MFP, I did a lot of mindless eating. I would inhale a whole pack of chocolate sometimes without thinking.
I still eat chocolate or other calorie dense snacks, but I'm more aware of what I eat. And honestly, when I do I enjoy it a lot more than I used to. Before there was always some amount of guilt in the background, and counting calories has eliminated that for me. I know I'm still in a deficit and on track.
Since I count my calories, my mindset has switched from I can't or shouldn't have this food to I don't want this food.
I always thought that losing weight would mean going on a restrictive diet, with lots of yummy foods that would not be allowed, and probably for the rest of my life if I wanted to keep it off.
I'm so happy I found MFP and found out this isn't true! I have been in a very sustainable, moderate average deficit since March 2019 and my BMI went from 42 to 32. It hasn't been easy, but not at all as difficult as I thought it would be. I can still eat our regular family meals, have treats, enjoy the food at parties, as long as the average is a deficit all is good7 -
I don't eat all morning, I have a small snack around noon and then workout over my lunch hour which keeps me occupied and suppresses my appetite, and then eat my actual lunch around 1:30-2pm. Then another snack around 3:30-4. Then Dinner. Then bedtime snack. So from 2pm until bedtime, I just get to eat constantly basically lol! I love going to bed with a full belly.2
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I keep a lot of small treats around in the 15-120 calorie range and use them to eat right up to, but not over, my calorie target everyday. Dove chocolates, 44 cals. Peanut butter ginger Chews, 16 cals. 2 pack of Milano dark chocolate cookies, 110 cals, etc. I try to leave 100-150 cals for after dinner snack and then I eat treats... slowly. This seems to stave off my binge instinct pretty well, most of the time. I never go a day without a treat.5
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