Sin foods - give them up or change/reduce them?

rockinright

Quick survey-type post w/comments welcome. Do you have foods you completely gave up? Or have you simply changed them to make them healthier and/or reduced the quantity and frequency at which you eat them?

For me, the only thing I have (tried) to mostly eliminate is anything with high-fructose corn syrup. And for that I usually just try to find a Splenda or real sugar version of the same food. I've probably cut my HFCS by 80% since I've been aware of it.

My wife and I are both losing weight. We still have pizza - but I'll have one or two slices (if I have the calories) instead of the half-pizza (or more) I used to eat. Steak - same thing - I eat a 4 or 6 oz instead of a 16 oz Porterhouse.

I'll even do box mac n cheese, but I use Annie's instead of Kraft, which is slightly lower in fat and calories, and has none of the artifical crap Kraft has. Also no more eating a full box by myself in one sitting!

I do turkey burgers instead of beef. I do eat beef, but I save beef for the really good stuff - such as steak, or, as a small part of a larger dish (say, a steak fajita). We (my wife and I) use a lot of turkey products - turkey sausages, turkey burgers, ground turkey. Of course sticking with breast and/or 93/7 lean turkey--if you use high-fat ground turkey might as well just use a leaner beef and get the real thing!

For desserts I've been enjoying Skinny Cow products and just smaller quantities of other things I like.

I find myself going way over on sodium even while staying at or under the other goals each day.

We still rely too much on prepared/box foods, but have been making much better choices in that regard (thank you Eat This Not That). The second wave will be cooking more at home and trying to reduce sodium.

What does everyone here do?

Joscelle

Change/Reduce! Diet Dr. Pepper for regular Dr. Pepper.

bellanean

My diet has to be pretty on point in order for me to lose weight, so unlike you I dont have that choice to still eat the bad stuff, but better then the worse stuff, if that makes sense!

I do treat myself every 2-3 weeks because I think its nesscary. Your doing great!

jrich1

If I Dont eat foods I want I wont be able to stick to eating like I do, I ALWAYS try to find better and heathier ways to make some of my favorite foods and sometimes splurge to something I dont eat all the time.

Galathea

It wasn't planned, but I reduced meat a lot. Have it only once a week now. And I haven't had chocolate in an eternity. Can't even remember how it tastes anymore. LOL

rockinright

It seems that for some people it is just about calories - reduce calories and lose weight.

For others, I think they have to change their entire metabolism by eliminating certain foods and adding others - something we all benefit from, but some respond better than others to a simple calorie reduction. I am also working on this part but it's more of a "phase 2" for me.

My main problem was simply that I ate WAY TOO MUCH in portions. I was always thin as a kid.

Punktorian

I no longer eat beef or pork. Just stick to lean chicken or turkey. Most everything else I have just reduced and/or modified the recipe.

sweetbn

I eat less of them. Like you said, one to two slices of pizza instead of 4, 1/16 of a cake instead of 1/4... this is life! I can't go the rest of my life without pizza.

Sounds like you're doing great keep it up!

PixieGoddess

Reduce! I just bought a bag of Dove Dark Chocolates with Almonds! They're small, individual pieces, 42 calories each, and it fixes my chocolate cravings. Plus, almonds! Yum!

I have noticed that I tend to eat a lot more chicken than beef now (and without the breading too!) and I stopped adding salt to everything while I cook! :blushing: I can't help it, I'm Southern!

jdsouthernbelle

I have reduced the amount of red meat I eat & I gave up pop tarts completely!

LotusF1ower

Quick survey-type post w/comments welcome. Do you have foods you completely gave up? Or have you simply changed them to make them healthier and/or reduced the quantity and frequency at which you eat them?

For me, the only thing I have (tried) to mostly eliminate is anything with high-fructose corn syrup. And for that I usually just try to find a Splenda or real sugar version of the same food. I've probably cut my HFCS by 80% since I've been aware of it.

My wife and I are both losing weight. We still have pizza - but I'll have one or two slices (if I have the calories) instead of the half-pizza (or more) I used to eat. Steak - same thing - I eat a 4 or 6 oz instead of a 16 oz Porterhouse.

I'll even do box mac n cheese, but I use Annie's instead of Kraft, which is slightly lower in fat and calories, and has none of the artifical crap Kraft has. Also no more eating a full box by myself in one sitting!

I do turkey burgers instead of beef. I do eat beef, but I save beef for the really good stuff - such as steak, or, as a small part of a larger dish (say, a steak fajita). We (my wife and I) use a lot of turkey products - turkey sausages, turkey burgers, ground turkey. Of course sticking with breast and/or 93/7 lean turkey--if you use high-fat ground turkey might as well just use a leaner beef and get the real thing!

For desserts I've been enjoying Skinny Cow products and just smaller quantities of other things I like.

I find myself going way over on sodium even while staying at or under the other goals each day.

We still rely too much on prepared/box foods, but have been making much better choices in that regard (thank you Eat This Not That). The second wave will be cooking more at home and trying to reduce sodium.

What does everyone here do?

Yes, I have completely given up chocolate. Not because I am frightened of it and are avoiding it, but because I used to eat tons of the stuff and by that, I mean TONS, sometimes 6, 7, 8 bars of choccie per day. The more I ate the more I wanted, it was a vicious circle and almost impossible to stop. I say ALMOST, because I actually succeeded in not eating it for a few days when I first went on this eating plan and then after a few days, I stopped thinking of it and then after a few weeks, I no longer cared whether I had it or not and now after eight weeks, I really do not want any!

I put this down to upping my protein so that I feel full most of the time, before my weight loss programme, I would stuff myself full of carbs and the more carbs I ate the more I wanted.

Allibaba

I have given up on some and I have reduced others. I haven't eaten beef all year, recently I decided to stop eating pork. I rarely eat any meat at all now, but that is just a personal choice and I don't think that it is affecting my losses since I have replaced the meat with raw nuts so I am still getting lots of protein.

I have mostly eliminated the candy I was eating. I was a sugar addict and so I try to eat as little sugar as possible. I have decreased my pizza habit to once every 2 weeks when my bf and I go to half price pizza and pints night at the local pub but it is a thin crust pizza and we get it with chicken or just cheese. I also gave up my 1-2+ glasses of wine each night, I have the previously mentioned pint and sometimes 1 or 2 servings of booze on the weekends.

I have eliminated most processed foods and now my sodium is under control, I am now trying to do the same with sugar and carbs. It is considerably harder than the salt for me as I love sugar and carbs!

Dreaj79

I have one day a week where I let myself have one thing that I'm craving. I don't have a big no holds barred calorie bonanza, but if I've been ready to kill for an ice cream cone, I'll go get one. Some things I've changed. For example, I made my own pizza tonight instead of ordering out. It still satisfied my pizza craving, but I was able to control the calories, sodium and so on. You just have to find out how this works for you. Good luck!

oxFaithxo

It seems that for some people it is just about calories - reduce calories and lose weight.

For others, I think they have to change their entire metabolism by eliminating certain foods and adding others - something we all benefit from, but some respond better than others to a simple calorie reduction. I am also working on this part but it's more of a "phase 2" for me.

My main problem was simply that I ate WAY TOO MUCH in portions. I was always thin as a kid.

ooh i have the same problem i gorge my food down... but when i was younger (i mean i am only 26 BUT when i was in my teens and early 20's) i was able to eat what ever, whenever and however much i wanted...

I DONT WANT TO GROW UP (OR OUT FOR THAT MATTER LOL)

JUSTFORME2010

I have decided that I eat what I want and add the calories. The one thing i did stop eating is OJ for breakfast. 2oz was 110 calories which was just way too much I couldnt keep up with that. And if I want a snack I try to eat reduced calorie snack.

Holton

I have done my best to give up white flour and white sugar (done my best means that I have not always been successful but doing pretty darn good at it!).

kspeach

I gave up fast food for over a month when I started my diet.

I also gave up Pepsi, and very rarely do I even have a diet soda. It's a special treat if I have a coke or Pepsi.

I think it's made a huge difference. My stomach was immediately less bloated, and my fingers are as well. Even at this weight some years back, I was still drinking Pepsi, and my wedding rings were still tight, especially in the summer. Now, they are usually about ready to fall off!

Everything else is in moderation!

khk2010

I eliminated things that are not healthful and good for me. I gave up alcohol, juice, margarine, white and most processed foods, and junk food. Replaced them with whole grains, lots of fruit and veggies, fish, lots of turkey here too. I will still have anything I really want though and fit in the calories. I have my treats like a piece of chocolate or weight watchers fudge bar. Got to have some goodies—right? I hate to feel deprived.

StaceG1986

What everyone else said - change to healthier versions or reduce the amount of bad stuff by a great amount

fchopin42

I do a bit of modifying and reducing...

LOVE pizza so I make my own with thin crust and light on the cheese so it isn't as unhealthy...
LOVE ice cream.... I still have it... just less of it. I can't go without ice cream

etc.

I want to learn to eat healthy for life... not just until I loose weight so I figure i need to learn to eat those "yummy" things too just in moderation and maybe changing them up a bit to be better for me.

Several years ago I became vegetarian for health reasons. Now that I have done more research i am vegetarian for both health reasons as well as moral reasons.

Have a great day!

4myheartnsoul

I gave them up. I was a sweet junkie. It was easy for me, partly because I found out I can no longer eat gluten, but once I dedicated to lose weight, and began eating healthy, I don't want it. I eat yogurt and fruit now.

rockinright

Seems we all share a common theme but have our own ways. Some of us just cut everything down, maybe knock out the really bad junk, others completely change everything, some cut out meat, some just reduce it. Am I the only HFCS-phobic one here?

mooz

I've reduced some and gave up some altogether. I decided that nothing was "off limits" because I didn't want this to feel like a diet that restricted what I could and couldn't eat.

What I gave up completely was diet soda and juices. I only drink water. I also gave up my fast food burgers and fries. If we go to a fast food place I check online for healthier options and if there aren't any, I'll either wait and eat at home or go someplace else. In my neighbourhood we have a McDonalds right next to a Japanese restaurant. Many times I've opted for Japanese food while my family chomped down on Big Macs.

I've given up my white pasta. I found a whole wheat egg white pasta that is just fantastic! I can get my pasta fix without all the calories. 1 cup of this pasta has only 155 calories.

Mirlyn

Quick survey-type post w/comments welcome. Do you have foods you completely gave up? Or have you simply changed them to make them healthier and/or reduced the quantity and frequency at which you eat them?

For me, the only thing I have (tried) to mostly eliminate is anything with high-fructose corn syrup. And for that I usually just try to find a Splenda or real sugar version of the same food. I've probably cut my HFCS by 80% since I've been aware of it.

My wife and I are both losing weight. We still have pizza - but I'll have one or two slices (if I have the calories) instead of the half-pizza (or more) I used to eat. Steak - same thing - I eat a 4 or 6 oz instead of a 16 oz Porterhouse.

I'll even do box mac n cheese, but I use Annie's instead of Kraft, which is slightly lower in fat and calories, and has none of the artifical crap Kraft has. Also no more eating a full box by myself in one sitting!

I do turkey burgers instead of beef. I do eat beef, but I save beef for the really good stuff - such as steak, or, as a small part of a larger dish (say, a steak fajita). We (my wife and I) use a lot of turkey products - turkey sausages, turkey burgers, ground turkey. Of course sticking with breast and/or 93/7 lean turkey--if you use high-fat ground turkey might as well just use a leaner beef and get the real thing!

For desserts I've been enjoying Skinny Cow products and just smaller quantities of other things I like.

I find myself going way over on sodium even while staying at or under the other goals each day.

We still rely too much on prepared/box foods, but have been making much better choices in that regard (thank you Eat This Not That). The second wave will be cooking more at home and trying to reduce sodium.

What does everyone here do?

I've given up some, changed some, and reduced some. I have given up diet soda completely. I take that back, I've had maybe 3 sodas since April 2nd and all 3 were due to migraines, caffeine in soda just cures a migraine better than caffeine in medication. We now eat organic mac n cheese instead of blue box kraft and I eat MUCH less of it than I used to limited myself to 1 serving or less instead of splitting a box between my husband and I down the middle. We keep a gourmet dark chocolate bar in the house at all times and eat 1 piece when we want a chocolate fix instead of a whole candy bar. We eat pasta but we buy whole grain now and I actually measure out how much sauce I'm pouring in the pot to exactly 2 and 1/4 portions (1/4 for my son's dinner.) We sub turkey in for beef in tacos and burgers. We eat low sodium turkey bacon. 97% fat free hot dogs or premium turkey dogs. Oh and I get my salad dressing on the side and dip my fork. I no longer salt everything as I'm cooking, only certain veggies get a light salting, the rest get Mrs. Dash.

rockinright

I do eat Ronzoni pasta which is white but enriched. What pasta are you using, Mooz?

I have done away with most soda and even diet soda as I discovered by accident that too much aspartame causes me to feel tingly in my hands and feet, and sore all over. It's weird, but it really does. If I crave soda I buy Mexican (real sugar) coke at Costco and stick to a single one. Juices too - although I will have one glass once in a while.

I want to enjoy eating but feel better and be healthier. I swear some people restrict themselves so much they find eating to be a chore - I don't want to be like that.

lilac67

I try to "healthify" some recipes. I use Barilla plus pasta and Ragu no sugar added sauce, Sometimes I replace the pasta w/ zucchini. I eat egg white instead of whole eggs. I oven fry chicken. I make stir frys, fajitas. I've even made veggie burgers. If I want pizza I make it on whole wheat english muffins or pitas, or even Pizza Hut for the veggie lover on thin crust. I have 1-2 peices and a salad. If no one is up for veggie, I eat 1 regular peice with a bigger salad. I use vinegar or lemon juice on salad.
But if I want something, even if it's bad I have it. Just one, or one serving. Like one peice of cheesecake, or a brownie. I never buy a whole one or a package. If I make it at home I send the leftovers home with someone. I don't make those things low fat usually because I'm not incorporating them into my everyday menu, it's just a treat.

rockinright

I've given up some, changed some, and reduced some. I have given up diet soda completely. I take that back, I've had maybe 3 sodas since April 2nd and all 3 were due to migraines, caffeine in soda just cures a migraine better than caffeine in medication. We now eat organic mac n cheese instead of blue box kraft and I eat MUCH less of it than I used to limited myself to 1 serving or less instead of splitting a box between my husband and I down the middle. We keep a gourmet dark chocolate bar in the house at all times and eat 1 piece when we want a chocolate fix instead of a whole candy bar. We eat pasta but we buy whole grain now and I actually measure out how much sauce I'm pouring in the pot to exactly 2 and 1/4 portions (1/4 for my son's dinner.) We sub turkey in for beef in tacos and burgers. We eat low sodium turkey bacon. 97% fat free hot dogs or premium turkey dogs. Oh and I get my salad dressing on the side and dip my fork. I no longer salt everything as I'm cooking, only certain veggies get a light salting, the rest get Mrs. Dash.

Sounds similar to us. We don't salt our food much ourselves, but still use too many box dinners even if they're better box dinners than we used to. I also eat lots of Healthy choice soups for lunch - calorie-wise they're fine, but way too much salt in them.

We both work and have a son (16 mos)- I get home around 5 and my wife around 7:30 each evening...we actually feed our son a bit better than ourselves at this point. It's hard to cook in that situation. It's just easier to heat up a small piece of chicken and some veggies for him than a full meal for us. He's easier to please than we are, LOL...

rockinright

BTW - regarding hot dogs:

Believe it or not, Hebrew National beef hot dogs are only 45 calories - I was shocked by that.

flannan

Lke LotusFlower I 'm a choco-addict. It would make me feel like crap after eating multiple candies,cake, cookies and cokes. I have headaches if I dont have coke by 11:30 exactly. no joke.
I must have had the metabolism from heaven because I've always eaten like that. However, since the menopause i started to gain a belly from it. More than that I know it's not healthy or right. Im not a kid anymore and i have to get control of myself.
its only my first week here and im still drinking a 90 calorie coke a day. better than 2-3 regular cokes.
baby steps :-)

BlueLikeJazz

The only things I have completely given up are meat (in any form, fishies included) and alcohol.

I also eat probably what amounts to less than 1-2 servings of dairy/egg a week. I don't eat either of these straight up, but have trace amounts in certain things I still eat, like certain veggie burgers, salad dressings, things like that.

I always strive to make/have healthier, low-cal, high-veggie versions of my old favorite foods like pizza, curry, or pasta. I make mini-pizzas on low-carb tortillas now, make my curry meat-free with extra veggies, and substitute spaghetti squash for pasta. Pasta is one thing I have a really hard time eating the proper portion of, so it's something I rarely eat now.

I eat dark chocolate (70% or higher) now, that helps me avoid the milk and some of the sugar that's in the regular stuff.

My once-a-week guilty pleasure is Pepperidge Farm cookies. I save up some calories during the week to have them on the weekend, but am going to try making my own vegan low-sugar cookies now because I always feel truly guilty and gross after I see a couple of those empty fluted cookie cups in the package lol.

Great thread, it was interesting to see where others are cutting back too.

rockinright

The only things I have completely given up are meat (in any form, fishies included) and alcohol.

I also eat probably what amounts to less than 1-2 servings of dairy/egg a week. I don't eat either of these straight up, but have trace amounts in certain things I still eat, like certain veggie burgers, salad dressings, things like that.

I always strive to make/have healthier, low-cal, high-veggie versions of my old favorite foods like pizza, curry, or pasta. I make mini-pizzas on low-carb tortillas now, make my curry meat-free with extra veggies, and substitute spaghetti squash for pasta. Pasta is one thing I have a really hard time eating the proper portion of, so it's something I rarely eat now.

I eat dark chocolate (70% or higher) now, that helps me avoid the milk and some of the sugar that's in the regular stuff.

My once-a-week guilty pleasure is Pepperidge Farm cookies. I save up some calories during the week to have them on the weekend, but am going to try making my own vegan low-sugar cookies now because I always feel truly guilty and gross after I see a couple of those empty fluted cookie cups in the package lol.

Great thread, it was interesting to see where others are cutting back too.

Well (for me anyway) that's a pretty big thing! Sounds like you have a great plan in place. Keep it up!