I tried going IIFYM today - here are my results

DizzieLittleLifter

This is a page from my diary, which shows IIFYM done 'properly)

My protein goal is 114g (I hit 116) and my fat is 51g (I hit 58g). I did this with nutrient dense food, and then finished up my day/calories with some cookies and ice cream.

You can't just shove whatever you want into your mouth and call it IIFYM.

thank you - and thats a lot of food actually

Yeahhhh, My diary is a really intense game of 'How much can I fit today without screwing up my macros/going too far over.'

Answer is usually: A lot of food.

I know people think that those who follow a IIFYM eating style just eat whatever all the time but, in general, a lot of thought and planned and nutrient dense food goes into it.

Absolutely! I spend a good hour everyday planning and mixing all kinds of odd foods to hit my goals. It's not a free for all eat wtf you want. I don't even factor in "treats" until I've hit nutrient dense meals (I'm reversing). OP I would recommend you give it another shot without eating everything you want, planning your day ahead of time and weighing your foods.

NonnyMary

IIFYM means precisely that we do not worry about things like "clean" or "sugar" or "wheat" or "organic" or "preservatives" or "sodium". There's nothing whatsoever wrong with eating organic, clean, whatever, but none of that stuff will *ensure* that you meet your macros. Only planning, pre-logging, making adjustments if necessary and adding it all up will do that.

We're not all doing IIFYM. Some people don't give a rat's patoot if they get even a reasonable amount of protein, let alone a good amount, as long as they're under their calories and they don't eat any refined sugar or white flour (say). It drives me cray cray, but then again, they probably get itchy teeth from looking at the amount of processed food I often eat.

We don't mean that "we don't fear food if it is a perfectly good food", because I don't assign moral values (good/bad) to food. I don't fear food. Period. End of subject. I refuse to give it that power over me (anymore). I'm the one in charge.

I personally weigh the cost/benefit of most foods to see if I'm getting a good nutrition bang for the calorie buck. If I don't, and I haven't met my macro goals yet, I pass on that food.

I don't think it has anything to do with obsessive or not. Trust me, I could get *very* obsessive with IIFYM, but I am working hard on not getting back to an obsessive place with my weight loss efforts, because I know that way lies Binge City again.

But if you know how to meet your macros and you're consistently eating in such a way that does meet your macros, you *can* be very relaxed about it once you find your routine. You just have to be conscientious while you're dialing in the one that works for you. Then you can be more relaxed.

So,since we all are basically doing IIFM, what do you all see as things about our way of eating (diet if you will) that you reject?

I see someone said fads like wheat belly or clean eating, etc.

I think if a person WANTS to eat cleaner food which means less processing with preservatives, added sugars, added salts, for example, that is ok. I mean, if i want to eat beef stew with fresh carrots, peas, potatoes, my own seasonings, that to me is a "clean" meal. but that might open up another can of worms here lol...

I guess you mean don't fear food if it is a perfectly good food.. not to get obsessive about it.

Well i hope in my efforts to be a help and encouragement to anyone i have not steered anyone wrong.

what you said is what i basically do, except someone said i was depriving myself and that if i keep on doing what i have been doing, it will lead to a binge (forget about today's menu for this example).

NavyKnightAh13

bumping for later read

Fullsterkur_woman

To also get ahold of food so that it is just what it is - food - and not as a substitute for love, calmness, emotions, fun, boredom, etc. (to conquer food addictions);

I'm thinking this will require counseling moreso than a calorie counting app and losing weight.
I will say it does suck that we have to learn to use food appropriately, unlike alcoholics or smokers, who can simply abstain entirely. But here we are, living in reality. Life is hard. We do hard things. Being hard doesn't mean we're excused from having to do it. If it was easy, everyone could do it. And a host of other pat sayings, but there's still the ring of truth...

Cranquistador

tired... did anyone link this?

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

Fullsterkur_woman

what you said is what i basically do, except someone said i was depriving myself and that if i keep on doing what i have been doing, it will lead to a binge (forget about today's menu for this example).

Psssht... who gives a crap what "someone" says?! :laugh: It may be true for them. It's certainly true for me. But that doesn't make it true for you. Your results are your own, so your methods get to be your own too. We'll certainly encourage you to choose ones that are known to be healthy (e.g., nobody here's going to tell you to go on a ridiculous water cleanse or something!), but you're in charge of you. Don't give that power away to "someone"!:noway:

Fullsterkur_woman

Every thread needs Nathan Fillion gifs. True story.

Cranquistador

OP is making this thread go round in circles

Round and around and around and around we go

ohhh now tell me now tell me now you know.

Cindyinpg

IIFYM means precisely that we do not worry about things like "clean" or "sugar" or "wheat" or "organic" or "preservatives" or "sodium". There's nothing whatsoever wrong with eating organic, clean, whatever, but none of that stuff will *ensure* that you meet your macros. Only planning, pre-logging, making adjustments if necessary and adding it all up will do that.

We're not all doing IIFYM. Some people don't give a rat's patoot if they get even a reasonable amount of protein, let alone a good amount, as long as they're under their calories and they don't eat any refined sugar or white flour (say). It drives me cray cray, but then again, they probably get itchy teeth from looking at the amount of processed food I often eat.

We don't mean that "we don't fear food if it is a perfectly good food", because I don't assign moral values (good/bad) to food. I don't fear food. Period. End of subject. I refuse to give it that power over me (anymore). I'm the one in charge.

I personally weigh the cost/benefit of most foods to see if I'm getting a good nutrition bang for the calorie buck. If I don't, and I haven't met my macro goals yet, I pass on that food.

I don't think it has anything to do with obsessive or not. Trust me, I could get *very* obsessive with IIFYM, but I am working hard on not getting back to an obsessive place with my weight loss efforts, because I know that way lies Binge City again.

But if you know how to meet your macros and you're consistently eating in such a way that does meet your macros, you *can* be very relaxed about it once you find your routine. You just have to be conscientious while you're dialing in the one that works for you. Then you can be more relaxed.

Where is the like button on here? I really like this explanation.

mamadon

Hmm , for those of you who can do it, props to you.

I cant.

Strange but im fighting it because of what it means to me. Like what i said above. I think i still have a food addiction I dont mean to go all psycho-babble on you, but i think thats it. I cant indulge in treats a lot becuse i cant stay within my MFP macros

how do you all do it??? How do you all who enjoy ice cream and pizza do it without going over your portions?

this is ironic because I indulged a little bit, I must have eaten a ton of food to get myself to where i am today If i didn't record that on MFP i would be wondering why i didnt' eat much but still had a lot of calories.

anyway it was just an experiment today. i dont plan to do this all the time.. but i might still have a little slice of pizza next weekend.

Can you tell me how i can enjoy such things without messing me up like today?

Well for me it is the opposite. If I didn't have a small daily treat (within my limits) then that is what would ultimately cause me to fail. In the past, when I did diets that restricted certain foods, I would give up after a short period of time. I plan to eat this way the rest of my life, so I want my treats.

Hi - your post is an example that kinda freaks me out.. and which i was seeing and thinking, what???!!?? That one paragraph leaves a lot of wondering whats up with that? i dont get it how you can do that... i interpret that as you giving yourself much license to eat treats, but i have a feeling you eat that but within strict limits? Can you explain more specifically about those treats.

Yes. I eat whatever I want as long as it is with in my caloric limits. This means I have to plan out my meals. There is no reason in the world you can't enjoy food anymore. For example, we went to the casino today and I wanted a hamburger at The Fat Burger restaurant that is there. I knew I could not get the large burger and fries and stay within my calories. I decided to get the small burger and no fries. Anything within moderation. I want to be able to live with the way I eat for the rest of my life. Hope this helps.

mspoopoo

forts to be a help and encouragement to anyone i have not steered anyone wrong.

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what you said is what i basically do, except someone said i was depriving myself and that if i keep on doing what i have been doing, it will lead to a binge (forget about today's menu for this example).
[/quote]

I think people have a hard time with the word deprive.

The US is a rather indulgent society; people feel entitled to eat what they want when they want it.

Depriving myself of sweets doesn't lead to any binges. Trying to have only one sweet or indulging triggers binges.
It is silly to say if you deprive yourself of goodies you'll binge on them later. That is like saying if you deprive yourself of veggies you will binge on them later. Probably not as veggies don't seem to have that addictive component to them

I have health issues and need to cut out the sugar and sodium; plus being in my 50s. I just don't have a lot of room in my daily calories for indulgences either. I would rather be able to eat tons of healthy food and feel full than have a tiny sweet that cost me 400 calories and feel hungry and sick the rest of the day.

Fullsterkur_woman

Yes. I eat whatever I want as long as it is with in my caloric limits. This means I have to plan out my meals. There is no reason in the world you can't enjoy food anymore. For example, we went to the casino today and I wanted a hamburger at The Fat Burger restaurant that is there. I knew I could not get the large burger and fries and stay within my calories. I decided to get the small burger and no fries. Anything within moderation. I want to be able to live with the way I eat for the rest of my life. Hope this helps.

So, to be clear, that isn't necessarily IIFYM. That wouldn't work for me, because I probably couldn't get enough protein that way. I'd probably have to get something like salad with chicken breast and eat a little something starchy that someone else didn't want in order to FMM (fit *my* macros). If you could get the small burger and still hit your protein, then it's IIFYM.

The Y in IIFYM is important, too.

Fullsterkur_woman

I think people have a hard time with the word deprive.

The US is a rather indulgent society; people feel entitled to eat what they want when they want it.

Depriving myself of sweets doesn't lead to any binges. Trying to have only one sweet or indulging triggers binges.
It is silly to say if you deprive yourself of goodies you'll binge on them later. That is like saying if you deprive yourself of veggies you will binge on them later. Probably not as veggies don't seem to have that addictive component to them

I have health issues and need to cut out the sugar and sodium; plus being in my 50s. I just don't have a lot of room in my daily calories for indulgences either. I would rather be able to eat tons of healthy food and feel full than have a tiny sweet that cost me 400 calories and feel hungry and sick the rest of the day.

I think it's different for different folks. Depriving *your*self of sweets doesn't lead to any binges. Depriving *my*self certainly does. I don't have a hell of a lot of room for calorie indulgences either, which is how I end up with desserts that are high in fiber and low in calories, but high on the tasty scale and on the filling scale. That works for me in conjunction with the tons of healthy food that makes me feel full, like you said below. Other people swear they can have a teeny bit of something "decadent" and be satisfied by it. It'd make me go all hulk-smash, but there you have it...

mamadon

Yes. I eat whatever I want as long as it is with in my caloric limits. This means I have to plan out my meals. There is no reason in the world you can't enjoy food anymore. For example, we went to the casino today and I wanted a hamburger at The Fat Burger restaurant that is there. I knew I could not get the large burger and fries and stay within my calories. I decided to get the small burger and no fries. Anything within moderation. I want to be able to live with the way I eat for the rest of my life. Hope this helps.

So, to be clear, that isn't necessarily IIFYM. That wouldn't work for me, because I probably couldn't get enough protein that way. I'd probably have to get something like salad with chicken breast and eat a little something starchy that someone else didn't want in order to FMM (fit *my* macros). If you could get the small burger and still hit your protein, then it's IIFYM.

The Y in IIFYM is important, too.

No, your right it's not. I should clarify that sorry. I look only at my calories.

Fullsterkur_woman

No, your right it's not. I should clarify that sorry. I look only at my calories.

No problem; they're just different goals looking for different results, so it figures that the methods we use would differ from one another. It's just that the OP has expressed a desire to learn and understand what IIFYM means, so I'm trying to help identify for her when something is and when something is not IIFYM.

determinedbutlazy

This isn't about "eating what you want" it's about HITTING YOUR MACROS. If you're clever you can make a BigMac fit your macros. If you just eat whatever you want and don't even consider the macronutrient values of the food, you are not doing IIFYM... You are just doing "eat all the food".

Fullsterkur_woman

you are not doing IIFYM... You are just doing "eat all the food".

Which is, on occasion, hilarious.

Alluminati

So,since we all are basically doing IIFM, what do you all see as things about our way of eating (diet if you will) that you reject?

It's not so much what you're eating that's rejected. It's more the "all or nothing" attitude that people seem to adopt once they decide to get healthy or lose weight. It's hard enough making the commitment to start getting healthy, only to come on here as a noob and read that your worst fears have come true....that you must cut out all sugar, flour, salt, fat (delicious food) in order to be a success. That you have to spend buttloads of $$ on organic or clean this-that-and-the-other. If it wasn't for the IIFYMers preaching moderation and balance I woulda abandoned this a long time ago.

Achrya

This isn't about "eating what you want" it's about HITTING YOUR MACROS. If you're clever you can make a BigMac fit your macros. If you just eat whatever you want and don't even consider the macronutrient values of the food, you are not doing IIFYM... You are just doing "eat all the food".

Not that there's anything wrong with eating all the foods. I'm in favor. Seriously considering some brownies tonight. Nomnom

Michele81287

It looks like you went over your calorie and macro budget though. I allow myself anything as long as it fits into my calorie goals. So if I want the icecream it might mean I'm going to have a smaller portion of something else so I'm still hitting my target calories for the day