Moderation DOES NOT WORK for me
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The only thing that stands between you and moderation is you.0
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I didn't say it was easy! Nobody knows better than me that it isn't.
im sorry but its not easy to just stop! maybe you have battled your issues but for someone who is just starting out it takes time. im 30 days into this and I still have trouble with temptations. some days I got it in the bag and the next im eating like I don't want to lose weight. its hard very hard so to tell someone that is wrong. maybe not be wrong to you but its wrong to meIf you want to stop eating that stuff, just stop. Tell yourself, "No." Like some else said, self-control.
If you cannot stop, see if you can find a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. They can help you figure out if you have one or not. They can also help you and work through why you want that stuff so much.
But the overeating has to end if you want to lose weight.
Like I said, if you want to stop and cannot, a therapist is a really smart move. It means you've admitted you have a problem and are taking action. Not everyone can do it alone!! Because, Yes, it's hard! Harder for some than others, too.
I'm not belittling anyone's struggle. They don't say "Bad habits are hard to break" for nothing. Everyone knows it's hard. But it can be done.
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I agree. That makes no sense. MFP is the only fitness/health website I've seen with such backwards thinking. And people that are proud of it. As if there is only one path to success. Mind boggling.
It's not backwards thinking, it's logical thinking. Many people wind up losing weight and then putting it back on, then embark on the cycle again... usually many times. MFP is filled with people who failed to maintain, often because they used a fad method to lose weight: eliminating foods, eating too few calories and messing up their metabolism, assuming exercise is for weight loss and thus stop exercising once they reach their goals but don't lessen how much food they eat to ensure they are not eating above their new/lower TDEE.
So instead of going about weight loss as being a "diet," you go about it as being a time to lose some fat. And the way to do that is to eat less food, not to restrict what you eat. Many people embark on a "clean" diet but don't stick to it forever because it can be very frustrating and stressful. When I used to "eat clean," I didn't even eat rice cakes because I deemed them to be unclean. But like.. it's just rice and water. I demonized foods, I was always worried at restaurants about what I could eat, and if I did happen to indulge in something "forbidden," I often overdid it.
It's much easier to eat a lifestyle than it is to eat a diet. So if you know you'll always and forever "eat clean" then that's your lifestyle, not your diet. THankfully there are people on the MFP forums who have lost lots of weight and kept it off with this flexible/moderation approach to eating, and are trying to get more people to understand that diet =/= eating only acceptable foods.
Well, it's sort of strange to think that you need to eat those kinds of foods regularly just to prove something. I'm okay with no longer eating a daily marshmallow fluff sandwich. And I am okay with the idea of never eating one again because I don't need to. I'm not hungry for it. Lots of people live happy, fulfilled lives without marshmallow fluff sandwiches.
But, it isn't as if I will never eat a cookie again or something like that, but it won't be on my grocery list because it doesn't need to be. A lifestyle doesn't need to include cakes and cookies if the individual doesn't want it to. To each, their own.
The point is to avoid extremes. If you can cut out sweets completely and not feel deprived, then fine, no one is saying you shouldn't do that. The concern is for those who cut them out but do feel deprived because it's hard to live an ascetic lifestyle and it can lead to the binge/diet cycle that so many are familiar with. Again, if you don't feel deprived then no problem, but if you can't eat one of something without binging then I have my doubts, and perhaps, just perhaps, you may want to listen.
That's the whole point though -- is that there are other ways to address avoiding deprivation than just moderation of the previous trigger food. For example, if a person loves mallowcakes. Perhaps after a time of avoiding highly processed foods including mallowcakes, they find that mallowcakes just don't scratch that sweet tooth itch anymore. Perhaps they just don't like mallowcakes that much anymore -- they simply don't taste as good as they once did once they detoxed all the unnecessary added sugar out of their diet. Perhaps they end up finding that they prefer a substitution -- maybe dark chocolate, maybe fresh fruit, etc.
They don't need to eat mallowcakes in moderation as the only path to success weight loss. Some people find that their palates changed when they got rid of certain things -- it's a pretty common phenomenon, not magic. But some proponents of moderation don't seem to take this possibility into account and rant about binging, deprivation, unsustainable fad diets, etc. as if others succeeding in a different way somehow invalidates their choice.
And, lets be frank, for those without medical issues (and maybe some of those with), who have become grossly overweight simply by bad dietary habits, there is an uphill battle to successfully losing the weight and keeping it off. The statistics are not good. Moderation certainly is a valid path, but it isn't the only path. Why not encourage all healthy paths rather than insist that moderation is the only path? Not that everyone does this, but there certainly some very rabid proponents of moderation on MFP that do.0 -
Although diets that eliminate whole categories of food are generally not so sustainable, some people benefit from them. Heck, for some, a "cleanse" can be a really good reset to break daily habits. So, if you are unable to eat just one slice of pizza, for instance, you may want to never eat pizza at all, or go entirely low carb for a while.
I kicked my overconsumption issues with most high carb foods via elimination. It's been years now. You can give me the best slice of pizza in the world, the best bowl of pasta, the freshest bread, the greatest candy bar, or the most amazing bottle of soda and I'll enjoy them immensely, but not crave them again for months or even years.
It wasn't "everything in moderation" that kicked me of those old habits. It was elimination.
Elimination didn't help me moderate some foods, like ice cream or certain cookies and cake, but it was a miracle for a good 75% of the trigger foods that I grew up overeating and contributed to my obesity.0 -
I agree. That makes no sense. MFP is the only fitness/health website I've seen with such backwards thinking. And people that are proud of it. As if there is only one path to success. Mind boggling.
It's not backwards thinking, it's logical thinking. Many people wind up losing weight and then putting it back on, then embark on the cycle again... usually many times. MFP is filled with people who failed to maintain, often because they used a fad method to lose weight: eliminating foods, eating too few calories and messing up their metabolism, assuming exercise is for weight loss and thus stop exercising once they reach their goals but don't lessen how much food they eat to ensure they are not eating above their new/lower TDEE.
So instead of going about weight loss as being a "diet," you go about it as being a time to lose some fat. And the way to do that is to eat less food, not to restrict what you eat. Many people embark on a "clean" diet but don't stick to it forever because it can be very frustrating and stressful. When I used to "eat clean," I didn't even eat rice cakes because I deemed them to be unclean. But like.. it's just rice and water. I demonized foods, I was always worried at restaurants about what I could eat, and if I did happen to indulge in something "forbidden," I often overdid it.
It's much easier to eat a lifestyle than it is to eat a diet. So if you know you'll always and forever "eat clean" then that's your lifestyle, not your diet. THankfully there are people on the MFP forums who have lost lots of weight and kept it off with this flexible/moderation approach to eating, and are trying to get more people to understand that diet =/= eating only acceptable foods.
Well, it's sort of strange to think that you need to eat those kinds of foods regularly just to prove something. I'm okay with no longer eating a daily marshmallow fluff sandwich. And I am okay with the idea of never eating one again because I don't need to. I'm not hungry for it. Lots of people live happy, fulfilled lives without marshmallow fluff sandwiches.
But, it isn't as if I will never eat a cookie again or something like that, but it won't be on my grocery list because it doesn't need to be. A lifestyle doesn't need to include cakes and cookies if the individual doesn't want it to. To each, their own.
The point is to avoid extremes. If you can cut out sweets completely and not feel deprived, then fine, no one is saying you shouldn't do that. The concern is for those who cut them out but do feel deprived because it's hard to live an ascetic lifestyle and it can lead to the binge/diet cycle that so many are familiar with. Again, if you don't feel deprived then no problem, but if you can't eat one of something without binging then I have my doubts, and perhaps, just perhaps, you may want to listen.
That's the whole point though -- is that there are other ways to address avoiding deprivation than just moderation of the previous trigger food. For example, if a person loves mallowcakes. Perhaps after a time of avoiding highly processed foods including mallowcakes, they find that mallowcakes just don't scratch that sweet tooth itch anymore. Perhaps they just don't like mallowcakes that much anymore -- they simply don't taste as good as they once did once they detoxed all the unnecessary added sugar out of their diet. Perhaps they end up finding that they prefer a substitution -- maybe dark chocolate, maybe fresh fruit, etc.
They don't need to eat mallowcakes in moderation as the only path to success weight loss. Some people find that their palates changed when they got rid of certain things -- it's a pretty common phenomenon, not magic. But some proponents of moderation don't seem to take this possibility into account and rant about binging, deprivation, unsustainable fad diets, etc.
Detox? You must be joking, right?
Permanent palate changes are fine and I don't think anyone is saying otherwise, but people's tastes and cravings can also come and go. It's not a matter of a specific food unless there is a desire for it. As I said above, I don't eat much candy because I generally don't like it, and I can go long periods without sweets, but when I want it I eat a portion and call it a day. It's simply a matter of making sustainable changes by ovoiding overly ambitious goals.0 -
I am working on remaking my favorite foods so I can have them more regularly. This next two months, I am cutting out white bread, white sugar, more processed foods, etc, to break the addiction.
After that, I plan to, SLOWLY and CAREFULLY, let some back into my diet as a treat here and there. That being said, the one thing I am not going back to is traditional fast food. If I am going to have a high calorie treat, it's going to be good quality, damn it.0 -
Detox? You must be joking, right?
Permanent palate changes are fine and I don't think anyone is saying otherwise, but people's tastes and cravings can also come and go. It's not a matter of a specific food unless there is a desire for it. As I said above, I don't eat much candy because I generally don't like it, and I can go long periods without sweets, but when I want it I eat a portion and call it a day. It's simply a matter of making sustainable changes by ovoiding overly ambitious goals.
I don't think detox is a bad way to look at it, especially with sugar. If a person is eating a lot of highly processed foods, there is likely a lot of added, unnecessary sugar there -- and for good reason because it increases palatability and induces cravings, making people want to eat more and more of it. Manufacturers don't add it for other reasons. It increases their bottom line, period.
And when people cut out or cut back on those sorts of food, their tolerance for sugar likewise reduces. It is common that they find lower sugar item things far more satisfying, less amounts of the same previous item satisfying (sort of the basis for the moderation argument) and often many of the previous high sugar foods too sweet because their palate has shifted. This is a fairly common phenomenon. That sure looks like detox to me.0 -
I love food too much. How can I quit the junk food once and for all?
I love food too which is why I eat very little fast food. What you love are the chemicals and sugar in fast food that light up your brain every time you eat it. That stuff is closer to garbage than it is real food. FWIW, I've been eating like a king since I started my fitness journey in April. In fact, my major problem is eating enough. I'm supposed to eat 2,400 calories per day but due to the exercise and the types of food I eat now, I find it difficult to eat such massive quantities. I can't imagine how much I'll have to eat when I move into maintenance mode.
Good luck with breaking your addiction. Feel free to send me a friend request if you want some meal ideas.
Sam
Man i concur! with just 45 minutes of cardio in the morning, it adds enough calories that i can do my "not so tasteful" foods in the morning, and save up for the baked chicken and a little somethin' somethin' in the evening and still lose weight and feel full all day...best tip i ever got was eat something between meals..maybe some peanuts, or granola..to keep your metabolism burning..i find that on weekends when i dont work out i feel drowsy about midday, i also find i graze like a cow..wandering around finding something to chew on...so i have to outthink my mouth and keep low calorie, filling things within arms reach, and find a way to use my time that doesnt let my mind focus on the habit of eating. i ate pizza last night and still was under calorie count...and i noticed that although it was good...i could have done without it...any addiction you give up will allow your mind to refocus on things that are good for you, and you will find your taste will change once your body is allowed to heal from the junk we fed ourselves...Live long and prosper! \/0 -
Detox? You must be joking, right?
Permanent palate changes are fine and I don't think anyone is saying otherwise, but people's tastes and cravings can also come and go. It's not a matter of a specific food unless there is a desire for it. As I said above, I don't eat much candy because I generally don't like it, and I can go long periods without sweets, but when I want it I eat a portion and call it a day. It's simply a matter of making sustainable changes by ovoiding overly ambitious goals.
I don't think detox is a bad way to look at it, especially with sugar. If a person is eating a lot of highly processed foods, there is likely a lot of added, unnecessary sugar there -- and for good reason because it increases palatability and induces cravings, making people want to eat more and more of it. Manufacturers don't add it for other reasons. It increases their bottom line, period.
And when people cut out or cut back on those sorts of food, their tolerance for sugar likewise reduces. It is common that they find lower sugar item things far more satisfying, less amounts of the same previous item satisfying (sort of the basis for the moderation argument) and often many of the previous high sugar foods too sweet because their palate has shifted. This is a fairly common phenomenon. That sure looks like detox to me.
Are you saying that sugar is a toxin? Or simply that it tastes particularly good and that people need to find ways to eat less of it because it is high in calories?0 -
I agree. That makes no sense. MFP is the only fitness/health website I've seen with such backwards thinking. And people that are proud of it. As if there is only one path to success. Mind boggling.
It's not backwards thinking, it's logical thinking. Many people wind up losing weight and then putting it back on, then embark on the cycle again... usually many times. MFP is filled with people who failed to maintain, often because they used a fad method to lose weight: eliminating foods, eating too few calories and messing up their metabolism, assuming exercise is for weight loss and thus stop exercising once they reach their goals but don't lessen how much food they eat to ensure they are not eating above their new/lower TDEE.
So instead of going about weight loss as being a "diet," you go about it as being a time to lose some fat. And the way to do that is to eat less food, not to restrict what you eat. Many people embark on a "clean" diet but don't stick to it forever because it can be very frustrating and stressful. When I used to "eat clean," I didn't even eat rice cakes because I deemed them to be unclean. But like.. it's just rice and water. I demonized foods, I was always worried at restaurants about what I could eat, and if I did happen to indulge in something "forbidden," I often overdid it.
It's much easier to eat a lifestyle than it is to eat a diet. So if you know you'll always and forever "eat clean" then that's your lifestyle, not your diet. THankfully there are people on the MFP forums who have lost lots of weight and kept it off with this flexible/moderation approach to eating, and are trying to get more people to understand that diet =/= eating only acceptable foods.
Well, it's sort of strange to think that you need to eat those kinds of foods regularly just to prove something. I'm okay with no longer eating a daily marshmallow fluff sandwich. And I am okay with the idea of never eating one again because I don't need to. I'm not hungry for it. Lots of people live happy, fulfilled lives without marshmallow fluff sandwiches.
But, it isn't as if I will never eat a cookie again or something like that, but it won't be on my grocery list because it doesn't need to be. A lifestyle doesn't need to include cakes and cookies if the individual doesn't want it to. To each, their own.
The point is to avoid extremes. If you can cut out sweets completely and not feel deprived, then fine, no one is saying you shouldn't do that. The concern is for those who cut them out but do feel deprived because it's hard to live an ascetic lifestyle and it can lead to the binge/diet cycle that so many are familiar with. Again, if you don't feel deprived then no problem, but if you can't eat one of something without binging then I have my doubts, and perhaps, just perhaps, you may want to listen.
What? Listen...to you? I respected your opinion. But, I think I'm going to enjoy choosing to eat in a way that works for me. I don't need your instructions or your faux-care warnings. You don't know me or my lifestyle. I never said I cut out sweets completely, never did I say that. Heavy sigh.
My post was basically to say to each, their own. I'm not going to rag on people who would prefer to not eat candy on a regular basis nor am I going to rag on people who like their evening ben and jerry's. (Note: I belong to neither of these. I can eat a piece of candy, but it's just not going to be on my grocery list because it doesn't need to be). TO EACH THEIR OWN.
And also, binge eating really has more to do with emotions, poor coping mechanisms, etc than it does with the food. People who binge (like, genuinely, have the eating disorder) don't need cookies in order to binge. They can binge on anything even if it doesn't taste good.
*Also, maybe this is because my family doesn't come from the US and thus doesn't eat the standard American diet (which is cool, not ragging on the standard American diet, and if the following comes across that way, know that I was born and raised in the US and I apologize and you can most certainly send me a PM), but eating ice cream every day or having regular desserts just isn't part of the culture. Sweets are saved for special occasions, children, or just for fun times. <--this is how I have chosen to approach sweets because it works for me.0 -
I agree. That makes no sense. MFP is the only fitness/health website I've seen with such backwards thinking. And people that are proud of it. As if there is only one path to success. Mind boggling.
It's not backwards thinking, it's logical thinking. Many people wind up losing weight and then putting it back on, then embark on the cycle again... usually many times. MFP is filled with people who failed to maintain, often because they used a fad method to lose weight: eliminating foods, eating too few calories and messing up their metabolism, assuming exercise is for weight loss and thus stop exercising once they reach their goals but don't lessen how much food they eat to ensure they are not eating above their new/lower TDEE.
So instead of going about weight loss as being a "diet," you go about it as being a time to lose some fat. And the way to do that is to eat less food, not to restrict what you eat. Many people embark on a "clean" diet but don't stick to it forever because it can be very frustrating and stressful. When I used to "eat clean," I didn't even eat rice cakes because I deemed them to be unclean. But like.. it's just rice and water. I demonized foods, I was always worried at restaurants about what I could eat, and if I did happen to indulge in something "forbidden," I often overdid it.
It's much easier to eat a lifestyle than it is to eat a diet. So if you know you'll always and forever "eat clean" then that's your lifestyle, not your diet. THankfully there are people on the MFP forums who have lost lots of weight and kept it off with this flexible/moderation approach to eating, and are trying to get more people to understand that diet =/= eating only acceptable foods.
Well, it's sort of strange to think that you need to eat those kinds of foods regularly just to prove something. I'm okay with no longer eating a daily marshmallow fluff sandwich. And I am okay with the idea of never eating one again because I don't need to. I'm not hungry for it. Lots of people live happy, fulfilled lives without marshmallow fluff sandwiches.
But, it isn't as if I will never eat a cookie again or something like that, but it won't be on my grocery list because it doesn't need to be. A lifestyle doesn't need to include cakes and cookies if the individual doesn't want it to. To each, their own.
LOL what.
I eat these foods regularly because I like eating them, they give me mental and physical satisfaction, they taste good, and I no longer have a poor relationship with food because of it. Nothing I eat is consumed as a way to "prove something" to myself or others. What would I be proving, that I happen to like maple-glazed donuts? And Chex Honey Nut cereal mixed with greek yogurt or oatmeal? I also can wind up eating a heaping pile of watermelon in one go - does that mean I'm proving to myself and others that I like water and fiber?
Also ETA: I actually REALLY hate it when anyone in my family mentions my eating lifestyle as being a "diet." It's not a diet, I just happen to be eating less food to help me lose weight. I do not deprive myself of eating the things i enjoy eating. Some weeks I eat a whole lot of junk, others I barely eat any. Does not mean I was on a diet the one week and not on the other. It means that is my lifestyle. I had a friend tell me once about his diet, and how food isn't consumed to be enjoyed. I felt so bad for him.0 -
To the OP, please don't let the judgmental replies get to you. I'm w/ Lindsey and a few of the others that believe everyone is different and there are many ways to success. We all have to find what works for us becuase (1) we have different reasons for being overweight, (2) we have different trigger foods and (3) our bodies are different and respond differently to various approaches.
For me and many people I know, the best way and the only way initially, is to totally avoid the sugar. There are many articles out there by reputable sources that sugar/carbs are addicting because of the response it causes in your brain. If you can get rid of those cravings by avoiding sugar/sweets for a few days/weeks then you won't crave them anymore. It worked for me and then one day I tried what so many preach and had just one cookie....after that I started craving sweets again. Now I need to cut them out again. That's not to say I'll never have them again, just not for now.
Take a look at what Lindsey wrote in her initial post on the 1st or 2nd page - she gave a bunch of really helpful suggestions for how to avoid your cravings. If you can get through the craving then it gets a little easier to say no to the next one. Things like exercise or otherwise keeping busy work well for me, which makes sense since exercise boosts dopamine and other nuerotransmitters, as does sugar...which is probably why we crave it in the first place and why we don't after exercise - our body has gotten the dopamine it wanted. Try several of the things she mentioned and see what works for you because everyone is different and whatever works for you is what you should do, forget what others think you "should" be doing or what method makes you the "best" or "strongest" - who cares what they think.
Finally, is there any chance your parents would be willing to listen to your pleas to keep some of those things out of the house? If they see that you are serious about your weight loss and getting healthy, perhaps they'd be willing to help you by getting rid of certain things and eating healthier themselves.
good luck!0 -
I like to count it before I eat it. Especially if it sounds really yummy. This puts it into perspective and gives me the motivation to exercise moderation. With that said, I don't make any food off limits as long as I'm willing to log it. I love food too so I put in the extra effort to burn calories and give myself the extra room for desert or that extra slice of pizza I enjoy so much. Count your calories accurately and MFP will help you with the numbers in order to remain accountable.0
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The world is full of temptations, the only thing that stands between them and you is self control.
How true this is!!0 -
im sorry but its not easy to just stop! maybe you have battled your issues but for someone who is just starting out it takes time. im 30 days into this and I still have trouble with temptations. some days I got it in the bag and the next im eating like I don't want to lose weight. its hard very hard so to tell someone that is wrong. maybe not be wrong to you but its wrong to meIf you want to stop eating that stuff, just stop. Tell yourself, "No." Like some else said, self-control.
If you cannot stop, see if you can find a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. They can help you figure out if you have one or not. They can also help you and work through why you want that stuff so much.
Have you considered trying actual moderation then? Eating to lose weight = eating less food, not eliminating specific types of food. So if you're craving chips, weigh or measure out a serving that will fit into your day's calories. Assuming your deficit isn't more than 20% from your maintenance needs (if you've set MFP up so you're goal is 2lbs lost a week, you're eating more than 20% below your deficit), this should not be a difficult thing to do while still feeling sated.0 -
I agree. That makes no sense. MFP is the only fitness/health website I've seen with such backwards thinking. And people that are proud of it. As if there is only one path to success. Mind boggling.
It's not backwards thinking, it's logical thinking. Many people wind up losing weight and then putting it back on, then embark on the cycle again... usually many times. MFP is filled with people who failed to maintain, often because they used a fad method to lose weight: eliminating foods, eating too few calories and messing up their metabolism, assuming exercise is for weight loss and thus stop exercising once they reach their goals but don't lessen how much food they eat to ensure they are not eating above their new/lower TDEE.
So instead of going about weight loss as being a "diet," you go about it as being a time to lose some fat. And the way to do that is to eat less food, not to restrict what you eat. Many people embark on a "clean" diet but don't stick to it forever because it can be very frustrating and stressful. When I used to "eat clean," I didn't even eat rice cakes because I deemed them to be unclean. But like.. it's just rice and water. I demonized foods, I was always worried at restaurants about what I could eat, and if I did happen to indulge in something "forbidden," I often overdid it.
It's much easier to eat a lifestyle than it is to eat a diet. So if you know you'll always and forever "eat clean" then that's your lifestyle, not your diet. THankfully there are people on the MFP forums who have lost lots of weight and kept it off with this flexible/moderation approach to eating, and are trying to get more people to understand that diet =/= eating only acceptable foods.
Well, it's sort of strange to think that you need to eat those kinds of foods regularly just to prove something. I'm okay with no longer eating a daily marshmallow fluff sandwich. And I am okay with the idea of never eating one again because I don't need to. I'm not hungry for it. Lots of people live happy, fulfilled lives without marshmallow fluff sandwiches.
But, it isn't as if I will never eat a cookie again or something like that, but it won't be on my grocery list because it doesn't need to be. A lifestyle doesn't need to include cakes and cookies if the individual doesn't want it to. To each, their own.
LOL what.
I eat these foods regularly because I like eating them, they give me mental and physical satisfaction, they taste good, and I no longer have a poor relationship with food because of it. Nothing I eat is consumed as a way to "prove something" to myself or others. What would I be proving, that I happen to like maple-glazed donuts? And Chex Honey Nut cereal mixed with greek yogurt or oatmeal? I also can wind up eating a heaping pile of watermelon in one go - does that mean I'm proving to myself and others that I like water and fiber?
Also ETA: I actually REALLY hate it when anyone in my family mentions my eating lifestyle as being a "diet." It's not a diet, I just happen to be eating less food to help me lose weight. I do not deprive myself of eating the things i enjoy eating. Some weeks I eat a whole lot of junk, others I barely eat any. Does not mean I was on a diet the one week and not on the other. It means that is my lifestyle. I had a friend tell me once about his diet, and how food isn't consumed to be enjoyed. I felt so bad for him.
Then I wasn't talking about you...I was talking about the poster who stated that if you don't include such foods regularly THEN it means you have a self-control problem, which I think is a strange statement. I eat these foods too, just not that regularly because I don't want to. I never said eating them means you were trying to prove something.
I swear I wrote, to each, their own. And I'm pretty sure that means to live the way that works for you.
And I totally, totally AGREE with your diet statement. That was my point. Choosing to eat less sweets or even none of those kind of sweets does not mean it's a diet, it's just another lifestyle.
*My point which seems impossible to get across is that there doesn't need to be some sort of moral judgement alongside with whatever someone chooses to eat or chooses to not eat. Different strokes for different folks (I'm running out of idiomatic phrases, here)0 -
I like to count it before I eat it. Especially if it sounds really yummy. This puts it into perspective and gives me the motivation to exercise moderation. With that said, I don't make any food off limits as long as I'm willing to log it. I love food too so I put in the extra effort to burn calories and give myself the extra room for desert or that extra slice of pizza I enjoy so much. Count your calories accurately and MFP will help you with the numbers in order to remain accountable.
This is a good approach if you use MFP's net calorie method. I don't use exercise to give myself the room to squeeze in an extra dessert, but exercise means that I naturally have more room to eat more food while still losing weight. And if I know I'm going to want to eat something pretty high calorie, I will log it beforehand and then go about my day, super easy!
YOU WEAR THE FOOD, THE FOOD DOES NOT WEAR YOU.0 -
Detox? You must be joking, right?
Permanent palate changes are fine and I don't think anyone is saying otherwise, but people's tastes and cravings can also come and go. It's not a matter of a specific food unless there is a desire for it. As I said above, I don't eat much candy because I generally don't like it, and I can go long periods without sweets, but when I want it I eat a portion and call it a day. It's simply a matter of making sustainable changes by ovoiding overly ambitious goals.
I don't think detox is a bad way to look at it, especially with sugar. If a person is eating a lot of highly processed foods, there is likely a lot of added, unnecessary sugar there -- and for good reason because it increases palatability and induces cravings, making people want to eat more and more of it. Manufacturers don't add it for other reasons. It increases their bottom line, period.
And when people cut out or cut back on those sorts of food, their tolerance for sugar likewise reduces. It is common that they find lower sugar item things far more satisfying, less amounts of the same previous item satisfying (sort of the basis for the moderation argument) and often many of the previous high sugar foods too sweet because their palate has shifted. This is a fairly common phenomenon. That sure looks like detox to me.
Are you saying that sugar is a toxin? Or simply that it tastes particularly good and that people need to find ways to eat less of it because it is high in calories?
I wouldn't say sugar is a toxin. It has very good uses. In times of famine, it's invaluable. But in times of plenty, like we see in modern times, it can be a detriment. Too much of it isn't a good thing (just like almost anything) and can lead to overeating because of the tolerance built up from constant exposure/stimulation.
I'd say if they're looking for pure calories -- like they're struggling to get a certain amount of calories in during a bulk, sugar can be very helpful in that regard (though fat is probably better since it's more calorie dense). But if they're looking to lose/maintain weight, as most here on MFP are, then it's something that likely needs to be looked at with a more cautious stance.
I think the big issue for me personally is that a lot of highly processed foods have a lot of added, unnecessary sugar. And some types of sugar are more damaging than others (HFCS is a good example since fructose has more detrimental effects on the metabolism and body chemistry for those looking to create a caloric deficit). An average soda has something like 8-11 teaspoons of sugar, right? And you couldn't even put that much sugar into 12 oz. of water because it would settle out because it's past the saturation point. So they had to develop something with a higher saturation point -- enter HFCS. That's pretty impressive.0 -
There are many articles out there by reputable sources that sugar/carbs are addicting because of the response it causes in your brain. If you can get rid of those cravings by avoiding sugar/sweets for a few days/weeks then you won't crave them anymore. It worked for me and then one day I tried what so many preach and had just one cookie....after that I started craving sweets again. Now I need to cut them out again. That's not to say I'll never have them again, just not for now.
Do you ever get a craving for something like... an apple? Cherries? Grapes? Maybe something more savoury like chicken or cheese?
Did you eliminate these foods from your diet?
Just because you crave something doesn't mean you should not eat it. Moderation means eating things you feel like eating but knowing when to stop. Tracking calories makes it pretty easy to know when to stop, and not putting restrictions on when or how often you can eat something you crave makes it a lot easier to not over-eat.
Your statement here is kind of contradicting itself. You say that to battle the cravings, you need to cut them out for a while and then you no longer crave them. And that you plan on eating things you crave again in the future. And yet when you did this cycle - omit for a while and then eat the one serving/piece of it - you apparently started craving it again. So.. chances are you'll be repeating this cycle over and over and over again. Much better to simply listen to your cravings and eat what you crave when your calories allow for it. Make it forbidden or off-limits and you'll most likely want to overindulge all the time. I have 2 boxes of donuts, a box of cookies, a large box of popsicles and a smaller box, all in my freezer. OH and muffins. But I'm not gorging myself on them because... I don't restrict myself from eating them. i'm not craving any of them right now, so I'm not eating them right now.0 -
eating ice cream every day or having regular desserts just isn't part of the culture. Sweets are saved for special occasions, children, or just for fun times. <--this is how I have chosen to approach sweets because it works for me.
This is, of course, one form of moderation.0
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