Really...Can I eat what I want an lose weight?

PhoenixRising11

I've always eaten pretty healthy foods, (not always SUPER healthy) My problem was portion size so I've managed to knock that on the head and in turn have lost weight.
I've now decided that if I'm gonna lose weight and become healthier again then I might as well do it properly by cutting out unnecessary foods that I don't REALLY REALLY enjoy.
With things that I absolutely love and couldn't imagine NEVER having them again (like chocolate) I still eat it but in moderation.

Pseudocyber

I like the way a dietitian put it to me. You're not only retraining your body - you need to retrain your mind. As long as you reinforce bad habits and feed your food addiction, you're delaying you're delaying your mental recovery.

If you want to get past your carb addiction - whether it's sugar based, or salt based (chips, fries, etc.) - you have to wean yourself off those foods. Not until they're minimized will you eventually stop craving them. If you crave something ... you know what happens.

How did you get to be as big as an elephant? One bite at a time.
How do you get to be as trim as a giraffe? One less bite at a time.

IMHO.

(my vice is beer ... trying to go from 3 or 4 per nite - to 1 or 2 per week).

kristy_estes21

To a degree this is true. I allow myself to eat a few cookies here and there. Technically if someone wanted to lose weight on a chocolate chip cookie diet, it could be done. As long as there was a calorie deficiency, you WOULD lose weight. Your body would most likely hate you, you'd be hungry all the time, probably tired and sluggish too, but you would lose weight. I have cheat days every now and then when I find myself really wanting bad food, but I always work out on those days. The more balanced diet you have the easier it will be to lose weight, which is why i try to stick to only one cheat day every now and then, and then get right back to it the next day because it won't throw off all the work I've done that much. For some people cheat days help, other's it makes cravings even worse.

I agree. I also allow myself a treat every once in a while. As far as your last sentence....SO TRUE!! My friends that eat unhealthy are always telling me, "Just have one piece of chocolate...it's just one, it won't hurt you." I'm not like that though. I CAN'T have just one....I'm the type of person that if I get the taste of it I will want to just keep eating it till I'm sick! This is a huge reason why diet soda is a problem. People think it's okay because it's calorie free, but it also hinders wait loss because it gets that sweet taste in your system and then actually causes you to crave more sweets, if not right away, then later on.

RiaLucia

I just re-read the original post. Does anyone else find it funny that we all immediately, without hesitation, assumed that what she wanted was to eat junk food?

It's interesting to see the different reactions. I think this topic hits a nerve with some.

FearAnLoathing

I pretty much eat whatever I want and ive lost

Just1forMe

I say true. Like she said, "As long as it's in moderation." Moderation is a relative term, but I *really* don't think she was asking the question, "Can I eat Oreos and ice cream and junk food every day as long as I am under my calorie goal/limit?"

Last night I made myself the world's smallest peanutbutter fudge sundae for dessert and still came in with calories to spare. It *can* be done.

I agree!!! In my opinion, unless you are on a crash diet trying to lose as much weight as possible as fast as possible (totally NOT recommended , then it not only *can* be done, it *should* be done! No one can avoid all the treats that they have loved in the past forever. Well, even if they could, who would want to (don't lie!)?? I enjoy small portions of special treats almost every day. The rest of my day is made up of lots of healthy choices. I can honestly say I never feel deprived or like this is "too hard" or that I "miss" any particular food. You can retrain your brain to enjoy 2 Oreos as much as 12 I personally don't believe in "deprivation dieting"...I've seen too many people who say "I would NEVER eat this or that again" fall off that wagon...HARD!
Good luck!!

sharonuk10

I have done this and have lost weight. I believe if you deprive yourself of what you enjoy you will not stick to this. This is more about lifestyle change than about a diet. For me anyway. I see alot of replies here that gives me the impression some people think unless everything you eat is healthy you are not healthy I do not buy that for a minute. Moderation is the key. So unless you plan on going the rest of your life without a piece of cake, chocolate, cookie, burger, fries, etc etc enjoy them in moderation and portion control. Now I am not saying substitute a decent meal for say cake, I am saying IF you have the room to fit in your calories for the day then by all means have a bit of what you fancy. I am over today due to having some peanut butter with an apple. Why because I wanted some peanut butter with my apple and I am having a rest day due to knee and heel pain from walking and jogging.

Jovialation

....Depends on what you want to eat

SMJohnson27

I would say yes. BUT, you probably are not going to be happy once you reach your goal weight. I started in January and just reduced portion sizes. Stayed within my 1200 calorie goal, eating pizza, candy, lots of pasta, etc. I lost 20 pounds in 8 weeks (without exercise). I am now regretting my choices. I lost inches in the wrong places. I can see my collarbone now, I can feel my hips bones a little bit, my Kim K butt deflated , but I still look 6 months pregnant:explode: . Eating whatever you want in moderation was not worth it to me. Once I started eating clean, I started losing off my waist area, but since I have to be in a swimsuit in two weeks, I am disappointed with my body, even as close to my goal weight as I am. Do it right, right away, and you will be much happier with your body.

JD92

i believe you can eat junk food in *moderation* and still lose weight, as long as its not ALL you eat.

mrb_9110

I know there are a lot of mixed views on here, but personally I go by the 80/20 rule. This means that I eat 80% good, 80% of the time. It helps me to stay on track most of the time if every day I can have something a little bit bad, like a snack size bar of chocolate, or ranch on my salad. As long as I know I get those little bad things, I can convince myself to make healthier choices overall.

For some people, they can't deal with any temptation, so they steer clear of everything "bad", but for me this strategy works. You have to find a balance of what works for you. If you can eat only four or five french fries and leave the rest, go for it and log it. If only one makes you want to eat the entire plate, then stay away.

Edit for typo

FluttershySweetie

There is a way to eat more calories and fats but not junk.... it does nothing to nourish your cells in your body. Our bodies do not in theory need food.... it needs the nutrients found in these foods in order to fuel the cells that make up the various organs in our bodies. So you can absolutely jump up the fat contents and still lose weight if your under calorie.... but are you getting ALL the nutrients (vitamins and minerals, multiple amino acids derived from proteins, and all the different kinds of carbs) your body needs in one day to properly fuel your body??? by bumping up your calories and fats with 'junk' probably not.... A good way would be with fiber rich foods as well as caloric and fat dense healthy foods like almonds and other raw unprocessed foods.

We can keep putting crappy oil in our cars and it will run fine and great for awhiel.... but after some time, gunk starts to build up and things start to fall apart and fail.... just like our bodies....

safari20111

I am the same way. I can not eat what I want and lose weight. I have to cut out everything. ANNOYING but it is what it is..

teacherkatz

well said!

Just1forMe

This is a huge reason why diet soda is a problem. People think it's okay because it's calorie free, but it also hinders wait loss because it gets that sweet taste in your system and then actually causes you to crave more sweets, if not right away, then later on.

I think this TOTALLY depends on the person. I believe you when you say that diet soda does this to *you*, but not to everyone. I enjoy 4-5 cans of diet Sprite per week and it actually fills me up. It's never caused me to crave more sweets. Ever.

Is it the best thing in the world for you? Probably not. (7 Ingredients: Carbonated water, citric acid and natural flavors are the first three ingredients --for flavor and color. Potassium citrate and potassium benzoate are preservatives and aspartame and acesulfame potassium are artificial sweeteners.)

Is it the worst thing in the world for you? Probably not.
But, this thread isn't really about diet soda (sorry:) :blushing:

End6ame

There are many self-righteous, 100% by the book, clean eating people that will think you are evil if you don’t eat like them on here, but truthfully if 90% of your diet is clean and healthy you are fine. Enjoy your junk food, there is nothing wrong with it.

bmontgomery87

In moderation yes.

If i want a bowl of ice cream or I want a cheeseburger or something, I'll fit it into my diet.
I don't make choices like this everyday, because overall you want to eat clean.
But if you're craving something, figure out how to change up your diet that day to make it fit your needs.
If I can still come in close to my goals, I'll eat it.

End6ame

In moderation yes.

If i want a bowl of ice cream or I want a cheeseburger or something, I'll fit it into my diet.
I don't make choices like this everyday, because overall you want to eat clean.
But if you're craving something, figure out how to change up your diet that day to make it fit your needs.
If I can still come in close to my goals, I'll eat it.

Exactly what I do as well.

mrb_9110

You can retrain your brain to enjoy 2 Oreos as much as 12

I truly believe in this. You get more satisfaction out of the first few bites of anything more than you do out of the last twenty bites.

safari20111

I exercise daily and try to stay under 1400 calories but sometimes I may eat 1 cookie and feel like I've just wasted my time working out.

I've seen many diaries where people are eating what they want but still losing 1-2lbs per week by exercising daily. I am just curious to know HOW?

FluttershySweetie

Yup. Already consumed 6 oreos today. They are in my diary.

i wish i had the gall to try an oreo!!!!

Yummo!

Someone brought them and some chips and salsa into work for cinco de mayo.

I actually found that I lost more weight by eating junkier. I believe my problem was that I wasn't consuming enough fats. By upping my calories 300 / day, I started losing 2 lbs a week instead of 1.

My previous post is in regards to this post, sorry quote didn`t work for some reason....

flausa

Enjoy your junk food, there is nothing wrong with it.

Really? There's a word in the first part of that sentence that completely contradicts the second part. What's wrong with it, is that it is junk. Most junk food is nutritionally void, full of saturated fats, sugar, and chemicals. If you have to include junk food in your lifestyle to make it work, at least be honest about what you are doing! That being said the only thing I've completely eliminated from my diet is crisps (because they are my weakness and I'd rather spend the calories elsewhere just now) and storebought cakes/cookies/sweets.

jennylynn84

Log it and don't let crap be your whole diet. I measure out jelly bellies, but I damn sure still eat them.

jennylynn84

There are many self-righteous, 100% by the book, clean eating people that will think you are evil if you don’t eat like them on here, but truthfully if 90% of your diet is clean and healthy you are fine. Enjoy your junk food, there is nothing wrong with it.

OMG, THIS. I'm SOOOO sick of self-righteous judgments about if I drink a diet coke or resort to some Healthy Choice lunches during the week. Clean eating isn't for everyone and I will forever preach that moderation is key.

End6ame

Enjoy your junk food, there is nothing wrong with it.

Really? There's a word in the first part of that sentence that completely contradicts the second part. What's wrong with it, is that it is junk. Most junk food is nutritionally void, full of saturated fats, sugar, and chemicals. If you have to include junk food in your lifestyle to make it work, at least be honest about what you are doing! That being said the only thing I've completely eliminated from my diet is crisps (because they are my weakness and I'd rather spend the calories elsewhere just now) and storebought cakes/cookies/sweets.

I said 90% clean/healthy, which if you do the difficult math, that means 10% not clean, which includes junk food. There is nothing wrong with junk food in moderation. All the health warning about trans fat, saturated fat, artificial sweeteners, etc.. are negligible when talking about moderation. The problem is when those are all that your diet is mad up of. So yes, i stand by my previous statement; enjoy your junk food!... in moderation.

GaveUp

I have burned 1000 calories in working out today so yup I had a Little Debbie swiss roll... still don't know how i'm going to get 2000 calories in today

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sonnyless

I think that it depends on the person. That mentality doesn't work for me though. Before I started working out and eating right I was still a "small portion" eater. And I was eating junk most of the time. But due to that I ended up topping out at 233 pounds. Since I have started exercising at eating more clean, the pounds are dropping off of me. I do know some people who eat whatever they want and look great! I am not one of them. I suggest excercising and eating right. Your body will feel much better!

JJ_27

it's not only Americans that have this problem

liveyourlifex

yes! but remember, you shouldnt be eating packaged snacks often or eating a lot of fried foods. just try to eat small portions of whatever you want, and add a little bit a salad on the side.