everything in moderation? i respectfully disagree

julie_a_griffin

Yes, it was a typo, supposed to be Just that, FOOD

Thank you for clarifying.

lodro

Remind me what's "enjoyable" about going to Mc Do...

Losingitin2011

Remind me what's "enjoyable" about going to Mc Do...

For some people, it truly is. Everyone is different.

What you find to be delicious I might think is nasty, and vice-versa

Noctuary

From what I hear, Walmart sells fattening food. I've never seen one of their stores myself. However what you are seeing is not necessarily a direct result of organic and locally produced foods being less fattening; they can be just as high in calories as non-organic foods. What you are seeing is partly doe to the widely divergent health awareness factor which is sadly prevalent in differing socio-economic groups.

I just wanted to touch on this *because I've given up on the actual topic of this thread....


I shop at Walmart for one good reason. They have all my Diabetic/low carb/low fat/special foods I need to get for my Diabetes at a cheap price. I buy nothing fattening there. At all. Egg beaters, low carb flat bread,veggies and fruits. Lean meat. And I can do it at midnight when I get out of work! So hip hip hurah for Walmart!

marandaj77

For me not having a pepsi or a slice of pizza every now and again would be like I am punishing myself.And there is no need for that. I want to and I am making better life decisions. But just to completely cut myself off I think would do more harm than good but you have to do what works for you.

myofibril

Remind me what's "enjoyable" about going to Mc Do...

It's not called a happy meal for nuffink...



Actually, I don't know as I don't eat there but if an individual does so on occasion, which in turn promotes a higher rate of adherence to their diet, it is much better than falling off completely.

PJilly

Just chiming in to let you know, msf74, that I really enjoy your posts — both the serious and the amusing ones.

kgool

Reading this thread made me want to eat a bacon cupcake and chase it down with a Jolt Cola.

myofibril

Just chiming in to let you know, msf74, that I really enjoy your posts — both the serious and the amusing ones.

Ta.

Nice delts by the way. Keep flexing lady

Losingitin2011

Reading this thread made me want to eat a bacon cupcake and chase it down with a Jolt Cola.

Mmmmmmmm cupcakes.........

PJilly

Just chiming in to let you know, msf74, that I really enjoy your posts — both the serious and the amusing ones.

Ta.

Nice delts by the way. Keep flexing lady

:blushing: Thank you.

vold94

Splurging for me is going someplace and having someone cook for me. No organic restaurants in my neck of the woods.

So, you do what's good for you, and I'll do what's good for me and the two of us shall live happily ever after.

\

I totally agree, thank you!

vold94

I ate crap food until a few months ago and I can honestly say people with your attitude kind of kept me eating that way. So judgemental and condescending with the fake air of concern.

I have a cheat day once a week that consists of pizza, doughnuts, chocolate and sugary drinks. Why? Because I enjoy food and taste. It's not the enemy. Lack of self control is. Your wonderful brownies probably could make people fat, too.

That is soooo true, thank you!

carolynmittens

woah, 13 pages?? alright well, i didn't read a lot of the comments - sorry, i was trying to be really conscious to read what everyone had to say, since (i'm assuming) you read my post in full if you commented here. i did skim pages 11-13 and was delightfully shocked to see some positive comments! but based on what i read i want to address 2 things:

a lot of people seem to be insinuating that i don't enjoy food, that i am probably choking down raw kale and wheat grass all day in an attempt to be healthy, getting no enjoyment whatsoever from what i eat. so not true. i LOVE food. really really love it. that's why i spend hours in the kitchen prepping my veggies, i take the time to make them taste amazing. this is going to sound weird but whatever: one of my favorite foods on earth is brussels sprouts. it's not because i like the taste, they taste like *kitten*! but i cook them in such a way that makes them really, seriously delicious. i roast them with unrefined coconut oil, oregano, rosemary, salt and cinnamon, and sometimes if i'm feeling crazy i'll toss them with maple glazed pecans. i almost died when i tried one. i realize some of you are dry-heaving right now but hear me out. healthy food can taste good if you prepare it right! everyone seems to think that a life without snickers would be a hellhole. and they'd rather die than eat brownies made with barley flour. but the thing about your taste buds is they are extraordinarily adaptable, as is your entire body. if you cut sugar out of your diet, you will crave it less. if you start eating clean, and get your sweet fix from bananas, or barley brownies, or coconut date rolls instead of twinkies and candy, your body will start to recognize these healthy alternatives as sweet. eventually (it does take time) these foods will be too sweet for you! look, if sugar rules your life, if you are ADDICTED to it, then my advice (not that you asked) is no, i don't think it's a good idea to enjoy those trigger foods in moderation. you are keeping them constantly in your system, and you're never going to break that addiction. if you don't want sugar ruling your life anymore, if you're sick of obsessing over food and yo-yoing with your weight, then you should consider eliminating all junk from your diet. but hey, if you can enjoy that snickers "in moderation" and it doesn't screw up your entire life, then go for it. this post isn't for you and i'm not going to argue with you. but to a lot of people, these foods are dangerous.

i noticed a lot of excuses as to why a lifestyle like this wouldn't work for everyone, time and money being the main ones. i get it, we're all busy and poor. especially me! i'm a freaking preschool teacher, i barely make above minimum wage. i have to go to the free clinic at the hospital for routine checkups and such because i make so little money and my job doesn't offer insurance. but i make it work, i just choose to spend less on things like clothes, entertainment, getting my nails done, etc. and i make my own cleaning products, which saves a ton of money. and as for time, i understand that too, believe me. including my commute i work 8 am - 7 pm everyday, then i go to the gym on my way home for 1.5 - 2 hrs. i get home around 9 - 9:30 pm each night. i just choose to spend my free time cooking, as opposed to watching TV, or whatever it is other people do in their free time. to me it's worth it, the food i cook makes me feel so, so good. so i make sacrifices for it.

i'm not at all saying this is the only way to live, i never said that. this is what has worked for me, worked exceedingly well, so why wouldn't i share it on a site where people are supposedly trying to make healthier choices in their lives? and i mean... junk food IS bad for you! i can't apologize for saying that - but i will absolutely apologize if anyone felt like i was attacking them, or if i came off as condescending. it doesn't bother me if people want to attack my lifestyle, the drink in my hand, my past issues with food, or any of that. but i do find it odd that telling you something you already know caused such an uproar.

and will you all stop knocking the barley brownies already, they are really good. i based my recipe off this one if anyone is BRAVE ENOUGH to try them:
http://edibleperspective.com/2010/07/hungry/

LimeyTart

I eat clean. And yet, I'd still rather eat cardboard than something made from buckwheat or barley flour.

Sometimes, I read romance novels. Because I enjoy them. Sometimes I eat a Kit Kat. Because I enjoy them. If I spent my life reading nothing but The Economist and avoiding "junk" food, I'd die young from being miserable. I'm here to enjoy my life and sometimes that means I do something that isn't 100% "good" for me. I can't imagine that I will ever regret the occasional Kit Kat, unless I choke to death on it :laugh:

LorinaLynn

I eat clean. And yet, I'd still rather eat cardboard than something made from buckwheat or barley flour.

Sometimes, I read romance novels. Because I enjoy them. Sometimes I eat a Kit Kat. Because I enjoy them. If I spent my life reading nothing but The Economist and avoiding "junk" food, I'd die young from being miserable. I'm here to enjoy my life and sometimes that means I do something that isn't 100% "good" for me. I can't imagine that I will ever regret the occasional Kit Kat, unless I choke to death on it :laugh:

*love this*

I might live forever if I avoided all junk. But maybe it would just FEEL like forever. :sick:

Heather75

Yeah. Pandas are cute.

Nailrep

Once again, WHO ASKED?

OMG it's amazing how you must love to keep stepping in it. I'm so done with this thread.

Sezmo83

I wasn't offended by the OP, I just don't want to live my life worrying about every single thing I put into my mouth. I want to be able to go out for a meal without thinking about whether something has this that or the other in it. I'm well aware that some of what I eat isn't good for me but it's not going to stop me eating it occasionally. I'm off to Pizza Hut next week and will be sharing a pizza with my hubby and then having dessert. I'll go over my calories, eat stuff that's not overly healthy and drink a glass or two of coke but guess what? The meal won't kill me. Well, not unless I choke to death on a piece of pineapple anyway.

I might live forever if I avoided all junk. But maybe it would just FEEL like forever. sick

This lol.

PhoenixRising11

your body is a temple, treat it with respect :flowerforyou:

You are by no means at the top of this staircase of the definition of a healthy being.
I don't think one single person ever ever will be, it's taken what you have been through in your past to realise that you need to treat your own body with a bit of respect hasn't it?

PJilly

i noticed a lot of excuses as to why a lifestyle like this wouldn't work for everyone, time and money being the main ones. i get it, we're all busy and poor. especially me! i'm a freaking preschool teacher, i barely make above minimum wage. i have to go to the free clinic at the hospital for routine checkups and such because i make so little money and my job doesn't offer insurance. but i make it work, i just choose to spend less on things like clothes, entertainment, getting my nails done, etc. and i make my own cleaning products, which saves a ton of money. and as for time, i understand that too, believe me. including my commute i work 8 am - 7 pm everyday, then i go to the gym on my way home for 1.5 - 2 hrs. i get home around 9 - 9:30 pm each night. i just choose to spend my free time cooking, as opposed to watching TV, or whatever it is other people do in their free time. to me it's worth it, the food i cook makes me feel so, so good. so i make sacrifices for it.

i'm not at all saying this is the only way to live, i never said that. this is what has worked for me, worked exceedingly well, so why wouldn't i share it on a site where people are supposedly trying to make healthier choices in their lives? and i mean... junk food IS bad for you! i can't apologize for saying that - but i will absolutely apologize if anyone felt like i was attacking them, or if i came off as condescending. it doesn't bother me if people want to attack my lifestyle, the drink in my hand, my past issues with food, or any of that. but i do find it odd that telling you something you already know caused such an uproar.

I appreciate that you apologized for people feeling like you came off as condescending. It’s easy to get all excited when the light bulb goes off for you and want to share it with everyone, and it’s hard to remember that your “a-ha moment” may be different from someone else’s. I understand that. You make choices based on your values. Others make choices based on their values. And that’s all OK. What is so very clearly “right” for any of us may not be so right for someone else with different values and a different set of circumstances. It’s obviously worth it to you to give up your TV time to cook. Someone else may already be giving up their TV time to care for a child or an sick or elderly family member. You just never know.

zandhmom75

I was thinking about this thread, and it made my remember my grandmother.

She firmly believe in "everything in moderation".

She avoided junk food, quit smoking at a young age, and exercised well into her geriatric years. She didn't know what "organic" or "clean" meant, but always cooked meals made out of whole foods, like her Italian emigrant parents taught her. But she would always eat a slice of birthday cake at a party or share a dessert with me if we went out to lunch.

She was active and independent until nearly the very end, and passed away at age 89.

You can live whatever kind of life you want, but I have my own role model, my "everything in moderation" grandma.

Great post! I'm a nurse and that makes me think of the little geriatric patients who are well into their 90s. When asked, on occassion, what the secret was to old age, I don't remember any of them saying "Well dear, I never ate any chemicals..."

Agree! My grandparents are in their 80's, independent and active, and used to take us to McDonald's as a treat. My grandpa's favorite places to eat? Buffet restaurants and KFC. And they are far from overweight or unhealthy. Why? Because they enjoy these things in moderation! Wonderful role models!

aippolito1

I'm sorry, I disagree with you. In moderation to me means once in a blue moon. When I crave it but not EVERYTIME I crave it. Such as... I bought 2 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in March or so and I still have a full sleeve of Thin Mints left in my freezer. I JUST finished my box of Samoas yesterday. Do I have amazing self-control? No. Did I forget they were in my freezer? Maaaaybe. But still. I don't indulge in them often and it doesn't kill my diet.

And there's the keyword: Diet. I'm not ON a diet. My food that I put into my body is my diet. A diet is anything you put into your mouth that is food. It's just a word that has been commercialized and scrutinized. The way I eat is my lifestyle. I'm not giving up soda or thin mints or ice cream or cheeseburgers for the rest of my life. But I am putting them out of my lifestyle for the rest of my life, meaning... I don't eat them 7 days a week like I used to. I don't drink 3 Dr Peppers a day like I used to but if I have a craving, I won't deny myself a glass - but then, if I keep having that craving, I don't keep giving into it.


I treat my body as well as I can. Since I've put certain things on my taste buds and into my body, my body and my tastebuds still crave them. I can't reverse that. I'm not one of those people who can say "I ate a cheeseburger and it tasted disgusting!" Growing up, my mom had a budget of $2-3 per child when eating out so we ate at McDonald's a LOT. I can't tell you I seriously crave a cheeseburger very often, but when I do crave it, I get one, and it tastes AMAZING. I'm sorry if that offends you, but... I've lost 22 lbs and have kept 20 of those off in the last year. I think I look fabulous and the last time I had a physical which was during a time when I wasn't eating the healthiest or working out a lot...my numbers my doctor said were "excellent".

oxavecamourxo

this is going to sound weird but whatever: one of my favorite foods on earth is brussels sprouts. it's not because i like the taste, they taste like *kitten*! but i cook them in such a way that makes them really, seriously delicious. i roast them with unrefined coconut oil, oregano, rosemary, salt and cinnamon, and sometimes if i'm feeling crazy i'll toss them with maple glazed pecans.

Oh my gosh. I want brussel sprouts so bad now. I think they're delicious no matter how they're cooked, but your way sounds extra delicious!

kristydi

but don't you guys realize it's the american mindset to worry about consequences only after the damage has been done? (i don't mean to sound ethnocentric either, but the majority of people with diet-related illness live in america). since when is information so offensive? how about research for yourselves what the adverse effects of these substances are, then. and if it doesn't concern you, then by all means don't. but don't get offended because i told you twinkies are bad for you. if a smoker was told it would be in his/her best interest to quit smoking, would you all be up in arms about that? why is junk food such a sensitive issue?

People aren't riled up because you told us that twinkies or Cokes or whatever are bad for us. People are riled up because you presumed to judge what was "never ok" for us to eat.

Information isn't offensive. Judgment and attempting to dictate what is or is not acceptable for others do based on your own convictions is.

Rizabees

and will you all stop knocking the barley brownies already, they are really good. i based my recipe off this one if anyone is BRAVE ENOUGH to try them:
http://edibleperspective.com/2010/07/hungry/

Well... the thing about that is everyone has different tastes. It has nothing to do with being brave.
I think it's silly that you find a way to insult people, even a little, with your posts.

Again, kudos on trying to be healthier. But moderation, portion control, and an occasional snack helped me lose weight without yo-yo'ing, so please don't tell me I'm doing it wrong.

Rodneymc4

I can't speak for anyone else but this was a great piece and it motivates me to clean up my diet even more. I just told my wife this weekend that taking our children (teenage boys) to McDonalds is child abuse. We should be charged by CPS (Child Protection Services).

I concur...everything in moderation? I respectfully disagree!

pauljsolie

And those of us who don't own an oven? Or can't afford organic? Or work long hours?

I thought the same thing about organic. I stopped eating all prepackaged, processed nutritionally empty foods. The only processed foods I eat are whole grain flatbreads, Ezekiel 4:9 bread and cereals. Everything else I pretty much make from scratch. I thought I'd go broke shopping at a store like Whole Foods but since I started eating healthy, my grocery budget has gone way down. Sure I could get non-organic produce from the supermarket and save some money but I figure my overall health and well being is worth it. Just a thought for those who believe organic is "too expensive".

flutterqueen04

what is that you are drinking in your profile picture?

I know you probably meant well with what you were trying to say - to educate about the chemicals and crap. But it did come off very harsh and high and mighty. Trying to eat better and healthier is really hard. If it wasn't hard then this site wouldn't be in existence cuz it wouldn't be needed!!! I hate when I get on here and see threads like this that come off as if you should be ashamed and such if you are not eating 100% perfect and there fore must not take healthy living serious enough. It might even make some people think why bother trying if people are going to yell because I am not perfect at this. We are all trying to do what we can with what we got and the cards we are dealt with. I would love love LOVE to be organic at my house but where I live, off of one income with a child, there is no reasonably priced place to buy organic foods all the time.

Lets just be friggin supportive of each other's efforts!!!!! Is that way to much to ask?!?!!

futiledevices

For those who are talking about how "cheap" and "easy" it is to eat organic and unprocessed foods, I don't understand what planet you are living on. Or how huge your food budget is. I don't know about America, but eating all organic and raw foods in Canada is EXPENSIVE. There's a reason the only Whole Foods I know of in Toronto is in Yorkville - where all the rich people/celebs hang out.