all things in moderation???... REALLY???

lq022

So I have been REALLY doing the whole weight loss thing for about 2 months .. definately looking better and feeling better due to consistant and CONSTANT exercise ... but my eating is still so ****ty lol .. For the past week I have been doing the whole 6 mini meals thing ... and I have never been one to SHUN certain foods completely (I did it once back in July -- no chips or full-fat sandwichs for 2 weeks until my bday lol) .. and it worked .. buttttt all the "experts" say "Dont cut anything out! Learn to eat everything in moderation" ... But for someone who is roughly 100 pounds overweight, like myself, doing the moderation thing is basically giving me permission to overindulge. ... I cant DO moderation when it comes to anything remotely resemebling a chip, piece of cake, chocolate-covered-dipped-and-then-smeared-with-shame ANYTHING .. So FINALLY MFP, Please tell me . Do you just BLOCK all these things until you THINK you can have a serving of chips without devouring the entire bag? Or, am I destined to go through this frigin rollercoaster of eating fantastic for a few days until I encounter a cookie and end up feeling like a cheap hooker afterwards? THOUGHTS

SusanneWhittington

they have the small chips bags, I only buy small bags, that helps. Or I open a bigger bag and portion that into ziploc bags.

rockerbabyy

i didnt think i could ever do moderation.. but when i stopped thinking about "dieting" and started thinking im changing my life, it kinda just started happening? i have a cheat day once a week and i think that helps...but i dont really know how moderation came about. i just know that i can keep all my cheat foods in the house and not touch em all week..sometimes not even on my cheat days. i can sit and watch hubby eat nachos and chips and candy and not feel the urge to reach over and have a few *shrug*

EMc4452

I'm still trying to figure this one out for myself. Seems I do great when I completely cut that stuff out...but eventually the cravings come on in full force. I'm trying to find the right balance.

SergeantSunshine_reused

Haha xD My thought is to work more on portion control :] If you don't build up the will power now you never will!

kkauz42

what if you only had the mini bags of chips? Therefore you can eat a whole bag AND it's in moderation! Also, there are a lot of 100 calorie pack options too! Or Fiber One brownies that are 90 calories and I think they are pretty good!

pmlovat

Do what works for you...Just stay under your calorie goals...

catlady100

If I can't have it in moderation, I try not to keep it in the house. But that's really only a couple things for me (not that I don't go overboard with other things sometimes...but specific things that have me going back and getting a "little bit more" until it's all gone, I really try not to keep around.

For me it's just certain baked goods eg: cakes, pastries etc.. so i try not to buy a whole cake, or pie or a lot of pastries at one time.

ETA: not that i don't eat a piece of pie or cake or pastries...i just don't buy a whole cake or pie or two bags or pastries at a time.

sjd2010

When I started originally, I had to stay away. I could not to the "in moderation" thing. Eventually, I have learned to do it, but it is not easy. You have to do what works best for you. Good Luck!:flowerforyou:

Athena413

I'm almost at 70 lbs lost and there's nothing I "can't" eat. I eat whatever I want - just in moderation. It's a self control thing. At first I kind of had to play mind games with myself, but after you get over the initial cravings, it's really not that bad.

chevy88grl

Well. When I first started out, I went with an "all or nothing" stance. I was determined to get the weight off and I felt that anything from my old life would lead me back down the same road. So, I stopped eating all of it. Let me tell you that it didn't take long for me to become very resentful about it. I started to feel the same way I did when I used to "diet". Depressed. Hungry. I would dream about all the foods I loved so much. I knew that I had to step off that all or nothing train or it was going to derail into a massive binge.

I started to read labels. I started to measure my food. I started to learn about serving sizes. I slowly learned what foods were worth the calories and what foods weren't.

I hit my goal weight, dropped a few more pounds and have been maintaining. I STILL read labels, I STILL follow serving sizes and I've gotten very good at eyeballing a serving size of many things.

I think you CAN learn to eat in moderation. Is it easy? Nope. When I first started, I was always disappointed in what seemed to be a small serving of something I really loved. Now? Not so much. I know what a serving size is, I follow it and instead of being disappointed at the small amount of something - I've learned to enjoy it.

It takes time, patience, motivation, determination and most of all willpower, but it CAN be done.

There are foods I no longer eat - not because they are "off limits", but I've simply found they aren't worth the calories. Fast food, pop, etc are things I don't consume because I won't waste my calories on them.

LKBuckingham

Humans naturally eat everything infront of them... Grab a hand full from the bag of chips, put them in a bowl, and put the bag back in the cupboard. Try and do that with every food that isn't that healthy that you love. I had to get used to this also, if I didn't do this, I could eat the whole bad /: I believe cutting something out completely will only lead to worse overindulging.

Court222010

I struggle with this as well. It seems as if my diet happens in spurts. I do really well for a week, and then when I think I can handle a few chips, fries, or a little dessert, my self control goes out the window and I over-indulge big time! I've only been on MFP for about a month now and I've lost about 6 pounds but I'm really hoping for more weight loss. I eat pretty much all the same foods that I used to, I just cut down my portion size. However, like I mentioned, my will power is not completely strong yet so I've had some slip ups that make me feel super guilty and upset. I just continue to tell myself that I can take one day at a time, and if I eat like crap one day, there's stll tomorrow to work it off and do better! If you find a way to fight the mind controlling craving monster, LET ME KNOW!

JoDeeD

I never eat chips out of the bag (when I have them around the house which is rare), instead I actually weigh out a serving and limit myself to the serving. The main things I am working on is self control. I use to eat an entire box of Little Debbie brownies in one sitting. I won't allow myself to buy those yet. I have done great with my kids' candy. I don't have nearly as much to lose as you, but I have noticed that just by changing my eating habits I have lost weight. I am rarely hungry. I still allow myself a piece of chocolate a couple times a weeks. My hopes are to prevent me from over indulging. I was also told by someone on weight watchers that they were told to pick 1 habit to change like drinking water instead of juice or diet soda and do that. After a couple of weeks you have formed a new habit. When that is comfortable pick another habit to correct. It may take longer to reach your goal this way, but you are creating a lifestyle change instead of dieting. Good luck!

Hayesgang

No food is off limits for me - not even bread and chips and at one time they were my best friends. I've done that in the past then I binge on whatever it is and beat myself for it - I just can't do that anymore. Its a lifestyle not a diet for me.

Sometimes if I have craving I'll have a serving and a half of something BUT everything goes on a plate and I really think about it, no more mindless eating.

You can do it - I does get easier. Its a process, it's retraining your thinking about food.

mochama12487

I have to allow myself to eat the things that I like such as chocolate cake or what not because if I don't, then I will binge and eat a crap load of it all at once. I do think it is better for me, but you have to do what you have to do. Yes, there are times when I do a serving of something that ends up being more like 2 or 3 servings, but then I get it out of my system and end up eating better for a while. I don't know. To each his own...

catwrangler

Good old willpower. I do not have it.

I can go for 6 days being perfect, then comes day 7 and I PIG OUT. I can get back on the wagon after a day or 2. Results: I am a PRO at weight maintenance. I am determined to lose a pound this week so this weekend I am being very strict with myself.

The moral of my story is yes, you need to keep certain foods out of your life for awhile. Doesn't mean forever. If your "cheat day: lasts for a week, then you know you can't handle cheat days. When you lose the weight and start to maintain, then you can let some things back in.

If you want a candy bar, fine, work for it. Burn 300 calories and it's yours :bigsmile:

tmarie2715

So I have been REALLY doing the whole weight loss thing for about 2 months .. definately looking better and feeling better due to consistant and CONSTANT exercise ... but my eating is still so ****ty lol .. For the past week I have been doing the whole 6 mini meals thing ... and I have never been one to SHUN certain foods completely (I did it once back in July -- no chips or full-fat sandwichs for 2 weeks until my bday lol) .. and it worked .. buttttt all the "experts" say "Dont cut anything out! Learn to eat everything in moderation" ... But for someone who is roughly 100 pounds overweight, like myself, doing the moderation thing is basically giving me permission to overindulge. ... I cant DO moderation when it comes to anything remotely resemebling a chip, piece of cake, chocolate-covered-dipped-and-then-smeared-with-shame ANYTHING .. So FINALLY MFP, Please tell me . Do you just BLOCK all these things until you THINK you can have a serving of chips without devouring the entire bag? Or, am I destined to go through this frigin rollercoaster of eating fantastic for a few days until I encounter a cookie and end up feeling like a cheap hooker afterwards? THOUGHTS

Yes, baby, I think you need to cut out full fat chips and mayo and the like. I swear you will begin to like normal and low fat foods again! Try avocado in a sandwich instead of mayo and vinegar and teeny bit of oil instead of dressing. Yes, you will feel like a freak among your current friends / coworkers, yes it takes adjustment. You can do this and if you want to lose that 100 you will.

GL!

avaloneternal

Only you know what will work for you. I personally don't do well when something is forbidden. I only want it more. When I feel out of control I try to take a break from whatever it is until I feel more in control. I will eat veggies and then go back to what I wanted to binge on or I will put some orajel on my tongue to numb it so I can't taste for a few minutes. That is usually enough to snap me out of my binge frenzy. Hope you can find a system that works for you long term.

ahsongbird

You really just have to do what works for you, some people say everything in moderation, but for me my weakness is taco bell. I HAD to cut it out completely bc I cannot eat a small amount, same thing with pop, I end up just putting a tiny bit in my cup and thinkig it wont hurt but then it turns into another tiny bit and another etc. so I had to cut that out too.

1953Judith

Instead of trying to moderation on all of your trigger foods, one idea might be to start with just one to "moderate" -- maybe the chips. Keep your focus on controlling the one item for a couple of weeks and then add the next trigger food item. Keep mastering them one at a time. It is a lot less of overwhelming; leads to better long term habits; and probably doesn't impact your long term weight loss goal, just a few short term ones.

Ooops, I just read that someone else made this same suggestion. I will say that focusing on one bad habit at a time has really kept me on track and healthy. Currently I am focusing on managing my salt intake.

Lyadeia

I go for portion control, and I also do my best to find better options that don't taste completely different.

In other words, I don't stop having pizza and I don't eat it on some nasty pita crust or tortilla cause that's just not a pizza. I made my own whole wheat crust that tastes awesome, and I use sugar free sauce and 2% cheese. I have just half the pizza, not the whole thing. Four slices of my pizza which tastes like real pizza is about 550 calories as opposed to 1000 or more calories of store bought pizza...or 300 calories of some nasty pita bread CRAP.

I eat real food, smaller portions, don't cut things out completely or else I'll binge, and I look for tasty lower cal options of my favorites. It's not a "diet" but a lifestyle change. I can't go without pizza forever, I'm not going to try. But by eating a homemade one that is healthy and tasty, I change my lifestyle without depriving myself.

And now if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to eat some turkey spagetti with sugar free tomato sauce and whole wheat extra protein pasta. :bigsmile:

trinityj1

If you can go cold turkey, go cold turkey. I do. The standard advice is to cut things about slowly, but that doesn't work for me; I just decide I'm going to do something and then do it.

Don't buy any crap at all. If you can't get it without exerting time and effort, you won't eat it.

lq022

I guess it really is just "what works for you" ... I dont know about anyone else, but THAT is seriously the MOST frustrating answer lol .. i KNOW its definately the only answer that truly works .. but if I knew "what worked for me" ,, I wouldnt BE overweight lol .. ughhh i dont know. Today was just not a good day i guess .. i feel like a complete whinebag haha ..

But the one thing I do notice that "works for me" (...LOL seriously I want to punch that phrase) is when im out with friends and their eating all sorts of crap, I dont feel the need to have any of it ... Call me what you want, but my competitive side comes out and I feel superior when I can say no to a quesidila (I totally butchered that spelling, I knowlol) or nachos etc and they cant .... but if you were to leave me alone with said quesadilla ( <-- that looks more correct to me... why couldn't I spell it one line previously? oh well, im not changing it above .. whatever) or nachos .. and i would clean house

I guess my main point is, this time period of my weight loss journey, I do not feel that moderation is good for me. Maybe I could just say I wont eat any crap until my cheat day on Saturdays .... That could probably work .. because then i'd plan all my meals down to the second for how much crap I could eat .... hmmm..that might work.

sunkisses

Do you just BLOCK all these things until you THINK you can have a serving of chips without devouring the entire bag?

This worked for me. I had to do this with sugar and sodas. I am now 3lb from goal and an "everything in moderation" person.

sheeramorningglory

I also am working on this. I try to avoid bringing it into the house. Even the small bag because honestly, I will eat two or three if I hit a weak moment.
If you want a treat - allow yourself a treat.
A friend of mine is real good with taking just a bite of someone elses treat. this way you get a taste and you do not have to eat a full bag, big or small.
All of this takes will power.

prettygirmel

I belong to TOPS also and each week we draw out to "No No" and one "Yes" for the week. We are challenged for a week to either not eat something not good for us or to eat something good for us. It works for me, it makes me think about not eating something I shouldn't. I am or was drinking almost 2 liters of diet soda a day. I had myself convinced since it was diet it was ok. Three weeks ago our challenge was no soft drinks all week! I didn't think I could do it but I did, then our leader challenge us to see how long we could go without them, I just this week have had two cans of diet pepsi. I finally am drinking more water and have lost weight ever week for seven straight weeks. I also have over a 100 hundred pounds to lose and have been heavy all my life. I have a sweet tooth that is very demanding but I try to be aware of what I eat and count it in my daily calories. If I fall off the wagon I try not to beat myself up, but count it and keep on going. I love MFP it works for me and it is a easy way to kept track of what I am eating. Good luck, you can do it.

bigdawg025

Ok... well... first of all... is one of your goals "to NEVER eat another chip again?"... Is one of your goals "to never drink ______ (insert favorite tasty beverage here) again?" If those are YOUR goals... then you will succeed without them. I highly doubt your goals are COMPLETELY GIVING UP all those things you enjoy. Therefore... moderation comes into play. For me... I eat what I want whenever I want it, but that's set me at an almost year long plateau. When losing more becomes more important to me... I might change something else again. If I start working out more than 3 or 4 days a week it might start again, too. But when you're working out A LOT... AND you have all those exercise calories left... you should never feel bad about treating yourself at times to the things you truly enjoy.

No guilt over food!!!! It's not a crime to eat!

Samiwhereareyou

I like the way you talk it makes me laugh cheep hooker lol. I try to cut out things I know I over indulge in out. I have a salt and grease tooth and I could eat a costco size bag of fritos chips in an hour and want more. So I dont buy them I get things I dont like as much like BBQ flavored lays I still get that salty crunch chip taste and its sill good but I can have a few and be done. Same with chocolate when I am really craving chocolate I will go out a buy 3 gourmet truffles from the hand dipped chocolate store down the street and savor every delicious piece not just grab a candy bar. But I had to break up with cheesebecause i truly believe I had an addiction to it if it was in the house I would devour it and I missed it it not being in my life like i had lost a friend it was not a healthy relationship. But that kinda went away after a while i got healthier and I just had cheese on my apple today and it was tasty but I didnt need to eat the whole cheese log to feel satisfied.

I guess what i am saying is do what feels right to you if you know you have an unhealthy relationship with cake treat it like a boyfriend. Dont go out of your way for cake dont bring cake home dont see cake on the side untill you are ready to have a healthy relationship with cake. and make tasty substitutions for the rest of the tasty things that dont run your life and give yourself slack sometimes I binge on jelly beans and I have a tummy ache and Its not the end of the world.

Good Luck.

deegarcia19

I usually can't do thing I can't resist in moderation either because then I can't stop.

RoseLeeRush

This is my first time to read the messages boards. They all help. I really appreciated EVERYTHING you said. I think I will memorize it! I feel motivated by your message. Thank you!:flowerforyou: