is it better to go cold turkey or wean yourself slowly

dskline1

Okay...I just joined and am ready to start a new path....my diet pretty much sucks!!! Typical poptarts for breakfast and lunch, diet soda all day long, and red meat (hamburger, steak or hot wings for dinner)....not having much of a weight issue, just want to feel better and have more energy. I feel run down all the time!!! So, is it recommended to wean yourself off of your vices or just quit cold turkey? Looking for healthier alternatives to what I am doing now....I am thinking that this will certainly not be hard with what I am consuming currently.....lol I have started working out again (45 mins cardio) to try and increase my energy levels....but if I exercise 2 days in a row....I am spent and my muscles are sore........

dskline1

Okay...I just joined and am ready to start a new path....my diet pretty much sucks!!! Typical poptarts for breakfast and lunch, diet soda all day long, and red meat (hamburger, steak or hot wings for dinner)....not having much of a weight issue, just want to feel better and have more energy. I feel run down all the time!!! So, is it recommended to wean yourself off of your vices or just quit cold turkey? Looking for healthier alternatives to what I am doing now....I am thinking that this will certainly not be hard with what I am consuming currently.....lol I have started working out again (45 mins cardio) to try and increase my energy levels....but if I exercise 2 days in a row....I am spent and my muscles are sore........

jules1984

I'd say first try adding in fruits and veggies. Eat less junk, more fruits, veggies, and lean protein. Since you say its not necessarily a weight issue I would first concentrate on adding rather than taking away. You'll probably notice you eat less junk anyway if you add in the good foods.

Also, immediately starting with 45 minutes of cardio every day will be hard on your body. I'd say start with less or at the very least make sure you warm up and cool down your muscles properly.

Hello and welcome! :drinker:

tidwelljw

Well I think weight loss is no different than anything else. Everyone is going to have ways of doing things that work better for them and may not work at all for some people. It's all going to rest of whether or not you are someone that can quit eating all those foods all together (except for the rare occasion you treat yourself). I personally haven't missed all the fast food and bad meals, my problem is desserts and sweets in general. So i made the decision that i wasn't going to have any of it until I lost the first 20 lbs. That was just a benchmark for me. I knew if I could make my self change for that duration, however long it took, then I wouldn't lapse back into old habits. If you are disciplined enough to not eat those things then I say go cold turkey! but remember, if you try to slowly ween yourself off of it then it is a whole lot easier to justify eating the same bad things over and over. It really shouldn't be a diet, it should be a lifestyle change. That's my opinion.

dskline1

Thanks for your reply...I plan on going to the grocery store tomorrow to get some fresh fruits to start adding...my body is sure in for a shock!!!! lol I hope that your thought process is correct and I will start wanting the better foods and not the ones that I have sooo enjoyed for the last 30 years. I did not expect any soreness with exercising...I stay pretty active...hiking 3 seasons of the year and catching a quick walk whenever I can....the tape does have a 5-7 min warm up....will just have to rest my muscles a day when I feel sore, I guess. I need to get over the hurdle that my brain tells me I am 26 and my body thinks and behaves otherwise!!!!

AmyNVegas

I agree with jules, start adding in the healthy stuff and remember you don't have to completely quit the junk just eat a lot less of it and not as often. Smaller changes are easy to stick to so adding fruits and veggies is a good first step and change breads to whole grain. They fill you longer and you will feel better anyway.

Amy:bigsmile:

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AugustBaby1973

OMG! I stopped eating Pop Tarts cold turkey when I found out they have 400 calories for the two pastries in the foil packet! :noway: But, some foods will need to be "weaned" from your diet, especially if you're just starting out. I've never met a person who was successful with weightloss who just cut out one food altogether! Start off by cutting your portions, and by replacing certain foods with others---like, instead of a dessert like cake or ice cream, try a fruit parfait. Instead of ground beef, try ground turkey!

I wish you all the success your heart desires, and hope you meet your weightloss goal! You can do it!

MyaPapaya75

Okay...I just joined and am ready to start a new path....my diet pretty much sucks!!! Typical poptarts for breakfast and lunch, diet soda all day long, and red meat (hamburger, steak or hot wings for dinner)....not having much of a weight issue, just want to feel better and have more energy. I feel run down all the time!!! So, is it recommended to wean yourself off of your vices or just quit cold turkey? Looking for healthier alternatives to what I am doing now....I am thinking that this will certainly not be hard with what I am consuming currently.....lol I have started working out again (45 mins cardio) to try and increase my energy levels....but if I exercise 2 days in a row....I am spent and my muscles are sore........

I really think you have to try to make this as simple as possible...sit down make a plan that includes excercise and calories as well as water intake, meals..stick to the plans and goals you have set for yourself. Keep it all on paper and work from there....I personally think dragging it out will only slow your results and could detour you from sticking with it. Everything we do takes effort and if we want to see results we have to work hard....Feeling 100% at your best takes 110% effort..you can do it just promise yourself

dskline1

I know...i consume 800 calories by noon with eating a package of poptarts for breakfast and then one for lunch....need to get myself in the habit of taking the time to grab/make/prepare something else to take to work. I am in the mindset of changing any habits that are slowing me down and I need to run with it. I want to exercise my little heart out, since I feel so incredible once I have finished...what a stress buster...talk about a happy pill. Now I just need my body to cooperate with what my brain is striving for. I am hoping that a type A personality is not a negative aspect with trying to accomplish this..(I need to remind myself to take a breath and slow down a bit)...I am very impressed with the level of support that is on this site and for all of you that have responded already...it is much appreciated...I will start with cutting back for the rest of this week and see where that takes me with the poptart fixation.....and adding a banana or dry cereal into the mix. The only time I can bring myself to drink water is after working out and I drink lots of it!!! It actually tastes sooo good then....lol Thanks again ladies for your help!!!