Lighten the **** up!

worej

Well I'm sure you can apply that 'do what you can' philosophy to a lot of things in life...but I'm not sold on the success that can be had from it.

When your out there...messing around, having fun, letting your game slip... Someone else is out there working hard, someone else is getting stronger, smarter, faster than you. Someone else is winning. 24 hours in a day...You've got to sleep at some point, so make the rest count.

Think about it.

Think about what? That I should stop having fun in my life because someone on the planet is stronger than me? :laugh:

Well if fun to you means never being apart of the elite, than so be it. There isn't enough room at the top for all of us..and while I've never seen a complacent or lackadaisical individual rise to the top...I've seen plenty of ambitious and diligent people who have.

Those people at the "top" probably didn't have any fun along the way.

If putting calories in your face is the only way to possibly have fun, then I bet you're right.

sdrawkcabynot

I am sure it has been posted already - but I live by the motto "Moderation is Key" ... don't deprive yourself, just don't over do it!

Jennjenn1974

Well I'm sure you can apply that 'do what you can' philosophy to a lot of things in life...but I'm not sold on the success that can be had from it.

When your out there...messing around, having fun, letting your game slip... Someone else is out there working hard, someone else is getting stronger, smarter, faster than you. Someone else is winning. 24 hours in a day...You've got to sleep at some point, so make the rest count.

Think about it.

Think about what? That I should stop having fun in my life because someone on the planet is stronger than me? :laugh:

Well if fun to you means never being apart of the elite, than so be it. There isn't enough room at the top for all of us..and while I've never seen a complacent or lackadaisical individual rise to the top...I've seen plenty of ambitious and diligent people who have.

Those people at the "top" probably didn't have any fun along the way.

If putting calories in your face is the only way to possibly have fun, then I bet you're right.

Yes that is exactly what I meant.

Italianyc84

It's not worth it to me. I'd rather use those calories for something that makes me feel good. If I go over, it's going to be from eating a bit too much of something that's actually good for me. I don't crave things like that and to me it's not a treat, so it has nothing to do with "lightening up".

May63

the most sensible post ive read in ages :drinker: oh and have you tried the peanut butter chunkys their gorgeous?

like

Classalete

Ah yes 'fun' the existential meaning of life...sure. Disregard sacrifice and will power..they're irrelevant right? haha.

How about this mantra...When the going gets tough..just make excuses to justify (and compensate for) your short comings.

'Now go out there and....try to just be like everyone else son!'

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

I am sure it has been posted already - but I live by the motto "Moderation is Key" ... don't deprive yourself, just don't over do it!

agreed and I compete. The ONLY time I don't eat whatever I want is during training season. Otherwise, moderation is key pretty much fits me.

LorinaLynn

If putting calories in your face is the only way to possibly have fun, then I bet you're right.

Oh, hell, no, it's not the only way to have fun. But food does play an important role in our social lives, and gives pleasure. It's not just a matter of fuel for me. It's not completely utilitarian.

I also buy soft toilet paper. Sure, I could just use a corn cob like they did in the olden days, but my life is better with Charmin Ultra.

rippedhippie

Cheat meal from time to time can be a good thing, but if strict discipline is the way you prefer then stick to your plan.

36 pounds later and 1/2 my body fat GONE, and I've tried both ways. I stuck to the discipline till I achived my end goal then allowed

a cheat meal per week from then on.

Good Luck to all of you, YOU CAN REACH YOUR GOALS!

:glasses:

milkll13

<----drank 1/2 a bottle of wine, a bag of dark chocolate covered pretzels and chocolate frozen yogurt yesterday. Then I made my diary private because I was more than 1000 calories over my daily dose. So While I agree with you, 100%, I'm a 50% hypocrite.

lorenzoinlr

I do think it's awfully silly to reward your hard work by undoing a lot of it. When I'm looking at a kit kat bar, I see it as 25 minutes on the elliptical and four days of trying to get my digestion back on track; not really worth the five minutes of pleasure I get from it!

I think that part of making lifelong changes is to learn to appreciate other rewards. If I do really well and I want to reward myself, I make myself an amazing smoothie. Or I take myself out to see a movie. Or something like that.

If that's what you want to do, fine, do it. I'm really not that concerned about what other people do, and I'm not sure why my voluntary diet restrictions concern you. People can permanently give things up. Don't judge it as "unreasonable". I haven't had milk, ice cream, pizza, or fried cheese products for years, and I eat tons of delicious food. I don't spend all day every day fretting about how good a cheese curd would be.

Well said. What works for others may or may not work for me. There is no food I can't live without nor worth sacrificing the work I'm doing or how I feel as a result. Many of the best life choices involve discipline. I won't judge what works for you and won't accept judgement of my approach either. I'd rather accommodate something by working it in while still meeting my goals than stop and start. I have cheated occasionally but have never found it to be as satisfying as how I feel from complying,

That said, if your road to success is different and you are still able to get there, I salute you.

yoovie

I feel like I just got screamed at because I dont eat kitkats

to me, celebrating a milestone with food is like celebrating a mile marker by running backwards. But i dont see anything wrong with enjoying your fun food, as long as someone isnt screaming at me to do so or else it means Im denying myself happiness in life....

It also helps when the people that say these things realise that not everyone's body is the same. Not everyone reacts badly to deprivation and not everyone eats the same or has the same goals.

If you're training for a marathon, or trying to reduce your overall body fat as best as you can.... well then everything you just screamed isnt necessarily true.

For you - of course- who knows your body better than you do? No one.
But for me? Who knows my body better than I do? Not you.

There are other things in life you can stop to appreciate that wont give you a sugar headache.

like sex and PRs and a perfectly grilled cut of meat :P

yoovie

Some of us don't like chocolate, Kit-Kat, cakes, cookies, pastries, or sweets in general; so not having them, doesn't mean that we are depriving ourselves of a treat.

Counting macros and calories is not an obsession for some people, like me; it is a way of life. Please don't judge us and don't think that we are being obsessive. It is just the way we are.

Have a great Sunday!

THIS.

A lot of people on this website are also not overcoming an unhealthy diet, or have an unhealthy love of sugar. Tons of us dont even have problems with food at all and dont feel deprived. So we may not crave it.

man_dee_gee

I've mentioned this before... a real eye opener for me was going to a Zombie Run around Halloween sponsored by a local running group and a local running store. (You wanna run faster than ever? Have a zombie chase you. It was AWESOME!)

I've only been running about a year, so it was less than a year in October, and I felt like a total nub around a bunch of athletes. Most of the races I've done were a mix of "real" runners, casual runners, newbies and walkers. This was just runners. Perfect bodies. (And I was happy I kept up with them!)

But after the race, they had a party. Most regular races have a spread of water or Gatorade, bananas or oranges, sometimes a bag of 100 calorie chips, and very rarely baked goods. THIS ONE had water, Gatorade, Pepsi, BEER, fruit, sandwiches, brownies, pizza, donuts, candy bars, cookies... and the "real runners" were all chowing down and enjoying themselves.

I vowed from the get-go when I joined MFP that I wouldn't deprive myself, but that night was the final nail in the "you can't have THAT" coffin. And a big wake-up call that "eating like an athlete" includes some really delicious options.

Actually, if you talk to "real" runners and "real" atheletes... they don't put any processed junk food into their bodies. Many have different diets, but their diets do not consist of these foods everyone is talking about on here.

Marathons and 5ks are all the rage now, everyone is a runner. That doesn't make your exercise and choices in eating the absolute best.

Anayalata

I do think it's awfully silly to reward your hard work by undoing a lot of it. When I'm looking at a kit kat bar, I see it as 25 minutes on the elliptical and four days of trying to get my digestion back on track; not really worth the five minutes of pleasure I get from it!

I think that part of making lifelong changes is to learn to appreciate other rewards. If I do really well and I want to reward myself, I make myself an amazing smoothie. Or I take myself out to see a movie. Or something like that.

If that's what you want to do, fine, do it. I'm really not that concerned about what other people do, and I'm not sure why my voluntary diet restrictions concern you. People can permanently give things up. Don't judge it as "unreasonable". I haven't had milk, ice cream, pizza, or fried cheese products for years, and I eat tons of delicious food. I don't spend all day every day fretting about how good a cheese curd would be.

Well said. What works for others may or may not work for me. There is no food I can't live without nor worth sacrificing the work I'm doing or how I feel as a result. Many of the best life choices involve discipline. I won't judge what works for you and won't accept judgement of my approach either. I'd rather accommodate something by working it in while still meeting my goals than stop and start. I have cheated occasionally but have never found it to be as satisfying as how I feel from complying,

That said, if your road to success is different and you are still able to get there, I salute you.

100% agreed. Since giving them up, I just don't want chips/soda/pastries/etc.

I'll have a candy every now and then, but I don't enjoy them anymore either so I'll probably give those up too.

My reward is a nice fruit smoothie or a piece of chocolate. I don't feel deprived at all by doing this. Instead I feel even better since it's actually satisfying overall and not just for 5 minutes.

Talialala

holla!

hotmama1174

Agreed-as I think of the fried chicken wings, french fries, and donuts that I had this past weekend and weighed this morning and still down 1.5 lbs. If I fell guilty (usually I don't) I just try to burn it off by working out.

GREAT POST!!!

thanks

jentarver

agreed!

serenity216

Exactly. It's about portions and moderation...not lifelong restriction. I had a .99 checker burger today and am not feeling guilty.

mattack

Makes me want to eat 2 Kit Kats

spubnik

good for you, if you look atmy journal i have treats and no guilt. Moderation not deprivation is my key. and yes I have lost weight. my profile says 14 but its overall 22.

Sheila1968

Actually, if you talk to "real" runners and "real" atheletes... they don't put any processed junk food into their bodies. Many have different diets, but their diets do not consist of these foods everyone is talking about on here.

[/quote]

I guess that depends on your definition of "real" then, as I have several dedicated long-time marathon runners in my family who can and do eat - OH THE HORROR - junk food occasionally. Note I said OCCASIONALLY. And again, I reiterate that no one is suggesting that a person's diet CONSIST of junk food/snack food/treats. The very definition of the word "treat" implies that it is not a six-times-a-day occurrence.

This thread has gotten more and more amusing.

HauteP1nk

Everything in moderation.

sewerchick93

I salute you with my Reese's peanut butter egg!!!

robinogue

Agreed! I've become a bit OCD about my food choices.... Umm I'll celebrate with......

Dave198lbs

Agreed! I've become a bit OCD about my food choices.... Umm I'll celebrate with......

bacon

KarenLue

I am a junk food junkie, but I do believe there are people out there that stay away from sugary snacks and fatty foods and do not feel deprived. These foods aren't much better for you than smoking or eating Crisco out of the can and they understand that.

I have received nothing but pats on the back for quitting smoking 3 years ago. Nobody tells me I shouldn't deprive myself and have one once in a while. I admire people that don't have the desire to put stuff that has as much nutritional value as a pile of poop in their bodies and I hope to join them one day!

vs1023

Totally.

I don't eat much junk food because I want more actual food, however Friday night got to go out for my anniversary and enjoyed it! Had an appetizer and dessert and even a glass of wine. Next day went back to normal. I don't however feel having crap everyday is good either. Sorry I can't jump on that whole bandwagon of "if you're under your calorie deficit you'll still lose weight" - doesn't work for me if it's filled with crap. If it works for you (general) - more power to ya i guess!

StartingAnewDay

bottom line, depriving yourself NEVER works, trust me I've done this, but I've also adjusted my "treats" I love ice cream, so instead of a galloon of jerry's in the house, I grab a McDonalds cone. Satisfys and keeps me from going overborad. Deprivation is the issue and I dont think this post is about just chocolate to the defensive people. it's about bieng able to enjoy this lifestyle change, because if you don't enjoy it or find pleasure in it, you WILL fail. 1 day, you will hit a plateau, or will give into that one good off plan treat and beat yourself to death, which normally causes feelings of despair, shame, and ironically a binge of said junk and can often create a cycle. I don't want to avoid parties and celebrations for the rest of my life out of fear. it's ok to have cake, adjust accordinglingy etc:

When I read this post it inspired me not because I wanted a kit kat, or think this person is trying to make everyone gobble chocolate, but because it reminded me that i'm not on a diet. I'm on a journey to be able to enjoy all aspects of life and embrace it, not set myself apart by standing on the wall. Good post!!

medennison123

you mad bro?