Do you still eat what you want?

kls1616

Thank you all for your excellent advice! I find it so hard to eat healthier when my family has no interest in it. We don't eat horrible, but I can't say that we eat leafy stuff ever.

I've lost 6lbs in 4 weeks and I am happy for that, but I wish it were more!

Congrats on the weight loss. I'm down 16 lbs since March, it's not huge but it's something. Find a few people to walk with or go to the gym, the motivation definitely gets you moving in the right direction.

paulawolves71

i still eat what i want and stay with my daily calorie goal may go over a bit on a few days but that dosnt bother me as most of my diet is quite healthy .

anna0478

Since I want to be able to maintain this when I'm through, I am not making hugely drastic changes in my eating habits. Just cutting out the eating just because I am bored...If I feel like I've over done it with the calories, I just exercise more that day.

Adsnwfld

Out of necessity I had to change some things that I ate because they were just too high calorie. But I still have Pizza, eat out when I have to. I prefer to eat healthier foods because of their calorie for fullness ratio.
I make an effort to make my food whenever possible, simply because of the calorie content.

mrsvatitagain

Yup for the most part, but I do plan sometimes for the week or day when I know somethign is coming up. I try not to make a habit of going over and try to avoid fried stuff. Now that being said, every now and then I have it, if I want it. This must be something I can live my life doing, do cutting out what people consider 'bad' whatever that is, just isnt an option. Not feasible nor realistic for me anyway.

mfpcopine

I try to eat healthily most of the time. I do eat some of the empty calorie, overly fat foods I like on occasion, but try to keep them to a minimum.

I think some people regain weight because they can't get it into their heads that they can't eat the same way. For some people the only way to change is to eliminate foods from the diet.

Whenever I hear someone saying they're going exercise a lot so they can eat I know they have not committed to weight loss. Most people will never burn enough calories through exercise to eat all they want.

chatterbox3110

Yes, just a lot less of it!

I know from past failures that depriving myself completely just led to binge eating, so now, as long as I stay in my calorie total, I still have icecream, chocolate etc. I'm so much more aware of portion control now, and I've always been careful how I cooked my foods, i.e. not adding fat, trimming fat etc.

Friday night is my 'relaxed' night, and I've found over time that I'm eating much less because I'm not feeling guilty.

OK I may not be toned, but the weight is coming off nicely and the toning can come later!

Rosa1213

I mostly try to eat healthy things, because I know I need to care for my body, but if I've got the calories for that little basket of French fries, I'll definitely have it!

I think of it as "being greedy". For 300 calories, I could eat a slice of pepperoni pizza, or I could eat a whole zucchini sauteed in butter, with a 3 oz. piece of chicken. The second option sounds like more food, so I usually go for that one

But you know, sometimes 28 chips are TOTALLY WORTH 240 calories

bcattoes

I do eat what I want. And I do very rarely eat fast food, but it's usually out of necessity or convenience rather than "want" as most fast food is not very tasty. My preference for eating out splurges are always going to be a restaurant where someone serves me freshly prepared food along with a beer or glass of wine, preferably a locally owned place with a chef in the back.

Other times I make my own healthy dinners. I love to cook and I'm good at it so that's what I usually want.

Sabine_Stroehm

Yes. What I want has changed.

ekusma

Personally I never ate breakfast, but not I eat a little something to start my metabolism. When I eat I defiantly look at what is in it. For example, I replace ingredients with healthier choices like replacing pizza dough with wheat pizza dough. If I don't replace ingredients, I eat the recommended portions and add other things to meals like fruits or vegetables. Because I am keeping myself strict, I am now used to not stopping at fast food restaurants and not picking up cookies at the grocery store. My advice would be to look at what your eating and experiment different, healthier options to replace ingredients. Or cut your meal in half and add fruits or vegetables. Based on you, calorie intake should be between 1500-2000 calories everyday. So it depends on what you are putting in your body and making sure that you add every food group to your diet.

mich1760

Yes I eat what I want, but I don't want to eat the same things I did before. Now I want to eat all sorts of vegies and fruit and lean protein. I don't call food a treat. its just semantics but it works for me. I plan my meals and snacks for each day. If I decide to have ice cream, i work it into the plan.

fattofit20

I eat whatever I want within my goal. I even *gasp* go over from time to time.

This ^^^^^

tmauck4472

I eat no fast food anymore. Don't even crave it. If I buy my kid something I may steal a fry every now and then but that's it. I don't even eat things from a box anymore. 6 months without all this and very happy without it

TheNewDodge

I have a difficult time eating what I want (pasta, pizza, potatoes, chips, salsa, etc...) with any sort of moderation. I'd rather crush 7500 calories once every few weeks while eating what I want and how much I want, than eating 2 oz of pasta or 1 slice of pizza.

atoffan

Pretty much. I eat anything I want, but in moderation. And I plan for it. If I want ice cream, I leave room for ice cream. But I try to control portions.

Fast food is the one thing I don't really do anymore. I haven't had McDonalds in about 7 months. Otherwise, I still have some chocolate almost every day.... I have a sweet tooth. But still eating what you want makes it feel more tolerable. Like you aren't really sacrificing that much.

yallcallmedeb

This is a lifestyle change, not a diet. I do eat whatever I want although I try to make healthy choices. I am not going to give up pizza for the rest of my life but I can get my pizza fix with 1-1.5 slices and love to have lots of veggies on my pizza and always have a large salad to go with it. As for fast food, the only place that I would eat fast food prior to joining MFP and cleaning my eating was Taco Bell. I've only been there once since starting and I did order heavy since I was MAJORLY short on calories that day. I felt like CRAP for the next 3 days. I might occasionally indulge my family and agree to Taco Bell but I won't miss it if I don't. If I want Mexican food, we have a great local place that has good, high quality food and I can indulge in that instead!

One thing that I have learned is to check out calorie contents on menus (here in NY, chain restaurants must provide nutritional data on menu and/or a lot can be found online including on MFP). I have learned that, in the past, I would often make a "healthier" choice and have since learned that what I REALLY wanted was actually significantly less in calories! Also, if your dinner is being served on a platter (what's up with that????), you shouldn't be eating it all! I will often order a 1,500 calorie dinner when we go out but I eat 1/3 and take home 2/3. I'm happy. (I have learned that I am not happy ordering a light meal and eating it all, being satisfied but certainly not full, and not having anything leftover for lunch the next day!)

yoovie

try and stop me.

mslack01

absolutely

TArnold2012

I haven't been here a month yet and with as much weight as I have to lose I will be considering myself a newbie for a while.

I am eating what I want at the stage. Now does that mean I continued to eat like I was before starting this journey? No. I added fresh fruits, veggies, lean meats, and making healthier food choices. What it does mean is if I have the calories and really want something I eat it. I have found that if I do it keeps me from going more off course later and in a much larger way.

As I said I have a long journey and I am working on changing my lifestyle and eating patterns. In the past I have tired to do it all and once and for me it just doesn't work that way. I become overwhelmed and go back to my old ways. I am doing better this time around.

rml_16

Yes. I rarely have fast food, though. Only because I don't enjoy it so it isn't worth the calories to me. I will have pizza occasionally, but that's one of those foods I have trouble controlling myself with.

bicoastalgirl

Yes, I do. I was always a pretty healthy eater, I just struggled with portion control. Now that i am at my goal weight, I am just trying to get a little more toned. But yes, sometimes we are out and about and we get fast food (sometimes i get a salad, sometimes i get a chicken sandwich). We eat pizza on Friday nights, and almost always have. I just allocate my calories for it, and I don't eat as much of it as I used to!

yo_andi

Yep. If I feel deprived every step of the way I won't have much incentive to stick with it in the long run, right?

vcorbin01

I do but after making healthier choices for so long, the greasy things I once loved no longer taste appealing! Like today went out to eat with the boss man and had bubbly mac n cheese and now I feel like crap

Rachaelluvszipped

Yes, totally.. I try and stay away from too much processed foods..and when hubby's off its what I want to eat..cravings here I come and I'm still getting the results I want..

Scale be damned! The appearance is what counts..inches, clothing size, etc!

SexyCook

Initially when I was really pushing thru to get to my goal...I would say the 1st yr...NO NO NO...I was really wanted this so bad that it was not an option to eat those thing that got me here..... I now add possibly once a week some things like wings, a beer, some sore of snack.....because for me its a lifestyle and I have to think realistically....I can discipline myself around those foods.....the old me would go there on a daily... To get Results you can eat what you want just make the correct choices!

Jessamine

I eat what I want. I don't eat as much as I want.

krystyleee

:blushing: In moderation, and I have a cheat day. I usually use Holidays or family cookouts as my cheat days. Not quite once a week. Maybe once every two weeks. And I don't log that day lol.

jolinemariem

i dont deprive myself of anything i just find a way to work it all in

SoViLicious

I struggled with this for a while. I would say now I am eating healthy 80% of the time, but if I can fit it in and get a good workout I will do it. Depriving myself makes me unhappy. However I will not waste precious calories on sweets!