Deprive yourself..it's the best way

NWCountryGal

if that is what you think you have to do but it is pretty sad people don't look at all the excellent information on MFP and try it out, at least try it. The good stuff available tells us to eat our caloric needs, it also says have some goodies once in awhile(moderation is way different then deprivation)spend a 1/2 hour walking or any activity you enjoy, drink real water(h2o). Here's one I'll add, don't be afraid to let people critique your diaries, I have learned tons from others pointers, I wouldn't still be here if it weren't for those that told me the "right way". I am not the least bit into depriving myself and there is no need I have discovered for myself by "trying" what the winners suggest.

I see people so happy they only ate 600 calories and didn't have a cookie, glass of wine, beer or a piece of Wedding cake. I have eatin not only more nutritious foods since I've found MFP but I also have not deprived myself of something yummy and not within the realm of "healthy nutrition", yes, the dreaded "empty" calories. I am still here and still losing weight and gaining muscle.

The mind-set is alive and well "don't eat anything and you won't be fat anymore".

antonette15

This is the same philosophy I have when it comes to eating. I never deprive myself of any food. I still eat ice cream and cake, but limited and I only do it when I have room to do so according to my daily calorie intake. I believe that having a healthy lifestyle doesn't mean staying away from certain foods, it's learning to balance everything out. That has always been my problem in the past. I've seen some good results with my own lifestyle change without cutting out certain food. I do see other people's food diary and they eat so little calories and it makes me nervous for them. I was following a 1,200 calorie a day and even that was not enough for me personally, according to my nutritionist. I was getting so dizzy and lightheaded after months of following a 1,200 calorie a day. Not saying this is going to be the case for everyone, we are all different. Still, I cringe when people go way under their goals. Great post!

NWCountryGal

thanks Antoinette, great feedback and hope others will read and maybe start eating what they need to in order to not just lose weight, but be healthy. You look great!!

Denise:drinker: :drinker:

antonette15

thanks Antoinette, great feedback and hope others will read and maybe start eating what they need to in order to not just lose weight, but be healthy. You look great!!

Denise:drinker: :drinker:

Thank you, Denise! I sure hope people read this blog, it will help them so much!

heddy90

I fully agree with everything you said! Wrote a blog post that was quite similar actually. I't makes me sad that so many people go on strict diets instead of just changing their lifestyle, especially when that diet makes you have to eat minimal, or even eat stuff you don't like. You should always be able to enjoy yourself. Everything in moderation is my motto

NWCountryGal

Right on:) If I can't enjoy life while getting healthy, why bother:sad: :drinker: :drinker:

I fully agree with everything you said! Wrote a blog post that was quite similar actually. I't makes me sad that so many people go on strict diets instead of just changing their lifestyle, especially when that diet makes you have to eat minimal, or even eat stuff you don't like. You should always be able to enjoy yourself. Everything in moderation is my motto

mfpcopine

Some people find moderation difficult or their intention is to lose weight as quickly as possible.

Everyone is different.

hawaii86442

What I do is enter my special treat early in the day. Like a dessert with friends or a special appetizer with dinner. It has worked so far and I have been on MFP for over 135 days. True I have only lost 12 pounds but I only wanted to lose about 20 some. It is coming off slow and sure.

ShaunaLaNee

Love this...

serenity216

This is the same philosophy I have when it comes to eating. I never deprive myself of any food. I still eat ice cream and cake, but limited and I only do it when I have room to do so according to my daily calorie intake. I believe that having a healthy lifestyle doesn't mean staying away from certain foods, it's learning to balance everything out. That has always been my problem in the past. I've seen some good results with my own lifestyle change without cutting out certain food. I do see other people's food diary and they eat so little calories and it makes me nervous for them. I was following a 1,200 calorie a day and even that was not enough for me personally, according to my nutritionist. I was getting so dizzy and lightheaded after months of following a 1,200 calorie a day. Not saying this is going to be the case for everyone, we are all different. Still, I cringe when people go way under their goals. Great post!

^^^^This one!

poedunk65

You are absolutley spot on. It's why I call it a "lifestyle" change. Everything is in moderation. I now stop eating 15 minutes before I am full........

I will say one thing though, I am cutting way back on all meats and fish. I would be called 1/2 vegetarina in think, lol.

read Forks over KNives.

Music4Hym777

As an eating disorder therapist, I see it a lot and it makes me cringe as well when I hear people so proud that they ate so little. That I believe is the real reason that "diets dont work". If you deprive yourself so much, how in the world are you going to enjoy life??? Plus thinking about the side effects of the low calorie diets including sluggish metabolism, poor concentration, no energy, and obsessive thinking about foods.

kie_kie

I dont deprive myself of anything. I just eat less and within my calorie range... I dont believe in dieting one bit. I do believe in enjoying the simple pleasures of life tho and if thats a baileys run cream oreo cheese cake then by god i'm gonna have it! lol (but thats just me)

LorinaLynn

For me, I don't consider, "Someone offered me a cookie and I turned it down," to be a victory.

My idea of a victory is, "I met my nutritional goals and still had room for a cookie. Or three."

ummlovelovesyou

For me, I don't consider, "Someone offered me a cookie and I turned it down," to be a victory.

My idea of a victory is, "I met my nutritional goals and still had room for a cookie. Or three."

THIS!

nerolimoon

Although I have only been on MFP since June I have been losing weight since May 2011, and to date I have lost 4 stone. I am trying to do this in a way which will be sustainable, rather than going on a diet as such. I love chocolate, crisps, chips and wine, and I don't deprive myself of these - I just eat / drink less of them than I used to. I don't tend to stick to 1,200 calories a day either. My weight loss hasn't been quick, but I hope that doing it this way will mean I'm more likely to keep the weight off.

Flixie00

Great post.

I have done the restrictive diet thing in the past, and it has not worked. I lost weight for a bit, but then put it back on and some more. Discovering MFP and balancing what I ate with exercise has been a revelation for me.

I also find it distressing when I befriend someone on MFP and see them constantly eating too few calories, even before taking into account exercise.

I am happy to take on new MFPs, but please only send me an invite if you are prepared to eat 1200 calories a day as a minimum.

CyberEd312

Although I agree with you at this point in my journey, in the beginning at 560 lbs. and eating well over 8000 calories a day, and everybit of that food was junk food, processed food, fast food the only way to break this mold was complete and utter separation from it.. I literally had my wife bring in 2 - 32 gallon trash cans and emptied the house of all these trigger foods... If there was a bag of doritoes in the cupboard (which normally there was atleast 3 or 4 in there every week) I could not control myself to have a little bowl full... I consumed little debbies snacks BY THE BOX not the individual packages. I ordered pizza 2 or 3 nights a week (21 inch and a 14 inch and that was just for supper) and could never stop at 2 or 3 pieces... If it was here I would eat it... So I made a deal with myself, I could have 2 spurge/cheat/whatever you want to call them meals a week. Both had to be consumed at the restaurant, I could have whatever I wanted but it had to be eaten there and nothing could come home... The rest of the time I stuck to the mealplan that my nutritionist set out for me... 3 years later and a few pounds down, I have now reintroduced a few things back into my diet, granted I have no cravings for most of the crap I use to eat and would sooner grab some almonds or an apple over doritoes and swiss cakes... I do baked things like banana nut bread with dark chocolate chips using stoneground whole wheat, etc, etc........ But I have the control of the food and it no longer controls me... So while a completely understand your point of view there are some that can not handle the temptation of having that stuff around in the beginning and have to take a more measured approach or they will just fail again and again.... Best of Luck....

barmum

Ok, I apologize ahead of time for this because at the moment I'm not sure if it's partly the low mood speaking , I'm really glad it's working for you but I've got so much to lose and having been told that I can't do the exercise I did (I was doing 4 hours kickboxing/grappling a week, eating a healthy calorie appropriate diet and still 19.5 stone) that I can't see how on earth I'm going to do this without depriving myself. Any suggestions would be gratefully received

AnneC77

I agree totally, I kept giving up other diets because I would stop eating my favourite foods, but now I eat what I want as long as I keep within my calories. Nice post!

skonly

There is nothing wrong with having a treat now and then. They should be saved for something special or at least appreciated as a little gift to yourself.

A lot of people talk about missing dessert and stuff and then when I look at their diary I see something like cheesecake or ice cream everyday as a snack. Moving it to another catagory is not depriving yourself of anything. lol.

monicalosesweight

I think the point here isn't just not depriving yourself, it's eating right. We're all trying to change our lifestyles and make it permanent. Eating right will be the key to making ourselves happy and thinner. It's all the junk eating and the unhealthy eating that really impacted our weights and just made us miserable.

vtmoon

I ate ice cream almost every other day :-p

It's all about balance and control.

wattsj56

oh gosh i feel like this was written about me..........i don't eat anything all day. like literally, nothing. and then i feel bad for eating anything .

scruffykaz

I love your attitude :happy:

blondie0942

TRIGGER WARNING

I see people so happy they only ate 600 calories and didn't have a cookie, glass of wine, beer or a piece of Wedding cake. I have eatin not only more nutritious foods since I've found MFP but I also have not deprived myself of something yummy and not within the realm of "healthy nutrition", yes, the dreaded "empty" calories. I am still here and still losing weight and gaining muscle.
The mind-set is alive and well "don't eat anything and you won't be fat anymore".

I'm not here to start a debate. I simply want to explain things from the other side of the coin. For the past few weeks, I've been eating 250-800 cals a day (with the exception of one binge day that was 1,100). Am I happy when I stay under my goal? yes, because if not I beat myself up over it badly. It's a struggle every day for me to eat something because I'm overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and embarrassment for letting myself down (eating, or "messing up" my progress). I know it's not healthy. I'm trying to get better. It's hard.
Every time I look at a food label, this is what I see:


and then I get disgusted and lose my appetite. This is something that goes through my head before every time I eat:



I don't like being this way; it's scary and I don't feel like I can control it. But like I said, I'm trying to get better. I just wanted you to understand my point of view. Eating disorders are nothing to be proud of. Sorry if I offended anyone, as it was not my intention.

sweetpea129

For the most part i agree, its okay to have little treats once in awhile. However, not everyone has that will power yet and its better if they deprive themselves from the food. Im doing great but i still cant eat cool ranch doritos. I would eat the whole bag. Maybe one day.

Ely82010

Just because you don't see ice cream, cookies, cakes, McD, pizza, or chocolate in somebody's diary doesn't mean that they are "depriving" themselves. Some people don’t like to eat that kind of foods or don’t care much for them; it is that simple, and I am one of those people.

So please don’t preach and let everybody do their own thing.

emileesgram

I agree moderation is key and deprivation leads to downfall, that being said as an overweight person who is now at goal weight I also had to learn that I DON'T have to have that piece of cake or handful of chips to make me happy or enjoy a celebration. I had to learn that yes I can have something but it's also ok to turn it down or replace it with something healthier.

Keiko385

Ok, I apologize ahead of time for this because at the moment I'm not sure if it's partly the low mood speaking , I'm really glad it's working for you but I've got so much to lose and having been told that I can't do the exercise I did (I was doing 4 hours kickboxing/grappling a week, eating a healthy calorie appropriate diet and still 19.5 stone) that I can't see how on earth I'm going to do this without depriving myself. Any suggestions would be gratefully received

Start by logging everything for a week, just to see what you are eating now, the following week see where you can make changes that will satisfy your hunger and still keep you within goal. Small baby steps replacing 1 item at a time if you have to. You dont have to give up all your favorites just eat in moderation

My goal this summer was to try 1 new vegetable/fruit a week ..some I like others got tossed. I even added fish to my diet something that I had not had in over 30 years :noway:

skonly

Although I agree with you at this point in my journey, in the beginning at 560 lbs. and eating well over 8000 calories a day, and everybit of that food was junk food, processed food, fast food the only way to break this mold was complete and utter separation from it.. I literally had my wife bring in 2 - 32 gallon trash cans and emptied the house of all these trigger foods... If there was a bag of doritoes in the cupboard (which normally there was atleast 3 or 4 in there every week) I could not control myself to have a little bowl full... I consumed little debbies snacks BY THE BOX not the individual packages. I ordered pizza 2 or 3 nights a week (21 inch and a 14 inch and that was just for supper) and could never stop at 2 or 3 pieces... If it was here I would eat it... So I made a deal with myself, I could have 2 spurge/cheat/whatever you want to call them meals a week. Both had to be consumed at the restaurant, I could have whatever I wanted but it had to be eaten there and nothing could come home... The rest of the time I stuck to the mealplan that my nutritionist set out for me... 3 years later and a few pounds down, I have now reintroduced a few things back into my diet, granted I have no cravings for most of the crap I use to eat and would sooner grab some almonds or an apple over doritoes and swiss cakes... I do baked things like banana nut bread with dark chocolate chips using stoneground whole wheat, etc, etc........ But I have the control of the food and it no longer controls me... So while a completely understand your point of view there are some that can not handle the temptation of having that stuff around in the beginning and have to take a more measured approach or they will just fail again and again.... Best of Luck....

Wow! Congratulations on your amazing accomplishment. Others should look to you for inspiration.

Your situation sounds like what a lot of people go through. So glad you took steps to get healthy again. Sounds like you went about things in a smart, sensible manner. I know I make people mad sometimes but I just can't stand to hear complaining about not losing weight when I can see that a person is eating crap every day but still expects to lose because of calories.

I wish more people would take your approach. Having your splurge at a restaurant is a good idea, no leftovers to go eat in the middle of the night. There are some things I don't bring in my house because I will choose them over and over every time I eat until it's all gone.

Saving a splurge for a restaurant only meal should be tip of the day somewhere.