Really Struggling with Getting the Eating Right

nikig7

I am having (and have always had) a HUGE challenge eating right consistently and it's really sabotaging my efforts (doing Insanity right now)...i know in my head what are "good foods" vs "bad foods" and I KNOW that eating more of the "good foods" and staying low(er) on the cals will promote weight loss...but translating that into CONSISTENT action is really really challenging and I am not sure how to get out of my head and into action all of the things i've learnt about using food to fuel my body and be healthy...

I started logging my food here sometime ago (I know that really helps) but it became time consuming and a little frustrating sometimes because alot of the food we eat in the Caribbean are not in the database and many times I found myself trying to think of a close enough substitute and searching for it in the database to log my calories....so i just stopped eventually...but I know I just need to find away to get the eating right...has anyone else had this challenge and do you have any advice? I would really appreciate it...

SocWkrBee

Hugs, friend! You don't have to be perfect all of the time. Even if you just work on eating as you normally would, but eating less of it that would be a start. I think sometimes we try to make too many changes at once, and it overwhelms us. One thing at a time. One day at a time.

Mellie289

You can add your own foods to the database if you have info from another source (a label or another website) and you can use the Recipes option to add your own meals if you are making these from individual items that are in the database. Have you tried that?

newmooon56

I like the idea of one day at a time and one change at a time. You say you know what good foods are- start there. Make a menu for the week, a grocery list and start with one meal at a time. Balance your plates and aim for lots of fruits and vegetables. Try something new you maybe have heard of but never bothered with - for me that was quinoa. I love quinoa and am only sorry I never tried it until now. It is great with cheese and vegetables mixed in or alone, or with some soy sauce and chicken. The possibilities are endless and its so healthy.
Matter of fact- when hubby and I are out of ideas- we do a pot luck with quinoa as the base- and toss in whatever needs to go- last of the mushrooms, last nights veg. or some chunks of whatever meat is left over. We make a meal- often under 500 calories and its generous and filling.

Just one of my new finds- look around and see what you find and work it in- make it fun. Enjoy and good luck!

nikig7

Thanks you guys...I guess the planning is a really good idea (it's hard to find the time honestly but I will try harder to plan better)...re the creating recipes in the database, i've never tried that...but maybe i'll consider it going forward. Not something I will commit to immediately because my schedule is really pretty full...

I find that my most challenging time is in the evenings because by the time I get off work (which is supposed to be a 4pm but for the past few weeks it's been as late as 9!)...i'm starving and at that's where the bad choices/overeating usually steps in....because somehow fruit and vegetables just doesn't compute to a ravenous tummy! lol...at least once or twice a week i tend to have meetings or something at church that I head to straight after work so i find myself eating alot in the car or on my way to class or whatever...so it's just finding a way to work around those things...and having the mental energy/resolve to do the "extra"....

For the past few weeks in particular because i've been working such long hours trying to finish a project...eating has kinda taken a back seat...and I"ve realised that when I'm really tired or stressed out...it's like i don't care about making a "right" choice anymore...it's just about eating something...anything...and getting some much needed and very elusive sleep! Sorry for the ramble but it's hard...and I really really want to get my mind and body where they need to be...i want to be healthy for me and also because my husband and I plan to start a family within the next year...and I really don't want to be at this place anymore...

nikig7

I decided to make another effort to start logging my food again this morning...and just realised that some of the Caribbean food that I thought weren't in the database (part of the reason I stopped logging as much because it was too tedious) are there!!! YAY!!! I'm so grateful to those who took the time to add them! No excuses now... :-) . I really feel so much better and will really try to make the time in the morning to log what I brought for the day...I think this would also help me with planning my meals to stay at or around my goal! YAY!!!!!