What is the hardest part or you and how do you overcome it?

lreyenga
lreyenga Posts: 37
in Motivation and Support
For me, it is totally overdoing it on desserts and pizza. Remember that potato chip commercial when you can't just have one?

Counter intuitively for me, eating more dietary fat in real meals is really helping. I used to try to eat mostly low fat protien, meat, fruit/veggies, and nonfat dairy. I was hungry all the time and craving sweets. Now I am eating more meat and dairy with fat and it keeps me feeling sustained and has reduced my junk food cravings. Crazy!

Replies

  • dhakiyya
    dhakiyya Posts: 481 Member
    It's not crazy at all. Fat is an essential nutrient, plus it contains fat soluble vitamins. Lack of any nutrient in the diet leads to cravings for it, it's a survival mechanism to prevent malnutrition. So if you cut out fat, you end up craving it. If you get enough healthy fat/essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins, your body stops craving it. IMO it's terrible how much fat has been demonised, to the point that people think it's all bad and avoid it altogether. Promoters of low fat diets are basically promoting malnutrition, cravings and failure to stick to the plan.

    Many people on diets think that they are dealing with emotional eating, psychological cravings and lack of will power when what's actually happening is the body's survival mechanisms are kicking in to prevent malnutrition. IMO people should check first that they are getting all of what their body needs, before deciding that the issue is psychological. (and of course psychological issues around food are very real indeed, but different, and some people are dealing with both issues at the same time).

    I hope more people on low fat diets read this and use the information to help them get over their cravings for fatty foods that they're supposed to have because their body needs fat.
  • lostinthe619
    lostinthe619 Posts: 98
    Biggest challenge for me is forcing myself to go to the gym on weekends. During the work week after each shift generally isn't a problem, even when I'm exhausted. However, the weekends, when I'm fully rested is another story.

    As for how to overcome it... I dunno, I'll tell you next Monday. Ha.

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