Bad foods 'in moderation' IIFYM
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Bad food in moderation is utterly fine. Unless you want to be a model, step on stage a body builder then it won't matter really at all. After all, its simply calories that count.
If body composition matters (in terms of muscle etc) then its advisable to avoid junk largely. But for the general populace? No probs at all!0 -
Yep. Food is "just fuel," just like sex is just for baby-makin'.
Thinking about it, maybe for some people it is. Maybe some people simply don't get sensory pleasure from food. I'm asexual - I have no interest in, or desire for, sex whatsoever. I know intellectually that most people get pleasure from it, but I can't relate to this on a deeper level. Maybe some people are the same with food. The difficulty, of course, is when people assume their own quirk is the norm and should be shared by everyone.
Whoa......
Is that a 'whoa' of surprise, or something else? I'm not good at interpreting solitary 'whoa's!0 -
Food was like sex to me back when I was overweight. Sort of like a one night stand. I'd binge then I'd hate myself afterwards and start the vicious cycle all over again. When I first started my fitness journey Dec 2010, I started out depriving myself. It worked for awhile. Then once I had that "cheat" meal/day I'd relapse and binge. Then I found bodybuilding.com and fitday. Read every article, every success story. I've learned that starving myself or deprivation would never work for me. I also learned that something deep inside me drove me to eat like a glutton. It wasn't what I was eating, it was what was eating me. I am dealing with this issue and my relationship with food has improved. I am able to eat whatever I want in moderation. I'm still a work in progress but I am alot stronger mentally than I used to be. So yes IIFYM works for me.
Im so proud of you.. love u boo
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If I feel like something "naughty" then I'll eat it. Then balance it out later or if it fits that day I don't worry about it. BUT I've never been a comfort eater and we don't tend to have crap in the house.
I go out once a week to a bar/restaurant with friends for a quiz night and tend to save that night for my "crap", that way it's not in the house and if I want to have more after I've had that first bit the price puts me off,
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Bad food in moderation is utterly fine. Unless you want to be a model, step on stage a body builder then it won't matter really at all. After all, its simply calories that count.
If body composition matters (in terms of muscle etc) then its advisable to avoid junk largely. But for the general populace? No probs at all!
I agree. But based on the many threads of "what is your ideal body" and that type of thing, I imagine many people here want the ideal body (magazine cover model) but also want their nutella and chips, etc.0 -
Bad food in moderation is utterly fine. Unless you want to be a model, step on stage a body builder then it won't matter really at all. After all, its simply calories that count.
If body composition matters (in terms of muscle etc) then its advisable to avoid junk largely. But for the general populace? No probs at all!
I agree. But based on the many threads of "what is your ideal body" and that type of thing, I imagine many people here want the ideal body (magazine cover model) but also want their nutella and chips, etc.
Dude, you are exibiting a very cynical and negative attitude lately in you posts. I think your posts can be very helpful even though we don't always agree. But lately, there is a negative perspective. Is there a reason for that?0 -
Bad food in moderation is utterly fine. Unless you want to be a model, step on stage a body builder then it won't matter really at all. After all, its simply calories that count.
If body composition matters (in terms of muscle etc) then its advisable to avoid junk largely. But for the general populace? No probs at all!
I agree. But based on the many threads of "what is your ideal body" and that type of thing, I imagine many people here want the ideal body (magazine cover model) but also want their nutella and chips, etc.
But on the other hand, the people on the magazine covers don't even look like they do on the magazines covers. It takes a team of professionals to get them to look like that. And if by some chance they do, they don't look like that ALL the time. They have off seasons. They train and eat especially for shows and photo shoots.
Jamie Eason eating pizza: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152079124240574&set=a.10152079095135574.900014.327738720573&type=3&theater0 -
That was "lost" by people thousands of years ago. Food is so much more than just fuel for the body, it always has been. Food makes you feel good. Food is a social thing. Eating releases dopamine. Anticipating eating releases dopamine. Thinking of food solely as "fuel for the body" is actually very wrong. It's a gross oversimplification of a very complex system, and can lead to unhealthy relationships with food (orthorexia and the like.)i finally understand something that so many people have seem to forgotten over time FOOD IS FUEL FOR THE BODY, it was never meant to be more for your enjoyment than for your health, somewhere along the way that has been lost by so many people.
Totally true! There is no reason not to enjoy and take pleasure from food. Why does that mean you can't be reasonable and moderate in your intake? Many are capable of both enjoying food and being healthy about their intake. To say it's "just fuel" is the other end of the spectrum from those with unhealthy emotional attachments to food. The truth never lives in the extremes but somewhere in the middle
i never said not to enjoy food or that you simply shouldn't enjoy certain foods or food in general because it is ONLY fuel, i stated that it is meant to be fuel, not solely enjoyment. the part right after my cap locks says "it was never meant to be MORE for your enjoyment than for your health" meaning the purpose of it is supposed to be for the health and fuel of your body, not because "this double quarter pounder and extra large fry with a 44oz coke tastes good" your thoughts should be "what is this doing for my (or to) my body" more than "this tastes good so i'm going to eat it" thats all i meant by that. not enough people realize they should be paying attention to what food is fueling their body more than how it tastes. i should have been more specific in my first post i guess.0 -
the part right after my cap locks says "it was never meant to be MORE for your enjoyment than for your health" meaning the purpose of it is supposed to be for the health and fuel of your body, not because "this double quarter pounder and extra large fry with a 44oz coke tastes good" your thoughts should be "what is this doing for my (or to) my body" more than "this tastes good so i'm going to eat it" thats all i meant by that.
And that's where "IIFYM" comes in.
If I'm having a half pound burger and a pile of fries, which I probably will tonight, it's because I'm getting the right amount of protein, fat and carbs from that ground beef, bun, cheese and potatoes to balance out whatever else I'm eating today or the rest of the week.
What's good for my body is part of the thought process. So is what tastes good. So is what I can afford to eat, what's not terribly complicated to make, what's not going to dirty up a zillion dishes, what I should cook before it goes bad in the fridge, etc. I'm perfectly capable of thinking of more than one thing when planning my menu.0 -
the part right after my cap locks says "it was never meant to be MORE for your enjoyment than for your health" meaning the purpose of it is supposed to be for the health and fuel of your body, not because "this double quarter pounder and extra large fry with a 44oz coke tastes good" your thoughts should be "what is this doing for my (or to) my body" more than "this tastes good so i'm going to eat it" thats all i meant by that.
And that's where "IIFYM" comes in.
If I'm having a half pound burger and a pile of fries, which I probably will tonight, it's because I'm getting the right amount of protein, fat and carbs from that ground beef, bun, cheese and potatoes to balance out whatever else I'm eating today or the rest of the week.
What's good for my body is part of the thought process. So is what tastes good. So is what I can afford to eat, what's not terribly complicated to make, what's not going to dirty up a zillion dishes, what I should cook before it goes bad in the fridge, etc. I'm perfectly capable of thinking of more than one thing when planning my menu.
that is all i was saying. and alot of people can argue on where the line is drawn on what is or isn't healthy anyway. i will explain a few more points while i am here 1. everything i eat i enjoy the taste of 2. everything i eat is not based on the idea that "this is delicicous" it is "this fits my what my body needs,and as a plus i enjoy it" i think many people missed what i was trying to say by a longshot. i eat things BECAUSE it fits my macros, not because i think i can squeeze this bad food in here because i still have X amount of calories,carbs,ect.. left.do i still eat a half pound hamburger and not consider it as a bad food in moderation? YES, because it is first and foremost about the 45g protein, in which my body will absorb about 65% of (in lean beef). i guess what it really comes down to is i view IIFYM in another way. plus i'm here to try to share my opinion, not argue with people or care what they personally choose to do, each person is perfectly capable of making their own choices when it comes to their menu planning
just trying to help people realize what they are eating and make better choices about it, because that is the "largest" problem for 65million+ americans currently 0 -
I don't know. I eat a 1/4 cup or a spoonful of ice cream almost every day and have no problem with that. And can eat half a cookie or 3 chips fine.
I eat foods like that because I like that taste. And sometimes I choose to eat them. The first bite is always the best. I enjoy it and move on.
Often I find that if I eat too much of them they don't taste good and I don't FEEL good. Because they aren't very healthy and my body responds to the too much fat the way it's supposed to. But a little? No problem.
That's the whole idea between the style of cuisine that's made of many tiny little tastes.0 -
not everyone here is addicted to food, and its up to that person to decide if they can just have a treat and stop
this.
Alcohol and food are different for me.
I can easily eat a bowl of ice cream without rushing out for another gallon of it...................0 -
You are not "deprived" unless you want to be. Your body doesnt need that crap and if you abstain for a short time, you will lose the cravings for whatever it is you think you just have to have.
But I get enjoyment out of the occasional "goodie," whether that goodie is chocolate, ice cream, wine or jello shots. If I'm otherwise eating healthy, why not?
I think of it as entertainment for my tastebuds. :laugh: I don't want everything I watch on tv to be serious educational programming... sometimes I want to watch Wipeout. I don't only read Shakespeare... sometimes I want to read a comic book. I don't listen to only classical music... sometimes I want to listen to the Spice Girls. (Yeah, I said that.) I don't only want to do work-work and housework... sometimes I want to play video games or dance.
Why should how I eat be any different? You know what they say about all work and no play...
What a great post. Love your way of thinking
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Bad food in moderation is utterly fine. Unless you want to be a model, step on stage a body builder then it won't matter really at all. After all, its simply calories that count.
If body composition matters (in terms of muscle etc) then its advisable to avoid junk largely. But for the general populace? No probs at all!
I agree. But based on the many threads of "what is your ideal body" and that type of thing, I imagine many people here want the ideal body (magazine cover model) but also want their nutella and chips, etc.
But on the other hand, the people on the magazine covers don't even look like they do on the magazines covers. It takes a team of professionals to get them to look like that. And if by some chance they do, they don't look like that ALL the time. They have off seasons. They train and eat especially for shows and photo shoots.
Jamie Eason eating pizza: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152079124240574&set=a.10152079095135574.900014.327738720573&type=3&theater
To be fair, they aren't far off. I carry my look off like I am in my profile a good portion of the year as its part of my job to look like that (as I'm a Gaspari Athlete/Rep). I eat pizza too! :laugh: - just once or so a week...0 -
"You can have anything as long as it's in moderation"
"You can eat anything as long as you meet your micronutrient and macronutrient goals"
Seriously?
Imagine sitting in front of the TV watching your favorite program and you are allowed to have 12 pieces of potato chips and 3 cookies.... You eat the food and tell yourself it's enough, but you are sitting there with all the residue of the chips and cookies in your mouth and while looking back in the kitchen you see the box of cookies looking right back at you.
Doing this is gonna have you hungry in 45 minutes...
Sure there are people who can do this, but I never understood eating bad foods 'in moderation.' It's like telling an alcoholic to just have one drink at night and telling him he will be OK when in reality, most alcoholics won't be able to do it.
Totally agree.
Mathematically, sure. But human nature isn't a math formula.0 -
"You can have anything as long as it's in moderation"
"You can eat anything as long as you meet your micronutrient and macronutrient goals"
Seriously?
Imagine sitting in front of the TV watching your favorite program and you are allowed to have 12 pieces of potato chips and 3 cookies.... You eat the food and tell yourself it's enough, but you are sitting there with all the residue of the chips and cookies in your mouth and while looking back in the kitchen you see the box of cookies looking right back at you.
Doing this is gonna have you hungry in 45 minutes...
Sure there are people who can do this, but I never understood eating bad foods 'in moderation.' It's like telling an alcoholic to just have one drink at night and telling him he will be OK when in reality, most alcoholics won't be able to do it.
Lol bad foods....0 -
For me, the idea of logging everything is just part of having an overall healthy lifestyle, and that does include the occasional treat. If you're on some sort of quick fix diet, then fair enough, you want to avoid anything 'bad', but if you want to eat healthily for life, then so long as you log it and remain within your calorie and fat goals, then there's no problem with that scoop of ice-cream at the beach, or that slice of cake at a party.
I went to a 3rd birthday party yesterday and had a slice of cake. I was still within my calorie goals for the day, so it's not a big deal. I don't go to parties every day!
In the UK, you can buy little treat size chocolate bars, or Cadburys dairy milk have a small bar with about 110 calories in it. Sometimes when I do the shopping I buy one, so maybe have one about once a fortnight. I prefer not to keep stuff like that in the cupboards at home, although I do have the willpower to ignore it.0 -
I eat pizza too! :laugh: - just once or so a week...
What! Pizza!! But that's a BAD food!! That it Matt!! You're going to be as big as a house!! lol0 -
I eat pizza too! :laugh: - just once or so a week...
What! Pizza!! But that's a BAD food!! That it Matt!! You're going to be as big as a house!! lol
LOL!
TBH the reality is the actual carb type on consumes really won't change the way someone looks if the carb level remains the same as otherwise it would with a supposedly cleaner source. Its keeping macro's balanced which is the hard bit.
Heck you could easily get ripped on chicken/beef/fish and haribo's with peanut butter and other nuts if you can keep the carbs at a level your body needs.0 -
I'm working with a registered dietician. Her take on it is that what I'm doing is forever, so it has to be sustainable. And in order for it to be sustainable, she's trying hard to drum the concept of "bad food" out of my head.
If you're comfortable with never having goodies ever again, good for you and I'll confess to being more than a little jealous. I can deprive myself for a bit, but forever? Not going to happen. I will fall off the wagon and I will fall HARD.
So the only things I completely abstain from are things I have a tendency to binge on... which has turned out to be less of a problem than expected because I've learned that my sweet tooth is just as satisfied by Thing A (which I enjoy but not so much that I'm likely to overindulge) as by Thing B (which I'll scarf down until it's gone). If I'm craving a trigger food, it's still okay to have as long as I can strictly portion control it (did you know you can buy individual Lindor truffles at some craft stores?).0 -
I'm working with a registered dietician. Her take on it is that what I'm doing is forever, so it has to be sustainable. And in order for it to be sustainable, she's trying hard to drum the concept of "bad food" out of my head.
If you're comfortable with never having goodies ever again, good for you and I'll confess to being more than a little jealous. I can deprive myself for a bit, but forever? Not going to happen. I will fall off the wagon and I will fall HARD.
So the only things I completely abstain from are things I have a tendency to binge on... which has turned out to be less of a problem than expected because I've learned that my sweet tooth is just as satisfied by Thing A (which I enjoy but not so much that I'm likely to overindulge) as by Thing B (which I'll scarf down until it's gone). If I'm craving a trigger food, it's still okay to have as long as I can strictly portion control it (did you know you can buy individual Lindor truffles at some craft stores?).
Sounds like you are working with a great dietician. This is totally the take that I believe in!0 -
I eat pizza too! :laugh: - just once or so a week...
What! Pizza!! But that's a BAD food!! That it Matt!! You're going to be as big as a house!! lol
LOL!
TBH the reality is the actual carb type on consumes really won't change the way someone looks if the carb level remains the same as otherwise it would with a supposedly cleaner source. Its keeping macro's balanced which is the hard bit.
Heck you could easily get ripped on chicken/beef/fish and haribo's with peanut butter and other nuts if you can keep the carbs at a level your body needs.
Completely agree brother! By the same token, your carb intake is a great opportunity to build health by taking in excellent micronutrients. So why not? But a little ice cream or pizza never killed anyone. The operative word being "little".0 -
I will eat 'bad food' sometimes even if it does NOT fit my macros - though it always fits my calories. Usually when I get to after dinner and I have 400 calories to kill :P Happens sometimes but I'm really just starting on this road and it's going to take time to find the 'right' balance. I lose weight and I have a lot to lose so the whole 'body composition' thing does not really matter at this point. Likely by the time it does I will have become more comfortable with it all and be able to hit the macros too. I do try
As far as it goes whether or not you can eat small quantities of 'bad' food will depend on the individual. The reason I am fat is not because I binge or because I eat sweets. It is because I eat too much thus I can control my portion sizes without a problem and having a little bit of something does not cause me immediately to go 'on a bender' Some people have a different relationship with food and can NOT just have a little bit - at least not when they are just starting out.
No one thing will work for everyone. In my case I have no problem with it.0 -
Because you can't do it doesn't mean no one else can.0
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I eat 80/20. 80% healthy, and 20% other bits here and there. For example, I eat amazing all day, workout, burn a good 300 - 800+ and I WILL have the chocolate (serving size of course). If I restrict foods, I'll binge. Some people won't. Whatever works for your life.0
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I'm working with a registered dietician. Her take on it is that what I'm doing is forever, so it has to be sustainable. And in order for it to be sustainable, she's trying hard to drum the concept of "bad food" out of my head.
If you're comfortable with never having goodies ever again, good for you and I'll confess to being more than a little jealous. I can deprive myself for a bit, but forever? Not going to happen. I will fall off the wagon and I will fall HARD.
So the only things I completely abstain from are things I have a tendency to binge on... which has turned out to be less of a problem than expected because I've learned that my sweet tooth is just as satisfied by Thing A (which I enjoy but not so much that I'm likely to overindulge) as by Thing B (which I'll scarf down until it's gone). If I'm craving a trigger food, it's still okay to have as long as I can strictly portion control it (did you know you can buy individual Lindor truffles at some craft stores?).
Completely agree!) 0 -
You mean people have to learn to find something they'll stick with, fits into their lives, and works for them?
I'm not sure how newsorthy that is.
I think people make a mistaken in thinking that when some folks say it's all about macronutrients and moderation that there's an implied assumption that it's going to be behaviorally easy for everyone. There isn't that implied assumption.0 -
This post really hits home for me, because it is essentially the basis of my success so far! I have been overweight to obese all of my adult life. Most of the diets I have been on have been just that... diets... ie: restrictive, crazy, deprive yourself to get the weight off, and never actually change your lifestyle kind of diets:) Well.... now at 38 years old, I have finally discovered the secret!!! Here it is: There is no time limit to take the weight off, and I can eat what I want sometimes.... as long as I commit to myself that my overall habits are going to be good ones. However, it is a struggle at times. I just went to a friends wedding this weekend, ate too much, drank too much.... and the scale showed it, but today I am back to logging in to MFP and planning on getting back on the treadmill today also. Before this attitude adjustment and commitment to change my lifestyle..... I would have thrown my hands up in the air and said "I can't do it!!!" Now, I have my slip ups and move on.... Its all about learning what works for YOU....0
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"You can have anything as long as it's in moderation"
"You can eat anything as long as you meet your micronutrient and macronutrient goals"
Seriously?
Imagine sitting in front of the TV watching your favorite program and you are allowed to have 12 pieces of potato chips and 3 cookies.... You eat the food and tell yourself it's enough, but you are sitting there with all the residue of the chips and cookies in your mouth and while looking back in the kitchen you see the box of cookies looking right back at you.
Doing this is gonna have you hungry in 45 minutes...
Sure there are people who can do this, but I never understood eating bad foods 'in moderation.' It's like telling an alcoholic to just have one drink at night and telling him he will be OK when in reality, most alcoholics won't be able to do it.
If you are unable to control yourself, then you shouldn't do that. But not everyone trying to lose or maintain weight has a food addiction or is an emotional or binge eater.
Just like not everyone who has ever been drunk is an alcoholic.0 -
not everyone here is addicted to food, and its up to that person to decide if they can just have a treat and stop
exactly this .. I have lost 39 pounds so far and I still eat w/e I want, just in moderation
cookies, candy, mcdonalds, pizza etc0
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