Restriction or Moderation??

alpine1994

Moderation mostly.

I don't eat fast food and anything deep fried. I had fried seafood once during the summer and felt horrible after. I don't know if I will ever want it again. Fast food makes me feel gross too. Everything else I have in moderation though! A slice of pizza, a half cup of ice cream, and light beer are regulars in my diary and I still have success. I just save calories for them when I Want them.

csuhar

I prefer moderation combined with balance. That works for me because I'm at a "maintenance" point. Way back when, I was able to put up with a restrictive diet because I was looking to loose weight over a set period of time. Now that my focus is maintenance, it's easier this way because I don't have to be heavily diet-conscious. All I generally have to do is make sure I don't eat too much, either by making my food in proper portions or leaving food on the plate at restaurants, and that I try to eat a generally balanced mix of foods. By doing this, I find the macros tend to be pretty much on target while not making me stress out about what I'm eating. It also allows me to be adaptable when my life becomes unpredictable.

_kannnd

I don't restrict myself. If I do, I completely set myself up for failure. I pretty much eat what I want, but in moderation. Also, when I'm cooking, I find ways to eat the foods I love, but substituting certain things for healthier options. I can substitute certain ingredients when I'm cooking to lower calories and fat.

I've always been the type that if you tell me I can't do something, I'm going to do it. I'm that way with food and such too. If I tell myself I can't have it, that's the first thing I want.

AmberJo1984

For me, if I try to completely cut something out, I usually don't do so well. Of course, moderation is hard for me too... but I'm learning. For me, I think moderation would be better. But, I would make sure things like sweets (chocolate, icecream, etc...) are for only once a week or so....

neverstray

I can't do moderation with ice cream, as an example. I just eat the whole thing. So, I just don't buy it. There are a few other things like that too. For the most part though, most things I can do moderation. There are just a few things I have to stay away from.

AmberJo1984

I try to use moderation the most.

My diary would back that up.

At the same time I stay away from fast food and utterly "bad" food.

But if I want a candybar, I'm going to have one.

Fast food would probably be the one thing I do restrict. Unless you count Wendy's frosty. I have those about once a month or so. Other than that... no fast food for me.

dls06

Moderation if you can control yourself.

AmberJo1984

I can't do moderation with ice cream, as an example. I just eat the whole thing. So, I just don't buy it. There are a few other things like that too. For the most part though, most things I can do moderation. There are just a few things I have to stay away from.

That's my problem. I have to limit how much icecream I do buy, or I would go overboard. And I never keep the stuff at home.

Diary_Queen

I can't go without a pre-planned set of meals. I'm a sneak and a cheat in my eating past and I'll over estimate on how many chips I've eaten or just not notice and without a set idea of what I'll be having and how much, I'm likely to binge eat or graze on what's left on my kids plates or what's left in the pot on the stove -- no matter what it is. Granted, grazing on steamed broccoli is much different than grazing on a pre-packaged rice side, but once I start, I don't stop. I have to be very conscious of what and how much I eat and when I'm eating it. I found that in the past and still from time-to-time now, I eat when I'm bored or I eat when I'm sleepy or I'll wake up and eat in my sleep. All of these are not good things for me to do because the calories aren't satisfying and I just want more and because I feel guilty for doing it. There are foods that just seem much more empty to me now. Sure, I'd like to have a big glass of full fat lactose free milk and 2 packages of Lil Debbies Swiss Rolls and a King Size Zero bar for breakfast (hello sugar junkie!), but that's just not going to work for me anymore. Hasn't in a long time now! I eat for my future, not because of my past.

Love_flowers

For me definetly moderation. I tried restriction and boy that did not work well at all.

ZugTheMegasaurus

I guess you'd call it moderation, though I never think of it that way. I think of it as flexibility. Nothing is off-limits completely, but there is sort of a food hierarchy from best to worst options. So ideally, I'll have skinless chicken breast and fresh fruits and green vegetables. But on days like today, where I have just a dollar in my bank account because I'm still waiting on a student loan check, that's just not happening; I had to move to the cheaper options of pork and potatoes. If I were strictly low-fat or low-carb, I'd be thrown right off my plan. But since I don't do that, it just requires a little tweaking to make an entirely different menu work. For me, flexibility is really the most important consideration and that's impossible to do on a strict plan.

MinnieInMaine

Mostly moderation but also planning, portion control and smarter choices. I can't do restrictive diets - tried in the past and always failed because after a while, not being "allowed" do have something just made me want it all the more and eventually I'd say screw it and give up. Also, IMHO, life without pizza and chocolate is just not living!! LOL! I'm a much happier girl this way...

pilatemom

I think for me moderation works the best but then again at one point restriction 90% of the time worked very well for me. When I go by moderation, I always keep junk around and sometimes go past the limit I gave myself, when I use the 90% restriction rule, I break it ever so often and buy a shake or something. Sooo... Maybe restriction actually.

ahamm002

restriction on the every day diet... moderation on special occasions...

if you TRUELY believe in moderation then you need to measure all of the food you eat in oder to get an accurate amount of calories... so if you choose to eat a calorically dense food such as chocolate cake or ice cream you have to measure it out closely in order to have true moderation.

^^this

I find it much easier to just minimize certain foods rather than always measuring them out and counting up the calories.

MissAnjy

I always say (for myself)
moderation, not deprivation.

it works for me.

robin820

I agree a little bit of both plays a big role. If there is something you cna not absolutely stop eating once you start (like potato chips for me) I restrict them period, I have found vegetable straws to replace them, or fill a craving. But as far as dessert or anythign else that can be eaten in moderation, I use that wisely.

OnionCookie

Restriction with Fast food and Sodas, moderation on everything else. I lose faster if I restrict more than moderate, but I couldn't keep it up for the rest of my life.

LivingInPuglia

Moderation within restrictive boundaries.

That is an answer that gets my vote!

and mine .... there are a few things I avoid most of the time - bread, salty snacks, chocolate, everything else is allowed in moderation. And I have found that my cravings have pretty much gone away. But if I really want something I will have it and make sure I have enough calories to cover it!

Curvimami

Moderation all the way!!! Otherwise I will binge and gain the 23lbs Ive lost thus far right back. Thats a NO GO :noway:

Cr01502

restriction on the every day diet... moderation on special occasions...

if you TRUELY believe in moderation then you need to measure all of the food you eat in oder to get an accurate amount of calories... so if you choose to eat a calorically dense food such as chocolate cake or ice cream you have to measure it out closely in order to have true moderation.

Yep. Gotta agree with Monty on this one. For me restriction is just easier. I find moderation way more difficult. The more I eat junk food the more I crave it. When I cut it out completely I don't crave it nearly as much. There are occasions that I'll partake in unhealthy eating habits (weddings, holidays) but they're few and far between.

jocybee83

I'd say it's both for me. There are some things that I can't even let myself have because once I get started there's no stopping me...oreos, crackers...

richellekramer

I have to go with restriction - especially when it comes to pasta, my BIGGEST weakness. But, I am finding that I am not dreaming about it and craving nearly as much as I used to.

I go for feeling full, so like to eat lots of big salads, veggies, and popcorn. I eat most of my calories at night, the time of day that I just want to chew chew chew, and try not to eat my excercise calories back.

I don't get it though, I am not losing 2 lbs per week despite the calorie deficit and I just don't buy into the starvation mode when I have a BMI in the mid 40's. It's so frustating......

KrazyAsianNic

Moderation.

By restricting things from my diet, I tend to not want to eat as healthy and when I get a hold of what I'm restricting myself from, it's bad news.

By doing moderation, I can eat everything and anything I want, as long as I eat it moderately. Portion size is my biggest problem!

I also don't believe in "cheats"

lisamarie2181

I think for me moderation works the best but then again at one point restriction 90% of the time worked very well for me. When I go by moderation, I always keep junk around and sometimes go past the limit I gave myself, when I use the 90% restriction rule, I break it ever so often and buy a shake or something. Sooo... Maybe restriction actually.

This is exactly how i was. When i tried moderation there were just too many things that would make me crave more bad stuff so it made it easier to cut them out for the most part. Thankfully ive never been a huge sugar craver, more greasy food lol it has gotten easier the longer i have gone and i think at this point in my journey its all about nutrition and the quality of what i eat. I have actually been able to find some new recipes and alternatives to some of my favs that fit into my eating plan very well, but i like to cook so its made it much easier for me and because of my pcos, some foods just dont work well w my body, even sometimes when i occasionally treat myself, it halts my progress, which really does suck. Sometimes i wish i could eat something without negative effect but ive learned to live with it.

Thank you all again for your responses, i love to see what works for people doing it the right way without diet pills and fad diets. I think most people have finally learned it is a lifestyle change and being able to live with something is whats most important. I think both ways are both good and kinda intertwine because of the fact that no one is perfect and deprivation is worse then giving in sometimes.

MsKeelah919

Well, I am on and off the wagon so I'm learning that while moderation is definitely the goal, some foods I MUST restrict until I gain greater control over myself. Luckily, I really DO like most of the foods that I eat and when I eat in a balanced way, my cravings are controllable with simple logic.

trophywife24

Moderation for me, especially now that I'm around where I want to be indefinitely.

That being said, if it's pure and utter crap, then I just don't eat it. I mean like... fried twinkie style crap. I do love fast food once in a while (MMMMM, Wendys) but I try to eat "real food" 99.9% of the time.