Dieting.

So I'm really against dieting. Other people can do what they want but for me, if I'm completely deprived of something, I can't lose weight at all.

My sister was just going on and on about how I eat horribly and how I will never lose weight and it's really discouraging me. She lost a ton of weight last year but she exercised every single day and ate next to nothing. :/ She's also really good at quitting things cold turkey and I'm not. But she doesn't seem to get that not everyone is like that. For example when I was explaining to her that we can't have sweets in the house because I'll eat them she got angry at me and yelled "SO JUST DON'T EAT IT IT'S NOT THAT HARD WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?"

Anyway...I've just started tracking my food and I'm starting see what I'm doing wrong/am trying to change those the best I can slowly and day by day.... but I don't want to completely cut out certain foods...just have them less. Is that okay? Will I lose weight that way or do I have to cut out carbs and chocolate forever? :brokenheart:

Replies

  • You don't have to stop eating any particular item at all so long as you can stay in your calorie allowance!

    I wouldn't ever stop eating chocolate or carbs I just eat less of them :)

    This is a lifestyle change rather than a diet so nothing needs to be banned just eaten in moderation x
  • I personally feel it is much harder to stick to a lifestyle change if you deprive yourself of the things you enjoy most. Eating them less/ in moderation works best for me. I still keep my home a safe place by not bringing in the things I know I tend to over eat, instead I buy treats in small doses when desired.
  • Firefox7275
    Firefox7275 Posts: 2,040 Member
    Your diet is simply what you eat, the word does not mean weight loss nor deprivation: for a start nine servings of fruits and vegetables is far from next to nothing it is a huge volume of food yet few calories. Healthy eating guidelines are often for junky/ sugary/ processed/ refined rubbish to comprise no more than 10% of daily calories which IMO is sensible advice.

    If you have chocolate make something healthy using unsweetened cocoa powder or buy low sugar dark chocolate - cocoa is actually jam packed with minerals and antioxidants. Milk chocolate is packed with sugar and fats so not diet friendly. http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/sweets/5472/2

    When you have starchy carbs moderate your portions and always choose nutritious no added rubbish whole ones - brown pasta, beans, lentils, pot barley, jumbo or steel cut oats, sweet potatoes for example. If you choose to go low carb you must eat plenty of nuts and seeds each day to get all the minerals your body needs, you can't just cut out grains, beans and lentils.
  • Bakkasan
    Bakkasan Posts: 1,027 Member
    Don't change, change, eat less. Whatever. The path matters not, just how you choose to get there.
  • susanp57
    susanp57 Posts: 409 Member
    I don't diet. I clean up my eating. However, your sister is right in one respect, the entire household should not be denied goodies because you aren't eating it.

    I don't want to give up chocolate. But eating a pack or Rolos everyday is bad. But I can have a sf pudding cup or a cup of Swiss Miss diet cocoa that does nicely.

    But in the long run, you will be around other people along with their food. You can eliminate cravings. That will take about a week, maybe 2. Also don't discuss your eating with those who are not helpful. If discussing it with your sis doesn't help, don't discuss it with her. Don't tell your friends at work or school. One of two things will happen. They will monitor your eating, saying, "Are you supposed to be eating that?" OR they will try to get you to eat something you don't want or need. No thanks to a piece of chocolate cake. Maybe later, I'm full. Not "It's not on my diet."
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,973 Member
    Diets don't work. Get in your macros/micros, stay within calorie restriction and exercise. Winning formula everytime.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Weebs628
    Weebs628 Posts: 574 Member
    I haven't cut anything out of my diet. I eat pizza, ice cream, pasta, bread, candy, cookies, etc. If it fits in my calories, I eat it. I have cut down on fast food a lot, but if I really want a cheeseburger from somewhere, I go workout so I can fit it in my calories. I plan on doing this the rest of my life, so I'm taking a realistic approach. Friend me if you want a like-minded buddy! You can do this!
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    .
  • bigfatbino
    bigfatbino Posts: 136 Member
    I switched from pizza, burgers, hot dogs, hot wings, beer, whiskey, wine, soda, refined carbs, and garbage / sitting around all day

    to

    Greens, any vegetable I want, small amounts of raw high fiber fruits, and lean proteins. Coffee, tea, sodastream water / getting moderate exercise.

    It's a continued lifestyle, not a diet.

    I followed as a rough model for eating the "Diet Evolution" by Dr. Gundry. I found it helpful... and yes, I still get my chocolate fix.

    You can make this happen, but I'd say lose the term "diet" as a form of weight loss from your vocabulary, it's a losing word.

    Lifestyle and nutrition. Guaranteed winner.

    Go for it! =)
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    So I'm really against dieting. Other people can do what they want but for me, if I'm completely deprived of something, I can't lose weight at all.

    My sister was just going on and on about how I eat horribly and how I will never lose weight and it's really discouraging me. She lost a ton of weight last year but she exercised every single day and ate next to nothing. :/ She's also really good at quitting things cold turkey and I'm not. But she doesn't seem to get that not everyone is like that. For example when I was explaining to her that we can't have sweets in the house because I'll eat them she got angry at me and yelled "SO JUST DON'T EAT IT IT'S NOT THAT HARD WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?"

    Anyway...I've just started tracking my food and I'm starting see what I'm doing wrong/am trying to change those the best I can slowly and day by day.... but I don't want to completely cut out certain foods...just have them less. Is that okay? Will I lose weight that way or do I have to cut out carbs and chocolate forever? :brokenheart:
    I eat chocolate nearly every day, and regularly eat all of the evilest white carbs. I haven't cut out any particular food or food group. I'm with you - I know that if I was too restrictive with my diet, I never would have lasted this long. But, practising portion control, I have lasted nearly a year on MFP and lost about 55 lbs (85 overall), so yes, it's definitely possible. In the process, my diet has changed and I pay a lot more attention to nutrition now than I used to. It's happened gradually though, and comfortably, and I still eat all the foods I like.
  • DebbieLyn63
    DebbieLyn63 Posts: 2,654 Member
    It is a balance. You have to be willing to make necessary changes to be successful. You can't keep doing the same things, the same way and expect miracles to happen. If you can fit sugar into your calorie goal and still be able to get in the nutrients you need, then you can have it.
    For some people, eating sugar in moderation is too hard for them, and they find they must get rid of it altogether. At least for a while, until they have learned some self discipline and are able to have it in moderation.

    When you get to the point where you really want to make some serious changes in your life, then you figure out what you need to do and you do it.

    When you really want to do something, you will find a way. If you don't, then you will find an excuse. I, for one, made excuses for way too long.
  • supermodelchic
    supermodelchic Posts: 550 Member
    follow a high protein, complex carb ,healthy fat's olive oil, nuts, lot's of veggies ,a little fruit , nutrition plan, and you can have a small piece of chocolate every day if you want. But you need carbs just make sure they are complex carbs, quinioa, sweet potatoes,oatmeal, and brown rice limit sugar , do not eat any white foods. Drink a ton of water, just make sure that whatever you eat has a prupose that it does something for you body to be healthy. Everybody is different , genetics play a role my sister and I both started off at a powerlifting gym at 16, 17, she lasted a month I have lasted 32 years. She is still struggling with her weight I am not , so hang in there check out peep's diary's to get ideas. good luck :flowerforyou:
  • Alyssa__Lauren
    Alyssa__Lauren Posts: 148 Member
    Thanks for the advice everyone. Yeah I don't want to deprive my whole house of junk food. The only person who really eats junk food often is my dad. But that's his choice, he's a big boy. He has to hide his chocolate from me though :wink:
  • bdamaster60
    bdamaster60 Posts: 595 Member
    Diets don't work. Get in your macros/micros, stay within calorie restriction and exercise. Winning formula everytime.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    My contest diet works fine.
  • Bobby__Clerici
    Bobby__Clerici Posts: 741 Member
    Diets don't work. Get in your macros/micros, stay within calorie restriction and exercise. Winning formula every time.
    ^^^^^^^
    ^^^^^
    THIS
    Fat loss is simple math.
    Call it what you want.
    It's calories consumes minus calories burned. However you find results, it always gets back to that.
    MFP makes this easy with a small deficit, slow, steady and lasting results.
    Good Luck
  • JenniTheVeggie
    JenniTheVeggie Posts: 2,474 Member
    As others have said it isn't about being on a diet. It is a lifestyle. You have to find what works for YOU. I consider a diet short term.
  • I plan on doing this the rest of my life, so I'm taking a realistic approach.

    This. If I want a martini, I'll have a martini. And when my better half is out of town and I'm too lazy to cook, I will totally have a cheesecake slice (or two) for supper. It's probably not the most nutritional choice, but my inner fatty does a happy dance every time :)
  • Alyssa__Lauren
    Alyssa__Lauren Posts: 148 Member
    When you really want to do something, you will find a way. If you don't, then you will find an excuse. I, for one, made excuses for way too long.

    So did I. For years. And nothing worked. But now I'm at the point where enough is enough.

    For now I've decided not to cut anything out of my diet but to moderate what I eat instead. I don't drink soda already because I don't like it and I don't eat HORRIBLY every day but when I'm out with my friends I want to enjoy myself, you know? But if I find that something is holding me back from my goal because I can't moderate it, then I guess I will have to cut it out of my diet.
  • Missjulesdid
    Missjulesdid Posts: 1,444 Member
    Really only you can answer that question. I was against cutting out anything completely for YEARS.. but I changed my mind after I tried it. I'm now convinced I don't ever want to eat any wheat product ever again! Some people find they feel this way about animal flesh or Dairy.. but for me, I feel sooooo much better without wheat, so I'm doing something I've always sworn I wouldn't do.. I've cut out an entire food. a food that was a HUGE part of my diet.. and it's not even about weight loss at this point. it's about how I FEEL. So eat how you want. do what works for you. Nothing is written in stone. You can try many different things and you can change your mind all you want, it's OK