portion control or right food
Spurrowell
Posts: 35
Okay, so I can only concentrate on one thing. Which should it be? Eating the right kind of food OR eating the right size portion size? I am a big stomach guy for instance I can eat 1 1/2 large pizza by my self. Last night we had Chinese and I ate enough to gain 6 lbs. more after dinner, however I lost 3 lbs of it over night. So weigh in and help me decide what should I concentrate on next month, Food or Portions?
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Right kind of food: you won't get fat eating piles of low sugar fruits and non starchy vegetables unless you have a metabolic disorder. There are plenty of healthy foods which can be combined with the piles of fruits and veggies to fill you up - lean meats, oily fish, beans, lentils, seeds especially ground flax or chia.0
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I would start with portion control... once you have that down you can focus on healthier foods. I also think once your watching your portions you'll be surprised that you start choosing healthier foods to help you feel full longer.0
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For me, I'd go for portion control. I'd find it easier to say "I can eat anything I want, just not too much of it", rather than have a list of foods that were banned.0
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Definantely portion control.
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Both?
Eat nutritious stuff most of the time and exercise portion control on high calorie foods.0 -
Right kind of food: you won't get fat eating piles of low sugar fruits and non starchy vegetables unless you have a metabolic disorder. There are plenty of healthy foods which can be combined with the piles of fruits and veggies to fill you up - lean meats, oily fish, beans, lentils, seeds especially ground flax or chia.
You can get fat eating too much of *anything*0 -
portion control (calorie deficit) only until you drop most of whatever body fat you are trying to lose, then when your body fat gets low enough then the quality and macro counts come more into play along with the calorie deficit0
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I do portion control. I have already given up caffeine, sugar, and cigarettes so I figure I am not giving up the foods I enjoy eating. I just eat less of them.0
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Lol @ lost 3 lbs of it!
I would start with portion control.. Limit that pizza and chinese!! HAVE it, just don't abuse it. I would say have a couple of slices of pizza, and a nice large salad full of greens and some balsamic. Trust me.. that gets you full!!0 -
If I had to say one or the other, I'd go with portion control. Making drastic changes to what you eat is more likely to lead to failure. Maybe start with less pizza and top it off with some veggies. Best of both worlds.0
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I'm 100% with portion control. One reason is that you're so used to eating the unhealthy stuff you might crave it if you just automatically kick it. I think after awhile of portion control you will start finding foods that are healthier substitues for your unhealthy food (turkey burgers, homemade wheat pizzas, etc etc) It takes time to build new healthy habits but in the end it's worth it! If I get a craving for something unhealthy like McDonald's or Taco Bell I eat it, I just don't eat as much of it as I used to, I stay in my calorie range.0
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For me, I'd go for portion control. I'd find it easier to say "I can eat anything I want, just not too much of it", rather than have a list of foods that were banned.
Totally agree. Banning foods has been my downfall in the past.0 -
Honestly, I think you should give yourself more credit and try to do a combination of both. Just don't think extreme changes like you CAN'T eat pizza anymore, instead make smarter choices about that pizza - like order a medium or even a small for just you and get just veggie toppings. I'd also suggest trying thin crust...doesn't work for me because it's not filling enough but if you're going to eat a whole small, it'd be better to have it on a thin crust instead of regular.
I say this because if you're anything like me, trying to go without the pizza altogether is going to be a good way to set yourself up to fail. You're going to keep craving it and eventually just say "screw the diet" and go on a binge. Better to figure out how to make the foods you love fit in, either by making smarter choices or cutting down on the portions or a combination of the two.
Another example - last night I made chop suey. Instead of 1.5 pounds of hamburg, I only used 1 pound and I used 90% instead of the 80 or 85% I used to use. I loaded it up with veggies - green pepper, onion, mushrooms and tomatoes. And instead of reguar pasta, I used one of those hidden veggie brands and got the smaller box so that cut down on the calories. I also got the lowest calorie sauce I could find although afterwards I thought just adding a can of tomato sauce probably would've worked fine too and would've been less calories.
Point is, just put a little thought into every decision you make...whether it's toppings on a pizza or ingredients for a recipe...and consider how you can make a better choice. Even if it's after the fact and something to remember next time, at least you're making healthier choices and thinking about it the right way.
Good luck!0 -
You have to do both....if you eat a lot of processed food, you will hit your calorie budget very quickly and you will be hungry and deprived all the time. It will be much easier to stay within your calory budget if you eat the right kinds of food. E.g. a serving of grilled meat w/ steamed veggies and brown rice will make you fill much more satisfied than a slice of pizza. If you are serious, go for it, and keep pizza´s and the such for special occasions....0
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Portion control, you will soon realize how many calories is in the 'junk' and opt for something low calorie so you can eat more and be full. 0
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Portion control, definitely.
That's where I started, after a while you can head for the healthy choices, though you may find that you end up just wanting healthier, because you'll be able to eat more for the same cal value.0 -
Portion size is what I go for because if you deprive yourself of something you may have a downfall..Its good to make better food choices,most the time, I do it without thinking..But by food portions you can have other foods.0
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I have a very large appetite but along the way I have figured out that what I choose makes a really big difference in weight loss and how I feel. I allow myself unlimited fruits and veggies throughout the day and never gain an ounce. Everything else I limit. It works for me. I just got my blood work and it is fantastic 0
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I think everyone is different, but I find that when I eat the right kinds of foods, the portion control just automatically happens. I eat paleo-style, which is lots of protein, fats, vegetables, and most fruits. No grains, beans, or dairy. So, that means no bread or pasta either, and its usually those carbs that I over indulge in. I have not been counting calories or limiting my portions, and I am dropping weight. But again, it matters what works best for you. I really think that all bodies are different and its your job to do the research on yourself and see what works and what you can sustain. Happy losing!0
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Portion control is key, since the ultimate factor in the Weight-loss equation is maintaining a calorie deficit. However right food is a one-two punch..
1) "Right food" is usually but not always less calorie dense
2) "Right food" will help you maintain your overall health. Nutrition is very important, you need to get all your vitamins, keep your cholesterol down, feed your brain... etc.
So if you look at my diary I pay attention to portion control and I typically try to eat "Right food" but I still have pizza (one or two slices), the occasional beer (usually one), ice cream (human amounts), bacon (2 slices) and Kashi Cookies (1 or 2)
I am also very happy that as I've gotten thinner/in better shape that I can be more active and if I'm going to a party, out for brazillian BBQ or some other high calorie event/meal I'll put in my time exercising so I can enjoy myself and what I eat.0 -
Moderation with both. I understand you are saying you have to focus on one or the other - but it's kind of hand in hand. If you are choosing the right foods, you can usually have larger portions. If you are choosing the "less friendly" foods, your portions will have to be miniscule. I find that I want to go for the "right" foods, so I can have the larger portions. Veggies are your friend - most have a negligible calorie count, and the fiber is filling. Once you get into a habit of thinking that way, I think you will find it easier to stay away from the more offensive foods. For example, when I see that I can have a microscopic porition of pizza, or spend half a lifetime on the treadmill burning it off if I eat as much as I would like, it makes the baked chicken and steamed veggies look much more appealing!0
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portion control (calorie deficit) only until you drop most of whatever body fat you are trying to lose, then when your body fat gets low enough then the quality and macro counts come more into play along with the calorie deficit
^^This. Lost 26 pounds eating whatever I wanted as long as it was in my calorie goal. Now, I'm focusing more on my macros and eating healthier. I had pizza last night (3 slices) and a Reeses ice cream bar and it fit into my macros so it can be done! I still don't plan on limiting myself at all. I love food.0 -
I really love food, so like everyone else is saying, I have to do both portion control and quality control. I still eat pizza and chinese food because I love them, and I absolutely refuse to give up chocolate. I've discovered that I can eat a lot more when I eat healthier food though, so I have learned lots of ways to substitute healthier things and still get the taste I want.
For really successful weight loss and healthy living, you have to be able to enjoy your food. Make friends with the kitchen and get creative! You'd be surprised at how truly delicious healthy food can taste! For example, another 'food nemesis' of mine is ice cream. I love it, and could eat it every day! That's really not okay with my calorie goals though, so to get around that, I came up with a really good frozen greek yogurt recipe that even satisfies my picky, ice cream loving hubby. It has about half the calories of regular ice cream in a larger serving size, so it's a double win :-)0 -
You have to do both....if you eat a lot of processed food, you will hit your calorie budget very quickly and you will be hungry and deprived all the time. It will be much easier to stay within your calory budget if you eat the right kinds of food.
I was going to say this too, but some people have to learn portion control in order to even get to the part about eating the right foods. Eating the "right" things doesn't do a lot of good if you're eating them in giant quantities.
Example: the Rice Chex that I ate for breakfast ... not a "bad" food, perfectly ok for breakfast, far better than a big unhealthy bowl of Fruity Chocolately Marshmallowy Sugary Splashy-O's or a big plate of hasbrowns and sausage... but if I ate my seemingly healthy rice chex the way I used to (find giant cereal bowl, pour 4 cups worth of cereal and 1 whole cup of skim milk) I'd be eating 550 calories and I might as well have the hash browns and sausage. Even the "good" things need to be controlled portion-wise.
Once I started budgeting the calories and realized that even ONE piece of pizza was taking up a huge chunk of my sad little 1200 calories, got rid of stuff like pizza pretty quickly. I'm not going to toss away 1/3 of my calories for the day on just one piece of pizza or one cheeseburger when there are so many other and better choices. Once the ability to look at portions sets in, the rest will come with it. At least for me it did.0 -
For really successful weight loss and healthy living, you have to be able to enjoy your food. Make friends with the kitchen and get creative! You'd be surprised at how truly delicious healthy food can taste! For example, another 'food nemesis' of mine is ice cream. I love it, and could eat it every day! That's really not okay with my calorie goals though, so to get around that, I came up with a really good frozen greek yogurt recipe that even satisfies my picky, ice cream loving hubby. It has about half the calories of regular ice cream in a larger serving size, so it's a double win :-)
That's great! There are a LOT of ways to change up food and cut out calories and still eat delicious things.
I've been snacking on fresh green beans for a snack (25 cal per cup!) and it gets boring. So the other day I decided to throw some Tostitos Chunky Medium Salsa on them (10 cal in 2 tbsp!) and now I have a really TASTY and super low-cal (and FILLING) snack!
There are a lot of heath sites that give great ideas for substitutions also - I like Fitbie. They have useful tips. I read a tip the other day that I really want to try - use sliced zucchini or sliced up eggplants in place of the lasagna noodles to make lasagna! Sounds awesome.0 -
Healthy Foods! If you learn portion control with the processed food, you will have to start all over with the healthy foods, while learning what constitutes healthy.
If you learn to fill up with healthy foods, you will just start measuring when you are ready for a new challenge.
With the healthy foods, you can still have the pizza once this week, and the Chinese next week.
Ask for the Chinese without MSG, though. In the US, most MSG is made from sugar beets and has the same effect on your blood chemistry as mainlining sugar. That is why so many people feel hungry as soon as they leave the restaurant.0 -
Right kind of food: you won't get fat eating piles of low sugar fruits and non starchy vegetables unless you have a metabolic disorder. There are plenty of healthy foods which can be combined with the piles of fruits and veggies to fill you up - lean meats, oily fish, beans, lentils, seeds especially ground flax or chia.
You can get fat eating too much of *anything*
Feel free to consistently eat more than your TDEE of low sugar fruits and non starchy vegetables - yes the low calorie, nutrient dense ones. For an overweight male that would be 3000+ calories or ~5.2kg of blueberries or ~7.3kg of carrots and that is deliberately avoiding the low carb/ cal stuff like leafy greens!!0 -
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Thank you all. I will go with the 46% who said Portion control. Only 23% said eating quality good foods. 31% of you really put the pressure on by saying Do Both and double your chances of success. Since this is just a one month goal, that means next month I will be doing both as much as possible, because I still love pizza, Chinese, ice cream, and pastries. From the sounds of the wise people on this site I can have them rarely as long as I don't go over my calorie allowance. Thanks again you have all been very helpful0
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