eating in moderation

mygrl4meee

Question; who has lost weight by eating in moderation? As in still eating the foods you love and who is restricting the problem foods and losing? I am just curious. I know everyone is different. I Personally eat majority of the things I enjoy but di cut some of the really high calorie crap like little debbies ect. I been at this for a year and feel moderation is the best for me.

ApexLeader

i stopped eating all the crap i used to eat (like peanut m&ms and oreo cookies, i could eat a whole box in one sitting), and that worked well for me, though i'm sure eating that stuff in moderation would still allow me to lose weight. however, i replaced that stuff with much more nutritious items, so i'm not lacking on vitamins and minerals, fiber, mono and polyunsaturated fats, etc. so i'm definitely healthier than i would be eating a lot of crap but in moderation.

mygrl4meee

Thanks for answering. Did you stop eating oreo's due to wanting to use those calories for healthier option or afraid you can't or won't just eat a few? I have gotten much better at keeping the sweets limited but probably helps that I am not too much into store bought cookies.

YoungDoc2B

For me, I wouldn't be able to stay on track if I completely cut out all the foods that I like. I still eat donuts, cookies, cake, ice cream, etc. However,these things are only every once in a while, not everyday like they used to be.

honkytonks85

Question; who has lost weight by eating in moderation? As in still eating the foods you love and who is restricting the problem foods and losing? I am just curious. I know everyone is different. I Personally eat majority of the things I enjoy but di cut some of the really high calorie crap like little debbies ect. I been at this for a year and feel moderation is the best for me.

300lbs lost eating in moderation.

AngelaBianco82

I've tried to replace the bad stuff with better stuff. Like rice cakes or pop chips instead of regular chips. I still cheat on my diet here and there if I didn't I go crazy. You have to enjoy life a bit.

ReaGaladriel

I'm losing the weight that way. I eat everything, healthy foods and also pizza, cookies but everything in moderation. So far I lose every week.

jzammetti

I did not / do not deprive myself of anything. I eat chips, ice cream, cake, cookies, all my favorite junk foods but only in moderation. I ate cheescake too (but, it panicked me a little so I only ate 1/3 of a slice). lol

I aim for 130 grams of protein a day, try to keep carbs around 100 a day, and let the rest fall where it may. It works for me. I know I would turn into a binger if I completely took out these comfort foods because I would miss them so much.

Edit: Oh, and I am having pancakes for dinner tonight with sugar free syrup and bacon. :laugh:

jzammetti

300lbs lost eating in moderation.

You are AMAZING.

mbeuchert24

For me, I wouldn't be able to stay on track if I completely cut out all the foods that I like. I still eat donuts, cookies, cake, ice cream, etc. However,these things are only every once in a while, not everyday like they used to be.

this is me...I knew I couldn't do this if I cut out the things I love. I've only been back at this for almost 5 weeks, and I've lost 12 lbs. And just added my exercise in this week.

ChocoCheeseaholic

I'm actually working on changing my relationship with food, which I hope will help me maintain my weight once I reach my goal. Sadly I've gotten pretty good at this weight loss thing b/c I'm a classic yo-yo dieter. I lose the weight by being extremely disciplined with what I eat and cutting out all my favorites, and I'm thrilled once I get there, but then go back to my old eating habits and slowly put it back on.

This time I want to break the cycle. Eating in moderation is the way to go. I want to stop thinking of myself as either on a diet, or off a diet. I want to just live healthy. But the one thing I've always wondered... what does "moderation" really mean?? How often is it ok to enjoy a cheeseburger, brownie, or enormous margarita?

ApexLeader

Thanks for answering. Did you stop eating oreo's due to wanting to use those calories for healthier option or afraid you can't or won't just eat a few? I have gotten much better at keeping the sweets limited but probably helps that I am not too much into store bought cookies.

i'm not sure. i think i could eat a few oreos and be done, but i actually haven't tried. my goal was to lose weight as fast as i could and i thought eating stuff other than oreos and m&ms would make that happen.

there are days when i burn 3k+ calories (according to my heart rate monitor) in 3-4 hours of intense cardio and i could probably eat whatever i want, but instead i have salads and seafood/meat, vegetables and nuts.

i just feel more focused that way.

jkmiller82

I've lost almost 40 pounds with moderation. I just bought four boxes of girl scout cookies and intend to eat every one, just not in one sitting like I would have 6 months ago, haha I also substitute my favorite meals with healthier versions I find on websites like skinnytaste. About once a month I'll let myself have a burger and fries from my favorite drive-thru. If I didn't succumb to my cravings sometimes, I'd go nuts!

LorinaLynn

I still eat foods I love. In fact, I'd say I ONLY eat foods I love. I still have pizza - thick crust, half a pie - but I have it once a week (sometimes twice) instead of 3-4 times a week. I cook real meals instead of making Hamburger/Chicken/Tuna Helper. I eat protein bars instead of candy bars. Tastes great, but has at least some nutritional benefit. I'm mindful that I get enough protein and fat, and adequate fruits and vegetables, but if I can do that and still fit in some garlic bread with my raviolis... then I'm having garlic bread.

HeidiHoMom

I eat whatever I want in moderation.

I have chocolate every.single.day.

Today I had wine and chocolate.

KittyViolet

As I recently achieved my weight loss goals, I'm currently eating in moderation (most days lol) and maintaining. I've been doing so for about three weeks with no significant changes. I've been bouncing around 106-108 lbs. since.

trophywife24

Me

I eat whatever I want in moderation... pizza, cookies, fast food, fried chicken, baked back and cheese, all of that fab fatty stuff that I love/d. I do not eat it every day and when I do eat it, it's one serving. I think that the one serving thing is crucial.... I used to eat enough for 4 people, easily. I do avoid some things that I just cannot control myself with like bbq potato chips.. open bag, pour in mouth. Other than that I eat whatever... I'm eating candy as I'm typing this. I just log it and move on.

Robin_Bin

I've lost by eating in moderation. I've also increased my activity level some. I plan to keep increasing my activity, not just for the weight loss or so I can eat more, but because the ability to do more is one of the reasons I wish to be more fit.

I still eat the foods I love... in fact since I like fruit, I may eat even more of them. The amount and proportions have changed. I eat less of the "junk" food, more home-cooked. Although I didn't intend to eat low-carb, I have found that the foods I was most likely to reduce were the processed carbohydrates. I step away from any food I don't enjoy -- there are plenty of foods I can eat and enjoy, why bother eating something I don't like? I eat chocolate almost every day (usually a good quality, dark chocolate truffle). I've learned more about the nutritional content of food (something I was already learning over time), and so I've also learned to choose some things over others when I like both equally. And I've found some prepared foods and recipes that are much healthier for something that tastes as good or better than what I was eating -- for instance a tastier, lower calorie mac & cheese, new ingredients to add to salads, a frozen french toast instead of toaster pastries.

Soon after I first started I was given some gifts of gourmet cupcakes, brownies and candies (birthday). I shared some of them and froze some of them to enjoy over a much longer period of time than I usually would. (By the way, the gifts were not malicious or anyone trying to sabotage my progress. When I first started, I didn't tell people. And it was very nice when they started noticing. .) Although I ate less of those things over the same amount of time as I would have in the past, i still allowed myself to enjoy all the things I liked. (But I also didn't "waste the calories" on the things I didn't like much.)

carfamily08

36lbs. down eating in moderation here! It's a lifestyle change for me and that means being able to eat all my favorites, just not as frequently or in as big of quantity in one sitting as I once did

ldbuster0

I eat in moderation but I try to stick to my calorie count. I just started in January. I have lost 6lbs. Sometimes I get scared to eat certain foods because sometimes I don't have enough will power to stop. So with some foods that I like, I just by enough for me to get the taste and I share the other part. I still getting used to counting calories.

BlueObsidian

I aim to make at leas 80% of my food choices healthy ones, but I still leave room in my week for foods that are less nutritious (just in smaller portions than I used to have). I've been finding tons of new recipes to try, since I enjoy cooking, so it helps me to make good choices most of the time. But I will have sweets or fast food a couple times a week.

I've probably tried to lose weight ten times in the past twelve years. Many of those times, I completely cut out foods I enjoyed and tried to lose to quickly. Each time I would end up giving up, binging on things that I had restricted, and gaining all the weight back (plus some). This time, I decided to go slow and steady, even if it takes me two more years to get to goal. I have to design an eating plan that is sustainable in my real life, because I will not regain the weight again.

jmcreynolds91

Hi! I started counting calories and eating in moderation last November. I used to weigh 200 and now i am 175. I still eat all the foods i want including chocolate cake, ice cream chips, ect. Although i do eat tons of fruits and vegetables. I believe you shouldn't deprive yourself of the good things, only to crack later and binge. Instead, i allow myself small portions, usually only 1 serving of things. And loosing about 1.6 pounds per week. good luck!

Duck_Puddle

I eat everything. I cannot sustain a diet that doesn't include some occasional crap. I eat healthy most of the time, but also have cookies, cake, pizza, bacon cheeseburgs, etc. I find ways to fit the crap in. Mfp has really helped me learn the impact of these foods to an otherwise healthy diet, and has also helped me learn how to fit them into my diet in ways that allow me to continue to meet my goals.

twinkiemon

I'm definitely the type of person who does better eating in moderation - I just made small changes like drinking more water and cutting out most soda (I will have one once in a while), bringing veggies or fruit to work as a lunch side instead of chips, eating healthier snack options and staying away from vending machines and convenience stores. I do have a small piece of chocolate (like a Hershey kiss) daily because I love chocolate and can't live without it.

I've only lost 12 lbs so far but it's working for me. I know from the past that logging food does not work - I was recently only because it was required for this weight loss challenge I was doing, but I won't really be once the challenge is over. I don't like having to think about every little thing I'm putting in my body. I just try to eat smaller portions and make healthier choices over all, but I will occasionally log just to make sure I'm doing good.

foleyshirley

I am a moderation person. I do really limit desserts, but they were never my problem area anyway. I am learning to fit things into my calorie goal, and to try to make healthier choices overall

Fredrigo

I've been much more successful with learning moderation versus avoiding things completely. Sometimes that literally means a single spoon of ice cream or half a donut; other times it means very light nutrient focused breakfast and lunch so I can get a big chili dog for dinner.

mygrl4meee

I'm actually working on changing my relationship with food, which I hope will help me maintain my weight once I reach my goal. Sadly I've gotten pretty good at this weight loss thing b/c I'm a classic yo-yo dieter. I lose the weight by being extremely disciplined with what I eat and cutting out all my favorites, and I'm thrilled once I get there, but then go back to my old eating habits and slowly put it back on.

This time I want to break the cycle. Eating in moderation is the way to go. I want to stop thinking of myself as either on a diet, or off a diet. I want to just live healthy. But the one thing I've always wondered... what does "moderation" really mean?? How often is it ok to enjoy a cheeseburger, brownie, or enormous margarita?

Good Question. To me moderation means just having that half of cup of ice or even maybe one cup. Not going back for more and more until you feel ill. I look at calories overall more than what food that I am eating. I have noticed the healthier the foods the less hungry I am so I do try to eat better than I used to.

Fredrigo

My definition of moderation is "less than you usually have but more than nothing"

It works for me and the nice thing is if you get in the habit of thinking this way it slowly self adjusts.

ChocoCheeseaholic

My definition of moderation is "less than you usually have but more than nothing"

It works for me and the nice thing is if you get in the habit of thinking this way it slowly self adjusts.

I like this thought process and that's the mindset I'm trying to adopt. I will count calories throughout my weight loss, and also for a while after when I switch to maintenance mode. But ultimately I want to be able to just live this new lifestyle and not have food be such the priority it is now.

Robin_Bin

Another definition of moderation is what fits into your goals. If your goals were to eat healthier and lose weight, then you can have the margarita every day IF it fits into your calorie deficit goals, and you've eaten your target amounts of nutrients, vegetables or whatever else. Even if it doesn't fit, it's ok occasionally... and I guess I'd define that by how well you're progressing. If you're not progressing as quickly as you'd like, you may be allowing yourself to go out-of-bounds too often. If your goal was 3 pounds a month, and you're hitting that goal consistently, then you've probably figured out what's a moderate amount of freedom for you.

Keep in mind that what works for one person will not for others, and it partly depends on how well you were doing to begin with and how far you go out of bounds... a 200 calorie snack once a week won't do as much damage as 50 calories a day, but I can easily fit in the 50 calories a day, and it helps me to keep going and not feel deprived. And some people are extremely regulated during the weekdays, and then blow the whole thing with a couple of 4,000 calorie meals on the weekend.

mfpcopine

But the one thing I've always wondered... what does "moderation" really mean?? How often is it ok to enjoy a cheeseburger, brownie, or enormous margarita?

The answer is going to be different for everyone. For some people, having a cheeseburger once a week will be OK, for others, it may be once a month, or once a quarter. Context is all.