Eating Pop Tarts and ice cream daily.

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Replies

  • ashleab37
    ashleab37 Posts: 575 Member
    I think for breakfast I may need to have smores pop tarts with Ben & Jerrys clusterfluff.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    The people who post they eat ice cream daily on the MFP forum do it because they are jerks. They know EXACTLY what they are doing when they brag about that. They are rubbing it in the faces of those who struggle to lose. They know that the majority of people here are hurt, are suffering, are overweight, or are obese, uneducated on health and nutrition, are sick, are depressed about their current condition and are wanting to change. Wanting to learn. Some are diabetic. This is a HELP forum. They make sure YOU KNOW, THEY CAN and YOU CAN'T so what is wrong with YOU and how cool are they? It is very immature.

    Like I said, they know what they are doing. Why do they think we care? What is the purpose of getting on MFP and saying, "look at my six pack and I eat ice cream every day." It's like me sitting outside of an AA meeting with a beer on a hot day and making slurping noises as I drink it, holding it up to the member saying, "I do this every day, but in moderation and I'm not an alcoholic". I CAN, you can't ;) just making sure you all know. But hey, I do it in moderation and I STILL am not an alcoholic. " Or more in comparison would be to go to an AA forum online and post I drink wine every night with dinner and am not an alcoholic. Just childish! Just cruel!

    What? Its all about moderation. A single serving of ice cream a day is not the same thing as binging on 2k calories worth each day. It isn't to rub it in anyone faces, its basically to say that you can still progress quite well without having to stick to your typical "bro foods". I indulge almost everyday in some way shape of form, while cutting. However, i still manage to hit my macros and micros via multiple cups of fruits, veggies, and other foods. Oh, i also drink Jack too ;)
  • chocl8girl
    chocl8girl Posts: 1,968 Member
    I'm thinking Pop Tarts are sounding mighty good right about now. I only have blueberry frosted in the house because that is my kids' favorite, but I believe they will do.

    om-nom-nom-nom.gif
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    What the posters of the " I lost weight and ate pop tarts and ice cream " don't tell you is they eat very healthy the rest of the time . Look at there diaries and its a tiny serving of the bad stuff . It's just not as cool to start a thread saying " I eat 95 percent heathy and a small serving of treats .

    That depends on your definition of tiny serving. I am the OP and I eat a pint of ice cream a night. It is less than 20% of my total daily intake though.

    Cool, you've given me an idea! I'm going to have a pint of cookie dough ice cream. Oh wait, 920 calories. And I have a budget of 1200.

    What am I going to eat the rest of the day?

    Oh I know! Poptarts. Okay, one Poptart and a nibble of a second one.

    You guys with higher caloric needs are welcome to enjoy your indulgences. The rest are welcome to their two bites of whatever sweet goodness your heart desires. I'll stick with things like steak most of the time because part of what I like about eating is that full feeling. Which I can never have if I eat junkfood and still try to stay anywhere near 1200.

    However, one day when I hit goal I might actually grab that pint and a Poptart and enjoy it thoroughly, I just will either not eat the rest of the day or I'll know I have to make up for it on another day, plus put up with some annoying cravings for a few days, which is the worst part. Such is the life of older, mostly sedentary women. But hey, my grocery bills are high enough, I shouldn't wish for a faster metabolism.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    What the posters of the " I lost weight and ate pop tarts and ice cream " don't tell you is they eat very healthy the rest of the time . Look at there diaries and its a tiny serving of the bad stuff . It's just not as cool to start a thread saying " I eat 95 percent heathy and a small serving of treats .

    That depends on your definition of tiny serving. I am the OP and I eat a pint of ice cream a night. It is less than 20% of my total daily intake though.

    Cool, you've given me an idea! I'm going to have a pint of cookie dough ice cream. Oh wait, 920 calories. And I have a budget of 1200.

    What am I going to eat the rest of the day?

    Oh I know! Poptarts. Okay, one Poptart and a nibble of a second one.

    You guys with higher caloric needs are welcome to enjoy your indulgences. The rest are welcome to their two bites of whatever sweet goodness your heart desires. I'll stick with things like steak most of the time because part of what I like about eating is that full feeling. Which I can never have if I eat junkfood and still try to stay anywhere near 1200.

    However, one day when I hit goal I might actually grab that pint and a Poptart and enjoy it thoroughly, I just will either not eat the rest of the day or I'll know I have to make up for it on another day, plus put up with some annoying cravings for a few days, which is the worst part. Such is the life of older, mostly sedentary women. But hey, my grocery bills are high enough, I shouldn't wish for a faster metabolism.

    I'm eating 1600 and managed to fit a pop tart ice cream sandwich into today's meal plan - and hit all my macros. It's not about having an entire pint - it's about eating in moderation in a way that fits into your plan.

    But if you want to ignore that and be one of those 1200 cal a day people feel free to whine away.

    Or you could go for a long walk and earn enough calories to eat one - but hey such is the life for someone who wants to eat junk sometimes - even while losing.
  • Nataliaho
    Nataliaho Posts: 878 Member
    What the posters of the " I lost weight and ate pop tarts and ice cream " don't tell you is they eat very healthy the rest of the time . Look at there diaries and its a tiny serving of the bad stuff . It's just not as cool to start a thread saying " I eat 95 percent heathy and a small serving of treats "

    Actually they've all said that, exactly that, frequently in this thread. They've invited people to check out their diaries and posted articles about exactly that. Where has a single poster claimed to take more than 20% of their cals from 'junk'?
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    What the posters of the " I lost weight and ate pop tarts and ice cream " don't tell you is they eat very healthy the rest of the time . Look at there diaries and its a tiny serving of the bad stuff . It's just not as cool to start a thread saying " I eat 95 percent heathy and a small serving of treats .

    That depends on your definition of tiny serving. I am the OP and I eat a pint of ice cream a night. It is less than 20% of my total daily intake though.

    Cool, you've given me an idea! I'm going to have a pint of cookie dough ice cream. Oh wait, 920 calories. And I have a budget of 1200.

    What am I going to eat the rest of the day?

    Oh I know! Poptarts. Okay, one Poptart and a nibble of a second one.

    You guys with higher caloric needs are welcome to enjoy your indulgences. The rest are welcome to their two bites of whatever sweet goodness your heart desires. I'll stick with things like steak most of the time because part of what I like about eating is that full feeling. Which I can never have if I eat junkfood and still try to stay anywhere near 1200.

    However, one day when I hit goal I might actually grab that pint and a Poptart and enjoy it thoroughly, I just will either not eat the rest of the day or I'll know I have to make up for it on another day, plus put up with some annoying cravings for a few days, which is the worst part. Such is the life of older, mostly sedentary women. But hey, my grocery bills are high enough, I shouldn't wish for a faster metabolism.

    I'm eating 1600 and managed to fit a pop tart ice cream sandwich into today's meal plan - and hit all my macros. It's not about having an entire pint - it's about eating in moderation in a way that fits into your plan.

    But if you want to ignore that and be one of those 1200 cal a day people feel free to whine away.

    Or you could go for a long walk and earn enough calories to eat one - but hey such is the life for someone who wants to eat junk sometimes - even while losing.

    The guy I quoted eats a pint every day. Which would fill me up. Your sammich would be a mere tease.

    And I'm not whining, just pointing out that some of us have smaller calorie budgets than others. I have to stay around 1200 calories or I don't lose. And when I hit goal I won't get a whole lot more calories to work with, so that's just how it goes. Also, a long walk doesn't burn a whole lot of calories anymore and most of the year I have allergy induced asthma that prevents much exercise. That I do whine about. But I am going to fix it next year by moving to a cleaner state.
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    What the posters of the " I lost weight and ate pop tarts and ice cream " don't tell you is they eat very healthy the rest of the time . Look at there diaries and its a tiny serving of the bad stuff . It's just not as cool to start a thread saying " I eat 95 percent heathy and a small serving of treats "

    That's exactly what the ARE saying.

    That eating the odd bit of "junk" is fine as long as the rest of the diet is primarily healthy.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    What the posters of the " I lost weight and ate pop tarts and ice cream " don't tell you is they eat very healthy the rest of the time . Look at there diaries and its a tiny serving of the bad stuff . It's just not as cool to start a thread saying " I eat 95 percent heathy and a small serving of treats .

    That depends on your definition of tiny serving. I am the OP and I eat a pint of ice cream a night. It is less than 20% of my total daily intake though.

    Cool, you've given me an idea! I'm going to have a pint of cookie dough ice cream. Oh wait, 920 calories. And I have a budget of 1200.

    What am I going to eat the rest of the day?

    Oh I know! Poptarts. Okay, one Poptart and a nibble of a second one.

    You guys with higher caloric needs are welcome to enjoy your indulgences. The rest are welcome to their two bites of whatever sweet goodness your heart desires. I'll stick with things like steak most of the time because part of what I like about eating is that full feeling. Which I can never have if I eat junkfood and still try to stay anywhere near 1200.

    However, one day when I hit goal I might actually grab that pint and a Poptart and enjoy it thoroughly, I just will either not eat the rest of the day or I'll know I have to make up for it on another day, plus put up with some annoying cravings for a few days, which is the worst part. Such is the life of older, mostly sedentary women. But hey, my grocery bills are high enough, I shouldn't wish for a faster metabolism.

    I'm eating 1600 and managed to fit a pop tart ice cream sandwich into today's meal plan - and hit all my macros. It's not about having an entire pint - it's about eating in moderation in a way that fits into your plan.

    But if you want to ignore that and be one of those 1200 cal a day people feel free to whine away.

    Or you could go for a long walk and earn enough calories to eat one - but hey such is the life for someone who wants to eat junk sometimes - even while losing.

    The guy I quoted eats a pint every day. Which would fill me up. Your sammich would be a mere tease.

    And I'm not whining, just pointing out that some of us have smaller calorie budgets than others. I have to stay around 1200 calories or I don't lose. And when I hit goal I won't get a whole lot more calories to work with, so that's just how it goes.

    You could have pop tart instead of butter some days - just saying. If you really want something yo can make it fit - I wouldn't want to eat an entire pint of ice cream - that would make me feel sick, even if it did fit into my cals for the day. And you did come over as whining. This thread is just to show people yo can fit treats into a balanced diet - plenty of people on this thread eat less and fit in treats. and 80/20 is an excellent balance - regardless of your calorie intake.
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    What the posters of the " I lost weight and ate pop tarts and ice cream " don't tell you is they eat very healthy the rest of the time . Look at there diaries and its a tiny serving of the bad stuff . It's just not as cool to start a thread saying " I eat 95 percent heathy and a small serving of treats .

    That depends on your definition of tiny serving. I am the OP and I eat a pint of ice cream a night. It is less than 20% of my total daily intake though.

    Cool, you've given me an idea! I'm going to have a pint of cookie dough ice cream. Oh wait, 920 calories. And I have a budget of 1200.

    What am I going to eat the rest of the day?

    Oh I know! Poptarts. Okay, one Poptart and a nibble of a second one.

    You guys with higher caloric needs are welcome to enjoy your indulgences. The rest are welcome to their two bites of whatever sweet goodness your heart desires. I'll stick with things like steak most of the time because part of what I like about eating is that full feeling. Which I can never have if I eat junkfood and still try to stay anywhere near 1200.

    However, one day when I hit goal I might actually grab that pint and a Poptart and enjoy it thoroughly, I just will either not eat the rest of the day or I'll know I have to make up for it on another day, plus put up with some annoying cravings for a few days, which is the worst part. Such is the life of older, mostly sedentary women. But hey, my grocery bills are high enough, I shouldn't wish for a faster metabolism.

    I'm eating 1600 and managed to fit a pop tart ice cream sandwich into today's meal plan - and hit all my macros. It's not about having an entire pint - it's about eating in moderation in a way that fits into your plan.

    But if you want to ignore that and be one of those 1200 cal a day people feel free to whine away.

    Or you could go for a long walk and earn enough calories to eat one - but hey such is the life for someone who wants to eat junk sometimes - even while losing.

    The guy I quoted eats a pint every day. Which would fill me up. Your sammich would be a mere tease.

    And I'm not whining, just pointing out that some of us have smaller calorie budgets than others. I have to stay around 1200 calories or I don't lose. And when I hit goal I won't get a whole lot more calories to work with, so that's just how it goes.

    You could have pop tart instead of butter some days - just saying. If you really want something yo can make it fit - I wouldn't want to eat an entire pint of ice cream - that would make me feel sick, even if it did fit into my cals for the day. And you did come over as whining. This thread is just to show people yo can fit treats into a balanced diet - plenty of people on this thread eat less and fit in treats. and 80/20 is an excellent balance - regardless of your calorie intake.

    You are wrong. Not everyone can fit treats. You beat me to my edit about how I can't workout here much of the year. So the walks are out.

    You missed the part where I mentioned those foods triggering cravings, which are the worst part of going off my current plan. I would want to eat the entire pint or not bother at all. That is the whole point.

    The butter goes in my coffee when I can't afford cuts of meat that allow me to get the fat ratio I need to stay full.

    If what you are doing works for you, that is great, I would never tell you to stop. But it isn't for everyone. Enjoy your treats, though.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    The pop tart and ice cream would help you meet your fat marco :laugh: :flowerforyou:
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    The pop tart and ice cream would help you meet your fat marco :laugh: :flowerforyou:

    Not without going over on carbs and sadly, that would just mean more cravings. Maybe I can work something out when I hit maintenance, but any day I decide to go off the rails is going to involve 7000+ empty calories or I just won't bother. Not worth those damn cravings. Hell with the pint, hand me the gallon tub and a spoon. Oh, and some chocolate syrup. :laugh:
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    I prefer my poptarts full of meat, cheese, lava, and remorse...

    13387386.jpg
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    The pop tart and ice cream would help you meet your fat marco :laugh: :flowerforyou:

    Not without going over on carbs and sadly, that would just mean more cravings. Maybe I can work something out when I hit maintenance, but any day I decide to go off the rails is going to involve 7000+ empty calories or I just won't bother. Not worth those damn cravings. Hell with the pint, hand me the gallon tub and a spoon. Oh, and some chocolate syrup. :laugh:

    Lol, yeah if you're gonna have a blow out - do it right :laugh:
  • beachlover317
    beachlover317 Posts: 2,848 Member
    I prefer my poptarts full of meat, cheese, lava, and remorse...

    13387386.jpg

    for the win - except, I prefer the pizza or meatball hot pocket tarts.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    I prefer my poptarts full of meat, cheese, lava, and remorse...

    13387386.jpg

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-i9GXbptog
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    I prefer my poptarts full of meat, cheese, lava, and remorse...

    13387386.jpg

    I remember eating those things in the states. Tasty tasty highly processed empty calories :wink:
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    What the posters of the " I lost weight and ate pop tarts and ice cream " don't tell you is they eat very healthy the rest of the time . Look at there diaries and its a tiny serving of the bad stuff . It's just not as cool to start a thread saying " I eat 95 percent heathy and a small serving of treats .

    That depends on your definition of tiny serving. I am the OP and I eat a pint of ice cream a night. It is less than 20% of my total daily intake though.

    but low-quality processed foods are over 50% your intake. the ice cream by itself would be fine, but throw in 500 cal of girl scout cooks, etc and that's the issue we're talking about.

    not meant as a criticism or an attack, just that by picking out the ice cream you're ignoring the bigger picture.
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    also this:
    Empty calories, in casual dietary terminology, are a measure of the digestible energy present in high-energy foods with little nutritional value, typically processed carbohydrates and ethanol (alcohol), and to some extent fats. Also known as a discretionary calorie, an "empty calorie" has the same energy content as any other calorie but lacks many accompanying nutrients such as vitamins, dietary minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, or dietary fiber.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empty_calorie

    Did you just cite Wikipedia as an information source? Even processed foods today are fortified with micronutrients (i.e Poptarts)

    please continue reading. fortified nutrients are not as bioavailable as real nutrients and have been banned in a number of European countries.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_fortification
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    What the posters of the " I lost weight and ate pop tarts and ice cream " don't tell you is they eat very healthy the rest of the time . Look at there diaries and its a tiny serving of the bad stuff . It's just not as cool to start a thread saying " I eat 95 percent heathy and a small serving of treats .

    That depends on your definition of tiny serving. I am the OP and I eat a pint of ice cream a night. It is less than 20% of my total daily intake though.

    but low-quality processed foods are over 50% your intake. the ice cream by itself would be fine, but throw in 500 cal of girl scout cooks, etc and that's the issue we're talking about.

    not meant as a criticism or an attack, just that by picking out the ice cream your ignoring the bigger picture.

    hmmm I made it about 30% yesterday and CBA to go back further - of course since you are obsessed with processed foods........

    Again this is not really what this thread is about, please take your all processed food is evil dogma elsewhere and leave us to our delicious processed pop tarts.
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    What the posters of the " I lost weight and ate pop tarts and ice cream " don't tell you is they eat very healthy the rest of the time . Look at there diaries and its a tiny serving of the bad stuff . It's just not as cool to start a thread saying " I eat 95 percent heathy and a small serving of treats .

    That depends on your definition of tiny serving. I am the OP and I eat a pint of ice cream a night. It is less than 20% of my total daily intake though.

    but low-quality processed foods are over 50% your intake. the ice cream by itself would be fine, but throw in 500 cal of girl scout cooks, etc and that's the issue we're talking about.

    not meant as a criticism or an attack, just that by picking out the ice cream your ignoring the bigger picture.

    If I could eat like that and lose or maintain I'd think I'd died and gone to heaven. I'd be such a happy, skinny little piggy.

    I do wonder about long-term insulin issues of a diet like this given some of the newer studies, though. But I wouldn't let it stop me.

    I have to get out of this thread and stop thinking about ice cream or Ben and Jerry are going to be getting some of my money today. Have fun, all you lucky people who can eat this stuff and still lose weight. I hate you all. Know I mean that in the most loving way possible, though. :tongue:
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    What the posters of the " I lost weight and ate pop tarts and ice cream " don't tell you is they eat very healthy the rest of the time . Look at there diaries and its a tiny serving of the bad stuff . It's just not as cool to start a thread saying " I eat 95 percent heathy and a small serving of treats .

    That depends on your definition of tiny serving. I am the OP and I eat a pint of ice cream a night. It is less than 20% of my total daily intake though.

    but low-quality processed foods are over 50% your intake. the ice cream by itself would be fine, but throw in 500 cal of girl scout cooks, etc and that's the issue we're talking about.

    not meant as a criticism or an attack, just that by picking out the ice cream your ignoring the bigger picture.

    hmmm I made it about 30% yesterday and CBA to go back further - of course since you are obsessed with processed foods........

    Again this is not really what this thread is about, please take your all processed food is evil dogma elsewhere and leave us to our delicious processed pop tarts.

    weird, i didn't quote you did i?
  • beachlover317
    beachlover317 Posts: 2,848 Member
    also this:
    Empty calories, in casual dietary terminology, are a measure of the digestible energy present in high-energy foods with little nutritional value, typically processed carbohydrates and ethanol (alcohol), and to some extent fats. Also known as a discretionary calorie, an "empty calorie" has the same energy content as any other calorie but lacks many accompanying nutrients such as vitamins, dietary minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, or dietary fiber.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empty_calorie

    Did you just cite Wikipedia as an information source? Even processed foods today are fortified with micronutrients (i.e Poptarts)

    please continue reading. fortified nutrients are not as bioavailable as real nutrients and have been banned in a number of European countries.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_fortification

    This thread has been running for 2 days and you still haven't figured out that people are just here having a little fun. :noway:
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    What the posters of the " I lost weight and ate pop tarts and ice cream " don't tell you is they eat very healthy the rest of the time . Look at there diaries and its a tiny serving of the bad stuff . It's just not as cool to start a thread saying " I eat 95 percent heathy and a small serving of treats .

    That depends on your definition of tiny serving. I am the OP and I eat a pint of ice cream a night. It is less than 20% of my total daily intake though.

    but low-quality processed foods are over 50% your intake. the ice cream by itself would be fine, but throw in 500 cal of girl scout cooks, etc and that's the issue we're talking about.

    not meant as a criticism or an attack, just that by picking out the ice cream your ignoring the bigger picture.

    hmmm I made it about 30% yesterday and CBA to go back further - of course since you are obsessed with processed foods........

    Again this is not really what this thread is about, please take your all processed food is evil dogma elsewhere and leave us to our delicious processed pop tarts.

    weird, i didn't quote you did i?

    I was referring to the op - who I thought you were talking about. Sorry I didn't make that clearer.
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    *sneaks back in and notes exact name and location of thread*

    Now if I ever do have that 7000+ calorie blowout, I know where to post the food porn photos.
  • Xena32
    Xena32 Posts: 13
    Wow I am so amazed!!!

    I try to lose weight for like 5 years and lose the same 20lbs over and over again. I cut out all the junk food, sweets etc. and then end up bingeing.

    I keep reading you need to keep your blood sugar stable and stuff like that.

    Maybe - I should just incorporate ALL foods I like and try to lose weight this way...

    Thanks so much for this thread, I will read the first one now.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Anyhoo - I'm off to buy pop tarts and ice cream (and cry over the lack of choice of pop tarts in my local Tesco :sad: )

    See ya all in a bit

    Don't roll it while I'm away please :flowerforyou:
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    also this:
    Empty calories, in casual dietary terminology, are a measure of the digestible energy present in high-energy foods with little nutritional value, typically processed carbohydrates and ethanol (alcohol), and to some extent fats. Also known as a discretionary calorie, an "empty calorie" has the same energy content as any other calorie but lacks many accompanying nutrients such as vitamins, dietary minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, or dietary fiber.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empty_calorie

    Did you just cite Wikipedia as an information source? Even processed foods today are fortified with micronutrients (i.e Poptarts)

    please continue reading. fortified nutrients are not as bioavailable as real nutrients and have been banned in a number of European countries.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_fortification

    This thread has been running for 2 days and you still haven't figured out that people are just here having a little fun. :noway:

    have all the fun you want - i was responding to someone who was responding to me. :smile:
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    I'm late to this shindig but I will fight you heathens saying poptarts are superior to toaster strudels. The ONLY thing pop tarts win on is that I don't have to look up how to spell tart...and to be honest the poptart smore looked pretty damn good too.

    Work to get stronger and be in better shape. You can do both those things with or without poptarts (or ice cream, or cheesecake, or whatever) in your diet.

    I go with the inclusion of those things, and I'm a lot happier for it. Enjoy your rabbit food and fat free water though, I'll be over here capping off my steak and beer with a brownie sundae. There's a decent chance I can out lift you in my Datsun running on 87, too.
  • BlueObsidian
    BlueObsidian Posts: 297 Member
    Wow I am so amazed!!!

    I try to lose weight for like 5 years and lose the same 20lbs over and over again. I cut out all the junk food, sweets etc. and then end up bingeing.

    I keep reading you need to keep your blood sugar stable and stuff like that.

    Maybe - I should just incorporate ALL foods I like and try to lose weight this way...

    Thanks so much for this thread, I will read the first one now.

    In all my past weight loss attempts, I've tried to eat "perfectly" and cut out all sweets, restaurants, chips, etc. After a few weeks, I'd end up having a massive binge on that stuff and completely fall off the wagon. One bad meal would become a bad day, a bad week, and a bad month. I'd gain back any losses plus another ten pounds. Ten years later and I went from having 40 pounds to lose to having almost 140.

    This time, I'm working on incorporating reasonable portions of my favorite foods in with a generally healthy plan (I shoot for 80% healthy choices) and I'm working on tackling my mental and emotional issues with food. After three and a half months, I'm still binge-free and don't feel like what I'm doing is difficult. It's kind of amazing to realize that I CAN just have one portion of ice cream instead of eating the entire container.

    Ultimately, with so much weight to lose, the most important part of my plan is that it has to be sustainable. I knew going in that it was probably going to be a two or three year process to lose all the weight, and I'm not going to avoid restaurants and desserts for years. I like to go out and I like to make desserts. So I'm learning to enjoy those things in moderation, balanced with other healthy choices.

    And I get to eat pop tarts and ice cream when I want them.