Bad foods 'in moderation' IIFYM

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  • Sublog
    Sublog Posts: 1,296 Member
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    "You can have anything as long as it's in moderation"

    "You can eat anything as long as you meet your micronutrient and macronutrient goals"

    Seriously?

    Imagine sitting in front of the TV watching your favorite program and you are allowed to have 12 pieces of potato chips and 3 cookies.... You eat the food and tell yourself it's enough, but you are sitting there with all the residue of the chips and cookies in your mouth and while looking back in the kitchen you see the box of cookies looking right back at you.

    Doing this is gonna have you hungry in 45 minutes...

    Sure there are people who can do this, but I never understood eating bad foods 'in moderation.' It's like telling an alcoholic to just have one drink at night and telling him he will be OK when in reality, most alcoholics won't be able to do it.

    Everyone always tries to view IIFYM to the extreme. In the end, macro and micro-nutrient sufficiency is required to work. Which means you are eating foods high in micro-nutrients (which subsequently also means that they are usually minimally processed, whole foods which are satiating).

    The true genius of IIFYM is flexible dieting and dieting adherence. Its more sustainable long term if you don't deprive yourself of foods you love.
  • pullipgirl
    pullipgirl Posts: 767 Member
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    or you have a tapeworm.

    :idea: Could I sell tapeworms as the NEW EASY DIET SYSTEM! Diet worms, I'll call them. Eat as much as you want, lose weight.

    That's already been done in the 1800s
  • sallychristmas84
    sallychristmas84 Posts: 8 Member
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    I have tried both- abstaining completely from junk food, and incorporating small amounts of it into my diet (with the intention of trying to curb the cravings/over indulging). For me personally- I find that cutting it out altogether is what works for me. It seems that when I have even a small amount of "junk" food- I want more, I begin to crave it. If I were to purchase a bag of chips, a pint of ice cream or a bag of mini candybars (for example)- I wouldn't be/feel satisfied until it was all consumed. Being able to be satisifed with a small portion only works for me, for a day or two- then I begin to rationalize to myself that, well this small (first) amount didn't hurt, what's another portion, and another and another, until it's gone- completely.

    Incorporating small amounts of "junk" food or nixing it altogether is something that each person has to decide for themselves.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
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    it's a mantra here. many have the theory that if you dont eat some junk food (in moderation) then you are doing the most terrible thing in the world... "DEPRIVING YOURSELF"

    feeling "deprived" is a self induced mind set. It's easier to justify eating crap with this false premise

    You are not "deprived" unless you want to be. Your body doesnt need that crap and if you abstain for a short time, you will lose the cravings for whatever it is you think you just have to have.

    Agree with this 100000000000000000%
  • andrewlazenby
    andrewlazenby Posts: 151
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    because I am neither an alchoholic nor a food-a-holic.


    I eat what I want. If I want a serving of chips I get them. I do not eat the bag. If I want a serving of cookies I get a serving.


    I do not deprive myself nor do I eat crap on a regular basis. Also what I do not do is panic or fret if I do. ITs food. I enjoy it. I am a healthy weight and have a positive relationship with what I eat.
  • roachhaley
    roachhaley Posts: 978 Member
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    Not everyone is addicted to food.
  • anels449
    anels449 Posts: 3,187 Member
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    While I can see for someone starting out on cutting things back, it'd be difficult to moderate, but it's really a mindset. Are you looking at your weight lose as a fixed thing where afterwards, you're done, or a lifelong committment to maintaining your health?

    Personally, this is lifelong. I'm only 24. Ideally, I have a long time to live still. I think I'd punch a baby if I could absolutely never have french fries and cheeseburgers and Cheetos ever again because they're "bad" foods. I mean, sure, overall eating healthy, clean foods is great. I feel awesome, more energetic, blahblabhlah, but sometimes it's nice to just have a greasy burger and fries and enjoy it.
  • BenChase
    BenChase Posts: 169
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    it's a mantra here. many have the theory that if you dont eat some junk food (in moderation) then you are doing the most terrible thing in the world... "DEPRIVING YOURSELF"

    feeling "deprived" is a self induced mind set. It's easier to justify eating crap with this false premise

    You are not "deprived" unless you want to be. Your body doesnt need that crap and if you abstain for a short time, you will lose the cravings for whatever it is you think you just have to have.

    ^^^this. when i first started here i stopped eating all the really bad stuff i used to and whether it was because i started looking better and feeling better and had a fear that eating the old stuff would put me back where i started or just didn't crave it anymore for whatever reason,within about two months i no longer wanted any fast food, no ice cream, no potato chips, and this was pretty much the only things i ate on my old lifestyle, i actually use to HATE skim milk and always went for whole milk, after my changes and getting used to skim milk i tried whole milk one day when i was on vacation (it was the only thing in the house) and it tasted horrible. but then again i know my goals and how determined i am to make it there, so that helps me (in my mind) to not even want bad food, not even in moderation. i finally understand something that so many people have seem to forgotten over time FOOD IS FUEL FOR THE BODY, it was never meant to be more for your enjoyment than for your health, somewhere along the way that has been lost by so many people.
  • razeak
    razeak Posts: 12
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    Following the IIFYM principle probably saved my life.
  • Mr_Bad_Example
    Mr_Bad_Example Posts: 2,403 Member
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    "You can have anything as long as it's in moderation"

    "You can eat anything as long as you meet your micronutrient and macronutrient goals"

    Seriously?

    Imagine sitting in front of the TV watching your favorite program and you are allowed to have 12 pieces of potato chips and 3 cookies.... You eat the food and tell yourself it's enough, but you are sitting there with all the residue of the chips and cookies in your mouth and while looking back in the kitchen you see the box of cookies looking right back at you.

    This isn't all that hard to imagine. I've done it while losing and continue to do it while maintaining. You learn how not to gorge yourself and adopt it as a new behavior instead of denying yourself a little bit of fun and enjoyment. People quit paying attention to their eating (i.e. dieting) when they feel deprived, and that's a lot worse than having the occaisonal 'bad' food.
  • fatgirlslove
    fatgirlslove Posts: 614 Member
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    You can train yourself to eat junk food in moderation. It isn't easy, but it can be done. I could never let go of my junk foods all together lol
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
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    I don't see the problem. I can walk up to a packet of choc chip cookies, take 5 out and put the packet back. I enjoy having something unhealthy*coughcoughbull***** and it stops me getting annoyed at having to fuss over food choices all the time.

    A feeling of deprivation is a very real thing; a self induced mind set? I'm sorry, but have you had your head in a hole for the last 50 years? Mental health is just as real as physical health, and frustration, boredom and deprivation are all real emotions people can feel. If they can prevent these feelings with an odd junk food item here and there, who are you to tell them they don't need it?

    So long as you're getting enough vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients from your food, why the hell shouldn't we be allowed to enjoy a treat that fits your macros?
  • Nfairley
    Nfairley Posts: 84
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    As a person with a food addiction/unhealthy relationship with food, I totally agree. Sometimes the best thing for me is total restriction. There are times when I'm too vulnerable to be trusted with moderating my food, such as when I've had a bad day at work or when I don't have enough control over the source of my food (i.e. planned for subway but only had access to a burger king).
    Restriction works.
    I wanted a big cheesy slice of pizza every day for about a month...I just never bought it. Didn't order it, didn't break down at the cafeteria at work, didn't go out with anyone for it. I just resigned myself to always having this craving in the back of my mind everyday so by the time I had it, it wasn't all that special. Delicious, but not perversely pleasurable as it would've been if I had it the second I wanted it.
    Now if only I could make it work with ice cream...:laugh:
  • Lorleee
    Lorleee Posts: 369 Member
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    Everyone is different. Lots of people *can* keep a chocolate bar in the house and have a small square each day to ward off cravings. I can't. I know that about myself so I don't keep it in the house. I also laugh when people say that after abstaining from "bad" food that your body no longer wants it. Maybe for some people, but not for me. No matter how long I clean eat, my body never forgets it loves junk! LOL!

    I really agree that moderation is ideal, but some folks are of the all-or-nothing variety and that's okay too. The most important thing is knowing yourself, and knowing how to keep yourself out of trouble and as healthy as you can.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
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    A feeling of deprivation is a very real thing; a self induced mind set? I'm sorry, but have you had your head in a hole for the last 50 years? Mental health is just as real as physical health, and frustration, boredom and deprivation are all real emotions people can feel. If they can prevent these feelings with an odd junk food item here and there, who are you to tell them they don't need it?

    I agree that feeling deprived is a very real thing. But it doesn't materialize out of nowhere. It is self induced when it comes to justifying eating crap.. If as you say, they can prevent those feelings by eating junk then they do have some control.

    It's a choice we make whether to eat junk or not. But dont hide behind the self induced excuse of feeling deprived. Nothing is being deprived. You aren't starving or dying of thirst. That would be real deprivation. Choosing not to feed a well trained sweet tooth is not deprivation.
  • kmhenry84
    kmhenry84 Posts: 96 Member
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    I don't know, in the past, when I have 'dieted' I haven't been able to have something in a small amount without wanting more.

    But now I've been living a healthier life, and don't think of myself as on a diet and this has lasted way longer than anything else I've done - ever. I still have some work to do, but I've made results that I'm really proud of.

    I fill myself up on things that are healthy and good for me, which makes it easier to control, and I don't deprive myself by "never" having things that are around me. Its hard to avoid people bringing candies, donuts, cupcakes, etc into work. Do I stay away 90% of the time? Yes! But 10% of the time, I'll let myself get ONE (or even half of one) and it fits in just fine :-)

    Whats helped me to avoid going back for more is logging it RIGHT THEN to see how many calories I've used.
  • Natashaa1991
    Natashaa1991 Posts: 866 Member
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    take a day (or a meal) off. since you can't have a little of the bad thing, allow yourself for a meal or two a week where you can have anything you want. After a full plate of carbonara and a tiramisu (example) you won't feel deprived anymore. And of course it's not gonna ruin your diet, if you eat "good" for the rest of the week.
    Skinny people eat junk food too.
  • zombie_porno
    zombie_porno Posts: 199 Member
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    or you have a tapeworm.

    :idea: Could I sell tapeworms as the NEW EASY DIET SYSTEM! Diet worms, I'll call them. Eat as much as you want, lose weight.

    Actually, here in Chinatown, you can buy the eggs, swallow them, then the worm hatches inside. You have a tapeworm until you lose the desired weight & go to the doctor for the meds & just poop it out. If I weren't so grossed out, I would totally do it lol
  • bpmartyr
    bpmartyr Posts: 141
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    Imagine sitting in front of the TV watching your favorite program and you are allowed to have 12 pieces of potato chips and 3 cookies.... You eat the food and tell yourself it's enough, but you are sitting there with all the residue of the chips and cookies in your mouth and while looking back in the kitchen you see the box of cookies looking right back at you.

    Now imagine getting your lazy *kitten* off the couch and doing something productive. I bet the obsession over the minutia would diminish. Idle time and sedentary lifestyle are a bigger problem in western culture than if I eat a cookie or not.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
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    "You can have anything as long as it's in moderation"

    "You can eat anything as long as you meet your micronutrient and macronutrient goals"

    Seriously?

    Imagine sitting in front of the TV watching your favorite program and you are allowed to have 12 pieces of potato chips and 3 cookies.... You eat the food and tell yourself it's enough, but you are sitting there with all the residue of the chips and cookies in your mouth and while looking back in the kitchen you see the box of cookies looking right back at you.

    Doing this is gonna have you hungry in 45 minutes...

    Sure there are people who can do this, but I never understood eating bad foods 'in moderation.' It's like telling an alcoholic to just have one drink at night and telling him he will be OK when in reality, most alcoholics won't be able to do it.

    Yeah the chips and cookies do nothing for me. But I was a 100% organic fanatic when I was obese and that was not healthy either. I mean I soaked my own grains and bean, fermented sauerkraut and kombucha, made my own whey and cheese, use all raw organic dairy, made my own bread, ate only free range organic meats, blah blah blah. Too much food is too much food, too many calories are too many calories, does not matter how clean the calories are.

    I still eat mostly all organic, especially meat and dairy because of the hormones, steroids, and antibiotics.

    I mostly use stevia instead of artificial sweeteners.

    However, if on occasion a low carb tortilla or some fat free cheese or yogurt, or a sugar free pudding snack will keep me in my calorie budget, keep me from going insane, and keep me moving forward, and move me from obese to fit that it's healthier than being a 100% clean obese person.

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