Eating healthy?

Could somebody help me out with some tips on how to be healthier with my eating habits? I can't find the happy medium between restricting too much and being calorie counting crazy and eating too much and gaining weight. I've been a bit disordered with my eating in the past, but I just want to lose weight the healthy way now.

Replies

  • justking
    justking Posts: 2 Member
    First of all, the only way to lose weight in a healthy way is over time, so you have to take things slow. What I would recommend is looking at the foods you see now and trying to find healthier versions of them. Not a single thing I have eaten since losing weight with the app was something I didn't like. I switched over to baked potato chips which taste just as good as regular ones, low calorie store brand wheat bread and buns, 98% fat free 80 calorie chicken hot dogs (brand is Thin n' Trim), trying veggie burgers/chicken (not that bad actually!), and getting lean meats and poultry. Dieting is a compete lifestyle change; you have to be comfortable eating what you eat steadily regardless of what the end goal is. Preparing meals takes time, but it is way better than having processed food often. If time is an issue, invest in a slow cooker and toss some ingredients in and let it do all the work.

    Good luck!
  • swingsintherain
    swingsintherain Posts: 121 Member
    Try to get your veggies in, and try to avoid processed junk food (chips, cookies, and the like) while limiting processed foods in general (frozen pizza, I'm looking at you). Drink more water and limit your high-calorie beverages (mocha frappuccino with whipped cream? Not so much!).

    If it helps you, track your calories from time to time, just to get an idea of how many calories are in things.

    Exercise if you can, because while it's not required for weight loss, it helps with a lot of other things. Just don't go crazy with it.
  • dsmpunk
    dsmpunk Posts: 262 Member
    Set a modest goal and stick to it? I know it sounds over simplistic, but its all about consistency.

    Geek out on your calories if you have to. I do. I own my compulsiveness!
  • CamillaBeaumont
    CamillaBeaumont Posts: 56 Member
    For me the first step to healthy eating was cutting back on processed foods. Not cutting them out entirely, but switching to better choices wherever possible. I'm a big label reader in the grocery store, if you see what's in the pre-packaged foods you're eating you can make a better choice - ie look for whole grains, avoiding hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup, comparing the sugar content of one yogurt compared to another. Also buying ingredients and cooking for yourself is typically much healthier than eating in a restaurant / fast food / pre-packaged meal of the same thing, so if you don't know how to cook now is a good time to ask someone to teach you.
  • poedunk65
    poedunk65 Posts: 1,336 Member
    read or watch forks over knives.
  • Chelle175
    Chelle175 Posts: 31 Member
    Eating healthy on a daily basis takes a little work, but not that much. No lifestyle change will work if you can't live in it, so be fair to yourself.

    1st - Next time you're in a grocery store, stop in the produce department and really look around. You might not know the difference between a poblano or jalapeno...or maybe celery root or turnip...but that's ok. See what looks good to you - jot it down. Then, go home and research it. You can learn all sorts of things about preparation, nutritional information, and recipes. Allow yourself to become infatuated with your produce section or even better yet, a farmer's market.

    2nd - Anywhere you can add fruits or vegetables in your diet, add them. You can easily make a chinese chicken salad that you can portion out all week for lunches to take to work. You can learn about all sorts of veggies by putting them in easy dishes like quesadillas, omelets, stir frys, and even burritos and tacos.

    3rd - Fruits always make great desserts. They are not only healthy, but they look beautiful What gorgeous colors!

    4th - Enjoy! Just by knowing that everytime you go for an apple, rather than potato chips, you're doing something great for yourself.