What exactly does moderation mean?

jess_steich7
jess_steich7 Posts: 58
in Food and Nutrition
A lot of times you hear people say eat this or do that in "moderation" and it got me thinking. To you what does "moderation" mean? For example, if you were trying to eat pizza in moderation how often would that be? I know it is probably different for each individual but I'm curious as to what your idea of moderation is.

Replies

  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    Several times a year. Moderation isn't a daily, weekly or monthly thing for me -- or that's what I strive for.
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    For me, if I can hit my macros and stay in my calorie allotment, this is my moderation. I wouldn't want to eat pizza every day, I'd like to keep my love for it alive.
  • micheleb15
    micheleb15 Posts: 1,418 Member
    Moderation to me, means eating within calories. I pre-plan my days. If I have calories for a whole pizza, then I eat it all. If I only have calories for 2 slices, then I eat 2 clices
  • Lindsay_1984
    Lindsay_1984 Posts: 85 Member
    Moderation to me, means eating within calories. I pre-plan my days. If I have calories for a whole pizza, then I eat it all. If I only have calories for 2 slices, then I eat 2 clices

    ^ This
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    It means exactly what the word means. Not to excess. With restraint.

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/moderation?s=t
  • twixlepennie
    twixlepennie Posts: 1,074 Member
    A lot of times you hear people say eat this or do that in "moderation" and it got me thinking. To you what does "moderation" mean? For example, if you were trying to eat pizza in moderation how often would that be? I know it is probably different for each individual but I'm curious as to what your idea of moderation is.

    Moderation for me is eating whatever fits into my calorie goals and keeps me in my maintenance range. I don't look at it so much as how many times I eat something, but instead how big are the portion sizes/calorie load and how that fits with what else I've eaten that day/how many calories etc.
  • Escape_Artist
    Escape_Artist Posts: 1,155 Member
    For me, if I can hit my macros and stay in my calorie allotment, this is my moderation. I wouldn't want to eat pizza every day, I'd like to keep my love for it alive.

    Yup! :drinker:

    Although I have beer everyday and I still have lots of love for it :smooched:
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    to me,, it means get that bottle of whiskey, and drink the whole thing.
  • KateK8LoseW8
    KateK8LoseW8 Posts: 824 Member
    On a daily basis, moderation is getting most of my calories from nutrient-dense sources, with a small amount of throw-away calories that go into pudding, ice cream, etc.

    On a weekly basis, it's making sure that most of my days are as described above, but once a week allowing myself to get most of my calories from restaurants/fast food.

    On a monthly basis, only going over my calories due to "junk" food once or twice.

    On a long-term basis, not going insane from chocolate deprivation while also not suffering nutritional deficiencies.
  • Mcmilligen
    Mcmilligen Posts: 332 Member
    I'm not a fan of the "everything in moderation" rule, because everyone has a different definition of it.
    Most of the time, it encourages people to eat unhealthy food as a part of their healthy diet more regularly than should be tolerated. I understand everyone's opinion of what is healthy for them is incredibly personal, but in my opinion it's healthier to plan to eat all healthy [whole] foods and allow yourself to eat what you otherwise wouldn't when things don't go according to plan. Live your life, and do what you can.
  • jess_steich7
    jess_steich7 Posts: 58
    It means exactly what the word means. Not to excess. With restraint.

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/moderation?s=t

    I know what the word moderation means. But it seems that individuals have their own definition of moderation, for example, some people may think eating pizza in moderation is once a week or for others once a month. I just wanted to hear how other people defined it for themselves.
  • jess_steich7
    jess_steich7 Posts: 58
    I'm not a fan of the "everything in moderation" rule, because everyone has a different definition of it.
    Most of the time, it encourages people to eat unhealthy food as a part of their healthy diet more regularly than should be tolerated. I understand everyone's opinion of what is healthy for them is incredibly personal, but in my opinion it's healthier to plan to eat all healthy [whole] foods and allow yourself to eat what you otherwise wouldn't when things don't go according to plan. Live your life, and do what you can.

    That is a great plan!
  • jess_steich7
    jess_steich7 Posts: 58
    Thanks for the input everyone!
  • jayche
    jayche Posts: 1,128 Member
    It means you get a McDonalds Big Breakfast with a large coke for breakfast, Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger with large fries and drink for lunch and a large pepporoni Dominos pan pizza for dinner.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    A lot of times you hear people say eat this or do that in "moderation" and it got me thinking. To you what does "moderation" mean? For example, if you were trying to eat pizza in moderation how often would that be? I know it is probably different for each individual but I'm curious as to what your idea of moderation is.

    for me it wouldn't be how often I have pizza...you have to get rid of this idea of "bad" and "good" food.....there are more or less nutrient food options but no good or bad foods. Moderation would be having a slice or two of pizza instead of eating half a pizza. I have macro goals and I have calorie goals...I hit those goals...there's nothing wrong with having a slice of pizza if I'm hitting those goals...that's what people FAIL miserably at understanding when it comes to IIFYM and moderation vs. deprivation. It's really not difficult at all...

    I can assure you that deprivation never works in the long run...you don't learn how to eat...and moderation is a learned skill...if you don't practice it, you'll never learn it...thus you'll never be able to apply it...thus you're likely to just to through cycles of yo-yo deprivation dieting.
  • lifengben
    lifengben Posts: 43
    For me, if I can hit my macros and stay in my calorie allotment, this is my moderation. I wouldn't want to eat pizza every day, I'd like to keep my love for it alive.

    ^^ this
  • nytrifisoul
    nytrifisoul Posts: 499 Member
    Moderation could be every day as long as you stay at or below your daily caloric intake.
  • chezjuan
    chezjuan Posts: 747 Member
    For me, if I can hit my macros and stay in my calorie allotment, this is my moderation. I wouldn't want to eat pizza every day, I'd like to keep my love for it alive.

    This is what it means to me. I strive to eat a balanced diet that meets my goals, and includes foods I like in quantities that allow me to maintain my weight.
  • SheGlistensasSheSings
    SheGlistensasSheSings Posts: 278 Member
    What do you guys think about moderation in regards to leafy green salads? I have no restraint when it comes to desires for healthy greens their vitamins feeling of nourishment. It's not hurting my overall intake. Do you think restraint smaller serving sizes of baby spinach kale chard salad greens is better for any reason?
  • BigGuy47
    BigGuy47 Posts: 1,768 Member
    It means don't try to shove it all in your pie hole just because it's yummy. Leave some for the other people at the table.
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    It's a nebulous term in dieting - a bit like clean eating as it varies from person to person in how it is applied or defined.

    For me it means I can incorporate anything I wish to eat as long as the portion size stays reasonable.
  • alisonlynn1976
    alisonlynn1976 Posts: 929 Member
    To me, moderation means not forbidding any foods that are non-optimal choices nutritionally, but keeping it to a reasonable portion size when I do choose to have them.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,257 Member
    What do you guys think about moderation in regards to leafy green salads? I have no restraint when it comes to desires for healthy greens their vitamins feeling of nourishment. It's not hurting my overall intake. Do you think restraint smaller serving sizes of baby spinach kale chard salad greens is better for any reason?

    I think it is necessary to have more moderation in some things than in other things - if one is sticking to a calorie allowance, chocolate will have to be in smaller portions, or more moderation, if you like, than things like leafy green vegetables which can be eaten in almost unlimited amounts without affecting our calorie limit.
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    What do you guys think about moderation in regards to leafy green salads? I have no restraint when it comes to desires for healthy greens their vitamins feeling of nourishment. It's not hurting my overall intake. Do you think restraint smaller serving sizes of baby spinach kale chard salad greens is better for any reason?

    I like salad but I would also portion it properly to taste and calories. Too much salad would make me feel blah. Plus, you don't get rewarded for eating more nutritional food once your personal dietary needs are met. Honestly, once I've hit my macros, a salad is pretty low on my list of foods I go to first.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    It means having one cookie or two but not the whole box.
  • aliceclutz90
    aliceclutz90 Posts: 151 Member
    For me, if I can hit my macros and stay in my calorie allotment, this is my moderation. I wouldn't want to eat pizza every day, I'd like to keep my love for it alive.

    Yeah I agree with this. Trying to get the hang of fitting daily treats into my calories/macros rather than have one massive blow out cheat meal/day/weekend which spoils everything I've done for the rest of the week

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