Cold Turkey or Moderation?

Depends on who you are, I have to cut sweets out 100%, cold turkey, I can not handle moderation. You have to do what is right for you and do not sabotage yourself. You will just get frustrated and feel depressed afterwards.

I've recently realized that I cannot handle sweets in moderation. It's all or nothing for me. :grumble: So starting May, I'm cutting out store bought sweets and sticking to stuff that I make myself. It's not completely cold turkey, no deprivation but it would be "forced" in moderation because I know I'll be lazy to bake goodies. Lol

I have done both. When I first started back in Dec. 2009 I went cold turkey with soda pop. It sucked for about 8 days but I made it and haven't had any since and don't even miss it. It was all I drank before. Didn't even bother slowly weaning off with diet versions because to me it tasted like crap. Pizza is a moderation thing for me. I have it once a month and usually just go all out. I don't bother with healthy versions like cauliflower crusts. :noway:

A bit of both for me, I don't keep crisps, biscuits or chocolate in the house as I can't control myself to just have a little bit, however I still eat those things in moderation I just can't have constant access to supplies >_>

I find eating cold turkey is fine; usually in a sandwich.

:laugh:

Depends on the food. Most things in moderation, but certain things I had to just stop. I can't buy a jar of dry roasted peanuts and have them last more than a couple of days, so I just don't buy them anymore.

Because moderation doesn't work for me either (and it's such a relief to read I'm not alone ) I usually go cold turkey for a certain period of time. When cravings are coming it always depends on what I'm craving and how bad the cravings are. I'll then have that certain food (usually something chocolatey...) and enjoy every last bit of it. Or I might even take a whole day "off", just eat what I feel like eating without weighing anything, etc., and after that go back to counting calories without beating myself up about it.

But everyone is different, maybe you wat to give yourself some time to experiement what works best for you.

When I first started in November 2012 I cut everything processed out of my diet (I literally lived on fresh fruit, veg, meat and fish) but only for the first 4 weeks, then gradually I reintroduced these things back into my diet, with mixed results....

After the (sort of) detox I have hardly eaten bread, once a week maybe; I have put everything else back into my diet and moderation is my key....

I have a McDonalds every Monday (except Easter Monday, but we had it on Tuesday instead) and I work in a curry house (have done for almost 4 years) so I get a free main and side dish for every night I work, so every weekend I bring home an Indian banquet and me and the family have a curry night; we're a family that eats out more often than cooking at home (probably laziness, but it's just sometimes easier with our working schedules).

I log 100% honestly and I exercise most days for at least an hour and I have lost 142lb in 17 months, I am now only 5lb away from my goal weight and although my weight loss has slowed down (which is natural) it is still going in the right direction, I'm not really focussing on the weight loss any more, I'm now working on reducing my body fat percentage and increasing my fitness levels, so weight loss is just a side effect of the exercise and increased efficiency of my body.

Basically, you need to do what is right for you, we can all tell you how we've done it, but we're not you and you're not us.

Good luck with which ever method you try.

xXx

I find eating cold turkey is fine; usually in a sandwich.

:laugh:

Try the veal, I'm here all week. But please do not get it breaded unless it fits in your MACROS, calorie in v. calorie out. PS--hard and constant laughter has been shown to burn calories....maybe.

A bit of both for me, I don't keep crisps, biscuits or chocolate in the house as I can't control myself to just have a little bit, however I still eat those things in moderation I just can't have constant access to supplies >_>

This^

I live alone, so if there is food in the house, I'm the only one who will be eating it. Sometimes it's better to not have to look temptation directly in the face every day. For example, I love salt & vinegar chips, so I'll get them when I get a sandwich for lunch from the deli at work, but I won't buy a bag of them at the grocery store to bring home.