controversial success stories pls=saying NO to certain foods

2

Replies

  • Galatea_Stone
    Galatea_Stone Posts: 2,037 Member
    Carefully balancing my macros to control my hunger and hypoglycemia and the hangries while eating at a deficit is the thing that works for me. This way took practice and a bit of self-control, but I'm years into the process and happy.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    So, here's my take on this.

    A few weeks ago, against my better judgement, I decided to try the Whole Life Challenge because my friends are doing it and I felt like it would be a fun social thing.

    Before I started the challenge, I was IIFYM all the way.

    I started the challenge and, almost immediately, started bingeing on the foods that I could not have. Why? Because mentally I was telling myself no and working myself up over it so much that the stress combined with the cravings led to bad behaviors.

    I'm now very happily back to my normally scheduled programming.

    This would be me completely. My husband is one of those that is all or nothing when it comes to changing diet, but I had to put my foot down the other day. I just can't eat lean meat and vegetables for dinner every day and the leftovers for every lunch.
  • smithcentral
    smithcentral Posts: 25 Member
    I've tried absolute and total denial of "forbidden foods"(depending on the diet plan of course). That didn't work for me long term. But what I can say has worked this time is portion control, better quality foods and an occassional 1 serving splurge of anything my heart desires... all weighed and logged in, of course, with the appropriate amount of excercise sprinkled in for good measure.

    I do deny myself the second helpings and the excuses. All lifestyle change requires some denial, just what that means to each individual is a unique and personal matter.

    I always keep in mind though that what works for me now, may need to be adjusted later. We all need to listen to our bodies and add some flexibility to the plate, too.
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    So, here's my take on this.

    A few weeks ago, against my better judgement, I decided to try the Whole Life Challenge because my friends are doing it and I felt like it would be a fun social thing.

    Before I started the challenge, I was IIFYM all the way.

    I started the challenge and, almost immediately, started bingeing on the foods that I could not have. Why? Because mentally I was telling myself no and working myself up over it so much that the stress combined with the cravings led to bad behaviors.

    I'm now very happily back to my normally scheduled programming.


    We're happy to have you back.

    IIFYM 4LYFE

    :heart:
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    Some of the stuff you listed is easier to get the wrong calorie count. Counts for processed foods I think can be off by something like 15%. So if you measure slightly off, and the calories are 15% higher than posted, you can quickly remove your deficit. When you drink the creamer and milk, do you measure it?
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    So, here's my take on this.

    A few weeks ago, against my better judgement, I decided to try the Whole Life Challenge because my friends are doing it and I felt like it would be a fun social thing.

    Before I started the challenge, I was IIFYM all the way.

    I started the challenge and, almost immediately, started bingeing on the foods that I could not have. Why? Because mentally I was telling myself no and working myself up over it so much that the stress combined with the cravings led to bad behaviors.

    I'm now very happily back to my normally scheduled programming.


    We're happy to have you back.

    IIFYM 4LYFE

    :heart:

    :flowerforyou:
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    So, here's my take on this.

    A few weeks ago, against my better judgement, I decided to try the Whole Life Challenge because my friends are doing it and I felt like it would be a fun social thing.

    Before I started the challenge, I was IIFYM all the way.

    I started the challenge and, almost immediately, started bingeing on the foods that I could not have. Why? Because mentally I was telling myself no and working myself up over it so much that the stress combined with the cravings led to bad behaviors.

    I'm now very happily back to my normally scheduled programming.

    This would be me completely. My husband is one of those that is all or nothing when it comes to changing diet, but I had to put my foot down the other day. I just can't eat lean meat and vegetables for dinner every day and the leftovers for every lunch.

    Exactly.

    I want to enjoy my life and food is a big part of that for me. :drinker:
  • Otterluv
    Otterluv Posts: 9,083 Member
    Some of the stuff you listed is easier to get the wrong calorie count. Counts for processed foods I think can be off by something like 15%. So if you measure slightly off, and the calories are 15% higher than posted, you can quickly remove your deficit. When you drink the creamer and milk, do you measure it?

    I came in to say this ^^^. The foods listed are pretty calorie dense, so if you aren't weighing it (or measuring the liquids) than you are quite possibly negating any deficit you have. If you have issues moderating those foods, than I totally get wanting to cut them out, but honestly I think that you should still eat them on occasion so that it's not so "all or nothing".

    Have you considered upping your activity level so that you can more easily maintain a deficit while enjoying those foods? I admit it, I park my car a LONG way away from where I need to be to earn some cookie calories. This is in addition to my normal running/lifting schedule as it's not really going to improve my fitness level at this point, but dammit, I want a cookie, and that's good enough for me.

    uIiVS0Y.gif




    ETA: this thread really should be in a different category.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    So, here's my take on this.

    A few weeks ago, against my better judgement, I decided to try the Whole Life Challenge because my friends are doing it and I felt like it would be a fun social thing.

    Before I started the challenge, I was IIFYM all the way.

    I started the challenge and, almost immediately, started bingeing on the foods that I could not have. Why? Because mentally I was telling myself no and working myself up over it so much that the stress combined with the cravings led to bad behaviors.

    I'm now very happily back to my normally scheduled programming.

    This would be me completely. My husband is one of those that is all or nothing when it comes to changing diet, but I had to put my foot down the other day. I just can't eat lean meat and vegetables for dinner every day and the leftovers for every lunch.

    Exactly.

    I want to enjoy my life and food is a big part of that for me. :drinker:

    Agreed. I think there's no point to any of this if I'm not enjoying life.
  • PJPrimrose
    PJPrimrose Posts: 916 Member
    Gluten. I avoid even tiny amounts of gluten so I don't die. (Celiac)
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    I say no to water when I am losing weight. Whenever I stop drinking water completely I lose weight and whenever I drink a lot of water the weight just comes right back. I don't know why it doesn't affect everyone the same way it affects me but I am obviously a "special snowflake" as well. Here's to excluding unnecessary foods/drinks to attain our goals!
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    I know that you're looking for people who deny things, but I did notice that all of the foods you listed are high calorie foods. Is it possible that you're underlogging them and that's why your weight loss stagnates? When you eat those foods are you still staying within your calories for the day? Or do they make you go over?

    No one is a snowflake, sadly. If you're not losing with those foods, you're not at a deficit.
  • litsy3
    litsy3 Posts: 783 Member
    I'm not on MFP to lose weight, but I did lose about 40lb a few weeks ago over about 6 months or more, and I did it by cutting bread, pasta and potatoes (most of the time) from my diet for about the first three months (after that I went back to eating whatever I wanted but by then I had a smaller appetite and better approach to portion control and lost more weight even though I wasn't planning to).

    Obviously what had made me fat was eating too much food, and I don't think any one food is 'the enemy' etc., but I do think it is much easier to over-eat white bread and pasta if you are in the habit of doing so. They're quite bulky, and they make me retain water, so because I was used to eating big portions, I was also used to the feeling of fullness that went with it, which meant my appetite in general was too big for my calorie needs and I was putting on weight.

    Cutting them out for a while (filling up my plate with veggies, having smaller portions of carbs like oatcakes with my cheese instead of a big hunk of french bread) meant I was eating fewer calories so I lost weight. And then re-introducing them into my diet once I'd lost the weight I wanted to lose meant my idea of portion size was completely different, because my appetite was smaller. Before, I totally couldn't see how 90-100g of dry pasta could be a serving when I needed easily twice that much to feel satisfied. Now I'm full after the 100g and don't really want pasta that often. So actually it did turn out to be sustainable FOR ME. I will never want to binge on bread or pasta again, and even if I do, I certainly won't want to the next day. But now when I analyse my experience it really was just all about portion size, moderation and calories in vs. calories out.
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
    Exercise is the key. I have been on my journey since February and have lost approximately 20 pounds. In April I joined a gym for kick boxing and strength training. I have read that if all we do is watch my calories, we will eventually loose the the weight, however,we will be just a liter vision of the same body type. I do NOT want to look like a pear for the rest of my life. Keep up the hard work, it will pay off for you!

    Thanks so much for your reply...it's encouraging to me and exercising more is definitely an area I need to improve in for sure!
    :flowerforyou:
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    That's not a success story, it's a sad story.
  • ColdPlum
    ColdPlum Posts: 57 Member
    If she has found what works for her, why are any of you offering advice or telling her that she is wrong? Where is the support? She found a way to lose weight that works for her, and I should be so lucky. For those of you who have found other ways to think about food and make use of MFP, congrats on your success! But let's please just support others in finding their own path...
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
    Some of the stuff you listed is easier to get the wrong calorie count. Counts for processed foods I think can be off by something like 15%. So if you measure slightly off, and the calories are 15% higher than posted, you can quickly remove your deficit. When you drink the creamer and milk, do you measure it?

    Thank you ever so much for your reply--it's encouraging to me! I am not measuring the creamer I use...I need to do that for sure. :flowerforyou:
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    If she has found what works for her, why are any of you offering advice or telling her that she is wrong? Where is the support? She found a way to lose weight that works for her, and I should be so lucky. For those of you who have found other ways to think about food and make use of MFP, congrats on your success! But let's please just support others in finding their own path...

    Because it is possible to lose weight without depriving yourself of the food you love. In fact, for a lot of people, that deprivation eventually leads to bingeing and failure. We are just trying to help by pointing that out...
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
    I've tried absolute and total denial of "forbidden foods"(depending on the diet plan of course). That didn't work for me long term. But what I can say has worked this time is portion control, better quality foods and an occassional 1 serving splurge of anything my heart desires... all weighed and logged in, of course, with the appropriate amount of excercise sprinkled in for good measure.

    I do deny myself the second helpings and the excuses. All lifestyle change requires some denial, just what that means to each individual is a unique and personal matter.

    I always keep in mind though that what works for me now, may need to be adjusted later. We all need to listen to our bodies and add some flexibility to the plate, too.

    Thank you ever so much for taking the time and care to post this encouraging reply to/for me! I especially appreciate what you've said-- "I always keep in mind though that what works for me now, may need to be adjusted later. We all need to listen to our bodies and add some flexibility to the plate, too." :flowerforyou:
  • NewLIFEstyle4ME
    NewLIFEstyle4ME Posts: 4,440 Member
    Thank you again to EVERYONE of you who replied :flowerforyou:
  • FitMe758
    FitMe758 Posts: 177 Member
    In logging my food, I know why I am was getting bigger and bigger.

    For example, my coffee used to have about 200 calories worth of cream and sugar and then I would have two or three cups for "breakfast" and that's it (I used to say that I like a little coffee with my cream and sugar, lol)
    Now I still have coffee. But I measure out the half and half and no sugar.
    The sugar thing took a while to get used to. But I can't live without coffee, so I still have it. Everyday. And now I have an actual breakfast to go with it, too!

    I love steak. I loooooove ribeyes and standing rib roasts. I still eat steaks. Every single week. However, I no longer have the "Man vs. Food" size steak. or 2,500 calories worth of rib roast plus sides.
    I weigh my food and record it. I will do so until I learn portion control.
    I could not stay on track only eating boiled chicken and canned tuna. Some people can. I can not. Pass the porterhouse, please.

    I don't eat any cupcakes, cookies, cake, candy bars, chocolate, soda, or chips. It's not like I am depriving myself. I just don't like them that much and can't justify the calories on something that's just "meh" to me.
    I will however, eat those calories worth of steak and a glass of wine or a Guinness, if they fit my allowance.

    The only thing I do now that I kind of hate is drinking water. I hate drinking water, but I do it anyway. I hate drinking water, but I found out that I hate working out while dehydrated even more, so I suck it up :/

    I am not into diets that claim that certain foods are evil. Unless you have a certain medical condition, most foods are not that bad. I mean, within reason: Don't go to the fair and eat deep fried cotton candy and a deep fried candy bar just because it was within your calorie allowance and expect to feel mah-velous the next day.

    But if you want to eat bread with buttah. Eat it, just don't have the whole loaf and use margarine (*clutches pearls*)

    Even if you have not-so-healthy choices occasionally. It's OK. You haven't fallen off the wagon and need to drown your sorrows in syrup. Just dust yourself off and try to make better choices for your next meal.

    Don't use food as punishment. Don't use food as reward.
  • kjo9692
    kjo9692 Posts: 430 Member
    Some of the stuff you listed is easier to get the wrong calorie count. Counts for processed foods I think can be off by something like 15%. So if you measure slightly off, and the calories are 15% higher than posted, you can quickly remove your deficit. When you drink the creamer and milk, do you measure it?

    Thank you ever so much for your reply--it's encouraging to me! I am not measuring the creamer I use...I need to do that for sure. :flowerforyou:

    I think you also need to weigh other foods like the fruits you eat. This could be part of the problem I believe. Get a food scale and weigh all your foods. Don't deny yourself of the things you like until you try this first! You have great food choices IMO but you definitely need to weigh them to make sure you are staying at your calorie goal, it doesn't matter how "good" you eat if you eat lots of it and don't know precisely how much of it you are eating. Good luck OP!
  • kk_140
    kk_140 Posts: 518 Member
    I've completely cut out diet soda. I have never drank regular soda in my life, but diet soda made me bloat and isn't any good for me either! So I've cut it out completely.

    I've also stopped eating chips.

    I don't feel like cutting it out is a bad thing. I don't even feel deprived. I've found healthier substitutes that taste good and make me happy lol.
  • Cali212
    Cali212 Posts: 20 Member
    I calorie-counted for years and could never really make a dent until I cut out most grains. I now eat 80% grain free, and leave occasional indulgences for pizza or cake.

    Interestingly, my total calorie input went up, but the weight just MELTED off. (This did not happen when I increased calories, but kept in the grains - only when I removed the grains.)

    So - to each their own! But all I can say is this - I don't believe that a calorie is just a calorie anymore.
  • Hello!

    I've got a suggestion, I have read that whilst doing a diet it is better to stay under a certain amount of calories (Hence Myfitnesspal) but also a great way to trick your body up and to get your metabolism going is to stick to a certain amount every 5 days

    Examples
    Monday - Friday (850 calories a day)
    Then Saturday and Sunday (1200 calories a day)
    Then repeat every week BUT change the two days a week that your eating more calories it throws your body off EVERY time leading to a better metabolism and less fat that your body is storing due to the constant changing.

    Let me explain, of course everyone knows your body stores fat when you eat less fat but with losing weight its hard to balance. While your on something similar to the example above you are staying on track of a good healthy eating/proportions BUT by the time you get to Saturday and Sunday your body might already have been saving fat it wasn't getting during the week so when you shock it with two days of more fat/calories it lets go of what is storing because it thinks its getting what it used to and creates a nice moving metabolism. AND from experience let me tell ya it doesn't seem like it would work but try it out you WILL be surprised. :)
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    Hello!

    I've got a suggestion, I have read that whilst doing a diet it is better to stay under a certain amount of calories (Hence Myfitnesspal) but also a great way to trick your body up and to get your metabolism going is to stick to a certain amount every 5 days

    NO.

    Examples
    Monday - Friday (850 calories a day)
    Then Saturday and Sunday (1200 calories a day)
    Then repeat every week BUT change the two days a week that your eating more calories it throws your body off EVERY time leading to a better metabolism and less fat that your body is storing due to the constant changing.

    Definitely NO.

    Let me explain, of course everyone knows your body stores fat when you eat less fat but with losing weight its hard to balance. While your on something similar to the example above you are staying on track of a good healthy eating/proportions BUT by the time you get to Saturday and Sunday your body might already have been saving fat it wasn't getting during the week so when you shock it with two days of more fat/calories it lets go of what is storing because it thinks its getting what it used to and creates a nice moving metabolism. AND from experience let me tell ya it doesn't seem like it would work but try it out you WILL be surprised. :)

    :noway:
  • lonnieh2
    lonnieh2 Posts: 28 Member
    To me what you eat isn't the issue. To me, losing weight it's a simple as this.

    1. Eat less >>Move more.
    2. Eat a lil more >>> Move even more.
    3. Eat a lot >>> Move a whole heck of a lot more.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    To me what you eat isn't the issue. To me, losing weight it's a simple as this.

    1. Eat less >>Move more.
    2. Eat a lil more >>> Move even more.
    3. Eat a lot >>> Move a whole heck of a lot more.

    I bet you're ripped.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    Hello!

    I've got a suggestion, I have read that whilst doing a diet it is better to stay under a certain amount of calories (Hence Myfitnesspal) but also a great way to trick your body up and to get your metabolism going is to stick to a certain amount every 5 days

    Examples
    Monday - Friday (850 calories a day)
    Then Saturday and Sunday (1200 calories a day)
    Then repeat every week BUT change the two days a week that your eating more calories it throws your body off EVERY time leading to a better metabolism and less fat that your body is storing due to the constant changing.

    Let me explain, of course everyone knows your body stores fat when you eat less fat but with losing weight its hard to balance. While your on something similar to the example above you are staying on track of a good healthy eating/proportions BUT by the time you get to Saturday and Sunday your body might already have been saving fat it wasn't getting during the week so when you shock it with two days of more fat/calories it lets go of what is storing because it thinks its getting what it used to and creates a nice moving metabolism. AND from experience let me tell ya it doesn't seem like it would work but try it out you WILL be surprised. :)

    Please don't EVER try to stick to 850 cals/day. 850 cals is a meal....Not a full day worth of calories.
  • fedup30
    fedup30 Posts: 141 Member
    I would probably deny myself the things that could spur on a binge. This is just me though. I know that I will experience more success if I deny myself chocolate, cakes, cookies, ect. (basically anything sweet). When I eat these things, they taste SOOOO good that I find that I cannot stop. I can have chips, bread or anything else in moderation, but sweets just trigger a binge reaction. I say if you can afford something in your diet, then do it. If you can control yourself with certain foods, then eat them. But here's me: There was an old Lifetime movie where this girl went on a diet and denied herself everything. She was at a wedding and found a whole cake on the buffet table. She snuck it into the closet and ate it with her hands....and she was found...sitting on the floor of the closet covered in chocolate...crying tears of guilt. People...that movie is about me. JK :)

    I'm with you! I find that if I buy a bag of chocolate, intending to eat only 1 or two....I end killing the whole bag in a couple of days! If I don't restrict the sugar, and salty snacks, I tend to over do it. So I have made the decision to cut them out.....for the most part :wink: If I do indulge, I will buy single servings :tongue:
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