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Giving in to craving

annesoucy57
annesoucy57 Posts: 24
edited February 23 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been counting calories for 2 years and gradually relearning portion size. Salty and fatty foods were my downfall, something that I loved eating but not what would happen after, thirst, bloating, weight gain but still I would eat it. After a few months of trying to loose weight I decided to eliminate some of those dishes since they did not help me.

I craved them like crazy, would walk in front of the restaurant and smell it and I had to talk myself out of it each time.

Yesterday I went there and took take out food of my favorite and my walking in was deliberate not an impulse. Came back home, weighted the food calculated the calories, looked at the macro and put on my plate. Sat and realise that my supper was going to be meager because of this plate. Took a bite, pit down my fork, tasted it, took another bite, chewed, put the fork down. Took the plate to the scale reweighted the food and substracted what I was putting in the garbage from my calorie count.

It did not taste as good as before, I got use over time to less salt and fat. I am glad about this, that demon is gone. I know I wont eat perfectly all the time and it is fine, what I enjoy is the fact that this dish is not conteolling me anymore, I can say no and if I fail I can stop.

Replies

  • SugaryLynx
    SugaryLynx Posts: 2,640 Member
    What you're describing sounds like food guilt, not self control. You sound like you were physically turned off by the food because it made you feel guilty. That just doesn't sound healthy to me. I hope you at least ate something else in its stead, since the story sounds like you took one bite and threw the rest away? I would've at least put it in a container for later or something. ..
  • annesoucy57
    annesoucy57 Posts: 24
    actually did not like the taste, the salty taste was overwhelming, as far as guilt is concerned there was none since I had planned it, nothing worse than what some people call a cheat meal. I did have my lunch and no need to keep something that I was not going to enjoy.
  • jim9097
    jim9097 Posts: 341 Member
    Cravings are not always bad, unless they are twinkies or something like that. For example; you did mention salty stuff. It is possible in a calorie restricted diet to deprive yourself of the appropriate amount of sodium. Believe it or not it is essential; and many people do not realize that when you up your water intake you delute your bodies sodium content; and when you exercise more you sweat much of it out. So a craving for salt may very well be your body actually needing the additional sodium.
  • SugaryLynx
    SugaryLynx Posts: 2,640 Member
    I can think of worse things than a cheat meal. So, I guess you can order something you'll actually enjoy next time, then?
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    The weight you gained from salt was water retention due to the sodium in salt. Drinking water will enable this to pass in a few days. Unless you have a medical condition which restricts you from consuming fat and salt then those foods are not the enemies. You gained fat pounds from eating too much food. Now, you need to cut back on the calories while enjoying a variety of the foods you enjoy.

    As a rule of thumb, the following weekly targets would give a balance between minimizing negative side effects and seeing a reasonable weekly weight loss:

    More than 75 lbs: 2 lbs/week
    40-75 lbs: 1.5 lbs/week
    10-40 lbs: 1 lb/week
    Less than 10 lbs: 0.5 lb/week

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • AlysonG2
    AlysonG2 Posts: 713 Member
    I've definitely noticed this. I'll crave something for a while (some of my old favorites), finally give it to it, then be completely disappointed because it just really doesn't taste as good as I remember it tasting! I was shocked the first time it happened.
  • lemon629
    lemon629 Posts: 501 Member
    I've definitely noticed this. I'll crave something for a while (some of my old favorites), finally give it to it, then be completely disappointed because it just really doesn't taste as good as I remember it tasting! I was shocked the first time it happened.

    I tell people this all the time. Your tastes change as you change what you eat. It only takes a month or two.
    Most people do not believe me.
  • Slaintegrl
    Slaintegrl Posts: 239 Member
    At least let me be one to congratulate you on this. You have learned better portion control, have reduced your intake of fat and salt while still getting some of both, and you have proven that you can resist temptation. By getting the meal and only eating part of it, you realized that this type of food was no longer what you wanted. There will be times, sure, that you'll crave something. Temptation is not necessarily a bad thing, it's when you give in to it constantly. Go ahead and eat it occasionally. The important thing is that YOU make the decision, not tempation. This has to be a way of life, so every now and then you can allow yourself a treat. The frequency of when you do that is entirely up to you. Good luck and keep up the good work.
  • lemon629
    lemon629 Posts: 501 Member
    actually did not like the taste, the salty taste was overwhelming, as far as guilt is concerned there was none since I had planned it, nothing worse than what some people call a cheat meal. I did have my lunch and no need to keep something that I was not going to enjoy.

    Good for you! No need to waste the calories on something you're not enjoying. You should enjoy the food you choose to eat.
    This sounds like it was a real learning experience.
  • SugaryLynx
    SugaryLynx Posts: 2,640 Member
    I must be so weird then because I went months without ice cream and adding it back was like heaven. I even heard Marvin Gaye start up when I took my first bite. And the only reason I ever took it out was because I started on this path of thinking I had to. The forums opened my eyes to the fact that I could still be healthy, lose weight, and live happily ever after without eliminating foods I enjoy

    If you intend to eat the way you do to the lose weight for the rest of your life, so be it. But I've seen far too many people restrict unnecessarily to get to some feeble scale weight goal, then relapse back and sometimes, even more than what they started at because they did not learn sustainable habits and we're left demonizing foods. Weight loss is calories in vs out. Health is getting your required macro/micros. Once you've met these needs, you don't get a bonus for getting more, the calories are free for you to distribute as you see fit.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    I must be so weird then because I went months without ice cream and adding it back was like heaven. I even heard Marvin Gaye start up when I took my first bite. And the only reason I ever took it out was because I started on this path of thinking I had to. The forums opened my eyes to the fact that I could still be healthy, lose weight, and live happily ever after without eliminating foods I enjoy

    If you intend to eat the way you do to the lose weight for the rest of your life, so be it. But I've seen far too many people restrict unnecessarily to get to some feeble scale weight goal, then relapse back and sometimes, even more than what they started at because they did not learn sustainable habits and we're left demonizing foods. Weight loss is calories in vs out. Health is getting your required macro/micros. Once you've met these needs, you don't get a bonus for getting more, the calories are free for you to distribute as you see fit.
    I've found that splurging on the "good stuff" really is what makes it worth it. I got a milkshake from a diner, and it was very meh. I did finish it, but it felt like I wasted the calories. But, a pecan porter milkshake with candied pecans from Alamo Drafthouse? I'm all over that. Same with ice cream. I don't think I'd waste money on blah flavors I used to enjoy, mostly because I've found things like Talenti caramel apple pie.

    I definitely agree; the "splurge" should be something that tastes amazing, but you'll have to test the waters to see what you still enjoy. Sometimes our palates just change.
  • Slaintegrl
    Slaintegrl Posts: 239 Member
    I must be so weird then because I went months without ice cream and adding it back was like heaven. I even heard Marvin Gaye start up when I took my first bite. And the only reason I ever took it out was because I started on this path of thinking I had to. The forums opened my eyes to the fact that I could still be healthy, lose weight, and live happily ever after without eliminating foods I enjoy

    If you intend to eat the way you do to the lose weight for the rest of your life, so be it. But I've seen far too many people restrict unnecessarily to get to some feeble scale weight goal, then relapse back and sometimes, even more than what they started at because they did not learn sustainable habits and we're left demonizing foods. Weight loss is calories in vs out. Health is getting your required macro/micros. Once you've met these needs, you don't get a bonus for getting more, the calories are free for you to distribute as you see fit.

    I don't see how she's restricting unnecessarily. She had a food she loved that was high in salt. She stayed away from it for awhile, then tried it again and found she didn't like the taste anymore. That happens for some people with some foods. Other people with other foods, maybe not. At least she's weighing her food, looking at her macros. Counting her calories. This doesn't sound like such a bad plan to me.
  • frannieshack
    frannieshack Posts: 327 Member
    That's great! I do not think it is because of guilt at all. I think your tastes adjusts as you start to enjoy healthy foods. I used to enjoy more sugary desserts, now they just taste too sweet. Salt is the same way. The small changes you are making in your diet are working for you. Keep it up!
  • annesoucy57
    annesoucy57 Posts: 24
    yes of course next time. i will eat and enjoy something that taste better
  • SugaryLynx
    SugaryLynx Posts: 2,640 Member
    yes of course next time. i will eat and enjoy something that taste better

    Perhaps I misinterpreted the OP, so I apologize if I did :D In retrospect, there are foods I ate that I no longer do, as I want to spend my calories wisely. Maybe my early morning reading comprehension is off lol. Big macs, I no longer eat those haha. But I do still go to McDonald's. Those grilled mcwraps are awesome :P
  • annesoucy57
    annesoucy57 Posts: 24
    Hum.......I do eat healthier than before for one important reason my health. I am at an age where health issues often start putting stress on your life. I was lucky up to now but it would not take long to have a heart attack like my mom did at my age. Iwant to travel, I want to enjoy life without having to carry a suitcase of pills, I also want to look younger, I want to walk faster, I want to do more.

    With age comes maturity and this maturity or life experience made me realise that my diet was unbalanced simple as that. Since then I have lost slowly and constantly over a period of 2 years a small 38 pounds. It was done by smaller portions of the food I used to love, then realisjng that this food even if I was loosing weight because of portion control and staying within a small calorie deficit did not meet my goal.

    My skin was dull, my cellulite was awful, my joints ached, I felt sluggish, I was tired all the time. By making some choices the previous sentence does not apply anymore.

    I eat plenty, I eat tasty food, I eat healthy and do not feel deprived in the least, what I was eating bedore was slowly killing me.

    Each can choose how they want to grow old and once I am there the consequences of my choices will bite me in the a.. :0)
  • annesoucy57
    annesoucy57 Posts: 24
    Dont worry about no arm done :0)
This discussion has been closed.

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