what have you given up and what have you added

24

Replies

  • Samstan101
    Samstan101 Posts: 699 Member
    I've given up nothing but drastically reduced the amount of fast & processed food plus mindless/ emotional snacking as well as learning moderation.

    Added exercise - lots of exercise. My name is Sam and I am a running addict!
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    Haven't given anything up, just change the amount I eat and what I have added is I move more and pick up heavy things!!! :wink:
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I haven't given up any foods, but there are many foods I limit. These are for health reasons rather than weight reasons, though, so I don't plan to change.

    Some I limit to rarely/never eaten, others to occasionally - cake, fatty meats, low fiber baked goods, fast food, pre-made meals/food, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, soda, fruit juice, ...

    Others I limit by the amount I eat in a day, rather than how often - dairy/beef fat, added sugar, salt, saturated fat, ...

    What I gave up was being lazy. And while I do miss it, I hope never to go back to it.
  • PrincessPoquilaPie
    PrincessPoquilaPie Posts: 16 Member
    I will never cut anything completely out. It is perfectly okay to indulge yourself in moderation. Restricting yourself is only going to make it harder.

    My lifestyle changes have included cutting soda out of every day life. If I go out with friends or I am at a family member's/friend's house, I might have one glass or can (this is only maybe once per month or so). I simply won't have it in my house because then I will want to drink it all.

    I have also replaced my binge-triggering foods.
    Pizza has been replaced with tuna salad and veggie chips..
    Fried breaded chicken (nuggets, popcorn chicken, tenders, etc) has been replaced with organic coconut crackers.
    Potato chips and dip have been replaced with fruit, usually grapes.

    Other small, but very helpful, changes I have made also include things like
    I replaced my full fat hellman's with low fat or olive oil based hellman's.
    Microwaveable ("easy access") foods are no longer being purchased. Everything is either raw (veggies, fruit, etc) or has to be made from scratch which helps keep my binging at bay since by the time I finish cooking something I no longer have the craving, resulting in it being packaged and either frozen/refrigerated. I try to eat those things before making something new from scratch so that they're less likely to be around when another binge trigger comes along.

    I have also had to start forcing myself to eat more, smaller meals. Instead of 1 or 2 MASSIVE meals, I've worked my way to around 4 small ones with a handful of almonds after dinner.
  • aarnwine2013
    aarnwine2013 Posts: 317 Member
    I've given up being a couch potato and making excuses for why I was fat and out of shape. I've given up the notion that I can't be fit. I've given up the idea that I can't achieve what I want.
  • dawnmcneil10
    dawnmcneil10 Posts: 638 Member
    I had to give up beef not because it's "bad" food but it's bad for me personally, not really much choice here eat beef and be sick or give it up and feel good. It was really a pretty simple decision but it got me to experiment with many "new" foods.
    Other than that I didn't give up anything, mostly I just found I like some things more than others. Fried food just doesn't appeal to me anymore but if I'm in Maine and fried clams are an option you can bet I'm eating a good portion of them and on the flip side to that I'm determined to walk the beach for at least an hour so I guess you could say I found balance too.

    One of my favorite finds is plain greek yogurt, I use it all the time, mix it with salad dressing, use it in place of mayo, sour cream, add a little vanilla flavor and use it in pancakes, eat it with fruit which is another thing I discovered I was never a big fruit eater, turns out I just needed to make the fruit pretty. I now make up fruit salad using fresh fruit and storing it in glass bowls, it makes me happy to eat it.
  • marchellaz
    marchellaz Posts: 70 Member
    milk chocolate for dark chocolate..still must have chocolate.
  • jadamuriel76
    jadamuriel76 Posts: 58 Member
    Gave up - Soda (not easy) and replaced it with water.
    Added - More veggies, fruits and excercise.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    My diet hasn't changed much in quality, really. I have always loved veggies and fruits, greek yogurt, whole wheat bread (many common white breads taste like rubber to me) , beans and everything one would consider "healthy". I rarely had soda, only when I ate at a fast food restaurant once in a blue moon. I'm a very mild drinker, would have a scotch on special occasions a couple of times a year but that's it. So I really didn't need to give up or add anything. I did not do juices often either, water has always been my primary go-to when I'm thirsty.

    My downfall was candies and chips. I could eat 4000 calories of those in one setting. That and the amount of food I consumed was at least 3-4 times the recommended servings. I haven't given anything up, I'm just more aware of how much I can have of anything on any given day.

    The only thing I had to give up and will never be adding back is guilt. When I eat over my calorie budget I just shrug it off and move on. It was the main reason I failed to lose weight in the past no matter how much I tried. Try to be a perfectionist, fail, feel sorry for yourself, give up.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    All my changes are planned to be permanent ones. I don't really feel like I have given anything up completely, but just switched over and started to prefer different things in some cases.

    I really do not ever eat pretzels, potato chips, crackers, or packaged cookies. I can't pace myself with cookies and I've never cared for those other salty snacks much so I just don't eat them now.

    I used to love ranch dressing, honey mustard dressing, sweet n sour/Polynesian dipping sauce, and mayo. A lot. Like I would eat whatever they were served with (Chick Fil A for example) primarily to taste those condiments. I rarely if ever have any of those (minus mayo which I just eat less of now). Instead I dress up my food with spicy mustard, pickled ginger, kim chi, tomato relish, and/or fresh herbs. I have come to prefer these and they have far less calories.

    I eat a lot more vegetables than I used to, especially different types of greens. I have started to develop more of a taste for veggies I didn't like in the past such as tomatoes, eggplant, and cauliflower. I drink a LOT more water and less diet soda. Although I still have about 3-4 cans of diet soda per week. At one point I cut it out totally for almost 3 months (after a scaled down 1-per-day habit for a year) and I noticed that I had a lot more problems with constipation. That stopped when I reincorporated diet soda 3-4 times a week. I know a lot of people think it's the devil but I am all for whatever works for me!
    In addition to having eggs for breakfast regularly, I actually crave eggs a lot and they are often my pick when I "could" eat anything I wanted due to a calorie surplus. Also nuts (portions that have been measured carefully of course).

    Just a tip if you decide to quit soda again and you aren't a coffee drinker, black coffee is also an excellent cure for what clogs you.

    Thanks! haha I do drink a cup of coffee every morning and yes I agree it helps with regularity too!
  • oedipa_maas
    oedipa_maas Posts: 577 Member
    Honestly, the most important think I've given up is treating myself like I'm worthless.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Sodas about 14 years ago.
    Added sugars (for the most part) about 12 years ago

    Otherwise, I would say I didn't "give up" foods, but rather I made some reasonable (for me) substitutions about 12 years ago: 100%whole grain breads (tortillas, pizza crust) for enriched bleached white. Brown rice and quinoa for white rice. Sweet potatoes for regular potatoes. Leaner cuts of meat for fattier ones, etc.
    And I cut beer down to a holiday treat.
    I cut way back on chips and other calorically dense/nutritionally light snacks.

    What I added: a crap ton of vegetables, and many, many new foods. Best thing ever.
  • smashy_smashy
    smashy_smashy Posts: 23 Member
    I've only been doing this for 5 days so far, so time will tell haha. So far, I've majorly cut back on my intake of sugar, which seemed to be the bulk of my caloric intake previously. Also, moderation with everything! Because I now weigh out my foods according to the actual recommended portion sizes, I can see that previously I was consuming at least double (if not more) the amount that I should have been. Right now, I'm trying to get myself accustomed to eating smaller portions and having that be enough.

    I haven't really added anything, but I've substituted some things for other commonly scarfed-down foods. For instance, yesterday I had half a sandwich for lunch and instead of having potato chips, I had 2 full cups of raw broccoli, carrots and snow peas with a little jalapeno ranch to dip them in (still was reasonable for calories). Yay!

    I can tell that the sugar thing will be an issue, at least for a few more days until the cravings subside. I'm craving one of the homemade ice cream sandwiches that are in my freezer, even though I know they'd set me back like 360 calories and would not fill me up whatsoever.

    Right now, I'm not incorporating any additional exercise to my day, but I hope to soon. Living in Phoenix in the summer makes it hard to want to go for a run!
  • mackmama11
    mackmama11 Posts: 15 Member
    I have recently started using MFP. I am slowly losing about a pound a week. I am starting to learn a lot about portion sizes and measuring. I really miss getting really full though.
  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    given up: Nothing really. I made no unilateral "no this, that or the other" changes to my diet. I have found that by educating myself about the value of food, I don't have to deny myself ANYTHING; I have however found that I tend to make much better food choices. And when I want to indulge myself, I do, without guilt.

    added: More activity, more veggies, more real dairy (whole milk, butter, cottage cheese), avocados, couscous, tofu.

    gained: increasing self-confidence and appreciation of me and how much potential I have.
  • Supertact
    Supertact Posts: 466 Member
    I rarely eat hamburger or pork these days, it's mostly chicken breast, No chips/chocolate bars/soda

    Other than that basically the same diet.
  • Geloza
    Geloza Posts: 315 Member
    Gave up fast food and soda.

    Added greek yogurt!
  • smashy_smashy
    smashy_smashy Posts: 23 Member
    I have recently started using MFP. I am slowly losing about a pound a week. I am starting to learn a lot about portion sizes and measuring. I really miss getting really full though.

    I so know what you mean! I'm not really hungry with my new caloric intake, but because I was so used to overeating in the past, I feel like I haven't had enough unless my stomach feels uncomfortably full. :( Hang in there, it'll get easier!
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    I've given up nothing in connection with the current weight loss efforts, except for comfort/stress eating. Like others, I've reduced my consumption of many things--for example, I used to do delivery for dinner pretty often and almost never do now, I pay a lot more attention to my meals being overall healthy and keeping treats as treats, not the centerpiece. I've also changed the way I eat, or more accurately, gone back to the way I used to eat and preferred--I try to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, like to eat seasonally when possible, and try to mostly cook from whole foods, although I still go out once or twice a week. I just don't treat that as a license to ignore calories anymore. I try to have protein and vegetables at every meal, although I'm not rigid about it.

    All of these changes I intend to be permanent ones. I've always enjoyed eating this way and it's pure laziness plus the comfort/stress stuff that led to my bad habits.
  • Linnaea27
    Linnaea27 Posts: 639 Member
    I wouldn't say I've given anything up entirely, but I have much reduced the wine and frequent desserts (although lately I've been enjoying strawberry rhubarb pie, which is something I would never pass up when there are fresh strawberries and fresh rhubarb to cook with).

    I added Greek yogurt and whey protein powder. I realized how little protein I was getting last summer when I started using MFP, and since I was hiking a mountain several times a week for work, I started using protein powder. The extra protein from that, and from eating a bit more meat, seemed to enable me to gain really nice muscles. I'm not hiking a mountain all the time for work now, but I'm hoping to regain that muscle (and none of the pudge) this summer by being careful with protein again and lifting.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Honestly, the most important think I've given up is treating myself like I'm worthless.

    Good answer.
  • shmulyeng
    shmulyeng Posts: 472 Member
    I've given up cake (was never very big in my diet). Everything else I still eat but less of it.

    I've added peanut butter. I would never eat peanut butter due to it's high calorie count. I now eat it with crackers when I'm hungry at night and I have a huge calorie deficit due to a big workout.
  • PhiloPray
    PhiloPray Posts: 36 Member
    i gave up fast food and sodas and most processed food. thats about it really. added in more veggies.
  • Fentyman
    Fentyman Posts: 58 Member
    I haven't giving up anything. I flat-out refuse. What I have added is exercise everyday for a least an hour.
  • shmulyeng
    shmulyeng Posts: 472 Member
    So as we all either change our lifestyle or diet I am curious what has been given up and will you ever eat it again or drink it. What have you added. And do you plan on a lifetime like this or just till you lose your weight?

    Myself-I have given up Soda and flavored water with artificial sweeteners. I do not plan on ever having that again. 30 days of water and 1 ice tea a day.So I find it duable.

    Pork products-as I got gout last year. I do occasionally still a slice of bacon at work-But at home I eat turkey bacon.

    Red meat-Bow here I cheat and eat a once every now and again-We go to a buffet on saturdays and I get 2 bites of prime rib. I love ribeyes but Choose not to eat it.

    Gluten in most items-this is due to my Hubby has celiacs and I rather eat and cook one time so I have to be careful of gluten in products

    Processed foods-I do not purchase ready to eat or boxed items anymore-and hopefully never will again

    My additions have been fresh fruit and veges-Grill alot of veges-And eat fruits I do not like-I do cheat and blend them.

    I hope my lifestyle will be a permanent thing. I have never felt so good.

    I'm not sure how long you're doing this, but what you describe here is not sustainable. Unless you have extreme willpower, you probably won't succeed (sorry to be so blunt :frown: ). Instead, cut out one thing at a time, stick to it for a few weeks and try the next thing.

    If you prove me wrong, good for you :smile:
  • Coltsforlife
    Coltsforlife Posts: 124
    Beer and more Beer!! I will only drink it again on a vacation. Hopefully I can keep it like that !:drinker:
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    I've given up some of my computer/Netflix time, and added gym time instead. I've also given up driving my car for short distances, and added walking instead.
  • feralkitten1010
    feralkitten1010 Posts: 219 Member
    I haven't really given up anything either. I try to eat as few GMOs as reasonably possible, but that's just a personal preference. Not so much a losing weight thing. I added bacon into my diet for breakfast to add a bit more protein. (I really don't like eggs.)
  • SammiC86
    SammiC86 Posts: 10 Member
    I've given up coffee, pop, alcohol, simple carbs, stress eating & eating out of boredom. I've added more protein, water, & upped the intensity of my workouts. So far so good!
  • ingeborgv
    ingeborgv Posts: 175 Member
    I have given up refined/added sugar and wheat - and when I do occasionally indulge, I get so bloated that it really has to be a special treat to be worth the discomfort after.

    I've added Greek yoghurt, kale and increased my use of sweet potato a whole lot.

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