Everything in moderation

I agree..everything in moderation. I would rather have a smaller version of the real thing than some not great tasting diet version....it will only make me want to eat more since it wouldn't be satisfying. It is a learning process...:)

Here here!

I really appreciate some of the views I find here on MFP, but I definately can't live up to all of them. I think its wise to pay attention to what you eat, but you can't worry about it to the point it affects your bloodpressure.

I think it can be dangerous to be too passionate about one way of eating or another, especially if you're cheap like me and are trying to do all this without going to a professional trainer. When I first started dieting, I was told counting calories and carbs were the way to go, and I became so obsessed that I was border line annorexic because I was obsessed with calorie totals.

NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE PREACH - I'm not going to give up meat. I'm not going to give up bread. I'm not going to give up sugar.

I AM - going to watch my intake, try to minimize processed foods, limit my sugars, and make better decisions about my diet in general.

I'm not going to be the next Ms. Universe, but I believe I'll be able to feel and look healthy. And having this community is really helping me stick to this!

I'm the same way. Mainly because I'd prefer to eat natural food, even if it is real whipped cream. Fat free cool whip, in my opinion, is just some chemicals mixed up to look similar...hydrogenated oils and corn syrups...but it's fake and in my opinion fake (the hydrogenated oils for example) always turns out to be worse than high fat. But I do try to limit the high fat stuff, and burn it off with exercise when I do eat it. Unlike some lucky folks I see blogging here, I will probably always crave that kind of treat and I figure it's better to have in moderation than to feel deprived to the point where I get out of control.

I've had good results just cutting down calories. I still have pizza night with the family, I admit I hardly eat out any more and I did stop drinking soda altogether, but I still will have an occasional dessert with the family. Once a few years ago I followed a highly restrictive high protein diet and it was unsustainable, I just couldn't do it anymore, and lost all but 10 lbs back. This time around I have just cut down on calories and I'm much happier.
Overall I feel like I'm in better shape then before and I can go out with the family for a meal.
With that being said I choose to eat lean meats like chicken and fish, some pork and I look for foods that pack the most punch for minimal calories. I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and some nuts, like almonds.

I've found, after 50 lbs, that this just isn't that hard to follow.

I'll just add my "ditto" to the list!

I am eating better these days, but I do *not* have "bad" foods or "good" foods. Food is food--and a small piece of really good cheese or chocolate is 1000 times better than non-fat "cheese" or carob.

I'm all about the real foods in moderate quantities.

I agree with you (as in my motto in tagline).

I think one of the biggest mistakes a lot of people make is trying to follow anything that can remotely be called a "diet" or "meal plan" or anything that says to cut out ALL of something (carbs, sugar, fat, whatever.) Unless you have a serious medical problem that requires it, it's a bad idea.

Here's why. We don't live 10,000 years ago. We don't live in a little village on some remote mountain (most of us, anyway.) We live in a society and time where food is related to, and reacted to, different than it was even 50 years ago. I'm not saying that's an excuse to eat crap. But where, when and how we live is a reality. Eating healthy MUST incorporate that fact. There are some people who can and desire to eat a low carb diet (or whatever the trend is) - and more power to them if they can maintain that for the next 60 years. But those people are few and far between. For the vast majority of us, who have families and jobs and live in the 21st century, that is not a reasonable expectation.

The ONLY thing that matters in changing your eating habits is exactly that - what you can realistically MAKE a habit. What can you do on a daily basis for the rest of your life? For most people, that will not include never eating a brownie again. Or never having spaghetti. Or never having a "insert food here".

I've seen a lot of people talk about "a new lifestyle"...and then freak out when they eat something "bad" or go over cals by 100. A LIFESTYLE includes indulgences and treats and bad days and good days and REALLY bad days and kids and eating out and everything else that accompanies living in the time and place we live in. Trying to deny those realities is a perfect recipe for disappointment and returning to exactly the way you behaved before you started this endeavor. As I told someone the other day, I look at any weight loss/diet/nutrition plan in this way - Would I force my child to eat this way, would I expect him to do it for the rest of his life, and would it be healthy for him? If any of those answers is no -- WHY on earth would I do it to myself?

Figuring out what is healthy AND sustainable is hard. But it's the only way to be truly successful at weight loss.

But that's just my opinion. Come see me in 20 years and we'll see who is still maintaining their "diet".

I do believe in moderation. I would love to eat all natural but it's not possible for me. I'm here to get all around healthier and learn to balance out my nutrition (the 10 pounds I would like to lose is a bonus!). I also needed to learn portions. Basically I needed to learn how to eat. And it's happening.

I jumped into MFP deciding I would do high proten and low carb diet. Erm reality check, high everything, but in moderation. LOL My big love is cheese, and I still have whatever cheese I want, but it's 30g of this and 30g of that, fineley grated etc I have 5 different types in my fridge right now. No where in my fridge will you find anything with low fat in it, (low in fat, means high in something else, salt, e numbers, carbs etc to make it tast good). I do love sausages and burgers, so I now eat meat free products with heavy meals and meat with light meals, but have increased chicken and fish! This is the least deprived I've ever felt on any diet. In fact, this is the first time I can truly say that this is not a diet, but a lifestyle change.

Good attitude and approach! Live it!

I don't give up what I like. I just do more exercise, or what until I have a cheat day to eat what I want. I've done other diets and I can't stick with them. I just count calories and work out. That seems to be the best thing for me.
I like the fact that you can be on what ever diet you want to be and still get help from others to encourage you on.
i wish you the best and don't stop baking. I have a great recipe for a sheet cake with chocolate frosting. All made from scratch. Believe me I eat just a small portion and give the rest to the guys at work.
Keep going and don't stop loosing weight.

I'm the same way. I am finding that I need to alter what I eat because I wasn't getting anywhere near the right balance before, but I'm not going to deny myself a couple of tortilla chips or a cookie just because I'm "on a diet." For me, if I cut those things out completely, it's going to be hard to stick to my weight-loss plan. So I just add in what I'm going to eat on my food diary so that I know how much it's "costing" me, and that helps me keep my portions in check. Everyone is different though, and if the temptation is too great and you know you can't just stop at "just one" or whatever, then do what works for you.

Can I just say I am in love with this thread So many sensible people! :happy: