Pleasure vs Necessity?

AliceRabbit13
AliceRabbit13 Posts: 138 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Many folks who have had long-lasting success with losing weight is because they were able to change their outlook on food. They are able to view it as 'fuel', and don't look at it as a comfort. I have been able to lose weight by denying myself the pleasure I derive from eating whatever, but it always comes back because I get tired of denying myself. How can I change my mindset? Because quite frankly, the small surge of gratification of overcoming my desire to give in is often trumped by the gratification of stuffing myself with whatever I want, especially after a stressful day. Any suggestions would be appreciated. :)

Replies

  • Rmfowler1990
    Rmfowler1990 Posts: 83 Member
    My only suggestion would be to reduce your guilt by working it into your calories for the week. I love a sweet treat at the end of my night so I reserve 200 calories and eat my treat (which is measured and limited). That way I don't feel deprived and I still can enjoy my favorites. If I blew my day and don't have 200 calories left over after all my meals than I skip it for the day and have that be my lesson to be more aware of my calories. Hope that helps!!
  • smarieallen85
    smarieallen85 Posts: 535 Member
    My only suggestion would be to reduce your guilt by working it into your calories for the week. I love a sweet treat at the end of my night so I reserve 200 calories and eat my treat (which is measured and limited). That way I don't feel deprived and I still can enjoy my favorites. If I blew my day and don't have 200 calories left over after all my meals than I skip it for the day and have that be my lesson to be more aware of my calories. Hope that helps!!

    Agreed! I eat a desert every night now, WITHOUT feeling guilty (as I did before I started MFP).

    Also, don't you get enjoyment from fresh veggies? Is your supermarket good?
  • kenc1971
    kenc1971 Posts: 107 Member
    I have a horrible sweet tooth, and the only way that I could overcome it was by including (low sugar) protein bars and shakes in my day. There have been some pretty good advances in that area over the past 5 years, so they don't taste like caulking and sawdust anymore. I also found myself looking forward tot he good food that I eat, so that it's a comfort in its own way.

    What are your "bad" foods that you find yourself turning to? Is there a way that you can fit the occasional one into your day without going over your calorie limit?

    For real, though: I would kill for a honey bun, or Hostess Fruit Pie right about now.
  • jkal1979
    jkal1979 Posts: 1,896 Member
    There is no reason to deny yourself anything as long as it's in moderation.

    You could try and work it in by using the 80/20 rule. Use 80% of your calories on 'fuel' and 20% on 'whatever'.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I don't look at food as comfort but I sure as hell don't consider it nothing more than fuel. I eat both for enjoyment and to meet my goals. I don't consider any foods bad or off limits. I just know that in order to meet my goals I need to base my diet on meat, fruit, veggies, and dairy. I usually have a serving of ice cream every night and some kind of baked thing for breakfast.

    I think the important thing is to learn delayed gratification. I don't eat ALL TEH ICE CREAM because I know that it will still be there tomorrow. I could have more, I just choose not to do so because it's not conducive to meeting my calorie goal or macro/micro requirements.

    The problem with trying to cut out everything "bad" is that eventually it gets to be too much for many people and they'll break and binge on everything in sight. I think it's a better strategy for most people to include some foods that are enjoyable but are not as nutrient dense. That said, if you have trigger foods (the ones that you know you can't keep around or you will eat them all), it makes sense not to keep those foods around at first, while you train yourself in portion control and delayed gratification. You can take baby steps to reintroduce them into your diet at a later date-- like going to McDonald's and getting a single ice cream cone instead of buying an entire quart.
  • NikiaSue
    NikiaSue Posts: 259 Member
    Fooled again by topic. But while I'm here....

    If I want something sweet, I let myself have it and try not to go overboard. ( I love my sweets to)
    When I try to avoid what I want, I substitute it with something else and still end up eating what I wanted originally.

    Just do it in moderation and try to incorporate other things like fruit and veggies where you can.
    so you get the good with the not so good.

    Good luck babe. FR. Me if you want, I keep an open diary.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Many folks who have had long-lasting success with losing weight is because they were able to change their outlook on food. They are able to view it as 'fuel', and don't look at it as a comfort. I have been able to lose weight by denying myself the pleasure I derive from eating whatever, but it always comes back because I get tired of denying myself. How can I change my mindset? Because quite frankly, the small surge of gratification of overcoming my desire to give in is often trumped by the gratification of stuffing myself with whatever I want, especially after a stressful day. Any suggestions would be appreciated. :)

    More important than the outlook on food is the relationship with food.
    Geneen Roth has several books on this.
    You can see her on youtube as well:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HUl5eyljR0
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    i disagree with skipping breakfast. i eat 6 small meals per day, and i make sure every one consists of foods i really love. no filler foods, no blah foods, no foods that are only fuel, and this is the first time in many years i've been losing weight consistently and never feel hungry or deprived.

    breakfast is often oats made with non-fat milk and sweetened with stevia, and then i discovered adding a little cinnamon makes this deeelish :) i have a favorite omelette - it's egg beaters with hash browns built in, topped with bell peppers (NOT green ones), pepper and parmesan. 178 calories, lots of protein. i eat potato chips (a measured 1 ounce serving), crackers, tortilla chips. i make guacamole that makes my mouth water and fits in with my calorie goal, and there's a brownie recipe that is almost fat free, tastes great and has a very satisfying texture, too. i also have a cookie recipe that makes 3 small or 1 big chocolate oatmeal chocolate chip cookie.

    when i want sizzler or chipotle, i have smaller helpings, skip the meal after them and stay on my calorie goal. and i always save 200 calories for a bowl of erewhon cereal, half a cup of milk and xylitol as a sweetener :)

    funny thing - years ago i went to a therapist to change my relationship with food. more recently, i realized i don't have a relationship with food because food has no feelings for me at all - it's quite literally a one-way thing. i love food, but eating had become my reward as well as my comfort when i had no time, and that not only put lots of weight on me but i think i enjoyed my food less.
  • AliceRabbit13
    AliceRabbit13 Posts: 138 Member
    Thanks for the replies.

    I several problems that I can identify -
    1) I have used food as a source of comfort after a really bad day for a really long time. Trying to change that habit is very difficult, as I can't seem to find a suitable substitute that gives the same comfort, especially when I am 'in' the situation. I can hardly believe how much it helps me to deal with a situation to have something to nosh on while working;
    2) Food is often used to set up a social setting. I am literally on a small island in the middle of nowhere, so all there is to do is eat, hang out, work out, or get drunk on free time. So to answer the market question, we get a shipment of fresh fruits and vegetables about once a week, and the lone store can, and often does, run out of green selections.
    3) Being on said island, and out of the FFV, you have to either go to the chow hall, where your healthy options are salad or salad (BORING and unfilling), or you go to one of the eateries, which usually fries everything. Therefore, temptation is ALWAYS in front of me.
    4) I cannot seem to stop. I have very poor self-control. 'Moderation' is a concept I do understand, but can't quite seem to implement. This is mainly why I asked my question - I can't venture onto the slope, because it's automatically one that I enevitably fall down. I'm tired of not eating what I want, I feel like it would be easier to just not want it.

    Long story short, long-term denial of my impulses has increased frustration and leads to binges and subsequent guilt. Very curious as to how everyone else comes to terms with it. If it is "just fuel", I feel that one would have more control over it, or that food matters less. I guess the question should have been, 'How do I erase thousands of years of human evolution and brainwash myself into doing the right thing?' Lol ;)
  • _KitKat_
    _KitKat_ Posts: 1,066 Member
    Most adults are no better than children, in that if they are denied something...the desire increases.


    Most of us are creatures of habit, if stressed...try working out first or going for a walk or run. This will at least postpone the comfort eating and could help break the cycle. I also find after a workout, I crave healthier options normally. Moderation is the key and unfortunately it is simply something that you would have to learn. Also denying yourself anything will only lead to the restrict/binge cycle. I like snacks at night, so I always have the calories to do that. I also like more freedom on weekends, so most of my week is slightly lower to give me wiggle room on the weekends. You just need to find what works for you.


    As for the no breakfast, not sure I would ever recommend that to someone but it is how I have been my whole life and it does help allow the night time snack......it is not the reason I don't eat breakfast though.....it just makes me feel sick and hungrier than normal.

    Also I enjoy food!

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