Should I cut everything out at once?

heres what i did, i think it worked fantastic, i had no issue getting into it really
week 1; cut out all "junk" (chips, candy, any beverage that isnt zero cal)
week 2; start lifting weights
week 3; start counting cals and keep to a deficit
work in cardio on week 4 if you want but i didnt bother with it

the key is to work in gradually. if you change too much then you'll become overwhelmed and be tempted to give up

eta i forgot to mention that the cutting out of junk food is temporary, like for a month so you can get any cravings you may have under control. after that work them back in if you want as long as it fits into your daily calorie goal

Unless you are having problems with eating the things you like in moderation then there is no reason to remove anything if it fits within your caloric intake and macros... Now if you have trigger foods that cause you to overeat, then by all means remove them until such a time that you can add them back in... I don't lump foods into categories of Good vs. Bad!! are there foods that are more nutritious than other, well of course but that doesn't mean you can't work in foods unless it is something you just don't like... You are looking to establish something you can live with the rest of your life... Drastic changes all at once never end well...... Best of Luck

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to know if I should cut everything out at once. All the junk processed foods, unhealthy habits (such as drinking very little water in the day)
Should I make these changes all this week or do it slowly?

why cut it at all?

It's not the food type that is causing the weight issue it's the amount.

If you want to make healthy changes yes start with more water and start exercising.

But food doesn't need to be eliminated for you to be healthy just eat it in moderation.

If you're trying to lose weight, don't cut anything out but start measuring and weighing your foods properly and practice moderation. As long as you are reaching your calorie goal for the day it doesn't matter what you eat. For nutrition I suggest you follow IIFYM, there's plenty of posts here that explain that in more detail but it in addition to calorie counting you are also making sure you meet your minimum protein, fat and carb goals for the day.

Now, if you want to cut out processed foods I respect your choice there's nothing wrong with that. However, cutting out "junk" food will not in itself help you lose weight. You can gain weight even when eating seemly healthy foods because the calories are no different. If you eat more calories than you burn, you will gain fat.

If i were you, eat all of your favorite foods but in moderation and as long as they align with your calorie and macro targets for the day / week. Any diet where you can't have all of your favorite foods won't last long, developing a healthy relationship with all of your favorite foods will benefit you for the rest of your life.

Unless you are having problems with eating the things you like in moderation then there is no reason to remove anything if it fits within your caloric intake and macros... Now if you have trigger foods that cause you to overeat, then by all means remove them until such a time that you can add them back in... I don't lump foods into categories of Good vs. Bad!! are there foods that are more nutritious than other, well of course but that doesn't mean you can't work in foods unless it is something you just don't like... You are looking to establish something you can live with the rest of your life... Drastic changes all at once never end well...... Best of Luck

QFT. Foods are not good and bad or "total crap". You must look at a diet as a whole! Nutrient rich, whole foods do wonders to help you feel full but at the same time, there is nothing wrong with eating foods you enjoy in moderation. In fact, I would find it incredibly difficult to stick to a diet long term if it didn't allow me to have the foods that I love.

I went from eating absolute crap to eating food that mostly tasted of cardboard. Cold turkey. Switched everything. Just like THAT. It was an incredibly difficult first two weeks. After many years of complete indulgence, I was forced to be disciplined. Much like a spoiled child, I was pissed and wanted what I wanted.

It is so very difficult to just flip the switch from junk and crap to all healthy, all the time. Maybe a switch that replaces one bad habit with a healthy one every week or two would be easier.

On the other hand, that means being mildly peeved for many months. Maybe, for some, getting all the disappointment out of the way in the first few weeks is easier.

Kind of like a Band-Aid. Do you rip it off or eek it off slowly?

Different schools of thought.

Why aren't you eating things that taste good? I refuse to eat things I don't enjoy. That doesn't mean I get to eat everything that does taste good to me, but the things I do eat, I make sure I enjoy.

First of all, log everything so you can see what you are eating, then start tweaking. Start by exchanging healthier choices. Buy meat, fruit, and veggies at the grocery and fix meals from those instead of fast food or processed heat and eat dinners. Snack on raw veggies, nuts, and popcorn instead of chips and dip. Drink water or zero calorie beverages instead of sugary sodas. Eventually you will find a place where you can eat well without being hungry and you can fit in small portions of the higher calorie foods that you like.

Here's what I'd do: I wouldnt think in terms of cutting things out. I'd consider it as: I'm learning to eat in a more healthful manner. I'd add in more vegetables, more lean meats, more nuts and seeds and legumes, and some fruit. I'd drink more water. I'd move more. I'd walk more, take the stairs etc. I'd add some sort of exercise that I enjoy…

The other stuff will naturally be a smaller part of your diet. Then if you want to dump em, do that. But if it were me, wanting to learn to eat in a healthy manner to nourish and fuel my body (and to lose some weight), I'd work on adding IN lots of nutrient dense foods. If you truly do that, say, 80% of the time, and make sure you don't over eat, the rest will take care of itself.

But that's just me. :-)

^ Me To !

The problem with this is that for many people, restriction won't "get cravings out of their system". It can do the exact opposite. I love ice cream and have a decent control over it. Tell me I can't have it for 3 weeks and I'll want it more then I ever have. I just don't see how a few weeks of restriction is going to make me no longer love my favorite food.

i can definitely see how it would be counter productive to some. i personally was a big time binge eater though, and my poison was potato chips. too easy for me to reach in for my first chip and then next thing you know im at the bottom of the bag without even realizing it, i was pretty weak will power wise. i think the month off helped build up the will to stick to just a handful or so

I went from eating absolute crap to eating food that mostly tasted of cardboard. Cold turkey. Switched everything.

I eat very healthfully...none of my food tastes like cardboard. You're doing it wrong...