what have you learned lately

I'm learning more of the science of how our bodies use carbohydrates to function and how it affects our body to reduce them. The results of my learning are still inconclusive. There are many educated opinions on low carb dieting and whether or not it's a healthy way to burn fat.

The more I'm learning about it, the further from an answer I feel like I'm getting, lol. It feels really good to educate myself about it though.

adding the sodium tracker to my food diary was a HUGE eye opener to the cumulative amounts of 'hidden' sodium. (and I'd thought I was doing pretty decently managing salt before I'd added that tracker!)

Now? I have not picked up the salt shaker to add a single drop of salt since!
I've been eating ONLY the sodium in the low sodium versions of things like canned broth and canned tomatoes without adding a single bit more.. and I have surprised myself with how little I am missing added salt since doing so!

I have learned that you can never really know what you will learn from your friends on MFP. Through support, friendship, and caring, you will have everything you need to make your dreams and goals come true. Friendship is the #1 thing that will get your Big Butt to turn into a Little butt here on MFP....LOL LOL LOL I love my Friends.....

I needed to up my calories for the day!! I wasn't consuming enough to actually lose weight...such an adjustment when you consider doing the healthy thing to eat less.

"If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way...if not, you’ll find an excuse."

Saw this on someones profile page. It really sunk in......

adding the sodium tracker to my food diary was a HUGE eye opener to the cumulative amounts of 'hidden' sodium. (and I'd thought I was doing pretty decently managing salt before I'd added that tracker!)

Now? I have not picked up the salt shaker to add a single drop of salt since!
I've been eating ONLY the sodium in the low sodium versions of things like canned broth and canned tomatoes without adding a single bit more.. and I have surprised myself with how little I am missing added salt since doing so!

I agree! I added the sodium tracker to my food diary also and it amazes me how much hidden sodium is in our food. I now check the sodium content before I eat anything and am very careful not to go over my limit.

I've learnt that finally being the 'right' weight by my husband's (Japanese) standards doesn't make him any nicer to me :frown: I never realised before how that was part of my motivation. Now I shall work harder not to comfort eat if he's horrible to me, so that I can stay my favourite weight, trying to forget that it's his too :mad:

Alcohol is not your friend! (even though I had a tiny glass of red wine this evening)

Here's the scoop:

Alcohol is metabolized differently than other foods and beverages. Under normal conditions, your body gets its energy from the calories in carbohydrates, fats and proteins that need to be slowly digested in the stomach—but not when alcohol is present. When alcohol is consumed, it gets special privileges and needs no digestion. The alcohol molecules diffuse through the stomach wall as soon as they arrive and can reach the brain and liver in minutes. This reaction is slightly slowed when there is also food in your system, but as soon as the mixed contents enter the small intestine, the alcohol grabs first place and is absorbed quickly. The alcohol then arrives at the liver for processing. The liver places all of its attention on the alcohol. Therefore, the carbohydrates (glucose) and dietary fats are just changed into body fat, waiting to be carried away for permanent FAT STORAGE in the body.

I learned that it is better (for me) to eat a larger breakfast, even if I have to use more calories to do it. If I fill up at breakfast, it's easier for me to stay satisfied throughout the day, but if I don't get full in the morning, I will feel hungry all day unless I go completely overboard with eating. Eating more calories in the morning helps me stay lower on calories for the whole day.

I've learned to go with the flow, all my plans for a great weekend and busy week fell apart when I hurt my neck last Saturday, (not even a great story, I was sleeping and rolled over!)
so, patience...and keep tracking because it really matters when you can't exercise.
hopefully back to normal next week...

I have learned that if you research enough about a food/product you will find evidence that it is the best thing for you and the worst thing for you. You need to do what you feel is best and try to think logically. Good luck out there..... It's a jungle.

i learned to have patience with myself while on this journey.

You will reach your goals with this attitude, I know it!

I have learned that if it can go bad it is good for you, if it can not it is not good for you. I can not believe that I have not eaten processed food for a month now and great I feel. I have also learned that you can survive without wheat, sugar and flour. But, the most important thing that I have learned this week is that the support of MFP makes this road is so much easy to travel.

fiber, fiber, fiber!! it's helped me immensely with some, um, *cough* problems i was having even if the fiber for losing weight issue is inconclusive. there is a ton of the stuff in fruits and veggies! love it.

i've learned that when I feel like fibbing on my food diary, the only person I am sabatoging is myself. Be accountable for EVERYTHING that crosses my lips - if I dont, in the end, it will only hurt me.