I need a SALT intervention!!!!!!

b00b0084
b00b0084 Posts: 729 Member
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I am horrible at paying attention to my Sodium intake and I am also a saltaholic. I love salt, I have to put salt on most of my cooked food. It is the main seasoning in everything I cook. Food tastes so bad to be without salt. I need help with it an an intervention

Replies

  • jpeebs88
    jpeebs88 Posts: 81
    I live alone and eat Lean Cuisine/Healthy Choice etc. meals alot. They are LOADED with sodium... geeze!

    Try using Mrs. Dash when you cook - adds flavor but not sodium...
  • Walt75
    Walt75 Posts: 182 Member
    Can't you eat SOME salt free food??? Then have a pickle later??
  • daylilies
    daylilies Posts: 92
    I took a look at your diary and right away I see a problem. You're eating a lot of processed food. The pizza and corned beef hash just from today are loaded with sodium. If you need pizza, try making your own, on a bagel or English muffin. Don't used a ton of cheese and other toppings.

    Also I would slowly bring down the amount of salt you put in your home made food. Try half as much, then work slowly down to even less. Use other herbs and spices to kick up the flavor. Use unsalted butter, and usually if what you're making has cheese in it, you can lower the amount of salt you sprinkle into it since cheese is salty. Once you start using less you will get used to the taste.
  • driscollmc
    driscollmc Posts: 85
    girl i definitely get you on that one. it takes time. there are certain substitute things that still make everything taste good. like yellow mustard has a lot of salt in it, so instead i use tzatziki sauce. you just have to find what you like, or just use less. but it takes a while, ease your way out of it :) you can do it!!!
  • b00b0084
    b00b0084 Posts: 729 Member
    I need to do something. If I cannot taste the salt I have to add salt. I used to eat straight salt when I was younger. I am too young to start having heart problems from my salt addiction. I have already been to a cardiologist once and dont want to go back.
  • rainbow_dawn1990
    rainbow_dawn1990 Posts: 35
    I was the exact same way what you need to do is not even bring the stuff into your house I use ms.Dash and garlic salt both give off a great taste try them out!
  • b00b0084
    b00b0084 Posts: 729 Member
    I will do that. I live with my dad (moved because of a bad situation) and he has a small thing of salt on the fridge which is right behind me when Im at the stove so I automatically reach behind me and grab it when I cook.
  • jsteras
    jsteras Posts: 344 Member
    I feel your pain at the thought of giving up the salt sahker, I did it cold turkey, I haven't picked it up since the day I started here which was March 22nd, 2011. Believe me I couldn't live with out it I thought, but in reality I won't be living long if I don't put it down. I am already on Blood pressure meds and my mother died from congestive heart failure. So I realize if I want to live I have to give it up. I am now working on getting my sodium intake below 2000, I will eventually move it down to 1500. I found that if I plan ahead for the next day what I am going to eat it helps to control the sodium content. Also watch alot of the food people have entered into data base doesn't have sodium content listed. Good luck to you and feel free to add me as a friend we can do this together:)
  • believetoachieve
    believetoachieve Posts: 675 Member
    I need to do something. If I cannot taste the salt I have to add salt. I used to eat straight salt when I was younger. I am too young to start having heart problems from my salt addiction. I have already been to a cardiologist once and dont want to go back.

    It sounds like you know what needs to be done, but for some reason you're just not doing it (not trying to be mean, just giving out some tough love). When you're truly ready, you'll make the change. To hit your weight loss goal, and health goals you NEED to cut down on the salt. It can be done, you just need to make it happen!! Use spices instead of salt. Wean yourself slowly off it, remind yourself how it could be slowly killing you. Good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • b00b0084
    b00b0084 Posts: 729 Member
    my main issue is i hate to cook so I grab the precooked that i heat up **** or the just add water crap. and all that is LOADED with sodium. I take that back, I like to cook I just cant stand how long it takes. When I am hungry I dont want to spend forever putting everything together then waiting for it to cook lol. plus my kitchen is soooooo tiny and my dad has no kitchen table and no counter space so it is easier to throw something on and be done. I know excuses, but I am working on it.
  • believetoachieve
    believetoachieve Posts: 675 Member
    Working on it is good. Remember that by eating 4000mg salt/day (the last few days in your diary!) is not great for your health or waistline. Put a little sticky note on your salt shaker! Ultimately, it comes down to this: what's more important..... salt on your food, or a healthy/fit body? Do this for your son - use him as motivation if you need to. Good luck! :drinker:
  • b00b0084
    b00b0084 Posts: 729 Member
    my goal last year (which i did not meet) was to be able to run a mile, I want to restart that goal this year. I want to be able to run a mile by my sons birthday. Right now, if I run more than 15 feet my lungs are on FIRE! It doesnt help that I am a smoker either, but I have seen runners who smoke so I know it is possible. I want to get fit enough and healthy enough that I can run and run with pride. I would love to run a marathon next year.
  • believetoachieve
    believetoachieve Posts: 675 Member
    That's awesome. Specific goals are GREAT! I ran my very first 5k last weekend. Even though I've been a "runner" for a while, I'd never done the official race, and it felt awesome. I'd recommend starting smaller though. Sign up NOW, and then you'll be more committed to it. My race fee was $50, and I knew it would KILL me to waste that money (by not going! or worse, not finishing), so I trained hard. I actually signed up for 2 races at once - one that was two months ahead, one that was 6 months ahead :smile:
  • scarletleavy
    scarletleavy Posts: 841 Member
    I think you'd be surprised how quickly you outgrow the taste of salt and processed foods once you stop eating them. I cut out processed foods from my diet months ago and now I have no taste for them at all. I was never a salt addict, but I did put large amounts of sugar on everything, particularly in drinks. One day I just stopped and now I find I enjoy the taste of things without the sugar just fine. You just have to give your body a bit of time to process the change.

    There are also ways to cook at home without spending tons of time. Perhaps invest in a crockpot or cook one pot meals. Or if you have some time in the morning you can prep the ingredients for dinner later so all you have to do later is throw them in a pan/oven. If you do that most of the cooking time in the evening is just waiting around for the food to finish, so you're free to do other things.
  • maremare312
    maremare312 Posts: 1,143 Member
    my main issue is i hate to cook so I grab the precooked that i heat up **** or the just add water crap. and all that is LOADED with sodium. I take that back, I like to cook I just cant stand how long it takes. When I am hungry I dont want to spend forever putting everything together then waiting for it to cook lol. plus my kitchen is soooooo tiny and my dad has no kitchen table and no counter space so it is easier to throw something on and be done. I know excuses, but I am working on it.

    Ugh I love salt too, it's so hard! I try to up the garlic, hot sauce, and black pepper instead of using more salt. Vinegar is also good for adding to many things!

    Can you make some foods ahead of time to get away from the processed foods? A big bowl of salad or pot of soup that is low cal, made up at the beginning of the week is great to take the edge off hunger while you're preparing meals. When I get too hungry I eat whatever I can get my hands on so it's really nice to have some healthy options ready to go. Also chopping up veggies ahead of time, grilling/broiling meats.
  • maremare312
    maremare312 Posts: 1,143 Member
    I also second (third/fourth?) the Mrs Dash recommendations! There are tons of yummy flavors!
  • b00b0084
    b00b0084 Posts: 729 Member
    sounds like I need to take a walk to the store for some mrs dash!
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