My Favourite Sandwich is Half my Daily Quota

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Replies

  • Blueseraphchaos
    Blueseraphchaos Posts: 843 Member
    The Sara Lee is the same size as a regular slice of bread. I hate bread, but on the rare occasion i want a sandwich and i haven't already made my own bread, i use that. It's pretty good. Those Arnold's thin sandwich rounds can be good for changing stuff up, too.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    segacs wrote: »
    stevwil41 wrote: »
    It may have been the whole "rewarding myself with food" thing which some people hate but I still ran 5 miles.

    I know some people see it that way, but I don't think there's anything wrong with rewarding yourself as food. Sure, some people will argue that you should aim to change your whole attitude towards food, to see it as fuel instead of as a reward. But personally, I think that good food is one of the good things in life. I *want* to enjoy it, not just to fuel myself with X number of calories. Otherwise, I'd simply pump calories and nutrients into my veins with no regard for taste, atmosphere or presentation. And hey, if I earn those extra calories, I'll enjoy them even more!

    This works for me with money (i.e. budgeting) when I save up for something and then ultimately enjoy it more when I buy it as a result. I see no reason why it shouldn't also work with food.
    I assume that like most things, it depends on the person, their relationship with food, their goals, etc. etc.etc.

    I firmly believe in "good food", and like everything else, one's definition of "good food" varies...
    We all need to figure out what works for us for the long haul (I won't say "forever" because that shifts as well). Cheers.
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    We all need to figure out what works for us for the long haul (I won't say "forever" because that shifts as well). Cheers.

    Yep, exactly!

    The only reason I even brought it up is that, it seems to me as a relative newbie that this forum is just like most any other internet forum or group that's been around for a little while -- certain tropes or sacred cows have developed and get oft-repeated. The don't-see-food-as-reward one seems to me like it's one of them. And hey, if that works for some folks, great. I just think that it's gonna be different for everyone, and I'd hate to see someone feeling bad about themselves for having a different approach that works for them only to get the impression from hanging around here that it's somehow "wrong" or "bad".

    Now, on that note, I'm off to enjoy some (within my daily macros) delicious chocolate.

    Cheers right back at'cha.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Does sound ridiculous. a 500 calorie sandwich is half caloric goal. lulz.
    That's called doing it wrong.
  • vegemitesandwich
    vegemitesandwich Posts: 66 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    Does sound ridiculous. a 500 calorie sandwich is half caloric goal. lulz.
    That's called doing it wrong.

    Any that's helpful at all how? It works for OP and makes it sustainable for her, which is a lot better than feeling deprived and increasing the chances she'll go off plan.
  • noexcusesjustresults2014
    noexcusesjustresults2014 Posts: 212 Member
    edited November 2014
    smandymail wrote: »
    So I've been tracking all of my food very carefully this week on My Fitness Pal. Today I realized that my normal - and very beloved! - peanut butter and nutella sandwich actually puts me over my entire daily fat quota by 2 grams, and makes up more than half my daily caloric intake.

    Hahahahahhaha!!

    Yes, I believe it. It just sounds ludicrous, don't you think?

    I don't think there is anything wrong with getting half of your daily calories from one meal.

    If you would like to eat more food you have two options:

    1. Decrease your deficit by eating more and losing weight at a slower weight

    2. Keep your deficit the same by exercising more and eating back all additional calories burned.

    I don't know anything about your current stats or goals so only you can decide which of the two above options are appropriate.

    I don't think anyone should judge OP for her caloric target without knowing her situation. She could be very short, petite and sedentary with a low TDEE.
  • synchrohobbit
    synchrohobbit Posts: 58 Member
    segacs wrote: »
    Anyway, I say keep the foods you love, just make room for them. One of my favourite treats is to make myself homemade pancakes on a lazy weekend morning. All the real butter - white flour - white sugar - full fat goodness of the pancakes made just like my mom used to cook them. With real maple syrup, of course. A single serving of 2-3 pancakes is a whopping 540 calories! But if I indulge only once in a while, serve them up with some berries, and call it both breakfast and lunch, I feel full till dinner and can still come in under my calorie goal for the day.

    It's not a diet; it's a lifestyle change. Keep the things you love; just make them work.

    I do the exact s
  • synchrohobbit
    synchrohobbit Posts: 58 Member
    Whoops, that didn't work! I do the exact same thing! I used to try to make substitutions and make the pancakes "healthier", but I wouldn't end up consuming any less calories because they weren't as satisfying. So if you want to replace your multi-grain bread with the lite cardboard, or replace creamy peanut butter with some sort of substitute you definitely can, but if you enjoy your sandwich and have room (and you said it keeps you full for a long time!) don't change anything.
  • smandymail
    smandymail Posts: 40 Member
    Yes I'm a believer in satisfying calories, not low-fat substitutes. For those who are wondering, my caloric goal isn't very high just because I am already quite small, with a very sedentary lifestyle. I am a writer, working from a reclining position. That means I need a lot fewer calories than someone on their feet all day long.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    synchrohobbit wrote: »
    Whoops, that didn't work! I do the exact same thing! I used to try to make substitutions and make the pancakes "healthier", but I wouldn't end up consuming any less calories because they weren't as satisfying. So if you want to replace your multi-grain bread with the lite cardboard, or replace creamy peanut butter with some sort of substitute you definitely can, but if you enjoy your sandwich and have room (and you said it keeps you full for a long time!) don't change anything.

    Granted, to some the multigrain bread is already a substitute... :)
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    vegemitesandwich wrote: »
    dbmata wrote: »
    Does sound ridiculous. a 500 calorie sandwich is half caloric goal. lulz.
    That's called doing it wrong.

    Any that's helpful at all how? It works for OP and makes it sustainable for her, which is a lot better than feeling deprived and increasing the chances she'll go off plan.

    How about no one asked you? Go eat some vegemite.

    You don't know how vlcds are doing it wrong? Sounds like you're going to be set up for success that way. Congrats.
  • Daniloveshockey94
    Daniloveshockey94 Posts: 348 Member
    who cares!! just eat it!!! :)
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    vegemitesandwich wrote: »
    dbmata wrote: »
    Does sound ridiculous. a 500 calorie sandwich is half caloric goal. lulz.
    That's called doing it wrong.

    Any that's helpful at all how? It works for OP and makes it sustainable for her, which is a lot better than feeling deprived and increasing the chances she'll go off plan.

    How about no one asked you? Go eat some vegemite.

    You don't know how vlcds are doing it wrong? Sounds like you're going to be set up for success that way. Congrats.

    The OP is on VLCD?
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    If 500 calories is half daily intake.

    What is 500*2?
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    If 500 calories is half daily intake.

    What is 500*2?

    Did SHE say her sandwich was 500?
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    Did SHE say her sandwich was 500?

    Actually she said she uses 4tbsp of peanut butter, 1tbsp of nutella, and some multigrain bread. Which probably comes out to more like 600-650 calories.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Ugh every time I pass this thread I want to make myself one of these sangwiches.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    segacs wrote: »
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    Did SHE say her sandwich was 500?

    Actually she said she uses 4tbsp of peanut butter, 1tbsp of nutella, and some multigrain bread. Which probably comes out to more like 600-650 calories.

    So depending on her height, weight, lifestyle, age... 1200-1300.... hmm sounds like what THIS WEBSITE would recommend to her (depending on her inputs).
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    edited November 2014
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    So depending on her height, weight, lifestyle, age... 1200-1300.... hmm sounds like what THIS WEBSITE would recommend to her (depending on her inputs).

    1200-1300 calories isn't wrong for everyone. I'm a 5'1" woman and my goal of 1300 calories is TDEE-20% for my age, height, weight and activity level -- not based on MFP's guided recommendation at all. The OP says she just wants to lose about 5 pounds and then maintain -- she's obviously not going for an unhealthy target here. The truth is, us smaller ladies need less food.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    segacs wrote: »
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    So depending on her height, weight, lifestyle, age... 1200-1300.... hmm sounds like what THIS WEBSITE would recommend to her (depending on her inputs).

    1200-1300 calories isn't wrong for everyone. I'm a 5'1" woman and my goal of 1300 calories is TDEE-20% for my age, height, weight and activity level -- not based on MFP's guided recommendation at all. The OP says she just wants to lose about 5 pounds and then maintain -- she's obviously not going for an unhealthy target here. The truth is, us smaller ladies need less food.
    Bingo. It's NOT wrong for everyone. And it isn't a "VLCD".

  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    segacs wrote: »
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    So depending on her height, weight, lifestyle, age... 1200-1300.... hmm sounds like what THIS WEBSITE would recommend to her (depending on her inputs).

    1200-1300 calories isn't wrong for everyone. I'm a 5'1" woman and my goal of 1300 calories is TDEE-20% for my age, height, weight and activity level -- not based on MFP's guided recommendation at all. The OP says she just wants to lose about 5 pounds and then maintain -- she's obviously not going for an unhealthy target here. The truth is, us smaller ladies need less food.
    Bingo. It's NOT wrong for everyone. And it isn't a "VLCD".

    Hard to agree with that when there's a bird of a bird at UCSF doing anti-aging research based on VLCDs, and her program for study participants is 1400 calories.

    Eh, what the hell does she know, MFP says 1200 is good to go.
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    Hard to agree with that when there's a bird of a bird at UCSF doing anti-aging research based on VLCDs, and her program for study participants is 1400 calories.

    Eh, what the hell does she know, MFP says 1200 is good to go.

    VLCDs are defined as diets of <800 calories/day. This is clearly not what the OP is eating.

    Look, I know that a lot of people come on here saying that they're targeting 1200 calories/day because they entered a 2lb/week goal into MFP and that's what it told them, and really they should be eating more. But the OP has already stated that she's very small and light and it does sound like her calorie goal is appropriate.

    Back to the topic at hand: Yes to food splurges within the goal! If you love a food, you gotta be able to indulge from time to time.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    No, that's not how they're defined.

    But hey, she'll do it, and it will work or it won't. No skin off my knucks. She could do it right, or do it cyclically.

    Looks like cycles are what she prefers.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    No, that's not how they're defined.

    But hey, she'll do it, and it will work or it won't. No skin off my knucks. She could do it right, or do it cyclically.

    Looks like cycles are what she prefers.

    So calorie restriction isn't based on TDEE/BMR? My sister's BMR is about 1000. She's eating about 1200. that's a bad bad VLCD?
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    OP: Your profile says you have only 3 lbs left to go. I recommend switching your MFP goals to be .5 lb / week. It's much more sustainable and will help you slowly transition into maintenance.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    britishbroccoli wrote: »
    OP: Your profile says you have only 3 lbs left to go. I recommend switching your MFP goals to be .5 lb / week. It's much more sustainable and will help you slowly transition into maintenance.
    Not a bad idea at all.
  • Anonycatgirl
    Anonycatgirl Posts: 502 Member
    My husband and I just decided that our favorite soup, whih involves 2 kinds of cheese, potatoes, and possibly a healthy dose of crack, can happen on a day we've done a long hike. You just have to find a way to enjoy your favorite things occasionally without starving the rest of the day. :smile:

    Another thing to consider is do you really need to be as low as 1200 calories? A lot of us here have found we have better long-term success losing a bit more slowly but not feeling hungry as much of the time.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    segacs wrote: »
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    So depending on her height, weight, lifestyle, age... 1200-1300.... hmm sounds like what THIS WEBSITE would recommend to her (depending on her inputs).

    1200-1300 calories isn't wrong for everyone. I'm a 5'1" woman and my goal of 1300 calories is TDEE-20% for my age, height, weight and activity level -- not based on MFP's guided recommendation at all. The OP says she just wants to lose about 5 pounds and then maintain -- she's obviously not going for an unhealthy target here. The truth is, us smaller ladies need less food.
    Bingo. It's NOT wrong for everyone. And it isn't a "VLCD".

    Hard to agree with that when there's a bird of a bird at UCSF doing anti-aging research based on VLCDs, and her program for study participants is 1400 calories.
    Link please? Or explain what 'a bird of a bird' means so I can find this study myself?
  • NinjaJinja
    NinjaJinja Posts: 147 Member
    I typically get like... 2/3 of my calories from one meal and that's simply because the things I like to cook for dinner are too high calorie for acceptable portion sizes to fit into a diet where all meals are divided into 3 equal portions. So I eat sparingly during the day to afford a nice sized dinner of things I would actually eat for the rest of my life.
  • smandymail
    smandymail Posts: 40 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    No, that's not how they're defined.

    But hey, she'll do it, and it will work or it won't. No skin off my knucks. She could do it right, or do it cyclically.

    Looks like cycles are what she prefers.

    Um...hi! I started this thread and it's gone (unsurprisingly) a bit nuts. I don't think I prefer "cycles" since I've never dieted in my life and hardly need to now - I want to lose 5 pounds, big deal?

    Sandwiches were meant to be a lighthearted topic....

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