Any Idea's On good logging and dieting?

gav1901
gav1901 Posts: 7 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm having a gastric bypass next year but would like to lose as much as possible before that. I wondered if any of you guys had any good diet or logging tips as I am really useless at logging?

I'm not new to this but have started fresh so would be grateful for any new friends on here :D

I have tried a lot of diets but my addiction to junk food always overcomes any diet i do. I drive a van for a living so drive past McDonalds, KFC etc. all the time, it’s really hard to not go in
(Yes I know willpower. I do try) but again like I said I feel addicted to the junk. I am also clinically depressed which I don't know if that makes a difference. My god writing this makes me sound like a total lost cause. But I will post this as I feel I need to.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Replies

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Welcome and you can do this

    What I would suggest is to leave all your cash and cards at home so you can't give in to temptation but be sure to pack a good lunch that you've made at home and some snacks

    So invest in some plastic tubs and a chiller box you can take with you

    And if you post the kind of foods you like to eat I bet people can give you good low calorie versions
  • CJsf1t
    CJsf1t Posts: 414 Member
    Pre- logging food in your dairy. It helps me to prevent snacking.
  • cw106
    cw106 Posts: 952 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    Welcome and you can do this

    What I would suggest is to leave all your cash and cards at home so you can't give in to temptation but be sure to pack a good lunch that you've made at home and some snacks

    So invest in some plastic tubs and a chiller box you can take with you

    And if you post the kind of foods you like to eat I bet people can give you good low calorie versions

    agree.preparing packed lunch/ snacks will help a lot,and will help you feel a lot better too.
    open your diary so people can give you best advice.
    i work out of my car daily too,and not used fast food for months.lost over 20kg.
    all the tools and help you need to succeed are right here.

  • ukaryote
    ukaryote Posts: 860 Member
    In my small experience, gastric bypass usually involves counselling to help weight loss ahead of time, and to help with the overall lifestyle change required afterward. My suggestion is to work with them first. And yes, clinically depressed makes a huge difference.

    I do not think it is willpower. I think is it hard work and practicing to create new behaviors and habits.

    And the game is rigged.

    McDonalds, General Mills, et al spend enormous amounts and much effort creating food that punches all our buttons to consume more. They do not care if you die, there are always more people to bleed dry.

    So it is not entirely YOUR fault that it is difficult to pass by fast food places.
  • Laughter_Girl
    Laughter_Girl Posts: 2,226 Member
    Congratulations on taking this big step towards better health!!!

    It doesn't seem you're addicted to fast food though. It sounds like because of what you do for a living, fast food restaurants are convenient. Below are two suggestions.
    1. Pack hearty lunches and snacks to take with you everywhere you go. (I always have something hearty, salty, and sweet to eat with me. That way, I can accommodate any cravings I may encounter.)
    2. If you are too busy, lazy or unsure about packing your own food, eat less at the fast food joints. I'm not sure what a typical meal would be, but if you normally get 2 burgers order 1 instead. If you're use to ordering a large order of fries, order a small. And definitely eat your meals slower. That will make them last longer and your body will get use to eating less.
    3. I know I said two suggestions, but I thought of one more. Please drink water. I know you travel and can't make potty breaks frequently, but when you know you're going to be making a stop, start drinking that water. If you're drinking pop/soda, substitute it for water.

      Wishing you all the best on your journey, and know that you can do it!!!
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited November 2014
    Like others have said, have food with you that you are happy to eat. That eliminates the excuse to stop somewhere else. Tell yourself you only eat at set times and stick to it strictly for a while (with the possible exception of something like raw veggies if you really want to munch) until you are out of the habit. It's easy to let food become a pick me up, happy thing in a bad day, especially if you are struggling with depression, and you want to focus on reconnecting it to true hunger or the need for nutrition.
  • dieter1200
    dieter1200 Posts: 56 Member
    bringing your own food would be best. But look at the companies nutritional information so you can have a plan on what will fit within your calories. Check out calories for subway.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    I actually stop at McDonald's ALL the time after my workouts and buy a small coffee with some cream and Splenda. Occasionally I'll get some food but I seldom do this. At first I started buying apple slices from Mickey D then I was like, this is stupid, I can slice these up myself at home. Nowadays I buy apples by the bags (more convenient than picking each Apple individually at the store - a possible place for cost saving if it ever came down to that). I slice up an apple into four and core it in the morning, pack it in a sandwich bag for a snack. Sometimes I'm eating the apple just as I'm driving to McD and it really helps me not need to buy any food when I'm there. I get the coffee since my drive is fairly long and I love their coffee

    Strangely enough, I would say do not look at fast food as the devil or some mortal sin. It's just food. Yes, oh, YES, the calories can add up fast, but you can also choose to buy lower cal items while you're there. An over time you just may find yourself not frequenting there as much

    Here's a guide to logging accurately, you did mention you're not a 100% beginner so you should be able to find some helpful tips here without feeling overwhelmed:

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide/p1

    Personally I prefer to use the app so I can log whenever, wherever, and I use a food scale to measure everything I can
  • funchords
    funchords Posts: 413 Member
    Hi Gavin,

    M 51 SW:298 CW:233 GW:208

    I was on the track for gastric bypass as my diabetes was getting out of control, even with insulin and drugs. On July 9th, my surgeon's office assigned homework of food logging including calories, carbs, fats, and sugars. They recommended MyFitnessPal as an easy way to do this. This homework was to prep me for the logging I would need to do after the surgery. It was assigned for a week, and then reassigned each week for a total of 21 days. We reviewed the logs in a group class: I lost about 20 pounds in that 21 days.

    So after the 21 days, I kept going. In about 2 more weeks, I started having "lows" (hypoglycemia) and quit doing insulin and my drugs. My blood sugars are normal, just with diet and walking (3x a week for 30 minutes minimum).

    My BMI was 41.6 when it started. When it fell below 35, I canceled the surgery. I'm going all the way.

    My key learning is to: keep logging no matter what. You can have a binge, a bad day, even a bad weekend, but if you log through it, you're back in control as early as the next meal. And none of those events have caused me to stop losing weight week after week -- I'm on day 114 and down 66 lbs..

    Now, I believe in the benefits and safety of the RNYGB surgery for which you are preparing. I was just a few weeks out from my surgery date. I would still have it if my BMI didn't fall so low and so fast. It's just circumstantial that has set me on this path and I feel very glad about it. This is not trying to change your mind, it's just to tell you that you have a friend here wishing you success.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Gavin you are awesome!! I love all the encouraging advice you give to people. Keep it up!!
  • Stargazer525
    Stargazer525 Posts: 70 Member
    cw106 wrote: »
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    Welcome and you can do this

    What I would suggest is to leave all your cash and cards at home so you can't give in to temptation but be sure to pack a good lunch that you've made at home and some snacks

    So invest in some plastic tubs and a chiller box you can take with you

    And if you post the kind of foods you like to eat I bet people can give you good low calorie versions

    agree.preparing packed lunch/ snacks will help a lot,and will help you feel a lot better too.
    open your diary so people can give you best advice.
    i work out of my car daily too,and not used fast food for months.lost over 20kg.
    all the tools and help you need to succeed are right here.

    Agreed.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    I also prelog every morning, it helps tremendously. Get yourself one of those mini-coolers so you have your food for the day when you leave each morning. You've got this!
  • libbydoodle11
    libbydoodle11 Posts: 1,351 Member
    I am just gonna parrot what everyone else has stated.


    Plan, plan, plan...

    Buy a cooler that can contain a days worth of meals, snacks and water. You can use this on your days off as well to help keep you on track when your days are not as structured.

    Plan your meals each week.

    Make a shopping list according to your planned meals.

    Avoid shopping like a stoner, eat before going to the grocery store.

    Portion everything out into single serving sizes after you've returned home with your grocery haul.

    Weekly: Cook a couple of big batches of your fave meals, portion them out into single servings. You wanna be able to grab and go.

    Be kind to yourself along the way.

    Plan to succeed.
  • gav1901
    gav1901 Posts: 7 Member
    thank you everyone so much. I am defiantly going to start trying a lot harder, all of your words i am reading and going in. you watch this space I'm going to try everything i can in my power to succeed here :D
  • jflaur71
    jflaur71 Posts: 26 Member
    Being on the road myself most of my day...It is a struggle to stay out of drive thrus. This what works for me: Water,Rotissertie Chicken, Carrots, Sweet Peppers, Quest Protein bars, Mixed Nuts(small portion), Babybel cheese (Light). In my world I try to find low calorie foods that #1 I like #2 That I can eat while I drive. That way I am not starving when I get somewhere
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    Pre-log and meal prep.

    Driving a van isn't an excuse to eat fast food 24/7. It's not willpower, it's self-control.

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