Well that went the opposite of how I imagined...
fitmek
Posts: 277 Member
I always gain a pound or two in the fall/winter. I lose the time to go walk at an outside park because of weather and holiday prep consumes my treadmill time at home.
My mom had to start cutting back on sugar and white flour a few months ago and I thought it was the PERFECT time to kick start my own eating habits and try to cut back on those items as well. One--because I wanted to support her, and two--because it's a wonderful habit to be good at and would probably cut a few pounds off my frame as well and even if it didnt make me lose a pound or two, I'm sure avoiding sugars and white flour would help my energy levels.
Anyways.
For some reason, the opposite effect happened. I shopped for high protein, low carb types of fresh items and I've noticed the harder I try to make great choices, I find myself eating MORE. It has nothing to do with trying to cut back on sugars or flour, it has to do with my stubborn brain. For me, it wouldn't be that hard to try and cut back a bit at a time on something, and that goes through my head, as i'm grabbing the tortilla chips and salsa, or using the fatty ranch dressing or eating a cookie or 300 calories of peanuts right before bed.
I've gained 3 legitimate pounds since June and 1.5 of them have been in the past month. I'm only 5'3 so this def shows!
I'm so frustrated---this happens every time i set out to try and improve my eating habits (which aren't horrid to begin with, but could use some tweaking).
I'm venting, but I'm so mad at myself
My mom had to start cutting back on sugar and white flour a few months ago and I thought it was the PERFECT time to kick start my own eating habits and try to cut back on those items as well. One--because I wanted to support her, and two--because it's a wonderful habit to be good at and would probably cut a few pounds off my frame as well and even if it didnt make me lose a pound or two, I'm sure avoiding sugars and white flour would help my energy levels.
Anyways.
For some reason, the opposite effect happened. I shopped for high protein, low carb types of fresh items and I've noticed the harder I try to make great choices, I find myself eating MORE. It has nothing to do with trying to cut back on sugars or flour, it has to do with my stubborn brain. For me, it wouldn't be that hard to try and cut back a bit at a time on something, and that goes through my head, as i'm grabbing the tortilla chips and salsa, or using the fatty ranch dressing or eating a cookie or 300 calories of peanuts right before bed.
I've gained 3 legitimate pounds since June and 1.5 of them have been in the past month. I'm only 5'3 so this def shows!
I'm so frustrated---this happens every time i set out to try and improve my eating habits (which aren't horrid to begin with, but could use some tweaking).
I'm venting, but I'm so mad at myself
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Replies
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Sorry you're struggling. Many of us have biological qeues in regards to season change that helped our ancestors survive and pass that DNA onto us. It seems that you've tried this time and in the past to beat it with diet, so now or next time try defeating it with extra exercise and diet. Adding extra exercise in the fall in winter seems to help with reprogramming of some of our "stock up and store" bio tendencies. Hope it helps.0
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Weight loss comes from a calorie deficit. Weigh gain comes from a calorie surplus.
Sugar and white flour are not inherently bad for you (unless you have a medical condition).
You are probably eating more because you have labeled those foods are bad. I know I personally eat more when I start labeling foods as good or bad. (I'm somewhat of a rebel, so labeling something as bad makes me want to be a rebel and eat more of them.) If you can maintain or lose while eating sugar and white flour, then do so. Just remember it's all about the deficit.0 -
How would avoiding sugar and flour help your energy levels, when sugar is your body's primary source of energy?
Supporting your mother is fine and all, but if you don't need to change your eating habits (which it sounds like you don't) then you're just causing extra stress by trying to force these changes, which is contributing to overeating and weight gain.0 -
There's nothing wrong with any of the foods you mentioned as long as you fit them into your calories goals every day. Demonizing a couple of food choices never seems to lead somewhere good. As soon as we tell ourselves we can't eat X or Y those are usually the only foods we want. Rather than cut them out of your diet completely, practice moderation, log faithfully and stay within your calorie goal.
I do find it a bit odd that you can notice a 3 pound difference physically, though. I'm the same height as you and I don't notice that small of a gain or loss myself. In fact, I usually bounce around within a 5 pound range on a day to day basis and I don't notice that my clothes fit any differently from the bottom to the top of that range.0 -
Jasper_Thinkington wrote: »Sorry you're struggling. Many of us have biological qeues in regards to season change that helped our ancestors survive and pass that DNA onto us. It seems that you've tried this time and in the past to beat it with diet, so now or next time try defeating it with extra exercise and diet. Adding extra exercise in the fall in winter seems to help with reprogramming of some of our "stock up and store" bio tendencies. Hope it helps.
Thanks! I DO need to work out. I'm always so worn out at the end of the day that it's hard to jump the hurdle and do it. It's soooo much easier in the spring and summer when I can be outside. I already lack sleep, so getting up in the morning is not an option. I just need to put aside cleaning the house or wrapping gifts or making lunches and do something...anything to move my body.
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tigersword wrote: »How would avoiding sugar and flour help your energy levels, when sugar is your body's primary source of energy?
Supporting your mother is fine and all, but if you don't need to change your eating habits (which it sounds like you don't) then you're just causing extra stress by trying to force these changes, which is contributing to overeating and weight gain.
It really has nothing to do with cutting back on sugars and white flour per se. What i was saying, is that in general, whenever I am mindful of what I eat and try something new (cutting back on whatever it may be), it backfires and I end up eating more. Kinda like a rebellious thought I guess.
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I personally avoid sugar and white flour, so I'm not going to tell you not to do that.
However, your first comment: " I lose the time to go walk at an outside park because of weather and holiday prep consumes my treadmill time at home." is just an excuse! I'm honestly NOT trying to be mean. I get that the holidays are a big deal for some people and I'm not saying they shouldn't be for you, too, but either delegate some tasks or lessen your responsibilities or something. You know you can't exercise outside due to weather (neither can I this time of year) so you have to dedicate your time to the treadmill instead.0 -
I went though the same thing a few months ago. My menu changed, but not my mentality. I had to stop buying almonds because I would eat the entire container in a day lol. Once I got serious about tracking carbs (I wanted to try keto) and calories, I was able to lose the weight, but I had to do more planning and less mindless grazing.0
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Set a timer. Spend 30 minutes wrapping gifts, cleaning or whatever, then 30 minutes exercising then back to what you were doing before or a different chore.Jasper_Thinkington wrote: »Sorry you're struggling. Many of us have biological qeues in regards to season change that helped our ancestors survive and pass that DNA onto us. It seems that you've tried this time and in the past to beat it with diet, so now or next time try defeating it with extra exercise and diet. Adding extra exercise in the fall in winter seems to help with reprogramming of some of our "stock up and store" bio tendencies. Hope it helps.
Thanks! I DO need to work out. I'm always so worn out at the end of the day that it's hard to jump the hurdle and do it. It's soooo much easier in the spring and summer when I can be outside. I already lack sleep, so getting up in the morning is not an option. I just need to put aside cleaning the house or wrapping gifts or making lunches and do something...anything to move my body.
I'm a firm believer in the fact that you can't wait until you can find time to do something you have to make time for it. Trust me, between working full time and attending school part time I have had to learn to make time for running and strength training. For me, during this time of year, that time is after work. I go into work early so I can get home from work about 90 minutes before my husband and son. I play with my dogs for a couple of minutes, put on my running gear and get out the door so I can get in 5-6 miles before it gets too dark to see. For more than half the year, I run in the mornings before work because by the time I get home from work it's just too darn hot outside (85°+). Gym time is after work on the days I don't run. If I didn't make the time to do these things I would never find the time to do them especially with the challenges that the temperatures and the lack of daylight bring.
You probably already know this but if you're lacking sleep, you need to go to bed earlier. Take a good look at the things you're doing that keep you up late. Are they things you absolutely must do at night? Can you incorporate that task into another time on the weekend or at the same time as another task? For example: laundry can run overnight when you climb into bed. Get up, throw the load into the dryer, jump in the shower, get dressed and made up then take the laundry out of the dryer, hang it up, fold it, whatever and put it away when you get home. Do a load a day and Mt. Washmore won't creep up on you.
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tigersword wrote: »How would avoiding sugar and flour help your energy levels, when sugar is your body's primary source of energy?
Supporting your mother is fine and all, but if you don't need to change your eating habits (which it sounds like you don't) then you're just causing extra stress by trying to force these changes, which is contributing to overeating and weight gain.
It really has nothing to do with cutting back on sugars and white flour per se. What i was saying, is that in general, whenever I am mindful of what I eat and try something new (cutting back on whatever it may be), it backfires and I end up eating more. Kinda like a rebellious thought I guess.
I don't think this is uncommon. Maybe you are trying to make the changes too drastic (cutting out vs. cutting back). Maybe try cutting them out/back only on certain days of the week. Then when you really want it, you can resist by telling yourself that you can have it tomorrow.0 -
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Set a timer. Spend 30 minutes wrapping gifts, cleaning or whatever, then 30 minutes exercising then back to what you were doing before or a different chore.
I'm a firm believer in the fact that you can't wait until you can find time to do something you have to make time for it. Trust me, between working full time and attending school part time I have had to learn to make time for running and strength training. For me, during this time of year, that time is after work. I go into work early so I can get home from work about 90 minutes before my husband and son. I play with my dogs for a couple of minutes, put on my running gear and get out the door so I can get in 5-6 miles before it gets too dark to see. For more than half the year, I run in the mornings before work because by the time I get home from work it's just too darn hot outside (85°+). Gym time is after work on the days I don't run. If I didn't make the time to do these things I would never find the time to do them especially with the challenges that the temperatures and the lack of daylight bring.
You probably already know this but if you're lacking sleep, you need to go to bed earlier. Take a good look at the things you're doing that keep you up late. Are they things you absolutely must do at night? Can you incorporate that task into another time on the weekend or at the same time as another task? For example: laundry can run overnight when you climb into bed. Get up, throw the load into the dryer, jump in the shower, get dressed and made up then take the laundry out of the dryer, hang it up, fold it, whatever and put it away when you get home. Do a load a day and Mt. Washmore won't creep up on you.
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thank you!
I always thought I was wonderful at scheduling time to do things, but things like this come up and make me realize I need to make some major changes to my routine. I can try the timer thing and see what happens! I get distracted so easily by a cluttered house or laundry or going through our boys' schoolwork. I just need to figure out how to rearrange my schedule.
Thanks for the tips!
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thank you!
I always thought I was wonderful at scheduling time to do things, but things like this come up and make me realize I need to make some major changes to my routine. I can try the timer thing and see what happens! I get distracted so easily by a cluttered house or laundry or going through our boys' schoolwork. I just need to figure out how to rearrange my schedule.
Thanks for the tips!
Happy to help! I can be quite disorganized myself. I have used the techniques above as suggested by the Fly Lady. If you haven't heard of her before you should really check her system out. It's free and she has some really great routines and advice for taming the clutter monster and keeping your house neat and clean in an organized fashion. I don't follow her system to the T but I have adopted some of her routines on a daily and weekly basis. Her website is www.flylady.net.0 -
solongsugar wrote: »I went though the same thing a few months ago. My menu changed, but not my mentality. I had to stop buying almonds because I would eat the entire container in a day lol. Once I got serious about tracking carbs (I wanted to try keto) and calories, I was able to lose the weight, but I had to do more planning and less mindless grazing.
Yes---this! The foods I snack on are not bad foods and most of the time they aren't overly carb loaded, but I've always had trouble with portion sizes. I'm obsessed with peanuts, cashews, skinny pop popcorn and trail mixes that are tex mex inspired. Good items for the most part to snack on, but once i start, I dont stop. Granted, I am not eating 6 or 7 portions at a time, but I know it's probably at least 2-3. :-/
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What I find helps me with this is to pour myself a portion and take with me to the computer or the sofa. If I sit there with the Costco-sized bag of snacks I'm bound to eat 2 or 3 servings mindlessly. If I only have one portion with me I'll eat them more slowly because I know that when they're gone, they're gone.solongsugar wrote: »I went though the same thing a few months ago. My menu changed, but not my mentality. I had to stop buying almonds because I would eat the entire container in a day lol. Once I got serious about tracking carbs (I wanted to try keto) and calories, I was able to lose the weight, but I had to do more planning and less mindless grazing.
Yes---this! The foods I snack on are not bad foods and most of the time they aren't overly carb loaded, but I've always had trouble with portion sizes. I'm obsessed with peanuts, cashews, skinny pop popcorn and trail mixes that are tex mex inspired. Good items for the most part to snack on, but once i start, I dont stop. Granted, I am not eating 6 or 7 portions at a time, but I know it's probably at least 2-3. :-/
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solongsugar wrote: »I went though the same thing a few months ago. My menu changed, but not my mentality. I had to stop buying almonds because I would eat the entire container in a day lol. Once I got serious about tracking carbs (I wanted to try keto) and calories, I was able to lose the weight, but I had to do more planning and less mindless grazing.
Yes---this! The foods I snack on are not bad foods and most of the time they aren't overly carb loaded, but I've always had trouble with portion sizes. I'm obsessed with peanuts, cashews, skinny pop popcorn and trail mixes that are tex mex inspired. Good items for the most part to snack on, but once i start, I dont stop. Granted, I am not eating 6 or 7 portions at a time, but I know it's probably at least 2-3. :-/
Personally, sometimes I employ the "lazy factor". If I get a snack I measure out ONE portion size, put the rest away, and go elsewhere in the house to eat my snack. Generally, I'm too lazy to go get more. If I DO get more then I realize how silly it is to think I need to eat that much at one sitting. Just the act of physically going back to the kitchen or the pantry and measuring out another portion will generally prevent me from doing so.0 -
solongsugar wrote: »I went though the same thing a few months ago. My menu changed, but not my mentality. I had to stop buying almonds because I would eat the entire container in a day lol. Once I got serious about tracking carbs (I wanted to try keto) and calories, I was able to lose the weight, but I had to do more planning and less mindless grazing.
Yes---this! The foods I snack on are not bad foods and most of the time they aren't overly carb loaded, but I've always had trouble with portion sizes. I'm obsessed with peanuts, cashews, skinny pop popcorn and trail mixes that are tex mex inspired. Good items for the most part to snack on, but once i start, I dont stop. Granted, I am not eating 6 or 7 portions at a time, but I know it's probably at least 2-3. :-/
Personally, sometimes I employ the "lazy factor". If I get a snack I measure out ONE portion size, put the rest away, and go elsewhere in the house to eat my snack. Generally, I'm too lazy to go get more. If I DO get more then I realize how silly it is to think I need to eat that much at one sitting. Just the act of physically going back to the kitchen or the pantry and measuring out another portion will generally prevent me from doing so.
Yes and I loathe myself for this. I'm NOT a lazy person, but when I overeat, the first thought through my mind is "why did I let myself look lazy and eat that instead of making something fresh, something I know is healthier."
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