For those that eat what they want
TexasJade
Posts: 68 Member
What does eating what you want look like for you? I want to try that this time. This is my third round of losing weight, each after babies. I was successful before but was super strict. I want to include more "treat" items this time because I think that will help my mind frame, knowing I can have some things I really want, just keep them in my goals. But so far what that looks like for me is one of three things...
1. Having a little of all of whatever I want and not very much overall food because there are too many cals
2. Having one treat item of moderate size and not being able to eat much of anything else and end up hungry
3. Not eating enough of treat item to make it worth it, so I can stay in the cals, and feeling like I wasted my cals
What works best for you? I also notice that, I usually like to have whatever it is later in the day and I feel like am being too fussy with food earlier in the day and paying to much attention to the food log and fitting things in. I just wish I could eat with a little more freedom and not have to worry I am going to eat too much early on and not have the majority of my cals left for evening.
The first time I lost weight, three babies ago, I didn't know anything about MFP. I just ate low cal, nutritionally dense food most of the time and if I treated myself to something it was 1/2 cup of ice cream a couple times a week in place of milk or cheese. I am not a big sweet eater otherwise but occasionally would like a soda, fried pie, or tortilla chips, even guacamole, nuts, a slice of pizza but I feel like it is all too much of a calorie hit. Never mind I wouldn't touch nachos or enchiladas anymore. I like all the food I eat but is it too much to ask to have something I reeeallly want most days?
1. Having a little of all of whatever I want and not very much overall food because there are too many cals
2. Having one treat item of moderate size and not being able to eat much of anything else and end up hungry
3. Not eating enough of treat item to make it worth it, so I can stay in the cals, and feeling like I wasted my cals
What works best for you? I also notice that, I usually like to have whatever it is later in the day and I feel like am being too fussy with food earlier in the day and paying to much attention to the food log and fitting things in. I just wish I could eat with a little more freedom and not have to worry I am going to eat too much early on and not have the majority of my cals left for evening.
The first time I lost weight, three babies ago, I didn't know anything about MFP. I just ate low cal, nutritionally dense food most of the time and if I treated myself to something it was 1/2 cup of ice cream a couple times a week in place of milk or cheese. I am not a big sweet eater otherwise but occasionally would like a soda, fried pie, or tortilla chips, even guacamole, nuts, a slice of pizza but I feel like it is all too much of a calorie hit. Never mind I wouldn't touch nachos or enchiladas anymore. I like all the food I eat but is it too much to ask to have something I reeeallly want most days?
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Seems like it might help to plan in advance when possible. That way, like if you wanted pizza or mexican for lunch - maybe you could plan on something light but filling for breakfast and maybe a low cal, but high nutrient/fiber soup or something like that for dinner.
For me it's easier to eliminate/cut way back on the carbs - but that's because I have some health issues that eating a lot of carbs tends to exacerbate. But the way you're talking about is just as valid and effective. My friend lost quite a bit of weight doing exactly what you're talking about. And if she wanted a treat, she just had the treat. She just compensated the rest of the day.
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I've been using MFP and eating what I want for nearly 5 months and have lost over 17 kg.
My diary is open if you want to see what that looks like.0 -
melodicraven wrote: »For me it's easier to eliminate/cut way back on the carbs - but that's because I have some health issues that eating a lot of carbs tends to exacerbate. But the way you're talking about is just as valid and effective. My friend lost quite a bit of weight doing exactly what you're talking about. And if she wanted a treat, she just had the treat. She just compensated the rest of the day.
I think compared to a lot of people, I naturally don't eat a ton if carbs due to preference. For the most part, the majority of my carbs come from sweet potatoes and oatmeal. But I do like occasional pizza or chips or corn tortillas with mexican food or a soda. I rarely eat bread or white potatoes. My carbs are usually 50 to 80 but not purposefully. What I run into though, is foods by association causing problems. If I want to treat myself to a couple of slices of pizza, I also want a soda to go with it or a soda with mexican food which I have had tortilla chips or corn tortillas. I have limited myself to 7 chips OR 2 tortillas and have adjusted to that ok.
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Looking at your diary, I may need to excercise to get more calories for more options. I just haven't been able to pick that back up yet with two infants.I've been using MFP and eating what I want for nearly 5 months and have lost over 17 kg.
My diary is open if you want to see what that looks like.
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Today I had a big ole breakfast burrito. A sour cream donut. And chicken fajitas.
Yesterday was two chicken chipotle subs. Teriyaki chicken . some rice. And birthday cake ice cream sammich.
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For me it's easier to have good days and bad days. This morning I knew I was 300 calories under yesterday so I gladly had a bowl of my kids coco-puffs... It was delicious.0
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I still preplan my meals, fit in a big salad somewhere, and make sure I get enough protein. After that I fill in with my extras. I cut a protein bar in half and split it over my morning and afternoon snacks. I love my toast so I have some, usually at breakfast. One or two slices. Pizza, stop at two slices.0
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Looking at your diary, I may need to excercise to get more calories for more options. I just haven't been able to pick that back up yet with two infants.I've been using MFP and eating what I want for nearly 5 months and have lost over 17 kg.
My diary is open if you want to see what that looks like.
Increasing your daily activity doesn't have to start off as strenuous exertion. Walk a few miles a day to start, maybe. Look on YouTube for some stuff you can do at hone if you need to be home most of the time. I've seen others discussing home walking videos, or home video boot camps etc0 -
You're more than welcome to browse through my diary. I've been on here for 3 years. Mostly, I just know that I like to have a snack a couple hours after dinner. Fruit, Greek yogurt, protein bar, etc whatever. So as I eat my breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I try to make sure that I will still have about 100-200 calories left for that.0
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I eat whatever i want. Feel free to look through my diary. And coco puffs would be eaten and considered normal for me.
I had a quick add tonight, it was a hamburger patty.0 -
For me it meant eating light throughout the day, and saving calories for treats at night, because that's when I really really want them. I discovered a lot of sauces and things I used to put over rice, go nicely over salad instead, which saves a few calories for treats. I also made sure I got 80-100 grams of protein a day to help me feel satiated with less food.
It also meant working out so I had more calories to play with. I averaged around 500 calories burned per day from exercise, and ate around 1800 a day to lose 1 pound a week.
Prelogging is a fantastic way to help make sure you can fit your treats in, and still eat well throughout the day.0 -
I've been using MFP and eating what I want for nearly 5 months and have lost over 17 kg.
My diary is open if you want to see what that looks like.
Hi Orphia, can I please ask you your starting weight\height and calorie quota? I looked your diary in June and you have been having a good amount of calories and still loosing, I am 5ft 9 and weighed originally 98kg I am now 87Kg
aiming for a goal weight of 70kg -75kg
I have lost 11kg over 8 weeks (1200 -1400 cal eating back half exercise 30min x 3 times a week) but am losing motivation perhaps because I am finding after the first novelty of changing my diet wearing off Its now becoming about a life style habit and change, and the deprivation may be getting me. Thanks. 0 -
Treasureslide wrote: »I've been using MFP and eating what I want for nearly 5 months and have lost over 17 kg.
My diary is open if you want to see what that looks like.
Hi Orphia, can I please ask you your starting weight\height and calorie quota? I looked your diary in June and you have been having a good amount of calories and still loosing, I am 5ft 9 and weighed originally 98kg I am now 87Kg aiming for a goal weight of 70kg -75kg
I have lost 11kg over 8 weeks (1200 -1400 cal eating back half exercise 30min x 3 times a week) but am losing motivation perhaps because I am finding after the first novelty of changing my diet wearing off Its now becoming about a life style habit and change, and the deprivation may be getting me. Thanks.
Hi @Treasureslide You and I are almost the same height with very similar starting weight. (I'm 175 cm and was 98.9 kg.) I started MFP on April 11th 2015. I think I started at around 1480 calories a day.
Good idea to get some help on the deprivation. Deprivation diets are not sustainable and lead to bingeing and yoyoing.
I think my exercising (mostly walking) helps me stick to my calorie limit. I've been doing over 10,000 steps a day for a few months now, and am currently averaging over 13,000. I can eat more, by eating back 50-75% of my exercise calories, but still be in a deficit. Exercising lets me eat lots but burn lots of energy. Plus it makes me feel great, is lots of fun, and I see lots of interesting things to take photos of when I'm walking. I love it!
On Wednesday I did my personal best day of nearly 20,000 steps, and I had to have a 380 calorie Bailey's to use up what I had spare after eating a nommy dinner!
I have exercise goals to keep me motivated to walk. Right now I'm doing Steptember. Plus I want to improve on my personal best. Goals are good to have!
Hope this helps.
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What does eating what you want look like for you?
I am not a big sweet eater otherwise but occasionally would like a soda, fried pie, or tortilla chips, even guacamole, nuts, a slice of pizza but I feel like it is all too much of a calorie hit. Never mind I wouldn't touch nachos or enchiladas anymore. I like all the food I eat but is it too much to ask to have something I reeeallly want most days?
First of all, I like things like brown rice, chicken and lots and lots of veggies. I actually crave veggies. So eating what I want includes eating those things.
But as for things like pizza and tacos ... I exercise for them.
I had pizza a couple weekends ago because I walked and then spent nearly two hours doing "commercial intervals" on my trainer (bicycle on a device that holds it in place so I can cycle inside). I do something like that just about every weekend.
I'll just add that I've lost 20 kg since mid-Feb.
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I think planning it out really helps. I input the things I have a taste for (or leave a big enough approximate gap for the calories) and then fill out the rest of my diary with foods that help me meet my protein and fiber goals. My diary is open. Just don't use today as a guide until my day is done. I am experimenting with my most recent order from Amazon 0
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Treasureslide wrote: »I've been using MFP and eating what I want for nearly 5 months and have lost over 17 kg.
My diary is open if you want to see what that looks like.
Hi Orphia, can I please ask you your starting weight\height and calorie quota? I looked your diary in June and you have been having a good amount of calories and still loosing, I am 5ft 9 and weighed originally 98kg I am now 87Kg aiming for a goal weight of 70kg -75kg
I have lost 11kg over 8 weeks (1200 -1400 cal eating back half exercise 30min x 3 times a week) but am losing motivation perhaps because I am finding after the first novelty of changing my diet wearing off Its now becoming about a life style habit and change, and the deprivation may be getting me. Thanks.
Treasureslide, don't lose hope. I think you have an advantage with your height. I'm around your height,just under where you want to be, and a little older. To stay there I have to do about 1900 without exercise. You can do this.
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I eat what I want and my diary is open. I went over cals yesterday by quite a bit thanks to my husband bringing home baconator fries from Wendy's for us to share- totally not expecting that! I'm down a pound today though- I was on target for cals all week. I'm very close to goal weight.
I'm 5'8
Starting weight 155.6
Current 142
Goal 1400 -
Eating smaller portions of what I like. Halloween and Easter are prime times to pick up snack size candy bars. It's more compromise and subbing than eliminating foods.0
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Preplan. I knew Thursday evening that I would have 3/4 of a bottle of wine. I only drink on weekends. I added that into my snacks as well as all the meals I had planned. I went into the red. So as to avoid going into the red or missing out in my wine, I removed stuff from my meals. In Friday's case, I removed the hard boiled egg from my salad which put me just under my calories. Many days I would just assume that I would work out those few extra calories, but I knew ahead of time that my Friday was so booked that I wouldn't get my workout in.0
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I meant I knew Thursday night that I would have 3/4 bottle on Friday.0
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I've lost by eating food I love but also by setting a higher calorie limit - 1800 + exercise calories. I could never eat 1200 and be anywhere near "happy." So the weight may come off a bit more slowly. I'm fine with that. I am less than 2 lbs from goal.0
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I'm not always in a treat mood, but when I am, I have small portions. Or regular portions as was the case with my birthday cheesecake. My diary is open. Bear in mind that it looks like I'm running a terrible deficit because I still haven't adjusted the settings properly for how I'm syncing things between my Fitbit and how I'm eating. I'll figure it all out sooner or later. Right now what I'm doing is working out to be a vague TDEE method even though it looks weird.
So far, I've lost 60 pounds. I'm 5'1" and 53 years old.0 -
I found treats that I enjoyed just as much but that were less calories than my usual treats. I swapped a tub of icecream (with portions scooped out) to a icecream stick that was super satisfying but low in calories (wasn't even a "diet" brand). Most lollies got replaced with liquorice and chewy mentos as I could eat that and enjoy it more. I found tempura chicken nuggets/fish were less calories than the crumbed variety so I buy those (I like tempura more anyway!)
I would say I have 1-4 treats every night once all my other food has been eaten. Knowing I need those calories for in-bed snacking, it stops me from eating them during the day/office. As far as my coworkers know, I don't eat any "junk" anymore.0 -
I just eat what I need to fuel my activity level
Pretty simple
I can't stand all this clean eating and organic or gluten free stuff getting pushed in me as what I "have to do"
If I'm gonna work out long and hard I may slam a Snickers and then take a few Quest bars
Gotta feed the machine
I don't eat cake and doughnuts since they have no protein like a Snickers bar
It is funny to look at expensive Health Food Bars and compare to Snickers regular size. 250 calories, similar protein and carbs. 1/3 the price.
5 miles into a ride it is burnt off anyways.
I can't wait for the Organic Snickers, Vegan Snickers??
It will be triple the price but so worth it.
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I've lost 64 pounds eating chocolate every day! I just always stick to my calorie goals. My other focus, along with calories, is protein. Usually during the daytime I focus on eating healthier high protein foods. Then in the evening I like to indulge with a bowl of ice cream or cookies. Yesterday I wanted to order pizza for dinner so I did a more intensive workout so I could eat 3 pieces. I would rather workout more and get to enjoy my food than be limited to one piece of pizza but that's just what works for me. As long as I'm meeting my protein goals, the remainder of the calories go to whatever food I'm in the mood for.0
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Well I don't eat everything I want. I've been wanting to try the Cheesecake Factory's sea salt caramel for weeks, for example, but I just can't imagine making it fit. There are things I'm craving that I just pretty much never eat because it's just too many calories for how non filling they are.
The first key for me though is to pick a reasonable calorie goal. None of that 1200 calories BS. I never picked any option over losing 1 pound a week.
Then it depends on your appetite too. I had no problem fitting a serving of ice cream as I was losing... now I'm typically hungrier and most days if I have more than 200 'empty' calories, I'll go to bed hungry. And I'm maintaining, so it sucks.
But yeah, if I really want some ice cream, I'll have 100-150 calories worth. I just don't buy the high calorie stuff like B&J. If I want chocolate, I'll have a square or two. The higher calorie stuff (to some limit) I try to save for the week after my period as I'm typically less hungry those days anyway. Pizza fills me up pretty well for the 300 calories though so I have no problem fitting a slice of two when I really want some.
But I also have a lower goal than I should, and go by weekly goal... so if I go over a day or two a week because I REALLY wanted something, it's not a big deal.
And I only have high calorie foods that I really want. For example at lunch I'm going out to Uno to eat, and I could pick something with more calories if I wanted, but I don't really crave it, so I'm going with steak and veggies... but a breadstick sounds great so I'll eat it too. But the other day I had those croissants from Trader Joe's that I had been craving for years, so I had one... took me a bit over, but whatever, I didn't care for one day.0 -
melodicraven wrote: »For me it's easier to eliminate/cut way back on the carbs - but that's because I have some health issues that eating a lot of carbs tends to exacerbate. But the way you're talking about is just as valid and effective. My friend lost quite a bit of weight doing exactly what you're talking about. And if she wanted a treat, she just had the treat. She just compensated the rest of the day.
I think compared to a lot of people, I naturally don't eat a ton if carbs due to preference. For the most part, the majority of my carbs come from sweet potatoes and oatmeal. But I do like occasional pizza or chips or corn tortillas with mexican food or a soda. I rarely eat bread or white potatoes. My carbs are usually 50 to 80 but not purposefully. What I run into though, is foods by association causing problems. If I want to treat myself to a couple of slices of pizza, I also want a soda to go with it or a soda with mexican food which I have had tortilla chips or corn tortillas. I have limited myself to 7 chips OR 2 tortillas and have adjusted to that ok.
Maybe just have 4 or 6oz of soda and sip it slowly though your meal. I do that with beer or wine when I want it with a meal. I just eat less of what I was eating before- for instance, I have open-faced sandwiches with one slice of bread to save on calories, topped with tomato and lettuce (lettuce is a good top layer to grip). For treats, I will just have a half serving of a dessert. I eat it slowly and sip black tea with it. Without depriving myself of anything, I found I naturally pick more filling foods and don't crave things that aren't "worth" the calories very often. But when that craving comes...I make it fit with a smaller portion.
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I eat everything and make it fit. If it doesn't and I happen to go over, then I log it and move on.0
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I wanted to add some thoughts to what I said earlier.
In the past, I used to diet by completely eliminating foods. One of the things that used to derail me was that way I'd make absolute rules for myself. I'm never having waffles again!
Cue Carol caving and buying what she needed to make gluten free waffles. And then make them and eat them to excess because OMGI'MNEVERDOINGTHISAGAINTHEY"REBAAAAADDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now? Well, just today, I had a passing taste for waffles and I'm in a different mindset. I'd have them if I wanted them badly enough. The thing is that just knowing that I'd allow myself to have them? It was easier to say ... nah, I'd rather spend the calories on something else. On a different day, I might make a different decision.
You could sub out the word "waffles" with pizza or burritos or anything else like that. My thought process with past dieting attempts was the same. I feel that my thinking around food is much more rational this time around. I work with all the foods I like and my overall eating plan in a way I hope will be sustainable for life. Yes, even that double gluten-free brownie with ice cream, hot fudge, and caramel they serve at the Silver Diner. I'll eat it again some day!0
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