Maintaining a healthy lifestyle forever...

What are ... "the wrong things"?

If you're trying to lose weight, simply enter your info into MFP, choose the amount of weight you'd like to lose each week, and stay under the calorie limit MFP gives you.

You can eat whatever you want as long as you stay under the calorie limit MFP gives you. Of course, you will discover that certain foods have more staying power and keep you fuller for longer. And other foods are just not worth it.

Plus ... if you exercise, you can eat more!

So set up MFP, then walk to your local grocery stores and markets and have a good look around at what's available. Look at the calories. You may be surprised how much good-tasting but fairly low calorie food is available out there.

And as I said ... if you exercise, you can eat more. I have pizza a couple times a month because I cycle really long distances.

emstewart95 wrote: »

The wrong things is chocolate, cake, cheese, pizza ...

Those things aren't "wrong". Everything in moderation! I eat all those things ... I just keep them within my calorie limit.

It is always a question " why you do not want to eat certain foods?" Is it weight loss, health,.... I figured it is all dependent on your mind set... in the past I ate chocolate everyday and was sitting all day and never was able to gain weight, even if my body was not "shaped through muscles" it was ok, cause well I did not gain weight.... Since I have started lifting and wanted to approach a healthy lifestyle ... it took me 6 months to get over chocolate etc.. cause your emotional part of the brain gets so attached, especially if you are used to treat yourself with food, like when you are stressed etc.... after that period and eating only whole and natural food and would never go back to processed food anymore, because this lifestyle makes me feel fresh and energized.. I feel so great when my belly is full with fruits, veggies... oats... rice... potatoes or whatever... for me why I will always be able to maintain this lifestyle is the way it makes me feel ;-) ... gaining muscles and shaping your body is also achievable with the " if it fits your macros" approach :-) don´t stress girl... stress is the real killer of any progress in the end

Machka9 wrote: »

Those things aren't "wrong". Everything in moderation! I eat all those things ... I just keep them within my calorie limit.

THIS! And, you _do_ have to eat properly for the duration. Doesn't mean you can't ever eat bad things. It's what you're doing overall that counts. One bad day isn't fatal, perhaps even good if it keeps you on the wagon, long term. Every day a bad day could legally be fatal, after time.

emstewart95 wrote: »

I have been trying to lead a healthy lifestyle since November. Its going well but its not easy. Stopping myself from going back to old habits of eating too much and the wrong things has proven to be very difficult and after all this time still is.

I'm beginning to panic at the thought of maintaining this lifestyle for the rest of my life. It almost makes me want to give up just at the thought of how hard it is.

Is anyone here living a healthy lifestyle and finding it easy ? Or is there anyone who feels the same as me?!

I need motivation and advice!!!

@emstewart95 I had the same problem all of my life and at age 63 I finally acted because my health was failing fast. 1.5 years later my old habits have faded for the most part and at age 65 my health per labs is better than when I was 45, major health issues have resolved and I am to walk well.

Key in my case was I stopped dieting for life Oct 2014 and forgot about losing weight by only focusing on eating for better health. The weight declined to 200 pounds and has stayed there for the past 12 month automatically with my new simple way of eating. The first 2 weeks was hard but all I do is eat <50 grams of carbs and <100 grams of protein daily and finish out my calories eat fats.

In my case being able to stay full and not have to deal with physical cravings is key.

Welcome to MFP forums where there is all kinds of info. It is a good thing you did not wait until age 63 with a lot of health damage before you got serious about eating for better health. Best of success.

My way of eating works for me because it manages my pain without Rx meds. I am not promoting it as a way to eat for the masses because it would be never be followed by most. Some who do not want to go hungry or deal with physical cravings do OK eating this way. Any way you decide to eat make sure you have annual check ups to make sure your health markers are good or improving.