I'm so confused

lisahebert186
lisahebert186 Posts: 736 Member
edited December 2 in Getting Started
So I've been logging for a few months. I've read about different types of "diets" people are doing. Keto, Adkins, low calorie, etc. How did you know it was right for you? I'm trying to find a way of eating that will be a permanent change and it just seems so over whelming. Any advise on which direction to go?

Replies

  • CurlyCockney
    CurlyCockney Posts: 1,394 Member
    Other than volume, was anything wrong with what you were eating prior to logging? If you were eating healthily before, carry on eating that - only less.
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    Just eat less of what you were eating before.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    lisahebert186 wrote: »
    So I've been logging for a few months. I've read about different types of "diets" people are doing. Keto, Adkins, low calorie, etc. How did you know it was right for you? I'm trying to find a way of eating that will be a permanent change and it just seems so over whelming. Any advise on which direction to go?

    Keto & Adkins are low carb, these "diets" would not be a permanent lifestyle change for me. But, adding more veggies, snacking less & watching my portions WILL be a lifestyle change.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    Noel_57 wrote: »
    I'm so confused as to why people watch Dancing with the Stars.

    Have you seen some of the dancers? Oh, and Sharna had a wardrobe malfunction this past season. Best. Episode. Ever.

  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    edited June 2016
    Trial and error. I tried low fat for many years, but now I just eat whatever I want in appropriate portions. What I want has changed a lot after I figured out I'm the one who should decide what to eat, and that I don't have to follow any particular diet to lose weight and be healthy. Eating doesn't feel overwhelming anymore, just nice.

    My tip would be to find out what is right for you and do that.
  • lisahebert186
    lisahebert186 Posts: 736 Member
    Thank you all. It does make sense to eat healthier and fewer calories but I read all sorts of stuff and just confuse myself more and more.
  • betsyreynolds54
    betsyreynolds54 Posts: 11 Member
    I'm always trying to figure out the fastest way to lose weight which makes me a yo-yo dieter. My mistake. It's really what you can live with. No matter which "diet" you research and choose, you will have to watch calories to maintain. So realistically, if you can go ahead and get used to low calorie it'd be healthier for you over all. I'm not a dietician though :0) That just comes from what my doctor always tells me.
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    I've tried a few things but the only thing I like that works fairly well is for me to eat moderate carbs (like under 100g a day) and keep my overall calories in check.

    The moderate carbs is for no other reason really than to allow me to focus on getting more protein. That's the only real reason, it's not necessarily for weight loss.

    Other than that, it's really just CICO.
  • enterdanger
    enterdanger Posts: 2,447 Member
    You don't have to follow any of those diets. I would say if you are losing weight now by counting your calories and eating less than you burn that is sufficient. Can you eat the way you are now for the rest of your life? All diets work if you apply them...most of the Keto/Adkins type diets just limit certain foods, which automatically cuts calories if you were eating a lot of those kinds of foods.

    Personally, I'm never giving up carbs unless a doctor tells me to.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,701 Member
    I don't do "fad diets". I just ate fewer calories than I burned.

  • ItsyBitsy246
    ItsyBitsy246 Posts: 307 Member
    Noel_57 wrote: »
    I'm so confused as to why people watch Dancing with the Stars. But just eat what you like, with moderation, and use the MFP tracker.

    Lol. I'm confused as to why people watch TV at all. Admittedly, I am somewhat of a pop culture illiterate due to my television aversion.
  • STEVE142142
    STEVE142142 Posts: 867 Member
    lisahebert186 wrote: »
    So I've been logging for a few months. I've read about different types of "diets" people are doing. Keto, Adkins, low calorie, etc. How did you know it was right for you? I'm trying to find a way of eating that will be a permanent change and it just seems so over whelming. Any advise on which direction to go?

    You have the right mindset and attitude as far as this being a lifestyle change instead of a diet. Diets fail because they suck. You give up stuff that you enjoy and you're constantly miserable. As simple it it seems and it really is simple it's just a matter of eating less calories than your body needs you don't have to give up anything. The tough part is coming to the point where you realize that you need to change and then want to change.

    I haven't given up anything I enjoy. I still like the occasional slice of pizza or two, beer on the beach or a Wendy's hamburger. If I had to give those up I wouldn't be able to do what I've done in the past six months.

    This is a great app and community for helping you on your journey. Enjoy the ride.



  • lisahebert186
    lisahebert186 Posts: 736 Member
    Thank you. I'm learning how to make this a life style change and I'm working on becoming more active.
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    For me, I didn't cut any foods out. I eat nutritious food as well as chocolate/cookies/ice cream/chips/etc. The only difference now is that I weigh all the food on a food scale, log every single thing I eat/drink and eat less calories than my body needs to maintain its current weight. Eliminating foods always caused me to crash and burn.
  • lisahebert186
    lisahebert186 Posts: 736 Member
    cerise_noir wrote: »
    For me, I didn't cut any foods out. I eat nutritious food as well as chocolate/cookies/ice cream/chips/etc. The only difference now is that I weigh all the food on a food scale, log every single thing I eat/drink and eat less calories than my body needs to maintain its current weight. Eliminating foods always caused me to crash and burn.

    That's what I feel like I'm doing. I know what I need to do But I guess I haven't learned how to control cravings just yet.
  • patchy911
    patchy911 Posts: 7 Member
    My boyfriend is a trainer and he says that you have to eat at least 4 to 6 times a day, small portions. He always says high protein, low fat, and not a lot of fruit because it's too much sure.He is very good at what he does and has helped me a lot, but I have to say staying away from sweets and bread is the hares thing for me.
  • pebble4321
    pebble4321 Posts: 1,132 Member
    patchy911 wrote: »
    My boyfriend is a trainer and he says that you have to eat at least 4 to 6 times a day, small portions. He always says high protein, low fat, and not a lot of fruit because it's too much sure.He is very good at what he does and has helped me a lot, but I have to say staying away from sweets and bread is the hares thing for me.

    I would disagree. You don't HAVE to do any of this. If you like to eat 4 -6 times a day, go for it, and if you like more protein and that makes you feel good, go for that too. Or you could eat once or twice a day and have a different balance of carbs/fats/proteins and that's fine too.

    I think it's exactly this kind of stuff that causes confusion and stress when people try to lose weight. There is nothing wrong with eating 6 times a day, but also nothing wrong with eating twice.
    OP, don't feel you have to follow anyone else's rules or special diets*. Especially if they are a "trainer" with unknown qualifications or a blogger or a TV star.

    Eat a variety of foods that give you good nutrition and make you feel good, build in some treats if you enjoy them, do some exercise to make your body and your mind feel good, aim to keep your intake around your calorie goals.
    That's the starting point. Everything else is optional.

    * Unless you have an actual diagnosed medical condition and you have advice from a properly qualified person who knows you and your medical history, in which case you'd be silly to ignore them in favour of someone on the internet!
  • meryl135
    meryl135 Posts: 321 Member
    Keto and other low-carb diets work well for specific populations that have certain medical conditions (women with PCOS, and diabetics for example benefit from eating fewer carbohydrates due to their preexisting insulin resistance). Most people do fine with a sensible, portion-controlled diet that is higher in vegetables, fruits and lean proteins but does not deprive them of the other foods they love.

    Good luck on the journey!
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    patchy911 wrote: »
    My boyfriend is a trainer and he says that you have to eat at least 4 to 6 times a day, small portions. He always says high protein, low fat, and not a lot of fruit because it's too much sure.He is very good at what he does and has helped me a lot, but I have to say staying away from sweets and bread is the hares thing for me.

    All of this is not necessary.
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