Tips on weaning myself from diet foods?

trp1978
trp1978 Posts: 20
edited September 29 in Food and Nutrition
I'm new to MFP, but I already love it! My issue is that my diet has been VERY poor over the past couple of years - if I had to guess, I'd say I ate fast food for about 80% of my meals (!) during that time. I joined on July 1, and I'm on the 1200 calorie plan. Right now, to keep myself within that range without getting hungry, I'm relying pretty heavily on "diet" foods - fat-free this and low-cal that. For some things, like lite soy milk, I'm ok with that, but I think it's ultimately healthier to keep one's weight down with REAL foods and portion control.

I was wondering if anyone else has struggled/is struggling with this, and what you are doing/plan on doing about it. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to very slowly substitute certain "real" things for diet things, but I can't think of what to start to replace. For example, the last two nights I've eaten 2 fat free hot dogs for dinner (I actually like the taste, lol). But I can't imagine it's healthy to subsist off of fat free hot dogs, and it doesn't seem like a good idea to, say, have one regular hot dog either.

So, basically I'm asking if anyone has any good tips for slowly transitioning from diet foods to healthy foods so that I can lose the weight without relying on a lot of fake stuff that I think has plenty of its own problems for health.

Replies

  • Sadie98072
    Sadie98072 Posts: 212 Member
    Id start by finding a few really basic healthy meals that you can prepare for yourself and go from there.
    Cooking from scratch doesnt have to be time consuming and it also doesnt need to be expensive but you do have to make the effort to do it.
    If you are just cooking for yourself you can always make enough for 2 or 4 and freeze the other portions, or use them for lunch/dinner the next day.
  • jbucci1186
    jbucci1186 Posts: 440 Member
    .
  • yeabby
    yeabby Posts: 643 Member
    This is stating the obvious but, the more fruits and vegetables the more full you'll feel. They're also less calories, and don't have artificial sweeteners of diet food.
  • lisapickering
    lisapickering Posts: 374
    Yes, try eating "clean" foods - unprocessed. Chicken, eggs, vegetables, fruit, beans... It's really not difficult once you start to eat healthy foods. Use spices for flavouring.

    It's great that you want to get away from "diet" food because it is crap! It's processed and full of "stuff". For the most part I eat unprocessed foods and have been for about 5 months and now processed foods, even those that I used to like, taste terrible!

    By doing this you will not feel like you're depriving yourself and it will last!
  • alohabrie
    alohabrie Posts: 204
    If you are exercising too - you may want to start off with a higher calorie goal - like 1400 and see how you do with that. Otherwise I echo some of the ideas above - fresh fruits and veggies, drink lots of water, go for whole grains. I tend to stay more full when I am combining foods - like some carbohydrates and protein in the same meal.
  • CallejaFairey
    CallejaFairey Posts: 391 Member
    i would just suggest that you replace as you run out. no need to wean yourself off, you will find the real food way more satisfying, i know i certainly do. i use real butter, milk, oil, sugar, etc. i actually find it harder when i do eat 'diet' food, as i never feel satisfied after eating them. and yes, i used to be like you, fast food practically everyday. if it's not in the house, it makes it a lot easier. the only thing you have to worry about then, is portion control, and hopefully, as the real food has real fat or sugar or whatever...you won't have to eat as much. good luck :) sorry i wasn't too helpful...lol.
  • marniehodges
    marniehodges Posts: 264
    When I started here last November I was at a loss as to what to eat too! I relied heavily on "diet" frozen foods, like Lean Cuisines. Then, I started getting help from my friends here and stalked their food diaries! :laugh: I got a lot of great ideas from them. Good rules to live by are high protein (MFP sets the protein numbers to low, my opinion) and high fiber (keeps you full longer). Sometimes it's better to stay away from the products that have "Lite" on the label; you'll notice those are way higher in sodium. If you're not doing it already, you should monitor your sodium in your food diary; it's killer on weight loss :noway: . And drink LOTS of water.

    Best of luck to you. :flowerforyou:
  • foodfighter001
    foodfighter001 Posts: 11
    I make homemade soup and freeze some, plus I have it in the fridge for a week too. I am all about whole foods and convenience, and I hate to cook, so the soup thing works great. Its very healthy, low cal, and easy. My husband and I make lentil, red bean, chicken and spinach just to name a few. That, and like a few others said, make your snacks fruit and veggies. I used to rely on diet foods too, but they don't really fuel your body at all. Example: Yoplait light and fit: 80 cals, so I can have lots, but its all fake. Is yogurt really supposed to taste like a cinnamon bun? Yet I was addicted. One of my first "diet food" swaps was Yoplait and Dannon fake flavored fat free yogurt to Chobani and Fage greek yogurt. Stonyfield also makes good ones, all organic so you get no yucky stuff. I would def get off the processed diet meats tho. Try Trader Joes all natural chicken hot dogs. They are pretty tasty.
  • trp1978
    trp1978 Posts: 20
    I'm not currently monitoring sodium because there seems to be a limit on what you can monitor, and I added sugar and fiber already. But maybe I'll switch out sugar for a while since I think sodium is more of a problem area for me.

    Also, how do you check other people's food diaries? I'd love to get some ideas!
  • LadyOfOceanBreeze
    LadyOfOceanBreeze Posts: 762 Member
    question???

    what is even in a "fat free hotdog"???

    I am not sure I really want to know...

    sorry, truly no offense but you really need to 86 these for sure!

    this type of food contains mega chemicals and will make your body ill.

    try substituting meatless sausage and links, in your markets freezer section.

    I would then start steering away from those after a time just because too much soy (especially soy isolates)

    can mess with your hormones.

    best way to keep yourself feeling satisfied (full) is to move towards RAW foods, including nuts.

    organic is best if possible. as you start to clean up your diet, you won't even miss the diggity dogs:drinker:

    here's to success in all of your endeavors:flowerforyou:
  • trp1978
    trp1978 Posts: 20
    OMG! Thank goodness you told me to check on my sodium; I just changed my diary settings, and I went over by 2000 the past 2 days! Stupid fat free hot dogs (and I have no idea what's in them either, lol - except sodium apparently!).
  • NikkisNewStart
    NikkisNewStart Posts: 1,075 Member
    If it's perishable... 9 times out of 10 it's good for you. If it's not perishable... 9 times out of 10 it isn't good for you. Shop the perimeter of your grocery store, fresh vegetables and fruits or frozen options (steam in the bag, no sauce or other junk added). Lean proteins meaning chicken, fish, lean cuts of beef and pork... without the sodium and added sauces. Invest in some spices. My go to spices are cumin, rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, chili powder, minced garlic for starters. Read nutrition labels... if you don't know how to do this yet or understand fully what you are looking at... google search for it. There are sites that can show you pictures and help explain what you should be looking for (not being facetious).


    For a food to be low calorie or low fat, etc... it is often loaded with chemicals, salt, sugar, preservatives, etc. to give it flavor. Real fat and real calories are not bad for you. You just need to get them from the right food sources.

    Eggs are good. Almonds are good. Natural peanut butter is good...

    If it is grown in the ground, grown on a tree, swims in a stream, or can be shot in the woods... you're good to go. If it has a "shelf life" then you should probably pass it up.
  • lalilalu
    lalilalu Posts: 102 Member
    Everyone's given you good tips. I'd also check out other people's food diaries to get ideas, it works well for me, and gives me new ideas...

    Friend request me if you want, I cook almost all my own meals, and make healthy low-cal snacks. I do have the odd low-cal yoghurts or processed cheese and things, but mostly make my own foods. I'm on 1200 cals too and actually find it quite easy and I'm always very satisfied with my meals....
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