Silly (but effective!) Rules
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My only rule is.. keep changing the rules.2
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Wine OR dessert after dinner, not both.2
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One rule, for me: Everything in Moderation.
Very simple. If I want something, I eat it because if I don't eat it I'll think about it until I eat every piece of it that I can get my hands on. So not emotionally or physically healthy.
Except for working out - that I do to stop me from going crazy lol and because I love it - which I do every day, or every other at the very least.4 -
My rule is simple to eat it is to log it. Usually to say that to myself and it is enough to stop me from putting food I don't really want into my mouth2
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Not eating in the car and not eating in bed. Not because of health or diet but because I don't like messy cars or messy beds/bedrooms.
Always eat sitting down at the table and not in front of the TV (except for desert at night).3 -
sarraheclark wrote: »Pizza is only an option on days I have a spin class.
why?
Because some of us do well with rules. If you don't need them and can reach your goals in a flexible way -- yay!
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kommodevaran wrote: »No eating in secret. No hiding or hoarding food. Share treats. Eat meals as a family.
I liked this. Even though I live alone, these rules appeal to me. For me, it's about mindset. I'm eating in a way I'm not ashamed of now. When I'm buying groceries, I don't pretend I'll need all that ice cream because I'm having a party, or "hoping" I'll be using those vegetables for a great big stew, and I'm not trying to tell myself that the family-size bag of candy will last me a month or two.
This has had a remarkable impact on my overall stress level.
I will do a version of this when shopping -- if I'm buying something because I'm planning on having one serving, I make myself answer the question about what is going to happen to the rest of it. There may be a day when I can easily fit in the calories for 3 Oreos, but am I going to be able to easily fit in the rest of the package? If not, I won't buy it -- I'll either buy a smaller portion or skip it.
I don't trick myself into thinking that I can easily incorporate a family size bag of potato chips into my diet before they go stale. It's much less stressful for me at home when I'm not surrounded by things that I would prefer not to eat but that I really want to eat. The foods that I have trouble portion-controlling either stay out of my home or come in much smaller packages.4 -
I really like the one mentioned about no secret eating. I suffer from binge eating issues, and I know that I'm doing badly on conquering it on days where I'm hiding in the kitchen trying to eat something quietly so nobody hears me, then when I hear someone coming down the hallway I thrust it into a drawer or choke it down as fast as I can before they see me. Secret eating goes hand in hand with shame in my case.
Personally, my biggest and only "hard" rule is that I have to log EVERYTHING. I remind myself on bad days that I'm an adult and I can eat whatever I want (i.e. stop being ashamed of eating, even if you've eaten too much--overeating isn't a moral failure or a crime to feel guilt about) BUT, I have to measure it out and log it.
I also try to limit mindless eating, because it's sad to waste "delicious points" (calories) on something that you didn't even taste! I always get upset with myself when I'm eating a meal and get distracted by my phone or something and just mindlessly keep eating, then I look down and all the food is gone and I haven't savored it a bit!5 -
I don't like rules. The only eating rules I really have are 1. to stick to my calorie goal and 2. eat at least 100 grams of protein every day. The rest takes care of itself.1
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sarraheclark wrote: »Pizza is only an option on days I have a spin class.
why?
When my hubby orders pizza, it's not just a pizza. It's likely a large stuffed crust meat lovers with a side of wings and cheese bread. 2 slices of pizza end up being around 700cal which is half of my daily cals. During spin class I generally burn 500+.1 -
CattOfTheGarage wrote: »Some good advice I aim to follow: I do try to avoid secret eating, and I try to always enjoy what I'm eating and pay proper attention to it. I love food, so it genuinely makes me sad if I stuff something down mindlessly and then have to log all those calories. Such a waste!
I'm on board with this!
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There's only one big one that I consistently stick to: no sweetened beverages. Tea, water or the occasional diet pop are all I drink!
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I used to have an eat pizza every week rule, but I'm getting bored with pizza. It seems to be morphing into an eat dinner out at least once every week rule.3
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Dont eat anything i dont want. Not worth the calories to "eat healthy" ....Just because somethings healthy doesnt mean i want to waste my limited calories on it. I eat what i WANT.3
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PeachesNcreamgal wrote: »No surfing online grocery stores and looking at delicious pics of food. No food porn!!
No checking my weight 50 times a day
No food porn! Awesome rule. I could do more to avoid it (and the treats that inevitably follow).
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No fries at fast food places...except Arby's. Curly fries>>>all.
Other than that, just eat within my weekly calories.2 -
No buying multiple servings of things I tend to overeat. I can always have it if I want it by going to the shop specifically for that food and only buying a single serving pack, but if I want a second serving I need to make the trip to the shop again, same goes for 3rd, 4th, 5th..etc. More often than not, the effort of getting dressed again and walking to the shop is enough to make a second serving undesirable to me, let alone the 3rd. It's crazy how my brain convinces me that I don't want it anymore just because it's a hassle to get. No willpower needed.
If it's something that needs to be bought in multiple servings or is a gift like a box of chocolate, I take what I need for the day, set them aside, then vacuum seal the rest and put it in the most inconvenient place possible. Having to go all the way to the other end of the house, removing all the boxes covering it, then having to open and vacuum seal again the is just too much hassle to bother and I magically don't want it anymore.
Basically, I make my laziness work for me.
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I've lately added a 'rule' that I fast on Mondays so I can overeat on the weekends. The only other rule I have is to eat high fiber.1
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sarraheclark wrote: »Pizza is only an option on days I have a spin class.
When I first started a weigh loss diet I had a rule that I could only have wine if I exercised that day. That got me moving for sure!2 -
If you're hungry before mealtime, drink a large glass of water to fill you up in the meantime- less unnecessary snacking!2
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I forgot one... put on jeans (or otherwise binding pants) at least every couple days. Between workout clothes, sweats at home, and a dress or stretchy skirt at work I could go days.
But like many have said... your clothes don't lie.5 -
My only rule is Don't Waste Food! With so much food insecurity in this world it's a shame how much food is wasted without a second thought.
I try to meal plan in such a way that I use everything I buy or make dishes that I can freeze. I cannot stand to throw food in the garbage that I've paid good money for. That being said, I make a lot of soups and stir-fries because I tend to overbuy on veggies, especially in season. I picked up a friend for a meeting a few weeks ago. She had just gone to the store and was systematically tossing nearly everything in her fridge to replace with the fresh stuff. Just about broke my thrifty little heart! (I figured it might be overstepping to start digging stuff out of her garbage.
) 5 -
I have one rule and that is to hit my calcium goals for health reasons.0
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I have a lot of rules
- but I think of them as good "eating hygiene" (like sleep hygiene but for better eating practices.)
-Never eat in a car
-always eat at a table
-water or tea all day
-eat with people whenever possible
-nutritional diversity rules (eat a rainbow every day, don't repeat proteins for meals)
-music, a nicely set table and pleasant lighting when possible (we do this for dinner 4-5 nights a week)
- put utensils down between bites
I don't do any of the above 100% of the time, but when I'm trying and hitting them most of the time it really helps me with staying healthy.
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For clarification, eating alone is not the same as eating in secret.fitmom4lifemfp wrote: »tinkerbellang83 wrote: »1 Rule to rule them all. Don't eat more than I burn
True, obviously. But it's certainly good to have guidelines in place that make THAT rule easier to abide by.
I think it depends on the person. Not all of us use rules to get by. Some do, some don't.
If I didn't eat in my car I'd be hangry. My job is an hour from home and at multiple sites. That doesn't work. I live alone, so what does "eating in secret" do for me?
If they work for you, fine, but don't expect that everyone has extra rules.
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Figured there'd be someone this wouldn't work for and they'd have to pipe up and rain on our parade, but I like this thread. There are some good ideas!
While I was in pretty committed weight-loss mode (maintaining now), I analyzed my "weak spots" and tried to come up with a few rules:
Traveling (REALLY hard for me to stay on track): I usually blow it, so instead of flogging myself every time I travel or be so strict as to be miserable with office/team meals, etc, I let myself relax, but try to adhere to this rule: Either eat low-carb or low-fat, and avoid at all possible the high-carb/high-fat combination. Sandwich tray buffet for a team lunch? Take cold cuts, lettuce, fixings, make a salad. Or: have a half-sandwich, but mustard, no mayo, and just pick lower-fat meats. They're not tried-and-true LC or LF (because...bread), but better than being mindless.
Driving in the car by myself: (my second-hardest challenge); have ready-made snacks, I don't even mind cut-up celery--just something I can grab and munch. Rather than doing the absolute "no eating in the car," I know I'm going to want to eat the steering wheel if I don't have anything, so I stock up with baggies of veggies, dried fruit (limited quantity), cut-up apple, whatever...
General lifestyle system, changed over my weightloss period to one I can live with mostly without thinking: Lean protein and veggies I can eat as much as I want. EVERYTHING ELSE is up for the eating, but only in moderation; or if not moderation, then very seldom. I can follow that about 80-90% of the time.
You know, the main thing is to have your SYSTEM...whatever system you have made for yourself that you can live with over the long-haul. For some of us, it helps to have these little rules.3 -
Only rule I seem to follow is if I eat it I log it.
Lots of other "things" I do, but not consistently enough to call them rules. Like pre-planning eating out. I try to, but can't always.0 -
How do you know you are burning more than taking in. In normal day to day work? Aside from being connected to electrodes that measure your physical day to day tasks and how much you burn.0
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