Silly (but effective!) Rules
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RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »I have one rule and that is to hit my calcium goals for health reasons.
I started tracking my calcium a few weeks ago and (according to MFP numbers) I'm woefully missing the mark even with higher calcium foods. Do you take a supplement or try to meet the goal with food alone?1 -
Serilleous wrote: »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.
You can either use a TDEE calculator on a website to give you a general idea or you can use a step-tracker to help estimate -- then compare it to your actual results overtime to see how accurate it is and what, if any, adjustments you need to make.1 -
Serilleous wrote: »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.
Got this thing on my wrist that helps with this, other than that it is all estimates. Given enough time and as accurate of tracking as possible, you learn to adjust your estimates to better reflect your metabolism and activity levels. But the starting estimates are not that far off (in my experience) to negate their use.1 -
Oh yes, one very more very important rule to me. If it tastes "meh" it isn't worth the calories. I don't want to rob myself of an opportunity to eat something I truly like just because I decided to pick a random food I don't like without thinking.6
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Drink when thirsty, no guzzling water because some "expert" says I should.3
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itsfitnessnotrocketscience wrote: »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.
This made me smile. During the years that I was gaining, I slowly slipped into the habit of wearing only "comfortable" clothing. It's funny to me now that jeans are not as binding as they used to be.1 -
Serilleous wrote: »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.
This calculator has always been pretty accurate for me whether I was losing or maintaining.0 -
Serilleous wrote: »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.
You'll be losing weight.
Or you can estimate your TDEE and then carefully log your food intake and eat below your TDEE.
(Maybe start a new thread?)1 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »Oh yes, one very more very important rule to me. If it tastes "meh" it isn't worth the calories. I don't want to rob myself of an opportunity to eat something I truly like just because I decided to pick a random food I don't like without thinking.
I do this one too. Though I did it before I decided to lose weight so I guess it really has nothing to do with weight control for me. I just don't like to eat mediocre foods. It is why I don't eat fast food.1 -
There's no such thing as a cheat meal/day (at least for me) - Meaning I need to learn how to still eat the things I enjoy(within reason) and maintain a healthy weight. I'd be sad if I could never have wine or cheesecake or girl scout cookies again. I plan ahead if I'm going to indulge, throw in an extra workout and have lighter meals during the day etc.
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Not necessarily a rule, but this is what I tell myself. "You can lie to yourself about how many calories that you consume, but you can't lie to your body."
Fabulous life lesson, right there.
"Your food log might not always be accurate, but you can bet your body is keeping track even if you aren't."1 -
RaeBeeBaby wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »I have one rule and that is to hit my calcium goals for health reasons.
I started tracking my calcium a few weeks ago and (according to MFP numbers) I'm woefully missing the mark even with higher calcium foods. Do you take a supplement or try to meet the goal with food alone?
I try to hit it with milk, cheese and kale, broccoli, spring onions.
I do keep calcium tablets in in case I'm missing it though. I have bone density issues so can't miss my target.1 -
My rule is to stop eating as soon as I feel even slightly full. It is so easy to stuff myself even after I am not hungry anymore, especially at restaurants.1
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No snacks, no sweets, no seconds except on days beginning with S (including special days). That's one I have heard. I plan on implementing it. Though the sweets one I will do with a grain of salt. Yogurt, fruit, granola and vanilla soy would make the list of exceptions...
This is not my idea though. There's a diet called the No S diet... it's centered around eating main meals vs grazing.3 -
No snacks, no sweets, no seconds except on days beginning with S (including special days). That's one I have heard. I plan on implementing it. Though the sweets one I will do with a grain of salt. Yogurt, fruit, granola and vanilla soy would make the list of exceptions...
This is not my idea though. There's a diet called the No S diet... it's centered around eating main meals vs grazing.
http://nosdiet.com
I found this very difficult, because when I'm hungry, I'm hungry. But it did help me to question whether or not I was actually hungry and I like how it is open to interpretation.0 -
Put a vegetable with it. At breakfast fruit is ok too, but something. Consider half portions/servings when dishing something out, as sometimes the amount is just habit rather than anything thoughtful. Never go to the market hungry!1
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I like this, I've lost weight following the principles, it's how I ate growing up, and it's basically what I've ended up with in maintenance.No snacks, no sweets, no seconds except on days beginning with S (including special days). That's one I have heard. I plan on implementing it. Though the sweets one I will do with a grain of salt. Yogurt, fruit, granola and vanilla soy would make the list of exceptions...
This is not my idea though. There's a diet called the No S diet... it's centered around eating main meals vs grazing.
A diet has to have a funny name to be any fun - "normal eating" sounds so dull
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No snacks, no sweets, no seconds except on days beginning with S (including special days). That's one I have heard. I plan on implementing it. Though the sweets one I will do with a grain of salt. Yogurt, fruit, granola and vanilla soy would make the list of exceptions...
This is not my idea though. There's a diet called the No S diet... it's centered around eating main meals vs grazing.
Nice! This is pretty much how I eat but had no idea someone had given it a name.0 -
itsfitnessnotrocketscience wrote: »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!
I love this. You have this rule for the same reason that I have my rule:
Avoid sweets...even if they "fit" into my day.
Because I have a sugar addiction. (Hi, my name is Heather and I'm addicted to sugar.) And if I eat sweets, EVEN if they don't have added sugar, it makes me want sugar. So no added sugars and no artificial sweeteners for me. Because I do better with rules! I have found that when I get that sweet craving, a piece of whole fruit is plenty effective!
My other rule is to abstain from eating red meat. Because the Dr told me to cut back on red meat for my cholesterol, but I'm an all or nothing person. I know if I limit my red meat to once a week, it would morph into two times a week because "It's Saturday, Sunday was a week ago!" and then the next day "Saturday was part of last week so I can eat it today (on Sunday)". Then it would be three times a week, etc. So I don't eat red meat anymore. Period.
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If you cannot control your eating, do not bring it home from the grocery store.5
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My "rules" are mainly from work.
1. Say no to the Starbucks runs, we have a kuerig and creamer in the breakroom. (I don't particularly enjoy Starbucks over the kuerig coffee anyway so this one's not too hard)
2. Don't eat the free goodies unless they are actually delicious and/or something I can't get otherwise.
I also try to get my steps in during my downtime but there's no real rule for that.
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• I do NOT buy foods that I have no self-control over in multi-portions. (cheese, candy, snack cakes, etc). I will buy them in single portions if I have the calories (such as after a run) or eat them while out.
• In the past, I've done the "no eating in front of the TV"... many of us are conditioned to snack endlessly while watching TV. However, I typically get home from dancing well after 10 pm, and want to both watch an episode of something and eat a bowl of soup, and get in a bath and get to bed at a reasonable time - (so I usually ignore that rule, though it is a good one...I do have the habit of wanting to snack if I'm watching TV).0 -
Eliminate all tempting non-nutritional, empty calorie foods from your home.1
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Water, water, and more water.1
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Motion is lotion, move it or lose it.0
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Share the snacks and treats.
Exercise everyday, even if it's only 15 minutes of hiit or a walk at lunch.
Fruit and/ or veggie with every meal. Water too.
Weigh every day.
Portion control, even if its the rare guesstimate.
When my current size is loose, get the next size down and chuck everything too big (finances allowing).
I need to stop eating and walking or eating on the train. I eat fruit or have my protein shake on the train after the gym. Now I'll do it in the lobby if I have to. Why not, its Planet Fitness. They have pizza and bagels!
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sarraheclark wrote: »Pizza is only an option on days I have a spin class.
why?
Because it is round.
If you use a rowing machine, you have subs for dinner.
Seems obvious to me.10 -
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.
Exactly. If you have a problem with secret eating, you probably know about it. It refers to the motivation - not the fact you happen to be alone. For example, do you carefully hide the packaging of whatever you ate so that others won't find out? I consciously don't do that because I have those tendencies.4 -
CycleCoast42 wrote: »If you cannot control your eating, do not bring it home from the grocery store.
This too! There's a lot of foods I would love to have one of but can only buy in a 12 pack or whatever, so they just don't come home any more.0
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