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Boring diets until you reach your goal?
Noelishere
Posts: 22 Member
Hi! My current diet is very boring but carefully planned to help reach my goals.
Once I reach my goal of losing 30lbs I plan to start implementing more yummy foods back in and maintaining my goal weight (like Mexican food)
Is this a feasible plan? My diet before was very very awful. I don't plan on going back to pure grease meals every day all day. So I hope I can maintain with some moderation in the future.
Once I reach my goal of losing 30lbs I plan to start implementing more yummy foods back in and maintaining my goal weight (like Mexican food)
Is this a feasible plan? My diet before was very very awful. I don't plan on going back to pure grease meals every day all day. So I hope I can maintain with some moderation in the future.
1
Replies
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Why wouldn’t you implement yummy foods now WHILE you lose? I fit Mexican into my daily cals just yesterday.13
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no. Ifyou dont learn to add in yummy foods as you lose how do you expect to eat them at the end and not regain. That is a huge reason alot of people end up regaining. Practice for life, Not for right now.20
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I guess I'm afraid I won't reach my goals as fast, I'm eating a lot of staple bland foods but I am happy with the 4 pounds I lost in 2 weeks.1
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alyssanoelagase wrote: »I guess I'm afraid I won't reach my goals as fast, I'm eating a lot of staple bland foods but I am happy with the 4 pounds I lost in 2 weeks.
Life is too short to eat bland and boring food. You can replace some of it with foods you like, and if you keep the calories the same, you'll still lose weight.7 -
If you can sustain it, sure, but I need those yummy foods or I’ll get off track4
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Thank you for your responses, I struggle with moderation and I'm really hard on myself. This has been really challenging.0
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The thing is, you are going to have to eat differently from the way that made you overweight forever, not just until you reach your goal. So it's good to start learning the right way for you to eat now. And flavor does not equal calories. It's important to learn that healthy, low calorie foods can be delicious!
Mexican flavors include peppers, lime, cumin, cilantro - none of that is high calorie - and healthy vegetables, and lean meats and seafood, and beans of all kinds, also healthy and low calorie. Really, cut back on the cooking oils and cheese, and watch portions of tortillas and rice, and there's no reason you can't literally stuff yourself for 500 calories eating delicious Mexican food.
I'm 104 lbs down eating delicious food. You can eat anything you want as long as it helps you stay within your calorie requirements.14 -
As long as your calories are the same, what makes up those calories doesn't matter purely from a weight loss perspective. You can develop strategies to help avoid eating too much of those things, like never keeping them at home and only allowing yourself to buy single servings.1
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I’ve been eating a “bland” diet for the past 2 months, and I’ve lost 25 pounds so far. I have been quite strict, but it’s not hard. Every time I think about eating pizza (or other junk), I realize how that would just set me back further in my journey. I opt for more healthy meals now, because I don’t want to limit myself to a single slice of pizza. If I did that, I’d be hungry all the time. Instead, I eat large, healthy meals.3
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brittneyalley wrote: »I’ve been eating a “bland” diet for the past 2 months, and I’ve lost 25 pounds so far. I have been quite strict, but it’s not hard. Every time I think about eating pizza (or other junk), I realize how that would just set me back further in my journey. I opt for more healthy meals now, because I don’t want to limit myself to a single slice of pizza. If I did that, I’d be hungry all the time. Instead, I eat large, healthy meals.
I don't miss the bad foods too much because my goals of losing weight inspire me to eat clean. I just hope I can add moderation later on and maintain after reaching my goal
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This is how it goes for me. Try and eat the boring food. Get sick of said boring food. Then eat ALLLLLLLLL the food!!!! Gain back any weight I lost.
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Its not really a feasible plan. Here is why, you are going to stick to something that in the weeks/months ahead that is not sustainable most likely. Its easy to jump out of the box into weight loss, tell your self that you can only eat X, maybe part of this helps you mentally stick to a 'restricting plan' but when you start to integrate that yummy stuff back into your maintenance after you meet your goal, guess what the maintain is likely to fail. Maintenance can be the hardest part of all of this if you don't prepare for it during weight loss.
If you start learning to portion during weight loss you will have already learned to portioned it for maintenance.7 -
I think that is the mistake I made with Atkins. Lost all the weight and started eating yummy foods. What I like about Keto is for me anyway, I treat it as a lifestyle instead of a band aid diet. I dont feel deprived at all there are recipes for getting the taste of most all desires. That and the higher fat levels never has me hungry. Keto may not be for everyone but I think finding something you are comfortable making a lifestyle instead of a temporary diet is the key.0
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Why in God's name would you eat bland, boring food when there are so may tasty foods out there that don't break the calorie bank? Hello Healthy, the MFP blog has tons of recipes, also skinnytaste.com and chocolatecoveredkatie.com (who is vegan and gives alternate recipes). There are lots more out there; look for them!
P.S. I lost 70+ pounds eating yummy food!4 -
rheddmobile wrote: »The thing is, you are going to have to eat differently from the way that made you overweight forever, not just until you reach your goal. So it's good to start learning the right way for you to eat now. And flavor does not equal calories. It's important to learn that healthy, low calorie foods can be delicious!
Mexican flavors include peppers, lime, cumin, cilantro - none of that is high calorie - and healthy vegetables, and lean meats and seafood, and beans of all kinds, also healthy and low calorie. Really, cut back on the cooking oils and cheese, and watch portions of tortillas and rice, and there's no reason you can't literally stuff yourself for 500 calories eating delicious Mexican food.
I'm 104 lbs down eating delicious food. You can eat anything you want as long as it helps you stay within your calorie requirements.
Id like to touch on this with a quote -fail quote ill summarize- I once heard about vegan food. Just to sort of point out the flavor thing i am in no way trying to convince anyone to go vegan.
Think of a hamburger. You pile on pickles onions and tomato and ketchup mustard relish etc. You just seasoned that burger, With vegetables. Alot of people act like healthy eating and vegetables has to be so horrible and its so plain. But we use vegetables all the time to season thing. Herbs and spices. Lightly sauced, Salted, Sugared. Healthier versions of foods can still be seasoned in the same way. Salt just the tops where you eat. You can slowly subtract oils and learn to not even miss it.
Just a mind shift really. Healthier foods are delicious, Its more of a mental block thn anything for most people. Just because your eating healthy doesnt mean you cant make it delicious. Its not all unsalted green beans (although those are delicious) and plain lettuce.
edited because typign with my cat trying to cuddle me i made SO many typos LOL
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What is wrong with pizza? I make mine at home, I’m in charge of the ingredients. Super satisfying.4
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I am not a fan of the “lose fast on a restricted diet” approach, but it certainly can work to lose weight in a healthy so long as you’re getting all your nutrition in. But as others have said, if you want that weight to stay off, you have GOT to work on a plan for maintaining your weight, and it’s got to be better than just figuring you’ll start adding back in the food you like. Think about how you gained weight in the first place. When did you overeat? What did you overeat? When you reintroduce those foods, how will you moderate your intake? Think about how you could modify the meals you like so they’re lower calorie. You won’t be able to eat as much as you did before, or else you’ll gain the weight back, as so many people do. Figure out what your maintenance calories will be at your goal weight and figure out what meals at that level of calories will look like. The benefit to the more moderate approach is that you figure a lot of this stuff out while you’re losing weight, so the transition isn’t so jarring. I don’t know how long you’re planning on the bland diet, but you might think about taking breaks to eat at goal maintenance, or even once a week, so you can start working out those kinks. Weight loss is hard, but keeping it off is hard too, and you’ve got to think about both parts.7
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Lots of great advice in here, I'm really thankful you all took the time to write out long thought out responses. It really has me thinking. I have a lot of anxiety around letting myself enjoy food right now, it's hard not to feel guilty when I got 20lbs or so above my normal healthy weight. But I need to change my mind frame so I can make this a permanent change3
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alyssanoelagase wrote: »I guess I'm afraid I won't reach my goals as fast, I'm eating a lot of staple bland foods but I am happy with the 4 pounds I lost in 2 weeks.
Would you rather reach your goal faster or stay at your goal for life? Based on your current plan, you'll not be at your goal weight for long.
And who says you have to eat boring staple foods to lose weight? I think you need to revisit the concept of calories in/calories out.2 -
alyssanoelagase wrote: »Hi! My current diet is very boring but carefully planned to help reach my goals.
Once I reach my goal of losing 30lbs I plan to start implementing more yummy foods back in and maintaining my goal weight (like Mexican food)
Is this a feasible plan? My diet before was very very awful. I don't plan on going back to pure grease meals every day all day. So I hope I can maintain with some moderation in the future.
I'm sure I'm not the first to say this, but "No" your plan is not feasible. While you may be losing weight in a workplace contest for $50, I prefer to think that you are trying to lose weight to reach and maintain a healthier weight. In order to maintain once you get there, you have to enjoy your yumminess all the way down to there, because once you get there the yumminess you enjoy getting there is all the yumminess you are going to be able to enjoy.2 -
brittneyalley wrote: »I’ve been eating a “bland” diet for the past 2 months, and I’ve lost 25 pounds so far. I have been quite strict, but it’s not hard. Every time I think about eating pizza (or other junk), I realize how that would just set me back further in my journey. I opt for more healthy meals now, because I don’t want to limit myself to a single slice of pizza. If I did that, I’d be hungry all the time. Instead, I eat large, healthy meals.
This is a short sighted strategy that will not serve you in the long run. I'd look for some/most/all of those 25 pounds to come right back when you're done dieting. And they'll bring friends. They almost always do.2 -
IMO part of keeping it off is learning how to eat in moderation, including all the “yummy” foods and learning that a treat is a treat, not a daily thing. Heavy restrictions don’t do that and it’s more likely once you return to the foods you love you won’t moderate.1
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brittneyalley wrote: »
Nothing wrong with healthy pizza. I just can’t be around pizza without wanting to eat half of it!
Which is why I make my own pizza and control the calories in the whole thing. It makes a yummy meal.3 -
Its all about being within your calories. I'm Hispanic, Mexican food is just a must Because I see it as just food. Made enchilladas recently for dinner with rice and beans and was still within my calorie goal.1
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Enjoy what you are eating or it won't last long. I eat a variety of foods as I always have. I eat a different breakfast every day, variety of lunches, and a different dinner every night going for weeks without repeats. I try to use as many unique vegetables as possible. We eat plenty of Mexican food as well as Italian, Asian, and various European dishes. I love trying new foods. Today I had a crepe and berries for breakfast, crab manicotti and salad for lunch, and homemade chili and biscuits for dinner. Tomorrow is Mu Shoo pork and pancakes. I'm losing 2 lbs a week eating this way just staying within my deficit. I'd go nuts eating chicken and salad for more than a meal.1
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This was exactly how I reasoned, and exactly how I regained after losing weight before. MFP has been a gamechanger. Does 3 years of happy and effortless maintenance count as proof?alyssanoelagase wrote: »I don't miss the bad foods too much because my goals of losing weight inspire me to eat clean. I just hope I can add moderation later on and maintain after reaching my goal3 -
alyssanoelagase wrote: »My diet before was very very awful. I don't plan on going back to pure grease meals every day all day. .
Surely there is some middle ground - you dont have to go back to your very awful diet of pure grease meals every day - and you dont have to stick to all bland boring foods either.
Surely you can improve the nutritional profile of your eating without going to the other extreme? (and enjoy it more whilst you do)
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alyssanoelagase wrote: »Hi! My current diet is very boring but carefully planned to help reach my goals.
Once I reach my goal of losing 30lbs I plan to start implementing more yummy foods back in and maintaining my goal weight (like Mexican food)
Is this a feasible plan? My diet before was very very awful. I don't plan on going back to pure grease meals every day all day. So I hope I can maintain with some moderation in the future.
Are you making homemade food? I could be wrong but sense you were eating a lot of takeaways before. Bland is boring, boring isn't sustainable and all that means is no matter how much you lose, when you slip up, you will probably revert back to your old ways and possibly put more weight on than before.
try homemade Mexican dishes, we substitute mince for low fat mince or quorn, and sometimes use just vegetables to get the same great taste. Have a look at recipes on slimming world too, whilst you have to sign up to do the diet through them, a simple google search such as 'slimming world lasagne' or 'slimming world curry' will give you the recipe.
Well done for the weight you have lost so far, but make lifestyle changes for good rather than go on a FAD diet. Healthy doesn't have to be bland - healthy can be awesome.2 -
I even imagine "pure grease meals every day all day" is a hyperbole. OP, what you are trying to do, doesn't work. Replacing your favorite food with a punishment diet, and trying to create a mental image of your preferred way of eating as despicable, naughty and foul, is only going to glorify it, and you will overeat whenever you don't feel "strong willed" enough to stick to your punishment diet.paperpudding wrote: »
Surely there is some middle ground - you dont have to go back to your very awful diet of pure grease meals every day - and you dont have to stick to all bland boring foods either.
Surely you can improve the nutritional profile of your eating without going to the other extreme? (and enjoy it more whilst you do)1
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