The ‘mental’ side of healthy eating

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sammyj19902015
sammyj19902015 Posts: 63 Member
in Motivation and Support
Hi everyone, I’m just wondering if anyone else out there has trouble with stopping themselves eating what they shouldn’t. I have an angel and a devil on my shoulders that argue and normally the devil wins. I can healthy eat for weeks on end then bang the devil comes in and I literally can’t stop myself from eating something I shouldn’t. I’ve lost 1st 3lb so far doing a few different diets as I get bored :s dare I say that.. now for the last 2 weeks I can’t get back on track..
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  • JaydedMiss
    JaydedMiss Posts: 4,286 Member
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    if you get bored your doing it wrong. Find your middle ground between healthy and not healthy. Healthy doesnt need to be monotonous and boring.

    That said, Yes of course we all get that
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
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    Are you weighing and measuring your food? Eating healthy doesn't guarantee weight loss. You need a calorie goal to stick to everyday. What you eat is up to you.
  • Angel37615
    Angel37615 Posts: 87 Member
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    Lord yes, I stayed strong for 22 days then fell off the wagon over sour gummy worms. :(
  • amtyrell
    amtyrell Posts: 1,449 Member
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    Here is my trick. I eat some junk food. For example today I planned in some peanut butter cups. They are tasty and a favorite of mine.
    But eat less then you burn does not mean no deliciou stuff.
    Also really well seasoned and tasty food can be healthy and low calorie. Up the seasonings and you up the satiety for me.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,220 Member
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    The only things you shouldn't eat are thing you are allergic too, things that are rotten, and things that put you over your calorie goal.

    Those things you crave can fit into your calorie goal. Doesn't matter if it's pizza, chips, cookies, or cake. You likely can't fit them all the time, so tell that "devil on your shoulder" that you'll fit it into your calorie goal in a day or two and then do it.
  • Ioensis_jamesii
    Ioensis_jamesii Posts: 3 Member
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    I struggle with the same thing.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
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    sammyj19902015 wrote: »
    Also to add, I’m an all or nothing person so I struggle with the treating myself as I get hungry if I eat higher calorie meals so I either have to eat healthier or I binge because I’m starving. please give me some credit I’m not thick. So please don’t comment on here telling me to eat what I want but stay within my calories because for me it’s impossible!! Also those comments irritate me so if you don’t struggle with the angel and devil please don’t comment :# ...

    Your post asks about the mental side of healthy eating...this is exactly your problem. It's hard to fix if you're not open minded. Good luck.
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
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    sammyj19902015 wrote: »
    I get hungry if I eat higher calorie meals so I either have to eat healthier or I binge because I’m starving.
    You're looking for low-calorie, high-volume foods, not necessarily "healthy" foods. Search the MFP forums for "volume eaters" and a lot of threads will come up -- lots of people here eat this way.

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,874 Member
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    An all or nothing mentality of everything has to be 100% healthy is the downfall of many and it's a completely unrealistic way to go about things. Nobody is "on" 100% of the time...even my trainer who is like a robot where nutrition is concerned indulges at times.

    I eat pretty healthy most of the time...also, that doesn't mean bland and boring like plain chicken, rice, and broccoli and salad, salad, salad (I rarely have a salad)...but I also have pizza night most Friday nights...I get my pub grub once or twice per month...usually have a little something for desert most nights.

    You need to look at your diet on the whole...on the whole my diet is very healthful and nutritious...some pizza on Friday evening isn't particularly material to the whole.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
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    sammyj19902015 wrote: »
    Tavistock toad I don’t agree with your comment because every post I’ve put on MFP you make me out to be an idiot so they are the comments I disagree with. Everyone else.. Yes I know how to stay within my calories but I was just wanting to know if anyone else struggles with the devil and angel. I can eat within my calories and say ok I’ll treat myself to a piece of chocolate within my calorie limit.. by the end of that day I will have eaten a bar but fought myself over it telling myself not to but then eat it anyway because I literally can’t stop myself ???

    Have you spoken to your doctor or therapist about this. Feeling as though you are outside of your body looking in while someone else eats is a common symptom of Binge Eating Disorder. No one can diagnose you online, but it's possible that seeking treatment is the best scenario here. This may go far beyond the usual mental side of weight loss that others here have experience with.

    Also the abuse flag is for hate speech or pornography only. Anything less is supposed to be reported rather than flagged.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,220 Member
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    Also, here's a helpful guide on how to use the flag/reporting system and what the intended use of the flags are: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10007789/flagged-content-reported-posts-warning-points?
  • STLBADGIRL
    STLBADGIRL Posts: 1,693 Member
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    TavistockToad wrote: »
    spoiler alert, you don't need to eat 'healthy' to lose weight...

    eat what you like, just less of it.

    then work on making healthier choices, more fruit and veg and working out what works for satiety.

    diets don't work, lifestyle changes do.

    Why was this flagged?
  • sammyj19902015
    sammyj19902015 Posts: 63 Member
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    TBH I have just been reading up on binge eating disorders and food addiction because I’ve had this problem all my life, I can quite easily go and eat crisps, chocolate, donuts ect all in one day on top of my 3 meals even though I don’t want to, I just can’t stop it. So maybe it would be better for me to talk to doctor rather than looking for answers on here
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,220 Member
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    sammyj19902015 wrote: »
    TBH I have just been reading up on binge eating disorders and food addiction because I’ve had this problem all my life, I can quite easily go and eat crisps, chocolate, donuts ect all in one day on top of my 3 meals even though I don’t want to, I just can’t stop it. So maybe it would be better for me to talk to doctor rather than looking for answers on here

    I think most of us could (and have) easily eaten donuts, chocolate, and all sorts of other stuff on top of normal meals. There was a time where I had two breakfasts, two lunches, six snacks, two dinners, and tons of dessert. I had to work hard reminding myself that I don't need to eat when I'm not hungry and being a little hungry is okay. I also had to change my calorie goal to lose 1 pound per week to give myself enough flexibility to fit in more treats.

    A doctor might give you some tools to help you work through this, but you are going to have to commit to putting in effort on your own. I still binge from time to time.

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