How your eating has changed

ReenieHJ · February 2020

I'm just nosy.

I wonder what foods/drinks you eat now that you didn't before; are you obsessed with certain foods that you hardly touched before your healthy journey began? What things have you given up or now eat very moderately compared to before? I know we shouldn't feel we have to give up foods but let's face it. We also cannot eat the same way we did either, so instead of eating a pint of ice cream 3x a week, maybe we have it 1x a month.

For myself, I could hardly look at an avocado without thinking blech gross. I almost never cooked with onions, peppers, mushrooms, or spinach, couldn't tell you the last time I had a parsnip, but now I love those foods, buy them weekly and incorporate them into anything I can. I didn't even like plain nonfat yogurt but now I get it and devour it. I don't use cooking oil like I did, but Pam most everything.

I lived on pasta, breads, junk foods including crackers, packaged crap like Little Debbies, candy bars, bakery items I ate by the shovel, all those heavily sugared cereals(LOVE cinnamon toast crunch) and don't get me started on the freezer aisle.

Anything with lots of mayo, cheese, carbs, sugar, fat.......it was mine.

Most of those junk foods I no longer buy, only because I know I have no control whatsoever. I occasionally bake something or pick up something, go crazy for a day/maybe 2, then get right back to it. I limit my cheese, weighing it on my trusty sale, use low or no fat mayo and salad dressings.

I also chew gum all the time now too.

Jthanmyfitnesspal · February 2020

I eat tons of fruit and nuts. Like, 3-5 servings of fruit a day and 2 servings of nuts (for a whopping 320kcals).

Also, in the last year I gave up aspartame because I started to suspect it was giving me cramps. This means I've been putting agave in my tea. (Gasp!) I've realized that 20kcals of agave makes me happy and is easy to accommodate in my plan.

I also take a fiber supplement at the end of the day. Very helpful if you are cutting calories!

lemurcat2 · February 2020

I changed my diet (learning to rely more on cooking for myself) back in my late 20s, and renewed and increased my love of vegetables then. So no, in terms of taste or general diet, nothing really changed with weight loss.

Big things that changed had to do with mindless or emotional eating. When I'm eating well (this is for me specifically), I'm not snacking or eating stuff that is in the breakroom at work just because (mindful choices on occasion if something is special are fine). I'm not overeating because it's our work lunch or because I happen to go out to dinner (most of the places we go to dinner have reasonably nutritious options, but I still know there are more cals). It is very rare that I don't have sufficient leftovers or quick things to cook or make a salad of that I end up being tempted to order in because it's late and I'm tired.

So I would say things changed in terms of better habits that make healthful and consistent eating easier. Not tastes or likelihood to eat lots of veg (I did before too) or desire for so-called junk food (which has never really been a huge weakness, although it's easy to get high cals in lots of different types of food!).

sardelsa · February 2020

My eating before was never terrible, but in the past I used to view food as good and bad and if I had something not on my list of allowed then it would throw me off. I would just say forget it, overeat the forbidden foods, feel like my workout was for nothing or completely skip it. I would feel deprived go through periods of on track and off track. I had an unhealthy mindset. I also became almost underweight at one point since I cut out so many foods and I was burning a lot of calories.

So my experience might be different than others but I eat way more junk and treats than I used to. More regularly in moderation. I have a portion of ice cream or sugary cereal at least 4-5x per week, sometimes cake or donuts, plus candy before my workouts. Right now I'm maintaining on ultra high calories so I have a bit more flexibility.

Overall I eat less nuts, less fruit, less freezer/prepackaged meals, less takeout, less foods I hate just because they are "healthy" (I'm looking at you quinoa, chia seeds, super greens), more protein (especially fish and seafood), more homemade, more salad and vegetables, more carbs (especially more pasta), more treats. Oh and more coffee

NovusDies · February 2020

My 2 biggest changes:

1) I am willing to cook even when the food is just for me now.
2) I no longer wait for hunger cues to eat.

I have always had a desire to eat nutritious foods. I am one of those crazy people that will crave vegetables and salad if I have gone too long between. For as long as I can remember I have also had a desire to replace some of my meat with pb protein too. I like a big variety.

That is all well and good but my habits of not cooking for myself and skipping meals until I was voracious or my energy levels tanked often had me at a drive thru to pick up way too many calories to compensate, pulling heat and serve meals from the freezer, or having high calorie snacks. This was all mixed in with a lot of nutrient dense food too but often that was higher calorie items too.

The problem was not that I was eating drive thru or highly processed food. I still eat that stuff. It is just now a minimal part of my monthly diet instead of a crutch for not taking the time to eat on a schedule and preparing meals when I do.

Much of the shifting I have done through small changes was to strip away the habits I did not really ever want in favor of the way I have always wanted to be.

I disallowed big changes when I started though. I had a lot of weight to lose so I had a pretty big calorie allowance. I was losing a lot of weight still eating things like burgers, chicken nuggets, and french fries. Over time I have kept changing and now I am in line with my 80/20 mindset.

AlabasterVerve · February 2020

I don't eat foods that are easy (for me) to overeat by thousands of calories on a regular basis now and I don't snack. I do eat a lot of beef now--pretty much for every meal. Hamburger, roasts and steaks are my staples. I've always liked and ate fruits, nuts and vegetables so that hasn't changed.

Good food habits and proper food are pretty much the only changes that I've kept throughout the years.

janejellyroll · February 2020

I use a lot more volume eating tricks to bulk up my meals (brothy soups, lots of vegetables, etc).

I eat fruit and grains much less often.

I am much more selective about my condiment usage.

helen_goldthorpe · February 2020

My diet was never terrible - I gained about 30lb over 10 years so not actually that much above maintenance, it just compounded. So I’m mainly eating the same things with a bit more portion control, and saving the more indulgent things for days when my calorie burn merits it. Less alcohol and a bit more protein. And less grazing on snacks that get left out at work (unless it’s a day when I need the calories!) That’s about it.

corinasue1143 · February 2020

I just didn’t know what healthy eating was. My Dr. told me when I was young if I wanted to eat healthy I should quit eating fries and chips and have a banana or apple instead. He told me that’s all I needed to do at my age, plenty of time to worry about that stuff later. So I went to McDonald’s for a hamburger and coke, no fries. Healthy by my standards.
I joined Weight Watchers and they told me no need to eat that apple or banana, it was just sugar, just like a candy bar, so why not just have a candy bar? Yeah! Now I could have a hamburger, coke, AND a candy bar! No wonder I got fat!
Years later, I went to a dietician who really tried to teach me, and I really tried to learn. I quickly gave up donuts and coke. I cut way back on dessert, candy. I ate the real thing when I did eat sweets, instead of substituting everything with something else with 3 less calories and a sickening taste(another Weight Watchers holdover). I realized nuts are not the enemy and gave myself permission to eat them(I would rather have a small handful of nuts than a whole cake or pie most times). It sounds so weird now, but I figured out that fruits I like (peaches, plums, watermelon, berries, grapes, etc.) are just as healthy as apples and bananas. Through time, I am learning to cook vegetables. I eat more, and better than I did.

quiksylver296 · February 2020

My major change is prioritizing protein over carbs for most meals, especially breakfast. I usually prefer a sweet breakfast, so I would gravitate towards pancakes, french toast, etc. Now my breakfast most days is plain greek yogurt mixed with protein powder and berries.

cupcakesandproteinshakes · February 2020

I eat a ton more protein. I was a bread monster before. I still eat it but not as much. Much more veg now. I’m surprised at how my tastes have changed over time.

Staypositive35 · February 2020

MEALPREP. With me intermittent fasting, i have been doing 18/6 lately and by lunch time i'm really hungry. I go grab a chicken already sectioned up/sweet or red potatoes/and a vegetable. I prep 5 meals. Tuesday/Thursday take my wife to lunch, but go to places i can easily track. I eat the same things alot but if i want something different, i just fit it into my macros......There are days where i will go low on calories i.e. 1300-1500, usually stick around 1800 no higer.

LivingtheLeanDream · February 2020

I eat the same things I ate before, but now I will weigh them and eat an appropriate portion.

Terytha · February 2020

I eat less chocolate more frequently. I used to binge on it every few days. Now I make a point to have a small amount every day.

I almost never eat pizza because the return for my calories isn't enough to justify crappy pizza, but I can't often afford the good stuff.

I drink less milk and swapped Coke out for Pepsi Max.

I haven't touched a Dorito in a year. It's the one food I have to put a hard stop on due to lack of control. I used to polish off family size bags by myself. Try not to think about how many calories that is. It's too depressing.

Other than that, my diet hasn't really changed. I eat basically all the same stuff, just in different proportions. And I pay attention to timing. If I want fast food for dinner, I don't also have it for breakfast and lunch. =P

seltzermint555 · February 2020

A lot of the things that changed for me were ideas I had about what was "normal" food and "bad" food and so on.

For example I would eat a lot of cereal with milk and drink oj because to me that was normal and fine. I thought eating several pieces of bread or rolls/breadsticks when you go out to eat was expected and normal. I thought chocolate and ice cream were evil and made you fat and you should try to never eat them. I would not touch a donut but I would get a 400 calorie latte/mocha without batting an eye...

100+ lb lighter, I eat chocolate and donuts and all that so-called bad food, in small amounts. I almost never eat bread with meals - what I call "extra bread"...I eat it but just in the form of toast or sandwiches. I use a lot more vegetables in everything kind of like you do, OP. I pay a lot more attention to what is in my food and to protein and calories. I wind up feeling more satisfied and probably eating more food overall just with fewer calories.

CLICit · February 2020

I don't drink alcohol anymore which is kind of amazing, I don't miss hangovers or feeling low after. I also eat way less bread and pasta and add vegetables instead. I noticed I'm waking up earlier and falling asleep later, I require less rest time. I barely crave sugar or high fat foods like wings or burgers. I also drink A LOT of carbonated water, I'm permanently hydrated.

CupcakeCrusoe · February 2020

My change with food was mindset, similar to @lemurcat2

I used to eat things when people couldn't see me eat them, because I felt the urge to. Some leftover stuff from childhood, where we got yelled at for taking snacks, so we learned to be sneaky.

Once I hammered it into my head that
1. I could eat whatever I wanted, without anyone yelling at me, but also that
2. just because no one could see me wouldn't mean it wouldn't have happened,

I got a much better relationship with food.

Now I can eat absolutely anything in moderation. I've got chocolate in my drawers for days when I have the calories to spend on them, but they don't disappear before then. I can eat a regulation serving of chips. Everything is on the table, and it feels wonderful. I have bad days, but I'm more mindful about them than I ever was.

bmeadows380 · February 2020

I'm in the less pizza club, too, for the same reasons - it doesn't seem worth the calories, or rather, 1 or 2 slices just don't fill me up.

I've cut way back on sweets and mashed potatoes and fries. I've learned a lot of little tricks to lower calorie counts in foods I cook, and I've found that I like greens, parsnips, and rutabaga (still don't like avocado or turnips, though lol)

Before, I'd sample a donut or two or cookies when someone brought them in, hit the candy bowl and grab 4 or 5 funsize candy bars, but I've learned to look at the calorie count and stay away from them because I find its just not worth it, or if I really want it, I've learned to take 1/4 of the donut, 1 cookie, and 1 or 2 fun size candy bars and make sure to fit it into my day's calorie allotment. I do find that I'm not nearly as tempted by those things as I was before.

I've learned to go for just a plain, regular hamburger if I want a hamburger at McDonald's, and if I find myself craving french fries, I'll order a happy meal to get the kid's size. That small portion usually does the trick in satisfying the craving. But I eat a lot of salad and chicken in restaurants now.

I've also switch to using sugar alternatives, such as splenda, truvia, etc. Diet Dr. Pepper instead of regular. Using unsweetened cashew milk in my coffee (unless I'm low on protein, then I use milk).

The one that I'm still struggling with after 3 years, though, is sweet teas. I can't take a full-blown sweet tea as its always too sweet, but I was getting half-cut. The problem is 1) the calorie counts in the database are usually off and 2)I get mine without ice so that half cut was 1 1/2 cups because I didn't have the volume of ice added in and 3)I tend to drink down a sweetened drink a whole lot faster than I do an unsweetened one, so I was drinking more, meaning spending more calories than I thought on those half cut teas. So I'm back to unsweet, with a half cut an an occasional treat

cwolfman13 · February 2020

My diet was never particularly bad. I've never been one to binge eat or stress eat or eat pints of ice cream, etc. I gained about 40 Lbs over the course of about 8 years pretty slowly and it was largely attributable to a decrease in activity going from an active college student to a more sedentary desk jockey.

Probably the biggest change in my diet was eating out less, kicking soda, and including more vegetables and fruits in my diet...otherwise, it's not terribly different than it was before. I've cooked at home for as long as I can remember and I did learn that I could cook using less oil than I would typically use for some things...especially sauces.

Katmary71 · February 2020

My diet wasn't horrible, just ate too much. I have chronic pain so I went with easy stuff like a huge bowl of oatmeal twice a day with brown sugar, maple syrup, dried cherries, sunflower seeds, and milk. Lunch was usually a Lean Pocket or two. Once or twice a month when at the pharmacy I'd buy 2 for 1 bags of chocolate and eat one reading. Now most of my groceries are vegetables, a little fruit, and protein. I cook a lot now and eat salads for lunch every day. Protein is the hardest to get used to, I recently upped it and don't like a lot of meats, hitting it with beans and yogurt doesn't quite get it high enough.

Vjmikesell · February 2020

I don’t buy convience foods at all (with the exception of protein bars, store bought rotesseri chicken, sandwich makings for packed lunches, and unsweetened Greek yogurt ) to keep on hand. If I want to mindlessly snack then I have to go through the process of preparing/cooking the item before I eat it. Not having convience foods in the pantry/fridge has helped tremendously. Out of sight, out of mind. This also helps make me more mindful when it comes to meal planning and planning healthy meals ahead- nothing available to just pop into the microwave in my home so meals have to be planned far enough ahead. The only dessert item I keep in my house is honey (for Greek yogurt) and dark chocolate chips (for baking)

The only drinks we keep at the house is bottled water and sparkling water. I will but Celsius energy drinks/bang energy drinks from wholesale store at beginning of month but once it’s gone, it’s gone until the next month. If I want an empty calorie drink then it’s a big inconvenience to have to drive to the store to get it so we rarely drink anything outside of water.

We only eat out on Saturday (cheat meal after a double workout) not only is it much healthier to not eat out, but also saves tons of money. The money saved by not eating out through the week (or buying a daily Starbucks/convience snacks) goes toward monthly bootcamp memberships and health supplements such as good probiotics, fish oil, vitamin D, coq10, multivitamins, etc..

I never really cared much for seafood but actively trying to add wild caught salmon into the dinner plans 1-2 times per week.

brittanystebbins95 · February 2020

I don't crave junk nearly as much as I used to. I instead crave things like salad, smoothies, or certain fruits or vegetables.
I also don't find much satisfaction in eating junk anymore. Even on days I let myself cheat without guilt, the greasy or fatty things that used to hit the spot just don't do it for me anymore.

I think the biggest thing is that I don't get the urge to binge anymore. I used to have an incredibly unhealthy relationship with food. An undiagnosed eating disorder. I would binge, probably a good 4000-6000 calories in one evening, and then starve myself for a week after to punish myself for it, only to do it all over again.

I made chocolate chip banana bread last week. It was delicious, and I was able to keep myself to having only one slice per day, without craving it the rest of the day. My husband and a few others shared it, too.
Well, I opened my oven yesterday (I grew up storing baked goods in the oven, off of course, don't judge me) and low and behold, there was the dried out banana bread that I completely forgot existed. Two slices went to waste.

It was kind of bittersweet, because on the one hand, I hate being wasteful. But on the other hand, not only did I not even have the urge to binge on it, but I forgot it even existed

lgfrie · February 2020

I've cut out a decent amount of the junky food (refined white flour, added sugar, most cheese most of the time, processed meats, etc.) but not all of it. It's still probably 20-30 % of my diet, just isn't 90 % anymore. I do try to eat healthy and clean most of the time, which is something I never much bothered with before.

Nowadays I eat lots of berries, nuts, fruit, some seeds (pumpkin especially) and in general more vegetables with almost every meal. Particularly blackberries and roasted pecans; these are my go-to afternoon snacks. I can get half a day's worth of fiber with 6 oz of blackberries for 73 calories, which I eat almost every day. If I have the calories to burn, sometimes I'll put a few tbsp of whipped cream on the blackberries, but I don't dislike them plain.

I wouldn't say I'd rather have berries and nuts than chocolate wafer cookies, but I find I have mostly gotten used to the taste and vibe of cleaner eating and it's satisfying in its own way.

Every once in a while I break down and eat some real crap, though, like my body is crying out for some saturated fat soaked in salt. Like 5 or 10 Walkers chocolate chip shortbread cookies or something.

janejellyroll · February 2020

brittanystebbins95 wrote: »

I don't crave junk nearly as much as I used to. I instead crave things like salad, smoothies, or certain fruits or vegetables.
I also don't find much satisfaction in eating junk anymore. Even on days I let myself cheat without guilt, the greasy or fatty things that used to hit the spot just don't do it for me anymore.

I think the biggest thing is that I don't get the urge to binge anymore. I used to have an incredibly unhealthy relationship with food. An undiagnosed eating disorder. I would binge, probably a good 4000-6000 calories in one evening, and then starve myself for a week after to punish myself for it, only to do it all over again.

I made chocolate chip banana bread last week. It was delicious, and I was able to keep myself to having only one slice per day, without craving it the rest of the day. My husband and a few others shared it, too.
Well, I opened my oven yesterday (I grew up storing baked goods in the oven, off of course, don't judge me) and low and behold, there was the dried out banana bread that I completely forgot existed. Two slices went to waste.

It was kind of bittersweet, because on the one hand, I hate being wasteful. But on the other hand, not only did I not even have the urge to binge on it, but I forgot it even existed

I used to eat five or six brownies right away every time I made them (and I made them pretty often). Any leftovers would be promptly eaten the next day. Now when I make brownies, I'll eat one, maybe have another the next day, and freeze the extras. I actually tossed some brownies the other day because I couldn't remember how long they'd been in my freezer.

kimny72 · February 2020

I switched from regular Coke to Coke Zero. Otherwise I eat pretty much all the same foods I used to, just changed up the proportions. More fruit and veg, more fiber and protein, and smaller portions of treats since I weigh and log them now. Honestly for me it's been about defeating the mindless/boredom/emotional eating. I used to eat treat foods because of that, just eating until I wasn't bored or upset anymore. Now I still eat those treats, but because I enjoy them, and I weigh out a portion and put the package away before eating.

Diatonic12 · February 2020

I no longer assign any moral judgments to foods.
Clean foods vs Dirty foods
Good or Bad
Naughty or Nice
Healthy or Junk
Cheat Days
Cheat Meals
Cheat Months

I don't talk about food in such childish terms. I was a very bad girl today, so naughty. I ate all of the bad foods, pigged out on junk foods. I'm not married to my food so I don't have to cheat on it.

DancingMoosie · February 2020

We basically sub veggies for most other carbs a lot of times. Instead of eating pasta with italian sausage, sauce, cheese, thick garlic bread...we'll have zoodles with ground 85%beef sauce, cheese, and a side of veg. Instead of having mexican food with rice and beans, we might make salad with taco meat and have a few chips and avocado. I mostly eat veggies with protein for lunch and a fruit. I don't even buy loaves of bread anymore. Crackers used to be one of my favorite snacks, but i only buy them on occasion.

dbanks80 · February 2020

I have upped my protein significantly and I cut out alcohol significantly. Made a huge difference!

ebygin · February 2020

I no longer use sugar in my coffee, I haven't drunk a soda pop since I started MFP 16 days ago. I love salty chips, but the bags are no longer allowed in the house. I have always cooked at home, but hubby likes to go out for wings on Wednesday and dinner on Fridays. Instead of having the big Cobb salad, I have tossed salad with grilled chicken breast and a vinegar based dressing. No more Cheerios and milk for breaky - every morning it is oatmeal with a cup of fruit... apple, black berries, blueberries or strawberries. Instead of bread, I use Wasa Crisp - which I prefer anyways. The small changes and eating less (I used to fill my plate!) and now I weigh and measure has kept me on track. As of yet, I have not craved anything that I have cut out of my diet, I have a big bowl of raw veggies in the fridge now that I snack on if I need a crunch. The bowl is filled with broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cucumber and carrots. I found out I really like water with a lemon squeeze - my new drink of choice at the restaurant!

nighthawk584 · February 2020

One huge change for me, I quit alcohol the same day I started my wlj. I've been almost 11 months sober, and as of this week, 97 lbs down. After 40 years of drinking, I don't miss it one bit and it has helped with my overall journey.

As for food, I try and make nutritionally smart choices, but I won't deny myself treats that I love too. I work out every day, so I have a lot of calories to eat, even in a deficit. I did stop eating fast food because it was a huge trigger for me to binge. I enjoy cooking but primarily keep it simple , eating the same stuff over and over, and switching between 4 or 5 different animal proteins. Maybe once I am in maintenance I will explore more options, OR not.

bluffgirl67 · February 2020

My habits have changed some but I didn't want this to be a journey of "forbidden" foods. I am not willing to give up chocolate without a medical reason. However instead of traditional candy bars or the most delicious salted caramels from Costco I will eat small pieces of Belgian dark chocolate most days. I have cut back on whole milk as a drink with meals, using mayo for sandwiches/tuna salad, fresh white bakery breads, and tons of processed Progresso soups ie potato. I also switched from sugary yogurt to plain greek. Now I use the plain for many things like sour cream substitution. As for new additions spinach, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes have become staples that I never ate before this.

Daily I work to choose things that are more nutritional over those that aren't. Some days may be a bit junkier than others and my diary will never be clean. Making small changes and substitutions in food is part of the process. For me this journey is about becoming healthier while not being so strict with myself that I can't have a cookie at a party etc. If it fits my calories then it's all good.

How your eating has changed

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