Yes. You CAN eat 'normal' food! (my rant.)

The organic rainbow lettuce brigade.

Best line ever on MFP....For the WIN!

AMEN!

wonderful post!!!!! its all about portion control!!!!

I find other ORLB members answers to be better or at least more thought provoking because there is usually some attempt to explain why something is unhealthy.

This allows me to accumulate as much info as possible, form an opinion on a food and then increase or decrease its appearance in my menu as I see fit. I find this superior to "everything in moderation" because there is no opinion or analysis to help me discern approximately what "moderation" is for any given food.

The problem is, the majority of the "ORLB" don't attempt to realistically explain why something may or may not be healthy, at least, not on this board. They just spread ridiculous myths about whatever food is being discussed in an attempt to scare the person asking the questions about it to stop eating it. See any thread about diet soda or fast food for a shining example. It's one thing to discuss the merits or health issues of any one food, but it's another to openly spread false information.

Yes... but it gets you thinking and researching. Its everyone's personal responsibility to take in all the information out there an form your own opinion.

"Everything is fine in moderation" always leaves you at the same state of being informed.

preach it!! so true..its all portion control, and exercise. i have not changed any of the foods i eat, but have cut back the amount that i was eating, and got my butt moving, and im seeing results. ....You are a genius!! lol

Would also like to add in my OPINION if you drastically change/cut out foods that you like to eat then its harder to stick to a diet, because you dont like the food you "have" to eat to lose weight...

I've been eating so called normal food since I started this whole process, I refuse to deprive myself, this is not a punishment! Everything moderation I've loss 68 pounds eating normal food!

Processed crap isn't "normal" food to me. I don't like the way I feel after I eat it--physically or mentally. So why would I eat it?

I'm very happy with my healthy options. I actually enjoy them more.

I find it very amusing that so many are so self righteous about the processed stuff they eat; it's like you're looking for validation. I'm just happy that I actually ENJOY healthy foods. My bowl of oatmeal this morning may have had the same amount of calories as an Egg McMuffin, but I know that in the long run, steel cut oats, blueberries, and ground flax seeds are WAY better for my body than the McMuffin. Calories aside, the actual foods themselves are waaaay better for you.

I'd rather have a baked sweet potato than some fries. Honestly.

That is great for you. But, the point is that the "Self Righteous" people on here are the ones who bash people for eating instant potatoes if its what they can use to control calories. Trust me, I have never seen a post on here by someone trying to ask an organic vegan to eat a burrito because it is "normal" food. The concept of normal is irrelevant. It is entirely subjective. The problem here is that if I can lose weight by eating prepackaged meals, awesome! If you can by eating nothing but organic this that and the other, Great! We need to support each others efforts, not point out that they are not doing EVERYTHING they could.

As a side note, I do eat organic lettuce grown under rainbows as well. Unicorn fertilizer is like miracle grow on steroids.

:laugh:

That is great for you. But, the point is that the "Self Righteous" people on here are the ones who bash people for eating instant potatoes if its what they can use to control calories. Trust me, I have never seen a post on here by someone trying to ask an organic vegan to eat a burrito because it is "normal" food. The concept of normal is irrelevant. It is entirely subjective. The problem here is that if I can lose weight by eating prepackaged meals, awesome! If you can by eating nothing but organic this that and the other, Great! We need to support each others efforts, not point out that they are not doing EVERYTHING they could.

THIS!!

I hate at Chik-Fil-A last night and I had a Whooper Jr. for lunch. I am now happy

LOVE IT!!!

I eat "normal" food, fast food, and junk food! In moderation and when I really want it! I've lost 98 lbs.

Well said!

I completely and TOTALLY agree I have lost 70lbs eating all the foods I love...just in the correct portion sizes and within my daily calorie allowance I am able to stay on track, be healthy, and ENJOY food again

This isn't about HATING food and making it your enemy...it's about EMBRACING food and learning to work WITH it so that our weightloss is lasting

Well said my friend...well said

The thing for me, I can't afford to go out and buy ingredients to make some fantastic low cal, low fat, low sodium, non-processed meal. Our oven doesn't even work, we have to use the toaster to "bake". I'm on a starving student budget and I'm lucky that I don't have to survive off of noodles. On top of all that I don't own a food scale. I seriously doubt anyone in my entire family that I have met at least once in my life owns one. So I can't measure out my food and toss out what doesn't fit in my budget. I know how many calories are in a 6 inch sub with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and ranch because I can easy look up the ingredients. I know what I'm eating when I pop a Marie Callendar's meal into the microwave because it says so on the box.

It's how I watch my portions. Instead of getting the 12pc nuggets from Chick-fil-a I get the 8pc and a water. Instead of a double whooper with everything on it, I get a whooper jr w/o the fries. Little things, it's what counts. Now maybe one day I want to munch on a celery stock while lifting 30lbs of weights, but right now I want my freaking hamburger and sugar cookies so I won't murder the poor guy that looks at me weird in the Wal-Mart check out.

Love this post!!