Why CAN'T you eat whatever you want?? *Little* rant...

I've got to disagree to an extent. Sure, I probably eat some unhealthy foods, but there are some foods (Like anything fried) that I just cannot eat with acid reflux. I had a really oily pasta last fourth of july, and lets just say I learned my lesson on that. So, there are some things that I /can't/ eat. Not without being physically sick afterwards.
Now of course, I've been thinking about chocolate chip cookies all day, so am I going to have some? Yeah, I'll probably make some tomorrow. This isn't to say that all bad food I /can't/ eat. But there are some things that I really can't eat with acid reflux. =/
Though probably I'm one of the outliers that you aren't including in a general statement, and I'll agree that for most people, simple moderation in combination with a healthy diet, some unhealthy foods are okay too.

I agree with some of what you've said, and disagree with other parts, confused with the rest. Is you're argument that unless a substance is physically addictive, it doesn't qualify as an addiction at all? A mental addiction can be "absurd to you", fine, but it's still very real...

Yes, to an extent that is my argument. You have to understand that, psychologically, you can become "addicted" to absolutely anything. As such, food is no more addictive than playing hop scotch. Whatever releases dopamines then activates the reward pathway. It's entirely plausible that someone can be addicted to counting grass if it pleases the right parts of the brain. This is entirely different than cocaine or alcohol.

Again, there has to be some level of culpability for people who are "addicted" to food. There are people who can't help it, I recognize this. Some people are legitimately damaged goods. But I am unconvinced that almost all the binge eaters on here are biologically predisposed to binge eating.

Most obese people, it's their fault. Some of them, it's not. But more often than not it is their fault. Restrictive dieting is a major cause of binge eating if I recall correctly. The media perpetuates information, scaring individuals in to not eating stuff instead of properly educating them on how to eat. It shouldn't be, "sugar is toxic" but rather that "sugar is toxic at these doses but it means you can still eat that bowl of ice-cream without ill effects."

Ultimately, flexible dieters are far more successful in losing weight and maintaining it than strict dieters. People need to be educated properly on how to diet and how not to. Currently, the standards are far too restrictive and complicated. It's a headache for people to diet because they gotta eat X amount of meals, this vegetable but not that and then make sure not to eat red meat, etc. etc. It's so much simpler than that. I've watched people around me insist that I'm doing it wrong yet my research, scientific-minded colleagues (Alan Aragon, for example), and results state otherwise. I don't ever feel guilty eating and I can stop eating chocolates at will. I never was able to do that. I used to say, "Wow, I ruined my diet. Let's binge now!" How many people say that? A lot of people on here.

I see.

I encourage you to do the same.

See what you're doing here? You're being passive-aggressive. As opposed to refuting my claim and helping MFP community by sharing your knowledge, you're just being sarcastic. I'm unsure of what your goal is but it isn't beneficial to the conversation at hand.

Anyone who disputes sugar or refined carbs can't be addicting simply needs to read MORE.

I agree, it's VERY real. And so does the medical community.

How is it anymore addicting than playing videos or having sex? And the medical community, unfortunately, is more than happy to remove culpability from individuals. Then again, the medical community also suggested that 6 meals a day is superior to 3, saturated fats are bad, sugar is toxic, late night eating makes you fat, refined carbohydrates are detrimental, and so forth. Yet, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, that these allegations are simply not true. The medical community gets it wrong quite often because their personal agendas interfere. There is no SOUND scientific basis (meaning they using incredibly shaky studies to prove their point) to most of what the medical community suggests in the dieting world.

So just because the medical community says something doesn't make it true. Similarly, just because I say something doesn't make it true either. More than anything, I encourage people to be intrigued by what I say then look into it. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm right. People take information at face value far too often. That's the only reason why I started teaching myself anything.

My opinion is my opinion. Don't let it ruin your day.

Exactly! Eat in moderation. If it fits your macros!!

Yup! I just had a 6" garlic fingers for dinner. I'm still under cals by almost 200. You just plan and move things around that day. I have a cheat day every week and it's usually either garlic fingers or McDonalds. Been on here since May 10th and I've lost 4 pounds! You just need to have good/decent days as well

THIS.
I had 3 cupcakes the other day because I was at a barbecue for one of my classes (and cookies & a healthy-version brownie I baked...heh). All I had to eat from breakfast until after 5pm that day was food at that barbecue & there was no healthy or pescatarian-friendly foods. Was it the healthiest thing to do? No. Do I regret having a few cupcakes? Not at all. It'd been months since I had one & that was a day to enjoy myself.
That day won't be throwing off my journey at all & neither will a treat or "unhealthy" meal every now and then with your family or friends
Everything in moderation. (and yes, I do know that wasn't very moderate, but I don't have huge treats most days)

*Climbs on soapbox*

It's frustrating to read posts where people are saying "I can't eat what my friends eat" or "I can't eat what my family eats". Why not? If this is truly a lifestyle change for you (which it should be) you need to learn how to not only eat healthier but ALSO account for the unexpected.

EVERYTHING is okay....in moderation! So it's not about what you CAN'T eat, it's about how you CAN eat everything! Deprivation will lead to binging and failure. Make it a real life change and teach yourself how to do this thing for the long haul!

Thank you.

*Climbs off soapbox*

Very True

I think this is very true.

I however do have to complete take some things out for a while. Because I just go over board to easy.
Granola bars, cereal, and such are those products. I don't crave if I just don't eat them. Whatever works for you ^-^

I can do the SAME thing with granola bars. haha The Chewy Chocolate Chip ones? Yeah, I have to wait until they fit in my calories to have like 6 at a time.

To some degree I've just changed what I "want". The only thing I've "given up" is sweets. I had a piece of cake at a wedding in March and a desert at a banquet in April. Apart from that, the sweet things aren't on my "want list" at the moment. When they do get reintroduced, perhaps at maintenance time, they will have to fit in the calories for the day.


ETA: a lot of sweet things are just crap food - they won't be reintroduced at ANY point....