Peanut Butter Addiction

cookiedeer
cookiedeer Posts: 13
edited December 26 in Food and Nutrition
I eat very well usually, never missing a serving of fruits and vegetables. My calorie intake is around 1200-1500, and I am very active from serving tables and running at least 2 miles daily. I almost never eat dairy unless it's Greek yogurt or eggs, and I tend to favor sprouted breads, steelcut oats, and brown rice. I don't ever eat pastries or fatty deserts and snacks. Some days I endulge in graham or animal crackers, maybe some muesli, but I almost ALWAYS hit the peanut butter very hard sometime during the day. In recent weeks, ive been striving for more variety, and ive been attempting to get more protein from fish and turkey, but this week I was, again, dreadfully hungry and couldnt think of anything that would sate my hunger more that peanut butter would.

My question is, with the whole of my diet and exercise, is eating 500 calories worth of peanutbutter going to make me gain weight - regardless of the fact I'm still under my calories goal?
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Replies

  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    No, in fact studies have shown it is actually beneficial to eat nuts while maintaining normal to weight losing calorie levels.
  • mdelcott
    mdelcott Posts: 529 Member
    I would love to know I too am addicted to peanut butter...I cant leave it alone and eat it straight from the jar on a spoon..I LOVE it I have tried PB2, and although its alright It isnt the same and I always come back to the real thing..
  • gettingto98
    gettingto98 Posts: 22
    i'd watch out for the fats in it, but i don't think so. i actually do this a lot too. i love love love peanut butter and have been known to eat whole jars in a sitting.
  • BeantownSooner
    BeantownSooner Posts: 254
    No, just go all natural with it as it has a lot less added sugar. I eat a PB&J and a handful of unsalted nuts every single day!
  • cookiedeer
    cookiedeer Posts: 13
    Mmmmm! I am so happy I'm not alone. Its so hard to mentally accept that it could be beneficial to weight loss or maintain because if all the fat....
  • SamanthaAnnM
    SamanthaAnnM Posts: 143 Member
    I think peanut butter (or other nut butters, like my personal favorite - Almond butter!) can definitely be part of a healthy diet, especially if you buy it organic with literally the only ingredient being the nuts and a little salt. 500 calories worth of peanut butter sounds like a lot though and it will add a lot of fat to your diet. I'm no nutritionist so I'm not sure what it will do to your weight loss, although I do believe in "calories in, calories out" theory for sure. It sounds to me like you're experiencing a craving and not actual hunger - one easy way to tell is if you feel like your "hunger" can only be staved off by a certain food, which is what you described! So maybe you could have only a spoonful of peanut butter when the craving is really bad or as a treat, but also do things that distract you from the craving. You could also up your fruit and veggies (esp. veggies) intake, and definitely your protein which will keep you full much longer.
  • cookiedeer
    cookiedeer Posts: 13
    You are definitely right about the cravings. However, there is no possible way I could eat anymore fruits and vegetables than I already do - maybe its lack of protein in general? Ive gotta be doing something wrong.
  • fightingautism
    fightingautism Posts: 84
    Are you eating all natural/organic peanut butter? I'm convinced the corn syrup is the addictive part of peanut butter. Once I switched to the natural stuff I stopped craving it like I used to.
  • ARyding17
    ARyding17 Posts: 75 Member
    oh my gosh, this is like made for me.

    Do you realise I used to eat whole jars of peanut butter? In yogurt, with choclate, on bread, plain, in candy/ice cream, ect. I eat it ALL! I know its good for you but my gosh is it high in calories and if anyone even waves so much as something with a hint of peanut butter infront of my face I am a goner!
  • cookiedeer
    cookiedeer Posts: 13
    He he he, this is so true for me as well. The question then becomes, "what other vehicles can I use for peanut butter? How about this cucumber? Maybe in my oat meal?"
  • urbansmamma
    urbansmamma Posts: 202 Member
    This is a great recipe for a nutty spread. It is weird, but surprisingly delicious.. And a lot less calories:

    1 cup cooked white beans (I use cannellini beans but any white bean will work)
    1/4 cup creamy peanut butter (you can sub in other nut butters)
    2 Tbsp agave nectar or pure maple syrup  (agave has fewer calories)
    1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
    salt, as needed
    Directions: Blend everything together in a food processor. Enjoy!
    Nutritional information: (Per 2 Tbsp serving)
    Calories 90
    Calories from fat 37
    Total Fat 4.1 g
    Cholesterol 0
    Total carbohydrates 10.6g
    Fiber 2.5 g
    Sugars 4.5 g
    Protein 3.8 g
  • keeponkickin
    keeponkickin Posts: 1,520 Member
    <---Peanut butter *kitten* right here! LOL. I eat it daily and have lost weight very successfully. Enjoy! It's good for you, especially the natural peanut butters.
  • nic2561
    nic2561 Posts: 21 Member
    I used to have to keep PB out of the house because I would inevitably end up with a spoon in the jar until it was empty. It was my favorite binge food. I believe what was lacking from my diet was fat....I was eating low fat garbage at the time. You seem to eat a very healthy diet made up of fruits and veggies, so it doesn't sound like the PB should be a problem but maybe the reason your craving it so much is because of a lack of fat rather than protein, or perhaps a combination of the two.

    I have actually had the most luck with losing weight when eating a diet higher in (healthy) fat than MFP recommends. I eat PB every day (without the urge to go overboard) and also include healthy oils, avocado and fatty fishes in my diet and of course lots of fruits and veggies.
  • cookiedeer
    cookiedeer Posts: 13
    I used to have to keep PB out of the house because I would inevitably end up with a spoon in the jar until it was empty. It was my favorite binge food. I believe what was lacking from my diet was fat....I was eating low fat garbage at the time. You seem to eat a very healthy diet made up of fruits and veggies, so it doesn't sound like the PB should be a problem but maybe the reason your craving it so much is because of a lack of fat rather than protein, or perhaps a combination of the two.

    I have actually had the most luck with losing weight when eating a diet higher in (healthy) fat than MFP recommends. I eat PB every day (without the urge to go overboard) and also include healthy oils, avocado and fatty fishes in my diet and of course lots of fruits and veggies.

    This is very, very helpful! I have definitely overlooked this possibility. Thank you so much for the insight!
  • TheWave97
    TheWave97 Posts: 11
    I know EXACTLY how you feel. Nothing can beat the taste of real crunchy peanut butter!!!!
  • Lobster1987
    Lobster1987 Posts: 492 Member
    I think that if you are staying under your calories, you should be fine.
  • Lobster1987
    Lobster1987 Posts: 492 Member
    Oh, and also if you like the PB taste, look into some stuff called PB2. It's powdered peanuts with the fat squeezed out, so it's got a ton less calories but still the peanut taste.
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    No, peanut butter is great for you - it has healthy fats and protein! I'd recommend eating the all natural kind since most other kinds have sugar added. Smuckers all natural is my favorite!

    You won't gain weight from it if you're under your calorie goal. Hypothetically speaking you could eat all 1200 calories in peanut butter and still be losing weight... you just wouldn't be very nutritionally healthy!
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    Try the PB2, I love peanut butter everything, and PB2 is Awesome, I use it in my Oatmeal, on ice cream in cookies. in yogurt. It is 45 calories for 2 Tbsp vs 190 for regular Peanut Butter. other than that peanut butter is good for you.
  • saraann4
    saraann4 Posts: 1,296 Member

    My question is, with the whole of my diet and exercise, is eating 500 calories worth of peanutbutter going to make me gain weight - regardless of the fact I'm still under my calories goal?

    Answer: No, if you are under your calories. If you want to cut out some of the calories in PB, try PB2. It's really pretty tasty.
  • Amy911Gray
    Amy911Gray Posts: 685 Member
    I have found where "my people" live. PB junkie right here...Love the Peanut Butter!!!
  • flslp87
    flslp87 Posts: 175 Member
    I love PB and try not to let a day go by w/o having my snack of a banana and PB! Like to have it for breakfast sometimes too, the banana, PB and a chocolate (no sugar) vitatop....
  • sweetbeckymarie
    sweetbeckymarie Posts: 144
    I am right there with you! I have a major peanut butter addiction, I love all varieties and know that having it in the house is just a bad idea. a serving seems so small compared to what i really consume, but I've noticed it sort of fills me up so much that it ruins my appetite for a long time after eating it. as long as you are under your calorie goal i see no problem with hittin' the jar a bit (choose natural without added sugars and salts if you want to be really good).
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    I eat a ton of nuts and peanut butter every day. To the tune of 75-100g of fat per day. I don't eat any other significant source of fat except Greek yogurt. As far as weight loss, I had no trouble losing and am having no trouble maintaining. As far as the amount of fat goes . . . no idea, I'm hoping it's OK!
  • Pimpmonkey
    Pimpmonkey Posts: 566
    Great Value - Creamy Peanut Butter , 1 jar = 6,650 cals /245 protein /70 fiber /560 fat /5,250 sodium /0 cholesterol
    Great Value- Colby Jack Cheese, 1 block= 1,760 cals /112 protein /0 fiber /144 fat /2,880 sodium /480 cholesterol

    For a grand total of = 8,410 cals /357 protein /70 fiber /704 fat /8,130 sodium /480 cholesterol

    Okay, maybe I had a little bit of a peanut butter addiction (this used to be a nightly thing for me in a 12 hours shift at work:noway: !)

    Thank god I started eatin better!!!!
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    Maybe give PB 2 a try..less on all the bad...pretty much the same on all the goods! :) I loooove me my peanut butter chocolate whey protein shakes....MM MM!
  • Janet9906
    Janet9906 Posts: 546 Member
    I've lost almost 45 pounds and eat PB every single day....couldn't live without it :-)
  • GenesisandEden
    GenesisandEden Posts: 338 Member
    addicted - LS natural nutty **sighs**
  • husker_gal
    husker_gal Posts: 462 Member
    I LOVE peanut butter! I favor the taste of JIF creamy the most but only buy it occasionally. I make my own otherwise because I can control what is going into it. I can keep it as organic and all natural as I want and I keep the bad fats out of it. =) Enjoy your PB!
  • rachelelizabeth88
    rachelelizabeth88 Posts: 73 Member
    I know I have this problem with peanut butter-- I go through phases of peanut butter, almond butter, and sunflower seed butter (yum!) and then I go through weeks where I don't want it at all... it's probably just your body telling you you need the fat in your diet. Try increasing that
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