May seem like a silly question, but I'm asking anyway

[jillybean]

Hi. Okay, some background first - I recently gained some weight in a short amount of time and would love to take it off.

I know what I need to do, but here's my problem... whenever I take weight off, I do so by eating the same exact thing every day (egg whites/oatmeal for breakfast, pb and rice cakes for a snack, chicken and veggies for lunch, almonds and cheese stick for snack, fish and veggies for dinner). Every time I eat this way I lose weight and drop body fat very quickly - however - I am MISERABLE when I eat this way as I am hungry, tired, and cold (body temperature-wise) all the time. Plus, I can only eat that way for so long so once I begin to put sweets and simple carbs back into my diet, that's all I wind up eating and consume boxes of donuts and bags and bags of candy in one sitting. Of course, I end up gaining back the weight I lost and then some.

So... my question is this - how do I stop this cycle? How do I lose weight (FOR GOOD) all while cutting down on my current diet of sugar, sugar, sugar yet skip the feelings of deprivation, fatigue, and dread? How do I avoid getting burned out on my food choices? And how do I avoid putting myself into deprivation mode when I begin to eat foods that are good for me? I want to make room for sweets (if I don't, I will eventually give in and binge for days/weeks/months), but would like the BULK of my food intake to be healthy/clean foods.

I'm sooooo tired of eating like crap for about a year, eating uber clean for a few weeks, and then repeating the process.

I have a feeling if I change the way I eat, I will perform better at work, perform better during my workouts, and be healthier and happier in general. But I tend to be an all or nothing person so whenever I think 'I am going to eat clean' - I either cut out almost everything enjoyable and go through the process I described above, or I freak out because I think of the misery it brings, and decide to make no change at all.

Sorry for the rant, I just kind of need some help/advice.

Thanks for listening.

[RapidBreath]

I really think you should check out inside out weight loss it is a free podcast off of iTunes. You sound like you are ready for this kind of approach.

[dbelden1]

Hi Jillybean:

I'm right there with you! I have a tendancy to be a very picky eater and hate anything that is green, red, or orange (basically anything that is remotely healthy for you)... therefore, when I'm "dieting" I stick to the same basic meals day after miserable day also! I have tried Weight Watchers and have had some success in the past with either counting points or the "core" plan because it allows you the opportunity to splurge on some sweets or anything else you want as long as you are within your "points" window. chocolate is my absolute downfall! If I completely removed that from my diet, I would absolutely shrivel up and die!!! So I can really relate to you on this issue! However WW does have some wonderful ooey-gooey chocolate deserts in the freezer section that have been lifesavers in a pinch for me.

My issue is sticking to the "diet"! They always say that you shouldn't diet but rather change your eating habits for the rest of your life but... I do OK for awhile, but slip back into my old routine eventually and lose all the progress I made. When I met my now husband, I had worked out daily and did a modified Atkins/Protein diet and lost about 40 lbs... but he is a chef and spoils me rotten, so that quickly went by the way-side! oops!

So, now up 40 lbs again and over 40 years old, so it's so much harder to take it off! I signed up with WW online (again) a few weeks back but have only been to the site once since that day I'm just having a hard time jump starting a new routine.

After being on vacation all last week I told myself I was making another committment to myself to start fresh TODAY! I ordered another 4 Cathe DVD's last friday that should arrive early next week, and gathered the rest of the basic workout equipment for Cathe's workouts ~ I'm gonna "try it again"!

The only advise I can give is to not give up and check out some of the WW frozen deserts!

I'm new to this forum and have never posted anything ~ but saw your post and wanted to let you know that you are not alone! Hope that this time the support from this site will help push me/us through this tough beginning and get us the results that we so despirately desire!

Dani

[BelovedHeather]

Jillybean:

First, you are such an inspiration to me. I have been reading your posts, and the progress you have made in conquering eating disorders and reclaiming your health is very encouraging to me. I started riding the diet-binge roller coaster in elementary school. After going from one extreme of anorexia in high school (88 pounds) to the opposite extreme of binge eating my way up to 260 pounds, riding a roller coaster with my weight for years, having a relapse with binge eating this summer, and hitting my top weight again for the fourth time in my life, I am finding a healthy balance through intuitive eating. You can find the book (called Intuitive Eating) at most libraries, and I highly recommend it. This approach is recommend by the highly respected Remuda Ranch, and it is the most effective way in my personal experience to break free from the destructive cycle you described. You learn to listen to your body and naturally eat 90 percent for health and nutrition and 10 percent for fun and pleasure without counting calories or calculating ratios or obsessing over food. I will warn you that this is not a quick fix, and there is a learning curve. You may gain weight at first. The focus is on making peace with food and your body, breaking free from food strongholds, treating your body with gentleness and respect, and reaching a natural and healthy weight and size for your body as a result. Weight loss is not the goal. It is a natural result of the journey, and it is a journey. I have not been "perfect" with this way of eating, but I have lost 20 pounds since the 4th of July (with the Road Trip, my birthday, and another trip in the mix). Here is a link to the official website if you are interested in reading more:

http://www.intuitiveeating.org/What_is_Intuitive_Eating_.html

Blessings,
Heather B.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).

[Shelshula]

Jilly Bean,

I believe your chief concerns are that you’re cold and painfully bored with your healthy diet so you can't stand it long term and there's a sling shot effect when you go off of it.

If you are physically cold all the time, then you are probably cutting too much fat out of your diet and it is affecting your thyroids ability to properly maintain your body temperature.

As for the boredom, you need to expand your definition of clean eating beyond the meager menu you described. Also, you should allow yourself the option of deciding to enjoy the occasional cheat meal or piece of birthday cake. If you don’t allow yourself to enjoy life’s celebrations you end up resenting your diet even more and the whip lash will be worse. You don’t want to set yourself up to be one of those people hiding in a closet on Thanksgiving eating an entire pumpkin pie.

Think about what foods you love and what would be healthy or clean versions of them. They don't have to be perfect. This should be a transition into better meal planning skills and not a complete upheaval to how you eat.

I am currently struggling with this myself.

Remember that this takes training and practice just like everything else in life. This isn’t an issue of will power.

Imagine what a healthy breakfast looks like. Plan out at least three good breakfasts; they should be relatively easy to do in the morning. Oatmeal is fine for one day, but how about an omelet another day, or whole wheat toast topped with ricotta cheese and some sliced fruit broiled until bubbly or a whole wheat English muffin with peanut butter, honey and banana. Or a homemade egg Mc Muffin,

For snacks, how about adding some sliced veggies and some hummus, maybe some grapes and a square of dark chocolate. And for God’s sake, add some dessert. Frozen apple sauce makes a nice sorbet. Cocked-eyed cake has no eggs in it and makes a nice cupcake. And there is nothing wrong with having a cookie every now and then. Deprivation is not a virtue. And you’ll enjoy it that much more because it is an infrequent treat.

I love asparagus grilled or broiled. What vegetables do you love? What fruits do you enjoy? What about whole grains? You can make some nice pilafs with quinoa or barley. Salads are good. How about some different proteins? Pork, chicken, tofu, the occasional sandwich. These things are ok and can be done in a sensible manner.

Just don’t be too extreme or rigid. Try focusing on eating 5 servings of fruits and 5 servings of vegetables a day or keeping a log of what you eat and making sure you eat at least 30 different foods each week. Allow yourself the pleasure of dunking some really good bread in a tablespoon of good quality olive oil. Use real dressing on your salads, not just a squirt of lemon juice. Enjoy your meals.

Good luck and let me know if you have any great recipes you can’t live without.

[RapidBreath]

Shelshula is right on the money with everything she wrote.

[Shelshula]

Thank you.

Now if I could only follow my own advice.

[deborahj]

Jillibean, I once had a doctor tell me my sugar cravings were from low magnesium. Not sure if this would apply to you just thought I'd give another opinion. I do take supplements just not all the time.

Debbie

[jillybean]

Wow - thanks so much for all the replies, all the advice.

Variety, not perfection; these are the things I need to work on.

Thanks again.

Blasted sugar!! Why must you be so tasty????

[Meecher]

I just want to chime in for no other reason than your (jillybean's) post sounded TOTALLY like me! I am ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED that I'm ADDICTED to sugar. I mean, you could seriously take just about everything else out of my diet...but sugar? NO WAY!

In fact, after eating any kind of meal, if I don't have "something sweet" to cap it off, I'm anxious and unsatisfied. It's sick!

So I hear you, girl!

I think the advice you've gotten so far is the best advice. I did WW for a spell, but 19 points a day was just too restrictive for me. I was very, very bit**y. I'm 40 now, and it seems all my warranties have run out. It used to be as long as I exercised (and I'm good at that), I could basically eat whatever I wanted. Not so much anymore. It stinks!

I'm up about 10lbs. over my comfortable weight. Of course, I've had two little boys (now 4 and 6), but I always have to remind myself that Cathe does too...SO NO EXCUSES! (But I'm sure Cathe doesn't have a sugar obsession, either.)

I really think you just have to eat what makes you happy WITHIN REASON. In other words, when I'm craving something (like someone brings yummy donuts into work), I try to take HALF of what I'd normally eat. This is an easy idea to remember and is just one way to make healthy changes without feeling deprived. (I REALLY like that thing that another poster said about "deprivation isn't a virtue!" That's a GREAT QUOTE!)

So good luck. You've got another sugar addict watching your back!
MEECH