Compromising Results because of Food!

K

Kristine36

Cathlete
I've been very sporadic with my workouts lately, and just recently returned to Cathe's CTX series (that one ALWAYS gets me back on track) this week. The problem is, I'm always famished. I eat a yogurt with dates and nuts in the morning (just an example of the very few foods that sit well with me due to an ulcer, especially in the a.m.), a chicken or tuna salad with vinegar and other assorted veggies for lunch and some type of citrus fruit, a protein shake with 2 tsp. Flax Oil for an afternoon snack and some sort of lean meat, complex carb (like brown rice with REAL butter - just a teaspoon or two), steamed veggies such as asparagus and a side salad for dinner.

The munchies hit quickly thereafter when I'm exercising regularly and I have MAJOR cravings for white cream cake, potato chips, honey roasted peanuts, I could go on and on. I'm sacrificing my results because of my food intake.

I know when I'm doing Cathe tapes that I need more healhty foods because of the energy expended, but I go overboard and you can see it in my apple tummy. I know what I *need* to do, but doing it is altogether a different story. And whereas I could whip quickly back into shape in a matter of 2 weeks, it seems to take longer to get back into shape than it did before. I'm more concerned with energy, health (I have a history of cancer and heart disease in my family) and strength. I would also like to get rid of the pot belly, too!

As a side note (and this is not to say anything negative about any other instructor because I really do enjoy doing some Firm now and again), I don't see resuls unless I'm using my Cathe workouts. I was working out with several other instructors for months awhile ago and saw virtually no results. I quickly switched to Cathe when my srength returned and within a matter of 2 weeks, I saw a decrease in in inches, an increase in endurance and strength, etc. It's amazing what her workouts really do for you!

My problem is the midnight munchies. I'm an insomniac and want to eat late at night, which isn't helping my cause. I'm determined to do those new BB tapes next week when they arrive (yeah! :D ) in a rotation fashion for 4-8 weeks and clean up my eating. I also don't drink alcohol and drink LOTS of water, it's just that enormous sweet tooth.

Mainly, I just wanted to commiserate and get this out. Thanks for being there! :)

Kris
 
I am with ya on the sweet tooth. Recently I rejoined Weight Watchers on line again. I think the journaling everything I eat is what helps me the most. Plan for those sweet snacks and hold off until then. Plan out what you are going to eat that day, which it sounds like you do, and stick to it. If you fall off the bandwagon, write it down. There is something about reading what you ate that will help you make healthier choices the next day. Move on from the bad eating day and eat healthy the next instead of beating yourself up. Eventually you will see the good choices outweigh the bad...at least that happens for me if I faithfully write down everything I eat. Good luck!
Angela:7
 
Oh, I can totally relate. I have been so naughty the last few monthes, its unreal.I wish I could get my motivation and willpower back.
Of course,today is a new day and I am going to try to be good today.I figure if I take it 1 day at a time,it might seem easier.
I to have a wicked sweet tooth.I even feel awful at the end of the day b/c of what I have eaten but that doesn't stop me the next day.
I workout quit often,not as much as I use to,but I know that I am also sacrificing my results b/c of what goes in my mouth.You would think that I would realize that I am putting myself threw this(what feels like torture at times)why would I what to ruin all of my efforts by not watching what goes in my mouth?
I just wanted to let you know that I diffently know what your going threw. At least we are alive to complain about this stuff.It could always be worse:eek:
Lori
 
I'm right there with you ladies. I was looking at myself in the mirror over the weekend and thinking that I could really look great if I would just watch what I eat. I also know what I'm supposed to eat and not eat, but it's just doing it that is the hard part. Even with as badly as I eat and with the love handles, I still have fairly flat abs and you can kind of see some muscle tone. I know I could have fantastic abs if I would just cut out the junk food. I'm definitely a pear and my thighs are huge, especially for my height. I try to plan what I'm going to eat for the day, but when the time comes around I almost always change my mind and eat the wrong thing. I went to the store over the weekend and bought salad fixins and lots of skinless chicken breasts. I'm really going to try hard this week. I want these love handles and saddle bags to disappear. But we'll have to see if I really stick to it. I'm going to try. Good luck everybody.
 
Hi Kris, you're not alone in this. I don't have much of a sweet tooth (although I've been known to scarf down Snickers bars and Cinnabons -- take note of the plural) but my problem is that I tend to eat too much of the good stuff. If my meal requires a half cup of grapes, I eat two cups. A small handful of almonds becomes too many too count. I snack on two power bars at a time. Of course, the calories add up and despite my consistent, kick-ass workouts, I still have this layer of fat that should have been gone a long time ago. My eating habits also fluctuate. For some reason, there are times when I have no appetite whatsoever and these spells are usually followed by days with uncontrollable munchies. Could be my birth control pills, which I just recently stopped. The coming cold weather will make this more problematic as I tend to eat more when it's cold. And the holidays are coming!}( I try to keep my sense of humor and perspective. I go by with how my clothes fit more than the numbers on the scale.

Pinky
 
Hi Kris! The only way I know of to get rid of that dreaded "sweet tooth" is to up your fiber intake. Make a large & I mean large salad w/extra protein putting avocado, jicama, radishes, lettuce, tomatoes, beets & carrots. If later your still hungry, go for some more carrots or eat an apple w/ff cheese. Not sure if your allowed this much dairy w/having an ulcer. In the morning can you manage to eat a vegetable omelet w/salsa & roasted potatoes w/onions? Or if you can manage egg white omelet w/oatmeal w/either blueberries or apple & cinnamon in it. These are just some ways to up your calories & getting in more fiber which believe me will greatly diminish your sweet tooth. HTH, Kathy:D
 
You can try to train your tastebuds to like "good" sweet foods, like fruits or even veggies. It takes a bit of discipline at first, though, as you have to stay away from the sugary stuff for about three weeks (NO cheating!).

First off, make sure you don't have any of the stuff you don't want to eat around the house. Pretty simple, but sometimes hard to do: it's tempting to keep a candy bar or two around to have as a "treat" once in a while, but why not, instead, keep some mangos or persimmons (now in season, and very sweet!)or apples or red peppers around instead? Or go to the grocery store (after eating, so you're not tempted by the snacky foods) and try some new, good, foods? I recently tried starfruit for the first time (a bit tart and watery, but interesting--I don't give up on any good food after only one try, as I've learned from experience that I can learn to like things I'm not crazy about at first, like lima beans, which I first hated, but now really like!).

And as someone else mentioned, make sure you keep your (natural) fiber intake up. Throw some beans in a salad. Have oat groats for breakfast (or a cereal that has more than 5 gm. of fiber per serving).
 
Everyone,

I'm right up there with you guys. I not only have a sweet-tooth, but I love practically anything carb related - must be a spanish thing since all of our meals start with rice - sound familiar? I've been somewhat uncareful for a couple of months because of health issues, but have been lucky not to gain too much. My motivation is still there I just have a relapse every once in a while. My motivation is kicking up especially since I received the Body Blast Series. I also noticed during my training that I get more defined with Cathe and my cardio level is definately challenged. I don't punish myself anymore or feel guilty so you shouldn't either Kris or anyone - it's a little setback.

Let us know how you're doing.

Take care,

Iris
 
I just got done telling myself this same thing over the weekend. Although I'm not a major junk food eater, I tend to eat late at night while watching General Hospital on SoapNet and know that if I'd just cut out the late night munchies I may see some much needed improvement in the butt/thigh area. I tend to justify my eating by telling myself that I don't have a weight problem, I'm not trying to lose weight, etc., but know that my food consumption is not helping me reach my fitness goals! My husband tells me to just stop watching GH and that will solve my problem, but I'm addicted!

So you're definitely not alone! :)
 
Well I can't help but add that when I get some hunger pangs late at night and have gone over my points (I do Weight Watchers)I find that having a nice cuppa tea does wonders for those late night munchies.
 
I know exactly what you're talking about, Kris. We all work so hard with Cathe, but the food we eat can really sabotage how we look. I just recently started really trying to look at how many calories I eat each day and have been trying to cut back. Definitely not easy, but I'm seeing some results. I don't have the sweet tooth, it's the salty carbs that I crave. I try not to have any in the house so that I don't get tempted. Although I do crave dessert after dinner. One thing I've been trying is a glass of skim milk with Hershey's syrup in it. The milk fills me up (plus I feel good about the calcium), and the chocolate syrup satisfies the sweet craving (no, not like a handful of Oreos would, but what can you do? :p)

Good luck; it's an ongoing struggle, but I think it's worth it! Thank goodness for Cathe!:)

Take care,
Marie
 
>Well I can't help but add that when I get some hunger pangs
>late at night and have gone over my points (I do Weight
>Watchers)I find that having a nice cuppa tea does wonders for
>those late night munchies.

A great idea! There are so many herbal teas out there that have no calories, but a lot of flavor. And you can sweeten them with stevia instead of other sweeteners (or even learn to like them with no sweetener). There is a wonderful chocolate/mint tea that I used to drink. Wonder if they have it anymore?
 
Kris, I still (after six months on WW and reaching goal) have almost constant sweet and chocolate cravings. I've finally decided it's just who I am, and I will have to be diligent my entire life. I can live with that. I also am starting to believe there is something to the theory of sugar addicts, or carb addicts, or the other similar theories out there. Sweets are like a drug for me. If I have one bite, it's more difficult to stop. If I don't have any, the darn things call to me! I have never smoked, but I can truly understand how people who have quit can still say they crave the things every single day. I'm like that with sweets. I can't honestly say it's gotten any easier to stop at a small amount of something, or just one piece of a cookie, or something like that. It's just that being in a size 6 once again is MORE important to me than the cookie, or the piece of pie, or the Kit Kat bar! Thinking of food as what it truly is - FUEL - helps most of the time. However, I really do believe this is something people like me have to train ourselves to do, and that it's a lifelong process.

Carol
:)
 
Thanks SO much, ladies!

I really appreciate all of your feedback, suggestions and commiserations. I'm going to print this thread out and definitely look it over when I'm having a craving and I just ate a meal that should have been enough.

When I was eating a HUGE salad everyday with the good fats like avocadoes, nuts, flax oil, etc., my sweet cravings were reduced dramatically so I'll definitely take your suggestion Kathy and the others suggestions as well. I'll also try drinking a cup of tea with Stevia at night and see how that works. I know there must be substitutes out there that will work because some have worked before, I just have to be careful of subbing high carb snacks that state they are 'less fattening'.

Again, I truly appreciate all of you and you wonderful advice, thanks again!! (I'll let you know how it goes, and please let me know how you all are doing it too)...

Kris :)
 
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