I really need to lose about 20 pounds, but I have not found a diet that I think I will be able to stick to. The best one so far that I like is Body for Life. However, my problem is that I like to have something chocolately and one soft drink, not diet, a day. Has anyone followed or created an eating plan that would allow for a small amount of indulgences a day. In the past I have given up one or the other, but I really don't have the willpower to do both. Please give me any suggestions to help me on my way. I already eat veggies & fruit and lean protein choices. Thanks for any help you can offer.
? for those who do not follow any specific diet
- Thread starter kristi
- Start date
Hi, Kristi--
I don't follow any specific diet--just not disciplined enough! However, by gleaning bits of info from several sources, mostly this forum and the Body for Life website (very helpful diet info there), I was able to make some small changes that made big differences. I basically figured out how many calories I should be eating per day (there was a calculator on either the Body for Life website or at hussman.org). Then I looked at what I was eating every day and tried to figure out where I could make changes to get myself closer to the desired calories per day. I switched from regular Snapple in the morning (I hate coffee but need my caffeine--love Snapple iced tea!) to Diet Snapple. There was 200 calories right there off my daily total. I also tried to control my portion sizes. For example, I love cereal in the morning. A serving size is about a cup. I looked at how much I was eating--almost 2 cups! And I tried to add more protein. I would never cut out carbs, but I was eating too many. I try (repeat--try, not always succeed!) to have protein and carbs at each meal. And I do try to eat smaller meals more often so as not to ever get too hungry.
Basic things help, too. Don't buy the foods that you can't control yourself around (chips, salty snacks for me). If they're not in the house, you can't eat them!
I think if you honestly evaluate what you eat each day, you will see some pretty obvious changes you can make without too much suffering! I really think it's just common sense and a bit of willpower. Just by making a few minor changes, I actually dropped a size. And I know I can do better; it's just a matter of how badly I want to and how many changes I'm willing to make. Take it slow; do a little at a time.
Keep reading here; everyone is very helpful and has so much info!
Take care and good luck,
-Marie
I don't follow any specific diet--just not disciplined enough! However, by gleaning bits of info from several sources, mostly this forum and the Body for Life website (very helpful diet info there), I was able to make some small changes that made big differences. I basically figured out how many calories I should be eating per day (there was a calculator on either the Body for Life website or at hussman.org). Then I looked at what I was eating every day and tried to figure out where I could make changes to get myself closer to the desired calories per day. I switched from regular Snapple in the morning (I hate coffee but need my caffeine--love Snapple iced tea!) to Diet Snapple. There was 200 calories right there off my daily total. I also tried to control my portion sizes. For example, I love cereal in the morning. A serving size is about a cup. I looked at how much I was eating--almost 2 cups! And I tried to add more protein. I would never cut out carbs, but I was eating too many. I try (repeat--try, not always succeed!) to have protein and carbs at each meal. And I do try to eat smaller meals more often so as not to ever get too hungry.
Basic things help, too. Don't buy the foods that you can't control yourself around (chips, salty snacks for me). If they're not in the house, you can't eat them!
I think if you honestly evaluate what you eat each day, you will see some pretty obvious changes you can make without too much suffering! I really think it's just common sense and a bit of willpower. Just by making a few minor changes, I actually dropped a size. And I know I can do better; it's just a matter of how badly I want to and how many changes I'm willing to make. Take it slow; do a little at a time.
Keep reading here; everyone is very helpful and has so much info!
Take care and good luck,
-Marie
kathryn
Cathlete
I don't follow any specific weight-loss diet plan (I'm vegan, but it's for ethical reasons rather than "dieting" reasons, and I eat primarily whole foods for health reasons, but not specifically to lose weight).
IMO, there's nothing wrong with having something chocolatey or one soft drink a day(though soft drinks have absolutely NO nutritional value to them beyond calories, and have so much artificial crap in them I don't consider them part of any "food" group! IMO, you're much better off without them.. If you eat 80-95% (YMMV) good foods (by that I mean avoiding processed foods, white flour, sugars, anything that has artificial ingredients), then a bit of indulgence won't hurt you. Though, as Marie suggested, it's easy to get in the trap of "a little bit" of something not so good becoming "a lot more" of something not so good, especially if you have trigger foods (I personally must keep chips out of the house, even reduced fat ones--I'd never even try those Olestra "Wow--what's that it my underwear" chips--or I can demolish an entire bag in a short period of time. I occasionally will buy small bags of Fritos to munch on, but I find it's more out of habit than real taste any more. They are just too greasy and salty for me now. )
IMO, there's nothing wrong with having something chocolatey or one soft drink a day(though soft drinks have absolutely NO nutritional value to them beyond calories, and have so much artificial crap in them I don't consider them part of any "food" group! IMO, you're much better off without them.. If you eat 80-95% (YMMV) good foods (by that I mean avoiding processed foods, white flour, sugars, anything that has artificial ingredients), then a bit of indulgence won't hurt you. Though, as Marie suggested, it's easy to get in the trap of "a little bit" of something not so good becoming "a lot more" of something not so good, especially if you have trigger foods (I personally must keep chips out of the house, even reduced fat ones--I'd never even try those Olestra "Wow--what's that it my underwear" chips--or I can demolish an entire bag in a short period of time. I occasionally will buy small bags of Fritos to munch on, but I find it's more out of habit than real taste any more. They are just too greasy and salty for me now. )
Thank you Kathyrn and Marie! You both have given me great advice. I already try to keep cookies, chips, and soft drinks out of the house. DH is worse about eating that stuff than I, but it is much better to avoid the temptation. I will reevaluate my daily caloric intake and see where I can make changes. I'm sure there are more areas that need improvement than I think there are. I think I will try to give up soft drink again especially since, like Kathryn said, it really has no nutritional value. Maybe I can substitute a couple of little chocolate miniatures to satisfy my cravings. I should be less calories than a candy bar. Thanks again for all of your help!
Renee McFar
Cathlete
I do not follow any special diet but just watch what and how much I eat. I love regular soda. Therefore, I will either have a 12 oz can every other day or have one of the small 8oz size cans a day. I also love candy bars. So, I keep a pack of the fun size ones in the house. I allow myself one a day. These things seem to keep my cravings at bay. Unless it's TTOM. Then all bets are off. If you are able to keep things around without going on a binge then you will be fine!
By the way, what happened to the WOW chips. I have not seen them in the store in a while. LOL, Renee
By the way, what happened to the WOW chips. I have not seen them in the store in a while. LOL, Renee
starlight6
Cathlete
I agree whole-heartedly that you would be better off giving up the soda & keeping the chocolate...especially if it's a moderate amount of decent chocolate.
I think the soda does a lot of harm...more than people know. ANYWAY, what's more important than chocolate??
Enjoy,
Ruth
I think the soda does a lot of harm...more than people know. ANYWAY, what's more important than chocolate??
Enjoy,
Ruth
macska
Cathlete
Tracking your calorie intake on www.fitday.com daily would help a lot . If you have a negative balance at the end of the day - even if you eat chocolate and drink soda - you'll lose weight. Mari
dss62467
Cathlete
I don't follow a "diet" and lost 15 lbs. since August. Eat healthy foods! Add fiber to your diet, that helps keep you feeling full (I get a wonderful fiber supplement from drnatura.com). I have a bowl of whole grain cereal for breakfast, oatmeal for a snack, a light lunch (usually half a organic PB&J on whole grain bread, or a hummus wrap on a whole-wheat tortilla and a salad), berries and an apple for an afternoon snack, and a light dinner (4oz of meat/poultry or fish - sometimes pasta, lots of veggies and another salad).
Prepare as much of your food yourself as possible - don't go for convenience. You want to know exactly what you're putting into your body. I even started baking my own bread (what a pain!). Actually, you can get really healthy bread in the health food section of your grocer - but it's EXPENSIVE! Don't get frozen entrees.
I've gotten some good recipes from other posters here. We've got some good cooks in the house! (I, for one, am not one of that crowd). Ask...and ye shall receive. My fav. so far is the Chicken Cordon Bleu that was suggested.
I also am a person that is not happy with lunch unless it's ended with something sweet. I get Nabisco 100 Calorie Pack Oreos. They are great. Of, if you need a candy bar - get those little snack-sized ones. Put them someplace out of sight so you don't grab them every time you walk by. Put one in your lunch bag for work (assuming you work away from home), then if you feel like having more when you get home - distract yourself until the feeling passes.
As far as the pop goes, you could have 1 a day - if you make sure you count that in your calories. Personally, I only drink diet. Once you get the taste for it, the regular pop tastes kind of gross. It's the same with milk - once you go skim, anything above 1% is nasty.
If you really pay attention to what you're eating and exercise 6 days a week (being sure to incorporate a mix of cardio AND weights), you'll drop those pounds.
Then - give yourself a day or two a month where you just eat whatever you want. I go to Wendy's or McDonald's once a month and get a cheeseburger and fries instead of the salad. I look forward to that Wednesday ALL MONTH LONG!!!! I've still got 3 weeks to go....
Prepare as much of your food yourself as possible - don't go for convenience. You want to know exactly what you're putting into your body. I even started baking my own bread (what a pain!). Actually, you can get really healthy bread in the health food section of your grocer - but it's EXPENSIVE! Don't get frozen entrees.
I've gotten some good recipes from other posters here. We've got some good cooks in the house! (I, for one, am not one of that crowd). Ask...and ye shall receive. My fav. so far is the Chicken Cordon Bleu that was suggested.
I also am a person that is not happy with lunch unless it's ended with something sweet. I get Nabisco 100 Calorie Pack Oreos. They are great. Of, if you need a candy bar - get those little snack-sized ones. Put them someplace out of sight so you don't grab them every time you walk by. Put one in your lunch bag for work (assuming you work away from home), then if you feel like having more when you get home - distract yourself until the feeling passes.
As far as the pop goes, you could have 1 a day - if you make sure you count that in your calories. Personally, I only drink diet. Once you get the taste for it, the regular pop tastes kind of gross. It's the same with milk - once you go skim, anything above 1% is nasty.
If you really pay attention to what you're eating and exercise 6 days a week (being sure to incorporate a mix of cardio AND weights), you'll drop those pounds.
Then - give yourself a day or two a month where you just eat whatever you want. I go to Wendy's or McDonald's once a month and get a cheeseburger and fries instead of the salad. I look forward to that Wednesday ALL MONTH LONG!!!! I've still got 3 weeks to go....
nancy324
Cathlete
I think you can always work in the things you really love, at least until your tastes change. Try going for a healthier version of what you like: for example, try a chocolate coated Luna bar for your chocolate craving. If you must have a soft drink and don't like diet, have a sports drink with some vitamins or minerals in it instead of soda. Try to fill those empty calories with a little nutrition. In my opinion, the primary cause of obesity is empty calories, so try to fill them up!
kathryn
Cathlete
I think I will try to give up soft
>drink again especially since, like Kathryn said, it really has
>no nutritional value.
As a substitute for cola drinks, You can get a similar taste from Emergen C cola flavor (with no phosporus in it, as there is in cola drinks). I also like a tall glass of water with a bit of stevia in (a low-glycemic natural sweetener).
>drink again especially since, like Kathryn said, it really has
>no nutritional value.
As a substitute for cola drinks, You can get a similar taste from Emergen C cola flavor (with no phosporus in it, as there is in cola drinks). I also like a tall glass of water with a bit of stevia in (a low-glycemic natural sweetener).
icklemoley
Cathlete
Why do you have to give up either? One chocolate bar = 200 calories. One soda = 200 calories. Just cut back on the other food you eat for the day.
Lynn M.
Cathlete
Hey Renee:
Frito Lay remarketed the "Wow" name for "Light". I just saw them in the grocery store last week. It appears to be the same product, just a new label.
I work in the food industry and I remember reading a bulletin from the FDA about the side effects of Olestra, the synthetic fat that they make the chips with... they stated "anal leakage" might be a side effect of over consumption.
It totally cracked me up, even to this day I giggle when I think about "anal leakage."
Take care, Lynn M.
Frito Lay remarketed the "Wow" name for "Light". I just saw them in the grocery store last week. It appears to be the same product, just a new label.
I work in the food industry and I remember reading a bulletin from the FDA about the side effects of Olestra, the synthetic fat that they make the chips with... they stated "anal leakage" might be a side effect of over consumption.
It totally cracked me up, even to this day I giggle when I think about "anal leakage."
Take care, Lynn M.
jewels mom
Member
Hi Kristi,
I don't follow any diet right now either, but I have added Protein drinks to my diet, they stop the craving for junk and I have found I eat better while using them. I have lost 8 lbs so far this month and I know it is because I am getting the amount of protein I need. I also don't eat a lot of bread, I eat mostly veggies, fruit, protein and limited amount of carbs, not because I am trying to limit them I just don't need to eat them, I hope this helps, I am surprised that no one mentioned protein shakes, they really do help take the fat off.
Good luck
Patricia
I don't follow any diet right now either, but I have added Protein drinks to my diet, they stop the craving for junk and I have found I eat better while using them. I have lost 8 lbs so far this month and I know it is because I am getting the amount of protein I need. I also don't eat a lot of bread, I eat mostly veggies, fruit, protein and limited amount of carbs, not because I am trying to limit them I just don't need to eat them, I hope this helps, I am surprised that no one mentioned protein shakes, they really do help take the fat off.
Good luck
Patricia