How do you do it?

[ryan840]

I came here looking for help because I have the worst eating patterns and I can't change them. I'm not overweight at all right now, but I do have a tummy that perfectly resembles a spare tire around my waist, and my arms are getting quite flabby (I won't even mention my thighs ). I gained 65 pounds with my son, and only lost 45 of them, so while I'm still not overweight, I'm bigger than I used to be and headed for trouble. I refuse to buy bigger clothes because to me, that is just accepting it... Right now my concern is not weight loss, because I hope to be getting pregnant very soon, but I need to do something about my eating habits. Lately I don't eat anything until about six or seven at night, which I know is terrible for me. I also to eat LOTS of chocolate/sweets everyday, if its in the house, it won't last, and if it's not, I'll send my husband out to get it (which at least limits the amount I eat). I ate ALL of the Easter candy in two days, and that's normal for me. I'm also somewhat of a picky eater, not too bad, but everytime I see a sample meal plan, I cringe.... I also eat at least two to three times the normal portion size of everything, and can't tell myself to limit portions, because it makes me eat more... Can anyone help me get into healthy eating habits? I could also use some motivation to exercise, which I never do...

 

[ryan840]

Anyone got any tips?

 

[Rhonda]

For me, low carb (I'm doing Atkins) is the easiest. Because I don't have to limit my portions, so I don't feel like I'm "dieting" or starving myself.

I can meat, eggs, cheese, most vegetables, some nuts, some fruit, sugar free yogurt, and occassionally I eat whole-wheat tortillas or slice of bread. I just stay away from white breads, pastas, potatoes, rice and sugar.

When I feel the need for something sweet, I usually grab a sugar-free chocolate candy bar (that I keep on hand for emergencies), or a scoop of sugar free/low carb ice cream.

I use "real" products, as opposed to fat-free or low-fat products such as: salad dressings, sour cream, cheese. The low-fat or fat-free versions have added sugars in them, so they will actually make you gain weight.

I use real cream in my coffee, instead of low-fat milk because the milk has added sugars.

Hope this helps a little bit! I've just found that it works for me, because I can eat as much or as little as I want to and I'm never hungry!

 

[ryan840]

Thanks Rhonda! I actually did do the Atkins diet, and I lost 20 lbs in two weeks, then a week later while still on it I had gained 10 back! I quickly gave that up... Right now, I'm not concerned with losing weight, just changing my eating habits, making them healthy and not excluding anything because we're trying to get pregnant. I just don't want to gain so much weight again, or if I do, I'd at least like to know that it wasn't because of my eating habits- then I'll have an easier time losing it too... BTW- the Bryers low carb ice creams are so yummy, and I don't drink coffee, but cream in my tea was the best! It's hard not to use it now I also miss snacking on all the walnuts I could eat!

 

[pearlieq]

A few tips:

1.) Eat a good, hearty breakfast every single day. A good breakfast helps control your blood sugar and keeps that need to eat everything in sight away. It really makes an amazing difference.

2.) Try to incorporate more fiber into your diet. Even if you don't cut anything out, eating whole grain bread instead of regular or a higher fiber cereal instead of regular will help you stay full and will help regulate your blood sugar.

3.) Drink! Drink water, Propel, iced tea, low carb juices--anything with few calories and preferrably no caffeine. Sometimes we mistake thirst for hunger. Also, drinks like Propel that are sweet and flavored can keep cravings at bay because it's more interesting than plain water.

4.) Don't cut too many calories. The fastest way to wind up at Wendy's at midnight is to try to eat 1200 calories a day. Unless you're 8 years old or 4 feet tall, that's not enough! Depending on how tall you are, try for more like 1600-2000 per day.

5.) Even if you're not doing Atkins, try to eat more protien. Make sure you have some low-fat cheese, eggs, or nuts with breakfast. Keep snacking on those walnuts. Protien won't send you on the blood sugar roller coaster and it will keep you satisfied longer.

6.) Finally, stop fighting yourself. Accept your weaknesses and learn to live with them. If it's in my house, I'll eat it too. So it doesn't come in to my house. I'm lazy and will eat whatever's in front of me, so I make sure fruits and veggies are ready to eat and the first thing I see when I open the fridge. Spend less time trying to make yourself into a "perfect" person and more time learning how to adapt to the person you are.

Good luck to you! You can do it!

 

[ryan840]

Thanks to you too Pearlieq. Those are all great ideas that I will do (a couple of them I already do, just not consistantly ). My only other problem would be the fact that I eat out of boredom, hunger, celebration, anger, depression, have to snack during movies of course, blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda... I always want to eat, even when I know I'm not hungry! If I try to resist it, I start to actually feel hungry and the longer I wait, the hungrier I feel... It's all in my head, but let me tell you, I have a pretty powerful "head"! It's amazing that I've never had a weight problem with the way I eat (and I was a hundred times worse as a kid- I swear I ate no less than 500 grams of fat a day and was like a string bean!), although I am definately starting to show signs as I am older and having kids. Any tips for me there? I know that this is extremely common, so how do you all get past it?

 

[Rhonda]

Then, the answer is to just keep good snacks on hand for all those times when you want to eat! If you can't beat it - join it! LOL! Go ahead and eat when your bored, depressed, celebrating, etc, etc. Just eat GOOD stuff, instead of junk. Don't keep the junk in the house.

Keep cut veggies on hand, as well as almonds and walnuts and pecans. They are all good for you and provide lots of fiber, and make you feel full! Keep sliced cheese in the fridge! Yogurt! Anything that's easy to grab, and good for you.

Good luck! You can do it!

 

[ryan840]

Then, the answer is to just keep good snacks on hand for all those times when you want to eat! If you can't beat it - join it! LOL! Go ahead and eat when your bored, depressed, celebrating, etc, etc. Just eat GOOD stuff, instead of junk. Don't keep the junk in the house.

Keep cut veggies on hand, as well as almonds and walnuts and pecans. They are all good for you and provide lots of fiber, and make you feel full! Keep sliced cheese in the fridge! Yogurt! Anything that's easy to grab, and good for you.

Good luck! You can do it!

Hmmmm... I could probably do that... It would take some planning, since if I don't get my sweets in each day I'll just die... I like frozen yogurt and fruit smoothies though, that could work. My last problem is the cost of healthy foods- it's A LOT of money! How do you all get around that? Thanks so much to everyone who has offered their help, I think I stand a chance at this!

 

[EthansMom]

Actually, I find that healthy foods aren't that expensive when compared to unhealthy ones.

Pretzel sticks (which are nonfat) cost roughly the same as high fat chips.

A grilled chicken sandwich meal with salad (low fat dressing) and diet soda from Wendy's costs the same as a value meal anywhere else.

Bottled water costs the same as bottled soda.

A handful of carrot sticks costs less than a candy bar.

Light ice cream costs the same as regular.

Okay, 93% fat free ground beef is slightly more expensive than the higher fat kind, but I can save 30 cents/pound buying 2 pounds at a time and freezing half.

Just a few examples.

 

[ryan840]

EthansMom, I see your point as far as prepackaged foods, but I was really referring to fresh fruits and veggies, bulk nuts that aren't loaded with sodium and oils, as you mentioned leaner meats ( I use ground turkey instead of ground beef in anything that has a sauce/seasonings) 100% juice vs kool-aid and things of that nature. You make a good point as far as healthy decisions go!

 

[Rhonda]

I buy strawberries when they're on sale, then freeze them in freezer bags to make smoothies later on! Mix them with a handful of ice, and a container of sugar-free yogurt in the blender! You can do the same with peaches and other berries too!

I buy the nuts from the bulk bins at the grocery store. Cheaper than buying them in cans.

I buy the cheapest burger and fry up a huge amount at a time to keep on hand in the fridge. It's great on salads with salsa, with eggs for breakfast, and one of my favorites - "Joe" from Dana Carpender's book "500 low-carb recipes". It's basically crumbled hamburger, fresh spinach leaves, and scrambled eggs - all scrambled together with onion and garlic! Very yummy!

I make deviled eggs for snacks - using real mayo (not the "lite" kind that has all those added sugars, and tastes nasty!) and a little onion and mustard. They keep for a few days in the fridge!

I bake or fry a bunch of boneless chicken breasts or thighs (thighs are cheaper) and keep them on hand in the fridge or freezer for last-minute meals, or to chop up on a salad with Caeser dressing.

There are a lot of things you can buy in bulk, then just cook them and freeze them for use later! Do a search for "once a month cooking" on the internet and you'll see what I mean! Just look for the recipes that don't have the added starches or sugars!

 

[ryan840]

Thanks again Rhonda! I'll definately check out the "once a month cooking" and I never thought to freeze strawberries!

 

[andromedaslove]

I have the same problem you do. I used to be lucky to get one meal a day, but I LOVE to snack. I gained 75 lbs with my first, lost all of it, then gained 65 with my second. I am currently 15 lbs over where I want to be at 145. I have found a wonderful diet (I hate that word) program. It consists of eating 6 times a day/ 6 days a week, and excersizing 6 days a week. One day a week is a free day, no excersize no watching what you eat. It's called "Body for Life'. It is wonderful and so much easier than some things I have tried. The foods are things that you would eat every day anyway. Body for Life even makes their own shakes and protein bars. I know I HATED protein bars, but these are AWESOME!!! They taste just like candy bars and come in flavors like chocolate peanut butter, and cookies and cream. The excersize part isn't a cake walk, but WOW does it work. I have lost about 20 lbs since I started this a month ago, and not only do I look better (with the exception of stretch marks, and flabby skin thanks to 3 wonderful boys) but I also feel SOOOOO much better. I have so much more energy now than I did before. If you are interested check out this site www.bodyforlife.com , or read the Body for Life book. Hope this helps.

Take Care,
Dana

 

[ryan840]

That sounds like something I could do... I will be checking the website out in a bit, thanks! Don't you wish there was an easy way to get rid of stretchmarks too?? I didn't get a single one until i was 8 mos pregnant, then BAM! It looked like he was trying to claw his way out!! At least I didn't get hemerhoids!!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Just thought I'd pop in and say good luck to you. It is difficult, try to remember that you are making healthy choices and if you must have a taste of something not so healthy, do your best to make it only a taste and plan it in your healthy style. It may surprise you how it will become easier if you think of it as healthy choices.

 

[ryan840]

Thanks Tiger Lily- I'm trying to keep that in mind... Right now I have to stop procrastinating! I keep saying I'll start tomorrow, or I'll start Monday... I know if i can get into the habit of eating healthier, I'll be fine, but it's sooo hard to get started!