Maybe it’s wrong, but there are a few foods that I just won’t give up completely. Perhaps I should, but I don’t want to!! (Insert stomping feet here.)
When I would diet in the past, I gave up everything “fun and good” while on my prescribed diet and determined that I’d have to go the rest of my life without eating another piece of chocolate or dessert in my life. My list of off-limit foods ranged from chocolate candy to nuts, depending on my current diet.
I reasoned that anything that was high in calories or high in fat was something I probably shouldn’t have on my diet. That strategy definitely played a role in my many failures.
I know a few people right now who all told me that no matter what, they aren’t ever eating sweets again because they are unable to control themselves around chocolate or fruity candy such as jelly beans. They pause when they give me this “announcement,” seemingly waiting for my response.
I am still not sure what they wanted to hear, but I gave them a response something like this:
When I tried to give up certain foods when I was dieting, I was very unhappy with the whole weight-loss process. I found that by learning to balance my wants and needs I could lose the weight and have a treat.
It is not always easy to control yourself around foods you love, but you may find it harder to avoid those foods completely. You can then set yourself up for failure by thinking about the foods all the time, wishing you had the foods and finally giving in and overindulging in the food. This happened to me more times than I care to admit. I would swear off chips for my diet, but all I could think about was chips. Instead of having a small, individual serving bag, I’d find myself at the grocery store buying the biggest bag available. I’d sit in the car and eat most of the bag before I even pulled out of the parking lot.
These days, we have desserts occasionally, and I have tempting foods in the pantry. The difference for me is that I know I can have it, if I really, really want it.
So what’s one food I won’t give up? All of them. If I really want a chip, a chocolate candy or a cupcake, I’ll have it. Then I just compensate by eating a few less calories, exercising a few more minutes and paying attention to my eating habits.
What about you? What’s your “must have, can’t live without it food?” Diane
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Mine has to be mayonnaise and full fat at that. I’ve tried the low fat variety but find it too thin. So I refuse to give up the fat mayo, I just have half the amount I used to.
Becca recently posted…Disillusioned
Ice cream… no, peanut butter… no, ice cream… no, peanut butter
I can’t decide! I am beginning to become the person that allows all food. I just have to make good decisions. I ask myself “do I really want this” “how has my eating and exercise been this week” If I forbid all indulgences- I am just inviting myself to a binge sooner or later. When I forbid foods I am giving the food the control rather than taking control myself. I am learning to trust myself more and more everyday that I can manage food and have a healthy lifestyle.
Jill recently posted…Some Friendly Competition
I think you’re absolutely right! Earlier, when I’ve tried to lose weight (and failed), I’ve been so hung up on quitting certain foods that I became obsessed with them. Literally, obsessed! Now I’ve quit eating candy etc for the time being, just to kick that sugary addiction.. but I have no intentions of quitting it forever. I need treats! I need to be able to reward myself with a small piece of chocolate. And some people say that that’s wrong, that by seeing good foods and sweets as “rewards” I’m fooling myself and I’ll always be fat… but who can tell me that I’m wrong to eat 100-200kcal worth of something goooood, when I’ve exercised away about 5-800kcal that day? No one!
Maren recently posted…A great trip = energy boost!
I am with you on this Diane! I did what you did early on & then learned I can have the treat here & there & just get back to it! Yes, to that!
Me, my bread or cookies – can’t give those up!!!
Jody – Fit at 53 recently posted…The Jeans & the High School Reunion
I struggle with this idea since I have not handled moderation well. But, maybe that is because, as you describe, I have given up certain foods… leading me to binge when I go off the wagon. My initial reaction is that I’d give up most anything if it meant a life-long peace with eating. After all, I gave up peanut butter over a year ago and don’t even miss it:)
Karen@WaistingTime recently posted…How Many Bloggers Does It Take to Screw in a Lightbulb?
Haven’t found that food yet!
One food I think I might have trouble giving up, if I decided to, is bacon. I sometimes go for weeks or months without eating bacon…but when it’s presented to me I can rarely turn it down. It’s just so good.
Sweets, I find I can do without, but I always need fat.
I also would not want to give up tea, but tea is pretty healthy so I don’t think that’s an issue. =)
Alex Zorach recently posted…Seasonality of Tea and Nature
I haven’t cut out any foods, but I have cut out the processed version of my favorite foods. I find that if I make my own version of my favorite foods, I don’t go overboard. I now believe that I am sensitive to chemicals and additives in processed foods, and that they trigger overeating due to their lack of nutrients.
This weight loss has been all about moderation and mindful eating. If I am going to eat something that is not a great (nutritional) choice then it better taste fantastic. My newest discovery is dark chocolate with sea salt. If we go to a restaurant that serves my favorite dessert then I will probably have it, and really revel in the taste. I find it works well for me.
This is the one thing that is helping me to lose weight this time. I CAN have something if I really want it. Have it and get it over with and I am satisfied and I can keep on.
I have made 1/8th of a batch of cookie dough and ate it. Calories all accounted for, and I am happy and satisfied. I sure do not have answers to it all, but denying and drudgery is not it!
Great post! I hate the idea of “giving up” foods. It’s life.. you only live it once! Everything in moderation is completely cool, especially when you eat healthy most of hte time!
sarah@spinach and spice recently posted…College on a Vegan Diet
I gave up all my “trigger foods” during the two years I was trying to lose 100 pounds. Now that I’ve lost it and kept it off for a few years I’ve introduced some of those foods back into my diet. But I try not eat them ALL THE TIME.
I’d lose those “last few pounds” if I stopped eating dessert and alcohol. But those are things I don’t want to give up. I want to eat them in moderation once in awhile. I’m ok with that.
Lisa recently posted…Filled With Irony
Since I only look at my food as one day at a time, for the past 5 years there has not been any food that I could not give up. I don’t always like it but I accept today it will keep me from falling back into the obesity trap Most days it is easy. Some days are hard.I would much rather not have to worry about finding the power to stop eating something then to whine about wanting a bite or more.
Jane~
Keepingthepoundsoff.com
Jane C recently posted…I am a Woman of Substance!
I’m trying not to have any forbidden foods … instead I’m trying to eat for health and only have excellent tasting food. And I’m still a work in progress, so I don’t know how all this will end up.
Siobhan recently posted…Fat by Christmas
Good question! I like your answer. In an effort to keep my weight down, I have given up creamer or milk in my coffee and other little things like that that don’t a big difference to me. There are bunch of things, however, that I will NEVER give up! This includes: rice, cheese, wine, and basically any carbohydrate
Hi, Diane. My processed and so-unlike-the-rest-of-what-I-eat must have food is fat free Pringles. I try not to eat them too often as the Olestra prevents some fat soluble vitamin absorption, and there is a lot of sodium. But I love eating a whole can for only 420 calories. (And no, it doesn’t upset my lower GI but I’m a person who actually eats 50 plus grams of fiber a day to stay regular rather than the 25 to 30 grams a typical person eats.)
The other thing I can’t do without is chocolate…but why would I want to?
I love the fat free pringles as well! It’s amazing that there’s only 420 calories in an entire can. It’s hard to believe. I don’t eat them often, and the GI problems actually deter me from eating too many at once.
Laura Jane @ Recovering Chocoholic recently posted…Beware of large packages!
Chocolate is my can’t give it up food. I do really struggle, however, not to eat too much of it. It’s hard to find the balance. In all honesty, I do better when I eliminate it completely, or at least that’s my track record. When it’s around, it’s so easy to have just one more bite. But eliminating it completely leads to a sense of dread about dieting which is certainly not helpful.
Laura Jane @ Recovering Chocoholic recently posted…Beware of large packages!
I gave up the milk fat and sugar but I have my chocolate has excellent grade cocoa powder that I use to make into some delicious dishes. The powder even has fiber. It made all the difference in the world for me.
Jane~
Jane C recently posted…Changing Trains
I really don’t have any foods that I have given up completely. If I really want something I allow myself to have it. Like you said, when I made something off limits in the past, it backfired because I ended up overeating it at one point. By allowing myself what I want, I can eat a small portion and am usually satisfied with it. I do try to eat real, unprocessed foods whenever possible, and I make homemade “substitutes” for some of the processed foods I used to eat in the past (potato chips, cookies, etc.)
Andrea@WellnessNotes recently posted…Pumpkin Fun and Squash Mac & Cheese
Hi Diane, I’m juxtaposed between two positions – I tend to agree with Jane C, yet I will not go without a single serve icecream cone or a dessert where I’m out to dinner but not keeping the trigger at home
It is a balance all right and up to the individual to find their personal solution.
Liz@LastChanceTraining recently posted…Feel the steel!
For me, nothing is actually banned. When I’ve put things completely ‘off limits’ in the past it has always backfired on me. Like you, I find that moderation and adjusting to take account of occasional ‘naughties’ is key.
But, there are one or two things I won’t keep in the house as they are just too tempting. Peanut butter is my main one as I find it very difficult to be moderate with it. That said, my Mum always has it at her house and I do allow myself the occasional treat of PB on toast when I visit her. Boy do I enjoy it too!
Deniz recently posted…Improvements
I love to eat food but as everyone is I am also conscious about my figure. Many times I gorge on sweets and delicacies and then feel guilty but what I do and I also suggest you to do is just enjoy the food you want to have. Then, you just need to exercise for ten minutes more the other day. That’s all
Rodrigo Valenzuela recently posted…Los tipos de mujeres que los hombres prefieran
I agree with you that some foods are there that we never want to give up. However, I also feel that by taking balance food and diet we can control our weight. I think by eating in regulated quantities we can avoid excess weight gain. We should enjoy but at the same time ensure that we do not over indulge.
Rosalia recently posted…Recetas para engordar : que comer para subir de peso sanamente
All of them. With some, I practice moderation and portion control, restriction always backfires. If I overdo it, I eat less later, which at this point, happens naturally, I don’t even have to think about it. And up the exercise a bit.
julie recently posted…Caveman eating goes mainstream!
One food I can never give up is chocolates. I have them in healthy doses. Sometimes I take them in cakes, cocoa milk, bars etc. Whenever I had more of it, I reduced the amount of food I took in dinner and lunch on that day and that helped me reach a fine balance.
Leo recently posted…Informacion sobre los riesgos del cigarillo
Many thanks for making the sincere effort to write down this post. I feel terribly strong regarding it and would really like to find out more.
In March, I gave up chips for Lent. When Easter rolled around, I realized that I was back at my WW goal and not paying for meetings any longer. I decided if I could go without chips for that long, I could keep it up. I have now passed 7 months without chips and I am 8 pounds below my WW goal which is my personal goal. Will I never eat chips again? I don’t know. But I know that giving them up has helped me achieve something I’ve been working at for a long time. Got myself back on track and back at the weight where I’m most comfortable. It’s worth giving up a few chips (or in my case, many!) to get to this point.
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don’t Count recently posted…The Birthday Month Continues!