Complicated relationship with food

I've had a complicated relationship with food for as long as I can remember.

We didn't have much money for food when I was a kid, and it was a misogynistic family where the men and boys ate first. Girls were given remnants afterwards. Many nights, dinner was a piece of cornbread. I don't remember being hungry, exactly, but I never remember being comfortably full. Looking back, I realize that I was actually starving.

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Then came the freedom of adulthood. I'm in my 40's now and sometimes still get giddy walking into a supermarket, thinking, "I could buy anything here." The fridge, freezer, and cabinets stay full, and there are snacks in my desk, my purse, my car. I feel anxious when supplies run low even though I know the market is right down the street.

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I fell in love with food, too - with cooking and baking all things rich, salty, savory, sweet. To share an amazing meal with those I care about is the highest honor, and maybe my favorite way of showing love. Many of my most prized possessions are cookware.

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It's no surprise that my weight climbed steadily through adulthood, is it? I finally hit my breaking point about 10 years ago and lost about 75 pounds through strict CICO and daily exercise. I felt great... but slowly but surely, all the weight came creeping back. I tried a "who cares" attitude for a few years - until aching knees, ill-fitting clothes, and poor sleep forced me to reconsider. At the time of this post, I'm down 15 pounds again, with a long journey ahead.

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BUT - this time I'm reconsidering my relationship with food. I realize that insipid food for sake of weight loss - and trying to think of it only as fuel - will never work for me. I have to fall in love with food in different ways.

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I have container gardens growing in every patch of sunlight I can find. I walk into the farmer's market and think, "I can buy anything here." There's always a big batch of fresh pico de gallo in the fridge, and I'm finding the beauty in perfectly roasted chicken, crispy charred sweet potato wedges, complex quinoa salads, and so on. I have a beautiful new set of small plates in the cabinet. And, I still plan to make decadent desserts to share with those I love - but only every once in a long while, and only when there are enough "sharers" to make it a one-and-done event.

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It's early in this journey but I feel really good. This board inspires me tremendously. I would love to hear about the healthy foods that you enjoy most, and share ideas with anyone who may be interested. Call me crazy, but I want to have it all: I want to care about food, care about my body, and take good care of my family. It feels worth the work!

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Staying on track when your life gets turned upside down - looking for encouragement

Hi all. This isn't my first post here...I embarked on what I thought was my final weight loss journey a couple of years ago, lost 20 lbs, gained it all back through some stuff that happened in life that caused me to fall off the wagon. I started again after getting engaged and realizing that I don't want to be this heavy for my wedding next June or for the kids that may come after that. It was pretty easy after I got past the OMG I'M STARVING I NEED TO EAT EVERYTHING couple of days that happen when you cut back calories suddenly.

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Here's the "life turned upside down" part. My fiancé has been struggling with an unknown health condition for the past 2 years. We've seen every type of doctor under the sun and the best they could come up with was Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. We were sent to Cleveland Clinic about a week ago to a neuromuscular specialist to make sure that nothing else was going on, which we thought was just a routine appointment. After the physical exam, the doctor hit us with some very hard, unexpected news: he may have ALS (he was tentatively diagnosed with an upper motor neuron syndrome but needs more testing to figure out which one it is). We are so young and hearing those words just tore my life apart. We are trying to be positive but it's hard right now. We should know more next week after some additional testing.

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I just want to hear from some others who have succeeded in their journey through some hard life events. I think I'd be struggling less if I was sick instead of him. There are days when I don't want to eat anything and other days where I want to eat everything under the sun. I have no motivation to cook or do anything really. I'm struggling to even maintain a regular work schedule. Ugh. Just tell me everything will be okay :(

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A life lesson in large deficits vs moderation

A few weeks ago I really ramped things up. I was determined to hit my goal weight by a particular date. I did the math and lowered my intake substantially while increasing my activity level by adding some cardio on lifting days. We're talking about a 1000 calorie deficit, and I'm not a big guy so that equated to more than a 40% caloric deficit. Crazy right? Well, life taught me a lesson real quick. Those adjustments along with a lack of quality sleep for a few days caused me to crash- HARD. I was tired, hungry, physically and mentally worn out. I was also disappointed that although I had the will and determination to make it happen, my body had let me down. I conceded that I would have to set aside my goal date and do things moderately.

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New strategy: A 25% caloric deficit based on my activity level for the day. In a nutshell, more or workout days, less on rest days. If I felt the need to go off plan and eat a little more on the odd day then I told myself I would do it. If social occasions or work outtings came up, I'd aim to enjoy them without guilt and try to eat fairly responsibly without getting consumed by the little speed bumps in weight loss along the way from them.

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And you know what? Remarkably, the rate of weight loss isn't that much different. I had forgotten my own rule: that eating right and exercise should be part of my life, not my whole life. I feel better physically and mentally, and once again am enjoying the ride. I hope someone else out there considering an extreme deficit learns from my mistake. Moderation really, truly is key. Losing weight should enhance your life, not take it over.

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tl;dr: Tried an extreme deficit. Hit a wall hard. Went back to a moderate deficit and activity level. Happier in every way. Don't be a deficit dummy like I was.

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Weight Loss Advice

I am looking for solid weight loss advice. 5' 230lbs 26 years old. I know working out and eating right, but I am asking for suggestions that worked for you and that I can try out. More specific tips and suggestions to help me. I am looking to lose minimal, 60 pounds. I used to weigh 180 and I got sick and found myself in and out of the hospital, on high doses of steroids, and just so sick I was drained of energy. I gained weight and ended up where I am now. It seems like whatever I try, my weight doesn't budge. My weight has also skyrocketed in weeks, going up 17 pounds in literally 10 days. Any ideas on why this could be happening?

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Goal!

Almost exactly a year after I started, I saw my maintenance weight on the scale this morning! I went from about 165 lbs (75 kg) and still gaining to 125 (57) and getting fitter every day. For reference, I'm 5'8 (1.71 m). It's been a long journey, and I feel like it might help others to see how it's changed over time.

In April of 2018, I downloaded Samsung Health. I had always thought of myself as a sedentary person, but I didn't realize just how sedentary I'd become. Getting 3K steps a day was pretty average for me (though I wasn't tracking any of my movement around the house or during the day at work/school, so I'd estimate it was closer to 5K). I made it my goal to hit 6K every day and 8K average daily steps for the week. I hoped that my higher activity levels would lead to weight loss, but at this point, it was mostly about general health.

The conscious effort to lose weight started sometime in May 2018. I've always eaten reasonable portions at mealtimes, and eating out has never been a problem for me, but my snacking got out of control with the stress of grad school. I could (erm, can) easily work my way through an entire box of Cheez-Its in one sitting. I quit buying most of my old favorites and switched to lower-calorie alternatives. Sugar free Jello, 60-calorie fudge bars, pickles, and low-fat string cheese allowed me to snack without going overboard. I did a pretty lazy take on calorie counting for most of the summer, no food scale, just measuring cups and guesstimates that I was hitting around 1500 calories a day. Not ideal, but it worked. I lost 30 lbs (14 kg) over that summer.

In August of 2018, I visited my parents for a couple weeks. I didn't count calories, but I was mindful of what I ate, figuring I would only gain a pound or two over that period. Stepping on the scale the morning after I got back, I weighed under 140 lbs (63.5 kg) for the first time in years. I decided then that I had learned what I needed to from calorie counting, and since then, I have maybe logged five or six days just to check that I'm still on track. My weight loss slowed, going from about a pound a week to 1-2 pounds a month, but I was fine with that. I was well within the healthy weight range and aware that anything I lost was for vanity's sake.

Throughout this time, I had been upping my activity levels. I was walking more and more, and in early February of 2019, I decided to start jogging. I'm not very fast and I still don't go very far, but a few mornings a week, I run/walk 5 km. During lunch, I'll go for a walk, and I take a break to climb 10 flights of stairs once or twice a day. I also purchased some light weights for use at home. The extra exercise has allowed me to snack a little more without jeopardizing my weight loss, and I'm noticing more muscle tone in my arms and legs.

It took three months to lose the first 25 lbs (11 kg) and nine to lose the last 15 (7). Now, I have the right habits in place, and it's time to maintain.

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Help with weight loss, what to eat and tips for getting fitter.

Hi all,

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I recently joined this sub as i have just recently started to attempt to get myself in shape. A little bit about me so you know what were dealing with.

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Sex: Male

Age: 27

Height: 5ft 10

Weight: 12 stone, roughly 168 pounds.

Goal: Reduce stomach fat and build more muscle,

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Here is what i have been doing past few weeks:

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Mon - Wed - Fri - Cardio: 25 minutes treadmill. Interval training with fast paced walk to jog back to walk ect. Normally about 200 calories minimum

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Tue- Thu - Sat - Weight Training, general sit ups etc. Lifting 5kg weights, sit ups, planks ect normally around 15 minutes weights, 10 minutes everything else.

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Now the thing i need help with is the eating,

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What should my calorie intake be? I normally have wholegrain toast for breakfast with a sandwhich for lunch and small bag of crisps (popcorn) and dinner is usually pasta or something. I'd say i try and maintain 1000 max a day,

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I work in a call centre so sit all day, so i never snack at work and drink few cups of coffe and much water, or a least try too.

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Some days i will eat a bag of crisp or a snickers and then i would feel bad, like omg, everything is lost, i have failed.

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Is that right?

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It's doing my head in trying to work out what to eat and how much i should be burning ect.

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Any insight would be great, and thanks for reading:)

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Sweet and Savory Cravings: Men vs. Women

Give a man a burger to make his belly happy and a woman some chocolate: It may sound cliché or stereotypical, but there’s actual science to back up the gender division when it comes to sweet and savory cravings. Several studies show men report more cravings for savory foods, like meat and eggs; women report sweeter cravings, like chocolate and ice cream, according to a research review published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine. Cravings also hit women more than men: Scientists in France analyzed the food diaries of more than 1,000 men and women and found twice as many women had food cravings than men.

Another difference in the great gender divide: It’s harder for a woman to control herself when chocolate calls her name. In one study, 50 percent of men said it was “easy” for them to resist cravings, compared to only 20 percent of women.

Hormones, mood and many other factors play into why men and women crave differently. But there are things anyone can do to keep both sweet and savory cravings under control.

5 Cravings That Could Signal a Health Condition

Read More

Here are five tips to help curb sweet and savory cravings:

1. Eat balanced meals.

That means including lean proteins, healthy carbs and high-fiber foods into your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack to keep you feeling full and satisfied all day. When you eat a variety of foods, your body gets the nutrients it needs for fuel, and you’re less likely to give into cravings at night. Spend time planning ahead and grocery shopping for the week to make nutritious meals. Or, try Nutrisystem. A team of nutrition experts and dietitians designed Nutrisystem meal plans that are balanced, include a variety of your favorite foods and focus on smaller meals, more often, to keep you full. Learn more here >

2. Keep a craving journal.

Jot down the time of day when your cravings started, the food you wanted and how you handled it. That way you can see if your cravings follow any patterns so you can better prepare yourself next time one hits.

6 Signs You’re Eating Too Much Sugar

Read More

3. Walk off a craving.

Or work on a hobby or call a friend to chat. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, sometimes a craving may not be actual hunger, but maybe you’re feeling bored or lonely. When an intense craving hits, take a minute to think about what else you might be needing at that time.

4. Take a bite, then wait.

It may sound strange, but research shows it works. When you’re wanting a piece of pie or bag of chips, go for it—but take only one bite. A study published in the journal Food Quality and Preference found people who are smaller portions of commonly craved foods were just as satisfied as those who ate a larger portion of the same food. Cravings also dropped significantly 15 minutes after eating, whether they ate a little or a lot.

5. Customize your Nutrisystem menu.

Another way to satisfy a sweet tooth or salt craving without overloading on calories: Nutrisystem snacks. From chocolate brownie sundaes to cookies, cheese puffs to popcorn, you can shop A La Carte for perfectly-portioned, low-calorie snacks that won’t sabotage your weight loss. Or, consider customizing your next Nutrisystem order so that it’s packed with foods sure to satisfy those cravings and keep you on plan.

Curb any cravings with our delicious, ready-to-go sweet AND savory snacks >

The post Sweet and Savory Cravings: Men vs. Women appeared first on The Leaf.

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