But like I said before I have been thinking and something. I've come to realize is that I am not practising what I preach... and I don't want to be a hypocrite! I say 'everything in moderation' yet do I eat everything in moderation? Um, recently the answer is NO. What does everything in moderation (EIM) even mean? To different people it means different things. Some of MFPals think EIM is just an excuse to eat badly and that people who practice this do not want to actually be healthy but rather they want to be thin and lose weight. Others think EIM is perfectly okay and that if this is meant to be a lifestyle we all have to eat the (bad) foods we love every now and then so we don't go crazy and binge or fall off the wagon. Although there are more thoughts on this practice, out of the two most popular opinions of EIM I have seen, I agree more with the second.
Okay so I want to eat the 'bad foods' in moderation. What does moderation mean anyways? According to thefreedictionary.com moderation means:
"Being within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme". Let's break this definition down even further... what do they mean by excessive?
"Exceeding a normal, usual, reasonable, or proper limit".
When it comes to food, the 'proper limit' to me means serving size. A 'normal limit' to me would be 1 bad snack per night.
Am I eating bad snacks in the correct serving size? Am I limiting myself to one bad snack per night? NO and NO. See, the funny thing about EIM is that I do believe it works... I do believe I don't have to give up every single bad snack... BUT you actually need to eat the bad foods in MODERATION!!! So now that we know exactly what that means and we know I am not doing it. Okay so this is progress in itself... identifying the problem.
Now it's really ironic that while I am in the middle of typing this blog post, on MFP a thread popped up about this exact topic: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/682121-everything-in-moderation-really
Some things people said include:
"That's what's great about eating in moderation. You DON'T need to worry about everything you eat if you know how to fulfill your macro/micro nutrients daily and stay within calorie restrictions".
I am NOT EIM and always staying within my macros/calories.
"For those who have not been able to reach and maintain their goals, I believe EIM is worth questioning."
Well okay then... I am questioning.
Bottom line is I am not eating everything (bad) in moderation. I think I am even addicted to certain sugary snacks. NOT GOOD. But you know what? I was eating fast food before, craved it, loved it, gave it up because I know I had too. And now, don't crave it, don't really want it, sometimes eat it but rarely. THAT is moderation. I think giving up the snacks initially will be hard... but then (hopefully) it will get easier and you won't crave those things as much... just like with the fast food. You NEVER used to buy/eat pop-tarts before Steve started eating them... so why now? What is so good about them? They are so bad for you nutritionally and eating a pack wipes out your entire workout. Like seriously, what are you doing. Get a little self-control for Christ sake!!!!!
So what now? Well, it is time to start setting mini-goals!
Mini Goal #1: DO NOT eat past 10pm (for an 11:30pm-12:00am bedtime).
Bottom line is I am not eating everything (bad) in moderation. I think I am even addicted to certain sugary snacks. NOT GOOD. But you know what? I was eating fast food before, craved it, loved it, gave it up because I know I had too. And now, don't crave it, don't really want it, sometimes eat it but rarely. THAT is moderation. I think giving up the snacks initially will be hard... but then (hopefully) it will get easier and you won't crave those things as much... just like with the fast food. You NEVER used to buy/eat pop-tarts before Steve started eating them... so why now? What is so good about them? They are so bad for you nutritionally and eating a pack wipes out your entire workout. Like seriously, what are you doing. Get a little self-control for Christ sake!!!!!
So what now? Well, it is time to start setting mini-goals!
Mini Goal #1: DO NOT eat past 10pm (for an 11:30pm-12:00am bedtime).
If you can't control your munchies then stop smoking! If you don't want to stop smoking then CONTROL YOUR MUNCHIES. Seriously. Get yourself under control. Brush your teeth at 10pm and then pop in some gum. Do something, ANYTHING but EAT.
Mini Goal #2: JUST ONE 'bad' snack per night and ONLY if it fits into your macros.
Mini Goal #2: JUST ONE 'bad' snack per night and ONLY if it fits into your macros.
By one bad snack I mean one serving size of one treat. That is it. ONE AND DONE.
Mini Goal #3: DO NOT eat ANY of Steve's snacks. Whether they fit into your macros or not.
KEEP AWAY. Why don't you have any of the bad snacks he does? Well, that's because I do not want to eat those kinds of things so I don't buy them. IF YOU WANT THEM, BUY THEM YOURSELF. You don't buy them for a reason... stick to that reason.
Mini Goal #3: DO NOT eat ANY of Steve's snacks. Whether they fit into your macros or not.
KEEP AWAY. Why don't you have any of the bad snacks he does? Well, that's because I do not want to eat those kinds of things so I don't buy them. IF YOU WANT THEM, BUY THEM YOURSELF. You don't buy them for a reason... stick to that reason.
That's it for now.
No weight mini-goal this time. I think working on those three alone will be enough of a challenge and the weight should come off if I make these goals into a reality.
No weight mini-goal this time. I think working on those three alone will be enough of a challenge and the weight should come off if I make these goals into a reality.
HOW BAD DO YOU WANT TO LOVE YOU BODY?
HOW BAD DO YOU WANT TO LOOK HOT IN THAT BIKINI?
HOW BAD DO YOU WANT TO LOOK AMAZING ON THE DR TRIP?|^ Do you want those things? Or do you want pop-tarts, gummies, chocolate, and cake?
WHICH WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY??????
I always eye Paul's cookies, it's hard, but lately it's gotten much easier. I make sure I have fruit in the freezer or the fridge for when I really need the sugar fix. It really helps. That and dark chocolate, I can't eat milk chocolate but I am now in love with 75% and up dark chocolate....mmmm.
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