Bloggity: I'm trying to change my intake

[amerikajin]

Not that I'm overweight. I've been fortunate that I've never really had serious weight problems, although I did once jump up to about 195 upon returning to the U.S. (my normal weight is probably 175).

 

But most of the stuff that I've been eating is processed, fast, and oily. It's surely high in salts and cholesterol and I've been eating this way for years. Whether it's eating fast food in restaurants or instant meals at home, my diet is crap.

 

I drink beer a lot too - actually, I've been putting down quite a lot of beer lately. It's not that I'm an alkie. I wake up and the first thing I put in my system is caffeine. I usually don't drink until about 8 or 9 pm, but I sometimes start binging a little bit every now and again, which isn't good.

 

So, I actually decided to give this organic foods diet thing a try. I don't cut out processed foods entirely, but I'm trying to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. I've cooked more in the last few weeks than I can remember in a long time.

 

The thing is, I'm actually starting to like it. I enjoy the creativity and the process of cooking, even if I don't like the time it takes. The end product is usually pretty good. Not a gourmet chef but I don't do so bad for a novice.

 

Just wondering what everyone else's experiences are with regard to changing diet and lifestyle. Were you successful at maintaining a long-term commitment or did you eventually flake out and revert back to old form?

[xpaperxcutx]

I'm a vegetarian with a sweet tooth. I love fresh organic foods but I also like to indulge in chocolate. That is my Achilles Heel.

 

Of course, I'm cutting the sweets out, but to completely go cold turkey makes me crave it more than anything else. So I save the chocolate for my cheat day ( Sunday) when I can indulge in either cake or chocolate. I settle for a low fat, low cal chocolate bar, and I'm set for the next week.

 

When it comes down to lifestyle and eating changes you have to know your limits and take it a step at a time.

 

I mean it's similar to you indulging in having beers everyday or so, but since you want to be healthy, you know you have to cut it back to maybe having one a day after dinner, or one a week.

 

Basically if you follow things for a while they become a routine and not a bother.

[oasis]

I am a bit of a "health-nut". For the past two years, from 2007 - 2009, I pretty much cut out carbohydrates and sweets, save for bran cereal. I mean no bread, no pastries, no candy. I ate just fruits and vegetables. I am a bit fortunate, because I happen to crave healthy foods. I also gave up red meat about 10 yrs. ago and have only eaten just fish and chicken.

 

What happened was, I lost so much weight - and I am only a size 9/10, that my clothing was hanging on me as if they were on a hanger. I must also add, that I exercise between 3-4 days per seek. People were walking up to me and telling me that I've have lost a lOT of weight. But during that time, I was never hungry. I ate as much fruits and vegetables as I needed.

 

Only recently, I have re-introduced bread and rice back into my diet, to stop the weight loss - because I did not want to go down another size.

 

What will happen is, your system will get use to eating healthy,that bad foods will start to make you sick.

 

And you will start to loose weight. It is a real commitment, but soon it will become a way of life.

 

And do not forget to exercise through it all.

[burning 4 revenge]

Well Ive done a couple of dramatic lifestyle changes lately, ones Ive tried before but for the last couple of months they have actually stcuk

 

When I was a teenager and into my early 20's I was a vegetarian and a runner and those were very happy times for me. My only vice was smoking hitters on the weekend. Somewhere along the line...college actually... I discovered the pleasures of red meat, marlboros and beer.

 

Well jogging wasnt long for the count after that. I kept somewhat in shape by instituting a 4 day split lifting routine, but I was never really into it and quit it after like 10 months.

 

I also ran into health problems that werent self infilicted in my mid late 20's and really let myself go. I never exceeded 165 lbs (Im 5'8), but my cardio and lung function became a pittance of what it used to be and I lost my muscle tone

 

Well I ve tried to revive the healthy lifestyle of my teenage years several times and failed, but Ive managed to stick to a healthy semi-vegetarian diet ( I eat a bit of fish and turkey) early last year.

 

Then in early December I received a mixed blessing with a DUI and since then I havent drank a drop and have only smoked a couple of cigs and Ive been jogging 3 miles almost everyday

 

I think w/o the exercise I wouldnt be able to discipline the diet or stay away from drinking as the cardio is a big stress reliever, so if I would advise one thing it would be to find an exercise routine you enjoy that delivers physiological changes.

 

As far as the diet goes I use alot of spice to avoid fats. Spice is a great way to make your food flavorful. Also salads make a big difference. Id advise to use decent dressings and not that low fat stuff so that eating salad is enjoyable and when you eat more salads youll end up eating less carbs and you'll feel better

[xpaperxcutx]

I am a bit of a "health-nut". For the past two years, from 2007 - 2009, I pretty much cut out carbohydrates and sweets, save for bran cereal. I mean no bread, no pastries, no candy. I ate just fruits and vegetables. I am a bit fortunate, because I happen to crave healthy foods. I also gave up red meat about 10 yrs. ago and have only eaten just fish and chicken.

 

What happened was, I lost so much weight - and I am only a size 9/10, that my clothing was hanging on me as if they were on a hanger. I must also add, that I exercise between 3-4 days per seek. People were walking up to me and telling me that I've have lost a lOT of weight. But during that time, I was never hungry. I ate as much fruits and vegetables as I needed.

 

Only recently, I have re-introduced bread and rice back into my diet, to stop the weight loss - because I did not want to go down another size.

 

What will happen is, your system will get use to eating healthy,that bad foods will start to make you sick.

 

And you will start to loose weight. It is a real commitment, but soon it will become a way of life.

 

And do not forget to exercise through it all.

I wish I could cut out the carbs completely, but I grew up on bread and I have to have at least some kind of pastry ( mainly bread) once every two days or so.

 

How do you keep yourself from craving foods high in starch?