When I was a little girl my mother was often overweight. Sometimes only 20 pounds or so and other times 80-100 or more. More than her size, I remember her unhealthy attitude toward her self image and what she ate. We would eat extremely healthy most all of the time, however every week or so she would buy a 12 pack of donuts and two coffee cakes or bake 48 sugar cookies and a cake. Any of those would be gone within a day or often less. Looking back, I can see this was binge or disordered eating, possibly due to stress, but more than anything, I think it was a rebound from dieting. Her idea of a diet was not only really extreme calorie restriction, but also she didn't make sure to get balanced protein, grains and fat as well. She would eat only a banana for breakfast, then a yogurt for lunch and then broccoli and pasta for dinner and no dessert. Her attitude would change as well, making her snap quickly and be angry. Even as a child I recognized something about this wasn't right.
Now as a mom myself, I want to set a healthy example for my family. Unfortunately I learned a lot of the unhealthy disordered eating when I was young and those have been hard habits to break. I do really enjoy eating healthy foods, but I have also experienced times where I would eat almost an entire package of Oreos dipped in milk, half of a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch or a full dozen of Krispy Kreme donuts. Keeping thin before my daughter wasn't too tough, but I wasn't healthy or strong. After having her, weight is so much harder to lose, not to mention life is so much more stressful and in ways I couldn't have imagined. I want to set healthy examples for her. So changing was a must!
I wanted to lose weight and would go on various diets, usually restricting calories and not worried about what I was eating as long as I kept it between 1,200 and 1,500. Well not all foods are created equal and depending what you eat, you can burn through that and still be starving and have no energy. On the other hand if you end up only eating very clean and saying absolutely no to anything you are having a craving for, you run the risk of giving in and unhealthily overdoing it with that food you are craving later on.
So the key is truly to eat balanced food. Everyone is different in regards to their exact requirements for protein, carbs, sugar and fat, so getting an idea of what you need and what it looks like is a good idea. Too many people keep eating what they like, cheese quesadillas, pastas and breakfast sandwiches for example, and just eat however many calories of that food, but then when they aren't dieting anymore, will end up gaining their weight back and more sometimes. Actually changing WHAT you eat so important! I am sorry to say it, but Doritos, French fries, soda and cupcakes have no place in a regular diet. However, as this may sound to the contrary, I am strongly advocating not to deny yourself those things, especially as you are starting out changing how you eat. For example, you eat a boiled egg, cottage cheese and fresh pineapple for breakfast, then have a few Triscuits with almond butter for snack, you eat a healthy salad of spinach, olives and feta with baked salmon for lunch, maybe an afternoon snack of carrots and hummus, but then stress hits, and all you want are French fries or chocolate. You could either keep on hand some healthier versions of the thing you are craving or indulge in just a few bites of that thing. I keep teriyaki flavored cashews, dark chocolate, almonds, birdseed bars and beef jerky around. Usually a few bites of one of those and I feel better. I will even buy a small coke and take 5 sips and toss the rest if I need to. It is about learning balance. I don't feel as deprived, I am still eating my healthy balanced meals and snacks and I am far less likely to restrict to the point where I will overdue it. Just two tater tots will do it sometimes, or literally one bite of my daughters hot dog or pizza if she is at party. And I have both heard and am not experiencing that after you stop giving your body so much sugar and salt, you actually crave it less and less. Unsweetened tea is something I never thought I would enjoy! This has worked for me and I have been able to keep the weight off, even when I haven't been exercising or really even thinking about what I eat. One more thing is not to let yourself go too long in between eating. I eat every hour or two, just kind of munching on something. It keeps me preoccupied, not starving and mentally makes me feel satisfied. I have lost about 20 pounds and I have 20 to go!
I hope this helps some of you! Please leave feedback, ideas and perhaps other suggestions as to what works for you! I have never used protein powders, weight loss shakes or artificial sweeteners and I am not a fan of stevia or agave so I can't speak to those. I don't know much about the protein powders, but I tend to believe the closer we can get to eating whole from the source the better for our bodies it must be.
