New Plan
So… i want to TRY something new but every time i try, I fail. I want to eat LEAN meats and protein (chicken, turkey, tuna etc) and GREEN veggies, leafy things and such. And then just water and PLAIN tea.
I want to get away from fat and sugar as much as possible but I keep falling back into my old ways when i try this. When I eat things like meat and veggies it triggers cravings for salt and fat and carbs. I know a "little fat" is ok and even recomended (the GOOD kind of "fat" of course)… but the problem I’m having is again, eating veggies and lean proteins CAUSE triggers for me.
Like if I cook myself some spinach, i’ll want to put butter on. If I put a tiny bit of butter on, WHAM! It makes me want MORE butter and salt and then i’ll want to put some bacon in there etc. That didn’t actually happen but it’s just to give an idea of what i mean.
Or if I drink water i get so BORED of plain tasteless water… so i have tea, and no matter what i always want sugar in it, so I’ll put a tiny bit of sugar in it and then WHAM! I’ll want to add MORE sugar and then add milk too! (because I actually have always loved milk and sugar in my tea).
Then there are times I thought "well maybe i need "some" sugar" so I will try to have a small piece of fruit, and again WHAM! I’ll just want to have all fruit instead of anything green.
So now I am at a loss of what to do. I also tried cutting out sugar and fat completely (or, well you know almost completely)…. it usually lasted till late night cravings kicked into high gear and I caved by night fall. I am so lost… what can i DO??
February 10, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I know nothing can replace a big slab of butter but have you tried butter spray? I use it on my brown rice all the time. Butter spray is low cal and has a good flavor.
Also, what about crystal light? That cures my sweet tooth…..
February 10, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Thanks for the idea’s, I might try the butter spray, my mom used to use that when i was a kid and I never seemed to notice the difference.
Does Crystal Light still use Sweet n’ Low? I’m alerigic to a lot of those artificial sweetners, or maybe not allergic but they give me very bad migrane headaches so I have to be careful. I can use Splenda but, I try to stay away from too many chemicals, I don’t think they are good for the body.
But again, thank you for the idea’s!
February 11, 2009 at 12:47 am
I am not a big fan of the artificial sweeteners either.
I have a sweet tooth as well, the only advice I could give is to force yourself to eat the spinach with out the butter etc and after a while the cravings go away.
If you fill your diet with good food then you have less time/need for the sweet stuff.
Easier said than done i know.
February 11, 2009 at 2:03 am
Don’t you find it funny that you said you stay away from chemicals cuz they’re bad for the body… but you crave sugar and butter and what not! Just thought i’d point that out.
I’m sort of the king of all that is unholy when it comes to what the body takes in. I’ve change a LOT of my bad habits. That’s the way I did it too… looking at them as HABITS. It’s a tough pill to swallow but given enough time and perserverance anyone (nearly) can kick some of those "nasty" habits. Sadly my worst habits leftover from all the unhealthy ones are smoking and soda. But I’m actually getting those down as well.
Good luck and keep trying! That’s the most important thing.
Regards,
Mark
February 11, 2009 at 2:50 am
@ Stryka: Yeah, that’s what i was thinking, like cut out all sugar and fat stuff until I can get over the cravings, then bring it back in slowly so that i can have it in moderation, not be "attatched" to it. But the problem is I can never last long enough. I always cave near the end of the day. The longest I went was like 4 days. This may sound bad but it was Doctor aproved first (when i was VERY heavy) i went on all liquids (no not protein shakes, strictly water, non fat milk, tea and or 100% juices) and that was EASY compared to this.
@Mpenix: Thanks for the tips, more things I will give a shot, because I’m at the end of my rope and generally frustrated with my lack of will power.
I don’t really see "sugar" as a chemical… sugar comes from nature… butter on the other hand, well depends on the butter lol. If i get that butter spray that won’t be "natural" haha.
It sucks how you can’t just completely cut out eating all together, like how you said you smoke. If you decided to quit smoking you’d completely cut out all cigs… which i know is NOT by any means "easy"… but food is so complicated. Everyone has to eat every day. Can you imagine trying to quit smoking when you "have to" smoke every day? That always sort of nagged me.
But again, thanks for the tips and idea’s, I really apreciate all the help i can get.
February 11, 2009 at 3:27 am
I just meant things being bad for your body in general (chemical or not).
One thing that comes to mind after thinking about this some more. I believe it’s not the craving that’s the problem… you might not like this… but perhaps it’s the willpower that’s the problem. I don’t think that it changes anything because the result is the same… you eat what you don’t want… but eat what you want. It’s kind of a circle jerk you’re giving yourself. If it is a willpower thing (which it really seems to be)… then I think the best thing you should do is eat as healthy as possible, find some substitutes (like that butter spray)… and remove one and ONLY one thing at a time… from perhaps only ONE meal.Try that for a week and see how you do. Good luck.
February 11, 2009 at 3:54 am
I cut out all kinds of sweets and industrial foods from my meals and I noticed that those cravings go away after a while. But to get there is the hard part.
Maybe you should not try to avoid fat and sweet at all cost. Try to replace butter with a quality olive oil. And put some natural honey in your tea.
For me it’s not about punishing yourself but to get rid of the bad, chemical stuff that is in the industry grade food (especially sweets and ready-to-eat things).
February 11, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Thank you both for the extra advice and tips. I think I’ll try to incorprate both idea’s. I agree with mpenix that it is probably a huge part due to lack of will power, which is mostly effected by outside circumstances, which is why it’s such a challenge i think…
But I also think Shbanuma has a good idea in switching to "alternatives". I used to be ALL organic, BIG time, and i was so much happier that way and never minded… my living situation makes it impossible to be all organic but there are a few things i’ve never gone back to.
So, just need to work on both things. Will power, and changing one things at a time to an alternative. Not jumping in so "cold turkey".
Again much thanks for all the advice, i really needed, and apreciate it!