Posts: 1,042
7/3/11 7:38 P

It has been hard to...

1. Totally avoid sugars and processed food.
2. Do not pay attention to what others think about me or things they say to me.
3. "Let go" some painful events from my past.
4. Stop spending money in things just because I am feeling sad.
5. Accept that I have the potential to succeed.

Others...

current weight: 214.0

258 238.5 219 199.5

180

SparkPoints: (23,922)
Fitness Minutes: (44,150)
Posts: 649
7/1/11 3:03 P

I got a lot out of reading your messages here for the last few mins. You're definitely my people!

Jae

current weight: 184.1

234 210.5 187 163.5

140

SparkPoints: (23,922)
Fitness Minutes: (44,150)
Posts: 649
7/1/11 12:48 P

Totally giving up sugar. It's not just hard, up to now it's been impossible. I've cut a lot out, and that's good.

current weight: 184.1

234 210.5 187 163.5

140

Posts: 31
7/1/11 11:45 A

The hardest thing for me right now is trying to cut down on my sodium. I have been doing a good job with staying under my daily caloric amount, but keeping the sodium down is hard.

Posts: 50
6/28/11 11:41 A

1. The hardest thing has been not drinking a coke and eating some candy every time my mother or sister call me and push my buttons
2. Listening to my children eating chips and cookies during the day
3. Making peace with the past that got me to this point
4. Putting myself on the list
5. Accepting the fact that I need to exercise and eat better and make this a life long change

Posts: 31
6/27/11 12:24 P

This has honestly touched me emotionally because this is such a hard thing to deal with and a lot of people just do not understand. I have been dealing with a food obsession since I was younger. I used to even sneak food into my room because my parents would yell at me for eating so much. I would even buy extra fast food so I would be able to eat some at home or the next day. That is a very hard habit to break, especially now. I would also buy a ton of candy if it was on sale so that I would have candy to eat the next few days because I knew that once it was gone I would be upset.

Now I am finding healthier foods to change those habits to, and I am portioning. I use an app on my cell phone and I tell myself I have to put in what I eat and it will tell me how many more calories I can have for the day and such. I have good days and bad days, yesterday was bad, but today seems better. A lot of people don't believe that overeating is a problem or real but I tell my fiance that I feel about food the way he does about smoking. If I took away his cigarettes, he would be upset and feel anxious, and if I can't eat or want something to eat sometimes I feel the same way. I am hoping that as I change my eating habits, this will change as well. I know this will always be a struggle, but hopefully it'll get better. You can only take it day by day, but I am so happy that there are others who also deal with this and can be supportive. Thank you all!

SparkPoints: (200)
Fitness Minutes: (55)
Posts: 20
6/27/11 11:24 A

Yes, that is good to remember. One bad day of eating doesn't have to make everyday a bad day.

Posts: 3,202
6/27/11 10:22 A

Why am I crying as I read this... I guess maybe, in part, I've always felt alone. This is a daily journey that may be even an hour by hour journey some days. I've been up and down the scale, more up than down. Trying to be patient and not resort to negative self talk when I blow it. Someone on spark said (I think it was Indygirl), something to the fact that just because I blow it, doesn't mean I need to continue to eat out of control. Just like if you break one traffic law, I don't go out breaking all of them.

Also, I don't "deserve" a sweet/white flour treat... I didn't "earn" a sweet/white flour treat.

Okay, now I deserve to go workout and earn a healthy lifestyle!!!

SparkPoints: (200)
Fitness Minutes: (55)
Posts: 20
6/26/11 7:19 P

That is my biggest problem--watching how many calories I eat. Sometimes I can't resist the foods I like. It is a treat for my husband when I make waffles with strawberries and whipped cream. I can't resist eating them too. I do leave out the sugar from the batter but that is such a small thing. So, I ate 2 waffles with strawberries and whipped cream for breakfast. Tomorrow I will only have my rice chex with skim milk, a small banana, and hot tea with lemon. It is hard to be good.

Posts: 1,426
6/26/11 4:10 P

ZOMBELLAH at first I had a hard time making the healthy meals too but, the more I learned on sparkpeople on how to cook these healthy meals it got easier for me. I also try to get the kids involved in helping me cook and this teaches them about healthy eating too and makes the preparation easier for me.. If you can get someone in the house hold to help you with cooking it might be easier for you. Now for the sugar cravings when I first started on this journey I took a vitamin with Chromium Sulfate in it and it really helped with the sugar cravings and I still take it today. Chewing gum is a really good way to fight the cravings too. You will get it it just takes time.

Posts: 31
6/26/11 2:13 P

I've noticed that I am having a hard time making actual meals, and not just eating a lot of a vegetable or something like that for a meal. I know that I have to sit down and make out meals that are still healthy and will give me the nutrients that I need. Since I am addicted to sugar, I just realized today (after eating 3 Mentos) that if I eat a stick of gum I will be taking in less calories and be able to chew it longer, thus eating less candy and still satisfying the craving.

Edited by: ZOMBELLAH at: 6/26/2011 (14:13)

Posts: 617
6/26/11 2:36 A

So far since I joined sparks people on June 14 I have been so busy learning all I can about the program,exercising,and tracking all my healthy foods I've been cooking to think about buying and eating all the junk food I was eating nightly like whole bags of Hershey milk chocolate almond nuggets and whole pints of blue bell moolenium crunch ice cream.I was disappointed that the first week even though I did not eat any junk food I didn't lose any weight but I didn't let it get me down.I have continued eating healthy and hope the scale works in my favor this Monday

Posts: 1,426
6/25/11 5:30 P

I enjoyed reading all these answers. I am glad I asked.

SparkPoints: (25,463)
Fitness Minutes: (15,602)
Posts: 4,594
6/25/11 1:06 P

At the beginning I was successful. I was motivated and got all the way down to my goal back in 2007. But then I have had some emotional roller coasters that have got in the way. I feel if I got control somehow of these problems I would be successful again.

SparkPoints: (200)
Fitness Minutes: (55)
Posts: 20
6/25/11 12:13 P

Yes, it can be very depressing. You want to lose weight and be healthier but it is hard. Sometimes you think, what is there to life? You have your job, but I am no longer working, you have your family, but they have their own lives and are busy, you can go out to do things but so many things involve eating. Depriving yourself of certain foods can take the joy out of things. I guess you have to take one day at a time with its ups and downs.

Posts: 5,605
6/25/11 11:41 A

1. Days when I feel overwhelemed - constantly working on this
2. Sometimes getting all of my plans in
3. Being consistent

current weight: 136.2

213 193.8 174.6 155.4

136.2

Posts: 467
6/25/11 10:13 A

1. Having good days, and then living with the fear of blowing it. Getting out of "all or nothing" thinking.
2. Passing on the popcorn and soda at the movie theater (me too!)
3. Being the only one in the room not eating birthday cake
4. Not eating when I'm really, really tired
5. Thinking about living this lifestyle indefinitely, and what that will mean for holidays and special events

759 Days since:  Sugar and HFCS

0 200 400 600

800

SparkPoints: (6,465)
Fitness Minutes: (1,450)
Posts: 198
6/25/11 9:11 A

some things hard along the way...............

Maintaining food sanity during chaos and fatigue.

Staying away from "white foods" and cheeses when eating out.

current weight: 196.0

196 182 168 154

140

SparkPoints: (26,233)
Fitness Minutes: (30,960)
Posts: 2,749
6/25/11 8:54 A

Some hard things along the way....

Saying no to alcohol ! Thinking about saying "no" to alcohol. Obsessing about saying "no" to alcohol. OMG...that was a trip.

Passing up on pizza & passing the pizza store without bringing one home !

Passing the candy dish in the office, especially if chocolate lived there.

Needing "something - anything" in my mouth at all times....the breath mint saga.

Eating every 4 hours when I preferred walk-by eating.

Eating healthy protein & getting off the "white foods."

Going to movies & skipping eating in the dark.

Haazen Daz & eating at night in the dark....ALONE.

Eating in the car.....ALONE.

Knowing that these were lifetime changes & that I COULD NOT GO BACK to what I wanted to do in the deepest part of my gut.

Oh, the list could go on. Thanks for asking.

elizRN

Posts: 1,426
6/25/11 7:24 A

Funky_chicken that is awesome. Good job, I know that must of been hard too.

Posts: 985
6/25/11 3:05 A

Funky_Chicken

Posts: 6,051
6/25/11 2:08 A

Realizing that until I addressed my drinking, my weight was going to be a constant uphill battle.
9 months no alcohol.

current weight: 10.2  over

15 7.5 0 -7.5

-15

Posts: 985
6/25/11 12:55 A

Coming to terms with the fact that it is a daily journey and a life time of keeping it in check.

The emotions when they are not being stuffed with food well they surfice and i must feel them and go through the pain this takes practice and it is not easy.

Posts: 1,426
6/24/11 11:24 P

UWAKSKI usually on the package it will say what the serving is that your eating. If you know how many calories the pizza is you can put it in yourself. It gives and option to add foods.

SparkPoints: (200)
Fitness Minutes: (55)
Posts: 20
6/24/11 11:21 P

I am having trouble with the nutrition tracker--figuring out the portion size or serving. I also don't know what to do when the item is not listed, such as pizza from a local pizza parlor. I am having trouble figuring out how to do the exercise tracker.

Posts: 1,426
6/24/11 11:18 P

I would have to say getting in all my calories for the day. I am having a hard time getting my numbers in on the food tracker.