Breaking the cycle

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Permalink Reply by AmandaS on March 10, 2010 at 4:49pm

Hi Renee,

I'm not Jari, but I have an idea that might help you. I don't know what kinds of food you're binging on, but I finally learned that if I just don't buy it, I can't binge on it! I love chips, nuts, cookies, etc and used to buy them and then wonder why I'd eat half a bag and be mad at myself afterwards. Well, I finally decided to just stop buying the stuff and buy apples, oranges, bananas, hummus, edamame, Peanut Wonder low fat peanut butter, etc. Now, when I want a snack, I'll have an apple with peanut butter or a protein shake on the days I lift weights. I'll have some celery sticks with hummus or an orange and edamame. Try to have some protein and carbs for a snack. Also, when I started doing that, my grocery bill shrunk. Chips and cookies are low in food value, but somewhat high in price compared to fresh fruits and veggies. And you can't beat bananas....they're cheap, easy to pack and full of potassium. Hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by Jari Love on March 10, 2010 at 5:06pm

This is great advice. Honestly, you have to make sure that you aren't letting your environment control you. You need to control your environment instead! I follow the same principle as Amanda and I just don't buy things that I know will be a problem for me. If it's not there, you don't have to worry about it:)

Don't be too hard on yourself though, we all have our weaknesses and we all fall off track - it's normal :)

Jari

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Martin on March 10, 2010 at 5:07pm

Hi Renee, I feel your pain and what gets me is that we know it's bad to eat unhealthy but I just don't know what triggers my brain to allow me to just do it "this once". Once I eat unhealthy I beat myself up and mentally think "well I screwed it up already what is one more time this week". I work in an office and people are constantly bringing in home baked goods or doughnuts and the temptation is so hard, and again I think to myself "oh it's just one cookie or one doughnut". How do I get past this and just say NO. I need willpower. When does the willpower kick in?

It's easy enough for me to not BUY bad food but when I am driving home and starving or out on the road it is just so easy to get fast food or a bag of chips. Again willpower.

I too dislike cardio but I am trying the power of positive thinking and also trying keep reminding myself at how good I felt from the last time I ran or went for a walk and hopefully that will get me out and about more often.

These are both constant battles for me.

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Permalink Reply by Chikako Siebers on March 10, 2010 at 7:22pm

Hi Renee,

So sorry to hear you've been struggling. I can think of two situations. One situation is that you are not simply eating enough during the clean eating phase. Do you have any idea how many calories you eat in a day when you eat clean? If you don't get enough nutrients, especially carbs, your body will eventually scream and cause you to binge. It happened to me recently.

Another situation is that you are doing emotional eating - you are not really hungry but are eating to gain comfort. Are you stressed out lately because of your work or other reasons? If you are doing emotional eating, you need to face yourself and think what is really going on inside you. Here is a good article:

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Learn-to-Listen-to-Your-Bodys-Signals/1

Hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Megan Alderton on March 10, 2010 at 8:06pm

Hi Renee!

I totally sympathize with your situation and want to say that I admire the fact that you know what you need to do and you're tryiing to change it. That's half the battle. I wish that losing weight were much simpler and that there weren't so many tasty foods out there to tempt us! That's a HUGE problem I've found is that society and I'm sure tons of people in your life make it seem like the norm to stop at McDonalds for lunch and warf down a Big Mac, Large Fries, and a soda. It's so conveniant! It satisfies your hunger and cravings and it's cheap and easy! Who the heck wouldn't be tempted? The problem is, that is enough fat/calories/salt/carbs for a week probably!

Every morning when I'm getting ready for work and I'm standing in my kitchen chopping up carrots and celery and putting fruit in baggies, and making a tuna sandwhich, I'm thinking... Man it would be so much easier just to buy my lunch today at some drive-thru, but then I remind myself, YOU want to be healthy. Don't give in to that stuff just because everyone else does. Rebecca mentioned about people at work bringing in baked goods all the time... it's the same way for me. Everyday, I could be eating something horrible with no problem and everyone else around me acts like it's no big deal and I'm some freak because I don't want to eat that stuff. I have even been accused by friends of having an eating disorder becasue I refuse junk food, but I haven't let that stop me. I eat plenty. I just make sure it's 90% good stuff. I think it is a mistake when you're eating clean to never indulge. I make sure that if I am having a terrible craving or am legitemately hungry when a meal or snack was not planned that I give in sometimes. If you never satisfy yourself, then I think you are more prone to bingeing and then you fall into the mind set of... "Well, I already screwed up, so it doesn't matter what I eat now." I like Amanda's idea of just not buying the stuff and I so wish that I could do that, but my boyfriend insists on having chips, cookies, crackers, and other junk in the house at all times, so I have to be extra strong. It's not fun. He is very thin and no matter what he eats, he never gains an ounce! I've told him time and time again that just because he's not getting fat,doesn't mean it's healthy for him, but he doesn't seem to care.

Let's face it... the average person is unhealthy, so don't go by what others are eating. We are a country ruled by conveniance, taste witihout regard to nutrition, and eating as a social event. No wonder we are having issues resisting certain foods! Just remember that you want to be above all that. I know I do and our health, the way we feel each day, and our overall quality of life will be improved because we are making those tough, but wise decisions.

Don't give up, Renee! We've all got your back and we know you can do it!

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Permalink Reply by Aimee Stefanski on March 10, 2010 at 9:11pm

Really all great advice! You sound just like me with the binging out of control. I really think for me it's a sugar addiction bottom line. I'm in a zone right now but right before January I was completely out of control 10 lbs. over my feel good weight. Yuck!! I know what you are feeling. But I can say the more I realize I can't go back to eating that way ever even for a couple days in a row. I just can't or I'm like an alcoholic I slowly just go right down. Don't buy the foods you know are going to lead you to binge. What makes me angry especially the more I research on what is really healthy food wise, is how expensive it is to eat well. These companies certainly don't make it easy. I'd love to go completely organic with everything but I can't afford it. Take it day by day and like Jari says don't let your environment control you. Control your environment. Start really planning out your meals and make sure you have healthy snacks on hand all the time. I do know what you mean by being two different people because I have been in the same exact boat, but for the most part its hidden. I have to say though when I'm off the all the processed foods and sugar I feel so good!!! I don't want to go back to eating the way I was. I also have been making a habit of waiting for the weekend to have that cheat meal or a snack that I wouldn't normally have during the week. It's been helping that way I have some rules that I live by and it's becoming more routine for me. Support is key too. Really be active in your workout groups or healthy eating groups. I always like to pick up a couple health magazines during the week too it keeps my focus on health and put everything in perspective so I don't fall back into bad habits. Try to find someone that will keep you accountable too that always helps.

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Permalink Reply by Renee Hughes on March 11, 2010 at 7:41am

Ladies

I am speechless at how much support came in so quickly. I can't thank you all enough. Jari, you dont know what it means to all of us to have someone like you take the time to respond to us personally. Until I found your workouts I was committed to Jillian's workouts and I love them and will always go back and forth using her DVD's. But do you know how difficult it would be to have Jillian respond personally to something like this? She doesnt and even if you do get personal help from her site you have to pay for it and it is not even her answering. So we are so thankful for the direct support that you give us, you are obviously knowlegable and have a real concern for people it means more than we can put into words. It makes us feel that you are comitted for more reasons than just making a financial profit and for that reason you will be even more successful. We would LOVE to see you have your own TV show in Canada and in the States! Of course we would probably then lose you :). I wish we could have Ripped gyms here in the states too.

All of the advice will be extremly helpful to me. When I am eating clean I probably still take in about 1400 - 1600 calories. When I am not about 1900. To give you a good overview of what I'm working with. I am 5ft9 154lbs. My goal is 135. I have lean legs, very small hips around 35 or 36. chest size about 36 the big problem is my core 34 inch waist and my lower abs measure at 37! So I am one of those stick figures with a big belly and back fat. It is so gross and I just hate it. People dont realize how much weight i have to lose because I hide it with my clothes but they can see it in my face sometimes. So I know the feeling of people thinking you have an eating disorder or are paranoid bc you are trying to lose 20 lbs when they think you would be fine with maybe 5 or nothing. Everything I have read and even a nutritionist told me in order to lose weight I would have to take in 1300 calories but that is just so little calories for me. Even when I am eating well, I just cant stick to 1300 calories and it makes me feel discouraged bc even when I am doing well as I said eating clean and working out I still have not been able to lose more than 9lbs at a time before the whole cycles starts over again. The things I probably lose control over the most are Pamela's or Nana's cookies - I eat at least one a day and although they are "healthy" cookies still too many calories to eat every day. The other food is FRENCH FRIES. It is my biggest temptation that I have not been able to give up even when I am eating clean. The best I can do is have them only once every other week. My worst during eating clean times is one a week. My worst on binging times is twice a day 2 x a week! I am a vegetarian about a year and half now. This is not a problem when I am eating clean bc I get enough protein from beans and lentils and veggies which I eat a lot of. But when I am not eating clean then I will allow myself to eat fish and it is usually FRIED FISH! It is easier not to buy the foods but then my cravings literally make me depressed and I will eat an apple or banana but it just doesnt always satisfy me even when I am eating clean. I still want that cookie. The difference is when I am eating clean I will have 1 cookie or half a Nana's cookie (they are huge) vs when I am not eating clean I will have 4 pamelas cookies or 2 Nana's cookies. And its true I am an emotional eater. I eat when I am happy, sad, bored, angry...there is nothing no time when I dont want to eat. I will try to not buy my tempation foods or at least buy french fries I can bake at home (and the sweet potato fries dont do it for me). But the biggest problem as some of you said is when I am out of the house and didnt pack my lunch and am STARVING or I am traveling and its just easier to grab something and it is near IMPOSSIBLE to "Grab" something healthy. I try to eat a veggie subway sub or something like that but then you are not getting organic veggies or whole grain bread. And then I just feel like FORGET IT just go all the way bad...I find if I dont have food and snacks ready I am toast. So I will take your suggestions on not buying the food and having healthy things with me wherever I am so I can resist the tempation to roll through that drive through or to eat whatever my friends are eating. I also agree that eating healthy is so expensive. I dont have children but my husband and I run our own businesses and we do volunteer work so we are very very busy but also very limited financially. I buy mostly organic because its just the 2 of us we get by with it but we need to do better. I feel like I am wasting money buying organic on one hand and then pulling into a drivethrough and getting a greasy fish sandwich and fries on the other hand its crazy. Now my husband just turned 32 and he now has a belly on him he was always stick skinny and he has high blood pressure. I just wish I could do a better job practicing what I preach and doing what I KNOW is right for me and my family. I feel so great when I'm doing well and my husband is so good about following what I am eating. All I know to do is get on the horse again and hope to go a longer time before get off the wagon again. I think I do have to treat it as a food addiction and know that just like the alcoholic cant take a drink. I cant have certain foods without getting off the wagon. And mabye just maybe I can finally break the cycle for good!

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Permalink Reply by Eva Bellamy on March 11, 2010 at 1:22pm

Have you tried a website that tracks exercise and calories? That's what I finally did just after Christmas and it made me accountable right away. It doesn't take much time and it works really well because I finally lost the 10-11 pounds that I wanted to and never could before without going crazy with workouts.....If you are going out you can plan what you are going to eat before hand and if necessary fit in an extra workout! When you have to add in all those little extras that show up at work, it's a lot easier to say "no". Good luck!!

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Permalink Reply by Megan Alderton on March 11, 2010 at 4:55pm

Renee,

I think the reason we are so quick to show our support is because to some degree, we are all feeling what you're feeling. You are SO right about SO many things you say. I am so glad I found Jari Love and joined this discussion forum. Jari truly cares about helping people as you said. I too am a Jillian follower, but you are right... we'd never get such personal support and advice from her as we can here. God bless Jari!

I ate nothing but organic for about a week once, and I have to say, I simply could not afford it. Also, it was difficult for me to find all the foods I eat in organic. Now, I just pick and choose some things to be organic. The only meat I eat is chicken and I make sure I always have organic chicken on hand because I want nothing to do with the growth hormones injected into other chickens. AND, eating well is more time consuming! It takes much more prep, planning ahead, and actual cooking. The best thing about diving into a bag of potato chips is that there is no prep or clean up involved!

Certain foods can be like addictions (I love french fries too!). But the unfortunate thing is, you can't quit food cold turkey. You have to keep eating to live and for me eating foods I don't like the taste of is like torture.

I don't think there is any real secret solution to the problems of food temptations. I don't care what I do, certain foods will always tempt me, and it will always be hard to say no. So all we can do is try to keep our will power strong and remember the reasons we are

Keep us all posted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sending love and encouragment your way! Megan

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Permalink Reply by Renee Hughes on March 13, 2010 at 1:13pm

Megan - I will keep you posted and I will read these posts again and again. just knowing I would be talking to you guys has helped me resist french fries SEVERAL times over the last several days. I havent given in at all and am doing reallly good. My body is still paying for the over and unclean eating I have been doing the past month. But, I am forcing myself to work out anyway even though I am disgusted with myself. I had made so much progress in just one month of working out with Jari's DVD's and then spent the next month undoing all my hard work. The next time I have to travel or something comes up in my life that may take me off schedule I will be sure to let you guys know so that I can get some help through that phase and not fall so far off plan again. So far I am a week in "back on track" mode and I know this will last at least a month or 2. If I can get it to last 3 to 6 months I will be hysterical! :)

You are so right about eating organic, it is crazy expensive but I want to at least make it worth it by eating clean all the time even when it cant be organic it can still be a good and healthy choice. Someone recomended to me before to get the book Eating Clean and I need to do that. I think it will help to remind me of some things and help me with my food addictions.

Do you still eat french fries? If so how often and if not HOW DID YOU STOP? :)

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Permalink Reply by Megan Alderton on March 14, 2010 at 4:56pm

Hey Renee. This board is so great... it's like sponsors for people who like bad food! :)

I'm glad you've been able to stay on track recently. I know it's hard though, especially like you say, when something comes up that makes life more hectic or involves traveling. You don't always have time to plan meals or grocery shop to get the good stuff and it forces you to take those quick, but not-so-healthy alternatives. :(

And yes, I still eat french fries on occasion. I'm only human! When I was in high school and I was super active and had an apparently amazing metabolism, I ate french fries and burgers almost EVERY DAY. I also worked at an italian restaurant as a waitress my last two years of high school and I hogged out on breadsticks and pizza all the time... and amazingly, I stayed slimmed. My weight never went above about 110... but that was when I had no idea was proper nutrition was all about and didn't care either. My metabolism has slowed as I have gotten older, and there is no way I could continue to eat like that. However, once a week (usually Sunday evenings) my boyfriend and I eat out or get some kind of take-out to give ourselves a break from cooking and just have a relaxing evening. I usually end up getting french fries or something equally bad for you. Pizza is another weakness of mine. My family are big social eaters and they love to have pizza for these occasions. I usually just to to make sure I get in a salad or some veggies when I'm with them so that I don't have as much room for pizza. For me, I'd rather be able to indulge in my favorite foods once or twice a week and keep that extra 5lbs or so I could probably otherwise get rid of. And I do exercise usually 6 days a week to make sure I'm depleting all that I have eaten.

Try not to think in the mindset of being on a diet... I saw a study once in one of my Psych classes where they put a person on a diet in a room and put a plate of cookies in front of them. That person sat there for awhile, then ate one cookie, then ate about 5-6 more. They did the same thing to a person who was not on a diet and that person ate only 2 cookies. They asked each person the reasoning behind why they ate what they did. The person on the diet was unable to resist and after having 1 cookie decided they had already blown it, so they might as well keep eating. The person who was not on a diet said that they only wanted 2 cookies, so that's what they ate. My point is, just don't get yourself freaked out about NEVER eating anything bad. Everyone has a breaking point and this just makes you all the more likely to hit it faster.

Anyway, keep up the good work! I'm here for support. Megan

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Permalink Reply by Ninu Dhillon on March 11, 2010 at 1:17pm

Hi Renee,

All great comments everyone! I'm so impressed by everyone's support and encouragement! :+) As for maybe improving your habits, remember that it takes approx twenty seven or so consistent acts for something to change long term..for example, you technically would need to turn down (drive past) the drive-thru 27 times in a ROW for it to become a newly ingrained habit to bypass it on your ride home...or turn down donuts/cake/junk at work each day for twenty some days. It's making those new connections in your brain, that passing up on something isn't going to kill you, or deprive you. It will, over time make you feel empowered and in control.

Another tip is ensure you plan your meals well. On Sunday typically, I'll think about what lean source of protein and good carbs we are going to have that week for dinners/lunch. We'll cook a soup/chili etc on sunday, take it to work monday and tuesday. In the evenings, on the way home from the gym if I know we don't have much food at home, I'll have a protein shake and chop up veggies or we'll pick up a rotesserie chicken and take the skin off, serve it on greens. It's healthy and lean, and even with some low fat ceasar dressing :)

For the sugar cravings..the only way to get rid of them is to avoid sugar consistently. If that isn't what you want to do, then try having something as a back up. When you feel like you want something sweet, you have say an apple, orange or a some raisins/almonds. It usually hits the spot, and with water or herbal/green tea..those cravings should disappate over time.

Hope that helps somewhat ! Keep up the great effort!

:)

Ninu

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