Food cravings and weight loss

[steppinthrax]

I used to weight around 230 lb. I'm 6' 2". My bmi was roughly 30. I made drastic changes in my diet and exercise between the last week of December and up to now. I used to do a lot of bing eating. I ate half a bag of potato chips every once and a while. I would eat lots of sugar, candy etc..... I also did a lot of over eating. I most of the time would eat just to eat. I also drank soda.

My drastic changes included 30 mins per day on the treadmill which has increased recently to 40 mins per day. I have within the past few weeks been lifing weights (roughly 15 reps of 30 lbs with barbell) arm curls, backwards arm curls, squats.

Anyway, I've restricted what I eat to (no sodas, no juice, no greasy foods, no carry out, very little surger, no candy, no over eating)

Anyway I lost 10 lbs from the end of december to now. The problem is that I have food cravings for the junk that I used to like to eat. I don't have the stuff in my house, but I have these hard cravings for the stuff. I find that If i eat a small orange it tends to go away. My question is as my weight lowers will the cravings go away???? Also do the cravings indicate some other underlying medical problem?

 

[imagoon]

For me the cravings lessened over time. I have / [had] a damning ice cream craving where if ignored it, I would crave it for days. The trick for me was to resist the craving for a bit and progressively go small sizes. Now a small blizzard seems like "too much" to me and I only seem to get a craving every 4-6 weeks. At that point a small blizzard makes me happy and is not a bad treat really.

 

[steppinthrax]

For me the cravings lessened over time. I have / [had] a damning ice cream craving where if ignored it, I would crave it for days. The trick for me was to resist the craving for a bit and progressively go small sizes. Now a small blizzard seems like "too much" to me and I only seem to get a craving every 4-6 weeks. At that point a small blizzard makes me happy and is not a bad treat really.

I figure if I give myself an excuse to eat a little bit it will just roll down hill from there.

 

[DougK62]

Try being more adventurous with the food you eat. I bet you can find some snacks that you'll love to eat just as much as the junk food, but they'll be good for you.

 

[jsedlak]

I figure if I give myself an excuse to eat a little bit it will just roll down hill from there.

This is how I have beat the cravings in a general overview kind of way...

1. Learn how to cook and learn about the other basic taste values. Try getting addicted to the other ones and how you can combine them. I now LOVE sourness provided by onions and/or vinaigrettes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste

2. View food as fuel. Since losing 70 pounds, I now view food as one thing. It is a necessity to make me faster. When you view food as fuel, it is easy to cut out the bad stuff because it decreases your performance. It's a lot easy to cut out a candy bar than it is to buy a more expensive bike.

3. Indulge, but in a structured way. Getting ice cream once a month won't kill you, so if that is enough to fulfill the desire, stick with it. Rewarding yourself for working hard for a month is perfectly reasonable.

 

[Muse]

OK, you notice that eating some fruit makes your hunger/appetite go away, good. I notice this too.

Here's what I told a friend of mine a couple of weeks ago:

He has some bad eating habits, he likes to eat some things that aren't good for him. His doctor just told him he should lose weight. He's about 5'9" and weighed 189. I told him he should got down to 150. He said "that's 40 lb.!" Yes, I said, and I told him he could get down to 140 if he wanted to. I was a bit conciliatory and told him he could go to 160. I'm pretty sure he would still be well over 10% body fat at that point.

He said he likes to eat a bowl of pasta covered with 1/2 a pound of cheese. He's about to eat two hot dogs and wash it down with a can of soda. He doesn't want to give this stuff up. I know he loves pizza, he fed me that when I visited him.

So, I tell him this is what he has to do--he should find foods the he likes that are good for him. It may take some time but if he's persistent he will succeed. I've done it. If you develop a diet that's good for you and that you really like you will stop missing the stuff that's bad for you, the junk. It will take time, maybe quite a while, it depends. But that's what you need to do. I'd be a liar if I said I don't enjoy junk food or don't eat food that isn't so good for me at times, but I don't make a habit of it anymore. I cook for myself and I make good choices. I don't buy a bag of potato chips or a package of cookies. I eat a little candy (gourmet chocolate), but I ration it, don't pig out on it. I used to buy hot dogs or sausage, but no more. I eat very very little cheese. I'm eating a lot of fresh fruit, try to eat enough fresh vegetables. I like my food.

 

[HNNstyle]

He has some bad eating habits, he likes to eat some things that aren't good for him. His doctor just told him he should lose weight. He's about 5'9" and weighed 189. I told him he should got down to 150. He said "that's 40 lb.!" Yes, I said, and I told him he could get down to 140 if he wanted to. I was a bit conciliatory and told him he could go to 160. I'm pretty sure he would still be well over 10% body fat at that point.

I would say that you gave your friend some pretty bad advice. Your friend can weight 175 to 180 pounds and be perfectly healthy by putting on some muscle mass. NFL wide receiver Steve Smith is 5'9 and 185 pounds. Wide receiver Wes Walker is also 5'9 and also 185 pounds.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

I used to weight around 230 lb. I'm 6' 2". My bmi was roughly 30. I made drastic changes in my diet and exercise between the last week of December and up to now. I used to do a lot of bing eating. I ate half a bag of potato chips every once and a while. I would eat lots of sugar, candy etc..... I also did a lot of over eating. I most of the time would eat just to eat. I also drank soda.

My drastic changes included 30 mins per day on the treadmill which has increased recently to 40 mins per day. I have within the past few weeks been lifing weights (roughly 15 reps of 30 lbs with barbell) arm curls, backwards arm curls, squats.

Anyway, I've restricted what I eat to (no sodas, no juice, no greasy foods, no carry out, very little surger, no candy, no over eating)

Anyway I lost 10 lbs from the end of december to now. The problem is that I have food cravings for the junk that I used to like to eat. I don't have the stuff in my house, but I have these hard cravings for the stuff. I find that If i eat a small orange it tends to go away. My question is as my weight lowers will the cravings go away???? Also do the cravings indicate some other underlying medical problem?

Just have it once a week, back in the day ... that was what i did, gives you something to work and long for, just don't let it become your center of attention.

So you run and work out all week, that means saturday you can have your cravings satisfied, you'll work out harder knowing that you are going to do that come saturday.

I'd go nuts without a day for eating whatever i want. A man can't live on steak and pussy alone.

 

[darkxshade]

You can create checks and balances for yourself. I have my normal workout and eating routine. If I crave something that I really want, I tell myself to earn it by adding 10 mins to each of my cardio sessions for the week, take a longer route home, eat one less bite/meal, etc. Think of it like budgeting, you ideally don't want to spend money you don't have and go into debt so if you want to buy something nice for yourself, save for it.

 

[Muse]

I would say that you gave your friend some pretty bad advice. Your friend can weight 175 to 180 pounds and be perfectly healthy by putting on some muscle mass. NFL wide receiver Steve Smith is 5'9 and 185 pounds. Wide receiver Wes Walker is also 5'9 and also 185 pounds.

Bad advice, I don't think so. In fact, I know it's good advice. In the words of a past GF, NFL players are "over muscular." My friend is never going to put on that kind of muscle. He's 48 for one thing, for another I don't think there are any gyms near where he lives in Lucerne, CA (Lake County) and even if there are he's not going to be motivated to try to put on muscle mass. With his current muscle mass, he can easily reach 135 lb. In fact, he's lost a lot of muscle due to the fact that he suffered a hernia. He's hoping to have that operated on in the near future, that's why he saw that doctor. And the reason he's gotten so fat recently is the fact that he's had to tone down his physical activity because of that condition and he's kept eating the way he's accustomed to. I told him he has to make some changes. His response, in spite of the doctor's and my advice was that it will be a lot easier for him to deal with it once he has his operation and he can be active again. I think it's unwise for him to dismiss his responsibility to deal with it now, but this guy's not always easy to talk to, he'll just say "I don't want to talk about this any more," and that's it. He has that attitude a lot, he lives with his two dogs pretty much out in the sticks. He's a really smart guy but he can be hell of cranky.

 

[Sixguns]

Anyone else have the craving to just eat? I very rarely crave a type of food but just the feeling of being full. I dont know if its just my old habits of eating like that or what but today is one of those days where I just want to eat, eat, and eat!

 

[repoman0]

Bad advice, I don't think so. In fact, I know it's good advice. In the words of a past GF, NFL players are "over muscular." My friend is never going to put on that kind of muscle. He's 48 for one thing, for another I don't think there are any gyms near where he lives in Lucerne, CA (Lake County) and even if there are he's not going to be motivated to try to put on muscle mass. With his current muscle mass, he can easily reach 135 lb. In fact, he's lost a lot of muscle due to the fact that he suffered a hernia. He's hoping to have that operated on in the near future, that's why he saw that doctor. And the reason he's gotten so fat recently is the fact that he's had to tone down his physical activity because of that condition and he's kept eating the way he's accustomed to. I told him he has to make some changes. His response, in spite of the doctor's and my advice was that it will be a lot easier for him to deal with it once he has his operation and he can be active again. I think it's unwise for him to dismiss his responsibility to deal with it now, but this guy's not always easy to talk to, he'll just say "I don't want to talk about this any more," and that's it. He has that attitude a lot, he lives with his two dogs pretty much out in the sticks. He's a really smart guy but he can be hell of cranky.

I would agree with the previous poster that 150lbs 5'9" is too small. You gave him a goal that will be ridiculously hard to meet at 48.

I was 5'9" 140 about four months ago and thought I looked way too skinny. Fast forward to now and I'm a little above 155 - much better but I'd like to put on about 10 more. I think 170 would be a much more reasonable and maintainable goal for your friend. He'd probably look terrible and malnourished at 135lbs at his age, IMO.

 

[Muse]

Anyone else have the craving to just eat? I very rarely crave a type of food but just the feeling of being full. I dont know if its just my old habits of eating like that or what but today is one of those days where I just want to eat, eat, and eat!

No, I don't get like that, but I will do something like that sometimes when I eat out. Best example (and most people can relate) is a big Thanksgiving dinner, where there's basically unlimited appetizing food, mostly food that I don't have an opportunity to eat, various desserts, included, things I don't have at home. At home, I never really pig out. I never get the feeling of being really full at home. I eat enough, I know what enough is and am satisfied. Usually I don't eat again until I'm hungry. A zen sage said "I eat when I'm hungry, that's my miracle."

 

[Muse]

I would agree with the previous poster that 150lbs 5'9" is too small. You gave him a goal that will be ridiculously hard to meet at 48.

I was 5'9" 140 about four months ago and thought I looked way too skinny. Fast forward to now and I'm a little above 155 - much better but I'd like to put on about 10 more. I think 170 would be a much more reasonable and maintainable goal for your friend. He'd probably look terrible and malnourished at 135lbs at his age, IMO.

I think he could get down to 135 lb. without losing muscle mass, it's my opinion, but he would definitely be very lean at that point, maybe 6% body fat. How one looks, well that's kind of a matter of taste and is kind of neither here nor there in terms of health. What looks right to one person will look different to another, and I think it's foolish to concern oneself too much with others' opinions. Personally, I think that 5'9" and 170 lb for a man of average musculature is too fat, probably about 18% body fat, maybe more. That's borderline unhealthy, especially for someone pushing 50. Anyway, he's 189 and probably around 40% fat! That's certainly unhealthy. 155 would not be unhealthy for him. He's still be over 10% body fat.

 

[janas19]

Great thread. Good job OP, I'm proud of ya 😉

 

[darkxshade]

I think he could get down to 135 lb. without losing muscle mass, it's my opinion, but he would definitely be very lean at that point, maybe 6% body fat. How one looks, well that's kind of a matter of taste and is kind of neither here nor there in terms of health. What looks right to one person will look different to another, and I think it's foolish to concern oneself too much with others' opinions. Personally, I think that 5'9" and 170 lb for a man of average musculature is too fat, probably about 18% body fat, maybe more. That's borderline unhealthy, especially for someone pushing 50. Anyway, he's 189 and probably around 40% fat! That's certainly unhealthy. 155 would not be unhealthy for him. He's still be over 10% body fat.

There are several charts but generally for males, a healthy bf would be 10% to as high as 20%... lower if you're younger, higher if you're older. So for your friend 18% @ 170 lbs would be a respectable goal to work towards. It's a daunting task to lose 40lbs of fat from 189lbs to 150lbs... it's not easy at all, especially for someone you say is pushing 50.

 

[Muse]

There are several charts but generally for males, a healthy bf would be 10% to as high as 20%... lower if you're younger, higher if you're older. So for your friend 18% @ 170 lbs would be a respectable goal to work towards. It's a daunting task to lose 40lbs of fat from 189lbs to 150lbs... it's not easy at all, especially for someone you say is pushing 50.

He'd have to change his lifestyle, his whole attitude toward food, not just to lose the weight but to keep it off. So many people lose a lot of weight then gain it right back.

 

[QuantumPion]

There's really no solution to the problem. I am the same way, I love snacks and candy and always will. It's just a matter of learning self control to keep them in check. The best advice is what darkxshade and others have stated - keep portions small and limit them to a reward day. Do not fall into the trap of eating snacks now and justifying it by thinking you will eat less snacks later or do more exercise tomorrow - that never works out. Make treats a reward for meeting your goals after the fact.

 

[Muse]

There's really no solution to the problem. I am the same way, I love snacks and candy and always will. It's just a matter of learning self control to keep them in check. The best advice is what darkxshade and others have stated - keep portions small and limit them to a reward day. Do not fall into the trap of eating snacks now and justifying it by thinking you will eat less snacks later or do more exercise tomorrow - that never works out. Make treats a reward for meeting your goals after the fact.

I still think that the best strategy in dealing with this "problem" is to discover food that you don't have to feel guilty eating that you are perfectly satisfied with. You can still eat the crap occasionally, just don't do it enough where it's a problem. You should find that the cravings for the crap pretty much disappear. That's my experience, and that, my friend, is a solution!

 

[masterxfob]

think of food only as fuel? next thing you know, these fanatics will be saying have sex only to procreate...

 

[QuantumPion]

I still think that the best strategy in dealing with this "problem" is to discover food that you don't have to feel guilty eating that you are perfectly satisfied with. You can still eat the crap occasionally, just don't do it enough where it's a problem. You should find that the cravings for the crap pretty much disappear. That's my experience, and that, my friend, is a solution!

You just reinforced my original point. For most people there is no solution to craving junk food. The only solution is self control in limiting them.

 

[Muse]

You just reinforced my original point. For most people there is no solution to craving junk food. The only solution is self control in limiting them.

It's not self control. Face it, in the USA most people have bad eating habits. If you don't take control of the situation you can fall victim to the same forces that are causing all this obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. that plagues so many. Self control is useful at times but if you don't constantly have crap food in your face you are not apt to be as tempted as so many to stuff it into your face. I'm finding it far easier to dismiss crappy food than I used to. It's because I've been making smarter choices. It's not really self control, it's self determination. I know what I'm going to buy before I go to a market. I don't walk out with things I didn't intend to buy in the first place. I make healthy choices. I don't find it so easy when I go out to eat, but I don't do that very much. And I don't frequent junk food restaurants. I think it's been over a year since I stepped into one. Like I said, I eat well, I very much enjoy what I eat, I do not crave crappy food, I don't miss it, I don't think about it. It's not a matter of self control at all.

 

[QuantumPion]

It's not self control. Face it, in the USA most people have bad eating habits. If you don't take control of the situation you can fall victim to the same forces that are causing all this obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. that plagues so many. Self control is useful at times but if you don't constantly have crap food in your face you are not apt to be as tempted as so many to stuff it into your face. I'm finding it far easier to dismiss crappy food than I used to. It's because I've been making smarter choices. It's not really self control, it's self determination. I know what I'm going to buy before I go to a market. I don't walk out with things I didn't intend to buy in the first place. I make healthy choices. I don't find it so easy when I go out to eat, but I don't do that very much. And I don't frequent junk food restaurants. I think it's been over a year since I stepped into one. Like I said, I eat well, I very much enjoy what I eat, I do not crave crappy food, I don't miss it, I don't think about it. It's not a matter of self control at all.

Lol. I read that as: "I use self control to do X. I use self control to do Y. I use self control to do Z. But self control has nothing to do with it!". I think you are just playing with semantics here.

 

[Wyndru]

Anyone else have the craving to just eat? I very rarely crave a type of food but just the feeling of being full. I dont know if its just my old habits of eating like that or what but today is one of those days where I just want to eat, eat, and eat!

Me, I could eat 2 full bags of carrots in one sitting just to feel full, which doesn't help. So eating healthy food isn't the only part, you still need moderation. I eat healthy without moderation, and I'm still a fat ass.

 

[Sixguns]

As for the junk food, I dont even buy the stuff anymore. I dont have to worry about going over board with it if it is not even an option. For this same reason I dont bring any cash into work with me so that I cant make stops at the vending machine.