Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

[Malacite]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

So far the only side effect I've experienced is some wickedly bad gas. Like damn near choking myself out, bad. Probably more than you needed to know, but seriously, fucking awful.

Meat, especially red meat also gives BO if you eat too much.


EDIT: Yeah every time I'm in the super market I take just one glance at the sushi and it's nothing but pure temptation. I know I'll get far more value by going to the all you can eat place down the road, but goddamn I love me some sushi and it's really, really hard to resist buying it.

When I'm at home I might get the odd hankering for something, but usually I don't care too much what I eat - I can be picky about some things (mostly veggies) but generally whatever meal plan is offered I go for it. But at the stores? FML @__@

Never-ending battle of will. The psychology behind food is really interesting - like associating a certain food with a given activity (e.g. I only ever eat popcorn when I've got a movie to watch late at night, and usually a horror flick at that).

[DakAttack]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

You're essentially forming a habit. For example, there's a vending machine very close to my cubicle at work. When I'm sleep-deprived, I tend to eat more, and resort to buying Pop Tarts from the vending machine. If I do this multiple times in the same week, I start to get urges to buy Pop Tarts even once I've stopped being sleep-deprived - but only at work. I don't get those urges when I pass Pop Tarts at the supermarket, or even when I see Pop Tarts in other vending machines at my work place. When my wife comes over on the weekends we generally grab sushi or pizza at some point. Having her in my apartment acts as a habit trigger. If she's around, I start to think about those foods.

The trick is to figure out what your triggers for eating certain foods are and then try to associate that trigger with different foods.

This.

Never-ending battle of will. The psychology behind food is really interesting - like associating a certain food with a given activity (e.g. I only ever eat popcorn when I've got a movie to watch late at night, and usually a horror flick at that).

And this. I associated Mountain Dew and Amp with good memories. I used to play FFXI for six to eight hours, and drink Mountain Dew the entire time. Whenever I sat down to play FFXI, I wanted a twelve pack of Mountain Dew right there beside me. I've been drinking Amp for a while now, and I've associated with a lot of different games. It's really hard to sit down, now, and play League of Legends, Battlefield, DayZ, Left 4 Dead, etc, without craving an Amp.

When I'm at work I want donuts, and when I have donuts I want Amp. I have a lot of good memories of working the weekends, feeling relaxed with an easy assignment, and snacking on donuts some good soul brought in. Every day at lunch, I fight the urge to drive down the Dunkin Donuts/gas station on the corner and load up on donuts and Amp. My biggest regret is that the people who work there know who I am and what I like to order! That's embarrassing.

It is really hard to get past this stuff, and it's the very first step. If I don't, no amount of exercise, T3, or SARMs will help me.

Apologies for the rant.

[Malacite]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

No apologies needed, you basically laid out why it's hard for a lot of people to lose weight. Aside from sugar being addictive, some habits can just be very very hard to break.

I still generally drink entirely too much sweetened drinks, particularly around dinner time. I've been forcing myself lately to drink more plain water though it would help if we had a filter as I hate regular tap water. I swear it's not all the same either, the water from the basement WC sink tastes better than from the kitchen sink. Doesn't make any sense but it does to me. o_O

[Mezlo]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

the water from the basement WC sink tastes better than from the kitchen sink. Doesn't make any sense but it does to me. o_O

If there is a distict taste difference, it's probably due to the different build up of a variety of minerals in the copper lines. It does make sense since the kitchen sink probably gets alot more use than the one in the basement, thus alot more build up of shit in the kitchen lines.

[Malacite]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

Hmm, hadn't considered that.

Freaking water filters aren't cheap either, like $40 or more...

[Caspian]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

Can you get one of those Brita pitchers? Just pour tap water into it and it filters while you pour. I think they're a fair bit less expensive.

Other option is buying a gallon or two of bottled water then just refilling them with tap water and popping them in the fridge (really cold tap water doesn't taste near as bad as kinda cold, and we have some of the absolute worst tap water in the country here).

[Malacite]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

Pretty sure we have higher standards in Canada (I've heard horror stories about U.S. tap water all over the country) but nah even the Brita pitchers are like $35+ it's ridiculous.

I keep seeing adds for Zero Water, but it sounds like marketing BS to me.

[Caspian]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

Pretty sure you do, too. I remember them lowering the standards of tap water way back. Its not bad for you, it just tastes like shit. And the stuff here is literally in the top 10 for worst in the country.

If you're trying to get off of sodas I'd recommend something in between to transition to before going just water. I switched to iced tea as my go-to drink for awhile. It still tastes good but isn't near as bad for you (non-carbonated, low calorie, little to no sugar).
I still think I drink more than enough beer to make up for the fact that I don't drink sodas anymore, but it makes me feel like I made a meaningful change.

[Aksannyi]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

Beer generally has a lower calorie count than soda anyway, so it's still a net loss.

I personally like tap water, I'm told I am abnormal. My dad came down a few years ago and he was grossed out by my water, personally I see nothing wrong with it, but whatever.

[Malacite]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

Oh I kicked Soda ages ago. I still have a bit now and then but I don't really actively go for it anymore like when I was a kid.

It's juices that are my vice now. Even the all natural sugar-free ones (no sugar added, only what's already in the fruit) are surprisingly high in calories. When they go on sale I like to buy Crystal Light because I find it actually doesn't taste that bad compared to most artificial things of its kind, though I remember reading (and my dentist telling me as well) that Aspartame and those other artificial sweeteners are actually worse for your teeth than ordinary sugar.

Carbonated drinks & coffee are the worst by far though, especially Coke/Pepsi. I've pretty well cut white bread out of my diet entirely as well for several months now and I don't miss it - it's a bit more expensive (though thankfully they go on sale frequently for like $2) but I get Country Harvest's Ancient Grain now. They have a lot of great alternatives but I've found that's the one I like best (Had the stoned wheat first, liked it OK but I like the AG better. Never tried their 12-grain)

[cidbahamut]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

Tea is pretty much my go-to beverage these days. Flavor without a fuckton of calories since it's mostly water.

[Malacite]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

^ I love herbal teas personally. Celestial Seasonings is a very solid brand.

[DakAttack]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

Pure Empower Mint Yerba Mate + any old green tea for me. Yes, I double up.

[Aksannyi]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

Okay so I need need need NEED to lose weight, I am just over it, I've tried a thousand times to stick to a workout routine but I am just disgusted anymore when I see how fat I've gotten and while it's partially due to being sedentary, I am active enough (walking) that I thought I could manage, but no, I can't, and it's time to stop being in denial.

So I went to the fitness center at my complex and turned on the Olympics and figured I'd just ride the bike for a while and at least get some cardio in ....

Okay.

If I'm going to do shit like this, I need to remember to wait longer after eating. 15 minutes in and I felt like I was going to literally lose my lunch. I should have known better. Tomorrow, I will not make this mistake.

[Malacite]

Re: Time for a change... ((Health stuff.))

My trainer told me you ideally want to eat an hour before starting a workout, or 30 min if you ate something light and don't plan on doing anything too strenuous.