Dieting: Your Best Advice on Staying Consistent

[EatStudyLiftParty]

I thought it'd be fun if to see a thread with everyone's best advice on what they do to keep a consistent, healthy diet. So my question is, what are the things that you guys do (in practice) in order to keep a consistent, healthy diet?

For instance:
- I keep a case of 1L water in the trunk of my car and bring a bottle with me wherever I go when I think I might have to pay/can't get a hold of more water.

-My biggest bane when it comes to cheating on my diet is eating late at night after the club or a house party with a group. We'll go out in 3 or 4 cars usually at like 2-4 am and go get carne asada burritos or vietnamese noodle soup (pho) while somewhat intoxicated. I've been trying to stop the extra cheat meal by bringing along my own food. Costco sells prepackaged one-serving almonds that fit easily in a pocket, this is what I usually bring, or if not, a protein bar.

-As a college student, I find myself on campus for sometimes up to 10-12 hours a day, with no cheap healthy alternatives on campus I bring a thermal-lunch box with a ice pack and fill it with Trader Joe's premade chicken breast or pre-made Jenny O Costco turkey, along with some carrots and seperate 3 or 4 meals in ziplock bags that I can eat throughout the day.

-Even though they're not that accurate, I have one of those scales that measures bf%, I check it every morning and if its not where I want it to be I usually eat a little less that day.


I'm not looking for any science or nutritional advice, theres enough information on that on the web and on this forum, but if you guys have anything you do regularly to help FACILLITATE (even if its just a great food find at Trader Joe's or where you keep your junk food) or MOTIVATE (like writing "I want to be more cut" in your bathroom mirror) yourself into staying consistent, I'd be interested in hearing it in hopes of incorporating that into my own "dieting routine."

 

[Ceros]

-I drink 2 cups of green tea per day
-do 12 miles of running a week
-drink 4 liters of water per day
-eat a serving of flax seed per day
-and overall keep a healthy digestive system

 

[newbiebynature]

i get cravings at night as well. the diet is so easy throughout the day but at night i will crave candy...i usually just take my sleep meds and lay in bed and hope to fall asleep before i go out and buy sweets...(if you know of any supps to control cravings let me know)
definitely the hardest part is eating after a night of partying, wendys is so convenient but horrible...i no longer drink while dieting though so for the next 8 weeks when i go out i just get barred out or take a few pain killers. probably not the best thing but dont judge me
if i dont have all my groceries i will steer off my diet so i make sure i have everything i need for the following day. cardio is easy, i wake up at 6, go to the gym, 35 minutes elliptical, no complaints
its hard being a college student who loves to get shitfaced and diet. when thursday rolls around i hate it cuz i know i want to go out and get fucked up but past few weeks ive been limiting myself to going out, probably once every 2 weeks instead of 3 nights out of the week. my friends say im becoming a stranger but itll be worth it

 

[bigbolla23]

Some find the best way to stop your sugar cravings is to brush your teeth..........dont ask why but i tried when i was on my cutting diet and to my suprise it works so try and let me know the results u see

 

[Nathan]

I drink far too much Diet soda. It's criminal, really. Other than that I save my favorite meal for the very end of the day - usually a low carb protein bar that sort of makes me feel like I am eating a chocolate bar. I also stick my finger in my jar of ANPB from time to time for some flavor and to make me feel like I am eating. I try not to take huge finger-fulls and if I do, I tack it onto the daily calorie total but it helps me A TON.

 

[jenscats5]

I keep a journal of everything I eat, time, etc......it works for ME & keeps me honest.....

I drink 1-2 gallons of water per day..

Ingest 25+ grams of fiber per day....

and surprisingly...after "resisting" the temptation of sweets - after some time passed, I just don't crave it anymore.....

 

[Nathan]

and surprisingly...after "resisting" the temptation of sweets - after some time passed, I just don't crave it anymore.....

I think that's the big thing. I remember when I first started getting into it and would smell aBig MAc and be lik eman, I want oen of those. Now, I am like smells interesting...not really like food so much...just good. They sort of smell like babies, even though it's a colossally weird comparison to make.

 

[velvett]

Clean out the house of all items that are not acceptable foods.
Try not to eat out but if you do try and go to places that you know you can get a meal that works for you and you enjoy.

Be a little selfish and anti-social (yah well, sometimes it's all you can do to get away from people that tell you , "ohhhhhhh what could that hurt?" )

Bring all your meals when traveling and working.

Log everything, food drink, how you feel, what you crave.

If you're losing you mind and must have say a chocolate chip cookie - go to a bakery and buy ONE cookie - and eat it - then move on and get back on track.

When in doubt suck down 32oz of water and see if you're still interested in eating or drink what ever it was you were thinking about.

 

[jenscats5]

I think that's the big thing. I remember when I first started getting into it and would smell aBig MAc and be lik eman, I want oen of those. Now, I am like smells interesting...not really like food so much...just good. They sort of smell like babies, even though it's a colossally weird comparison to make.

Hmmmm........

LOL!

Anyway - I find it's helped too, when having a cheat meal to eat it out - go out to eat to a REALLY good place & get REALLY good food/wine/dessert so there's no leftovers & your'e done!! Plus you got waited on!

 

[roy2]

I drink far too much Diet soda.

I feel your pain.

At some point I'm going to have to limit myself to two cans of diet coke a month.

 

[Stacemranger]

When in doubt suck down 32oz of water and see if you're still interested in eating or drink what ever it was you were thinking about.

Great idea!

 

[Stacemranger]

Keeping a log is king to being consistent. If you write down everything you eat, drink, whatever, you will be very consistent with yourself.

 

[EatStudyLiftParty]

its hard being a college student who loves to get shitfaced and diet. when thursday rolls around i hate it cuz i know i want to go out and get fucked up but past few weeks ive been limiting myself to going out, probably once every 2 weeks instead of 3 nights out of the week. my friends say im becoming a stranger but itll be worth it

Heh, well Friday morning classes limit my partying to Fri and Sat night. I admit to still drinking too, can't lay off the alcohol. No more beer, and usually just limit myself to just one to two drinks a night, usually something strong like a Beautiful/French connection or Hennessey neat, not usual club drinks, but it makes me feel classy and people are less likely to accuse you of "babysitting" and tell you to finish your drink when they know what in your glass. I never feel more antisocial though when my group heads to the bar for shots and I have to find an excuse to duck out...

 

[EatStudyLiftParty]

Keeping a log is king to being consistent. If you write down everything you eat, drink, whatever, you will be very consistent with yourself.

What programs/sites does everyone use for their log? Or do you use pen and paper?

 

[partagus]

What programs/sites does everyone use for their log? Or do you use pen and paper?

Here is a great site that was passed on to me and I will pass it on to you. Someday, pass it on to someone else. This is what I use:

http://fitday.com/WebFit/Index.html

As far as dieting, I don't look at it like I am on a diet. I look at it like it's a lifestyle change. When you're on a diet, mentally for me, it sounds so limiting.

You're in college and part of college is drinking beer. Maybe switch to a beer that is lower in carbs (Mich Ultra or Miller Lite). Do some research on the net and find some others that have low carbs. Every little bit helps.

Plan your meals and prepare your food in advance. Get on the net and get some different recipes for what you like to eat. My biggest problem is I get tired of eating the same foods everyday prepared the same way. You'll have more success if the chicken you are eating every day taste a little different.

You can also allow your self one cheat meal every week or two. This is your time to eat what you crave the most. Eat it, enjoy it, and move on. If you're craving pizza, eat a big salad first and then eat a few slices. Try not to eat the entire pie, but if you do, no big deal, because you're not on a diet, it's a life style change and you have to live a little right?

Costco, Trader Joe's and Carna Asada burritos reminds me of when I used to live IN Vegas. If you're from there, there is no better food at 3am when you have been drinking than a carna asada burrito from Roberto's. If that's the case, do the best you can.

I have posted this on here before, but here is a great web-site that sells low carb and sugar free items. They have a pudding that has 20 grams of protein, 2 grams of fat, 1 carb and 0 sugars. It's a nice treat for when you really want some dessert. I have ordered a lot of their items and they ship fast and it is packaged really well. I hope this helps.

http://www24.netrition.com/low_carb_products_page.html