Interesting diet experience

[Carson Dyle]

Since the beginning of March, I've been pretty religiously counting calories and eating well. No alcohol, very little sugar, drastically cut back on processed foods and salt. My diet tends to be very simple - fruit, salads, simply prepared vegetables and protein. Nothing much more elaborate than maybe making chili or pasta sauce. My original goal was 1500 calories per day, but it seems like I gravitate to something under 1400 for some reason. I keep a record of the daily total, and I ended March with an average of 1365 calories per day over the course of the month. And I lost 15 lbs.

In addition to that, I've been adhering to an intermittent fasting regime, eating only in a 5 hour window from 2PM to 7PM daily. I can't say enough about how much I like this. When I finish eating at 7PM, I don't think about eating again. Doesn't even matter how hungry I get. I'm done for the day. In the mornings I have a large cup of black coffee. I'm not sure this curbs my appetite until the afternoon, but it's become a ritual, and sometimes rituals are good.

So... I was in the grocery store last week picking up something, and I was assaulted by the smell of the fresh-baked bread. Very much something I miss. I love bread and any kind of starch. I could eat 5 lbs of boiled potatoes with nothing but a little butter. And when I got home I could still smell the bread. And when I went to sleep, and when I got up the next day. It began to drive me a little crazy.

So, I decided I needed a blowout. A few days ago, I went to the liquor store, bought a nice bottle of wine, stopped and grabbed a loaf of that fresh bread, some salami, and a nice block of aged extra sharp cheddar cheese. And I gorged myself. Next day, I added up the numbers ... not pretty, it turned into a 3900 calorie day. And it shows on the scale.

But the interesting thing is that since that blowout and returning to my good habits, I've had a hugely decreased appetite, and I've been averaging just around 1000 calories per day, without so much as a single hunger pang.

Conclusion: A blowout every once in a while may be a good, even necessary thing. I'm going to plan on another in May, but a little more sensible. Maybe a nice burger or a Reuben, a couple good beers, maybe some fries. Then see what happens.

 

[monstarvb1]

I have started eating with the Flex Plan. I do not feel full with so little fat and protein. Carbs do not make me feel satiated. I am using the macro counter.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Yes, I find that to be very much the case. If you're counting calories, you can have your fats and protein. You just have to be judicious with the fats.

 

[SP33Demon]

If you crave bread, eat it everyday. Just dont do the entire loaf!

 

[Carson Dyle]

If you crave bread, eat it everyday. Just dont do the entire loaf!

True. True. If counting calories (or portions or macros) you can eat pretty much what you want, if you stay within the boundaries. But there are still some reasons I don't eat bread very often.

For one, I live alone. It would take me as long as two weeks to eat a loaf of bread. Starchy items like bread, pasta and rice tend to be fairly calorie heavy. So I avoid them except in small portions, or they eat up a significant piece of the daily calorie budget.

One thing that's become clear to me about eating right and eating smaller quantities: it's surprisingly inexpensive. Even if I splurge every once in a while on a New York strip or a pork tenderloin, 1400 calories a day of basic, non-processed food just doesn't cost a lot. I've never quite understood the claim that fresh fruits and vegetables are pricey. Sure, $4.99 for 6 oz of blackberries in January is expensive, but 99¢/lb for oranges or 59¢/lb for bananas, $1.29/lb for sweet potatoes, or 78¢ for a cucumber certainly isn't.

 

[monstarvb1]

If you crave bread, eat it everyday. Just dont do the entire loaf!

Yes. Its true sir.

 

[shimpster]

Since the beginning of March, I've been pretty religiously counting calories and eating well. No alcohol, very little sugar, drastically cut back on processed foods and salt. My diet tends to be very simple - fruit, salads, simply prepared vegetables and protein. Nothing much more elaborate than maybe making chili or pasta sauce. My original goal was 1500 calories per day, but it seems like I gravitate to something under 1400 for some reason. I keep a record of the daily total, and I ended March with an average of 1365 calories per day over the course of the month. And I lost 15 lbs.

In addition to that, I've been adhering to an intermittent fasting regime, eating only in a 5 hour window from 2PM to 7PM daily. I can't say enough about how much I like this. When I finish eating at 7PM, I don't think about eating again. Doesn't even matter how hungry I get. I'm done for the day. In the mornings I have a large cup of black coffee. I'm not sure this curbs my appetite until the afternoon, but it's become a ritual, and sometimes rituals are good.

So... I was in the grocery store last week picking up something, and I was assaulted by the smell of the fresh-baked bread. Very much something I miss. I love bread and any kind of starch. I could eat 5 lbs of boiled potatoes with nothing but a little butter. And when I got home I could still smell the bread. And when I went to sleep, and when I got up the next day. It began to drive me a little crazy.

So, I decided I needed a blowout. A few days ago, I went to the liquor store, bought a nice bottle of wine, stopped and grabbed a loaf of that fresh bread, some salami, and a nice block of aged extra sharp cheddar cheese. And I gorged myself. Next day, I added up the numbers ... not pretty, it turned into a 3900 calorie day. And it shows on the scale.

But the interesting thing is that since that blowout and returning to my good habits, I've had a hugely decreased appetite, and I've been averaging just around 1000 calories per day, without so much as a single hunger pang.

Conclusion: A blowout every once in a while may be a good, even necessary thing. I'm going to plan on another in May, but a little more sensible. Maybe a nice burger or a Reuben, a couple good beers, maybe some fries. Then see what happens.

wow

 

[edro]

I started cutting back to ~1800 cal about 4-5 months ago.
I experience the same cravings once ever few weeks which results in a gorge of processed carbs.
It's usually at an event where cake/cookies, etc are laying out. (wedding, party, etc)

It's like my brain clicks and takes over and forces me to eat a ton of refined carbs.
Alcohol is usually involved as well, which definitely affects your judgement

You will gain 1-3lbs of water weight from the glycogen storage, but it drops off in 1-3 days of getting back to your normal diet.

I read an article recently about when you are in a deficit, you crave carbs... not fat or protein.
Carbs are fast energy, so it makes sense you would crave them, especially the most dense processed forms.

I think its good to gorge and reset every now and then.

 

[magomago]

I dunno man that doesn't sound right - sounds like you aren't getting enough calories and carbs...especially when you feel assaulted by starches

Under 1400 calories a day is too little for a grown man/woman, and 1000 calories a day is borderline starvation.

I also find myself in that situation if I'm simply not getting enough food...