The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[Mike]

Happy New Year.

[DogMa]

Biki, I think it's just that "trigger food" means different things to different people. I can have a small amount of peanut butter and be fine, as much as I love it. I can have a small amount of chocolate most of the time and be fine. But I know if I eat ice cream, a small amount won't do. And the same with bananas, apparently, which I not only eat in excess but which also seem to lead to cravings for other foods.

I won't make either food off-limits, but I WILL keep them out of my house except under controlled circumstance (but even with the frozen chunks I add to my shakes, I'm trying to use frozen strawberries more than the bananas).

Funny, I had toast (high-fiber, low-cal) with a light smear of PB a couple of times this week when I was home. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I had my two pieces with maybe a total of a tablespoon of PB and was done for a couple of days. Totally not a trigger for me.

[bikipatra]

For me and peanut butter, it is just that a small amount won't do. I will get up in the night and eat a spoon at midnight if I had some at 8. And then get up again at 3am and want to do it again. As you can see, much easier and much better sleep just not to have it around.

[Serendipity]

I love bananas, but I don't crave them. I'm learning that my trigger food is refined sugar. So if the peanutbutter doesn't contain sugar, I'm fine and if the chocolate is very dark and lower in sugar, I don't crave more. But for me anything containing sugar has a snowball effect on me. It doesn't matter what form it takes. That's why I'm struggling with the idea of giving it up entirely because I do think my life would be easier in the long run if I did. I really leaning toward just throwing in the towel and saying no more sugar for you young lady.

[DogMa]

I definitely think it's different for everyone. I have one of those 100-cal packs of cookies pretty much every day, but I can stop at one pretty much all the time (I think in the past few months, I've had a second pack a total of three times). So I even seem to be OK with refined sugar, in small amounts.

For all I know, ice cream isn't a trigger for me anymore, either. I haven't had it in so long - and I haven't had it in the house for years - that I don't know for sure.

I lose control with bananas. And Cool Whip. Very strange.

Anyway, did my hour on the treadmill today. Weight, since I haven't said for a while, was 130.2. Last night I did some push-ups (more at one time than I've been able to do before) and ab work, plus some butt exercise I learned online. I signed up to try a new fitness thing, and if it works out, I'm going to drop the gym membership. It's called Push Fitness, or something like that, and Bob Harper from Biggest Loser is one of the trainers (as is Petra Kolber, who I also like). You fill out a questionnaire, and they send you workout DVDs every month supposedly tailored to your needs and fitness level and the equipment you own (plus you can pick from a list of trainers). It's two strength-training workouts (you do one for two weeks, then the other for two weeks), plus a cardio workout that I probably won't use, plus a couple of extras of your choice (I picked an extra 10-minute abs workout plus a butt thing with Bob).

There was no contract or anything, so I can cancel at any point. And if I don't like the first set, I can send 'em back for a refund. So it seems like a pretty decent deal, for $25 a month (my gym is $20). They had some little samples posted on youtube, which is where I saw the butt exercise Bob was demonstrating.

I'll report back once I get the DVDs.

[Lauren]

Hey, Robin -

Bananas are totally a trigger food for me too, so I also buy them, instantly cut them up in small pieces and put them in the freezer. I actually cook them into my MF oatmeal every morning. But I totally can't leave 'em around my home all fresh, I'd devour them.

And I am having the most bizarre trigger food issue. Dried fruit. I 99.9% of the time stay away from dried fruit, as they are SO much more calorie dense, since the big fresh fruit is dried down to tiny pieces. But I had some raisins recently in a fresh fruit bowl, and they just triggered all sorts of crazy wants/needs: dried apricots, pineapple, plums (yes, prunes), etc. Suddenly everywhere I went I wanted to buy dried fruit. Fortunately I have (mostly) abstained, but when I think I have a strong moment and purchase a small amount, I essentially "inhale" them - very old bingey behavior, when it's gone before you know it. So, I think I have to stick to the Jo comment on refined sugar and yours on ice cream and, at least temporarily, ban them from my life. It just stirs up trouble!

Your dvds sound great, I am curious about your feedback. Do you have all the strength training equipment at home in order to follow the programs?

Lauren

[DogMa]

Welcome back, Lauren! I had the same problem with dried fruit a few months ago, actually - and I also never really liked it before. I had a few chopped dates or craisins in salad, then started with granola, then went nuts and just stopped eating it altogether. I have some in the house, but I just ignore it.

I think my triggers are more emotional and situational than actual foods.

They ask you what you have (specifically if you have a stability ball, a step or weights, and then just generally ask if you have other equipment). They base the workouts (or the DVDs they send you) on your answer. If you end up getting any of those things later, you can go back and change your preferences and they'll send you workouts incorporating the new equipment. I have a ball and some weights, but no step. I definitely felt the butt exercise last night - in my glutes AND in my abs. First time in a while that I worked my abs as hard as I could, to the point where when I tried to do one more plank just for a few seconds, I couldn't. So if the DVDs will help me keep that up, that'd be great. And I do love me some Bob.

[Lauren]

That's interesting that you had the dried fruit thing, too. I don't think mine's emotional, I think for me it plays into my addictive nature, of just going and going and going. Which is why keeping fresh veggies around is critical for me, as I have that perpetual "need to feed."

I think the way your dvd thing is so personalized is very cool. It's like having a virtual personal trainer, and I too love me some Bob. One of my friends said they'd pick Jillian, I totally would go with Bob. He's super tough, but kind and human, and not full of bs. Every time they show Jillian trying to be all sappy, I sort of get nauseated. It doesn't suit her naturally, but Bob seems to be made of good stuff.

I need to increase my abs workout, I get so into my cardio and my arms strength training, that I spend less time on abs than I should. Next on my list!

Lauren

[DogMa]

It's funny, because I used to LOVE weight training and hate cardio, and then I joined the gym and all that changed. I can't go a day without the treadmill (or occasionally a long walk outside), but weight training has become a chore, and going to the gym is even worse. So I'm hopeful that this will get me back into it.

And it's odd, because Jillian on the Australian version of the show is VERY different from the Jillian we see. Still tough, but much more human and much nicer. When they kicked off the biggest guy on the team because he had an injury that was going to keep him from working out as hard as the others, and they were all upset because he needed to lose weight the most, she assured them that she'd be talking to him and helping him while he was home. And one day she talked about how she loves chocolate, and has a little bit of it every day, and just works it into her daily calories. She NEVER talks that way on the U.S. version. She looked at the cupcakes last season like they were poison, while Bob admitted that cupcakes are his weakness and he'd just had a half of one the day before.

According to the site, he's known for making his workouts fun, and people tend to laugh so much that they don't realize how hard they're working.

[DogMa]

So of COURSE, 131.4 today because my scale just refuses to go below 130.2 no matter what I do.

Took the day off the treadmill this morning because I think I need a day of rest before I do my two-hour walks over the weekend. I haven't taken a workout day off since last Thursday.

[Sojourner]

Hola, Rob!!
Just stopping in to give a shout out!
The Iditarod thing sounds awesome!!
How're the driving lessons coming along?

Parm cheese? Really? What a spoiled girl!!

Hasta!

p.s. thanks for checking in on me!

[bikipatra]

And I am having the most bizarre trigger food issue. Dried fruit. I 99.9% of the time stay away from dried fruit, as they are SO much more calorie dense, since the big fresh fruit is dried down to tiny pieces. But I had some raisins recently in a fresh fruit bowl, and they just triggered all sorts of crazy wants/needs: dried apricots, pineapple, plums (yes, prunes), etc. Suddenly everywhere I went I wanted to buy dried fruit. Fortunately I have (mostly) abstained, but when I think I have a strong moment and purchase a small amount, I essentially "inhale" them - very old bingey behavior, when it's gone before you know it. So, I think I have to stick to the Jo comment on refined sugar and yours on ice cream and, at least temporarily, ban them from my life. It just stirs up trouble!

Lauren

I didn't think I had a dried fruit issue until my sister sent a huge Swiss Colony order with an incredible assortment of dried fruit. The arrangement of it in the tin was lovely. I let myself have a few bites-I mean it is FRUIT, I told myself. I can eat fruit. (NO, I can't have dried fruit on WW. Temporary memory slip.) It's good for me...Yes, loved the prunes-so moist. But then I started craving it and going back and just having a bite of dried pear (gooooood!) or just a date or apricot (they are small.) After a day and a half I had to tell my husband to eat it or throw it away. He made a compote and I am sure it was delicious but I didn't have it. So for now, I know dried fruit is a no-no to have around. I threw away all the cheeses and the meats too.

[DogMa]

I read about that, but had forgotten there was dried fruit, too. It's just weird, because I'm not really a fan of dried fruit at all. It's all so strange.

And Sojo, so glad to hear from you!!! I haven't started my lessons yet (everyone wanted to wait till the holidays were over, and this week at work has been hellish), but I'm hoping to start soon.

[DogMa]

129.4, which at least shows that the "2" works on my scale. But I think I only hit it because I was a little short and food and water yesterday. And woke up starving, so I'm going to go have breakfast BEFORE my two-hour walk today.

Have a great Sunday, everyone!

[bikipatra]

Woo-hoo! I would give up my potential new ring for a 2 on my scale if it would stay put! Great job!