Overcoming the mental block...

[LankyFreak23]

Okay, so I'm about to begin my first round of P90X. I'm 6'4 220 pounds, and I'd like to cut down to around 195.

I trust myself about working out consistently. When I workout, I don't cheat. I workout HARD.

My achilles heal is diet. As soon as I bust my butt in the gym, I want a mountain dew to refresh. I know it's horrible for me. I know it'll dehydrate me more. If I manage to stave off the initial urge, I get another urge later at night for junk. Has anyone else gone through this? Where you KNOW exactly what you're supposed to eat and how and when to do so, but struggle to execute?

I do drink a lot of water. I'm not a picky eater. It's just years of bad habits I've created and I've had a miserable time breaking them alone. I know I'm not ever going to achieve the athleticism and body I want if I don't get my eating under control. Can anyone give me advice on how to get over this mental hurdle?

[Meta]

try to not keep unhealthy foods in your house

If I open the cupboard and see a bag of chips I might open it up and tell myself I'm just gonna eat a couple... next thing I know half the bag could be gone

I think it's much easier to eat healthy if you keep healthy foods in the house... that way you won't be facing the temptation constantly

I'm not sure who you live with... that could make it more difficult if you're family/roommate/girlfriend/whoever doesn't have the same eating habits you do... but try to keep yourself stocked with the right stuff

[mitchcumstein]

Originally Posted by LankyFreak23

Okay, so I'm about to begin my first round of P90X. I'm 6'4 220 pounds, and I'd like to cut down to around 195.

I trust myself about working out consistently. When I workout, I don't cheat. I workout HARD.

My achilles heal is diet. As soon as I bust my butt in the gym, I want a mountain dew to refresh. I know it's horrible for me. I know it'll dehydrate me more. If I manage to stave off the initial urge, I get another urge later at night for junk. Has anyone else gone through this? Where you KNOW exactly what you're supposed to eat and how and when to do so, but struggle to execute?

I do drink a lot of water. I'm not a picky eater. It's just years of bad habits I've created and I've had a miserable time breaking them alone. I know I'm not ever going to achieve the athleticism and body I want if I don't get my eating under control. Can anyone give me advice on how to get over this mental hurdle?

Its hard to eliminate bad things cold turkey from your diet. But its alot easier to wean off them. Dont try to give up everything at once, just deal with 1 thing at a time. Rome wasnt built in a day, neither will your body be. Theres nothing wrong with an ocasional mt dew but if you can piece at least 2-3 days of good eating together in between your sugary indulgences then you might as well give it up cause you have no willpower. Either you want it or you dont, make up your mind.

[LankyFreak23]

Originally Posted by Meta

try to not keep unhealthy foods in your house

If I open the cupboard and see a bag of chips I might open it up and tell myself I'm just gonna eat a couple... next thing I know half the bag could be gone

I think it's much easier to eat healthy if you keep healthy foods in the house... that way you won't be facing the temptation constantly

I'm not sure who you live with... that could make it more difficult if you're family/roommate/girlfriend/whoever doesn't have the same eating habits you do... but try to keep yourself stocked with the right stuff

I actually have the opposite problem. I always buy healthy foods for my apartment/house. Always. I never buy crap from the grocery store. But depending on the situation or my mood, I end up going out to eat instead of eating the healthy food I bought!

I almost always eat healthy for the first half of the day, and then I get hungry. So perhaps a larger and better planned breakfast are in order. Packing a lunch would help too I'd imagine. I have a bad habit of not eating enough when I try to eat well. Every day I start with good intentions and never eat a greasy breakfast. It's later in the day. So that's the problem I need to address; eating more earlier in the day and less at night.

Thanks guys.

[vassille]

I would say that once a week eat first and last meal of the day your choice. Or just eat 2 meals that day your shoice. It helps with whatever cravings you might have

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

It's just a lifestyle change, like how you decided to workout and lift, do the same with diet, decide that you will just do it and drop the soda and late night junk food. Just ask yourself how bad you want it, how bad do you want to make progress in the gym versus how bad you want that soda or junk food at that moment.

Although a Mountain Dew after a workout is not going to kill you, in fact, I'd say its' the best time to drink one if you are going to have one. I'd also say that the first and foremost thing to do is to cut out the late night junk food, thats whats holding you back the most, not the post workout soda.

I know it's not easy as it sounds, but make the adjustments slowly and gradually pick up the pace. Things can be brutal if you just jump in cold turkey and if you are too strict to start, often the person will fail and revert back to the old habits. Just gradually make some adjustements.

[JayFive]

Originally Posted by LankyFreak23

I actually have the opposite problem. I always buy healthy foods for my apartment/house. Always. I never buy crap from the grocery store. But depending on the situation or my mood, I end up going out to eat instead of eating the healthy food I bought!

I almost always eat healthy for the first half of the day, and then I get hungry. So perhaps a larger and better planned breakfast are in order. Packing a lunch would help too I'd imagine. I have a bad habit of not eating enough when I try to eat well. Every day I start with good intentions and never eat a greasy breakfast. It's later in the day. So that's the problem I need to address; eating more earlier in the day and less at night.

Thanks guys.

What kind of "healthy" food are you talking about? Even going out to eat you can find vaguely healthy food. I think you may be limiting yourself too much. If you have cravings for sweets, try getting some protein bars. They aren't great but they're a damn bit better than a candy bar or bowl of ice cream.

[VBigNate]

I understand your dilemma completely. I have been trying to cut since september, and I am still struggling to eat clean all the time. When I first started, I would have one cheat day and still be able to lose weight, but as time went on, it has became much harder to lose weight with cheat days. I eat extremely clean during the week, but by the weekend I'm craving fast food, junk food, and sodas. Its just that now my body is trying to hold all the calories it can, so one cheat day can set me back a whole week. Eliminating the craving, for me, is definitly a tough task. You just have to put your mind to it.

[Meta]

Originally Posted by JayFive

What kind of "healthy" food are you talking about? Even going out to eat you can find vaguely healthy food. I think you may be limiting yourself too much. If you have cravings for sweets, try getting some protein bars. They aren't great but they're a damn bit better than a candy bar or bowl of ice cream.

best tasting protein bars I've tried...

370 cals
14 grams of fat (they have real peanuts in them though)
33 grams of carbs
11 grams of sugar
28 grams of protein

I mean if you're trying to really cut they aren't thaaat great... but like stated above... much better than a regular candy bar... and these honestly taste very close to a real candy bar... they got a variety of flavors too

[PhiSigPhi]

Personally, if you are going to have that many carbs, I'd rather have a Cliff bar. 70% organic and only 240 cals. Not as much protein and lil bit more carbs, but they are low glycemic carbs. Sometimes I'll smear a lil Natty or Organic peanut butter on top for a very good treat.

[LankyFreak23]

Originally Posted by JayFive

What kind of "healthy" food are you talking about? Even going out to eat you can find vaguely healthy food. I think you may be limiting yourself too much. If you have cravings for sweets, try getting some protein bars. They aren't great but they're a damn bit better than a candy bar or bowl of ice cream.

Typically when I go to the store, I'll buy something like this:

Skinless chicken breasts
Fresh turkey from the deli
fresh cheese from the deli
no fat yogurt
whole wheat bread/wrap
spinach lettuce
milk
some type of fruit, either bananas/grapes/apples/oranges
tomato
92% lean ground beef
pork loins

etc.

I agree that I'll have to make slow small changes, and the eating late is one of the biggest problems I have. I think I eat late because when I eat 'well' I don't eat enough...and by the end of the night I'm starving.

I also think a huge problem is that I know what healthy foods to buy and eat, but I don't know any RECIPES. So it always feels like I'm eating protein...or carbs...or fat...rather than eating a healthy meal that makes me forget that it's healthy.

I've been posting around online and i've started talking to my family and friends about how important it is to me to eat healthy. I think having a network of people in my corner will help me succeed. I've always tried to do this alone and it always flops!

Thanks again guys!

[JayFive]

There's a lot of good recipes out there. Think in terms of parts of a whole. Also think of things that are healthy that could replace unhealthy. For example:

1/2- 1 lb Lean ground beef
1 can Black beans
1/2 packet of taco seasoning
1 tsp Ground Cumin
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
hot sauce to taste

Whole wheat tortilla or smart carb tortillas
This isn't bad considering, you could use salsa instead of the taco seasoning as well. Provides some nice protein and fiber. And it's really good, I sometimes use some fat free or low fat cheese as well.

[HammerTech]

Originally Posted by mitchcumstein

...Dont try to give up everything at once, just deal with 1 thing at a time. Rome wasnt built in a day, neither will your body be. ...Either you want it or you dont, make up your mind.

Probably the 2 best points made in this thread.

[VBigNate]

Originally Posted by JayFive

There's a lot of good recipes out there. Think in terms of parts of a whole. Also think of things that are healthy that could replace unhealthy. For example:

1/2- 1 lb Lean ground beef
1 can Black beans
1/2 packet of taco seasoning
1 tsp Ground Cumin
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
hot sauce to taste

Whole wheat tortilla or smart carb tortillas
This isn't bad considering, you could use salsa instead of the taco seasoning as well. Provides some nice protein and fiber. And it's really good, I sometimes use some fat free or low fat cheese as well.

Id throw out the ground beef for chicken. Smart carb tortillas are loaded with fiber. Each has 8-12 grams depending on size.

[Meta]

Originally Posted by JayFive

There's a lot of good recipes out there. Think in terms of parts of a whole. Also think of things that are healthy that could replace unhealthy. For example:

1/2- 1 lb Lean ground beef
1 can Black beans
1/2 packet of taco seasoning
1 tsp Ground Cumin
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
hot sauce to taste

Whole wheat tortilla or smart carb tortillas
This isn't bad considering, you could use salsa instead of the taco seasoning as well. Provides some nice protein and fiber. And it's really good, I sometimes use some fat free or low fat cheese as well.

I got some black beans, brown rice, salsa and chicken I'm bout to eat right for my PWO meal... might eat it with a couple tortillas too

[JayFive]

Originally Posted by VBigNate

Id throw out the ground beef for chicken. Smart carb tortillas are loaded with fiber. Each has 8-12 grams depending on size.

It depends on my mood. Sometimes I sub in some 92-95% lean ground beef once I get tired of chicken (for some reason, tho I kinda like it, tuna makes me not want to eat anymore).

[TheHorseman]

Originally Posted by LankyFreak23

Okay, so I'm about to begin my first round of P90X. I'm 6'4 220 pounds, and I'd like to cut down to around 195.

I trust myself about working out consistently. When I workout, I don't cheat. I workout HARD.

My achilles heal is diet. As soon as I bust my butt in the gym, I want a mountain dew to refresh. I know it's horrible for me. I know it'll dehydrate me more. If I manage to stave off the initial urge, I get another urge later at night for junk. Has anyone else gone through this? Where you KNOW exactly what you're supposed to eat and how and when to do so, but struggle to execute?

I do drink a lot of water. I'm not a picky eater. It's just years of bad habits I've created and I've had a miserable time breaking them alone. I know I'm not ever going to achieve the athleticism and body I want if I don't get my eating under control. Can anyone give me advice on how to get over this mental hurdle?

Bottom line is this: your decision has to be internal. People can make all the excuses they want - either you eat for your goals and for fuel or you come up with BS of why you can't just do it. If looking amazing and becoming a freak, getting stronger and stronger every workout while completely transforming your body is what you want, then the decision is easy.

The key is to be prepared. ALWAYS have your next 2 meals ready, no matter what. Don't leave "trap" food laying around, because you WILL eat it.

Discipline isn't something that everyone has loads of. That's why everyone who trains doesn't always look like they train. There are plenty of guys that workout hard and use lots of excuses why they wear t-shirts at the pool or beach.

There are those who do it, and those who don't. Just remember what you put in your body directly reflects how your body will look.

Personally, I like when random people ask me about working out or whatever. Gade was the last of the guys on the board to visit and he remembers random harlets at Sushi Zushi asking me about working out. That is the ultimate form of flattery, IMO.

[Renegade68]

Originally Posted by TheHorseman

Bottom line is this: your decision has to be internal. People can make all the excuses they want - either you eat for your goals and for fuel or you come up with BS of why you can't just do it. If looking amazing and becoming a freak, getting stronger and stronger every workout while completely transforming your body is what you want, then the decision is easy.

The key is to be prepared. ALWAYS have your next 2 meals ready, no matter what. Don't leave "trap" food laying around, because you WILL eat it.

Discipline isn't something that everyone has loads of. That's why everyone who trains doesn't always look like they train. There are plenty of guys that workout hard and use lots of excuses why they wear t-shirts at the pool or beach.

There are those who do it, and those who don't. Just remember what you put in your body directly reflects how your body will look.

Personally, I like when random people ask me about working out or whatever. Gade was the last of the guys on the board to visit and he remembers random harlets at Sushi Zushi asking me about working out. That is the ultimate form of flattery, IMO.

That is true. The chicks in the bars too, including the one across the bar at Houlihans who was waiting for her boyfriend but kept eye fu<king you. LOL.

Damn - now I'm hungry for sushi again....that place was great.

Original poster - listen to the above advice. Boyd is correct, it is all about choices. You do or you do not, there is no try. (Yoda).

[JayFive]

Originally Posted by Meta

I got some black beans, brown rice, salsa and chicken I'm bout to eat right for my PWO meal... might eat it with a couple tortillas too

I use these Mission: 6" Carb Balance Tortillas. Like 12g of carbs but 7 of that is from fiber. Can't taste a difference either.

[VBigNate]

Originally Posted by JayFive

I use these Mission: 6" Carb Balance Tortillas. Like 12g of carbs but 7 of that is from fiber. Can't taste a difference either.

Thats what I use. They are awesome!