Comments on: I Don't Do Moderation

By: HEAB

HEAB — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 17:24:00 +0000

Hi Lauren,
Again, so happy to hear this post spoke to you. I have to admit that things have changed since I wrote this post. Last year, I was pregnant, and simply went with my cravings. Because I was so ill during my first trimester and lost weight, I just decided to eat whatever sounded good. So, I did, and it was fine. During my 2nd and 3rd trimesters, I felt great and was able to eat my favorite healthy foods, but I still listened to my cravings and ate the cookies, ice-cream, etc. and I have to say it was really nice and thought to myself, OK, perhaps I can handle this whole moderation thing. So, now I’m not as strict with myself, but I’m back to avoiding sugar for the most part. My body simply does not like sugar, and I make no apologies to anyone for not eating it. I am at a healthy weight and feel great, and if people give me a hard time for skipping dessert, then that is there issue, not mine. Do not take on other people’s stuff Lauren. We have to have some rules these days with all the junk being manufactured out there and sold as “food”, and there is nothing wrong with not eating it. Restaurants serve huge portions that our bodies weren’t meant to handle, and I see nothing wrong with preferring to eat sensible meals made at home with real whole foods. That does not make you a freak or mean you have an eating disorder. It means that you want to feel good about what you’re putting in your body, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Stay true to yourself and do what makes you feel best.

Hope this helps and please know that I am always just an email away.

By: Lauren @ The Raw Cure

Lauren @ The Raw Cure — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 02:17:11 +0000

Oh my goodness, thank you for this post. I’ve never actually read your blog before (that changes today) but my friend Morgan (over at endorphaholic.com) tweeted me today, saying this post reminded her of me. & oh did it remind me of me too! Reading how you described yourself not doing moderation – that’s how I feel too.

But I’m having a hard time coming to the same conclusion as you. Like, how does that look… out there? Amongst people? Boyfriends? Celebrations? If you can give me any insight, let me know (on my blog just two days ago I asked for people to tell me about their thoughts on moderation, no one said anything though).

Thank you.

By: HEAB

HEAB — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 10:57:03 +0000

Hi Nicole,
Well, when I gave up sugar, my weight started dropping like crazy which told me a lot. My body simply cannot handle it, even in small amounts, including fruit. Yes, I still eat sugar here and there, fruit included, but I really try and watch my intake.

Basically, the thinner I got, the more determined I became to say no to anything sweet, and my taste buds adjusted. Honestly, I can’t remember how long it took the cravings to go away. They definitely lessened over time, but I’ve never cut out sweets entirely – I simply HEABify my desserts. Like I said before, dessert to me became an oven baked sweet potato or a plain bowl of oats with nut butter. Back then I also used artificial sweeteners and drank a lot of diet soda. Now, I try and stay away from Splenda, etc., but it does slip into my diet every so often. As far as coffee goes, I used to love sugar French Vanilla Coffee Mate – oh yes, I did. I eventually switched to using heavy cream plus NuNatural french vanilla stevia drops. Mmm, so good, and I miss my morning cup o’ joe. NuNaturals is the best stevia I’ve tried – the powdered packets are pretty good as well. I’ve never had the green powder that Paul Nison sells – not even sure what that is.

Fast forward to the present – when I got pregnant, I craved some pretty junky food in my first trimester. Sugary cereals, candy bars, etc. I was so sick and hardly able to eat anything, and so I just went with whatever sounded good, Pop-Tarts included. I came to realize that I was really restricting my diet, and decided that the occasional sugary treat was not going to kill me. So, yes, I am eating a bit more sugar these days, but I am learning there is really something to this everything in moderation concept. However, I still keep my intake low as I honestly believe that none of us need any sugar in our lives.

Hope this helps, and please email me if you have any other questions.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 00:43:09 +0000

Hi Heather. How did you break the sugar habit? ( cold turkey or by cutting it out slowly?) I need my morning coffee to be sweet and creamy, and I detest the taste of Stevia. I’d prefer to avoid agave, honey and all that because I’m an all or nothing gal. I’ve heard that some brands of Stevia are better than others. What brand do you use? Have you ever used the actual green powder that Paul Nison sells?
How long did the cravings last when you quit? I have tried several times and usually only last one day before binging on every sweet thing in a 5 mile radius. LOL Thank you. I love getting your emails everyday!!!!

By: Why I Eat The Way I Do « Heather Eats Almond Butter

Why I Eat The Way I Do « Heather Eats Almond Butter — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:42:46 +0000

[...] I decided I missed pizza and ice-cream. So, I started eating all my old favorites, but I was never very good at moderation. One piece of pizza would lead to five, and I could easily eat a half gallon of ice-cream in 3 [...]

By: World’s Most Brilliant Combo « Heather Eats Almond Butter

World’s Most Brilliant Combo « Heather Eats Almond Butter — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:53:57 +0000

[...] weeks and still fitting into my favorite Joe’s Jeans, but not for [...]

By: Out of whack « See Sarah Eat

Out of whack « See Sarah Eat — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 14:57:06 +0000

[...] made me think of a post that Heather, one of my favorite bloggers, wrote a while back, aptly titled I Don’t Do Moderation. I’ve said this before, but I feel like I can really relate to her because we’ve both been [...]

By: trustingmyintuition

trustingmyintuition — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:05:52 +0000

I strongly agree with you and know where you’re coming from. I also have an all or nothing attitude, and that’s how I’ll always be. We don’t need sweets. at all.

By: Becky

Becky — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:09:05 +0000

I know I’m (very) late on this, but…

I think it’s great to know your body and what works for you.

However, I do disagree here. I know the “all or nothing” way of eating. Sometimes I am like that. Sometimes, I have a spoonful of ice cream and I end up eating the pint. Sometimes I have four pieces of pizza. But you know what? That’s okay! Do I blow up like a balloon? No. Do I gain even a pound? No. Do I feel like I have to eat like that day in and day out? No.

I’m a healthy person. I eat tons of veggies, lean proteins, fruits and whole grains MOST of the time. I exercise. So it’s okay for me to have the occasional “all” eating experience. It’s about balance. I know that I’m usually healthy, and it’s okay if I give in to cravings and overdo it once in a while. It’s NOT a catastrophe.

I worry that the fear of food drives too many people to say “I can’t.” “I can’t eat that. I’ll eat it all.” Okay. And then what? Will the world end? Will you get diabetes? Will you get fat? Will you be an “unhealthy person”? NO! This is a diet dictated by fear…fear of “relapse,” fear of fat, fear of losing control…not empowerment. I used to have this fear. Empowerment is much healthier.

By: Michele

Michele — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:52:27 +0000

@Catie:

Here’s part of what you said:

As another commenter noted above, its troubling that the supposedly “healthy” food blog community admits they can either binge or restrict and can’t actually do anything in moderation.

The entire tone of this post is quite simply scary. Not because the sentiment is *wrong* per se (I don’t fully agree, but I get the idea behind why you say it)…but because its dangerous.

With respect, I’d like to address what you shared. While I can sympathize with your thoughts and feelings, I don’t think Heather (or most of us other health bloggers) are trying to be “dangerous” or anything like that.

I’ve lost over 100 pounds myself and I didn’t do it by keeping white sugar in my diet and I haven’t kept it off by splurging on white sugar either. I did have cake and ice cream for my birthday but I have to be very careful or I’ll get in a habit of reaching for something I shouldn’t too often.

I think it’s really awesome that you’ve been able to get to the place of moderation you’re at but while you have found a place of eating and drinking in moderation, there are other people who aren’t like you in those ways. I’ve met people who are now sober after years of alcohol or drug abuse and they won’t even take a prescription medication because they feel they can stay sober easier and longer if they avoid them.

It’s an individual preference and we’re all different. That’s what’s so amazing about being able to blog. While Heather shares her sugar-free life, someone else can share their gluten-free life and you could also (if you don’t already) share your life of balanced moderation via your own blog.

I really don’t believe Heather would say anything with the intention of harming anyone who happens to read her posts; I also don’t believe it’s wrong to be proud of maintaining a 100 pound weight loss (or any amount of weight loss). Unless you’ve been 300 pounds and experienced the long, long journey of losing it and trying to maintain it, plus all the ridicule and heartache that comes with it, I don’t believe it’s possible to totally relate or understand it 100%.

I don’t believe we need white sugar in our diet to thrive and survive. There’s stevia, agave, honey, and other alternatives.

In the end, whether it’s food, drugs, or alcohol, I think it’s best to be considerate and mindful of others’ choices. We are, after all, completely different individuals just trying to make it in this world the best way we know how.

Healthy blessings,
Michele