Cutting out sweets, chocolate, crisps and fizzy drinks, advice needed

[Cupcakequeen22]

Hi I haven't been on the website in a long time but I'm hoping to get some advice , so I'm trying to cut out fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate and sweets, what would be better alternatives to have instead . Also would homemade protein balls be ok snack on, there's a little cafe near me that makes all homemade health and fitness food and they always look nice, thank you in advance everyone for your replies, just need to get the willpower to stop buying things if I was to go into a shop or garage.

[bikegrrrl 1lb]

Hiya Cupcakequeen22 :

a) Don't buy sweets etc, plan to have fruit or veg sticks instead. If you "have" to buy these things for family, try keeping them all on one shelf that you can train yourself to ignore, or even in a tin out of your sight. (My other half buys all the biscuits for our house - he even tends to buy the ones I dislike so it's all good!)

b) Avoid occasions that you usually associate with sweets etc, for example in the early days I avoided coffee at work because I associated it with a biscuit or some chocolate.

c) If you know the calorie count of the protein balls then that might help you decide, but in general if they contain nuts, coconut etc they will be quite calorific. Doesn't mean you can't have them, but you will be better able to work it into your eating plan.

d) I can see I've mentioned "planning" a couple of times above - it's generally the planning in advance that keeps me on track. All my food is chosen and pre-planned, and I bring my lunch to work with me.

e) You could have zero-cal fizzy drinks I guess, although some people are very dubious about their content. Fizzy water? Or indeed plain water, have a portable bottle so you never get ridiculously thirsty when you're out and about?

Good luck !

[Cupcakequeen22 in reply to bikegrrrl]

Thank you

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Can't add much to what bikegrrrl has said except paying for petrol at the pump means you don't have to walk past the rows of sweets, crisps etc.

Also, making full use of your calorie allowance (if you're calorie counting) and getting used to eating three meals without anything in between. Most of it is habit and once you start chipping away at it, it does become easier

[Cupcakequeen22 in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thank you

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Cupcakequeen22]

Are you counting calories and if so have you got your calorie range from the NHS BMI calculator? nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Healthyw... Not eating enough is one of the main reasons for giving up on a weight loss plan.

Also, I see you haven't yet joined a weigh-in. Do give it a go: you'll get so much support and also be able to support others, which always gives you a boost, too

[Cupcakequeen22 in reply to BridgeGirl]

How do I go about joining a weigh in? Thank you

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Cupcakequeen22]

Just choose a day that suits you and write your details in the reply box on that days thread, 😊. We also ask that you respond to one or two others

Here s the link for today healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[Hidden]

Not sure if you are heading towards reducing calories or carbs? Either way reducing fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate and sweets is always a good start.

But be careful with protein balls, as they are often both high calorie and high carb.

If you are looking at carbs, then a small piece of cheese or a few nuts make good snacks - I even find cheese helps with my bedtime chocolate cravings.

If you switch to water, add a slice of lemon, or a cut up strawberry, or even a couple of slices of cucumber to the water and leave it for an hour or more to let the flavour mix in.

As bikegrrrl said planning really helps, especially keeping go-to snacks ready at the front of the fridge.

[Cupcakequeen22 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[Bungiecat]

Try nakd bars and nuggets they are pressed fruit and natural ingredients they help me with my sweet tooth I keep them in a place in my work bag where I know I can go if I have an energy dip Gail

[Cupcakequeen22 in reply to Bungiecat]

Thank you

[Bungiecat in reply to Cupcakequeen22]

Glad you replied hope these help you Gail

[Cupcakequeen22 in reply to Bungiecat]

It does help

[Bungiecat in reply to Cupcakequeen22]

Thanks Gail

[bikegrrrl 1lb]

Oooh, just remembered something else re drinks - I like fruit tea (red berry from T*sco), I sometimes make a big pot then let it cool, decant it into a couple of water bottles and stick them in the fridge, then take one out and about with me.

And I had a really lovely drink in a café this week, I must try and make it at home, it was mint lemonade, basically lemon juice blitzed with a lot of chopped mint, topped up with soda water and served v cold. Really refreshing.

So maybe get creative with more healthy drinks?

[amykp Visitor]

I put a scoop of unsweetened cocoa powder into my coffee and a shake of erythritol for sweet. It turns your coffee into a chocolatey mocha and I find really gets those chocolate cravings.

If you are low carb you can add heavy cream. Then it's a chocolate milkshake!

[Belle01]

I feel your pain. I have to buy crisps, biscuits & fizzy juice for kids packed lunches for school.

I constantly nibble on unhealthy stuff finding it harder to stop. The more I start healthy eating the more I nibble. Currently trying to find a past time to get into in the winter or I will be 2 stone heavier. 😞

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Belle01]

Hello Belle01 , I see you were here some time ago, but not recently. I hope you're ready to get back into things again, and I will find you a Restart badge.

The best way to start (I think) is to join a weigh-in on the day of your choice. You'll get to know other people and will be able to give and get support throughout your journey.

Things have probably changed since you were last here so this will help you find your way around healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

And we advise you to read this post about privacy and security online healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[Belle01 in reply to BridgeGirl]

That would be good to restart. I gave my mum my scales but going to just buy a cheap pair to do weekly weigh in.

Monday would give me time to get a pair. Struggling joined sw & put on instead of losing. Lost incentive to eat healthy & exercise. Final straw my wedding ring not fitted & cant wear it due to fluid & weight gain. Ready to start so I can get a few pounds off for Christmas 🤞

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Belle01]

The Monday Mass Movers will make you very welcome

Just get yourself organised, start planning your meals, do your next shop with healthy eating in mind, eat well, get enough calories (if you're counting them, make sure you get the right range for you from the NHS BMI calculator), you don't need to be "starving" - in fact you shouldn't be - and get all the support you can from this very friendly forum

[Belle01 in reply to BridgeGirl]

Just back from swimming pushed myself & enjoyed it. I’m going to plan tonight shop tomorrow & start hopefully tomorrow though night out Saturday my put me back a bit. Hence saying Monday my plan day thank you xxx

[Cupcakequeen22 in reply to Belle01]

Good luck, I've started at the gym trying to go 3 times a week from this week

[elliebath Maintainer]

The first thing to do is make sure you don't get hungry between meals so that means eating enough protein and natural fats at each meal. Then if you think you will need a snack , have something like a small portion of nuts (about 30g) or a hard boiled egg instead of crisps or biscuits ( but if you're counting calories you still need to count it in your daily total ).

As for the chocolate urge, just swap the milk chocolate for high cocoa dark chocolate.... a little bit of that really will satisfy you.... I have a couple of squares every day!😊

[Cupcakequeen22 in reply to elliebath]

Thank you

[SilavanaM]

Sometimes getting rid of too many things all at once is difficult, so cutting out just one or two might work better. Assess and choose that which is worse for you, or perhaps hardest, and eliminate that first. There may be some things you can never have because they will trigger you and some things you find you can limit and do okay with.

I've given up soda but still dring fizzy water, which I imagine I'll have to give up someday also. But for now, that has gotten me on my way. I've also given up most sugary snacks and chips, although I do still put a small amount of sugar in my coffee.

Little steps can make great strides.

[Cupcakequeen22 in reply to SilavanaM]

Thank you