Exercise is good, but diet isn't!!! Help! - Exercise & Fitness Message Board

rubato · 01-13-2009, 11:53 AM

This may end up being a long post, so sorry ahead of time.

I have a really good all-around workout. I run every day, lift, do pilates, and take random classes here and there. But I eat everything in sight and it's all bad. I know I should eat clean, I just don't.

Here's the problem. I have some beautiful muscles and am not overweight, but have fat covering my muscles. I have a cruise coming up in about 2 months. Is this enough time to improve my physique? I look okay in a bathing suit, but want to look fabulous again. What should I do here?

Thanks for all advice!

snogal · 01-13-2009, 12:18 PM

I know exactly how you feel. I can commit to exercise (and lots of it), but for some reason it's sooooo hard for me to commit to eating clean. You'd think it would be the opposite. But, there always seems to be the temptation to eat the bad stuff. I also think it's easier to justify eating the bad stuff if you're already working out. You can justify to yourself that you'll burn off the bad stuff with all the exercise, but it usually doesn't work out that way.

I'm sure 2 months will be plenty of time for you to get a little more serious about eating clean, while keeping up with the exercise of course. Don't deprive yourself though - if I try to cut out everything bad all at once, I always end up blowing it eventually. I guess the key is moderation - you can still have some of the stuff you love, but less of it, and less often.

Just picture your leaner body on that cruise!

Hope this helps a little.

nscrbug · 01-13-2009, 03:31 PM

Ack!! I'm the same way, too! Back in August, I completed my first olympic distance triathlon...and actually did better than I had anticipated (finishing in 2 hours, 52 minutes). I've got pictures from the event on my computer and will look at them from time to time. In the pictures, I look so fit and muscular...you can see the muscle striations and veins popping out in my arms and shoulders. Since that race, I have gained about 15lbs and feel gross and disgusting. I exercise like a FREAK...every single day, haven't missed a day of working out since July! But for some reason, I can't get the eating part under control. It's SO frustrating. I have the motivation and discipline to exercise daily...but when it comes to eating clean & healthy...bleh! I know WHAT I need to do...I just don't do it!

Needless to say...I can totally relate to your problem.

mod-anon · 01-13-2009, 09:19 PM

rubato,

Watch your language on the Boards! Your thread title has been changed.

Willapp · 01-14-2009, 03:38 AM

I think the main issues people have with sorting their diet is thinking you have to do it all in one go and thinking that the occasional unhealthy meal is bad. If you starve your body of carbs you'll actually get cravings for them and that's where you end up grabbing the nearest unhealthy thing you can find.

My suggestions would be:

1) Try to make sure you're never hungry by eating more regularly. When you get to the point of feeling "starving" is when it's easiest to end up eating junk food.

2) Replace unhealthy snacks with more healthy ones. E.g. swap crisps for fruit or veg.

3) Don't try to do it all at once. It's much harder to stick to a healthy diet if you go straight from eating poorly to trying to eat only good foods. Cut out one type of snack or bad food at a time so your body can adjust to your new diet.

4) Have a "cheat" meal once a week which can be your favourite meal no matter how unhealthy it might be, and DON'T feel guilty about it.

Good luck.