You're at a family reunion. You've managed to stay away from the creamy potato salad and the barbecue ribs, but then your grandmother appears with her famous apple pie. You have a bite – to avoid offending her – and next thing you know, you’re back for seconds.
Every day we deal with diet distractions – triggers that can cause us to overeat or make unhealthy food choices. And maintaining a healthy weight is especially important for people with arthritis; it makes exercise easier, helps keep inflammation in check, reduces excess pressure on joints and lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, which is of particular concern if you have an inflammatory form of arthritis.
That’s why it's important to understand your eating triggers and learn strategies to deal with them, says Courtney Burtscher, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Maywood, Ill.
Here are five common diet downfalls – and how to overcome each.
1) Family pressure: Your mother pushes you to try the sugar cookies she just baked.
Why you cave: You don’t want to offend. Every family has “food pushers” who are hard to turn down, even for the most dedicated dieter, says Susan Albers, a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic and author of 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food (New Harbinger Publications Inc., 2009).
Solution: Have a direct conversation about your eating goals whenever possible. If that's not possible, get creative. “Tell her, ‘I love your cookies so much. I'm going to put some in a baggie and take them home,’” Albers says.
2) Social snacking: At a party, you make multiple trips to the dessert tray and drink too much wine – like everyone else there.
Why you cave: It’s the mirroring effect, Albers says. “We tend to see what others around us are eating and do what they're doing.”
Solution: Sit down, Albers says. When you move around at parties you tend to graze more and lose track of what you're eating. Another tactic: Eat a healthy meal or snack before you go to the party so you’re less inclined to overindulge, and veer away from resolve-busting alcoholic beverages.
I still have a suit. It reminds me that when I wore it I needed a 46 inch waste for the pants.
Now that I'm 79, I don't do much very heavy work, but I take care of the yard (with a LOT of weeds to pull). I also have trees that were cut down and have sprouted so that they're a nuisance. I'm digging up the roots of the sprouts (gradually)and sawing out the stubs. It's a lot of work, and is helping me lose some weight. My waist is down to 38 inches now, and I'm better able to take the dog for a walk since the arthritis has eased off. Maybe I'll get trim some day! But I'm enjoying having the time to get the exercise in a useful way. Can't stand just exercises without a useful product.
I don't have a magic potion for you - but what worked for me was 8oz of vegetable juice a half hour before every meal and carrying healthy food with me everywhere I go.(think granola bars, single serve bags of nuts etc) The pounds came off slower then some "diets" but I have learned how to eat.
I eat when I am frustrated, nerveous, bored etc.
When we go out to eat.......the restaurants serve such large quanties.....sometimes I take some food home and have it for lunch or breakfast the next day.
I plan on watching my self and eat smaller meals as of today......as Thanksgiving just passed......
JoMcK
I need to lose weight badly. I have never been this heavy before. I am at 308 lbs now. I am on Cymbalta 120mg for the Fibro. Also Vicodin, because I can not take nsaids because of my kidneys. I am on blood pressure meds, 2 other anti depressants, vit. D, laxatives for my colon, water pill, sinus meds, and Prilosec.
I know. I am a mess! I used to be a hair stylist and in 2007 I had to quit work due to my health and get on disability.
I have a difficult time digesting, fresh vegetables and beef. I do not eat fried foods because they are not good for you and they make me sick.
I have tried so many diets including Weight Watchers. I have difficulty moving around alot, walking far, standing for very long, or being normal. I am in pain everyday, and the only way I am mobile is to take a pain pill. Dr has me taking them 1 pill up to 4 times a day. I only take them when I absolutely have to.
The weight is not budging much. I am staying off of sweets now, which has been a problem for me in the past. I am trying to cut down on carbs and back on portion size. I have low blood sugar a lot and I am trying to deal with that issue.
I need to lose weight for my well being, my mind, my knees, hips, joints everywhere, and my PFD.
Any advice you could give me would be very helpful. Sincerely, Pamela
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