Weakness Foods (and how you got past it)

kateraichu

I have a weakness. That weakness is popcorn.

It's the only food that I truly can eat nonstop. Movies can be disastrous because I absolutely crave that bucket of buttery popcorn. I've bought a Costco sized bag of Skinny Pop with the intention of measuring out a cup for each snack, only to eat the entire thing in a matter of days. I freakin' love popcorn. So I don't buy it anymore.

Today, I'm writing this because I totally ruined my diet and ate a medium sized bag at the movies. I had a moment of weakness. In the past, I managed to curb my popcorn addiction by bringing a baggie of rice cakes to munch on in the movie instead. It's worked before, but sometimes my addiction to popcorn just rears its ugly head.

Anyone else have this kind of problem with one food? And how did you help manage it?

dawn0293

I used to eat tons of popcorn with loads of butter too. At the movies, I'd get a large popcorn with extra butter layered and consume so much that my stomach would hurt. Now, I chill out with a movie at home with a big bowl of air popped popcorn, some butter spray, and molly mcbutter. It fits into my calorie count for the day and I am happy with what I have. I stopped allowing myself to make up excuses for blatant overindulgence in foods. That's what let me get fat to begin with. I have learned to be okay with eating only what will fit into my calorie allowance and I do not allow myself to step outside of it unless it is a special day because nothing I could possibly eat is worth my being fat and unhealthy again, not popcorn, not cake, nothing.

Sabine_Stroehm

Nachos and tortilla chips with anything, salsa, guacamole.... I don't generally keep them at home. Just on special occasions. I do love them so.

astridtheviking

Chocolate. Any kind of chocolate. Chocolate bars, chocolate cookies, chocolate cake, hot chocolate, chocolate protein bars, chocolate shakes, chocolate milk, chocolate syrup. If it has chocolate I devour it. When I studied abroad in Spain I was eating an entire milka oreo chocolate bar a day from the stress - a whopping 1120 calories from one bar. Oh but it’s so good.

I beat it by leaving Spain and not having any milka oreo - after that chocolate bar, no chocolate was the same for me. Sure, it was good, but it wasn’t milka oreo. I’m a bit more back in the sugar swing, so I keep my chocolate in a tub under my desk where it’s awkward to get to. The good news is, my parents brought me five whole bars of milka oreo from their recent trip to Germany and I can now limit myself to three pieces instead of the whole whopping thing. I guess it helps knowing that there’s a $1000 plane ticket between me and my next load of them - gotta make those five bars last me until September! (kidding... they definitely won’t last that long.)

RobinsonSnow

I too suffer from the popcorn infection, friend.

For popcorn, I found MANY ways of self-control. At the movies when I get popcorn, I do three things: Get a small size (although that changes depending on the theatre). Although this may be hard, saving the popcorn until the movie starts helps eb the consumption a little bit by practicing self-control. Besides, did you come to eat while watching trailers? This one may also be.. weird, but I nibble my popcorn kernels rather than stuff them in my mouth. Maybe crush the fluffy part because I can and eat it. Whatever works. Just not mouth-stuffing the poopcorn, because that's not enjoyable, honestly.

At home, I found a love in making plain air or microwave popcorn and covering it with grated parmesan and some pepper, and it's flavorful without all the calories.

CooCooPuff

I had a hard time during the holidays not digging into cake batter and cookie dough. I washed my hands regularly and washed out whatever was left in the bowl as soon as I finished using it.

I do well with the cooked versions of both though.

AllOutof_Bubblegum

I usually just don't allow my "triggers" in the house, lol. Like Oreos. They're not even that good, but my husband and I can polish off an entire family sized pack of those little suckers in half an evening. So I've banned them from the house.

I also like to pre-plan my entire day's food in advance and pre-log it into my diary. That way I can see if and just how much of a splurge I can have if I really want it, and what a free-for-all would do to my day if I let it happen.

kjurassic

Popcorn is hard for me to keep under control (so is chocolate with nuts). But...I won't give any of it up. For popcorn, I usually have the 100 calorie microwave bags (I sneak these into the movies) and chocolate - one piece!!! Ooooo....now I'm getting hungry....

cal0rina

and there's me thinking that popcorn is a healthy substitution from chocolate, unfortunately now addicted to sweet and salty popcorn, but it's high in fibre!

Ja_ja_jakeya

Popcorn can be healthy! If it's not droned in butter or covered in caramel or some other way! I can't seem to stay away from peanut butter. I tried buying all natural peanut butter but nothing compares to good old Jiff. I CANNOT give it up lol but I have limited myself to one square of dark chocolate a day topped with Jiff peanut butter

twrobbel

Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls. I can't even walk down the aisle at the grocery store where they are housed.

nerdburglar13

Dark chocolate with almonds and unrefined salt.... And I totally have NOT gotten past it yet!

tapestryheart

popcorn, chocolate, cookie dough....I curb the cravings 2 ways. 1) I drink lots of herbal and green teas sweetened with stevia and a tea latte in the morning with stevia and cocoa powder and almond milk. I find when I'm thirsty or hungry, the cravings gain much power. 2) When it gets out of control and I can't stop myself, I do a 3 day juice fast (but I have a protein at bfast, lunch, and dinner time). Totally stops it. The juicing inspiration came from the movie Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead.
Good luck breaking the control of popcorn over you. You control those little puffs of corn! Go team!!

kegglemax

pizza and redbull.. stopped drinking redbull, i drink alot of water now instead... and as for pizza.. i dont really buy it, I buy chicken beef and whole grains instead... RIP Papa Johns because i used to dominate them weekly

curvesfordays8907

McDonald's mcgangbang aka a double cheeseburger and a mcchicken as one sandwich. It's horrible and disgusting and delicious...now when I crave one I just remind myself of my goal and ask myself if eating one will A) fuel my body in a healthy way fill an emotional hole or C) help me towards my ultimate goal and then it isn't nearly as appetizing.

drabbits3

Oh I feel you with popcorn. Skinny Pop--any flavor. I too tell myself I will measure the portion size but NO, I eat the whole bag, which I am pretty sure negates the SKINNY part...
I did not buy any at the store today--going to break that habit this week. I realize it's not the worse thing I could binge on, but still--no reason to inhale an entire bag of anything in one sitting. And cookies. Any variety, home made, store bought-I'm not fussy. So no cookies and no popcorn today. Instead I bought oranges. I will have an orange each night instead of the popcorn and cookies. Wish me luck.

Barbs2222

Potato chips. Plain old potato chips no flavors added.

lemurcat12

Popcorn's one. I don't mind eating it, but it's hard to stop. I bought some kernels recently and am going to try popping just a bit and see how it goes. The main problem is that when there's a big bowl it just lends itself to eating until it's gone.

Kalikel

White pasta and bread were like torture for me. When I replaced them with whole grain varieties, my pasta and bread issues ended.

The only other things I'd eat too much of might be Oreos, Reese's <anything but nutrageous>, salty dry roasted peanuts and tortilla chips, so I quit buying them. I don't miss the candy and unsalted nuts are fine replacements for the salty ones.

Like Sabine, I miss the chips. I have a favorite brand, but I'd eat almost any tortilla chips until the cows came home if I could. Now, I use lettuce or (once in a while) Special K chips with my salsa.

kateraichu

Thank you guys for all your great advice. It's good to know I'm not the only one with a popcorn addiction or some other kind of trigger food!

At the end of the day it all just comes down to good old fashioned self control. Sighhhh

MaryCS62

We still have some leftover Christmas cookies, & I've been allowing myself 1 or 2 a night (all planned), but have been finding myself wanting more. I keep them out for my daughter (24 yo, but mentally about age 5, because she knows she'll get a cookie after eating her dinner.) I may go put them in the downstairs freezer so that I have to climb the steps for them, because it's becoming harder to resist them....

n1tnguy

Junk food in general. Cheetos especially. Just be sure to reevaluate after you've finished eat the foot.

Is it worth it?
How do I feel?
How is 2000 calories of cheese balls going to get my closer to my goals?

The answer to these questions will ultimately lead you to the true answer behind your motivations.

asantacruz24

Buy mini bags and stick to just one, at least you'll have your craving but not go overboard.
I crave and love the usual pizza, burgers and chocolate.
I still eat all of them Lean Cuisine pizza w/veggies on the side homemade burger and my fav dark chocolate covered almonds from Sprouts. I found that I can fit them in if I opt for a bigger lunch then a smaller sensible dinner or whatever works. If you severely restrict you tend to crave more and have a higher risk of bingeing. Also if you do binge don't beat yourself up just let it go and try again tomorrow. There is nothing that I say to myself you can’t have this, I can take a bite or have a small portion. I strive to eat better overall but still allowing myself to indulge a little. We all face triumphs and lose but keep going you’ll get there!

vicpoole188

Potato chips, corn chips and any salty snacks. Chocolate can go white in the fridge (unless my dh finds it :-)) I have like a "clean plate" fettish - an empty bag fettish.
I also buy a bag and promise to eat only a few each day - doesn't happen!!
I have found that if I divide the bag into servings in zip lock bags I get one out and hopefully that's it! I also plan to save calories so I can indulge. Going without entirely doesn't work as I will crave, crave, crave - give in and then feel bad and totally lose it!