"Gateway" foods and how to stop
DezYaoified
Posts: 143 Member
I was a very thin child/pre-teen but turned to food and emotional eating due to family issues. It just got out of control from there. I am 100 pounds over weight (by minimum standards) I have a smaller frame with wide set hips. As an early teen I was 120 pounds, size 7 pants, but you could see my hip bones. So while standards say I am 100 over weight I am trying for a 60 pound loss and will adjust at that point. My ideal is a strong 140ish.
So onto my problem: taco's have always been a special treat growing up, mainly family nights with my dad. So I didn't mind when I started working at a Taco place
My issue is that I have great self control until I am actually working! I can have a full meal before work but within an hour I feel like I haven't ate all day and I can't stop the cravings. I tried bringing food with me, drinking water, even brushing my teeth at work. I'm not sure how I can get past this issue.
I would love to know how others were able to overcome the cravings, or at least redirect them.
-Thanks
So onto my problem: taco's have always been a special treat growing up, mainly family nights with my dad. So I didn't mind when I started working at a Taco place
My issue is that I have great self control until I am actually working! I can have a full meal before work but within an hour I feel like I haven't ate all day and I can't stop the cravings. I tried bringing food with me, drinking water, even brushing my teeth at work. I'm not sure how I can get past this issue.I would love to know how others were able to overcome the cravings, or at least redirect them.
-Thanks
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Replies
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I love to snack, so I spread my food throughout the day. I just work hard to stay within my weekly calorie goal, thought sometimes I end up going over.
My thought is this: the only thing required to lose weight is to eat less calories than you burn. Since this is true, why not forgo dinner at home and save your hunger for the Mexican food? Or, just eat a small snack prior to work with plans to eat in moderation the foods you love at work?
Weight loss is all about choices and not giving up food you love.0 -
You can try anything you want, but at some point you're just gonna have to crank up the self-control dial up to the "no" setting.
We've all been there.
We've all had to do it.
We all have our "cravings". Our "gateways". Our "addictions". Our "triggers" ... but ultimately Nancy Reagan had it right back in the 1980's with her "Just say 'No!' " campaign.
There are no magic silver bullets.
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SergeantSausage wrote: »You can try anything you want, but at some point you're just gonna have to crank up the self-control dial up to the "no" setting.
We've all been there.
We've all had to do it.
We all have our "cravings". Our "gateways". Our "addictions". Our "triggers" ... but ultimately Nancy Reagan had it right back in the 1980's with her "Just say 'No!' " campaign.
There are no magic silver bullets.
And, this is true as well.0 -
Not looking for a "silver bullet" but thanks for the help. What I am looking for is ideas on how up my self control so I do have the power to say no. I am very much able to say no on a "out of sight, out of mind" basis, it's not really working when I'm making the food from 10am to 8pm most days.0
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Yup.SergeantSausage wrote: »You can try anything you want, but at some point you're just gonna have to crank up the self-control dial up to the "no" setting.
We've all been there.
We've all had to do it.
We all have our "cravings". Our "gateways". Our "addictions". Our "triggers" ... but ultimately Nancy Reagan had it right back in the 1980's with her "Just say 'No!' " campaign.
There are no magic silver bullets.
That or just don't eat before going to work and eat more food at work. If you are hungry due to being on your feet, then yuo should be able to handle eating just a bit before work and then eating hte bulk of your needs at work.
That or your body is telling you that your goal is too aggressive. Being on your feet is activity that needs to be fueled well. Unless you sit on a stool for 8 hours.
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Not looking for a "silver bullet" but thanks for the help. What I am looking for is ideas on how up my self control so I do have the power to say no. I am very much able to say no on a "out of sight, out of mind" basis, it's not really working when I'm making the food from 10am to 8pm most days.
Do you need the entire taco to satisfy the craving? Could you make yourself a taco salad (plain in a bowl, no fried shells) and go easy on the things that put you over, and still get rid of the craving?0 -
Not looking for a "silver bullet" but thanks for the help. What I am looking for is ideas on how up my self control so I do have the power to say no. I am very much able to say no on a "out of sight, out of mind" basis, it's not really working when I'm making the food from 10am to 8pm most days.
You already have "the power to say no" - in any situation, in any setting - even with your gateway laid out on a plate before you.
You, for whatever reason, refuse to properly wield said power.
It's a choice, y'know?
Choice.
So choose.
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Not looking for a "silver bullet" but thanks for the help. What I am looking for is ideas on how up my self control so I do have the power to say no. I am very much able to say no on a "out of sight, out of mind" basis, it's not really working when I'm making the food from 10am to 8pm most days.
Do you need the entire taco to satisfy the craving? Could you make yourself a taco salad (plain in a bowl, no fried shells) and go easy on the things that put you over, and still get rid of the craving?
This was going to be my suggestion. I found for myself, the key was finding alternatives to gateway foods - whether that was a "taco" in a lettuce wrap, cauliflower "rice" or zucchini "noodles." Others always say "everything in moderation" but I never did moderation very well (and still don't, even though I'm maintaining).
My other piece of advice, even though it doesn't answer your question - Don't give up! If you fall off the wagon, get back on!0 -
is there something else, lower calorie that could satisfy your craving or be a totally different treat? My issue is sugar so I'll have sugar free werthers in the car for a sweet craving just to calm it down. For me, Mexican is my easiest low cal treat...salad with just lettuce, shredded chicken and pico de gallo is delicious!0
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I worked at a burrito place. I never ate the tortillas but I blew up like a balloon eating bowls of chicken, rice, beans, guacamole and cheese. I get it.
If you're going to eat at work, get a good idea of how much 3 or 4 ounces of meat looks like from weighing at home. Eat that and add whatever they use to cook it with, and put salsa on it. Maybe the tiniest pinch of cheese. You can satisfy your craving and get a nice little meal for 300 calories.0 -
Can you fit a taco or two into your daily calorie goal?0
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Mexican food is delicious and tweakable - get rid of the shell and go easy on the cheese, rice and guacamole, as people said. Fill up on the meat and beans and salad0
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Actually that would be a lot like a "slow carb" diet. Maybe look it up for inspiration in terms of meal planning? Just while you're working there, I mean.0
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Exercising self control is like using a muscle. It gets stronger.0
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Try to get more protein and healthy fats like in avocado, and nuts, as they keep you sated longer. Maybe cut down on the "shell" part of the tacos and you're golden.0
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Not looking for a "silver bullet" but thanks for the help. What I am looking for is ideas on how up my self control so I do have the power to say no. I am very much able to say no on a "out of sight, out of mind" basis, it's not really working when I'm making the food from 10am to 8pm most days.
Do you need the entire taco to satisfy the craving? Could you make yourself a taco salad (plain in a bowl, no fried shells) and go easy on the things that put you over, and still get rid of the craving?Not looking for a "silver bullet" but thanks for the help. What I am looking for is ideas on how up my self control so I do have the power to say no. I am very much able to say no on a "out of sight, out of mind" basis, it's not really working when I'm making the food from 10am to 8pm most days.
Do you need the entire taco to satisfy the craving? Could you make yourself a taco salad (plain in a bowl, no fried shells) and go easy on the things that put you over, and still get rid of the craving?
You can make a taco for under 300 calories.. with the shell...
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