No willpower

Kathy379

so, I had a decent day, I worked out earlier, ran for a while. And also took a walk this evening. However.. I blew it all by eating junk. Just had a cookie and some ice cream. I mean, why can't I stop myself?

Kathy379

Plus I had cheese and crackers, and meatloaf and mashed potatoes. And more.

katrinacoleman416

Oh, I get you. I feel the same. I want to lose weight and be healthy, but I find myself 'falling off the wagon' and then waiting to get started again the next day or sometimes the next week.
Maybe some healthy competition would help keep you on track

Kathy379

I'm open to try anything that may help
This is getting out of control lol

alfiedn

Do you log before or after you eat? Also, is your deficit reasonable or too much? If you don't eat consistently from day to day (too little one day, too much the next), it can be easy to be way hungrier than you wish you were!

On the plus side, one bad day isn't going to ruin you.

Dustinsteven22

I learned that cravings usually come when my body needs vitamins and minerals. Nutrition is so important. Cut sugar and your cravings will decrease. Feel free to add me.

Kathy379

I log after I eat usually, unless I know ahead of time what I'll be having. Like my work lunches etc.

tomnev1

Kathy, you have the same problem as most people so here's the uncomfortable solution. Throw the junk food out. Seriously, in the bin or give it to a homeless person or something. You obviously are aware in the morning and afternoons, eating well, exercising etc. It's the evening time where everybody's willpower dies. You're no different to me or the rest of us.
Also, do your grocery shopping after you eat a healthy meal. That way you won't buy crap on impulse.
If you're like me and keep cakes and cookies in the house just in case you have a visitor, then trust me when I say your visitors won't mind if you don't have treats for them.

livingleanlivingclean

The more you "exercise" your willpower, the stronger it gets!

nyponbell

This often happens to me if I've had a few green days in a row; I end up having a few red ones. This is why I don't lose weight!

I try to log in advance to see what I can eat, and even prepare the food if possible - that way I won't have any excuses. I also try to budget in some evening snacks (like dried mango, which is a favourite of mine at the moment) and quinoa rice cakes. That really helps.

Sometimes you just want to keep on eating! Especially if you've worked out.

It's easy also to say that you shouldn't keep cookies and ice cream in the house, but since I live with other adults who are in charge of their own food (and don't mind sharing) I know it's not always up to you. But if it is, don't keep that food in the house!

999tigger

Pre log
Be more mindful
Take responsibility for what you eat.
Fuel your workouts properly
Be hydrated.

rachelnycroo

Did the same thing and feel awful today... But I logged every ugly bite a dam moving on today! Good. Luck!

gemmi33

This is how I have been for the passed 6 months and it's really getting me down.. I mean it's easy, don't put in in your mouth that's all we have to to!! Wrong.... I can't say no it's ridiculous really. I know I'm unhealthy, eat too much sweet and processed food, feel unattractive but yet I still keep doing it.

I then have a week or 2 of obsessive calorie counting then fall off the wagon.

mbaker566

there isn't anything wrong with eating those foods so long as they fit in your calorie allotment

to not eat those things, don't keep them in the house. and if possible and necessary, do not bring cash to work so you can't hit up those vending machines

I find the more I track, the more I am aware of what I am eating. do I want a small brownie or a big bowl of fruit-with a small amount of whip cream. i'll take the fruit. ice cream sandwich or ice cream drumstick? sandwich-half as many calories

BoxerBrawler

Don't keep those foods in the house.
When you feel the urge to eat that stuff, especially if you've already eaten dinner, distract yourself.
USE your will power.
Stop starting over.
Remember why you are trying to do this in the first place.
Log your foods the night before or in the morning and be accountable.
Drink a *kitten* load of water.
Take ownership and stop feeling sorry about it. If you're going to eat an entire bag of chips just be done with it and move on.
Try harder.
Eat high protein, high healthy fat and tons of veggies.
Drink tons of water.
Last, if your issue is in the evenings, try some intermittent fasting in the morning and see how you feel. Start your eating (breakfast/lunch/snack/dinner) later in the day. If you're eating dinner later you might satisfy that need to snack at night.
Good luck!

pmm3437

There is nothing wrong in eating a cookie or having ice cream. They may not be as nutritionally valuable as another option you may have in the house, but in and of themselves they are not "evil".

As to why you binge eat in the evening, there are any number of possible reasons. Your cal deficit my be too extreme, you may not be getting sufficient nutrition, it my be pattern/ boredom eating.

I tend to snack while watching TV, even when I am not hungry. The easiest trick I found to combat this, or make it more obvious that I am doing it so I realize, is to not have convenient snack food available. Its much too easy to absentmindedly grab it from a packaged container.

I win that battle by not bringing it home from the grocery store in a quantity I'm not willing to consume for the week. So, I might bring home a box of 6 ice cream bars, and thats all I have in the house. If I eat them all on Sat and Sun, thats fine, so long as I dont go buy more before the week is out.

If you cant do that, then your best option is to just not have it in the house at all.

MarilynTC

For me personally, it is not only about willpower so much as it is I can't get control of my depression and I am a depressed eater. My medications are not working like they used to, and I can't seem to find some combination that really works. I am so careful about logging all day long, but after dinner, I just can't hold on anymore and end up eating. The stress of everything - kids, work, husband, cleaning, yardwork - just becomes overwhelming and I break.

And I try to keep most junk out of the house, but my son needs lunches for day camp, something that doesn't need refrigeration, and he has refused anything but peanut butter - one of my worst binge foods.

It is so easy to say "just don't buy it" or "just try harder" but for me right now, that just sounds like a bunch of *kitten* and only makes me feel worse, like a weak, worthless blob of guts.

jgnatca

I'd do a good think about the circumstances surrounding your loss of control. Were you tired, hungry? Did you fall back on old habits? Having some insight on what your triggers were will point you to a strategy to try. It might mean you need to fuel up - under control - after exercise. Maybe pre-log a little more food on workout day, like a post-workout protein shake.

acidosaur

livingleanlivingclean wrote: »

The more you "exercise" your willpower, the stronger it gets!

That's not true. http://www.wired.com/2012/10/mf-willpower/

emdeesea

That's a question only you can answer and a problem you'll have to figure out how to solve.

How badly do you want this?

punkrockgoth

Story of my life. I don't need people to go attack my diary. I already know that my problem is that I eat wheat/meat/gluten/carbs/sugar.

csrawl

I go through the same things. I have good days/weeks then fall off the wagon. I know that I need to get into a better lifestyle but I need encouragement.

Ladiebug710

For me saying no completely doesn't work. I just obsess about something and binge first opportunity. What does help is portion control. 100 calorie packs of cookies or the 1 serving cartons of ice cream keep the serving size in check. They cost a little more but for me it is worth it.

DWBalboa

There are several things you can try all of which seem to be listed above. Don’t keep the foods that you have trouble with around, account for it in you logs, log it before you bite it, have it but in smaller quantities, have a cheat day that includes those foods, all of which are good. However, the bottom line is you have to have self-control, hold yourself accountable and reward yourself for proper behavior. We have our Achilles, it’s how we react to them which makes or breaks us.
You can do it.

Kathy379

Thank you

Kathy379

This is all very good advice, I will definitely try harder and use your tips. Thanks

tretoptreece

Kathy379 wrote: »

so, I had a decent day, I worked out earlier, ran for a while. And also took a walk this evening. However.. I blew it all by eating junk. Just had a cookie and some ice cream. I mean, why can't I stop myself?

I have been the same way. It's all about accountability and being true to yourself. Everyone has those days at some point, just set your mind to get over it and move on even if it's for the next meal. Don't dwell on a few extra calories to ruin your whole day. When I get that way I will even put what I ate on the next day and stay strict with the following day. If that makes sense? Best wishes to you! You can do this!

JMC3Terp

most of what I'm gonna say was already said. But I had the same problem for years.
1) Don't buy what you shouldn't eat. I love coca cola. I would buy it while dieting intending to just drink a little every once in awhile. Then I would drink 2 gallons in one sitting. So I don't buy or drink it anymore. Furthermore, I try not to buy a bunch of food. By having less in the house, I am less likely to "pig out".
2) Pre log everything. If you prelog, you will see how much you are eating and can make a conscious choice on eating less when necessary.
3) It's stupid, but drink a lot of water. I drink 12 to 14 cups a day and it helps with not eating when I shouldn't.
4) personally, I like eating small meals often. I eat 5 to 6 times a day. usually breakfast, then a snack every 2.5 to 3 hours, then dinner. It helps me eat less and keep my metabolism going.
5) WILLPOWER. You have to be strong enough not to give into your urges. It's not easy. Probably took me 10 years to get serious enough.

dfranch

I usually plan what I'm having for dinner a day in advance. I pre-enter the calories for dinner. I usually have some sort of fruit for an evening snack. you can eat an obscene amount of fruit for 2-300 calories. If there is a high calorie dessert I want, I pre-enter that as well. that tells me how many calories I have left over for lunch (I don't eat breakfast). It takes pre-planning, but it has worked well for me. I'm sure I wouldn't have been successful if I waited until after I ate to record my meals.

Marilyn0924

999tigger wrote: »

Pre log
Be more mindful
Take responsibility for what you eat.
Fuel your workouts properly
Be hydrated.

Exactly this^^

Suzmp88

OP - I think you are normal to want food after exercise. There are studies that show exercise can increase appetite, and you are more likely to reward yourself (often with food) for a job well done exercising.

It helps me to workout before a meal that I already have pre-planned (so usually after work and before dinner) and it has to be something I want or else I'll convince myself to go to that Chick-fil-a across the street from my gym. This is also where minimal effort recipes come in handy so good food is easy and not another excuse to eat something quick. If this timing isn't ideal then have a go-to snack: 1/2 cup of milk, or almonds, pickles, cheese sticks. I also agree with previous posters, try not to have the junk stuff in your house, but snacks you like and won't deplete all of your exercise cals.