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Eliminating certain foods
ReenieHJ
Posts: 9,723 Member
I know there's been discussions before about this kind of topic; CICO are all that counts, you can include all foods within your calorie allotment, etc. BUT what about our foods that seem to be triggers for us and we consistently exceed CI?
Is it better and feasible to simply not buy them at all? Personally, once I start eating certain foods, it triggers more cravings and desires, less resistance to temptation. And I'm just wondering if keeping them out of the house would be the key for me. I know *I* cannot keep some foods or else they're guaranteed eaten before the day is out.
I also firmly believe 'if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten' so am thinking of changing my approach to this by removing as many trigger foods as I can. On this topic, I wish my dh was more supportive but he likes what he likes and I'm not going to ask him to give up those foods. I'll simply try to find substitutes for them that will work for me.
Will I end up feeling deprived and binge eat? That's my biggest fear. But truthfully, that's what I've been doing for the past 6 weeks or so anyways.
My habits are so deep it's more of a rut than anything. For ex., every morning I have to have my a.m. coffee. I don't even really like the taste of coffee so it doesn't make sense to me but without it, I feel I haven't started my day, can't wake up, feel something's out of whack, KWIM? Along with the coffee I take milk/sugar and then soon feel the *need* to eat something.
I need to look long and hard at what or how I can shake my routine up with destroying my good intentions.
I do not have a healthy relationship with food. It's either all or nothing with me.
Thanks for any insight you can offer.
Is it better and feasible to simply not buy them at all? Personally, once I start eating certain foods, it triggers more cravings and desires, less resistance to temptation. And I'm just wondering if keeping them out of the house would be the key for me. I know *I* cannot keep some foods or else they're guaranteed eaten before the day is out.
I also firmly believe 'if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten' so am thinking of changing my approach to this by removing as many trigger foods as I can. On this topic, I wish my dh was more supportive but he likes what he likes and I'm not going to ask him to give up those foods. I'll simply try to find substitutes for them that will work for me.
Will I end up feeling deprived and binge eat? That's my biggest fear. But truthfully, that's what I've been doing for the past 6 weeks or so anyways.
My habits are so deep it's more of a rut than anything. For ex., every morning I have to have my a.m. coffee. I don't even really like the taste of coffee so it doesn't make sense to me but without it, I feel I haven't started my day, can't wake up, feel something's out of whack, KWIM? Along with the coffee I take milk/sugar and then soon feel the *need* to eat something.
I need to look long and hard at what or how I can shake my routine up with destroying my good intentions.I do not have a healthy relationship with food.
It's either all or nothing with me.Thanks for any insight you can offer.
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Replies
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I had food triggers but I found CBT really helped me and now I can have anything and not over-indulge unless it purposeful. Worth a try7
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Hanibanani2020 wrote: »I had food triggers but I found CBT really helped me and now I can have anything and not over-indulge unless it purposeful. Worth a try
I agree - understanding the root of your relationship issues with food is key, then finding strategies to help you reach your goals is very helpful. Cognitive behavioural therapy can be highly useful!
I do what you do as well and don’t go down the aisles in the shops where I know there are trigger foods - and if I’m preparing foods for others in my family that I know are triggers or I’m in a state of mind where I may have a lack of discipline, I say something to someone and ask them to be present to distract me from the food desire.
Don’t be afraid to ask your peeps to support your goals and give you something you need. DH can have the chips - he just may need to get them from the cupboard himself.
Wishing you all the best as you continue to navigate and establish your new normal!!
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I can't just dole out two cookies or one serving of chips to myself from a big bag -- yet -- so I don't have them in the house. I spent too long eating a sleeveful of crackers or a pint of ice cream as one serving to break all those habits instantly. I am trying to develop other, more disciplined habits. I can, now, most of the time, eat nuts measured out by the ounce rather than just having the container next to me in front of the TV eating half a container at a time. I can measure peanut butter onto bread and not eat half a jar with a spoon. These old habits, old and well-established habitual behaviors, are not easy to give up. So ...
Do WHATEVER is necessary to YOU to try to overcome your old and well-established but self-defeating eating behaviors. If this means not buying trigger foods, don't. If this means allowing yourself a small amount weekly, do that. If it means avoiding the item totally, do that. Some folks brush their teeth. Some folks drink a glass of water. I, among other tactics, suck on sugar free cough drops in a pinch. I also avoid the Food Network in the evening with all its tasty commercials. Do WHATEVER works for YOU.11 -
Up-front admission: I don't think of myself as having a bad relationship with food, or of emotion being a big factor in my becoming overweight, so I may be off base with advice. However, I do have foods that it's difficult or impossible for me to moderate, for some reason.
I also think you're onto something when you hint at food patterns being important to consider, and consciously modify, within a still-happy range. (By "patterns", I mean that "coffee, which needs milk/sugar, which triggers desire to eat" sort of thing.) I think there are various ways we, as individuals, can disrupt those patterns productively, once aware of them.
I can't answer whether you'll feel deprived and binge eat. That's individual, too. From reading my other posts, you probably also know that - for me, not necessarily others - I think it's OK to build some indulgent eating (what some would call overeating) into one's life, in a managed way, if that's important to happiness. Other people's orthodoxies or rules may not be important, for you. What's important IMO is figuring out what combination of behaviors best helps *you* be healthy, happy, and remain at a reasonable body weight.
I think whether you'll feel deprived and binge may not be an "all foods the same" kind of rule either (though I don't know you, that's certainly true for me). Maybe some foods can be moderated somewhat routinely, some need to be excluded entirely, others need to be eaten only in special circumstances. I've seen many people here say that's true for them, that some foods can be moderated (in various ways), some need to be eliminated. Still other things may work out by finding enjoyable substitutes, and making those habits.
I'll give you some examples, for me.
As background, in maintenance I calorie bank - eat maybe 150 calories under maintenance most days, to have an indulgent meal or day sometimes. A consequence is that the scale bounces around more wildly for me (mostly water weight) than for people with more even eating patterns, but that doesn't bother *me*. (I'm still at a healthy weight, in year 4+ of maintenance.)
One food I still haven't figured out how to moderate is old-school Taco Flavor Doritos, the orange-bag ones. The don't come in single-serve bags, and if I buy a regular bag, I may succeed in doing weighed-out servings a couple of times, but eventually I'll eat a bunch and finish the bag. I almost never buy them, then I do what I just said - moderate until indulgence, then draw on my calorie bank.
I like ice cream, don't like things like Halo Top. If I buy a quart of tasty ice cream, I'll portion it out, but go through it fairly quickly, faster than I'd like. I've figured out that - mysteriously - I can keep single-serve cups in my basement chest freezer without the same effect, and I've found a brand I like that comes in those cups. I can eat one cup, and ignore the others in the freezer much longer term than an opened quart. It's weird, but true. Once in a while, I can moderate a pint of really good, rich ice cream or gelato over a couple of weeks, but it has to be a super-indulgent feeling one.
Or, I go to the local ice cream place, and have them put a scoop or two in a cup. That works.
There are other foods that I can get buy in single-serve packs that work the same way, irrational as it seems. But some things, I'm better off just buying the one single pack, not having multiple single packs in the house.
There are also foods I enjoy, that now I only have on a limited basis under unusual circumstances, like at a celebratory event, or at an unusual restaurant meal, or when traveling, or something like that.
As far as substitutes, I'm one of the people - not the only one, but it's far from universal - who found that if I made it a point to get 3+ daily servings of fruit, my cravings for less nutrient-dense sweets (cookies, cakes, candy) shrank dramatically after a while. Now, most of the grocery-store-type routine baked goods just taste too sweet and boringly simple. I still enjoy a rich dessert sometimes, but it needs to be something with a little more complexity and delight in it, than just another boring sugar cookie. YMMV.
So, I hear what you're saying about being an all-or-nothing personality, but I'd encourage you to think about whether that's across the board, or can vary by food.
With respect to patterns (coffee - sugar/milk - eat), experiment with breaking the pattern. Get up, but don't eat. Or, if necessary, get some caffeine in a form that doesn't make sugar/milk work (pill, tea, zero-calorie cola, whatever). See if you can disrupt the pattern. Try replacing it with a new pattern (say: get up, do yoga, or something like that). Repeat the new thing by force of will for a few days, then evaluate. See how it goes.
I think the CBT recommendation is a really good one. CBT includes some useful conceptual tools that can help with any of the above, or in other ways.
I don't know whether it's any reassurance, but I did find that a few years (yikes!) into maintenance, some of the draw of old patterns and cravings seem to have receded into history, for me. We'll see if that holds up for years to come, but it's true for now.
Best wishes!6 -
The biggest issue for me has always been soda. For a long time, I wouldn't let myself buy it at the grocery to put in the fridge. I would have to walk out of the house to the 7/11 a block away to get it. Eventually I started getting the 7oz cans instead and only keeping one in the fridge. There is value in conquering your trigger foods.6
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richardgavel wrote: »The biggest issue for me has always been soda. For a long time, I wouldn't let myself buy it at the grocery to put in the fridge. I would have to walk out of the house to the 7/11 a block away to get it. Eventually I started getting the 7oz cans instead and only keeping one in the fridge. There is value in conquering your trigger foods.
Tab was my addiction for many years. Then Diet Coke was like crack to me; I'd drink it all the time. But for some reason I was able to stop buying it altogether after 40+ years of drinking diet sodas and that was that. I have no idea how it happened. I wouldn't even let myself be tempted by the 'just this one time' devil on my shoulder. It's more challenging now, though, since dh moved back home because he still drinks it. And wow, I salivate when the weather turns hot(today they expect 100*) and all I can think about when I see it in the fridge, is the ice cold fizziness. But if I could convince myself to do the same with any of my trigger foods, I'd be happy.
Thank you for all the insightful and helpful replies everyone!! I have *got* to change my approach to food and my mindset, that's all there is to it. Easy, right?
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One thing I want to add to my PP, and this thought is maybe a little more woo-woo, a little more our there.
Personally, I think our mental concept of ourselves is really important in all this. What I'm talking about is those "I am a person who . . . " thoughts. When those thoughts are broad, and strong, I think it's important to question and even aggressively test them.
Sometimes our self-concept is one of our roadblocks, in and of itself. It's also something that's more within our control to change, IMO, than many other roadblocks (not saying there's no work involved in doing this, quite the contrary; but it's often productive work; and this is a zone where that CBT can be helpful".
When people say things like . . . X . . . my reaction is Y.
"I hate all exercise" "How is it possible to hate every one of the thousands of ultra-diverse ways of moving more? I mean, do you hate playing with your kids?"
"I can't stand veggies" again "How is it possible to hate dozens of things that all taste different? Do you hate them without trying them."
And so forth, with nearly any all "I am a person who . . . X . . . and that's why I can't succeed."
In your OP, you have several of such broad statements, about your eating and thinking habits.
We have lots of tools. We can figure out how to work around our inclinations, how to test and bust them, how to "game" them in productive ways. Or, we can change our behaviors (that flow from those thoughts) by force of will for a time, and, by doing so, let our behavior change our mind.
I'm not saying any of that's easy, quick, etc. But how we think in general, and how we think about ourselves specifically, is nearly 100% under our individual control, and things that are mainly under our control are the strongest levers for personal change and transformation.
Just my opinion, obviously.
Best wishes!8 -
I am not generally an all or nothing person any more, though I used to be. I don't tell myself that if I don't eat perfectly I can now eat everything in sight. I can eat one cookie and put the rest away. I can measure out a cup of ice cream, rather than filling the bowl full. I'll count out a serving of crackers rather than eating the whole box. When I can I buy single serving or small servings of foods - so a slice of pie or a single cinnamon roll or muffin, not a whole pie or box of muffins. However, there are certain foods that are harder to regulate and that I don't really want or need - like potato chips or French fries, etc. I rarely buy them now. I love nuts, but don't keep them in the house because I can't eat just a few. Although I don't have 'forbidden foods', I do think about whether the value of a food is worth the calories involved. If you know that a food is a trigger for you, then keep it out of the house. If your husband wants it, ask him to eat it at work, rather than at home.1
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One thing I want to add to my PP, and this thought is maybe a little more woo-woo, a little more our there.
Personally, I think our mental concept of ourselves is really important in all this. What I'm talking about is those "I am a person who . . . " thoughts. When those thoughts are broad, and strong, I think it's important to question and even aggressively test them.
Sometimes our self-concept is one of our roadblocks, in and of itself. It's also something that's more within our control to change, IMO, than many other roadblocks (not saying there's no work involved in doing this, quite the contrary; but it's often productive work; and this is a zone where that CBT can be helpful".
When people say things like . . . X . . . my reaction is Y.
"I hate all exercise" "How is it possible to hate every one of the thousands of ultra-diverse ways of moving more? I mean, do you hate playing with your kids?"
"I can't stand veggies" again "How is it possible to hate dozens of things that all taste different? Do you hate them without trying them."
And so forth, with nearly any all "I am a person who . . . X . . . and that's why I can't succeed."
In your OP, you have several of such broad statements, about your eating and thinking habits.
We have lots of tools. We can figure out how to work around our inclinations, how to test and bust them, how to "game" them in productive ways. Or, we can change our behaviors (that flow from those thoughts) by force of will for a time, and, by doing so, let our behavior change our mind.
I'm not saying any of that's easy, quick, etc. But how we think in general, and how we think about ourselves specifically, is nearly 100% under our individual control, and things that are mainly under our control are the strongest levers for personal change and transformation.
Just my opinion, obviously.
Best wishes!
So SO many good points here Anne, thank you!! It'll take a lot of positive self-talk, reflection and redirection but I know I can do this. Nobody ever said life was easy, right. If I want to take over control of my body again, I know I can do this; I've been successful at it before and it clearly affects my self-image, confidence, happiness, energy, etc.. Sometimes sitting around, wringing my hands and wallowing in my self-pity 'can't get back on the right track again' mindset while downing my Ben and Jerry's, is strangely easier than getting off my butt and doing something/changing something.
So today started my journey back to how I was feeling last year. Day One has been a success. I will find alternatives to my stressors and deal with life in different ways.
While in the shower this a.m. I was going over all the ways I've felt, while striving to be healthier/feeling fit and also while letting myself eat everything in sight/gain 25#(eek). It was an eye-opener. 5 -
I went from January to Easter without chocolate, not even a chocolate topped biscuit, but Easter was a nightmare. I ate so much of it that I realised I couldn't completely cut something out permanently. This isn't the first time I've tried this - I now realise that complete bans do not work long-term for me. It also sends unhealthy messages too - I felt I 'deserved' chocolate having gone so long without it, but then felt so guilty for indulging. This isn't the relationship I want with food. So no foods are off limits now.
Currently I am working on the idea of 'little and often', so I never feel like I'm going without. Generally, reducing sugar in my diet has been important, I dont' crave it like I used to, so a little bit of chocolate, is much more satisfying than it was before and doesn't feed the addiction as much. It's a work in progress though.
Not for everyone I know, yoga and meditation has helped me reduce my stress levels, which has helped!5 -
I have eliminated potato chips. If i ate potato chips in portions allowable in my intake, I would still lose weight. But I cannot do this unless I don't eat anything else (ie I am unable to stop at the appropriate time). So they had to go. I find I don't feel deprived if I don't eat them, but if I eat a small amount I feel very deprived because I want to eat ALL. THE. AMOUNTS! I've switched to popcorn because it's salty and I'm able to stop at my allotted portion. Most times.2
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I definitely have some foods that need to be bought in single servings only and/or not brought home. I'll have an ice cream cone while out riding (but don't have any at home)(FYI- I have about 130 local-ish ice cream stands tagged in google maps for ease of this). The quick-riding/running fuel items (Mini Clif Bars and fruit snacks) and post-ride snacks (for myself and to share in the parking lot after the ride..most commonly salt & vinegar pork rinds) reside in the car (they would have to be taken down to it anyway if I kept most upstairs). Stuff I can't get in single servings, I'll sometimes buy for potlucks/post-ride/run-group snacks/dance event snack table. Some other stuff I only eat when at a pub with the group after the group run/ride.0
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richardgavel wrote: »The biggest issue for me has always been soda. For a long time, I wouldn't let myself buy it at the grocery to put in the fridge. I would have to walk out of the house to the 7/11 a block away to get it. Eventually I started getting the 7oz cans instead and only keeping one in the fridge. There is value in conquering your trigger foods.
Diet soda is actually something I've been buying more...it distracts me away from potential excess snacking if in a group situation surrounded by all the tasty things.4 -
It can be wise to avoid 'triggers' or only allow them in controlled circumstances. Twizzler Nibs: I do not buy because they come in multi-serving bags and I am very likely to eat the whole bag. I wish it came in mini packs! And 10 minutes after the bag is empty I know I'll have that 'I ate too much candy' sick to my stomach feeling. But while I'm eating them, I feel fine and 'just a few more' repeats over & over again. Other candies: do not have this same impact on me. I bought a bag of Skittles recently (one meant for 'sharing') and ate it 75-100 cals at a time over the course of a week approximately.0
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Ps-changing habits in little ways can be effective.
Week days I'm out of the house early and used to graze for breakfast. A little bit of food every 60-90 minutes. It adds up. Now when I get to the office I do a 15-20 minute walk and drink 2-3 cups of water. That holds me for a bit, somehow the combo of activity & water: I'm not hungry right away. I gain that time because traffic is lighter with school being out. I could sleep longer, leave the house later: but figure it is best to still wake up, leave at my normal time.0 -
Twizzlers are one of mine too. and peanut butter. and nuts.0
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I'd say never say never. You can cut down on how often you eat certain things without eliminating them completely.
For instance, I had to switch from rice or pasta and meat for dinner to vegetables and meat while I'm losing weight. I miss my starches very much but I like big meals and, I cannot lie, there was no way I could fit an 800-900 calorie dinner into a caloric deficit without being starving and unhappy the rest of the day.
But that's not to say I can't cook a pot of rice every now and then when I really feel like it...0 -
Have you tried starting your day with a morning tea ritual? It makes me sad that you don't even really like the taste of coffee but feel you have to have it. There are so many varieties of tea.... maybe you'll find one you really like or the variety itself will be satisfying to you?
I have a couple friends who for various reasons had to stop coffee and they switch to tea (hot and cold) and enjoyed it just as much. I love coffee and it suppresses appetite for me. I often feel hungry when doing morning cardio but after a couple cups of coffee, I'm fine delaying my first meal several hours. If it somehow stimulates your appetite, maybe switching to tea would kill 2 birds with one stone?
I'm like the others in that I can moderate myself with some foods better than with others, and there are some foods it's just better not to keep at home. It's a good strategy, and I don't feel deprived. I still enjoy those foods, just not in large uncontrolled quantities at home.1 -
Snacking at home was never my issue, instead snacking at work was, so I had to learn to deal with it being around.
That said, if you think it would help to eliminate foods (I did that for a while) and not buy them, try that. No harm from trying it.1 -
I definitely have some foods that need to be bought in single servings only and/or not brought home. I'll have an ice cream cone while out riding (but don't have any at home)(FYI- I have about 130 local-ish ice cream stands tagged in google maps for ease of this). The quick-riding/running fuel items (Mini Clif Bars and fruit snacks) and post-ride snacks (for myself and to share in the parking lot after the ride..most commonly salt & vinegar pork rinds) reside in the car (they would have to be taken down to it anyway if I kept most upstairs). Stuff I can't get in single servings, I'll sometimes buy for potlucks/post-ride/run-group snacks/dance event snack table. Some other stuff I only eat when at a pub with the group after the group run/ride.
Oh, yeah - that potluck/group one is a good one. (I forgot about it because it's been so long since pre-corona potlucks . . . .
).
I've done that with salted macadamia nuts, or a fancied-up focaccia bread (with sun-dried tomatoes, feta, olive oil
) that a local artisan baker makes or some richer home-made foods that either don't freeze well or that I'd struggle to moderate (filo cheese pie with rosemary, for one, and there's this amazing fresh raspberry marzipan cake . . . !).
Must stop thinking about yummy homemade potluck-only foods. Must stop thinking about yummy homemade potluck-only foods.
1 -
I definitely have some foods that need to be bought in single servings only and/or not brought home. I'll have an ice cream cone while out riding (but don't have any at home)(FYI- I have about 130 local-ish ice cream stands tagged in google maps for ease of this). The quick-riding/running fuel items (Mini Clif Bars and fruit snacks) and post-ride snacks (for myself and to share in the parking lot after the ride..most commonly salt & vinegar pork rinds) reside in the car (they would have to be taken down to it anyway if I kept most upstairs). Stuff I can't get in single servings, I'll sometimes buy for potlucks/post-ride/run-group snacks/dance event snack table. Some other stuff I only eat when at a pub with the group after the group run/ride.
Oh, yeah - that potluck/group one is a good one. (I forgot about it because it's been so long since pre-corona potlucks . . . . ).
I've done that with salted macadamia nuts, or a fancied-up focaccia bread (with sun-dried tomatoes, feta, olive oil ) that a local artisan baker makes or some richer home-made foods that either don't freeze well or that I'd struggle to moderate (filo cheese pie with rosemary, for one, and there's this amazing fresh raspberry marzipan cake . . . !).
Must stop thinking about yummy homemade potluck-only foods. Must stop thinking about yummy homemade potluck-only foods.
me too. One of mine when time allows was crackers topped with baked brie and raspberry preserves/jam. (also a large portion of the very evil must-have-immense-self-control-to-not-impulse-shop-all-the-tasty-gourmet-yet-monetarily-cheap-foodstuffs Aldi's store (coincidentally, where I buy the fore-mentioned brie and raspberry jam - my goto store for potluck purchases).2 -
I definitely have some foods that need to be bought in single servings only and/or not brought home. I'll have an ice cream cone while out riding (but don't have any at home)(FYI- I have about 130 local-ish ice cream stands tagged in google maps for ease of this). The quick-riding/running fuel items (Mini Clif Bars and fruit snacks) and post-ride snacks (for myself and to share in the parking lot after the ride..most commonly salt & vinegar pork rinds) reside in the car (they would have to be taken down to it anyway if I kept most upstairs). Stuff I can't get in single servings, I'll sometimes buy for potlucks/post-ride/run-group snacks/dance event snack table. Some other stuff I only eat when at a pub with the group after the group run/ride.
Oh, yeah - that potluck/group one is a good one. (I forgot about it because it's been so long since pre-corona potlucks . . . . ).
I've done that with salted macadamia nuts, or a fancied-up focaccia bread (with sun-dried tomatoes, feta, olive oil ) that a local artisan baker makes or some richer home-made foods that either don't freeze well or that I'd struggle to moderate (filo cheese pie with rosemary, for one, and there's this amazing fresh raspberry marzipan cake . . . !).
Must stop thinking about yummy homemade potluck-only foods. Must stop thinking about yummy homemade potluck-only foods.
me too. One of mine when time allows was crackers topped with baked brie and raspberry preserves/jam. (also a large portion of the very evil must-have-immense-self-control-to-not-impulse-shop-all-the-tasty-gourmet-yet-monetarily-cheap-foodstuffs Aldi's store (coincidentally, where I buy the fore-mentioned brie and raspberry jam - my goto store for potluck purchases).
Happily, brie is a food it turns out I *can* moderate, one delicious ounce per day, when I have it in the house. So luxurious! (Around 100 calories, 5g protein, 9g fat - and fat is the one I tend to be short on, if any. Yeah, it's sat fat. Lots of my other fat is MUFA/PUFA, so I'm not deeply worried.)
But I hear you. I'm making a mental note about that appetizer, since it sound pretty easy. So many potluck treats are soooo effort intensive (I guess I should appreciate the tiny calore burn from the prep? ). 1 -
I think it might be worth asking yourself why the food not being in the house is a solution to the problem. What is to keep you from having a craving and then leaving the house to go buy the food? If the same craving must be satisfied if the food is in your home why is it optional to satisfy it if the food has to be procured?
How about this scenario... you have an intense craving and the food is in the house so you fix a plate. You take 3 bites and it is the best that you believe you have ever had. Suddenly there is someone at the door. It is someone very close to you in emotional distress. Do you tell this person to press pause on their emotional needs while you finish the plate of food?
The lie of cravings in the moment is that they must be satisfied. The reality is we know there are times that it is not possible and nothing bad happens. There are times we decide that because the food is not readily available that getting it is more trouble than it is worth. Why is that? Because the pleasure of food never lasts. The only way to get more is to take another bite and then experience the brief moment of pleasure before another bite is needed. No matter what you are eating it won't take long before the food is gone so even if you are craving a large pizza it will likely take more time to go get it than you will spend eating it. Food cravings can be easily overridden by the craving to stay home in your PJs after a long day.
The other lie of cravings is that it is the cravings that compels us. It is the habit of satisfying craving that is hard to shake. The easier it is to satisfy the more our auto-pilot wants to just do it. Breaking out of auto-pilot is unpleasant and it is compounded by denying the (brief) pleasure of food.
That is not to say that while you come to terms with awareness and practicing some CBT it may be best to keep the food only you eat and crave out of the house. It is ALWAYS a good idea to keep food you have an impulse to eat out of sight. You do not ever want to be advertising to yourself. Advertise a bowl of fruit not a bowl of candy.
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Thanks OP for posting this-- I have been thinking along the same lines lately. I've really enjoyed reading through the advice in this thread.
I have been trying to ditch that "all or nothing" mindset and allow treats in the house on a regular basis. My problem is that I have not been successful yet at moderating them.
I bought Oreos. GONE in 2 days. I bought big 290 calorie ice cream cones. GONE in 2 days. (I thought maybe having the bigger ones would help me to weigh the risks of an extra 300 calories as opposed to a smaller one. Nope.) I bought individually packaged smaller versions of both. Still GONE.
As much as I'd like to work through these issues and be the type of person that can just keep this stuff in the house nonchalantly, I have goals I'd like to reach too and keeping it out of the house may be better for where I am at now.6
This discussion has been closed.
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