I honestly can't stop bingeing on junk after school, help
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Well, if you "honestly can't stop" you will continue to gain weight and undermine your health, simple as that. Ther is no point in sugarcoating... nobody is going to put a muzzle on you when you get home and protect you from yopurself. If you don't have the willpower to buckle down and do the right thing, nobody can do it for you. People will say this is harsh, but " oh poor baby I know how hard it is we've all been there" will accomplish nothing. You may need therapy to deal with underlining issues, but bottom line, it's up to you, cupcake, good luck.
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As for your parents... make sure they see you smash the cake (etc.) and throw it in the trash. That may get the idea through their heads. Right now they are in control, since you don't seem able to control yourself. Change that. Taking your frustration out on that cake will feel so much better than eating it would. Throw out the junk, have some backbone, and make your point clear.0
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I ALWAYS did after school. The problem is all the stress you have to deal with all day. You get home and just want comfort. Best idea is to hurry up and sneak a workout in for that hour when you get home from school instead of eating. Then eat after. Any money, because you worked out you won't want to ruin the progress by pigging out. Good luck!
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hello!
the field of behavioural training has made clear that changing behaviour is HARD - and the best/easiest way to make a long-lasting change is to replace one habit with another. that's why some smokers are successful after replacing cigarettes with chewing gum, for example. willpower is actually a very weak force, compared to our habits that are engraved on our brain neurons.
that's also why the poster upthread said that changing her entry method into her house helped her break the afterschool bingse - she replaced the habit of "front door -> kitchen -> food" to "back door -> bedroom -> M.A.S.H.
so let's brainstorm what we can replace this bad habit with...and also figure out how to handle your parents.
S
Hmm... I DID actually manage to break my binge cycle before, my willpower was so high, and it worked for a few months, I basically came home and ate grapes with nuts instead, until I started going OTT with the nuts and had to cut them out as they started to taste so good. I think I'll try that again though as in coming home, eating maybe an apple and a banana or maybe a 70kcal ice pop if I'm craving sugar, then working out or something, I'll try and get out of the house more as well after school so I won't be near any of my triggers. In the mean time, since telling my parents I want to be healthy isn't exactly working well with them, I'll just say I don't want my teeth getting cavities so I can't eat junk. Maybe this way will work.0 -
Well, if you "honestly can't stop" you will continue to gain weight and undermine your health, simple as that. Ther is no point in sugarcoating... nobody is going to put a muzzle on you when you get home and protect you from yopurself. If you don't have the willpower to buckle down and do the right thing, nobody can do it for you. People will say this is harsh, but " oh poor baby I know how hard it is we've all been there" will accomplish nothing. You may need therapy to deal with underlining issues, but bottom line, it's up to you, cupcake, good luck.
No it isn't even harsh, I agree with you completely. If I had the willpower I used to have, I'd resist the urges like I once did, but I don't any more. I think I'll just wait until these birthday commitments blow over which is a few days anyway. I'll give most of the chocolate cake away too, then I can go shopping for healthy foods after and won't have to worry so much about eating cake, dealing with junk food presents or going to fast food restaurants for pre-booked birthday reservations! I'll just enjoy it seeing as it comes once a year then start next week the right way as I have no excuse not to then.
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I ALWAYS did after school. The problem is all the stress you have to deal with all day. You get home and just want comfort. Best idea is to hurry up and sneak a workout in for that hour when you get home from school instead of eating. Then eat after. Any money, because you worked out you won't want to ruin the progress by pigging out. Good luck!
Definitely. It's weird because if I'm angry or upset the last thing I think about is junk food because it makes me feel happy and I don't want to feel happy at that precise moment. I see junk as comfort when I get home though, I actually look forward to it in the last hour of school thinking 'not long now before I get to eat chocolate, ice cream, cake, candy etc' and just the thought gets me happier, I guess it's time to find other things to look forward to now!0 -
I used to have that after work, I would come home and be ravenous! I find that If I snack on something with protein like a piece of cheese or nuts, it helps keep the binging at bay. For me, I can't ever let myself reach that insanely hungry point. Small snacks help me eat small meals, all of which keeps my hunger level steady.0
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Oh and lots of water when you get home.0
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Hey!!! I have been there before. I could probably write a hilariously long novel about my crazy snacking hi-jinks in the middle of the night. This is what I have done to help me...
1. I don't buy bad food. (It's really hard for me. For example, I thought I had self control and bought a box of Thin Mints. WRONG! I ate a whole box in two days!) If it's not around, I can't eat it.
2. Surround myself with high protein, low carb options. (Nuts, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, protein shakes, cheese sticks, etc.) The protein will take longer to process and keep you fuller, longer.
3. MEASURE everything! Even though I feel like I've become a pro at measuring, my eyes often think things are smaller than they really are.
4. Avoid sugary drinks and alcohols. Drinking water, lower calorie juice, and Crystal Light are good options. Instead of sugary mixed drinks, try wine (if you are old enough to drink).
The problem I'm having currently is with number 1 because I don't get much of a say in the food, my parents do and they insist on buying me ridiculous amounts of junk food when I beg them not to every week. I've told them repeatedly to stop buying me giant chocolate cakes and cookies everyday as I can't resist them, they promise they won't, only to buy me it the next day as a 'surprise'! I literally go to the grocery store with them each week and they'll say the cookies are for my brother only to put them in my bedroom drawer lol. THAT'S the food I end up bingeing on. I suppose I have no excuse though, I think I just need to have more motivation to not touch it even if it's there tempting me.
Are you serious? Why are your parents encouraging your failure? I've noticed when friends do that to me it's because they are jealous haters. Stay strong. And as my friend Scott says "Girl, do what I do. Just spray some Windex on it. Then you won't eat it"
Haha yes it really sucks! I don't think they understand how important it is to me, and since I loved junk as a kid, they think I still do when I don't really! I love the idea of spraying something onto the food, I'll do that next time once I get some junk in my possession.
Since you are using myfitmesspal I am assuming you want to lose the weight but you never will be able to unless you really really want to. Its all in your mind. Junk food is ALWAYS going to be around and you have to have the will power to say no thank you and step away. I workout in the mornings before work because then when I have the opportunity to eat something bad I choose not to because I don't want to waste all my hard work I did that morning. So for me it is simply just getting angry and saying I will not have to lose the weight i've already lost again by gaining it back after all my hard work.
Just get mad and say no!!!!!
As for your parents if you stop eating it they will stop wasting their money. Not a fan of the whole spraying something on it as there are lots of hungry people in this world.0 -
I ALWAYS did after school. The problem is all the stress you have to deal with all day. You get home and just want comfort. Best idea is to hurry up and sneak a workout in for that hour when you get home from school instead of eating. Then eat after. Any money, because you worked out you won't want to ruin the progress by pigging out. Good luck!
Definitely. It's weird because if I'm angry or upset the last thing I think about is junk food because it makes me feel happy and I don't want to feel happy at that precise moment. I see junk as comfort when I get home though, I actually look forward to it in the last hour of school thinking 'not long now before I get to eat chocolate, ice cream, cake, candy etc' and just the thought gets me happier, I guess it's time to find other things to look forward to now!
Yes!! Maybe you could make working out your new thing to relieve stress and look forward to that after school!!! Because junk food is a temporary fix and ultimately isn't a fix at all because you are then upset about not losing and binging.0 -
I ALWAYS did after school. The problem is all the stress you have to deal with all day. You get home and just want comfort. Best idea is to hurry up and sneak a workout in for that hour when you get home from school instead of eating. Then eat after. Any money, because you worked out you won't want to ruin the progress by pigging out. Good luck!
Definitely. It's weird because if I'm angry or upset the last thing I think about is junk food because it makes me feel happy and I don't want to feel happy at that precise moment. I see junk as comfort when I get home though, I actually look forward to it in the last hour of school thinking 'not long now before I get to eat chocolate, ice cream, cake, candy etc' and just the thought gets me happier, I guess it's time to find other things to look forward to now!
To tell you the truth, I used to be that way too, and still can be, looking forward to the treats. I have had to work on how I think about food. Now I don't restrict myself, I do still eat treats, but I make them fit into my calories for the day. So, maybe that means just one pack of peanut m&m's out of the vending machine for 250 calories instead of two which I would normally want to eat. I also think of it now as fuel. I know that I will have a better workout if I am fueling my body properly, that means getting enough protein/fats/carbs. You can still eat the "junk", losing weight is all about the number of calories after all, but you will be more full and have more energy with a more balanced diet. Start setting some fitness goals, something else to think about instead of food and something that will guide you towards eating better to improve. Maybe it will be just walking a mile further, or jogging, or being able to do a real pushup, then 5 pushups, then 10 and ever increasing. Whatever it is that you like and will do, it doesn't really matter what exercise it is.0 -
why not eat dinner earlier than plan a before bed snack?? we started eating at four or five no later and it has helped out a lot. if not my husband tries to eat everything in site after work. as far as birthday cake goes. don't eat the whole thing if you don't want to. have a tiny bit. or ... preplan it in your day. as far as the upcoming fast food restaurant tour goes.. wtf. don't they let you choose where to go on your own birthday?? ask for a place that at least has their menu on a website so you can preplan for that as well.
Have better snacks at home to eat. greek yougurt, single serve peanut butters with celery, protein bars, pack of oatmeal, an apple or other fruit, celery and salsa (its great trust me) Staying in control begins in the grocery store.0 -
Typically early evening when I get back from work is my low point. Instead of waiting for a socially acceptable time (i.e. 7-9pm) to eat dinner and then end up bingeing on junk, I just eat a lightish dinner straight away then go to the gym. I have a post gym snack late evening (10pm). This is a recent development but seems to work for me.
(My dinner is pre-made and in the fridge so it takes 5 minutes to heat up). Difficult if you live at home but if you had a stash of fruit (apples are quite good - sweet with lots of water and fibre) that would help. It also sounds counterintuitive but if you let yourself have a little bit of 'junk' earlier in the day (i.e. a cookie at lunchtime) you'll have better reserves of willpower later in the day to resist the junk in the house.0 -
Haha should have read this. Said everything better than I could.why not eat dinner earlier than plan a before bed snack?? we started eating at four or five no later and it has helped out a lot. if not my husband tries to eat everything in site after work. as far as birthday cake goes. don't eat the whole thing if you don't want to. have a tiny bit. or ... preplan it in your day. as far as the upcoming fast food restaurant tour goes.. wtf. don't they let you choose where to go on your own birthday?? ask for a place that at least has their menu on a website so you can preplan for that as well.
Have better snacks at home to eat. greek yougurt, single serve peanut butters with celery, protein bars, pack of oatmeal, an apple or other fruit, celery and salsa (its great trust me) Staying in control begins in the grocery store.0 -
You could just throw out the junk food. How many times would you have to do that before your parents got the hint and quit wasting money on stuff you throw out?
I tried to throw it out once but I felt really guilty even though I probably shouldn't. Instead, I've been giving it to my friends, siblings and parents once their junk food stashes have run out since I tend to have tons of unopened junk lying around everywhere these days.
seems like a huge waste of money to me. cant you go with them and pick out better stuff to eat? apparently they are the food buyers. start telling them you don't like those things anymore and something else is your favorite. this is exactly why kids are turning out obese these days: everyone has a "stash" of junkfood? not when my kids lived in the house. Even though they are pretty much grown, I would flip if they had food all up in their drawers like freaking mice trying to attract bugs. I don't know what to tell you on why parents do what they do. YOu do have the control of what goes in your room and what goes in your mouth. Be strong. Its that person in the mirror that will be with you for the rest of your life. Now do you want a long or a short life? Sugars and carbs only lead to a shorter life. Just saying.0 -
Try a change in routine. Do not go home straight after school. Stay out of your house, take a walk around the neighbourhood or park just for half an hour till the cravings goes away. Train your mind NOT to expect food straight away after returning from school. I find this works marvellously for my case.0
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I had a problem like that years ago, but it was when I got off work at 11 pm. I'd go home and start snacking.
After months of trying to control myself and mostly failing, one day I got a new idea. I decided to start a new habit by going in a different door. Instead of going in the front door, I went to the back of the house and entered through the back door. Then I went upstairs, got into my pajamas and/or robe, and turned on the television to watch an episode of MASH. After MASH, if I really felt hungry, I'd go back downstairs to have a small snack, like a piece of cheese and an apple or yogurt. I think it was going in the back door that made the big difference. It broke me out of my rut.
Actually this lady has a point. I would go to my mum's place and the first thing I will do is look in the fridge even though I had not lived there for several years. Any smoker or drinker will have tried to quit, says it is the habit that brings them back. I smoke for 8 years and quit 50 times before I actually quit. The problem with my food addiction is you still have to eat.
So I think there are good pointers in these thread
1) Give your parents a shopping list of foods you want to eat that are good for you and talk to them again. Maybe you have a relative or adult who understands what you are trying to do that may be able to talk to your parents and give them a different spective on eating healthy foods
2) Eat more at breakfast and school. You most likely are exercising more than you think and your body needs more fuel. Plus you are still growing and changing that takes a lot of energy as well. I am not say to go over board but to eat a little bit more protein and fibre each day will help.
3) take afternoon tea with you and then go to the park or go in a different door. Eat that afternoon tea rather than going to the kitchen. Destress some other way and break the habit. It takes about a few weeks of constantly change to change a Habit. And the best way to substitute that habit for something else.
I hope this helps
Also - glucose and Fructose make up sugar. It is the Fructose that is just as addictive as smoking or drinking. You may want to research this. It may help.0 -
Every time I wanted to snack or sleep when it wasn't time to, I took a walk around the block or popped in an exercise DVD or even just did sit ups. Every time. For a month. Then I stopped wanting to do It. I have certain times I can snack and eat meals and I log everything. I also have my calorie settings to only lose a pound a week. I've only lost 11 pounds since November, but I don't binge anymore. I've lost two sizes because I also exercise. I eat whatever I want to. I just have to scale back the portions to meet my daily calories number. If I want Pop Tarts, I can either eat 6-7 of them in one sitting and hit my daily max calories, or I can eat 1 and have other meals. Simpke.0
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Sometimes, I just want to munch away. Baby carrots, snap peas, chopped celery, chopped peppers, tablespoon of hummus (flavored or not). And chew to your heart's content. Eventually, hopefully, surprise, this is what you will start to look forward to.0
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What is your current weight and height? Is it possible your parents think you need more calories?0
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How can we help? By telling you not to do it?0
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Instead of "eating clean all" the time, why don't you try a program called IIFYM/flexible dieting? People who follow this program calculate their daily macros (protein, carbs, fat grams) and then eat to fill those up, no more, no less. I've been on IIFYM for a while now and at the end of the day I can have a Poptart or a hug bowl of cereal + peanut butter chocolate oreos because it fits my macros
I used to "eat clean" and then BINGE like crazy because I was eating boring food all day long (chicken breast, steamed veggies, tilapia, etc...) and it was driving me crazy. So I would binge and then feel bad and tell myself to start over the next day but I did this for so long and so many times that it began to affect my goals.0 -
Start taking on some responsibility yourself.... Dump the junk! Just leave it in your parents room whenever you find it in yours. One night a week - you cook for the family. Find a 'healthy' version of pizza (or whatever) that you think everyone will like (but don't tell them that it's healthy) and cook dinner. If you start preparing this straight after school, it might be ready sooner than normal, but as a result, you probably won't binge.
Start researching some healthy options of your family's favourite foods. Write a shopping list for a couple of dinners that you can cook and do the shopping for them. Whoever cooks dinner will probably be happy that you want to help out. Start once or twice a week and build from there.
If you're busy planning and getting some experience in the kitchen - it will serve you well when you leave home, and as you are organising, you might be too busy to think about the rubbish food around the place.
For other days - have veggie sticks or fruit salad in the fridge ready to go, almonds, low fat yoghurt or cheese, cooked skinless chicken drumsticks, little cans of tuna, popcorn (low salt, no butter version!), make a pot of veggie soup on the weekend keep it in the fridge and eat it whenever you want (use cruskits or other instead of bread with it!), frozen grapes are yummy and 'snacky.' Low fat ice cream can be a good now and then treat.
Most of the fast food places have healthy options available. Research before you go and if they don't have healthy food, eat healthy before you go and only have a small portion at the restaurant.
Eat and enjoy the birthday cake.
This is one of the few times in your life that it will be easier to find time to do these things - use it so you're a healthy adult and can enjoy life to its fullest!0
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