Help with increasing strength of willpower

watkinsc

I'm looking for advice on how to strengthen my willpower. I no longer will go out of my way to satisfy a craving (hey kids, let's get ice cream was once one of my favorites), but if it is right there in front of me, it's like I don't even think about how it affects my body. If someone brings donuts, cookies, etc to work, it's like I am a kid again, and I indulge. Or if I attend a party or even a meeting and there is a sweet treat, I just can't seem to say no. I was wondering how the rest of you 'just say no' when it is right there in front of you.. I've tried walking away, but it keeps buggin' me almost to the point of frustration, and I eventually indulge. It is such a self-defeating mechanism that is in place right now. Any advice is most certainly welcomed here!

4lafz

Buy or make some low cal sweet treats. Bring something with you to work for occasions like "donut day" and make sure you treat yourself everyday - gives you something to get excited about and helps with saying no to the bad stuff.

Allieballie

don't know if this helps, but usually someone who is also watching what they eat will be willing to split something small with you. Sometimes I just want the taste of a treat, and the feeling that I"m not completely denying myself. It's not always possible to indulge, but a small indulgence of a half a treat is sometimes just the trick.

Allieballie

sorry, posted twice for some reason. my bad!

tigerblue

Try moderately treating yourself. (one donut, not four!!) And then account for it in your log and either cut calories at a later meal, or exercise it off. This has worked for me for 10 months now.

THISisTARRAN

I am a firm believer that you can eat whatever you like, you just have to account for it and eat smaller portions. So my advice to you would be to INDULGE, but don't over indulge. Also, knowing the calories of something before you eat it helps a lot too. For examples I eat and Einstein Bros bagel and cream cheese for breakfast sometimes, I just get the healthiest bagel and healthiest spread that I can. I hope that this helps some.

NoAdditives

I just say no. If I know I have the calories available to eat a treat after I've eaten my regular meals I'll have one if I want one, but if I know it means I'll go over my calorie goal I won't do it. It's just not worth it. I know how hard I'm working and I don't want to undo that work. Knowing how much work it takes to burn calories helps a lot. Seeing the amount of time I spend on a machine at the gym and seeing the number of calories I burn really helps put things in perspective.

Ngolden1

I am this same way. It does not work at all for me to just have a little. Sugar is addictive and the taste of it will leave me wanting more. I think the best bet is to just say NO to any bite whatsoever. Don't even consider it. Put that policy in place at the beginning of your day so you are prepared when the treat is offered. It's all about your mindset. For me, one bite leads to another and another...

THISisTARRAN

Try moderately treating yourself. (one donut, not four!!) And then account for it in your log and either cut calories at a later meal, or exercise it off. This has worked for me for 10 months now.

I agree!

ChancyW

If you have the MFP app on your phone. Log your calories BEFORE you eat anything! It always makes me think twice about what I am eating. If you are eating consciously, you will probably eat less.

I also don't keep crap in my house and when I make dessert, it always goes home with someone so I don't eat it all. :-)


The longer you go without eating stuff like that, the more the cravings will diminish.

-Chancy

watkinsc

Thanks for the ideas! I will try them out, see what works best for me.. I really appreciate the input!

elainegsd

My office has donuts every single freaking Friday. I make sure that on my way in, I get a Cafe Americano from Starbucks so that I can have something special that I consider a treat. I also work really hard on not going near the donuts until I'm sure that all my favorite kinds are gone. Other things I consider healthy treats... frozen sweet cherries from Whole Foods, wasabi almonds, Oikos Greek nonfat chocolate yogurt, you get the picture. The beauty of the almonds is that I can stash them in my drawer and have a ready supply.

Is there something healthy that you consider a treat that you could bring along?

watkinsc

My office has donuts every single freaking Friday. I make sure that on my way in, I get a Cafe Americano from Starbucks so that I can have something special that I consider a treat. I also work really hard on not going near the donuts until I'm sure that all my favorite kinds are gone. Other things I consider healthy treats... frozen sweet cherries from Whole Foods, wasabi almonds, Oikos Greek nonfat chocolate yogurt, you get the picture. The beauty of the almonds is that I can stash them in my drawer and have a ready supply.

Is there something healthy that you consider a treat that you could bring along?

I tried bringing my Kashi bars, but a couple of times I ended up eating the Kashi AND having the treat! Yikes!

potluck965

As a friend of mine is fond of saying, "it isn't willpower, it's won't power"

You just have to have the mind set that indulging is just not worth it. You have to keep your eye on the prize.