why cant i just do it?

skjones0323

I totally get what you're saying. Nights are the worst for me too!! Something about being anonymous. I have a couple of things that have helped me in the past.. Set a time (or a meal) after which the kitchen is closed. Clean it up and make it off limits for the rest of the night. A thin friend of mine recommended that some nights I just go on to bed if I feel like I can't control myself. That has helped. Filling myself up with water helps because it stretches my stomach out, but then I have to get up several times during the night. Sometimes I chew gum obsessively, like a whole pack of sugar free gum. I ask myself if I am truly hungry and usually I'm not so I just tell myself verbally, "you're not hungry, you don't need to eat. A few nights I really was hungry, I few nights I told myself that going to bed hungry would result in calories burned while sleeping; a few other nights I had a 100 calorie protein shake with 15 grams of protein and they fill me up. Another thing I have recently started to do is look in the mirror and ask myself, "Do you still need to lose weight?" The answer is yes, so then I tell myself, "You don't need anything else to eat." Practice makes perfect. Celebrate the first night (tonight?!?) you go without snacking! Brag here! Make a big deal out of it and then try to strong a few days together. There will be ups and downs. Get back on the horse. String more days together, get your first week, then your first few weeks. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

my_chrystal82

This was definitely my problem a few months back.
What has worked for me is work that I've put into breakfast.
First of all, I now eat breakfast. And atleast 40 g of protein in breakfast alone. Protein helps to make you feel full longer. I've also increased my water intake from about 4 glasses a day, to about 12-16 glasses a day. Adding those two simple things-breakfast with protein, and lots of water, have really helped curb my night time snacking.

I personally feel like I have to trick my body into eating new things, and forming new habits. After 20+ years of doing things the same way, sometimes it's necessary to get creative!

Good luck!

Hellbent_Heidi

Maybe you really DO want to lose weight,. Almost everyone who is overweight "wants" to lose, but so many aren't willing to put in the work it takes to make it happen. Focus on wanting to change the bad habits that got you to this point, even if its one habit at a time......but you have want to do the work to see the results.

MinnieInMaine

Good question. Tough love... Have you really put thought into why you're not able to say no to those snacks? Why isn't your health important enough for you to make this commitment? Don't you think you're worth it? How about your family and friends - don't they deserve to have you around and not be worried about your health?

One of my friends actually asked me "how come you regained the weight?" after yet another failed dieiting attempt and at first I just kind of blew it off but it was such a blunt honest question, I couldn't get it out of my head. So I really put some thought into it. Why was I having such a hard time sticking to it? What were the reasons I failed over and over?

For me the major issue was deprivation. I thought losing weight meant that I had to eat cottage cheese and salads and not be able to eat pizza or chocolate and basically starve myself . Of course that doesn't work long term! So this time I made small adjustments. I tweaked my fave recipes to make them lower in cal/fat and found ways to portion them out. And I still eat pizza and take-out but limit it to once a week and make better choices (veg toppings, thin crust, etc)

Of course we all want to be fit and healthy and maybe even "skinny" but wanting it's not enough. You have to understand what it takes to get there, set goals and come up with a plan you can stick with. I'd like to win the lottery but that's not going to happen if I don't buy a ticket...KWIM?

davis978

What you are struggling with is really normal. Look how many other people have said it's hard for them too?

The first and most important thing to do is figure out whether it's hunger or habit. If it's truly hunger, try eating more protein and fiber for dinner.

If it's habit, you have to crush it. There's no magic secret. Set your reasonable goal (i.e. "tonight I will have x grams of x food for snack, and nothing else"). Then, keep your promise to yourself, JUST FOR THIS ONE DAY. Don't worry about every other day after this one, just get through this one. Tell yourself that tomorrow you can go back to your old ways, but for today, you are doing to do this no matter what. Everyone can do this one time. Absolutely everyone.

When you get up tomorrow, think about how great it feels. Decide whether to do it again. I hope you will decide it's worth it. Sometimes you will not keep your promise. Then, you will have to decide the next morning whether to start keeping your promise again.

You are dealing with what is probably a very long term habit. Those don't go away just because you want them to.

AdaVanderlyle

I have had high blood pressure for 25+ years. I started MFP (and did what needed to be done) 6 weeks ago. I have been off Blood pressure medication for 2 weeks and have normal BP now.
Here is what 6 weeks of doing this gave me:

You've lost 30 pounds in 6 weeks? Wow...great job, bravo!

LinziT123

hey guys ive been reading all your replies and i want to thank you,

being healthy is what everyone wants and the answer to my problem really is just get it done! nobody else can make me better but me, and i also have to get it into my head that it isnt going to happen over night, im not going to get into my jeans tommorow, or even next month so maybe my problem is impatience?

as for my snacking, i gues im gonna have to ask myself when i go to the fridge "is this going to help me? sure it'lltaste good but is it going feel as good as being successful in reaching my goal?

i know this looks like im rambling on a bit but thanks guys xx

nutmegoreo

hey guys ive been reading all your replies and i want to thank you,

being healthy is what everyone wants and the answer to my problem really is just get it done! nobody else can make me better but me, and i also have to get it into my head that it isnt going to happen over night, im not going to get into my jeans tommorow, or even next month so maybe my problem is impatience?

as for my snacking, i gues im gonna have to ask myself when i go to the fridge "is this going to help me? sure it'lltaste good but is it going feel as good as being successful in reaching my goal?

i know this looks like im rambling on a bit but thanks guys xx

Patience is probably the most challenging part for me. I want it gone yesterday. I want my younger, healthier, more fit body back. It sucks to not be able to do the things I used to. It sucks to be hurting (physically and emotionally), and it sucks to accept that I did this to myself. All you can do is your best to make each day better than the last. Make better choices today, because the time will pass regardless. Be kind and forgiving with yourself. Add some friends for motivation. When you see what they get up to, it can really push you forward.

MinnieInMaine

Patience is one of those things no one really talks about with dieting but it's a HUGE part of it.

Your reply gave me an idea - how about posting something on your fridge to help remind you that you don't need that snack. There are a ton of motivational sayings on Pinterest. Pick one per week and switch it up so it doesn't get to be old hat and you end up overlooking it after a while. Make it part of your weekly routine like watering the plants. Put them on colorful paper and decorate with stickers. Ok, that might be a bit much but seriously whatever works!

I know for me, sometimes I just want to eat out of boredom. If you think that has anything to do with why you head to the fridge, become more mindful, stop yourself and find something else to do. I get easily bored so I like to occupy my mind with things like puzzle games on my tablet/phone or even crossword puzzles while I watch TV. Or I just shut the TV off and read a good book. Hours can pass that way without me even realizing it. Or get off your butt all together and go for a walk.

Also want to say, there's nothing wrong with snacking in and of itself as long as you have calories left in your day. I personally love those 100 cal bags of light butter popcorn. They're portioned out so you don't have to think about how many servings and can just mindlessly eat the whole bag. Or make your own snack bags - pop up a bunch of popcorn (or make trail mix or buy a big bag of chips) and portion them out with labels to say how many calories so you can grab whatever fits and enjoy without worrying.

muggzie399

Watching your calories, then read the labels. I started MFP in the beginning of May. I was a lazy snacker. I had gone up to 180 lbs. The heaviest I have ever been even while being pregnant. I lived on ice cream and watched lbs. creeping up. That was the end. No more.

I gave up the ice cream which was pure withdrawl. I switched to like, strawberries and raspberries with cool whip. Calorie amount surprisingly low. I actually looked forward to it. Then came the frozen greek yogurt bars, low in calories, sugar free ice cream and weight watcher's chocolate bars. They all helped me get over it. I would STOP at one serving.

Found frozen 40 calorie ice pops, sugar free. This is just to name a few things you can use as replacements. I am also on a peach kick. Cut it into slices and it seems like you are eating more.

I also do as someone else said, I log my foods for the following day. Like after I pack my lunch for work. I am seeing my totals before I eat them and then I can monitor them. I make them fit

One hundred days later, 22 lbs lighter. I am thrilled. Now, reassess what and how you are eating and start planning.

Good luck! YOU CAN DO THIS!