How do I stop when it tastes so good???

Laura32412

Here's my biggest issue with food - if it tastes good I can't stop eating. I've been able to tackle my emotional eating. But if the food tastes good, no matter what mood I'm in, I can't stop! Tonight was baked ziti - so delicious I found myself standing over the stove eating out of the baking dish!

What does everyone do to stop eating when you know you've had enough but for whatever reason you can't??? I've tried drinking a full glass of water, going for a walk, putting the food away - but if it takes good, I'll get it out of the fridge and eat more.

I guess my real question is, how do you build up your willpower since that's what I'm lacking.

ceebs9

I totally understand where you're coming from. This may sound strange, but I'll have a few pieces of grapefruit. Tastes good to me, but then nothing else tastes good after it. I swear this works for me. I've also heard people will brush their teeth, but I find the grapefruit works better for me.

cre8freedom

Throw it away if you have to at first. Get someone else to eat it - pack it up for your lunch for the next day and tell yourself that you will enjoy the treat tomorrow.

sunkisses

Go brush your teeth with minty toothpaste. Enjoy.

HMonsterX

Sounds like losing weight isn't as important to you as you think it is.

If it were, you'd stop...

Get some self-control! :bigsmile:

GouchisGirl

It is tricky! I either try to make sure that there is only enough for that serving, make something that I don't particularly care for lol, or look at the calorie count and that generally stops me dead in my tracks. You can do it. You just need some good solid friends who can talk you through it.

Angie

artsymeholly

for me it is all about the WORTH. Is it worth it to eat all this baked ziti or is it worth it to eat a good proportion and stay on track? For me the ziti isn't worth it, but losing the weight is! It's all about changing your mind frame. It's a lot of work but you're worth it.

idiocracy

Don't make that much. Don't have around that much. Make enough food just for one serving. If you buy a giant bag of chips, for example, use ziplocks and divide it into servings. Write on the bag 15 chips=300 calories=45 minutes of exercise (may be unrealistic numbers, but i used an example). When you see how much you need to work to shed that bag, you may re-consider it.

Oh, and after you have one serving, brush your teeth, rinse with mouthwash...food tastes weird after toothpaste.

Gary1977

I understand. I used to eat for taste all the time. It just takes some self control.

P.S. I used to tell my ex girlfriend this all the time.:blushing: :bigsmile: :noway:

mpbfmom

A dietician told me that nothing tastes as good as the first bite. If I think about that and look at the portion size, that typically helps with the willpower.

spennato

1 I try to make just enough when I am cooking, 2 if there are leftovers I throw it away or wrap it for lunch.

baisleac

Put a serving on a dish.

Put the rest in the fridge/freezer/however you store it.

Take your single serving to the table.

Sit down and enjoy. Savor every bite... slowly.

Multistyles

Here's my biggest issue with food - if it tastes good I can't stop eating. I've been able to tackle my emotional eating. But if the food tastes good, no matter what mood I'm in, I can't stop! Tonight was baked ziti - so delicious I found myself standing over the stove eating out of the baking dish!

What does everyone do to stop eating when you know you've had enough but for whatever reason you can't??? I've tried drinking a full glass of water, going for a walk, putting the food away - but if it takes good, I'll get it out of the fridge and eat more.

I guess my real question is, how do you build up your willpower since that's what I'm lacking.

I would make just enough to where if you eat the while thing it won't be that bad. With me its pizza so I'll order a Amdahl so if I eat the while thing it won't kill my calorie intake. If I get a large pizza I will probably eat the whole thing

GymRatRaceRunner

Go brush your teeth with minty toothpaste. Enjoy.

I brush, but with orange tooth paste "Citrus Splash".

The smell of citrus is said to be a natural appetite suppressant...

Multistyles

Ok Swype totally failed me that would be a small lol

idlose

the way I do things is I make enough food for just us in the family. no left overs. then what my husband and i have done to limit ourselves is weigh, measure, and use childrens plates. when you eat, you eat mainly with your eyes. if you have a large plate, you will fill it. so, working with a smaller plate will help you and drink lots of fluid with your meal and you wont find yourself so inclined to pick at more food. good luck! oh yeah, put the fork down between bites and make your meals last 20 mins...you also wont feel like you need to eat more.

nalia08

OMG!! I do the same thing! It's hard as I do all these things and I find it hard to say no. If it's on my mind, I will eat it. What I have found helps me is waiting to eat after I workout. That is also after drinking a bottle of water. My workouts are high intensity (boot camp) style. Also, since it's just my hubby and I, I've actually had to stop cooking because I don't want to see food wasted. I just buy appropriate portion food from the freezer section at the grocery store. It's going to take some will power and one step at a time. You have to fight it!

citylights117

For me, the taste is one factor, but that triggers my impulse to just keep going.

Water is really helpful to cleanse the palate, and then gum to keep your jaws busy.

Brushing your teeth is extremely helpful, but it's easier for me to tear myself away when I don't have to drag myself from the kitchen to get relief.

:flowerforyou:

jchester71

Sounds like losing weight isn't as important to you as you think it is.

If it were, you'd stop...

That is a little simplistic, but the poster has a point. You have to make you decisions in what you value more. It is the same kind of though process that compulsive spenders (and "taste" binging is compulsive behavior) need to be counseled on, is instant and fleeting gratification worth sacrificing long term goals and health.

And practically I am a huge fan of throwing things in the trash. (and not buying/making things that are going to be an issue for me). It is a simple thought process for me. That pan of baked ziti cost $x, if not eating it is worth more than $X to me out it goes.

EliDC

I'm casting in my vote for throwing away the leftovers if necessary, as a couple of other people have mentioned. Some things are almost impossible to keep in the house and not snack on. Doing this makes me feel guilty, but I quiet the inner nagging by reminding myself that no one benefits from me overeating.

carebear7951

I get ya. I have the same problem. Although if I put it away I don't keep eating it usually....especially since I don't like food straight from the fridge. I think one of the best ideas above was to look at the calorie count. :noway:

psych101

Sit down and really think about your goals. Why are you seeking a healthier life? What do you want to get out of this weight loss journey? How do you want to look and feel when you get to your overall goal?

You really need to have an exact picture in your mind of what you want to achieve - once you have that then you can refer to it in times when you catch yourself struggling!

Good luck!

fromaquasar

Don't panic. When I used to binge eat I can remember feeling this like frenzied panic when something tasted good that I must eat more of it and the more I said to myself "no, don't. stop eating" the more I was compelled to eat it. Now if I feel like that I take a deep breath and think "This isn't the last time in your life you are going to have pizza/cake/icecream (or whatever it is)". Somehow that calms me down. Just because it tastes good doesn't mean you need all of it, you will definitely have it again some other time. And if you eat too much now you won't even enjoy this bit! x

MaryStregger

It is tricky! I either try to make sure that there is only enough for that serving, make something that I don't particularly care for lol, or look at the calorie count and that generally stops me dead in my tracks. You can do it. You just need some good solid friends who can talk you through it.

Angie

I totally agree - only make the amount of food that you need for that one meal. Avoid temptation at the grocery store - don't even have food in your house that does not fit well in your diet.

GouchisGirl

I didn't think of this until just now when I was reading everyones' posts, but make your meals at the beginning of the week. Put single meal size portions in the freezer. Then only take out what you need for that evening (As many portions as are equal to your family). That way you will have to think twice before thawing another portion once you are done with what you have eaten. The only thing that made me think of this is all of the people that were recommending throwing away leftovers. Wasting money kills me, so I guess that wouldn't be a good option in my opinion. Also, eat slower and I've read that a glass of grapefruit juice before a meal helps to supress your appetite. Good luck! And keep up the good work.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

Whatever it is I put it away. I always log before I eat, that way if I want to go over what I have allotted for myself I can see the whole picture and make that decision consciously. When I'm out I request a "to go" box and put half in that before I even start eating, and I put the box somewhere out of sight. When I'm at home, I cook and everything is wrapped up and put away before we sit down to eat so that I have to really think about the fact that I'm standing up, getting it back out, and adding some unanticipated calories for the day that may have to be removed from another meal.

RuthAne

Do you log your calories? I find accounting for every calorie really makes me stop and think twice before having 2nds, 3rds etc

HOSED49

If your actually utilizing your food log then you know how much your allowed per day, when you make a meal look on the site and figure out how many calories a portion will be and plan your meal around that....if you want extra then you need to burn that extra off first.
I went to a conference out of town and the hotel had a breakfast bar, i ate....then when i got to the training room, they had bereakfast for us...i ate.....then when lunch came the guys i was riding with wanted taco bell...i ate....So when the class was over and I knew I wanted to eat at a nice resturaunt and have a beer with my meal I got on this site and logged my claories i had consumed...WOW!!! So I spent the next hour on an elliptical and burned 1200 calories so I could have what i wanted and not be over my prescribed calories..
The informations on here for you, use it and you will see results!