Do you ever justify eating to much?

megansoriano

I decided to treat an accomplishment with food today which probably was a bad idea. So far I am 1200 calories over! I feel like a potato! I didn't even enjoy most of it (except for the sweet tea and dark chocolate pretzel sticks). I really let it get out of hand, I normally never do this but when I feel I deserve to treat myself I do it with food and go overboard.

Do you ever justify eating much more then you should and how do you learn to treat yourself with other prizes instead?

megansoriano

I decided to treat an accomplishment with food today which probably was a bad idea. So far I am 1200 calories over! I feel like a potato! I didn't even enjoy most of it (except for the sweet tea and dark chocolate pretzel sticks). I really let it get out of hand, I normally never do this but when I feel I deserve to treat myself I do it with food and go overboard.

Do you ever justify eating much more then you should and how do you learn to treat yourself with other prizes instead?

lol. . . .I must be the only one!

Coyla

I only justify it so I don't beat myself up feeling guilty. Because guilt--for me--leads to more binging.

I've had to be creative with rewards, such as buying a new item of clothing, an outing with friends, or a movie. The reward I always want is usually in the form of food, though. I'll allow myself small food rewards, like part of a candy bar, or hot chocolate. That helps.

ALH1981

this is my life!!!!!!!!!! but the problem is when you find another reward, you find yourself indulging in that !!! the thing is to deal with it - not swap the treat!! (not that i am effectively doing this)

bpurc22

I always justify eating way over by indulging in awesome food (usually Peanut Butter late night like tonight lol, Chinese food, candy, cookies - examples off the top of my head). Usually if I eat a ton one day, I try to exercise a lot the next day and only eat back about 50-75% of the calories, or a lot of protein.

wbgolden

*looks around*

isn't this why we're all here? lol

Nerdy_Rose

... I went shopping....

ShadowSoldier23

I love food and I like to indulge once in a while, regardless of whether I go over my calories. So yes I am the same way, but I don't beat myself up over it. I guess because I have always been big I don't see any point in punishing myself. I watch what I eat now instead and still enjoy things everyday that I really like. If I go over my calories once in a while than it's fine in my opinion because while I am trying to lose weight, I am still going to take some time to enjoy myself once in a while. I don't see the point in self chastising over a meal...it just seems to make things harder or worse for myself.

Jill_newimprovedversion

When I started this journey, a new-found friend advised me to NOT use FOOD as a *reward* for being "good"....since I am an emotional eater- and I *punish* myself with food if I'm mad @ myself....

Her words........." You're NOT a dog, don't *treat* yourself with food...."

Always stuck with me.........just passing it along.......

I *treat* myself to a new piece of clothing- even if it's from a thrift store
or a manicure/hair style/ something feminine- new undies
......MUCH better treat!

plzlbsbegone

I am a newbie, but, my goal is not to reward myself with food at all. I KNOW i will over do it. I have been spending lots of time in my kitchen lately, trying to cook better. It turns out, I am pretty darn good cook! I love my veggies, and chicken. I use lots of spices to flavor it up, and I love trying new things. My newest treat is homemade pudding pops! I bought one of the cheap plastic popsickle makers, mix up a batch of Jello's Chocolate Fudge (Sugar Free) pudding, and pour it in. Let them set in the fridge for 5 mins, then freeze. They are a really good treat. Another fave, Chocolate milk, made with sugar free syrup! Simple things make me happy now, and I dont have the guilt after! I'm not saying I won't slip up along the way, but I am going to avoid it at all costs!

Helloitsdan

I'm on a bulk!

dcdickerson2

Who among us has NOT ever rewarded ourselves with food? That's part of the reason many of us are in the shape we're in, and battling to unlearn some of those self-destructive habits. It sounds silly, but go out and buy some colorful little stickers - stars, hearts, whatever. When you deserve to reward yourself, plaster a calendar day with the stickers and include a little note to remind yourself why you are giving yourself the stickers, and walk OUT of the kitchen... OUT of the house if you have to. Or call a friend. I like the comment about not being a dog...

WifeNMama

*looks around*

isn't this why we're all here? lol

Haha uh... Yeah i could pretty much eat sweets until i pass out. I'm trying to curb it so I don't develop diabetes, which is a possibility from my mom's side of the family. Today I ate way too many sweets at a Christmas party I took the kids to. I just made sure I drank more water and exercised to burn the calories off.

What I normally do is burn calories beforehand and try to plan the treat so I don't go overboard. That way it feels more like a treat than exercising afterward, which feels like you're paying off a debt.
Also, if you don't keep your treats in the house, and you have to go out and buy a treat anytime you want one, you have to decide if its worth a trip to the store. If its within walking distance, even better. Make it a brisk pace, tighten your core muscles and burn some of it off. Then when you buy it, don't go crazy and buy half the store. Think about what your favorite treat is and get that. I decided that if it was just a cheap chocolate bar, it wasn't worth it. I would only eat homemade sweets, Lindor, or a couple of other brands that I really enjoy. Aim for quality, not just quantity. :-)

And, at the end of it all, log it with brutal honesty. If you lie to yourself, you're the only one you'll be cheating. At least you are aware of the problem, which means you can correct it. :-)

jskaggs1971

Yes, overindulging is why a lot of us are here, myself included.

HOWEVER, you have to realize that (a) one day isn't going to undo all your hard work. 1200 calories entirely metabolized to fat is still less than a half of a pound. (b) What got us here -- well, what got ME here anyhow, was a pattern of regularly overindulging. Once in a while won't do anything but drive home the point that you, like the rest of us, are human and occasionally overdo it.

Tomorrow's a fresh day. Start over, and do better. You can totally do it.

ShadowSoldier23

Yes, overindulging is why a lot of us are here, myself included.

HOWEVER, you have to realize that (a) one day isn't going to undo all your hard work. 1200 calories entirely metabolized to fat is still less than a half of a pound. (b) What got us here -- well, what got ME here anyhow, was a pattern of regularly overindulging. Once in a while won't do anything but drive home the point that you, like the rest of us, are human and occasionally overdo it.

Tomorrow's a fresh day. Start over, and do better. You can totally do it.

Great way to put it! i agree