cant contol it :/

jessica0danielle

some times i have great self control but most of the time i dont ..i can look at a cookie and say "jess your not going to eat that cookie" and next thing i know i am eating the friggin cookie plus 3 more...what the heck can i do to have more self control?

joanna1014

I seem to have the very same problem. I am thinking that I just CAN NOT be around these foods. I will tell my self over and over that I am not going to eat something and just like you I give in plus some. I have also heard chewing gum or painting your nails at these types of moments can truely help...these are the three things I am going to do to help me succeed...hope they help you too

twiglips

Once you spot the cookie, tell yourself no and then chug a big glass of water. Sometimes that helps curb the craving. I've also heard that you should paint your fingernails - that gives you some time to let the craving pass while you paint and dry. I've even tried rewarding myself with a treat if there is something yummy that I can't get off my mind. For instance, if I want to have chips, I'll tell myself that I can have them once I go for a walk, get back from the gym, etc. Most of the time, when I've finished I'm not really that interested anymore. Even if I am, i've already burned it off! Hope those tips help. Keep trying! : )

jess_1993

I LOVE cookies and had the same problem. Someone suggested I just stuff my face with cookies so I can get sick of them. Sounds horrible but hey it worked! (I didn't eat THAT many to add up to 3500 cal but I ate enough to make me feel sort of disgusted of how much I ate)

LoraF83

Why don't you just budget some cookies into your daily allowance? There's no reason to permanently deprive yourself......if you give yourself a little treat now and then, you might find that you are more satisfied and your cravings will diminish.

katejkelley

It sounds like you have a sugar and/or bad carb addiction. I had to completele clear my house of any of that stuff while I went through a 17-day detox (the 17 Day Diet worked well for me). Once the sugar was out of my system, the cravings ebbed considerably. Now I just don't have the first cookie (or M&M, or bite of any other sweet) and I do just fine, even if it's in the house. You can do it, but you need to clean out your system first.

Audddua

I read somewhere on here to clench your fists and take a deep breath. I've used that trick a few times at work when passing by the junk food brought in and I feel like it helped.

I also think becoming a foodie has helped me a ton too. Most of the time those cookies are sad and gross. If I'm going to eat a cookie it's going to be homemade perfection warm from the oven. Now those calories are worth it!

tango645

Drinking water and chewing gum usually help me get over a craving. However, if you have the calories left for the day, maybe just take half the cookie. If you don't take anything, like you said, the craving hits later and you end up taking the whole thing. Portion is huge part of losing, so saying "Yeah, half this cookie is okay, especially if the alternative later is the whole thing." Once you're done, put that other half out of your mind. Good luck!

rachey121

This happens to me everyday! I just tell myself that my guilt will last way longer than the taste of the cookie!! Gum works great.
Though I allow myself to have one thing that I crave on fridays, kinda like a cheat meal I guess. I dont go overboard but it helps with the cravings. Try allowing yourself to have a "cheat meal" once a week just dont make it last the whole week

chrisb75

Log it. Look at how many calories are in the cookie BEFORE you eat it. If you still want it, then eat it, BUT limit yourself to A single serving.

stfuriada

I know how you feel.

ESPECIALLY during TotM.

Choc Peanut Butter Bugles and Cheetos. GRRRR.

I find that if my mind's occupied and doing something so engaging, it usually helps.

Shakila87

Why don't you just budget some cookies into your daily allowance? There's no reason to permanently deprive yourself......if you give yourself a little treat now and then, you might find that you are more satisfied and your cravings will diminish.

This is a absolute must!!! Have a little now or you WILL binge later which is NOT good. I just learned to budget what I want into my daily calories and it works great! You can do it :-)

weisegirl1119

bump

meggawatt

Why don't you just budget some cookies into your daily allowance? There's no reason to permanently deprive yourself......if you give yourself a little treat now and then, you might find that you are more satisfied and your cravings will diminish.

^ This works for me, good luck to you.

exlaxref

Are you exercising?

I look at the caloric value of whatever is tempting me and think about how much time I have to spend on the elliptical to burn off what I am about to eat.

That usually does it for me.

impyimpyaj

Remember that you ARE always in control. You are making the choice to eat that cookie. And it's a valid choice. The key is to figure out how to make choices that help you reach your goals. Do you want to binge on cookies, which will probably make your body feel bad and won't help with your weight loss? Is the short-term taste sensation more important than your long-term desire to be healthy? Either choice is valid, but it's a choice you have to make. Or, as others suggested, would you be ok with budgeting those treats in regularly so you don't need to binge? That's a valid option, and one that many people find success with. Personally, if I have one sugary treat, I crave them all day, so for the most part I just try not to have them, but that's just me.

It helps to have a plan in place. Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time. Include treats if you like, or don't if you don't want to. Have healthy snacks around for those times when you're needing a little something to munch on -- grapes, apples, hard-boiled eggs, string cheese, nuts, or whatever else you enjoy that's healthy. If you have a plan in place, you don't have to spend time and energy thinking about it. You'll just do it. When I don't have fruit and other healthy snacks handy, I'm more likely to grab junk. Also, make sure you're staying well-hydrated and getting enough sleep. When you're tired or dehydrated, you're more likely to crave sweets.

krisiepoo

I have the SAME problem... absolutely. I buy something thinking I will eat one serving or whatever and I end up eating the whole package. It's such a mind game with me...

I have found that if Idon't have them in my house and when I get an irresitable craving, I'll go to the store and buy one. Just one (ok, or two) and that will satisfy me but if I have any of that stuff in the house I eat them ALL!

One day I will overcome my mind, but until then I have to beat it at it's own games

chrisb75

Are you exercising?

I look at the caloric value of whatever is tempting me and think about how much time I have to spend on the elliptical to burn off what I am about to eat.

That usually does it for me.

I think this is the EXACT wrong way to think about food. I look at my goals and tailor my calorie intake to achieve my goals. In other words, I don't look at calories and food as the enemy. I look at calories and food as a means to achieve a goal, of which I have two:

1) Lose 15lbs
2) Get stronger.

I think when you start seeing exercise as a means to get rid of bad food you eat, you are setting yourself up for failure. Just my $0.02

jt_italian_23

I get night time cravings a lot. What helps me not eat a bunch of sweets is I'll just simply go brush my teeth,, after I get the mint flavor in my mouth I don't want to eat sweet/ junk food anymore.

mfpcopine

some times i have great self control but most of the time i dont ..i can look at a cookie and say "jess your not going to eat that cookie" and next thing i know i am eating the friggin cookie plus 3 more...what the heck can i do to have more self control?

I've had a similar problem. Why are the cookies there? Did you buy them? If you did, don't. If they're there for someone else, have them put them out of reach. If you really want a cookie, go out and buy it. If your only choice is one of those huge cookie that bakeries sell to justify charging you more money, break it in half, give away, freeze, or throw out the other half.

missashley884

when you deprive yourself, you will be more likely to binge. have that treat if you want it! not saying eat 10 cookies a day, but hell one cookie every other day aint gonna kill ya!

mfpcopine

I have the SAME problem... absolutely. I buy something thinking I will eat one serving or whatever and I end up eating the whole package. It's such a mind game with me...

...

One day I will overcome my mind, but until then I have to beat it at it's own games

This is a very common problem, and it reminds me of the famous "Marshmallow Experiment." (Google it.) Essentially, a series of young kids were put in a room at a table with a large marshmallow on the table. They were told by the researcher that if they left the marshmallow untouched until the researcher returned they would be rewarded with a second marshmallow. They were then left in the room for something like 20 minutes.

Naturally, some kids couldn't resist the marshmallow and ate it right away. Others held out longer. The ones who lasted the period distracted themselves, they played GAMES. They realized that just sitting there thinking about the marshmallow would not help. The experiment is offered as an example of why willpower is limited.

It's counter-intuitive in a culture where we've been told that everything is possible through strength of mind.

Instinctively, you have been doing exactly the right thing.

Captain_Tightpants

One of the things I found to help is literal avoidance. It's not always possible but sometimes it is.

To break down your phrase "Look at one cookie ... end up eating three", you have to ask yourself what would have happened if you hadn't looked at the one cookie in the first place.

Like I said, not always possible but it works for me in several ways: I avoid the kitchen at work because I know people put leftovers in there up for grabs, I drive alternate routes that don't pass fast food places that tempt me, I consciously leave my dollars and quarters at home because I know I'm too chicken to put a $5 or more into a vending machine no matter how much of a craving I have, I've set my work email up to automatically discard anything with the word "treats" in it before it gets to my inbox, I decline parties where I know it will be only junk food.

The way I see it, you are fighting a set of psychological responses that you've built up over years. That's a tough, tough enemy. They are set off by triggers (like looking at a cookie) but the cool thing is, with a bit of thought you can sometimes identify the triggers, then step back *further* than them and avoid them altogether.

This is short term strategy though - "the fight but not the war" type stuff. In the long term it requires a complete reboot of the relationship we have with food. We have to individually figure out the values and emotions we assign to food and how to have a healthier relationship with it. That's a tiny step for some and a lifelong battle for others. I'm still working on it... will be for a long long time I think.

Thesoundofwolf

Just have one.

A big way to control is to not -buy- the types of red light foods. Or relearn your red light foods and make them a healthier option.

For me, it was sour cream on (anything). I relearned to use plain greek yogurt over the months. I love it, and can't go back honestly.

Still working on my biggest red light however- pasta. So far my only saving grace is that I havn't made it to often, and what I have made, I've made it more 'flavorful' then less noodles n cheese.

mfpcopine

when you deprive yourself, you will be more likely to binge. have that treat if you want it! not saying eat 10 cookies a day, but hell one cookie every other day aint gonna kill ya!

If you're the kind of person who for some reason will not stop at one cookie, it will kill you, or at least your efforts. For some people, it's better to try to take a break from sugar or restrict access to it.

Nicolette_Karls

My advice (which has worked well for me) is to take foods like this and divide them into plastic bags by serving and clearly label each one with the calories. I usually do this the day I buy my groceries and after I have eaten dinner so that I'm not still hungry. Then, whenever I'm contemplating eating that cookie or sweet, I have it already broken up by serving and if I decide that the calories are worth it, I'm not tempted to eat more than the serving. It has really helped me break my Cheez-Its addiction. Looking at a bag of cheez-its looks a lot less appealing to my stomach than a whole orange or bag of veggie straws!

gabigoz67

i totally understand. I try so hard an set goals all the time, but it seems imPOSSIBLE to keep to it!!
I find it useful to have a small sweet snack with my breakfast. it controls your cravings for the day~

Captain_Tightpants

In addition, there is a good book - "The end of overeating" by David Kessler, that goes into some detail about the psychological "priming" response that high sugar and high fat foods can have.

Basically, it suggests that having a small amount of such foods (one cookie) does the exact opposite of satisfying the craving - instead, in most peope, it physiologically primes the brain to crave more. I haven't looked into the studies on this in much detail but it definitely has a ring of truth about it in my experience.

mpaige1969

I try and remind myself that I know what it taste like and how I will feel if I eat it and that works most of the time for me!

Mummsy

:noway: I have terrible problems with binging. Ugg. I just recently realized that the better I eat, as in, healthy, non-processed, etc.. the more I find I don't even want things like cookies and cake. I know its hard. SO hard!

nolakris

Are you exercising?

I look at the caloric value of whatever is tempting me and think about how much time I have to spend on the elliptical to burn off what I am about to eat.

That usually does it for me.

This. I just recently started this after a friend suggested it to me. Knowing how much extra time I'll have to spend exercising to burn off that one cookie is helping.