When Does It Get Easier?

wildcata77

I seriously think I have a food addiction. It's taken me a long time to come to terms with that, but there it is, in black and white.

I feel like this time I am more committed than ever, but at the same time it is still a DAILY and sometimes hourly struggle to resist the incredible cravings I get. Every morning this week I have wanted Bojangles. The more I thought about it, the more I just had to tell myself that it won't satisfy me just because I want it. I will feel horrible afterwards, and guilty, and blow my entire day's calories and my entire week's progress on one impulse.

Yesterday I wanted pizza, coke, mcdonald's, ANYTHING but the deli ham and swiss sandwich loaded with veggies that I brought to work.

My post is two-part: for those with lasting success, when did it get easier to stop thinking about your trouble foods? When did you stop having to remind yourself at every meal and snack to make the right choice?

And for those like me that are still struggling to find the right balance: I have resisted. I've had one soda and no Bojangles/pizza/cheesesteak/McD's this week. My choices aren't always perfect (had a breakfast burrito and iced coffee today) but they are better. And I feel good afterwards.

hastinbe

In my experience the temptation never really goes away, but your resistance to them increases. Along with understanding more about what makes a food healthy, the more disgusting that food is becomes revealed. The best motivation is seeing your own progress when you stick with it, then you have realistic expectations and know you can do it. I think one of the best reminders is to tell yourself "You are what you eat" when it comes to making food choices.

bymyslf892

You know I seriously struggled with cravings the first like two months. I now still get them but they are much less. I try to eat whole grain high protein and a little low carb where I can now and I have found recipes that are just as delicious if not more delicious than all that fast food. I know it sucks to hear this but give it time. Decide how much YOU want this because to quote a motivation pick "It doesn't get easier, you just get better". I think that holds true for dieting and exercise.
You just gotta keep keeping on honestly and ALLOW yourself a cheat day to have those things, but let yourself know it's that day and that day ONLY. It helps a lot to plan your week around those cravings knowing that Sunday for example you can eat that Bojangles and some fries and sip down a huge coke. I always tell myself I can't have those until I earn them with a week of healthy eating. I don't know if that will help you but it has surely helped me!

jesspi68

I have found that making the healthier home versions of the foods I want to eat out have helped a lot. Like grilled sesame chicken with rice and broccoli at home, or a home-made pizza. You can make things leaps and bounds healthier than a restaurant can/will.

awillkies

In my experience the temptation never really goes away, but your resistance to them increases. Along with understanding more about what makes a food healthy, the more disgusting that food is becomes revealed. The best motivation is seeing your own progress when you stick with it, then you have realistic expectations and know you can do it. I think one of the best reminders is to tell yourself "You are what you eat" when it comes to making food choices.

couldn't agree more.

Goal_Line

You need to reprogram your brain.

My strategy is constantly associate in my mind the relationship between those foods and my being fat, unappealing and unhealthy. And associate good food with being athletic, attractive and healthy.

Also, try to find good foods you like, experiment with good foods.to find those you like.

vypeters

Something for you to think about...if you had an eating disorder that led you to be dangerously underweight, everyone you know would be pushing you to seek help from a therapist or counselor experienced in eating issues. If you truly do struggle from food addiction, as I do, that's disordered eating and though obesity kills much more slowly it's just as dangerous.

Building new habits helps, but research has shown that most of us gradually slip back into the old ones when our vigilance drops.

All of which is a lead up to me saying that I could not have done this without a counselor experienced in dealing with people with compulsive issues. You might want to consider it.

rlmadrid

I wouldn't say it ever gets easier, you just get more motivated. When those first few pound start dropping, and when those inches start to disappear, that burger just doesn't sound as yummy as it used to.

ericcharleslindstrom

A sure fire way to resist all temptations is to go radical! I've been vegan since January 5th and while I am not truly enjoying a plant-based, meat ... cheese ... dairy ... free lifestyle, it keeps me 100% on task with eating right. While I still think about and crave pizza and chicken wings and steak ... I just cannot eat it. Veganism is forcing me to make smart choices.

This morning on my way to work when I would have normally bought an egg and cheese and sauage breakfast sandwich ... I bought a banana.

Again, this is VERY radical and not for everyone (but if you watch "Forks Over Knives" and "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead" you'll also know why I am sticking to it. I've lost 4 inches in my waste in 6 months ... which is also a nice result! Limit yourself. Tell yourself you can't eat certain foods every again ... and you might just be able to stick to it.

Good luck. I am sure you will be able to beat the demons of fast food!

lovemykids58

For me its still a struggle.. each and every day I have lost about 75lbs but the last month i have eat like total crap and not worked out once.. No, I dont know WHY I have done this to myself because I worked SO HARD..

All I can say is that its a life long progess/ struggle even after you drop the weight. Best of luck!

skinnyinnotime

In my experience the temptation never really goes away, but your resistance to them increases. Along with understanding more about what makes a food healthy, the more disgusting that food is becomes revealed. The best motivation is seeing your own progress when you stick with it, then you have realistic expectations and know you can do it. I think one of the best reminders is to tell yourself "You are what you eat" when it comes to making food choices.

This is so true, I look at stuff I would have happily indulged in and thought it was delicious...but now I just think what a load of processed rubbish why would I even want to put that in my body.

fbmandy55

Wow... are we sisters separated a birth? I have seriously been considering the same thing... I plan out healthy meals < i eat them but then I also eat things that are bad for me because I convince myself that I want them. Like breakfast today. Brian made me a small egg white and ham omelette. I got to work and has 2 cookies and 2 brownies with that and my coffee.

I hate this feeling of guilt and no control!

EmilyBoots

One thing that's helped me (I have really really low impulse control when it comes to driving past a fast food place) is to remind myself that I have never once regretted *not* stopping for something to eat. I keep foods in the house that I love to eat and that are good and filling - I love the sandwich thins bread with turkey and mustard and eat them every dang day and it's probably an addiction - so when I'm driving by a McD's or something on my way home, I'll just picture that turkey sandwich filling the house with a toasty smell. It takes a TON of willpower, but I just keep reminding myself that I'm not going to be thinking of McDonald's anymore by the time I get home.
If you find yourself craving the fast food when it's not around, get online and look at the nutrition information. Pick something that's not going to ruin your day, something with plenty of protein and not too much fat, and SEND SOMEBODY OUT TO BUY IT FOR YOU. Until you can trust yourself to actually order what you've planned, don't tempt yourself. I'm about a month in, and not at this stage yet, but I'm getting there.
Best of luck!!

acstansell

For me, it doesn't really get easier. There is always the temptation to eat more than I should. It's a constant monitoring.

GISFWCoachChris

>>>They will go away when you get results!<<<

1. Results are you payment for putting off instant gratification. The cost... not creeping off of your program at all for 6 days and having one cheat day per week. Pick one program and stick to it. When you start to see results they will motivate you to stick with it and you will generate the motivation/momentum that you are looking for.

>>>There is NO quick fix<<<

2. You are more of a sugar addict than a food addict. Case in point- you are currently eating food that isn't fullfilling you as much as sugar-laden food such as pizza, coke, or whatever the hell Bojangles are (I'm sure filled with sugar).

>>>The only way to kick a habit is to stop doing it<<<

melbot24

Try to use the 80/20 rule.

Eat right 80% of the time and indulge in your cravings 20% of the time.

You'll see it will be much easier to stick to your goals when there's a day you know you can go nuts.

Also, don't tell yourself that you "can't" have something, that will just promote feelings of desperation and deprivation.
Instead, tell yourself that you "don't" eat that, it's an empowering yet simple swap of vocab that will pay off!

The more right choices you make the more pride you'll have about how you treat your body. It's a beautiful, wonderful thing, take care of it, don't feed it Bojangles! (BTW I have no idea what that is...)

jenefrmthablok

I don't think it ever gets easier, you just get stronger. As time goes on, and you stick with healthy choices, you become stronger in resisting the 'crack' foods. What I've also had to do is understand the connection between wanting these types of foods and what's going on in my life. Am I stressed out? Am I down? What am I struggling with? Usually, there's a reason why I'm craving the 'crack'.....I've also learned to not obsess about craving 'crack' food. I try to think over and over again about something else, even if it's just repeating a phrase over and over again - "I will make healthy food choices" "I will NOT sabotage my progress with junk food". Do I still crave my 'crack' foods? Sure! ...and occasionally, I allow myself to a treat, but I make sure I make up for it the next day in my activity.

916lude

In my experience the temptation never really goes away, but your resistance to them increases. Along with understanding more about what makes a food healthy, the more disgusting that food is becomes revealed. The best motivation is seeing your own progress when you stick with it, then you have realistic expectations and know you can do it. I think one of the best reminders is to tell yourself "You are what you eat" when it comes to making food choices.

Very well said. I couldn't agree more.

Eleisabelle

There is an organization called Overeaters Anonymous that helps with this type of addiction. If addiction is truly what it is, it's more than just temptation--it is a complex emotional/physical connection that keeps a feedback loop. Consider possibly trying an OA meeting if you think it might help.

Good luck!

http://www.oa.org/

mfoulkebrown

I have found a lot of success with moderation. For example, I LOVE pizza. What I do now is I order thin crust, light cheese, extra sauce. I have a large salad and 1-2 pieces of pizza. The salad fills me up a bit and helps me not overeat on pizza and having a slice or two satisfies my cravings. I don't recommend this for everyone, since some people say that if they have a little it makes the cravings worse. For me, it works.

I also think about those things a little differently. Instead of "I can't have fast food/pizza/etc," I think, "I can have that, but do I want to do a bunch of excercise at the gym and eat a light dinner to make up for it?" Sometimes I answer yes, but usually it's no.

It has gotten easier for me. I have cravings a lot less than I used to and when I do, they're less strong than they used to be. Hang in there, it will get better!

urfitnesspal2

I seriously think I have a food addiction. It's taken me a long time to come to terms with that, but there it is, in black and white.

I think there is an OA (overeaters anonymous) group here on MFP if you would like more info on that, or they also have a webpage you can google.

(edited typo)

clur85

It gets easy when you realise this is a change for life, not a quick fix. Accept that McDonald's etc. is a part of life and will be part of your life if that's what you like, but have the awareness to not eat it everyday.

BigMech

For me it was breaking the emotional attachment to food, and realizing that food is never going to make me happy. In fact it only did the opposite, as I would always feel guilty after eating something bad for me. Food is fuel for my body, and if I want my body to "run right", then I need to put in the right fuel and the right amount of it. If you don't take of and maintain your car, it will run badly and break down, same with your body.

Another thing I do, is think to myself how many miles would I have to run if I ate something above and beyond my daily calorie needs, and is it worth that effort. The answer is almost no.

MamaWalkingBear

I've been struggling with the same thing. One thing I do is work some of my cravings into my daily routine. I have a BK breakfast burrito in the morning. Yes the fat is not so good, but the protein is a plus.

When I want to eat the fridge, I usually focus on protein. That is one area that I seem not to get enough of on a daily basis. I keep small packets of salmon (and I love salmon) as a treat when I feel like this. It satisfies and makes me feel like I'm indulging

Good Luck!!!

wlkumpf

After a while of not eating something the cravings get a lot better, usually 2-3 weeks maybe? They say that about chocolate and sweeter foods. It worked for me for pop too, now it is like syrup to me.

As the scale goes down and your smaller size clothes fit better, you will gain motivation! Instead of giving it up, try substituting some things you really can't get out of your head.

Take a tortilla brown one side, flip and top with tomatoe sauce and low fat cheese. Turkey pepperoni if you must. The whole thing is crispy and delicious, way low on the calorie side too.

If you can't go without a muffin or bagal, fin a whole grain substitute and only take 1/4 with you and save the rest or find someone to share with. Find little ways that make you feel like you are cheating but falls within a normal range.

Give yourself 1 meal a week that you can plot out that doesn't take calories into account, or 1 desert. You can look forward to it all week long, plot and plan and dream and sometimes when I was doing good and the scale was agreeing with me, I didn't even eat it, I just needed that to dream about and know that I could, I had permission.

fbmandy55

>>>They will go away when you get results!<<<

1. Results are you payment for putting off instant gratification. The cost... not creeping off of your program at all for 6 days and having one cheat day per week. Pick one program and stick to it. When you start to see results they will motivate you to stick with it and you will generate the motivation/momentum that you are looking for.

>>>There is NO quick fix<<<

2. You are more of a sugar addict than a food addict. Case in point- you are currently eating food that isn't fullfilling you as much as sugar-laden food such as pizza, coke, or whatever the hell Bojangles are (I'm sure filled with sugar).

>>>The only way to kick a habit is to stop doing it<<<

My issue is that I've had the results. I lost weight constantly here last year. I lost 50lbs. I still am addicted to food and binge regularly. I haven't lost any additional weight in the 8 months so far this year.

Alex_is_Hawks

it is never easy, but nothing worth truly having is easy...we have to start looking at how we treat our bodies in the same light we apply to our lives...

you want it, you work for it...and you put in your blood sweat and tears...

eyesus34

Try to pinpoint what your feeling during these cravings (boredom, sadness, anxiety). If your bored go for a walk, if your sad call a friend, if your anxious write down what could be causing it. I usually tell myself to indulge cravings later but by not specifying exactly when, I forget about the craving. If that doesn't make it go away I'll write it down (large McDonald's fry, slice of red velvet cake, etc) along with the date and time then once a week I go through the slips of paper and see which one I still want. Most were just passing fancies but one or two just won't go away so I go ahead and indulge.

amyLhuff

Yes I think the majority of us on here are addicted but not so much to food cuz I doubt your craving carrots but we are addicted to all the chemicals and processed ingredients that is put in fast food not to mention the sugar and fat. The best thing for me is to pre log my day it helps me from slipping thru the drive thru if my day is planned out and i let myself have one cheat meal every other week where I can eat that cheese burger or pizza but I have to log it and that makes me cringe when I see how many calories I wasted on one thing when I could have had a whole day of food. So I've been doing this 4 weeks and yes I have cravings but it's normal when your changing a huge part of your life to want to revert back to your old ways. But that's never got me anywhere except feeling guilty, fat , and ugly. I'm done with all that I have a new baby and a wonderful husband there is no reason for me to feel like that again. Good luck but this is the best thing you will ever do for you and your family.

unkeptwalnut83

I tell myself that the purpose of food and eating is to fuel my body. As long as I am managing to have some amount of self-love that day, it tends to work. But then there are the other days.

mmarzipan

For me, it was hard the first couple of months and then I got used to the new diet. Although I have to say I didn't really have a new diet of things I could eat and things I couldn't. Make sure your daily goals are doable - that you are not setting yourself up for failure. Then take it one day at a time. If you stick to your plan, you will decide naturally what foods are priority and what foods are not. And you can have some Bojangles - I love me some BoBerry! - but you may need to alter your normal choices and sacrifice something later: small calorie differences can add up. For instance, Instead of a fried chicken biscuit, maybe have an egg biscuit or a plain biscuit with a spot of yogurt or dark chocolate. Have that brownie, but have a one inch brownie instead of a two inch brownie. On the day you really want the extra inch, go walk enough to "earn" it.

My thought is, denying yourself builds withdrawal and can lead to a binge which can lead to a feeling of failure and giving up. It's the cycle the fitness and dieting industry make money on.

And remember, fast food has alot of starchy goodness in it which is physically addictive: the more you eat, the more you depend on them. Your physical addiction will be overcome before your mental addiction; however, you need some carbs to survive. Just eat no more than a palm full of starch at each meal. A palm full - not a hand with all four fingers and thumb - that was really hard for me at first!

I have lost and kept off 30 lbs, and I eat what I want, but in smaller portions. Calories are sacred to me because I don't consume that many. I'm sure as heck not going to spend them on foods I don't want to eat! So, don't deny yourself and be miserable, but keep it in perspective. Best of luck to you. You can do it. Have realistic goals, make your choices and stick with them. And if you feel bad, don't beat yourself up. The next meal is another chance to do better.