Success People: How did you overcome food temptations?

SonyaCele

I wanted to lose weight and get healthy more than i wanted any temptations.

ndj1979

I just don't keep stuff in the house that will tempt me like sweets, cookies etc....that way If i get a craving I can not satisfy it...and just have a chocolate protein shake or something instead....

carrieous

the only time i have them is when i have PMS. In fact i have it right now and went out and bought some Vday candy half off at Target Friday night. I big heart shaped box. I probably ate 12 pieces this past weekend. Oh well! I will just work out extra hard this week

SnazzyTraveller

3) tell yourself its not forever, just for now.

HuhhhHHH?

*ETA: ops, I see now there was an explanation in further posts....

LoraF83

I make room for the foods I really want to eat.

I avoid stuffing my face by remembering the following:
1. Food is an inanimate object, so it can't control me.
2. I have a car, money, free time, and access to grocery stores/restaurants/the internet, so there is no food that I cannot obtain if I want it. Therefore, I don't have to eat ALL the food ALL the time. I can always have more later.

strikerjb007

Stop thinking food is a reward or that it's a pleasure thing. Food has no emotions. It's fuel.

AllonsYtotheTardis

If it's too high a temptation, I keep it out of the house most of the time. That way, when I'm really craving it, I have to make the effort to leave the house to go buy it. Sometimes I decide it's not worth the effort, sometimes I go get it. Seems to be working for me.

Nothing is really off-limits. I just make the junk take more effort to get to it. :laugh:

jesindc

This is one of the simple ones for me, but it really helps. Brush your teeth right after meals. I used to nibble on stuff and have an extra drink after dinner. Now I try to brush my teeth right after eating and then I don't want to eat or drink anything other than water. Good luck!

LorinaLynn

Eat foods you enjoy. Just because you're eating healthy doesn't mean you can only eat plain grilled chicken and broccoli. Unless you really, really like plain grilled chicken and broccoli.

Pretty much all my meals are chicken breast, some kind of vegetables, with some kind of starch (rice, pasta, bread). But the combinations are endless when you add sauces, marinades and seasonings... if I start listing them, I'll sound like Bubba talking about shrimp in Forrest Gump.

Tonight will probably be chicken, ravioli, Italian blend veg in vodka sauce with garlic bread. I don't feel deprived, so I don't have cravings.

Ewaldt

Don't buy the 'bad' foods! I know that I cannot handle having too many goodies around, so I buy a little of each temptation to spread throughout the week. Just realize that whatever you buy, you will eat. It is much easier to resist temptation in the store than late at night when you are watching a movie and having the munchies. substitue things for other things, always toward the healthier direction. For example, switch a pb&j for pb &banana. Have freeze dried apples/fruit instead of candy, have popcorn chips instead of potatoe chips, etc. ALL of these things have helped me!
And do NOT forget to have some chocolate on hand! But make it plain chocolate. You crave chocolate, not the candy bar. So I keep a little bin of hershey's hugs around So when I crave, I eat one. and then I can avoid binging on other horrible things!

Unknown

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OutsideCreativ

Research the food that's tempting you. Understand why it is bad for you. Knowing that can dampen the temptation and help you make better choices.

lucinda1098

I find it takes 3 days of not eating sugar and eating sweets and drinking wine to get over the cravings. After that it is a lot easier. I think it gets out of your system and then you no longer crave it. You just have to tough it out at first and then it is not so bad and you are used to it.

tinawhitlock

I am by no means an expert, and there have been many other answers to this question (I didn't read them all).

I have to think about it and convert the calories into eliptical minutes of calorie burn. I have learned that many of the DQ mini blizzards are around 300 calories, and I think, is that really worth 30 minutes on the eliptical trainer? some days yes... others NO. I have also leared to plug something into MFP BEFORE I eat it. One day I had a cookie from a deli.... yeah it was 380 calories. I wasn't too happy, and NO it wasn't worth it.

I think you really just have to think about it and plan vs. just eat it.

Good luck on your journey to a new lifestyle.

DanielleHinkle24

I cut out all products containing sugar - real and artificial. Sugar is evil and causes food cravings. :devil: Just my opinion. :flowerforyou:

msaestein1

In the beginning....

Chart out all the food you will eat tomorrow, and then tomorrow eat that food; Don't eat other food. Not in the plan, don't eat it.
Repeat. Over and over again.

Of course there will be days that for whatever reason, you will not be able to have full control over what food is available. In those cases, make the best decisions you can.

This actually works! I record my food the day before alot or very early in the morning. If I am tempted to eat something other than what is logged, I think of how long I will have to do Jillian Michaels to burn it off. There are times that I stray, but this usually works.

I also pre-record my workouts on the days that I don't feel like working out. Since I have my workouts in my newsfeed, I feel forced to do them. When your friends tell you how great you did no matter how much you may not want to workout, you will feel like a jerk if you don't. I have NEVER missed a pre-recorded workout like this. I have ended up working out a few times at like 10pm just because of this.

beanerific518

I don't refuse myself anything...I just portion control and work at least one 'treat' in every day. I eat ice-cream every single night before going to sleep. I know I am going to have that and I work it into my calories and macros - it makes resisting much easier.

Me too!

StarkLark

Some of these already covered but this works for me:

1) Read labels and log everything. Is the 400 calories of Doritos and Soda really worth so much of my daily caloric goal? Or will I feel better and more full with a big piece of roasted chicken with a favorite vegetable?

2) Don't buy it. I had trouble with eating too much butter or milk, so I stopped buying those items. Much easier to fight temptation if you need to leave the house to indulge.

3) Look at yourself in a larger, technical scope. My body is a system, and if I put the correct fuel in it the system runs and performs optimally. Eventually, for me anyway, the desire to eat things that give short term satisfaction instead of long term benefits subsided and I begin to crave things that benefit the system.

4) ALWAYS ask yourself, will this food make me feel great for 20 minutes? Or will this food make me feel amazing and proud of myself all day? Think, choose and live long-term.

carrieous

Stop thinking food is a reward or that it's a pleasure thing. Food has no emotions. It's fuel.

this exactly

mbar10025

In the beginning....

Chart out all the food you will eat tomorrow, and then tomorrow eat that food; Don't eat other food. Not in the plan, don't eat it.
Repeat. Over and over again.

Of course there will be days that for whatever reason, you will not be able to have full control over what food is available. In those cases, make the best decisions you can.

that is EXCELLENT advice!

mbar10025

yes, i always put it in MFP first... then decide if it's worth it sometimes the temptation wins out at least a little bit --- like i saw that a cookie was 440 calories (YIKES! can you believe that?!) - but i wanted it SO bad.... i tore off a corner of it (1/4 cookie) and let that be my indulgence.

alschultz33

If you don't buy it, you can't eat it.

I know it sounds simple, but it worked for me. If I don't keep doritos (the worst culprit for me) or whatever in the house, I can't gorge myself when I get tempted.

^This.

I don't buy things that will tempt me. Of course, when you're at work, at a friend's house, or anywhere else outside your own home, temptations arise. I eat in moderation. For example, someone brought in donuts to work today...I totally cut about 1/8 of the donut and ate it on my way back to my desk. Luckily, many of my coworkers are watching their waistlines, so many of us will take samples so I don't feel as bad about mutilating said donut.

Do I do this EVERY time there's less than healthy food around? No. Sometimes you just have to put that self-control into practice and just walk away. But we all know that's generally easier said than done or most of us wouldn't be here...

bloomlately

Try not to make foods you like totally off-limits, and try to eat/drink everything in moderation. If I know I can eat it, then I won't feel like I have to eat a lot of it.

khall86790

I don't refuse myself anything...I just portion control and work at least one 'treat' in every day. I eat ice-cream every single night before going to sleep. I know I am going to have that and I work it into my calories and macros - it makes resisting much easier.

Ditto
Although I am still very much so on my journey! But this has worked for me so far.

Calliope610

If you don't buy it, you can't eat it.

I know it sounds simple, but it worked for me. If I don't keep doritos (the worst culprit for me) or whatever in the house, I can't gorge myself when I get tempted.

^This.

I don't buy things that will tempt me. Of course, when you're at work, at a friend's house, or anywhere else outside your own home, temptations arise. I eat in moderation. For example, someone brought in donuts to work today...I totally cut about 1/8 of the donut and ate it on my way back to my desk. Luckily, many of my coworkers are watching their waistlines, so many of us will take samples so I don't feel as bad about mutilating said donut.

Do I do this EVERY time there's less than healthy food around? No. Sometimes you just have to put that self-control into practice and just walk away. But we all know that's generally easier said than done or most of us wouldn't be here...

I have learn to not open up the pastry box to see is inside. If I don't see it, I don't know it's there; If I don't know it's there, I am not tempted; If I am not tempted, nothing to overcome.

SexyLovinmeCook

Preplan Everything!!! HUGE for me....I started with cooking all my meals in the AM for that day...but now have advanced to 5 day preps....Leaves no room for error....Good luck to you and always go to the store after a hard workouts....Trust makes a ton of difference..

StarkLark

Just a quick followup to echo the PLANNING element. On days when I'm feeling tempted, less choices and predetermined/prepped food for the day make it SO much easier.

LinDiSm26262

Thanks to everyone for the tips. I'm ready to do it now. :glasses:

monty619

honest to God.. in the beginning i would cut out entire foods to prove i could live without them then later learn to eat them in moderation... foods like bread, pasta, ice cream, cookies, cake, etc i would cut out entirely to prove i had self control then i slowly re-introduced all of them... except ice cream i dont eat that any more and it was my favorite food out of all those but i just cant eat it in moderation.

slroggemann

I removed temptation by not buying most things that would normally tempt me, such as sugary, fatty coffee drinks, ice cream, potato chips, etc. I replaced them with almond milk in my coffee, frozen fruit instead of ice cream, and healthier munchies, including veggies. A lot of it is just willpower, and making sure you don't completely deny yourself. I still have a small chocolate bar every now and again, one of my great weaknesses, but overall, I've gotten really good at saying no to things. I also echo everyone saying preplan. I plan my meals at least the night before so that I know exactly what I'll be eating throughout the next day. good luck!