When Does It Get Easier?

I am about 7 weeks in and while I would like to say it gets easier, I think a previous poster was correct in his assertion that we just get better at it.

Once eating all the good things becomes a habit, you will stop thinking about that other stuff. And for me, honestly, part of this process was to change the route I take to work. Now the only thing I drive past is a grocery store. No more fast food - and when I do feel tempted, I can't go because it will make me late. Out of sight, out of mind.

Another thing that worked for me was to look at how much money I was spending each week on junk food. Between coffees in the AM and out to lunch and then picking up something easy for dinner, it was really a lot of money. I'm able to remind myself that I am saving my body and my budget at the same time, while also setting a good example for the other members of my household.

Stick with it, give yourself a pat on the back when you make a good choice. You can do it, I promise.

Edited to correct typo

So far it hasn't and propably won't. I love food too much, but I do try to watch what I am eating, how much and so forth.

I just hoping that if I keep it up long enough that it will become 2nd nature and I won't consider any other way.

But... when I do indugle, I hold myself accountable and record it. Not to punish myself, but rather to see what I choose and how to recorrect what I've done. Plus... I am not going to live my life completely devoid of treats & snacks. I've found out that's counter-productive to my health (mental and otherwise).

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 .... [snip]

Eric, if you are "not truly enjoying" it, scrap it.
We are all going to die someday anyway, so why deprive yourself?
So what if your radical change gets you two more days, two more weeks, two more years, etc. of living a life that you're NOT enjoying?
Unless you have allergic implications, religious reasons, or other valid points for the self-deprivation, it ain't worth it.
Instead of eliminating the pizza and steak, just cut back.
I can't imagine myself living under such sacrificial conditions, but I'll admit that I'm certainly NOT a 'health nut.' I just wanted to lose some weight, which by itself, is a health benefit. My doctor has trimmed my blood pressure and cholesterol meds by 50% .... so far, possibly more reductions later.
You're gonna do what you wanna do, but as you said, it's "not for everyone" and certainly isn't for me.

Unfortunately for me, it never got easier. It actually got more difficult. Which is how I ended up gaining back the weight I lost. I just couldn't do it anymore. Every meal was a struggle. I'd eat something high in protein and fibre, but I'd still be wanting that chocolate chip cookie or ice cream. It took so much energy to resist, but I did it until I lost about 14lbs. Then life got busy and I got tired. Weight came back. Now I'm trying to get back on track and it's still so hard. Sometimes I wonder: is it worth being miserable and slim, or happy and chubby? Food just tastes so good to me. My brain is addicted to high-calorie foods

I compare it to quitting smoking. I found as time went on that the urge will always be there but the temptation lessens. I've eliminated a lot of junkfood from my fridge and cupboards. I keep healthy snacks at hand and I only drink water. After a few weeks, I found I was craving water and had little desire to eat junk. I miss soda and potato chips but after 20 lbs lost, I'm glad I've stayed away. It does get easier and you will see progress. You just need to hang in there.

I wish I could say that it gets easier. In all honesty, it doesn't. I have to resist temptation daily and remind myself that I am doing this forever - not just for now. I also find it helps to say out loud "this will never taste as good as my brain thinks it will." That almost always gets me past it.

For your fast food cravings, I would say cut out the fast food completely. Your brain/body will eventually not crave them as badly. Keep being prepared with good food and keep planning.

Most importantly, keep it up!

I wrote a blog not too long ago that sort of addresses this.

First of all, stop punishing yourself for eating something bad. The consequences of gaining or not losing weight are bad enough, you don't need to go all "catholic-school" on yourself and guilt yourself even after you've already paid the price.

Forgive yourself. Seriously. The more you suffer over a misstep or a mistake, the worse you're going to feel about it as time passes.

Second of all, what is so wrong with having a serving of whatever it is you are craving?

Granted, this doesn't work if you crave ALL those things in the same day.. but maybe you can approach this one craving at a time. Here's how I did it and it quite literally changed my relationship with food. I'm not PERFECT and I've got a long way to go, but I am more at peace with food now than I have been in the past:

When I get a craving, I drink some water immediately and then count to ten. That usually tells me if I'm really hungry or not (sometimes I can't tell when I'm ACTUALLY hungry and when I'm "head hungry").

If I truly am hungry, then if I have access to the thing I am craving, I'll go read the label and see how much of what is in a serving. Calories, fat, carbs and protein are the things I pay most attention to... Can I afford the calories, knowing what I have left to use up and how many meals I have left to use them for? Is the protein content enough to make it worth my while to put this in my mouth? Am I going to pay for it later from carbs/fat (I have no gall-bladder so I will dump on certain amounts of fats and sugars).

Now, by the time I've gotten to the label reading, I'm usually able to talk myself out of it -- I don't want to spend the calories this way for only 6 crackers or whatever it is I'm having.. BUT... if all the criteria are met.. and I still want it, I'll have a serving of it.

No guilt.

No internal reprimand.

Just have the dang cookie.. satisfy the craving with a serving and move the eff on!!

I've had a lot of success personally with this and I no longer feel guilty when I eat.. I felt like I was perpetuating an eating disorder to so closely assign an emotion (guilt, joy, sadness.. whatever) to the act of nourishing my body..

I agree with the earlier poster who suggested counselling. I didn't get to this line of thinking all on my own.. I went to group classes, I talked to a therapist.. and I'm not CURED by any means.. but I'm definitely feeling more normal and in greater control of my cravings now than they are of me.

the greatest of the advice I have to give you is the second thing. FORGIVE YOURSELF.

You're not a bad person for making a poor choice.

Stef