I wish I could get junk food out of the house!

Bailzcatherine
Bailzcatherine Posts: 2
in Health and Weight Loss
My boyfriend and I live together and he doesn't care too much about eating healthy. He orders delivery at least once a week, which is easier for me to say no to, but he won't give up his fatty, greasy, sugary snacks that I can't seem to escape! I am pretty good about drinking mostly water and tea, but there is always pop or sugary juice in the house. It's so hard for me to ignore the bags of chocolate-covered pretzels, chips, cheese curls, etc., not to mention the constant supply of ice cream! I buy a lot of produce, yogurt, cereal, nuts, and other healthy snacks, but I have a really tough time resisting the tempting garbage he won't give up! Any advice?

Replies

  • baja572
    baja572 Posts: 94
    find a new boyfriend! (just kidding) lol give it time! he will get the idea..be strong!
  • Emtabo01
    Emtabo01 Posts: 672
    Could you shove it all in one cabinet, then you just have to resist the one cabinet? Ice cream in the back, soda- only one cold one in the fridge at a time, the rest in the cabinet?
  • MightyDomo
    MightyDomo Posts: 1,265 Member
    Dear lord, just the mention of cheese curls made my mouth water!

    You just need to have a chat with him about how his consumption of these foods and the availability because of his consumption is having a negative effect on your weight loss goals. It's something that is hard for you to resist and you need his support by either hiding the foods or trying to cut down on how much is in the house so you don't feel tempted by them. If you don't have this talk and he doesn't agree (which in my opinion is not a good sign in terms of the boyfriend status) then you will have to earn a great deal of willpower while you are on trek to your goal.
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    Ooooh. Ice cream. Everything else I could resist if there were healthy options available. But ice cream...

    When I was in a similar situation, though I think my BF was a bit more considerate!, I had to have a more healthy version of ice cream that was MINE and mine only. So if he ate ice cream or I was really craving it, I had a substitute. For me, it was some fancy, pure fruit sorbet or sugar free ice cream or even those nearly 100% sugar iced lemon cups. If I had just a drop of the real ice cream, I'd finish the whole carton. So having alternative desserts was a MUST.
  • FightTheFrump
    FightTheFrump Posts: 54 Member
    Yes, alternative desserts are the best for this kind of situation. But it would also be helpful for your BF to be more supportive. He could bring his snacks to work and perhaps cut down on the junk food in the house. It also helps if you do the shopping. :)
  • cardinalsfootball
    cardinalsfootball Posts: 167 Member
    Put it all in one cabinet, and have him (or you) install a cheap little key lock on it (a simple little latch with a $2 suitcase key would work)... $10 total at home depot. Put the key on his house key ring.

    Problem solved.
  • sussexbythesea
    sussexbythesea Posts: 1,336 Member
    Just wondering why he does not try some of the healthy food you get instead of the junk- he may not care now but he might in a few year's time if he gets high Bp, cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. The habits laid down now stay for life- what one earth would you do if the 2 of you had kids in the future. How would you feed them? Junk or healthy?
  • now_or_never13
    now_or_never13 Posts: 1,575 Member
    Unfortunately you will just have to work on willpower. The only thing you can do is ask him to put it somewhere you either don't know where it is or where you can't get at it. If he doesn't need to loseweight and wants to eat those things I don't think it's right to ask him not bring it into the house where he lives.
  • cmcollins001
    cmcollins001 Posts: 3,472 Member
    Buy your own snacks, eat those. Keep within your calorie limits. Willpower.
  • EpitomeOfSxy
    EpitomeOfSxy Posts: 157 Member
    I have hubby keep his snacks and things in a bin in his computer room so it isn't in the kitchen and I can't see it. He also usually waits until I go to bed to eat it. That was the compromise we made.
  • Priincess_Natalie
    Priincess_Natalie Posts: 367 Member
    I eat 98% whole, unprocessed foods but my family does not. This includes a teenage girl and a husband. I just have to keep my eye on my goals and ignore their food. It has its challenges but it's do-able. One thing I try to make sure of is that I have ready to eat foods so I can grab healthy options before their junk food starts to look too easy. Apples, bananas, pears, sweet potatoes (pre-cooked), a huge veggie stew (kept in the fridge), carrot sticks and things of this nature fill my fridge and counter space so I can grab and go. When I feel the urge and have the time I pre-wash and cook some things so I don't have to think too much when I get hungry :). Good luck and stick to it. It's not easy but it's worth it.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    Just wondering why he does not try some of the healthy food you get instead of the junk- he may not care now but he might in a few year's time if he gets high Bp, cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. The habits laid down now stay for life- what one earth would you do if the 2 of you had kids in the future. How would you feed them? Junk or healthy?

    Something to think about...
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    Thats a tough one I'm not strong enough to resist especially if I'm in a binge cycle. If he loves you he needs to get it away from you! If your goal is to avoid that you cant have temptations not in your house that should be your one clean sanctuary. He needs to either keep it at work, in his car, or put into some sort of cupboard away from you. Out of sight out of mind.
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    I think I'd give him his own cabinet and put a lock on it.

    Around here, if you buy something for yourself, you put your name on it, like my husband's candy bars. Then nobody else touches it.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    I have hubby keep his snacks and things in a bin in his computer room so it isn't in the kitchen and I can't see it. He also usually waits until I go to bed to eat it. That was the compromise we made.

    :drinker:
  • AuntieMC
    AuntieMC Posts: 346 Member
    Develop IRON will power! This stuff is EVERYWHERE in our society. You have to see it, smell it, and refuse it anyway, if you want to stay with clean, healthy eating!

    Seperate cupboard for his junk food, even if you have to buy a cupboard to stick somewhere, or use a drawer just for him, or something.

    A low shelf in the freezer, out of constant sight for his ice cream.

    Ask him to eat "take-out" AT the restaurant! Pizza at the pizza parlor, burgers at the burger joint, chinese food at the chinese restaurant.

    Get a small dorm refrigerator for his sodas, or find a less obvious shelf in your fridge, where it isn't the first thing you see every time you open the door.

    Get some skull and cross bones stickers to place on each package (I love passive-aggressive!).
  • eris1981
    eris1981 Posts: 58 Member
    Other than his cereal that is eaten as often as a snack as for breakfast (Cinnamon Toast Crunch) and ice cream, my husband gets his snacks from the gas station as he wants them. I have a huge weakness for ice cream, so I keep fat free sherbet or Skinny Cow ice cream bars or sandwiches so I stay out of his ice cream. And I'm not a big Cinnamon Toast Crunch fan so it's not tempting. Also, we bought a Soda Stream, so even if I fall victim to soda, it's not nearly as bad as regular soda.
  • Phany04
    Phany04 Posts: 52 Member
    I have the same problem except is not my boyfriend who bring sugary and starchy food into the house. It's my mother. There are chocolates, juices, cookies and crackers of all types, sugary cereals, breads.... She tells me I don't have to eat it if I don't want to. I get healthier versions to indulge once In a while and try to do my best not to give into all the temptation.
  • gramacanada
    gramacanada Posts: 557 Member
    One box of all his snacks in the bottom of a closet somewhere.
    Only one carton of anything frozen at a time.
    If he's any kind of real man he should be willing to do this for you.
    If not... at least you'll know.
  • returntorural
    returntorural Posts: 339 Member
    I'd try to find healthier options that are somewhat similar to the junk food you like. There are "natural" cheese curls and Tofutti ice cream that you can choose over Cheetos or regular ice cream. Make sure you have your own kind of "junk" around so you don't reach for his junk food.
  • OliveRiver
    OliveRiver Posts: 81 Member
    Short term, I would say that you either need to come to some sort of compromise or, as many have already said, designate one cabinet for his stuff and keep a lock on it.

    In the long term, however, it would be best if he joined you in your journey. Not just for your sake but for his own.

    Just wondering why he does not try some of the healthy food you get instead of the junk- he may not care now but he might in a few year's time if he gets high Bp, cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. The habits laid down now stay for life- what one earth would you do if the 2 of you had kids in the future. How would you feed them? Junk or healthy?

    This would be another thing to take into consideration.
  • XXbrendaXX
    XXbrendaXX Posts: 169
    This has always been an issue for me. I have a husband and two teenage sons who do not have a weight problem at all, and are used to having their supply of junk food in the house. When I decided 6 months ago that I was serious about losing weight this time, that I was making a lifestyle change, I feared that would be my biggest obstacle. But honestly, it hasn't affected me that bad this time. I think learning to count calories and log everything I eat really made me realize how much I would rather fuel my body with healthy foods. Very seldom do I even crave the bad stuff anymore. But if I do, I let myself have it and get it out of my system, then back to my better food choices. And lately I have definitely noticed my children following my example, reaching for the healthy snack over the junk food more times than not! :smile:
  • Tetonia
    Tetonia Posts: 79 Member
    If your BF were allergic to produce and yogurt would it stop you from bringing it into the house? Would you put it under lock and key in the fridge, or only eat it away from home? Not meaning to come across as argumentative here. Just food for thought.

    The world is full of less than optimal choices. For me it comes down to being personally accountable for what I choose to put into my mouth, not matter where I am. Not always easy. At work I have said "no thanks" so often that I don't get asked any more if I want junk food or to order fast food with a group.

    Willpower is a muscle, it gets stronger when exercised. Just keep yourself supplied in healthy choices.

Categories