Help! I love food way too much.

For me it is a matter of taking my thoughts captive and thinking on things that are more productive. I'm sure there are lots of things you could do. For me, as a christian, I memorize scripture, when I find myself falling into thinking about food, I start practicing the bible verses I'm memorizing, outloud so it drowns out my thoughts and helps me refocus.

Many times I have to actively jerk my mind out of thinking about food. Its so subtil. I can be thinking about something that has nothing to do with food and suddenly find that somehow I started thinking about food and didn't realize it. I've been working hard on this for the last 9 days. It is getting better.

I pray about it too. Even with working on losing weight it seems I can be consumed with so many thoughts of food pertaining to weightloss. I don't want this to be my WHOLE life.

Start using really small plates!
Kidding. Kind of.
Find your will power!
:flowerforyou:

Use to have the same problem. For me it helped me to remind myself that food is just fuel for my body, and does not have to be something to "enjoy." I still enjoy food, but I have to really think about it as just fuel. I also load my plates up with giant flavors. I want to eat something and taste it a few minutes after each bite. So for salad I will use balsamic vinegar and pepper as my salad dressing. Packs a huge flavor...then (as previous posters stated) I take one bite at a time and SAVOR each little flavor. By slowing down and packing in a ton of flavor I have managed to eat WAY less than I normally would have. I don't go for anything that has bland flavor now. I spice up whatever I am eating with balsamic vinegar, limes, spices, pepper.....anything that will help make me feel more satisfied in the flavor department.

1. Take it slow
2. Smaller plates actually do work
3. LOTS of flavor

Good luck

I love the feeling of being healthier more! But I have done similiar in the past before changing my eating habits.:ohwell:

You'll get to that point too, sooner than you realize, stick around and stick to your meal only, eating healthy food will make you less compulsive and less likely to binge on leftovers. It will feel repulsive to you after a bit, after making healthier decisions and setting priorities.

Small plates are a perfect idea to change over for the whole family, I love using them. You have a wonderful meal and it's not dumped on a giant plate that your eyes tell you isn't enough food. Scrape the kids foods in the trashcan right away, the hubbys and yours if your both have leftovers. Though after a bit you'll you won't have leftovers on your plate, measuring and weighing your food gets rid of that completely. Putting smaller quantities on the plates, portion sizes that are adequate will keep you satified and also make you feel far better about yourself after a meal.

Regarding leftovers on the stove, if it's too big of temptation at the begining ask your hubby to dump them or put them in the fridge for lunch leftovers, outta site outta mind. Let him know how important it is to you and how incredibly helpful that would be for your health and fitness.

Becca:flowerforyou:

When I stopped to analyze what was making me fat I realized it was dinner! Throughout the day, I didn't really eat too badly but I probably ate enough dinner for more than one person. I always found myself snacking while I made dinner , picking at my kids' plates, eating way too big of a meal and picking at the leftovers - EEKS! Now, I put a stick of gum in my mouth while preparing dinner, measure what I can have (and keep reminding myself that is it!!) and jump up and brush my teeth when we are done so I won't want to pick at leftovers.

By logging everything, I really started to realize how fast things add up and started to ask myself if certain things were worth the calories. Planning what you can have for the entire day early in the day really helps me.

I also went natural and organic and change to eating for nourishment and health instead of recreation. I fell in love with the clean ungroggy feeling that came with the concept. Read labels and research all those big words - that definately helped me break up with alot of my favorites.

Good luck to you!

If I were you I would throw the leftovers down the sink or put them away immediately...out of sight out of mind.

I have extreme willpower but my husband does not. So I cook the family meals as healthy as possible, I give everyone their plate, I make up my plate, I put everything away or throw it away and then I sit down and eat. What we have it what we got. Also I simply don't bring junk in the house.

Do whatever it takes to stop the cycle - it will stop eventually once you change your habits!

First thing is that you need to stop making excuses why you eat everything on your plate and your family's. When they give you what they have left, say no. Say no until they get it.

Every time you are tempted to eat the leftovers, find something else to do to distract you from wanting to eat. Is there another reason why you want to eat? Bored, tired, stressed? Is you hunger really physical or more psychological? You need to listen to what you stomach says and not what is going on in your head. You must break the habit of eating all the time. It won't happen overnight, but it takes time. If you are going to eat that leftover meal, tell yourself, is it really worth the calories? Instead of eating the leftovers, go for carrots or some other veggie instead.

You have to really work at changing the way you approach food.