When you want to give in
ampherz
Posts: 55 Member
What do you guys do when you've hit a couple setbacks, the usual person who helps coach you out of a binge isn't around, you want to throw in the towel, or CVS has candy half off?
I keep finding myself at this point day after day. I work so hard, eat kale for breakfast, and then something pushes me over the line and I've had it with dieting and nobody cares anyway. Of course, only until tomorrow or my next workout or I can't fit in my pants.
Give me your best tips!
I keep finding myself at this point day after day. I work so hard, eat kale for breakfast, and then something pushes me over the line and I've had it with dieting and nobody cares anyway. Of course, only until tomorrow or my next workout or I can't fit in my pants.
Give me your best tips!
0
Replies
-
You simply have to keep your mind occupied with things other then food. Don't sit around and brood over how good candy would be to eat. Go accomplish something. Do that chore you've been putting off, go for a walk, anything. Also, make sure you are not completely depriving yourself of the things you love. Work your favorite treats into your diet and count them towards you calorie goal.
Remember the gratification you'd get from eating a couple candy bars will be VERY short lived. The gratification of accomplishing goals is much more rewarding and long lasting!0 -
I try to put off eating the food as much as possible, 10 or 20 minutes, then doing it again. If it's getting late, I may go to bed a little earlier - I try to tell myself that I am not hungry and do not need to eat just before bed. That's assuming it's the evening, which is the most tempting time for me.
I have chocolate and crisps in the house all the time for my family and it's hard sometimes not to eat them. I think 'balls to it' and then also feel crappy the next day or when I my trousers are still tight. I try to make mself remember that crappy feeling when I'm next tempted, but it doesn't always work.
Are you eating things you enjoy often? Including treats and things? And having a variety of different meals, rather than the same?0 -
I keep yogurt of all kinds in fridge to try to curb my sweet tooth, lemon drops which are low in calories but no chocolate or I make smoothies with frozen fruit and chocolate soymilk or vanilla soymilk I was a candy addict but making these little changes have helped me so far0
-
If you are bingeing or feel out of control, have you considered OA?0
-
Vismal, you're so right about the goals! Usually I feel this way when I've given in to watching TV all night or work is particularly slow. I've got to find better ways to fill my time because they absolutely keep me going (and not eating junk).
spacebean_85, I cook great food and treat myself. I just always find myself wanting a little more or to take a night off. Must focus on the real payoff.0 -
You've probably heard this before, but i've actually changed my mindset and it works for me: This is not a diet, it is a lifestyle. I simply have turned my back on a lot of things that i used to regularly eat as a God-given right and now view them as "treats" that i only ocassionaly indulge. It helps if you are logging and see the cost of these treats - 150 cals for a can of soda??? man, that is 1/4 of the time i spend each day on the elliptical right there! I still eat a lot of fun things (not choking down kale) that fit within my calorie budget and macros, just less of it. If i have calorie room, i'll ocassionally fit in some gummy bears - it's just not part of my daily diet. Honestly, i used to think i had a "right" to eat junk - now i weigh the costs. Good luck on your journey!0
-
oh, and as for setbacks, I'm in it for the longhaul. A bad day does not break me unless i allow it to be followed by another bad day, etc. Hope this helps.0
-
I remind myself why I started this. I felt terrible. I remind myself of pulling those tight jeans up and cant get them buttoned and nothing to wear and how miserable I was. I remind myself I had no respect for myself. Don't deprive yourself, have a little of whatever you want. I remind myself it is short term happiness but the consequences. Mainly remind myself to take care of myself, no one else is going to!0
-
Vismal, you're so right about the goals! Usually I feel this way when I've given in to watching TV all night or work is particularly slow. I've got to find better ways to fill my time because they absolutely keep me going (and not eating junk).
spacebean_85, I cook great food and treat myself. I just always find myself wanting a little more or to take a night off. Must focus on the real payoff.
I cook from scratch a lot too, but my portion sizes weren't always great, or I go picking at leftovers as I put them away.
And I am more lax about things at the weekend, I'm ok with this slowing down my weight loss as I love to cook and eat at the weekend, but I sometimes fall into the trap of thinking 'screw it' when I've had a couple of particularly bad days.
If you are relaxing in front of the TV, can you do something with your hands? I make lists (shopping, things to do, family outing ideas), play scrabble (with a physical board, not on my phone or laptop) or paint my nails. The nail varnish doesn't last long - I type all day and garden/cook at home. But if I have wet nails I can't eat. I developed this tactic when I had very bad acne and it kept me from touching my face. I still do it occasionally if I can hear the siren song of leftover cheesecake in the fridge.0 -
Sometimes I do a Nancy Reagan and just say no. Seriously. I tell the food "bugger off, damn it, you are NOT in control".
Sometimes I don't give myself a chance to 'think' about it, I just shut it down. Boom.
Sometimes I'll think about whatever it is that I want to eat and look up the cals first. That often stops me.
Sometimes I"ll have just a small portion of whatever it is and that does the trick.
Sometimes I don't tell myself that I "can't" have that but rather I "won't" have that.
Sometimes nothing works and I say to hell with it and just eat. I freely admit that I enjoy mindless eating. Too much.
If this happens, it happens. But the next day I get right back up on that horse.0 -
good thread.
gave in yesterday, need to hear this today
thanks0 -
You simply have to keep your mind occupied with things other then food. Don't sit around and brood over how good candy would be to eat. Go accomplish something. Do that chore you've been putting off, go for a walk, anything. Also, make sure you are not completely depriving yourself of the things you love. Work your favorite treats into your diet and count them towards you calorie goal.
Remember the gratification you'd get from eating a couple candy bars will be VERY short lived. The gratification of accomplishing goals is much more rewarding and long lasting!
THIS! Great comment and very helpful!0 -
I look at the picture from my cousin's wedding. Suck it up and keep moving towards my goal. Sometimes you just need a reminder of why you started.0
-
Vismal, you're so right about the goals! Usually I feel this way when I've given in to watching TV all night or work is particularly slow. I've got to find better ways to fill my time because they absolutely keep me going (and not eating junk).
spacebean_85, I cook great food and treat myself. I just always find myself wanting a little more or to take a night off. Must focus on the real payoff.
Absolutely. Focus on the payoff. I remind myself that for every snack I pass up when I'm not hungry but rather bored, the closer I get to my goal. Sometimes I give in. Hell life is too short. But each day is a new opportunity to improve. Hang in there.0 -
I look at the picture from my cousin's wedding. Suck it up and keep moving towards my goal. Sometimes you just need a reminder of why you started.
Hah! I have a similar photo. I never took a "before" when I started a long time ago, but one of my worst photos was a wedding shot. Thanks for the encouragement, and keep moving forward!0 -
good thread.
gave in yesterday, need to hear this today
thanks
Don't give up! These wonderful commenters gave me the power today. Tomorrow it's all me — and you. Unless of course this thread is still going.
0 -
Do you like eating kale for breakfast? If not, don't do it! If you're miserable you'll never stick with it, and you don't have to be miserable. Literally the only thing you have to do in order to lose weight is create a caloric deficit -- you have to take in fewer calories than you burn. You can do that and still eat foods you like. I love kale, and even I can't face it first thing in the morning.0
-
Do you like eating kale for breakfast? If not, don't do it! If you're miserable you'll never stick with it, and you don't have to be miserable. Literally the only thing you have to do in order to lose weight is create a caloric deficit -- you have to take in fewer calories than you burn. You can do that and still eat foods you like. I love kale, and even I can't face it first thing in the morning.
I didn't mean I force myself to eat kale. I will sometimes throw a little into a delicious berry/banana smoothie. It also pairs pretty well with ginger. I actually like a lot of healthy stuff. I just like junk a lot more or at least that's what I tell myself (or what the marketing tells me).0 -
Sometimes I do a Nancy Reagan and just say no. Seriously. I tell the food "bugger off, damn it, you are NOT in control".
Sometimes I don't give myself a chance to 'think' about it, I just shut it down. Boom.
Sometimes I'll think about whatever it is that I want to eat and look up the cals first. That often stops me.
Sometimes I"ll have just a small portion of whatever it is and that does the trick.
Sometimes I don't tell myself that I "can't" have that but rather I "won't" have that.
Sometimes nothing works and I say to hell with it and just eat. I freely admit that I enjoy mindless eating. Too much.
If this happens, it happens. But the next day I get right back up on that horse.
I read on a blog yesterday that sometimes it's best to just give some things up and start saying "I don't eat french fries. Period." Decision made via food rules. These tips are great. Thank you!0 -
I eat what I want when I want as long as it stays in my calorie goals.
No food is off limits to me.
If I want pizza I make it at home and make sure I have the calories for it.
If I want take out I plan for it and have calories left for it.
I personally eat chocolate everynight.
My main food are lean meats, veggies, eggs etc..you know "healthy stuff" but the other stuff fits in nicely too.0 -
I eat what I want when I want as long as it stays in my calorie goals.
No food is off limits to me.
If I want pizza I make it at home and make sure I have the calories for it.
If I want take out I plan for it and have calories left for it.
I personally eat chocolate everynight.
My main food are lean meats, veggies, eggs etc..you know "healthy stuff" but the other stuff fits in nicely too.
QFT.
I'd say don't label foods as healthy/unhealthy or junk. Personally, if I tell myself I can't have something, that's all I'll want. I don't deprive myself (not saying you do). It's about moderation. There's no good/bad food only bad eating habits.
Also, one meal/one day won't ruin all of your progress.
You have to be able to live your life while on this journey. You have to find a balance and do things that are sustainable for the rest of your life.0 -
As a college kid with uncontrollable midnight munchies, and a vending machine with super good but unhealthy snacks, i have said 'screw it' a few times, and ate 500+ calories in 5 minutes many times. I have learned that its only hurting me so much more. I now have snacks that i eat at night instead of chips or candy. Apples and strawberries have sugar, so i still get my sweet tooth somewhat pleased, and if im really hungry ill make a pb and j sandwhich. Not the healthies choice, but much healthier than doritos or pop tarts.
Also, learn from your mistakes. Since i started watching what i eat, everytime i go to the vending machine, i feel soooo guilty! dont be too hard on yourself, but dont be too lenient also. Also, cheat days help!! i always go super hard in the gym the day before and after a cheat day though. i only have a cheat day once every 2 weeks. and i dont go too wild. Good luck!!0 -
Sometimes I do a Nancy Reagan and just say no. Seriously. I tell the food "bugger off, damn it, you are NOT in control".
Sometimes I don't give myself a chance to 'think' about it, I just shut it down. Boom.
Sometimes I'll think about whatever it is that I want to eat and look up the cals first. That often stops me.
Sometimes I"ll have just a small portion of whatever it is and that does the trick.
Sometimes I don't tell myself that I "can't" have that but rather I "won't" have that.
Sometimes nothing works and I say to hell with it and just eat. I freely admit that I enjoy mindless eating. Too much.
If this happens, it happens. But the next day I get right back up on that horse.
You...I like you...The Nancy Reagan thing had me laughing!0 -
I eat what I want when I want as long as it stays in my calorie goals.
No food is off limits to me.
If I want pizza I make it at home and make sure I have the calories for it.
If I want take out I plan for it and have calories left for it.
I personally eat chocolate everynight.
My main food are lean meats, veggies, eggs etc..you know "healthy stuff" but the other stuff fits in nicely too.
Yeah this.
Why are you feeling this way? Is your calorie goal appropriate? Are you working foods you love into your diet?0 -
I'd suggest that you develop clearly defined nutrition targets - calories target, macronutrients targets (in case you don't know and as far as I know, these are what your calories are made of - carbs, fats, protein - and your body needs these to live).
Once you do this it'll be easier to stop labeling food as "junk" - food is generally just food, comprised of carbs, fats, protein, and some micronutrients that I personally am not too interested in.
So, instead of saying, I can't eat this slice of pizza because it's bad for me, or because it's too greasy and fat is the devil, you can say:
- I won't eat this slice of pizza because it's 300 calories which will take me over my calorie goal, and I'd rather allot those calories to something I'd enjoy much more; OR
- I won't eat this slice because it's 40g of carbs, which will take me over my carb limit and I'm trying to keep below 175; OR
- I CAN eat this slice because it fits into my nutrition goals. I want to reach my carb goal, I have enough calories to make it work, I would like to reach my fats limit and this will help me do that.
You may even say sometimes, this slice will take me waaay over my targets. But I really want it and I know that it's not the end of the world to go over my limits sometimes, as long as I acknowledge everything I eat and practice moderation on a more consistent basis than not.
This is what I do and it helps when things seem a bit difficult! And the more I do the above, the easier it becomes to control what I eat. It's working well and feels sustainable, maybe it'll work for you too.0 -
Do you like eating kale for breakfast? If not, don't do it! If you're miserable you'll never stick with it, and you don't have to be miserable. Literally the only thing you have to do in order to lose weight is create a caloric deficit -- you have to take in fewer calories than you burn. You can do that and still eat foods you like. I love kale, and even I can't face it first thing in the morning.
^^THIS
If I started my day with kale, I'd be miserable. Eat what you would like for breakfast (include protein to keep you full).0 -
I am an excellent procrastinator. Sometimes I just tell myself maybe I'll go to town on the half off candy tomorrow, then I'll walk quickly out of the store and hope tomorrow never comes.0
-
Due to issues with thyroid and some other medical issues, it is VERY difficult for me to lose weight. I can watch my calories, work out regularly and not see a pound drop in weeks. It can get frustrating and has caused me to be like a yo-yo in my efforts because I would think, "why work so hard to get no results?!?!"
However, I have really found that I have to change my whole perspective and mentality. For me, I have to make it less about losing weight (although I want that) and more about getting myself to a feel-great healthy point.
I make sure to look at food as something that fuels my body and to do things that make me feel great and get more energy. A bowl of ice cream may taste good in the moment, but I'm never glad I ate it and I never feel better after. A mango or a green smoothie or a filet of salmon tastes better to me AND I feel great after eating it. I also changed my goals to be about getting in enough veggies, fruit, lean protein and fiber and sticking to good portion sizes, no grazing on food through the day, and making sure my calories are in check - and the rest will take care of itself.
With this mentality, exercise comes more naturally. It, once again, becomes about making better choices and treating my body with love and respect. I also recognize and remind myself how much better I feel when I exercise and how much more energy and confidence I have.
The biggest pay-off for me - feeling in control! I love not feeling like my cravings or insecurities are ruling my life and my eating. I feel like I have control and I am making the decisions and taking the time and effort to make good decisions and to take care of my body. That is an AMAZING feeling!!! And I just have to trust that all of these things will show up on the scale and in my body and not get discouraged when the scale doesn't show the effort. Because my body IS getting healthier and healthier and I am happier!!!
Best of luck!!0 -
I get enough calories, fat and protein to feel generally satisfied. I exercise enough to give me plenty of extra food.
If it's something that I want, but only kind of, such as peanut M&Ms or whatever candy is half off at Walgreens, then I think about something else and walk on past. I've often forgot about it as soon as it's out of sight. Same thing with treats in my house. I keep them in a cupboard and only go after them if I really want them Don't stop, don't look at it, don't think about it. Just move on.
Boredom eating was a big part of my weight gain (that and wine, but we won't talk about that :-p). I hardly ever just sit on the couch and watch tv any more. I walk, I exercise, I shop, I cook, I do chores. If I want to rest, I go to bed early, read a book (better than tv for the muchy cravings imo), take a hot bubble bath, get a massage, hang out with a friend, etc.
If I really want something, I have it. That's the biggest success. I work in shakes, pizza, ice cream, small pieces of GOOD chocolate, fast food, mac and cheese, you name it! I have a treat every day, sometimes small, sometimes large and just work it in to my weekly calories. My problem before was that I would have ALL of the treats. You can have a big plate of pad thai, or pizza, or a bowl of ice cream, or a couple glasses of wine, just not and, and, and!
A glass of water, procrastination (telling yourself you will have it in an hour is easier than telling yourself no and often ends up being the same thing), herbal tea (particularly Tazo passion because it is so sweet/rich), sugar free gum, a piece of hard candy, brushing my teeth, going to bed early, and doing something active are my other tricks.0 -
Boredom eating was a big part of my weight gain (that and wine, but we won't talk about that :-p). I hardly ever just sit on the couch and watch tv any more. I walk, I exercise, I shop, I cook, I do chores. If I want to rest, I go to bed early, read a book (better than tv for the muchy cravings imo), take a hot bubble bath, get a massage, hang out with a friend, etc.
This is brilliant. Thank you! I do notice that when I read, shop, or do chores I can't eat! Or even if I keep my hands busy while I watch TV. In my house we've developed an awful (well, for me) habit of sitting down to a good show once dinner is ready. And then I reach for another glass of wine, a second portion, or "dessert" munchies. I don't need the TV, and I certainly don't need to be eating while it's on. Must reach for crafts and fizzy water instead of snacks! As a bonus I'll also feel better because I've accomplished something.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 176K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions