Where Does Self Control Come From?

I think self control might just come from eating the heart of a girl scout. They seem to be the devil's minions for delivering the caloric goods according to everyone's #1 vice for indulgence temptation :devil:

I didn't order any girl scout cookies this year, but a co-worker brought a package of Thin Mints (my favorite) and when she left the room, I ate the last six she had and hid the wrapper, then claimed ignorance at where the cookies went. (We work at a college, so leave food out and the students...well....) I need a twelve-step! lol

girl scout cookies are yummy especially the samoas...my fav!

what I do is get only 1 box and ration it so it lasts longer. I tell myself sure I can eat the box now but I won't have any for another day...that usually works for me since I am limited. I try to make my 1 box stretch the longest.

I know my weakness (there are a lot of them). I know my strengths (there are few) When it comes to weight loss and lifestyle change. I started here last June and for 4 months had great focus and results (27 pounds). I was doing it, making good choices, exercising and losing weight and feeling better. Then the MFP honeymoon was over and "normal" eating habits started again. I had learned enough to maintain(sort of) but that's not good enough, I still need to lose 50 pounds!

Today there were 4 boxes of girl scout cookies delivered to me ( I only remember ordering 2, but didn't want to argue) So all day long those cookies sat on my desk and I had all the will power in the world because I know me... I can't eat just a bite of something, it triggers some maniac that can't quit. I get home and my daughter sees them and so I opened the box for her. Well that is all it took. so 4 Thin Mints and 10 Somoas later I sit down to type this because how do you do it? Where does Self Control and discipline come from? I really need to find that place and live there. I feel very frustrated with myself.

I know, I know... Brush it off, tomorrow is another day, don't look back, it's all in the past (like 5 minutes ago, I can still taste the chocolaty goodness)

Any tips, advice, or butt kickin all appreciated...

Take care people of MFP and STAY AWAY FROM THE GIRL SCOUTS!!!!!

Oh, katlou2! You just voiced my cries of yesterday :sad: THIN MINTS... and I too "can still taste the chocolaty goodness"!!!

Aside from my absolute (few-and-far-between) favs, I wait. I'll imagine the last time I gave in, the feeling afterward, the workout afterward, the scale afterward....ALL THE AFTERWARDS, and that has finally been enough to get me to want this me more than the crap :happy:

omg, thin mints and samoas! i love those things! i used to also indulge in fast food binges for as long as week, or i could easily polish off a bag of potato chips. i realized that i overate mostly out of emotional reasons, but it ultimately came down to not respecting my body or myself. in the past several months, i've made lots of strides in nurturing myself, so it's much easier to not use food to allay my self-doubts, etc.

for yourself, the reasons could be different, and next time you're tempted to overeat and give up all self control, pause and think: are you bored? stressed? once you figure out the cause, you can do something that will deal with that true issue -- instead of using food as a proxy. but also, i've found it helpful to remind myself of my motivations to become healthier and stronger.

however, if you still want to indulge in a treat, i've found one great technique is to take out 1 or 2 pieces of chocolate, or portion out a serving size of chips, then put the container away. then i'll try to eat it slowly and mindfully, and it's so much satisfying that way.

all of us mess up at times, but even so, we need to forgive ourselves and not give into feelings of guilt, frustration, or blame. what we can do is to analyze why we did it, and then try to take measures to deal with it differently in the future. it's definitely a process, but the journey gets easier over time, esp. with the great community here!

:sad: **just finished my 8TH Carmel Delight **

THis is going to sound weird, but my salvation is a cup of hot cocoa. Nearly every day since New Year's, someone has brought donuts (my MAJOR weekness), coffee cake, cupcakes or some other baked good to the office (minimum of 200 cals for a donut, prob more for the other stuff). I bring a travel mug of hot cocoa (about 100 cals) to work every day, and then I just walk away from the office kitchen. I slowly sip my yummy cocoa (non-diet, I want to enjoy it!) and haven't had a baked good yet this year.

Now people at the office are coming up to me asking me how I'm losing weight, with all the kitchen treats available. I've got my cocoa, and I don't feel like I'm missing anything.

My point is, find something that will satisfy you, measure it out.... ENJOY IT, and walk away from the bad temptation. Stay with the controlled treat.

I had ordered a case of GS tagalongs before the diet started and then they came after I started dieting. No I didn't even open them, I sold them. My self control comes from wanting this weight loss and body reformation more than I will ever want the cookies or breads or fats. To me it's a question of how bad do I want this. If I give in that means I don't want it very bad. I don't give in!

This is exactly how I feel! You have to want it more than you want anything else. I have had to learn self control, and it has been hard. I don't want to insult anyone or say no ( I also can't have just one lol). I had 2 Do-si-dos yesterday and I ordered 12 boxes from my daughter to help make her goal. I am selling the rest. I worked those two cookies into my plan, and that is all I will have. SO my self control tactic is : Want better for yourself more than ANYTHING else in the world..including Do-si-dos ;P

Food is just food and will always be there. I don't NEED to eat GS cookies now, because next year, after I have reached my goal weight, I can order a box or two (that is, if I still want them or do not talk myself out of it). McDonald's isn't going anywhere, I don't have to miss their french fries and filet-o-fish sandwiches because they will ALWAYS be around and I can get one later. This is my attitude towards the foods I used to love and eat all the time. Luckily, the healthier I eat, the more my tastes are changing and I prefer more nutritious foods - I think by the time I reach my goal, I will probably not want the junk food anymore.

And I agree with logging food ahead of time. I plan at least 1 day in advance (sometimes 2), and if I want a treat I put it on my diary first, then work the whole day around it. Eating a diet high in protein will help curb the sugar cravings, this has worked for me. I find preventing the cravings is much easier than trying to fight them once they have arrived.

Where does my self control come from? From my desire to reach my goal and not let anything stop me. FOOD doesn't control me. I still have an occasional oopsie but I don't let it get me down, I don't wait until the next day to get back on the wagon, I jump right back on immediatly. You have seen success in the past so you know you can do it! Believe in yourself, I know it's cheesy, but if you KNOW you can do it, you WILL.

ETA: and I also agree with the people that said to set mini-goals. I have my first mini-goal coming up, and knowing that I need to lose 3 pounds in a little over 2 weeks keeps me from snacking on junk because I am SO CLOSE to reaching that little goal! I have mini goals planned for every couple of months to help me stay on track, it's working so far

Rather than try to control myself, I try to look at the drive behind the idea that I'm not getting enough, or not getting what I want. When that changes, when I believe that I'm getting enough and what I need, there is no need for control. I know I'm a radical here, but that's what I believe. Self control day in and day, was exhausting and not maintainable (for me).

I think of it like alcohol. When I was 18 and not allowed to drink, it was the most interesting and exciting thing in the world. When I turned 21 and could have it for breakfast if I wanted, the desire faded. I can have cookies if I want. A whole box if I need it. I just don't usually want them now. For me, the freedom takes away the need for self control.