Help! I'm gaining!

Bad treats!! Bad, bad treats!! Leave joilet alone!!

If it was easy, there wouldnt be a need for MFP in the first place ...

Don't beat yourself up! Just jump back on the horse and ride. I have the same feelings at times. Just take it a day at a time. If you mess up, just start the next day with healthier habits. I didn't complete my goal of working out 5 times a week last week. In fact, I only worked out twice. But I tried my best to stay within my calorie range. With life, so many things can distract us from our goal but try to stay focused and you will see results. This week focus on completing one task, whether it be exercise or eating well. By focusing on one goal at a time, it makes me feel accomplished whether I exceed all my goals. You can do it!!!!

I sometimes log the food before I eat it only to then change my mind because I'd feel too guilty or it would destroy my efforts for the day. It is shocking how much calories I must have consumed before counting them! :ohwell:

I am also checking treat calories in the supermarket before I buy them because i know that once I buy them I cannot resist. If you don't buy it- you won't eat it!

Hope that helps... :happy:

Agree with the other posters on getting rid of the treats. If it's something you can't throw out for some reason, another trick that works for me is to move it to a high shelf - aka, where I can't immediately see it and crave it. Out of sight, out of mind. And, always carry an apple or some grapes in your purse, or gum. Keep your mouth busy when someone asks if you want a cupcake.

Anyway, you're here, so clearly you want to change - don't beat yourself up if that change is not immediate - the worst thing you can do is let small defeats get so big in your mind that you give up. You're on the right track, just keep at it.

Find some treats you like and that are also healthy, high fiber, low calorie and/or low fat. Look for things like baby carrots, sugar snap peas, celery with a little low fat cream cheese or peanut butter, low fat granola bars, unsweetened breakfast cereal (one of my personal favorites), or whatever else you like. Then portion them out in advance into single servings. I use those little snack sized baggies. Carry these things with you wherever you go and have them sitting somewhere in the kitchen where they are easily accessible. Then, when you get the temptation to snack you have right at hand something which won't destroy your goals for the day.

Before actually deciding you NEED those treats (do you really??) have a glass of water, try to find something to occupy the hands that would be using them to put food into your mouth and then, if you really are hungry, go grab ONE of your healthy treats.

I've also found that it is much easier to resist temptation to actually log it before you eat it. Seeing how much fat, calories or sugar something has in it usually makes me think twice about eating it. I also have decided that:

1. I have more power than that donut/cookie/cake and I'm not going to allow it to control my life and damage my health.
2. While it's going to taste good for the couple of seconds I'm chewing it, it's going to sabotage me and I'll regret it the instant I swallow it.

This is not an easy journey you've started on. If it were, no one would be overweight. Deciding we're too tired to work out eating things we shouldn't are choices we make and it's a downward spiral. Renew your dedication and start doing what you know you should do for yourself and your family. You'll find that once you start eating healthy and working out that you'll actually feel better and it'll get easier.

I know exactly how you feel because I had those same cravings last week being it was my TOM any other time I can easily walk away or not be tempted at all. We all have things happening in our lives or going through rough patches that can cause us to lose our will power even though we are adults. People can be addicted to food just like anything else...if you are a smoker ( I know b/c I was) most people can't quit the first time or go cold turkey. So, everyone at some point or another will lose and give in to the food and when you do start anew like someone else said. None of us are perfect so stop giving yourself a hard time. I'm not saying you are addicted to food just trying to show an example. Good luck and hang in there YOU CAN DO IT!!