Overcoming temptations

I go to the store with a list. I stick to the list. I don't keep the stuff I like to binge on at home (begone peanut m&m's and harry and david moose munch) If I have it I will eat it. Ate a whole 7 servings of moose munch at 190 calories a serving a few weeks ago during the holiday stress season. I bagged it all up and the unopened junk food was donated and the rest was trashed.

I've taken all temptation foods out of my home, I do buy special foods for my partner so he dose not feel like his on a "diet" that I do not touch. I keep things like carrot sticks and cream cheese on hand. I lost my sweet tooth a few weeks after I stated to loose weight, I guess I like the changes that are happening.

I am also a busy full-time student and Mum to 3 so I completely understand how you are the last one that gets thought about...by yourself!

Things that I find work for me (when I actually remember to do them...) are the following:

-prepping as much as can the night before for the kids and myself so that our day is set food wise--I find prepping almost all my meals for the next day the night before crucial to my success. For example--Sundays I decide what I want to eat for the week and I'll make a big batch of soup or a healthy quinoa salad in bulk and that becomes "Mum's meal--hands off!!" I put it in containers on Sunday night so that I can easily grab them during the weeknights when I am making 5 lunches for everyone. I also pre-package rice cakes, etc for the right serving size and always make sure to have fruit and individual greek yogurts in the fridge as these are my "go-to" snacks. Figure out 3-5 of your go-to snacks and always make sure you keep them on hand.

- Remembering to drink water!! When I am thirsty, I seem to just eat more...
- Sleep!! Whenever I don't get enough sleep, my eating goes down the drain!
- Always have snacks with you wherever you go (healthy ones..) I usually always keep an apple or some nuts in a small baggy in my bag.
- Don't keep it in the house!! The other day we went out for ice cream and my husband wanted to buy the box of ice cream bars as it was cheaper. I said no and we bought individual bars for a one-time eat and that was it...I try my hardest to keep trigger foods out of my house (although they always seem to sneak in by my husband and children...)

While I may offer some good advice, I too have a hard time with losing control and have a difficult time with the guilt that comes from parental duties vs. taking care of myself. A big change we have made recently is that Sundays we stay home...unless it's a family members birthday, we stay in our PJ's and it is my laundry and "prep" day--I prep all the veggies, my batches of meals and sometimes I'll even prep certain things for our dinners that week. Life usually gets in the way and it doesn't always happen, but we've had to say no to a lot of commitments as I personally find that I need my prep days to make the rest of the week go smoother, including being organized in the kitchen.

I hope that helps--keep truckin'!

Also...it sounds weird but brush your teeth right after dinner if you are having a craving, especially for sweets! Someone recently gave me this tip and it has helped a lot! .....if I make it to the bathroom before finding something yummy haha

I eat my temptations and just work them into my calorie allotment. I make sure I get in some veggies and a decent amount of protein each day, but I have dessert pretty much every day.