What is your best advice for avoiding unhealthy tempting foods?

Try to portion out your treats to stay within your calorie goal.
I'm not a snacker because I like to eat larger meals, but I've heard that it's better to eat a carb with a protein/fat snack such as peanut butter with Apple slices or some cheese and crackers or some turkey or chicken or other protein with a carb.
Nuts are a filing snack with some plain greek yogurt.
Some hummus and carrots are good also.

I always make room in my allotment for a treat, therefore, I'm not avoiding anything.

Just eat a little of it. One serving. Just so you can satisfy the urge and take the edge off. If I completely cut out 'junk' foods, I would be a hot *kitten*, binging mess! The cold turkey method isn't sustainable for the majority of people. Most importantly, just monitor how the calories fit into your calorie allowance, and make sure you're getting good nutrition throughout the day! Enjoy yourself.

Tell them under no circumstances to give you any and preferably to store it out of sight. This helps because you know you'll feel like a fool if you have to go begging them for it or hunting through the house for it on the sly.

I make sure I fill up on the more nutritious foods first with a good, big chunk of protein and some fats, then I am much less likely to go overboard with the little treats. I'm having some pretty good success with that little trick keeping it to one portion, or, sometimes half portion if that is all my remaining calories allow. I take tiny bites and savor instead of shoveling in handful after handful while barely catching a breath lol. (yes that was me)

If you could see the size of the jar of candies my daughter received for valentines...whew! Her boyfriend was kind enough (without anyone asking him) to keep the bags from the various candies so that I could see proper portion and calorie sizes! It's such a large amount of candy he knows everyone will be eating it lol. I think he might be a keeper for her.

Some people can't moderate. Some have to keep it out of the house or at least out of sight. Having a big supply of acceptable alternatives is important so that you always have something to turn to.

Though I make allotments for these treats, I buy them in singles, daily or ONLY CARRY ONE WITH ME.

Bc if I have more than one in my possesion there is a chance I may eat a whole box of fiber one cookies. I know a lil stress will cause me to eat a whole box of whatever it is I've allowed into my diet that I love.

Over eating got me obese, I still have to control that urge to eat all the cake and cookies. I have to say Sarah Why do you want to eat another? Bc your coworkers stress you out? bc life knocks you down? How are you going to feel after you eat that whole box of cookies? Worse? Don't do it. Get up , walk away, Call someone talk it out.


Though eating a whole cake may seem like the answer to all lifes problems.....surely it is not. We all struggle. Practice portion control. You can do it. So many of us have. don't deny yourself what you like. Just make it fit.

I don't keep it in the house, which helps make it not as tempting. If I do splurge, I work it into my calories and try to keep it in moderation.

Iron_Feline wrote: »

Instead of avoiding it completely, try to learn to eat it in moderation as part of your daily calorie balance. This way you learn better habits for life without depriving yourself, which can lead to binges.

No food is junk. There are just some foods that have more nutritional value, but all should be ok in moderation in a healthy balanced diet.

Unless you are never going to eat it ever again. Ever?

Bingo

Truthfully, I have some of the same issues. I often find that I buy things I know that I don't care as much for to make it less attractive for me. If you are trying to keep your will power high to avoid these foods make sure that you are eating every 3 hours to avoid crashing, which makes these foods really tempting. Also make sure you get enough water. It may sound silly but the body uses the same signal for thirst as it does for hunger.

I used to love fries and cheese. Now I have baby potatoes boiled and crisped up slightly under the grill, and weigh out 20g of cheese to sprinkle on top. Finding lower calorie, healthier versions that are just as tasty or portioning "junk" into small treats is far more beneficial for long term success and happiness

SergeantSausage wrote: »

Best advice: Eat whatever you want. There are no "unhealthy foods" for weight loss purposes. Eat all the "junk" you want, as long as you stay under your calorie quota.

This is the worst advice. Not everyone can just eat some and fit it into their calories. You see that time and again on these forums. Should a person try that route first. Yes, but if they can't sustain that then other strategies such as eliminating it have to come into play.

Seriously, it really does come down to that. I used to think I couldn't just eat one cookie without eating the whole bag. Then I started practicing willpower. I'd walk past the basket of chocolates at work without grabbing one. I tried to eat two cookies at a time and then put the rest back.

I faltered somewhat, but the more I did it, the easier it got.

If you'd asked me six months ago, I would've sworn up and down that I could NEVER be the type of person who could unwrap a chocolate bar, eat one square, and put the rest back. I would've told you it was impossible, that my brain wasn't wired that way, that I could never see myself succeeding like that.

Guess what? That's me, now. I did it. I'm still doing it.

I bought a candy bar at the start of my weight loss journey. At first, I didn't eat it because I never had enough calories that I wanted to waste on it, and because I wanted to devote my calories to better quality sweets. But now it's sort of become my symbolic candy bar. It's sitting untouched in my pantry and, thanks to willpower (and preservatives) I expect it will still be there when I reach my goal weight. At which point I'll either treat myself to it, or maybe throw it out.

I would advise against making your DH and DS keep the foods away from you. You don't want to set up a dynamic where other people are your food police. It IS reasonable to decide as a family to keep snacks and treats out of immediate sight, so that when you decide to have them it's purposeful. You may find you like to have a small treat every day, or you may prefer to have them less often. Just fit your preference into your goals for the day. Fill up with a good balance of carbs, fat, and protein, ideally, you'll have healthy carbs (veggies, fruits, whole grains), healthy fats (olive oil, coconut oil, whole fat dairy), and health protein (tofu, beans, legumes, baked/grilled/smoked/sauteed meats) at most meals.

You can do this!