Impulse buying and cash register sweets
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I tell myself it's not worth it. I look, I think, then I say "nope". Trust me, took a long time to get there - I was that person that would grab a Reeses PB Squared EVERY shopping trip, not even think about it. It only tastes good for seconds. Then it says on my hips, forever.
Oh, and NEVER go hungry. Even if you have to carry a pre-approved granola bar with you. The Grocery store is a dangerous place for someone who's hungry!0 -
I pick them up and look at the calorie info and then I put them back. I do this every day when I go to the store to get my water for lunch. I'm pretty sure the people that work there think I'm crazy. I haven't bought one yet but if one day I feel it is worth the 250 calories then I'll buy it, most days it isn't worth cutting back whatever else I have planned to eat for the day.0
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Figure out in your head how many miles you would have to run to 'earn' the candy bar. ~1 mile = ~100 calories. Ask yourself if you're willing to run that far today. If not, put it back.
Another technique is to buy the sweets that you REALLY want. So, instead of falling into the trap of the king size snickers at the register, get a bag of funsize snickers when you're shopping. Keep a sweets shelf in the pantry (and/or freezer) and on days you have enough calories to spare, eat a treat. It'll be easier to fit in funsize/single serving treats. All things in moderation makes it easier to say no to temptation on the fly.
Never go shopping hungry/with low blood sugar. You're more likely to buy chocolate and stuff it in your mouth before you've left the car park. You can also try chewing minty gum while you shop/some other flavor that doesn't go with chocolate/candy.
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I probably won't help. I buy candy in bulk which usually makes it cheaper than what's at the check-out. I'm also pretty cheap, so it's got to be a really good bargain (Pipers has candy bars 2/$1 this week) or something I really want to spend $2 (regular size bar).
I guess I go with willpower and self-discipline, not meaning that as a knock against you because I could never give away my candy to friends.0 -
Lol, I got my daughter to stop asking by buying her stuff she didn't like to eat. She hates mints, so that's all I bought till she stopped asking.
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I'm an impulsive person. That means I sometimes do things on the first thought without thinking first. I do things on a whim.
And sadly, this includes buying sweets at the cash registers without thinking.
Any ideas on how I can stop myself from impulse buying stuff?
My approach to sweets/candy has changed drastically since I started this. I've become a snob.
I look at it like this: I can have a mediocre Hershey's bar, or I can save a bit and have something decadent - like gelato or high quality chocolate or a salted caramel brownie.
Calories are like money for me. I could buy the cheap costume jewelery, or I could work a little harder/wait a little longer for something that I'll enjoy so much more.
I've never had a single regret waiting it out a bit. I can't even remember the last time I had a candy bar.
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OP, read the nutrional info, start doing the math, and odds are it won't seem worth it. One candy bar = half my supper.0
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What about buying a pack of gum instead? There are a lot of interesting flavors and they hardly have any calories. Usually if i'm out shopping and get the urge to buy a snack or chocolate, I buy gum and it works like a charm!0
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Calories are like money for me. I could buy the cheap costume jewelery, or I could work a little harder/wait a little longer for something that I'll enjoy so much more.
That gives me an idea. If you are buying it and giving it away, why not start a candy jar? Every time you don't buy it, throw $2 in a jar and save up for something you really want. A new dress, concert tickets, etc.0 -
for me it is more than 1 hour of walking to negate the effects of that 300 calorie candy bar. In most cases I say it simply is not worth it and move on. But then again, If I have the calories, I might splurge. ;-)0
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I should start buying olives...
Sure, why not?
Instead of sweets I use high-flavour morsels for my treats. 6 olives show up regularly as one of my snacks. Sodium aside they aren't too bad. I made some spicy roasted chickpeas yesterday - I'll have a small handful of those today.
A nice crisp apple doesn't leave me feeling guilty like a chocolate bar would.
Try to find some interesting alternatives before you hit the check-out line and maybe the self-control will be there too!
Something that works for me... If I find myself being tempted by something that shouldn't be in my intake for that day, I look at the nutritional info panel. That almost always causes me to put it back, whether it's at home or in the store.
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I'm great in the grocery store but Trader joes gets me all the time. Nuts? Sure why not, seaweed? Yes! Yum.0
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250 calories for that chocolate bar? I'd have to run for half an hour to burn that off! Nope, not worth it today.
That's what goes through my head when face with this situation. Amazing how the self control kicks in when you realize the work involved to burn off a treat.0 -
I'm an impulsive person. That means I sometimes do things on the first thought without thinking first. I do things on a whim.
And sadly, this includes buying sweets at the cash registers without thinking.
Any ideas on how I can stop myself from impulse buying stuff?
I'm really not all that impulsive, but I do over think buying something as a treat. Just yesterday I was considering getting a bag of baked lays 6 servings per bag at (I think 120 per serving) I picked it up, read the nutritional info, then picked up bbq (same calories), then the cheddar brand (same calories) then shook the bag slightly, sqeezed it to try to feel how much was air and how much was chips, then I thought to myself, damn the whole bag would be 1 serving for me @ 720 calories, I got anxious, put it back and walked away. I should have just got the snickers bar for 250 calories. I had enough exercise calories to have it and still would have only eaten 1/2 the exercise calories for the day. Haha, if you took the time to read my babble, you could imagine what I put myself through in the store over chips (baked ones at that)
Next time I'm getting the snickers bar. For only 250 calories, why not. 
"squeezed"0 -
Self control...if that doesn't work, send your hubby to the store ! 0
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no, he'd eat my snickers barLiftng4Lis wrote: »Self control...if that doesn't work, send your hubby to the store !
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My personal rule is that once I'm in the line, that's it, the trolley is closed. No more gets added. The shop is finished.*
Rolling my eyes at the dumb headlines on the stupid "women's" magazines like No Idea also works as a useful diversion technique.
* - unless I realise I've forgotten something actually important. Like the time I got the whole way around and then realised I'd forgotten to grab the potatoes.0 -
Most supermarkets here in NZ have half their checkouts stocking candy, and half that stock healthier stuff like nuts, protein bars etc. I always make sure we head for one of those.0
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