fighting your temptation to cheat

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I figure out how to fit it in my calories the next day. For example, last week I wanted cookie dough ice cream Tuesday night. I logged my food for the next day, planned to head to the gym and had enough calories for my treat. I have failed EVERY time I've tried to eliminate things I love. This time Ive decided not to say no, but I do say not right now.

triciab79 wrote: »

As I sit eating the chocolate that I should not have: The best way to deal with temptation is to avoid it before it hits. Its like defensive driving. Don't go into the lunchroom at work when you know there are cookies. Don't buy your favorite icecream in the 2 gallon tub (get a pint on the day that you plan to eat it). Don't cook items for your family that are too tempting to you. Try meeting friends for coffee instead of drinks. Don't volunteer to do the cooking for events (that one I fail at). Don't keep snacks in the drawers of your desk. Don't run so late that you have to go through drive through. Plan ahead.

I totally agree. Plus I quickly switch the channel when food commercials come on. I also use my favorite tea for a substitute for the snack habit. And save a semi-treat such as single serve popcorn or fresh cherries for those late night cravings. And non-food treats - if I have a snack attack, I give myself a pedicure. By the time I'm done the mood is past, and my toes look great!

But also it's about motivation, and reminding yourself that it's temporary.

Pre-logging at least the next meal in advance really helps me. Spontaneity or waiting until I am hungry before looking in the fridge does not work for me. I have chocolate, instant pudding and other sweet treats in the house. I plan them and I eat them - in satisfying quantities, while still staying under 1200. I am not one of those "one piece of chocolate is enough" types. I need 3 or 4 pieces and I am prepared to skip supper to get it. When I do that, I feel that I can eat anything as long as I plan for it and I don't feel panicked. I don't eat chocolate every day, nor do I want to. Sometimes I go days where I don't eat junk, sometimes I eat a lot of junk. As long as I don't ban anything I feel in control.

I found that logging all of my foods accurately keeps me honest. I'm less inclined to mindlessly shove food into my mouth if I know it's going to impact my bottom line, so to speak.

I just tell myself, "It doesn't hurt anyone but you, so don't eat it". Works most of the time, but not all the time. When it doesn't I log it and try to fit it in to calorie allotment for the day. If not, I move on and don't obsess over it, and don't let it become a habit.

IsaackGMOON wrote: »

Fight temptations? Temptations of what? Food?

I just ate half a cake..

You. I like you. Also, can I have the other half of your cake?

triciab79 wrote: »

As I sit eating the chocolate that I should not have: The best way to deal with temptation is to avoid it before it hits. Its like defensive driving. Don't go into the lunchroom at work when you know there are cookies. Don't buy your favorite icecream in the 2 gallon tub (get a pint on the day that you plan to eat it). Don't cook items for your family that are too tempting to you. Try meeting friends for coffee instead of drinks. Don't volunteer to do the cooking for events (that one I fail at). Don't keep snacks in the drawers of your desk. Don't run so late that you have to go through drive through. Plan ahead.

Ya, last night I was able to eat one serving (1.4 oz) of Bark Thins and stop, because I had already eaten a dinner with fullness-enhancing foods like protein, fat, and veggies. But if I were to go to the supermarket hungry and see a bag of Bark Thins, or worse yet, premenstrual and hungry, I'd be deluding myself if I thought I could buy it and eat just one serving.

[quote="moyer566;33[/quote]

moyer566 wrote: »

I don't cheat. cheat implies that I'm doing something negative

This.

Also, when you finish your day and you hit the button and it tells you how much you would weigh if you continues eating like this...it's usually not that bad.

Also don't keep temptation foods around if you can. I don't eat ice cream at the house but i will stop at a gas station and buy ONE ice cream.

I get the urge to cheat all the time. Sometimes it's not even food I really care about or even like - I just want to eat something fatty or sweet.

If it isn't something special or that I am ::really:: craving, I just tell myself nope nope nope - a little cheesy but I picture the octopus nope gif (http://www.reactiongifs.com/nope-nope-nope-octopus/). I'll also sometimes tell myself that I'll have it if I still want it in an hour. Usually in an hour, I don't really care.

If it is something more special, I'll try to fit it into my calories, and log it but not worry about it. This happens maybe every 1-2 weeks. I think it's a bit more realistic and sustainable to sometimes indulge than never ever - you'll probably need to eat only slightly more calories at maintenance than you do now, so figuring out how to fit in treats is good practice for a healthy lifestyle. That said, if you find yourself having treats very often and aren't losing weight at the rate you'd like, it's probably time to cut back or raise your standards.

Also, if I'm especially hungry (usually more than just a little hungry), I'll have some fruit or veg, or maybe an extra portion of starch/protein the next meal if I've been especially active recently.

I give myself a day (once a week to start, less often later) where I don't enter my foods. It's not "cheating" as I still make some effort to choose foods wisely, but I don't restrict myself to just what I enter. I may eat a few things I wouldn't normally, but I get to feel much less restricted. I've found that my appetite on those days is nowhere near where it was pre-diet, so even if I wanted to gorge, I don't want to.