The snowball effect

ljmus1
ljmus1 Posts: 29 Member
edited December 1 in Motivation and Support
I'm doing pretty well with MFP, I've lost 8lbs in 3 weeks and have been managing to work in the things I like (like tiny chocolate bars, wine) and still stay in my calories and manage a balanced diet. The thing is, today I want cake. Cake seems to be a trigger food for me. I'm not worried about eating the cake per se, I'm worried about it not being a one off, about snowballing and it turning into weeks of eating cake. Is this a common fear? Has anyone worked around it?

Replies

  • TRIX5884
    TRIX5884 Posts: 318 Member
    Cut yourself a small slice and either throw away the rest or get rid of it however you want. You know what you are allowed to have. This is when real will power comes in to play. You need to say "JUST FOR TODAY" - "Just for today I will have self control and allow myself to have something I am craving but I will NOT take it any further than that!"

    I believe in you! I know you can do it!!!
  • 2011rocket3touring
    2011rocket3touring Posts: 1,346 Member
    Sometimes supermarkets will sell cakes by the slice. Buy and share, research lower/calorie/carb/fat cakes to be able to "scratch that itch" in a less damaging way.
  • puffbrat
    puffbrat Posts: 2,806 Member
    I agree with getting a single serving and eating that. But since you are concerned about it triggering a long period of going overboard, could you eat something else like a brownie or cookie to satisfy the craving without getting the trigger? Sometimes a substitution works for me and sometimes it doesn't. It really depends on whether the craving turns out to be for sugar/chocolate/dessert versus and actually really wanting cake.
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    Hi ljmus, welcome! :)

    Hope you find your sweet spot with food within a couple of weeks. Thats what it took me, maybe more like a month. I worked it out by logging and then seeing where I could make changes to be satisfied all round, with food, calories, nutrients and how much I was losing.
    Best wishes
  • ljmus1
    ljmus1 Posts: 29 Member
    It is strange because I have managed to unpick this kind of thinking that I used to have with biscuits, chocolate etc, so now I have just eat 2 biscuits with my tea and not think about biscuits for the rest of the day, same with chocolate, but I'm really curious about why I'm still hung up on cake.
  • ljmus1
    ljmus1 Posts: 29 Member
    What I've done is arranged a "cake date" with a friend on Tuesday, so now I feel satisfied that I can eat cake "soon" but I think making it into an "event" rather than just eating cake will help. Since cake feels so "unsafe" to me, I can eat it with the support of my friend. This sounds really stupid but it's real!!

    Thanks everybody. I'm so glad I'm unravelling all these issues I've developed with food now, it helps to have support. :)
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    I suggest waiting a day, make that craving wait and show it who is boss. Also, go for QUALITY!!
    I decided no more store bought treats, I either will make it myself or go to a nice bakery. If you do go to a bakery, you could probably get just a single slice and maybe even cut that in half to save some for another day!

    I know I will get a hankering for something soon too, I'm like 3 days into a real deficit. But planning it ahead and not letting it be a snap decision will be the key to my success. An impulse treat is more likely to snowball into a binge.

    I'm actually craving bagels right now, but my husband and I often go out to coffee on Saturdays so I might order a bagel with my coffee. But I am going to log it the best I can, and enjoy!
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    ljmus1 wrote: »
    What I've done is arranged a "cake date" with a friend on Tuesday, so now I feel satisfied that I can eat cake "soon" but I think making it into an "event" rather than just eating cake will help. Since cake feels so "unsafe" to me, I can eat it with the support of my friend. This sounds really stupid but it's real!!

    Thanks everybody. I'm so glad I'm unravelling all these issues I've developed with food now, it helps to have support. :)

    You're amazing! What a great way to show the process of coming to peace with food. I'm still learning all of this for myself, too. Trying to find the best ways to be satisfied but staying within parameters that will allow my body to lose fat is key. I'm proud of you!
  • mxchana
    mxchana Posts: 375 Member
    I just can't eat cake - or anything with sugar, for that matter. It does set me off for days or weeks at a time and I just can't afford to do that anymore. Hopefully your case is not like mine! Because I love the idea of a "cake date." For me that wouldn't work but, it sounds like a great strategy.
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