Distracting yourself from junk food.

130Beard
130Beard Posts: 1 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Since last month, I've tried to stick to 1600 Cal per day. Sometimes, still I have this impulsive feeling that I want to have junk food like chips or pizza. When you have that kind of feeling, how do you distract yourself from it?

Replies

  • MaddMaestro
    MaddMaestro Posts: 405 Member
    Mediate, exercise, read a book or watch a documentary. When I get "cravings" it's usually because I'm bored so I have to occupy my mind and/or body with other things.

    Don't forget that things like that are okay in moderation, so you'll do fine in the long run as long as those junk foods aren't everyday
  • JaydedMiss
    JaydedMiss Posts: 4,286 Member
    edited March 2017
    I remind myelf what a nightmare it is to try to accurately log something like fast food, And i prefer to eat my larabars or bagels or something equally as yummy to me. Laziness is a great tool. Over time you find the "junk" foods you love that are actually beneficial, And youll turn to them. Till then just portion what you want smaller, Nothing wrong with eating it
  • nrbutton
    nrbutton Posts: 165 Member
    I look at my "fat" pics or come on here and scroll through the success stories. I remind myself that it was a gradual process falling off the wagon the last time all starting with "just a couple little reeses Peanut butter cups" and ending in denial my entire pregnancy resulting in gaining 50 lbs of fat on top of regular pregnancy gain. it only takes a few minutes for the craving to pass, or an entire week of readjusting my intake and exercise so I don't feel like all hope is lost and give up.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Here's what I do for cravings. (Since you're male, some will obviously not apply to you.)

    When I do the following, I don't have cravings:

    1. Get sufficient sleep
    2. Exercise regularly - when I get the happy hormones from exercise, I'm not prone to seeking them from food.
    3. Get sufficient protein in relationship to carbs. I'm not low carb, but reducing carbs and upping protein worked for cravings for me. See also http://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/fuller/understanding-satiety-feeling-full-after-a-meal.html
    4. Eat moderate amounts of fruit. This makes me less interested in higher calorie sweets.
    5. Take a magnesium supplement. This can be especially helpful for women premenstrually.
    6. Save foods like chocolate for after dinner, in small amounts
    7. Stay hydrated
    8. Have a calorie deficit that is appropriate for the amount of weight I need to lose. An overly aggressive goal can definitely lead to cravings.
    9. Eat at maintenance when my appetite goes up premenstrually.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    edited March 2017
    If it's during the week when my meals are planned and prepped, I just tell myself I don't really want or need it. If I really want something, I'll still want it on the weekend, and it gets worked in to my day- pizza, burgers and chips, pancake stacks, dessert, chocolates, sweets etc make regular appearances.

    Im more picky these days... I go for good quality over generic...
  • misskarne
    misskarne Posts: 1,765 Member
    I work out if I can fit them into my calories. If yes, chips or pizza ahoy! If no, tomorrow is chips or pizza!
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    Most of the time I make homemade pizza with flat out pizza crust 120 calories for the whole crust.

    If we have friends family over I eat one or two slices with a side salad.

    Potato chips are my weakness so I don't usually have them. When I do I either get a single serving or I invite family over so the whole bag gets eaten.

    I don't deny myself anything but I do have different ways of moderating different foods.
  • Seffell
    Seffell Posts: 2,244 Member
    Pizza is not junk food. How did you figure it was junk?
    I eat pizza about once a week or once a 10 days and the same goes for fries.
    Why would you randomly label food as junk?
  • MrsSeager
    MrsSeager Posts: 82 Member
    I try to eat as little added sugar as possible. I've found that by cutting out, at the very least reducing, added sugar I have no real craving for the junk anymore. Also, I know that if i eat that stuff it will wreak havoc on my skin, and I'm a skincare freak so I generally will stay away from the sugary stuff.
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    edited March 2017
    I have controlled portions of junk food. (And agree with posters saying pizza isn't.) I think it's like vaccinating myself with allowable doses to avoid constant bingeing. So instead of eating a large chocolate bar at one sitting, I'll have 3-4 Hershey's kisses. What I've stopped doing is mindless grazing/face-stuffing. I check the calories beforehand and ask myself if I think it's worth it. If the answer is 'yes', I eat.
  • lutzsher
    lutzsher Posts: 1,153 Member
    I save room for my square of dark chocolate every night after dinner so i still feel like i get to eat a treat. Otherwise i get the heck away from the kitchen and just occupy myself with something else right after i drink a big glass of water. Often when you are munching a glass of water is enough as it is usually my sign im not drinking enough.
  • debbiehambrick
    debbiehambrick Posts: 3 Member
    First off, don't buy junk food. If it's not in the house you are way less tempted. If you are like me you can turn a not so bad food into an awful food because you eat too much. So portion it out when you get home from the grocery store. They make cool little snack baggies. IE. don't keep the reduced fat cheezits in the box, count out 29 crackers (yes I know the portion lol) and put them in a container. Do that until the whole box is portioned out (feed the few extras to the dog.)
  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
    Sometimes I give in. Sometimes I find a viable substitute. Sometimes I eat a lot of something else that is low calorie so I can feel full.
  • genpopadopolous
    genpopadopolous Posts: 411 Member
    On days it fits, I eat it.

    On days it doesn't, air popped popcorn and diet Coke. I only eat those on those occasions, hits salty and sweet and I feel enough indulged that it goes away.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    I like whisky, vodka, wine.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    Log the junk food and eat it. A few times of reaching your calorie limit early in the day will break you of wanting junk food.
  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
    edited March 2017
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    Log the junk food and eat it. A few times of reaching your calorie limit early in the day will break you of wanting junk food.

    Not necessarily true
  • LessCookiess
    LessCookiess Posts: 538 Member
    I don't resist the urge I would just eat them.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    MrsSeager wrote: »
    I try to eat as little added sugar as possible. I've found that by cutting out, at the very least reducing, added sugar I have no real craving for the junk anymore. Also, I know that if i eat that stuff it will wreak havoc on my skin, and I'm a skincare freak so I generally will stay away from the sugary stuff.

    How does this relate to OPs examples of chips and pizza? Neither are sugary foods...

  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    OP when I first joined MFP I quickly realized that cutting out foods I love completely was not going to be a viable solution for me. Rather than cutting things out (other than calories) I decided to add things to my lifestyle. More protein, more vegetables, more whole grains, more exercise, more sleep. I found that by doing that, in the context of my calorie deficit, I was able to fill my day with beneficial things but still have just enough room for things like wine, pizza, and Oreos. Not all in the same day necessarily, but by fitting them in whenever I was able, things just sort of naturally prioritized themselves.

    Is there a reason you are avoiding things like pizza and chips? With 1600 cals you should be able to fit in a serving of these foods when you desire them, unless they are particular trigger foods that cause you issues with control.

    Additionally, I've never understood labeling pizza as junk food. Bread, tomato sauce, cheese, meat and veggies. Why is that junk?
  • divcara
    divcara Posts: 357 Member
    I eat every 3.5-4 hours with a good balance of protein, good carbs, and healthy fats - i find that keeps me full, satisfied, and stops cravings. Also, exercising regularly and building muscle keeps me mentally on track. I know how hard I worked all week and don't want to undo all of my progress with impulse eating.
  • wellthenwhat
    wellthenwhat Posts: 526 Member
    Depends what kind of pizza. I like making my own. It's typically low calorie, and delicious. Now yesterday I had 2 big slices of Casey's pizza, and while amazing, it made my calories disappear WAY too fast!
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    gebeziseva wrote: »
    Pizza is not junk food. How did you figure it was junk?
    I eat pizza about once a week or once a 10 days and the same goes for fries.
    Why would you randomly label food as junk?

    http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/pizza-junk-food-8749.html

    Americans eat an average of 46 slices of pizza per person each year, according to MayoClinic.com. While pizza can be healthy if you make it the right way, most of the pizza you buy counts as junk food because of the high amount of refined carbohydrates, fat and sodium it contains.
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,032 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Here's what I do for cravings. (Since you're male, some will obviously not apply to you.)

    When I do the following, I don't have cravings:

    1. Get sufficient sleep
    2. Exercise regularly - when I get the happy hormones from exercise, I'm not prone to seeking them from food.
    3. Get sufficient protein in relationship to carbs. I'm not low carb, but reducing carbs and upping protein worked for cravings for me. See also http://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/fuller/understanding-satiety-feeling-full-after-a-meal.html
    4. Eat moderate amounts of fruit. This makes me less interested in higher calorie sweets.
    5. Take a magnesium supplement. This can be especially helpful for women premenstrually.
    6. Save foods like chocolate for after dinner, in small amounts
    7. Stay hydrated
    8. Have a calorie deficit that is appropriate for the amount of weight I need to lose. An overly aggressive goal can definitely lead to cravings.
    9. Eat at maintenance when my appetite goes up premenstrually.

    @kshama2001 Girl, you've shared a wonderful list to draw from!

    Glad I popped on here... seriously this is a great list... like getting enough sleep. Seems pretty basic right?! Recently I've been staying up far too late not getting close to the healthy amount of sleep needed. I absolutely know better!

    The list is a great reminder to get back on scedule so the rest of my life, eating etc. gets back on track! Junk food aka (my interpretation) less nutritious choices are what happens when I don't take proper care of myself, body, mind and spirit.

    Thank you for taking time to post this... because it was exactly what I needed in this exact moment!
    OP glad you posted the question :smiley:
  • Rosyone
    Rosyone Posts: 74 Member
    I put off my junk food cravings until after my official weigh-in on Monday. More often than not I've forgotten about it by then, but if I still want it I fit it into my calorie budget.
  • savithny
    savithny Posts: 1,200 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    gebeziseva wrote: »
    Pizza is not junk food. How did you figure it was junk?
    I eat pizza about once a week or once a 10 days and the same goes for fries.
    Why would you randomly label food as junk?

    http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/pizza-junk-food-8749.html

    Americans eat an average of 46 slices of pizza per person each year, according to MayoClinic.com. While pizza can be healthy if you make it the right way, most of the pizza you buy counts as junk food because of the high amount of refined carbohydrates, fat and sodium it contains.

    So, less than one slice per week. Doesn't seem like that much of a budget-buster that it needs to be so deeply vilified??
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