Food discipline

dominicantummy
dominicantummy Posts: 12 Member
edited November 21 in Health and Weight Loss
One of my greatest struggles is that I have basically NO DISCIPLINE when it comes to food. I can eat healthy alll day but then I get a craving for something sweet and it's like if I don't get it I'm gonna go crazy...does anyone have any tips on how to develop discipline with my food choices? It's the only thing holding me back on my weight loss since I exercise almost everyday of the week
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Replies

  • kayeroze
    kayeroze Posts: 146 Member
    I get massive sweet cravings as well that makes the diet implode into forgotten dust. I've found cutting out MOST added sugars helps reduce the sugar cravings and subbing it throughout the day with better sweet things. So I'll have coffee with 1 tablespoon of flavored creamer, an apple after lunch, and if I have the room, half a peanut butter sandwich. For things like candy, the mini bars or check-out line sized versions are my limits because if you walk down the candy aisle, at least for me, that bag of sour gummies can be eaten within the day.

    So I guess, in conclusion, find substitutes that can satisfy your sweet cravings as well as reduce the amount you have on the daily.
  • fiddletime
    fiddletime Posts: 1,868 Member
    No easy answer. I think this site would be closed down if most of us didn't have trouble with either sweets, chips, alcohol, or any combination of those. Keep logging and if/when you go over, log it and move on.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    I have sweet/low calorie options in my diet. Some people can moderate it but I can't so I've changed my way of eating. I have dessert every single night though. I save 150-250 calories for it.
  • dkennard1
    dkennard1 Posts: 4 Member
    Can fruit help? Some is naturally sweet. Cantalope or mellon. One thing... don't deprive yourself totally or you crave more and over do it.. i have a problem in evening for some reason.
  • BFunkRailroad
    BFunkRailroad Posts: 1 Member
    dkennard1 wrote: »
    Can fruit help? Some is naturally sweet. Cantalope or mellon. One thing... don't deprive yourself totally or you crave more and over do it.. i have a problem in evening for some reason.

    Agree with the fruit idea. Fresh strawberries and maybe some light cool whip?

    Have you also thought about subbing a protein bar that's low in sugar? I eat the Pure Protein Bars (chocolate, peanut butter chocolate, or salted caramel) Couple of grams of sugar per bar, but we aware of the carbs if you're also watching those. It's not a candy bar, but it's sweet and familiar enough to work for me.
  • _Arty_
    _Arty_ Posts: 53 Member
    For me it's a "would you rather game". Of course I want pizza and burgers. But I would rather have chicken from Nandos.
  • hydechildcare
    hydechildcare Posts: 142 Member
    I also have low food discipline. I cannot stop at just a little. I found not keeping it on hand helps. If I want ice cream I have to go and get it. Now my husband keep treats on hand but he makes sure to get things that I am not a fan out. I am not a huge fan of nuts and I think it ruins everything. So his ice cream and chocolate have nuts. I find the better of a day that I have had with my eating and working out I don't want to ruin all the work so it is easier for me to pass it up. I will save my sweet treats for the holidays that are coming up, when I am surround by people and I have to share the brownies I want. I also find eating fruit in between one of my meals helps with the sugar cravings.
  • OliveGirl128
    OliveGirl128 Posts: 801 Member
    No need to cut out the foods you enjoy, you just need to learn how to fit them into your calorie goals. If you enjoy sweet treats then work them in.
  • blh202
    blh202 Posts: 31 Member
    I try to find healthy replacements for my sweet cravings as once I get started on the chocolate I cannot stop. I have recently found Halo Top ice cream has satisfied this craving for very low calorie count. Also protein bars are filling and satisfy this. The struggle is real!!!! I keep committing and recommitting to this change and eventually it will stick. Good luck with your journey!
  • OliveGirl128
    OliveGirl128 Posts: 801 Member
    blh202 wrote: »
    I try to find healthy replacements for my sweet cravings as once I get started on the chocolate I cannot stop. I have recently found Halo Top ice cream has satisfied this craving for very low calorie count. Also protein bars are filling and satisfy this. The struggle is real!!!! I keep committing and recommitting to this change and eventually it will stick. Good luck with your journey!

    HT is awesome and I'm not even a fan of ice cream lol. Impatiently waiting to try the new flavors!
  • mail2dijaw
    mail2dijaw Posts: 36 Member
    go easy on things you love to eat and do not stop them completely. Abrupt stop can lead to more temptations and ruin your weightloss schedule. Plan your food ahead within limits include a victory celebration meal may end of the week. Most importantly keep logging :smile:
  • garber6th
    garber6th Posts: 1,890 Member
    The words "food discipline" together kind of make me cringe. It makes eating sound like a punishment. We are all free to make choices and to make those choices work. Like others have said, leave some extra calories for your sweet tooth or find different options.
  • garber6th
    garber6th Posts: 1,890 Member
    blh202 wrote: »
    I try to find healthy replacements for my sweet cravings as once I get started on the chocolate I cannot stop. I have recently found Halo Top ice cream has satisfied this craving for very low calorie count. Also protein bars are filling and satisfy this. The struggle is real!!!! I keep committing and recommitting to this change and eventually it will stick. Good luck with your journey!

    I like Halo Top too, but have you tried Enlightened? REALLY good!
  • 2011rocket3touring
    2011rocket3touring Posts: 1,346 Member
    If you buy sweets, portion them out either in baggies or individual containers.
  • cjsacto
    cjsacto Posts: 1,421 Member
    I have found I had to give up added sugar completely, now I don't have sweet cravings. I haven't cut out carbs, incl. fruit, just no added sugars or sugar substitutes. I did it gradually, but it's the only thing that worked for me. I understand for many that allowing yourself a small sweet treat does the trick, but if I have a little I only want MORE so I can't sick to that for long. It remains to be seen how long I'll be able to stay sugar free, but it's been a month (with a few small exceptions) and I can honestly say no cravings every night like I used to have.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Don't buy the stuff you don't want to eat. If it MUST be in the house for someone else, work out a plan to keep it out of sight, in a cupboard or separate part of the refrigerator. I found that I had to eliminate some trigger foods completely for 6 months or so, then I could gradually reintroduce them and exercise some moderation.
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    cjsacto wrote: »
    I have found I had to give up added sugar completely, now I don't have sweet cravings. I haven't cut out carbs, incl. fruit, just no added sugars or sugar substitutes. I did it gradually, but it's the only thing that worked for me. I understand for many that allowing yourself a small sweet treat does the trick, but if I have a little I only want MORE so I can't sick to that for long. It remains to be seen how long I'll be able to stay sugar free, but it's been a month (with a few small exceptions) and I can honestly say no cravings every night like I used to have.

    Sounds like this is exactly what isn't working for OP.

    OP, there's no reason you can't have sweets. Just make sure they fit into your calorie goal and you'll be fine.
  • BoxerBrawler
    BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
    A lot of options here... like many others said, work them into your calories. Unless you're the type that can't stop at just one, or at a serving... Find the discipline, once you say "no" and move on once, the next time is easier and the next time is easier and it keeps getting easier until you just break the habit. We crave what we eat. Come up with some good alternatives that won't break the calorie bank! For example - Protein pancake: 2 egg whites, 1 scoop protein powder (any flavor you like), 1 tablespoon baking powder, a little water... spray pan with butter flavored cooking spray, make pancake, dump any of the Walden Farms syrup or chocolate sauce over it, spray it with "I can't believe it's not butter", butter... sprinkle on some PB2 or slather on a little Better N' Peanut butter. It's yummy and really all it equates too is a protein shake lol.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    There's pretty much 2 choices (broad range of degrees to each) but moderation & elimination. Some can have a small treat and fit it into their daily calories, some can't. Some need to keep trigger foods completely out of the house. I'm in the category of not keeping things in the house. I tried the moderation thing, didn't work for me. Being lazy, is extremely helpful too, because no matter how badly I might want ice cream, I'm way too lazy to drive there 99.5% of the time.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Stop that "eating healthy", and get in discipline by eating enough, in regular, balanced meals filled with a variety of foods you like, and not buying things that make you go crazy. This means that you at any time can eat anything you're able to eat in moderate amounts, but trigger foods will be reserved for special occasions. This of course presupposes that you know whether you will be satisfied with a small amount or if a small amount feels like taunting, and/or that you have, or will build, the discipline needed to not make any excuse into a special occasion.
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    There's pretty much 2 choices (broad range of degrees to each) but moderation & elimination. Some can have a small treat and fit it into their daily calories, some can't. Some need to keep trigger foods completely out of the house. I'm in the category of not keeping things in the house. I tried the moderation thing, didn't work for me. Being lazy, is extremely helpful too, because no matter how badly I might want ice cream, I'm way too lazy to drive there 99.5% of the time.

    this is pretty much me too.
  • KeithEberly
    KeithEberly Posts: 1 Member
    I am having trouble hitting my goals for carbohydrates. I can stay under my other goals, calories, fats etc, but I am consistently over my daily carb load. One can only eat so many salads in a day.
  • kristen8000
    kristen8000 Posts: 747 Member
    So, this will sound harsh, but I believe it's true.

    In every goal ever reached, there has to be SOME sacrifice. To lose weight, you HAVE to eat less calories than you burn. No one ever said you HAD to eat healthy to accomplish that goal.

    If you CAN eat anything you want and limit your portions, do it. If you CAN'T (and I know several people who had to give things up because of cravings and certain foods making them hungrier), just don't eat it. Like I said, every goal is worth a bit of sacrifice.
  • UK2ME
    UK2ME Posts: 15 Member
    I am another big fan of Halo Top ice cream. Sugar free Jello with either a little squirty cream or Cool Whip is a good substitute for me, and I find that a single freeze pop can be pretty effective for instant gratification.
  • yayamom3
    yayamom3 Posts: 939 Member
    I budget the calories for dessert every night. It's either a Quest bar or a Chobani flip Greek yogurt--both 190 calories. Their macros are good, and they both satisfy me just as much as other things that I would consider "junk" in my book.
  • scarlett_k
    scarlett_k Posts: 812 Member
    I've found that as I have been getting a more varied diet through my meals I have been craving less and less, and overindulging less as a result. I was working in a chocolate bar, cake or dessert at least once a day whereas now I'm happy not having anything some days. You just need to find what works for you.
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