Help with eating in "moderation"

I dish out my one serving and put the rest in an inconvenient, hard to reach place. Usually my laziness will overcome my desire for more! lol

Another trick is to brush your teeth and drink a glass of water when you're done. It gets that lingering taste out of your mouth.

If you can't find a way to eat things in moderation then I would suggest avoiding those foods at least for the time being.

Sometimes I will portion my treats into small bags and throw away the big bag (for cheetos and chips especially). Once I'm finished my bag, that's it. There's no getting "a few more" from the big bag.

Honestly, though, I can't even touch a cheeto. I literally can't stop eating them. I know my limits by now. I just don't buy them. :laugh:

Moderation does not work for everyone. Like ^^ said, if you can't eat them in moderation then def avoid them and maybe later on when you have established a good solid base of eating healthiER... you can try to have some of those treats again in moderation. What works for one person may not work for the next, so just because other people can eat those things in moderation doesn't mean everyone can. For the longest time, I couldn't.

Only pick out fun-size versions (1 cup per pack) and only eat them as dessert, not as a snack. Portion out your meals in advance so you know how many calories it is and make an allowance for it (maybe a tbsp less of Mayonaisse and one slice of bread in a sandwich instead of 2).

I do a fun-size kit-kat for dessert a lot. I've lost 22 in 40 days. The first 3 weeks I lost 15 pounds on an "eat what you want" diet. I love to substitute fresh pineapple or a fuji apple instead of chocolate treats, and I love white cheddar rice treats by Kroger (or Quaker oats if you don't have Kroger). If you are a member of Costco, you can get a 2lb. tub of strawberries or 18oz of bluberries for $5, a Pineapple for $3, and I've learned to love fruit and Fruit smoothies with Fruit and yogurt.

I know exactly what you mean! If I have one Rice Krispie Treat, I feel the urge to eat the entire pan. So, for that particular food, I never purchase it or make it--it is too hard for me to resist.

For other foods, like Cheetos, I'll find a substitution for them, like popcorn (as dls06 suggested) or Pirates Booty (yum!). That way, I satisfy my desire for something crunchy without having a massive calorie binge.

For foods like Reeses Peanutbutter cups, i won't keep them in the house; however, if I'm craving them, I'll go out & buy one serving & eat it. If I'm willing to go through that much effort, then I'll indulge myself. Usually, however, I make due with whatever is in my pantry.

Good luck!

I agree some of us are better off not having those certain foods in moderation, It is an argument that to me makes little sense (this is just my opinion so don't flame me because you choose to eat candy, etc in moderation ) I view those foods as exactly what got me into the mess I was in at 560 lbs. and unable to support my own weight and fueled the fire to cause me to contract full blown type 2 diabetes. So when I made my lifestyle change and got rid of all those foods, it wasn't a case of depriving myself of junk food it was retraining my brain to realize food is nothing more than nutrients to keep my body functioning at it best. The whole I have to eat reese's cups or doritoes or cheetos in moderation thing went right out the window with me once I finally learned the relationship between me and food. And the biggest thing with me is now I don't even crave those things anymore, I prefer going to the fridge in a few for a pre-lunch snack and grabbing and orange or a apple or a something along those lines. So from my experience what works for me is a complete detachment from those foods that caused my obesity.

If you can't find a way to eat things in moderation then I would suggest avoiding those foods at least for the time being.

This. The behavioral part of weight loss is pretty individual-- you have to figure out what your willpower is and how much you can handle.

Sometimes I will portion my treats into small bags and throw away the big bag (for cheetos and chips especially). Once I'm finished my bag, that's it. There's no getting "a few more" from the big bag.

I do this same thing. that way I know how much I have and will eat slowly to saver every bit.

Okay.. so I know the whole a calorie is a calorie debate, and I agree that as long as you are under your daily caloric allowance you will still lose, but I personally have SUCH a hard time with the whole moderation thing. For example, it's extremely hard for me to have 1 reese cup and then be done. Or, it's very hard for me to have one serving of Cheetos and not want to eat more. A lot of times eating these foods sends me into binge mode.

I know many people would say I go into binge mode because I constantly restrict these foods, but I have tried to give myself total freedom before and I'll usually do okay for a day or two and then it will turn into another binge. So, I was just wondering if anyone had any pointers, tips, or advice on how to overcome this whole ordeal. Thanks

You need to ask yourself just how important your fitness goals really are.

To see this through, look deep inside and answer for yourself:
Why do I want to be fit?
And attach great pleasure to that as you set this goal.

And then answer for yourself this:
Why don't I want to be fat?
Attach great pain to all the reasons you do not want to be fat.

Few people can actually do this which is why most people fail.
This is the key to internal motivation.
Learn this and you'll seldom face these issues.

I have a theory about this.

If I am hungry, and I reach for junk food, I will not eat one serving size. When I am hungry, I need to eat healthy food FIRST, and then junk food only for treats or dessert.

I think the reason we eat more calories of junk food, is because there is little to no nutritional value in it. Whatever vitamins and minerals your body is craving, it probably isn't finding in a bag of Cheetos.

Personally, I don't find it hard to just have one or two bites of junk food, if I've already met my nutritional goals. If I have had some fiber, some protein, enough water, etc, I probably won't binge on anything. I can have a few bites and be happy. However, if I haven't been getting a balance diet, that's when the crazy hungry monster comes out and eats everything in it's path.

So, when I want to have cheese fries at a restaurant, I try to order a side salad to eat before I start noshing on the grease pile. That way, I can say I had some sort of vegetable that day.

If you find that you have an all or nothing attitude about junk food, there is no harm in avoiding it. Just don't expect any one type of food to take care of you, and try to keep your diet balanced.

If you can't do it without binging, avoid it altogether. That's what I have had to do. I hate it, but I don't have the self-control yet to be able to stop at just one serving size. Your aren't "depriving" yourself if you don't have cheetos.

I have the same issue - I buy treat-type foods with the best of intentions, but if it's in the house, I literally can't stop thinking about it. It works out better for me to just not have it in the house.

Amen, sister. I just ate probably 1/2 a bag of mint M&M's this morning. I can't have just 1/4 cup. I avoided chocolate for an entire year, a bet that I took from a family member, and I did it - So why does it have power over me? I was so disciplined to work out that I would get up at 4:15 in the morning and nurse my baby then go on my medium and long runs for the 1/2 marathon that I trained for last year. It is so hard for me to eat just a serving of chocolate and NOT whatever is left. I thought about my strategy, it is to have 1 chocolate day a month, where I can eat chocolate. That way, I can put it off until that day. I know some people hate the idea of a "cheat day" - but what I think will happen is that I will realize how gross I feel when I do eat that way, and will not indulge so much on that day. I am also going to pay myself $1 each day I don't eat chocolate. I know, I am totally lame. But, in the end it will help me. Money talks. The rest of my food intake is great, it is just chocolate that kills me.

Money talks! What a great idea!