Anything with MSG in it (some chips, some Chinese food, etc.) I can always tell when MSG has been added to something because I'll keep eating even when I know that I'm full.

Zinke~ I LOVE LOVE no bakes, but I can eat only a couple before I'm good for a while on them, my dbf hates them....he's so odd I don't doubt that that bowl had that many cookies...the recipe on the back of the oats box makes about 60 cookies a piece I think. It's crazy. I used to make them and we would have them for weeks. My brother loved it though b/c he likes eating them before they have set up.

Zenor~ I can avoid chinese food except for egg rolls, I go to places and just get egg rolls. Yum

It seems like for most people it's either sweet or salty. I don't know how you ladies though go without bread, that would kill me. I love bread, I contemplated the atkins diet with my mom and we both decided that without carbs we would not be pleasant people to be around I give you major props for being able to avoid that all together.

I think one of my main problems is if it is a trigger food I will just eat it for my meals. Like pizza, love it and can and do eat it for all three meals somedays. If i get on a kick with something like that I will eat it nonstop for a couple of weeks and then not want to see it. Probably not the heathiest thing to do, but these pretzels, they are truly addicted. It gives me the sweet, salty, and crunchy all in one. Stupid things! I need to go to a healthfood store and see if there is possibly a healthier version, or maybe try to make my own!

THanks for all the responses though it's really neat to see all the different things that people just have to avoid.

Baked goods are so tough although I have really gained a will power against them. I work at a childcare center and there are usually donuts, cake, cupcakes...for the teachers. I used to eat a piece here and there all day long. But now I "just say NO!" One of my co-workers actually asked me yesterday were I get the will power...well, I guess I just have to. I tole her that I got up at 5:30 in the morning to go to the gym to work out for an hour for what? That is my motivation, I didn't sweat for nothing, I did it to lose weight not to eat sweets.

Dpeends on what time of month it is. I get different cravings before, after and during my TOM. I crave ice cream, chocolate, cookies or cake at different times. I like to bake so I go ahead and do it but then give it all away. Another thing I do is if I eat one small serving of something (one cookies, one small piece of chocolate, etc) I will not count it into my calories for the day, but if I have more than one then I make myself record them all against my calories for the day. This keeps me to just one.

helenandaudreysmama - I got so lucky in this area, with cupcakes I only eat the icing and that's only if its buttercream. I always just take the top off and throw the rest, same with muffins.

peachcake - I completely understand that my TOM craving is reeses cups, I usually buy them and put them in the freezer so I can have one. I do that too, the only type of chocolate I really like is dark so I can eat a mini and be done. I got lucky in that area I think. I think I'm lucky cause I'm fairly picky about stuff like that

helenandaudreysmom, that's a great idea to think of it against your exercise! I work really hard at the gym and it's a neat idea to think of it negating everything you did. Unfortunately, my rationale is usually "well, I worked out this morning, so it makes up for eating this." I need to turn that logic around!

Laura, I have to fight that logic too. I have been much better since I started counting calories. Before that I would let myself eat more on days I worked out...I wonder why I wasn't losing weight

Scenestealer & Switzie, I use to have the same problem! I use to say, well I would have eaten this anyway but I worked out so now I don't have to feel guilty about it. Now that I count calories that mentality has gone away. Even though I fight with myself about it on a daily basis.

Weirdly, my trigger food is dried mango. There is just something about it that becomes so addicting, it's sweet and chewy, and since it's a fruit it's easy to convince yourself that it's not bad for you, even though it's loaded with sugar and calories. I can't have just one piece... if I open the bag, it becomes an empty bag within 30 minutes.

I count calories, and generally try to hit my calories without exercise... but sometimes I allow myself to go over if I KNOW I've worked off that much. I know you can't really trust estimates, so I aim to basically burn double the extra calories I eat (like, walking 2 miles really burns about 200 cals, but I only count it for 100 cals of extra eating). I really need to stop that practice though...

Butter on bread, quality cheese - like Brie, St Andre. *shudders* And hazelnut chocolate - Ferrerro Rochers and Nutella are my bane.

white rice, cheeses (which I still eat in moderation now),ice cream, white potatoes and white bread!

I guess the trick for me is finding good substitutes for the things that you like

white rice- sub. brown rice or a small portion (gotta allow it some times)
cheeses- sub. 1 oz vs the 4 or 5 that I used to be able to eat in one sitting
white potatoes- sub. with sweet potatoes (thanks to 3FC I have learned about baked sweet potato french fries !yum!)
ice cream- sub. single serving wrapped, frozen yogurt vs pint of whatever kind of ice cream i would eat that day.

It is interesting that everyone has such different trigger foods. I wonder if it's because of things we ate growing up, difference in taste buds, or just chemical differences in the body. Interesting...

peanuts & doritos ( or god forbid those darn restaurants with chips and salsa) My kids love going & getting those.