What is your trigger?
 

For some people it may be a certain food, or a certain eating establishment that they just can't say no to.

What is your guilty pleasure?

How could you lighten it up?

Have you made an action plan to avoid this food/place?

If you don't avoid it, how do you control yourself?


I'll start!!

COLD STONE CREAMERY! To me it's like Disneyland, the happiest place on earth!! But.. I've decided to stick with the medium sized, 220 calorie Sinless Sans-Fat ice cream, with a half serving of white chocolate chips mixed in, and fruit mixed in.

Jet's pizza and my dad's chocolate chip cookies. There's no way I'll ever give those up. Haha. I don't really lighten it up but if I know that I'm going to have one or the other, I workout harder that day and I don't eat very much beforehand.

yes that works quite well most times. limit the intake and bump up the exercise.

I think I would be a very happy camper if I only had 1. I crave anything with sugar! And then sometimes I crave salty/fatty. What I crave changes like the weather so there's no such thing as avoiding my triggers because I never know what's going to set me off.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Eating crap food with my boyfriend on the weekends.

How could you lighten it up?
Instead of pizza and chinese food at night, eating homemade chicken fajitas or homemade sushi.
Instead of grabbing something like KFC or McDonalds on the run, sharing a regular sized Quizno's sub during the day.

Have you made an action plan to avoid this food/place?
Making a plan about exactly what and when we are going to eat BEFORE the weekend happens.

If you don't avoid it, how do you control yourself?
Good question, have to think about that one. I can't control myself, that's the problem! Any tips?

~CGH~

re
 

My trigger has GOT to be chocolate cake, oh boy, I can eat a whole cake in one sitting :o

homemade sushi sounds really good! I haven't been brave enough to try myself, though.

I imagine the calories would be better than the prepackaged ones.

I love avocado inside

I also just tried sashimi with my friend!! it's great stuff.

Pop Tarts and Cheetos---and I need to just LEAVE THEM IN THE STORE! :o

I would have to say my number one pleasure is Shipley's chocolate filled donuts. Literally, I shake just writing this. My second pleasure would have to be a combination of Jamocha shakes and curly fries from Arby's. I decided to look them up last week to check calorie content. After reading and figuring out it was my DAILY intake for the two items, I decided to nix the idea.

I can think of no way to lighten these items up or I would be swimming in a bathtub of it as we speak. LOL

LOL yeah it's easier to lighten up the at home versions. some websites have copycat recipes for certain things.

now that you mention it, the mint swirl shake from arby's is fabulous, but I think next time I'll split mine with my shopping buddy!!

Anything sweet, esp. cake, pastries etc.

I think baklava is one of my downfalls too lol

My trigger: happy hour

It's so easy to keep drinking! And I crave social attention so if the people are game, I'll drink all night! Plus factor in bar food and you've got XXXX calories!

There's no happy hours in Korea so I'm taking this time to learn some new healthy habits. Whenever I return to America I'm sure I'll go back to happy hours but I hope by then I can pace my drinks, make smarter choices, and avoid some of the bar food.

Hey there are those 64 calorie beers now, but I don't know if they sell them in bars?

Sugar.

That and certain social situation where I previously would have eaten all sorts of unhealthy foods.

JUST SAY CHEEEEEESE!!!!!

And isn't lovely -- my fabulous BIL from WI just sent a giant BOX-O-CHEESE....sheesh. Sooooo good. Doing OK today keeping my hands off it but Christmas, fuggetaboutit. I was all over the Edam!

Trigger
 

My biggest trigger is feeling alone and depressed. And once the feeling sets in, it's done, there is no going back, even if I have not started eating yet. It's in the brain, not in the stomach. When the brain enters "the zone", it's over.

i have soo many triggers... i am addicted to food in a bad way... i am a chocoholic a pizzafinatic a chinese stuffer and a juicy burger eater! i used to take a block of cheese and sit in front of the tv and eat it! i would also down a soda and chips and a pbj choke sandwhich in the same sitting...

What is your guilty pleasure?
ICE CREAM!!

How could you lighten it up?
I love the ice cream sundae's by Smart Ones... I binged on two boxes like 6 months ago... but, the two boxes still had less fat/calories than a Maggie Moo or Cold Stone ice cream! I have only binged on them that one time... I love the Peanut Butter Cup and the Cookie Dough!

Have you made an action plan to avoid this food/place?
If I have a good week, my husband and I enjoy a Smart Ones sundae on Saturdays. I really enjoy this time together, so it motivates me!

If you don't avoid it, how do you control yourself?
Controlling myself is difficult. My husband works midnights, so it would be very easy for me to tell him I did well and have the Smart Ones. But it would make me feel REALLY crappy to lie to him! I can't lie... and if I did, he would know the truth within about 2 minutes... I'd feel too guilty. I also call him at work immediately when I get home from work. If I didn't call him until much later, he would know... he has caller i.d. so I can't call from my cell pretending I am home!! I don't know what I'd do without my husband... he is such a motivator/supporter!!

my problem is that everything triggers me. mostly though the biggest trigger i have is my brain. when i think too much, i get depressed/anxious/angry/etc. and so i eat... and eat... and eat.... :-/

but yeah... one of my biggest binge foods used to be peanut butter, during my binges i can eat a whole jar of the reduced fat skippy pb and then go on and eat like half a box of ice cream, but yeah, lately my mom has been trying to help me and hasn't been buying pb. which is nice of her... but yea...

Oh pooh! Stress and anger are my triggers, and loneliness.......oh and potato chips

Stress is a trigger, but food triggers are oreos, pizza, and ice cream.

My brain is my biggest downfall - my stomach sends out all the right signals that I'm full, and a sane amount of food will do. I just really like having big mouthfuls of food, which leads to horrible portion control. I find too that more than 1 drink with dinner will reduce my ability to control myself. I haven't quite gotten that part right yet, but at least I can say I know what's going on!

I still have major problems with salty stuff, but there are a lot of good choices in salt-world that don't have useless calories - like all sorts of pickled vegetables, and SMALL amounts of salted nuts. That's pretty much my action plan - if I don't have these alternatives close at hand, it's a swan-dive into the potato chip bag!

That...sounds like me!

Also, Taco Bell I <3 taco bell. I try to get things off the fresco menu to lighten it up some.

Stress, depression, and boredom are also HUGE triggers for me. I'm getting better with the boredom eating but it still attacks often.

Garlic mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, french fries. Salty starchy foods are my greatest weakness and also my comfort food, so anytime I'm upset I just want to make a huge pot of garlic mashed potatoes and eat the whole thing. Its really hard to reach for a piece of fruit instead, but I can already see results and I know that its worth it.

Anything chocolate and omg CHIPS- I love funions I used to eat a bag a day!

Now I treat myself with the small individual size bags here and there- but I haven't bought any lately on purpose.

I love sweets. All of them. Cake, cookies, candy... My biggest sweet trigger is monster cookies, which the grocery store bakery makes, they are 2 chocolate chip cookies with a bunch of buttercream frosting in the middle, then they have sprinkles all across the "mouth" and little frosting eyes.

Pizza is another trigger. I love pizza but I can't stop until I've had 6 or more slices. Cheeseburgers is another, especially fast food burgers from McDonald's and Sonic.

I don't have much of a plan yet for letting the stuff go, I'm just determined not to buy it. When I was previously on a diet, I didn't cut these things out completely, I just made healthier options like Kudo granola bars when I wanted something sweet, Lean Cuisine pizzas, and occasionally a homemade lean burger. It's tough to get back into those healthier habits though.

For me it's not a particular food at all...it's: the situation. I put my young children to bed, my husband goes downstairs to do work or play games on the computer and I watch TV while going to the kitchen every commercial break. It could be left overs, almond butter sandwiches, pretzels...literally whatever is on hand.

How do I break this routine??:?::?:

QueenCleo:
OMG were in the same boat... i put my daughter to bed, my BF is writing music, and im alone, in the living room, attached to the kitchen. lol... i get bored, lonely... or if ive been stressed or whatever. . i eat. and eat. and eat. ARRRG. im a really bad sneak eater too-- its almost as if, im my brain somehow i justify " if noone sees me it doesnt count" type thing...

*slaps forehead* im an idiot.

my advice, is that it takes 28 days to form a habit.. take one day at a time and set mini goals. (like no snacking for a week or 3 days.. however long) until it beomes habit. .

my other suggestion would be to do something to keep your hands busy while you watch TV.. get some gum, and chew that. it keeps your mouth busy.. theres so many ways.. but those are some that have really helped me.

good luck!

OMG the cookie actually has eyes

And it's looking at you! lol

Certainly sugar for me too.

fried chicken

http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar-re...8/135/176/.png

You know there are very few foods that I do not love. I just love food and seeing it is a real trigger for me. Staying out of the kitchen could be helpful if I would do it. Going to restaurants makes me crazy with wanting to eat so many things on the menu. Pictures in magazines. Even reading the items on this website makes me crave food. One of many foods that I adore are tacos. Wow.

Red Robin

My mom and I love getting their bacon cheeseburger with Bleu cheese and carmelized onions... and the garlic fries.
When I know we are going to be going I'll try to eat light the rest of the week and exercise a bit more to keep within my calorie counting limits.

What is your guilty pleasure?
:drools: Diners! I love hearty, home cooked diner food. Apple pie and ice cream. Fresh chocolate chip cookies. Nachos with the tostitos cheese.

How could you lighten it up?
Modifying the recipes and making it myself.

Have you made an action plan to avoid this food/place?
I allow myself a free meal once a week so I can do with my cravings and be happy and continue with my life. If I ignore it, it festers and turns into a binge of completely unrelated foods.

If you don't avoid it, how do you control yourself?
I allow myself to eat it and in moderation.

Lately, it seems like peanut butter is a HUGE trigger for me. I'll tell myself that I'll just have a little bit and savor it (because I looove PB :D), but I always end up going back for a little more... And a little more... And ten spoonfuls more... :rolleyes:

Sugar is another big one! I think that's one of the biggest things that makes me overeat. I just recently got an account on the Daily Plate last week, and I was shocked to see how much sugar I was actually eating on a daily basis. I'm definitely working on cutting down this week. But yeah, it seems like once I have one sugary thing, I need more and more and more! Heh.

As far as the mental triggers go, I'm as big of an emotional eater as just about anyone... Stress and/or depression makes me want to eat EVERYTHING IN SIGHT, and just fills me with a constant desire to cram stuff in my mouth, chew, swallow, and repeat. I don't even really have to taste it. :(

I go weak around Nong Shim Shin Ramyun gloriously hot & spicy Korean noodle soup. I swear they put crack in it. I can't have it in the house at all; it will call to me until I eat it all. The sodium content is super high, so I bloat tremendously every time. I know of no way to lighten it up. I could attempt to cut the portion size, but I know it would be doomed to failure. I think I will try an order of sashimi w/ wasabi, a small order, and then I'll hold myself and cry.

I love ALL food!
I think pizza is a ultimate love though lately, especially stuffed crust ones!!! I like sweets too and sugary stuff, strawberry cables with the white creamy stuff in the middle!! I really love pasta too. And bread! I can't have any bread in my cupboard because it would be gone in less than a couple of days, i can just sit and eat it plain!

I am spurred to eat when I am in places where I can buy my favourite foods and am alone so I can indulge without feeling judged. I also need to break a habit of always feeling like I need to eat when I get off work, regardless of my shift's end time.

I am writing to this because I need to write down my triggers to hold myself accountable.

Ok my trigger:

Chocolate, especially brownies, and sometimes I crave comfort food, like mac n cheese and fried chicken

lighten it up:
Well, here are my strategies I am thinking
Avoid teacher lounge, because there is ALWAYS something in there.
Make no pudge brownies, eat one and then bring the rest to the teacher lounge
go to a bakery and get ONE good brownie
have a piece of baker's dark chocolate

mac n cheese and fried chicken - I don't even eat meat anymore! I still crave the chicken though. I think I just have to stay away. I always think I want these things, and then I take a few bites and it is never as good as I think it will be. But sometimes i will keep eating it anyway. So I will just STAY away.