A Tip that is working for me - accountability

  • I just wanted to share a tip/trick that seems to be working for me (so far at least!)

    I have a personal trainer with my exercise, but even if you don't, just find someone you trust to understand...

    I made a bunch of little pieces of paper with numbers on them, 1, 2, 3 etc. I give my trainer the numbers as I successfully earn a binge-free day.

    IF I faulter, I ask for them all back (i.e. start at 1 again). Instead of feeling guilty about it, the idea is for her to probe and get to the heart of the matter - MAKE me talk about it! Not just sweep it under the rug...

    I am on day 21 today and feel a huge sense of accomplishment and pride when I hand them over!



    Making myself accountable to ME was the goal of this exercise, and even though I am giving the papers to another person, it is making me accountable to me!
  • That is great!!! Wow...that is amazing. I know how hard this can be..especially when you workout and you get sooo hungry all the time. it is TOUGH. have you found that you have certain trigger foods or types (i.e. starches, salty, sweet, etc.)? Have you eliminated them or have found a way to control intake? I had to cut out chocolate completely to turn me off to sweets..and anything processed like fiber one bars and special k bars..even though they claim to be healthy that high fructose corn syrup spikes my insulin levels leading me to binge...peanut butter is my other culprit which i really intend on keeping under control because it IS healthy if i can manage 1tsp in my oatmeal.

    anyway, that is so great...you are totally creating a healthy lifestyle and will keep dropping weight so long as you hold yourself accountable every day.
  • thanks for the encouragement! yes, peanut butter is one of those things i still cannot have in the house... i am doing better with chocolate/treats as long as they are in the 'treat basket' for my boys... (they are off limits since they do not belong to me)... and cereal bars like you mentioned are just nasty! i could eat a whole box at once and not even blink an eye! they are in the house but again, belong to the boys!

    thank you so much for the post - nice to know i am not alone in my triggers!
  • Cereal and granola bars are awful, awful, awful. I mean, they're way too delicious, that's why! The cereal bars are intended for people who just can't eat in the morning, but I'm definitely not one of those people lol. I wake up starving, I could probably eat a huge breakfast every single morning. So I used to eat cereal bars and granola bars as healthy snacks, but they're loaded with sugar. It's like eating candy and taking a vitamin, really. At the bakery I work at, we make Trek Bars.... They're really nutritious, in that they have fiber, healthy fats (lots and lots, lol), whole grain, dried fruit... But they have almost 600 calories in them!!!!

    But anyways, I like your binge free idea!!
  • seriously - how do you work at a bakery!!! you are soooo strong!!!!

    it is amazing how many calories can 'hide' in healthy food....

    thanks for the encouragement! day 22 and counting!
  • I've decided to give myself a dollar for each day that I am binge-free.

    So, in a year.. or 360 days from now.. I'll have some cash to buy some new clothes with. If I blow it then it all goes towards bills, etc.

    Woo! Hope you plan is still working for you!
  • this is a really great idea! I'm so proud of you for sticking to your plan! Congrats.
  • thank you so much for coming back to this thread!

    i made it from 27 dec until mid may wihtout a binge... since mid may i have struggled... i am on day 7 right now... i have soo many reasons that i 'fell down' ... biggest is that i am having health issues that are scaring me and i am turning to food instead of dealing with the emotions ... so i am working on that!

    accountability is huge still for me... i finally (7 days ago!) told my trainer what was happening and she is helping me...adn my therapist ... and friends (that know) so ... i am back to being 'open' about the issue and i also bought a 1lb fat replica which i go grab if i feel like over eating myself into a binge... it is repulsive and is stopping me from binging!
  • LOVE THE IDEA. Just have to figure out who to give the numbers to. Don't have a personal trainer, thinking I may just journal it and then journal about it. I think I will also tie it in with the dollar idea.
    Happytobeamomof2 I am from Ottawa as well.


  • Wow, what a great long stretch being binge-free, it is great knowing that it can be done!

    I hope that you are now firmly back into a non-binging pattern! Congratulations on all that hard work!
  • i am earning day 10 right now... mid may to mid aug were a bit 'rough' ... i am poroud to say i am "on-the-wagon" again and do not plan on dropping off it again!!!

    i am making myself accountable to my trainer, my girlfriend and alllll of you ladies!!!

    back to no peanut butter, avoiding sweets as much as i can...