Exactly, Hotcupojava!!!! That's why I didn't answer this one!

The easiest thing for me has been finding products at the grocery store. I like the Smart Ones ice cream sandwiches, for example. We are living in an age that caters to the needs of every type of dieter. I like having my special "stuff" that helps me get my cravings under control without blowing my points.

Question of the Day
 

If you are an emotional/habitual eater (i.e. if you eat for any reason other than hunger), how do you curb that? Are there any activities you do instead of eating, etc.?

If you are an emotional/habitual eater (i.e. if you eat for any reason other than hunger), how do you curb that? Are there any activities you do instead of eating, etc.?

Hmm... Well, I would like to say I have a plan. But this is a big issue with me. I have tried to go and pound the pavement or the treadmill and also have poured myself a tall one... (water, LOL) But, this is still a work in progress and I look forward in reading what the rest of you say so I may learn! LOL

Donna

Ooooh, I'm good at this one! ;)

If you are an emotional/habitual eater (i.e. if you eat for any reason other than hunger), how do you curb that? Are there any activities you do instead of eating, etc.?

Something that has helped me tremendously is cross stitching & crocheting. Keeps your hands busy, and you need to keep them clean while you are working. When I sit down for the night to watch TV, I used to mindlessly munch. Same thing on weekends, especially if hubby was working. TV meant munching, even if I had just eaten an hour before.

Now, the cross stitching works. Or giving yourself a manicure, so that you have wet nails, even if it's just clear polish. Can't pick at snacks or goodies with wet nails. And if all else fails, taking a bubble bath or shower.

And I always, always, always have sugar free gum stashed at work and at home, so when I think I need to eat but know I can't be hungry, I pop in a piece of gum or two, and that's usually enough to distract me.

For some reason, I love Altoids! And they seem to help me! It's like when you just finished brushing your teeth...you don't want to eat as badly. And, I just bought the new Spearmint Altoids...they are so good!!

I am definitely a habitual eater, and I am not sure how to fix that, because I eat when I am bored. I am not so much an emotional eater, though. I did just so happen to buy some cross stitch christmas projects today, though, and I plan to use them the same way that you guys mentioned!

I eat when I am hungry, but when I am REALLY hungry, I'm bad because I will eat ANYTHING within reach! I do eat when I am bored, sometimes! I do the water thing at night when I am on the computer...fill a glass and sip it while I am browsing! That seems to have helped curb the "routine/boredom eating", but there are 2 times during the day when I eat out of boredom/routine...around 2pm at work (usually only at work) and at night when the family has gone to bed (hmmmm, do you call that "closet eating"?) This usually happens when I have had an especially bad day, and I don't have a plan for that! I'm very stubborn!!! And those of you who know me are probably thinking "Noooooooo, not YOU Julie!!!!" ;) So breaking this "habits" are going to be difficult but I know it's something I need to do! The work thing is easier if Ikeep healthy snacks at my desk! It's the emotional stuff that's harder!!!!

Question of the Day
 

How do you handle peer pressure?

LOL- easy- hubby & I are antisocial! ;) Seriously, though...the only time that really comes into play is here at the office, and with my "shadow" Cindy. She's the one who wants to go out to lunch every single day, for big meals at Fridays, or Olive Garden...most days I have my packed breakfast & lunch & after 7 months , I think she finally got the hint. If she doesn't see me with my packed goodies, she starts at 8:30 am wanting to know where I want to go. Sigh...it never ends!

Short answer- advanced planning, and non-committal "I don't knows" when people push.

Yeah, since I'm a SAHM the only time I really have peer pressure is when I'm with my ladies bible study group. They bring in wonderful goodies every week. I stick to the fruit and no one gets hurt. LOL Once I explained what I was doing, I get all the understanding I need.

Donna

Well now I've lost some weight I just tell people I'm maintaining, I reckon that's probably the best thing to say if you've lost some weight in case people start saying you don't need to lose anymore. I find other people don't really pay much attention to what you eat anyway. You just need to perfect your acting skills at telling people you don't want any!

I actually use peer pressure towards my advantage. For example, someone at the office brought donuts to work one day. I wanted one SO bad!!! I tried to get someone to split one with me, but noone would, so I got one and was only going to eat half of it, when someone said: "Oh, Sam, and you were doing so good." OMG I was so embarrased. I ended up just taking one bite and throwing the rest away. I don't want that reaction ever again. I figure people would have more respect for me if I said no all the time, instead of being wishy-washy about it. I also find that people are pretty understanding and try not to offer me things like that anymore.

Question of the Day
 

What good things do you do for yourself besides losing weight/exercise/eating healthy? How do you get yourself to do them? Is it hard?

The only other thing that I feel like I need to do other than lose weight is learn how to keep a clean house. I try, and try, but never seem to have the time/motivation to do that. I wish there was a 3 dirty chicks website LOL :lol: I know my husband also wishes our house were cleaner, but he SURE isn't any help!!!

I always make time for my reading. I sit in the tub and read after the kids go to bed. It is my "escape" and it helps keep me sane!

Samantha - I hear ya about the house thing!!! LOL

A day late with the daily question.

What other good things do I do for myself other than diet and exercise? Well, I let myself pay extra for a good haircut. That may sound strange but it's the only thing I splurge on other than my weekly 12 dollars to WW meetings! LOL

Donna

Question of the Day
 

What things has being overweight kept you from doing?

What things has being overweight kept you from doing?

Having more family pictures made. The camera bothers me. That's why it's me usually taking the family pictures or any for that matter.

:shrug:

Donna

What things has being overweight kept you from doing?

having kids
posing for pictures
dressing age-appropriate in my teens & twenties
going out with friends
dating the super hot guy I had a crush on
having wild nights out on the town with friends & being the one getting the attention
being the first one considered for promotions
travelling

that's a lot of life to be missing out on. And I'm not willing to sit on the sidelines for the next 30 years.

Oh, Donna.........I have done the same thing with pictures. My DH said..."the kids won't know what you even looked like while they were little". And, I try to rip up all the ones I find of me that are really unflattering.....Just the other day, I walked into my DH's classroom and saw that he had a picture of me on his bulletin board..it was one I hadn't seen, one some other teacher gave him- and I looked yucky, and buddy I tore that pic. right down!!! He was like- "what's your problem??? That picture is fine!" I hate being so self-conscious like that!

well for one thing pics but also I don't really enjoy going to the beach either. This xmas we are getting family pics done since last year hubby wasn't around for Jasmine's first and he may not be around next year so I will have to swallow everything and deal with it. I have lost some weight but I am not totally confident. Thing is, I used to keep a pic of me at my highest to keep me motivated. I don't know where it is any more but that did work because I am now over 30 lbs lighter and about 25 lbs to my goal!! And soon will be able to wear what I want. Still young so don't feel bad doing that.

Other then that, I don't give up much because of it.

Question of the Day
 

Do you take any supplements (vitamins, diet pills, etc.)? Do they help? Can you notice a difference in the way you feel when you take them/if you miss a day?

I need to take my vitamins which I keep forgetting and yes, I saw a difference for my hair and nails would grow faster! :lol: :lol: :D

Donna

I don't take vitamins, but I am considering it because I don't know if I get all of the nutrition that I need w/ my diet. But I heard somewhere that people have found whole vitamans in the sewer, w/ the letter carvings still in them, meaning they passed through peoples system w/o dissolving!! (I don't know if that is true, and I don't know who digs through sewers looking for that, but that's what I heard!)
I do take ginseng on days that I need a boost, has anyone heard anything about side effects (good or bad) for that??

:) Sam

Samantha, my dh has worked for a major vitamin producer for 24 years. Their products have to pass several tests before they are made and sent out into their stores. They must dissolve within a certain time frame or they are discarded altogether. So, I don't know if that is true or what. They could of just put them in the toilet and maybe had an agenda to make a certain company look bad. Or it just may true but I just know what my dh has told me many times when he has ever heard this. He should know like I said, he has worked in this same plant for 24 years. :) ;)

Donna

I take a women's multivitamin *with extra iron & folic acid, which you need if you want to have kids!*, plus 2 calcium tablets every day. I take extra calcium because osteoporosis runs in my family, and it helps with my borderline anemia.

I tell ya, chickies, if you take that calcium, it just skyrockets your energy! Aside from that, I have way fewer cravings for junk food if I take my vitamins with a healthy breakfast, and I find it easier to drink my water during the day. Maybe it's just me, but it works!

Donna - wouldn't that be funny - could you see someone purposely flushing vitamans down the toilet!!! :lol: If you don't mind, what vitamin producer does your husband work at? I really would like to start taking vitamins now, while I am young, so when I get older I don't have to worry so much about ostioporosis (sp??) and things like that, but I don't know of a GOOD vitamin that isn't loads of money.

Samantha, my dh works for Nutra Mfg. which you may have seen the GNC stores in malls and other areas. Their vitamins are not cheap but they do run good specials from time to time. They have made vitamins under other names for other drug stores but right now I don't know the name of them. We are fortunate we get a good discount since he is an employee. Just yesterday at my WW meeting they were stressing how important it is to take a multi-vitamin each day. I have no excuse but I need to take mine again. :shrug: :lol:

Question of the Day
 

What is your main source of instant motivation (i.e. do you have fat pictures? an upcoming trip? a dress you want to fit into? etc.)?

What is your main source of instant motivation (i.e. do you have fat pictures? an upcoming trip? a dress you want to fit into? etc.)?

I find that people help me get motivated. Photos intimidate me, no upcoming trips and there isn't any dresses that I *want* to fit into. When I'm down about it and some one out of the blue notices I have lost that encourages me to keep on. :)

Donna

Instant motivation? There's a few things:
1. My daughter...when I think about the things I am teaching her with good eating habits, exercise, etc I remember why I am doing this!
2. I have a collage I made back in Feb when I was feeling "defeated" with pictures of what I want to look like, words and quotes that are inspiring to me. I took them from a fitness magazine! I have it hanging on my fridge to remind me where I want to be and why!
3. I want to hike the Adirondacks (or any mountain range, really) next summer with my sister! I've never hiked/backpacked like that but always dreamt about it. I want to be able to do it without pain or struggle...at 44!!

But what KEEPS me motivated is holding onto these thoughts and staying connected with a great bunch of women who are on the same journey with the same issues, struggling to get to their goal! I would have stopped even trying without this site! Seriously! You all are just awesome!

Question of the Day
 

Does the weather affect your motivation level? How so? What do you do to overcome it?

I honestly don't know the answer to that question because I just started dieting in September, so I haven't experiences anything but milder weather. So far no weather has affected me, but we will see when it starts to snow!!

:) Sam

Does the weather affect your motivation level? How so? What do you do to overcome it?
My experience from the past (although things change all the time) during cold weather I have found it motivates me more because I find it more of a challenge to not fall into eating too many comfort foods. Now, if I am not exposed to the sun much I do tend to fall into a depression and that does lower my motivation level so it's not so much the weather but the sun! :flow1: :lol:

Donna

Question of the Day
 

Do you have any comfort foods? What are they? Is there any particular reason they are comforting to you (i.e. memory associations, etc)?

Weather: I don't do well in the heat! I can't exercise when it's blasted hot outside! I prefer walking or exercising outdoors to indoors, so I love the cooler weather of the Fall and Spring! So this time of year is great for me to get out and walk!

Comfort Foods: OMG...the list could go on forever! The biggest one is Mac&Cheese! I could eat a whole pan of it and really have to say "NO" when I make it for my daughter because I can't stop! Not sure of the association with it, but I'm sure I ate a lot of it when I was a kid...cheap!
Icecream! Sugar fix...tastes good and as a child, we didn't have it often and was often in conjunction with good times (parties, birthdays, holidays, etc) so perhaps that is why it is so comforting to me!
Those are the two biggies for me! There are so many foods that are trigger foods for me but I do stay away from most of them! These two I can't seem to kick as easily! Great question!

I think chocolate is the best comfort food. When I'm down I want something sweet but substantial. It doesn't feel like it's due to associations, I think sometimes just concentrating on a nice sensation feels like a good solution to problems. Plus doesn't chocolate have endorphins in? Mmm baby bels work well too that's what my best mate got me when I split up with my ex. Although in that sort of a situation I also like gin. Beer is good for cheering me up as well!

LOL dilleight beer does seem to work wonders when you are down, doesn't it??

I don't feel like I have been dieting long enough to know what my "comfort" foods are - I don't know if I have any, actually. I don't think I understand quite yet the feelings associated with certain foods. I don't really consider myself to be an "emotional eater", instead I am definitely an "emotional smoker" which is probably 10 times worse, but maybe good for my dieting.
I guess I should consider myself blessed, because not only do I not consider myself to be an emotional eater, I am also not addicted to sugar. I have always been the kind of person to have seconds on dinner & skip dessert. Chocolate, ice cream, candy...none of these things tempt me as much as pizza, hamburgers, nachos, enchiladas, fried chicken...mmmmm.....and NOW IM HUNGRY :lol:
I am more of a "boredom eater", and a "convienence eater", meaning I eat when I am bored, and I eat what is convenient. Not a good thing when I literally live next door to both Burger King & McDonalds (seriously - I can look out my front window and see how long the drive through line is for BOTH restaurants!)

Question of the Day
 

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?