I thought maybe we could share what we do when we have a desire to eat something we shouldn't. I love to hear what others do. Lately I have been looking at the progress pictures on the main page. I find it very inspiring... I would love some more ideas though.
If I am at home and I want to eat, I leave the kitchen. My worst time of the day is from the time I get home until I start fixing dinner. If I get home rather late, I don't have a problem, but there are days when I'll get home at 3 PM and I don't start cooking until 6 PM, so that's 3 hours of boredom and boredom usually ends up with me stuffing my face with whatever is conveniently located. Fridays are the worst because I get home earliest then. So, I leave the room. I play Spider Solitaire on the computer in my room. I'll read some of my book. I'll sweep up the dog hair. I'll water the house plants. I'll sit and watch Ellen on TV (or the news).
If I'm at work and I want to eat, fortunately I have very little that I can eat that will cause any damage as I only bring appropriate snacks. I wait until I feel it is time for a snack and then I eat it.
Sometimes I'll have a piece of sugar-free candy or gum.
Another strategy is to find something to do. I always have a long list of stuff I want to get done around the house, so I force myself to do something off that list. I tend to eat out of boredom so the busier I can keep myself, the less temptation is a problem.
I also find that when I stay on track with my food plan, it is easier to resist eating foods that I shouldn't. It's the days when I am off plan that it is hardest to resist temptation.
My biggest tool for resisting temptation, however, is to not buy foods that I shouldn't eat or that I think I will have a problem eating in controlled portions. If I don't have it in the house, I can't eat it.
I agree Blue! I have to put my foot down sometimes when we go shopping. he will want cookies and I will have to say no. Not only is it not good for him as well, but i can make healthier ones from scratch..
anyway, back to the question... I will go shopping. Not only will I walk around but I will try on clothes to see my progress. They are usually WAY out of my price range and i know I am not going to buy them, but its a little self booster. And if I dont want to go anywhere, I just find things to do. My problem is being alone. If I am home with Marc I wont eat until he forces me to. Its strange, its like I dont like to eat in front of him unless we are having a meal. So when I am home alone, I will take our dog for an hour walk, paint my nails, write letters, clean clean clean, sew knit... pretty much anything!
I try to remember the 4 D's (in no particular order).
Distance
Delay
Distract
Decide
Distance - If food is in your house, go outside. If you're at a party, go to a room where the food isn't under your nose. Etc.
Delay - If you can delay yourself by even one hour, you can potentially minimize the amount you eat before bedtime, especially if you're the type who finds it hard to stop once you start (like myself). 2 hours of eating is better than 3 hours of eating.
Distract - Find something else to do. If you don't feel like going outside, paint your nails, take a bath, write a haiku about how much you want Doritos. Maybe prepare a list of potential distractions.
Decide - Sometimes it's that wishy-washy-ness that can get you. Force yourself to make a clear decision, maybe even a plan. For example, I can decide that a binge is inevitable, but at least I'll start with broth, veggies, fruit, or some other low-cal food to help satiate any hunger and then move on to the naughtier foods to address the cravings. I may binge, but I can at least reduce the damage I do.
And of course, always remember there are tons of us here who struggle with the same issues and no one is here to judge anyone else.
Great ideas girls, these help me a lot. I really like the list idea, I'm going to try that. It's like killing two birds with one stone. Shopping would be an awesome idea too, but I don't have that freedom right now, unless you want to throw in a screaming 3 yr old, which might toally distract me from eating, or cause a binge
Thanks for the ideas ladies
Not for the faint hearted (not if you're me anyway) but the one thing I've done a couple of times is take my clothes off and have a proper look. Not pretty, put me right off my chocolate.....
I come here and post, I take a bath, drink warm water with lemon, hot tea... I get out of the kitchen as soon as supper is over and sometimes DH ends up doing all the dishes ... Out of sight, out of mind! ALL the junk goes to the basement and they have to run for it, sometimes they forget about it too... I eat vegetable soup low call very filling......
When I want something I shouldn't I find something I CAN have or get a drink. I drink a lot of Crystal Light because I can't stand water and that has helped. For the most part after 6 weeks, the cravings are mostly gone.
awesome ideas
i pretty much just try and keep myself distracted by reading or coming online...
or drink some water if i'm reallly craving to take the edge off of it.
What do you do when...
... Out of sight, out of mind! ALL the junk goes to the basement and they have to run for it, sometimes they forget about it too... I eat vegetable soup low call very filling......
