I've been pretty good about putting my foot down, but when I am out with others I have problems. I even bring my own snacks, but when temptation is strong... like Cruisin Coffee milk shakes (non-fat) or their scones. That's a little more than 1000 calories a day. I can say no myself and no to others, but not to myself when I am with others. Does anyone have a good strategy to battling this problem, I am sure we all go through it, and I know it is a long process until lessons taught become second nature. I want that second nature- how is everyone working toward that?

What happened? Yesterday, on my way home from school, the person I was with was hungry (I was even a little hungry, a yummy lunch was waiting for me at home) and asked if it was okay if we went at picked up lunch. I said no thank you, I'll eat at home. "How about Cruisin? I'm cold and would like a hot chocolate." I said no until we got up there and saw a scone. I said fine, I'll have a non-fat milkshake (not so bad... but)... Then I mumbled something about good scones. She ordered my milk shake and scone, the scone I didn't want. It sat on my lap for 20 minutes and when I was nearly home I ate it. I thought about throwing it away and then I did what I know is a terrible way to think- It won't hurt this once. The problem is "this once" is everyday, and I am not sure how I can curb my lapse of thinking when it comes up. -_-

Sending you a big dose of good old fashioned

I really have no other words for you. You just have to decide for yourself, once and for all, I'm not going to give into short lived gratification. That you want something much bigger and better for yourself. The food is a temporary fix and you want LONG TERM HAPPINESS. A better, healthier and more active and more happy you. And you deserve it and therefore you should let NOTHING stand in your way. Good luck.

I have the "I cant let other people know I am dieting" syndrom...is that part of it? I let others choose for me because I dont want to say no and dissappoint them too.

I am in a food coop (every month we each make many servings of one meal and then swap so we have dinners for a good part of the month) and track my calories. This month the recipe was missing from 3 of my meals, all they had was how to finish it on serving day. Well, it took swallowing a lot of pride to admit I needed the recipes because I was counting calories.

And if I am with someone and they order dessert, I feel COMPELLED to order some too. Part of it is I dont want them to not get something they want because I dont want it too, and part of it is "hey if they can eat dessert, I should be able to also"

I keep on reciting rush and it is getting better. I choose free will.

Woah! You sat with a SCONE ON YOUR LAP FOR 20 MINUTES! Now that IS willpower!

Maybe next time you could get your friend to drive faster - so you can throw it out when you get home!

Or if someone buys me something that I don't want I tend to label it as someone else's. Say in your head, "I'm taking this home for Mum" or DH or whoever.

Also practice saying out loud, "I don't eat fast food" or chocolate or whatever. Or even "I'm sorry I'm not hungry right now, I'll leave this scone with you."

It's hard, but you can do it

When I go to starbucks, I always always always NOT look in the pastry display. Im there probably 4x a week. Not looking works for me, I know they have yummy goodies that Id love to wrap my lips around....so I dont look!! Works for me

this is going to sound really silly, but i am allergic to shellfish.........that cake has shellfish in it, dosen't it? sorry can't have it......i say those sorts of things

Off topic, but what does this mean? And what are you reciting? Like, the band Rush? Or is it a proverb?
Sorry, I was just curious.

Now I'm curious about Jaime's question too... hmmm.

To Red - The quote I have under my signature "Someday is not a day of the week. Never look back and wish" is to remind me that I have to do it NOW. I'm a really good procrastinator. Too good. I have to do lots of little strategies to overcome my natural inclinations. Yes, I have lapses all the time, but I want my deliberate eating choices to outweigh (pardon the pun) the lapses... I do NOT want to look back and wish... "I wish I had just had a little self control and not eaten that cake someone brought into work" I want the jeans to fit, I want to feel better, have more energy, look better, be stronger, etc. I had a really bad stress eating day yesterday, but today I've tried hard to get back on track. Believe it or not, seeing that quote there today was just what I needed to redirect myself.

So, I would say to forget that scone and shake... tomorrow is another day. Just get back on track -- you can do it!

free will is rush the band, yes.