What mantra / tricks do you use to not pick up that candy bar or to put that cookie back down??

I have heard of people counting to 10 everytime they are tempted or even people picturing the food as something really horrible like it crawling with worms.

What have you tried?? What do you do?? Did it work??

I love this one

"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do."

1. I really try not to have those things in my reach. This is, IMO, the simplest and most effective way to prevent myself from eating things that aren't on my plan.

2. I tell myself that if I really want X, I can have it the next day after working it into my plan, or more frequently, that I can have something I like -more-. So, for example, a candy bar might tempt me, and I'd say to myself "Wow, that sounds good. But is that really the best way to satisfy my craving? If I'm still craving chocolate by the weekend, I'll go to the bakery and get myself a lovely chocolate cupcake/brownie/etc." Usually, by the time the wait is up, the craving is long gone. If it's not? I enjoy my GENUINELY good treat, rather than trying to fill a void with junky one.

I picture in my mind the body that I want to have and think about how, if I eat this candybar, potato chips, whatever, that it's going to be that much longer before I have that body.

If it's a chocolate bar. I toss it in the freezer. It forces me to have to nibble at it if I want some. If it's a brownie or a cupcake. I will save it for an opportunity I have to share it. If I share it I will eat less of it.

I grew up on the "finish your food" regimen. And it's so hard to have a whole piece of junk food and not want to finish it.

Usually I don't have access to stuff like that....the more effort it takes to get it (ie getting the kids packed up and going to the store) equals I'm less likely to eat it

If I happen to then have it and it's not planned in my day I ask myself why do I want to eat it and is it worth it....I've come too far to let a little piece of cake/cookie/candy rule me!

Sugar is really really bad for my body. I need to give it a break and put this down.

It doesn't come into my house. Period. If I'm out where it is, I tell myself, Self, you don't eat that stuff anymore. Period. Never, never, never.

I'm not saying it's a 100% guarantee, but it's worked for me every single minute since I started this on 8/14/2008...that's a pretty good track record I think.

Lately, I've just eaten it.
If something tempts me, or looks good, I just go for it. I have to tell you that 'rarely' after the 1st taste will I continue to eat it.
Actually it has been pretty enlightening how completely dissapointing most 'treats' are.
Once moist donuts are now cold and juicy with grease, unless super high quality most chocolate tastes like waxy plastic, I could go on and on.
This has been both great and sad.
Great because I am slowly gaining my power back over food and sad because these foods use to serve a purpose for me (taste good, make me feel good, etc) and now they don't. A part of me misses that.
But, back to your point, I am trying to get to a place where I could care less if something is already in my hand.