For me, I drink a TON of water. I always have water on me or near me. When I eat, I make sure that it's spicy. Hot sauce can have a lot of salt, but Serrano chilies just go with everything. For some reason, spicy food really lessens my appetite.

I chew gum...especially minty gum. I also eat low cal items like sugar free jello, no sugar popsicles, veggies with zero call dressing from Walden Farms.

Gum, definitely. Taking a walk. Looking at my progress pics and reminding myself why I'm doing this in the first place.

Gum used to be my go-to thing until my jaw really started to ache from the chewing.

triptriptrip, sorry about your jaw....how about strong mints? I think I read somewhere that mint can suppress cravings or appetite, but don't quote me on it.

I would say that mints can certainly make you not want to eating anything else, given that nothing really tastes good for a while afterwards.

I have star stickers I use for non-binge days and I put them on my mirror. I have them equal a dollar each and then once I've made enough for something cool, I'll trade them in. The beat I do as well is to make myself wait 20 minutes before giving into a craving by then it's usually past. If not, I'll let myself have a mouthful of something good and then get away from the temptation...go on a walk, take a bath, talk good to myself etc...

These are all great ideas. I really need something... I'm terrible right now.

I also started chewing gum and ice. What helps for me too is to eat a little bit of something that I want but not a trigger. I feel like I'm cheating when I'm really not but it wont turn into a huge binge. Like chips are a trigger for me. So I take a few pretzels and some natural pb. And I eat it somewhere besides the kitchen ie my designated binge area.

I try to also have my fridge fully stocked with Walden Farms zero calorie ranch dressing and I slice up cucumbers and dip them....I also eat very low calorie popsicles that are sugar free. They're really good and make me feel like I"m treating myself. The best thing is for me to have these things and go to my room so that I'm away from food. Doesn't always work, but has kept me going lately.

This is my biggest problem. I get stressed just a little and I want to munch on something. Or, I can't get latte's out of my mind. Bad day at work? Time to get a 500 cal drink from the nearest coffee house!

When I do good and avoid eating I make a small goal. Like, no coffee this week. So, I can think "just 5 more days..." "just 3 more days..." "Last day!" Then on the 8th day, I get a small, small, cup and start over. It worked well last year...

To avoid a binge I find "for me" it's best to not even eat for the time being. I FORCE myself to get outside and work my butt off. Pull weeds, mow, trim, hoe, (in winter it's cut trees, haul branches...) Or CLEAN my house...anything but eat.

For me trying to avoid a binge with a fake sugar or fake fat snack is like an alkie trying to avoid a drunk by drinking light beer.

I know how you feel about the coffee, but I'm a cafe americano person. The only coffee that I have that has a ton of sugar in it is vietnamese coffee. It has about a tablespoon of condensed milk. I love caffeine. I used to drink a ton of red bull, but now I only drink the sugar free one.

I've tried black coffee and I enjoy it, but I'm rather addicted to the caramel machiatos. Those are the ones that get me the most. >< Something about a stress day and "needing" a machiato. My goal is to not have any starbucks or coffee house coffee for at least two weeks. If I do drink coffee, just straight coffee black from home. /nod

I brush my teeth. Or I physically get myself away from food by going for a walk. They're not foolproof tactics for me, but I definitely find them helpful.