[playfulturtle]

My friend and I wanted to go out for dinner, I suggested Ihop so I could get one of the simple and fit 2X2X2 for less than 10 points. She suggested Olive Garden.

I started out so strong. I did the planning in advance and ordered the pasta and asked for my soup to go. I ordered a small glass of wine and I said that I could limit myself to one breadstick.

Needless to say, this did not occur. The feasting continued when I got home and I wound up eating an extra 20 points plus eating junk food. Any advice on how to stop the eating train after you get on? This seems to be one of my biggest shortfalls: once I start eating unhealthy I can't stop myself.

[pluckypear]

I have a hard time with this. In my therapy I am learning to ask myself what it is I really want or need wether, soothing, comfort, love, company, etc. and give it to myself. As a food addict I medicate with food. When you know what you really want you can give it to yourself instead of binging. So if lonely call a friend or go for a walk, if sad comfort yourself, if trying to not think about something negative journal. Not easy and I do not mean to be flip. This is hard work. Good luck.

[baker23]

I still have a hard time with this. I find that when I start eating bad its because I'm bored. So when I notice that i'm going off plan a bit to much, I find other things to distract me. My favorite is going out of the house, and down to macy's/jcpenny's and trying on sizes from my heaviest, and sizes I wear now.

Its a struggle for all of us. Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you

[WildThings]

This is something I really struggle with, it's why I can't allow little cheats in my plan. Once that switch gets flipped it can be anywhere from a day to two years before I get it switched back off. It's actually something I've been working on this time around. I found that bargaining with myself helps sometimes. If there is a movie I really want to see, or if I want to go window shopping, if I don't want to clean my kitchen (this one is a great bargaining tool for me ), I tell myself that I can do this stuff, or not do in the case of cleaning, as long as I don't eat anything else off plan. I do it with buying stuff too. I have very tight finances and if there is something kinda small I've been wanting but couldn't justify buying, I will let myself buy it guilt-free as long as I get my eating back under control. My thought is, with weight loss, if bribing work, use it.

[Justwant2Bhealthy]

First thing, next time you eat out, ask the waitress to take away the bread basket right away, or as soon as she brings it. I never eat them or rolls with dinner; I tell the waitress we don't want them, so she doesn't bring them.

Second, was it the pasta or the bread sticks or both that caused the binge? The meal started out OK or did it? Is pasta a binge/comfort food for you? Maybe order a different kind of meal next time, like lean meat & veggies or salad, and see how you do.

Some people binge when they feel defeated. They tell themselves "Well, I screwed that up, so may as well just pig right out!" NO-NO-NO! Tell that bad wolf/doggie to SHUT UP! That's not the solution ...

How to stop: DISTRACTION is the best tool. Just get out of the kitchen!!! Maybe go out for walk or some other activity. Clean your cubbies and fridge of junkie foods that you might binge on too; and keep fruit in your house all the time.

Most importantly, start fresh right away; forgive the mistake, and continue on. Remember, it's just one day. It will get easier with time, but it takes practice ...

[theox]

First - it sounds like you did make some good choices, like asking for the soup to go. Good job!

It can be hard to change eating habits. This will probably sound very trite, but in my experience the best way to stop a run of bad food choices is just to stop. Throw out whatever junk food is lying around, have a healthy meal, and go for a walk. It's like taking your power back.

[playfulturtle]

Thanks for the support!

My problem is that when I start to eat junk food or carbs, I can't get enough in one sitting. My mom asked if we could have french toast for dinner (I'm the only one that cooks in the house) at first I agreed and then I realized that I was putting myself at risk for not sticking to my plan. I told her today that I couldn't put myself in that position and that I would make some for them, but I would be eating something different.

She agreed and we are all having something healthy for dinner instead! Maybe I should stick up for myself more and tell my friends that until I stop my emotional eating, I need to stop going to dangerous places for me to eat. Is this wrong to ask this of my friends? How should I approach this?