How to resist food temptation?

[fLuiD]

Plain roasted almonds have been a life saver! I munch on these all day at work and drink them with milk or some kind of juice. Very filling! And almonds are good for you.

[Sparkly Eyes]

Have you ever tried link removed? You can track the food you eat there and it'll add up the calories for you. You can even log your exercise in their too and it'll track calories burned.

 

Thanks, I will try it.

[Sparkly Eyes]

Plain roasted almonds have been a life saver! I munch on these all day at work and drink them with milk or some kind of juice. Very filling! And almonds are good for you.

 

I love love love almonds! Thanks, definitely going to buy them in my next visit to grocery store.

[g84]

hey, I'm still working on my weight as well. I don't know if this will useful, but this is some of what has helped me a lot so far:

 

Whenever you have breads/cereals, try to replace those with whole-grain versions; the fiber in them will keep you feeling full for longer, and it's a healthier choice overall.

 

You can still enjoy sweets, but try to choose one day in the week for treating yourself to them. It can be challenging at first, but i think it's effective because at least you won't feel like you're depriving yourself; you'll just feel more in control, and you always have something to look forward to.

 

Fruit smoothies can be really good as a daily treat, too. Blend your favorite fruits with a bit of yogurt and milk (maybe a bit of honey for more sweetness), and it can make you feel like you're having something sweet, but it's good for you as well.

 

If you like chocolates, try going for dark chocolate (around 70% cocoa); i eat a square almost everyday, and for some reason i don't feel very tempted to eat more than that. It is really satisfying on its own, or you could have it with a few nuts (almonds are very good).

 

Don't weigh yourself too often (i used to do that, so i'm mentioning it just in case lol). I actually lost some weight when i finally stopped weighing myself for a few weeks :S (before then, it would barely change). I think it must have helped me psychologically to stop focussing on the scale for a while.

 

Eat your meals slowly, it's good for digestion and you will be less likely to over-eat too.

 

It's already really good that you exercise (i don't exercise enough); i think that making small changes to your diet combined with the exercising that you do right now will help a lot!

[Taikero]

Taikero: I do exercise but it makes me want to eat even more! I think cardio increases my appetite even more than weight training. Maybe I have to stick with weights?

 

Cardio burns more calories in the same period of time than weight training, but high intensity cardio (not necessarily duration!) is essential for fat loss. It's better to get 15 minutes of high intensity cardio in than 60 minutes of low to medium intensity cardio. If you're not sweating hard, you're not trying hard enough!

 

If you feel more hungry, it's because your body wants more fuel. Satisfy the craving with something healthy and low calorie instead of junk food. Protein and a small amount of carbs is a good idea for a post-workout meal so your body has the fuel necessary to create muscle.

[Sonicxman]

No I would stay with the 1700 and do something like this:

Breakfast something high in protein that you will want to eat again the next day

7:30 Slim fast (250 calories) I just guessing on the the calories here.

10:30 Bananna and some figs (150 calories)

12:30 Turkey sandwich, low fat cheese, whole wheat bread (350 calories)

3:30 Pear and scoop of your favorite type of nuts (200 calories)

6:30 (2) Breaded chicken breast and beans (600 calories)

And you 150 calories for anything sweet that you may want to put in there some where's. Try not to eat after 7:00 PM

[Sparkly Eyes]

Don't weigh yourself too often (i used to do that, so i'm mentioning it just in case lol). I actually lost some weight when i finally stopped weighing myself for a few weeks :S (before then, it would barely change). I think it must have helped me psychologically to stop focussing on the scale for a while.

 

You're probably right. But without scale, I have a hard time figuring out if I'm losing weight or not. A few pounds don't show much in clothing.

[Taikero]

Your weight can vary by 1-7 pounds due to water weight throughout the day. The scale can be extremely misleading if you're constantly weighing yourself since water intake vs. water output and retention varies so much.

[Sparkly Eyes]

No I would stay with the 1700 and do something like this:

Breakfast something high in protein that you will want to eat again the next day

7:30 Slim fast (250 calories) I just guessing on the the calories here.

10:30 Bananna and some figs (150 calories)

12:30 Turkey sandwich, low fat cheese, whole wheat bread (350 calories)

3:30 Pear and scoop of your favorite type of nuts (200 calories)

6:30 (2) Breaded chicken breast and beans (600 calories)

And you 150 calories for anything sweet that you may want to put in there some where's. Try not to eat after 7:00 PM

 

This actually sounds like a satisfying diet, kind of close to the diet I have in my healthy days. I'm not sure if it can help me lose weight tho.

 

Your weight can vary by 1-7 pounds due to water weight throughout the day. The scale can be extremely misleading if you're constantly weighing yourself since water intake vs. water output and retention varies so much.

 

that's true. I weigh about 3 pounds more at nights. I always weigh myself in the morning before I eat anything.

[Sonicxman]

1700 calories a day is that your BMR plus your daily activity factor or that just your BMR?

[Sparkly Eyes]

1700 calories a day is that your BMR plus your daily activity factor or that just your BMR?

 

I set the daily activity to low, since I'm in front of computer most of the day.

[Cognitive_Canine]

I set the daily activity to low, since I'm in front of computer most of the day.

 

If you stay busy, then you won't think about food as much.

 

Sometimes I can go the whole day and forget to eat. If I'm not busy, I just eat out of boredom (which is a horrible habit).

 

It's all about not keeping high calorie foods within reach (just don't buy them. Don't trust yourself to have self control). Pack lunches the night before for work. That way it's planned out and not "oh, 12 o clock...time to find something to eat".

 

And, keep yourself busy after work. Partake in hobbies. Start a social group (book clubs, exercise group, luncheons) that keep you occupied. Spend more time outside.

[Sonicxman]

Have you ever heard of "body for life"? good info!

[Sonicxman]

I will agree with Cognitive canine, preparing your meals in advance will help out alot. Another useful tip, if you have an alarm on your phone, use it as a reminder to feed yourself.

[Sparkly Eyes]

Have you ever heard of "body for life"? good info!

 

no, but I will check it out.

 

I will agree with Cognitive canine, preparing your meals in advance will help out alot. Another useful tip, if you have an alarm on your phone, use it as a reminder to feed yourself.

 

I live in the dorm room now, no kitchen. I buy most of my meals.

[Sonicxman]

Yeah, I am the same way, no kitchen but I have a mini refrigerator. That was my meal plan I gave you, so it's hard for me to fix my meals as well, so I have to do simple foods. As far as Body for Life, alot "free" info there.

[Sky-Cherries]

I was hideously harsh on myself.

 

I cleared my fridge of all junk, then bought a tub of my favourite ice-cream and put it in the freezer.

I took a picture of myself in underwear, glued it to the ice-cream tub, and everytime I thought "Yum, icecream, it's right there!" and opened the freezer, my half naked shame would be staring back at me.

 

10 times out of 10 I closed the door and walked away.

 

Now my fiance can have his junk in the fridge and I don't touch it because I've developed an emotional aversion to it.

When soft and tender 'healthy food relationship' approaches don't work on my iron will and bulldog stubborness, I go gung-ho "You're fat! Stop eating junk food! Bad!"

[Sonicxman]

Now you can create your own before and after photos. I would say every month from this day make another photo of yourself and put right next to that one. Might help in the long run.

[Sparkly Eyes]

I was hideously harsh on myself.

 

I cleared my fridge of all junk, then bought a tub of my favourite ice-cream and put it in the freezer.

I took a picture of myself in underwear, glued it to the ice-cream tub, and everytime I thought "Yum, icecream, it's right there!" and opened the freezer, my half naked shame would be staring back at me.

 

10 times out of 10 I closed the door and walked away.

 

Now my fiance can have his junk in the fridge and I don't touch it because I've developed an emotional aversion to it.

When soft and tender 'healthy food relationship' approaches don't work on my iron will and bulldog stubborness, I go gung-ho "You're fat! Stop eating junk food! Bad!"

 

BRILLIANT IDEA! I should get a disgusting pic of myself and put it on the fridge, or different places in my room for that matter. Thanks, this sounds good, altho it might depress me even more.

 

 

Now you can create your own before and after photos. I would say every month from this day make another photo of yourself and put right next to that one. Might help in the long run.

 

yes, that would be a good motivation I think.

[FathomFear]

To be honest, I'd recommend reading literature on the actual science of why bad foods are...bad. I recently read _Eat to LIve_ by Joel Fuhrman. 95% of the book is composed of the studies and research that demonstrate why certain foods are harmful. It caused me to see certain foods in entirely different ways. Now, cheese isn't just cheese--it's "saturated fat with lots of cholesterol". I went from craving it to not wanting it anywhere near my mouth. And this is one of the points he makes in the book. Counting calories, reducing portion sizes of bad foods, trying to humiliate yourself, etc, are all not attacking the issue correctly. Only when you understand why bad foods are bad will you have the desire to stop consuming them.

[orchidrose]

If you're not already keeping a food journal at a site like the one suggested or link removed, I'd strongly recommend it. At the very least, it gives me an idea of what I'm putting in my body when I eat, and how to choose the right things. I also have been reading a lot of healthy living blogs for ideas on how and what to eat. In the past, my dieting consisted of a lot of 100-calorie packs and other gimmicky diet foods, but I realize now how full of sugar and crap those things are. I'm trying to eat as many whole, completely natural foods as I can, and I can really see a difference in my dieting this time.

[mandyc]

I know this isn't for everyone but I just finished the Master Cleanse and lost 10.5 lbs in 10 days. Since I worked so hard these last 10 days and I am liking my body again it gives me a huge incentive to eat healthy and continue working out and getting in shape. Once you see that you are losing weight and looking and feeling better it is usually more than enough motivation to keep you going. It is just getting to that starting point that is hard.

[Sparkly Eyes]

I know this isn't for everyone but I just finished the Master Cleanse and lost 10.5 lbs in 10 days. Since I worked so hard these last 10 days and I am liking my body again it gives me a huge incentive to eat healthy and continue working out and getting in shape. Once you see that you are losing weight and looking and feeling better it is usually more than enough motivation to keep you going. It is just getting to that starting point that is hard.

 

oh wow, how hard was it? Did you have enough energy during the day to to daily stuff?

[mandyc]

oh wow, how hard was it? Did you have enough energy during the day to to daily stuff?

 

It wasn't too bad actually. I did start to get weaker towards the end, but that was because I wasn't drinking the minimum number of drinks. You are supposed to have at least 6 in a day and the last few days I was only drinking 2 or 3 so that was probably why I was feeling weak and tired.

 

The rest of the time I felt pretty good, I even worked out 4 days during it. I did get some bad cravings sometimes but they passed eventually. I'm still having a HUGE craving for milk and cinnamon toast crunch. I am vegan and haven't drank milk in awhile, but I'm craving it. It's weird.

 

If you look into it and think you want to try it let me know and I can try to answer any questions you may have!

[savagegirl]

Nothing tastes as good as lean feels.

Amen to this.