Will Power

[Sweet_Bitch]

Alright ladies....need some MORE help!!! Where do you all get the will power to stick to your diets??? I'm having a hard time sticking to my plan. Any suggestions, advice, tips? Anything would be appreciated. I have started using FitDay and logging what I eat on here but I'm still faltering. I'm desperate to lose this weight but I give in too easily. What's wrong with me??

 

[aandd]

For me it was being appalled that I had so little control over what I stuck in my face. I CAN NOT, WILL NOT accept that I have no will power over something as simple as what I eat. It is SHAMEFUL, to me, to have such scant control over my life that I couldn't determine what I ate according to what I valued (health, weight loss, etc.)

When I feel weak now, I seriously will chant in my head: "Food is fuel for my body, it is NOT for comfort." I will repeat it over and over while drinking glass after glass of ice cold water to quell the hunger pangs stimulated by cravings.

I didn't start like this by the way. Something just clicked for me one day. It started with a quote in Gymgurl's sig and then the "food is fuel" quote on here just clicked with me. You have to find what works for you. For me, it was a determination that I would control what went in my mouth. I wasn't going out like that.

Edit to add: another thing that helped was posting here during a powerful craving I had last week. *Bunny* dug up the nutritional info - which shocked me right out of my craving, and then Killahbee gave me the BEST ADVICE ever. I printed it out and it's on my PC. It says:

Here’s the only tip you will ever need: Deal with it and be strong. That’s it. forget all the bullshit and forget trying to trick yourself. just deal with it and be strong. it ain’t easy, but it ain’t supposed to be either.

That advice was so hard core and spot on that I think I have a little e-crush on him now.... purely platonic of course.

The quote from Gymgurl's sig is by Sassy. The part that stuck with me is this:

And then once you realize that the immediate gratification route is exactly just that -- immediate gratification, delayed regret....{snip}

 

[jenscats5]

Yep! Somehow you find the strength within yourself to resist. Then the longer you go - the less you find you want it.

That being said - there IS room for some "junk" food in your diet. The way I try to look at it is - why mindlessly stuff it in your face just cuz it's there?? And how special is it?? I mean you can buy a Reese's PB cup any day of the week, any time of the day & they'll pretty much all taste the same. So what is more satisfying?? Eating a Reese's PB cup that in 5 minutes after eating it - you'll forget what it tastes like???

OR - say you have a local restaurant with a WICKED chocolate dessert so you plan a date with your SO to go for dessert & coffee.

I think the 2nd option simply has more "emotional" satisfaction/gratification. As Aandd said - find what works for you.

 

[superqt4u2nv]

I find that the longer I got the more the will grows I see the changes and what not and love them. I did come VERY close to eating a apple pie this weekend but did not give in so proud of my self. If you not dieting for a comp there is no reason for you not to have a once a week cheat meal. That way you know once a week you can satify your cravings.

 

[Sweet_Bitch]

It's so funny because the things that use to be hard for me to live without I could less about now. Like ice cream and chocolate and hamburger helper. I don't really "crave" anything. It's almost like I'm self-defeating but I don't know why. When I'm home, it's easy-the "junk" isn't there so no worries. When I'm at work, it's ridiculous-I go to buy water and the Snack Pak of Oreo's damn near beats me up...and I don't even like crunchy cookies!!!! I can bring my food for the day-all measured and individually packaged-and someone decides to go to Burger King and it's like someone cut a line and set it in front of me. I don't even really like fast food!!!!! I'm thinking it's time for shock therapy or hipnosis-little to no joke.


Aandd: I hear you. And I feel 2 inches tall . I like the quote from KB, it's dead on. Thanks for sharing it. I'm trying to build myself up to what you're saying. Like you said, something had to "click" for you. Little by little I'm pulling it together, I think!!

Jens & qt: Thank you-again-for all your help!! I'm definetly not training for a comp, unless it's the for the prize hefer contest at the county fair. I **love** my cheat days and yeah, they are whole days. I usually consume more calories in alcohol then food!! I love me some wine OK, lots of wine!!

 

[Will2BLean]

I have the same problem. I just make sure I don't bring any cash to work, so even if I want to give into the nasty, evil snack machines in the break room, I can't! Yesterday, I had 50 cents and bought a roll of lifesavers... I ended up eating the entire roll in one sitting. It could have been much worse than lifesavers, but I didn't even really want lifesavers. They were just there.

 

[vachelle72]

SB-

Do not feel bad or beat yourself up that you are finding this "challenge" hard , because it is DAMN HARD. I think trying to lose weight and watch what you eat is harder than trying to stop smoking or drinking. With those vices , they are not "required" , you can stop completely and that's it. But we have to eat to live , which means we are faced with the decision of what to put in our mouths/bodies every waking moment of the day.

I have lost 23lbs and have at least another 60lbs to go , and some days I just want to quit , I look at everyone around me taking no thought as to what they are going to eat , or if they are even going to the gym that day , and think to myself "it isn't fair" !

But then I snap out of it and tell myself , I am doing this for ME and no one else. I want to Feel better , I want to Live longer , and I want to LOOK better!

You can and will find the strength do this , because you have to , you have to take care of yourself. That is what it is all about "SB taking Value in herself" , and doing what needs to be done.

 

[jenscats5]

Vachelle makes an excellent point!! The thing with alcohol & smoking is that you don't need it to live - you won't die without them. But you need food to survive & with all the BAD choices out there it's very very hard!! Believe me I know!! It IS a struggle sometimes - and it IS very hard. If it was easy - NO ONE would be overweight.

How about those single serving bags of the 100 calorie snacks if you HAVE to have a snack??

Plus - take your time!! Changing your eating habits won't happen overnight. Start with small steps - replace 1 unhealthy snack with a better choice, add a fruit 1x a day (or 2), etc etc.......