Stop Cheat Eating

[billabong]

When you're really craving something that you're not allowed what makes you stop and think.. Oh Wait, Do I really need this?

I know will-power is a big factor but what drives you to avoid your favourite cheat meals?

[BigBear327]

Easiest thing for me thus far is not keeping it in the house. If it's not here it makes me think a lot harder about actually going somewhere and getting it (ice cream for example). Otherwise, I was prone to the "I'll just have a little..." mentality.

[billabong]

Yeah I know what you mean about not keeping the temptations in the house. I've managed to conquer that hurdle. What about when not in the house? Meals with mates etc?

[Live-For-Today]

I just ate some wheat thins at work. Bastard!

I haven't found a sure fire way of quitting cheating, but the easiest way is just to avoid the situations that put you into a cheating way. Keeping it out of the house is a big one.

[BigBear327]

Will power. If you want it badly enough, you can avoid ordering the things that got you (us) to the point where we had to come here.

This doesn't mean you have to give up on those things all the time. They can be worked in to every day routines if you plan ahead enough.

[JontheAtheist]

Ive tried for months to stay away from my favorite fast food joints. Wendys, Taco Bell etc.

The thing is, if you eat at Taco Bell once a month, it isnt going to set you back that much where you should be concerned. Now, if youre eating three to four times a week at Taco bell, that isnt good.

If you want to indulge in some drinks and a meal out with friends or on a date, you should. Just eat light and stick with light beer. When I go out I eat small portions, minus an appetizer and I dont sit there and feast on the dinner rolls or nachos they put out for free. And I try to drink as much water as I can so I get that full feeling.

[billabong]

Wheat Thins. Don't stress too much about that one mate. I went out for a meal with mates earlier. Had chicken and veggies for main but then everyone ordered a dessert and i simply couldn't resist! AHHH.

Riddled with guilt right now.

[Live-For-Today]

Originally Posted by billabong

Wheat Thins. Don't stress too much about that one mate. I went out for a meal with mates earlier. Had chicken and veggies for main but then everyone ordered a dessert and i simply couldn't resist! AHHH.

Riddled with guilt right now.

Yeah I know, its just a battle of will power and I lost. Its more of a mental defeat than a physical one.

[billabong]

Originally Posted by JontheAtheist

Ive tried for months to stay away from my favorite fast food joints. Wendys, Taco Bell etc.

The thing is, if you eat at Taco Bell once a month, it isnt going to set you back that much where you should be concerned. Now, if youre eating three to four times a week at Taco bell, that isnt good.

If you want to indulge in some drinks and a meal out with friends or on a date, you should. Just eat light and stick with light beer. When I go out I eat small portions, minus an appetizer and I dont sit there and feast on the dinner rolls or nachos they put out for free. And I try to drink as much water as I can so I get that full feeling.

Yeah. I always order a jug of water or carry one with me incase my hunger really is just thirst.

[hodag1]

Originally Posted by Live-For-Today

Keeping it out of the house is a big one.

Having a handy substitute that is low cal and healthy is good too.

[14gerbils88]

Two things that get in my way -

1. Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies. I love going through cookbooks and mastering things that I've never made before.
2. I'm single and trying to date. Most dates will involve food or alcohol.

Some things that helped - with the cooking thing, I keep in the house only the ingredients for a particular dish I'm making, and not have extra stuff on hand. Like, if I know I'm making a cake, I will buy just enough sugar from the bulk bins to make that cake, and I plan my shopping list and budgeting to include only one dessert and one fancy meal per two-week paycheck. Then the rest of what I buy is only clean food. That way, I don't have leftover ingredients or any money for more ingredients to make more desserts or non-clean foods.

And, with the dessert or other food, I save one small portion for myself as my cheat meal for the week, then give the rest away at a potluck, church function, or to friends.

The dating is a little more difficult. I mean, who wants to go out with a girl who orders a salad and water? I'd be turned off if a man did that. If I know I have a date on a particular night, I will use that for my cheat meal, and just skip the appetizer, desserts and sides and have a big steak. When it comes to alcohol luckily I only like straight whisky so I don't have to worry about sugary mixers or high-calorie beer. Whisky has 260 calories in 4 oz; beer has 160-200 in 12 oz; but which gets you there faster?

[jscan1]

Originally Posted by hodag1

Having a handy substitute that is low cal and healthy is good too.

I have pretty much come up with "healthy" alternatives to some of the bad foods I used to eat.

Examples : Hebrew national makes a 97% fat free Hot Dog its 45 calories, is it a Nathans's WIth Chili and cheese hell no but on a Whole Grain Bun, with some fat free chili and a squirt of mustard its a pretty satisfying alternative.

Hamburger, We have a brand here called Laura's, you can get a 7% Fat burger Patty for 140 cals, again whole grain bun, lowfat swiss lett tomato Mustard and you have a pretty good alternative

Ore Ida Baked Fries, Heavy on Carbs so don't go crazy but you can add a serving from 110 to 170 cals depending on style and they are pretty damn low in fat

Trop 50-Low Sugar OJ 50 cals a cup this stuff is great for mixing with vanilla whey


Once a week, For me its usually Friday night- go out and eat whatever you please

[deadsoul]

In previous diets, I've literally thrown food out. Stupid ****, I know. But I was a lot more desperate back then. These days, I just bear with it. I've found that if you eat something healthy when you have a craving for something and then wait a little bit (like 20 minutes usually), the craving usually goes away because you don't feel hungry anymore.

[thorton]

I look at this picture




And go never again heh


Seriously, everyone has something different that drives there motivation, once you find yours you will know what it is.

[cpursx]

Originally Posted by BigBear327

Easiest thing for me thus far is not keeping it in the house. If it's not here it makes me think a lot harder about actually going somewhere and getting it (ice cream for example). Otherwise, I was prone to the "I'll just have a little..." mentality.

This is a big one for me.

I also am trying to implement the following rules:
-drink a full glass of water before cheating
-wait at least 15 minutes before your last meal

[Usman_08]

Started cutting for the first time yesterday, i have the will power to not cheat, just picture what you want and if you want it bad enough you won't cheat.

[xAlphax]

Originally Posted by billabong

When you're really craving something that you're not allowed what makes you stop and think.. Oh Wait, Do I really need this?

I know will-power is a big factor but what drives you to avoid your favourite cheat meals?

It's all mental imo. I remember going once a 3 day "cheating" frenzy, no remorse, no guilt. After the last day I just lost interest in anything junk related. Just get the mindset that YOU can eat whatever you want, no one's pointing a gun to your head(at least I hope not) to eat healthy or avoid certain foods. The word "cheat" no longer exists in my diet, I'll generally eat whatever I want, and I want some nutritious food! Also, back when I actually wanted junk or something of the like and restricted myself, the desire almost always grew out of either A: Thinking about the food, then thinking more about it and feeling like I'll never be able to have it again until it becomes over complicated and blown up! or B: Just not eating enough in general. I remember a few times I would pass by a store filled with all sorts of sugary chocolatey stuff and I just felt that impulse of "Get it!", but I wouldn't have any cash on me. Funny thing is the desire was gone by the time I got home. If you really want your cheat meal, eat it, just know the consequences and accept them! But then again, you'll never know what sort of willpower you have. Try not "cheating" for two months, and see if you still want/need that certain food.

[igaveupower]

i speak to myself in a strong voice. *i will not eat cheat meals.* *i do not eat for fun.* *eat to live*. *i do not like food.* *i eat what i need, not what i crave.*


little phrases like that keep me focused. surprisingly enough, lol.

[th3pwn3r]

Originally Posted by Usman_08

Started cutting for the first time yesterday, i have the will power to not cheat, just picture what you want and if you want it bad enough you won't cheat.

After one day you have displayed so much will power to not cheat. I'm so impressed.

[ZDub212]

I understand that this is the losing fat forum, but are people really feeling so badly about themselves after cheating from time to time?

We have one life. Absolutely restricting all foods that members of this forum consider "cheat foods" is cutting off part of that.

I'm not saying people should eat 'garbage' everyday, but I do believe that no food is tabu, and as long as you try to listen to your hunger cues and not go too far in any extreme direction, that your goals will be reached, both physically and mentally.

[triangle2armbar]

how do i stop myself from cheating?

easy


i printed out a picture of cristiano ronaldo shirtless,


if that ****er can do it than so can i

[iPerfectDark]

Originally Posted by NorwayLuray

Two things that get in my way -

1. Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies. I love going through cookbooks and mastering things that I've never made before.
2. I'm single and trying to date. Most dates will involve food or alcohol.

Some things that helped - with the cooking thing, I keep in the house only the ingredients for a particular dish I'm making, and not have extra stuff on hand. Like, if I know I'm making a cake, I will buy just enough sugar from the bulk bins to make that cake, and I plan my shopping list and budgeting to include only one dessert and one fancy meal per two-week paycheck. Then the rest of what I buy is only clean food. That way, I don't have leftover ingredients or any money for more ingredients to make more desserts or non-clean foods.

And, with the dessert or other food, I save one small portion for myself as my cheat meal for the week, then give the rest away at a potluck, church function, or to friends.

The dating is a little more difficult. I mean, who wants to go out with a girl who orders a salad and water? I'd be turned off if a man did that. If I know I have a date on a particular night, I will use that for my cheat meal, and just skip the appetizer, desserts and sides and have a big steak. When it comes to alcohol luckily I only like straight whisky so I don't have to worry about sugary mixers or high-calorie beer. Whisky has 260 calories in 4 oz; beer has 160-200 in 12 oz; but which gets you there faster?

Marry me

[iPerfectDark]

Originally Posted by billabong

When you're really craving something that you're not allowed what makes you stop and think.. Oh Wait, Do I really need this?

I know will-power is a big factor but what drives you to avoid your favourite cheat meals?

I work in the city centre and have an hour for lunch so temptation is always there.

I walk by KFC, Burger King and Mcdonalds daily, and I'm hungry throughout.

What I'd say to myself originally was, save the cheat meal for tomorrow. If I wasn't going to the gym I wouldn't have a KFC. That mindset only got me so far, now I've completely removed the idea of having a big meal for lunch, I always stick to around 500-600 calories and no more. I basically just removed uncertainty about 'when' I was gonna eat the KFC, and decided that I was never going to eat the KFC at lunch. This means that by the time I arrive home, I know I've only had about 1000 calories and this leaves me enough to have a half way decent meal. If I cheat in the day then I'd be well aware that I've ran out of calories for that day and I'd either go over my cal goal (which would haunt me for weeks), or suffer terribly from hunger.

My vice though, alcohol, just won't go away. I had a 5000 calorie day last friday, and that's only the stuff I remember. Damn McDonalds for suddenly springing a 'meals only' rule
on me in my drunken state.

[billabong]

Thanks for all your support and advice guys. Some really great help!

Let the cutting begin!

[DeeZy45]

Eat to live not live to eat. Personally i've found sucsess because I use to eat just because I was bored half the time. Eating is a temporary sensation but if you learn to treat food as a normality not an expierence you'll lead to caring less about enjoying what you eat.

[dirtyvegas]

I think about the cheat food, then I think about a fat belly. Craving is gone.

[tryingtofocus]

Is hard for me as I have a pregnant wife that is 8 months and 3 kids ranging from 2 years old to 13, so we always have some type of food I should not be eating and my will power is not that strong yet. I am getting there, but in my case it is baby steps. Some say, just do it and is the only way, but I can't do that. Least I am heading in the right direction.

Just went to the local ice cream joint and got a star bar, which is only 70 calories compared to my 400 calorie blizzard I used to get, lol!

[c00kiee]

I usually get my junk food cravings late at night, and it's usually because I'm hungry.. not just because I want chocolate or w/e. So I just eat something good. I'll eat like 3 or 4 raw mushrooms ( I like them) and 20 oz of water. Not craving much after that.

[colosus88]

Originally Posted by billabong

When you're really craving something that you're not allowed what makes you stop and think.. Oh Wait, Do I really need this?

I know will-power is a big factor but what drives you to avoid your favourite cheat meals?

I allow myself a cheat day where I eat what I want, satisfy a craving etc. I don't go too crazy. I stick to most of my healthy meals but I allow myself to indulge a little. Once a week at the most - once every two weeks even better. It eleviates the stress of dieting. But if it's not my designated cheat day I won't stray from the diet. To me it's not even a diet if you allow yourself to indulge out of will-power breakdown.