Question about resisting temptation and the mental rationalization of it.

[heythatsfun]

Whenever I want to cheat, I try to ask myself "What do you want more: this [cheat food] or to lose weight, be able to fit into all your clothes, be healthier, etc.?" and I always opt for the latter of the two ... sometimes I cheat anyway, but that is really mindless and I'm not thinking of the ramifications.

Right now, however, I'm faced with, by far, my favorite food in the WORLD. I won't name it, but let's just say it is the best thing I've ever tasted. EVER. Someone that lives with me bought it for themself, so it's not like I can throw it away either. When I'm asking myself that question right now, I feel like I want that food more than I want to lose weight. I'm trying to walk myself through it mentally thinking about how awful I'll feel afterwards, how the taste will only last a few minutes but the weight will last forever, etc., but it's not really working.

Does anyone ever feel like this? If so, how do you get past it? I'm just telling myself "it'll be there later -- think this through right now first and see if you really want it." I'm afraid I'm just going to give in and eat it. What's worse is that I'm full right now too; I just ate 2 hamburger patties with cheese! Ugggghhhh, I hate temptations.

[MountainGirl]

Hey,

KUTGW! It's hard, really to deal with temptation.

Recently, I gave in to some "comfort food" and that started a 2-week binge that garnered me, sky-high blood sugars, feeling like a zombie and GAINING 10 pounds.

Since I've been back on plan (6 days) I've had the temptation every day to have "just a little bit" of the foods that I crave, but THIS time I know that even a little cheat can send me over the edge and struggling to get back on. It's just not worth it for food.

I have to ask myself if food controls me and if I am its slave. My answer is NO.

My body belongs to G-d and I am committed to doing what's best for my health and that means eating healthy, low carb and not cheating, even a little bit.

I wish you the best in overcoming this temptation. Be proud of yourself for being stronger than the food!

[BrandNewMe2004]

I'm sitting here while my family eats one of my all-time favorite meals and it's killing me. I feel like leaving the house until the leftovers are put away. You are right. I don't want my pants getting tighter, my blood sugars/pressure going up, etc. It's delicious food, but not worth that. I told hubby that I really need to make the LC version of this. I can do the sauce, I'm proud to say that's healthy and LC, but I need a revoloopsie thing toasted w/ garlic & cheese, and some spaghetti squash. If it's something you are going to be tempted by, can you make an acceptable LC substitution? If so, then go for that.

[MountainGirl]

Brand,

I eat zucchini "zoodles" instead of pasta and they are so satisfying and I made a flax seed garlic bread. YUMMM! Hang in there!

[Houston Heather]

I tell myself I'm an addict. Would I tell an alcoholic to have a drink? No. Same thing applies to me. One bite is one bite too many. If that doesn't work...

My body has a nice habit of revolting and giving me a migraine the day after a cheat. So I ask myself if I want a migraine, the answer being no.

I never want a migraine. I'd love to see the food that would be worth it.

[heythatsfun]

Thank you for the advice. I didn't eat it. I'm praying that I stay strong until it is gone (which could be weeks....... ).

[JustDoYou]

Congrats on staying strong...YOU CAN DO THIS!! I have to say that for me, temptations come in every form, every single day. Ultimately a temptation boils down to a choice. We each have to be accoutable and decide if the cheat/temptation is worth possibly setting us back on all of our hard work. I have to say that TODAY was a hella temptation for me, as we went to the county fair with our neighbors. From the time we walked in the gate all we smelled was wonderful foods. Every other booth was roasted corn, funnel cake, fried oreos (yep, they'll batter and fry anything these days), fried cookie dough, chicken pitas, bbq sandwiches, candy apples and all the other HIGH CARB (prolly as high as you can get) foods. Of course the first thing everyone wanted to do was eat, but my family and I passed. We did end up splitting between the 3 of us a sweet tea (OMG), but I told hubby that we could just wait until it was time to leave and then pick up some smoked turkey legs. When it was time to go, I told hubby, lets just save the money and I'll cook at home...with the price of inflation those dang turkey legs were almost $10 each...YIKES!! So, I have to say that I made a CHOICE to fight off those demons and even keep a few $$ in the bank. With all that being said, just ask yourself when those demons come at you...is it worth all my hard work....Good Luck!!

[kiwikid]

Drink water. I try to distract myself by filling my stomache with water.

Sometimes I allow myself an allowable treat. Normally I stay off all treats, even LC ones, but when I am sorely tempted then I allow myself a treat (maybe a diet coke) and then I feel good. I know we shouldn't reward ourselves with food, or see food as a reward, but I don't knwo how long it will take to reprogram my mind that way, so in the meantime I have a small list of allowable treats that are not part of my regular daily diet.

[heythatsfun]

Originally Posted by JustDoYou

Congrats on staying strong...YOU CAN DO THIS!! I have to say that for me, temptations come in every form, every single day. Ultimately a temptation boils down to a choice. We each have to be accoutable and decide if the cheat/temptation is worth possibly setting us back on all of our hard work. I have to say that TODAY was a hella temptation for me, as we went to the county fair with our neighbors. From the time we walked in the gate all we smelled was wonderful foods. Every other booth was roasted corn, funnel cake, fried oreos (yep, they'll batter and fry anything these days), fried cookie dough, chicken pitas, bbq sandwiches, candy apples and all the other HIGH CARB (prolly as high as you can get) foods. Of course the first thing everyone wanted to do was eat, but my family and I passed. We did end up splitting between the 3 of us a sweet tea (OMG), but I told hubby that we could just wait until it was time to leave and then pick up some smoked turkey legs. When it was time to go, I told hubby, lets just save the money and I'll cook at home...with the price of inflation those dang turkey legs were almost $10 each...YIKES!! So, I have to say that I made a CHOICE to fight off those demons and even keep a few $$ in the bank. With all that being said, just ask yourself when those demons come at you...is it worth all my hard work....Good Luck!!

Congrats to you too!!

[Teresa123]

So how did you feel not eating it? Victorious? Proud? In control? If so--hold on to those feelings, I think they are more powerful than thinking about how crappy you'll feel if I do eat something. Hang in there, after awhile you will get to where you don't even have to give this a second thought and making the right choices is just as "mindless" as the 'cheats' use to be.

[heythatsfun]

Originally Posted by Teresa123

So how did you feel not eating it? Victorious? Proud? In control? If so--hold on to those feelings, I think they are more powerful than thinking about how crappy you'll feel if I do eat something. Hang in there, after awhile you will get to where you don't even have to give this a second thought and making the right choices is just as "mindless" as the 'cheats' use to be.

Thanks Teresa!

[JuliaL]

You're doing great! Congratulations on not giving in to temptation. It's hard when you can't control your environment, but you're doing everything I would recommend. I usually ask myself if eating that food would be worth the inevitable gain I would see on the scale, and usually the answer is no.

Hang in there! Each time you resist you build strength.