Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

[maryannie]

I have a hard time resisting the carbs around my house. It all looks soooo good! I cook for my children so it makes it even harder. I buy them snacks since they shouldn't be punished because of my diet. However, knowing that a salty potato chip is behind the cabinet door is too much to resist. I'd also like to make them desserts but I have a hard time resisting. I cannot seem to eat much carbs without gaining weight or if I do eat any, I lose complete control and eat too much. What can I do? It just seems like my body wants more.

[ShannonM]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

they shouldn't be punished because of my diet

I think that right there is a big part of the problem. Since when is the absence of junk food "punishment"? By the same token, you must feel that you're "punishing" yourself by eating healthy. That's a subtle but very effective deterrent to long-term success on any diet.

[chinadoll]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

Shannon has a great point. You should lead by example and set a pattern for healthy eating for them so they don't end up with your weight problem. Fruits, raw veggies with healthy dips, a yogurt, or other truly nutritious food are al great alternatives to the junk. My kids learned to love ranch dressing "dip" with raw veggies or an apple with peanut butter on it. They can have the junk when they visit their friends or Grandma, and you can bake cookies occasionally WHEN you have had a chance to get your own cravings under control, but make their every day eating patterns healthier too.

In answer to your own focus, you have to make up your mind that your resolve is stronger than your need for instant gratification. I decided to drink 16 ounces of water before taking even a bite of a "sinful" food. I may have done it once or twice, but knowing all that water had to come first made it easier to turn down the snacks.

[maryannie]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

A lot of the food I crave is not always junk that my children eat. Such as grapes, apples, potatoes, fresh wheat rolls, wheat noodles, etc., although, I admit, we do have some junk. I do try to cook healthy for them but cannot seem to eat even the fruit or whole grain food without gaining weight. I would just love some granola right now!

[mission to lose]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

Hi,
I found after a week my huge carb addiction was quite diminished. I never cheat either, so I am never waking up my past carb desires. Not that they never visit me mentally for a few minutes, but nothing that I can't control.

There are also a lot of recipes for legal snacks. Following this plan does not mean eating celery and deviled eggs forever...LOL. Quite the opposite.

I think If I had a bunch of salty potato chips I would feel ill, and gain
3# of water weight and feel worse afterward than the craving I started with.

And don't take this wrong way...you said you just lose complete control ,and then your body wants more...yes, that is how it works, you eat too much junk and your body DOES want more! But dear, you have to toughen up with yourself a little too. Do you want to be healthy and look good and toned, or do you want to freak out on chips? Let's re think out priorities here. I didn't lose 45 # by breaking down and eating my favorite past junk food. Next time you have a difficult craving walk away, sing a song and dance a little, dance like a rock star, SMILE wide, and while you are dancing tell yourself how important you are to yourself and your family, more important than a silly chip.

STOMP ON THAT POTATO BAG!!!LOL

***Try Linda's cheese chips, or Cleo's Dorito Nachos for crunchy snacks.

Search here or just google them, it may be faster.

Recipes

Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Home

The Lighter Side of Low-Carb


Atkins Food and Recipes - Atkins Diet

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/58513-never-ending-induction-recipes.html

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/6807-induction-recipe-basics-more-recipes-added.html

[mission to lose]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

Maryannie

This helps us help you as well----

*It helps everyone answer your questions better if you put your info in your signature so it can be seen every time you post.
*Click the "profile" button at the top of the forum and then set up your signature with the following: start weight/current weight/goal weight also----height, start date, is helpful as well as age and sex.
*None of this is required, just helps us help you.)


Have a great day! Remember YOU are in CONTROL!!!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

When I was losing, and I thought I wanted something that I "shouldn't" have, I asked the food in question, "how are you going to help me achieve my goals"?

Then I listened very hard for the answer.

[liv]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

There are a couple of things that worked for me
water - I kept it all over when I started. Bottles here and bottles there so if I saw something I may put in my mouth I could grab the water bottle in stead.
elimination - I had to cover up some food or just maybe not have it around for a while if they were very hard to deal with
replacement treats - I need these sometimes. These are yummy legal items that just hit the spot. I love some special cheeses (like smoked gouda), smoked salmon, prosciutto, cheddar cheese crackers, cream cheese with pumpkin,
Just say no - having that ultimate goal in mind helps. Once I had lost a few pounds and I realized how well this works I have focussed on my goals as far as how I want to look and feel. I had a pair of shorts in my closet that motivated. They were way to small when I started. Now they are too big.

Good luck. Keep finding out what works for you. It is not always easy. But losing weight is worth it. Remember: Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.

[bizzlekitty]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

Part of the reason I fell off the wagon the first time was because I kept cheating with what I thought were "little" cheats. A potato chip, a few french fries, a spoonful of macaroni salad, a dinner roll and then it kept increasing and getting worse. Now that I am back on track, I have found that I can't have just "one little exception" without it snow-balling, so I am best not even tasting anything, etc. The bonus? I'm no longer tempted or miss it the longer I stay cheat free. I also know what my food triggers are and try and avoid them, and/or make sure I'm not overly hungry so I am not tempted.

I agree with the above of trying to get rid of the temptations in your house and replace them with healthier alternatives for your entire family. And to keep healthy legal snacks that you can have.

I have also found that tracking EVERYTHING I eat in Fitday is a great way to keep yourself accountable. Track even the cheats so you can see what an impact that slip had. I know what my CCLL number is and if I go over that, my weight loss stalls. Knowing that cheat will set back the weight loss is a strong encouragement when you can see the numbers.

Also look for food triggers that may cause you to overeat or become hungry. Not eating enough fat, caffeine, skipping meals, certain foods all can work against you and make it hard to resist temptations. Be sure to eat sufficient meals, drink the water, exercise and avoid known stallers and triggers and it will be easier to not be tempted.

[Whatsername]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

When I was losing, and I thought I wanted something that I "shouldn't" have, I asked the food in question, "how are you going to help me achieve my goals"?

Then I listened very hard for the answer.

I love that!

What I say to myself is, "At the end of the day, what is going to make me feel good?". It moves me from the here and now temptation to how I would feel down the road (which would be guilty and disappointed). Then at the end of the day, take a few minutes to reflect on how well you have done.

[JaxMama]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

Mary,

I can't believe you brought this up, I was just thinking about this two nights ago.

I have a child and a husband who are also not a part of my wol. I can understand the temptations. But I personally take a quiet approach with my family. I can't get my 2 year old to chow down on steak, chicken and veggies. Well, because she is 2 and that's just the way they are and it's ok for now. Even her pediatrician said it's fine if she eats mac and cheese everyday, as long as we keep giving her other options.

But, my quiet approach means I am not going to make my husband eat exactly what I am making with no carbs. It's up to him if he wants to change. He sees what I eat and does not entice me or mock me. And he allows me to make my food and he will eat it, but he adds carbs to "complete" his meal.

I know if I keep with this my daughter will also be encouraged to eat healthy. It does not mean she has to eat low carb at 4, but if she sees my healthy habits then maybe when she grows up she will follow suit.

My advice, very humble advice, is to get rid of what's tempting you and eat for yourself and show your family the way. Everytime you cheat (if you do) they may not take your wol seriously and maybe in a way they try to enable you to go back to your old habits. We all know it's fun to have a family meal together, the same meal. It takes time to adjust for everyone involved. I hope they get on your bandwagon, but I am not the forceful type and I don't think you are either.

I have faith in you and I don't even know you. You will get over the cravings and will have self control. I can tell, you want to do this right.

Best Wishes

[ShannonM]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

Such as grapes, apples, potatoes, fresh wheat rolls, wheat noodles, etc., although, I admit, we do have some junk. I do try to cook healthy for them but cannot seem to eat even the fruit or whole grain food without gaining weight.

I would posit that if those foods trigger uncontrollable carb cravings for you, they are in fact junk foods. A bunch of grapes does you no good if it just makes you want to snarf crazy amounts of other carbs, no matter how "healthy" those carbs might be.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

>>eat exactly what I am making with no carbs.>>

As you know, Atkins isn't "no carbs".

>>he adds carbs to "complete" his meal.>>

I presume you mean "carbs" as in starchy vegetables, etc?

Not sure his meal is any more complete than yours!

[poobears1972]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

Dh is on this WOE with me but the kids aren't. I still have lots of things in the house I could and in the past have binged on. But I have made up my mind this is my life on the line and I'm sure not going to shorten it because of a candy bar or PB sandwich.

I don't have actual cravings anymore but I still have mental ones. You know where your brain is saying you want it even though your body doesn't. I look at the kids and I look at the food and decide which is more important. Obviously being around to spend more time with the kids wins out. I also think of how miserable I was almost 100lbs ago and how much nicer just doing everyday things are now. Its my future and I choose to live it to the fullest, can't do that if I'm fat and bingeing on carbs.

You have to decide that you are not going to eat those foods. Everytime you do you are making the choice to do it. No one can force you to do it. No amount of temptation can make you cheat. It's totally, completely your choice. Until you get the resolve you need, it's going to be hard to fight it.

[maryannie]

Re: Need self-control!! How do you resist tasty carbs??

Sounds like good advice, I think having substitutes would help. You're right about the snowball effect, I know when I cheat a little, I just keep cheating. The worse time of temptation is in the evening. I don't know if I haven't been eating good enough during the day that I have cravings in the evening or if that's when I settle down and food seems to enter my mind. I'm not hungry but still get those cravings. My daughter has a birthday and now I have to resist homemade cake, that is going to be SO DIFFICULT!!