Willpower When Dieting

[Seamus123]

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[Mazuri]

Tieing in with my other topic, I guess.

But how do you stop yourselves from eating so much, if you're trying to diet.

I do sometimes tell myself that the food I'm about to eat is merely a temporary pleasure with a more permanent aftertaste, if you will. That does work.

Anyone else got any tactics they use?

The usual tactic...make sure you're never hungry! If you're getting hungry between meals, cut the size of your meals but increase the quantity of meals. Instead of 3/day, have 5 smaller meals per day. Don't grab bad for you snacky foods, grab good for you foods: fruits, raw veggies, etc. Due to my recommended caloric intake, I stick with my 3 meals a day (not everyone in my house is dieting), but they're low-cal and generally under 300-400 cal per meal. I budget in two snacks per day at work to keep my energy levels up. If I'm able to, I'll eat fruit such as grapes or apple slices or watermelon. If I'm on the floor (I work in retail), I'll eat a granola bar or a Nutra-Grain bar. I've got a well developed sweet tooth, so I make sure I have a dessert at every meal...it could be sugar free jello or pudding, or fruit...just something sweet to end the meal.

Also, drink lots of water. You'll feel more full and there aren't many businesses that will deny you a bottle of water by your side during the work day. Sometimes I'll drink pure water, but I like flavor so I'll drop a Crystal Light package into it. Only adds 10 calories per 16.9 oz of water. You can get green tea, kool aid, propel...many brands in the 'To Go' packs that make it easy to have something to drink that's tasty.

Allow one "cheat day" per week, or every two weeks if you can handle it, to have a single meal or treat of your choice. This would be the day you go for that McDonald's burger or have the bowl of ice cream with chocolate syrup and sprinkles. If you obsess over losing your favorite foods you will break your diet a lot quicker than if you know you can have it later after being good.

For me, changing my diet had to start in my head, not my kitchen. First, I had to be certain this was what I wanted. I've said for years I needed to lose weight, but for some reason it simply wasn't enough to keep me motivated. I've tried several times but it was always a failure because I really wasn't committed to it 100%. Once I made that commitment, it became a lot easier. I still have my cheat days...especially when I'm PMSing and will eat the family pet if he sits too close...but they are fewer and I'm more likely to snack on better things than ice cream or potato chips (a big weakness of mine).

 

[PandoraSpox]

I surround myself with people that I'd be too embarrassed to pig out in front of.

 

[TBKahuna123]

I've got your answer. I just started this diet thing about 3 weeks ago and surpisingly it has gone well. Let me state I have NO willpower!!!

1.) Eat six times a day. 3 smaller meal, 3 substntial snacks.
2.) High Fiber, lots of fruit.
3.) High protein, cut back on cards(especially bread and pasta)
4.) Whole grain breads, Cereals and pasta.
5.) Avoid fats.
6.) Exercise.
7.) Lot sof water, no soda!!!!
8.) East six times a daya nd don't skip!!

This is a really simple diet and works really well. It gets your metabolism up and keeps it up. This means you have more energy and burn fat all day long. Exercise at least 4 times a week. Just a 30 walk is all it takes. This also gets your metabolism up. That is the key, you metabolism burns fat, processes food more efficiently and this suppresses your appetite.

I've been doing this as I said for 3 weeks and I've lost 10 pounds and 3 inches off my waist. The scary thing is, I'm not hungry. You have to make smart choices: Avoid mayo and cheese on sandwiches, creamy dressings on salads, eat fruit instead of candy, chicken instead of burgers. Saute things in a little olive oil istead of full on frying them, use seasonings instead of opils to add flavors, things like that.

The other key is eat until you are full, but not until you can't eat anymore. This is the only willpower required. Of all the things I have tried this is the easiest and the results are amazing. Even dropping soda is easier with this diet, and I went from 8-10 a day to 0!!!! No starving yourself, no being hungry all the time, just a difference int he choices of food. It sounds easy because it is.

Good luck!

 

[wally2450]

I subscribe to the eat less and more often theory. It also has the benefit of flattening your blood sugar swings. I'll snack on kidney, lima or great northern beans, carrots, salad and tomatoes which are filling and take more calories to digest than they offer. One caveat: watch the sodium in canned veggies. Frozen is what I prefer and may even be more nutricious than fresh.

 

[red_jane_doe]

I have found that drinking a bottle of water before the meal is helpful. Also, I started exercising at the Y. The machines tell you how many calories you burn. I know how much I sweat and how hard it is to go every single day. So now, I look at a food and see it in calories. Do I really want to drink a 32 oz soda? It'll take one workout just to burn it off....not worth it!

I used to have a bad day or even a good day and think "i deserve to eat taco bell" or "i deserve ice cream". Then I realized, I deserve NOT to eat those things!

Seeing things in terms of calories and how much working out is involved to burn it off, keeps me from eating certain things!

 

[PowerLifter84]

Ask yourself, "Will this help me achieve my goal?" If the answer is no, don't eat it; if the answer is yes, then eat away. This helps me at times when I don't feel hungry and have to eat.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

I find that being more active actually helps me to eat less. I dont feel as hungry and the times that I would normally be wanting a snack, I dont really want it. Even still, when I do decide to go for it anyways, I make sure to pay attention to portion sizes, and that makes a world of difference for me as well. It's been amazing how often just one serving is actually more than enough.

The other big thing to pay attention to is the types of food that you're eating. Try to go for things that are lower in calories, fat and high in fiber and contain whole grains. they will actually make you feel the most full.