Control…What Works for You?

Lauren and Josee both wrote about temptation, craving, and control last week. As a ‘civilian’ employee who is always hungry, and always looking for a cure, I find myself searching for some kind of magical protection or secret dietitian knowledge hidden in their words. You know ‘If I can crack their secret code, I’ll be thin for life’ kind of thing.

All of us who struggle with food are searching for something! We all need to be reminded that there really are no secrets, or magic words, to ward off temptation. Well, maybe there are two: Plan Ahead. Planning ahead…is power, and Lauren just gave it to you.

Avoiding temptation is really difficult. The world seems to work against the struggling dieter. Commercials, supermarkets, other peoples’ birthdays, old feelings, new anxieties, and even my parking space at work tempt me. When I’m leaving work, hungry and grumpy before dinner, cooking smells from the gas station food mart rise up like I dream of Jeannie from her bottle to tempt me. It’s not just a smell, it has the shape of food, and it moves toward me, I swear.

I’ve carried around some version of baked potatoes, apples, carrots, or now almonds, for years. It doesn’t always work, but it makes me feel strong. I can eat them or throw them at the food smells from the gas station. They are my ‘secret’ weapon. What works for you?

I always say I’m only good until I’m not…I have no middle ground. Whether it’s a feeling that gets the best of me, or a food I denied myself that now I can’t get out of my mind, craving is the beast you can’t deny. Josee described the craving and the cure. Find something that tastes right and satisfies your urge. Enjoy it…in a small amount. Like Lauren, I love fresh berries and frozen low fat yogurt. It works for me. What works for you?

Control. That’s a tough one. If I scoop the frozen yogurt into a small bowl, I win. I will eat only the amount I scoop. I will have plenty for the next night. I’ve eaten only the amount I planned, and I’m a happy snacker. It should be a no-brainer. When I start to eat from the container, I will finish it. All. But I still make believe I don’t know that about myself, and I’ll start from the container and be surprised when I’ve eaten more than I planned. That’s the no-brainer.

How do you ‘surprise’ yourself? What works for you?

- Nancy