Not Sure I Can
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
United States
April 13, 2009 10:04am CST
I'd been doing really good on my diet all week, and allowed myself yesterday as a cheat day, just because. I did go overboard for certain. I ate a lot of chocolate all day. I made a veggie tray with dip and snacked on that all day (which I know isn't awful but the dip was high in fat) and of course I ate a huge dinner. I didn't get much excersize either as all we did was sit and watch movies all day.
I promised myself I'd get right back on my diet today, but my will power is waivering.
See, I thought I could do it because I quit smoking cold turkey. I kept telling myself that if I have the will power to quit smoking, I should have the will power to do anything I want, and I want to lose weight. But losing weight is harder. When I quit smoking I just had to get through a few days of cravings, and they slowly starting going away. With dieting, the longer I go, the worse the cravings get, and I have to keep fighting them off over and over!!
I just finished my lunch, which was a ham sandwich. I am satisfied, I don't need more food, but I still have some chocolate and I'm fighting off the urge to eat it right now. I think I had enough chocolate yesterday!
How do you force yourself to stay on a diet even when you don't really want to? How do you find the will power to continue to tell yourself no?
5 responses
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
14 Apr 09
I usually have great willpower - all I have to do is read the nutritional info and if it's really bad I put it right back down again. I don't even remember the last time I had a chocolate bar for that reason. But when stuff doesn't have nutritional info - like take out, restaurants or bakery items - my brain just kinda considers it a freebie. I also read the nutritional info for ONE serving and then end up having more like THREE but still only consider the calories and fat for one serving. Some of the things I do to balance my bad habits include only buying 100% whole wheat bread, substituting light, low fat or fat free versions of cheese, sour cream, mayo, salad dressing etc and drinking water when I'm thirsty instead of juice or pop. I try to buy a whole bunch of different veggies when I go shopping and then I cut them up and put them in a container as soon as I get home so I will (hopefully) go for those instead of chips or something. I make dip with low fat or fat free sour cream and just use a little extra mix, or I just pour a little calorie wise ranch into a bowl and use that.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
15 Apr 09
I don't really like the flavors of the light or fat free foods. My foster mom used those in my foster home and I got used to them, but trying them as an adult I just couldn't do it. I'm a bit too used to full flavored things. But maybe I'll try to work my way back into some healthier habits like that.
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
15 Apr 09
I think the key is to replace one thing at a time. I read somewhere that it takes you about two weeks to get used to a new taste if you've been using the same thing for a long time and switch. So if you are used to full fat mayo or margarine for example it would take you about two weeks or so to adjust to light or fat free. If you try changing everything to light or non fat at the same time of course your meals will taste like cardboard! I had a hard time adjusting to low fat cheese but I'm used to it now. Same with Miracle Whip or mayo. It is worth the small sacrifice though, you can save a ton of calories, and if you do it one item/condiment at a time you hardly even notice.
@asianwind (365)
• Philippines
13 Apr 09
Hi there!
You know what we are on the same boat here! Losing weight for me is just so darn hard...and slow. Maybe the reason why we are waivering is because of the slow results and it is just too boring.Plus the food is really tempting. LOL
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
13 Apr 09
My husband keeps saying "You didn't gain the weight overnight, so you can't expect to lose it overnight" and he's right. It is going to take a lot of time to lose weight. I'm okay with that this time... but the food is my problem. It is far too tempting, and I love to eat!!
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
19 Apr 09
Dieting is bad. You really need to just learn to eat the right foods, less of them, and exercise and drink lots of water. That's how I've lost about 15 lbs. That gets you to eating correctly, something most of us don't do. BREAD is my downfall. If I have fresh bread, I could eat and eat and eat. But I've learned to not go overboard. Guess I got that from my Dad who had more will power than anyone I know!
@NIECIE21 (365)
• United States
13 Apr 09
I have found that I do need to force myself to eat better. I read somewhere though, that you can eat 1 piece of chocolate a day and be okay. Its the whole "Nothing is bad in moderation". When my will power for working out starts to waiver, I think about how much better I feel after words and how i feel when I dont and that usually gets me to work out. Its hard, but you can do it!
@russso (1693)
• Philippines
26 Apr 09
Of course you can do it. :)
You just have to put your heart and mind into it. Think of it this way, you're on a diet because you want long-term results. I suggest that you give away your chocolates. And though it's pretty tough, please do not give in to your hunger pangs. Don't let hunger and your cravings control you.
It is good that you ate 'til you're satisfied and not full. Keep it up. Don't starve yourself though. Eat healthy little meals during the day and exercise. Goodluck!
