Motivation

You gotta be DETERMINED. Bottom line. You have to recognize that it is a life time change and that you are the only person that feeds yourself. Here are a few mindsets that I have come up with myself to help me get past wanting to eat certain foods.

1. Unhealthy Food Outlook: Look at the food; you've eaten it before. Do you remember how it tastes? Of course you do! Has it changed? Of course it hasn't. Is it nutritious for your body? If not, why bother eating (edit: especially an unhealthy portion) again?

2. You can have your cake and eat it too: Take a bite, put down the fork, or the bag of m&m's or whatever your weakness may be. Chew, swallow. Okay now have the flavor in your mouth and you did not go over board on your calories. So after you swallow your food, it is gone, in your tummy, and you are only left with the stale taste off your tongue. So if you put another bite in your mouth, you double it. Then triple, etc. So in essence, calorie consumption is only about how many bites you put into your mouth. So CHILL after a few. (portion control)

3. Waste is Waste: If you are satisfied and have that "I really don't want to waste the rest of this" attitude, think about it! If you consume the food, you will digest it and it will still end up turning into WASTE. Or you can throw it away in the waste basket (or pack it for later) where your body does not have a chance to soak up those calories. Deal? All in all, its waste, so make the right wasteful choice.

4. Time is of the essence: Think about the non nutritious food that you are consuming. Are you going to remember that you consumed it after you have eaten it a week from now? Probably not. What did you eat last Monday? Don't know? Well then... my point is made.

5. Be the Spunky European Car: We only have 1 body, treat it with respect, the right nutrition, and it will treat you that way back. If you give a gasoline powered car diesel, it wont run right. So be a spunky European car and your engine will purr.

6. Give smell a chance! We have 5 senses which are nearly equally strong. Sight, smell, taste, and touch all play a role in how good the food is that we consume. Instead of always receiving joy from food, enjoy the smells of nature (flowers, grass, air) or light some candles to enjoy. This is not good for everyone, but I LOVE my berry candle because it reminds me of starbursts, and my vanilla one reminds me of cake. Mentally I am satisfied. Some cannot cope with these tho, so this is not for everyone.

7. Don't feel obligated to eat: You don't HAVE to eat that birthday cake, or celebration food. SO many people are wrapped up in celebration food and feel guilty if they do not eat the birthday cake. Let this go! Stand out from the crowd by putting your foot down. Bring your own healthy variations and suggest fruits and lean meats for parties you are attending. A healthy alternative for cake and ice cream is to bring sorbet instead. In this case, food is all about socializing.

8. Newly Added - Coping with a Binge: If you feel the want to binge, or eat a late night snack because you just WANT it, remind yourself that you can have it tomorrow. Tomorrow is ALWAYS an option. Keep it in your mind that you can fit it in the next day's calories.

9. Newly Added - Calories = Your Budget: Think of your calories as a bank account. Calories are your money, so you must budget them to fit your needs. If it's not in your budget, then don't eat em. We all hate those over draft charges.

If you have anything else to add, be my guest. If it's a good suggestion, I'll add it to the list.

This is fantastic!! My Mom has actually used the first one most of her life, if she has tasted it before, she really doesn't need to taste it again. However, I've tasted and tasted and tasted and just can't seem to get enuf! No fully really! I am going to try some of the other idea tho' Thanks!

good food for thought..he he.

I agree with you.  I am just at the beginning of my weight loss. I started at 371-am now at 319.8.  So I have a long way to go, but I know I can do it.  Thanks for the words of wisdom.

Keep up the good work!

I wanna be a Spunky European! 

I gobble my food too much... gotta watch that....

Great post...  your an inspiration!

i love the idea of #1 =)

I love tip #3! I'm one of those people who can't stand throwing away extra food or not finishing my meals because I feel bad for being so wasteful. I'll definitely keep this tip in mind, thanks!!

Awesome tips!  tagged.

x17star17X,

I just looked at your pictures.  You look really beautiful!!!  Keep up the wonderful work

aww I didnt think my post would get so much steam :)  Nice to know that my weird little brain has some good ideas up it's sleeve.

Everyone here deserves to be happy and healthy, so bend your brain and lets DO this together.  Everyone with me?

I am!  You're story is really motivational!

I'm glad this worked for you.. but those mindsets really don't seem very healthy. You shouldn't have to force yourself to stop eating the foods you like and rely on memory, or force yourself to SMELL a food instead of eating it. That can lead to serious EDs.

JACKATTACK 07

She isn't saying not to eat it, she is just saying eat a satisfying amount, and don't go overboard and to think about why you are going to eat it (at least that is what I got from it). And hopefully this motivates me more. Thanks X17STAR17X

Yeah, sometimes I have cravings for the WORST food (like Zebra Cakes), and I'll get all worked up about how great its gonna be...Then I eat it and I think "Why did I want that so bad?" It's never as great as I think it will be. I am finally learning to hear that voice BEFORE I eat half a box of Little Debbie. I think you have given great advice.

I really like that tip about waste!  I am a person who doesn't like food to be wasted but when thinking about it I'd rather throw it in the bin than carry it around on my hips!  Also since my boyf and I have started cc we have been eating alot more leftovers, when before there wasn't ever any leftovers!!! lol!  We are changing our eating habits for the better!

Awesome tips girlie! I like the waste part. That really sunk in! Thanks for being so inspirational, you keep me going when I feel like giving up! Keep up the awesome work!!

As always Star, you're an inspiration...keep it up!! Great tips!

Keep it up awesome people! 

As for Jackattack, I never said never eat them again.  I even ended saying "Of course I have my cake, cookies, ice cream, etc. but I haven't gone over board.  Just enough to get the job done :)"  So maybe you should read the WHOLE post and stop stepping on my toes.

Happy Friday!!!

I did read the whole post, there's no reason for you to get so defensive.

I just meant that relying on memory and smell to enjoy a food sounds very EDish to me. Maybe I'm just reading it differently.

Excuse me for having an opinion.

OMG yes, Star, you look so great!  Congratulations! 

Your post struck many chords with me.  I hope that I can get into and keep the mindset that you have.  I keep thinking that I'm tired of "depriving" myself, when I am NOT depriving myself since I allow for treats and such.  For me it's such a mind game.  If I say I can't do it, I won't.  If I say I can, I will and won't regret it (I'm talking like exercise here, or only eating what I've allotted for the day).

SO THANKS A MILLION!

And no, jackattack, those aren't EDish behaviors at all.  Chill out.

I'm about as calm as it gets. :P I'm just stating an opinion.

WAHOO!  Good thoughts!  My biggest thing that I have changed in my life to lose the 46 lbs is.....

Ready for the answer???????

OK here goes, I have made so many small changes... HaHa!  Some people think that I am a little obsessive.  But I just like to consider it awareness, and if I am not aware of what, when, how and why I am eating it, then thats probably why I was "obese" to begin with. 
So I am with Melinda on this one, I don't think its really considered an ED... I just think it's considered motivation and dedication to what she is trying to acheive! 

And you are allowed to have an opinion Jackattack...My opinion is more that she isn't cutting out everything.... Just the stuff that she may not need to put in her body doesn't need.

Come on do we really need that candy bar?  Somedays, the answer is yes.... Other days you really don't.  I think it's more an awareness of what you are consuming...

My biggest slogan is "Write before I bite"  <-- or in this case "Type"  Just doesn't sound as good!  haha! 

Sorry for the ramble!  Have a great Friday Everyone!!!  Thanks for listening!