Have you had to give up a food???

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I am completely addicted to potato chips and McDonalds fries. I have tried to do portion control by buying only the little bags. I have tried limiting to certain days of the week, I have tried to include them daily in my points allotment, so I don't feel deprived. But I manage to eat them way in excess!

They are such a trigger food for me it is crazy. What have you done to deal with trigger foods?

HELP!

 

[dizneegirl]

I'd recommend the portion control, but if that isn't working, there's really only one choice left. I'm afraid the only way to deal with foods that you really have no control over is to stay away from them. Sorry.

 

[ZerasPride]

I would have to agree with dizneegirl. I love the no sugar added Breyer's butter pecan ice cream. On South Beach I can have 75 treat calories per day. I was eating more than that with this ice cream. At first it made no difference and I was still losing weight, then my weight loss slowed way down. I had to get it through my head that I couldn't eat that stuff and lose like I wanted. I lost 3.5 pounds for the entire month of June (lost close to 10 pounds in May), when I gave up the ice cream, drank my water and watched my portion sizes at dinner, I lost 3 pounds in one week!

I knew the ice cream had to go. It's been a little over two weeks. Do I miss it? Yep. Do I miss it enough to go back to a size 26 pants when I can wear 14's and 16's? Nope.

I guess this is my long winded way of saying if fries are a trigger food for you, you may have to give them up. Not forever but at least until you hit maintenance.

 

[thotfulspot]

I'm with dizneegirl and ZerasPride here. When you have a food that triggers cravings and excess snarfing, the choice is between you and it.

My own danger zone is chocolate. I haven't eaten milk chocolate since at least January 8th. It's simply too likely that if I had a little, I'd have a lot. I had some moments of anxiety at the beginning of this weight-loss journey in which I was almost panicked at the thought that I could 'never' eat a Lindt Crunchy Caramel bar again, but I'd pull myself together and remind myself that the point is, sure I can. I can choose to eat anything at all, at any time, in any quantity. And I was most definitely doing that before, and it left me miserable.

The thing that's different now is that I choose not to eat a whole slew of things that I know aren't good for me, and things that I would have trouble keeping away from just never get near me anymore. I actually avert my eyes from the chocolate aisle in the grocery store, and hiss I'm stronger than you as I pass. (Talking to groceries; never a good sign.)

I honestly don't think that there's any other way to deal with trigger foods than to eliminate them. Just look those stinkin' fries and chips in the eye (potato joke!) and say 'Back off -- you ain't the boss of me.'

It may take a few days to get them out of your body and a few weeks to change the mental habit of wanting them, but when it's done, you'll be free, and so proud of yourself for taking charge!!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Thanks for the advice. I was sort of heading down that path, to give them up for now. I feel better knowing that I am not the only one... that you guys gave them up and survived!

thotfulspot, you sure have a way with words and jokes! The eye of the potato made me laugh!!!

And as WEIRD and stupid as it sounds..... I never made the connection that chips and fries... my 2 trigger foods are essentially the same product. I was always able to separate them out, oh well!

 

[clarabelle]

I am not really doing low carb- but have cut way back on potatoes in any form. At first I did it for weight loss- but then I reached my goal and started trying to add them back in. Well I found out they make me feel terrible! To be blunt they make me very bloated and gassy and give me that stuffed sleepy feeling. (sorry for the gory details)
Anyway I feel much better without them. Maybe you will also!
Good luck!

 

[Minniespal]

Have to agree with earlier posts. Chocolate does it for me ..... doesn't matter what brand or whether it is milk or plain.

I have found that if I have at least one square it triggers a reaction whereby I will go on and stuff my face with it till I feel physically ill. It just makes me crave more and more of it ..... so I find it much simplier to just totally avoid eating it at all. Actually after a while without it you really don't miss it that much.

 

[Christine]

Ice Cream.

I even switched to the Edy's Grand Light. I guess if I could have stopped at a 1/2 cup serving but I couldn't. It was too delicious. I was gaining weight. Now I buy Haagen Daz or Health Choice Bars. They aren't as good, but the portions are controlled and I never want more than one.

 

[maciec]

McDonalds bacon egg and cheese bagels!!!!! YUMMMMMMM ... Darn it just typing about it is making me crave one!

Those things are like 13 WW's points! About once every 2 months I have to cave and get one though.

 

[sha_lyn]

Well I found out they make me feel terrible! To be blunt they make me very bloated and gassy and give me that stuffed sleepy feeling. (sorry for the gory details)

I've found I have a nighshade allergy which included potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and eggplant. That is exactly how they make me feel. I've have found I can do tomatoes in moderation. Tried to eat eggplant at an indian restaurant last week and felt horrible for several hours.

 

[yasuern]

Since I have been on Atkins my cravings are minimal - but the summer always to me meant fruit lots and lots of fresh fruit! I can have some but not in the quantities I used to consume it


Once the fall comes the cravings will be gone - so I need to stay strong until then.

Sue

 

[July]

My love for coffee Frappicinnos. Wow I miss em....

Yesterday a co - worker had KFC and the only thing tempting to me was the biscuits. Funny cause I love KFC...


July

 

[AdventurerKat]

Chocolate and ice cream here. I tried banning ice cream from the house but it keeps creeping back in.

 

[disneygoof]

Original Goldfish, I eat them by the bag, and Tostitos, also by the bag.

I've tried to count out my 55 goldfish, but it doesn't work, they're still swimming around my psyche until they're gone.

I'm with thotfulspot, I talk to groceries. I consider the challenge to get out of the (aisle, drivethrough window, supermarket checkout) without the (chips/fish, frenchfries/doughnut, snickers/reeses) and then it's a success. It takes much less time and effort to think about it in little timeframes like that.

Unless you get a sloowww checkout person.....

 

[Lynn CC]

I've had to give up lots of foods I love because of Atkins and another reason is my health. Doctor says absolutely no seeds, nuts, red meat for me. I can't eat fake sugar of any kind because it gives me such a headache, I've even tried Splenda and I still get a headache.
So I can't eat all my favorite fruits like strawberries, blueberries, veges eggplant, tomatoes because of the seeds. No red meat because I can't digest it (I've been having trouble if I eat too much chicken or turkey or hard to digest seafood such as shrimp, lobster, swordfish etc. too)..
Sometimes I feel like I may as well just give up eating LOL

Being on Atkins just adds to the list, but who's complaining!!
There was a while back a few summers ago I was addicted to Diet Dr. Pepper and couldn't figure out why I was getting headaches everyday, I had to give that up too.

Do you feel better now? Instead of giving up your favorite foods just don't have them all the time. Set up a date that you will allow yourself to cheat the whole day and eat M'Donalds, chips etc. Eat as much as you want then get back on your diet the very next day and wait until your next allowed cheat day(say in about a month).. to have these foods again. That's what works for me!