Moderation, can I do it?

Laura, thats what I was thinking... I need set rules. Otherwise my occasional treat will turn out to be too frequent! Thats why I figured saying I can have a little chocolate but ONLY on Saturday, and no more than a very small bar... gives me the treat, but places boundaries... so im not having chocolate here and there through the whole week. I like your idea of journalling to see how I feel with it--- that way if having chocolate sends me out of control, I may need to re-evaluate my plan.

You can do it! I want to be able to do it too! I need to retrain my mind to think "moderation" since I no longer dump. I'll try to do it with you. Its real easy for me to think (like last night at the grocery store) "I DESERVE some chocolate Durnit!" and grab a candy bar at the checkout. I had a bad day and what I really wanted was a pitcher of margaritas. But now, I can say "I deserve some chocolate DURNIT! and I am gonna sneak a snack size (insert craving here) into my purse this weekend when I take my daughter to see (insert latest kids movie here) this weekend!" The only problem is I see myself using food as rewards again... Ugh! Why is this so Freakin hard?!?!?!?! Pfffttt.... Kathy

Thanks Kathy! I am SOOO glad Im not the only one who has to fight the Dove Demons... seriously... NO other chocolate at the store seems appealing tio me, but when I see the bar of Dove Milk Chocolate I am made weak!!!! I hate how they are placed right at the checkout too--- cause I avoid the candy isle at the store, but can't avoid it when Im waiting in line!! They dio it on purpose and it's so EVIL!!! I just really need a way to make this work for me. I know saying "No Chocolate ever again" is not the way to go about this. I have SF Hot Chocolate at home... and Im going to try drink a cup of that everytime I start feeling like I want something sweet.

dove makes a sf chocolate candy. it is kindof expensive but really good and rich and can help curb those sugar demons. I found a atkins carmel bownie protein bar at gnc that has 1g of sugar and it is good for a protein bar. it feels me up. I used it this past week as one of snacks while I was sitting in training. sometimes when I want something crunchy I will have about 1/4 cup of dry cereal usually wheat chex or kix. it fills me up so I do not snack on crackers. I think this whole wls thing is trail and error. you will figure out what works best for you and ej. good luck

I think you are on the right track. Moderation is key and knowing that no food is totally off limits forever really helps to stave off cravings, for me at least. When my mind hears that I can't have something that's when I want it. You may find that when it comes time for you to have that chocolate, you won't want it and you can wait until the next week for it again. Whatever "diet" plan we follow has to be something we can live with. And in a lot of our cases, something our families can live with too. My daughters health teacher last year was great about teaching what foods are everyday choices, weekly choices, occassional choices and rare choices. He never called any food a "bad" choice. I liked that approach. He taught the kids a valuable lesson in how to see food. I really appreciate that approach because if a food is "bad" or "forbidden" it becomes an enemy and then we fight against the desire to have it. Meghan has decided to try and lose some weight. She has told herself that on Sunday she can have any treat she wants but during the week she can't have sweet desserts like cookies, cake and also chips & such. She is doing so well. She is choosing fruit instead of other stuff. Last night she saw her sister eating ice cream. She did comment about how she couldn't have any of that, but she followed that up with on Sunday she can have some if she wants. I am still working on developing a healthier relationship with food. I still turn to food in stressful times. I don't want to be that way. I want to see food as something to keep my body going, fuel. Not something I have to have in order to relax or destress, etc. You have a great plan in place. It has to work for your family and it sounds like it will. Thanks for sharing with us. This is motivating me to work on some other things too. Hugs, Robin

Ok, here is my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions!!! :0 If it was me, having chips around, even if it be one bag meant to last two weeks, they wouldn't last for more than a few days. Even though I can only eat so much at a time, i can eat frequently. That being said, it's better if I don't have them at all, maybe just go eat mexican and have tortillias with my meal. Now, I haven't been taking my own advice, as I've had total crap in my house since Christmas and have completely eaten them, gone crazy. Luckily my weight hasn't stalled that much. Ok, back to my point, i think! Do you think making a schedule of buying/having something will set you up to thinking you want it rather than buying/having it because it's on your schedule to do so? Does that make sense? I would almost think with the chocolate thing, maybe just get it IF you want it, maybe not on Saturday, but only once a week. Allow yourself to have it once a week, but not "every saturday I get chocolate." I hope I'm getting my point across. (I'm bogged down with a nasty head cold and it's taking a while to get my thoughts out!) I've come to believe that most thin adults work hard to be thin. I'm not saying this is always the case, but most thin people I know, they work hard. Now, I see them enjoying dessert, maybe fast food once in a while. And one friend in particular, this is what she did. I saw behind the scenes with her as we were together alot. She would make a sacrifice at breakfast and lunch if she knew she was going to be going to dinner that night at her favorite restauarant and have her favorite dessert. I'm trying to get in that mindset, because I really think that is the key. Well, that's my opinion. Not sure if it's right or wrong! I'm trying to follow these guidelines myself. Of course, it doesn't always work out that way. And to think, almost ten months ago, I was saying, "I'm gonna follow my doctor's plan for me exactly and never go off of it until I hit goal!" YEAH RIGHT!!! Like that happened! Good luck in using moderation! If your plan works, let us know...You'll be our example to follow! Kim

With the chips... thats the point, whether it get's eaten over the period of two weeks, or in one day-- it's our choice. Either way thats all your getting so when its gone it's gone. Either eat a few chips here and there and make it last, or eat them over a few days--- but the rule is only 1 bag every 2 weeks. I know myself, and I need more structure than just -- have chocolate once a week -- that would turn out bad, and I'd start having it more than once a week. If I say a day, then Im in control... my mind works better with that. I just work a lot better with structure..... not leaving it up to whenever I feel like it... I don't want anyone following me! Im just trying to learn how to live eating the things I love in moderation. I never planned to go into this and never eat certain things never ever again. Im just trying to make things work for me.

Yeah, I guess I can understand your point about the structure. And I definately understand about wanting to learn to eat the things you love in moderation! I've been fighting that now, so I'm just trying to stay away from that. I'm not completely sure that I dump, but I haven't tested the waters too much for that very reason. I think I'd go hog wild and eat sweets every day and start drinking sweet tea. (I'd finally be able to get all of my fluids in, but that would be BAD!!!) I hope everything works out for you!! (((Hugs))) Kim ps. your card was cute! and yes, normally it does snow in KY, but we haven't seen any yet! I'm ready for a snow day or two!

Hi I just read your post. I have made it to my goal and I agree totaly with you in reguard to the moderation! yes I know alot of us have a hard time but that is what is working for me. I do indulge in somethings and it has been working. If I tell myself I can't have it I WANT IT NOW! also I really enjoy when I do have it in moderation and walk away feeling very satisfyed. You are very wise with the planning. I really enjoy your post's. Thanks Jan

This is a really interesting topic. Raises a lot of good questions. I have no answers and have been wrestling with some of the same issues. One difference with me is that my issues were never really with the QUALITY of what I was eating, but with the QUANTITY. I really didn't/don't eat junk or fast food. (Plus I was always on a darn diet anyway!) I ate pretty ok, I just always ate too much of it! However b/c I am in a playgroup for my toddler, I am forever in Potluck land and faced weekly with treats and sugar. At first I was a strict no, but lately I've indulged here and there and I wonder if I let too much of that back in, if it's setting me up for failure later. But at the same time I don't want to feel deprived. For me and this is just for me, I don't bring bad stuff into the house. I save my "treats" for when we are out b/c those occasions are fewer and further between--bdays, family get togethers etc are when I will allow myself a little treat. B/c otherwise I'm afraid of it becoming a habit. I always remember what Dr. Phil says--"don't bring the enemy home with you." I think it's important when we indulge ourselves that it be truly QUALITY. I.e. if your treat is chocolate--then have one piece of really good chocolate. Make it worth it, make it special. My dh (RNY 12/05) also has a hard time with this and does the opposite of me--has made due with substituting, all his (daily) treats are now SF and he still feels satisfied. I think a 90/10 plan is good if you really keep an eye on it and make sure it STAYS 90/10.... I'm no one to offer advice, but let us know how this works for you!