Hunger Monster

You know those Weight Watchers commercials with the fuzzy orange hunger monster? Well I'd seen them a lot before I had ever even considered dieting, but I just saw one today for the first time since starting to lose weight. And the only thing I could think about was how I wish hunger was what made losing weight difficult. I don't mind being hungry, but I hate turning away food that I know I like. I'm not saying that I cut out all the delicious, high calorie foods I love, because I'm totally fine with working them into my plan for the day. I will definitely give up an evening snack for dessert at lunch =)
My problem is when I unexpectedly am offered food that I Love, and I'm at the point where I can't fit it into my day.

Anyone else struggle with this? How do you deal?

I have always used activity and exercise. When I indulge, then whatever the extra goodie was goes on what I call the burn pile for the next day.

I use the "burn meter" to log my workouts. I know roughly what the extra calories are using the calorie counter and so that's what has to be exercised off the next day.

It does two things. It makes me pause to think first about whether I really want to spend the extra time working out the next day for whatever it is (some things are more compelling than others it turns out when you have to face time on a treadmill!). The other thing it does is that I feel more proactive and I enjoy the food I choose more fully.

So if I'm out with a friend and I decide I will have dessert then I enjoy it because I've made the decision and I know the consequences. Then the next day I feel good putting in a bit extra at the gym.

To me, I find only restricting calories a very negative experience -- you are either perfect or you have one slip up and it's supposed failure. Whereas a workout makes me feel stronger, more capable and generally more in control of the decisions I make to be healthy.

hedgren- I like that thought. Sometimes when I work out at night I do that, but always thought if I had already done my workout in the morning I was screwed (I suppose I could go workout again... that would really make me think about eating said goodie. It had never occured to me to pile on more 'to-burn' calories for the next day's workout though.
Thanks!

Original Post by jessica3215:

My problem is when I unexpectedly am offered food that I Love, and I'm at the point where I can't fit it into my day.

Anyone else struggle with this? How do you deal?

It's just pure, simple self-control, discipline, maturity....  Bit of an old-fashioned idea, I know, to exercise restraint but that's part of being a civilised adult, surely?  Like anything else, whether it's robbing a bank, strangling the annoying neighbour or starting an affair, there's always the 'short term gratification' vs 'long term consequences' equation to balance out.  If you're happy to delay being a healthy weight so that you can enjoy some extra food.... then that's an active choice you're making.  If you decide you'd rather be a healthy weight a little quicker... that's a different choice.

So ultimately it's your call.

Lately, when suddenly facing a delicious offer of something unexpectedly, or anytime a craving for something I cant 'fit' into my day without having to workout more, Ill ask myself, 'will this make me feel better (more energy, happier AFTER I am done with it?' If the answer is yes, Ill eat it.) But mostly, the answer is no.

I think you have some very good replies here to help you here! Good luck!