once I start, I can't stop!!

So I usually do good with counting calories and being good, but the problem is when I do treat myself to something, I cant stop! my mom made cookies last week and I ate one small one and said to myself, okay thats it...10 cookies later I asked myself what the heck is wrong with me?! 

I went to a party last night and brought a Clif bar, so I wouldnt be tempted to eat anything else at the party. There was some really fancy schmancy cheese and bread and spinach dip, and I told myself I can have a little ...but i just cant stop! I cant stop eating something once I start! I try to eat gum right after I eat my food, so I wont be tempted, but it is hard! 

Any tips or tricks :-/ 

i do the EXACT same thing, no worries. but my logic is if i eat a healthy diet, then it doesnt matter if i go over once in a while

my nutritionist told me that even if you eat horribly for a week, if you eat well (normally..not starving or anything to make up for previously eaten calories) then your weight shouldnt go up at all

maybe if you indulge yourself a little more daily then you wont eat too much

and i find that i eat the most when i set a limit on myself. by creating a limit on how much im going to allow myself to eat before instead of enjoying it, then i over eat

my advice:let yourself really enjoy it, and then you probably wont even want anymore

ALSO:

i find that it helps when youre at a party, if you scope out ALL the food they have..its kind of like eating it with your eyes. there was actually a study i heard about--a cruise ship set up the all-you-can-eat buffet so that when you walk in, desert is the first thing you see. the people who ate there ended up eating less as a whole, because they filled up on regular food and then by the time they got to desert, it looked boring. i think a lot of the time i over eat at parties because i get excited to try all the foods. after looking, you can decide what your favorite few things are, and then grab a plate and fill it first with veggies or fruit. that way you cant have nearly as much as you would normally, and you can fill up on something healthy beforehand, and not feel guilty for indulging a little.

much luck

Good idea about the parties! I need to do that! 

I also do need to indulge a little more during my normal days! 

I've spent 2 years watching my boyfriends mom have a fraction of a candy bar after dinner or a "fun size" candy and wondered how the hell that satisfied her...well, I figured it out.

Before you go for those cookies...eat some sorbet, or a nice peice of fruit...something better for you that is also sweet.  Then have one cookie.

That's what I've been doing at night and it works out really well....I usually have sorbet or fruit and then follow it with a small piece of candy.  It definitely does the trick.  Don't know if this will help you but it's worth a try!

Thanks I'll definitely try that!! Seems like a good idea too! 

I bought some 100 cal packs of MnMs also to help, if my bad food is prepackage, it might help too lol 

I just realized yesterday that I am the same way, but now that I know I am that way I can stop it.

I really wanted to eat somethings, but it was just easier not eating them at all because I know i won't stop myself.

For example, I was at Red Lobster with my boyfriend and they have those amazing biscuits. I really wanted one, but waited til my meal came to have one because I knew that if I had one before my meal, I wouldn't be able to stop at one because I was hungry.

Also, after I decided I was done eating, I had gum so I would stay away from the biscuits and the rest of my meal. So far, gum has helped the most.

For now, I am just gonna stay away from the foods the trigger non-stop eating. I also notice that when i can't stop eating is when I am bored, so I immediately find something else to do. Usually a walk helps, cuz ur outside with no food in site. I hope this helps.

Original Post by midtheory:

So I usually do good with counting calories and being good, but the problem is when I do treat myself to something, I cant stop! my mom made cookies last week and I ate one small one and said to myself, okay thats it...10 cookies later I asked myself what the heck is wrong with me?! 

 

I went to a party last night and brought a Clif bar, so I wouldnt be tempted to eat anything else at the party. There was some really fancy schmancy cheese and bread and spinach dip, and I told myself I can have a little ...but i just cant stop! I cant stop eating something once I start! I try to eat gum right after I eat my food, so I wont be tempted, but it is hard! 

 

Any tips or tricks :-/ 

Water helps as well, see, for example, in a party get a pepsi max or any drinks you like and that will keep you off the food :P, also it helps if you are far from the food, i dont remember where i read it but - and its actualy true - when you stand  far from food you eat less.

at this party, there was food everywhere! LOL oh well, ill just try harder to stay away from it!! 

Thanks everyone for the tips/advice! :)

I have the same problem and what I've realized is that if I find something else to do then I don't binge like that.  The problem becomes that you obsess about it and put your focus on the fact that you want more.  It becomes a mind game.  So, what I've been trying to do if it's during my peak wanting to eat hours which are the evening is have a host of activities I can do at home from Sudoku to Crocheting to going to the coffee shop (getting away from the food!)  Find something else to do that's not bad for you like playing an instrument or reading.  Now if you are out with others or at a party get involved in a conversation away from the food.  Put your attention elsewhere.  The question I would ask myself in those situation is "Am I having fun where I'm at or am I so focused on the food that I'm not engaging with anyone around me?"  Try to be present with the people that you are with instead of hiding behind the food.  If you are out to dinner that could be the same advice.  Put your attention elsewhere.  We go out to eat with people to eat but more importantly to be with the people that we are with!  That's my advice!  Good luck!

I've tried those 100 calorie packs and I found I was eating the entire box in one sitting!

I am a sugar addict.  I find that "moderation" is not in my vocabulary and that I can never stop at just a taste.

So, for me, the only alternative is to avoid it completely.  If I have 1 cookie, the box is gone.  Candy is even worse.  One small pkg of m &m's is too much and the entire candy aisle in the grocery store isn't enough.

One taste of sugar will send me on a 2 week uncontrollable binge.

Some people can have a "taste" now and then to solve a craving.  Some of us are better off avoiding certain foods at all costs.

I hope you find a solution that works for you!