Roommates and self-control

I am having a problem.

I have a fantastic roommate whom I adore, and a great apartment I couldn't bear to leave. But my roommate is very thin, and has great self-control. She brings home crackers, cakes, chips, chocolate, beer, and all sorts of other junk foods. She, of course, is very good at moderating herself.

I have very little self-control when that kind of stuff is around me. I put all her junk into a "junk cabinet" and put all my healthy stuff into a "good cabinet" and wouldn't even allow myself to open hers.

But if she leaves it out, or eats it in front of me, I can't seem to control myself. I even find myself sneaking into the cabinet late at night.

This is obviously a problem with me.

But I know that if I lived alone, I wouldn't  buy said junk food, so I wouldn't be tempted to eat it. When I lived with a health-nut, I was in fantastic shape just because there was NEVER any bad stuff around.

Seems like a stupid reason to leave a great roommate and living situation.

But my weight is starting to take a serious toll on my mental health.

I could use some advice.

Did I forget to say "Please"?

Well...you could lock the junk cabinet and give her the key, but that seems a little - umm - insane.

What works well is when you don't feel deprived.  You need to find options for the junk that is healthier, so that when she pulls out the junk food, you have something you can be satisfied with.  For example, she pulls out chocolate chunk delight ice cream (a meager 200 calories per 1/4 cup), you pull out skinny cow ice cream sandwiches (140 calories for a decent sized bar).  She gets potato chips, you pull out the veggies and dip, or make your own potato wedges.

Be sure that you do give yourself some leeway - a diet that is too restrictive is really hard to keep - but the more healthy options you have, the easier it is to make good choices.

I have an idea - which can work for me

If I feel like something I have it - but I usually have it as PART of something else.

For example: I want chocolate, so I break a few squares of, and have them with a small hand full of nuts! That way I am filled up, and less likely to want more chocolate.

Fruit is filling - it takes a lot of space for very few calories, so next time you flat mate brings the tasty food out, you can definitely have a few treats and lose/or maintain your weight - but just go and cut up a fruit salad, or have a few pieces of fruit WITH a few potato chips, or whatever else you fancy a taste of.

Honestly, I wish you luck, because I have a similar problem.

My roommate that does not have good control at all, but she does continually bring home junkfood, and encourages my baking which, I have to say, is really freaking delicious.

I try and encourage her to not do these things, because she also wants to lose weight.

I am also the complete opposite of puh8, in that I am absolutely an all or nothin' kinda gal. Either give me the real thing, or give me a **** carrot stick. You have to find your rhythm, and what gets you motivated to stay healthy.

How about if you asked her to move her cabinet to her room and only store her unhealthy snacks there? The added mental barrier of invading her privacy might just work. This way, even if she leaves something out of the cabinet, it is still in her room.

And about eating in front of you, either you try super hard to control yourself, either you just ask her not to. I mean, if she is very good with moderation, she probably eats just a little bit of junk every now and then, so it should be easy to squeeze those snacks into the times when you are not home, showering, or otherwise engaged.

Have you tried speaking to her about it?! Does she know that you are trying to lose weight etc? it seems silly to not live with her just because of this so i reckon maybe have a word with her because i am sure there is a way of gettingv around it.

If I eat anything of my housemate's I make myself leave a note with what I ate promising to replace it the next day.