Self control issues, please help!

I have major self-control issues.

I promised myself today that I would only eat until I'm full, no snacking if not necessary, and stay within my calorie range.

I did pretty good up until dinner. After dinner I started eating things from the leftovers I was putting away...Then I left the kitchen to do homework and took with me a cup of tea. When I went back to the kitchen to refill my tea, I started eating everything I could find!

Any tips on how to control myself? Please?

I found that we often have weaknesses for certain foods (usually carby) or textures (eg crunchy or creamy) and that once we have some, we have to have more, and keep going.

My worst foods are bread and pasta, and I simply cut them out, and hey presto I'm back on track.

In line with that, I also had this thing where I'd crave something salty, then sweet, then salty again, so I sorted out ways to finish a meal that didn't leave what felt like an invitation to eat more, like I'll finish with a black tea that's neither salty NOR sweet.

Is there a pattern with this for you? Is there a food, or type of food, that makes control afterwards harder?Are you keeping stuff you kind of love TOO MUCH (mine's ice cream) so that if you're in the kitchen it really calls to you?

I have a balance - I love all the foods in my plan, but none of them that bit too much, so I don't find if have a nasty phone call or upsetting day and they're just so nice and they tempt me too much!

Finally, oldie but goodie: try brushing your teeth right after you finished, and see if having that minty clean mouth doesn't make the prospect of more food less appealing?

This is just my two cents, and I'm not an expert, just trying to analyse this for you like I would if I found myself doing that. Good luck!

Studying is hard, because it's easy to eat and study at the same time.  I agree with brushing your teeth...thats a genious idea and I will try it!  You could also try minty gum or fat free hard candy...something to have in your mouth keeping other food out.  I would pack away the leftovers after serving dinner but before I sit down to eat...so they are already gone.  Or pretend you're in a hurry to do something, so you get them put away quickly.  You should also turn off the lights in the kitchen when you leave so that it feels off limits and pour whatever you're going to drink into a larger container so that you don't have to refill it.  That might keep you away from snacking.  You could make smaller meals so you have no leftovers...just enough servings for everyone, and anyone who is still hungry can have fresh fruit or veggies for a snack. 

I do the same thing. I've found that if I have a specific plan of what I'm going to eat for the whole day rather than a generic goal of "eat only till I'm full" and "no snacking" it's so much easier to stick to it.

I plan out each meal and make sure it has enough calories and bulk to meet my calorie goal and nutritional needs and if I haven't planned to eat it, I won't. It's so much easier to go with a specific plan than.

If I do still feel hungry after I finish a planned meal then I go do a load of laundry or something to keep me busy and the fullness feeling will usually catch up to me.

Hope that helps!

that happens to me usually if i don't get enough of something throughout the day- for example if one of my meals was too few of cals, or if i waited too long to eat lunch, etc. also if i don't get enough protein that can effect it. another option in addition to those already mentioned would be to factor in 100 cals or so for an after dinner snack. that way you can have a 100-cal pack of popcorn or a sf pudding (you get the idea) and not have to get down on yourself for it!

I'm guilty too.....I have a tendency to eat when i'm anxious for a test and love to eat left overs.....I snack every two -three hours daily with lots of water....

What I've been doing lately is during dinner, I take slow bites, I have never done this before, I pace my meal....chew slowly, drink water in between and rest and just enjoy my food. After I am done, I just sit at the table and let what I ate digest. 

I've been doing this for a couple of weeks and its worked. I don't feel antsy after dinner after I used to. Before I always wanted something sweet afterwards

The left overs I have to admit that I put them right away, or someone has to be in the kitchen while I put them away, or they will put them away and then I do the dishes.

I'm assuming you've been logging your weigh regularly on the website.  Do you leave comments with each log?  I weigh myself everyday and log it.  I know daily weigh-ins are not for everyone since some people get discouraged from the normal small fluctuations that happen on the way down, but I really enjoy tracking each day first thing each morning, and everyone should log their weight at least once a week.  I also do a quick one or two sentence comment about what happened the day before, what I struggled with and what went great.  I had a month or so streak where I was doing exactly what you were doing - going back for snacking on leftovers, desserts, anything I could find in the kitchen.  And my weight loss progress (or lack thereof) showed this.  I was so frustrated!!!  At one point I was so discouraged from not losing weight I went back and read the comments I had made during the past few weeks.  Each comment included something like, "Snacked too much", or "Ate seconds but didn't need to", or "Dang sweet tooth got the better of me" or other things.  I was basically indulging all my desires and was still disappointed when I didn't lose weight.

The reality is, if you want to lose (or maintain) weight bad enough, you will make a grown-up decision to stop over eating.  You've already identified the weakness, so you know exactly what you're doing.  Learn to make a connection between the choices you make and the consequences that follow.

Good luck!  I KNOW you can do this!  It's so worth it and you'll feel so great when you do!

I only eat when I am hungry, that's how I keep from eating everything in front of me. :)

Thanks so much for all the good ideas :D

I'll definitely try a few of them out. Commenting on my eating habits when I log my weight sounds like a really good idea.

Thank you :)

I have the same problem! I do great during the day but at night I am horrible.  I started looking for items that can satisfy my cravings without crashing my diet.  Kellogs makes fiber plus bars that come is all sorts of flavors.  When I crave something sweet I grab one.  They taste just like a cookie.  Other things I get are no sugar added ice cream, yogurt, or baked chips, when I am craving carbs.  It does work. I have lost 5 lbs. and I don't binge anymore because I get that craving out of the way.  Good luck!  We are all in it with ya!

Here are some things that help me with self-control:

• portion your food before you eat it, then put the container(s) away, so you aren't tempted to take seconds or thirds
• figure out what your trigger foods are, what foods  you seem to have problems controlling yourself around.  Then, avoid them at all costs.
• Chew gum when you think your about to eat too much
• Brush your teeth after you eat, BEFORE you have the chance to eat too much
• try teeth whitening strips.  When they're on, you can't eat!
• Buy pre-portioned foods (but this can be expensive)
• Distract yourself when you want to eat (go for a walk, get on cc, call a friend, watch tv)
• When snacking, only eat low-calorie foods, so if you do overeat, you won't do very much "damage" (think celery, carrots, strawberries, etc)
• Eat with others.  You're generally less likely to overeat if someone's watching you.  
• Make sure you eat a balanced diet, with plenty of protein, fiber and fats.  These are the key nutrients that fill you up.

One little thing I like to do on those nights when I keep wandering into the kitchen is to question myself out loud.  I'll pick up something I think I want to eat and ask, "Really?  You really want that?"  Sometimes I really am hungry, and the answer is yes.  Most of the time, the answer is no, and I put whatever it is back and feel really good about myself.