Help me stop eating!!!

[Tomservo]

Okay, this is a wierd topic, maybe, but it's necessary.

I work in the visual effects industry, and nearly every shop I've worked at has provided free food pretty much constantly. Everybody eats, more or less all day, and as a result, everybody gets fat. I'm in the minority- I'm not overweight, but I don't WANT to be. So, can anyone give me advice to keep my face outta the Doritos, pudding cups, Oreos, and snickers bars?

I know, self control. I get that. It sorta works, that's why I weigh 185 and not 215... but I don't want to weigh 195 next year, 205 the year after... so on.

Additionally, I've just started an aerobics class (college), and I want to see some improvement 10 weeks from now.

Suggestions?

[Evil Milkman]

Good going with the aerobics class, that will help you out tremendously if you stick with it. As for staying out of the Doritos and Oreos, that's going to be a tough battle, but you can win it if you really want to. Try bringing water or juice with you to work, that should help you stay away from the snacks. Or you can bring your own healthy snacks with you, or see if the shop will provide better snacks that won't make you fat. Good luck with your commitment, it'll pay off.

[Nimbletoe]

A few things that have helped me:

Water. Drink lots of water to try and help the hunger. If it isn't hunger, but rather just something to do when its there, just drink lots and lots of water. It will not only prevent you eating food, but its good to drink lots of water.

Portion control: If there is only junk food available around you, don't gorge. Just get a little bit, and eat it slow. Chew 20 times before swallowing. You'll feel full faster, and eventually you won't even want to eat a lot. After 3 weeks, I just ate what I used to consider a lot for the first time, and 2 hours later I still feel super sick and want to throw up.

Pop/juice: Don't drink them, or if you have to, drink them very rarely. They are loaded with sugar, and are an easy way to gain weight without even realizing it. I have friends that have shed 20 pounds in a matter of a month or two just by cutting out the 3-5 cans of pop a day that they used to drink. Diet coke is an ok solution if you like it, but a lot of people don't.

Exercise: Even if its just a walk around the building on a break, any exercise helps. Aerobics is really good, and if you stick with it you will see results.

Finally, bringing your own snacks on occasion and watching what you eat at home go a long way. Portion control was the biggest part of the battle for me, especially eating a lot of bad things. It gets easier, and soon, you really dont even crave junk food. Before, if chips were available along with say, an apple, of course I would take the chips. But it just isn't worth it anymore, especially after starting to lose a bit and see how nice it feels.

[tfin]

How many times have you been poked with a needle? How about injections? would you like to have you diet restriceted to no sugar items for the rest of your life? How does having toes or a leg amputated because of loss of circulaton.

Answering those quetion is what convinced me I needed to loose weight. I was far from obese but I am fat. I have lost 30 lbs (due to an unrelated illness) but I have kept it off and am lossing more slowly. Just find some fat person that has to get around in a wheel chair because of their weight and then keep that image in your mind. That will help even more with avoiding those snacks.

[majik_6]

Find something to keep your mind and body busy, instead of food.

I know that I used to eat constantly, just out of boredom, or wanting to taste something (not because I was hungry). I also know that I used to be 300 pounds.

For me (and I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS...just had to make this clear), it was the unfortunate combination of cigarettes and about a case or so of Diet Pepsi (per week) that kept me busy. As of today, I've dropped exactly 60 pounds. As I said, though, I would recommend healthy snacks, chewing gum, or water as opposed to cigarettes, but just get something that's going to keep you busy and keep your mind off of the food.

Another thing that helped me, was working out. Especially if I really pushed the hell out of myself in the gym. I felt good for doing it, and all that hard work made me want to quit overeating (I mean, why waste all that sweating and burning?). Your aerobics class should help with that quite a bit.

Also, you seem to have a clear idea of what you DON'T want to become. That's good. I knew, for a fact, that I didn't want to hit 300 pounds. Unfortunately, I did, but that was a wake-up call...a sort of rock bottom, and it gave me motivation to cut back on the eating.

Congratulations on making this decision now, while things are still in a desirable situation, and not a few years down the line, when you can't wear regular clothes or ride in the normal seats on a roller coaster.

[skier]

Mind over matter. You can ignore these grease/salt/sugar laden foods. If you are really having problems, bring healthy snacks wit ya, or juice.

[ChrisJericho]

If I were you I'd eat a big, healthy breakfast and a big healthy lunch. For instance, if you eat cereal, a grapefruit/banana, and a protein shake for breakfast, you won't be hungry when you get to the studio and they have all those munchies laying around. For lunch eat some kind of sandwhich and crackers and maybe have some milk with it. Bottom line is, if you avoid being hungry you will avoid eating the junk food.

[BigBlueWrecking]

Just look at the nutritional facts/calorie issue. That is what made me do it. I knew exactly how long I would have to work out to burn something off, and I would decide whether it was worth it or not. Most things are not worth it to me, beer still happens to be unfortuantely.

[skysooner]

I have the same problem in my office. There are vendor-filled candy jars and doughnuts here all the time. What I have done to help it is to take a small corner slice out of something and eat it slowly when I'm feeling a big craving. This helps to alleviate it and allows me to go on. Most of the suggestions here are good. I have gone the diet coke route. I also eat a small breakfast that helps, a larger lunch and then a small dinner. I snack on fruit when I have it around. They also keep fruit around which helps.

[Kaos]

Free food, especially junk food can be so tempting...Hell hunger is a major motivator.

Bring your own healthy, FULL meal, and eat it first before you head towards the free junk. If your stomach is full, you will have removed the temptation to make a bee line to the free foods you want to avoid.

But maybe one day a week, REWARD yourself by allowing yourself to snack from the Free food.

[Boo]

I would attempt to avoid the foods that are known to fatten you up. Begin an exercise program. Set a "max weight" and stick to it. I also agree with Chris on the breakfast thought. I suggest fruit and a bran cereal or maybe oatmeal. Watch your blood sugar or you might binge eat to avoid a crash.

[Qazwsxedc]

of all the suggestions from above (which were all very good) i think exercise and portion control are the key. If you do these two things i believe you can see significant improvements.