I read a great article in Ladies Home Journal Magazine about silencing your inner voice that's telling you to eat all the junk food. Basically, the article says that when a junky treat is staring you in the face, ask yourself these 5 questions:

1. Do I really have to have this?

2. Am I even hungry right now?

3. Is this food splurge-worthy?
This question resonated with me because I'm often tempted by utter junk like Snickers, M&Ms, Hostess cupcakes, etc. I can get that stuff any time I like and it's really not very good, not splurge worthy. But if I'm staring down a homemade slice of pie or an almond croissant from the really good French bakery nearby, maybe that is splurge-worthy. Those are foods that I don't come across every day, they're not shelf-stable and I'd have to go out of my way to get them.

4. How will I feel after I eat this?
Again, sometimes I think with my old, fatter brain. Now that I've been eating healthier for a while, chowing down on junk food makes me feel like crap. If I overeat super salty, greasy Chinese food, for example, I'm going to feel bloated and awful afterwards. Not worth it!

5. Is the world going to end if I don't have it?

I thought this article was great. In fact, I may have to write up these questions and stick 'em in my wallet for the next time I'm faced with a high-calorie treat. If you want to read the entire article, you can find it here. www.lhj.com/health/weigh
t-loss/keeping-weight-off/
junk-food-monologues/