SparkPoints: (189,226)
Fitness Minutes: (154,412)
Posts: 30,332
12/2/12 8:07 P

Ah sweetie, there's a little rebel in all of us. Sometimes it's not about challenging the rebel in us, but finding the right tools to coax it in the direction you want to go. Sugar, in and of itself, is not bad. If it was bad, then the body would not have been designed to produce it's own when you eat the right foods, and fruits and vegetables wouldn't have any sugar. Sugar, just like cholesterol, is a part of the body's natural functioning. The issue we're managing is putting in too much 'pure sugar' (and now artificial sugars) into our system. Now I turn more often to non-starchy vegetables than fruits to satisfy my sweet tooth, and natural teas that are sweet on their own (mint teas, rooibos teas) that I don't even have to add anything, not even honey, and it's still sweet. The rebel can be satisfied without breaking your new healthy lifestyle.

current weight: 138.0

159 150.5 142 133.5

125

Posts: 92
11/28/12 9:29 A

Hey TIK.....this is the place to reach out! Talk about your feelings rather than eat them!!! Some sugary foods and carbs give us a boost in our mood. That, in itself, can be addicting. Chew gum.....lots of it! Drink water.....lots of it! Ride the wave until it passes. Time will pass whether we eat bad stuff or not. On your drive home sing with ALL YOU'VE GOT!!! Let out the stress in positive ways, rather than poor food choices and then beating yourself up. You are wonderful for caring for your mom. Be good to yourself too. Hugs!

Posts: 339
11/13/12 9:12 P

Great advice. I never thought of myself as a rebel before but every time I try to control my sweet tooth I feel like I am at war with my body. My mind telling me what I need to do and my body saying " Oh No you are not taking my sugar away from me."

Posts: 339
11/11/12 5:08 P

Try listening to inspiration music of just sing along with some good sounds on your radio to keep you distracted so you don't think about food.

Posts: 35
11/10/12 9:24 P

I drink alot of water I also try not to carry cash with me. I have also been trying to stockpile fruit for traveling and keeping at my house. Thanks for your support

SparkPoints: (3,740)
Fitness Minutes: (768)
Posts: 27
11/10/12 9:20 P

When you leave your mom's house, try taking a different route home. Sometimes by shaking up some externals you can get control of the internal.... if that make sense!

Good Luck!!!

Posts: 339
11/10/12 4:44 P

Don't give up on yourself. Does your convenience store have fresh fruit,gum or hard candy bottle water?
My sugar of choice is chocolate. I have driven out of my way to get the chocolate bar of my choice. Now when I venture into stores I try not to go down the aisles with candy because I know I will find some chocolate calling my name.
I think it was actually easier for me to stop smoking than it is to tame my sweet tooth. I did not always have a sweet tooth like the one I have now but stress and general feelings of unhappiness have made me seek out the comfort of something sweet. I know I can do better and with God's help I will.

Try to take things hour by hour. Do you have any hobbies? Do you drink lots of water? Stay in touch and we will make it.

SparkPoints: (189,226)
Fitness Minutes: (154,412)
Posts: 30,332
11/10/12 11:52 A

Every step teaches us lesson we need to learn...there's nothing wrong with stepping backwards if you learn from it to start going forward. Perhaps changing the goal a little at first will help. Instead of telling yourself that you're going to stop eating sweets, which can actually set yourself up to rebel, to deciding to 'manage' it.

Journalling may also help here to understand why you are so frustrated when you leave. You need to know what you're managing before you can manage it.

Stay strong. The power is in YOU to make it happen!

current weight: 138.0

159 150.5 142 133.5

125

SparkPoints: (37,485)
Fitness Minutes: (0)
Posts: 1,549
11/9/12 8:00 A

I have been there. Stress will make you eat without even thinking about it. It's a struggle. I try to keep my mind focused on I'm not going to eat this today even if I'm stressed. Then I will make myself do something else until the urge passes. If I'm in the house (where I don't buy the junk food either) I will not let myself go out of the house to by some. I get up and clean or read, or turn on the music, anything to get my mind off of emotional eating. It usually passes between 5 to 15 minutes. Also, keep some "fool you" snacks around, veggie chips, dried fruit, sugar free gum, etc. stuff you can snack on if you really must eat something to soothe the stress.

Posts: 60
11/8/12 1:46 P

Keep healthy snacks in your bag! Throw away all sweets in your pantry. But healthy snacks should be whole foods and not so much processed, because that processed snack can add up in calories.

Posts: 2,466
11/6/12 11:20 A

Maybe try having a healthy snack in your car, and tell your self you are Not going to stop at any store on the way home. It is a change you have to do a little at a time.Stress gets every one to go back to bad habits. Turn your radio on and sing what ever song is on at the top of your lungs. Some times distraction helps to get you by a craving. Good luck

SparkPoints: (7,434)
Fitness Minutes: (4,964)
Posts: 7
11/6/12 6:04 A

Hi!!!!
Please don't give up!!!! Stress is a terrible thing and I know that when I get upset....I like to eat foods that have empty calories....for me....it is chocolate....I started Spark People about 2 months ago and struggle to stay away from candy (this time of year until the new one will be difficult)....I don't know what your favorite stress foods are....but....what I have been doing is mixing them with things that might be higher in calories but a better food choice....I love candy corn....so I mixed a small bag of candy corn with air popped popcorn, low salt cashews and some sesame sticks....I still got the candy corn but I ate less because I had mixed it with things that filled me up....most local grocery stores have Nutritionist that can help you find snacks that will satisfy the cravings for sweets and high fat foods....I even keep snacks and a bottle of water in my car so that by the time I get to the store....I am not so hungry that I want to buy everything....don't be too hard on yourself....healthy eating is a process and it might take years to figure out what your "stress risks" are....just keep trying and know that you have a lot of people wishing you the best....Good Luck and PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP!!!!

Posts: 35
11/6/12 3:51 A

I weigh 392 know I am more then when I started. I am becoming very frustrated because I have no will power. I just can't stop eating sweets. It's like they call my name. If I sit down with something I will eat it til it's gone. When I go grocery shopping I don't buy the stuff but I take care of my mom and get highly stressed and when I leave her house at night I stop at a convenient store on the way home and buy some form of junk food. Then go home and eat it til it's gone. Does anyone have any suggestions how I can get over this. I can't take a different route home because they all have convience stores. Please help I am desperate.