30 Tactics to Outsmart Your Unhealthy Temptations

Stay on Track with our Printable Calendar of Tips

-- By Stepfanie Romine, Staff Writer

SparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more

On your quest for a healthy lifestyle, you'll frequently encounter the beast called temptation. Slay him once, and he returns stronger and smarter. Slay him again, and he rises from the ashes to lure you away from your good habits. Fear not! You can win the battle with these 30 tactics to outsmart temptation!

Click here to download and print your Outsmarting Temptation Calendar. (You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download this PDF.)

If you think your friends or family members might benefit from these healthy lifestyle tips, share this calendar with them by clicking the "Share" button below.

Click here to to redeem your SparkPoints

You will earn 3 SparkPoints

Page 1 of 1 Return to main motivation page »

Stay in Touch With SparkPeople

About The Author

Stepfanie Romine
A former newspaper reporter, Stepfanie now writes about nutrition, health, fitness and cooking. She is a certified Ashtanga yoga teacher who enjoys running, international travel and all kinds of vegetables. See all of Stepfanie's articles.

View All Comments (36) Leave a Comment ›

Member Comments

MRSBUDRYZER

Some of you are being bit picky with these, especially #25. The point is, don't eat everything on your plate!!! What you do with it is up to you!! I give mine to my dog. Am I awful for not giving half of my uneaten food to the homeless??? What??!!??! If it is a high calorie treat, uh, nooooo....I'm not saving it for tomorrow. It was a treat today!
- 1/28/2013 1:19:34 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
KAYMILLS1

I think number 25 is absolutely misleading and the "trick" of using salt, sugar, anything to 'ruin' your mean is a tactic used by people who have unhealthy problems with food. That is not a healthy habit to get into and is borderline destructive behavior. Not to mention being wasteful is an unfavorable habit as well and as another member mentioned, there is such thing as popping the leftovers in the fridge and saving them for the next day/week or you could even give it to someone else to eat if you feel so tempted to do so yourself! - 12/19/2012 9:39:25 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
DRAGONS4ME

with the chocolate thing i replace that with carnations instant breakfast. tastes really good and it gives me about 14 grams of protein and all sorts of vitamins and minerals. and fills me up. Ive recently given up soda and Ive realized that it inst the caffeine or even the flavor of Pepsi i grave its the carbonation. i love the bubbles. so my friend just stocked me up on flavored carbonated water. its got no calories sugar or anything else in it just bubbly water with some flavor. tastes good gives me my water and relives my bubble craving. its helping. - 12/19/2012 3:05:05 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
GCSEATTLE

@CHOO2233

I agree that merely foods away is indeed wasteful, but that does NOT mean that we are obligated to eat everything stored in our cabinets / pantry. there are food pantries, food banks, and soup kitchens that would gladly take unopened shelf stable foods - 12/19/2012 2:39:49 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
GRAPLEIRIS

Herbal Tea has been an amazing help to me. When I started this I was drinking no less than three 20 oz cups of coffee during work and probably 4 or 5 cans of diet soda a day. I'm pretty sure I didn't need all of that caffein!

At work, I always have a cup on hand. At home I have this oversized mug that holds 3 cups and it's usually not far either. There are so many great flavors available! I never have trouble reaching my 8 cup a day water goal.

I've beem doing so well, I consider my tea a treat and I don't use any real or artificial sweeteners in it at all. - 12/19/2012 2:37:08 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
NONEXTTIME

This is a very helpful calendar! Not all of the tips are useful for everyone, but for the most part, many of the tips provided are extremely useful - 12/19/2012 11:48:34 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
MRNDDOUGLAS

All great tips for those that can use them. Some aren't very practical for me though. - 12/19/2012 7:04:56 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
CHOO2233

to each his own... throwing away food helps me sometimes to not binge eat. BUT the principle of not wasting is there - 11/7/2012 11:32:09 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
CARYANNE

Totally agree with the comments about #25 - I think it is horrible advice to tell folks to be wasteful. Why not just put the remainder of the meal in your fridge and then you'll have it for a second meal or snack later? It will be one meal or snack you do not have to buy (or plan, or cook) next time. I hate to be cliche, but there are plenty of poor, hungry people in this world, and part of being grateful for not being one of them is to not waste the blessings you DO have. Please try not to waste food. - 7/13/2012 2:16:34 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
COUNTINGDOWN31

#28 works well - I do this everyday and makes the trip to the gym quicker and it is harder to forget all my stuff when I pack at night while I am wide awake, showing up to the gym with no towel... sucks! - 5/3/2012 2:40:37 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
KJOHANEK1

I printed this out and placed in my office and at home. #10 is crucial to me! - 2/7/2012 8:41:03 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
GODSFREEGIRL

I do have a treat now and then....but not very often.
whenever I get a craving that is out of control, it helps me to think about wrinkles. Eating too much refined sugar causes wrinkles and so I picture myself in 10 years with healthy skin and choose fruit instead. - 2/7/2012 3:17:29 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment
WANT2BHEALTHY60

I will try to put into practice drinking herbal tea, and envisioning the consequences. not eating meals at home is my downfall more than anything. - 2/7/2012 8:34:28 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
KWOOD6

For #25, I know that restaurant portions are way too much for me to eat (even if I'm not dieting, being given that much food makes me feel vaguely ill!) so often what I'll do is order a salad and something off the starter menu, or if the restaurant has appetizer portions I'll do that. Then I just leave whatever I'm not going to eat on the plate. - 2/7/2012 6:52:00 AM
Report Inappropriate Comment
WOUBBIE

I tend to agree about not wasting food that I spent good money on. My solution, though, is to ask for a container before I start eating. The restaurants KNOW their portions are double or triple a standard serving size, so I feel no shame in putting tomorrow's lunch in a container before it's just a big random mess on the plate. - 6/1/2011 12:51:05 PM
Report Inappropriate Comment