Food just doesn’t show up on your plate. You don’t just open up your Food Trap, and BAM! …in flies the food. (oh, how I wish)
Sure, there are situations where someone else may do the grocery shopping or take-out buying or plate fixing, but since you’re all grown up ‘n stuff, there’s a good chance you’re mostly in control of the food that mystically appears in front of your eyeballs.
So how do you start taking evasive militia moves to thwart the evil call of the cheeseburger and the cookies and the pie. (no wait, I want the pie)
DON’T BUY IT!
Here’s the thing: before the food actually gets into your mouth, there are several decision-making actions that must take place beforehand. Without these actions, the food can’t get in your mouth. Let’s the explore the scientific Yum Yucky data on how a tub-O ice cream gets into your mouth:
Tub-O Ice Cream Scenario
- 1) You drive to the store.
- 2) You go straight past the carrots and broccoli.
- 3) You cartwheel down the ice cream aisle because that’s extra exciting.
- 4) You don’t keep it moving. Instead, you stop to browse the flavors.
- 5) The flavor is picked so now you checkout to pay for it.
- 6) You take it home.
See that! You had SIX chances to walk away and NOT buy the ice cream. I’m not trying to pound in guilt here – this is just a reality check. So now that Mr. Tub-O Ice Cream is in your house and whispering hungry pleasures to your stomach, the temptation just increased to 10,000 times greater. Now it’s harder to say no. Dammit!
You can’t eat what you don’t buy.
And it’s no fair to your body to use the “but it was on sale and I had a coupon” excuse. It’s better to boast about a non-edible deal at mycouponcodes.com than to eat something just because it was on sale with a food coupon. Gah! (I’ve done that lots in the past)
Each of these steps was an action, and at any point, there was the opportunity to not complete that action.
I stopped bringing sweet treats to work. You know, that after lunch sweet snack, however small, that we all deserve so very much. It was hard at first. Excruciating, actually. But after that first week, the sweet snack I felt I deserved so very much was an afterthoought. And by the weekend, after realizing that I hadn’t chewed on any sweets during the week, it made the euphoria of a gnawing on a big-azz slice of cake all the more satisfying…
…okay, okay. I had 2 slices. Sheesh!
So how about it? We can take this “not buying” thing real slow. I’m not asking for cold turkey abstaining, here. What fattening foods will you stop buying so frequently to keep it from going in your food trap so often?
[photo]
cher says
January 10, 2011 at 2:45 pmI’ve done this for YEARS!! If it’s not in my cabinets or fridge, it’s not consumed. I saw on tv last week that 90% of Americans say they do or try to eat healthy, yet over 30% of Americans are morbidly obese!! The numbers don’t add up people! We as a nation need to quit being in denial about what we consume, and start taking responsibility for our own actions.
That goes for all you people suing fast food joints for making you fat. They didn’t make you fat… YOU DID!!
Ashley @ 365 things says
January 10, 2011 at 2:53 pmGahhh, I can’t tell you how many things I’ve bought because it was “On Sale!” or I had a coupon or something. Most of the time though, its an impulse purchase. I’m going to stop buying cereal. I some weird hangup where if the box is open, it must all be consumed. Not all at one time, but over the course of 3 or 4 days TOPS. Sure, I factor it into my calorie allotment, but it’s just plain silly to be eating so much of it. It’s not terribly bad as I usually get Barbara’s puffins (the peanut butter kind ROCKS), but still… The problem is cereal is all my son likes for breakfast, but as long as I don’t get a kind that I like, then I’m not tempted. So I’ll just keep buying those Cookie Crisp and Smores, bleh.
Tiffany @ Simply Shaka says
January 10, 2011 at 2:55 pmI can’t buy ice cream and refuse to. I don’t know why Ben & Jerry’s thinks that there are four servings in one pint b/c in my world-one pint= one serving. So yeah, no ice cream for me unless it’s the single portion cups and I will be one or two. Same goes for chips, cookies, baked good. If I really have a hankering for something sweet, I will buy a cupcake and be done with it. Or when I’m really feeling ambitious, make some cookies have a couple then bring the rest into work.
JourneyBeyondSurvival says
January 10, 2011 at 3:03 pm1.a get the keys
1.b get in the car
1.c get out d’car
0.z think about icecream
0.y think about icecream
0.x think about icecream
I do it so well though…
But, I’m tryin.
Josie says
January 10, 2011 at 3:09 pmHold it. l just scientifically examined your work flow comment. By doing 1.b and 1.c approximately 15 to 1,500 times in a row nonstop, you’ll burn off the ice cream calories, so you are exempt.
JourneyBeyondSurvival says
January 10, 2011 at 3:13 pm@Josie, Ah! That will fit right in with the garage gym I have going on…kneeling squats, and step ups. I should’ve bought the Monster Truck the boys have been wanting.
keyalus says
January 10, 2011 at 3:10 pmIt doesn’t even have to be a fattening food for me – just something that I know I can eat compulsively that doesn’t really bring anything to the table nutritionally. I will tear up a box of Cheez-Its, Chex cereal or Welch’s Fruit Snacks! I buy all of these things very, very rarely because I know what the end result is going to be.
Jody - Fit at 53 says
January 10, 2011 at 4:00 pmJosie, you know me & how I so much agree with this! I don’t bring any of my too tempting foods in the house, the ones I can’t stop at. PLUS, just because something is in front of you, it does not mean you have to eat it. Here is the prob – ya got to take control of yourself & be willing to do what it takes!
So not only don’t buy it but don’t eat it just becasue…
Reinaldo says
January 10, 2011 at 11:12 pm@Jody – Fit at 53, I just proved your theory right!! I had the remote in front of me, and guess what – I chose not to eat it! *breaths* I got self-control, I got self-control…
Jody - Fit at 53 says
January 12, 2011 at 9:02 am@Reinaldo, too funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 😉
Erin of Fit Mama Training says
January 10, 2011 at 4:24 pmAHAHAHAHA! Love it! And it’s true. One of the reasons I wanted to stop working with kids (in social work) and start working with adults is that adults call thier own shots. They are accountable for thier actions, not victims of circumstances out of thier control. But it turns out we are EVEN WORSE! That whole old dog/new tricks thing. Great post Josie.
skippymom says
January 10, 2011 at 4:34 pmI keep saying this to my friends, but they lament that they bought/ate it anyway. Â I get the “well the KIDS need snacks” excuse all the time. Â I get it, so do mine – but they don’t need froot loops and double fudge chocolate chunk ice cream.
Fruits, vegetables, cheese and crackers seem to satiate them just fine after a day at school. Â And none of them ever fainted in first period French from starvation b/c they ate Rice Chex or oatmeal for breakfast.
I DO understand the temptation. Â I get so tired of reading labels for sodium content I go cross eyed in the store – but I don’t want to eat it [breathing is a nice thing] so I make sure it doesn’t come into my house. Â Because I WILL see it and I WILL be tempted.
Wifey says
January 10, 2011 at 7:42 pmChips and salsa, ice cream and peanut m&ms.
Beer gets a pass.
Winks & Smiles,
Wifey
Coco says
January 10, 2011 at 8:01 pmI try to remind myself that a healthy week starts at the grocery store. If I don’t put it in my cart, it won’t be in my mouth later. I stopped using coupons because they mostly are for stuff I don’t really want in the house anyway. And why are the Froot Loops on sale but the Bran Flakes aren’t??
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
January 10, 2011 at 8:06 pmI love this! Out of sight out of mind… right?!
charlotte says
January 10, 2011 at 8:24 pmI love this strategy!! Unfortunately the rest of my family is not as on board with it and the husband will go buy ice cream and treats if I “forget” them when I shop. Â Super frustrating! Any advice for getting a SO to cooperate?
Jeremy Logsdon says
January 10, 2011 at 9:53 pmMy problem is also you can’t eat it if you don’t make it. I need a lock on my cookie jar, currently full of homemade dark chocolate oatmeal cookies my wife made last night. *sigh* They are so good!
Karen says
January 10, 2011 at 10:44 pmI am pretty good at this already I have much stronger willpower at the store than at home. BUT, my husband still buys crap and brings it into the house. Sometimes he tries to hide it. Mostly I don’t eat it but then there are the times I eat tons of other “healthy” things trying to avoid his darn chocolates!
Reinaldo says
January 10, 2011 at 11:25 pmI took me YEARS to understand this. Right now, I’m living with more people that aren’t in the same journey as I am. You know, the skinny freaks who eat the house and doesn’t gain a bit. Yeah, I hate them too. Nah just kidding. Wait, no, I’m not. Or do I?
Anyway, I bought this 7 ounces bag of peanuts today for the house. And *someone* (and I’m making this look to the right ¬¬’ as I type this) ate ALL of it in like an hour for a “light” snack. Skinny people, I’ll tell you all about them!
The point is, I bought it and I didn’t eat it. So yeah, this happens almost everyday with a lot of foods in my house. You can buy stuff and don’t eat it. I just use a mental image of the stuff covered on sh*t or vom*t or whateva I need to picture it and BAM! (or ka-BOOM!, your choice), I don’t wanna eat it anymore.
SO that’s how I control it. But I must never, ever go grocery shopping with hunger. I’m not trust-worthy then. Good thing is, I buy a lot of crap to eat as “dessert”, but after my real meal I’m full so I don’t eat it. But that only means the crap stays here in my house, lurking…. whispering…. plotting….
Miz says
January 11, 2011 at 5:15 amthe tarts of the pop.
no mo’
no mo’
DareToBecome says
January 11, 2011 at 8:53 amI have been waiting a long time for someone to have the balls to write this post. Well done Josie 🙂
KCLAnderson (Karen) says
January 11, 2011 at 9:04 amOkay, how about this scenario? Having it in the house but not needing to be in control? Being able to have some without eating the whole thing? Not feeling deprived AND not overeating?Â
Jules - Big Girl Bombshell says
January 11, 2011 at 9:26 amOh this is SO RIGHT ON… The ice cream still sneaks into my house..in the freezer…calling my name…but THIS is what I TRY to do…
* 1) You drive to the store.
* 2) II stop at the carrots and broccoli.and think maybe I’ll be back
* 3) You cartwheel down the ice cream aisle because that’s extra exciting.
* 4) You don’t keep it moving. Instead, you stop to browse the flavors.
* 5) The flavor is picked so now you checkout to pay for it.
* 6) You take it home.
BUT
Now…I pick up those carrots and broccoli in the FROZEN food isle TOO At least they are in the house and I can’t use the excuse of time.
I pick up those wonderful LOW FAT or NO FAT yogurts to enjoy when the rest are enjoying their bowl of ice cream….OR a popsicle…yep a popsicle…
Or I allow myself a small treat and then hit the exercise…..
Am I totally successful yet…..More often yes than no…THAT is success for me
dragonmamma/naomi says
January 11, 2011 at 11:40 amLast week I heard a knock at the door. I opened it, and these two mean dressed in tin-foil ran in, shoved a funnel in my mouth, and started force-feeding me several chocolate truffles dusted in cocoa. I swear that’s what happened.
Josie says
January 11, 2011 at 11:45 amMmmm! A food funnel. I may need to do a special post in your honor. BTW, I let those men borrow my tin-foil outfits.
[email protected] Workouts says
January 11, 2011 at 2:53 pmI think the title of your post is extra important and I tell a my weight loss clients the same thing when they first start with me.
If you don’t have it at home, you won’t eat it.
If you don’t buy it, you won’t eat it.
I tell folks to get rid of everything that could temp them in their fridge and cabinets – throw it away or donate it to a food pantry. Then fill it with healthy food and snacks.
That’s the surest way to reach your weight loss goals.
Trish @I_am_Succeeding says
January 11, 2011 at 3:01 pmBrilliant…yes I need to exercise this more often…just do not buy it. Geesh think of all the money I will save in the process as well!!
Rinn says
January 11, 2011 at 3:01 pmI’m REALLY good at the not buying the bad food. I suck at the being at other people’s houses where they seem to have less buying control. Then the food goes in my maw. Why, yes, I would love to eat 20 mini eggrolls. Also, tomorrow, lets have pop tarts and ramen. Lordy.
angela says
January 11, 2011 at 3:10 pmThe only time I’ve bought bad foods lately was over the holidays. All that baking really killed me. If you have the ingredients and you bake it, no matter who you’re supposed to be bringing it to, you WILL eat at least some of it.Â
No more of that for me for a good long while.
www.bossygirl1980.com, says
January 11, 2011 at 3:10 pmI so identify with this..it’s like a 10 step process to grocery shopping..
lisa says
January 11, 2011 at 6:02 pm“You go straight past the carrots and broccoli.” hahha poor veggies never even had a chance against a tub of cookie dough ice cream (aka my favorite flavorrrrr) 🙂
Sagan says
January 11, 2011 at 9:27 pmPopcorn. Nut butter. Cheese. Very healthy foods, but… I have to limit myself to not buying them very frequently. Otherwise I eat ’em all up real quick. Too quick. Better to not buy at this point 🙂
Emergefit says
January 11, 2011 at 9:46 pmAnd here’s a thought for those who do buy it; I defy ANYONE to tell me that the 2nd bite of ice cream tastes any better than the 1st. Nope, I DO NOT BELIEVE Y’ALL. If I do buy ice cream (or any other crap), I like to play a game with it — seriously. The game is called, How F-ing Long Can Make It Last. I once made a pint of Ben & Jerry’s last 3 months. True.
FYI: “Y’all” was actually in my spell-check. Kill me.
Thea @ I'm a Drama Mama says
January 13, 2011 at 10:20 amAMEN!! I still slip up every now and then, but for the most part, I don’t buy the stuff. I’ve had to break up with a couple different foods. It was hard, but it was worth it in the end.
beachbody says
January 14, 2011 at 9:21 pmHilarious pic! I love this yum yucky scientific data! Hmmm… even if I do think about the steps that leads into the ice cream, I don’t always mind how hard it is to get one as long as I get to that goal.. Oh, I am a food slave but I am trying hard not to indulge…
Oh well, I will do it your scientific way from now on..
Marisa says
January 17, 2011 at 5:34 amTalk about a reality check. 😉 But I like this. I like it a LOT.