I don't normally eat a lot of sweets, but I do have a few weaknesses. A couple pieces of candy from a co-workers candy jar, my tea, a piece of cake at birthday parties (and of course the corner piece with more frosting). And while that adds up, my biggest struggle is not sweets, it's food. Food is just SO GOOD! And when I eat something delicious for dinner, I want seconds, even when I am not that hungry. When we go to parties and the food is free... well I make sure to load up my plate, a couple times over.
Every time I try to eat healthier I find that I suddenly want all the bad foods so much more. The thought that in order to be healthy I have to give up some of my favorites is just painful! Which is why I have failed every time. So now that I am truly committed to getting the weight off, and keeping it off, I am not committing to cut out any food. The second I say I won't have carbs, sugar, fat... is the second I want it so much more.
Instead I am committing to have much less of those things. Starting with a strict "no seconds" rule. If I am hungry two or three hours later I can get more, but not at the same sitting. I am making smart choices to reduce unneeded calories (one double burger instead of two single burgers cuts down on one bun and extra condiments). And finally, I am letting myself splurge... but just a little. One scoop of ice cream versus a whole bowl, one piece of that absolutely irresistible fresh bread instead of the whole basket, just a few fries from my kid's happy meal instead of getting my own. I know that at my weight simply cutting back will be successful. I also know that once I start losing weight I will have to cut back more, but for now I am content with the gradual steady weight loss that reducing will lead to, rather than the quick roller coaster weight loss that eliminating will lead to.