(This was one of those times when I had to make a few batches to have enough to share.)
A few months ago I was making cookies for one of the children to take to a function. They were just chocolate chip cookies, but they were smelling really, really good as they were baking in the oven. And when I pulled them out they smelled even better.
Putting the cookies on the cooling rack, the phone rang. I answered it and it was a friend of mine who asked me what I was doing. I told her, and she said, “How do you keep from eating the whole batch?” I laughed and said, “Well, these are going out the door this evening so they won’t be here for long.”
But that conversation got me reminiscing about my previous inability to leave the cookies alone. There were many, many times where I was asked to bring sweets to a function and I willing agreed. I’d make a batch of cookies, or a pan of brownies and tell myself, “Diane, these are for the kids class at church. Don’t eat them.” But I couldn’t resist.
It would start with just a tiny corner of one brownie, and then before I knew it a whole row was gone. Then another row. Then I had to make more. If it were cookies, I’d count out how many I needed to take to the event and begin eating just one of the “extras.” And just like the brownies, before I knew it, a dozen were missing.
So I’d make a whole ‘nother batch or pan, and then hide the what was left of the original batch for a later time. Like, later that evening when I was bored. . .
As I began to lose weight that last time, at first, I avoided baking. I’d buy bakery cookies if I was asked to bring sweets to a function, or volunteer for something boring, like salad, if there was a sign-up sheet. However, I couldn’t avoid baking forever.
One thing I learned about myself as I was losing weight was that if I didn’t eat the first one then I could resist all of them. There was something about eating that first cookie that got me going and made it difficult to stop. Especially during the first six months of my journey.
After a while, I realized that I had developed enough self-control and appreciation for the changes in my appearance and health, that I could eat a cookie (or two) without feeling as though I needed to eat a dozen. It was a very, very freeing feeling.
And that feeling of freedom was one that has stayed with me all these years of maintenance. It’s why I can now bake without diving headfirst into the brownie pan, or make one of my favorite chicken dishes (Chicken Parmesan) and know that I will only have what I need and not what I think I may want.
Have you found a strategy that works for you along your journey when it comes to tempting foods? And has that strategy changed over time? Diane
That is totally awesome Diane! I truly believe when we can eat just 1 and have no regrets and not plunge into eating 2, 3 or 4 brownies/cookies that is when we can say “I made it!” I ate a brownie last night, but I chose to eat it and I didn’t buy 2 like I would have long ago.
Sheri @ TheMotivationalGirl´s last fabulous musings ..Think Before You Eat
I too was like you. I too would have eaten a dozen bakes goodies when I was obese. I too needed to stay away from baking altogether in the first 6 months but after that and now, I learned that I too have enough self control over things like this. I too can enjoy one of two cookies and not fall of the wagon
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I find that allowing myself to eat just one works out just perfect for me. i don’t feel deprived and I don’t overdo it. Somehow, over time, this has all come together for me and it works. Also, if something doesn’t taste AMAZING to me, I just stop eating it. I’d rather save the calories for something truly delicious.
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I hope to someday be able to do the same. Right now, I am in the “don’t start” mentality because I’m still don’t trust myself not to eat more and more and more. But I’m okay with that. Another blogger once said she never regrets something she doesn’t eat.
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Another great post Diane!! I am still in the middle of learning this. There are days when “just 1″ does not turn into a binge, but there are days when “just one” begins the binge! The binges are farther apart and shorter in duration, so I am showing growth. I hope to be where you are when I feel the freedom from food that you do! Thanks for being you!!!
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I’ve trusted myself to eat just one and suffered from the intense craving that came afterwards.
I’ve eaten one and succeeded and then a week later had one and dived into the batch. I’ve sworn I ‘get’ it and can choose to eat just one and then a month later I am banging my head against the wall crying ‘why can’t I stop.’ This has got to be insane behavior. Isn’t a definition of insanity (and denial) doing the same thing over and over and over again and getting the same result – but believing that *this time” will be different?
Funny, when I do not have the first bite I don’t get the intense craving and I don’t need worry about all the bites that could come after the first. Thank you for your experience and perspective on this topic Diane. It gives me a great idea for a future post on my blog.
Jane~
Keepingthepoundsoff.com
Jane C´s last fabulous musings ..For the taste of a brownie. . . .
Diane, I am with you on this! I think for many, it comes with time. In my younger years – it was harder & I just kept eating. With age, I learned that I can have 1 or 2 and stop. There will be other times. It is not like I can never eat them again. I know now that one ain’t gonna hurt but too many & then not stopping will will..
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Diane,
I want to commend you on practicing self-control when it comes to baking sweets for church functions and only eating one or two of the sweets. In a weight loss maintenance program it is OK to occasionally eat a sweet item or two. The problem as you pointed out is eating all the baked sweets. Sometimes a desire to eat the whole batch of baked sweets is because your body is craving the sugar that you are trying hard to keep out of your body. When you are baking you might consider eating some fruit to satisfy your sugar craving. This might help you from eating the baked sweets.
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I am definitely in the “don’t start” category myself! I am striving for the “eat one and be satisfied” category! Hope one day I will be there!
I can eat just one…that day. The next day I might not have anything but you can bet by the end of the week I will have had just one at least three or four times. Baked goods are my nemesis and I’m best to just steer clear.
Yes they are good but they aren’t worth the work to get off again.
Barb
I used to eat the brownies that way too. Funny how we have similar eating habits.
I hope that someday I can have treats in my house and not feel the pull to “eat them all.” Most of the time I’m okay. Sometimes I slip back into those old ways.
Recently I baked chocolate chip banana bread. I knew I’d want to eat too much of it so I cut it in half and froze half of the loaf for later. That way the damage wasn’t too much!
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Honestly – I can’t be trusted to bake! I know that sounds crazy but if I make something that i know is bad for me the odds of me not overeating it are VERY slim.
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Good stuff, Diane!
With some things, I just don’t start. With others I can stop when I want to. It’s all about knowing what is what for me and establishing habits. Most people don’t want to face the addiction/habit that imprisons them, so their cycle never changes. Wanting to is not enough, actions must be undertaken.
Undertaken and stuck to — with me, it’s not food, but it’s still there with some things. You have to just admit that you shouldn’t have something in the house, and then stop trying to revisit the decision and play chicken with it to prove that you’re bigger than it. That’s part of the “admit that you are powerless” thing that recovery programs make you say. Stop playing chicken with it to prove you’ve got it “under control.” If you can’t have it in the house, then don’t have it in the house, period. Yes, it’s bigger than you are — deal with it. Not fair? So’s life.
It’s always such a strange sensation to read a post that feels like I could’ve written it myself. Twice now I’ve embarked on diets that involved saying no to all sweets, and it worked so well for months at a time! In the end, though, sweets would creep back in, and before it knew, all the pounds crept back, too.
My strategy now is closer to what you describe. I never thought I could be successful using moderation, but it turns out that yes, I can handle it. I still mess up sometimes, but it doesn’t mean I’ve messed up forever. Just try again.
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Well, I haven’t gotten to the point where I can make my favorites and handle it well. But, I’ve gotten to where I can cook treats that are my family’s favorites that aren’t mine and then not eat it. If the food is just a little bit off my absolute favorites, then I’m okay and in control.
Thank you very much for this – I worry all the time that I’ll never be able to bake again. I love baking, especially for my family and friends, but I’m still working through the phase of complete denial of baking because I don’t quite trust myself not to overindulge. It’s something I’m working on, and it’s good to know that balance is possible and will come in due time!
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I have to say that I’ve stayed away from baking. I think I’ve made one cake in almost four years and that was for one of my aunts who doesn’t bake.
And baking cookies? I can’t go there yet because I would make a feast out of warm cookies…
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I can leave things alone once I make them BUT I am a huge snack during the cooking process. For example I often sample the cookie dough
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Oh, we know how I struggle with this!
I’ve come full circle back around to avoidance, at this point. Like you, if I don’t start, it’s much easier than stopping once beginning. Portioning out some to myself later, after they have cooled and are being served to others, also seems to work. But I have to avoid a spoon in the dough or warn cookie out of the oven like the plague right now, because I can’t stop at just one. Sometimes I can, but my ‘no’ muscle got a little atrophied during the first quarter of this year, and now I have to be consistent with reining myself in or I overdo it.
Oh well.
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I waiver in my resolve with this. At times I do great and then other times not so well.
What I have learned is that if I want something sweet it’s best for me to have it right after a healthy balanced meal, then it doesn’t mess with my blood sugar so much and create a carb craving.
I try to save my calories for something I really love when it comes to a sweet item and I don’t have things like that everyday. That works best for me.
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