How to be and stay motivated

amother

OP ↓

Sun, Dec 15 2024, 11:09 pm

And how do I remember not to nosh from the cake or chocolate ?
Feels like every night I do teshuva and promise myself to be better tomorrow. But alas tomorrow comes and I forget my promise.
I just eat mindlessly. And it doesn't help that sugary foods make me sluggish and unable to think clearly. Which then causes me to continue the cycle of bad food choices.

Any advice?

PrairieFairy

Mon, Dec 16 2024, 4:11 pm

amother OP wrote:

If you want different results, you have to do something different than what you've done before.

The current way you're approaching it isn't working for you so brainstorm on how to approach it differently. Not just in new motivation but in changing the way you're approaching it (ie; none of this "promising myself to do better tomorrow" but working with someone to create a sustainable and balanced approach so that you can then work on your own with a plan that is achievable).

For example, if you're full on healthy, nourishing, and balanced foods, you are less likely to mindlessly graze. If you make rules for yourself that you can have the cake but you need to make a plate and sit and eat it with intention, it creates space to make a different choices. If you deal with stress or other emotional things that may be resulting in those cravings...you can decrease cravings.

You need to look at it differently than you have been looking at it.

amother

↑ OP

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 10:57 pm

BmoreBubby wrote:

Had the exact same problem. Game changer for me was learning a Torah hashkafa on food and my body from the book Body & Soul. Still a daily struggle, but now it's one that I succeed at MOST of the time, BH.

Is it by R Alexander Seinfeld?

Aurora

Wed, Dec 18 2024, 11:11 pm

When I'm not pregnant or nursing, I try to keep the junk food out of the house. If I have to leave my house at 10 pm to go get a cookie, I'm much less likely to eat a cookie. For some reason, this works especially well in the winter.

I try to keep a better snack mix on hand. I like a combo of nuts, craisins, and chocolate chips. I also try to make sure that if I'm eating, I put it in a bowl or other container and eat it at the table. No eating out of the container!

Basically, I try to make it so I don't have to think about not having the junk food by making it much harder for me to get the junk food in the first place.

amother

NeonGreen

Thu, Dec 19 2024, 1:45 pm

Keep the "red-light" foods out of the house.

If you know you eat mindlessly, start using your mind for more than just filling the space between your ears. Get busy. Go out of the house for a daily walk. Start a hobby. Join a club. Sign up for classes. Volunteer.

Plan and prepare your meals and snacks ahead of time. Prepare big salads in the fridge so you can scarf down a bowlful when you feel cravings. Use lots of spices to satisfy your need for flavor.

Write down everything you eat each day. Studies show that people who record their intake (honestly) lose more than those who don't.

If you trip up and eat something less than optimal, don't use this as an excuse to binge. One cookie isn't a binge, but half a box is. Marathon runners who trip don't stay there lying on the ground; they get up and keep going. Do the same.