Would someone please remind me of the virtues of delayed gratification, so that I don't break my diet?!?

Question

I know that the satisfaction of losing 30lbs will be far greater than that piece of chocolate cake, so why won't I just leave it alone?!

Does this mean that I lack discipline, or does this point to the issue of self-deprivation and how totally unnecessary it is and self-defeating....?

Answer 1

Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.

Answer 2

"Delayed gratification?" A diet is more than that if you plan to keep the weight off; it is a change in life style, have a small piece of cake after a longer work out earlier that day for example. Find other ways to treat yourself other than sweets or other food related rewards. I too battle personal bulge, and have trained my sweet tooth to enjoy the healthy alternative of fresh fruit (I've also cut out the beer drinking since to two clash!-). Its a matter of balancing out short term wants and long term needs.

I keep in mind a phrase from Dave Ramsey whenever I am tempted: A child does what feels good today; an adult forms a plan for tomorrow and sticks with it.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

self-deprivation is sometimes necessary, especially when we have so many things we desire, so perhaps it will help to look at it that way, you need food to stay healthy, you desire chocolate cake as a luxury,
also perhaps it will help to break down your diet into smaller steps, not thinking of the end, but of each day, take steps to lose that pound, or exercise an extra 5 minutes
finally, do reward yourself, rather then totally deny yourself, pick a day to have a small slice of that chocolate cake,
think literally in terms of what goes in, and what goes out (meaning energy spent by your body) so have that cake, if you really want it, then jog around or dance for 30 minutes, that should even it out
so the basic discipline is not in doing without, but in understanding your body, the calories in food, what it takes to burn off x amount of calories , and having the discipline to stay with your program, dont knock yourself down if this is a major life change for you, and thats really what weight control should be, it does you no long term good to deny that cake today, lose the weight, then go back to eating cake without thinking about it !
have that cake instead of lunch! it has flour, it has eggs, take a vitamin with it, and you will be fine, just leave other things out for that one meal

Answer 4

I never had any success dieting if I denied myself any particular food. The key is to have just a little bit to satisfy that craving, and to make it not so forbidden. You know, forbidden things are more attractive!
Have that bowl of ice cream. Have the high fat stuff too. But have just a few spoonfuls.
Make up for it with whole grains, fruit and veggies.
Self deprivation is unsustainable. You will slip, and then you will hate yourself for it. And then you will slide back into your old habits. So don't deprive yourself. Acknowledge that you want something by not overdoing it when you do indulge. You will like yourself so much better for it.

Answer 5

It the pain versus pleasure syndrome. Pain for you is the diet and the pleasure is that chocolate cake. What you need to do is change it around. Pain for you is feeling bloated and the awful guilt after eating the chocolate cake and the pleasure is another step toward looking great and feeling sexy 30lbs lighter and the new clothes you could buy and the newly acquired confidence and self esteem..and...and...and...are you getting the message...Best Wishes.

Answer 6

Oh I know the feeling. We just won't learn will we. I put on weight this week and am going on holiday in 3 weeks, so I am going to have to be good. Just think of that 30lb. I've lost 44lb so far and have got to the stage where I am sick of depriving myself, but still need to lose more.

Answer 7

Make a trade off with yourself - you can eat the cake as long as you go for a 30minutes jog afterwards. Deprivation will make you lose your will if you become negative - turn everything into a positive - yes you can have your cake and eat it so long as you jog today, or only have one a month etc - bargain with yourself.

Answer 8

I have been overweight since the birth of my second child - it is so hard to stay on a diet when everyone else in the house is eating whatever they want. it is hard to eat according to your diet when you have to watch others enjoy their meal. choose foods you really like. if you feel that you have to have something you crave, just have a small amount and don't get discouraged and stop your diet. tomorrows a new day.stay with your diet. I have lost 31 pounds just by not eating bread and sweets and limiting my pasta. the rewards to staying with your diet is being able to buy two sizes smaller jeans like I just did this weekend. come on you can do it. good luck.

Answer 9

We always want what we deprive ourselves of, when we get it we hate ourselves afterwards, we feel weak for giving in.

Trust your gut feeling, one piece of cake a week won't cripple your diet, if indeed you need to diet. Have a couple of treats a week to look forward to.

Better to give up the wine/booze, more calories in them than a bar of chocolate.

Answer 10

Suggest you get rid of the cake altogether and get in some grains, fruit and vegetables... Also go ahead and time yourself if you want, but I've found that a little very light nibbling all day long on the right food (I call it grazing) is fine for me.

Answer 11

On top of diet you should exercise which i think is harder than dieting itself. If you did more exercise you will get to a point where you can pretty much eat what you want and its just being burnt straight off again