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5 Ways To Stop Yourself From Eating Too Much Junk Food

5 Ways To Stop Yourself From Eating Too Much Junk Food
Carly Jacobs
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s someone who writes in the wellness space, I have to be very careful about the type of language I use when describing food and eating habits. There’s a huge trend at the moment about not labelling food and I’m not sure it’s a very helpful movement. For example you can’t say a food is ‘bad’ because it gives people a complex about it and encourages disordered eating and guilt feelings about food. I can understand the rational behind this because some people do have disordered eating and we need to consider that but what I don’t understand is not being able to say ‘clean’ eating or eating ‘good’ foods because it implies that all other foods are bad. I wish I was joking about this but I’ve been pulled up for saying ‘clean’ eating several times. I think this is absolutely bonkers. I’m definitely against the demonising of food and attaching any kind of guilt associated with food but by saying a food is good, you’re not saying all other foods are bad. It’s also kind of impossible to eat well if you don’t know the difference between a nourishing food and a non-nourishing food. On that note, here are few tips on how to stop yourself from eating too much junk food and I’m calling it junk food on purpose. Delicious, completely empty calorie foods like lollies. We’re all grown ups, we know lollies are junk and we need to be aware that it is. You can eat junk food every now and then but not every day, so here are a few ways to keep your sneaky hands out of the office biscuit jar.

Hungry attractive girl eating donut at night near fridge

1. Don’t let it in your house

There are two types of healthy eaters in the world. Abstainers and moderators. Abstainers have little self control and need to abstain from eating non-nourishing foods because once they start eating junk, they find it hard to stop. Moderators are able to eat small amounts without too much trouble. I’m an abstainer 100% and being aware of this is half the battle. I never have one glass of wine, I’ll have three. So most nights it’s easier for me to not have any wine at all. You see how it works? Treat foods are only allowed in my house in single portion sizes and I avoid baking so I don’t have tempting food laying around the house. If you’re an abstainer, it’s best not to let that stuff in your house and stick to eating treats when you’re out for special dinners or outings.

2. Listen to your body

When I eat too much junk food, I feel like crap. Every single time. If you’ve over done it on junk food, pay attention to how you’re feeling and perhaps it will act as a deterrent next time you think it’s a great idea to eat a whole packet of Maltesers. Also, it’s totally fine to occasionally eat a whole packet of Maltesers – we’ve all done it – it’s obviously best not to do it every day.

3. Choose your calories wisely

Pick your favourite treat in the world – chocolate? Wine? Cheese? Now think of that food as the holy grail of calories and don’t waste treat moments on anything else. For example I love ice cream and wine and I feel very lukewarm about cake. This means I never eat cake (unless I’m at a wedding because I feel like it’s bad luck not to) so I can spend those treat calories on wine and ice cream, the stuff I really enjoy.

4. Chill out

If you’re trying to cut back on sugar, just calmly cut back on sugar. There’s no point in being really angry about not eating a biscuit for morning tea. Just take a deep breath, make a cup of tea and eat some celery sticks. It’s all a choice, so own it and do it.

5. Tell your friends to bugger off

Friends and family can be extremely unhelpful when you’re trying to eat well which is totally understandable because treat foods are always better when they’re shared. However if you’re trying to cut back on junk food, be strong and don’t go there. You can do it. Just don’t go there. Pretend like it’s not even an option.

This week on Straight and Curly, Kelly and I are discussing more food and dieting myths.

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How do you cope with cutting back on junk? Any fail safe tips for keeping your sneaky hands out of the biscuit jar?

 

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8 Comments

  1. chrisatpb 8 years ago

    Yep, totally agree it has to be out of the house. If it’s in the house, it has to be eaten (that is of course unless I forget it’s there). A couple of times over the past couple of years I have found treats in the pantry that I had totally forgotten. I was astounded that I had forgotten about them. Not sure if it’s age or the fact that I am now so used to not eating junk, that it’s easier to forget. xx

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      Oh me too! And I always eat it immediately. I’m so not a saver.

  2. Beth R (AlmostPosh) 8 years ago

    I eat treats when I feel like it but if I don’t, I won’t. So I can have a packet of biscuits chilling there in the pantry and open them when I feel like having them and then I’ll have one or two. My husband will eat it if he sees it and is a relentless snacker (who cycles minimum 40kms a day so has no issues with weight gain). So I hide things for his sake and so there will be actual treats when I do get around to feeling like them.

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      You are my hero, there’s no way I’d be able to do that. Unless Mr Smaggle is in charge of the biscuits! 🙂

  3. bridiemarie 8 years ago

    I think the reason people dislike “clean” is for similar reasons that you and Kelly (Exeter) dislike the term “moderation” – there are so many shades of clean eating. Some would just say ‘no white carbs’, but what about potatoes? Do hot chips = not clean, baked potato = clean? People are so messed up about eating because of labels. Vegans advocate as much fruit as you want, but I Quit Sugar says very little fruit and yet, both fall under the banner of ‘clean eating’. Raw desserts are ‘clean’ but often have more fat and sugar than a Tim Tam…

    I think your approach of ‘owning it’ works though. It’s not about motivation, but more sticking to what you’ve told yourself you’ll do and recognising that even if you’re not feeling it, you still need to put down the chocolate.

    That said, I am ridiculous and will ferret out any hidden chocolate and am like an addict. It’s better when it’s outside the home!

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      That’s a good point – I’m totally on board with not using the word ‘clean’ because its definition is hazy. I still hate it when people are like ‘Don’t say clean because it implies other food is bad food!’. I’m all, get a grip! Oh and I totally know what you mean about raw desserts – they so full of fat and sugar! It’s ridiculous!

      I’m exactly the same – If there’s chocolate in the house – I’m SO aware of it. There’s like 2 pieces of coconut chocolate in the fridge and I cannot think about anything else.

    • Kathryn 8 years ago

      I can understand not using ‘good’ and ‘bad’ in terms of what is good for one person can be bad for another. I mean, it’s pretty clear where the line is with a whole box of Krispy Kremes but things like grains, dairy etc can be okay for some, not for others. I don’t get the current star rating for “healthiness” of foods for that reason.

      I’ve been find the best way to avoid eating shit food is to designate a cheat meal. Then I don’t have the I can never eat that again panic.

  4. Lorraine Elliott 8 years ago

    Great tips C! I definitely try and choose my calories. I try not to drink them so I rarely have juice or soft drink. I prefer to eat them. Preferably in the form of chips, fries or fried chicken. The crunch helps 😀

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