The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[Jims Chick]

I have developed this very very bad habit. I am a sneak. I have no problems all week....temptation is not even an issue. Saturday comes, my husband takes off on the motorcycle....and I start sneaking food....and hiding my trail. I walked six miles Saturday on the treadmill and than followed up with chocolate zingers......(multiple zingers) ...and then had to explain to my kids where their zingers went. I have done this now for the last 2 weeks resulting in no weight loss. If it wasn't for the 27 miles a week I've been pounding out I would have probably gained. Now that I've come clean, here's my plan. As soon as my husband leaves on his ride I will go outside and plant flowers or take my kids to the park to play. I have also decided to remove all my kids junk food from the house. They normally eat alot of fruits and veggies for snacks so that won't be a big issue. If they need a sweet snack, we will just pile in the car and drive to the store. I WILL NOT BE A FAILURE ON THE WEEKENDS ANY MORE!! I CAN AND WILL DO THIS!!
Julie

[Jeanette]

Great plan! The weekends are really hard for me too, as well as evenings.

[Carrie]

Boy I can relate.

I really haven't had physical hunger since Day 3. Yet I do notice that right after I finish eating a meal I want to keep on eating. Especially with the soups/oatmeal. It doesn't seem to happen so much with the shakes, maybe because there's no chewing involved. But in the evening, when I have my soup for dinner around 5:30, I definitely notice that I want to keep right on going. Usually if I do something the feeling passes in a few minutes and I'm fine, but last night I couldn't get food out of my head. I wound up eating about a half cup of chocolate chips and then a quarter cup of peanuts. I know that's not a major thing (compared to my old binges) but it's still not something I should be doing. So today I am going to 4 shakes/1 soup, instead of my usual 3 shakes/1 bar/1 soup to try and compensate.

It's definitely a slippery slope. And the next three weeks are going to very emotionally and professionally stressful for me, so I'm quite concerned about making it through. Hopefully I can muster enough determination and positive attitude.

[explorthis]

:shock: I have developed this very very bad habit. I am a sneak. I have no problems all week

my husband takes off on the motorcycle....and I start sneaking food....and hiding my trail.

chocolate zingers......(multiple zingers) ...and then had to explain to my kids where their zingers went.

Now that I've come clean, here's my plan

I WILL NOT BE A FAILURE ON THE WEEKENDS ANY MORE!! I CAN AND WILL DO THIS!!

Julie, I had a similar situation with another related topic. Here was my solution. The reason I submit this type of solution, if from a fat guy perspective, FOOD will always be at your finger tips, weather its sneaking Zingers, or what ever it might be. Once you see substantial weight loss, the temptation will still be there. You did not state the age of your kids, but make yourself accountable to your kids/hubby.

Take a current inventory with your kids, and biker guy (hubby). I am assuming you are accountable to them, and they are supportive of your goal to lose? If not then this is mute.

Gather ALL the items of temptation, and make (with them present) a list item by item. Post this list in easy view for everyone, have the kids write the list in their handwriting, so you cannot cheat. Create a punishment list for yourself. If you "sneak" or "cheat". You are punished - by your kids (My 13 y/o daughter loves this method - getting to hold Dad accountable for his actions).

Your punishment is obviolsly not a spanking, or time out. (or maybe it is a time out sitting on the kitchen floor in the corner??) Maybe at that minute when they discover your transgression, you must take them to the toy store, or to do something they want, something you do not want, weather it be buying them a $10.00 toy, and actually getting in the car at that moment of discovery, or going to do something you loathe, but they love.

Remember, the temptation will be there even after you are at your goal. Learn now to deal with it now, rather than later. THis is a life long change. The house is not always going to be missing Zingers and snacks, nor should it be.

This has worked for me in the past, and might work for you....

-Mike

[elle4nelly]

That is sooooooooooooooooooo true !! Mike is right! (..can't you be wrong just one time? )

kids are the greatest Diet Police!!!! My niece who is 12 comes over every wekend...she's seen me on countless diets. On this one her job is easy because I have absolutely no desire to cheat!! I want losing weight sooooo badly that I crave little! And am not willing to come off this train...
But back to my niece...on my previous diet I told her what I was allowed to have and what I wasn't......MY GOD!!! The kid was on me like white on rice!! You can't have that ..PUT it BACK!!! This is not on your list....after a couple of weekend she plucked my nerves so bad...I just decided not to even cheat!!!!!!!!!! KIDS are tough!!!!!!!!! Don't be fooled by their Angel eyes!!!!


I'm already trembling....just thinking about it!

I think i don't even need Guido the terror to make me shake right....

A 12 year old girl is more frightening!!!!!!!!!

[TamiL]

After reading 'Jim's Chick" comment about "sneaking" It got me thinking....

I have done this my whole life. snuck food. I am (WAS) a closet eater..I would rather eat alone than with other people. Ever since I was a little girl..I used to wait untill everyone went to bed..then sneak out of my room and I would know all the cabinets that made "noise" when opened..I used to sneak food and snacks..then take the wrappers and Roll them up in papertowels..and throw them in the bottom of the trash can so no one would find the "evidence"!! THIS CONTINUED thru my Teens and my Marraige...and thru all the past failures of countless Diet attempts!! No one could understand how I was SO FAT when I "never ate..or ate like a bird"!! little did they know I was GORGING myself alone at home after work or at night while alone. When I was married...as soon as my husband would leave for work..it was like "PARTY" time..I would raid his "sweet" stashes..then find myself having to go to the grocery store to "REPLACE" the food I ate so he wouldnt know!! I used to "rearrange" bags and boxes of stuff I ate to make it look as if nothing was eaten out of it!! and even just before Medifast..I used to eat food that WAS NOT MINE out of the refrigerator at work...I would wait untill no one was around...or even when someone just ran to the store..and it would be OPEN SEASON to stuff all I could while no one was looking!! I could go on and on about my food addiction or sickness..but I think some of you know this "secret" food thing...the weird thing is...I NEVER UNDERSTOOD why I did it. what happened so early on in my life that made me do this? I dont have any "underlying" secrets or bad things that have happened to me in my childhood..that some do..or that most Doctors say is the "cause" for an eating disorder or whatever you want to call it!! I just love to SNEAK when it comes to food!! the bad thing is...WHO ARE WE KIDDING!! no one is realy caring if we DO EAT THE FOOD..so why do we not just eat it in front of others??? we sneak instead??!! its crazy!! no matter how much I weighed..I DID THIS..weather I was thin back in the day..or FAT...its something I always did..that I realize now...WAS ONLY FOOLING ME..not anyone else!! my Secret eating habit got me where I am today..and THAT..along with other bad habits...I am leaving behind with My weight I loose on Medifast!!!
I have failed so many times in the past...by doing the SAME THINGS...thinking the SAME ways...that I have found that by thinking different and doing different will keep me from repeating OLD PATTERS, HABITS and ROUTINES..which lead me to the "sneaking" and overeating!!!

We are all here to help each other!! and your posts make Light
bulbs go off in my head...they make me remember where I was at..and where I want to be...they help me realize that I am not alone in this..and that others struggle with the same "demons" as I do!!

I am so greatful for you all.
I can tell you all things i have never admitted before..and its as if its a healing process to confess and get things out in the open..so that I do not return to that INSANITY!!! I dont want to spend my life "wishing" for things...I WANT TO MAKE THEM HAPPEN..my wishes and dreams. and NOTHING FOLKS...nothing...for that moments its on your lips...tastes as good as being in CONTROL FEELS!!! and being lighter on my feet!!!

Love you all!!!
Tami

[Carrie]

You sure hit the nail on the head Tami! Thanks for sharing.

I do (did?) stuff like that too.

As a kid I tried to sneak stuff without being detected, and more was never enough.

Then as a teenager I spent every penny I had on food. I went to the grocery store and bought ice cream, chips and candy and stashed it in my room. I even raided my moms purse and dad's dresser for $.

As an adult, I eat like a 'model citizen' in front of everybody else and then binge when I'm alone. During my last relationship, I would say I was 'going for a drive' and go straight to McD's or someplace like that, eat as much as I could and throw away all the evidence before I went home. I hid the 'good stuff' because 1) I didn't want to share and 2) I didn't want anyone to know I had it.

I really think one of the reasons I decided to try Medifast was because I was struggling every day to control my food intake and was failing daily and totally miserable. So I decided to investigate meal replacements and found this website. I decided to try it and immediately felt better, because I figured that with my new diet being shipped, there was no point in trying to diet till the product got there and I proceeded to go on a 5 day binge-a-thon. My behavior with regards to food has been ridiculous, and is no different than an alcoholic hiding bottles around the house.

I do think that my childhood plays a role. I was always within 10 pounds of my ideal weight, but it was because I was very active. And food was how my family dealt with things. If it was a happy occasion, we ate. If it was a sad occasion, we ate. And all our rewards were food. Etc, Etc.

When I was 14 and my sister was 7 she became a type 2 diabetic. My mom went off the deep end and immediately structured everything in our family's life around my sister and her eating schedule. If she couldn't have it, it wasn't allowed in the house. I rebelled, of course. The focal point of the family for several years was my sister and my sister alone. And I ate for revenge. I'd eat a bag of Doritos in my room and think 'Don't tell me I can't have this.'

I couldn't see then that I was doing it because I felt neglected, and was acting out in reaction to the situation. I was sick of hearing about, and having to live according to, my sisters eating schedule and menu. Everything was about what she could have and what she couldn't have, and what exchange it was, and time for her breakfast, time for her snack, do your blood, have you checked your urine, etc, etc, etc. In reality, it was my mom ..... worrying about my sister and her health. To my kid brain, it was 'moms world revolves around my sister and doesn't even notice me'.

It's carried over well into adulthood, I know my usual reaction when my mother tells me I don't need something, like a piece of birthday cake, is to think 'Fine then I'll have 2 pieces'. Not very mature or healthy.

And it hit me the other day ............... that what I hated so much about my childhood ....... my life revolving around food (namely my sisters) ......... was exactly what I had created in my own life by bingeing and being obese. My life still revolves around food and what it has done to me. And I'm sick to death of spending practically every waking moment of my life thinking about something related to food ....... what I'm gonna eat, what I just ate, how fat I am, what people are thinking when they see me, etc etc etc.

I want to take my life back. I can't imagine what I'll do with all my time if I don't have to spend it thinking about food and fat, but I want to find out.
I want, for the first time in 20 years, to have my life focus on living rather than eating.

Carrie

[elle4nelly]

Tami darling and Jim chick!

Thanks for sharing this with us. I do want to share something that will help in th elong run. I got this book called" Enlightened eating" Understanding and changing your relationship with food. By Rebecca Ruggles Radcliffe.

To think that I am a book worm and not once in my life I ever thought about buying this book is a darn shame!! It is on eof the best 19.00 bucks i've ever spent.

you may want to give it a try...if anything...it will prepare you and strenghen you when you reach goal and learn to live in the ordinary food world again!

Tami? You rock babe! Jim chick...you are stronger than you think!

you guys are truly good people!

Nelly

[explorthis]

I do (did?) stuff like that too.

As a kid I tried to sneak stuff without being detected, and more was never enough.

Then as a teenager I spent every penny I had on food. I went to the grocery store and bought ice cream, chips and candy and stashed it in my room. I even raided my moms purse and dad's dresser for $.

Why am I having this flash back probably from 30-35+ years ago, that I have NEVER thought of again till now??

My 2 memories:

My Granddaddy left me some 1/2 dollars for some unknown reason; they were in a coffee can in my Dad's closet. There was (why do I know the exact amount?) $56.00 this was 112 ½ dollars. I would secretly steal my own money that was saved for me, because they were easily accessed, and since there were 112 of them, no one would miss 1-2-3-50-75 oh, they quickly disappeared. Hey, I was hungry; it seemed legit at the time.

10-12 years old? Convenience store within walking distance from the house, went with friends, walked on a regular basis (it was called EZ Market). I remember one occasion being sooo hungry, I bought (since it was .59 cents I had to steal 2 of my own ½ dollars) a loaf of white wonder bread and ate the entire package in front of the store, with my friends watching….. I cannot remember the excuse I made. I do remember being sick the entire night after, and to this day I still never told anyone till now.

I have no idea what ever happened to the remainder of the ½ dollars, I know there was a few remaining, my Dad had to have known I stole them… WOW why am I remembering this?

Other time, good Mormon boy growing up, annually we went to Utah for a Family Camp (name slips me for the minute) for a week at a time every summer, cabins, eating mess hall style, family hikes, outings etc. This is the only time I really remember my Mom being vocally concerned about my weight. I had some $ with me, (probably those ½ dollars) since they did have a small store for necessities (CANDYCANDYCANDY) at the camp. She was assured I was doing something about my weight, finally (little did she know) I daily, on a regular basis snuck to that store for candy bar, after candy bar, who would know? Ahhhhh, I was safe, and stuffing myself. On the final day of camp, the camp counselors had everyone, every family in a group (100++ people if I remember) like a stage setting, and families were called up, individuals were called up to get prizes, certificates etc for accomplishments during our stay. Guess who got called up in front of everyone? Yup, I got the “Crest Cavity” award for eating the most CANDY!!! Yes I was finally watching what I ate (so thought my Mom) and I was caught red handed, not just by my parents, but by the ENTIRE camp!!

Oh my – why am I just now remembering these 2 specific occurrences in detail?

I am going to send this link to my Mom, I know she will remember the “Crest Cavity” award… This ought to be interesting to see her response.

Wow – eating has a powerful effect on us……

-Mike

[Carrie]

yep, the money I stole from my Dad's dresser was old coins...... 70+ year old silver dollars and I took em to the grocery store and got ice cream bars with em. And when Mom asked if I'd taken them, I said 'No.'

I did that at church camp too, spent probably $20 in 7 days on candy.

Shessh, hardly seems worth it now huh?

[Jims Chick]

this is wierd....I woke up with this very vivid memory. I was in grade school...don't remember how old...but old enough that I had a paper route. I was saving my money for something....I don't remember that either (THIS IS NOT SO VIVID AFTER ALL IS IT). I remember having $86.00 and I swiped $6 from my money but it was kept in my moms desk and I wasn't allowed to just spend freely. I walked to the liquor (which was a big taboo) and bought $6.00 in Marathon candy bars. (Do you guys remember those?) My brother and I ate them in the field by our house.
I guess I've been sneaking for a while.

[explorthis]

I walked to the liquor (which was a big taboo) and bought $6.00 in Marathon candy bars. (Do you guys remember those?)

Hmmm.. I think I remember.... ?!?!

<IMG SRC="http://home.ripway.com/2004-1/56352/marathon.jpg">

-Mike

[Jims Chick]

Mike,
do they still make those or do you have some of those stashed?

[explorthis]

Mike,
do they still make those or do you have some of those stashed?

Stashed? Moi? Stash candy? Proudly, I can say:

"Guido don't do candy no mo"

Here is the history:

The marathon bar was a full eight inches of braided chocolate and caramel. Introduced in 1973, the bar stood out, thanks to its bright-red package and gargantuan length. Inch markings printed on the wrapper showed that it was as long as it claimed. (The length was the result of its braided shape; it didn't weigh more than standard candy bars.) When sales didn't meet expectations, Mars Inc., took it off the shelves in 1981.

I just like trivia.....

-Mike

[shineface]

Hi Y'all --- Here I am posting from Sunny FL and doing well -- I sent Unca a picture today for the Studio - OUCH..

Anyway, boy does this sneaky stuff ring bells and bring up memories!!!!

I used to steal money- loose change - from Mom and Dad's dresser and walk to the store and stock up ---- my sweet of choice was always, cake or pie or grinders, sandwiches, twinkies, cheesecrackers, cheese popcorn, nuts or m&m P-nut candies...
I'd stuff my pockets and hate to admit it and had completely forgotten it until now --- sometimes I'd steal this stuff from the store - like shoplift - I can't believe it!!! Of course, I can also remember stealing diet aids at the age of eleven also - they were chocolate and I ended up eating the whole box - I don't think that's what they had in mind!!!!!

As I got older, I got more creative --- like I was fooling anyone ---- anytime I went thru a drive thru I'd order up a storm -- maybe 3 whoppers and large fries BUT I WOULD ALWAYS ORDER AT LEAST 3 DRINKS - soda, milk, shakes --- whatever --- because then, of course the person giving me the order would think it was for a group of people --- to order all food and one drink would be SOOOO obvious - to my sick thinking!!!!! AND to cinch it I would always say at the window- make sure you add extra salt and ketchup - my son and his friends need plenty! YEAH RIGHT!!!!

OR ordering in --- while the delivery guy is at the door --- yelling upstairs c'mon down you guys dinner is here!!!!!! This to justify delivery of a large pizza, whole grinder and whatever else ....oh my GOD ----who was I kidding --- and when calling to order -- in the middle of the order -ask the person to hold on a minute and scream out (to absolutely no one!) what did you say you wanted -- uhuh, uhuh, ok -- back to ordering..then.. could you add 5 plates, forks, napkins and 2 liters of soda also!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BOY are you guys making me think ---- I am really so much happier right now doing MF -- I know I am doing a good JOB.... BUT BOY DO I NEED TO GET MY act together for the life after full time MF.... Lots of work to do here and I thank God everyday I have you guys to do it with me.

WE WILL do this together!!!